Guyana Times

US$32M generator sets arrive P8

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 1905 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, September 28, 2013

NIS expenditures topped $11.33B last year See story on page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

NIS Chairman Dr Roger Luncheon

Cevon’s P2 disagrees with Sooba’s nonperformance comment

Rohee says opposition’s criminal P2 links wellestablished

Police, fire services honour top Angoy’s P11 Avenue NGSA, CSEC students Housing Minister Irfaan Ali greets internationally renowned Muslim singer Sami Yusuf after a press conference at the Red House, Kingston, Georgetown (Carl Croker photo)

Fly Jamaica officially opens Guyana route

– promises high-quality service, business connections See story on page 3

Govt writes Auditor General Office on City Hall’s Japanese grant See story on page 9

Linden IMC managing despite P12 several setbacks – Gordon Bagotville man dies in Stanleytown accident P13

2 news

saturday, september 28, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Rohee says opposition's criminal Cevon’s disagrees with Sooba’s links well-established non-performance comment

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Opposition Leader David Granger

ome Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on Friday said that “it is a well established fact that the opposition parties have links with criminal elements in our society” and that they have used these criminal elements in the past, and in more recent times, to create mayhem in the country.

Rohee’s comments were made in a letter to the editor of this newspaper. It is not the first time that Rohee and members of the government have linked the opposition with criminals.

In his letter, Rohee said the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is waging psychological warfare on the Guyanese people.

“They can’t beat the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, neither on the socia nor on the economic front, so they are bashing the security sector for political reasons,” Rohee

said.

“Their cloven hooves have been exposed in respect of all the government of Guyana flagship projects; their duplicity, their double standards; stands bare for all to see. As for the Alliance For Change (AFC), their credibility has been shattered beyond repair with their chairman’s fiasco and more is to come apart from the recent defections to the APNU,” Rohee declared.

H

Sinister scheming

The minister said both the APNU and AFC are working to create the impression that the PPP/C administration has failed.

“In effect, it is they who are failing. No one is buying their propaganda line, save, maybe a few of their supporters. And the APNU is going nowhere with their selective sniping at government’s developmental projects. Their non-delivery on promises to

their supporters and constant threats such as; ‘We can’t go on like this for five years’ and the assertion that ‘they (government) will have to accept the consequences’, are aimed at fanning the flames reminiscent of ‘Mo fyah, slow fyah’,” the home affairs minister said.

He said the alleged close ties with criminal elements place the opposition on the side of the criminal enterprise and against those who are working to improve security and fighting crime in the country. “This explains their sustained and persistent attacks against the security sector, and in particular, the Home Affairs Ministry. All of these attacks are therefore politically motivated,” Rohee said.

Meanwhile, in a response, APNU leader David Granger denied Rohee’s assertions, claiming that he is not waging a psychological warfare against the Guyanese people, but rather he is waging a war to ensure a safer society for Guyanese.

Speaking at his party’s weekly press conference on Friday, he said, “I am waging a war to ensure that the recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission are implemented, the National Drug Strategy Master Plan is implemented, that there is proper security sector reform planning in this country.”

By Whitney Persaud

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba

C

evon’s Waste Management's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Morris Archer has disagreed with sentiments expressed by acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, who suggested that works by his company have been unsatisfactory.

Archer said his operation is under the supervision of Markets Clerk Schulder Griffith, and claimed that none of the allegations made

by Sooba was ever brought to his attention.

“Ms Sooba spoke about non-performance as the reason for the termination of our contract, but no staff member ever made contact with us to indicate that they were not satisfied with our work,” he said.

One of the manholes on the pavement in front of a business place at the New Vendors’ Mall overflowing with water and other debris from a broken sewerage system

Archer claimed that since Sooba was appointed acting town clerk last June, he spoke with her once and wrote to her office on three occasions, asking her to share with Cevon’s the council’s concerns.

Archer recalled that the only time he was given an opportunity to speak with the acting town clerk was when he realised that his company was not being paid for work done at the markets, and he called and scheduled a meeting.

Guyana Times understands that Cevon’s and City Hall contracts do not stipulate that the company must clean the areas, but rather provide a compactor for City Hall workers to put garbage in when they are finished cleaning the market places.

“At that meeting, she said that the council was spending too much money for the cleaning of Stabroek Market and I told her that our contract did not require doing so,” Archer stated.

However, he did tell the town clerk that he would be pleased to open the contract and make the necessary additions to include cleaning of the area, as she had wanted.

Sooba, during a statutory meeting on Tuesday, raised issues relating to the termination of Archer as the contractor to pick up waste at the Bourda and Stabroek markets.

Last year, Sooba took the decision to terminate Archer’s contract due to unsatisfactory performance. (whitneyp@guyanatimesgy. com)

Final round of consultation held on draft disaster risk management bill

T

he most recent draft of Guyana’s Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRM) Bill has been described as incomparable to the rest of the Caribbean.

A final consultation was held on Thursday for review of the document before it goes to Cabinet for adoption.

This puts Guyana one step closer to realising a national risk management plan.

According to Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director Chabilall Ramsarup, the consultation was held to present the draft bill and have members of civil society give recommendations during the review process.

The aim of the consultations, held at the Carifesta Sports Complex, was to have a unified agreement from civil society, private sector stakeholders and a political consensus before the draft risk management bill is taken to Cabinet for approval.

Ramsarup said the plan is key to saving lives and preventing loss of property in the event of serious and unexpected disasters. “Only by implementing this plan will we save lives and properties… this bill involves the participation of all sectors, especially global communities,” he said.

He noted that in light of recent disasters that have occurred around the world, Guyana must be ready to face these issues from its roots. “Disasters are increas-

CDC Director Chabilall Ramsarup

ing and intensifying around the world,” he said.

Ramsarup said Guyana has been on top of most crises, pointing to the 2005 flood as an example. “We had most rainfalls in subsequent years after the 2005 floods, but it is also important to recognise that we were not impacted by the true magnitude of the floods back then,” he said.

He attributed this to the works that have been done in drainage and irrigation and improving also river and sea defences. The bill, he said, seeks to achieve a national comprehensive approach that will tackle disasters like never before.

The bill will provide for the management of disasters through comprehensive disaster risk management, the establishment of a ministerial committee, a technical advisory council, reconstitution of

the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and a disaster risk management fund.

The CDC is looking to acquire as much feedback on the proposed bill that addresses the need for a multisectoral response to potential disasters, stakeholders’ roles, and defining levels or ownership and responsibilities of various sectors. The bill, when passed, will give the CDC more powers within the legal framework to act.

A grant of US$1 million was given to the project by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The commitment

by Guyana to implement a comprehensive disaster risk management plan is in keeping with the endorsement by the Caribbean Community of a regional strategy for dealing with managing disaster risks.

According to surveys, countries have focused on preparing for disasters and responding to disasters but that essentially does not reduce vulnerability.

Attorney Judy Daniels, who helped to prepare the draft bill, said the proposed legislation is a paradigm shift and a good move in the direction of real progress.

Consultations for the review process are expected to conclude on December 15 of this year, after which it will be reviewed by Cabinet.

Once approved, it will then be laid before the National Assembly.

3 Fly Jamaica officially opens Guyana route News

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, September 28 from 12:30h to 14:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, September 28 from 11:50h to 13:20h.

WEATHER TODAY Countrywide: Heavy rain showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly at 4.47 to 3.12 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:56h and 11:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.03 metres and 2.07 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:15h and 16:52h reaching minimum heights of 1.11 metres and 1.22 metres respectively.

Wednesday, september 25, 2013

LOTTERY NUMBERS C 27 22 02 11 26 07 03

– promises high-quality service, business connections

F

ly Jamaica officially began its service in Guyana during the early hours of Friday morning, with the inaugural flight comprising members of the media corps and some 120 private passengers to Jamaica then onward to United States of America.

The Boeing 757-200ER aircraft, with a seating configuration of 12 business and 186 economy seats, departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 01:30h and arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport, Jamaica around 05:00h, with a connecting flight to New York’s John F Kennedy Airport.

The new airline will create more linkages between Guyana and Jamaica and cheaper airfares to the New York.

On Friday morning, the inaugural flight arrived to loud cheers at the CJIA, with the airline’s executives, proudly stating that it will soon become Guyana’s number one carrier. The inaugural flight arrived on schedule, and the airline emphasised that its on-time service will separate it from its competition.

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Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, who was present at the ceremony, welcomed the new airline by reiterating that Guyana is a versatile tourism market. Noting that he is happy Fly Jamaica is flying the route, Ali said: “I think tonight is an excellent time for us to understand regional integration.”

Minister Ali added that Guyana has seen 15 per cent of its visitors coming from Jamaica over the past year, and now that Fly Jamaica has entered the market, that percentage will increase tremendously.

Also speaking at the launching ceremony, Fly Jamaica's Chief Executive

Passengers getting ready to board the flight

The Boeing 757 Fly Jamaica aircraft

Officer, Guyanese pilot Captain Ronald Reece told the gathering that the airline will create the much-needed air bridge between Guyana and Jamaica.

He said both Guyana and Jamaica have much to offer, and will now be able to work hand in hand via the direct linkage provided by Fly Jamaica.

Captain Reece added that the carrier will work with local officials to ensure increased tourism, especially in the Guyana market, with the full support of the people of Guyana.

Guyana, he continued, “will also provide convenient connections to other Caribbean and South American countries”.

When Guyana Times spoke with some passengers who were among the first to book seats on the inaugural flight, they gave the airline high marks for its initial performance. They commented on the courtesy of the flight

attendants, the allowance of two free pieces of luggage, and the decision to serve an in-flight meal of the Jamaican national dish of ackee and saltfish.

Inaugural flight

To mark the inaugural flight, a number of Jamaican artistes, including Wayne Marshall who serves as an ambassador for the airline, arrived on the first flight to Guyana.

The artistes marked the occasion by offering their best wishes to the airline through song. Also adding to the unfolding of the grand occasion, members of the media corps were afforded a complimentary return ticket from Guyana to New York. The occasion was also graced by prominent media personnel from Jamaica as well as other top airline officials.

Fly Jamaica will be operating flights from Georgetown to Jamaica, New York and Toronto. The carrier intends

to launch an aggressive marketing strategy focused heavily on the Guyana market.

Presently, Fly Jamaica Airways offers four weekly non-stop flights between Kingston and New York and vice versa. Customers can expect the same high level of service that they have become accustomed to, including the delectable offerings of traditional Jamaican and Guyanese cuisine.

The airline strongly stated that the new route will also improve trade and business interests in both countries owing to a more convenient travel experience.

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saturday, september 28, 2013

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

Editorial

The Kitty Market T

he proposed demolition of the derelict Kitty Market has become a bitter blame game, and has also created opposing opinions that see either the need for historic restoration or modern rebuilding. How to balance history and modernity remains an age-old dilemma in many countries.

The question one usually asks at this point, however, is why things had to reach this state? At a time when most municipal markets are being upgraded and rehabilitated across the country, why has Kitty Market not received the same handling?

Whatever the reasoning, none of the authorities – City Hall or local government – is providing the public with any explanation, or accepting responsibility, preferring instead to shift blame from one to the other, while the proverbial Rome burns, to the point where, recently it was declared a major fire hazard for the city, and the market is now to be destroyed.

Although now considered a heritage site under the Guyana National Trust, its rehabilitation costs go way beyond the resources of that undersized institution – a result of past mismanagement and negligence at City Hall – reflected in the similar dilemma its own historic building and other municipal buildings and facilities are experiencing.

Despite collecting fees and payments over the years from stallholders among others, the financial status of the Kitty Market is obviously such that there is no money to adequately maintain, much less rebuild or restore the structure. This situation reeks of the same mess inherent in the town council according to its recent official financial audits.

The demolition of this historic building, inevitable unless some miracle injection of massive funds is provided, is tragic not just for its loss of historic value but also for its evidence of complete mismanagement at a municipal institution. Just as tragic is the lack of accountability for this situation.

The Kitty Market vendors, who rely on the market for a livelihood, its community, whom the market once served, and the general public, again face another example of municipal maladministration that seems to go on and on with no end in sight and, much worse, once again, no one in the administration is held accountable for their appalling practices.

What is also egregious to the thinking public is that the same figure who has been presiding over the Georgetown municipality as if a birthright, while dragging that institution and the city down over the years, now believes he is able to hand over his self-made debacles to anyone who wants them, on his terms. And he remains head of one of the country’s most important administrations.

Just a few days ago, a historic Macy’s store’s building that stood since the 1940s in downtown Houston, Texas in the U.S. was demolished to make way for a modern office tower after its owners thought it was time to modernise.

Houston’s residents were nostalgic but accepting – proud of the building’s past legacy and the upcoming one’s new future.

In Georgetown, when the Kitty Market is razed, and if a new, what would be considered modern building, is later officially declared open on what would be the historic Kitty Market site by then, in the midst of the celebrations and pronouncements about creating a new era in Georgetown’s development and history, it should be recalled that it had come out of nothing but gross mismanagement.

Doesn’t provide the same sense of pride and hope of a new future to Georgetown residents, does it?

Celebrating 125 years of National Geographic Explorer with a look back at iconic images from around the world. Here, under the black clouds of burning oil fields during the Gulf War, camels forage desperately for shrubs and water in southern Kuwait, 1991 (National Geographic Explorer)

Never another Lusignan massacre Dear Editor, On the morning of January 26, 2008, a group of heavily armed gunmen entered Track A, Lusignan, invaded the homes of five Lusignan families, and shot the hapless residents at point blank, including children who were sleeping in the beds. This incident must never be forgotten.

So I agree with the attorney general (AG) and legal affairs minister for bringing this to mind, when he attended a function recently at the Lusignan Mandir compound in remembrance of the 11 persons who lost their lives.

This massacre was so savage that post-mortems

for some of the slain were not feasible – they were that badly mangled. This 2008 savagery meted out to the victims shook up everybody, and it was one of the few times that the entire region spoke out on issues of this nature. What occurred at Lusignan must never be allowed a repeat.

But how?

We should not tolerate delayed police action. The incident actually occurred the day before, when we talk in terms of the 24hour clock. It was before midnight, but police came around 02:00h. This fact must never be forgotten.

That is why, I personally tell citizens not to re-

ally buddy-up with police. Respect and support them, but let them know their sworn mandate at all times.

The other bothersome issue that will always linger is that some of the persons, who executed the massacre, as well as those who intellectually authored it, are walking free today.

That is exactly how the AG put it over. Ironically, the lawyer who defended two of the people accused of committing this crime is the chairman of a political party, and parades himself as some icon of justice.

It gets even worse, as I see a kind of collusion at

the trial.

The head of the jury panel and this lead politician shared a past relationship of counsel-client.

This was a major travesty and no wonder people are calling for a retrial.

Even if there is no retrial, the people of this country, and not only Lusignan, must see through the machinations of some opposition parties. They operate as saints, but they are mere opportunists and do not value a basic thing like justice.

Guyana can certainly do without these.

Your sincerely, Judy Charles

Police must continue their campaign against DUI Dear Editor, Six young motorists were taken off the streets recently after a campaign for driving under the influence was conducted.

These six will be passed through the court, and I think that even if others do not get the message to desist from drinking and driving, these six will not likely do so again.

It is far too long we have been waiting to put a

stop to this drinking and driving thing in Guyana.

We must be serious about it.

I was following a case in Canada, where a Quebec waitress says she was fired from a Montrealarea restaurant after attempting to stop a drunken customer from getting behind the wheel. The customer insisted on driving home following a night of drinking.

Well, the commotion ended with the police coming and taking the matter over. The boss/owner thought this was bad business, so he fired the poor girl. The call now is that patrons shift base and stop supporting that restaurant.

We have to make this a reality here too, but in a different way. The police should hang out by drinking spots and nab the

drivers as they embark to drive. We must do something about those who sell alcohol to people who are already drunk and who have to be driving.

It is ridiculous that we do not see this as evil and totally wrong. It is like assisting in a criminal act.

So bars and other places must be held accountable.

Yours truly, Sunil Tewari

Police raids continue to prove effective

Dear Editor, Police raids work and the Guyana Police Force must stay with this ploy. Over the last weekend, two raids from our lawmen in Berbice yield-

ed great results. The police apprehended six persons, who will now have to answer for trafficking in narcotics.

