news
17
WEDNESday, august 14, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com
PC student tops CAPE VSP to launch volunteer – Anu Dev tied at number two with five ones By Whitney Persaud
P
resident’s College student Shalita Appadu came out on top in this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination with six grade ones and one grade two. In 2011 Appadu who attended the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School attained 15 grade Ones at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination coming in second in the country after Anuradha Dev. Tying for the second position are: Melodie Lowe, Kaleshwar Singh, Prashant Shivdas, Deowattie Narine, Anuradha Dev and Benedict Sukra, all of Queen’s College with five grade ones each.
Preparation
Meanwhile, speaking to Guyana Times, the erudite Dev said preparation for the examination was a challenge as she did not attend any lessons. According to the young lady, she studied with the help of her father and her teachers who again contributed to her success. “Well first of all, I didn’t take any lessons; I did a lot of work at home with my dad by using the CAPE syllabus,” she disclosed. Dev, who was ordained head prefect at her school, said the opportunity gave her the opportunity to become more organised for CAPE Unit Two as she had to prioritise her work. Elaborating on her home studies, Dev said she and her dad would do online studies and research, but this was a challenge since she had to choose specifically what to study based on the makeup of the CAPE syllabus.According to the young scholar, she was not aiming to top the country, but worked to secure grade ones in the five subjects
Shalita Appadu secured six grade ones at this year's CAPE
she sat. “Well I was aiming to get five ones, had no idea or was I aiming to be on the top but just to pass the five subjects that I did… this is combined with grades from Unit One and Unit Two,” she stated. Dev wrote biology, chemistry, physics, pure math (all Unit Two) and Caribbean studies this year, and in 2012 in Lower Six Form, she wrote biology, chemistry, physics, pure math and communications studies (all Unit One). Her next step is to move on to Trinidad, where she will pursue her medical studies. Dev was the Caribbean top student when she wrote the CSEC examinations.
Intention
The young woman said her intention is to wait until internship to choose a specialty area; however, she is more inclined to become a paediatrician. She thanked her teachers, families and friends for their support during her studies, and is advising students sitting next year’s exam to break the habit of procrastination and to manage their time wisely. “Choose subjects that will mean something to you in future work within your ability,” she said. Guyanese students have this year contrib-
Anuradha Dev
uted to an approximately three percent increase in passes at examination, Education Minister Priya Manickchand revealed on Tuesday. This year 748 students wrote the examinations, eight more than last year. The pass rate has been recorded as 89.19, as compared to last year’s 86.2. This year candidates were offered units in 23 subject areas, with each unit comprising three Modules equivalent to 150 credit hours. The Single Unit subjects offered were Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies. The overall pass rate in 2013 is 86.6 per cent. This is an increase from 2011 when a pass rate of 82.5 per cent was attained and a marginal increase over the 86.2 per cent pass rate in 2012. In relation to gender, females have outweighed the number of males sitting the exams and have also dominated in recording pass marks. Meanwhile, Queen’s College students account for the majority of the country’s top students in the CAPE exams, producing 11 such students. Completing the remainder in the top five performers are Malinie Tulsie with four grade ones, one grade two and one grade three, Amrita Milling with four grade ones and one grade two and Andy Sattan with four grade ones and one grade two. (leanab@ guyanatimesgy.com)
Case against battling couple dismissed
A
fter declining to offer evidence against each other, a couple who landed in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday on a cross charge of assault were released on a bond to keep the peace for 12 months. It was alleged on August 8, at John Street, Lodge, Maria Paul,31, damaged one black jersey valued $5000 and one car trunk valued $40,000, property of Tajeeve Kumar Greer, her husband. It was also alleged on the same day, she unlawfully assaulted Greer, who was, in turn, accused of un-
lawfully assaulting Paul. They both pleaded guilty. According to Prosecutor Deniro Jones, the parties are husband and wife. On the day in question, they had an exchange of words, which resulted in a scuffle. Paul then took a piece of wood and hit the trunk of Greer’s car and tore his shirt. The matter was reported and they were subsequently charged and brought before the court. Both parties were unrepresented. Paul told the court that she resides at 35 John Street, and is a seamstress, while Greer said he is a 41-year-old taxi driver, who
has a fixed place of abode at 111 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The prosecutor noted that the couple are now living together again. Both parties told Magistrate McLennan that they would like to offer no evidence, since they have reconciled. They added that they had apologised and hoped the incident would not occur again. Magistrate Ann McLennan dismissed the matter and placed the couple on a bond, with a sentence of four months in prison if in default.
