Guyana Times Daily 27th Oct 2013

Glenn Lall secretly buys Regent Street property

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The scam continues to unveil

Glenn Lall secretly buys Regent Street property

– hides assets of Kaieteur News, stays one step ahead of the law

It has surfaced that Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall, the man a U.S. cable released by WikiLeaks has linked to human smuggling and with close connections to the criminal underworld, appears to have yet another trick up his sleeve, as he continues to stay one step ahead of law enforcement both in Guyana, the U.S. and elsewhere.

WEATHER TODAY LOTTERY NUMBERS

Lall reportedly used money from his human smuggling scam and secretly bought a prime property on Regent Street, Georgetown for hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars and sources say he paid in the United States with four suitcases rammed with US$20 bills.

An investigation carried out by Guyana Times has unveiled a façade surrounding Lall’s business dealings, investments and assets. Turns out, his ethics – both in dealing with people close to him and financial institutions –leave much to be desired, to say the least.

One closely connected business partner confessed that he has second thoughts about continued partnership with the alleged backtracker and suspected scoundrel. This publication has learned that although Lall portrays himself as a champion of the poor and a campaigner againt corruption, he has sordid secrets that he keeps from his best friends in business and is himself widely suspected to

be involved in one scam or another.

Lall is currently before the courts for not paying taxes owed to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). He is also believed to be reneging on his obligations to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system and Value Added Tax (VAT) for newspaper sales – yet the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) appears to be reluctant to take action.

Whether or not Lall’s bullying tactics through the use of sensational articles in his mud-slinging newspaper is a deterrent to agencies like GRA is another question.

Skimming money

The opposition aligned, mud-slinging, scandal-riddled muckraking Kaieteur News is printed by the National Media and Publishing Company Limited, but the assets of the business are not owned by this so-called publishing company. Guyana Times has learned that assets and profits are routinely tranferred to another shady company.

With Kaieteur News facing numerous lawsuits and contempt motions before the High Court, and the fact that many more are expected to be filed, it is unclear how Lall will make those payments if judgement is granted against him as principal owner. Jail time would be one way out, but millions of dollars in pen-

alty would go down the drain.

Kaieteur News is in breach of the Companies Act 1991 and Lall has not been submitting annual returns for a number of years for the mud-slinging daily, while assets and wealth are being skimmed off and covered up.

Guyana Times also discovered that Lall uses the same modus operandi and runs things in the same deceitful, despotic manner in all the other businesses he owns and runs, that is, besides Kaieteur News.

The investigation revealed that Lall has no respect for proper governance, is heavily involved in insider trading and transactions, and that he portrays his companies as worthless on paper so that pending liabilities cannot be settled based on available assets.

Expolsive cable

Guyana Times was reliably informed that Lall’s sketchy past caused his U.S visa to be revoked in 2006. In 2010, Lall criticised Guyana Times and other local media for publishing authentic information released by Wikileaks in the U.S., which described him as a man with a sketchy past.

“He translated a shoe trading business (and rumoured involvement with alien smuggling) into a muckraking independent newspaper,” a Wikileaks cable from the U.S.

embassy stated. “He has a finger firmly on the pulse of Guyana’s underworld, which serves his media enterprise well,” said WikiLeaks.

In his effort to distract attention from the growing list of allegations against him, Lall’s newspaper has become the chief architect of the scandal industry, although without key allies, he would not have been able to pour out his misinformation in the form of news reports in his own muckraking Kaieteur News. At Kaieteur News, Lall uses Adam Harris as a puppet in the scheme of things for the newspaper’s operations, in particular the peddling of scandals. Harris, for his part, has told numerous people that when Kaieteur News attacks individuals, is it not him, but that it is Lall the owner.

Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall

Sunday Times Editor: Tajeram Mohabir

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

Mailing address:

238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

A house divided

The National Assembly is scheduled to resume its work in the coming week after a two-and-a-halfmonth hiatus or “recess”, occasioned by its members having to take their annual vacation. In actuality, the recess was over since October 15, but unlike the one in the school system on which it was evidently patterned, the parliamentarians can extend theirs at will.

In the present instance, it could be that the honourable members of the House are using the extra time to gird their loins for the expected battles ahead. When the secession eventually gets going, it will mark two years since the last general elections delivered the unique situation of the House of Assembly being controlled by the opposition – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) – while the executive was won by the then incumbent People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

With “Parliament” comprised of the president and the National Assembly acting together, the relationship since November 2011, however, has been characterised more as a “house divided” than a “people’s Parliament”. It has given great credence to the aphorism that politics is “war by other means”.

Guyanese, as such, should understand that the present battle over the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing (AMLCFT) Bill is therefore the occasion for the war, and not the cause of the war – the casus belli and not the causa belli –between the opposition and the government.

Even a cursory look at the reasons the opposition has proffered for supposing the legislation would demonstrate this charge. The AFC has unabashedly announced it will support the legislation if it gets it way with some other matters that are in front of President Donald Ramotar. This is nothing more than cynical horse trading and completely ignores the necessity for representatives of the people to consider the best interest of the country when they make decisions in the Legislature.

APNU has taken another, but just as cynical, tact. It has asserted its dissatisfaction with some aspects of the bill but needs “wider consultations” before it makes a decision. In the time since the AMLCFT Bill has been placed on the parliamentary agenda, the opposition has had enough time to conduct a national referendum on it, if it so desired.

During that time, every business organisation in the country has weighed in on the issue and explained the dangers that will confront the national financial system and eventually the economy, if the bill is not passed.

But if APNU were serious about improving the bill, it would have participated in the process that is in place, and has been working, to deal with that imperative – the Parliamentary Select Committee to which the AMLCFT had been sent to for review. Instead, it has introduced that infamous delaying tactic from the American congressional system – filibustering.

APNU has invented all sorts of specious reasons why it could not attend the committee’s meeting. The latest one is that even though the date of the committee’s meeting had been set long in advance, APNU’s members could not attend because of their “Shadow Cabinet” meeting. Did APNU not know of this latter meeting when it agreed to the date of the committee’s meeting?

But as we pointed out before, all of the grandstanding is simply part of the opposition’s “war” to bring down the government. While some in the opposition have boasted this is simply “hard-nosed” politics, in this instance it is Guyana’s financial system that will be placed at risk.

For a country that has only recently come off the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) list of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and is still without a sovereign credit rating, if Guyana is placed on the “blacklist” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), our efforts at clawing our way out of poverty will be set back by decades.

We hope the opposition will reconsider its stance of AMLCTF Bill in the coming week.

Markets across Guyana taking on a new culture

Dear Editor,

The Mahaica market was officially handed over to the respective Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). This entity is now in the hands of the various leaders to positively boost the structure.

All across Guyana, markets and market tarmacs are being set up and with good reason too. However, I have some concerns which can hopefully catch the attention of the right individuals and even provoke some positive changes.

The Lusignan and Mon Repos markets are creating a bit of a trafficking hazard on Fridays and Saturdays

respectively. I have been caught many times in traffic for an unnecessary and disgusting length of time and many instances, this build up in traffic often stems from a driver stopping in the path of traffic to make quick purchases.

On a good note, there is always the presence of police officers at Mon Repos, however, there have been instances where they never correct or reprimand drivers for inappropriately stopping on the road to make purchases. Police need to see this act as bad practice and should start bringing it to the attention of those guilty of commit -

ting it.

At Lusignan, the tarmac is used as a car park and even for children to play on days when there is no market. Though there is no major problem with this, children need to be told to be careful whilst playing on the tarmac, since the public road is within close proximity.

Another noticeable bad habit is the unpleasant one of public urination by grown men on the tarmac. Clearly there is a need for the establishment of a proper washroom facility.

All of our markets should be more dignified and orderly now. Government is

pushing hard in terms of bringing order, to the manner in which people do business. The vendors themselves must reciprocate and strive to provide healthy, safe and hygienic conditions and products for all. As for proper accountability, where earnings from the use of these facilities are concerned, I am pressing for this to be prompt always. I make this plea now where the washrooms, water supplying facilities and other accommodations concerned must be tended to properly.

Yours sincerely, Maneisha Temaul

Car rental facilities need more parameters to function legally

Dear Editor, I make reference to an article regarding the illegal supply of imported vehicles to members of the public. Two individuals are now wanted for engaging in fraudulent car rental activities. The duo is accused of offering a car rental facility that requires the customer to make a deposit prior to the rental of the vehicle. It was sometime after payments were made that customers began to encounter a major setback. Justice should be served to the victims of this unpleasant happening. Hopefully they will be compensated for

their loss and the perpetrators will face the penalty for directly or indirectly engaging in such fraudulent activities.

I can’t help but wonder if the buyers of these vehicles are aware of the deception at their end. There must be a way to authenticate the relevant documents when purchasing vehicles regardless of its intended use. These buyers now have to endure the repossession of those vehicles.

When it comes to car rental facilities there should be guiding principles governing the rental of vehicles. Customers should be

of a certain age, have adequate driving experience and should ideally provide some form of reference. This in turn can minimise the occurrence of accidents involving rented cars and also show some amount of integrity from the rental party’s perspective.

The misuse of rented cars has become common recently. Individuals seeking to undertake illegal acts often use rented cars to assist them. In addition, there have been incidents of rented cars being stripped of their parts and then abandoned and further reported as stolen.

The relevant authorities

need to take some form of action to minimise this misuse of rented vehicles and to develop the necessary parameters for them to function within. These days drivers tend to abuse vehicles particularly when it’s rented. Minibuses and taxi drivers are plentiful in Guyana and tend to be the culprits of multiple traffic offenses.

Urgent action needs to be taken to address the effortless and sometimes illegal process of securing a drivers licence, in addition to the misuse of rented vehicles.

Yours truly, Floyd Wintz

Roraima Duke Lodge was filled with fun, excitement and horror as scores of children converged for the annual Halloween Carnival on Saturday, in Kingston, Georgetown

Gag on media colliding with press freedom

Dear Editor,

In our legal system, the holder of the Office of the Attorney General is the protector of the public’s legal interest and the defender of the Constitution of Guyana. It is in the discharge of these responsibilities, that I view with deep concern the order issued by a judge of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature against a newspaper enjoying daily circulation in Guyana, preventing the said newspaper from publishing matters which may or may not be relevant to a case which is on trial before the said judge.

I am of the respectful view that this ruling may be in collision with freedom of expression and its fundamental adjunct, freedom of the press, a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution, our supreme law.

Freedom of expression is indeed an indispensable ingredient of a democratic society. My philosophy on this issue coincides with the sentiments expressed by that distinguished Indian Jurist, Justice Beg, who remarked in the well-known case of Bennett Coleman and Co Ltd v Union of India (1973) AIR 106 at 149:

“Political philosophers and historians have taught us that intellectual advances made by our civilisation would have been impossible without freedom of speech and expression. At any rate, political democracy is based on the assumption that such freedom must be jealously guarded…Champions of human freedom of thought and expression, throughout the ages have realised that intellectual paralysis creeps over a society which denies, in however subtle a form, due freedom of thought and expression to its members.”

The ruling to which I have made reference emanates from a case filed by the National Industrial and

Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) against Royal Investments Limited. NICIL is seeking to recover from Royal Investment Limited, monies due and owing in respect of the sale of Guyana Stores Limited, a State owned entity. The monies which are being sued for are public funds. The articles which were published by the newspapers sought to disseminate information, which largely, were extracted from the annual reports of Guyana Stores Limited, a public company that has approximately 1500 hundred shareholders.

Significantly, the very annual reports are required by the Guyana Securities Industries Act, Cap 85:09 and the Companies Act (1991), Cap 89:01, to be filed with the Guyana Securities Council and the Registrar of Companies, respectively, as public records, and are public documents and therefore, information to which the public is constitutionally entitled.

In the circumstances, I am of the respectful view that the learned judge fell into error by issuing the said “gag” order.

I express this view cognisant of the sagacious words of Lord Atkin in Ambard v Attorney General (1936):

“But whether the authority and position of an individual judge or the due administration of justice is concerned, no wrong is committed by any member of the public who exercises the ordinary right of criticising in good faith, in private or public, the public act done in the seat of justice. The path of criticism is a public way : the wrong headed are permitted to err therein : provided that members of the public abstain from imputing improper motives to those taking part in the administration of justice, and are genuinely exercising a right of criticism and not acting in malice or attempting to impair the ad-

ministration of justice, they are immune, justice is not a cloistered virtue: she must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny and respectful, even though outspoken, comments of ordinary men.”