I have to admit that I like what the police are doing. We

need to get criminals on the edge and these dope smokers must be off our streets.

I believe that things like liming about for no reason and just ganging up by street

corners must be rooted out.

These little things can spoil a country.

Respectfully yours, Haresh Munilall

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saturday, september 28, 2013

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

GINA’s plight must Taking cricket to a higher level be addressed

Dear Editor, The Government Information Agency (GINA) must be rescued. I applaud the tenacity of the crop of people there who are still making things work.

However, it has to get to people when they have been without money for more than three months. Necessity to survive will lead them to other places.

The other factor is the repercussion of the opposition’s cuts to the national budget. I knew it would have come to this, and that

is precisely why the opposition went the way of cutting. Funny how contradictory the joint opposition leaders and members are.

They accuse government of not providing a suitable environment for jobs opportunities, and then they go and act most subversively in the very area.

This matter should be fast-tracked. It is quite urgent. Yes. The government is very understanding and a small stipend was issued to employees, but GINA is not going to survive for too long

in this state of affairs.

I may not have a legal or financial mind that many have, but I am sure that there is a way to make GINA go forward. Maybe there can be the route of down-sizing.

I think also of part-time employees. Then how about some volunteers? The court is still waiting to make a final ruling in a challenge brought by government in 2012. How long more must people wait?

Yours faithfully, Raymond Archibald

Order in the courts!

Dear Editor, Recently, a female Berbice magistrate left the bench after refusing bail to two brothers who appeared before her on armed robbery charges and one of whom made threats.

This should not have been tolerated.

It has happened in the past. I really hope that this

magistrate was not scared or anything. I also call for some kind of charge to be meted out to this man. Who knows, maybe he is innocent of the original charges and he got angry. But that is a different story all together.

I am however happy that the magistrate kept her cool, but I hope for some stern and immediate action when

eruptions like these come up in court. Imagine the nerve!

By the way, how can one of them be without a shirt in court? It is time the courts have some standby garbs for these disrespectful people.

Order needs to be restored to Guyana’s courts.

Regards, Lakeram Dindyal

prices of the highest grade at $3900/$4000 per bag.

The price for paddy continues to be unstable and any increase may not occur in the near future.

The consequences of these declining paddy prices are already being felt and many farmers are expected to reduce their acreage. The implications for the government can be quite serious, as this would result in the loss of export earnings of U.S. dollars. However, small farmers were not recovering their total costs – their profit margins were also about nil.

The estimated costs for both large and small farmer ploughing, back blade, insecticides, fertilisers and 160 pounds per bag of paddy were found to be similar.

Funding for the procurement of insecticides by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) through the Agriculture Ministry to assist farmers was a pittance and couldn’t spray

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan, Former agriculture officer

Investigate “private” hire cars Dear Editor, A taxi driver of a private car is really a misnomer in many ways. Are private cars allowed to do taxi work? I heard on Road Safety Talk that this is illegal and that passengers should not use them.

But then the need

to travel cannot be postponed.

It is time then for the Traffic Department to do some work on “private” hire cars. Most times, the drivers of these private cars are recent holders of a licence. So incompetence and inexperience come

into play.

The Traffic Department has to go further and car rentals have to be looked at. We have to go this route if we are going to make the roads safer.

Yours truly, Sunil Sharma

as mathematics, English, geography and other such subjects.

Many have this idea that it is either cricket (sport on the whole) or studies. This should never be. It can be both.

The President of the WICB Whycliffe Cameron recently said that he was very pleased that international and regional matches have returned to the country. Indeed, the Limacol Caribbean Premiere League (LCPL) was a good fillip in this regard.

I really feel optimistic about this pilot project being offered to Guyana. So far, a lot of work has been done too.

The sort Minister Dr Frank Anthony apprised the nation of the fact that even textbooks have been developed, and that the programme is going to be a very interesting one.

There are plans to estab-

lish a cricket academy and Guyana has been spending a lot of money in cricketing camps.

Maybe the academy can be for those earmarked for professional sports, of course all contingent upon prowess shown. By this time too, many of these prodigies would have been through their secondary school’s academic programmes.

Things like cricketing camps and academies must be fully regulated. The government has already tabled the Cricket Administration Bill that is currently before a parliamentary select committee. If all goes well, this will fulfill the need for good governance of the administration of cricket in Guyana.

Yours sincerely, Colin Cox

Regulate the sale of water

Dear Editor, Is there a designated body for testing the quality of water from commercial suppliers? I ask this question with valid reasons. In my village, not too far from Georgetown, I buy water from two places.

On Sundays, a canter driver gives me a full large bottle in exchange for my empty bottle, and I pay a little extra for the delivery. The service is cool. I love it. one acre of rice.

However, I am noticing Because of the unusual nature of the weather that before too long, there is at this time, farmers were a discolouration of the waforced to upgrade and de- ter. In fact, at the inside botvelop all the feeder roads tom of the container, there is to give access to farm and a growing film of green subfacilitate the bringing out stance. On one occasion, my of paddy to the mills. The water lasted for two weeks, Agriculture Ministry and and there was this noticeable the drainage and irriga- green film, maybe algae. This tion (D&I) department of happened more than once.

I also take water from a Region Two should proshop, and when my refills vide farmers with better go in to a second week, the access roads for the next crop. The present crop of water starts to taste brackrice has been seriously af- ish and it has a slight disfected by bad roads.

Many agricultural machineries can be seen idle in the D&I compound and are either not being used at all because of inadequate maintenance or failure to correct some minor fault with spare parts. The systems malfunction or operate inefficiently.

Making better use of investments Dear Editor, Harvesting of the present rice crop has commenced in Regions Two, Three and Six, and Essequibo farmers are making full use of the sunny weather. It is still too early to make a definitive forecast of the 2013 production, as the yields are varied.

This crop, paddy prices have decreased from $4000 to $3900 for A Grade, $3900 to $3800 for B Grade, and $3800 to $ 3700 for C Grade and below. The farmers have to negotiate prices with the millers and these prices are expected to decline further as the crop comes to an end.

This trend, which is non-uniform over the past years, has had more serious consequences for rice farmers. The analysis of the production costs indicated that many farmers were at least breaking even with their production costs at the going paddy

Dear Editor, Growing up in a country side school was nice, all because of cricket. We played just about anywhere. We never heard about cricketing programmes. Our interest came from listening to the game via radio, and one thing led to another. In this era, things are so different and better. Our aspiring cricketers have the opportunity to explore cricket to the fullest. Now there are all kinds of programmes.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) now seems to have a better understanding as to what Guyana is aiming to do in terms of regulating the game. Government is now working with the WICB to roll out a school programme that goes just beyond playing cricket in the field. It involves incorporating cricket into areas of academic studies such

colouration. In the first case scenario, I did not have to bleach out my bottle, since I just do the exchange thing.

However, with the refills, I always wash thoroughly, and the same thing happened more than once. I have to assume that the water is not up to par then.

What I did for two weeks was quite revealing. I took the tap water and boiled it, and let it rest a while. It worked wonders. As a matter of fact, on a few occasions, I just heat up the water and then cooled it down, and again, it is working for me.

So, is there a designated body for testing the quality of water from commercial suppliers? Is the water supplied subject to periodic testing?

And is there a standard for water quality set by the relevant government authorities?

Should there be some kind of epidemic, then it is

the government which will get the criticism. Maybe quite rightly so too, since officials do not seem to be quite on top of things. The sale of water needs to be regulated for quality.

Yours respectfully, Lawrence Emmanuel

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Foundation

Helping your child achieve mature independence

BY RENEE HEISS

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hildren constantly strive for independence from the time they begin walking to the time they move out of the house, but parents continually stifle that quest for freedom. How? By telling their children what they should do, how they should do it, and where that should happen. You’ve probably been there with your child whose homework wasn’t turned in on time. You tell your child he needs to finish homework before play. You tell your child that she should do homework without the TV playing in the background.

You tell him that he needs to do his homework in the kitchen so you can watch as he finishes. Translate that into your own work world. One day you’re late for work because of an accident on the expressway. Your boss tells you that you should leave earlier to plan for accidents.

She tells you that you need to plan an alternative route before the accident happens so you’re prepared. Or your boss might actually tell

you g e t one o f

guyanatimesgy.com

those new Apps for your phone that warns you when you need to leave to avoid the accident. Say what? Who is she to tell me you to live your life? How do you feel about such an overbearing, demanding boss? Your children feel the same way when you constantly tell them what to do.

So, what can you do when you know your child is running astray, but you don’t want to seem like that overbearing boss? Here are some ideas: * Encourage independence gradually as your children mature. For example, when you read stories to your two-yearold, allow her to turn the pages, rather than turning them for her. Some children like to study the picture on the page before having a parent turn the page for them. When she grows older, she’s more likely to make wise decisions if she was allowed to make little decisions when she was young. * With parenting, less is sometimes more. In other words, the less you do for your children, the more they’ll do for themselves. When my girls were ten, I began “allowing” them to do their own laundry! After a while, they began to see these little chores as rites of passage to mature independence. * Teach your children skills that will help them cope with emergencies rather than overprotecting them. For years, I had a plaque on my desk that read: Prepare your child for the road rather than preparing the road for the child. Help your child to understand that life’s road is seldom smooth and sometimes very bumpy. When you ride in your car, present hypothetical scenarios and discuss how your teen will react. You might even work together one rainy day to develop scenario cards that you can keep in the car. Studies have proven that the forward motion of the car actually facilitates con-

versation with teenagers who are reluctant to share their thoughts. * Show your child how to effectively manage his time so he can independently choose to do homework before playing.

In other words, practice what you preach.

If you have a deadline looming, explain that you can play ball after you finish the report. Give your child a realistic time to consider – an hour? Two hours? That way, he won’t come in every fifteen minutes to disturb your concentration, which will further delay your time with him. * Offer guided choices. If I had to list the number one way to get kids to cooperate and listen, it would be this suggestion. Guided choices provide alternatives that you can both live with. They are not ultimatums. For example, you might say to your six-year-old, “It’s bed time. Do you want a story first or do you want to brush your teeth first?” Either way, you get what you want – a child in bed by 20:00h, but the child gets independence through your guided choices. Guided choices require two things: A given circumstance (it’s bed time) and creativity with the choices (book or teeth first?).

Now here’s an example of an ultimatum: “Do you want to go to bed immediately or forget about going to the movies tomorrow? You choose.” Where’s the choice?

There is none. The child wants to go to the movies so he begrudgingly complies with the demand. See the difference?

A child’s job description includes testing parents. Expect that the above suggestions will work most of the time.

However, there will be times when absolutely nothing works. That’s when you need to put on your prison guard helmet and be firm about what needs to happen, without choices, and without fun.

However, that should occur only five per cent of your time with your children. The other 95 per cent should involve a happy relationship as they achieve mature independence. (Charter Education Partnership)

Talking to children about sex and sexuality – at a glance CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY

How can I make our conversations more comfortable?

Talking about sexuality may be uncomfortable at first, but it will get easier in time.

Being open to discussing sexuality can be challenging.

It’s common for parents and children to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when talking to one another about sex.

Owning up to that can help relieve the tension. We might try saying, “it’s totally normal that this feels awkward, but I love you and care about you so we need to talk about important things like this.” In time and with practice, it will get easier. The key is to keep the conversation open and ongoing.

Listening to children

shows them that we’re interested in and respect what they have to say. We don’t always have to agree with what we hear, but it is important to pay attention to what they say.

It can be tempting to jump in and give our point of view, but if we spend some time just listening and asking questions, we help our children learn how to explain their ideas clearly. We get to know each other even better and we build trust by showing we really care about our children’ thoughts and feelings. We can show we understand their point of view by saying things like, “I think I see where you are coming from…” or “I understand what you are feeling and I often felt that way when I was your age, too.”

What kinds of things should I tell my children?

It’s important to give our children truthful, useful, and accurate information that conveys our own values about sex and sexuality. It’s also important to prepare them to make responsible choices whenever they become sexually active. By the time they turn 19 years old, 70 per cent of teens have had intercourse.

So in addition to conveying our own values about sexual relationships, it’s important to talk with teens about preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

It helps to think ahead of time about what messages we want to express. For example, a common topic that comes up with children is the difference between boys and girls or men and women. Some parents might want to convey the feeling that boys and girls are mostly the same except for some body parts, and boys and girls can do the same things. Other parents may want to express the belief that boys and girls are quite different from one another in many ways. (Planned Parenthood)

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saturday, september 28, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

NIS expenditures topped $11.33B last year – pensioners roll stood at 43,000 in July

N

ational Insurance Scheme Chairman, Dr Roger Luncheon said contribution revenue for last year stood at $11.32 billion, but the scheme paid out $11.33 billion in benefits.

He made the disclosure in an address at the scheme’s 44th anniversary celebrations.

Luncheon, who is also head of the Presidential Secretariat, said although the spectre of an imminent dire situation is highly exaggerated, the scheme’s financial viability does evoke apprehension among the informed.

“Essentially, the scheme’s expenditure growth is outstripping revenue growth.

Contribution income, the main ingredient of revenue, was $11.32 billion in 2012, while benefits expenditure, the main ingredient of expenditure, was $11.33 billion.”

According to him as is known, long-term benefits dominate the benefits profile

NIS Chairman Dr Roger Luncheon

with more than 43,000 pensioners receiving payments at July 2013.

He said the aging population and longer longevity has impacted significantly on this growth in benefit expenditure, noting that non-coercive methods in enrolling the self-

employed has had inconsequential results in population size over the years. At the end of 2012, the active population of the employed contributors numbered 117,219, while the active population of self-employed contributors was only 8791.

The NIS chairman said the self-employed anomaly is evident in the face of the size of the parallel economy in Guyana. “Importantly, the contribution rate has seen occasional annual increases in the last decade.”

In the meanwhile, Luncheon said NIS continued to offer a pension indexed to minimum wages in the public service with a wide range of short-term benefits to contributors and pensioners.

“The end result is predictable. Expenditure growth exceeds that of revenue. The NIS fund is, therefore, being used to meet the operation-

al deficits currently being incurred.”

As a result, he said the NIS fund has failed to show growth over the recent years as deficits in operational costs have been financed from the savings in the fund.

“In 2011, the fund was $30,410,427,000, while the 2012 unaudited fund was $30,214,987,000.The eighth actuarial report on the scheme’s financial status disclosed details of this situation and made concrete proposals/recommendations about solutions,” he stated.

Concerns

According to Luncheon, nationwide public consultations at that time provided ample evidence of concern among stakeholders. He said a general principled approach must include increased revenue collection and controlled expenditure growth.

In the 2013 national budget,

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh proposed an increase in the contribution rate for both employed and self-employed to 14 per cent and 12.5 per cent respectively.

The central government absorbed and subsidised that increase for employed contributors whose incomes were less than $50,000. The impact of the contribution rate increase did not significantly reverse the deficit, which was also being negatively influenced by the increasing cost of doing business by the scheme, Dr Luncheon said.

While as stated before, there is little likelihood of a collapse of the scheme in the short to medium term, the current situation is not sustainable. The interventions are obvious, but consensus among stakeholders and decision makers is of paramount necessity, he asserted.

The NIS chairman noted

that in Barbados, a similar situation attracted such consensus on the way forward, under which their scheme rallied without stakeholders’ discord and divisiveness.

A parallel in Guyana must provide for a long-term solution that revolves around two main thrusts: significant expansion in population of contributors, and increased contribution rates and managed growth in benefit expenditure, particularly pensions.

“The board of the NIS is convinced that the specific elements underpinning the two general thrusts can be consensually arrived at among stakeholders.

"The imperatives face us all, current and future contributors, current and future pensioners, and all the beneficiaries of the welfare system that the NIS has institutionalised in Guyana,” the NIS chairman said.

Tripartite budget committee is a must – Granger

By Sabatini Daniels

A

Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman David Granger said the government must set up a tripartite budget committee if the three political parties in Parliament are to progress on budgetary 2014 talks.

Speaking at his party’s weekly press briefing on Friday, Granger reminded that in December 2011 he had approached President Donald Ramotar about setting up a tripartite budget committee and he has done so each year since.

He said to date, the committee had not been set up, so he was “not optimistic” about budget talks this year.

budget talks Mr [Khemraj] Ramjattan from the Alliance For Change (AFC) and I had sent a joint letter to the president and although we met with him in a tripartite forum, he never really acceded to some of the demands that we were making.” He said the APNU will be ready very soon for budget consultations.