fair, website
T
he Volunteerism Support Platform (VSP), in an effort to spread awareness of the benefits of volunteerism, will be launching its new website and volunteer fair. Project Officer Pere DeRoy said the event will take place on Thursday, August 15 at the Umana Yana, Kingston from 13:00h to 16:00h. To be featured are a cross-section of international and local organisations that provide services in the areas of health, environment, disability, education, community development, youth, arts, and sport, and engage volunteers and civil society to execute their mandate. The primary objectives of the website launch and volunteer fair are to sensitise attendees on the work of the VSP and the value of volunteerism, to demonstrate to attendees the purpose of the new website, to provide an opportunity for organisations and volunteers to link with each other for voluntary activities, and to provide organisations and individuals the opportunity to register with the VSP. “More so, the event will give individuals the opportunity to learn about existing volunteer opportunities and give organisations the opportunity to promote voluntary opportunities and recruit volunteers,” DeRoy mentioned. She said one of the reasons for highlighting and
promoting volunteering is to encourage employers to recognise the contributions which volunteers and voluntary organisations make to service sector development. DeRoy noted that it can also serve the purpose of getting employees to accept that voluntary service is a form of work experience. “It is important for us to think of volunteering not as an alternative to employment, but as a mechanism to actively participate in community and personal development,” the project officer stated. She pointed out that volunteering is a powerful tool to help transform lives and communities, and every volunteer action counts. DeRoy quoted American anthropologist Margaret Mead who said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Why volunteer?
DeRoy disclosed that voluntary services have played a significant role in the history of Guyana’s development, as well as the personal and professional development of individuals. She pointed out that most individuals and organisations who volunteer believe that it is a way of addressing certain social issues of particular importance to them. “They believe that they
Project Officer Pere DeRoy
can be part of bridging the gaps that may exist, in particular service provision, and most importantly, they believe in being counted as a valuable resource in their communities. They want to be part of creating solutions, transferring information, and learning about their communities.” DeRoy related that some people volunteer in the interest of furthering their career, others join because of an interest in the area of work, and some because they believe it is a way to become involved in addressing problems in their community or country. Whatever the reasons motivating individuals to volunteer, DeRoy shares the view that such individuals possess or have developed a sense of ownership in community and personal development.
Teen charged for killing schoolgirl
T
he 18-year-old young man who hacked his teenage girlfriend to death last Thursday was on Tuesday charged with murder at the Providence Magistrate’s Court. He was arraigned before Magistrate Leron Daly. Joshua Baveghems of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him. The charge alleged that on August 8 at Diamond, he murdered his 17-year-old girlfriend, Angela Tamika Mc Allister, of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara. In a packed courtroom, the young man stood in the dock dressed in a shirt and pants as the magistrate read the charge to him. During this, he was expressionless and for the entire time he was in the courtroom, he appeared to be in a daze. Baveghems was unrepresented by an attorney. Relatives of both the accused and the deceased were present in court and when the charge was being read, the relatives of Mc Allister broke down in tears in the courtroom. Even the
Joshua Baveghems
mother of the accused appeared to be in a sad state. Police Corporal Bharat Mangru was the prosecutor in the matter. Baveghems was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on October 7. According to reports, on the day in question, the 17-year-old Mc Allister was reportedly called to the accused’s home in Diamond and she left home around 11:30h with the understanding that she had to return by 17:00h. While at her boyfriend’s residence, the two reportedly had an argument some-
time around 14:30h during which Baveghems began hitting the teenage girl. His sister and mother who were present tried to stop the young man, but to no avail. Baveghems reportedly then dragged his girlfriend into the yard where he chopped her behind her neck. The young woman was subsequently taken to the East Demerara Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. After committing the act, the young man sat in the yard until the police came and arrested him.