And the similar sentiments of Lord Denning, MR, on the right to criticise the Judiciary:

“It is the right of every man, in Parliament or out of it, in the press or over the broadcast, to make fair comment, even outspoken comment, on matters of public interest. Those who comment can deal faithfully with all that is done in a Court of Justice. They can say we are mistaken, and our decisions erroneous, whether they are subject to appeal or not.” (R – v – Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1968, 2Q.B. 150 at 154)

It is my view that the information which the newspaper was prohibited from publishing, are indeed matters of public interest. It involves public funds. The disclosures are from public records. Even the trial itself, is a public hearing under Article 144 (9) of the Constitution of Guyana. I recall the thousands of cases before which received wide and glaring coverage in the press without a like prohibition from a judge or anyone else.

I respectfully feel that the order issued by the learned judge cannot be supported by legal principles. It is my respectful opinion that it is a misuse, if not an abuse, of the “sub judice” principle. I am fortified in this view by the decision in the landmark English case, Wallersteiner –v- Moir. (1947) 1 WLR 991. In this case, a director of a company tried to stop criticisms of him by shareholders. He issued a writ against them. He then sought to shut them up by contending that the matter was “sub judice.”

Lord Denning posited the law to be thus, at page 1004-

1005:

“I know that it is commonly supposed that once a writ is issued, it puts a stop to discussion. If anyone wishes to canvass the matter in the press or public, it cannot be permitted. It is said to be “sub judice.” I venture to suggest that it is a complete misconception. The sooner it is corrected the better. If it is a matter of public interest, it can be discussed at large without fear of thereby being in contempt of court. Criticisms can continue to be made and can be repeated. Fair comment does not prejudice a fair trial.”

Justice Salmon in Thomson – v – Times Newspaper Ltd. (1969) 1 WLR 1236, puts it even more succinctly:

“The law says – and says emphatically – that the issue of a writ is not to be used so as to be a muzzle to prevent discussion”

I respectfully posit that the legal principles as adumbrated in the cases cited above, will apply with even greater force, in a system like ours where freedom of the press is guaranteed as a fundamental right by the Constitution, the supreme law of the land. No procedural rule or common law principle can withstand the might of the written word of the Constitution. As Justice Vieira enunciated in Re Patricia Whittington (Unreported, 1978):

“Even the glory of the common law must bend and bow at all times whenever there is a conflict, apparent or real, with the Constitution”

I express these views not unmindful of the principles regarding the need to guard against publications which may prejudice a fair trial. However, those principles are more applicable in respect of a criminal trial where that

which is published may have some likelihood of influencing the legally untrained mind of a juror. They will have little, if any relevance at all, to a case where a trained judicial mind is the sole arbiter of both the facts and the law, as is the position with the case under review. Clearly, a judge ought only to be influenced by that which is said and done in the court and not by publications in the press or, indeed, anything else.

For the avoidance of doubt, my respectful comments are not intended in any manner whatsoever to bring the administration of justice into disrepute or to attribute any ulterior motive to it. They are simply made in defence of the Constitution of Guyana and in the protection of the public’s legal interest.

Anil Nandlall, Attorney General

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

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

LScholarships Part 2:

The need for scholarships

ast week I wrote about the importance of writing the CAPE exams because not enough students write CAPE in Guyana. And it’s really not that surprising because CAPE isn’t as well publicised as CSEC is here. I know I’d never heard of CAPE until fifth form, I was still walking around talking about A-levels.

And in general, we don’t make such a big deal about CAPE results. We bring out the marching band, the confetti and the red carpet for our CSEC top students, but our CAPE top students are given a much more lukewarm hurrah.

Like this year, it felt like our CAPE results were announced as a by-product, or side issue to the CSEC results. But as someone who has done both, I can say that by the time you reach university, the things that you did at CSEC really don’t matter as much as what you battled through at CAPE.

We need to encourage more kids to stay in school and do CAPE and one of the ways we can motivate students is to offer them the chance of national scholarships at the CAPE level.

The Guyana scholar used to

be awarded after A-levels, because they knew that sixth form exams were the ones that really mattered.

And our national scholarships should be focused on the STEM (Science, Technology, Math and Engineering) areas. Those are the areas that we need to have skilled professionals in to develop our country. If there are more national scholarship options available at the CAPE level, maybe we won’t have students writing 70 subjects at CSEC in the hope of topping the Caribbean to get that scholarship.

I’ve written before about the importance of our streaming system and how important it is to stick to your stream instead of mixing and matching to make up 70 subjects in the hope

of getting that Caribbean scholarship. We should be offering scholarships in specific fields of study so that kids would have some sort of motivation to be the best in their chosen area of study.

And of course, more national scholarships could hold the answer to our brain drain problem. In Trinidad, The Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados, all of their scholarship students are expected to return to their country to serve for a particular number of years.

And I don’t think that that’s unfair. It makes sense; your country is paying for your education of course you have to give back something to your people.

It’s a win-win for both our country and our students. We could send our top students abroad to get the highest quality education and then have them return home to develop our country.

And hopefully we can get to a point where the development is so significant that our scholars will stay not just because they’re obligated to, but because they genuinely want to stay because of the great opportunities that they could have right at home.

Let’s bring back the Guyana Scholar and let’s offer more national scholarships to our students. We have so much potential in our young minds; let’s give them the opportunity to flourish.

Gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia

During routine pregnancy care, all pregnant women should have their blood pressure taken at each visit. When high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) first occurs in the second half of pregnancy, it is known as gestational hypertension. A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure in pregnancy. Gestational hypertension normally goes away within six weeks of the baby being born. If you have gestational hypertension, you will need to see a doctor who specialises in obstetric care and have your blood pressure checked more frequently.

When a woman with gestational hypertension starts to have other complaints, she then has a more serious condition called pre-eclampsia. Preeclampsia can affect all organs of the body. It can cause stress on the kidneys, leading to protein in the woman’s urine.

Other signs of pre-eclampsia include headaches, visual problems, severe abdominal pain, rapid weight gain, swelling (oedema) of the hands and face, or sudden nausea or vomiting in the later part of pregnancy. It can also affect the health of the baby in the womb.

Scientists are not sure why some women get pre-eclampsia, but we do know some women are more likely to get it than others: women who are currently in their first pregnancy, have high blood pressure before pregnancy, are under age 20 and over age 35, have had pre-eclampsia in the past, are currently pregnant with more than one baby (twins, triplets), have certain medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease, are obese, or have certain immune disorders such as lupus.

Once a woman has pre-eclampsia it does not go away until after the birth of the baby. We can use medication to control her blood pressure but the condition stays and can get worse until the pregnancy is ended. Because it can get worse, for the mother or baby, at any time, a woman with pre-eclampsia needs closer monitoring during her pregnancy. She may even need to stay in the hospital until the baby is delivered. When she is in hospital the doctors and nurses will check her blood pressure several times a day and do blood tests, ultrasounds and heart rate monitoring for the baby to make sure her condition is not getting worse. When pre-eclampsia becomes severe, damage can occur to the woman’s kidneys, liver, brain, heart and eyes. The placenta (afterbirth) can also be dam-

aged, affecting the babies growth or separate early (placental abruption), needing emergency delivery. In some cases, fits or seizures will occur. This is called eclampsia. If these conditions are left untreated they may lead to death of the mother or her baby.

Once they are detected, plans must be made to deliver the baby. However this is not always an easy decision. If babies are born too early they can have complications such as difficulty with breathing, bleeding in their brain or damage to their intestines. So the doctors need to weigh the health of the mother and her baby. Sometimes they may try to hold off delivery to give the mother some injections to protect the baby.

When planning how to deliver the baby, most women can have a normal delivery. A severe form of pre-eclampsia can lead to lots of bleeding so Caesarean sections are usually only done if there is immediate stress for the baby.

The doctors might have to induce labour with medication. If the mother has severe pre-eclampsia she will be given medication through a drip to prevent fits. This drip is continued for one day after the baby is born.

After the baby is born sometimes the pre-eclampsia can get worse before it gets better. Sometimes it is detected for the first time after the baby is born.

Patients who had pre-eclampsia still need close blood pressure monitoring after delivery and may need to take blood pressure medications for several weeks after the birth.

All women with pre-eclampsia stay in hospital for further observation at least three days after the baby is born. Because of the potentially tragic outcomes of pre-eclampsia it is very important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you or one of your friends or family who is pregnant, has any of these complaints.

In addition, if diagnosed, even if you feel well, it is essential to follow medical advice and close monitoring throughout pregnancy for the best possible outcome in you and your baby.

Soldiers taught self-awareness

By Dr yeaswantie Beekhoo

Our soldiers have tirelessly represented and protected our country, Guyana. They have endured strict training and discipline within their profession, and they have also spent much time away from their families and friends; however, they too, like any other human being, require to become more aware of their thoughts, emotions and behaviour, whether during a war, with their fellow soldiers, civilians or their families.

With this in mind, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and government of Guyana saw the relevance of teaching our soldiers self-awareness.

On October 17, I was privileged to have been afforded the opportunity to conduct a self-awareness workshop with approximately 11 soldiers within the Berbice area; accompanying me on this venture was a team from the American University of Research.

Importance of self-awareness

The soldiers learnt the importance of self-awareness by interaction and video presentations. Among the important subjects to which they were exposed, they learnt of anger management, self-control, how individuals are programmed even before birth and that every situation or experience after birth also creates engrams on the brain cells which often results in a reactive rather than analytical response to situations. They were able to view examples of the reoccurrence of violence because of an experience an individual may have had in the past (this entailed the reason a victim of abuse may become an abuser).

Also explained to the soldiers was that within any situation they experience, everything which occurred at that time becomes connected in the reactive mind, and in an event where any one of those recorded information is triggered, they would react. For example, if a person was slapped in the face and fell to the ground; at the same time, a vase fell and broke, a chair also fell, a motorcy-

cle was passing, and the words “you are always changing your mind” is shouted at the individual – all these things would be stored in the reactive mind; if at any time, one of these things occur (regardless of the environment), the victim would relive the same feelings he/she had experienced when the actual incident occurred (the same fear and pain) would take over. It is the same if a soldier in war was traumatised by a gunshot which killed a fellow soldier – the sound of anything like a gunshot would cause that individual to relive that past experience.

Resolving conflict

In addition, the soldiers were taught of self-control and its importance in managing anger and resolving conflicts. The coordinator of the programme presented a copy of a book on self-awareness so that each individual can reflect on and read more about the topic and its benefits.

In conclusion, each soldier was given an opportunity to evaluate the workshop, of which all exclaimed how appreciative they were that such a programme was held and that it will surely help them in managing anger and controlling themselves. They also expressed that it would be good to have more programmes such as this and even on other similar topics for their development.

One of the soldiers did the vote of thanks which was indeed wonderfully done and in return, one of the AUOR team members (Nandanie Ramdyal) expressed gratitude to the soldiers for protecting our country even though they had to leave their families which may not have been an easily made decision.

I would like to extend heartfelt acknowledgement to Lorry An Sandy (GDF social worker), the government of Guyana, the soldiers and members of the American University of Research team for making this programme successful, fun and inspiring. To contact AUOR team, call 592227-1028, 231-5788 or email us at auopsinternational @gmail.com.

Sai Baba organisation serves needy in Guyana

The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation worldwide recently celebrated Avatar Declaration Day with a global service project “Serve the Planet”.

According to a release, this year the objective was to feed the poor, and devotees from around the world participated in this beautiful tribute to the beloved swami.

“It was on this day in the year 1940, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, in His infinite love and compassion, declared to the world that He is the avatar who has come for the redemption of mankind. By holding onto His feet and practising His teachings, we will reach the summum bonum of life,” the organisation said.

Members and devotees of The Sai Organisation of Guyana also participated in this global service project, and in following one of the

basic teachings of the swami, they served needy brothers and sisters all over Guyana with the feeling of it is not “I” or “Us”, but really the Swami (God) in us serving the Swami (God) in fellow brothers and sisters.

“We express our gratitude to

Bhagawan (God) for allowing us the opportunity to participate in this wonderful project ‘Serve the Planet’ and serve the Swami (God) within man. Sai Baba emphasises that giving food to the hungry is among the most noble and sacred of charitable actions.

Other regions could duplicate CWA

format – CTA director

Due to its success formula, other regions in the developing world – especially the Pacific region – could duplicate the format of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), which brings key stakeholders in the agricultural sector and policymakers together to discuss problems and find solutions.

Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation Director Michael Hailu said, “I think this is the only region where there is a specific week every year dealing with agriculture. So we want to encourage other regions to do the same.”

He further added that two agriculture ministers from the Pacific islands (Samoa and Tonga) participated in this year’s CWA activities.

“We wanted them to come here and see what is happening so that they can probably do the same back in their region, in the Pacific,” said Hailu.

Samoa Associate Agriculture Minister Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell has praised the organisers of the CWA, calling the event, “a great opportunity for everyone to come together to discuss regional policy in the interest of the people in the Caribbean”.

