Dr Clive Jagan and his sons along with employees, pose
and Light streets, Georgetown Tuesday evening (Carl Croker photo)
wednesday, october 9, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com
Countrywide: Thundery
are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East north-easterly at 4.02 metres per second.
High Tide: 07:07h and 19:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.59 metres and 2.65 metres respectively.
Low Tide: 00:38h and 12:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.45 metres and 0.69 metres respectively.
Fly Jamaica appeals blockade of direct flights to New York
BY WHITNEY PERSAUD
ew airline Fly Jamaica has appealed a U.S. Department of Transportation decision to block it from making direct flights from Guyana to New York.
Speaking to Guyana Times on Tuesday evening, the airline’s director Roxanne Reece said that since the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) denied its application, efforts have been made to explore other avenues.
“We have made appeals for direct flights, we don’t know yet what’s the process… we don’t know if they will reopen the case,” Reece said.
Reece also said that if Guyanese can petition to have direct flights, then there might just be a possibility that consideration will
be taken on the matter by the U.S.
“If petition goes through, then we might have to meet with the senator… We have applied and we are waiting, the case many never reopen,” she added.
Only last Saturday, CAL’s Airport Manager Carl Stuart told the GuyanaTimes in an exclusive interview that the operations of the company
would not be affected in anyway by the U.S. state department’s decision.
However, he did not say whether the company would be fighting to have the direct flights included on their schedules to suit some customers.
The denial will leave Guyanese without a direct flight option to New York. The last such option was
provided by Delta Airlines which pulled out of Guyana in May this year, without fully explaining why.
Both Fly Jamaica and CAL had presented letters with their applications saying that they had been granted flag carrier status by the Guyana government.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) said that in considering foreign air carrier requests for extrabilateral authority, it weighs various criteria specific to the type of extra-bilateral request.
It said that with respect specifically to requests for extra-bilateral seventh-freedom turnaround service, the department has historically viewed such requests as extraordinary and have granted such authority only when the circumstances presented on the record in individual cases show compelling public interest considerations.
Utility worker remanded after assaulting neighbour
A62-year-old utility worker was on Tuesday was remanded to prison after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman.
It was alleged that on September 26 at Lot 85 North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, Cedrick Dash of Lot D 77 North Sophia, assaulted Felicity Benjamin causing her actual bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty to the charge as it was read to him.
According to Prosecutor Vishnu Hunte, the complainant and defendant are neighbours and on the day in question, Dash caused her to receive injuries to her right thigh when he hit her with a piece of wood.
He stated that there are several other matters involving both the complainant, her husband and defendant in which Dash was charged. Prosecutor Hunte added that despite having pending matters in court, Dash still committed other offences and if granted bail, there is a likelihood he will interfere with the witness and pervert the course of justice.
Dash told the court that Benjamin’s husband once burst his head but when the matter went to court, the medical was never found. He also alleged that the incident occurred a second time when Benjamin hit him in the back with a cutlass.
Magistrate Judy Latchman refused bail and the matter was transferred to Court 10 for October 14.
After being told he is remanded to prison, Dash became unruly shouting “they get wha they want... them is wicked people” and accused Prosecutor Hunte of covering for the complainant. He was subsequently escorted into the prison lockups by an officer.
Fly Jamaica Director Roxanne Reece
showers
Editor: Nigel Williams
Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134
The current situation of the Government Information Agency (GINA) is regrettable and unacceptable. It is regrettable since the agency is much more than a source that just emits information about the National Assembly, and unacceptable because in any country, a fully functioning government information agency, or agencies, is crucial for providing information to the public on matters of national concern.
Take the recent hurricane Sandy in the U.S., where one report noted that government information collected then distributed by government agencies was vital in preparing and protecting many Americans before, during and after the superstorm.
Even the private news media received their basic information from government agencies, which comprise a wide variety of government departments in that vast and populous country.
Guyana, small in comparison and, until recently, able to afford only one information agency, requires its government information agency to disseminate news that keeps the public aware and informed about government departments, programmes and the daily goings on in the country that can affect their lives.
If that information is absent, it sets the stage for speculations, doubt and rumour about government’s activities, and can lead to a public ignorant of its country.
GINA, it bears repeating, despite what is being pedalled, is the agency that is tasked with not just reporting about the National Assembly, but also providing information about every functioning government ministry, and government’s policies, projects and programmes.
It is the link that connects the government with the public and allows mutual interaction between the two. This requires both human and financial resources – both endangered as the current impasse continues.
Today, these and other important undertakings by the agency are being ignored, and the agency is being pressured to conform to another’s idea of what its role should be. A heavy-handed approach that should provide the public with an idea of what it’s in store for should it not conform to future opposition opinion.
Without a fully functioning government agency that can provide information about government and its activities, the public would be less aware of developments and programmes since private media usually perform watchdog roles and, as most Guyanese are aware, biased and adversarial reporting are ever present.
In addition, because of their focus on profits, there is little private sector incentive to disseminate timely information to the public on education, health or infrastructure to name a few – a task left to the government information agency.
No doubt any democratic government information agency has to walk a fine line between propaganda and unbiased reporting – the same as any private news media, but the current cut to the government’s primary information agency’s budgetary allocations is not the democratic way of attempting to solve an alleged problem.
It is a source of irony that the same group that insists on press freedom now attempts to muzzle another media group, by withholding finances, because it perceives bias. It is some concern that these actions are a harbinger of its policies when it perceives bias from private media if put in power.
Requiring the agency to make a commitment to fair reporting, when one considers what passes unopposed for journalism among some private media, is itself a biased approach to the perceived issue, and smacks more of political grandstanding than a genuine concern.
It makes suspect the motive for attempting to suppress government information.
Equally suspect is the expressions of sympathy for the hardworking men and women of the agency, who are on their way to the unemployment line, penalised for choosing their place of employment.
Take no chances with potential criminals
Dear Editor, I recall a letter writer asking that the public be very vigilant and that no chances be taken. That was recently when the Meten-Meer-Zorg shooting took place and one person, donning a Guyana Power and Light (GPL) uniform was killed. Criminals are not lacking in intelligence
and that is why the public must not take chances.
I was in Diamond on the East Bank a few years ago and genuine GPL workers came to read the meter. However, they had no access to the yard of the man, who is my friend.
He emphatically said that he could not trust anyone and indeed the
GPL meter reader for that day was offended. He had to show an ID. He later saw the value of what my friend said to him.
If this lady’s gate had been locked, the two pretenders, a man and a woman, would have had to call – at least they would not have been able to walk right in. We need to know
that the first step to a crime is that of being in range.
The gate and fence are not impregnable, but they offer protection of a sort. The bottom line for me is that criminals cannot win if we do our part.
Yours sincerely, JoyleneSommers
Thoughts about the international property law
Dear Editor, The vice president of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is disturbed with the current status of things and wants that those in authority update the Intellectual Property Law (IPL). The primary reason is that Guyana’s current laws are not adequately defined to protect 21st century businesses that depend on their products.
Many artistes in Guyana sing songs that are not their own. I refer here to the stealing of people’s tune (or melody) as such, and then this frame is used to put in some kind of lyrical content. The things smacks of being a quack artiste.
The really difficult challenge of song writers sometimes is that of finding a suitable melody. Here in
Guyana, I have heard rum drinking songs being coerced lyrically into some great religious and film songs. What do we say to these artistes? I think that we have to look into our own homes and do some house cleaning.
It is good that the awareness is being raised, but we have to play fair too. At other levels we can think about ripping of CDs and DVDs and then replicating them for sale, photocopying of books, and even stealing rhyme and meter from poetry. Creation is about originality. We teach students to document their research, if only for intellectual honesty, so how about going all the way and being up-to-date with all intellectual property.
Yours truly, NathramPersaud
Traffic offences must carry heavy penalties
Dear Editor, Recently, there was a good story that must be used to send some serious messages to drivers in Guyana.
A man from Linden was fined a total of $50,000 for committing two traffic offences – he had no driver’s licence and his vehicle displayed an obscured identification mark.
Let us suppose that an accident had occurred and
someone had died, then what would have been the outcome? For one, he could have gotten away. The vehicle would have been difficult to track down since the number plates were not quite visible. Then how daring – driving in public without a permit?
His fine should have been heavier and I hope that readers are getting the drift that being on the road with a
vehicle is not a trivial issue. It is a big responsibility.
How about the police work? Every time I see road blocks, and notice police officers checking documents, I take my hat off to them.
Many times they intercept guns and other dangerous weapons. They need to stay in this mode as much as possible. The best way to fight any form of crime is to go the preventative route.
I do realise that many may deem this kind of tactic as most noxious and harassing, but that is how potential criminal things and their supporters get intercepted.
The police must realise that their sworn mandate is to protect the people under their charge.
Yours faithfully, Norris Barley
Attorney General Anil Nandlall (second left), Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) Airport Manager Carl Stuart (right) with staff and a visitor at the CAL booth at GuyExpo 2013 held at the Sophia Exhibition Centre from October 3-6
The importance of life skills
Dear Editor,
In our society, every employer sets out the prerequisites for potential employees as having a number of certificates: be it diploma, degree, master’s or PhD. There is no problem with these prerequisites.
However, one may wonder why organisations, businesses or Institutions are still crumbling and experiencing so many problems.
Employers may have all the qualifications from the finest universities around the world and employ individuals who have graduated from the most recognised, accredited universities, but according to research and observation, workplace violence, lack of interpersonal communication skills, stress and anger issues are abundantly high. With all these, do you think that
mere academic qualifications will make an organisation last to the end? No, it cannot.
With all the qualifications, can we say that we exercise emotional intelligence? Do we even know the definition of emotional intelligence?
Do we know how to control our anger? Are we aware of what we are doing to ourselves – the self-destruction we are causing? No one destroys us you know, we are doing a pretty, darn good job at destroying ourselves.
The world is made up of individuals who are all unique and intelligent in their own way: the reason businesses and organisations are crumbling and experiencing many problems is that their employers and employees are lacking life skills – those basic things
we need to take us through life every day.
What purpose would it serve if a man has a degree or master’s, but insults everyone when he’s angry or perhaps breaks things, or maybe utter a swarm of indecent languages?
These very things happen every day – even in the work environment.
Why do we refuse to accept those who have no certificates into our organisations even though these individuals have all the necessary experience and common sense?
Have we ever thought of how the Egyptians built the pyramids? Did they have certificates?