“I do believe that if we do not get a favourable response to the request that we make, there will be another collision next year when we come to the budget.”

When asked if he thinks such comments could be harmful leading up to budget consultations, Granger said what could be harmful is the government not setting up the committee, as that was causing the greatest harm to tripartite budgetary collaboration.

Priorities

He noted that his party’s list of priorities will not be much different from last year, adding that this year it will focus more on education. Some of the direct is-

Budget 2014

APNU Chairman David Granger

sues APNU will be looking to address in next year’s budget are: funding for the University of Guyana and greater expenditure for

Republic Bank now owns 40 per cent of HFC Bank Ghana

R

epublic Bank Limited has announced its acquisition of an additional 7.98 per cent shareholding in HFC Bank Ghana, moving its total number of shares to 40 per cent.

The transaction, which involved the purchase of 23,638,340 ordinary shares at a price of GHS 0.67 (US$ 0.31) per share, has strengthened the bank’s position as the single largest shareholder in HFC Bank. Republic Bank earlier held a 32.02 per cent shareholding in the Ghanaian bank.

According to Republic Bank, the share purchase was made on Thursday, June 26 on the Ghana Stock Exchange and represented shares previously held by Union Bank of Nigeria.

In commenting on the increased shareholding, Republic Bank Limited Managing Director David Dulal-Whiteway emphasised

Republic Bank’s philosophy of maintaining strong local participation in all of its overseas investments.

According to DulalWhiteway, “A look at our subsidiaries will illustrate our model of maintaining strong local ownership through shareholders, who are representative of the respective market. While we think like a global bank, we always try to act local in our business dealings, ensuring that there is strong local input, strong local content and knowledge, and strong local influence in decision making. Our investment in HFC Bank Ghana will be no different.”

HFC Bank (Ghana) was licensed as a commercial bank in 2003, and today operates 26 branches throughout Ghana, providing a wide range of banking services, including mortgages and real estate services, commercial banking, investment bank-

ing, microfinance, private equity, and venture capital fund management. It was instrumental in the development of the mortgage industry in Ghana, and continues to be the leading home loan provider in that country, commanding 30 per cent of the market. HFC Bank has an asset base of US$301 million and profit after taxation of US$7.7 million based on its last published financials.

Republic Bank Limited is an independent Caribbean bank with a history that spans 176 years of service. It has its roots in the Colonial Bank, which started business in Trinidad and Tobago in 1837, later becoming Barclays Bank Trinidad and Tobago Limited and eventually Republic Bank Limited. As at June 30, Republic Bank has an asset base of US$8.8 billion (TT$56.1 billion) and profit after taxation of US$136.8 million (TT$870.6 million).

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan

school infrastructure.

He recalled that many of the opposition parties’ demands last year were not met, noting that this was one of the reasons they were forced to make some cuts to the budget. “You will recall even in the midst of the

AFC leader Ramjattan on Thursday disclosed that the three political parties will soon meet to commence tripartite budget consultations for Budget 2014, since Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh recently indicated his readiness. He disclosed that a date will be set shortly for the three parties to meet.

According to Ramjattan, his party had asked that con-

sultations commence since July 1, which is the date budget preparations commence for the coming year, but the invitation did not come. “We are not going to make big bones about that… let’s have at least a continuous engagement so that there can be a win/win scenario.”

The 2013 budget consultations between the three parties ended on a bad note, since they could not reach consensus. As a result, the opposition parties gutted the budget by $31.4 billion from $208.8 billion to $177.4 billion.

Two major cuts were monies allocated for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project and the specialty hospital project. At present, the government is seeking to have the cuts restored. (sabatinid@guyanatimesgy.com)

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saturday, september 28, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

US$32M generator sets arrive – to be installed at Vreed-en-Hoop by month-end

P

rime Minister Samuel Hinds, along with Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, on Friday visited the John Fernandes Wharf to inspect a US$32 million, five-component Wartsila generator set which is expected to be installed at the 26-megawatt Vreed-en-Hoop power station by next month-end, and become fully operational by April 2014.

The engines have a capacity of 8.6 megawatts each and will be contributing to the Demerara system, and eventually, Berbice and part of the East Bank Essequibo system, and will be moving from an 80-megawatt capacity to about 106 megawatts.

“There is where the money goes and what the money is required for, and this money in the first instance should come from the electricity bills that people pay over the period of time,” said Prime Minister Hinds.

Guyana has always had very good experiences with the Wartsila units and thus far, there are about 14 16 generating units and as the systems are growing, GPL will be increasing the size of the sets, he told the media.

The Guyana Power and Light's 8.6-megawatt generators at the John Fernandes Wharf on Friday

With these new sets, power generation will be up from 5.5 to 8.7 megawatts, using heavy fuel oil; hence, the Amalia Falls Hydro Power Project is seen as critical to the future of the energy sector, the prime minister stated.

“This is why the Amalia project is needed,” Prime Minister Hinds stressed, and with all things taken into account including, fuel, capital investments and oil, the estimate will be about 23 cents per kilowatt per hour.”

GPL is looking to have electricity delivered at Sophia at 12 cents per kilowatt hour, and after 10 years, to about six cents. By then the cost of the Amaila Falls Hydro Power would have been paid off and generation down to two cents

per hour.

Still hoping He said that government is still hoping that the Amalia project would become a reality. “... I am not accepting that Amalia is not an immediate reality; I am going to go to the people of Guyana and I’m urging that we make it a referendum issue and go to the people of Guyana about it,” he added.

Reiterating that the issue is not a political one, but a question of getting power at a cheaper cost, the prime minister acknowledged that he was caught flat-footed with the opposition’s reluctance to the project because Amalia was identified during the People’s National Congress (PNC) ad-

ministration in 1976 as one of the best sites to fill Guyana’s needs. This was also reinstated in another assessment in 1982.

“If you look back at the records, we never rejected nothing that the PNC did in those years, just on the basis that it was a PNC thing, we just carried on all of the things that we felt were good for Guyana,” Hinds said.

Meanwhile, Dindyal said that in terms of site preparation, the engine’s foundation, the hall and the foundation for the control building and the room for the power station have been completed.

Dindyal said that a road was also constructed next to the site with a strong groundwork for the trailers to support the engines. “Most of the critical foundation work is completed and is waiting the piles to be installed… As soon as the engines are sitting on the foundation, assembly work will commence and work will progress unhindered,” Dindyal pointed out.

There was also a contract awarded to BK International for the construction of the Vreed-en-Hoop Wharf, and it is hoped that they will commence work shortly and speed-up the process.

Alleged killer of TSU officer appears in court

T

he man who reportedly confessed to killing Tactical Services

Unit (TSU) rank Michael Cumberbatch was on Friday remanded to prison after he

made his first court appearance before Magistrate Faith McGusty to have the charge

of murder read against him.

Twenty-eight-yearold Vickram Persaud of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on September 23 at North Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, he murdered Michael Cumberbatch.

An unrepresented Persaud said that he is into poultry rearing and trading. He told the court that he knew nothing about the murder.

He stated that not only was he beaten by police officers he has never seen before, but was repeatedly shocked. He also alleged that the police ranks forced him to confess to the crime by assaulting him and telling him what to say.

Magistrate McGusty refused bail and ordered that Persaud receive medical attention. The matter stands adjourned to October 17.

Cumberbatch, of Lot 111 North Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, was gunned down in his home by a man who was armed with a handgun. According to a police statement, the incident occurred around 20:40h.

Police said Cumberbatch was at home when he was confronted by someone who was reportedly inquiring about one, “Quacy”.

An argument ensued, during which the TSU officer was shot in the chest. The suspect then escaped, the police release stated. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Eyew tness Explaining... ...the AFC’s Titanic Khemra Ramjattan is still leader of what remains of the Alliance For Change (AFC). He’s busy doing damage control. Looks like he’s finally realised it wasn’t such a hot idea to have Nigel Hughes explain why the party’s imploding. Kinda like having a convicted paedophile trying to persuade parents that the kiddie school he runs is a great place for them to be.

So faced with another departure – this time from right here in Guyana, and in Berbice, to boot – this is what Ramjattan had to say: “If people inside of the party do not want to hold to the course that this ship is on in this political ocean, we will have to say thank you for your services….” Yup! That’s the way the leader sees the exodus from the AFC – which puts the one out of Egypt to shame!! They at least weren’t elbowing people out of the way to get out.

But let’s take Ramjattan’s analogy about “ships”, which tries to suggest that the fellas jumping off are “rats”. You know? Like “rats deserting a sinking ship”.

But why doesn’t Ramjattan come out clear and say the AFC’s ship is not only sinking (present continuous) but had already sunk (past pluperfect). The action has been done: the AFC is sunk....kaput. And it’s due to his captaincy!

But Ramjattan, like most bullies and dictatoriallyminded individuals, misses the point the departees made as they jumped ship. It’s not that they “do not want to hold to the course that this ship (the AFC) is on”, but that in a party that boasts about being more democratic than the democrats, the fellas were never allowed to have a say in deciding the course of the ship! So where’s the democracy? And more to the point, why stay in such a ship?

The AFC, as we’ve said before, was just a vehicle to satisfy the egos of a couple of men who wanted to be leader or nothing. Well, they have just that at present – nothing! One, Raphael Trotman, jumped off when he realised that the long knives were always bared for him. He’s now safely ensconced as Speaker – from where he can pontificate and pretend he’s Pontius Pilate The other – Hughes – who dishonourably fell on his sword – was brought back because Ramjattan knows that Hughes knows that he (Hughes) can never again be a contender. So that leaves Ramjattan at the bridge, with the water rising past his neck. ...APNU’s acolyte Before the last elections, Malcolm Harripaul, exPeople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and ex-Rise Organise And Rebuild (ROAR), had an epiphany on the way to Georgetown and joined the People’s National Congress (PNC)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

He evidently didn’t hear a voice from the heavens when he had his epiphany – just the memory of David Granger pulling rank on the officer in charge of issuing loans in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and forcing the subordinate to give Harripaul a loan. For Granger’s act of nepotism, Harripaul changed his loyalties.

Taking on an individual in the letters pages for criticising the PNC, Harripaul went into a rant on his bête noir, the PPP/C. He has a thing about the PPP/C. Blaming the PPP/C for all the sins of the PNC – “no opposition parties, no elections, no private ownership, no freedom. There was dictatorship and poverty” – Harripaul concluded: “we should say thank God the PNC allowed us the many freedoms it did.”

Is this fellow demented? Freedoms? What freedoms? Rigging of elections is freedom to choose your government? Banning of essential foodstuffs is freedom from hunger? Assassination of political opponents is freedom of association? Pleeeeease! ...AFC’s corruption Ramjattan had a busy day. Seems he also explained he’ll be “submitting dossiers on corruption” to the team from the Organisation of American States (OAS) that’ll be visiting Guyana soon. We expect him to submit the details of his contract with Fedders Lloyd, Hughes’ contract with Amaila Falls Hydro Inc (AFHI), and Moses Nagamootoo’s contract with the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Confession is so good for the soul.

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saturday, september 28, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Moves afoot to properly accredit tertiary institutions G

uyana has moved to draft regulations under the National Accreditation Council (NAC) Act to ensure citizens who complete their post secondary and tertiary education at institutions here can acquire a job within any other country.

Upon the resumption of Parliament on October 10, topping the agenda will be the accreditation legislation for post-secondary and tertiary education institutions.

This bill when enacted will allow Guyanese students to complete their studies here and still be eligible for jobs within other countries and vice versa.

As it is now, in most instances when Guyanese students migrate, they have to commence their studies all over again before securing a job.

Steps

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said this was one of the steps Guyana has taken to improve the education, as she addressed the NAC’s accreditation workshop at National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston on Friday morning.

“So you don’t get accredited in Guyana and can’t work somewhere else… we are working to ensure that we are in all squares with

Educators from secondary schools, the University of Guyana, and other institutions at the NAC’s accreditation workshop held on Friday

the rest of Caricom countries … this initiative is geared towards what’s happening in Guyana and how it fits in across the Caribbean,” she said.

She reiterated NAC’s role, which is to address accrediting post-secondary institutions and other issues pertaining to the topic. Most of Caricom countries have their own national bodies, but as the region becomes more integrated, the countries need to be on par.

Regularising

The minister maintained that the education sector has come a far way, but there was also an urgent need to continuously provide services to students and educators.

“We are very glad that

Govt writes Auditor General Office on City Hall’s Japanese grant

T

he Local Government and Regional Development Ministry has written the Auditor General Office requesting an investigation into the use of more than $700,000 left unspent after a project executed by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) back in 2008, which funded by Japan.

In its letter to the Auditor General Office, the ministry said during 2008, the M&CC submitted a project proposal for funding from Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project.

The project aimed at enhancing the “Lodge Housing Scheme environment” and US$ 75, 828 was deposited into a special account opened by the City Council as per agreement between the parties.

The account was opened with three signatories: then acting Town Clerk Yonette Pluck-Cort, then acting City Treasurer Andrew Meredith and acting Solid Waste Department Director Hubert Urlin.

On the conclusion of the agreed period of execution of the project, “there was a remaining balance of GYD$753, 264.

Under the terms of the contract, “any remaining balance must be refunded to the Japanese embassy, along with the submission of a final audit report”.

According to the ministry, to date Counsellor Hirofumi Murabayashi has indicated by way of letter addressed to acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, copied to the Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and forwarded to Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud that the audit report and the refund of the remaining balance are yet to be submitted by the City Council.

“It must be noted also that this failure to close the project as per the terms of the contractual agreement ‘creates difficulties for the Japanese embassy to move forward with other similar Grassroots Grant Projects in Guyana to the detriment of potential future beneficiaries,” the ministry told the audit office.

As such, the ministry has requested that the auditor general investigate the utilisation of the Japanese grant and the location of the balance of funds, with a view to having this balance repatriated to the Japanese embassy.

you are able to come this morning and that we have been able to have you all in one room, this is our way of making life for you and students easier by regularising and informing you more of what is required,” she added.

Manickchand said Guyana will be pressing forward with the implemen-

Kurtis Floyd is a standing member of the Trinidadian NAC and the facilitator of the accreditation workshop

tation of the legislation instead of waiting on Caricom as a region to get all these regulations under the various national laws drafted and implemented.

NAC

The NAC, a semi-autonomous body ratified by an act of Parliament in 2004, came into effect in 2005, but gained momentum in 2010.

During the 2010-2012 period, 42 institutions, both public and private, were registered. In the first quarter of 2012, the council revised its system for registration.

The NAC Act states that the council shall maintain a register of all institutions offering secondary and tertiary education and the council shall set standards for these bodies.

Partners with the council include the University of Guyana (UG); the Guyana Bar Association (GBA); the Private Sector Commission (PSC); TVET council, the Association of Caribbean Council Guyana chapter; the Teaching Service Commission (TSC); the health and education ministries; the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Guyana Public Service Union (PSU).

The council members are from a wide cross-section of stakeholders, and its board is chaired by veteran educator Tota Mangar. It reports directly to the Education Ministry.

The workshop was organised to make way the implementation of one of NAC’s functions – the registration of educational institutions here in keeping with mandatory regulations. It was facilitated by Kurtis Floyd of Trinidad and Tobago.

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News

Major cuts on greenhouse gas emissions from livestock within reach

G

reenhouse gas emissions by the livestock sector could be cut by as much as 30 per cent through the wider use of existing best practices and technologies, according to a new study released on Thursday by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The report, “Tackling climate change through livestock: A global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities”, represents the most comprehensive estimate made to date of livestock’s contribution to global warming -- as well as the sector’s potential to help tackle the problem.

All told, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with livestock supply chains add up to 7.1 gigatonnes (GT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) per year – or 14.5 per cent of all human-caused GHG releases.

The main sources of emissions are: feed production and processing (45 per cent of the total); outputs of GHG during digestion by cows (39 per cent); and manure decomposition (10 per cent). The remainder is attributable to the processing and transportation of animal products.

tion. Currently, livestock rearing supports the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, and represents an increasingly important source of protein in many regions that have long struggled with chronic hunger and malnutrition.