Tonga Agriculture Minister Sione Sangster Saulala said he intends on collaborating with Samoa and Fiji and other islands in the Pacific to have an event as the CWA and will call on CTA to assist with process.

In previous CWAs, the CTA has supported the participation of agricultural technocrats and farmers from Africa to be part of the event.

Dialogues Hailu said the event gives stakeholders the opportunity to have dialogue on the challenges affecting the agricultural sector, thus enabling it to become more relevant and competitive. CWA has been recognised as a facility to place agriculture and rural life in a prominent position, so key public and private sector decision makers can better acknowledge the strategic importance of the sector to economic, social and environmental stability.

Activities generally include policy development meetings, workshops, trade expo, media activities, farmers’ meeting, and a host of other agricultural discussions which fosters collaboration among the stakeholders. CWA

has contributed positively to the advancement of the agricultural sector in the Caribbean and CTA remains committed to support this event.

The CTA has supported various activities including workshops on key issues for the Caribbean: food and nutrition security, fisheries governance, climate change and plant protection, the coconut industry, ICTs in value chains, youth in value chains, women in business, and media and agriculture.

The dialogues during CWA present stakeholders with an opportunity to develop policy recommendations and report to the Alliance for Sustainable Development of Agriculture and the Rural Milieu (The Alliance) and the Ministers for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture for the design and implementation of policies, strategies and plans that will advance food and nutritional security and sustainable agriculture development in the Caribbean.

CWA is held every year under the auspices of The Alliance, with the major collaborators being the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Caricom Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation.

Some of the soldiers at the workshop

Members of the Sai Organisation of Guyana serving the needy in Georgetown

Michael Hailu

National Youth Policy in the making

The Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry with support from the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Guyana have undertaken the task of revising a National Youth Policy for Guyana.

As previous newspaper articles would have mentioned, the consultant advising the process is aiming to complete the policy by year-end. The policy will be supplemented with a strategic implementation plan, inclusive of a monitoring and evaluation framework that identifies clear activities, actions, goals and timelines.

The consultant is being assisted by two broad base national committees: a National Stakeholders Committee (NSC) and a National Youth Steering Committee (NYSC). The NSC is comprised of various stakeholders, formed with the purpose to oversee and advise the formulation, technical input and implementation of the policy. On the other side, the NYSC provides support to the consultant and facilitate youth participation and inclusion throughout the process, but more so, to engage and inform the young population.

The members were selected from across Guyana and comprise a diverse

background of skills and professional areas, including, but not limited to, the following areas: (one) youth work; (two) private sector and (three) national development planning.

Regional consultations

Before commencing regional consultations, the members of the NYSC and youth officers attended a participatory learning and assessment training, to understand the various methods and materials used to collect data. One of the most interactive and enlightening session was drafting in groups, a vision and mission statement; it was inspiring!

Currently, the National

Youth Steering Committee is in the process of completing the data collection, having travelled around Guyana for the past four weeks, conducting focus group sessions, consultations and administration of questionnaires. In addition to data already gathered, the consultant will also use a white paper that was done in 2011 on the National Youth Policy, and be guided by research and good practice from reports published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Caricom and UNICEF on young people in Guyana and the Caribbean, as well as global youth policy.

Consultant of the youth policy Dereck Alleyne of Barbados began his long career in youth work in Guyana, as a resident of the Commonwealth Diploma Programme in Youth Work. He has worked with several Caribbean countries in developing national youth policies, including Anguilla, Dominica and Barbados. More recently, he chaired the National Committee charged with formulating a

youth policy for Barbados. This policy was approved by the Parliament in May. He has professional qualification in planning and social development.

Guiding document

The big question though, is what is a National Youth Policy? Many say it is a signal of the government’s commitment to the young population, and a practical framework for national youth development, that is, providing a conducive environment and opportunities for the country’s young people to grow and reach their full potential.

In other words, a document developed to guide priority intervention by the state and other key stakeholders to youth development, participation and involvement in productive national life.

The youth policy is sometimes referred to as a “cross-sectoral policy”, that is, coordination of the policy in different sectors, as well as an “integrated policy” where the government’s actions and measures in these different areas must be coordinated into one comprehensive strategy. A youth policy is different from public policies, in that, it touches upon many public policy areas. Hence, it is essential that the different government agencies and departments be involved in the drafting and implementation process.

The policy defines who is a young person, often times premised on age, ability, status and behaviour. It is not determined biologically but as youth policies’ manuals explain, the concept of youth is socially constructed, and differs with time and the socio-economic development of a society.

Eyew tness

No country for...

...old men

We’re very happy to see a news item quoting Dr Rupert Roopnaraine as “shadow minister” for environmental affairs for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). With him, Opposition Leader David Granger and “Shadow Minister” for Finance Carl Greenidge in the 70s, one worries about ...well...the health of the opposition, in more ways than one. After all, they’ve done so much to convince us they’re a vital cog in our governance structure, no?

Heck...they’ve done everything short of staging an attack on the barricades (around Office of the President?) to be the government! But can you imagine a conversation between the three? The state of their dentures, hip replacements, hearing aids and other assorted prosthetics probably take up half of the “Shadow Cabinet” meeting! Hey! We’re all for age and experience and all that...but you gotta have a mix, no? I mean, the coalition partners they’ve brought in – heavyweights all, we’re sure – aren’t exactly spring chickens. Keith Scott from ...what was the name of his mass (and massive party) that brought in so many votes) whatever. He looks to be even more geriatrically challenged. And let’s not talk about Desmond Trotman. No...not the Speaker. He’s Raphael Trotman, and bald. Desmond Trotman just likes to speak and he has a full head of white hair.

But when the People’s National Congress (PNC) took cover under the wisp of the “coalition” with 10 (?) other parties, didn’t the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) also contribute that stripling Ronald Bulkan? Or was he PNC to begin with? One gets so confused with all this back and forth-ing of political grasshoppers.

But come to think of it...Granger is trying to bring in some young bloods, isn’t he? There’s that bunch of youths (in politics, age is relative...they allow hardbacks up to age 35 in their “youth arms”!) he stole away from his erstwhile opposition partner AFC.

Some say Dr Roopnaraine hasn’t been exactly wowing the “other constituency” for APNU as he told them he would. It’s not just age, his critics say, he just can’t seem to “ground” with “those folks”. How long can you engage people from the grassroots about the “primacy of the eye” and all that? So we’re told the Khemraj Ramjattan fella, who earned his spurs through some brilliant economic analysis of a “donkey cart”, is going to be given that task.

So sadly, we haven’t moved anywhere from the move by Forbes Burnham to build a “national organisation”: you simply put ethnic faces into the party’s front bench. What would Dr Roopnaraine say? Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose ...the man knows French. We would say...the more things change, the more they stay the same.

...amnesia

But it’s not only the old who suffers from amnesia. Seems that one of our better journalists – Dennis Chabrol – either contracted the condition or else is trying to raise some hackles. In his report on the visit of the rather imposing Speaker of the Suriname Parliament Dr Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, he kept harping on a border “dispute” between our two countries.

As with Venezuela, there is absolutely no “dispute” about the border. “Dispute” is a term of art that indicates there is some acceptance between the parties of an unsettled state of affairs. The Surinamese, like the Venezuelans have raised a “controversy”, about which we had to drive off their armed incursion back in 1969.

They claim the New River is actually the beginning of the Corentyne, which defines our border, and not its tributary. Like the western border, our position has been long settled and we should be careful with our words. Chabrol’s report implied our Speaker also accepted a “dispute”. As a seasoned politician, we hope he didn’t commit that cardinal error.

...resting on laurels

Now that we’ve topped the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) for the umpteenth time in so many categories, it’s time for us to also take aim on the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE). Didn’t the Education Minister Priya Manickchand or her predecessor say a “Sixth Form school” was in the offing?

A section of the gathering at a recent consultation held at the Regency Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown

Paradigm shift taking place in education here

– attorney general urges students to strive for excellence, remain focused

By Michael younge

Aparadigm shift is taking place in Guyana which has seen significant and historic improvements in the quality of education being delivered at the nursery, primary and secondary levels, and government will not lose sight of its aim to develop the socio-economic condition of its people.

This is the position of Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who recently delivered the feature address at the 35th Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony of the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School on Friday afternoon.

Nandlall said government was extremely proud of the gains made in the education sector as it continues to plug more than one-third of its budgetary allocation to improve access to education and the overall social development of all Guyanese, especially youth and children.

“Indeed, in the year 2013, the education sector received the largest singular budgetary allocation,” he explained.

The minister reported that he was extremely proud that the country’s students continue to create history in the sector by outperforming their regional counterparts at examinations and competitions, which in itself, is testimony to amount of attention and commitment that exists as far as improving the quality of education delivered to the nation’s youth.

“The performance of our students is a phenomenal achievement by any standard but it does not stand in isolation… and this year’s achievements crown off a series of outstanding performances,” Minister Nandlall

said amid loud applauds.

He said the accomplishments at the last Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations were neither ordinary nor coincidental as he underscored the importance of understanding the journey that education has travelled to be where it is today.

Significant change

The attorney general recalled a period when chalk was not even available in the schools and when more than half of the students writing the then Common Entrance Examinations could not find placements at secondary schools to continue their studies and were allegedly systematically failed.

He said the country’s education sector was in a bad state and because of poor planning and misuse of resources; many accomplishments could not have been achieved before the ruling administration took office.

“Unless we reflect on the times past to understand where we were and where we are now, we will never be able to appreciate our ac-

complishments,” he emphasised.

Minister Nandlall said gone are the days when only an elite few were the beneficiaries of a quality education because of issues of affordability, status and urbanisation. He pointed out that government has worked hard to ensure that even the poorest of Guyana’s poor is entitled to and can access a modern education.

“Gone are the days when just a few schools in Georgetown and the children of an elite few attending those schools were the beneficiaries of a superior education. Today that has changed and schools in every part of Guyana and the children of the ordinary people attending those schools now enjoy the same quality of education, which is offered in urban Georgetown.

“We are celebrating the success of that paradigm shift today,” he stated.

In congratulating Region Two for its exceptional showing at the recent CSEC examinations, Nandlall said there must be no room for complacency and time wasting as the

business of education delivery must reach new heights.

Positive reflection

He said that the Anna Regina Multilateral School reflects the paradigm shift that has taken place in the education system, considering the constant gains that it has made as far as inculcating well rounded systems into society.

“This school has moved from a mere vocational and technical school to a supreme centre of excellence for not only Guyana, but the Caribbean, considering this year’s historic achievements,” the minister said passionately.

He said the school must now address the other concerns and challenges that may be impeding its growth and development to achieve sustainable results and an even higher caliber of students who will ensure that Guyana’s flag remains high.

The minister recognised the extra-ordinary efforts of a remarkable complement of teachers who would have contributed significantly to the students’ success. He congratulated the parents whose sacrifices, financial support and guidance made this success possible.

Nandlall said that all Guyana is proud of the academic achievements of Yogeeta Persaud and Zimeena Rasheed who copped awards for the Best Overall CSEC Student in the Caribbean and Best Technical Vocational CSEC Student respectively.

“You cannot afford to lose sight of your dream and your future as they must heavily guide you towards more accomplishments. Guyana needs you and we need you to continue to build this great land of ours,” he charged.

It’s a mad

world...

Satiricus is a confused man. It is because of that his brow is permanently creased and his hair is grey...but not with years. When he became a newspaper hack, he didn’t think life would get this complicated. He’d be sent out by his editor to listen or find out what the story was about, come back and write it up. And then retire nightly to the back street dive with the boys and bend his elbow over a few. Simple, yes?

Well, actually, no. Here it was he’d been sent to write the story of two men – Mook Lall and his best friend Tiny Yatin, who’d bought the biggest store in Guyana. The biggest and in the best location in Guyana. Satiricus had been taught that there were three things that determined the price of a building – location, location, location. And with the location, name, fame and size of the big store, everybody said the piece to Mook and Tiny was a steal.

But Satiricus didn’t want to use words like “steal” in case people get the wrong idea. He wrote Mook and Tiny get the store “cheap, cheap, cheap”. The two of them used to buy fish in Guyana and then ship the fish to New York. People say they used to put a white powder in the fish belly to preserve the fish. But Satiricus didn’t write that. His editor told him that was hearsay.

What wasn’t hearsay was that Mook and Tiny pay for the store with sacks of US$20 bills. Maybe people paid with those small bills for fish in New York? What Satiricus did write was that Mook and Tiny run the nice, big, fancy store like a fish market and in next to no time, the store not only smell fishy, but look fishy. People said was because Mook and Tiny doing fishy business.

