Guyana Times Daily 1st Nov 2013

Inaugural Leguan Nite launched

P11

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 1939 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, November 1, 2013

PRICE

Border committee could be a useful tool

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

No new leads in Eccles fire P2 – Gentle

See story on page 3

– but Insanally warns against lack of consensus

Top students awarded

Rehabilitation of zoo road commences P10

See story on page7

IACHR urges govt to P12 show more leadership on preventing violence

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Education Minister Priya Manickchand pose with the awardees following the prize giving ceremony at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday (Carl Croker photo)

Armed police, city constables remove “wormy beef” from JAPS meat centre

See story on page 14

23 receive keys to hinterland houses See story on page 17

EPA implementation support, priorities in P13 spotlight

Sixth form P13 school still on the cards – Manickchand

2 news

friday, november 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

CPA conference ends with focus on better partnerships A

s the curtains came down on the 16th Biennial Regional Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on Wednesday regional parliaments have pledged to create greater partnerships. The collaborations are aimed at sharing knowledge and educating citizenry about the role of parliaments.

Speaker of Guyana’s National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, said the conference held October 28-30 has proved to be a huge success.

Trotman told a media briefing on Thursday that the conference covered a wide range of topics, which were all relevant to individual participating members and concluded with the passage of three resolutions. The first is to see the

Michael Carrington said the conference was indeed a success and thanked the Guyana Parliament and government for hosting it. He spoke briefly about the success of the conference and noted that it was certainly not another talk shop.

Trinidad and Tobago House of Representatives Speaker Wade Mark praised the local organising team for pulling off another successful CPA conference.

From left to right: Speaker of the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago, Wade Mark; Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana, Raphael Trotman; and Speaker of the Parliament of Barbados, Michael Carrington briefing media operatives on the success of the conference

establishment of an executive steering committee to coordinate activities among conferences, the next to be held in 2015 in Bermuda.

The second is to set up parliamentary outreach pro-

grammes aimed at educating youths and creating greater intra-regional cooperation. The final resolution called for countries to ratify the United Nations’ convention on the rights

of persons living with disabilities. This will assist the process of mainstreaming such persons in all societies.

Speaker of the Barbadian Parliament,

Mark noted that while many issues had been discussed at previous conferences and pledges made – based on reports, this conference was one with a difference as all 18 attending member states participated.

The conference explored the key features of an effective parliament, in order to

enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the presiding officers and clerks; and fostered and encouraged impartiality and fairness on their part.

It also looked at ways to promote professional development, knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms; and strengthen the independence of parliaments.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, and Guyana and other territories.

The conference, which was first held in 1969, operates on a two-year cycle. This year’s theme was “The role of parliaments as they meet the challenges of evolving democracies.”

No new leads in Eccles fire – Gentle

C

hief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said there were no new leads on the fire that destroyed Wednesday evening the Comfort Sleep and Payless Variety Store bonds at Eccles Industrial Estate, East Bank Demerara.

During a telephone interview with Guyana Times, Gentle said investigations were still ongoing as they interview eyewitnesses and collect evidence at the fire scene.

“No new leads have been found; the team is still there and we can’t tell when we are going to complete the investigation…. There are so many different angles that we have to take it from… this is not just a couple hours of work … we have been interviewing the watchmen and other persons around,” Gentle said.

He explained, however, the team had been able to gather some clues as to what may have occurred.

“We have narrowed it down to something that caused a reaction that led to an explosion and then the fire,” he said.

Comfort Sleep administrative staffer Amanda Chung said the owner of the company, Denis Charran will be in the country until Saturday and will speak to the media further. This publication could not get hold of any representative from the Payless Store.

The inferno started around 18:35h on Wednesday. The security guard, who was on duty at the Comfort Sleep factory in the neighbouring compound, said he heard a loud explosion and a few minutes after he saw what was described as a ball of fire coming through a window of the Payless bond.

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle

Comfort Sleep Manager Deodat Narine told media operatives that he had just closed off operations at the factory, when he received a call from the security guard on duty that the bond was on fire.

The bond, which stored chemicals used to make foam and other raw materials, was situated near the factory.

A supervisor attached to the Payless Store bond, who was on the scene approximately one hour after the fire started, told Guyana Times that he was working just around the corner where the store’s new bond is located when he caught sight of the blaze.

Deputy Fire Chief Winston McGregor, who was at the scene of the fire, said the Comfort Sleep bond was already destroyed, and firefighters were doing all they could to save what was left of the Payless building.

Efforts by the Guyana Fire Service to control the blaze were successful as no other buildings in the area were affected. The deputy fire chief said there were some 30 firefighters battling the blaze, with four fire trucks at the scene working to control the blaze.

News

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, November 1 from 14:30h to 16:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, November 1 from 14:50h to 16:20h.

WEATHER TODAY Countrywide: Heavy rain showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East south-easterly to easterly at 4.47 to 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 14:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.67 metres.

Low Tide: 08:31h reaching a minimum height of 0.64 metre.

friday, november 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Border committee could be a useful tool – but Insanally warns against lack of consensus

R

etired diplomat and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Rudy Insanally believes that a permanent national borders commission could be a useful enforcement tool in addressing border issues, but he warned that any such body would have to speak with one voice for it to be effective.

Insanally’s comments come in wake of recent calls by the Leader of the Opposition, David Granger for the Foreign Affairs Ministry to establish a permanent National Borders Commission to boost institutional strengthening on issues regarding Guyana’s territorial integrity. Granger had made a similar proposal when he had met with Professor Norman Girvan last year who was recently reappointed by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as his personal representative to support him in his role as the UN good officer in the Guyana-Venezuela border matter.

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Granger also wants the commission to take responsibility for accumulating data and documents on territorial matters.

Contacted for a comment on the issue, Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira directed this newspaper to Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn RodriguesBirkett who is overseas.

Director General of the Foreign Ministry, Elizabeth Harper, would not comment when approached.

Insanally said the border commission was intended to be a multi-partisan body representing various individuals. He said it met and offered views on how some of the issues could be handled. “It is a useful device,” Insanally said, but noted that once the first report was submitted by the commission, it became defunct.

He stressed, however, that it will be up to the parties to see whether a revived commission could serve any purpose in the ongoing bor-

Opposition Leader David Granger

ders issues Guyana has with Venezuela and Suriname. As to the usefulness of such a body, Insanally said it could come up with ideas and can also be another think tank for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“It would also be another opportunity for parliamentarians and other experts to work together on something for the national good...” Insanally said, asserting that the decision will ultimately be that of the government and others to decide.

He insisted that if the border commission could be truly representative it would be a force for unity, but “if there are serious differences... I don’t know what value could be added,” the diplomat said.

Border and National Security Committee

Following the recent standoff between Venezuela and Guyana over the seizure of a seismic vessel in Guyana’s waters, Granger called on President Donald Ramotar to reconvene the Border and National Security Committee, which he said will create avenues for Guyana and Venezuela to resolve some of the recent territorial controversies. According to Granger, the Venezuelan Navy’s move to seize the RV Teknik Perdana seismic vessel was done to intimidate the country, and he cautioned the administration not to allow this to escalate. He said with the convening of the committee, major emphasis should be

placed on Guyana’s response to the “unprecedented seizure of an unarmed, scientific survey vessel by the Venezuelan Bolivarian Navy,” although permission was granted for the vessel to conduct exploration in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Additionally, the opposition leader called for the government to adopt the June 2001 report of the Border and National Security Committee, which was submitted to then President Bharrat Jagdeo.

At that time, the committee was co-chaired by Granger.

It is the belief of the opposition leader that the committee should work in accordance with the 2001 report.

“The report recommended, inter alia, that the highest level of consultations for discussion and resolution of issues pertaining to border and national security issues should take place between the president and the leader of the opposition. This level of engagement represents the core of the bipartisan approach,” Granger explained.

At the level of the National Assembly, the report expressed the need for a standing committee of Parliament to be established to tackle border and national security issues, through the engagement of ministers and shadow ministers.

Matter of protest

“The bipartisan process should be supported by a technical or academic component in the form of an Institute of Border Studies, a strengthened Frontiers Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the review or consolidation of existing institutions where there is overlap and duplication in functions or which, simply, are ineffective,” Granger added.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on the seizure of the vessel, Insanally said in the eyes of Venezuela, the vessel was in its waters and it had a right to evict it. “Same thing happened when CGX was evicted by Suriname gun-

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rudy Insanally

boats...” he said, it is a matter of protest by the country, but Guyana has its Exclusive Economic Zone which was determined by responsible people. Insanally alluded to the fact that there might be various forces at play.

During last year’s budget debate, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) frontbencher Debra Backer had called on government to work assiduously towards resolving the border disputes with Venezuela and Suriname in light of several developments, which she alluded to during her presentation.

Backer noted then that the APNU remains committed towards standing with citizens and the government of Guyana as far as protecting the country’s sovereignty and borders is concerned.

“While we note that the claims of both Venezuela and Suriname are unfounded, we must continue efforts to resolve them…”, she insisted, noting that for as long as the matter remained unresolved, the threat against Guyana’s sovereignty remains as real and fresh as ever, despite assurances given in the international arena of support.

In this respect, Backer urged government to keep Caricom mobilised and ready to lend assistance where needs be, especially since history has shown the importance of maintaining strong ties in light of looming threats to states’ territorial independence.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, november 1, 2013

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

Editorial

U.S. immigration reform

T

he issue of U.S. immigration reform has been placed back in the spotlight once again as President Barrack Obama himself recently came out strongly urging that all those involved work assiduously in bringing finality to the relevant legislation. He was talking mostly to House Republicans, though he also urged business, labour and religious groups to “keep putting the pressure on all of us to get this done”.

U.S. immigration policies affect almost every Guyanese one way or another because of the fact that most of us have a relative or a friend in that country. While the exact figures are not known, it is believed that there are millions of undocumented persons from all over the world, including thousands of Guyanese living in the U.S. illegally, hence the high level of anxiety surrounding immigration reform.

“Illegal aliens”, as they are commonly referred to, want to be sure that when the time comes they would benefit from whatever changes there are to the law that would allow them to become legal residents.

A CBS News poll released last week found public support for immigration reform. The poll found that there is widespread support for providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants if they meet certain requirements, including undergoing a waiting period, paying fines and back taxes, passing criminal background checks and learning English.

The same poll, however, found that more people think that securing the country’s borders should be a priority over resolving the status of undocumented immigrants.

Republicans have a preference for a number of smaller bills instead of the one large package passed by the Senate. They said they are in favour of reform on a piecemeal basis and that border security measures must be put in place before the status of undocumented immigrants can be discussed.

On the other hand, House Democrats introduced their own version of an immigration bill at the beginning of the month, one without the huge expansion of the Border Patrol included in the Senate bill.

In a very hard-hitting editorial addressing the issue of immigration reform published earlier this week, the New York Times severely criticised Obama for taking the issue too lightly. The paper suggests that much of the responsibility to fix what Obama calls the “broken immigration system” lies within his administration.

Accordingly, the paper made some very useful suggestions in relation to what the Obama administration can do to deal with the issue while the politicians are still deciding on the way forward, these include: “Stop needless deportations: the Obama administration has kept up a frantic pace of 400,000 deportations a year, and is closing in on 2,000,000. Those numbers are driven by politics, not public safety. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has wide discretion to determine whom it detains and deports. It can retool all its policies to make non-criminals and minor offenders – the people most likely to benefit from the reform now stalled in Congress – the lowest priority for deportation.

Acknowledge the crisis: as he makes the case for immigration reform, Obama often mentions the economic consequences of failure – jobs unfilled, crops unpicked, investments not made and taxes not collected. He would do well to highlight the human costs of enforcement without reform, in separating families, and violating the civil and labour rights of workers.

Get beyond politics: the talk in Washington has focused on how, after the shutdown debacle, Republicans and Democrats might exploit immigration for political advantage.

But last week, the genuine immigration crisis intruded, as if from another universe. Busloads of Arizonans – parents, children, students known as “dreamers” – lined up outside House Speaker John Boehner’s office, pleading for a meeting and praying for action on reform. Mr Boehner had no time for them.”

The article concludes that the shutdown was a fake emergency and says that immigration is a real one, harming lives every day in every state.

A piece of island history The original St Peter’s Church was constructed on December 9, 1827, but was replaced with the present structure owing to the enormous cost of maintenance and calls for the erection of a permanent building. On St Peter’s Day, June 29, 1855, His Lordship, Bishop William Piercy Austin consecrated the new and present day building in the presence of Governor PE Wodehouse, the Governor’s Secretary, Chief Justice William Walker, members of the Court of Policy and other prominent individuals (National Trust of Guyana)

Caricom free movement and Barbados Dear Editor, I too am elated at the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the “Shanique Myrie vs Barbados” case. It is such a profound development in the Caribbean integration paradigm, that while I am happy that Myrie took on Barbados, I am gnashing my teeth in envy that it wasn’t one of the thousands of Guyanese who suffered dog treatment from the Bajans over the years, who stepped up.

Nonetheless, I am not at all surprised that it was a Jamaican who was able to bring to bear, that world renown “we nah ramp” persona, to set Barbados straight.

But will the ruling really set them straight?

Particularly, since I am reading in the Guyana Times Monday publication, terribly disturbing comments attributed to the Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (Monday, October 28) – “Barbados pilloried for opening of floodgates comment”, where he is reported to have warned immigration officials not to be intimidated by the ruling and allow a flood gate of “unemployed and criminals” into the country.

Assuming these com-

ments to be correctly attributed, then I believe the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque needs to now have the secretariat move beyond hopes that the CCJ ruling will have positive implications for the “way business is done” across the block, and begin demonstrating an aggressive, no nonsense reformist approach to his work, which we have all been expecting for this new dispensation of Caricom leadership.

In the context of the Myrie decision and in the context of Prime Minister Stewart’s reported comments post-CCJ ruling, the Caricom Secretariat needs to provide answers to nationals, as to why the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) Secretariat is still being hosted by Barbados, while the host member state continues to flout every provision of the revised treaty of Chaguaramas with regard to freedom of movement.

It is a well-established principle across the region, that nationals ought to be given a six-month stay in any of the member states that have ratified the CSME free-movement article, in order to allow for adequate time for a “Skills Certificate”

application to be processed, particularly where the moving national expressly indicates to the immigration authorities upon entering, his/her intention to pursue skills certification in that jurisdiction.

Yet and remarkably so, Barbados, which is host to the CSME Secretariat, practices as a matter of policy, as reinforced by Stewart in the comments attributed to him (post-CCJ ruling), a three-month maximum stay without the granting of extensions, thus implicitly disallowing Caricom nationals the fundamental prerogative of pursuing “skills certification” on the island, within the ambit of the provisions for which Barbados is ironically the custodian.

My experience with Jamaica was a most pleasant and commendable one.

I indicated my skill certification intensions to the immigration authorities at the airport upon arrival, and was facilitated with adequate time of stay without questions (six months).

My application was professionally treated by the Labour Ministry and a senior officer at the immigration headquarters exercised professional pride in placing the “unconditional”

stamp in my passport after the certificate was granted. Interestingly, this was under a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration which is historically known for a two-faced approach to Caribbean integration.

I recall a press conference here in Guyana several years ago by Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie, who emphatically indicated his country’s non assent to the “free movement article” because “The Bahamas is for Bahamians” he said. I was mortified as an unrepentant regionalist, but I respected the fact that at the very least, he had the intestinal fortitude to take a black and white position on the matter.

Maybe, someone with the Myrie spirit should now deliberately pursue skills certification in Barbados, and again drag them before the CCJ, and let’s once and for all dismantle their integrationist hypocrisy.

It would seem that Barbados is fertile ground for a Caricom spring.

Sincerely, Dario A X Mcklmon Guyanese citizen/ Caricom national

guyanatimesgy.com

Friday, november 1, 2013

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

What is the Stabroek News’ real policy?

Dear Editor, On October 24, I wrote and sent a letter for publication to the Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, Guyana Chronicle and Guyana Times. It was a letter in response to one written by Bryn Pollard, SC, and published only in the Stabroek News. But my response was published by all the above mentioned newspapers, except Stabroek News.

It seems to me that there is a policy at Stabroek News to publish views that are

critical of the government and in defence of the political opposition and their party leaders and a refusal to publish responses which are critical of them.

I saw the response of Stabroek News to one letter writer who made a similar complaint. The contention of Stabroek News is that they will not publish any letter which has been published by other newspapers.

This contention is both unfair and wrong. Stabroek

News has a duty, having published a letter, to publish a response to that letter, provided, that it has not offended the libel laws.

This duty is even greater when Stabroek News is the only newspaper that carried the letter to which the response relates.

I invite Stabroek News to confirm or deny whether they pursue a policy described above.

Yours faithfully, Sundar Nauth

Thank you, Raj Singh Dear Editor, I would like to thank, Raj Singh, it was long overdue. At last I can see positive moves at the Demerara Cricket Board to play cricket on the field and not in the court. The usual individuals will try hard to deter your efforts, but you have to continue moving forward and eventually sensible people will realise who are the detractors and misfits, many of whom only contribute when “the price is right”.