Cattle are the biggest livestock emitters of greenhouse gases

To arrive at its estimates, FAO conducted a detailed analysis of GHG emissions at multiple stages of various livestock supply chains, including the production and transport of animal feed, on-farm energy use, emissions from animal digestion and manure decay, as well as postslaughter transport, refrigeration, and packaging of animal products.

Large potential for cuts By drilling down into where and how emissions occur, the report reveals that significant emission reductions are within the reach of livestock producers. Wider adoption of existing best practices and technologies in feeding, health and husbandry, and manure management – as well as greater use of currently

underutilised technologies such as biogas generators and energy-saving devices – could help the global livestock sector cut its outputs of global warming gases.

Within livestock production systems, there is a strong link between resource use efficiency and the intensity of GHG emissions, noted the FAO’s report.

“These new findings show that the potential to improve the sector’s environmental performance is significant – and that realising that potential is indeed do-able,” said FAO Assistant DirectorGeneral for Agriculture and Consumer Protection Ren Wang.

Many of the actions FAO recommends for improving efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions would also boost produc-

Making the change Enabling the livestock production sector – a diverse, globe-spanning activity which varies greatly from country to country – become more efficient and reduce emissions will require a mix of policies, incentives, and on-the-ground work, the FAO said.

To ensure participation by developing countries – where much of the sector’s mitigation potential is found – responses will need to target not just mitigation goals but also development objectives. The development of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for the livestock sector can help integrate these objectives at the national level, according to the FAO. Toward this end, FAO has engaged with the public and private sector, producers, research and academia, civil society, and inter-governmental organisations to establish the Global Agenda of Action in support of Sustainable Livestock Sector Development.

Currently, the agenda is targeting three priority areas where improving practices can potentially bring large gains: promoting more efficient practices, improved grassland management, and better manure management.

Rum Jhaat gon only hand over some of de information

W

hen people bad talk other people, is usually a back handed way of mekkin dem own selves look good. And when a man involve in any ting wrang, he does talk like if every body else involve in that same ting, except he himself. That is de kinda man Rum Jhaat is. Rum Jhaat hear bout de OAS team comin and he start talkin bout corruption and all kinda ting like that fuh de people hear he first.

But Rum Jhaat probably had some rum in he mouth and some more under de table in one of he regular big bottles when he claim that he gon hand over information to the OAS team. Rum people does fuhget tings some times. De only ting that dem don’t fuhget is de rum itself, and Rum Jhaat certainly don’t ever fuhget that.

So it look like Rum Jhaat fuhget that he should also hand over de information bout de money he mekkin from de Feathers people fuh de Specialty Hospital, plus how much de Hughlies whah name No Gel and Kitty Kat mek from de Sight people.

Rum Jhaat could leff out information bout de money whah he and de Nagga Man, aka Donkey, didn’t deposit from de KFC party donations whah de two of dem collect. Dem could call that a private party matter after all. But Nagga Man and NICIL got some old connections that de OAS might ask he bout. That is when de Donkey might stammer when he start fuh bray!

In de mean time, look out fuh de Mook as well, because he is the other man who gon be hidin some of de information whah he got at de Kocheur. Ever since he and Stony Yas Sin don’t want pay over de GEE-S-L money whah dem owe, de Mook been hidin under cover!

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But de good book seh every ting whah deh in de dark does come to light! Just ask de soup drinker who does wuk fuh de Mook, or wuk de Mook!

Republic Bank honours NGSA students

Awardees with Republic Bank Guyana Managing Director John Alves

I

n keeping with its focus on staff advocacy, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited honoured its employees’ children who sat this year’s National Grade Six Assessment examinations, at a special ceremony on Tuesday.

According to the bank, since 2009, it began hosting an award ceremony in honour of all the children of members of staff who sat the annual examination

and this ceremony has become a much-anticipated annual event for the staff and their children alike.

This year, 16 new secondary school students received a Republic Bank RightStart Gift Certificate, along with a special gift. They were: Sean Bhajan, Jenise Hinds, Krista Bhagwandin, Michael Williams, Nickesha Daniels, Malini Parmessar, Christine Persaud, Ryan Ramkirath,

Jamayne Roberts, Joel Campbell, Imzan Husain, Elijah Fraser, Priyanna Ramdhani, Thakechand Ramkellawan, Tyrese Jeffrey and Jahleel London.

The board of directors, management and staff of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited are extremely proud and happy to have rewarded these young achievers and extend every best wish for their continued success.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, september 28, 2013

Ramotar, OAS head discuss electoral observer mission O

rganisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza on Thursday met with President Donald Ramotar in New York, within the framework of the 68th United Nations General Assembly.

During the meeting, the two discussed the importance of the electoral observation missions deployed by the organisation, the impact of climate change and trade policies in member states and the progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, among other issues.

Amid the uncertainty as to when local government elections would be held here, Ramotar’s discussion with the OAS head could be seen as a positive sign of things to

come. Earlier this week, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) said it had been readying itself for the “impending” poll. In a statement arising out of its recent Central Committee’s meeting, the PPP/C said much emphasis was placed on putting the party into an election mode, especially in view of impending local government elections.

Local government elections were last held here in 1994, but the recent passage of a suite of legislation critical to the holding of the elections under a reformed system has given citizens some glimmer of hope. However, since its passage in the National Assembly, the bills have been stuck at the attorney general’s office and up to last week, they had not reached the president for his

President Donald Ramotar and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett engage OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza in discussion during their meeting

assent.

Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker said last week that the holding of local government elections remains top on the PPP/C’s agenda. He pointed out that

the Municipal and District Council’s Bill, the Fiscal Transfers Bill, the Local Government Commission Bill and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, which were passed in the National

Assembly, have been sent to the attorney general’s chambers by the clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs.

The OAS has been monitoring national elections

here for quite some time now.

In its report following the 2011 general and regional elections, the mission notes the significant preparations made by the Guyana Elections Commission ahead of the election to develop procedures and systems that generated a generally inclusive and clean electoral process.

In particular, the mission commended the efforts to carry out the 2008 house-to-house registration of electors and its resulting enhancement of the credibility of the list of electors and electoral process as a whole.

This improvement over past elections comprises a significant step and was validated by the political parties contesting the presidential race.

Police, fire services honour top Angoy’s Avenue NGSA, CSEC students the project.

Banks DIH Sales Manager Joshua Torrezao, also speaking of the company’s involvement in the project, congratulated the students on their success and said they must believe in

The students honoured by the Joint Services

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Police B Division Commander Brian Joseph handing over furniture to teacher Simone Dainty

he Joint Services on Friday joined with the Safe Neighbourhood Council of Angoy’s Avenue to honour the community’s top students at the recent national and regional examinations.

The group recently provided financial contribution to the top National Grade Six Assessment (NGAS) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students of Angoy’s Avenue.

“It is a depressed community,” Community Action Officer Phillip Rose noted during the simple ceremony to honour the top students. The students, Keyana Samuels, who obtained a

place at Queen's College; Chris Sears, who gained a place at the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary; Ophelia Junior, who secured a place at St Roses High and Lavena Sooknanand, who got a place at Bishops' High, received financial assistance to help them throughout their years at secondary school.

Speaking at the ceremony held in Angoy’s Avenue, B Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph congratulated the NGSA students and Kelyan Sulker, who obtained 10 subjects, including three grade ones and six grade twos at the CSEC examinations.

“We are willing to as-

sist with any text books she may need in the future. Just tell us and we will assist,” the commander told the top Angoy’s Avenue CSEC student.

Guyana Fire Service Senior Divisional Officer, Superintendent Compton Sparman also praised the students and urged them to keep up the good work.

Meanwhile, several businesses have partnered with the Safe Neighbourhood Council to honour the students. The council has undertaken responsibility for Mount Sinai, Angoy’s Avenue, Vryman’s Ervin and Smithfield. Banks DIH is one of the companies that contributed greatly towards

themselves. “Do not settle for what you have attained, there is always a brighter light beyond the horizon.”

Meanwhile, the Joint Services also presented benches and desks to teacher Simone Dainty, who has

been providing free classes to students of the community.

She told Guyana Times that one of her goals is to get adults to learn to read, so that they in turn can assist their children with school work.

12 News

saturday, september 28, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Linden IMC managing despite several setbacks – Gordon

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inden Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman Orrin Gordon said the municipality has had its fair share of successes as well as failures over the past couple months, which may have had an impact on moving community projects along in a timely manner.

He made the disclosure during a recent interview with Guyana Times, explaining that currently the municipality is looking to step up efforts in carrying out its mandate in several different areas.

“We’ve had some problems in terms of co-ordination and equipment, issues with maintenance and getting the resources to do so at the time was a challenge, but that has sorted itself out.

However, after that, we had an issue with acquiring drivers (trucks, including garbage disposal), so with the limited resources that we have we were trying to ensure that we utilise that as best as possible.

“So as of now, there has

plained, was caused over the dismissal of the municipality Treasurer Marlon Pearson by the Local Government Ministry. “... he was on probation by the Ministry of Local Government and there were some specific activities that he was supposed to be carrying out, those were not carried out to expectations.”

Linden IMC Chairman Orrin Gordon

been a re-energised effort,” he explained.

However, Gordon cited a recent strike involving some employees attached to the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) which caused some major setbacks in terms of moving the municipality forward.

The strike, which lasted for little over a week, Gordon ex-

Errors He added that prior to Pearson’s dismissal, some efforts were made to consult and to assist with those activities; however, Gordon stated that this did not go too well. Giving an example, he indicated that the M&TC 2013 budget was not approved on November 15, 2012, as it contained errors.

“It came until April because it had problems, matter of fact, the minister (Norman Whittaker) signed a document and that document had errors on it and I had pointed it out to them, you know it’s something that I have been dealing with

for a while, but they were complaining that the IMC chairman was not signing the document, but I was making it clear that I’m not signing anything that is in error,” he stated.

Problems had arisen in terms of the budget being balanced in terms of the income and expenditure of the council, according to Gordon.

Additionally, he noted that the errors were pointed out to the ministry, but he explained further that other issues came up, such as with reports that came into the council which did not have any information on the accounts.

“We have five accounts in the bank, one for subvention, another for community and others. Those accounts, at the end of each month, you need to balance them with what the bank is saying it has and so the cash book must be balancing... you do a reconciliation with the bank account and those were not done, those have not been done unto now,” he further explained.

Shipping body calls for dredging of navigational channel to be fast-tracked

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hipping Association of Guyana Chairman Desmond Sears has called for the dredging of Port Georgetown to be fasttracked, pointing out that it will bring direct benefit to importers, exporters and Guyana as a whole.

Sears made the appeal in a message to mark World Maritime Day, which was celebrated on Friday, under the theme “Sustainable Development”.

Dredging of the channel has been a top priority for the association over the years. In the past, the association has

Mother and son remanded on narcotics charge

O

n Friday, a mother and son were remanded to prison after they appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty to answer to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Sancha Barker, 41, and her 21-year-old son, Shibadan Holder, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on September 26 at Lower Kara Kara, McKenzie, Linden,

they had in their possession 3110 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the facts, on the day in question, acting on a tip, a detective constable went to the home of the defendants. He observed the two in the chicken pen with the illegal substance and told them of the offence.

They were arrested and taken to the McKenzie Police Station where Barker told the officer that the sub-

stance belonged to her husband.

Attorney Gordon Gilhuyse represented both Barker and Holder. He told the court that Barker is the mother of eight children and on the day in question, she had just returned home when she heard a noise and saw the police officer.

He went on to say that Holder, who is Barker’s son, had just returned home also and was watching televi-

sion. He stated that Holder heard a noise and when he made a check, he saw a police officer who told him he had found something in the yard.

Prosecutor Seon Blackman objected to bail, stating that the facts of the police and that of council differ and there were no special reasons given for bail to be granted. Bail was refused and the matter stands adjourned to October 14.

PPP/C welcomes OAS anti-corruption body's visit to Guyana

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he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Friday said it welcomes to Guyana the Organisation of American States (OAS) delegation in its ongoing fourth round review of the 31 member countries which are signatories to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.

The party said it remains encouraged by the PPP/C government’s continued commitment to account-

ability and transparency, for which it has a proud record.

Since 1992, the ruling party introduced some of the more progressive anti-corruption measures, laws and parliamentary reforms in the region in order to enhance accountability and transparency, the PPP/C said in a statement.

“Many of these initiatives have been to our country’s advantage as they reduced loopholes for revenue losses, while yielding oppor-

IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu

said that reduced opportunities for a more significant growth pattern in the industry are inextricably linked to the delay in the dredging of the Demerara Navigational Channel to an acceptable depth, replacing navigational aids and all accompanying infrastructure, and instituting effective port security measures.

With the Demerara harbour currently the main hub of all import and export trade, the SAG last year had lobbied to develop a public/private partnership that would deliver a workable solution to enhance and modernise the existing port infrastructure.

Support

The PPP/C said it welcomes the OAS anti-corruption body to Guyana, contending that the ruling administration is proud of its commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency

tunities for greater inflows which are being channelled towards the country’s consistent pro-poor pro-growth developmental agenda.”

However, while the PPP/C recognises there have been significant achievements in this area, there are still outstanding aspects “of our efforts to build one of the more robust accountability and transparency frameworks in the region”. The party said the OAS team’s on-site visit is especially appreciated because of the opportunity it provides to contribute to government’s measures to build on its accountability and transparency measures as a followup on the implementation of

recommendations made during the first cycle review in 2006.

The party said it is also enthused by the government’s deliberate inclusion of various civil society actors in the review process, in recognition of the important role they play as partners in the overall development of the country.

“The PPP assures the OAS and its follow up Mechanism on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (MESICIC) of the continued support of its leadership in improving accountability and transparency in Guyana.”

The initiative attracted the support of the wider private sector, particularly the main business support body, the Private Sector Commission (PSC). “This initiative naturally has significant benefits for all operators in the maritime sector, especially for entrepreneurs involved in the sugar, timber, fuel and cement industries,” the SAG had said back then.

Sears, in his message, said the theme was chosen by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), specifically to give substance to the concept of sustainable development, which was the main outcome of the 2012 United Nations Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu said this week that the maritime sector as a whole “is central to any future development in the global supply chain, the complex mechanism that enables to-

Shipping Association of Guyana Chairman Desmond Sears

day’s inter-dependent, global economy to function”.

Maritime transportation, he pointed out, is the world’s most reliable, cross-global, cost-effective and energy-efficient mass transportation medium. The oceans, seas and rivers generally provide the means for transporting energy, materials, foods and industrial products, proving that maritime transport is central to any effort or programme aimed at sustainable development.

He said this concept is certainly not confined to the operation of ships and boats, but encompasses all the activities that are vital to supporting the shipping industry, such as maritime traffic management systems, global communication systems, ports and terminals and multi-modal connections. In addition to shipbuilding and ship repairing, consistent education and training of seafarers and boat operators in related industries (including fishing and passenger ferrying) is just as vital to the maritime industry.

Of course, search and rescue services, maritime salvage companies, security agencies, coast guards and maritime law enforcement agencies also play very key roles in defining and achieving a sustainable maritime transportation system.

Praise

“The SAG takes this opportunity to applaud the efforts of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) for the aggressive outreach programme it is conducting in response to the rise in river accidents and incidents which resulted in loss of life on too many occasions.

Terminal operators have been constantly seeking the means to upgrade port security, and the plan to modernise the Demerara Harbour remains a key agenda item at every consultation on Guyana’s maritime sector,” Sears said.

Every year, the IMO observes World Maritime Day. In Guyana, the shipping association grasps the opportunity to place a spotlight on the importance of shipping, port development and safety. The maritime transportation system contributes significantly to social, environmental and economic development.

news

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saturday, september 28, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Grass cutter killed over $500 gambling debt Bagotville man dies in Stanleytown A accident

Dead motorcyclist, Carl Wright

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motorcyclist was killed after his head was crushed in an accident on Thursday evening at the Stanleytown Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The accident involved the motorcycle, a minibus and a motor car.

Carl Abrams Wright, 58, of Lot 71 Bagotville, WBD, was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital moments after the accident, which occurred about 19:30h.

According to information received, Wright, also called “Carley”, a painter, was heading home on his motorcycle, CF 290, and was in the vicinity of Stanleytown when he was about to overtake a parked minibus, BDD 1690, when the driver of the bus reportedly opened his door.

As a result, Wright slammed into the door and fell onto the roadway and into the path of a Toyota Raum, bearing registration number PMM 1009.