They didn’t really need for the store to sell anything. The store was really a laundry to wash money. Satiricus didn’t write that because he look around and didn’t see any washing machines. How you will run a laundry to wash money if you don’t have washing machine? Satiricus just write the store losing money every year since Mook and Tiny buy it.

And that the people who work there punishing real bad. So Satiricus was very confused when his editor tell him he couldn’t write anymore about the big store and how Mook and Tiny cause poor people sufferation.

What a mad, mad world.

Seasoned English tutor launches Where Does Purpose Gather Us

Seasoned English tutor Patricia SherrettGonzalez on Wednesday officially launched her book, Where Does Purpose Gather Us in Guyana.

The novel featuring a kaleidoscope of the life’s stories, captures and reveals how palpable the reality of human need is for the intervention of the Divine hand in times of crisis and struggle for self-determination and preservation.

The passionate quest of the human heart to find fulfilment is met with the hand of purpose proffered. Purpose redirects, redefines and relocates to the place where the impossible becomes the new reality. Brokenness finds wholeness, the lost is found,

the rejected is selected, the enslaved finds freedom, the weak is made strong, the fearful finds courage, and purpose triumphs.

Sherrett-Gonzalez stated that she got her inspiration for writing from God, who gave her ideas and directed her to look at characters in the Holy Bible. She went onto say that when she first sat down to write, she did not know what direction it would have gone in, but as she wrote, the ideas, thoughts and sentiments flowed endlessly. Persons who read the book will find that they can relate to it. SherrettGonzalez said the book is not meant to add or take away from the Holy Bible.

The author has been an English teacher for over 30 years and has been teaching the language to foreign diplomats and expatriates visiting Guyana. She began her Christian journey 27 years ago after one of her students introduced her to the truth of Jesus Christ. Sherrett-Gonzalez also freelanced as a translator attached to the Caribbean Community Secretariat for a number of years. The novel “Where Does Purpose Gather Us” will be available at Boquet Le Difference, located at 10 North Road, Georgetown and costs only $3500 per copy.

Author Patricia SherrettGonzalez signs a copy of her masterpiece

Attorney General Anil Nandlall with top students, including Yogeeta Persaud (right) and Zimeena Rasheed (second left)

Ruimveldt families benefit from donotion

Canadian-based Guyanese Subrina Mohamed-Puran, with the help of volunteers, recently donated a full month’s worth of groceries to 64 families of children at the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre (RCAC) located at 13 Public Road, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The RCAC has been in operation since July 18, 1991. The centre offers a reading and learning programme from Monday-Friday and a remedial reading programme on Saturdays.

The centre also has an active choir, dance, drama and singing classes. According to a release, the programmes are managed by “Mrs Murray, Mr December, Mr Saygon and Mr Hatfield, who rely heavily on volunteers”.

Mohamed-Puran for the past eight months has acted as volunteer coordinator (based in Toronto), recruiting volunteers in Guyana with the help of the social media.

“A few months ago, I came across an article in the newspaper about a group of children who were about to release a CD. Pop artists in the making? No. The CD only had one song and it wasn’t meant to be a chart topper. These

children were selling CDs in order to purchase a new stove for their after school centre.

“Impressed by their efforts, I made it a priority to meet with them on my next visit to Guyana. I was struck by their potential and their willingness to contribute to the betterment of their own community at such a young age.

“During my last trip to Guyana, the volunteers and I wanted to do something special for the children at the RCAC. We decided to put together a full month worth of groceries in bags for 64 families. On the day of distributing groceries, we invited parents of the children who attend RCAC so that we could talk with them about the role the centre plays in these children’s lives and to encourage them to spread the word to other families in the community,” MohamedPuran said.

Volunteerism is an integral part of the development process for communities and Mohamed-Puran is calling for more helping hands for the centre.

Interested persons can contact Ms Saygon at rcac@ guyana.net.gy or call on telephone number 227-3092.

Opposition victory in Trinidad was expected in split voting

By Vishnu Bisram

It was no surprise that the People’s National Movement (PNM) won eight local government corporations of the 14 that were up for grabs. The NACTA poll had projected the PNM winning a minimum of eight corps because of the division of the votes among the anti-PNM forces – the People’s Partnership (PP) led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad -Bissessar and the Independent Liberal Party headed by Jack Warner.

The combined votes of the anti-PNM forces was 57 per cent and the PNM won several seats because of the split votes, suggesting that had the two parties worked out an alliance, they would have won more seats and corporations. Historically, since 1956, in a divided electorate, PNM always wins. But the PP and ILP could not find commonality to come together, and as such, both were defeated.

In terms of votes, NACTA had the UNC at 32 per cent and the ILP at 24 per cent popular support. The United National Congress (UNC) ended up with 30 per cent and the ILP a frac-

tion less of 22 per cent. PNM got 42 per cent. NACTA was stating all along that the PNM would win the elections in a threeway split.

The PNM has recovered nicely since its resounding defeats in the general election and local elections of 2010. There were fears whether the UNC could hold the Indian heartland of Couva and Princesstown as the polls showed Jack putting up a serious challenge.

In the end, the UNC beat off the challenge. An emotional speech by Kamla, in which she spoke from her heart and her appeal not to split the vote, sealed the deal for the UNC in the heartland. She held the UNC base. In mid-term elections, people generally tend to vote against the incumbent, resulting in the loss of five corporations by the UNC partnership. Voter apathy was widespread.

Disillusioned

People were disillusioned with the government for its failure to implement some of its promises. The several faux pas and slip ups hurt the UNC among voters, including in its

stronghold. It should be noted that the UNC suffered losses including in its Indian heartland, but it held on to enough seats to retain traditional corporations.

Although ILP was confident of winning six corporations, NACTA had it ahead in only one, Chaguanas. NACTA did not show it winning many seats. In Chaguanas, NACTA showed the PNM wining a minimum two seats and that the UNC was closing the gap with the ILP for seats. As it turned out, the UNC won three seats, PNM three seats and ILP two seats.

The voting trends showed that voters are supportive of Jack as a Member of Parliament (MP) and not as a leader of a party that challenges the UNC for supremacy. They back Kamla, not Jack, for prime minister. After the awarding of aldermen, the three parties are tied at four seats each, creating a hung corporation. An arrangement needs to be worked out for the formation of a government in the borough. But none of the parties want to work with each other, creating an impasse.

The biggest loser in the election was the Congress of

the People (COP), which was founded in 2006 by Winston Dookeran, a former Central Bank governor and finance minister, who is now the foreign minister. COP won no seats in 2007 and was given a lease on life in 2010, but did not take advantage of it. The NACTA poll revealed it would not win a single seat of the 54 it was contesting, except in seats where UNC candidates contested under COP’s name. That was the actual outcome signalling that the COP is dead or is now a corpse as Basdeo Panday described it.

The ILP has now replaced the COP as the third party. The ILP will be a thorn on the side of the PP, and as such, it cannot be ignored. But the UNC said it wants nothing to do with the ILP.

The ILP cannot be ignored because it won significant support and it has shown that it can prevent the UNC from winning seats in a three-way split. The UNC will have to find an accommodation with ILP or else its electoral prospects in 2015 will be very dim. Coalition and alliance politics is the norm in more and more polities.

A volunteer conducting a reading lesson with children at the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre (Roshinee Latchana photo)

Roshana continues to win hearts in Russia

Roshanamania continues in Guyana. As the heat builds up, Katherina Roshana continues to capture hearts and minds in Moscow, Russia.

While at the John F Kennedy International Airport, U.S.A. before departing to Russia, Katherina was thronged by Guyanese, Americans and other citizens for autographs and photographs. The word there is that they never saw such excitement at the airport over a beauty pageant contestant.

In Guyana,

Roshanamania continues, referring to what is called Guyana’s first pageant fever to sweep the land. The talk on social media and everyone’s lips is on Roshana, Miss Guyana Universe. The excitement among all segments of the Guyanese population is running pitch high, and many in their hearts pray for and wish Roshana wins the crown. The Hindus and Christians called and ask permission to pray for her in their temples and churches, and many Muslims are doing it in their private groups

and prayer sessions. They say Roshana’s smile haunts them with awe and they cannot get her or the event off their minds.

Most of the supporters in Guyana, and around the world actually expect the Miss Guyana Universe contestant to create an international upset and bring pride to Guyana and the Caribbean.

Roshana said in a video posted on her Facebook page while leaving New York, that she is empowered to do this for her country because of the people and the overwhelming support she has been given.

She extends special thanks from Russia to God Almighty, her parents Mr and Mrs Khan, her franchise holder, Odinga Lumumba, management within the franchise, designer Pat Coates and trainer and designer Derek Moore (now a special friend), among others.

Katherina instructs that an extra special thank you goes out to NEW GPC INC/Limacol. Miss Guyana Universe is sponsored by the NEW GPC/Limacol. Their sponsorship is much appreciated. She encourages the world to learn of the miracle of Limacol, a natural healer and brand of NEW GPC INC. Last and not least, she remembers her President Donald Ramotar, an absolute gentleman and teacher with whom she met before departing.

Amerindian leaders provided with spectacles

Amerindian leaders who attended the seventh National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting at the

Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, were on Friday presented

with spectacles.

During the five-day event, eye screening was done and it was determined that 99 of them needed spectacles.

During a brief handing over ceremony, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran assured the toshaos and other leaders that the ministry, in collaboration with the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, will be conducting more medical outreaches in their communities.

Minister Ramsaran said every year the ministry distributes spectacles to persons in need during the NTC meeting.

BBCI makes monetary donation to Carib Feedback Production

The Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) has donated some $200,000 to Carib Feedback Production for the staging of “Berbice Uprising 1763-2013”.

The production will be presented on November 16 as part of the National Drama Festival at the National Cultural Centre. The stage production’s main objective is to tell the story of rebellion and freedom by fusing drama, poetry, music and dance

The amount donated would cover the costs and talent fees of the play.

“It should be noted that this is not the first instance that the BBCI has supported the Carib Feedback Productions by sponsoring theatrical stage productions regarding the 1763 Berbice Uprising and surely it would not be the last.

“The company was privileged to have the opportunity to make a donation towards the Carib Feedback Production’s theatrical stage production, which would create an educational entertainment for youths by reflecting on the contributions of Berbicians to the history and culture of the Guyanese popu-

lation,” the BCCI said in a release.

The BBCI does not only play the role of collecting tolls and facilitating vehicles crossing the Berbice River Bridge and vessels transiting through the retractor span and under the high span, but also discharges its corporate responsibilities.

In the past, the company has sponsored many events

that benefited communities on both the eastern and western sides of the bridge, and many other regions such as Georgetown, Linden, Parika and the hinterland.

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

Miss Guyana Universe contestant Katherina Roshana in Russia

Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran assisting an Amerindian leader with her new spectacles at the National Toshaos Council meeting, at the Guyana International Conference Centre on Friday

BCCI Administrative Assistant Bibi Alli handing over the cheque valued $200,000 to Ras Leon Saul, writer/director/producer of the Carib Feedback Productions

Linden-Lethem Road will increase agriculture production – President Ramotar

ing Brazil have been collaborating on the LindenLethem Road Project at the behest of former Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who had commissioned the bridge across the Takutu River in 2009.

The establishment of a Guyana/Brazil Joint Commission comprising representatives of both countries facilitated meetings on a regular basis.

With plans in the making to upgrade the Linden/ Lethem Road into an all weather thoroughfare, President Donald Ramotar told toshaos to anticipate heightened agriculture production in areas in proximity.

The president was at the time delivering his final remarks as the fiveday, National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting concluded at the Guyana International Conference (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Friday, with a spirit of high optimism.

“I’m sure a road like that will stimulate agriculture production in your own areas because you will

have bigger markets to sell to, and many of the products you can produce in the interior communities,” President Ramotar said.

Market access has often been one of the main challenges for farmers in the hinterland and remote areas largely because of the absence of the right infrastructure. Such is the case with Kimbia in Region 10, where 20,000 pounds of red beans are sitting.

“Even though many of the products you can produce in the interior communities, it is still cheaper to import them from abroad because of the lack of infrastructure,” President Ramotar said.

The availability of vast arable lands in the

Rupununi region where the Linden-Lethem Road passes was the target of a Hinterland Rice and Beans Project for the indigenous communities of the Rupununi savannahs.

That project which started three years ago saw for the first time the harvesting of 82 acres of paddy at Moco-Moco, Region Nine.

Guyana and neighbour-

A deepwater harbour in Guyana that would allow larger categories of goods to be transported and thereby boost trade relations with Brazil, has also been included in proposals submitted.

In December 2012, Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and her Brazilian counterpart Antonio Patriota signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring into being a working group on infrastructural projects. The group held its first meeting in February.