Continue to volunteer your skills and resources to the development of our beautiful game and let not the threat of court action de-

ter you, as those threats are also prevalent against us on the East Coast Demerara, as some of us intend to advance the game with or without the support of the East Coast Cricket Board.

I must also congratulate the executives of the Enmore Cricket Club, East Coast Demerara who successfully launched their Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T)-sponsored competition and revived cricket in the upper East Coast Demerara area. Continue the good work and everyone on the East Coast Demerara will eventually realise who can promote their commu-

nity’s interest, and not their own.

However, Raj Singh, you need to put in some more work to ensure all the cricket grounds in Demerara are up and running so that more are available for use by our youths. I am sure the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony will provide the necessary support as he did at Enmore recently.

Dear Editor, The president and members of the Guyana Divya Jyoti Association would like to thank members of the public who supported their Seventh Annual Diwali motorcade held on October 26 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The Guyana Divya Jyoti Association is overwhelmed by the support the festival received and is grateful to those who contributed to the event, especially the sponsors. The association is optimistic that an event not only helped to propagate and forge stronger bonds among our peoples but also attract-

ed hundreds of visitors to the shores of Guyana.

The association is also grateful for the support given by the president and executive members of the mandirs and organisations which participated in the motorcade and takes this opportunity to remind the winners that the prize giving ceremony is scheduled for November 4 at Lot 40 Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.

The association wishes all of Guyana Shub Diwali and encourage that we embrace Diwali as part of the nation’s culture, regardless of religion and take the time to understand the significance of the lighting of the diya.

The Divya Jyoti Association is a non-governmental/non-profit organisation that works with Hindus and non-Hindu organisations on the East Bank of Demerara to promote Guyana’s rich festivities and cultural diversity that was brought to Guyana by our ancestors.

Once again the association would like to thank the general public and we look forward for continued support.

Yours sincerely, Andy Persaud Resident of East Coast Demerara

Good farm practices can result in Divya Jyoti Association grateful significant rice yields for support at Diwali motorcade

Dear Editor, According to Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, as reported in the Stabroek News on October 30, “Rice production levels so far this year have reached 514,000 tonnes, shattering last year’s record of 422,000 tonnes, which until October 21, was the highest yield seen in Guyana’s history.

Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) research field trials and actual farm use have shown that when properly used, commercial fertilisers and good farm practices can result in significant yields and economic benefits to the farmers and country. This boom over the last two years

has resulted from improved irrigation systems, use of new rice varieties, and improved technologies in rice production.

Guyana is projected to maintain this production level over the next decade if all goes well in the rice industry. Burma Research Station (BRS) announced that a new variety of high yielding rice is expected to be available to farmers for commercial planting by 2014.

This new variety has better resistance to disease and insects compared to present varieties. The new rice plant is reportedly suitable for paddies in tropical and subtropical regions and should be suitable to 80 per cent of

Guyana’s total rice area.

The outlook for the 2014 paddy yield is quite certain at the moment, but will largely depend on the timely and normal development of the water irrigation in the main rice growing regions.

Wet weather is reported to be hampering harvesting, which means possible negative effects on yield and quality unless weather conditions improve. These new varieties of paddy not only increased our national average yield, but also earned us millions of U.S. dollars.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan Former Rice Research Officer

Regards, Dolly Singh Guyana Divya Association

Jyoti

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friday, November 1, 2013

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Fun brain-boosting games

BY BARBARA ROWLEY

L

ike many parents, I’m full of good intentions during those first schoolfree days of June. Mindful of the well-documented learning losses that occur over the summer in math and reading, I’ve been known to stock up on spelling books and flash cards, and even post a vocabulary word or two in the kitchen.

But it isn’t long before my grand ideas of academic achievement are forgotten along with the flash cards now buried under the damp swimsuits. My daughters simply don’t want to go to school during the summer, and, frankly, neither do I. So we play games instead.

We take walks and make things, we read books together in the hammock. It isn’t school, and an increasing amount of research says that’s more than okay. It turns out that there are a whole lot of non-traditionally academic approaches that can engage your child’s brain in the summer equally as well as, and often better than, any workbook. So don’t worry if school’s around the corner: Chances are your child has already been doing a lot of learning – and here are more easy activities you can do while summer’s still in swing: We’ve heard about American children needing more exposure to the sciences, and if that makes you think of dreary formulas and dusty beakers, think again. There isn’t much that’s more fun than science: Children can make crazy things happen while learning about cause and effect, the natural world, and lots more.

Take the science-fair volcano to the next level.

You have to sacrifice a two-litre bottle of diet soda for this one (it’s less sticky than regular soda, so easier to clean up), but it’ll be worth it. Open the soda on the driveway or in the yard.

Now, as quickly as possible (it helps to use a funnel; you can make one out of paper), drop

an entire roll of Mentos candies into the bottle and run: The soda will explode from the bottle, making a huge geyser.

So cool!

Conjure up some goop.

Put two cups of cornstarch in a bowl and slowly add water (you’ll need about a quarter cup). Mix until a soft clay forms. Your children will find it irresistible as the mixture changes from hard to soft to gooey, then to a ball they can hold in their hands. Add food colouring for extra fun.

Create some botanical art. Draw a landscape line on a piece of sky-blue card stock or construction paper and then head out with it and a glue stick to collect items to fill in: Pick up leaves to glue on the trees, grass to stick on the ground, petals to dot the grass with colour. Voila! A three-dimensional masterpiece and a

lesson in nature.

Turn your kitchen into a laboratory.

Making lemonade from lemons and simple syrup (sugar dissolved in boiling water) is a great lesson in proportions and problem solving (more lemon juice? more water?),

while experimenting with yeast breads can demonstrate a chemical reaction.

Sit around and watch ice melt. Hand everyone an equal-size cube to hold, put on a plate, leave on the grass.

Whose will become a puddle first?

Math skills falter in summertime because – aside from practising the times tables – it can seem as if there’s no natural way to keep them fresh. But many popular strategy games (like chess, checkers, monopoly, battleship, clue, and more) involve counting and subtracting, and working with money, as well as making predictions, seeing patterns, following rules, and using logic. In other words: math.

Move the games out of the closet. And into a central, visible location (kitchen table, living room basket), and set up

a time (say, after dinner) for regular play. On particularly beautiful days, take the whole setup outside to the porch, the picnic table – even a piece of sturdy cardboard on the grass in a park.

Invest in a Scrabble set. Rather than a spelling or math workbook. This classic game reinforces both skills as you spell words and count up points – even multiplying the numbers when you land on the right space. To even the playing field with younger players (under 10) and get them excited about the game, let them use a dictionary and a calculator. Boggle’s a good choice, too, for the patterns and connections your child will see in the grid of letters.

Rejuvenate the jigsaw.

This old-fashioned pastime develops critical spatial and pattern-recognition skills and manual dexterity. Start with 100- to 300-piece puzzles for a seven-year-old; see how she does and adjust your next purchase accordingly!

Our family’s secret weapon for puzzle protection and transportation: a cardboard trifold display board – the kind you’ll find at any office-supply store.

The large centre section gives you a flat surface for working on the puzzle (and allows you to easily carry it from place to place) – even in the yard – while the side flaps fold over to keep all the pieces together. If your children aren’t inspired to complete a picture – or are crazy for puzzling and want more – consider two great games that use the puzzle skills, but in a competitive format: Blokus and Tantrix. Both sharpen geometric and strategic thinking.

(Parenting)

TO BE CONTINUED

Creative ways to teach English that deliver outstanding results

BY ANNA WARREN

Immersion activities

How can children access stories, poems and other texts if their minds and imaginations are not fully engaged?

We have found that immersing children in a range of creative activities before reading the text means that they are fully prepared, and excited, about the reading journey ahead of them. Through painting, music composition, a film project, in role drama or sculpture, children have had a chance to share vocabulary, ideas and concepts which gives their reading fresh meaning and purpose.

Clear purpose

What’s the point of reading and writing anything if you don’t know why you’re doing it? We aim to provide children with a clear purpose to all reading, and especially writing tasks. Whether it’s an invitation to the head teacher to attend a class assembly, an email to an author or an article for a school newspaper, our children know why the quality of their writing mat-

ters: because there will be a real audience for their published work.

Professional publishing

One effective way of valuing children’s work as well as providing a real incentive, is to plan for a range of ways to publish their writing. Recent examples include a whole school bookmaking project.

Following a whole school Inset on bookbinding techniques, every class published their own shared book; one example being an anthology of short spooky stories composed by year six. Their stories were mounted on handmade paper, accompanied with each child’s art work (lino cut style prints on metallic paper) with a dramatic paper cut out front cover.

The effort the children put into their work was immense, and the results were stunning as a result. The anthology has been enjoyed by parents and other pupils and the children’s pride in their work is clear to see.

Meaningful planning

Where possible, learning in English is linked with subjects within the creative curriculum we follow: the international primary curriculum (IPC). Well in advance of teaching, teachers collaborate and share their ideas for planning through a mind mapping process.

Meaningful, creative activities are planned for, ensuring that all staff members know exactly what the children will be learning and why.

Focused on strategies

The teaching of reading is not easy. As children’s fluency in reading increases, it’s hard to know what reading skills need to be taught, and when. We ensure that specific reading strategies are modelled explicitly to the class; this provides children with a holistic bank of skills to draw upon. This could include scanning a text, making an inference, predicting or creating a mental image. Our teachers use ‘think aloud’ statements to model to the children how these skills are used, and how they can help them become better readers. These strategies are then shared as a class, and then assessed in follow up guided reading activities. (The Guardian) TO BE CONTINUED

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friday, november 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

No request from CFATF to Top students awarded restructure FIU – Teixeira T … says opposition never raised issue at committee

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira

APNU shadow finance minister Carl Greenidge

APNU parliamentarian Joseph Harmon

By Svetlana Marshall

encountering difficulties with CFATF and FATF.

Owing to the step taken by the governing party, the APNU parliamentarian said the opposition remained firm on its position that it would not support the amendments when they are placed in the National Assembly. “She must have understood that there will be consequences, bringing the select committee’s work to an end when none of the opposition members of the select committee was present.... she must have contemplated that they must have had some difficulty in the report,” he posited.

APNU shadow finance minister Carl Greenidge expressed similar sentiments.

He said the concerns regarding the ant-money laundering act have been public knowledge since it was taken before the House for the first reading in April. He said while the coalition did not have issues with the law in place, governance of the FIU remains a major hurdle. “We don’t have any problem strengthening the law, but let me make this clear in the oversight of the law, oversight of the bodies enforcing the law, but we have a problems with governance.”

He expressed concern that 13 years after the law was passed in the National Assembly, no one has been prosecuted under the legislation, concluding that something must be definitely wrong. He laid the blame at the feet of the government, noting that the situation was caused by poor oversight.

Rebutting claims that the opposition was employing delay tactics to prevent the conclusion of consideration at the level of the parliamentary special select committee, Greenidge said the opposition and the PPP/C had agreed to meet twice a week subsequent to the October 14 meeting.

However the PPP/C rushed to complete the work of the committee on October 22, at a time when the opposition was hosting its shadow cabinet meeting. (svetlana@guyanatimesgy.com)

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overnment said the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) never advanced any position for the restructuring of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), as a precondition for its support of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill.

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira said contrary to reports that the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been ignoring the legitimate concerns of the opposition, it has not put forward any proposals.

“We have nothing in front of us, in writing from the opposition or the APNU or the AFC, or anybody, saying how they want to restructure the FIU,” she said during a telephone interview with Guyana Times.

Teixeira noted that the opposition should make public their evidence. “Show me in the verbatim record and in the minutes where that was raised ever in a committee meeting between May 8th and October 22nd.”

To clear the air of any misconception, however, she said the anti-money laundering (amendment) bill is driven by the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Teixeira further explained that none of the recommendations alluded to the FIU, which was established under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009.

“That original bill provides for the establishment of the FIU, how it is established and how it is comprised. There is no recommendation of the CFATF or FATF to change the FIU.” It was further contended that to change the structure or the governance of the FIU would result in Guyana

Major issues

On the flip side of the coin, APNU parliamentarian Joseph Harmon said the coalition had major issues with the establishment of the FIU, noting that the PPP/C is fully aware of the coalition’s concern.

Harmon told Guyana Times that the opposition had some concerns with regard to Section Eight of the anti-money laundering bill under which the FIU was established. While the party is in support of the outlined prerequisites for the appointment of the FIU director, which includes legal, or financial experience in addition to 10 years of relevant experience in the field of law, financing and accounting, Harmon said the coalition wants to reduce the powers of the finance minister.

Section Eight stipulates that “The minister responsible for finance shall appoint a person with expertise and experience in legal, financial, or administrative matters to be known as the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit to carry out the functions of the Financial Intelligence Unit in accordance with this act.”

Additionally, it states that the FIU director may only be removed from his office by the president of Guyana.

“We have a problem where the minister of finance is responsible for appointment and what we are saying is all those responsibilities should be transferred to the National Assembly from a shortlist of persons submitted by the minister. Who would head and the composition of it as well,” Harmon said as he made APNU’s case.

Consequences He said the presidential adviser was fully aware of the intentions of the coalition, when she concluded the consideration of the amended bill, in the absence of the opposition.

he Education Ministry on Thursday honoured a number of students who performed excellently in the various disciplines when it hosted its 17th national awards ceremony at the National Cultural Centre.

Jonelle James and Melodie Lowe, the top performers of this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), along with Yogeeta Persaud and Cecil Cox, the top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams were awarded with presidential scholarships. This follows President Donald Ramotar’s announcement at last year’s ceremony that the top two CAPE and CSEC students would automatically qualify for scholarships to study in Guyana or abroad.

Other top performers at the CSEC and CAPE exams, as well as of the National Grade Six Assessment, Carnegie School of Home Economics, Guyana Technical and Government Technical Education Examinations were also given awards.

Delivering the feature address at the launching, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said government feels vindicated by the students’ success, noting that the environment it has created has been an integral part of their success.

“Since we have been in office, we have deliberately

been committed to making the investments that have brought about the successes that Guyana now enjoys.”

Child-friendly

He pointed out that it had not been an easy task, adding that although the country was producing better students, it was still behind its sister Caricom nations and developed countries.

Hinds stated that some of ingredients for student success are: safe childfriendly buildings, trained and committed teachers, adequate textbooks, adequate teaching resources, committed parents, and disciplined students.

Thus, the prime minister stated that “the government seeks to ensure that every region and subdistrict within every region receives these resources equally. What is given to students in terms of textbooks at Paramakatoi is also given to children in Christianburg and Crabwood Creek.” He noted that it was the same for resources allotted to teachers.

Prime Minister Hinds recognised that in some schools, there were more trained teachers than in others, noting that government was working assiduously to tackle this problem.

He added that parents must be acknowledged in light of their children’s accomplishments, since many of them make sacrifices so their children can be educated.

New Guyana

Education Minister Priya Manickchand stated that these performances are representations of the new Guyana. “You are the people of tomorrow who can take our country and fashion it in the way you would like to see it turn out, you get to decide what Guyana is tomorrow,” she told the awardees.

She said even as the Education Ministry celebrates this achievement, it is deeply conscious that more work needs to be done, adding that it will not become complacent.

“We will ensure that we work even harder so that we have more time to celebrate, because we see what potential we have. We will stay committed and reenergise ourselves to make sure, we can deliver the best education possible in Guyana.”

This year, Guyana copped five of the eight regional CXC awards, these include Overall Outstanding Achievement, Most Outstanding in Humanities, Most Outstanding in Sciences, Most Outstanding in Business Studies, and Most Outstanding in Technical Vocational. This achievement has received high praise locally and regionally. The minister slammed the opposition parties for failing to congratulate the top performers and teachers for these accomplishments, deeming the move “disgraceful” and “shameful.”

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friday, november 1, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Mother of four sentenced for drug trafficking

A

mother of four was on Thursday sentenced to three years imprisonment after she was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where she was slapped with four charges.

Robeena Rogers, 31, pleaded guilty to all the charges as they were read to her. It was alleged that on October 30 at Lot 1 Railway Line, Stewartville, West

Coast Demerara, she sold a police corporal 2.8 grams of cannabis along with one gram of cocaine. It was further alleged that she had in her possession 6.6 grams of cannabis and 6.2 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the facts, on the day in question, acting on information received, police ranks went to the home of the defendant where one of the officers went to purchase the narcotics and it

was sold to him.

Shortly after, the ranks went to the premises where they identified themselves and requested to conduct a search.

During the search, the unsold narcotics along with the money the police corporal used to purchase the drugs were found. Rogers was told of the offence and admitted ownership of the substances.

Rogers was unrepresent-

ed and told the court that she committed the act because it was her only means of providing for her children and maintaining the household.

She added that she had applied for several jobs but got no response and was desperate.

In addition to being sentenced to prison, Chief Magistrate SewnarineBeharry fined her $30,000 for each offence, which is a total $120,000.

Businessman on self-bail for wounding charge

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n Thursday, a businessman made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was charged with unlawful wounding.