He received severe injuries and was rushed to the medical facility. At press time, both of the drivers were

in police custody assisting with investigations.

Simone Batson, a niece of the dead man, explained that the last time she saw her uncle was on Sunday evening when he left her home.

She stated that he was in the process of completing some painting work at her house, noting that by the time she arrives home from work, he would have already left.

The woman said on the night of the accident, she received a call from her cousin, Anthony (only name given), who informed her of the accident and inquired whether or not it was true.

Batson said she remained speechless and immediately went to where he said the accident occurred and, to her surprise, she saw her uncle’s badly damaged motorcycle.

Batson said she left and went to the hospital where public-spirited citizens had taken him, but he was already dead when she arrived; hence, she proceeded to the La Grange Police Station, where she saw the two drivers in police custody.

The distraught niece said her uncle was not married and did not have any children, but he was a very loving individual.

He lived alone while his other siblings live elsewhere on the West Coast and East Coast of Demerara. He also has siblings overseas.

An elderly woman in the area told Guyana Times that Wright was a very helpful person. The body of Wright is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

All set for GuyExpo 2013 – GTA director

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uyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh said all preparations are in place for the successful staging of GuyExpo 2013, which is now just five days away.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Haralsingh said the GTA has partnered with the Guyana Police Force to ensure adequate security measures are in place. He also encouraged patrons to support the event, saying there are numerous benefits to be derived.

GuyExpo is a premier event used by small, medium and large businesses to market their products to Guyanese and overseas investors. This year, a tourism village will be included.

Haralsingh said many businesses have used GuyExpo to market their products.

Chief Financial Officer Gavin Ramsoondar of South Land International Inc, a first time exhibitor and new beverage company, said the business saw it fit to participate in GuyExpo as it sees

GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh

the exhibition as a forum to enhance public awareness of its products.

Fly Brazil Travel Agency representative Rose Thomas said the Football World Cup presents an opportune time to inform people that they can get tickets directly to Brazil. Fly Brazil Travel Agency is also a first time exhibitor at the event.

Guy Expo 2013 will be held from October 3 to 6 at the Sophia Exhibition Centre under the theme “Advancing Productivity through Innovation, Modernisation and Expansion”.

grass cutter was shot and killed just after midnight on Thursday after an argument erupted between two men over a mere $500 during a game of cards at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Matherson Mansfield Lewis, 32, of Lot 275 C Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was reportedly shot once to his head by his assailant, who was later identified as Kevin (only name given), also called “Blackie”. Lewis succumbed to his injuries while on his way to the Georgetown Public Hospital about 00:45h.

Gambling

Based on reports, about 00.30h on Mandela Avenue, in the vicinity of the London Base Taxi Service, the now dead man and others were gambling when a fight ensued over monies owed to one of the men.

As a result, one of them reportedly left and returned with a gun that he reportedly collected from a lavatory and discharged a round at Lewis, who fell to the floor with a gaping wound to his forehead. He was Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The dead man’s mother,

The aggrieved woman went on to say that on her way to work, he telephoned her again and this time asked her if she was “ok”, which was abnormal.

“At that time, I felt that something wrong was going to happen since he never asked me twice if I was ok... Again, I told him to come off the road and go home,” she said.

Myrna Thomas, explained that she was at home on Thursday evening and about 00:45 hours, she received a call from her eldest son, informing her that something was wrong with Lewis.

Deadly scuffle Thomas said she later leant that Lewis and a close friend had a scuffle over some money and was shot and killed. She said, at time, she did not go out to the scene, but on Friday morning, she went to the mortuary where she saw her son’s body.

The woman said, from all indications, her son was shot in the head, as there was a visible wound on the right side of his forehead. However, at the hospital, the woman said hospital officials could not confirm if her son was shot.

She subsequently went to the scene to observe if there were any blood stains on the ground, but did not find any.

A brother of the dead man explained that, after he heard of the shooting, he went to the scene and was told that the argument stemmed from a gambling game, and that money was involved. During the argument, he said the suspect, who

Devastating news

Murdered: Matherson Mansfield Lewis

is a good friend of Lewis, went to the backyard, collected a gun and discharged it in the direction of his brother.

“The only thing people say they hear was ‘pow’ and then Mansfield fall to the ground,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lewis’ reputed wife, Natasha, who was still shaken, told Guyana Times that she last saw him on Thursday afternoon before she left for work.

She claimed that he telephoned her that he wanted $3000, stating that he owed someone. The woman said she went to the bank and withdrew the money, after which she told him to go home and get some rest.

On Friday morning, the woman said she was on the telephone with a colleague when she saw Lewis’ brother, who inquired with whom she was speaking. As she came off the phone, she was given the devastating news that Lewis was shot and killed.

Lewis’ reputed wife said she went to the mortuary and upon seeing him; he looked as if he was asleep. “I say this is what you did to me… you ears hard… you don’t hear,” she cried.

The murder suspect, Blackie, is reportedly still in hiding, but police have launched a manhunt for him.

An autopsy will be performed on the remains of Lewis on Monday. The man is survived by his mother, one child, reputed wife and several siblings.

14

saturday, september 28, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Barbados investigates deaths Blind TT welfare workers linked to respiratory illness protest late salaries

Acting Health Minister Michael Lashley said there has been an increase in influenza-like illnesses on the island as well as a rise in the number of dengue fever cases so far this year

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arbados is investigating two deaths associated with respiratory illnesses and is awaiting the results of tests being conducted by the Trinidadbased Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)

on samples collected from 10 patients.

Acting Health Minister Michael Lashley said there has been an increase in influenza-like illnesses on the island as well as a rise in the number of dengue fever cas-

es so far this year.

He said regarding the influenza, as of September 25, samples were collected from 10 patients and preliminary tests were done here before being sent to CARPHA. He said the authorities were awaiting results from the CARPHA on the two persons who died.

“The ministry will share the results of the testing with the public as soon as we receive word from CARPHA,” Lashley said, adding that while H1N1 had been identified in some Caribbean countries, health officials here were unable to say “at this time” if the current influenza cases were as a result of that virus. But he stressed the need for people to practise good hygiene measures to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

An employee of the Blind Welfare Association on Duke Street, Port of Spain, weaves a seat on a rocking chair

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mployees of the TT Blind Welfare Association literally cannot see their money as since July, the association has been making late payments to its staff. On Thursday, employees protested outside of the association’s Edward Street building, after receiv-

ing “excuses” from the administration as to why they had not been paid for the last pay period in August.

Some staff members who spoke in an interview on Thursday said in addition to not paying workers on time, the association had been giving pay slips, stating that

money was being deducted for loan payments, savings and other items, but this was not being reflected on bank statements.

“We don’t know what they are doing with the money...

They are taking it out of our salaries so it is supposed to be paid, but some people now have to pay extra interest because of late payments,” said one employee.

Joseph Laplacelier, employed with the association for more than 23 years as a handicraft worker, said as a result of staff not getting paid, the School for the Blind may not open for students next week.

The issue of payments to staff follows allegations of mismanagement at the association, which the People Ministry announced that it would be investigating earlier this year. (Excerpt from TT Guardian)

Grenada to discontinue Cayman Islands defends decision to free barrel programme review immigration legislation

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he government of Grenada says that, after consultation, it has been decided that what is known as the “free barrel programme” will be discontinued this year.

Finance and Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has been meeting throughout the week with officials of the business community, non-government organisations and the labour movement to discuss the government’s approach to a fiscal and structural adjustment programme to ensure economic stability.

“We believe that at a time when we are asking international creditors for significant debt relief, government cannot continue with what is essentially a tax giveaway,” government spokesperson Kisha Alexander-Grant said on Wednesday.

The decision to discon-

tinue the programme is also consistent with the government’s policy to help boost the local business sector by encouraging more local purchases.

“The local business community has been through a difficult four-and-a-half years, and we must find creative ways to support it. This government understands that a strong local business sector means a strong local economy and more employment. In the long term, we believe that this is the wisest policy for all concerned,” Alexander-Grant said.

The government spokesperson added: “Government is still encouraging Grenadians abroad to support their families at home – whether it is by sending cash for local purchases – or by barrels. However, the barrels will be subject to the normal duties.” (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

St Vincent confirms six cases of swine flu

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he Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed six cases of the “Influenza A H1N1 Pandemic 09” in St Vincent and the Grenadines, according to a statement issued by Chief Medical Officer Simon Keizer.

Last week, classes at the Troumaca Secondary School were suspended after the Health Ministry confirmed that it had become aware that the largest number of patients seeking medical attention for an “acute illness” in the Chateaubelair health district had been from the school. Classes resumed on Monday.

The statement by the health official, said that to date, there were 48 reported cases of this “influenza- like illness”.

“All clients have been treated and discharged,” it said, adding that the respiratory virus is treated symptomatically.

“Persons are, therefore, asked to seek medical care from their district medical officer if they present with sore throat, runny nose, elevated temperature or any associated symptoms.

Persons are also asked to practice social distancing in the event that they become ill, that is, to refrain from attending school or work if ill.”

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

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he Cayman Islands government has defended its decision to review the immigration legislation, even as a group announced plans to stage a protest march next month.

Premier Alden McLaughlin told business leaders that he believed the fear is about the “floodgates opening” and that based on

the utterances he has heard so farm “they are completely mistaken as to what is being proposed and the effect it is likely to have”.

The government intends to bring the new legislation for debate next month and one of the key concerns centres on the right to apply for residency in the British Overseas Territory.

Premier McLaughlin said that it does not mean all persons who have applied for permanent residency would receive it and that even those who happen to reach the eighth year of the nine year period, would also have to go through a much more stringent points system.

The application fee is being increased from US$250

to US$1000 in addition to others fees paid in advance.

“Hopefully, it will discourage what we call frivolous applications, that is applications by persons who don’t have a chance,” he said, adding that he believes there were more people in support of the reform that those against the proposed measures. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Mexico’s Acapulco hit by heavy rain, fresh floods

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orrential rain has caused fresh floods in the Mexican beach resort Acapulco, less than two weeks after two storms killed 139 people.

Authorities evacuated people from high-risk areas and closed schools, after flooding reached more than 1m (3ft).

Acapulco was one of the areas worst affected by the bad weather, which left thousands of tourists stranded.

The government issued renewed alerts for the rest of the state of Guerrero, as further heavy rain was expected.

Officials say September,

Some areas of Acapulco had more than one metre high floods on Thursday

days before its end, is set to break rain records in Mexico by a large margin.

Acapulco’s international airport re-opened for com-

mercial flights on Sunday, a week after it had to close due to power cuts and flooding.

But on Thursday, one of

the main access roads to the airport had to be closed, officials said.

Authorities issued fresh rain alerts, as torrential rains led to evacuations in more than 20 districts.

From Mexico City, President Enrique Pena Nieto called on the population to remain alert, as more rain was expected in the next “two or three days”.

Pena Nieto spoke after visiting some of the more than 1200 points set up to collect donations for the thousands of affected Mexicans.

Some 20,000 people are still living in shelters in Guerrero. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Chinese entrepreneurs interested in Cuban development zone

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uban Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca briefed Chinese entrepreneurs in Beijing about the ongoing project to develop a special economic zone in western Cuba and its investment opportunities.

The project has prioritised sectors for investment such as biotechnology and renewable energy, while oth-

er areas to be developed include food, tourism, telecommunications, real estate, agriculture and industry in general.

Malmierca said that Chinese companies have huge potential to settle in the new development zone, which is the most complex project implemented in Cuba over the past 50 years.

The presentation was at-

tended by the director of the Development Zone Office, which operates under the Cuban Council of Ministers, and is in charge of managing and controlling activities in the zone and of drawing up and leading the development and business programme.

Malmierca stressed the good environment for doing business in Cuba, manifested in a safe and transparent

legal framework, good port, road, railways and communications infrastructure at the service of investors.

He also addressed guarantees for investors, such as free transfer of their profits abroad, the strategic location of the zone, right in the heart of the Caribbean, plus a special tax system offering fiscal incentives. (Excerpt

from Caribbean News Now)

15 Around the world

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, september 28, 2013

Kenya: Militants rented Poaching funds Somalia’s al-Shabaab, activists say Kenyan mall shop

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Smoke emanating from the Westgate mall following a deadly attack by militants

he militants who led the attack on a Kenyan mall rented a shop there in the weeks leading up to the siege, senior security sources have told the BBC. This gave them access to service lifts at Westgate enabling them to stockpile weapons and ammunition.

Having pre-positioned weapons they were able to rearm quickly and repel the security forces.

Sixty-seven people are known to have died in the

four-day siege. Kenya’s Red Cross says 61 others are still missing.

Forensic experts are still combing the complex, looking for bodies and clues.

The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab, which is part of alQaeda, says it was behind the attack and the following siege at the upmarket mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Kenya is in its third day of official mourning for both the civilian and military victims of the attack.

Eight held over Nairobi mall attack, al-Shabaab issues new threat

K

enyan authorities are holding eight people in connection with an attack by Islamist militants on a Nairobi shopping mall and have released three others after the assault that killed 67 civilians and soldiers, the interior minister said on Friday.

Somali Islamist group alShabaab said Saturday’s attack, which ended after a four-day siege by soldiers and police, was “just the premiere of Act 1” and suggested it would be followed by other actions by its “warriors”.

As the police investigation advanced, a leading Muslim cleric urged security forces to avoid harassing

Muslims in their pursuit of those responsible.

Investigators trying to determine the identity of the attackers were making “good progress” in their search through the rubble of the mall where three floors collapsed after a series of blasts and a huge blaze, Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said. Five of the attackers were killed, he said, but survivors of attack have said some may have escaped.

“Police are holding eight suspects as they seek to unmask the face behind the terror attack. Three others were interrogated and released,” Ole Lenku told a news briefing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Egypt sees fresh anticoup alliance protests

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housands of people are taking part in anti-government protests across Egypt, days after activities by the Muslim Brotherhood were banned by a Cairo court.

Friday’s protests, called by the Anti-Coup Alliance, saw thousands take to the streets in Cairo, Port Said, Assuit, and elsewhere.

The protesters held up banners and chanted slogans against the military coup that ousted then-President Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood member. The alliance called for the protests to complement “You are the pillar of the revolution” demonstrations, which began last Friday.

Violent protests have swept Egypt since the coup

on July 3, and the authorities have cracked down on Morsi supporters.

While hundreds have died after security forces moved in to quell demonstrations, many Brotherhood members – including its top leaders – have been jailed.

A Cairo court on Monday ordered that Brotherhood funds be seized. Two days later, police stormed the headquarters of a Brotherhood newspaper, seized its contents and shut it down.

Al Jazeera’s correspondents in Egypt, who we are not naming for security reasons, said that the protests had largely remained peaceful, following the trend of recent weekly anti-government protests after Friday prayers. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The BBC investigation has revealed how the Westgate gunmen were able to plan and carry out the siege, and how security breaches allegedly fuelled by corruption made it an attack waiting to happen.

To rent a shop, the militants would have needed fake IDs supplied by corrupt government officials.

The BBC has also confirmed more details about how they executed their attack. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Somalia’s al-Shabaab militia, responsible for the Westgate mall siege in Nairobi, is being partly financed by the illegal ivory trade, a wildlife group said Thursday

S

omalia’s al-Shabaab militia, which carried out a deadly attack on Nairobi’s Westgate mall, is partly funded by the poaching trade, wildlife activists said Thursday.

“Over the last 18 months,

we’ve been investigating the involvement of al-Shabaab in trafficking ivory through Kenya,” Elephant Action League Executive Director Andrea Crosta told Agence France-Presse.

The trade “could be sup-

plying up to 40 per cent of the funds needed to keep them in business,” Crosta said, though she specified that al-Shabaab are not involved in the actual killing of elephants or rhinos.

The Islamist group has been the centre of attention after claiming responsibility for a four-day siege at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi which left scores people dead by the time it ended Tuesday.

The Elephant Action League added that there has been evidence of ties between the poaching trade and militant groups like Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army or Darfur’s Janjaweed, cited in a UN report published in May. Activists hope that emphasising the links between groups that commit violence and the illicit trade may encourage governments to crack down on the practice.

(Excerpt from France24)

NSA workers spied on lovers

T

he National Security Agency’s internal watchdog detailed a dozen instances in the past decade in which its employees intentionally misused the agency’s surveillance power, in some cases to snoop on their love interests.