$1.4 million paint scam

unearthed

Alabourer from Corriverton, Region Six was arrested on Thursday for collecting 287 gallons of paint from a general store, falsely claiming that he was uplifting it for his boss.

Shabba Khan, 36, of Lot 45, Number 77 Village Housing Scheme, Corriverton is expected to be charged for obtaining the material under false pretense on Monday.

The 287 gallons of paint valued $1.4 million were collected from Budesh Gawenie, the owner of J&P Gawenie and Sons General Store of Number 79 Village, Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice between July 27 and October 23 by the suspect.

According to information received, Khan was

employed by Ramandan Singh & Sons Trucking Service and Machinery Rental of Lot 10, Number 78 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, which has an open credit account at the JP Gawenie Store.

As such, Khan was permitted to conduct business at the said store on behalf of the businessman and between the dates mentioned, he went to the general store and collected the material, but sold it to several persons.

He was arrested and told of the allegation, which he admitted. He subsequently took the police to the homes of the persons he sold the paint to and a quantity of the material was recovered. Khan is assisting police with the investigations.

President Donald Ramotar (centre, first row, standing); Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai (left of president); and Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran (right) with Amerindian leaders at the close of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting on Friday

Three CJIA employees dismissed for soliciting money from passengers

Three Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) employees were dismissed over the past two weeks after they were found to be soliciting money from passengers while on duty.

According to a release, their dismissal is in keeping with the airport’s zero-tolerance approach to any such act, which only serves to tarnish the reputation of the corporation and its stakeholders.

CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir said under CJIA’s rulebook, stealing and soliciting passengers for money are serious offences.

“It is my hope that others, who are tempted to bend the rules will see that we mean business. CJIA will not condone such gross dishonesty,” he declared.

Against this backdrop, passengers are being urged

to demand receipts for payments made at check-in, and encouraged to report all requests for money or bribery by staff of the airport.

The release said passengers should also note that there is no additional charge for carrying frozen or cooked foods in their baggage, unless they are overweight.

CJIA is advising passengers to report any misconduct of its staff to the supervisors or managers of the respective airlines or the Airport Duty Office (ADO) on telephone numbers 592-261-2261/6007022.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Airlines Airport Manager Carl Stuart has commended CJIA’s management for taking stern action on the matter. “Actually, we support and respect any initiative put in place to improve the customer experience,” he said.

He added that CAL has a strict policy for monetary transactions. There is a designated agent for that purpose, and signages advising passengers to collect receipts are visible.

Apart from the ticketing desk, the Departure Tax Office, Red Cap Porters and Secure Wrapping Service are the only other channels where money should be exchanged, the CJIA release said.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD+)

- Part 3 (Guyana’s approach)

In previous articles, we examined how Guyana has been approaching REDD+ and the use of its forests in addressing climate change. This week we will continue to explore Guyana’s actions.

Guyana has embarked on a number of key initiatives, activities and partnerships to support capacity building for REDD+ as part of the wider implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The governments of Guyana and Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 9, 2009 regarding cooperation on issues related to the fight against climate change, in particular those concerning REDD+. Under

the agreement, Guyana is being paid for its performance through an incentive structure that rewards the country for keeping deforestation below an agreed reference level, as well as avoiding increased forest degradation.

Norway has committed to providing Guyana up to USD$250 million to 2015, depending on the country’s delivery of results as measured against two sets of indicators. The country has earned US$115 million in payments for forest climate services through this partnership – making it the second largest Interim REDD+ arrangement in the world.

Guyana is the first country in the world to implement national scale action on REDD+. Because there is no agreed UNFCCC REDD+ mechanism, the Guyana Interim REDD+ mechanism has been built from nine key building blocks, which seek to model a likely REDD+ mechanism. There are two core functions of this mechanism:

1. Earning payments – Guyana is paid based on independently verified delivery of forest climate services, against two sets of proxy indicators: REDD-plus performance indicators: Guyana is paid US$5t/CO2 for avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-related indicators, relative to a reference level that seeks to be compatible with a global halving of deforestation by 2020, and which seeks to provide an incentive for historically low deforesting countries

Indicators of enabling activities: Recognising the need to embed social and broader environmental objectives into the sale of forest carbon, Guyana and Norway set out a series of enabling indicators to act as proxies for UNFCCC safeguards.

2. Managing payments – Pending the creation of an international climate finance mechanism for REDD+ payments, the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF)

is acting as the proxy for a REDD+ financial intermediary function.

The GRIF is channelling REDDplus payments from Norway and other potential contributors to the implementation of Guyana’s LCDS.

By 2015, Guyana

aims to develop each building block to a level of quality

ed by building national capacities – to establish a comprehensive, national system to monitor, report and verify forest carbon emissions resulting from deforestation and forest degradation in Guyana.

At this stage significant progress has been made in mapping forest degradation. Work has also progressed in the area of forest carbon stock assessment and in the design of the forest carbon monitoring system.

Other activities that will be done include the design of a long-term monitoring plan for forest carbon and assessment of drivers/processes affecting carbon impact, emission factors and key category analyses. Additionally, work

which, cumulatively, creates the elements of an expected REDD+ mechanism.

Guyana is investing heavily in supporting the forestry sector’s ability to trade in the global market

has been advanced in the area of a REDD+ demonstration project, with the launch of a Community MRVS project.

place through the provision of three key capabilities:

* REDD+ Monitoring Reporting and Verification System (MRVS); * EU-FLEGT VPA Agreement; and * Independent Forest Measurement (IFM).

Progress against reducing emissions and enhancing removals of carbon in Guyana’s forests will in time be measured through the MRVS. An MRVS Roadmap has been developed and it details the steps towards a full MRVS being implement-

Further technical assessments have been completed in the area of reference level setting and exploration of ecosystem services within the MRVS. Guyana is working with the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) process, which is the chosen multilateral route for preparing for REDD+. A key means to support efforts has been the development of a REDD Secretariat at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) which conducts work on the key technical aspects of REDD+. There are many other key actions being taken to support Guyana’s REDD+ actions (refer to the website below for further information or visit: http://forestry. gov.gy/)

Next we will continue to examine key elements of Guyana’s LCDS.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Climate Change, Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown on telephone number 223-5205, email info@lcds.gov.gy or website www.lcds.gov.gy.

CJIA CEO Ramesh Ghir

Around the world

General election when it’s due – TT PM

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says general election will be held in 2015 when it is constitutionally due and not before. “We made several commitments to the people of TT and as long as God gives me life, health and strength, I will continue to do what I said, what I would do, which is to put the needs of citizens first, to call elections when they are due, even if the pollsters predict it may not be beneficial to my government and I,” she said.

She was speaking on Thursday night during Diwali celebrations at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. The next general election is due to be held in 2015. Persad-Bissessar also promised not to negotiate the business of the country with “criminal elements.” “We made commitments not to negotiate and make deals with criminal elements, no

matter how politically expedient that may seem to be and to conduct the business of government in a fair and transparent way,” she said. “No longer must we make governance decisions

India struggles to handle onion crisis

India has become so desperate for fresh stocks of the onions it uses in spicy curries that it is trying to import them from neighbours, and is even considering airlifts to ease soaring prices.

Indians go through 15 million tonnes of onions a year, using them as the base for traditional dishes such as biryani and bhaji. The country is the second-largest onion grower in the world, after China, and normally exports them.

But retail prices have quadrupled in the past three months, to as high as 100 rupees (US$1.62) per kilogram, making the onions an unaffordable luxury for India’s poor.

The soaring prices could become an issue in elections

scheduled for next month in five states, including the capital, New Delhi. To ease prices, the state-run farm cooperative issued a tender this week to purchase onions from abroad.

Supplies from abroad may take weeks to arrive, however; Farm Minister Sharad Pawar proposed on Wednesday importing them by air, because sea transport takes longer.

“The state-run agencies are floating import tenders, but supplies are likely to come only after three-four weeks,” said Changdev Holkar, a director at the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation. “And quantity would be also miniscule compared to demand.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Spencer accused of ‘dissing’ JLP delegates

Veteran Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) member of parliament Pearnel Charles says that a declaration by JLP Trustee and Team Shaw campaigner Rudyard Spencer that his delegates will not be “contaminated” by other delegates from Clarendon attending the party’s November 10 annual conference was “highly offensive”.

Charles also says that he was concerned about Spencer’s statement that securing a prime minister’s pension was a key reason for Audley Shaw’s challenge to the leadership of Andrew Holness. Spencer’s statements to a meeting of JLP delegates in Palmer’s Cross, in his South East Clarendon

constituency earlier this week, were aired on television Thursday night.

The former health minister was shown telling the delegates that he would see to it that they were not “contaminated” on the trip to Kingston on November 10 to vote in the election between JLP leader Holness and his finance spokesman, Shaw.

Spencer was also shown explaining that, with Holness having already served as prime minister, and having a right to a prime minister’s pension, it was now Shaw’s turn.

Charles said that Spencer’s remarks about “contamination” were disrespectful to the delegates and “extremely divisive”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

in the interest of the privileged few but in the interests of all citizens.” During her address she called out to other members of the coalition government who were present at the ceremony. “I

acknowledge my brothers and sisters of the partnership who are here tonight and who have stood with us to improve the quality of life of everyone,” she said. (excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Czech election: Social Democrats lead but no clear winner

An election held to resolve months of uncertainty in the Czech Republic has failed to produce a clear winner.

With all the ballots counted, the Social Democrats have the most votes – just over 20 per cent – but they do not have enough to form a government alone. Analysts say the result could pave the way for another unstable coalition, with the secondplaced ANO party in a powerful bargaining position.

The BBC’s Rob Cameron, in Prague, says the Social Democrats had hoped to win enough to run the country if they were supported or at least tolerated by the Communists. But even together, they do not have enough votes to form a government, he says.

That opens the way for arduous talks on forming a coalition with some of the other parties in parliament.

The election has come after months of political turmoil. The centre-right government of Petr Necas was brought down by a corruption scandal in June. The country has been without a proper administration ever since – and is currently being governed by a caretaker cabinet of technocrats. Correspondents say that this election is likely be followed by weeks of difficult negotiations.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar (second left) presents cheques to assist in Diwali celebrations to Satnarayan Maharaj, secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (left); Forbes Persad, PRO of SWAHA; and Dr Akenath Misir, second vice-president of the National Council for Indian Culture

1200 more house lots awarded

–

at yet another One Stop Shop exercise at West Demerara

Some 1200 house lots on Saturday were awarded to persons at the Lusten-Rust Housing Scheme, West Demerara as the Housing Ministry steps up its drive to ensure Guyanese own their homes.

During the ministry’s sixth One Stop Shop exercise for the year at the West Demerara Secondary School, recipients expressed their gratitude to the government.

Suresh Sanchari said receiving a house lot is a dream come true, noting that he had applied since 2010. “I feel so very happy today to be a house lot owner because I never owned a house lot, I live with my family, paying rent, phone, lights and water bills and sending my children to school, I does really find it hard.”

“I am shaking right now, I didn’t know it was actually possible for me to get my own land, but it feels great,” another recipient Rayon Boswich said.

Some of the recipients cried as they received their lots, pointing out that they were waiting for the opportunity

in life, and it has finally happened.

Most of the lots offered cost $92,000 while others were available at $200,000 and $300,000 each.

Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said the ministry has ongoing partnerships with the private sector, insurance companies, architects, contractors and financial institutions to provide a comprehensive solution for the housing needs and requirement of all segments of society.

On this point, he made reference to measures in place for persons to enjoy easier access to acquiring loans.

The minister announced that the Housing Ministry has set aside $75.1 million in its 2014 programme to provide electricity at the Lust-en-Rust Housing Scheme, which will benefit some 5000 persons.

Investment Ali explained that for every household a house lot is distributed to in the Lust-en-Rust Housing Scheme, government has invested some $639,000 on

their behalf.

He also said that for every single person in a household, the government would have invested about $200,000 on their behalf.

“This is an overall subsidy of 75 per cent and this is what we did on your behalf so that all of our people will be able to access this most important service.” According to Ali, Guyana’s housing programme is a model for the Caribbean.

“We will continue to work on this model to make the dream of homeownership easy for our own Guyanese.”

The minister called on allottees to take responsibility for their properties and to ensure that they move rapidly towards building their homes. Ali also explained to the gathering that the process of allotting house lots is open and transparent, and reminded that there is a clause in the agreement of sale which states that, if any person is discovered to have misrepresented any information on their application, monies paid will be forfeited and the lot awarded will be taken away.

PNC/APNU

hostility

towards

private sector remains strong – finance minister

They may have called themselves the People’s National Congress (PNC) in the 1970s and now the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), but their resentment of, and hostility and destructive attitude towards the private sector remain strong.