Howard Modest pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on October 28, at Meadow Bank, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded William Harding, as it was read against him.

An unrepresented Modest told the court that he is temporarily staying at a James Street, Albouystown residence but is from 29 Queenstown Village, Essequibo.

There were no objections to bail raised by Prosecutor Bharat Mangru and Modest was placed on his own recognisance. The matter is set to return to court on November 21.

Farmer remanded for ammunition possession

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27-year-old farmer was on Thursday was remanded to prison after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to a possession of ammunition charge.

Anthony Fernandes of Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara initially pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on October

29 at Moblissa, Linden, he had in his possession three live rounds of 12 gauge ammunition.

He told the magistrate that he works with a man named Carlos De Santos and on the morning of the incident, he left home to go by his employer when the police arrested him. He went on to say that the police then took him to the farm where they conducted a search but the ammunition was not

found in his hammock, it was found in the camp.

Based on his explanation, Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry recorded a not guilty plea for him.

According to the facts, on the day in question, police ranks went to a farm on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway with the defendant after he was contacted and a search was carried out.

During that search, three live rounds of 12 gauge

ammunition were found in Fernandes’ hammock. He was told of the offence and was arrested and charged.

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru objected to bail citing that there were no special reasons given for it to be granted.

The matter was transferred to the Christiansburg Magistrates’ Courts where it will be heard before the presiding magistrate on November 5.

Mason sentenced to three years for narcotics possession

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n Thursday, a mason was sentenced to three years imprisonment after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to two narcotic charges.

Thirty-eight-yearold Alex Persaud pleaded guilty to the charges which stated that on October 28 at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, he had in his possession one gram of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking along with a utensil

used for smoking cocaine.

According to the facts, police were on patrol at the Stabroek Market when they saw a group of men acting in a suspicious manner.

The ranks approached the men and identified themselves as police officers in plain clothes. They requested to conduct a search. A search was conducted on the defendant where a utensil used for smoking cocaine was found in his right side pants pocket. A rank observed a string hanging from Persaud’s mouth and asked

that he open his mouth. In his mouth, there was a small container with a cream coloured stone like substance suspected to be cocaine.

Persaud was told of the allegation and was subsequently arrested. The substance was weighed in the presence of the defendant and amounted to one gram.

A further investigation was carried out and he was charged.

An unrepresented Persaud asked the court to be lenient with him stating that he was recently re-

leased from prison after he was sentenced for a simple larceny charge and was finding it difficult to acquire a job so he decided to do something where he would not have to steal from anybody to survive.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced Persaud to one year for the possession of the utensil along with a fine of $15,000 and three years for the possession of cocaine along with a fine of $30,000.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

Eyew tness

Blaming...

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... one side

few years ago, the MuckrakerKN ran a column, “Blame the Government”. Word was, it was penned by no other than the Adam Harris. The same one who, along with his boss, now blames the government for everything under the sun...and then some. We were reminded of this “hired pen” tendency after ploughing through “The Blame Game” by Shaun Samaroo over at the StabberNews.

The fella went on about Guyanese always blaming others...but amazingly, it was only the government at the receiving end of his stick. Take the anti-money laundering bill the government’s been doing its darndest to pass since early this year. He raps the government for its “failure to negotiate and seek compromise”...and this is only one “sign of its inefficiency, pigheadness and stupidness”. And that’s not playing the “blame game”!!!

Does this fella know how Parliament works? The bill had been sent to a Parliamentary Select Committee...the opposition could’ve attended the committee’s meeting and suggested changes to the legislation to its heart content. But did it ever do that? Not in this life.

Who were the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) members of the committee supposed to “negotiate and compromise with”? Neither of the two opposition parties has ever made a clear statement (heck, any statement) on what they find objectionable in the bill.

All A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) would say is that “it’s still consulting its supporters” and that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) should be “strengthened”.

On the latter, the government has agreed on, adding some muscle to the FIU, but APNU’s still mum.

Is the government supposed to hire a clairvoyant to discover what’s on the opposition’s mind about the substance of the bill? Even the (American, British, Canadian) ABC ambassadors lost their patience and told the opposition to “s*it or get off the pot”.

Another example of Samaroo not playing the “blame game” and being “even-handed” is to consider his charge that the government is “lacking professional ethics”. The opposition, on the other hand, is merely “passive and lukewarm”. Wow!! Such a paragon of impartiality. But in a volte face, Samaroo advises the nation to resort to vigilante “justice”. He calls for citizens to solve the crime situation if the Home Affairs Ministry can’t do it.

But didn’t we already have some private citizens go down this path a decade ago when bodies popped up every morning at some spot or other? Is Samaroo another Andrew Douglas?

...the victim

There’s a battle between some legal stars in Guyana.

We can get the gravamen of the issue by examining a letter in the press from Rex McKay, SC. The learned counsel (a “senior” one at that!) – without mentioning he was the learned counsel in question – spoke about “counsel for Royal Investments Inc (who) drew the court’s attention to several articles published in the Guyana Times newspaper which were considered prejudicial to the fair determination of the hearing and the issues before the court”.

Royal Investments is the investment vehicle of Glenn Lall and his sidekick Tony Yassin, who purchased Guyana Stores Limited (GSL). The court evidently agreed with the senior counsel because she ordered the Guyana Times not to publish ANYTHING further on GSL. The Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall disagreed with the judge. She was too threatening of press freedom, he said. So now McKay takes several swings at the AG, but quotes several English cases as precedent.

It’s obvious McKay, SC hasn’t heeded the advice of the more senior counsel Suspenders Lalloo Ram, who’d dismissed similar precedents invoked earlier by AG. They originated in England “which had no written Constitution”!

We hope that McKay has imbibed this lesson in jurisprudence, since the source, Lalloo Ram, is so erudite.

...incentives

We knew it was only a matter of finding the right argument to convince the Alliance For Change (AFC) to change their minds on the anti-money laundering bill.

The threat of by the U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt to cancel Khemraj Ramjattan’s visa worked wonderfully.

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friday, november 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, november 1, 2013

News

Rehabilitation of zoo road commences T he Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, through the Protected Areas Commission, has commenced the rehabilitation of the entrance road to the Guyana Zoological Park.

The work is expected to take three months and address issues of flooding and erosion common to the previous road, the ministry said in a statement. This project is part of a larger effort to rehabilitate and modernise the zoo under the Three Parks Initiative which was launched by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud.

The commission acknowledges that there are a number of challenges facing the Guyana zoo, and that this is just one small step towards transforming the Zoological Park into a modern facility. However, with support from the Beharry Group of Companies, and Conservation International, a larger master plan for the zoo has been prepared.

According to the commission, the vision of the modernised zoo is to connect Guyanese, and visitors to Guyana with the rich, natural world that exists just beyond the limits of our urban landscape. The overall visitor experience will be one

Works have commenced on the rehabilitation of the roads at the Zoological Park

pretive graphics that inform visitors of Guyana’s unique biodiversity and the importance of conserving these animals in their native habitats.

The Protected Areas Commission is continuously working to engage interested businesses, individuals and other groups to support the rehabilitation efforts.

The commission is even open to sponsors using their own contractors and issuing payments directly to these contractors, based on agreed designs and specifications.

Using this approach, spon-

of passing through a series of habitat types which represent different regions in Guyana, such as the mangroves and the savannahs.

Additionally, efforts are underway to create larger exhibit spaces that allow animals to roam freely within a more natural habitat.

This will be key, as over 80 per cent of the animals currently housed at the facility were not collected by the zoo, but brought in as abandoned, injured or as unwanted pets.

Although the zoo does its best to release injured animals once they have recovered, in many cases they are physically and/or mentally unable to survive in the wild.

sors donate completed, state of the art enclosures rather than funds.

One of the roads that are almost completed

With the planned rehabilitation, the commission hopes to improve educational programmes and install inter-

De headitor ketch de mookness like fresh cold

I

t got some people who does give away dem self so easy that every body does end up realisin that dem stupiddy and dotish. Old people does seh yuh “paglee”. Young people does seh yuh “dunce”. There was a time when people used to tink that it was SEE Hen Sharma alone stupid. Then dem realise that SEE Hen Sharma got company in the person of Mook Lall. And word out now that Mook Lall mookness ketchin people like how lil pickney does ketch cold.

Well, no body ain’t sure outta de Mook and SEE Hen who more “paglee” and who more “dunce” than who. But it lookin like is a strong fight fuh know who gon come fuss and who gon come last. And since paglee-ness ain’t got cure, de fight is on fuh number one.

So was one big comedy show de other day when Mook Lall appear pun SEE Hen Sharma T-VEE station. Imagine Mook Lall and SEE Hen Sharma deh together pun T-VEE! Robbin Son got a whole Link Show segment right deh. And he aint’t gon have to edit that. And he ain’t got to pay actors.

Now a certain headitor start talkin bout councey, and in the process he talk nuff councey. Long ago old people used to seh “dirty”. De headitor put more councey in de paper whah done got nuff councey. And de owner of that paper is a mook. So de headitor ketch de mookness so much that he in sheer councey and surrounded by councey people.

Is no wonder he put a councey headline bout guvament askin fuh more time in court, when it was the other way around. That headitor got nuff councey in he head.

That musbe de only explanation fuh dem kinda councey headline.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

Well that headitor been livin in councey all he life. From Burnt Ham to de Height Man was all councey. And now to more councey from Mook Lall. It hard to believe that one man could tek all that councey. No wonder it now runnin over!

USAID, UG launch interactive Inter-agency partnership on EPA deepens speakers series

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T

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran making his presentation

he United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the University of Guyana, launched the “University of Guyana Interactive Speakers Series” last week.

The guest speaker at the inaugural event was former Speaker of the National Assembly, attorney and political commentator, Ralph Ramkarran. The event offered an opportunity for Ramkarran to share his insights into Guyana’s political developments and to discuss historical and current affairs with students, a release from the U.S.

Embassy here said.

Over 100 students, primarily Political Science and International Relations students, participated by listening to and engaging with Ramkarran.

Students lauded the initiative and conveyed their eagerness to participate in future sessions. Through the interactive speaker series partnership, USAID and UG will host a broad range of speakers reflecting the diversity of political, economic, and social perspectives in Guyana to facilitate discussion and debate among students of the University’s Government and International

Affairs Department and the wider student body.

Students from various disciplines at the University will also have the opportunity to participate in special sessions of the interactive speakers series to meet with guest speakers from Guyana, the Caribbean Region, and North America. The International Republican Institute (IRI) is implementing this activity for USAID. The speaker series forms part of USAID’s ongoing efforts to encourage greater involvement and understanding among Guyana’s youth in the country’s political and civic processes.

epresentatives of regional agencies that are supporting the implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in the Caribbean met in St George’s, Grenada on October 16, to discuss the deepening of partnerships.

The Regional EPA Implementation Partner Institutions Meeting was organised by the CARIFORUM Directorate based in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat. The meeting was made possible through funding from the European Union (EU).

The following agencies were represented at the meeting: the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), the Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat.

These agencies have their

own distinctive roles and responsibilities in addressing the capacity-related challenges that affect regional states and their ability to take full advantage of the EPA. The agencies are implementing EPA-related programming on behalf of CARIFORUM and, in this regard, they are benefiting from resources under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP) to aid EPA implementation.

At the meeting, the Director General of the CARIFORUM Directorate and CARIFORUM EPA Coordinator Percival Marie, led what were interactive, wide-ranging deliberations that elicited views on key actions necessary to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.

Among the outcomes of the meeting was agreement on the need for relevant agencies to meet on a regular basis, at the technical level.

The meeting agreed on the need to intensify informationsharing on EPA-related institutional work programmes, as a means of strengthening synergies. In this regard, it was felt that regional partner institutions should take advantage of cross-cutting compe-

tence in similar subject areas.

The need for ongoing dialogue with respect to experiences in awareness raising and visibility strategies was also highlighted, in recognition of the importance of keeping stakeholders informed on the roll-out of the EPA-related work programmes of respective agencies.

In reference to the foregoing, Marie underscored that “this sort of cooperation lends itself to maximising the support that agencies provide to CARIFORUM states, thus effectively facilitating these states in extracting benefits from the agreement.”

At the close of the meeting, Marie expressed satisfaction that the engagement had provided very useful information on the variety, depth and scope of activities of the agencies concerned.

He stated that the meeting also helped prepare the way for the Second Meeting of National EPA Coordinators and Heads of National EPA Implementation Units and Like Entities. This meeting took place in Grenada on October 17-18.

The 15 signatory CARIFORUM states to the EPA are the independent Caricom member states and The Dominican Republic.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIday, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

GECOM has funds to run local govt polls – chairman T

he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) said it has enough funds to conduct local government elections whenever the time comes.

This disclosure was made during an interview with GECOM’s chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally. He said, “We hardly ever when elections are concerned have problems with financing. I mean parties would be going crazy if GECOM was not financed adequately.”

Dr Surujbally told Guyana Times that he cannot recall any time in the past 12 years that GECOM had any problems with funs for elections preparation.

The commission, he said, is currently carrying out the fifth cycle of continuous registration exercise. Dr Surujbally said by the end of this cycle, it was

said, was looking for an appropriate time during which the citizenry can be educated properly about the new local government system and how these elections will be carried out when a date is decided.

expected that 20,000 more persons will be added to the list of registrants.

According to him, the commission is financially capable of carrying out that exercise which is part and parcel of the entire election process. “Relative to the demarcation to the boundaries, that is going fantastic.

Fully equipped and ready

Voter education

"We have some cosmetics to do and I would say that would be done in due course,” he explained.

This new cycle of continuous registration, commenced on September 2 and will conclude on November 23.

As it relates to the commission’s work on voter education for the new local government reform legislation, he said GECOM was making preparation to start this process soon.

GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally

So far, the commission has already prepared documents and educational programmes for broadcasting, throughout the country and has also produced about 100,000 brochures about

local government polls.

It was noted that there was some uncertainty as to whether that information should be released now or in coming months. The commission, Dr Surujbally

The GECOM chairman also clarified that it was the local government and regional development minister who would decide on the date for the hosting of local government polls.

Dr Surujbally told this newspaper that this should not be disputed, as it is written in the Constitution of Guyana.

He pointed to the fact that the president is the one who chooses a date for national elections.

Dr Surujbally added that besides being financially stable, the commis-

sion was fully equipped and ready to stage the long-anticipated local government elections.

The GECOM chairman explained that certain statutory provisions will have to be made in order to move ahead with the successful hosting of these elections, nonetheless.

However, President Donald Ramotar is yet to assent to four local government reform bills which were deemed vital for the holding of the polls – the Fiscal Transfers Bill 2012, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2012, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Local Government Commission Bill.

The bills were all passed by the National Assembly during the previous sitting.

Inaugural Leguan Nite launched – set for November 9

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ver the years, the Tourism Ministry has been placing a lot of emphasis on domestic tourism, and in this regard, it has implemented several initiatives such as the Wakenaam Nite, Essequibo Nite, and several expos.

In expanding on the ‘Nite’ initiative, the ministry on Wednesday launched the Leguan Nite, to allow individuals to visit and explore the island and see what it has to offer. At the ceremony at the Tourism Ministry’s South Road Office, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh said the event, which is expected to have a greater outcome than Wakenaam Nite is scheduled for November 9 at the Greens Park ground, Blenheim.

Leguan is a small island in the Essequibo River, with a primarily rice farming and cattle rearing community, and is home to approximately 4000 people.

The event is expected to attract a large crowd, because it will serve as an open exhibition to the Region Three island.

It will offer a tour of the island, along with a visit to the beach, which can be used as family time to relax or play a game of cricket or volleyball while allowing visitors to experience life on the island, which includes rice farming, cow milking and fishing, along with oth-

er daily routines. Overnight camping will also be facilitated at the community centre ground and in the school’s compounds.

“We continue in our efforts to promote domestic tourism and afford all Guyanese the opportunity to see their country and experience the various cultural nuances that define each community,” Haralsingh said.

The main attraction of the event, however, is the pageant which consists of five segments and will see nine young women sponsored by residents or former residents of the island competing for the crown.

The young women were at the launch of Leguan Nite and highlighted their platforms: pollution, peer pressure, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, women empowerment, rights of a child, child abuse and unemployment.

Entertainment for the evening will also be provided by the Shakti Strings Orchestra along with local dancers and singers. Local delicacies such as duck, chicken, and iguana curries and coconut choka will be on sale while there will be lots of games and fun activities for children.

Transportation to the island is by boat, and speed boats are expected to work 24 hours on the day of the event to accommodate passengers travelling to fro.

Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh along with the delegates of the Miss Leguan Nite pageant and Leguan Cultural Committee head Philomena Chintamani

The ferry will also be making its usual trips to and from the island; however the ministry is work-

ing to have an additional trip added onto the ferry’s schedule for the day. The Leguan Cultural

Committee, which has organised the event with the ministry has secured sponsorship from Banks DIH,

Gizmos and Gadgets, the Guyana Chronicle and residents from the island. (GINA)

12 News

friday, november 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

High demand for Workshop zeroes in on issues affecting youths remigrant scheme T

H

ousing Minister Irfaan Ali has disclosed that works on the remigrant scheme are moving apace highlighting that applications have been received.