A letter from the NSA’s inspector general responding to a request by Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, lists the dozen incidents where the NSA’s foreign intelligence collection systems were abused. The letter also says there are two additional incidents now under investigation and another allegation pending that may require an inves-

NSA officers spied on love interests

tigation.

At least six of the incidents were referred to the Justice Department for possible prosecution or additional action; none appear to have resulted in charges.

The letter does not identify the employees.

Several of the cases involve so-called “Loveint” violations.

In one case, detailed by the NSA’s watchdog, a ci-

vilian intelligence employee assigned overseas was found to have used the NSA’s signals intelligence collection system to listen to the phone conversations on nine phone numbers belonging to foreign women from 1998 to 2003 without any valid reason. The signals intelligence system is used to spy on foreign targets for national security reasons.

The case began because a woman, a foreign national employed by the U.S. government, told another employee she suspected the man with whom she was in a sexual relationship was listening to her calls. (Excerpt

from CNN)

UN probes new alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria

U

N inspectors are investigating seven alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria – three of which happened after the August 21 Damascus incident that led to threats of U.S. military action.

Little is known about the latest three alleged attacks, which the Syrian government asked the UN to investigate.

The August 21 attack left hundreds dead; the resulting outcry led Syria to offer up its chemical weapons arsenal.

The UN will vote later on a plan of action to eliminate the stockpile.

Its resolution is expected to incorporate the text of an agreement by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical

Weapons (OPCW), which is due to be approved by the OPCW’s 41-nation executive council in The Hague later on Friday.

The OPCW will be responsible for dealing with Syria’s chemical weapons, and has said it will send in its own team of inspectors next Tuesday.

U.S. President Barack

Obama said agreement on the issue by UN Security Council members was a “potentially huge victory for the international community”.

Meanwhile, violence goes on in Syria. Activists said a car bomb killed at least 20 people near a mosque in Rankus, a town north of Damascus, just after Friday prayers. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Killer hornets sting 19 to death

A

t least 19 people have been stung to death by hornets – which may include the world’s largest hornet species Vespa mandarinia – in China’s central Shaanxi province in the last three months, according to the city government of Ankang, the apparent epicentre of a recent spate of fatalities and injuries.

A total of 583 people in the area have been stung

by hornets since July 1, say city officials. Seventy victims are still recovering in hospitals.

Chen Changlin was hospitalised after being attacked by hornets, while harvesting rice last week.

“I ran and shouted for help, but the hornets chased me about 200 metres, and stung me for more than three minutes,” he recounted to the state-run China Youth Daily.

Chen said hornets had first swarmed a woman and child working nearby, who then ran towards him. Both later died from the hornets’ toxins.

“The more you run, the more they want to chase you,” said another victim, whose kidneys were ravaged by the venom. When he was admitted to the hospital, his urine was the color of soy sauce, according to local reports. (Excerpt from CNN)

Hornets have stung several hundred people in China, killing at least 19

16

saturday, September 28, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

Company to manufacture shoes Liberia becoming major trade in Haiti zone – maritime boss

I

n a move that signals its evolution from a company that provides aid to one that also invests in the communities in which it gives, TOMS has announced that it will manufacture new pairs of shoes in Haiti beginning in January 2014.

TOMS is a company that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need.

To date, TOMS has given over 10 million pairs of new shoes

to children in need.

The announcement was made on Wednesday during the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting by TOMS founder and chief shoe giver, Blake Mycoskie, in revealing the CGI commitment named “Large Scale Shoe Production and Job Creation in Haiti.”

“TOMS is extremely proud and excited to make this commitment, and we would not be in this position if it wasn’t

for President Clinton’s ongoing leadership and inspiration,” said Mycoskie. “Three years ago at CGI the president asked me to help support the people of Haiti, and TOMS responded by giving hundreds of thousands of new pairs of shoes to children in need. Today, our dedication to Haiti is so much greater, and we look forward to creating jobs and opportunities in Haiti over the next several years.” (Caribbean News Now)

North America

T

he Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), Binyah Kesselly, has asserted that Liberia is becoming a major trade zone as more ships are now docking than ever before. Commissioner Kesselly pointed out that more ships are now docking at the ports in Buchanan, Haper and Greenville. According to him, this has increased the activities of the Maritime Authority in those counties.

The Maritime boss made these comments at a programme marking the official opening of a temporary regional office in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The regional office, he noted, will serve the Ports of Buchanan, Greenville and Harper in Grand Bassa, Sinoe and Maryland Counties respectively. “The docking of more ships at these various ports will increase our own activities in those counties. It is also impor-

tant to note that the opening of the regional office will ease our cost of operations and increase safety,” said the Maritime boss.

“By the opening of this office, Maritime workers will no longer drive from Monrovia to the various counties upon the arrival of a ship,” he stated. Commissioner Kessely disclosed that a former international Maritime employee, Gustav Bernard, has donated an acre of land to LiMA in Fortsville, Grand Bassa County. (allAfrica)

Asia

BlackBerry confirms deep loss Japan’s consumer prices rise and revenue drop on higher energy costs

B

lackBerry Ltd reported a quarterly loss of nearly US$1 billion on Friday, in line with a warning it gave last week, just days after the smartphone maker accepted its largest shareholder’s tentative US$4.7 billion bid to take it private.

The report showed Blackberry turned in a particularly limp performance in Latin America, a region it recently touted as an enthusiastic supporter of its devices.

The company, which warned on September 20 that the poor results were coming, said its net loss for the second quarter, ended on August 31, was US$965 million, or US$1.84 a share.

Revenue fell 45 per cent from a year earlier to US$1.6 billion, and BlackBerry’s cash pile – made up of cash and equivalents, short and long-term investments – fell by more than US$500 million to US$2.57 billion.

Its shares were little

changed by early afternoon.

Investors absorbed the shock of the drastic revenue decline last Friday, when a pre-announcement about the dismal results slashed 17 per cent from the Canadian company’s market value. The loss included a write down of about $934 million for unsold Z10 phones, a touch screen model that the company had hoped would reverse its fading fortunes. The phone has sold badly with businesses and consumers alike. (Reuters)

Europe

J

apan’s consumer prices rose for the third month in a row in August, a boost for policymakers as they attempt to end years of deflation or falling prices.

Consumer prices, excluding food, rose 0.8 per cent from a year earlier. The growth was mainly stoked by energy costs. Japan has been relying heavily on imports to meet energy demand after all its nuclear reactors were shut.

But a weakening yen, which has fallen nearly 25 per cent against the U.S. dollar since November, has made imports more costly. The yen’s decline has been triggered mainly by the aggressive policies unveiled by the new government, which includes a two per cent inflation target, to try and revive the Japanese economy. According to the statistical bureau’s latest data, fuel, light and wa-

ter prices rose six per cent in August, from a year earlier. If food and fuel are taken out, consumer prices actually fell 0.1 per cent from a year ago.

“The ongoing rise in inflation is still mostly a reflection of the slump in the exchange over the past year,” said Marcel Thieliant, Japan economist with Capital Economics.

Japan’s economy has been mired by deflation for the best part of the past two decades.

(BBC News)

Middle East

After Fukushima: Could Germany’s Will Dubai’s new transfer fee nuclear gamble backfire? have the right effect?

A

s Germany’s switchover from nuclear power to renewable energy gathers pace, concerns are mounting over the cost to the country’s prosperity and its already squeezed consumers.

Politicians in Europe’s largest economy want renewable power to contribute 35 per cent of the country’s electricity consumption by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050 as part of its clean energy drive.

The country’s “energiewende” – translated as energy transformation – is part of the government’s plan to move away from nuclear power and fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, following Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011.

Michael Limburg, vicepresident of the European Institute for Climate and Energy, told CNN that the government’s energy targets

are “completely unfeasible.”

“Of course, it’s possible to erect tens of thousands of windmills but only at an extreme cost and waste of natural space,” he said. “And still it would not be able to deliver electricity when it is needed.”

The government is investing heavily in onshore and offshore wind farms and solar technology in an effort to reduce 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

(CNN)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Cur GBP CAN USD

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

Buying

Selling

U.S.

$329.80 $198.49 $204.99

$333.94 $200.77 $207.43

Cambio

$1335.00 $202.67

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Indicators as on September 27, 2013 Live Spot Gold $1336.20

$1337.20

Low/High

$1332.90

$1345.30

+12.40

Change

-0.84

USD GBP EUR

Sept 25 USD GBP EUR

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

London Gold Fix

Sept 26

Indicators

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

AM

PM

1321.50 822.03 987.45

1341.00 831.53 988.94

AM

PM

1332.50 830.22 987.92

1333.00 831.20 986.75

US$ per barrel

$109.21 USD per Ounce

21.78 $1415.00

Change %

-0.81 Change %

+0.05 +9.00

L

ast week, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Fiscal Committee, revealed that the emirate was planning new regulations to prevent the risk of a new bubble.

The rumour in the market right now is that one of those proposed new regulations will involve the Land Department doubling its transfer fee on the purchase of any new prop-

CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY

Plan ahead

Meeting deadlines is a lot like playing a good game of Chess. Good chess players plan five to 10 moves ahead.

Bad chess players only concentrate on the current move.

If you always focus on events several days down the road, you’ll be better equipped to handle any potential crises that pop up. It also allows you to set aside a day or two before the final deadline to polish your project and add finishing touches. Don’t just focus on today – focus on the whole week.

This is the number one reason people fail to meet

Changes: -70.06

% Change: -0.46

Open: 15314.81

High: 15314.81

Low: 15211.81

% YTD: +16.44

52Wk Hi: 15658.43

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

million home, potential buyers would have to stump up AED80,000. Given that a considerable number of wouldbe purchasers tend to push themselves to their credit limit in order to buy a home, the new measure would remove a swathe of interest in the market. Many of these may opt to buy a smaller home, but many may decide to ditch the prospect of investing in their house altogether. (Arabianbusiness)

Investors' guide Tips to help you meet goals and deadlines

Get organised – Technology is your friend

Last: 15258.24

erty from two per cent to four per cent – except on the initial purchase of the unit from the developer, which would stay at the previous level. If true, that would have a huge effect, especially among those buyto-live purchasers who are scrabbling to get their first foothold on the emirate’s real estate ladder.

Instead of paying AED40,000 for the opportunity to live, say, in an AED2

deadlines.

They simply aren’t organised. In this age of smartphones, tablets and cloud computing, there’s simply no excuse to be disorganised. Simply entering events in your Google Calendar will sync it across all your mobile devices so you can keep aware of all current deadlines. Cloud-based calendars and documents can also be shared and edited by collaborators, which makes working with a team a breeze.

File documents neatly in your computer or cloud-based storage. People often waste time finding digital bits and pieces of their projects when they aren’t organised, using “search” to desperately find the document they “swear was

saved to the desktop”. Good self-discipline is reflected in good organisational skills.

Be able to meet short notice deadlines

Last, but not least, always be ready to meet short-notice deadlines. These occur at every workplace, upsetting employees and managers alike.

If you were able to manage your time effectively, as shown in this guide, meeting a sudden short-notice deadline should be a breeze.

Smoothly and coolly meeting a last-minute deadline makes you look great – especially when your procrastinating coworkers are tearing their hair out. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Insurance Risk-transfer mechanism that ensures full or partial financial compensation for the loss or damage caused by event(s) beyond the control of the insured party. Under an insurance contract, a party (the insurer) indemnifies the other party (the insured) against a specified amount of loss, occurring from specified eventualities within a specified period, provided a fee called premium is paid.

news

17

saturday, september 28, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant Obama, Iranian contestants get BlackBerries president have historic phone call T

U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during a phone call in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, September 27

P

resident Barack Obama and new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone on Friday, the highest-level of contact between the two countries in three decades and a sign that they are serious about reaching a pact on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The call is the culmination of a dramatic shift in tone between Iran and the U.S., which cut diplomatic relations with Iran a year after the 1979 revolution that toppled U.S. ally Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and led to the U.S. embassy hostage crisis in Tehran.

Obama has said for years he was open to direct contact with Iran while also stressing that all options – including military strikes – were on the table to prevent Iran building a nuclear bomb.

The U.S. president had hoped to meet with the relatively moderate Rouhani at the UN General Assembly in New York this week, but the Iranian side decided an encounter was too complicated, in what was seen by White House officials as an effort to avoid antagonising hardliners in Tehran.

On Friday, however, the Iranians said Rouhani expressed interest in a phone discussion before he left the U.S., according to a senior administration official. The White House quickly arranged the call, which took

place at 14:30h and lasted about 15 minutes.

A source close to Rouhani said the U.S. had reached out after positive talks between Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a day earlier.

Speaking to reporters, Obama said he and Rouhani had directed their teams to work quickly toward an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme. He said this was a unique opportunity to make progress with Tehran over an issue that has isolated it from the West.

“While there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution,” Obama said at the White House.

“The test will be meaningful, transparent, and verifiable actions, which can also bring relief from the comprehensive international sanctions that are currently in place” against Iran, Obama said.

Rouhani, in his Twitter account, said that in the conversation he told Obama “Have a Nice Day!” and Obama responded with “Thank you. Khodahafez (goodbye).”

He added that the two men “expressed their mutual political will to rapidly solve the nuclear issue”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) on Friday gifted 10 BlackBerry phones to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry to be presented to the contestants of the Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant tonight, at the National Cultural Centre.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai expressed great appreciation to GT&T for its contribution towards the pageant.

In photo, Minister Sukhai and Amerindian Heritage Month Coordinator Jude Da Silva receive the devices from GT&T public relations officers Nadia De Abreu (left) and Allison Parker (right).

Barama rewards NGSA students

Barama company officials and the NGSA awardees

T

he curtains came down on Wednesday on Barama’s month of planned educational activities with a ceremony at the company’s Land of Canaan headquarters where it honoured successful students of this year’s National Grade Six Assessment.

After a month of open facility tours, in-house educational training, and a book drive, Barama Company Limited awarded five high achievers of the 2013 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.

Receiving awards were Pricilla Jadoobeer of St Joseph High, Sheranie Singh of Diamond Secondary, Muricia Durant of Berbice High School, Junneil Harris of Diamond Secondary, and Yogeshwar Shivmangal of

Friendship Secondary School.

Timothy Chand and Alesha Rahman who obtained places at Queen’s College and North Georgetown Secondary respectively were also honoured for their outstanding performances.

Special invitee Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary) Marcel Hutson, in his capacity as guest speaker, lauded the company’s initiatives in the promotion of literacy.

He charged the students to take advantage of all that was being offered to them and reminded that them a sound education was a means of liberation.

He also highlighted the importance of the efforts made by teachers, and encouraged parents to ensure that their children achieve their highest

potential and make an impact in the world.

Hutson also shared one of his favourite quotes from Confucius, ‘“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of 10 years plant trees; if in terms of a hundred years, teach the people.”’ This he declared has guided him in his accomplishments.

The awardees and attendees also received sound advice from the company’s CEO, Clement Ooi who highlighted that learning is a lifelong process, “the day we stop learning is the day we stop growing ourselves”.

He emphasised the need to learn, un-learn and re-learn as we progress throughout the journey of life.

He also remarked on the brilliance of the concept of Education Month, because

it reflected the importance of education in moulding our future leaders and for nation building as a whole.

In closing his address, Ooi highlighted that there are three important factors that separate winners from losers… the ‘desire’ to excel, the ‘decision’ to make the change, and ‘doing’ what is necessary.

The company also made a presentation of a quantity of books and a bookshelf to Supply Primary School headmistress Patricia Arjune, who expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the company on behalf of her school and expressed her interest in continued partnerships with the company.

The ceremony marked the sixth for the company as it continues its commitment to the development of Guyana.

Burrowes School of Arts hosts 34th graduation ceremony

T

he Burrowes School of Arts on Friday hosted its 34th graduation ceremony and art exhibition at the Umana Yana, Kingston.

The ceremony saw a total of 33 students graduating. Four students graduated with diplomas in graphics and textile design, while another four graduated with certificates in textile design, leathercraft, and graphics.

Additionally, 10 students also received beginners certificates and 15 graduated from the art programme.

Delivering the feature address at the graduation, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony congratulated the students on the hard work they have put in, while encouraging them to put their talents to

great use.