This is the sentiments expressed by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, in an invited comment on the opposition’s recent stance on a number of major private sector developments.

“If we examine the facts, during the 1970s and most of the 1980s, the PNC destroyed and decimated Guyana’s private sector. They expropriated the private sector’s assets, intimidated and effectively banished the entrepreneurial class, and completely destroyed the environment for doing business. Their attitude today reveals that, although they are attempting to hide behind the thin veil of a new name, their hostility towards the private sector is much the same, and they remain diametrically opposed to private sector led development. This is perhaps unsurprising, considering that some of their main ideologues remain the

same, in particular Greenidge as the economic czar that presided over the destruction of the Guyanese economy from 1983,” Dr Singh said. He added: “Examine their attitude today towards the Amaila Falls project, creating conditions that are hostile to a large international investor like the Blackstone Group, topped off by Greenidge’s insulting comments to the domestic private sector that if they think Amaila is a good project they should finance it; towards the Marriott Project, threatening potential investors that contracts will not be honoured; towards the Berbice Bridge, threatening

to nationalise the company; in relation to the anti-money laundering legislation, dismissing the private sector’s concerns and fears and placing the entire economy in jeopardy by open foot-dragging on this legislation; all point to a deeply entrenched hostility by PNC/APNU towards the private sector and towards private sector-led development.

“It is most unfortunate that in today’s modern world, a political party parading as an alternative government can have such an unembarrassed intolerance of and hostility towards an important stakeholder like the private sector. Such an attitude simply has no place in the modern world,” said Minister Singh. He reiterated that “our government will not allow Guyana to slip back into the state of decay that Greenidge and his cohorts presided over. We remain resolutely committed to private sector-led development in Guyana, and to meeting the needs and expectations of the citizens of our country who yearn for continued prosperity and sound stewardship of the economy.”

Woman viciously stabbed by jilted lover

Almost two months after severing a rocky relationship, a woman was viciously attacked on Saturday morning by her shunned lover in the vicinity of the Universal Church of God, Charlotte Street, Georgetown.

Denise Hope, 43, of J-28947 Tucville, Georgetown, is currently a patient in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing stab wounds to her

neck, back and chest.

Hospital officials confirmed that the woman was taken to the medical institution about 08:00h bleeding profusely, and was immediately taken into the theatre where she underwent a successful emergency surgery. Her condition is being closely monitored by doctors.

According to reports, the woman’s attacker was arrested while on the road work-

ing his taxi. The man called “Lammy” reportedly went home after committing the act, collected a poisonous substance and told his son that he was going to commit suicide since he had little hope that Hope would survive the stabbing.

Based on reports, Hope was walking along Wellington Street, Georgetown to collect her “goods cart” when the man who disguised himself

stepped out of his car, threw his armed around the woman’s neck, pulled out the knife and inflicted the wounds after she refused to reconcile their relationship.

The woman reportedly managed to escape from him and ran into the Universal Church of God (The old Strand Cinema) for help, but instead, she was held by her hands and legs and thrown onto the streets.

Her friends who subsequently learnt about the incident went to her aid and found her lying on the road. They hurriedly picked her up and took her to the Georgetown

Public Hospital where she was admitted.

One of the woman’s friends told Guyana Times that the attacker was previously taken to court and was placed on a two-month bond and ordered to stay more than 100 yards away from Hope.

The woman said after the court matter, Lammy approached her about three weeks ago and requested her assistance in getting him and Hope back together but she told him that it was a matter for him and Hope to sort out.

The friend also explained that as recent as last week, the man who now operates a

dark green taxi visited Hope at her workplace and begged her to “make up” with him, but she refused. “He then tell she that if he can’t get she, no body can,” the woman said. Guyana Times understands that it is a norm for the 60-year-old man to assault his girlfriends. Recently, he reported caused severe damages to left eye of one of the women he was dating. He also attacked another and caused her to receive a broken leg. “The only person that he never knock was he wife,” the friend of the hospitalised woman said. The police are investigating the matter.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

Saraswati Vidya Niketan student feels honoured to win top CXC award

Saraswati Vidya

Niketan student

Rafena Mustapha, who performed exceptionally at the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, said she is honoured to be receiving one of the five Caribbean Examination Council’s (CXC) awards that will be presented to Guyana.

Mustapha was adjudged the Most Outstanding Student in Humanities while Yogeeta Persaud of the Anna Regina Secondary School copped the Overall Outstanding Achievement Award.

Cecil Cox of Queen’s College was named Most Outstanding Student in the Sciences; Sasha Woodroffe of Queen’s College, the Most Outstanding Student in Business Studies; and Zimeena Rasheed of the Anna Regina Secondary School, the Most Outstanding Student in Technical Vocational Studies.

During an interview with Guyana Times, Mustapha said she is delighted with her recent achievement.

“I did not expect to win any award of this sort so I am very happy… a lot of people had belief in me and they had expectations, so I was motivated to fulfil those ex-

pectations and at the same time I came to a school which has an environment that would encourage a person to succeed,” she said.

The young scholar said her headmaster, Swami Aksharananda, is one of her greatest role models and was a major inspiration to her success.

“There are many teachers here who are role models as well, previous students… and even my mother,” Mustapha said.

She said the best advice she would give to students preparing for examinations is to remain focus as there are a lot of distractions around today.

“I stayed away from television, didn’t get distracted by Facebook, Internet, still don’t have a cellphone,”

Mustapha said.

She is currently pursing studies at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), after which she will be attending college to further her studies in psychology.

“I am reserved but at the same time I take time to relax, I am not the student who just pushes all the time. One of the major challenges is completing SBAs and meeting deadline, but the teachers here make it possible with their support,” she said.

Mustapha also noted that one of the hallmarks of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School is the teaching of good morals. She said morals and values are very important and is of the view had she gone to any other school; her results would have been very different.

Swami Aksharananda told this publication that the school is very proud of Mustapha.

“We are glad and delighted for her, we think that our school probably places well in the Caribbean and we rank among leading schools in Caribbean which makes it clear that we are on the right track in terms of education,” he said.

President joins walk to mark UG’s 50th anniversary

President Donald Ramotar joined a large contingent for an early morning walk from Queen’s College to the University of Guyana, as activities to mark the tertiary institution’s 50th anniversary continue.

From its starting point, the march proceeded east along Carifesta Avenue onto the Rupert Craig Highway and south onto the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus with music from the Guyana Defence

Force (GDF) band.

Among the participants were First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Mexican Ambassador Francisco Olguin and members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Attorney and Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes also joined the walk, and spent a few moments interacting with the head of state.

There was a large representation from government ministries and private or-

ANSA McAL supports fight against breast cancer

Employers of ANSA McAL Trading on Friday reported for work in pink in show of their support of the fight against breast cancer. The company also made a donation to the Periwinkle Club to aid its work in tackling the disease.

ANSA McAL Managing Director Beverley Harper handed over the cheque to Periwinkle Club’s Public Relations Officer Andrea Joseph.

Joseph said the club welcomes the support and promised that cancer victims will benefit from the donation.

The Periwinkle Club was formed in 2006 to assist cancer survivors, sensitise the public of the risks of cancer and raise awareness on how to detect and prevent the disease.

Harper stated that ANSA McAL was pleased to donate towards the fight against breast cancer and encouraged women to have regular checkups.

She promised that the company will make the donation annually as it understands the importance of early detection of cancer.

The donation was a combined effort of the company and its staff.

ANSA McAL will soon

create a cancer fund where its employees will donate towards the fight against breast cancer and the money will go towards assisting staff members or their family affected by the disease.

ganisations

The walk was symbolic of the road the country’s prized tertiary institution has taken, from humble beginnings as the Cheddi Jagan night school at Queen’s College, to an institution that has produced world renowned Guyanese.

President Ramotar who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics was congratulated for attending the walk. He is regarded among the country’s high achievers who attended the institution

Two hospitalised after Angoy’s Avenue brawl

Two men have been admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital on Thursday evening while another was taken into police custody following a brawl at Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The hospitalised men are Royston Sulker, 36, a mechanic of High Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam and Clifford Benjamin, 34, an electrician of Lot 236, Mayor and Town Council Scheme, New Amsterdam. Neil Sulker was arrested and is expected to be charged soon.

Guyana Times understands that Royston and

Neil are brothers and on the night of the incident, Clifford was sitting on a Community Policing Group bench at Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue when Royston asked him to remove, but he refused and an argument started.

During the argument, Benjamin reportedly told Royston about his wife and he became annoyed and dealt him (Benjamin) a punch to the face.

After the punch, Benjamin reportedly armed himself with a shovel and dealt Royston a lash to the head, and in retaliation, Royston ran home, armed himself

with a piece of wood and returned with his brother Neil, who was armed with a cutlass.

They both dealt Benjamin several chops and lashes about the head and body.

Benjamin managed to run in a nearby yard and there he collapsed. Royston also collapsed shortly after.

They both were picked up and taken to New Amsterdam Public Hospital where they were seen and examined by a doctor and admitted. Their conditions were listed as stable.

Neil is assisting police with the investigation.

Members of the Periwinkle Club with ANSA McAL staffers on Friday

Rafena Mustapha

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

You may be tempted to get involved in an impractical project. Don’t be fooled by someone’s improbable claims. Do your homework and make a decision based on facts, not hearsay.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Don’t follow someone else. You have to make your choice based on your own judgment. Going it alone may be daunting, but it could bring the highest rewards.

(Feb.20March 20)

You will instinctively know what will and won’t work. Journey in a direction that caters to your skills and expertise, and it will lead to money and success.

(March 21-April 19)

You will learn something valuable from experiences with people who grab your attention and capture your heart. A passionate approach will ensure that your talents are recognised.

(April 20May 20)

Keep your emotions in check when reacting to others. Keep busy with challenging physical activities to avoid emotionally draining conversation.

(May 21June 20)

Do your best to right a wrong or to fix a problem that has sprung from a misunderstanding. Share your thoughts and suggestions with the people who count. Offer love and affection, not criticism.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22)

Do your own thing and follow your dream. You will meet new friends if you participate in an event that deals with something you know little about. Take a chance to enrich your life.

(July 23Aug. 22)

Listen to others, but be careful how you respond. Now is not the time to start a war. Put off seeking a solution until you have time to go over the facts and figures.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Put more into your important friendships. The bonds you have with others will make a difference in the quality of your life. Caring, sharing and teamwork will bring you the greatest joy.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Use your imagination to find a viable solution to your financial problems. A service or skill you have can be turned into a second income with a little ingenuity.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Keep your emotions in check, or you may ruin an opportunity to enrich your life. Trust in your intuition to lead you down a path toward peace and happiness.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Offer something if you want something in return. Your charm and carefree attitude will attract an audience willing to follow your lead and support your venture.

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APNU will not approve flawed money laundering bill –Granger

Opposition Leader David Granger

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) leader David Granger has declared that the coalition will not approve a flawed Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill.

Speaking at the coalition’s weekly press conference on Friday, at its headquarters on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, Granger said the bill is being thoroughly scrutinised for errors.

“We have had an AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act for four years… they’ve been trying to push through… we have only been working on it for four months, we made it clear, we want to see a bill which has teeth.”

Granger noted that APNU will not give the Guyanese something that will not work.

APNU, he said is close to finalising the amendments to the bill, and has been gathering information from stakeholders.

“We have gotten a much wider range of evidence; we have been able to look at the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and we felt that if the government allowed the process to work, we can get a properly amended act in a reasonable time.”

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

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

HEaltH

VaCaNCiEs

mEDitatiON

Foreign teams looking forward to Guyana Softball Cup III

By Avenash Ramzan

The Guyana Softball

Cup III is just under two weeks away and already the foreign teams are expressing their delight to be part of the annual competition hosted by the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA).

Defending champions of the Open category, New York Softball Cricket League All Stars have made their intentions known early, as they are determined to retain the title, as well as add the Masters trophy to their collection when the competition is hosted on November 8-10.

President of the New York Softball Cricket Leage (NYSCL) and manager of the NYSCL All Stars, Eric Ferrier, said they are looking forward to playing in this year’s competition and reaping the kind of success they enjoyed in 2012.

“For many of us here in the United States the opportunity to visit Guyana to play cricket is truly a nostalgic occasion.

This sentiment is underscored by the fact that NY Softball Cricket League will once again be sending two teams- New York All-Stars and the Legend Over-45 team- to our motherland to participate and compete in the Guyana Softball III. We therefore wish to thank the Guyana Softball Floodlight Association for affording us this opportunity by inviting us to participate,” Ferrier said in a statement to the GFSCA recently.