Speaking to media operatives on Wednesday at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence where the ministry held a one stop shop exercise, Ali said initially his ministry was targeting 1000 persons, but it now has in excess of 2500 applications.

He said most of the major infrastructural work for the scheme has been completed, including the laying of pipelines.

“We are engaging the Guyana Power and Light in an effort to complete the electricity installation, once that is completed and with the completion of the Providence well, the scheme will be fully serviced.”

He stated that to boost occupancy in the scheme, the ministry is working on constructing homes, adding that in another six to seven months about 80 to 100 homes will be built.

“The scheme is right on target and we are hoping that a higher level of occupancy can be achieved within the next 12 to 16 months.”

The housing minister said recently a number of applicants have complained that they are having difficulties transferring their money to Guyana, owing to the present stalemate with the anti-money laundering bill, since some banking institutions have already introduced

Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

penalties.

The Remigrant Housing Scheme is located north of the Mocha Road, about one mile east of the Providence Police Station compound, East Bank Demerara.

Most applications are made via the Internet and the applicants have to be Guyanese over 21 years of age who do not own their homes. The minister had stated that the lots range from 6000 to 9000 square feet, with prices between $4.5 million and $7 million.

Ali stated that the ministry was ready to take its game to the next level, adding that the next phase of development will take it into the Diamond Housing Scheme.

he Rights of the Child Commission and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are registering the views of children and youths nationwide on the issue of inclusion, ahead of the drafting of a National Framework on Child and Youth Participation.

On Wednesday and Thursday, students from across the 10 administrative regions converged at the Regency Suites Hotel to express their views on the topic of “inclusion.” ENPAK Consultant out of Haiti JoAnn Granier-Lafrontant, who was contracted to aid in the process of the framework, will provide a vivid picture on the importance of child participation and the required steps to be taken through the eyes of children.

“They will share their experiences as to what is happening at family level, at school level and in the communities, whether child participate in the decision making process and what can be done to improve it,” the Haitian consultant posited.

Additionally, they were briefed on the Rights of the Child Convention, after sharing their perspective on what inclusion really means to them.

“So they had the opportunity to share their own concepts of child participation and view the conditions of the convention and what others are doing throughout the world, as they have provided their own recommendations.”

Garnier-Lafrontant said Guyana has already instituted key steps to protect the rights of

Two secondary school students voicing their concerns on inclusion, in the form of a presentation on Thursday at Regency Suites Hotel

children, noting that the framework will advance the process.

“I think Guyana has made tremendous achievements in this area but I think this is a beginning of a new paradigm, a lot has been achieved here already with regards to child participation so we are talking about youth parliament, and student governments in the schools but this will better the system.”

Work on the framework commenced months ago, however the consultation process only got underway this week. The framework is being drafted in accordance with Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that

children are capable of forming their own views and have the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting them.

Additionally it states that a child should be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceeding, either directly or through a representative.

The draft for the national framework on child and youth participation is expected to be completed at the end of November.

It will be subsequently shared with stakeholders who play an integral role in the lives of children as the consultation process continues.

IACHR urges govt to show leadership on preventing violence

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he Guyana government was urged to show leadership in advancing public opinion including positive measures to prevent violence, by four rights groups that represented this country at a recent hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on “Violence, Sexuality and Gender Issues Affecting Children in Guyana” during its 149th Ordinary Period of Sessions in Washington, DC on Monday.

Government was represented by Human Services Minister, Jenifer Webster. The four rights groups are Red Thread, Artistes In Direct Support (A.I.D.S), Family Action Consciousness Togetherness (FACT) and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD). In a report released to the media on Wednesday, the groups said that the hearing focused on three specific issues currently affecting children in Guyana: corporal punishment, discrimination and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and comprehensive sexuality education in schools.

According to a report by the groups, Karen De Souza, the national coordinator of Red Thread, reported that the principal narrative on corporal punishment is that children are out of control and teachers need the whip to regain and/or maintain control of and exercise authority over them. She said the Education Ministry’s guidelines on maintaining order speak to the regulated and documented use of corporal punishment in schools “as a last resort.”

However, the use of corporal punishment in schools is commonplace, to the extent that teachers appear not to recognise when they are using this form of abuse on children in their care. Additionally, the very

fact of allowing “regulated and documented use of corporal punishment” gives teachers permission to use it, De Souza argued.

However, she said children have suffered needless injuries because of teachers’ violence, alluding to past newspaper reports of dislocated shoulders, fractures and marks left on children have only served to intensify the chorus that children are out of control and that teachers need protection.

Eight-year-old Guyanese Daria Nicholson, who presented her experience at the hearing, described her feelings of shame, anger and sadness having received several lashes from her class teacher because she forgot her exercise book at home. She was never asked by her teacher to provide an explanation.

The groups mentioned that for the second time, in 2012, the National Assembly appointed a select committee to receive submissions on the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools, but the committee has not yet reported to the National Assembly. The civil society delegation reported that the government seems to be pandering to the misguided view that discipline is equivalent to punishment, rather than honouring the state’s obligation to put an end to all forms of violence against children. “Corporal punishment must be abolished,” De Souza reiterated at Monday’s IACHR hearing.

Sexual orientation

On the issue of sexual orientation, Annette Jaundoo, executive director of Family Action Consciousness Togetherness, pointed out that “the state has no effective systems in place to deal with these kinds of issues where children are violently

Daria Nicholson (centre) speaking at the hearing, flanked by Karen De Souza (left) of Red Thread and her mother Zenita Nicholson (right) of SASOD

abused because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, whether real or perceived, by their families, teachers, caregivers or persons who are responsible for their well-being and safety.” She said there is little or no support in schools for these children. “Students face discrimination and are targeted, not only by their peers, but also sometimes by teachers, whose personal views may be homophobic,” Jaundoo told the hearing.

Health and sexuality

Further, information about health and sexuality is one of the only critical tools that young people have to protect themselves from disease, and to make informed decisions about well-being and sexuality. Desiree Edghill, executive director of A.I.D.S., shared that NGOs working along with the teachers to implement the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme in schools, found that the teachers were not only behind in the rollout of the HFLE manual, but they

were also selecting certain exercises to conduct, rather than following the format of the manual and how they were trained to execute them.

“It is important to follow the format, because the exercises build on and flow into each other,” Edghill told the IACHR hearing on Monday.

She also reported that children were more comfortable discussing sexuality and gender issues and issues of abuse with NGO staffers, rather than their teachers.

The groups reported also that Minister Webster spent the better part of the allotted time challenging procedural matters related to individual petitions, which this hearing was not about Commissioner Dinah Shelton, who is the rapporteur for Guyana, reiterated the IACHR president’s response to Minister Webster that the hearing was not an individual petition, but a general hearing, as no individual name or case was the basis for requesting the hearing.

Meanwhile, the delegation proposed several recommendations to the government of Guyana and the IACHR, including that the sex and

sexuality theme of the HFLE curriculum is reviewed and objective information on sexual orientation and gender identity aimed at preventing violence, abuse and discrimination in schools is incorporated, as well as providing training at Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) on the understanding of sexuality and gender issues affecting children in Guyana’s schools.

Concluding her responses to Minister Webster’s report that the National Assembly has convened a special select committee to hold public consultations on these issues, which are still ongoing, Commissioner Shelton, according to the groups, stated that human rights should not be put to a vote, and that these issues need government’s leadership, even in advance of public opinion, including positive measures to prevent violence.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organisation of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote and protect human rights in the American hemisphere and act as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. It is composed of seven independent members who are elected in their individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly, serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin. Created in 1959, the commission has its headquarters in Washington, DC. The participation of the four presenting NGOs at this IACHR hearing was supported by the European Union, through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, Equal Rights Trust, Heartland Alliance for Human Rights and Human Needs, COC Netherlands and the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition.

NEWS

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FRIday, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

EPA implementation support, priorities in spotlight A recently–convened meeting of CARIFORUM states and regional partner institutions has been lauded as a significant step forward in deepening partnerships, in relation to the implementation of the CARIFORUMEU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The Second Meeting of National EPA Coordinators and Heads of National EPA Implementation Units and Like Entities, convened in St George’s, Grenada October17-18, provided insight into matching resources allocated to regional partner institutions with EPA implementation priorities and needs of regional states.

The meeting, organised by the CARIFORUM Directorate based in the Caricom Secretariat, was made possible through funding from the European Union (EU).

The engagement was attended by representatives of 14 of the 15 signatory CARIFORUM states

to the EPA. The regional partner institutions represented at the meeting were the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC); the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export); the Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ); the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA); and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat.

Chief Adviser to Grenada’s economy ministry, Dr Patrick Antoine

Broad aim The broad aim of the meeting was to provide for an exchange of views on how partnerships could be deepened at the strategic and programmatic levels between CARIFORUM states and regional partner institutions that, under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Regional

Indicative Programme (CRIP), are supporting the implementation of the EPA in CARIFORUM. The meeting was held against the backdrop of efforts by the CARIFORUM Directorate to ensure that regional partner institutions and CARIFORUM states scale up collaboration, as the regional bloc seeks to con-

front the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities associated with EPA implementation.

In his keynote address at the opening, Dr Patrick Antoine, the chief policy adviser to the ministries of finance and economic development, trade, planning and cooperatives of Grenada said the meeting provided the opportunity for participants “to shape EPA implementation dialogue and actions, which can make a true mark on growth, development and poverty alleviation in the region.”

In this context, he characterised national EPA coordinators as being at the forefront of the implementation of the EPA. During the meeting, representatives of CARIFORUM states placed strong emphasis on some common priority areas, for which capacitybuilding is required.

These include the need to strengthen the productive and competitive capacity of economic operators. The dis-

cussions underscored the use of geographical indications (GIs) as a tool for increasing the competitiveness of CARIFORUM products.

The meeting addressed issues in relation to services, in particular cultural and creative industries, and endorsed the support being provided in this regard to build the capacity of the private sector.

The meeting also emphasised the importance of support in the areas of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.

Rules of origin-related capacity-building and training were also the focus of attention.

Market intelligence Participants also placed particular emphasis on the importance of market intelligence support and, in that regard, the provision of actionable information to private sector operators. Participants stressed the need for outreach to be informed by

market intelligence, so that smaller private sector operators, in particular, can be effectively positioned to make inroads into extra-regional markets. In this regard, the French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs) were the subject of discussion.

The link was also made, in deliberations, between the outreach aiding in the type of buy-in necessary from private sector stakeholders regarding compliance-oriented monitoring, as well as monitoring for ‘impacts’, in the medium- to long-term with respect to the EPA. Regional partner institutions sought to call attention to their EPA-related work programmes, to date, and the scope for continued support to help address supply-side constraints at the national level that stymie translating market access into market penetration.

The 15 signatory CARIFORUM states to the EPA are the independent Caricom member states and The Dominican Republic.

Sixth form school still on the cards – Manickchand

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand said government was still looking to establish a sixth form school in the country to adequately prepare students wishing to sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations

(CAPE).

Speaking to this publication during an interview on Thursday, Manickchand said the setting up of the school was under active consideration and emphasised that she hoped it will become a reality.

Manickchand highlighted that there were a number of issues which government must examine before establishing such a school.

“One of the disadvantages is that the CAPE teachers also teach other courses in other grades and levels in

the same school, so we have to do some balancing,” she said.

She said, with a sixth form school, all CAPE students would be in one learning environment, there would be no overcrowding, and it would aid them to

better transition between secondary school and university.

Manickchand stated that a site e close to the University of Guyana is being eyed for the establishment of the school.

At the 15th National

Education Awards Ceremony, former Education Minister Shaik Baksh had announced plans to create a sixth form school. Each year, the number of students who write CAPE examinations increases.

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guyanatimesgy.com

News

Armed police, city constables remove “wormy beef” from JAP's meat centre

– investigation underway

By Whitney Persaud

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he Guyana Police Force and officials from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC)

in 11 freezers in the facility.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba said the beef was seized and destroyed at the municipal

meat storage and sale.

Jeyes fluid was thrown on the seized meat in the presence of police superintendent Errol Watts, City Council’s Chief Meat and

Police ranks block the entrance to the JAP’s meat centre while several others and the inspectors from City Council conducted a search

The interior of JAP’s

swooped down on JAP’s meat centre at approximately 13:30h Thursday, after receiving complaints about worms being found in meat being sold at the facility.

Ranks and employees of the centre were seen fetching out the spoilt beef, which was reportedly illegally imported, out of the meat centre building at 56 Robb Street, Georgetown, after the investigation began on Thursday around noon.

Some 589 kilograms of decomposing meat were among the parcels that were found

abattoir on Water Street.

She said the M&CC’s fit for consumption stamp was not on any of the meat that was checked during the investigation.

“City Council officials, accompanied by ranks from police, found 11 freezers which contained infected beef with no legal marking of the Mayor and City Council stamp,” she explained.

Sooba said that the meat centre was also not following the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for

Food Inspector (CH&FI) Jackdeep Singh and JAP’s meat centre shop assistant Ameer Mohammed.

From the report compiled by the CH&FI it was revealed that the meat centre is owned and operated by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) M&CC councillor Ahmad Rahaman.

Reports allege that after receiving information of imported meat that was not stamped being sold at the facility, the Guyana Police Force sought the as-

sistance of the City Council to launch an investigation.

Vanloads of armed police ranks flocked the meat centre and began to search the premises.

A senior City Council official, who spoke with this publication, said the meat centre was buying meat from countries that was not compliant with the standards of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department.

“They have removed the meat and they are going to burn it,” the source said, adding that it posed a serious threat to the lives of Guyanese.

The proprietor has been taken into custody at the Brickdam Police Station to assist with the investigation.(whitneyp@guyanatimesgy.com)

Some of the meat that was loaded onto the police van to be disposed of after hours of investigation

Dominican Republic denies Illegal Trinis working The immigration ruling is “racist” as slaves in Venezuela T

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here is evidence of undocumented citizens of this country working at ice-cream distribution factories in Venezuela for low wages, long hours and under slavery conditions. This was revealed by Venezuela’s Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez as he responded to questions during a joint press conference with this country’s Justice Minister Emmanuel George and National Security Minister Gary Griffith. The conference took place at the

Justice Ministry, Tower C, International Waterfront, Port of Spain.

Rodriguez said in Venezuela there were incidents where TT citizens would arrive and work in ice-cream distributions companies without documents and under conditions of slavery. He said though his delegation did not have specific statistics, it was one of the issues soon to be addressed under new security arrangements made with this country.

Delegations from the two countries met Wednesday to discuss collaborations on security operations on issues ranging from human and drug trafficking to border patrol and prisoner transfer issues. Both countries would work together on security issues, conduct operations and exercises jointly in an effort to decrease crimes between the nations. Both this country and Venezuela are transshipment points in the international drug trade. (Excerpt from

he Dominican Republic has denied that a ruling by its highest court, which says that the children of undocumented migrants are not eligible for Dominican nationality is discriminatory.

Human rights groups have warned that it could leave tens of thousands of people of Haitian descent stateless. But The Dominican Republic says it is trying to “regularise” the status of undocumented immigrants to its country.

It also said it would pro-

vide migrants with temporary resident permits.

Dominican Ambassador to London Federico Cuello Camilo told the BBC that there would be “no mass deportation” of undocumented workers from The Dominican Republic in the wake of the ruling.

The ruling by the Dominican constitutional court was issued in September in response to a case brought by the Dominican-born daughter of Haitian migrants, who had been refused a Dominican

identity card.

The judges ruled that because both of her parents were undocumented migrants they were considered to be “in transit” through the Dominican Republic and therefore she was not automatically entitled to Dominican citizenship.

The decision caused an outcry among the country’s 450,000 immigrants of Haitian descent, many of whom consider themselves Dominican and do not hold Haitian papers. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Jamaican police officer found Mexico passes “junk food tax” reform guilty of girlfriend’s murder

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he Mexican Senate has approved a tax reform bill imposing new levies on junk food and soft drinks. President Enrique Pena Nieto’s project also aims to boost government revenue by increasing top earners’ income tax.

The government says the extra cash will go on infrastructure and social security, but critics say it will hurt Mexico’s sluggish growth. Mexico recently surpassed the United

States as the country with the highest obesity rates in the world.

The country’s health authorities say there are more than five million obese children in the country and a 9.2 per cent incidence of diabetes among children.

“Obesity and diabetes are affecting school and work performances, and with it, the country’s economic competitiveness,” Mexico’s Health Minister, Mercedes Juan, told reporters on Thursday, at the

Trinidad Guardian)

launch of a country strategy to tackle the problem.

It involves a big push to label unhealthy food, restrict advertisements to protect children and boost physical exercise in schools and workplaces. The Senate approved the tax reform after more than eight hours of debate, proposing amendments that require another vote by the lower house.

After the Congress’ final approval, it will need approval by President Pena Nieto. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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ascene Edwards, the police constable on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, was found guilty in the Home Circuit.

The 12-member jury panel started deliberations at approximately 15:50h Thursday afternoon returning the verdict some three hours later.