I am aware that a number of articles on life skills and the benefits of it, especially in the area of anger management, have been
sent to various media for publishing, but quite amazingly, there have been one faithful publisher and one faithful broadcaster who have been publishing the articles and placing advertisements every week.
I must say thank you because these articles and advertisements have helped me tremendously to become aware of my behaviour and anger issues.
They have even motivated me to join the anger management club and coaching programme. The instructor is very innovative, there is no boring class, and there is interaction from beginning to end.
It seems to me that when articles do not contain gossip about politicians, they are not worthy of being published in certain newspapers.
The opposition is about blocking progress
Dear Editor,
Take one look at these projects: Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Programme; CheddiJagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project, the Specialty Hospital and the Marriott Hotel Project. There’s one thing in common – opposition blocking. If only for the sake of employment, these projects need full support from all. However, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC)
are not for anything good in Guyana. Add to the employment factor, these projects are about general development and image building for the country – not for the day, but for years to come.
Not so long ago, APNU attempted to warn the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration that this country is sitting on a time bomb of youth unemployment. APNU is not about supporting something that can help out with the providing of more job oppor -
tunities. Yet it comes out and criticises.
If it is saying that this kind of problem, that of idle youths, being a reason for criminal activities, then when crimes are committed, I can hear the reason – blame government and excuse the youngsters. I am very disturbed by the thinking and methodology of APNU.
I think that government’s resilience must continue. I applaud its spirit as reflected in the drive to continue the CJIA Expansion Project and
not to drop Amaila Falls. Opposition politicising and carping must be met with will power and I am seeing this. I also hope that more and more people will come to see behind the mask of the opposition – it is seemingly bent on derailing good things in an effort to look good.
Yours truly, Rohan Sharma
So if this is the case, where are we going? The public needs to be aware of the importance of life skills – programmes which would actually benefit the individual in self-development.
What I find interesting and touching was the excellent attendance at the free discussions/lectures which were held on issues such as solution to violence, understanding mind and behaviour and anger management
offered by well qualified instructors. This showed that persons were interested in learning and self-development. Let’s all strive towards self-awareness and development – learn life skills! If you wish to share your comments, email me at witherker.awareness@gmail.com
Yours sincerely, Simone Witherker
You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com
Page Foundation
Throwing it all away: when goodchildren make bad choices (part two)
BY DEBBIE PINCUS
Remind your child that this is not about punishment or disobedience – it’s about his welfare. You might say, “We love and care about you, that’s why we’re do ing this. This is not punish ment for breaking a rule. We’re going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
The best part is that you really are controlling what you can control. That’s al ways the way influence works. “I’m not telling you what to do and I’m not go ing to scream and yell. I’m simply going to do what I think is best. I’m not go ing to enable you by giv ing you rides and money. Those liberties are taken away until you can be re sponsible for yourself.” So you just close those doors. There is a huge difference between taking your child by the collar and locking him in a room versus taking charge by giving him the appropriate consequences.
Here are five steps to help influence your child to make better life choices.
erlessness, frustration, and disappointment. All you have to do at this stage is simply acknowledge these emotions. Don’t react by
knowledge your own fears and feelings, and handle them without asking your child to handle them for you. Take walks, listen to
adolescent to change his. Step way back and see if you can observe what might be going on. Ask yourself these questions:
1. Recognise and acknowledge
First, recognise and acknowledge your own feelings of panic, despair, pow-
es he needs to make. Don’t hand him the opportunity to avoid responsibility for those key decisions. You don’t want him fighting for his autonomy by doing the exact opposite of what you’d like him to do. Instead, ac-
able to think more effectively about the best way to guide and lead – and not control – your adolescent. Guiding and leading requires you to change your behaviours as a parent instead of trying to get your
When did these poor behaviours begin?
Were there any triggers?
Are there any ways you or your spouse contribute to the problem?
Have you felt overly responsible for the choices your child makes?
Do you believe that it’s your job to get your children to make all the right choic-
If so, have you been overfunctioning for your child by babying her and contributing to her irresponsible
Have you provided too many rules or too few?
Has your spouse been too hard on your child, while you’ve been too soft? Perhaps both of you have been making lots of noise, but no one has really taken
Is your child functioning in reaction to you, for some reason, instead of functioning for him or herself?
It might be time to stop your part of this two-step dance. When you carefully observe your own patterns and tendencies, you can decide if there are any steps in your dance that can change.
(Empowering Parents)
to be continued
Teaching your children about fairness and wise choices
(CONTINUED FROM TUESDAY)
BY LORI
How?
KISS – Keep it Simple Sister!
Children are quick to find loop-holes and inconsistencies...so the best advice is to “play dumb”.
Huh? What does that mean?
It means... you stick with simple one or two word responses (along with lots of empathy and love) when they are going through their stages of fighting with you.
Good responses are:
• I know. That’s too bad.
• That stinks.
• Maybe. I don’t know.
• Could be. Oh man.
• Uh-oh. When my children get to the last stage (rejection) – I get kind of excited...because the wise-choice/responsibility stage is next... where they have to choose to make a decision and own their action.YAY!
The key & foundation = LOVE
The basis through all of
this is – to love your children (or the children you are working with)! Let them know that you love them, care about them, think they are awesome, and that you are here to truly help them with “their” problem if they want your help (but it is not your problem to solve for them).
CAN do – not CAN’T do Also (and this is huge!) always focus on what the child can do instead of what they can’t.
For example – when my son doesn’t want to go clean his room, but he is supposed to before dinner – instead of saying –“Go clean your room. You are not getting any dinner till it’s done!” I will say “Hey bud – Come on down for dinner as soon as your room is done!”
This puts the ownership on them – that they will get to experience the end result (dinner) when they have taken care of their problem.
It also gets their focus on the right thing. If I told you “don’t think about a pink elephant” –what did you just think about? Yep – a pink elephant! (But I told you not to!)
So – if I’m telling Johnny – “Don’t be mean to that boy.” – what is he going to be thinking about? Get the picture? So instead – you can say “Johnny – go have fun playing with your friend. I love seeing you guys playing so nicely!” My son’s second grade teacher was AWESOME at this! She would get her classes’ attention before entering a museum (or park, or wherever we were going) on a field trip – and instead of saying “Now – don’t touch anything in here because it could break. And if you do – you will be sitting with me in a time out.” Instead, she would say “Now – we are going into a FANTASTIC place – with all sorts of cool things to look at. Do any of you know what the rules are in this kind of place?” Someone will always say –“we can’t touch the stuff.” To which she would reply “Yes – That’s right. Great job. You are going to be so excited by what you SEE! So let’s go in and LOOK at all the wonderful things...and see if you can find [some cool, interesting item]...” (Mothering Matters)
Building a NEW GPC INC: products…
Pioneering ARVs in Guyana
The NEW GPC INC has added over 80 new products to its range since it took over the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) some 14 years ago in 1999, General Manager of the new company, Ravie Ramcharitar, has disclosed.
“And this list of products is growing each year,” said the general manager in an interview with Guyana Times. He said the most famous of them was launched within two years of the company’s privatisation in 2001 when it started to produce generic HIV/AIDS AntiRetroVirals (ARVs) at below US$360 annually to treat one patient – compared with the US$5000-US$10,000 then being charged by the large American manufactur-
ers.
“At that time, the Ministry of Health and the people of Guyana were basically on their own and without external help when it came to HIV/AIDS,” said Ramcharitar. “The government had to finance its own ARV purchases, as the Global Fund and Clinton Initiative came on stream several years later.”
He explained that NEW GPC INC was able to manufacture the ARVs by partnering with Indian companies such as Matrix. “This unrecognised but bold initiative allowed the government to treat Guyanese HIV/AIDS patients free before its more developed neighbours in the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
The general manager noted that, to this day, NEW GPC INC remains the only Caribbean company to produce ARVs. “In hindsight this was a pioneering venture in every sense of the word that would have qualified for very favourable fiscal incentive had profit been the focus,” he said.
A Caribbean trend-setter
Since there is still no cure for AIDS, several treatment regimes have been developed that includes a mixture of “cocktails” that form the ARV. These drugs have been proven to fight and delay the fatal effects of HIV/AIDS.
Studies have shown that the vast majority of persons affected with AIDS are poor, hence the need to access to
cheap ARVs for many patients in Guyana and around the world has been challenging. By the beginning of the millennium, Guyana had recorded an average of about 500 cases annually, and this figure was expected to rise. In 2001 however, the Indian pharmaceutical companies challenged the western patent lockdown on ARVs and introduced a generic version of the drugs which would be available to the public at a fraction of the original cost.
The NEW GPC INC immediately collaborated with several companies and began manufacturing the ARVs right here in Guyana at the cheaper, treatment prices of less than US$1 per day. The government of
Guyana was now in a position to offer the treatment to all infected Guyanese free of charge
“The NEW GPC INC recognises that, as a Caribbean company, it was duty-bound to utilise its resources in supporting any effort to thwart the AIDS pandemic,” said the general manager. “We rose to the challenge by committing financial, technical and human resources to this initiative.”
In 2001, the company started producting 10 ARVs, including two combination therapies. “This bold initiative made Guyana the first Caricom country to offer the anti-retrovirals to infected persons and NEW GPC INC the first pharmaceutical company in the region to un-
dertake the manufacture of anti-retrovirals,” explained Ramcharitar.
NEW GPC INC's ARVs were supplied exclusively to the government of Guyana through the Health Ministry and the National AIDS Secretariat. In 2003, their use was further extended to all administrative-regional hospitals and health centres for the treatment of HIV/ AIDS. The high quality of the anti-retrovirals was recognised by the Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (CRDTL) and the London Laboratory Services Group, both of which had independently evaluated the drugs and found them to be of premium quality.
Manufacturing technicians at work at the NEW GPC INC plant, A1 Farm, East Bank Demerara
Antiretrovirals produced by NEW GPC INC
wednesday, october 9, 2013| guyanatimesgy.com
Miner gets self-bail after failing to pay debt
On Tuesday, a miner was placed on his own recognisance after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge against him.
Michael Persaud of Lot 15 Public Road, Hersterlling, East Bank Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that between July 22 and August 19 in Georgetown, he incurred a debt of $234,000 after he rented motor car PNN 3164, property of Mandesa Barrow.