“We hope that by graduating out of this institution, it will be putting them on a career where they can go out and make beautiful masterpieces and become masters in their own rights in the area of art,” the minister said.

He also commended the teachers for the work they have put into developing the skills of the students.

He noted that the school has been contributing to the development of art in Guyana and the Caribbean by extension.

“The school itself has to undergo changes, because, as an institution, we cannot be static – we have to be dynamic, we have to take into consideration the contribution of the school towards society,”

Samples of the students’ work that were displayed at the 34th graduation ceremony and art exhibition of Burrowes School of Arts at the Umana Yana, Kingston

he said.

The minister said his ministry always looks for ways in which it can develop

art in Guyana and has even endeavoured to establish schools that cater for those different art forms.

Anthony noted that creative and artistic people are taken for granted in Guyana, so the ministry is looking for establishing courses that will allow them to obtain degree certificates so that they can be respected as professionals.

The culture minister continued that the ministry is using events such as Carifesta and the InterGuianas Festival as venues for exposing artistic talents.

He pointed out that there was much optimism in the art sector; hence much needs to be done to keep it growing. He ended by telling the graduating students that big things are expected from them.

Meanwhile, the External Examiner’s Report was done

by Trinidadian Makemba Kunle, who said that he was very much impressed with the work of the students.

He commended the drawings, ceramics and fabric designs; however, he noted that computer graphics was the art form that took centre stage.

He recommended that the school also implement modelling and sculpture as part of the curriculum, while urging the students to use their skills to create beautiful art pieces.

After the students were presented with their certificates, the best graduating students were awarded for their outstanding performance. There was also an exhibition of the entire student’s artwork.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, september 28, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Let the people you care about know what you are up to. Including loved ones in your plans will build strong bonds and help you attain your goals.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) Expect delays and be prepared to find ways around whatever setback you encounter. Being adaptable will help you guard against negativity and complaints. Being passionate will improve your situation.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Plunge forward with optimism. Engage in events and activities that allow you to show off. Romance is in the stars, and socialising will lead to many new opportunities.

Peanuts

SUDOKU

CANCER (June 21July 22) Enjoy getting out today. Take time to go to your local spa or a place that you find relaxing.

Exploring your surroundings and experimenting with new possibilities will bring good results.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) Don’t let anyone bully you into something that you don’t care to do. Pick and choose whom and what you pursue. Keep your personal affairs private and avoid the backlash of a meddler.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) In a business or partnership involvement, size up what’s being offered and counter with something that you think is fair and feasible. You’ll impress someone you care for with your hardnosed negotiations. Plan a romantic evening.

ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t share your secrets. It’s best to get everything in order before you present your plans.

Emotions will escalate regarding financial and domestic matters. Don’t tolerate a bully.

It won’t be easy dealing with emotional uncertainties. Be careful not to overreact; you may not be able to afford it. A relationship will need an adjustment if it’s going to work.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) It’s a good day to entertain or make special plans.

Try something different and explore new places that interest you. Sharing with people you enjoy should take top priority.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Book a trip or engage in something that inspires you. Awaken yourself to the many opportunities for rejuvenation and refreshment that surround you. If you bring passion into your work life, success will result.

Friday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20)

SAGITTARIUS

See what’s required at work and set your sights on the end results. Find ways to make your living quarters more entertaining or comfortable, but don’t buy what you cannot afford.

Say what you mean and do what you say. If an endeavor requires physical risk, it would be best to openly disengage from it at the outset. If you commit to something, make sure that you can deliver.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

news 19

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saturday, September 28, 2013

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

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Contact Balwant Persaud Immigration and Visa Services 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings and Light Sts.) Tel: 225-1540, 655-3105, 622-8308

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Use culture as a base to move forward, upward – prime minister

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Prime Minister Samuel Hinds being escorted into St Ignatius Village, Region Nine

VEHICLES FOR SALE One Honda Cappa (Yellow) ideal for taxi or private use. Leather seats and roof, alarm, reverse camera, DVD/TV/CD player, mag rims.

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overnment’s focus is on providing opportunities for all peoples to grow and develop, and Region Nine’s advancement has been significant over the years, an indication of government’s desire to ensure that all citizens obtain a better life regardless of where they live; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told a large gathering at St Ignatius Village benab on Thursday.

Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Yvonne Hinds and several government and regional officials, the prime minister, who is performing the duties of president, thanked the Region Nine community for the warm welcome He described it as a special moment as he recalled his first visit to the community which was in 1967.

St Ignatius, a community

ture.

He urged that they keep in mind the sacrifices made by their ancestors as, “The way our forefathers managed to make a living and enjoy themselves should never be forgotten”. This culture should be a base on which residents could build on for the future, he added.

Future

Government is looking towards the future, the prime minister noted, and highlighted that the ruling administration is training the country’s youths for future jobs.

The Youth Apprenticeship and Entrepreneurial Programme (YEAP) will benefit hundreds of indigenous youths, and information technology training will be initiated in the near future

Project, to set up mutually agreed upon boundaries for Indigenous communities, is also continuing, and this is just one of the ways in which residents will be further empowered.

Recent performances by hinterland scholarship students were also lauded by Prime Minister Hinds at the event.

The hosting of the National Toshaos Conference slated for October 21-25, has been approved and funding provided by government, the prime minister stated and reminded community leaders that the event, initiated by government, is a “Unique opportunity for leaders to meet government officials, raise concerns and seeks solutions to issues affecting their communities”.

Children of St Ignatius dressed in traditional garb welcoming Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and his wife Yvonne Hinds

of about 700 people, is located close to Lethem and has nursery, primary and secondary schools. The latter has a dormitory that caters for students from other communities.

“Amerindians are an important part of Guyana’s formation and future development,” he said, with government striving to ensure that they receive as much as anyone else in terms of assistance to better their lives and develop their communities.

He urged that the community strive to maintain and honour their culture as they move forward to the fu-

for indigenous youths he also pointed out.

Support

Development within indigenous communities is also being pushed forward with the Community Development Programme (CDP), he said, with 166 villages and communities set to benefit from project grants worth $5 million each. This programme, under the Low Carbon Development Strategy, is intended to create self-sustaining community projects which will benefit residents economically.

The Land Demarcation

In closing, he spoke of the pending improvement of the Lethem electrical power supply via the acquisition of new generators which will be installed in a better location.

He reminded all to remain committed to each other as they seek to, like all citizens, work to ensure a better life for all Guyanese.

The day’s event was punctuated by traditional dances, songs, and skits and there were booths on display.

On September 7, the celebrations were taken to Karasabai, identified as the Heritage Village for 2013.

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Mumbai stay alive with easy victory M

umbai Indians were huge favourites going into two previous encounters with Lions in the Champions League, and on both occasions they had come up short.

This time, there was the added pressure of it being a must-win encounter and the challenge of a juicy pitch with pace that reminded the Lions captain, Alviro Petersen, of the track at his home ground in Johannesburg. Mumbai didn’t buckle this time, though, coasting to a sevenwicket victory on the back of a typically power-packed half-century from Dwayne Smith and a superb spell from Harbhajan Singh on Friday.

The match had been shifted out from Ahmedabad due to the persistent rains there, and while the skies were clearer in Jaipur, there was still an early interruption as the floodlights failed, holding up play for over 20 minutes.

Before that, there had been a glimpse of the bounce in the surface as Mitchell Johnson got a short deliv-

ery to lift off, flying for a one-bounce four with no intervention from the batsman. Still, the early help in the track which had both captains eager to bowl first didn’t bother Lions too much as they reached 40 for 1 after five overs.

Mumbai then wrestled the advantage in a passage that began with a Rishi Dhawan maiden.

Harbhajan’s straighter one - which he used frequently foxed Quinton de Kock. Neil McKenzie, Lions’ hero in both their previous matches against Mumbai, showed glimpses of his ability with a deft reverse-sweep and a supremely-timed six over long-on. He, however, misread Dhawan’s incutter to be bowled for 15, and with Pragan Ojha striking in his first two overs, Lions were soon stumbling at 81 for 5.

Ojha’s third over was taken for two sixes - including a 103m hit by Dwaine Pretorius - as he and Petersen struck a 59-run unbeaten partnership that took Lions to a reasonable total of 140. With the new ball jagging around, beating

A muscular innings from Smith, though, dashed Lions’ chances. It was not the most fluent knock, as there were several edges, and he missed the ball repeatedly, but when he connected properly, the ball rocketed to the boundary.

His runs came almost exclusively on the leg-side as he used the short-arm pull and the launch over long-on quite effectively.

The asking-rate was never out of hand, and even though Kieron Pollard took some time to settle after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, the chase was completed with nine deliveries to spare. Pollard made up for lost time with three big sixes, and Smith stayed till the end to leave Lions hoping for something of a miracle to make it to the semi-finals.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Dwayne Smith’s half-century steered Mumbai Indians’ chase (BCCI)

the bat consistently, Lions still had a chance of defending the total.

Their hopes were raised as the wait for a big score

from Sachin Tendulkar continued when he was baffled by a slower one from Sohail Tanvir, and Dinesh Karthik also departed early.

Lions innings H van der Dussen c Dhawan b Johnson 13 Q de Kock† lbw b Harbhajan Singh 19 N McKenzie b Dhawan 15 J Symes b Ojha 14 A Petersen* not out 35 Sohail Tanvir c Smith b Ojha 2 D Pretorius not out 31 Extras: (lb 4, w 7) 11 Total: (5 wkts, 20 overs) 140 Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-41, 3-62, 4-71, 5-81 Bowling: M Johnson 4-0-331, N Coulter-Nile 4-0-25-0, R Dhawan 4-1-21-1, Harbhajan Singh 4-0-19-1, P Ojha 3-026-2, K Pollard 1-0-12-0

Mumbai Indians innings D Smith not out 63 S Tendulkar b Sohail Tanvir 5 K Karthik† c Petersen b Imran Tahir 13 R Sharma* c sub (T Bavuma) b Pretorius 20 K Pollard not out 31 Extras: (lb 6, w 3) 9 Total: (3 wkts, 18.3 overs) 141 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-47, 3-90 Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 3.3-015-1, L Tsotsobe 3-0-25-0, G Viljoen 4-0-36-0, Imran Tahir 4-0-23-1, A Phangiso 1-010-0, D Pretorius 3-0-26-1

Powell, Simpson Massiah steps down as have doping hearing USA captain set for January S

Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson

K

ingston, Jamaica Former world 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 4x100 relay silver medallist Sherone Simpson will appear before a disciplinary panel of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission in January.

The two sprinters, who were among five Jamaicans to test positive at their country’s national championships last June, were given the dates on Friday during a preliminary hearing at the Jamaica Conference Center in Kingston.

Simpson will face the panel January 7-8 while Powell will appear from January 14-15 in an attempt to clear their names.

Powell and Simpson have tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine.

Powell blamed his positive

drug test on a range of new nutritional supplements prescribed to him by a Canadian trainer he had only been working with for two months.

Powell and Simpson were among five Jamaicans who were informed in July that they tested positive for banned substances.

The other three athletes – discus throwers Allison Randall and Traves Smikle along with high jumper Demar Robinson – had their preliminary hearings a week ago.

Randall, the only one of the three who was absent from the pre-trial hearing last week, will face the panel on December 5 and 6.

Robinson will return for his trial on December 12 and 13; and Smikle will have his trial on December 16 and 17. (Reuters)

teve Massiah has stepped down as USA captain on Thursday after seven years in the role for his adopted country.

Massiah, 34, made his debut for USA in 2000 after moving from his native Guyana and led USA since the start of the 2006 ICC Americas Division One tournament in Canada following the departure of Richard Staple when USA finished 10th at the 2005 ICC Trophy in Ireland.

“In recent months, I have found myself thinking that it was time for a change at the top, for a new voice to lead our team,” Massiah said in a USACA press release. “I have been honoured and humbled to serve as national captain. At this time I extend my most sincere gratitude and thanks to the selection committee, coaches, administration and teammates for their continued support and trust through the years. I feel that now is the time for someone else to take up the reins and for me to focus on doing the very best that I can to perform in [the World Twenty20 Qualifier].”

Massiah compiled a 33-17 record with four no results while leading USA in 50-over matches and had an 8-6 re-

Steve Massiah

cord as USA’s Twenty20 captain from 2010-2011.

His tenure was marked by a series of peaks and valleys with USA posting impressive victories against higher-class opposition, including wins over Scotland at the 2010 World Twenty20 Qualifier and Canada in the final of the 2010 ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 championship, balanced out by costly stumbles at crucial moments in World Cup qualification tournaments.

His highest score as a USA player came in

his first match as captain, scoring 136 not out in a 106-run win over Cayman Islands in 2006.

Despite scoring several centuries in pre-tournament warm-up matches for USA, the ton against Cayman Islands would be his only one as captain in an official match. He produced steady contributions, with 1575 runs at an average of 40.38 as captain in 50-over cricket for USA, a shade higher than his career 50-over average for USA of 38.34.

Massiah’s best tournament as captain came

in 2010 at ICC World Cricket League Division Five in Nepal where he scored four half-centuries in six matches and was the tournament’s leading scorer as USA gained promotion into Division Four, which they won in Italy later that year. His other successes include an undefeated championship run in Florida at the 2008 ICC Americas Division One tournament and leading USA to the inaugural ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 championship in Bermuda in 2010 where they defeated Canada in the final by five wickets.

However, there were also some demoralizing losses in his tenure. As part of USA’s suspension by the ICC in 2007, they were dropped from Division Three to Division Five of the World Cricket League. When the suspension was lifted, USA entered Division Five in 2008 as one of the favourites and cruised through the group stage undefeated only to suffer a shock upset by 84 runs in the semi-final at the hands of Jersey.

Afghanistan defeated Nepal in the other semifinal and beat Jersey in the final to begin their meteoric rise through Associate and Affiliate cricket. (Cricinfo)

saturday, September 28, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

Messi appears in Spanish court over tax fraud B

arcelona footballer Lionel Messi has appeared before a Spanish judge as part of a tax fraud investigation.

The 26-year-old Argentine, four times FIFA World Player of the Year, and his father Jorge Messi are accused of defrauding the authorities of more than 4m euros ($5.4m; £3.4m).

The two men were questioned separately at the court in Gava, near Barcelona.

Both father and son deny the allegations. The Messis’ lawyer said he wanted to resolve the matter.

The footballer and his father are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use Lionel Messi’s image, thereby circumventing tax obligations in Spain. The allegations date back to 2007-9.

The income related to Messi’s image rights included contracts with Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Proctor and Gamble, and the Kuwait Food Company.

Tougher line

After Friday’s hearing, which was a closed-court session, the state prosecutor’s spokesman told the BBC that no agreement had been reached with the two men and their lawyers.

The spokesman said that the defence’s strategy had been to pin blame on Jorge Messi, insisting on the innocence of the star striker.

In August, Jorge Messi made a payment of 5 million euros to the tax authorities - the 4.16m euros of the alleged unpaid tax plus interest.

T

The BBC’s Tom Burridge in Madrid says that Spanish tax authorities are taking a much tougher line on tax infringements due to the country’s economic crisis, which is why they are continuing to pursue the case despite this payment.

Lionel Messi has previously stated that he and his father “have never committed any infringement. We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations”.

Humble

Messi’s net salary from Barcelona is said to be about 16m euros a year, making him one of the world’s most

highly paid sportspeople.

He has also signed multi-milliondollar endorsements with commercial sponsors around the world.

Messi’s achievements on the field have made him one of the most marketable in the business.

He came from a modest background and has overcome a serious health issue, joining Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000 and making his first-team debut only three years later.

But the allegations are a big blow to the prestige of the player, who has long been seen as a more humble figure than most top-class footballers. (BBC Sport)

Laparkan 11-race cycling meet on today

T

he inner circuit of the National Park will become a cycling speedway for some of the country’s top cyclists in the Laparkan Holdings Limited annual 11race cycling programme today.

Now in its ninth year, and organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, the event will begin at 09:00h and cyclists will compete in a number of categories.

Robin Persaud will defend his title in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race, having won the event last year

Robin Persaud

Hassan Mohamed

in one hour, 20 minutes, 55 seconds (01h:20:55).

Rawle Leal won the Juveniles 10-lap event last year, while Junior Niles and Alfie Soonaram are the defending champions of the veterans’ Under-50 and 12-14 boys and girls races respectively.