“As defending champions of the premiere competition, we wish to signal that it is our intention to

successfully defend the cup, as well as add the Over-45 [Masters] trophy to our collection. However, while it is our expressed desire to win both competitions our principal mission is to entertain the cricket loving fans of Guyana, “New York Style.”

Parallel to entertaining the cricket loving fans we anxiously look forward to bonding with our “brothers and sisters “in the land of our birth.”

Ferrier said the GFSCA and Guyanese on the whole have always been welcoming to the NYSCL and they are expecting no different this time around.

“Given our past experience as guest of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association, the New York Softball Cricket League anxiously looks forward to enjoy the hospitality and camaraderie of our Guyanese brothers and sisters, not withstanding our plan to win both competitions.

However, at the same time we sincerely wish the other teams the best of luck. Finally, we wish to congratulate the organisers of the competition for organising this wonderful tournament and express our thanks for being invited to participate,”

Ferrier concluded.

Meanwhile, Softball Cricket International Miami (SCI Miami), another foreign team invited to this year’s competition, said they would be using the tournament to honour a few outstanding players. President of SCI Miami, Ranji Singh, highlighted the team’s intention during the stay here for the tournament.

“Softball Cricket International would like to honour some old pioneers in softball cricket, meaning great players, at this year’s tournament. I have a few in mind; we will be bringing some awards for this,” Singh said.

He added, “As always, this tournament is top priority on my cricket list, ever since I moved to the states, my dream was to one day see such a tournament like this held in Guyana, and it has happened. We look forward to coming to Guyana and having a good time, and most of all, we rather the tournament be in Guyana than anywhere else, so we can support our local economy.”

Chairman and Coordinator of the Guyana Softball Cup, Ricky Deonarine, said the GFSCA is happy to witness the enthusiasm shown by the foreign teams. He noted that the GFSCA will work overtime to ensure the time spent in Guyana by the overseas teams is an enjoyable one.

Format

Preliminary action in the competition will take place on November 8-9 with the grand finals of the two categories- the Open 20/20 and the Masters 20/20- set for

November 10 at the GCC ground, Bourda.

During the two days of preliminary action, which will comprise 36 games, the venues will be the GCC, Police, Sport Ministry, Demerara Cricket Club, YMCA and Education Ministry grounds.

In the Open 20/20 competition, the teams will battle for a first prize of $800,000 and a massive trophy, with the runner-up team carting off $200,000 and a trophy.

The Man-of-the-Match in the final will be the recipient of a trophy, while the player of the tournament will receive a gold bracelet, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery.

In the Masters 20/20 segment, of which Savage XI of Guyana are the defending champions, the participating teams will vie for the coveted prize of $600,000 and a trophy, with the losing finalist having to settle for $150,000 and a trophy. Like the Open category, the Manof-the-Match in the championship game and the player of the tournament will receive a trophy and a gold bracelet respectively.

On November 10, prior to the two category finals, there will be three female exhibition games, featuring four of the leading teams on the distaff side.

Two semi-finals will be followed by a grand final, with the winner pocketing $50,000 and the loser $25,000. The MVP will collect $5,000 and a trophy.

While admission to the venue for the first two days is free, a fee of $500 will be charged per patron on the final day, with the first ball set to be bowled at 10:00 hours.

Female IGG basketball title came through hard work, says Bowman

By Treiston Joseph

Since the revamping of the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) in 2007, Guyana has never managed to win a basketball title.

Many male teams were touted to bring the title back to the Land of Many Waters, some even being called the dream team, which bore fruit to the Linden star Akeem Kanhai being dubbed “The Dream.”

However, as many of the teams came so did they go with the same result that left basketball fans wondering whether Guyana would reach back to their glory days at the junior national level?

While many were focusing on the male teams and their lack of wins at the events, the female team that constantly took a bashing at the IGG slowly started to jell under pioneers such as Mark Agard and Bobby Cadogan.

Continuing their upward trend, the female team catapulted into success at this year’s IGG by blowing their Suriname counterparts out of the water to instill their dominance as a team and shock a host of Guyanese by beating the male Guyanese counterparts to the punch by bring home a basketball title.

The road to victory is said to be one of hard work by the co-director of Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) and team manager, Chris Bowman.

“We are because we know where they are coming from; in 2007 when the girls players for the first time they did poorly in 2007 and in 2008 so they pay the price to get to this stage and it did not happen by chance, they worked very hard. Last year when the girls won one of two games, I told you

they peaked too early and now they went to Suriname against a tougher opponent and they won and it was no surprise for us,” Bowman stated.

Bowman during an exclusive interview with <<Guyana Times Sport>> also indicated that the girls deserve a lot of the credit for producing the goods.

“It was all about going through the process of preparation and perseverance without giving up, that is what the girls did and the girls themselves deserve a lot of credit for what they did because at the end of the day the players have to go out and play the game,” Bowman told this publication.

Bowman, who lauded coach of the team Ann Gordon for the dynamism she brought to the team, noted that the one-two punch of captain Tamara Hunter and rebounding machine Ginelle Ifill worked well for the total team effort.

“The girls have nothing to prove to one another, they are more team oriented, they support each other and communicate on defence; they talk a lot and they have a better synergy and they are good friends off the court, they’re like sisters and that translates on the court. Ginelle was strong inside; she was keeping everything out and collecting the rebounds and Tamara was good at controlling the game and making good decision on distributing the ball so it was good,” Bowman stated.

Meanwhile, with Guyana expected to host the event next year along with the return of both Ifill and Hunter, the IGG females, according to Bowman, will be heavy favorites to win the title again.

Carib Beer T20 tournament bowls off today Drayton suffers first loss in title defence

The inaugural Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) organised Carib Beer T20 cricket tournament is set to bowl off today with four games at two separate venues in the capital city.

For the today’s fixture, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will play Police from 09:30 hours, while Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) will tackle Transport Sport Club (TSC) from 13:30 hours at the Police ground. At the Everest Cricket Club ground, Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) will clash with Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) from 09:30 hours with the host playing GNIC in the other encounter.

The T20 tournament has attracted nine first division clubs and will be played into two zones. Zone A consists of Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO), Transport Sport Club (TSC), Guyana Defense Force (GDF) and Police, while Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC), GNIC and Everest Cricket Club are slotted in Zone B.

The competition will be played on

a league basis in the zones. However, teams in Zone B will play one team in their zone twice so that each team in the competition will have the opportunity to play four preliminary round matches.

According to the playing conditions, fast bowlers must account for 40 per cent of the allotted overs of an innings by the bowling team when the team bowls its full complement of scheduled overs. However, this will not be considered if the batting team is dismissed before the overs are completed providing that the overs not bowled would include and amount to the missing overs from the pacers.

Failing to adhere to that specific playing condition, 10 runs will be added to the opposition’s score for each over of pace that was not bowled.

Meanwhile, a team will be awarded for every 30 runs scored up to 150 runs. A team can earn a maximum of five batting bonus points. Also one bonus point will be awarded for every two wickets taken. A team can earn five bowling bonus points. White balls and coloured clothing will be used in the tournament.

Anthony Drayton, the defending national junior chess champion, suffered his first defeat to Roberto Neto of Diamond Secondary School in the fourth round of the Sasha Cells National Junior Championship at Olympic House, Georgetown.

As the match unfolded, Neto and Drayton ended up with rooks, pawns and their monarchs on the board. Drayton missed a chance to queen a passed pawn against Neto’s two (in chess, pawns are usually weak but if promoted to queens, they become stronger).

Neto took full advantage of Drayton’s error, forcing him to concede defeat. The loss has blemished Drayton’s perfect score of three wins and the remaining three matches this weekend would be crucial for him.

The incumbent is bent on retaining the title, but he is now among two other playersHaifeng Su and Neto- with the same score. In the event of a tied

score, the two top players would head into a playoff involving rapid chess. The winner of that encounter would finally secure the title. In the other matches of round four, Omar Britton Grant defeated Saeed Ali, Haifeng Su got the better of Davion Mars and Sheriffa Ali gained a walkover from Rashad Hussain, who did not turn up for his match.

The point standings after four rounds

The championship will wrap up this afternoon with the final three rounds at the Guyana Legion Hall, Carifesta Avenue.

Eric Ferrier

read: Anthony Drayton, Haifeng Su and Roberto Neto (three each), Davion Mars (two), Sheriffa Ali (2.5), Saeed Ali and Omar Grant (one each) and Rashad Hussain still on half a point.

Anthony Drayton (left) in his game against Roberto Neto

GBC renews alliance with Fruta Conquerors

The Guyana Beverage Company (GBC) has renewed its alliance with the Fruta Conquerors Football Club for the 10th year with sponsorship totalling approximately $1.6 million in cash and gear. The presentation was made on Saturday at the company’s head office at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The GBC for the past decade has been the main sponsor of the football club, which is one of the better clubs in the capital city with a strong youth programme.

Managing Director of GBC, Robert Selman, promised executives of the club that “as long as I’m around the company will continue to support the club”, especially since it has marketed the Fruta brand with pride for the past decade.

It was noted at the small ceremony that the two organisations first came together when the company donated two balls to the club. However, Selman noted that the relationship between the two organisations has grown mainly because the company has every confident in the club.

Over 80 riders confirmed for Breast Cancer Awareness cycling

By Avenash Ramzan

Over 80 riders have confirmed their participation for today’s highly anticipated second annual Avon Breast Cancer Awareness cycling race, which will pedal off at two points in Linden and culminate at the National Park entrance on Carifesta Avenue.

Chief coordinator of the 78mile race, Brian Allen, told this publication on Saturday that well over 80 cyclists have completed the registration process, but that number is expected to grow overnight given the fact that unattached riders usually turn up on race day.

The race, which is a collaborative effort of Digicel, the Guyana Cycling Federation and the Roraima Bikers Club, will pedal off at 08:00 hours.

With October being designated Breast Cancer Awareness month, Digicel is using the sport of cycling to heighten awareness of the disease, which has been plaguing women across the globe.

Unlike last year when the race was held for 25 laps around the outer circuit of the National Park, today’s event will take the form of a road race.

The riders of the Open category will start at David Rose Avenue in Linden, while the females and veterans will commence in front of Splashmin’s Fun Park on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and finish at the National Park.

The winner of the Open category will receive a whopping $240,000, by far the highest cash prize in the history of local cycling. The purse was $100,000 last year.

The total prize money will be in the vicinity of one million dollars, with the categories to be contested being seniors, juniors, females and veterans.

Meanwhile, Allen, who is president of the Roraima Bikers Club, is urging spectators to comply with officials at the finish line, so as to ensure a smooth end to the race.

Allen said once the cyclists enter Georgetown, Carifesta Avenue will be closed off to vehicular traffic. However, persons who gain entry to Carifesta Avenue prior to the riders’ arrival are encouraged to park or line the Northern side of the road to avoid unnecessary congestion at the finish

support the game can improve,” Selman pointed out.

President of Fruta Conquerors Football Club, Wayne Forde, lauded the company for its continued support, adding that the club will continue its perseverance on and off the field.

“Ten years is a long time; the reason why this relationship has lasted so long is because there is some level of satisfaction on both sides. This input by the Guyana Beverages Company speaks volumes with regards to their commitment with us and hopefully we can turn things around despite the many challenges we face at the club,” Forde concluded.

line.

The race route will see the riders pedalling along the East Bank Demerara public road, east into Mandela Avenue, north in Sheriff Street, west into Rupert Craig highway into Kitty Public Road and two laps around the outer circuit of the National Park before finishing.

DeNobrega defending champion

In 2012, Paul DeNobrega, then a junior rider, was the first to cross the finish line, thereby copping top honours in both the senior and junior categories.

Geron Williams finished second, while Paul Choo Wee Nam, Enzo Matthews, Michael Anthony and Warren McKay rounded off the top six in that order.

However, with several riders showing ominous form this season, the race is wide open.

Alanzo Greaves, who has chalked up an unprecedented 21 victories this season, is a hot favourite, with the likes of Raynauth Jeffrey, DeNobrega, Marlon Williams, Enzo Matthews, Hamzah Eastman and Robin Persaud among others the front-runners.

Anthony was the runner-up in the junior category last year, while Raul Leal ended third. Junior Niles was the leading rider in the Veterans’ division, with Ralph Williams and Ian Jackson claiming second and third positions respectively.

Naomi Singh was the top female rider with Linden’s Hazina Barrett settling for second spot.

While all the top riders received cash and trophies, 12-year-old Tyrique Hall and 70-year-old Maurice Fagundes were given special tokens for being the youngest and oldest participants respectively.

“We have pumped approximately $1.6 million in this year’s sponsorship and I’m proud to announce that we will continue to do so next year as well, providing our image is not tarnished,” Selman said.

The Managing Director

said over the past decade the success of the club has enabled the company’s product to be the top selling juice in the country.