He will be sentenced next week Tuesday. Edwards was on trial for murder in the shooting death of Aldonna

Harris, the mother of his child, at her home in 2003.

He’s alleged to have left a suicide note at the scene, giving the impression that Harris had killed herself.

The prosecution’s handwriting expert, Senior Superintendent Carl Major, testified previously that the purported suicide note found by Harris’ body at her Pembroke Hall, St Andrew home, was written by Edwards.

Major came to that conclusion after analysing the note and a handwriting sample submitted by Edwards. But the defence in an effort to discredit Major’s result questioned the method he used in arriving at his conclusion.

The defence’s own handwriting expert was inconclusive in his analysis of the ‘suicide’ note and Edwards’ writing. Edwards had also testified in his own defence.

(Jamaica Observer)

15 Around the world

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, november 1, 2013

Syrian chemical weapons Israeli planes strike Syrian equipment destroyed – OPCW military base, U.S. official says

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yria’s declared equipment for producing, mixing and filling chemical weapons has been destroyed, the international watchdog says. This comes a day before the deadline set by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The weapons have been placed under seal, an OPCW spokesman said. Inspectors were sent to Syria following allegations, denied by the government, that its forces had used chemical weapons in civilian areas. The inspections were agreed between Russia and the U.S. after Washington threatened to use force in Syria.

Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told the BBC’s Lyse Doucet that it had not been difficult for Syria’s government

I

Jerry Smith, OPCW: “We have... observed all of the destruction activities”

to meet its obligations, as some had initially feared. “I hope those who have always thought of us negatively will change their minds and understand that Syria was, is, and will be always a constructive partner,” Mekdad told our correspondent.

Now that the equipment has been put beyond use,

Syria has until mid-2014 to destroy the chemical weapons themselves.

In Washington, U.S. state department official Thomas Countryman said: “I am increasingly confident that we will be able to complete this task... within the target date of June 30 of next year”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

sraeli warplanes struck a military base near the Syrian port city of Latakia this week, an Obama administration official told CNN on Thursday.

An explosion at a missile storage site in the area was reported in the Middle Eastern press, but an attack has not been confirmed by the Israeli government.

The target, according to the Obama administration official, was missiles and related equipment the Israelis felt might be transferred to the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah. The

official declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information.

There was some confusion about the timing of the attack, with some reports saying it happened Wednesday, and others saying Thursday.

When asked for comment, an Israel Defence Forces spokeswoman told CNN: “We don’t refer to foreign reports.”

Israel has been accused several other times this year of launching airstrikes inside Syria, including once

in January. In the January incident, a U.S. official said Israeli fighter jets bombed a Syrian convoy suspected of moving weapons to Hezbollah. Syrian rebels warn against talks with regime Israel’s military did not comment on any of the allegations at the time, but has long said it would target any transfer of weapons to Hezbollah or other groups designated as terrorists, as well as any effort to smuggle Syrian weapons into Lebanon that could threaten Israel. (Excerpt from CNN)

France strives for a piece of Angola’s “economic miracle”

Niger migrants died from thirst, after stranding in Sahara desert

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he bodies of 92 people, almost all women and children, have been found in the Sahara desert.

Rescuers said the people had died of thirst after their vehicle broke down during their attempt to reach Algeria from Niger.

An aid worker in Niger, a vast, landlocked country that straddles the desert between north and subSaharan Africa, told the Guardian that the scene was traumatic for the rescuers. They had discovered the bodies scattered in small groups around the desert.

“This is extremely difficult and the most horrible thing I have ever seen,” said Almoustapha Alhacen, a rescuer who lives in Arlit, a uranium mining town 50 miles away. “These are women and children; they were abandoned and left to die. We found them scattered over a large area, in

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius’s visit to Angola on Thursday is meant to offer France’s business leaders the opportunity to partake in the African country’s economic boom. But many see Angola’s “economic miracle” as a mirage

Graves are dug for the migrants who died in the Sahara in October.

Of this migrant group, 21 who survived reached the nearest town, Arlit, in Niger

small groups. Some were lying under trees, others exposed to the sun. Sometimes we found a mother and her children. Some were children alone.”

“They were left there for so long that their bodies are decomposed. Some of the bodies are still there.” The group was discovered after

survivors reached Arlit on foot. Local experts said that the people were victims of human trafficking and were believed to have died two weeks ago as they tried to walk 12 miles in scorching sun to reach a well after the lorry they were travelling in broke down leaving them stranded. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

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he delegation of business leaders accompanying French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on his visit to Angola on Thursday, October 31, is impressive.

Among them are top representatives from Air France, Airbus, BNP Paribas, and Total, all hoping to get a piece of the economic boom the southern African country has been enjoying over the last several years. The stakes of this diplomatic visit are even articulated on the website of France’s finance minis-

try, where the Angola page reads: “Few countries in the world have as great a potential as Angola, where, despite the competition, there are several possibilities for French companies.”

On paper, Angola’s “economic miracle” is obvious. Since the end of the bloody civil war that ravaged the country from 1975 to 2002, the former Portuguese colony has registered rates of growth comparable to China’s. Despite a slowdown during the first years of the financial crisis, Angola saw its annual

growth rise above seven per cent as of 2012.

Analysts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have predicted that the country – Africa’s third strongest economically, after South Africa and Nigeria – will maintain this growth rate for years to come.

Moreover, China has lobbied to become Angola’s principal business partner, investing more than 15 billion dollars in 17 different economic agreements with the country. (Excerpt from France24)

Clinton and Republican President George W Bush.

Republicans hailed the vote as a victory in their bid to stop Obama from turning the court into a rubber stamp for his administration. Democrats denounced it as a partisan attack on a president trying to fulfill his responsibility to fill court vacancies.

Obama picked Millett for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which is considered the country’s second

most important court, behind only the U.S. Supreme Court.

One of 13 circuit courts of appeals, it handles cases involving federal regulatory issues, the role of government and the separation of powers between Congress and the president. Due to its clout, the court has traditionally been the target of fights between Senate Democrats and Republicans, who confirm all federal judicial nominees. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Turkey women MPs Senate Republicans block break headscarf taboo key Obama court nominee F

our female legislators wearing headscarves have walked into Turkey’s parliament in Ankara, marking an end to the early 1920s ban on the Muslim symbol imposed in the early days of the Turkish Republic.

Thursday’s symbolic action highlighted an emerging trend in Turkey where the issue of headscarves remains highly sensitive as it is viewed by secularists a sign of political Islam in stark contrast to the republic’s strongly secular traditions.

The four MPs – Sevde Beyazit Kacar, Gulay Samanci, Nurcan Dalbudak and Gonul Bekin Sahkulubey are members of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) which has Islamist roots and has gained a strong following in this nation of 74 million.

AKP legislators declared the ban on headscarves as a civil rights issue that had prevented religious women from expressing themselves freely in Turkish politics. “I have always said that we

overlooked the problem of equality between men and women, but today I think we are finally solving this problem,’’ said Oznur Calik, a member of the ruling party.

The issue has continually been a highly contentious and public issue. In 1999, a newly elected member of parliament, Merve Kavakci, tried to take her oath while wearing a headscarf.

The left-leaning prime minister at the time, Bulent Ecevit, told MPs to ``put this woman in her place.’’ (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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enate Republicans on Thursday blocked President Barack Obama’s nominee to a key federal appeals court, charging that he was trying to “pack the court” to win favourable rulings.

On a nearly party-line vote of 55-38, five short of the needed 60, Obama’s Democrats failed to end a Republican procedural roadblock against Patricia Millett, a Harvard-trained lawyer who worked for both Democratic President Bill

16

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guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

Another new aircraft arrives, upgrades Liat fleet Use of ICT in land administration in Nigeria imperative

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iat is moving full speed ahead with the upgrade of its fleet with the addition of another new ATR aircraft. Liat pilots delivered the latest ATR-72 aircraft at VC Bird International Airport in Antigua with a flight across the Atlantic from Toulouse, France.

The airline’s acting chief executive officer Julie Reifer-Jones said the arriv-

al was significant since it was the first new plane piloted from Europe to the Caribbean exclusively by a Liat flight crew – captains Chris Cameron and Phil Gunsam. Also on board was flight engineer Gregory Marcano and quality manager William Lewis. “This fifth ATR delivery represents our firm commitment to the fleet renewal process as we embrace passen-

ger safety and comfort at all times,” Reifer-Jones said.

Liat now has a fleet of five new ATR aircraft – one ATR-42 with 48 seats; and four ATR 72s, each with 68 seats. Reifer-Jones said the new aircraft have helped to improve the airline’s operational performance, and will significantly help Liat handle increased passenger volumes for the upcoming peak Christmas season. (Trinidad Guardian)

North America

Wall Street trades flat in wake of Fed, economic data

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.S. stocks barely budged on Thursday as investors exercised caution in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s policy announcement and some encouraging economic data.

The central bank said on Wednesday that it will keep buying US$85 billion of bonds per month, noting weaker economic signals resulting from the partial government shutdown earlier in October. The Fed’s statement also dropped a phrase

expressing concern about a run-up in borrowing costs, suggesting greater comfort with the current level of interest rates.

A gauge of business activity in the Midwest blew past expectations in October, while weekly initial jobless claims dipped in the latest week, countering recent economic data that pointed to tepid economic growth.

The Fed statement, coupled with the economic data, opened the possibility that

the central bank may begin to trim its bond-buying programme earlier than previously thought.

“The Chicago PMI spiked higher significantly, showing strength in manufacturing in that region, and the Fed is very data dependent,” said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment officer of Solaris Group in Bedford Hills, New York. “So there is going to be talk because of this that the Fed is closing in on tapering bond purchases.” (Reuters)

Europe

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rofessor Timothy Nubi, has said that the deployment of advanced information technology (IT) infrastructure in land administration and real estate transactions would reduce dysfunctions in the industry.

In an interview in Lagos, Nubi said that the use of information and communication technology would help reduce the bottlenecks and lack of information facing the industry.

“Dysfunctions like weak land markets, conflicts over

Asia

ownership, land grabs, social disharmony, reductions in yields, diminished food security and negative impacts on the environment.

He noted that ICT could play a fundamental role in improving the operation of land administration and in making information more readily available in support of land markets and urban and rural economic development.

Nubi, a former head of department of Estate Management at the University of Lagos, said

ICT could provide innovative outreach channels to the poor and disadvantaged, to ensure that land administration and its benefits were more inclusive and pro-poor.

“ICT in land administration can create accurate, accessible, secure, and complete information about land and property in an efficient way that promotes confidence between the public, its commercial enterprises and governments,” he said.

(allAfrica)

Sony slashes full-year profit forecast by 40 per cent

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apanese electronic giant Sony has slashed its full-year profit forecast by 40 per cent as it continues to struggle.

It now expects to make a net profit of 30 billion yen (US$305 million; £190 million) in the financial year to March 31, 2014, down from its earlier projection of 50 billion yen.

The cut came as Sony said its loss in the Julyto-September quarter widened 25 per cent from a

year ago to 19.3 billion yen.

One of the big drags on its earnings was its Pictures division which made a loss due to some high profile flops.

The division, which also includes production of movies as well as TV shows, recorded an operating loss of 17.8 billion yen during the period, compared to an operating profit of 7.9 billion a year earlier.

“The current quarter reflects the theatrical un-

derperformance of White House Down, while the previous fiscal year included the strong theatrical performance of the Amazing Spider-Man,” the firm said in a statement.

There was also a decline in television licensing revenue due to fewer movies being licensed year-onyear. Sony has also been hurt by increased competition and slowing global demand for TVs. (BBC News)

he UAE’s expat population is finding the country’s rising cost of living is eating into their disposable incomes despite the region’s higher “earning potential”, according to a global HSBC survey.

The study found that UAE expats have some of the lowest levels of disposable income compared to other countries surveyed.

Inflation, coupled with rising rents and property prices, were found to be a con-

stant cause for concern among expats.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, consumer prices have been showing a yearon-year growth of 1.26 per cent in September, indicative of the country’s high cost of living.

Despite this, the HSBC study revealed that 60 per cent of expats chose to relocate to the UAE due to better job prospects as compared to the global average

of only 36 per cent.

UAE expats also cited higher salaries compared to what they earn in their home countries with one quarter of them highlighting the higher “earning potential” as an incentive to relocate to the emirates.

Around 56 per cent of expats in the UAE associate the country with higher salaries, compared to the global average of 27 per cent, the survey said. (Gulf

Eurozone inflation nears four-year low Middle East UAE expats feel the pinch of rising cost of living E T urozone inflation in October fell to 0.7 per cent, its lowest since February 2010, thanks to a fall in energy costs. Official figures also showed the currency bloc’s unemployment at another record high in September.

The figures increase pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut interest rates further. Core inflation, which does not include energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, also fell from an annual rate of 1.4 per

cent to 1.1 per cent.

The jobless rate in the 17 euro-using countries was unchanged from August’s figure, although that month’s rate was revised up to 12.2 per cent.

However, the Eurostat agency said that 60,000 more Europeans were unemployed than in the month before.

Young Europeans, aged between 15 and 24, have been most affected by the eurozone crisis, particularly in the worst-hit coun-

tries, such as Spain and Greece.

The unemployment rate in Germany, the strongest economy among the 17 nations, fell slightly to 5.2 per cent after holding steady for the previous three months.

France, the second largest economy, and Italy, the next largest, saw a small rise in their jobless rates.

European leaders have made tackling unemployment, a key cause of political unrest, a high priority.

(BBC News)

Market statistics Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates

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

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Selling

GBP

$328.45

$332.57

CAN

$196.11

$198.37

USD

$204.99

$207.43

U.S.

$1335.00

Cambio

$202.67

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Indicators as on October 31, 2013 Live Spot Gold

USD Per Once

Indicators Crude Oil

Bid/Ask

$1322.70

$1323.70

Low/High

$1318.50

$1332.10

-20.20

Change

-1.50

USD GBP EUR

AM

PM

1333.75 823.03 975.82

1324.00 824.61 972.10

AM

PM

Oct 30

Change %

-0.94

$108.84

USD per Ounce

Change %

21.91 $1447.00

Open: 15619.92

High: 15651.86

% Change: -0.47 Low: 15544.69

% YTD: +18.63

52Wk Hi: 15709.58

52 Wk Lo: 12471.49

EUR

(CONTINUED FROM THURSDAY)

Enrolled agents

These tax professionals can be helpful when dealing with complicated tax issues, as well as for responding to audits and tax collections.

Tax preparer

These are often stateregistered individuals who can help you fill out relatively simple tax returns.

Retail tax franchises

Last: 15545.75

GBP

-0.83 -23.00

Investors' guide How to find an accountant

Various national franchises offer storefronts where individuals can go to have their tax returns prepared quickly and efficiently

1354.75 843.56 984.06 Changes: -73.01

USD

1349.50 840.23 980.81

Silver

Platinum

London Gold Fix

Oct 31

Price

US$ per barrel

Business)

for a reasonable price.

Next steps to find an accountant

Once you have identified what sort of accounting professional you require, you can then look in the telephone business directory to find likely candidates in your area. Friends or other business operators might also be able to refer you to someone capable of meeting your needs.

You can usually briefly interview promising accounting professionals by making an appointment to

Business concept –

meet with them or by speaking to them over the telephone. Once you have explained your needs to them, you will want to get a cost estimate to cover their services. You can also ask whether the accountant offers any type of guarantee.

They will also usually inform you what sort of documents and information you will need to provide. This might include tax documents, accounting records, identification and relevant social security numbers.

(Business Dictionary)

Accounts payable (A/P)

Unpaid bills. Accounts that are owed to suppliers (trade creditors) as distinguished from accrued interest, rent, salaries, taxes, and other such accounts. Accounts payable are shown under current (short-term) liabilities in the balance sheet. Lenders and investors examine the relationship of these accounts to the firm’s purchases in order to judge the soundness of its day to day financial management.

news

17

friday, november 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

23 receive keys to hinterland houses

President Donald Ramotar and Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali join residents of White Water, Region One at one of the new houses constructed under the hinterland housing project

T

wenty-three households in White Water, Region One received keys to their new homes on Thursday, while 27 others had their roofs refurbished under the Housing and Water Ministry’s second Low Income Settlement Programme (LIS-2).

The close to $40 million project was made possible through a collaborative effort of the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) after a study was conducted on the housing needs of the North West District village in 2009.

The beneficiaries who contributed 60 per cent of the labour and made employment opportunities possible for approximately 25 other residents are credited

for the successful completion of the project. After the priorities were identified from the 2009 study, a design workshop was hosted the following year, where the building size specifications were defined.

Autonomy

The residents were then given autonomy to use the design of their choice, and it was discovered that the majority preferred wooden structures that were seven feet above ground level, with zinc roofs and patios.

The hinterland housing project aims to provide affordable sustainable housing in eight pilot communities in Regions One and Nine.

In Region One, the communities targeted are White Water, Manawarin and Oronoque, while in Region Nine, Kwatamang, Central

Annai, Massara, Katoka, and Apoteri are the identified communities.