According to Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, the complainant is a taxi service owner and had rented the car to the defendant. On August 19, Persaud returned the car with a debt and had
asked for some time to pay it off. Time elapsed and the defendant did not lodge any money with Barrow and she subsequently made a report to the police.
Prosecutor Mangru stated that when the defendant was arrested he had $100,000 in his possession.
Attorney Sase Gunraj, who represented the defendant, stated that his client rented the vehicle from Barrow in the month of March. In July, there was a delay in payment by one of Persaud’s creditors for the period of July 27 to August 27.
He went on to say that a promissory note was sent to Ian Barrow, the complainant’s brother, which stated that the payment will be paid on or before September 30. Gunraj said that when
his client was arrested, he was about to pay $50,000 and had a sum of $100,000 in his possession when he was arrested by the police.
In his application for bail, attorney Gunraj stated that to have his client charged for obtaining money for fraud is not applicable.
When asked if she would like to say anything about the matter, Mandesa Barrow stated that if she is repaid the sum of money, she is willing to offer no evidence and the defendant agreed to pay her by today.
Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry initially granted Persaud bail in the sum of $50,000 but attorney Gunraj asked that given the circumstances his client be placed on self-bail and his application was granted.
Construction worker fined for cannabis possession
Aconstruction worker was on Tuesday brought before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was charged with possession of cannabis.
It was alleged that on October 5 at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Sophia,
25-year-old Carlos Carl of Lot 54 North Sophia, Greater Georgetown had in his possession four grams of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to the charge as it was read to him.
Attorney Paul Fung-AFat who represented the defendant told the court that his client has two children and uses the narcotic for rec-
reational purposes. Attorney Fung-A-Fat also made a request for Carl to get treatment and to do community service.
Chief Magistrate Swenarine-Beharry fined him $3000 and six months of community service at the Palms Geriatric Home every Saturday.
Eyew tness
Some serious...
...policing?
Joseph Harmon appears to be Opposition
Leader David Granger's aide de camp.
With their military background, the new PNCites have abandoned the old civilian structure for the ones they're most familiar with. Did you see Harmon with the Brigadier in New York when they poached the Alliance For Change (AFC) group up there? Sorta like fulfilling the dream of the founder leader who wanted the entire country to be militarised so that when he barked, "jump!!!", they'd ask "how high?"
Anyhow, Harmon took it upon himself to pronounce on the official appointment of the Commissioner of Police (CoP) Leroy Brumell. Brumell, Harmon warned, "must now get down to serious policing”. Evidently, Brumell hasn't been acting in accordance with what Harmon and his party, including Granger, means by "serious policing". Since Harmon didn't see it necessary to flesh out what he means by this rather cryptic warning, we can only extrapolate from their own actions in this area.
After donkey years of serving as the shadow home affairs minister of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Deborah Backer was summarily removed to make room for ex-CoP Winston Felix. Now this is quite a vote of confidence for a rookie politician. It had to've come from his previous stint at the head of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Now let's see what made Felix such a favourite of the PNC top brass.
For sure, it couldn't be because of his substantive performance as CoP. During his tenure, he deliberately sabotaged efforts to establish a SWAT unit and allowed the gangs terrorising the entire country to commit their mayhem and madness with impunity. Those gangs weren't taken out until he departed and was succeeded by CoP Henry Greene. Felix's appointment as the PNC's point man on the security sector simply confirms the incestuous role he played with those politicians while he was CoP.
How barefaced can he be to show up in the PNC front benches in Parliament after he was caught on tape spilling his guts about the terrorists who'd just murdered
eight persons at Agricola? Is this the kind of model CoP Brumell is supposed to emulate? Then there was Felix also caught on tape framing a lady on behalf of some PNC friend. We won't even mention his association with Roger Khan...which was publicised in full page ads in the newspapers.
The sad truth about the GPF's substandard performance is that it stems from the kith and kin relationship PNC's Desmond Hoyte and Tacima Ogunseye boasted about. It creates severe cognitive dissonances in the minds of the average cop on the beat. This pernicious claim, CoP Brumell must reject.
...media standards
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has finally called for the media to accept some sort of standard to govern their performance. We've always wondered as to why this was so long in coming. Doctors have standards to which they have to adhere...so do lawyers and every other professional. In fact they even have to pay a fee nowadays.
The question is why have journalists been allowed to get a free ride? Is their impact on society in the least way less that the above mentioned professionals? We think not. Every day, journalists set the agenda for what the country will define as "important" and so discuss and act on. Should they be allowed to not only print whatever they feel like...but to also silence views that they dislike (as the government complained)?
At elections time we've accepted that we need a media monitoring unit...and that if the media code is broken there can be sanctions. Why are things different for the rest of the next five years.
Let's get some serious media standards.
...poverty
We've been hearing about Jamaica's "economic problems" mostly via their dealings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But that's too rarified a view. What about the report that shopkeepers have to now sell bread by the slice in the poorer sections of Kingston?
CIOG hosts Fun Day for children
The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana held its annual Fun Day for orphans at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) ground, Woolford Avenue, on Saturday.
According to a release, the CIOG was honoured to have the presence of First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar and Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony at the event.
In her address, the first lady alluded to the importance of care for children and challenged the CIOG to help find jobs for the children once they become adults.
Dr Anthony congratulated the CIOG for the initiative of taking care of orphans and vulnerable children.
Dem a watch we...
Awave of empathy washed over Satiricus when he read about the Swami who was pulled out of the line in Piarco and harassed. It had happened so many times to him on his way to or through Trinidad. And it didn't matter to any one of his hasslers that he had his embossed card identifying him as a "media worker".
He further stressed that several orphans, with the assistance of corporate businesses in Guyana today, enjoy meaningful employment.
In remarks from the chair, Shaykh Zakir Khan confirmed that orphans are placed with close relatives who receive a stipend on a monthly basis, together with school requisites and health care.
After a brief ceremony, when the history of the commencement of the programme was detailed by Sister Aleema Nasir, and its continued growth over the years, the children participated in reciting poems and religious songs. The rest of the day was dedicated to
sports for all.
“The CIOG wishes to thank all those who contributed to this worthy cause, and those who worked to make this event a happy and memorable day for so many children; may the Almighty reward you and your families.”
In fact from some of the questions thrown at him by fellas who sounded barely literate, they appeared quite affronted that a Guyanese could claim to be a "journalist". And thus it was Satiricus had learnt first hand about "profiling"– through the courtesy of the Trinidad and Tobago immigration service.
At first, Satriricus thought he was picked on because of his (habitual) goofy smile. So the next time round, he put on his most serious demeanour – the one his wife said made him look constipated. Didn't matter; same hassle. And ditto for the "tough guy" pose, the studious look (complete with fat book and all), the debonaire swagger, etc, etc.
Satiricus finally figured out that once you filled out "Guyanese" on the immigration question that asked "country of residence", you were fair game for the Trinidadian immigration officers "sport for the day".
But Satiricus was stumped by the immigration officer's question to the Swami, "Are you a Muslim?" Now, Satiricus had heard the Trinis had brought in some white people to run their police force. But had they done the same for immigration officers? Because the only reason Satiricus could figure out why a Trini couldn't tell a Swami from a Moulvi was if the "Trini" immigration officer wasn't a real Trini.
Satiricus knew that to the folks from further north, all the natives in the Caribbean looked alike. Clothes didn't matter: clothes might "maketh the man...but not the ‘native’." This lumping of everyone into one undifferentiated mass used to infuriate the "high coloured" folks back in the old days. They liked to think they were closer to the "ideal".
But luckily those days were gone, right? But on the importation of white folks, Satiricus figured since the Trinis were rolling in dough, and could import cane cutters from Guyana and voters from the small islands, hey, why not immigration officers from Canada or England?
Satiricus had seen that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had slapped a hefty fine on the Bajans for profiling a Jamaican traveller at their airport – not to mention searching her body cavities. Satiricus has also been hassled at that island...even placed on the "Guyanese bench". His back had killed him for weeks afterwards.
Satiricus feels the Swami should take his complaint to the CCJ, before the Trini Immigration officers become as inquisitive as their Bajan counterparts.
Some of the children at the CIOG Fun Day
Jagan’s Dental Centre opens
The state-of-theart Jagan’s Dental Centre was commissioned by President Donald Ramotar Tuesday evening in the presence of government ministers, opposition members, top officials, family and friends on Tuesday evening.
The new multimillion-dollar dental facility, which is owned by Dr Clive Jagan and his sons, Drs Kyle, Shane, and Ian, is expected to promote dental tourism in Guyana and is what the family members described as a “dream come true”. Speaking at the ceremonial opening, the senior Jagan said the centre adds to the professional dental landscape of the country.
He said the dental service provided at the centre will be afforded at the fraction of the cost abroad.
“Guyanese in the diaspora and foreigners abroad in general are encouraged to take full advantage of the price difference; we would like the government to highlight this emerging health sub-sector and to facilitate its growth and development,” Dr Clive Jagan said.
President Ramotar said this move is important in carrying on the family tradition, adding that he hopes that “this venture
will be an example for other professional entrepreneurs to follow”.
He said the family is on the same page with the government, noting that its aim to build the Specialty Hospital in the country is to promote medical tourism as well. “We had some setbacks with some cuts in the budget, but we are going to rectify that,” he promised.
Services
The centre will be offering a wide range of services basically in all the fields possible: including general extraction, cleaning, filling, implants and laser dentistry, cosmetics dentistry, root canals, whitening of teeth, crowns and bridges.
During an exclusive interview with Guyana
Times earlier, Dr Clive Jagan and his three sons, who all specialise in the different areas of dentistry, reassured patients of their commitment to them even with the opening of the new centre.
“I have been serving the Guyanese public for more than 35 years, it was sad moving away from my Medical Arts office, but I have three sons who are
specialising in various areas of dentistry and I want to start up something that would render new services to people and also accommodate their work,”
Dr Clive Jagan had explained.
Least painful
Dr Kyle, who specialises in laser and implant surgery, noted that this is one of the least painful
forms of dentistry.
“Laser is a special kind of dentistry used in this field, and you can do mostly oral surgery with it, it is good for root canals and whitening and the beauty about it is that it is performing a bloodless surgery and it is also painless,” he said.
Lasers have been used for many years in oral surgery and implant dentistry, becoming standard for some surgeries.
Dr Shane, the eldest of the brothers, said his area of specialty is cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is any dental work that improves the appearance of a person’s teeth and gums.