Deviating slightly from the issue at hand, Selman reiterated the call for the establishment of a local pro-

fessional football league. The beverage boss also expressed that football here needs more attention at the higher level.

“The Sport Ministry along with the government needs to do more for football; if football gets the necessary

Meanwhile, based on a request from the club for a billboard to be erect at the club’s headquarters and the sponsorship of an Under-15 tournament early next year, Selman assured that the beverage company would look into both initiatives.

(Rajiv Bisnauth)

Managing Director of Guyana Beverage Company, Robert Selman, hands over the sponsorship cheque to president of the Fruta Conquerors Football Cub, Wayne Forde, while club officials and players, along with other staff members of the GBC look on (Rajiv Bisnauth photo)

Brian Allen

Indomitable Greaves storms to another win

By Avenash Ramzan

oraima Bikers Club rider Alanzo

RGreaves is in a serious love affair with the top podium spot, and there is no indication of a sour turn of events anytime soon.

On Saturday, he trumped 21 other starters to win the feature event of the second annual Payless Variety Store’s 11-race cycling programme at the inner circuit of the National Park, making it the 21st time this season his name has been placed in winner’s bracket.

Competing in the gruelling 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race, Greaves outsprinted perennial rival and defending champion Robin Persaud in a heated battle to the finish line with race official Joseph Britton stopping the clock at one hour, 18 minutes, 07.05 seconds (01h: 18m: 07.05s).

With four laps to go, Alex Mendes and Paul Choo Wee Nam pulled away from the peloton, with a chasing pack of nine riders in hot pursuit.

Mendes and Choo Wee Nam held on to the lead until the bell rang for the final lap, when Team Coco’s (Guyana) Raynauth Jeffrey splitted from the chasing pack and was soon followed by Greaves, Persaud and Enzo Matthews.

With approximately 200 metres to go to the finish, Greaves, Persaud and Jeffrey surged ahead in a three-man battle for the top spot. Coming around the final curve and the finish

line in sight, Greaves dug deep to outsprint Persaud and cop his 17th local victory, to complement his four overseas.

Jeffrey ended third, while Matthews, Hamzah Eastman and Mendes rounded off the top six in that order.

Greaves copped three of the eight prime prizes on offer, while Jeffrey won two and there was one apiece for Persaud, Choo Wee Nam and Horace Burrowes.

Earlier in the day, Jamal John and Sherwin Sampson continued to dominate their categories, winning both races they entered.

John won the BMX Open and 12-14 Boys and Girls, leaving Shamar Dass and Adrian Sharma to settle for second and third respectively in the BMX Open, and Raphael Leung and Alfie Soonaram in second and third respectively in the 12-14 Boys and Girls.

Sampson took top honours in the BMX 9-12 ahead of Ammo Gomes and Turan Garbharran, while he also won the BMX 6-9 from Jeremiah Harrison and Alexander Leung.

Rawle Small, Jaleel Jackson and Kemuel Moses were 1-2-3 in the BMX 12-14, while Richard Charles won the Mountain Bike race

ahead of Ozia McUally in second and Clyde Jacobs third.

Hamzah Eastman carted off the Juveniles event, beating off the challenge of Mario King and Andre Green in second and third spots respectively.

Shameer Baksh was the first to the finish line in the Veterans Under-50 race, winning ahead of Junior Niles and Shurland Sue Hang, while Linden Blackman outpedalled Virgil Jones and Courtney Hackett in the Veterans Over-50 category.

The experienced Maurice Fagundes was the lone entrant for the Veterans Over-60 race.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, national cycling coach and organiser of the day’s activities, Hassan Mohamed, lauded the management and staff of Payless Variety Store for their investment in cycling.

He also used the opportunity to call on the cyclists to exercise discipline, as their use of indecent language has become rampant.

Managing Director of Payless Variety Store, Joseph Ramkumar, heaped praises on the riders and members of the media for keeping the sport alive, adding that his company will look to increase its sponsorship package in 2014.

Ramkumar, who was accompanied by representatives of his company Lisa Rajkumar and Roger Hinds (Young Bill Rogers), also presented a token to Mohamed, who will be celebrating his 68th birth anniversary on Monday.

GT&T Indoor Hockey Championships...

Cadets edge GCC 6-5 in thriller

In another thrilling performance in the Men’s first division competition, the Cadets and GCC battled to a 6-5 finish in favour of the Cadets as the GT&T National Indoor Hockey Championships continued on Friday evening at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

GCC’s Orland Semple began a fine performance on the evening by converting a third minute penalty stroke to give his side a 1-0 lead. Young Aroydy Brandford managed to even the score with a swift drive into the circle to finish between the goalkeeper’s legs.

With the scores still at 1-1, the Cadets rattled off a volley of goals to end the first half with a 5-1 lead. Cadets’ goalkeeper Laured Stewart gave the performance of the evening as he kept the GCC strikers at bay despite numerous penalty corner attempts, winning over the crowd with his reflexes and dexterity between the uprights.

GCC took a tactical risk that paid off in the second half as they opted for a kicker-back rather than goalkeeper for most of the second half and changed the direction of the match. GCC then managed four goals in short time to the Cadets one as the momentum swung in their favour and the extra man giving the Cadets no end of difficulty.

The Cadets managed to hold on for the victory 6-5 and placed themselves above the defending champions at the end of the pool round. Aroydy Brandford’s two goals for the Cadets were matched by teammates Hilton Chester and captain Jamarj Assanah, while Semple and Kevin Spencer scored doubles for GCC with Andrew Xavier adding a single.

In other results, the Hikers never looked troubled in the

other Men’s first division clash with Old Fort as the top pool round finishers cruised to a 7-3 victory.

Top ladies side GCC Tigers, showed no mercy to newcomers Old Fort as they drowned them with a 23-0 performance in the Women’s competition. Captain Sonia Jardine finished with a game-high 10 goals, including the first five for her side.

Jardine’s sister and National center forward Kerensa Fernandes added seven goals, Tricia Fiedtkou and Ulrica Sutherland scored two each, while Tiffany Solomon and Sandy Roopnarine scored one each.

The Spartans cruised to a 6-0 victory over Revelation with Captain Gabriella Xavier and young Shania Riley scoring two each, while Samantha Fernandes and Aliyah Gordon added singles.

The Hikers Recruits completed their unbeaten run to continue their dominance of the Men’s second division competition with an 8-2 beating of Old Fort.

Action in the competition continued last evening and will conclude today at the same venue.

Sonia Jardine

The leading performers pose with race officials and representatives of Payless Variety Store (Photo Avenash Ramzan)

Mekdeci to represent Guyana at US Squash Open tournament

– embraced as a Sports and Tourism Ambassador for Guyana

Guyana will be proudly represented by America-born Benjamin Mekdeci at the upcoming US Squash Open tournament.

The disclosure was made on Friday when Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Irfaan Ali, met with members of the Mekdeci family in his ministry’s South Road office.

According to a release from the Tourism Ministry, the minister has fully endorsed Mekdeci as a sports and tourism ambassador for Guyana.

“We are happy to say that Ben, whose mother is an American and whose dad is Guyanese, chose to represent Guyana at the US Open Squash tournament, as a Guyanese. We are endorsing him as a sports ambassador,” the Tourism Minister explained.

According to Dr. Kelly Mekdeci, both of her chil-

dren are American by birth and Benjamin objected to being registered for the tournament as an American, but chose instead to register as a Guyanese and to represent the country.

She said, “He objected and protested that he wanted to register as a Guyanese, he feels very strongly about that.”

As to the significance of this move by the young squash champion, Ali announced that all Guyana should be proud of Benjamin representing the Golden Arrowhead.

“We are delighted in relation to you representing our country and in this case it is special that Benjamin chose to be an ambassador of Guyana. Sports in indeed a very important avenue, not only for the field but for tourism and being at that level representing Guyana and holding up the Guyana flag, will definitely bring a

Super Sevens basketball set for tip-off today

The Super Sevens Basketball challenge is set to tip off today from 14:30 hours at the Burnham hard court.

The event will see 32 teams going head to head for a total of $400,000 in cash and prizes with the final set for November 3.

With the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) working in conjunction with

YOLO Entertainment headed by Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine, the originator of the sevens format, its novelty inserts will only add flavour to the tournament.

Jardine noted that the event was created to bring back life to sport with some tweaks in the rules so that the players can display their skills to the amusement of the fans.

RSTC to come alive with rodeo today

The principals of the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) rodeo committee have put all systems in place for the club’s annual rodeo, scheduled for today at Arima Park, West Coast Berbice.

All the Vaqueros and other participants from overseas and other parts of Guyana, including the far flung areas have all arrived for what is expected to be an exhilarating day of action on the coast.

Over the past few weeks, the organisers were busy fine-tuning preparation for today’s activity, and from all indications, spectators can expect a grand event.

The venue was also tested with a few trial runs using mostly local cowboys, and according coordinator Zaleena Lawrie, all systems have been given the green light.

According to Lawrie, there will be a number of new features since the event has gotten bigger as the years progressed.

She said the idea of bringing the event to the coast is to help persons who are interested in the sport and have never seen the activity and were unable to travel to an

interior location where it is normally held.

Lawrie further indicated that 14 events are carded for the day with a number of regular events: steer roping, bare back bronco, male and female barrel race, wild cow milking, calf roping, wild bull riding, saddle bronco and the popular tug-o-war. For each event, the best three participants will be awarded trophies and cash incentives.

The day’s activities will commence at 11:00 hours and admission to the venue is $1000 for adults and $500 for children under 10 years.

lot of attention to our country,” Minister Ali continued.

The Tourism Minister announced too that a ‘Sports Ambassador Programme’ will soon be launched; this will see local sports men and women being tasked with the role of representing Guyana as tourism brand ambassadors.

Ali said too that this will add to the country’s value in terms of marketing and promotion and will serve to further enhance Guyana’s image, internationally.

Benjamin was presented with tokens of appreciation and samples of Tourism literature to use, in an effort to spread awareness, as he embraces his new role as a tourism ambassador for Guyana.

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity of representing Guyana, this is a great honour,” Benjamin Mekdeci declared, the release stated.

Courts Pee Wee U-11 football… St Pius, East La Penitence, Tucville and West Ruimveldt through to semis

St Pius, East La Penitence, Tucville and West Ruimveldt have advanced to the semifinals of the Courts Pee Wee Under-11 football competition following victories at the quarter-finals on Saturday at the Education Ministry ground on Carifesta Avenue.

In a clash of two unbeaten schools, St Pius reigned supreme over F.E. Pollard, finishing with a 4-2 victory, while East La Penitence maintained their unbeaten record with a 1-0 win over St Margaret’s.

Last year’s runnerup Tucville outplayed Enterprise 5-2 in the third quarter-final, while West Ruimveldt edged St Gabriel’s 2-1.

In the first quarter-final, the St Pius lads were led to victory by the talismanic

Beveney Mark, who blasted in a hat-trick, and a single strike from Kamacy Davis.

Mark, who has scored in all of St Pius’s victories, netted in the third, seventh and 26th minute, while Davis got on the score sheets in the 39th minute. Jamal Wayne was F.E. Pollard’s lone scorer with a double in the 10th and 19th minutes.

Leon Yaw provided the winner for East La Penitence, scoring in the fifth minute against St Margaret’s, while DeAndre Linton was the start performer in Tucville’s comfortable win over Enterprise.

Linton netted in the 15th, 27th and 39th minutes, while Colwin Best in the 30th minute and an own goal by Orlando Giddings in the 38th minute accounted for the other two goals. Antonio

Canterbury was on target for Enterprise in the 34th and 40th minute.

In the other quarter-final, Raymond Bandhu gave St Gabriel a brilliant start with a goal in the third minute, but Micheal Oie blasted in an unanswered double for West Ruimveldt who walked away 2-1 victors. Oie scored in the seventh and 29th minutes.

In the other games to decide how the teams will share positions 9-16, defending champion Marian Academy defeated Ketley Primary 2-0, South Ruimveldt needled Redeemer 1-0, St Stephen’s edged J.E. Burnham 2-1 and North Georgetown whipped St Ambrose 5-0. The competition is a collaborative effort of Courts (Guyana) Inc., the Petra Organisation and Banks DIH Limited. (Avenash Ramzan)

Zaleena Lawrie

The GBA is partnering with Red

Promoters to stage the two-night activity. The event has attracted corporate support from Banks DIH Limited through its Premium Beer brand. Also present at Saturday’s launch were Bartica’s NDC Vice-chairman Stephen Belle and Banks DIH Branch Manager, Leonid Tobin. In photo, GBA president Steve Ninvalle (second from left) is flanked by stakeholders at Saturday’s launch.