The involvement of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry and the respective Amerindian village councils and residents of the pilot communities were integral to the success of the programme. The efforts of the villagers were enough to spur Housing Minister Irfaan Ali to insist that they consider forming a group to undertake works in the community and the wider Mabaruma district.

“A dream come true”

The aggregate number of individuals who were impacted by the project is about 600, many of whom were previously living in dilapidated and overcrowded settings. White Water has a Warrau population of 1190.

President Donald Ramotar and Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali with residents of White Water One who showed off the keys to their new homes

The majority of the beneficiaries who spoke with the Government Information Agency (GINA) were overjoyed at what they said was “a dream come true”. One resident fought back tears as she explained what the project meant for her and the village.

President Donald Ramotar, who visited the village for the first time since becoming head of state, was honoured to hand over the keys to the beneficiaries.

He also visited the newlyconstructed and refurbished buildings in the company of Minister Ali, Region One Chairman Paul Pierre and other officials of the region and the CH&PA. He explained that the people of the hinterland have always been at the heart of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) admin-

istration and deserve opportunities equal to those of every other Guyanese.

He regarded the hinterland housing project as one of several initiated by successive PPP/C governments over the past two decades to enhance the quality of life for citizens after undertaking the burdensome task of repairing a broken economy.

Housing programme

The total number of houses to be covered under this programme is 208.

Among them are 122 full houses measuring 20 by 25 ft, and 86 that will have their thatch roofs replaced with zinc sheets.

Minister Ali was happy to report that the Housing Ministry has used up 85 per cent of the second LIS loan, and that in White Water, over $37 million has been in-

vested to improve living conditions of residents.

A total of $200 million has been budgeted for the hinterland housing programme and will complement the investments made to bring potable water into the communities.

The homes have been designed to trap rain water. “In the last five years, we have invested more than $2.9 billion in the hinterland water system…,” Minister Ali said.

A few years ago, the government procured plastic tanks for free distribution to communities where the cost of providing water was or costly.

Today, water coverage for hinterland communities is at 73 per cent and this figure is expected to reach 80 per cent in another two years.

Stray pigs a danger in Grove Road safety body highlights challenges

T

he Home Affairs Ministry stray catching programme appears to be having an impact in some areas, but not in certain East Bank Demerara communities.

According to one Grove resident, Xavier Singh, pigs and other animals have been roaming many streets in a number of villages – breaking up fences, digging up streets, eating from garbage bins, breaking pipes, destroying gardens, and attacking small children.

“In Grove, the pigs mess up on the streets where small children play – it’s very unsafe, as pigs carry around some deadly diseases, including tapeworms,” he said, adding that no one seems to be doing anything about the situation, because they are scared of the owners of these animals.

It was reported to Guyana Times that, on weekends, the owners would slaughter the animals and sell the meat on horse-drawn carts without any documentation from the health authorities. “Grove

…as Road Safety Month commences

T

Pigs frequently cause traffic jams in Grove

is a residential and business area, not a farm land,” he said irately.

Singh said these pigs have caused significant damage to the sea defence in the community, as they dig up and eat the small mangrove plants that serve as a protective barrier against the Demerara River. He noted that the pigs do not carry their owner’s brand, and they roam the busy Grove Public Road. “They could cause some significant damage to people’s vehicles and also cause death or injuries,” he said.

Singh added that a report was made to the Grove

Police Station, but the station’s animal pound is not operational. One police officer said he could not do anything, and referred the resident to the Agriculture Ministry. Apparently, he was unaware that the stray catching programme falls under the Home Affairs Ministry.

“Everyone is turning a blind eye on this matter,” Singh lamented. “I would like the government to get involved in this matter and recommend that the relevant authorities make land available in a safer location for these animal owners to do their farming.”

he Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) is concerned that there has been a vast influx of vehicles on the roadways, even as the road network remains limited. And it is believed that the expansion of the East Coast and East Bank highways would be an integral step in overcoming this.

Acting GNRSC Chairman Norman Mc Lean said 10,000 to 12,000 vehicles are brought onto Guyana’s roadways yearly, but roadways remain small, creating higher risks for accidents to occur.

This, along other concerns plaguing the traffic department, was raised at a press conference on Thursday to highlight plans for Road Safety Month 2013.

Meanwhile, according to West Demerara Road Safety Association Chairman Shahab Hack, the time has come for a concerted effort to reduce accidents and the body will continue to take the necessary measures.

The organisations are

calling on corporate Guyana to get on board to assist with funding. The council also raised concerns that the police traffic department did not have sufficient tools and equipment to put measures in place to help prevent road accidents.

Limited resources

“We have recognised that they (the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department) are ill-equipped to do the job. For instance on my side – West Demerara, the police, they don’t have flashers, they’re stopping traffic in the night with their hands, they’re not visible, they don’t have vests, they don’t have cones, they don’t have enough breathalysers.

“So, we’re trying to make whatever we can make available to them,” Hack pointed out.

As it relates to breathalysers, the council believes they are needed at every police station across the country.

Weighing in on the issue, McLean said he was aware

that there were not enough breathalysers at police stations countrywide, as he has witnessed a case in which a driver had to be taken from the East Coast of Demerara to Georgetown to West Demerara, just to be tested.

“It just tells you how limited are our resources, these should be available everywhere,” he added.

The Road Safety Month kicks off today, under the theme “Alcohol, speed and inattentiveness cause accidents. Drive wise and save lives” It will get under way with a major launching activity in front of Parliament Square to guarantee wide public viewership. There will be a simulation exercise depicting an accident and its consequences to send a message to the public.

Eighty-three deaths caused by 77 road accidents have been recorded thus far for 2013, compared to 89 in 2012. The accidents are said to have been the result of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, November 1, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) You will master something that you’ve been working on. Expect to receive the go-ahead for a project. Travel will lead to unexpected delays and an emotionally fraught situation.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) Listen to what people are telling you and follow rules or directions explicitly. With a couple of lastminute changes, you will please someone who is counting on you.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Don’t stop or look back.

Take what you know and make it work for you. You’ll leave a good impression on others, and your uncanny timing will make others take note.

CANCER (June 21July 22) Socialise, entertain and plan to do something exciting. Taking part in a new experience will bring you joy and encourage you to take positive action to improve your life.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) You should pay attention to romance, love and domestic harmony today. A change may be required, and you’ll have the courage to make it.

Confidence will be called for, so make sure you have it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Take a trip to a place that inspires you.

Mingling with people you can learn from will lead to an interesting destination.

You can make a difference and find a solution.

Peanuts ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Erratic behaviour and emotional outbursts can be expected if you fail to rein in your spending. Beware of extravagance and keep life simple.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) You may have to give up one thing in order to get another. Base your decision on end results, not immediate gratification.

A trendy new look will attract compliments.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Do whatever it takes to improve an important relationship. Taking a small vacation or making enlivening changes to your home will help. Focus on small things that bring great enjoyment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Mixing business with pleasure will be beneficial. Setting up interviews or sending out your resume will lead to greater prosperity. Give a friendly nudge to someone if it will get you ahead.

Thursday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) Do something that interests you today.

Meeting people and sharing stories and ideas will give you a boost and help you turn an uncertain situation around. Make your move and stick to it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) The things you do for others will make a big difference. Call in favours and discuss plans that include adventure, excitement and travel. You will obtain valuable information and firm up future plans.

news 19

YELLOW PAGES friDay, november 1, 2013

dentistry Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

EDUCATION SAT/AP/CXC/IGCSE English classes, personalized tutoring. Phone: 6124821 after 4pm, 274-0437 after 7pm.

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

FOR SALE Spare parts for 1-2-3-4 and 6 cylinder diesel engines for Lister, Pieter, Kobota, Perkins, Veutz, Fiat, John Deer, Case IH, Cummings, Bedford and Leyland Daf . Phone 619-4483, 601-7883, 226-6325 Machinery 2 wheel and 4-wheel drive tractors; Massey Ferguson, Ford, John Deer and New Holland. Also available open air or super silence generators.

Phone 619-4483, 601-7883, 226-6325 Tibertian terrior pups phone: 6196086, 699-7077.

Mercury in large quantity, 99.9999% purity. Call: 219-4535/693-5004/ 6791985

GOLDSMITH R.Sookraj & Gift Shop for the best in hand made jewellery ,(made to order) Phone: 612-2125/223-6156

health Are you suffering from abnormal behaviors, addictions, stresses, or psychosomatic sickness? Feeling suicidal, low self-esteem, loneliness, unloved, anger, conflicts and relationship problems?

For appointments call 592-621-0552.

12:00pm -6:00pm, Email: healthworldhc@gmail.com

immigration Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/ visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc.

Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates.

Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105.

Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca U.S. Green Card Lottery 2013. We are now accepting entries for the Annual Green Card Lottery sponsored by the U.S. Government. Enter now for a chance to become a permanent resident of the USA. Closing date November 2, 2013. Contact Balwant Persaud Immigration and Visa Services 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings and Light Sts.) Tel: 2251540, 655-3105, 622-8308

MEDITATION Learn transcendental meditation and reduce stress and anxiety, develop full brain potential, increase focus and memory, be healthier & happier, increase energy, vitality and longevity, enjoy more success in life, improve relationships and develop higher states of consciousness. A technique that works for everyone. For next introductory lecture on October 10, contact Ashoke (certified TM teacher) Phone: 233-6921, 609-3701. Email kashokejp_68@yahoo.com askgeneration optician

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 3393536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 9431515 for the perfect trendy touch.

Two-bedroom self contained apt.

Caneville, Grove. PHONE: 669-1954 Two modern apartments at Campbellville, hot & cold water etc.

Call: 219-4535 Recently constructed bond with house and office space on the same lot, centrally located in Broad Street, ideal for business or manufacturing.

Phone: 623-0425, 609-2876

VACANCIES One customs clerk with at least three subjects CXC including English Language, mathematics. Applicant must be computer literate. Please submit application before the October 11, 2013 to email: windsortechhomes@gmail.com or call 669-6874 or 682-3481

property for sale 1 property at reasonable price, located in Bareroot, East Coast Demerara. Phone: 612-6417.

One two storey house at lot 93 Atlantic Gardens, ECD; upperflat-3 bedrooms, kitchen and bath; lower flat-2 bedrooms, kitchen and bath.

Call 592-619-4483, 592-656-7471 EXECUTIVE TWO STOREY BUILDING 3 BEDROOMS WITH ALL MODERN CONVIENCES, MEADOW BROOK GARDENS, MR NARAINE. PHONE: 696-8230 Gas station land. Size: over one acre Phone Ms Liverpool on 625-7582, 681-9293.

1 three-building centrally located downtown in Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, recently renovated, fully air conditioned, ideal for office with spaces for boardroom, or any other business. Immediate possession. Phone: 609-2876.

services Dutch healing and upliftment, for clearing of land, dredging and ground work (strictly interior operation).

Phone: 662-1247.

spirituality Suriname astrology palmist and Djuka healer. The most powerful spiritualist in the world. Are you suffering from the following problems? (any religions) love, marriage, family, health, business, husband and wife relationships, property, court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking, also you can have all evil forces destroyed such as black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, obeyah, etc, and gives powerful protection. Private and confidential. Phone: 674-2112.

Cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá protection against evil. Get help to overcome problems with love, relationship, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money. Call 10am - 4pm. Tel: 592-6901824. Email: anew-life@live.com Dutch Spiritual work. Unite lovers, get rid of evil, enhance prosperity, good luck baths and charm bowu guards, etc. Phone: 220-0708, 6126417, 687-5653

VEHICLES FOR SALE Titan (hardly driven) $3.5M neg.

Phone: 691-9984 JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA PREMIO; TOYOTA ALLION; TOYOTA COROLLA AXIO; TOYOTA NOAH; SUZUKI SWIFT; MERCEDES BENZ C200 COMPRESSOR; BMW 318i; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; HONDA CRV; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, SOLID DIFFERENTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 3, 3.5 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; 3 TON DUMP TRUCK; NISSAN ATLAS 2-TON TRUCK.PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICE AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND A SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST. Toyota Hilux 172 diesel extra-cab pick-up, 4x4 manual (5-speed transmission) a/c, p/s p/w p/l, winch, off road front bumper, KC lights, side baranka bars, bush-ready, Old Man Emu, rear leaf springs, lifted Old Man Emu shocks, snorkel, bed liner.

Phone: 623-0425, 609-2876

WANTED Urgently needed! One plot of land in Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling and Eccles. Phone: 675-7292 One female babysitter, between 40 & 45 years, must be from Georgetown, be able to work flexible hours and some weekends, applicant with a sound secondary education may apply. Phone: 614-5711, 9am- 3pm

TO let

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Two modern apartments at Campbellville, hot & cold water, etc Phone: 219-4535 One house located in Lamaha Gardens, hot and cold water. Call 219-4535

lAND FOR SALE Promising gold and diamond mining land for sale in different areas.

Phone:699-3992.

EXECUTIVE TWO STOREY BUILDING 3 BEDROOMS WITH ALL MODERN CONVENIENCES FURNISHED/ UNFURNISHED, MEADOW BROOK GARDENS, MR NARAINE. PHONE: 6968230

– undergo training

T

he Local Government and Regional Development Ministry has concluded its workshop to review the third quarter and projection for the fourth quarter of the year, with regional and local government officers.

The participants of the three-day, in-house workshop comprised five senior regional development officers (SRDOs), eight regional development officers (RDOs) and two municipal services officers, who presented updates of the various regions. The officers’ report sought to highlight the status of the work programme of the 10 regions and the 65 neighbourhood democratic councils and six municipalities.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud highlighted the importance of this gathering to the ministry, and commended the RDOs for their efforts within their region and their continued guidance in the affairs of the ministry.

Emphasis was placed on the roles and functions of the RDOs, commonly referred to as the ground representatives and being the eyes and ears of the ministry. The SRDOs were also commended as staff, centrally based, for delivering and implementing mechanisms to enhance the quality of services in the local and regional entity.

Junior Local Government

Regional development officers at the workshop with Ministers Ganga Persaud and Norman Whittaker Minister Norman Whittaker expressed similar sentiments of the workshop affording the ministry critical information needed that will seek to allocate resources effectively and efficiently to communities and residents.

In addition to the deliberation of the top management of the ministry with their officers, the workshop catered for in-house training sessions, which were geared toward strengthening their capacity base in financial management.

This form of training will enhance the officers’ skills and knowledge in critical financial records (income and expenditure, budget preparation and other financial statements of the region and NDCs) that will stimulate efficient man-

agement and accountability of the ministry across the 10 regional administrations, 65 NDCs and six municipalities.

With the current expectation of local government elections, the ministry officially launched its internal informative session with the officers and main departmental heads on the ramification of these elections.

It sought to edify the officers on the legal framework, the new electoral system and other basic information that will be regurgitated to the wider and general populace.

Local Government Ministry Permanent Secretary Collin Croal also addressed the officers during the workshop, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Caregivers for the elderly get training

One 450 Honda ATV. Phone: 626-3817

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Get your extra key today.

Regional development officers review work programmes

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

Call: 226-9921

T

Programme Coordinator Dr Enrique Vega

he Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Health Ministry on Thursday concluded the first Training Programme in Health Management for Older Persons in Primary Care in an English-speaking country.

The programme was designed to enhance the skills of health professionals across the country and simultaneously improve primary health-care services offered to the elderly.

PAHO Senior Adviser Adrianus Vlugman said more emphasis needed to be placed on the ageing population. He explained that the elderly population was growing at a rapid pace worldwide and Guyana was no exception.

“It is estimated that between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world 60 years old will double from about 11 per cent to 32 per cent, while the number of people age 60 and over is expected to in-

crease from 600 million to two billion,” he explained.

According to the PAHO senior adviser, the impacts may vary from country to country, and studies indicate that persons within the low and middle-income countries will be affected the most. It, therefore, means, he said, adequate health-care systems ought to be put in place to cushion the impact of an ageing population. Vlugman stated that with social inclusion and adequate health care, countries like Guyana will maximise on the functional capacity of the elderly.

Quality of life

“The world health report from 2012 indicates very clearly that life expectancy is increasing, we are getting older, but the extra years that we are gaining and the quality of life… that we are gaining is actually reducing, so we are getting older but we are also sicker when we get older,” he

pointed out.

The four-day training programme was held against this backdrop, programme coordinator and specialist in the field, Dr Enrique Vega told Guyana Times.

He said the programme was designed to improve the manner in which primary health-care service is offered in Guyana. However, he underscored the importance of continuous health education in this developing area where the elderly are affected by a range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Challenges and opportunities in health care for older adults in Guyana, primary care for the elderly, healthy and active ageing, preventive services for older persons It was anticipated that the more than 25 health professionals who participated in the programme would now lead the way in improving primary healthcare services for the elderly.

20 Durant scores 42 to lift Thunder to win over Jazz guyanatimesGY.com

friday, november 1, 2013

– 76ers stun Heat 114-110

S

ALT LAKE CITY Kevin Durant scored 22 of his 42 points from the free throw line, including a pair with 6.4 seconds remaining, to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 101-98 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

Reggie Jackson scored 14 points and had two clutch free throws of his own with 10.5 seconds to play. Thabo Sefolosha also had 14 points for the Thunder.