“Cosmetics dentistry is giving someone a smile they are looking for or maybe a slight rotation, it is all about fixing and achieving the desired results that patients want,” he said.
Dr Ian, who is one of the youngest dentists in Guyana, said he has always had a love for oral surgery.
He said before providing this kind of service to the populace, he will be pursuing another year of study in this field.
President Donald Ramotar cutting the ribbon to commission the Jagan’s Dental Centre on Lamaha and Light streets, Georgetown
City Hall among 67 world monuments at risk
The rickety City Hall building has been listed among 67 monument sites at risk from the forces of nature and the impact of social, political, and economic change.
World Monuments Fund (WMF)
President Bonnie Burnham announced the 2014 World Monuments Watch, presenting a diverse group of cultural heritage sites. The 2014 Watch features 67 sites in 41 countries and territories, dating from prehistory to the twentieth century. It includes both the famous Venice, Italy and the little-known Pokfulam Village, Hong Kong, China; the urban Yangon Historic Centre, Myanmar and the remote Gran Pajatén, in Peru; the ancient irrigated terraces of Battir, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the modern Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, in St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Restoration plan
The Mayor and City Council has been on a drive to get funding to restore the building, and back in April, a team of architects from North America and the Caribbean had visited to lend their expertise to aid in the restoration. The City Hall was com-
pleted in 1889. Its architecture is described as Danube Gothic in timber, largely due to its stylised tower, with wrought iron crenellations at the very apex.
City Hall has been hosting consultations with national and international organisations since the com-
mencement of the year to secure their support in the restoration process.
Spearheading the restoration project is a committee comprising members of the commercial sector and not the council. The committee is managing the financial affairs of the project to guarantee transparency.
Striking BOSAI workers return
Workers of the bauxite mining company, Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI), who staged a protest on Monday against a 3.5 per cent across the board salary increase, have re-commenced work as of Tuesday.
Management officials on Tuesday confirmed that those who work the shift system began work as of 07:00h after being on strike all day on Monday. The scores of employees had downed tools and took to the entrance of the north gate of the company to protest the increase which they noted was insufficient, while also noting that last year; they had received a seven per cent increase.
Management officials of the BMGGI on Tuesday reassured that the interests of the employees will be taken into consideration and that negotiations over the proposed increase will continue two days a week, beginning on Wednesday.
GPSU Branch Chairman and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) Senior Vice Chairman Linnell Warden also emphasised that the increase is still up for negotiation and he will be working closely with the management of the BMGGI to ensure that the needs of the employees are met. He further noted that the union and employees have agreed to negotiate for a 9.5 per cent increase with the BMGGI management, instead of the 3.5 per cent. Negotiations are expected cording the crease days seeking certain ployees.
The rickety City Hall building has been listed among 67 monument sites globally that are at risk
Employees protesting outside Bosai Linden complex
workers return to work
Two held for slaying of Hampshire businessman
Two men have been arrested and are now prime suspects in the murder of Devindra Deodat, also called “Davo”, 34, of Lot 72 Hampshire Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice, who was gunned down during a robbery on Monday evening.
The suspects have been identified as Tameshwar Khemraj, also called "Rambo", and Timothy Sampson. They are reportedly known characters to the police.
Following the robbery, the dead man's father-in-law, Rafeek Abdul, also called "King", 57, of Lot 63 Williamsburg, Corentyne, who was shot twice to his shoulder, was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The businessman's wife, Debbie Deodat, who was chopped in the head and hand, was treated at the Anamayah Hospital and sent away.
all armed with guns and a cutlass. They were reportedly wearing dark coloured clothing, partially covering their faces.
upper flat, where she handed over $500,000, while the other bandit was guarding the two male relatives.
Not satisfied
Not satisfied, the two bandits demanded that she hand over all the money and jewellery, and they relieved her of a gold band and other jewellery which she was wearing.
They then turned their attention on the businessman's wife who directed the bandits to a drawer in the shop where she handed over $60,000. They also took way a laptop computer and mobile phones from the dining hall area before exiting the shop.
During the scuffle, the bandits reportedly chopped the businessman on both hands and shot him to the chest. They also chopped his wife on her hand as she pleaded with them to spare her husband's life.
Escape By this time, public-spirited neighbours had gathered on the road and an alarm was raised.
Further reports revealed that the bandits discharged several rounds in the air, before jumping down from a verandah and making good their escape through a canefield.
will be workmanagement of that the needs met. that the union agreed to negoincrease with management, instead Negotiations are expected to move along smoothly according to Warden, since already the two parties have been able to increase the negotiating days to two days per week.
According to information received, on Monday about 19:00h, the businessman's wife and their son were in the dining hall of their home in Hampshire, while his teenage daughter was at the front of the shop.
He said the union will also be seeking to negotiate and achieve certain additional benefits for employees.
It was reported that the teenager was in the company of two male relatives when she was confronted by the three bandits, who were
Further reports revealed that after the teenager saw the bandits, she raised an alarm and they held her at gun point, ordering her to go into the shop and close the half door which had been left opened. They then instructed them to lie on the floor as they demanded money and jewellery.
Fearful for her life, the teenager took two of the bandits to the
In the process of their exit, Abdul arrived at the house and was confronted by the bandits. A scuffle then ensued among them, during which he was shot by one of the bandits.
The bandits reportedly returned to the shop and closed the shop door, while they held the family at gun point and beat them about their bodies.
Deodat and his wife reportedly tried to defend themselves against bandits and were able to remove the cloth from the bandits’ faces which led to their identification.
Police arrived on the scene a while later and found one spent shell and one 12-gauge shotgun casing. Deodat, who was reportedly clad in a black vest and a white track pants, was in a sitting position in a chair in the dining hall. His body was examined and it was observed that he sustained several chops wounds.
Both Deodat and Abdul were taken to the Port Mourant Hospital and the former was pronounced dead by a doctor.
Abdul was taken to New Amsterdam Hospital but was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Dead: Devindra Deodat
outside Bosai Linden complex in Region 10
Empowerment of women a catalyst for development – Minister Webster
The contribution of women to agriculture and agribusiness, and by extension, to national and regional development, was hailed on Tuesday as the Women’s Forum got underway at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2013 being held here.
The one-day forum, which is part of a series of activities to mark the 12th CWA, provided a unique opportunity to raise the issue of the economic empowerment of women among policymakers in the region.
The forum was held under the theme “Expanding Economic Opportunities for Women in Agriculture in the Caribbean and the Pacific”. It was organised by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the United States Department of State.
Call for support
Delivering the feature address at the opening of the forum, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster reiterated that the empowerment of women is a catalyst for development in every society, especially in the Caribbean. This was particularly so, she said, in the area of food and nutrition security.
Highlighting examples the impact of women in Guyana are making in the agriculture sector, the minister said that prospects for women in agribusiness in both the Caribbean and the Pacific, were promising. “The good news is that women in agribusiness are the `new sexy’ in developmental circles,” she said.
As she focused on efforts to empower women in the agriculture sector, Minister Webster called for the general support for and protection of women’s right to securing food for their families, communities and countries, in light of natural disasters, social and economic challenges and other vulnerabilities.
Innovative ways to create new opportunities and expand existing ones had to be found, she said, while pointing to the power of networking and the establishment of linkages between agriculture and other industries to motivate women’s involvement, increase economic gains and enjoy food and nutrition security.
“There is also a greater need for financial support for women in agribusiness. Microcredit has made it possible for many women to do business. We need to make access to financing for projects to be undertaken by our women more accessible through more competitive rates which could be negotiated through incentive regimes with the
commercial banks.
It is therefore necessary to expand and reorient training programmes, which target skills training development in these and other new areas of agribusiness. Similarly, as a matter of urgency, we need to address the issue of packaging and labelling our products, as we seek to compete in today’s globalised world and in a highly competitive market place,” the minister told the well-attended forum.
Forum’s objective
The forum’s objectives covered the discussion on economic opportunities for women in the Caribbean and Pacific; development of an Inter-Regional Action Plan for Caribbean-Pacific collaboration; development of a Caribbean Action Plan for Economic Empowerment of Women; and sensitising the Alliance of Ministers of Agriculture and Pacific Ministerial delegations present at the CWA on the specific support needed for women’s farmers and entrepreneurs.
Sessions included those on strengthening the image of farmers and farming, focusing on success stories; building business relationships to link to greater markets and stakeholders in tourism, supermarket and distributive trade; and promoting capacity building, networking and knowledge sharing.
The CWA is being held under the theme “Linking the Caribbean for Regional Food and Nutrition Security and Rural Development”. Although activities began on October 4, the Caribbean’s premier agricultural event will be formally opened on Wednesday, October 9. CWA concludes on October 12.
NEW GPC INC donates fire prevention pamphlets to GFS
NEW GPC INC Marketing Associate Livasti Bhooplall presents Guyana Fire Service Cadet Officer Realton Johnson with the pamphlets
NEW GPC INC on Tuesday presented a quantity of fire safety pamphlets to the Guyana Fire Service (GFC) at the Guyana National Stadium, East Bank Demerara, as part of Fire Prevention Week being observed from October 6-12.
The pharmaceutical giant’s Marketing Associate Livasti Bhooplall said the company is pleased to be associated with the event, noting that the activity will aid in educating the general
public.
“My company stands in recognition of the vigilant efforts of all those firefighters and especially those who adhere to safety practices,” She said, noting that the goal of fire prevention is to educate the public and to take the necessary precautions to prevent fires.
“It is a proactive method of reducing emergencies and the damage caused by them,” she affirmed.
Bhooplall further indicated that the company will
continue to team up with the GFC to sensitise and support fire prevention.
Receiving the items on behalf of the fire service was Cadet Officer Realton Johnson, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the organisation. Meanwhile, a mini-exhibition of fire gears and apparatus was also held.
Scores of primary and secondary students from along the East Bank were in attendance.
Family blames police dithering for Sparendaam killing
BY SVETLANA MARSHALL
More than 24 hours after the shooting to death of 22-yearold Michael Hamilton, ranks of the Guyana Police Force are yet to arrest the murderer and family members of the dead man continue to lament the police’s alleged indifferent approach to previous reports.
They contend that if the ranks at the Sparendaam Police Station had listened to them, the death would have been prevented.
A senior officer at the Sparendaam Police Station told Guyana Times that Hamilton’s relatives have named the suspected killer; however, the officer declined to disclose whether a manhunt has been launched.