Other events carded for the day include the veterans’ Over-50 and 60, Mountain bikes, BMX Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14 years.

Representatives of Laparkan will be on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of the meet.

Trophy Stall softball tourney starts on Sunday

T

he Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA)/Trophy Stall softball tournament begins on Sunday at Demerara Cricket Club and Enterprise grounds.

At DCC ground, on pitch one from 09:30h, Floodlight play Front Line Masters and 12:30h Savage Masters play Parika Defenders; on pitch two at 09:30h Regal

PPP/C, RSTC horse race meet confirmed for October 6

Dennis DeRoop

Lionel Messi is accused of millions of euros of tax fraud

challenge Wellwoman, Trophy Stall Angels battle Mahaica Creek Princesses at 10:30h, the next fixture will see Wellwoman against 4R Lioness at 11:30h and the match at 12:30h Young Guns are pitted against Buddy’s XI. At the Enterprise ground at 09:30h Brickery Superstars play Farm and at 12:30h Enterprise Legends take on Park

Rangers on pitch one. On pitch two from 09:30h Success Warriors play P and P Warriors and Industry Super Kings take on Success Masters.

Meanwhile, male teams will use the big white ball, as teams try to au fait themselves for GFSCA international softball tournament, Guyana Softball Cup 111 on November 8, 9, and 10. The balls are available

for sale at Trophy Stall, Mikes Pharmacy, Survival, 4R, Gain Mart and Bel Air Rubis Service Station.

The Trophy Stall tournament is expected to go into full swing from next week. Teams interested in entering can call Wayne Jones on 650-1790 (Demerara), Khalid Baksh on 618-1905 (Essequibo), and David Looknauth on 618-3717 (Berbice).

21

he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) horse race meet has been confirmed for October 6 at the Rising Sun Turf Club at Arima Park, West Coast Berbice, according to coordinator Dennis DeRoop.

DeRoop told this publication on Friday that the meet will be held in collaboration with Rising Sun Turf Club and is part of the ruling administration’s celebration to mark to mark 21 years in power.

Nine races are listed on the day’s programme, with over $8 million in cash and prizes up for the taking, according to DeRoop. The feature race will be for horses classified A and Lower and they will run a mile for $1.5 million and the President’s Cup.

Other events billed for the day are the Three-yearold race for animals bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies for $600,000, over a distance of one mile; the D3 and Lower race also carry a price tag of $600,000 and will run 1100 metres.

The race for the F and Lower animals has a winning target of $500,000 with the animals covering a distance of 1400 metres; the Two-year-old race for Guyana bred horses and the Two-year-old race for West Indies bred horses will run for 1100 metres with the winners collecting $300,000 and $400,000 respectively.

The other two 1100-metres races are for the G3 and Lower and J and Lower animals. The winning tags for those races are $400,000 and $150,000 respectively.

The final race of the day is for animals classified I and Lower for $200,000 over a distance of 1300 metres.

Registration for the meet will close on September 30 and interested horse owners can make contact with Fazal Habibulla on 232-0232 or 6577010 or Dennis DeRoop on 609-9143.

Race time is 12:30h and admission to the venue is $1000 for adults and $500 for children. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

GSCL Inc. 12/12…

Quarter-final action bowls off at Everest today ..semis and final set for Sunday

T

he quarter-final round of the second Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. 12/12 championships bowls off from 09:30hrs this morning at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Eight teams will be doing battle for a place in tomorrow’s semi-final round.

After the group stage two weeks ago Regal XI and Trophy Stall (Group A), Speedboat and Recharge (Group B), Wolf Warriors and Invaders (Group C) and defending champions Memorex and Universal DVD Titans from Group D advanced.

Today’s matches pit Wolf

Warriors and Universal DVD Titans first, followed by Memorex versus Invaders, then Regal XI versus Recharge and Trophy Stall against Speedboat.

The eight teams have displayed the ability to fight with their backs to the wall, making the action a mustsee.

Wolf Warriors will have the services of their skipper Amit Rai, along with George Gill, Safraz Karim and Mohammed Riaz Karim to post a respectable total.

This will ensure their bowlers Riaz-Karim, Diyaram Persaud, Albert Gill and Davenand Persaud can defend.

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GCB names U-19 squad to B Division, other oppose Bangladesh stakeholders develop U-19 in practice game NA playground J unior selectors of the Guyana Cricket Board named a national Under-19 squad on Friday to play Bangladesh Under-19 in a warm-up match on October 5 at Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

The match will give the tourists some practice ahead of their seven limited overs matches against West Indies Under-19, slated to begin on October 7 in Guyana.

The 16-member squad reads: Ricardo Peters, Ryan Shun, Kamesh Yadram, Shawn Pereira, Sharaz Ramcharan, Kemol Savory, Vishal Narayan, Steven Sankar, Henry Greene, Martin Pestano Bell, Romario Shepherd, Kemo Paul, Shailendra Shameer, Ricardo Mohamed, Shivram Persaud and Banerd Bailey.

The manager is David Black and the coach is Adrian Amsterdam.

Kemol Savory

The squad will be encamped from October 2-4 and players were asked to make contact with Black and Amsterdam urgently.

Following the warm-up game, the Bangladeshis will play the West Indies junior team on October 7 at the Guyana National Stadium, October 9 at Bourda, October 11 at Guyana National

Stadium, October 14 at Everest, October 16 at the Guyana National Stadium, October 19 at Bourda and October 21 at Everest.

The games for the Guyana National Stadium are day/night fixtures and will start at 13:30h. The other games scheduled for Bourda and Everest will begin at 09:00h.

At the presser Bess congratulated the athletes, noting that Davis’ success was the high point of the outing for the team, especially when Guyana’s national anthem was played.

CAC judge Frank Tucker, who was part of Guyana’s five-member delegation to assist with technical meetings, praised the athletes for their performances.

“I was pleasantly surprised at the standard of our athletes. At least we were able to be right up there with the other athletes in the classes that we were represented in.

“When I looked on stage at our athletes, I felt very proud that we had taken athletes that were in good

shape and who were well on top of their game. They were able to provide keen competition on stage,” Tucker told media representatives.

Davis and Fortune thanked their major sponsors for assisting them, stating that the trip would not have been possible without their support.

Davis, on his win, related that he was happy with defending his title but was never over-confident.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) bodybuilder and paratrooper also noted that while his competition seemed bigger in size, he never feared that he would have lost.

Meanwhile, the 2014 edition of the Championships will be held in St Marteen.

GABB&FF hails success of CAC bodybuilding team

The sign being erected at the playground

M

embers of the B Division and other key stakeholders, in an effort to promote sport and make the community safer, have developed the Angoy’s Avenue playground before handing it over to the community recently.

The project was part of a plan to make the community safer and falls under the “Safe Neighborhood Council” initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

At the handing over ceremony recently, B Division Commander Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph said that even though he grew up in New Amsterdam, he never ventured into Angoy’s Avenue as a child since it was considered an unsafe place.

The Commander took the opportunity to interact with residents and made a promise to visit the community frequently.

“We are willing to work with any community for the development of youths, they are our future. In all the divisions I have server I have worked with the youths,” he noted.

He stated that this is the beginning of an engagement with the Guyana Police Force, which will be joining forces with the others members of the joint services to further enhance the community.

Meanwhile, Guyana Fire Service Senior Superintendent Compton Sparman said a similar relationship was established with Albouystown when he served in that district. He said in any community development youths must be a

Shawn Pereira

By Treiston Joseph

T

he Guyana Central American and Caribbean (CAC) bodybuilding team returned with three medals and president of the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABB&FF) Keavon Bess hailed the athletes’ success at a press conference on Thursday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters.

Competing in the Dominican Republic, Devon Davis picked up gold and retained the title in the flyweight division when Alicia Fortune and Kerwin Clark copped bronze medals in the women’s masters and welterweight divisions respectively.

Four Guyanese in WI lawyers cricket squad Tree-planting exercise outside of the Angoy’s Avenue playground

focus.

“I believe in community development. This is a good venture. Once I am the officer-in-charge of this division and you call upon me for any assistance I will readily be available,” said Sparman.

According to Sparman, the GFS is happy to serve in the community. “We don’t want to come only when there is desaster. We want to be in peace time not in war time, because war is fire.”

Community Action Officer Phillip Rose noted that all efforts are being made to make the community safer and to get the youths

more involved in sport.

“A safe neighborhood is a basic right and it is communities in which people and organizations come together to do two things; one is to reduce injury, promote safety. This is why we have Banks DIH, Republic Bank, the joint services and others on board.”

The ground is soon to be fenced with the involvement of the joint services. Trees have been planted around the ground and several benches have been erected on the parameter on the ground giving it a park-like look. (Andrew Carmichael)

F

our Guyanese lawyers were selected to represent the West Indies lawyers cricket team at the upcoming Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup in New Delhi, India, from October 12-22.

Attorney Charles Ramson Jr, Timothy Jonas, Sanjeev Datadin, and Tejnarine Ramroop are the lawyers from Guyana.

The tournament will see lawyers from India, England, Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan competing against their West Indian counterparts.

Eight teams will play in the tournament with each team playing six 40-over matches. The two top teams from the round robin format will meet in the final, sched-

Charles Ramson Jr

Sanjeev Datadin

uled for October 22.

This will be the fourth lawyers cricket World Cup after tournaments were held in Hyderabad, India in 2008, Cambridge, England in 2009

and Barbados in 2011.

India are the defending champions, having defeated Sri Lanka A in the final of the last tournament in Barbados.

saturday, September 28, 2013

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DCB launches Over-40 T20 tournament T

he Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) on Thursday launched its inaugural Over-40 T20 competition for sub-association affiliate teams.

Eight teams from across Demerara will be vying for top honors. The format will see two teams from each area (Georgetown, East Band Demerara, East Coast Demerara and West Bank Demerara) playing each other once in the preliminary round, scheduled to bowl off on October 25.

The launch was held at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion by president of the DCB Raj Singh.

Matches will be played every Friday at 13:00h for eight weeks and to make the games more interesting, each player, except the wicketkeeper, is required to bowl two overs.

Meanwhile, it is intend-

ed that a strong Demerara team would be selected at the end of the tournament to oppose their counterparts from the other two counties at a later stage.

The tournament will be sponsored by Raj Singh Insurance Brokers and Trophy Stall.

Interested players can make contact with the following persons from the various areas: Georgetown: Nazimul Drepaul – 615 8683 and S. Atwell – 609 6976; East Bank Demerara: Johnny Azeez – 649 0243 and O. Sandy – 685 3142; East Coast Demerara: Colin Europe – 611 6675 and Sheik Mohamed – 615 1900 and West Bank Demerara: Lalta Digamber – 623 9694 and K Mangal – 628 0484.

President of the DCB and proprietor of Raj Singh Insurance Brokers Raj Singh (second left) hands over the sponsorship cheque to DCB administrator Melinda Bishundyal. East Bank Demerara cricket coordinator Deonarayan Debidial (right) and DCB Marketing Manager Ray Persaud display the winner and runner-up trophies

GPF gymkhana set for Hopetown on Sunday

B

erbicians will have an opportunity on Sunday to witness the annual Police Gymkhana that features a number of spectacular and breath-taking events at the Hopetown Community Centre ground, West Coast Berbice.

The gymkhana is a regular feature on the force’s calendar of activities and will see ranks from the various departments performing stunts and other activities. There will also be performances by the police mounted branch as they take the horses through various drills, including jump-

ing through fire and musical chairs.

The canine division, with their tracker dogs, will also form part of the day’s activities while the majorettes’ groups will also be displaying various skills during the event.

The various police motorbike divisions, including traffic, will also be a part of the day’s activities. Foot drill displays, late for work, bounty hunting and the police military band will all show off their skills also.

Admission to the event is free and show time is 11:00h.

Blairmont CC appoints Hyles-Franco senior club coach

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ong-serving Berbice Cricket Board head coach Michael Hyles-Franco was recently appointed head coach of the Blairmont Cricket Club.

Hyles-Franco’s appointment is part of the club’s restructuring programme at the leadership level. He will have special responsibilities with the first division team, along with nurturing new talent.

President of the BCC, Shameer Baksh believes Hyles-Franco will become an asset as he sets about to develop the next generation of cricketers at the club.

“It is fantastic that we could secure his services.

Michael Hyles-Franco

His main role will be to improve the standard of our cricket at the club at all levels. His experience will be vital to the development of our young cricketers,” Baksh said.

saturday, september 28, 2013

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Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

West Indies A 429 and 130 for 3 (Powell 68) lead India A 245 (Juneja 84, Permaul 5-85, Miller 4-61) by 314 runs; Mumbai Indians 141-3 (Smith 63*) beat Lions 140-5 (Petersen 35*) by seven wickets

Spinners put West Indies A in charge Indies’ spin stocks and wrested a 184-run first-innings advantage.

Manpreet Juneja, the Gujarat batsman, followed up his recent impressive outings against New Zealand A with an 84 that steadied the hosts but his dismissal sparked a collapse that put the visitors in charge. India had moved on to 184 for 3 before Juneja was trapped lbw by leftarm spinner Permaul.

The rest of the batsmen were clueless against the spinners, with only the wicketkeeper-batsman Rohit Motwani providing

any resistance. He was unbeaten on 28 as the visitors ripped through the tail to secure a lead that big enough to allow them the option of enforcing the follow-on, an option they didn’t take.

That lead was stretched further by an aggressive 68 from Kieran Powell, who dominated an opening stand of 112 with Kraigg Brathwaite. Offspinner Parvez Rasool, who was the most successful bowler in the first innings, then struck twice as West Indies ended the day on 130 for 3, ahead by 314. (Cricinfo)

George cops second silver of Islamic Games

SCOREBOARD

Veerasammy Permaul took 5 for 85 as the home side capsized

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est Indies A tightened their grip on the fourday game in Mysore after their spinners ran through India A’s lower order on the third INSIDE TODAY’S SPORT

Four Guyanese P22 in WI lawyers cricket squad

day on Friday.

The home side lost their final seven wickets for 61 runs as Nikita Miller and Veerasammy Permaul showed off the depth in West

India A 1st innings K Rahul c L Johnson b Miller 46 Jiwanjot Singh c †Walton b Permaul 16 C Pujara* c Powell b Cummins 3 M Juneja lbw b Permaul 84 H Khadiwale c Fudadin b Miller 27 R Paliwal c †Walton b Miller 1 R Motwani† not out 28 Parvez Rasool lbw b Miller 9 Mohammed Shami b Permaul 0 I Pandey c Deonarine b Permaul 9 A Dinda c DE Johnson b Permaul 12 Extras: (b 4, lb 2, nb 4) 10 Total: (all out, 95.3 overs) 245 Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-49, 3-109, 4-184, 5-185, 6-186, 7-204, 8-205, 9-229, 10-245 Bowling: M Cummins 18-3-47-1,

D Johnson 12-3-46-0, V Permaul 30.3-7-85-5, N Miller 35-11-61-4, West Indies A 2nd innings K Brathwaite lbw b Parvez Rasool 34 K Powell c & b Paliwal 68 K Edwards* not out 9 N Deonarine b Parvez Rasool 9 Extras: (b 9, lb 1) 10 Total: (3 wkts, 34.5 overs) 130 To bat: CAK Walton†, AB Fudadin, DE Johnson, LR Johnson, NO Miller, V Permaul, ML Cummins Fall of wickets: 1-112, 2-112, 3-130 Bowling: A Dinda 8-2-27-0, I Pandey 8-2-23-0, Mohammed Shami 6-116-0, Parvez Rasool 9.5-1-412, R Paliwal 3-1-13-1

Winston George

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inston George doubled up on silver medals at the Islamic Games in Indonesia on Thursday, finishing second in the men’s 200m final in 20.77s.

The 2012 Olympian recorded the fast time after clocking 46.10s a day earlier to take silver in the men’s 400m.

On the other hand, Alika Morgan missed out on a podium spot when she clocked 16 minutes, 15 seconds to place fourth in the women’s 5000m final; however, she still has a chance to win a medal in the women’s 1500m on Saturday. She will have the support of George whose campaign ended after his silver medal finish in the 200m.

GABB&FF hails success of CAC bodybuilding team

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Third from left Keavon Bess pose with Alisha Fortune and Devon Davis along with Frank Tucker (extreme right) at the press conference

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