Gordon Hayward had a chance to tie the game for the Jazz but missed a long 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

Alec Burks had 19 of his 24 points in the second half for Utah and closed the gap to 99-98 on a dunk after

Hayward came up the ball in a mad scramble with 10 seconds left.

In Philadelphia, Michael Carter-Williams had Allen Iverson cheering from his suite and left LeBron James impressed.

Carter-Williams had a debut to remember, using 22 points, 12 assists, and nine steals to lead the Philadelphia 76ers past the Miami Heat 114-110 on Wednesday night.

The rookie out of Syracuse nearly upstaged Iverson on a night Philly feted his spectacular career. ‘’You see what he can bring on a big stage,’’ 76ers rookie head coach Brett Brown said.

MCW was the MVP of

the fourth quarter, picking up two more steals, harassing James in the lane, and sealing the win from the free-throw line.

Spencer Hawes scored 24 points and put the Sixers ahead for good with a 3-pointer, then a driving layup for a 109-108 lead with 2:01 left. ‘’Everything was clicking tonight,’’ Carter-Williams said. ‘’If we can consistently play together, then we can be a good team.’’

The guys in the locker room might be the only ones who think that.

As the NBA season tipped off, the over-under out of Las Vegas for total wins for the 76ers this year is 16.5, the lowest of any

team in the league.

Against the two-time defending champion Heat, no one in Philly cared.

James missed five of six shots in the fourth, losing the ball on one drive down the middle, then blowing a 6-footer on the next possession. Shane Battier missed all seven 3-pointers in the game and the Heat missed 10 straight shots in the fourth - after scoring a whopping 45 points in the third.

The Heat needed all those points to rally after the Sixers dominated from the opening tip. They made their first 11 shots and raced to leads of 19-0 and 26-4, putting the champs on their heels a night after they received their rings.

James had 25 points and 13 assists and Chris Bosh scored 22 for Miami.

Miami guard Dwyane Wade sat out to rest his sore knees. Coach Erik Spoelstra says he wanted to give Wade an extra day to recover with the Heat playing in consecutive nights. Wade scored 13 points for the Heat in their 107-95 win over Chicago on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Houston Dwight Howard had 17 points and a career-hightying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 9683 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.

Howard spurned the

Lakers to sign an $88 million deal with Houston, joining Harden and a team that made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009.

The Rockets led by four points in the fourth quarter before using a 14-4 run to extend the lead to 86-72 with about 3 1/2 minutes left.

Harden tossed an alleyoop to Howard for a dunk during that span. The crowd roared as Howard pointed and smiled at his new teammate.

Another dunk by Howard, this one a two-handed slam, capped the spurt.

The Bobcats were led by Josh McRoberts, who had 15 points. (AP)

Bowlers help Bangladesh to series win A

fter their famous 4-0 win against the same opposition at home in 2010, another clean sweep beckoned for Bangladesh after they wrapped up the second ODI by 40 runs on Thursday.

Bangladesh defended 247 and their decision to bat first was vindicated despite concerns over the spinners’ effectiveness with a dewladen ball.

Bangladesh made the two new balls count.

Mashrafe Mortaza, who took three wickets, bowled two good spells to make sure New Zealand’s required run-rate never went down. Offspinner Sohag Gazi took the other new ball, and like Mashrafe, tied down the batsmen at first before picking up three wickets. Mominul Haque was Mushfiqur Rahim’s golden arm, removing the McCullum brothers.

When they began their chase of 248 run, Hamish Rutherford was the first to go, chopping a Mashrafe delivery onto his stumps for 1, repeating his score from the first match. Anton Devcich and Grant Elliott were removed off successive deliveries a little while later, the former popping a catch back to Gazi and the latter getting stuck on the crease to

tight spells with the two new balls. Their tidiness in the first 35 overs paid off when Bangladesh lost three quick wickets after the 36th over, at the start of the batting Powerplay, Bangladesh’s scourge. It set them back for the last nine overs during which they added only 63

SCOREBOARD The Bangladesh players take a victory lap to celebrate their win (AFP)

Abdur Razzak, and falling leg-before.

As the chase began to gather pace, the visitors pinned their hopes on the captain Brendon McCullum to make his first significant score on this tour. It remained that way, as he fell just when his partnership with Ross Taylor was starting to worry Bangladesh.

After the second drinks break, McCullum went back to a Mominul delivery that didn’t turn much, missed it and was given out leg-before. In the next over, Tom Latham was run out thanks to Rubel Hossain’s throw after Taylor sent him back after completing the first run.

James Neesham was caught off a short ball from Gazi, caught by a diving Naeem Islam at square leg.

Gazi picked up the crucial wicket of Taylor just after he had smashed a six at the end of the batting Powerplay. That wicket - the eighth falling with the score on 158 - spelled the end of New Zealand’s resistance in this series, as Bangladesh waited for the inevitable.

Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum held things up for a while before Nathan McCullum holed out at longon in the 46th over. The end came when Tim Southee missed Mashrafe’s straight ball in the 47th over.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, were off to a better start with the bat, but none of their batsmen pushed on for a big score. The New Zealand bowlers were accurate and controlled their bowling variations. The Bangladesh batsmen had to be patient, but were often frustrated as they could not get on top of the mediumpacers. Brendon McCullum set planned fields, packing the off side and to his credit, he was backed by the bowlers and the fielders.

Corey Anderson and Neesham both took four wickets, after Southee and Kyle Mills restricted the Bangladesh openers with

Lara inspires WI Women

P

runs and lost four wickets.

Mushfiqur, Naeem and Nasir Hossain fell in the space of eleven balls, which took them from 169 for 3 to 173 for 6. All three dismissals were soft and the shots played, particularly that of Mushfiqur and Naeem, were unnecessary.

ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has offered words of encouragement to the West Indies Women’s team after meeting with them on Wednesday evening.

The double world record-holder was a special guest at a function for the West Indies Women and England Women teams who are in Trinidad for their three-match One-Day Series.

“I respect all cricketers at all levels and I was delighted to accept the invitation to join the West Indies and England Women’s teams. I was happy to see the players and just to relax and share some of my knowledge with them and also hear from them as well,” Lara told WICB Media.

“I was also happy to see some of my old team-mates Sherwin Campbell (West Indies Head Coach) and Ezra Moseley (West Indies Assistant Coach).”

The two teams are preparing for the second ODI which will be played today at the Queen’s Park Oval. The day/night match starts at 14:00h (13:00h Jamaica Time).

The first match on Tuesday was rain off after just three overs. The third and final match will also be a day/nighter on Sunday at the same venue.

Lara urged the West Indies to maintain their good form and also continue to be good ambassadors for the game.

“It is great to see our girls do well and I hope they continue improving. It is important that they take the game seriously and look to learn with every opportunity. They are a work in progress and I can tell there is great self-belief and unity in the team,” Lara said.

West Indies opener batter Kyshona Knight said she was thrilled to meet her hero.

WI Women after winning the Tri Series title recently

Bangladesh innings Tamim Iqbal b Anderson 58 Shamsur Rahman st †Latham b N McCullum 25 Mominul Haque c N McCullum b Anderson 31 Mushfiqur Rahim*† c †Latham b Neesham 31 Naeem Islam c †Latham b Mil ls 16 Nasir Hossain c B McCullum b Neesham 3 Mahmudullah c & b Anderson 21 Sohag Gazi c Devcich b Anderson 26 Mashrafe Mortaza b Neesham 14 Abdur Razzak not out 4 Rubel Hossain b Neesham 2 Extras: (b 5, lb 5, w 4, nb 2) 16 Total: (all out, 49 overs) 247 Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-110, 3-136, 4-169, 5-171, 6-173, 7-221, 8-240, 9-240, 10-247 Bowling: T Southee 10-245-0, K Mills 10-1-47-1, N McCullum 8-0-42-1, J Neesham 10-0-53-4, C Anderson 9-140-4, G Elliott 2-0-10-0

New Zealand innings A Devcich c & b Sohag Gazi 19 H Rutherford b M Mortaza 1 G Elliott lbw b Abdur Razzak 14 R Taylor c Mahmudullah b Sohag Gazi 45 C Anderson c †M Rahim b M Mortaza 37 B McCullum* lbw b Mominul Haque 14 T Latham† run out (Rubel Hossain) 0 J Neesham c Naeem Islam b Sohag Gazi 8 N McCullum c Mahmudullah b M Haque 25 K Mills not out 27 T Southee b Mashrafe Mortaza 0 Extras: (b 1, lb 10, w 6) 17 Total: (all out, 46.4 overs) 207 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-45, 3-45, 4-106, 5-130, 6-131, 7-143, 8-157, 9-194, 10-207 Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 8.4-0-43-3, Sohag Gazi 100-34-3, Rubel Hossain 9-147-0, Abdur Razzak 9-0-351, Mahmudullah 6-0-24-0, Mominul Haque 4-0-13-2

“He’s my favourite cricketer of all-time and it was amazing to meet him for the first time. It was a dream for me and he inspired us to continue the good work we have started,” she said.

Since their re-introduction to international cricket in 2008, West Indies have been the most improved team in women’s cricket.

They are ranked at Number 2 in One-Dayers and in the Top 4 in T20 Internationals.

They recently came from behind to beat New Zealand 2-1 in the One-Day Series at Sabina Park. Last week they beat England by eight wickets to win the final of inaugural Women T20 International Tri Series, which also featured New Zealand.

The Windies boast some of the best players in the world – including Stafanie Taylor the ICC Player of the Year and the Number 1 ranked batter, bowler and allrounder in ODIs; Deandra Dottin, the world-record holder for the fastest T20 century; and Anisa Mohammed - the leading bowler in West Indies history.

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Chanderpaul, Deonarine make merry on first day

21

Ravens hold off Colts for win in Bursch’s Classic basketball tourney

K

OLKATA, India – West Indies batsmen, led by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, their most experienced, heeded head coach Ottis Gibson’s advice and made the most of steady, if not threatening Uttar Pradesh bowling in their tour-match on Thursday here.

Chanderpaul led a strong batting performance and was unbeaten on 91, sizing up his 68th first-class hundred, as the Windies piled up 333 for four when bad light stopped play halfhour after the scheduled close with 11 overs remaining on the opening day of the three-day match at the Jadavpur University Complex.

Gibson said the previous day that his side needed to wisely use the only match they had prior to the first of two Tests against hosts India, starting next Wednesday at the nearby Eden Gardens – and they obliged him.

Narsingh Deonarine batted with confidence and was the perfect foil for Chanderpaul, his compatriot, fellow left-hander and player from whom he has modelled his game, sharing 170 – unbroken – for the fifth wicket. He was not out on 83.

Kieran Powell, another southpaw, held steady in the opening spot with 64 and Darren Bravo, the fifth of the lefthanders in the West Indies top six, was typically smooth with 61.

Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels were the only two that failed to miss out – victims of a bit of inconsistent bounce from the unfamiliar pitch – but they too, promised much and will no doubt look to make their presence felt when and where it matters most.

Play started an hour later than scheduled due to a wet outfield – but overcast skies gave way to hazy sunshine and West Indies were blessed with first use of a docile pitch and a quick outfield after they won the toss.

Gayle started the show with a crisp straight drive off beanpole fast-medium bowler Ankit Rajpoot and Powell flicked Rudra Pratap Singh, the discarded India left-arm fast bowler, through backward square leg for his first boundary to get off the mark.

Just when it looked like Gayle had anchored himself, he was bowled for 18, dragging on a delivery – from mediumfast bowler Imtiaz Ahmed – that kept a bit low.

West Indies reached 37 for one at

R

Part of the action during the game on Wednesday evening.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Narsingh Deonarine

lunch before Bravo, in particular, and Powell emerged from the interval to gallop the scoring rate with attractive stroke-play all around the wicket.

Bravo was fortunate on 18, when Singh dropped him on 18 at backward point off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, but he kept his composure to reach his 50 from 57 balls in just under 1 ¼ hours with a single to square leg off the same bowler.

Typically, Powell looked like the Rock of Gibraltar and reached his 50 from 99 balls in just under 2 ¼ hours, whipping the first ball from Singh at the start of a new spell from the Pavilion End through mid-wicket for his ninth boundary.

The two young left-handers literally had the Uttar Pradesh bowling at their mercy, putting on 112 for the second wicket until Bravo too, was undone by a bit of inconsistent bounce and was bowled off the inside edge, sparking a wobbly 15-minute period for West Indies.

Powell followed in the next over, when he misread a delivery from offspinner Arish Alam and was bowled and Samuels hit a few silky strokes before he was caught behind for 12 essaying a back-foot drive at a delivery from Ahmed that grew on him.

West Indies had sunk from 145 for one to 163 for four, but Deonarine came to the crease about half-hour be-

fore the rescheduled tea break and spent the rest of the day batting with Chanderpaul.

Deonarine batted with crisp assurance, mixing sound defence with rasping strokes, taking West Indies to 194 for four at tea.

After the break, he raced to his 50 from 54 balls, when he lofted Rajpoot straight for the last of his two sixes, but he put away his shots late in the day, allowing Chanderpaul to reach his 50 from 94 balls and overtake him before the close. (WICB)

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 1st innings C. Gayle b Imtiaz Ahmed 18 K. Powell b Alam 64 D.M. Bravo b R.P. Singh 61 M. Samuels c wkpr Amir Khan b Imtiaz Ahmed

12 S. Chanderpaul not out

91 N. Deonarine not out

83 Extras: (lb4)

4 Total: (4 wkts, 79 overs) 333 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-145, 3-149, 4-163 Bowling: R.P. Singh 14-2-46-1, Rajpoot 6.3-1-29-0, Imtiaz Ahmed 16-4-68-2, Chawla 19-2-91-0, Gupta 7.3-0-38-0, Alam 16-2-57-1 Umpires: U. Gandhe, C. Shamsuddin

Jamaica vows to improve drug testing after WADA visit

J

amaica’s sports minister Natalie NeitaHeadley has vowed to improve the country’s drug testing after a visit from the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The visit follows allegations Jamaica’s drug testing regime was inadequate.

Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Sherone Simpson all recently tested positive for banned substances.

Neita-Headley said the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission’s (JADCO) two-day meeting with Wada had been “constructive” and “fruitful”.

JADCO was criticised by its former executive director Renee Anne Shirley, who had claimed testing in the run-up to the London Olympics was virtually non-existent.

Wada’s audit is not expected to be made public

Jamaica’s Sports Minister Natalie Neita-Headley (centre) addressing the media on Thursday

until after their conference in Johannesburg, which runs from November 1215.

Neita-Headley added: “I am pleased to confirm that the three-member Wada team visited Jamaica and engaged in constructive meetings with JADCO over the past two days.

“They had very fruitful discussions with our team and have committed to working in closer partnership with JADCO to make it not only world class but also best in class.

“There is no doubt that we have done some things well but, like with all other growing organisations,

JADCO is only five years young and there are areas that we are seeking to improve.”

The agency is increasing staff numbers, with nine new posts likely to be filled within two months in addition to the newly appointed executive director Carey Brown. (BBC Sport)

avens topped the Colts with a thrilling 85-82 on Wednesday evening when the Brucsh’s Classic continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with an all-Georgetown encounter.

Inspirational play from Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai and some big shots in the final period form Darrion Lewis ensured that the Ravens pull off the comeback win after trailing by 10 points early in the third.

Kanhai came alive late in third with consecutive buckets that would give the Ravens momentum to carry them into the fourth to grasp a 68-63 lead.

However, Colts would go ahead with a two point lead with five minutes left before Dominic Vincente nailed two free throws to put the Ravens back on even keel at 75.

Colts then managed to

take lead with a three-pointer from Shelroy Thomas before Lewis answered right back with a three-point bomb of his own.

Meanwhile, with the game was tied at 82 with 1:09 to play when Lewis made a backdoor cut off a feed to sink a go-ahead lay up to put the Ravens up by two.

The final minute of the game however, was filled with sloppy plays with both parties missing fast-break opportunities before the game expired at 85-82.

Four players finished in double figures for the Ravens with Kanhai leading the way with 30 points while Vincente, 10, Lewis, 12, Jermaine Slater, 10, and Ryan Stephney, 11, were the other contributors.

Thomas dropped a team-high 28 points while Causeway added 21 points, along 13 points coming from Dominique Douglas.

Nadal and Djokovic reach quarter-finals of Paris Masters

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Rafael Nadal

op seed Rafael Nadal and second seed Novak Djokovic have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters.

Nadal beat Jerzy Janowicz 7-5 6-4, while Djokovic was tested by John Isner but came through 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-2.

Roger Federer will meet Juan Martin Del Potro in the last eight thanks to a 6-3 6-4 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

It was also a good day for Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet as they both qualified for next week’s season-ending ATP World Tour Final in London.

Swiss Wawrinka defeated Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-3 6-2 to book his place in the last eight and he qualified for London for the first time thanks to Milos Raonic’s 7-6 (15-13) 6-4 defeat by Tomas Berdych.