The police officer confirmed that the Hamiltons had lodged a series of complaints. “The mother was here all morning, we took a statement and you should ask her what’s going on,” an officer told Guyana Times
However, the 22-year-old's mother, Karen Hamilton had a totally different story. “Yes, I was at the station, I give a statement but that’s all I have been doing for the longest while, giving statements.
For the past two months, I have been complaining to these police and dem ain’t doing nothing.”
Irate over the situation, she reiterated that her son’s death could have been prevented.
Two corners away from his Lot 128 Sparendaam Housing Scheme residence, the 22-year-old was shot and killed by a lone gunman on Monday, shortly after 17:00h. According to reports, he was shot twice to the leg and in the vicinity of his heart. A post-mortem examination on his remains will be conducted today.
His uncle Raphael Hamilton told media operatives on Monday that for months, his mother’s house came under fire due to a triangular love affair involving his 20-year-old son and the spouse of one of the gang members.
According to him, when the shooting started several months ago, his 20-year-old
son was the main target; however, the attention shifted to his nephew when the third attack was launched.
“This thing going on long, long; three, four times them boys come at me mother house and shoot up.
In tears, he said “we mek umpteenth reports at the station, and the police dem ain’t coming”.
Hamilton’s uncle named the gang members and said they lived in Better Hope and Plaisance. “They does be walking in Plaisance but dem does only come out at nights.” Hamilton’s sister had told Guyana Times that she was at home when she got word of the shooting.
“I deh in me house and I started hearing a set of hollering, then my little sister tell me how we brother get shoot.” She rushed over to her grandmother’s home only to discover that her brother had died at the hands of criminals.
Samuel Miller, a close relative of the Hamiltons said the Guyana Police Force should be revamped and negligent ranks should be fired.
Michael Hamilton was the second of four children.
At the time of his death, he worked as a carpenter and a mason. The taxi driver, who transported his lifeless body to the Georgetown Public Hospital, has been released from police custody.
He was held to assist police in the investigations.
Dead: Michael Hamilton
Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster
OAI clarifies some issues raised by ASL on aviation fuel Man wounded during fight at Sweet Lips Disco
Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) has once again accused Air Services Limited (ASL) Operations Manager Annette ArjoonMartins of “grossly misrepresenting” the issue relating to aviation fuel shortage and its distribution at the airport.
In a statement, the airport authority said it finds it “unfortunate that Mrs Arjoon-Martins continues to attempt to make this matter a public issue when the Office of the Prime Minister… has already directed the process to be followed”.
The authority also emphasised; however, that it has at all times, complied with the instructions of the Office of the Prime Minister and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA). The statement issued by the airport also sought to remind the public that help was offered to ASL after the October 1 announcement by RUBIS that it would temporarily discontinue fuel supplies to ASL.
The OAI added that ASL refused intervention from the Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services (CAMS) for the supply of fuel in the interim.
“Air Services Limited,
however, refused an alternative supply of fuel, preferring, instead, to lead the public to believe that their entire aircraft services were in danger of being grounded,” the statement noted. It added: “The truth is that ASL was never threatened with a shutdown.”
When CAMS received AvJet fuel from another supplier delivered into their storage tanks on September 27, RUBIS made the decision to stop the supply of fuel from CAMS to ASL until they were satisfied that the two fuel supplies received by CAMS were effectively segregated and not commingled.
ASL’s fuel supply from RUBIS, through CAMS, was, in fact, restored the next day, by the time the public works and communications minister held a meeting on the subject.
Misrepresentation
The Ogle airport authority reiterated that “ArjoonMartins has misrepresented the situation which arose in 2011, when ASL was granted permission by the government to import aviation fuel into the country, but, then, attempted to bring this fuel onto the airport without the airport’s approval.”
The airport body added
that while it is true that ASL imported the fuel directly from the U.S. in ISO containers, the matter of commingling was never the issue. The statement further said that it was subsequently established that ASL was not equipped to transport nor store fuel in compliance with international standards and was therefore not allowed to distribute the fuel on the airport.
“It is, perhaps, worth noting that the government granted an import licence for aviation fuel to ASL, having, the year before, refused a similar application from CAMS. This led to the Aircraft Owners Association writing, on September 16, 2011, to then President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, on behalf of all of its members, expressing concern about an unfair advantage to ASL, by discriminating against other operators,” it added.
Hence, the airport authority said it endeavours “to fully and comprehensively set out and document the facts on the matter of aviation fuel storage, handling and distribution at the airport so that the public is properly and accurately informed”.
Ayoung man is now nursing a fractured neck as a result of a beating he received from two men while at a party at Sweet Lips Disco, West Coast Berbice (WCB) on Saturday morning.
The injury was inflicted on Kevon Richards, 25, of Lot 3, Number Three Village, WCB in the wee hours of Saturday morning, but the matter was reported to the police on Monday.
One of the men, Michael Singh, 20, of Lot 14 Bennett Dam, Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice was arrested and is expected to be charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Based on reports received, on Saturday about 01:00h, Richards’ father received a telephone call from his brother informing him that his son was assaulted by two men and is lying in an unconscious state on the De Edward Village Public Road, in the vicinity of Sweet Lips Disco. About 02:40h, the worried father went to the area, where he saw his son lying in an unconscious state.
He was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor, who treated and sent him away. However, on Sunday about 11:30h, the young man complained about feeling pain in his head.
As a result, his father took him back to the same hospital, where he was seen and examined by a different doctor, who treated and sent him away, again. Still not feeling well, on Monday about 08:20h, he was this time taken to New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was examined by yet another doctor, who this time admitted him to the medical institution.
From reports received, the young man sustained a fracture neck, but his condition is listed as serious but stable. The matter was reported to the police and acting on information, Singh was arrested and placed in custody.
ASL Operations Manager
Annette Arjoon-Martins
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds
wednesday, october 9, 2013| guyanatimesgy.com
GT&T honours teachers with plaques, free credit
– Manickchand says Guyana has good stock of trained teachers
BY WHITNEY PERSAUD
ducation Minister
EPriya Manickchand on Tuesday said Guyana enjoys a good standing in the world as it relates to number of trained teachers. She was speaking at a Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) award ceremony for teachers held at the National Library. Manickchand said the government has always made teachers training a priority.
In addition to this, she said teachers across Guyana are now receiving additional benefits as incentives for their onerous task of upping the educations standards in Guyana. Over the last five years, there have been increases in benefits as well as increases in teachers’ salaries following good conversations between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the government.
After the GTU’s hard batting on teachers’ behalf, they are now enjoying free scholarships, housing funds, duty-free concession, training and uniform allowances, among many others ben-
efits.
She said salaries for the lowest paid teachers have increased by 45 per cent over the past 20 years, while those for higher and middle income teachers have increased by 45 per cent.
Assurance
According to Manickchand, government will continue to support teachers.
“Thirty teachers can enjoy scholarships to go to the UG... we have $40 million deposited by government into a fund for teachers’ housing and we have more than 100 duty-free concessions that allow for teachers to own their own transportation,” Manikchand said.
The minister said dutyfree concessions are not only for teachers to own cars but also for those desirous of getting their own boats or ATVs, depending on the region in which they reside.
“We have also been supporting teachers by giving ongoing training through NCERD and as well as overseas scholarships,” she added.
Manickchand said universally, there is a call for
more trained teachers and Guyana has been on track.
“I was very pleased that with the collaboration, with the political will and healthy collaboration we have with the GTU, we are in a good place in terms of meeting this call,” she said,
The minister said too that she is happy that GT&T continues to recognise the effort and work of teachers throughout Guyana.
Generous support
GTU President Colin Bynoe said the teachers’ award ceremony is just one of many others GT&T initiatives in support of teachers.
“We have had long relations with the GT&T and this new CEO wanted to ensure we continue this cordial relationship... they would have branded World Teachers Day in conjunction with the Guyana Teachers Day and will be awarding 20 teachers,” Bynoe said.
He said the tokens of appreciation, along with the other benefits, will inspire teachers to raise the standards of education delivery in Guyana.
GT&T Chief Executive Officer Radha Krishna
Sharma said the company has recognised teachers as an integral part of relationship-building and the company remains committed to them.
“I am marvelled at the role teachers play, equal and important to our parents is the kind of influences teachers make on our lives,” Sharma said.
He said the company has extended its services, offering more than 8000 teachers membership to its products.
He said GT&T has allotted millions of dollars in free minutes to teachers over the past two years and will strength the relationship.
“Under my CEOship, we will continue to strengthen this relationship,” he added. Sharma said that within weeks, the company will also be moving to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding with the GTU to give further support to teachers.
The telephone giant on Tuesday awarded 26 teachers for their outstanding performance and hard work over the years. The teachers were given a plaque of appreciation and $5000 worth of phone credit.
City Hall sues Green’s wife for $10M back taxes
Jennifer Basdeo Green, wife of Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, heads a list of persons who have been sued by Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba for non-payment of rates and taxes totalling millions of dollars. The proceedings were instituted in the Supreme Court and have all been
fixed for hearing on October 22, at 09:00h in Court Eight. These proceedings were filed by former GGG City Councillor and Executive Member, Attorney Euclin Gomes. The list of persons and the amount of rates and taxes owed are as follows: Jeniffer B Green –$10,145,631 from 1997 to 2013, X Street,
Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown; Rajpati Latchmansingh (Sandra Singh) – $9,244,124 from 1997 to 2013, Lot 38 Cummings Street, Alberttown, Georgetown; George Sebastian – $11,579,978 from 1997 to 2013 Lot 235 Albert and Forshaw streets, Queenstown, Georgetown; Garland
Lodge – $2,491,217 from 1998 to 2013, Lot 134 Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown; Charles James – $5,299,181 from 1997 to 2013, Lot 21 Werken-Rust, Georgetown. It is alleged that the mayor was exerting pressure on the town clerk in an attempt to prevent her from instituting legal proceedings.
Neighbourhood police officer goes missing
Police have joined the search party for missing Neighborhood Police Officer Gould Marcellene Amsterdam, who has been missing since Sunday from her Caracas Vryheid, West Canje home.
The 37-year-old mother of three went missing on Sunday morning. According to her 13-year-old daughter Akesha Daniels, sometime after midnight on Sunday morning, her mother said she was going out and will return shortly.
She said her mother mentioned going to a one time friend who lives a minute away. “She say that she going by “Son Son”. When I ask what she going there for, she say that she coming back just now.”
That was the last time she saw her mother. Amsterdam, who is seven months pregnant, was in a relationship with Errol Lindo, also called “Son Son”. The couple has a nine-year-old daughter. According to Daniels, about three days before her mother went missing, she heard a conversation between her mother and Lindo. She said the couple exchanged numbers even though they were not on speaking terms for several years.
Meanwhile, the missing woman’s sister Danell Amsterdam, said about 11:00h on Sunday, she was approached by her niece, enquiring whether her mother was with her.
“She lives about seven minutes walk from me and Akesha call me an ask if her mother there.” She said they later searched the house and yard, but found no clues.
Police on Sunday visited the home of Lindo, but he was not at home at the time. However, when he arrived, he
allowed the officers to carry out a search of his home. When they were gone, Lindo reportedly made several remarks to a gathering on the road in front of his home. “I don’t know where she dea. Look how long I don’t talk to she.”
On Monday evening, police returned to Lindo’s home and arrested him. Up to press time, he was still assisting police with the investigation.
Meanwhile, six years ago, Lindo was the prime suspect in an arson incident. On that occasion, he was living with the now missing woman and next to a former girlfriend.
According to reports, he had given Amsterdam a plot of land to build a house during the time they were together, but when they separated, he allegedly approached the woman to remove the house and give the land back to him.
The house went up in flames one evening in what the Guyana Fire Service said was an act of arson in a report. The search to find Amsterdam has taken villagers into the canefields and unoccupied land covered with thick overgrowth. Police have joined the search.
FAccording to informa-
reportedly to be in custody as investigations continue.
orty-three-year-old Rajendra Persaud of Lot 258 Church Street, Imax Scheme, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara was on Tuesday evening stabbed to death while at a bar in the village.
tion reaching this publication, Persaud and the assailant were consuming alcohol when they got into a heated argument during which the suspect broke a bottle and stabbed him. The suspect is
Missing: Gould Marcellene Amsterdam
From left standing: GT&T CEO Radha Krishna Sharma (sixth), GTU President Collin Bynoe (seventh), Education Minister Priya Manickchand (eighth), Chief Education Officer Olato Sam (ninth) and GTU and GT&T officials with the teachers rewarded
Finance minister signs order for mortgage interest relief
– calls for urgent implementation
inance Minister
FDr Ashni Singh on Tuesday signed and sent for publication in the Official Gazette the Income Tax (Mortgage Interest Relief) Regulations 2013, thereby establishing the regulatory foundation for Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) to be granted pursuant to the introduction of this measure announced in Budget 2013.
According to a release, the Finance Ministry at the time of presenting the 2013 national budget, Minister Singh announced the introduction of MIR with effect from year of income 2013.
Under the newly-introduced relief, the minister stated that “first time homeowners who are holders of mortgage loans of up to $30 million granted to them by
commercial banks or the building society will be permitted to deduct the interest they pay on such mortgages from their taxable income for the purposes of personal income tax. In other words, that portion of taxable income used by a first time homeowner to pay interest on a housing loan of up to $30 million from a commercial bank or building society will be exempt from personal income tax.”
In announcing the introduction of MIR at the time of Budget 2013, Minister Singh situated the new measure within the context of the outstanding success of the government’s housing programme.
He stated at the time that “this government’s housing programme has been a resounding success and has
resulted in tens of thousands of Guyanese individuals and families graduating from being tenants of rented property to being homeowners in their own right.
“Armed with real property as an asset which can in turn be collateralised, the positive consequences for owner participation in the formal financial system, and capacity to borrow to finance asset acquisition or even small business establishment and expansion, have been immeasurable.
In addition to our programmes to develop housing areas and distribute house lots, other policies have been adopted to promote homeownership.
These include the special low income housing windows established at the commercial banks under which interest income earned by the banks is exempt from corporate taxes, allowing the banks to offer subsidised interest rates to borrowers of loans for low income hous-
ing development.
Coupled with the rapid growth in low income homeownership has been equally rapid growth in demand for middle income housing with the growing numbers of young professionals and other middle income earners in our society today.”
The introduction of MIR is expected to cost government approximately $580 million annually, and will benefit tens of thousands of first time homeowners, low and middle income alike.
Having signed the necessary regulations, Minister Singh called on the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the participating financial institutions to proceed to implement the regulations as soon as possible to ensure that the intended relief is delivered to the benefi-
ciary population.
The minister stated that “this relief is expected to make homeownership even more affordable and attractive, will increase disposable incomes in thousands of households, and will constitute a significant injection of cash into the economy for both saving and consumption, thereby generating and multiplying further business activity.”
The minister’s announcement of MIR at the time of Budget 2013 was widely applauded as a measure that would significantly improve the well-being of current and pending homeowners and that would contribute to further growth in the economy as a result of the impetus it will give to homeownership and construction activity.
Cost to transport agriculture produce still high
International Consultant
John Lewis said transportation in the Caribbean is still a major problem and poses one of the biggest challenges to the movement of agricultural produce intraregionally.
He made the remarks at a presentation at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) workshop on hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the Caribbean on Monday.
The workshop, which focussed on examining a strategy for eradication of these is-
sues, was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. It was part of Caribbean Week of Agriculture activities being held here.
Lewis explained that the imbalance of trade has had an impact on transportation cost as there have been high imports and low exports.
“So if you bring a transport enterprise, an aircraft or a ship or whatever, it comes in and you see what it comes in with, full, but you not seeing what going out, now who pays for the going out leg, it means therefore that your price has to be at such a level to take account of the unused
capacity for that vessel to operate.”
The consultant posited that low yield has not been encouraging to those in the transportation sector, adding that most carriers move away from the transport of cargo because of low yield.
“Particularly in terms of agricultural produce, food… the cost of plantains per pound, an aircraft deals with weight, weight is a premium... it is costing more than it is costing you to produce,” he said.
Challenges
Plans to export produce in the region have been affected by low supply, which can be a deterrent to continuing business, between producers and those in the transport sector.
He noted that consolidating cargo is an option, but this could see similar or different produce being prepared at a particular time for export. Low production and seasonal supply of some produce cannot pay for the costs related to tariffs and port chargers.
“There are security charges and handling charges, insurance, issue of inspection to ensure that the cargo is in fact genuine stuff that is moving… that’s another reason the carriers have been shying away from particularly non-traditional ship-
Lad died of fractured skull
Apost-mortem examination performed on nine-year-old Challan Hanoman who was run over by a tractor gave the cause of death as a fractured skull.
The post-mortem examination was performed by Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan at the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary on Tuesday. Hanoman of Lot 96, Number 64 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, met his demise on Saturday after he fell from a tractor and land-
ed between its back wheel and the plough. It was reported that about 11:30h on Saturday, Hanoman left home with his grandfather Mohanchand Hanoman to go and plough his rice farm located two miles away from the public road.
While ploughing the rice field, the lad was reportedly standing on top of the tractor. As the tractor was ploughing, the driver at-
tempted to stop the tractor resulting in the lad falling forward, landing on the ground and under the tractor.
The lad ended up in the path of the left side back wheel of the vehicle which ran over his neck while the plough ran over his left hand, resulting in him receiving severe injuries. The lad was taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
pers, because the difficultly you have with narcotics, every day you read about it,” he added. The cost of fuel also cannot be ignored Lewis told the workshop.
“Transport like in any other industry has to operate both efficiently and has to have positive returns… now nothing in the transport sector, particularly the
operators of vessels and aircraft are in fact produced in the region and the operators face the same kind of cost element which you complain about, fuel and fuel of course, is a major component of transport.”
Transportation along with sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, trade liberalisation issues and rising costs
of production continue to ensure the Caribbean depends on imports. Already the region’ import bill has been pegged at US$2 billion annually while the Caribbean can do little to raise its export bill.
Exporting agriculture produce, which was seen as an engine of growth, has been struck by many forces.
Agriculture produce being transported by boat in Guyana (Annette Arjoon-Martins photo)
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh
SUDOKU
You’ve got all the right moves and the expertise to help you get your way. Persistence will pay off, although it won’t please everyone. Do your best and don’t look back.
Work will offer an interesting turn of events. You options will increase, and the chance to engage in something that will expand your skills should be taken.
Put your happiness first. Lean toward activities and events that capture your attention. What you share with interesting acquaintances will change the way you do things in the future.
Welcome change with open arms, but first obtain the blessing of those affected by the choices you make. Love and romance will ease stress and lead to a brighter future.
(Aug. 23Sept. 22)
(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)
Keep a clear head and a set destination in mind. Don’t be sidetracked by someone playing with your emotions. Finish what you start. Your reputation will be dependent on your actions.
(March 21-April 19)
Travel mentally or physically, and you will learn something new. A change of attitude will help you revisit past experiences and help you avoid making a mistake.
(April 20-May 20)
Keep your temper under control and your stubbornness tucked away somewhere safe. Parity will be required if you want to keep your relationships moving along without a hitch.
(May 21June 20)
Your contribution to a cause will raise your profile. Someone will offer you what appears to be an opportunity. Before making a leap of faith, find out what’s really in it for you.
Get things out in the open, where you can filter through all your options and the suggestions you receive. Emotional manipulation could be a problem if you don’t seek outside input.
(Sept. 23Oct. 23)
You should stick close to home today because a delay or problem while travelling will stifle success. Go over your professional options and consider what you need to do to stay on the right road.
(Oct. 24Nov. 22)
Widen and deepen your knowledge, interests and friendships. Make unexpected changes at home that allow you to take on creative tasks that will add to your comfort and enhance your future plans.
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
Stick to the truth when discussing personal matters with friends, relatives or anyone who will be affected by your decisions. A change of attitude will lead to personal freedom.
Peanuts
Calvin and Hobbes
arCHie
dilbert
Caribbean govts urged to protect marine resources
ACCOmmODAtiON
Tourist villa apartments 1, 2 & 3 bedroom, long & short term, and car rental service. Phone: 227-2199, 227-2186
Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034
SAT/AP/CXC/IGCSE English classes personalized tutoring phone :612:4821,after 4pm, 274-0437 after 7pm. Electronics course - hands-on training, starting October 2, Abdul Electronics. Phone: 226-6551, 225-0391.
Learn to play the guitar, keyboard, drums, and train your voice at Foundation 7. Phone: 225-1151 or 617-4200.
Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 2251540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca
PHONE: 696-8230
Gas station land. Size: over one acre Phone Ms Liverpool on 6257582, 681-9293.
Cellphone repairs, unlocking & spares of all smart phones: Blackberry, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, HTC, iPhone, Sony Ericsson, LG & any brand you own. Installation of BBM on Samsung and iPhone. Halema’s Fashion 104 Regent Street, next door to the Multiplex Mall. Call 622-7740/6964008
Tattoo & body piercing by professional artist with best prices; visit Halema’s Fashion 104 Regent Street, next door to the Multiplex Mall. Call 622-7740/696-4008
Dutch healing and upliftment, for clearing of land, dredging and ground work (strictly interior operation). Phone: 662-1247.
U.S. Green Card Lottery 2013. We are now accepting entries for the Annual Green Card Lottery sponsored by the U.S. Government. Enter now for a chance to become a permanent resident of the USA. Closing date November 2, 2013. Contact Balwant Persaud Immigration and Visa Services 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings and Light Sts.) Tel: 2251540, 655-3105, 622-8308
Available: Fresh long-stemmed ros-
es, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315
Mixed breed pups. Phone: 253-3114, 692-0126
One 320CL Excavator located at Mahdia; excellent working condition. Owner migrating, call 682-0365 or 614-1669
Gold Land, excellent investment. Priced to sell, call 682-0365, 614-1669
Wine vessel (jue) Shang dynasty, old Chinese painting, old Ming prints, Ming dynasty Chinese painting on bamboo, Qi Baishi orginal painting, rare bowls and pots, all Chinese antiques. Phone: 592623-7029
Pure bred American Akita puppies for sale $200,000. Phone: 639-8924, 2274674
Mercury in large quantities 99.9999% purity. Call: 679-1985, 219-4535, 6935004
1 Canon copier (Image Runner 6020) with finisher. Call 647-5150, 694-5738 Cheap earth. Delivery to spot, ECD and EBD. Phone: 627-9977
Cellphone accessories and spares for all smart phones: Blackberry, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, HTC, iPhone, Sony Ericsson, LG at Halema’s Fashion 104 Regent Street, next door to the Multiplex Mall. Call 622-7740/696-4008
One music set with three power amps with a total of 5,500 watts, etc. for more information please call 682-3481. Price negotiable.
Mercury in large quantity, 99.9999% purity. Call: 219-4535/693-5004/6791985
Are you suffering from abnormal behaviors, addictions, stresses, or psychosomatic sickness? Feeling suicidal, low self-esteem, loneliness, unloved, anger, conflicts and relationship problems? For appointments call 592 621 0552. 12:00PM – 6:00PM Email: healthworldhc@ gmail.com
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for all chronic genetic/none genetic diseases, including HIV, Cancer, diabetic, pregnancy, sexual (weakness), etc. Phone: 685- 3220.
Are you pouring on pounds? Then call Raul /Carol Wilson: 660-6818, 641-5923, 216-3016, 216-3601 for your healthy eating package. Stay healthy and flexible with yoga. Phone: 693-2233
Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 6213249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks. Get your extra key today.
AND FOR SALE
Parfaite Harmonie $1M and $1.2M phone: 675-7292
46 houselots in residential area between Charles & Peter Streets, Parika, EBE. Phone: 622-6971/6612289
Learn transcendental meditation and reduce stress and anxiety, develop full brain potential, increase focus and memory, be healthier & happier, increase energy, vitality and longevity, enjoy more success in life, improve relationships and develop higher states of consciousness. A technique that works for everyone. For next introductory lecture on October 10, contact Ashoke (certified TM teacher) Phone: 233-6921, 609-3701. Email kashokejp_68 2yahoo.com askgeneration
Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.
Retired Engineer aged 66 would like to know a single female over the age of 50. Phone: 604-7022
One business property, Lamaha Street. Phone: 669-3313, 2314586, 695-4382. Properties for sale. Phone: 6422116
2-storey concrete house 32’x 55’, 4 bedrooms, block 8 Mon Repos, ECD, $35 million. Phone: 642-2116 EXECUTIVE TWO STOREY BUILDING 3 BEDROOMS WITH ALL MODERN CONVIENCES, MEADOW BROOK GARDENS, MR NARAINE.
J Eastman & Associates Financial Services: Taxation, VAT Compliance, Accounting & Consultancy, and Cash Flow Projection. Address: 190 Church St, S/Cburg (East of Austin’s Book Store) Phone: 662-7467, 2232105
Lethem – Rupununi Heritage Month event September 27-29. Visit: Iwokrama, Rock View Resort, Bonfim - Brazil, Moco Moco & Kumu Falls, St Ignatius - Lethem. Package $150,000. Phone: 662-3665
House plans starting at $9,000 Phone: 674-0725, 266-2154.
SPiRituALity
Suriname astrology palmist and Djuka healer. The most powerful spiritualist in the world. Are you suffering from the following problems? (any religions) love, marriage, family, health, business, husband and wife relationships, property, court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking, also you can have all evil forces destroyed such as black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, obeyah, etc, and gives powerful protection. Private and confidential. Phone: 674-2112.
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Cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá protection against evil. Get help to overcome problems with love, relationship, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money. Call 10AM - 4PM. Tel: 592-6901824. Email:anew-life@live.com
House at Lamaha Garden hot & cold water, ac etc phone:219-4535.
2 modern apartments at Campbellville, hot & cold water etc phone:219-4535
3 bedroom bottom flat for rental situated on the ECD. Phone: 6699384, available for viewing after September 27 after 4:00pm. No animals.
One house located in Lamaha Gardens, hot and cold water. Call 219-4535
EXECUTIVE TWO STOREY BUILDING 3 BEDROOMS WITH ALL MODERN CONVIENCES FURNISHED/ UNFURNISHED, MEADOW BROOK GARDENS, MR NARAINE. PHONE: 696-8230
Two-bedroom self contained apt. Caneville, Grove. PHONE: 669-1954 House at Lamaha Gardens, hot & cold water, A/C, etc. Call 219-4535 Two modern apartments at Campbellville, hot & cold water etc. Call: 219-4535
... even as coastal systems continues to degrade
One customs clerk with at least three subjects CXC including English Language, mathematics. Applicant must be computer literate. Please submit application before the October 11, 2013 to email: windsortechhomes@ gmail.com or call 669-6874 or 682-3481
One Honda Cappa (Yellow) ideal for taxi or private use. Leather seats and roof, alarm, reverse camera, DVD/TV/CD player, mag rims. Also Motorola Base Radio with Antennae. HC series; immaculate condition; give away price $1M. Call 647-2491.
One new Yamaha R1 Motorcycle 1000cc (candy red & black) recently registered 2013. Latest double exhaust, bug lights, immaculate condition. Give away price, call 647-2491
Titan (hardly driven) $3.5M neg. Phone: 691-9984
JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA PREMIO; TOYOTA ALLION; TOYOTA COROLLA AXIO; TOYOTA NOAH; SUZUKI SWIFT; MERCEDES BENZ C200 COMPRESSOR; BMW 318i; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, SOLID DIFFERENTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 3, 3.5 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; 3 TON DUMP TRUCK; NISSAN ATLAS 2-TON TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICE AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND A SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST.
1 Bedford truck. Phone: 616:0617, 663-3285.
wANtED
One Bedford truck Phone: 6279977
Vacancy exists for two cashiers/ office clerks and two porters, cashiers/clerks must be literate, apply in person with written application to May’s Shopping Centre, 98 Regent Street, Georgetown. Urgently needed! One plot of land in Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling and Eccles. Phone: 675-7292
Caribbean governments have been urged to take stronger actions to combat threats to its marine resources and to network at all levels so that countries can learn from each other in identifying best practices to successfully manage their environment.
This call was made at the just concluded Second Global Conference on LandOcean Connections (GLOC-2) hosted last week in Montego Bay, Jamaica by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Jamaica government.
Attended by more than 200 delegates, including scientists and environmental experts, the conference made recommendations towards the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from land-based activities and also explored current and emerging environmental management challenges that result from land-based activities, with a priority focus on the management of marine litter, waste water and nutrients.
Speaking on the opening day of the summit held at the Hilton Hotel, UNEP Deputy Director Elizabeth Maruma Mrema said while the marine and coastal environment continues to degrade “there is need for countries and stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and other commitments, such as what came out of the Rio+20 Conference in 2012”.
Contribution
She said the growing pressures on marine and coastal ecosystems require more effective management approaches in light of the new challenges of the 21st century, noting that despite the economic values attained as a result of land-based activities, a number of those activities cause great harm to the world’s oceans and seas.
“The major causes of damage or harm to the environment come from excessive nutrients, habitat destruction and wastewater,” she noted.
Mrema explained that excessive nutrients flowing into the sea are dangerous to human health, loss of biodiversity and reduced fishing.
She said in terms of economic goods and services, coastal ecosystems contribute at least 38 per cent of the
world’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – as much as all terrestrial ecosystems, adding that open ocean areas alone provide another 25 per cent. “This is a substantial contribution not to be underestimated,” she asserted.
The UNEP official said it is a common knowledge that the oceans of the world are interlinked, and as such, an action on one side of the ocean can have far-reaching repercussions on the other side.
“Therefore, the way we see marine litter scattered along many beaches across the globe clearly demonstrates the nature of the impacts we have to deal with under the GPA programme for which we need the concerted efforts of all of us if we are to succeed.
In recent years, for instance, we’ve realised how coastal habitats such as mangrove forests, salt marshes and seagrass meadows have additional value due to their important carbon sink capacities,” Mrema said. According to UNEP’s Blue Carbon Report, the improved management and restoration of the ocean’s blue carbon sinks would contribute significantly to offsetting global emissions and mitigating climate change.
Terrestrial ecosystem Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister Robert Pickersgill said while previous studies have shown that the approach to protect the environment has separated terrestrial and marine ecosystems, “there is a growing recognition by many stakeholders... that the terrestrial and marine ecosystems are intimately connected.”
As such, he said any approach to successfully manage environments must “take into account the strong, yet complex, link between activities on land and the marine and coastal environments”.
He made reference to the third international conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which will be held in Samoa in September 2014, noting that the outcome document recognises that a common vision among SIDS that can only be realised through inclusive dialogue and “partnerships based on mutual trust, equality, respect and accountability”.
“The health of our coastal and marine environments is therefore paramount in ensuring food security and in ensuring... increased employment opportunities in key ocean-based sectors such as tourism and fisheries,” he said.