Frenchman Gasquet - who beat Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-2 and will next play Nadal - will also

be competing at the O2 Arena as Canada’s Raonic was the only other player who could have qualified for the eightman event.

The pair will join Nadal, Djokovic, David Ferrer, Del Potro, Berdych and Federer in the English capital.

Djokovic, 26, will face Wawrinka - a man who took the Serb to five sets in a thrilling US Open semi-final in September - for a place in the last four in Paris.

“It’s a big challenge for me and Wawrinka also,” said the Serb.

“Whenever we play each other it’s long exchanges, a very tough match mentally [and] physically - but I’m ready for it.”

Federer, who secured his place at the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday, said his quarter-final clash with Del Potro was a significant one.

Del Potro, who beat Federer last week in Basel to retain his Swiss Indoor title, battled to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Grigor Dimitrov at the Bercy arena.

“It’s an important match for both of us and also looking ahead to London where we could meet there,” said Federer.

“It could give one of us an advantage for London so it’s a key match.”

Elsewhere, defending champion Ferrer set up a meeting with Berdych, converting three of six break points to see off Gilles Simon 6-2 6-3. (BBC Sport)

22

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FRIday, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Dire straits!

GABF president optimistic basketball will rise like the proverbial Phoenix out of its current ashes

By Treiston Joseph

W

ith basketball virtually in the trenches at the national level, along with the lethargy of the local governing body over the years, president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) David Patterson is optimistic that the sport will move in the right direction.

When, however, was not specified.

In a telephone interview with the Guyana Times Sport, Patterson touched on a number of issues including the current state of the sport, saying that it is not at the level as it should.

“As like all sports, I don’t think we are where we should be. I know as a federation we have been trying to improve the capacity of our coaches and officials… we are only as strong as our associations and all the associations have been running their leagues so that is a good sign,” Patterson stated.

Faced with criticism about the stagnation of the sport, Patterson said that federation cannot be compared to any other sport

David Patterson

due to the lack of financial support from International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world governing body.

“More can always be done and you can never please everyone; we don’t get any subvention from our parent body (FIBA) so everything is based on our federation.

We do acknowledge that we have our shortcoming but we cannot be compared to other sports that might get that type of financial help,” Patterson noted.

Patterson also noted that the sport is being hampered because the pre-

mier basketball facility, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), is also used for other sporting disciplines.

“There is only one premier basketball facility in the country and that is shared among many sports, not to mention any type of convention, so that hinders us from having tournament as frequent as we would want along with the ability to train players regularly,” Patterson stressed.

Meanwhile, earlier this week president of the Guyana Basketball Official Council (GBOC) Cecil Chan suddenly resigned after the council was branded as holding basketball at ransom due to an issue of payment for officials. Commenting, Patterson said he was not clear on the issues that led to the resignation.

“I don’t know the circumstances of the situation and I don’t know whether his resignation has been accepted but GBOC has always had an objective that their officials are paid on agreement before the tournament and that has been a longstanding circumstance because Chin has fought hard for it

The stands tell the tale of the current state of basketball in the Guyana

but I do hope he reconsiders,” Patterson mentioned.

With Guyana registered for the 2014 edition of the Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC) next June, along with the GABF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in January, the president highlighted some goals of the association wants to accomplish by those dates.

“This year we had a Level Two coaching course for the

first time with a coach from Puerto Rico. This should be able to boost the level of other coaches and basketball; we are in discussion with FIBA to set up a mini-basketball league but our very lofty and long term goal is to have our building to facilitate training of players and more basketball,” Patterson emphasised.

Speaking on structure of the game he highlighted, “It’s organizational! We need

to develop our club structures and build our associations and we need better facilities so we can have more frequent basketball tournaments that will bring back the fans.”

But observers have always maintained that the fish rots from the head, stating that if there is no firm structure sub-association level then, perhaps, it is a reflection of the GABF.

Cool Runnings cancel trip to Bago Invitational beach football tournament …three players to represent U.S.-based team

T

he Cool Runnings Beach FC of Linden cancelled plans to participate in the Bago Invitational Beach Soccer tournament, scheduled to kick off in Tobago from today to Sunday.

President of the club, Rollin Tappin has indicated

that due to the fact that the club has shifted its attention to the construction of a beach football facility at the Bayroc Sand Reserve, Sports Club and Fitness Centre at Wismar, Linden, it will no longer be participating.

He noted however, that

Kerron Daw of Comacka Youth Development B FC, along with two of the Cool Runnings FC players, Marmalaque Davidson and Ron Fiedkou, will be participating in the tournament under the United States Beach Soccer Club. They left for Tobago on Thursday.

Tappin said Comacka has also been earmarked as a zone for beach football development, therefore the exposure will be good for Daw. Different beach football teams from Linden have previously competed in the competition under the Guyana Beach Football

Association (GBFA) however, this is the first time that members of a club from Guyana will be participating.

Meanwhile, Linden’s Hard Knocks FC will be hosting its first annual Futsal competition today at the Christianburg

Community Centre ground, Wismar. The competition will see eight of Linden’s best teams vying for over $150,000 dollars in cash and prizes.

Games are scheduled to begin at 18:00h with the final scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.

FROM BACK PAGE

Ramotar hopes FIFA trophy trip will inspire...

Seixes de Andrade, Coca Cola representative Hector Mantellini, members of the Diplomatic Corp, distinguished members of society, members of the corporate community and special invitees.

Dancers of the National School of Dance entertained the audience as they moved to the beats of David Corey’s World Cup anthem “The World is Yours”, while local

singer Tenicia DeFreitas belted out her own rendition of the anthem, much to the delight of the appreciative invitees.

This is the third time that the original FIFA World Cup trophy is going on tour around the world.

Following tours in 2006 and 2010, the 2013/2014 tour will visit 89 countries during its 267-day duration.

It was developed

through an exclusive partnership between FIFA and Coca-Cola, one of FIFA’s longest-standing corporate partners.

The trophy- in Guyana for the first time- arrived from Suriname on Wednesday morning where a limited number of persons were given the opportunity to view and take photographs of the magnificent image of football.

Invitees were in awe when President Donald Ramotar unveiled the golden trophy

Ramotar added, “We are very convinced that sports as a whole has a very important role to play in the development of any society and that is why we have dedicated a ministry totally to have a focussed attention on sport. We are absolutely

sure that it will bring beneficial effects to our nation.”

After lifting the trophy from its pedestal, Ramotar was presented with a replica of the FIFA World Cup by FIFA Ambassador Dwight Yorke, the former Trinidad and Tobago, Manchester

United and Aston Villa forward.

The gala event was also attended by Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Brazilian Ambassador Luis Gilberto

Energetic dancers of the National School of Dance entertained the audience as they moved to the beats of David Corey’s World Cup anthem “The World is Yours”

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23

K&SO switches from senior to schools end-of-year football tournament …insists “nothing has changed” with the organisation

By Avenash Ramzan

A

fter hosting the premier senior club tournament for the past 23 years, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation has switched to secondary schools with the aim of “developing the youngsters Golden Jaguars”, during the December 8 to January 1, 2014, knockout tournament.

During a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel, co-directors of the K&SO, Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey “Shanghai” Major, along with other stakeholders, updated the media on plans for the tournament, one of which will see the top eight schools of the second annual Digicel Schools football championship gaining direct entry into the 24team competition.

The Kashif and Shanghai tournament has become a household name for hosting the year-end senior club event for over two decades, but the organisation has been faced with a stern and rigid Guyana Football Federation (GFF) executive that has requested the

requisite requirements to be satisfied before permission is granted to host the 2013/2014 tournament, something the previous administration had failed to do.

From all indications, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation has not met those criteria, according to the GFF executive. Faced with this major stumbling block, the organisation has opted to invest in schools football, a move that is endorsed by the Education Ministry.

Questioned on how the organisation feels to move away from hosting the more lucrative senior tournament to promoting football in school, Muhammad said nothing has changed. "We’re just doing what we usually do,” he said.

He said, “We got ANSA McAl, we got Mohamed’s Enterprise, we got the same press; I got the same book that I use to write down my list of things to do. Every single thing just continues the same way. The only thing is that we are looking at the younger Golden

Jaguars; that’s basically it.

They ain’t got no changes with what going on; everything remains the same.”

Muhammad, who consistently avoided questions on the organisation not meeting the necessary guidelines for hosting the senior tournament, said they have already started to plan aggressively for the upcoming schools competition.

Unlike the senior tournament, Muhammad claimed the organisation was not required to get permission from the GFF, and as such, has received the blessings of the Education Ministry.

Strategic changes

According to Muhammad, the event will feature 24 teams drawn from Georgetown, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara, East Bank Demerara, Linden, Berbice and Region Seven.

“Our 2013/2014 event will have additional support both in the form of sponsors and other strategic partners. In that context, I wish to introduce Mr. Olata

Sam, the country’s Chief Education Officer, whom I expect will be playing a key role as part of our strategic support team,” Muhammad explained.

He stated further, “This year will see some important strategic changes to the tournament, the most important one being that our 2013/2014 event will offer footballers, some of whom are likely to be part of the next generation of Golden Jaguars.”

“This is a new challenge for us. We got forward offering the assurance that our young players will enjoy conditions no less favourable than those that have been enjoyed by the senior players over the years; except of course that we intend to treat this event as part of the process of helping to provide the youngsters with a rounded education.”

The winner will pocket $1.2 million, 75 percent of which will be used to finance a project identified by the school. The second, third and fourth placed finishers will receive $750,000, $500,000 and $250,000, 25

percent of which will used for a project at those schools.

The Most Valuable Player will be the recipient of a laptop, as well as a onemonth stint with a top club in Trinidad and Tobago.

Admission to the games will be $500 and the participating schools are Wismar/Christianburg, Wisburg, New Silver City and McKenzie High School of Linden; St George’s, Lodge, East Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Queen’s College, Dolphin Secondary, Christ Church and Queenstown of Georgetown; Waramadong Secondary of Region Seven; Leonora, Stewartville, Uitvlugt and Patentia of West Demerara; Bladen Hall, President’s College, Ann’s Grove and Annandale of East Coast Demerara; Ash Education Trust of Berbice; and Covent Garden and Friendship of East Bank Demerara.

The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation is partnering with several entities: ANSA McAl Trading, Beharry Group of Companies, Pepsi and Mohamed’s Enterprise to stage the tournament,

which will be played at the Mackenzie Sports Club, Georgetown Cricket Club, Georgetown Football Club, Den Amstel ground, Number Five ground in Berbice and Buxton Community Centre.

The Guyana National Stadium has been secured for the final on New Year’s Day 2014.

Speaking on behalf of the Education Ministry, Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, highlighted the high influx of private entities partnering with the ministry as a step in the right direction.

He noted that the ministry is keen on producing quality student/athletes and this is another step in aiding that process.

ANSA McAl Trading is on board with the tournament through its Smalta and Tropical Rhythm beverages, and acccording to Public Relations Officer, Darshanie Yussuf, the company is pleased to once again work along with the Kashif and Shanghai organisation, this time in the nurturing of talents in the schools systems.

Johnson released from India tour for Ashes prep A

ustralia have enhanced their Ashes options while reducing the tourists’ chances of closing out the ODI series against India by choosing to send Mitchell Johnson home early from the subcontinent, with the intention of aiding his preparation for the first Test against England in Brisbane.

Johnson’s early departure from India will allow him the chance to play in two Sheffield Shield fixtures before the Gabba Test, and one match before the national selectors name their squad on November 12.

“Mitch has performed very well in India,” the team performance manager Pat Howard said. “However, we believe it is best for his preparation ahead of a busy summer to have him return home to increase his bowling loads in preparation for the Ashes Test window.”

Though Johnson has

impressed consistently in limited-overs fixtures for Australia in England and India since he missed selection for the last Ashes bout, it remains to be seen whether he can replicate white-ball form with the red.

The reinstated Test bowling coach Craig McDermott can be expected to spend plenty of time with Johnson upon his arrival home from India, working to make sure he has a chance of bowling consistently well in Brisbane and beyond.

Australia’s pace bowling order of preference has been shuffled due to injuries suffered by James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird, but there remains some scepticism about Johnson’s ability to bowl with the sustained intensity and accuracy demanded by the diligent approach of Australia’s pacemen in England. To that end, he will now be available for the Shield match for Western

Australia against South Australia at the WACA ground from November 6.

That match will allow McDermott and the selectors to gauge Johnson’s first-class bowling before finalising the Brisbane squad. If selected, he will then be able to build further into form against the Redbacks in the return fixture at Adelaide Oval the week before the Gabba Test.

If Australia’s Ashes prospects have been enhanced by a better lead-in for Johnson, their odds of winning the ODI series in India have now lengthened appreciably. Johnson has been Australia’s most dangerous bowler across the series by a distance, even during Wednesday night’s rousing Indian chase of 351 to win in Nagpur.

Nathan Coulter-Nile can be expected to come in to the team for the series decider in Bangalore.

Mitchell Johnson has impressed consistently in recent limited-overs fixtures in England and India

Wilbur Hope Memorial Schools Football Competition…

Boucher scores helmet-trick as NATI whip NAMSS 5-1

N

ew Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) recorded the largest victory in the Wilbur Hope Memorial InterSecondary Schools football tournament when they overpowered New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS) 5-1 on Wednesday at the All Saints ground in New Amsterdam.

It was the skillful maneuver-

ing of Stephon Boucher who scored a helmet-trick that resulted in the one-sided affair. Boucher scored in the 8th, 20th, 54th and 55th minutes while the opening goal of the game came in the 10th minute off the boot of Rennison Mitchell.

NAMSS eventually had something the cheer about when Rheum Bonnard scored with two minutes left in the game.

Meanwhile, School of the Nations (SON) failed to turn up, giving Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) a walkover.

On Tuesday at the same ground, NATI outplayed Vryman’s Ervin Secondary School (VESS) 2-1.

Scoring for NATI were Darrel Walters in the 10 minute and Anthony Weeks in the 18 minute.

VESS got their lone goal off the boot

of Roy Hinds.

On Monday Berbice High School (BHS) recorded a 2-0 win over SON in the opening game of the competition. Scoring for BHS were and Derrick Taylor, in the 17th minute, and Mustapha Nicholson, in the 38th minute.

In the second match of the day Tutorial Academy Secondary (TASS) inflicted a 2-0 defeat on

arch-rivals. The goalscorers were Joshua Butts and Lamar Reid in the 18th and 45th minutes respectively.

This is the second year that the compettion is being held. It continued on Thursday with two matches at the All Saints ground. In game one BEI came up against SON while TUI played NAMSS in game two.

The first game started at 15:30h. (Andrew Carmichael)

friday, november 1, 2013

TOP SCORES

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

Bangladesh 247 (Tamim 58, Neesham 4-53, Anderson 4-40) beat New Zealand 207 (Taylor 45, Mortaza 3-43, Gazi 3-34) by 40 runs

Ramotar hopes FIFA trophy trip will inspire local stakeholders

shores is the “shadow” to Guyana one day lifting the football World Cup title.

“When you take into consideration the almost 200 countries that exist in the world and only eight countries so far have won this trophy, it is testimony to how coveted this prize really is. But it is even more than that, it is one of the sports that really brings the world together, and removes all distinctions of race, ethnicity and religion as people come together to enjoy the game of football,” Ramotar told a packed audience on Wednesday night.

The Guyanese leader also told the gathering not to lose sight of the success that can be achieved through teamwork.

“And that’s why I propose to try to get the [parliamentary] opposition in my own team so that we can score some serious goals on behalf of our country, and that is some of the lessons that sports generally teach us,” he said.

By Avenash Ramzan

H

istory was created on Wednesday evening at Thirst Park when President Donald Ramotar became the only Guyanese to lay a hand on the prestigious FIFA World Cup trophy- a right only bestowed on Head of States and World Cup winners.

Prior to lifting the 36-centimetre tall, six-kilogramme iconic trophy, Romotar delivered feature remarks at the gala reception at Banks DIH Sports Club to signal the end of activities on the trophy’s one-day tour to Guyana.

He expressed pleasure at being afforded the unique opportunity of touching the trophy on behalf of all Guyanese, noting that the historic arrival of football’s most sought-after prize should serve to inspire all stakeholders to work in the best interest of the game here.

Using the adage ‘coming events cast a shadow’, the president expressed hope that the trophy tour to these

President Donald Ramotar and Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis stand on either side of the FIFA World Cup trophy on Wednesday evening. Brazilian Ambassador Luis Gilberto Seixes de Andrade (third right), Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony (second right) and FIFA and Coca Cola representatives share the moment (Photos: Avenash Ramzan)

K&SO switches from senior to schools end-of-year football tournament

…insists “nothing has changed” with the organisation

continued on page 22

See story on page

23

Chanderpaul, Deonarine make merry on first day P21

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

From left: Tournament PRO Mark Young, a representative of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Ansa McAl PRO Darshanie Yussuf, K&S directors Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey “Shanghai” Major, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam and tournament liaison, Roy McArthur, at the launch on Thursday (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

Jamaica vows to improve drug testing after WADA visit P21

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