The minister outlined that pollution from landbased activities can have detrimental effects on the economic growth and development of the states and warned that there is an urgent need to strengthen the existing regional instruments that relate to landbased sources of pollution and institute such agreements where none exist.
OPtiCiAN
CuttiNg
VACANCiES
mEDitAtiON
UNEP Deputy Director Elizabeth Maruma Mrema addressing the GLOC-2 conference
Supreme Court allows Srinivasan to take charge
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that N Srinivasan can resume his duties as BCCI president, so long as he doesn’t deal with any mat-
ters relating to the IPL. It also ruled that the new three-member panel that will conduct an independent investigation into the allegations of corruption in
the IPL will comprise, as it had suggested on Monday, former High Court judge Mukul Mudgal, senior advocate and additional solicitor general L Nageshwar
Rao and Assam Cricket Association member Nilay Dutta.
The probe, the court said, should be concluded in four months’ time. It said the probe committee has been set up to “function independent of the BCCI and the president” and that the BCCI will pay “the expenses of travel, boarding and lodging” of the committee.
“The BCCI or respondent No.2 (Srinivasan) will not in any manner interfere in the probe and co-operate with providing any documents and material required to the probe,” the order read.
Srinivasan welcomed the court’s ruling. “I think the Supreme Court has said I can resume functioning and discharge my functions. So I am quite happy because BCCI needs somebody,” he said. “I have no comment on the new committee, Supreme Court has directly formed it. I am not a part of it. I have nothing to do with it.”
On the issue of allowing Srinivasan to return as president, Justice AK Patnaik said the court was concerned solely with the legality of the probe panel, and not with the BCCI’s day-to-day administration. “We don’t want to be accused to have committed judicial over-reach,” Patnaik said. “This dispute relates to the probe and the more detached we are in this matter, the better it will be for the
functioning of the probe.”
On Monday, the court had ruled that a new three-member probe panel be constituted to look into IPL 2013, and suggested the three names it eventually appointed. It had given the CAB and the BCCI until Tuesday to finalise their views on the proposed names. The court said the panel would conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations and submit its report to the Supreme Court.
The court also heard a plea from the BCCI to allow Srinivasan to resume functioning as president because, it said, his absence was affecting cricket administration.
Srinivasan had been allowed to contest the BCCI
elections on September 29 by the Supreme Court, but with a rider which said that if he won, he could not take charge as president as long as it was hearing the case related to him and the board.
The matter dates back to a plea that the CAB filed in June, raising charges of conflict of interest in the formation of the two-member panel set up to inquire into allegations of corruption in the IPL. A Bombay High Court ruling later termed the probe panel “illegal”.
The BCCI and the CAB filed petitions in the Supreme Court against this order, with the CAB contending that the Bombay High Court could have suggested a fresh mechanism to look into the corruption allegations. (Cricinfo)
Pietersen to receive libel damages from Specsavers
England batsman Kevin Pietersen has accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages over an advert which implied he might have tampered with his bat.
Opticians Specsavers used a photo of Pietersen in their “Should have gone to Specsavers” adverts in August, and on their Twitter and Facebook accounts.
The company accepted the 33-year-old did not behave in the manner suggested.
Pietersen was not at London’s High Court for the settlement over the “serious and defamatory allegation”.
Specsavers had already removed the advert from circulation, where it had appeared in various newspapers, and also agreed to pay the Surrey player substantial damages and his legal costs.
The company’s solicitor Niri Shan said they did not intend to imply that Pietersen may have tampered with his bat and acknowledged that the allegation was untrue and apologised for the distress and embarrassment caused.
Kevin Pietersen
During the summer Ashes series against Australia, Pietersen angrily denied reports - which emerged from Channel Nine in Australia - claiming he may have used special tape on his bat to prevent the detection of edges by Hot Spot cameras, describing them as “horrible lies”.
He also tweeted at the
time: “How stupid would I be to try to hide a nick when it could save me on an lbw appeal, like in [the] first innings where Hot Spot showed I nicked it.”
Pietersen’s solicitor Louise Prince said the allegations of bat tampering were completely untrue and without any foundation whatsoever. (BBC Sport)
N Srinivasan
Durant stars in Manchester pre-season game
Kevin Durant starred as Oklahoma City Thunder edged out the Philadelphia 76ers 103-99 in an NBA preseason game played at the Manchester Arena on Tuesday night.
The American Olympic gold medal winner collected 21 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in the Thunder victory.
Durant, 25, said he hoped it would not be long before he returned to the UK.
“I just love basketball and any time I have the
chance to compete I go for it. It was pretty fun to play in front of that crowd,” Durant said.
“The fans were unbelievable and they deserve to have some more basketball, and regular-season basketball too, over here and I’m sure you’ll see them expand that in the future.
“Hopefully we’ll be one of those teams that comes over because I’ve enjoyed it.”
A number of Manchester’s football players were among the in front of 13,472 crowd includ-
ing Rio Ferdinand, David De Gea, Adnan Januzaj, Jack Rodwell and Patrick Vieira.
Durant was slow to get going, but he made his mark with a big dunk late in the second quarter.
Until that point the Thunder had been relying on Spain star Serge Ibaka to keep ahead of the threepoint shooting of the 76ers.
Philadelphia briefly edged in front at half-time, but the Thunder came back strongly in the third quarter and then did enough to hang on for victory. (BBC Sport)
inspires Windies to level series
KINGSTON, Jamaica -West Indies Women swept to a comprehensive 89 run win over New Zealand Women in the second of three One Day Internationals (ODI) at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
Teenager Shaquana Quintyne played crucial roles with bat and ball to ensure West Indies level the series following their dramatic one run loss to New Zealand in the first ODI on Sunday.
The 17-year-old Quintyne topscored with 29 off 58 balls as the Windies recovered from 95 for eight to post 148 and picked up two wickets for nine runs to help bowl out the visitors for 59 runs.
She featured in an important stand of 43 for the ninth wicket with Shakera Selman, who also played well to make 22 in her 50th ODI for the West Indies.
West Indies Women, who won the toss and batted, was given a decent
start on a first wicket stand between Kyshona Knight and Natasha Mclean that produced a half century in 77 balls. Knight scored 22 and McLean 21.
When New Zealand batted only one player, Katie Perkins who scored 18, was able to get into double digits as the West Indian
Sherone Simpson trains with new coach in Florida
Beijing Olympics 100-metre silver medalist Sherone Simpson is now training in Florida under new coach Loren Seagrave.
The move has signalled the end of the relationship between the 2006 Commonwealth Games 200-metre champion and her long-time coach Stephen Francis of MVP Track Club where she has trained for almost a decade.
Simpson is provisionally suspended from competition following a positive drug test for the stimulant Oxilifrine during the national senior championships last June.
Simpson, who in 2006 was ranked number one in the world in both 100 and 200m, and former clubmate, Asafa Powell, were issued an ultimatum by Francis last August that they would have to choose between the club and their agent Paul Doyle,
once the doping matter was settled.
The rift between the coach and the athletes and their agent stemmed from Doyle’s hiring of Canadian trainer Chris Xuereb, who the athletes believe is responsible for their failed drug tests.
Seagrave is a coach of world renown. He is known as one of the best
sprint and hurdles coaches in the world who has conditioned six Olympians from five different countries including Bahamian 200-metre gold medalist Pauline Davis. In 1998, he was sought out to direct the training of 100m World and Olympic Champion and former world record holder Donovan Bailey. (Go Jamaica)
bowlers took control.
Stafanie Taylor was the top wicket taker with 3-10 while Shanel Daley also took 2 for 14.
Deandra Dottin was also responsible for two run outs. The decider in the three-match series will be played on Thursday also at Sabina Park.
Kevin Durant (right) drives on the screen during the match
Shaquana Quintyne
Sherone Simpson
Second President’s Cup golf set for Saturday
The stage is set for the second President’s Cup golf tournament billed for Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course with local players competing at the prestigious event, organised to promote golf and sport tourism in Guyana.
President of Guyana Donald Ramotar, in whose honour the tournament has been named, is expected to tee-off the event.
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority have recognised that the sport attracts some of the upper echelon members of society. As such, efforts are underway to sustain the tournament as a signature event on the local sport calendar.
Organisers of the activi-
ty are assuring that special invitees and patrons will be treated to another spectacular day of gold, following much the same format as the inaugural tournament held last year. They are also optimistic that members of cor-
porate Guyana and the diplomatic community would be a part of the activities.
Meanwhile, the course is being kept in tip-top shape, the fairways and roughs have been cut and the green is being sprinkled every
night so the current dry season would not affect it.
The Lusignan Golf Course comprises nine holes and participants would be vying for lucrative prizes, including the player Nearestto-the-Pin and the longest drive among others.
Already, 45 local participants have signed up for the amateur tournament, which has attracted sponsorship from Banks DIH Limited, Ansa McAl Trading, CIDI and Marketing and Distribution.
Persons interested in participating in the tournament can call the Guyana Tourism Authority on 2190094-6 or the Lusignan Golf Club on 220-5660 for more information. Registration for the tournament costs $4000.
Hand-in-Hand cycling meet at National Park Saturday
Leading local riders will converge on the National Park on Saturday for the ninth annual staging of the Hand-inHand Insurance Company Limited’s 11-race cycling programme, set to pedal off at 09:00h.
The day’s activities will be hosted around the inner circuit, with the feature event being the 35lap Schools Boys and Invitational, which is set to attract the country’s leading cyclists and their up-andcoming challengers.
Michael Anthony will look to defend his title, having won last year’s race in a time of one hour, 17 minutes, 22.05 seconds (01h: 17m: 22.05s), but will face stiff competition from the likes of Alanzo Greaves, Robin Persaud, Paul DeNobrega and Marlon Williams among others.
Michael Cummings (Juveniles), Shameer Baksh (Veterans Under-50) and Alfie Soonaram (12-14 Boys and Girls) are the defending champions of their respec-
tive categories. Other races carded for the day are the BMX Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14, Mountain Bikes, Veterans Over-50 and Over-60. Senior officials of Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Limited are expected to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of the day’s activities, which are being organised by national coach, Hassan Mohamed.
Warner handed one-game suspended ban
Australia batsman
David Warner has received a suspended one-game ban from Cricket New South Wales for missing a grade match to watch horse racing.
Warner, 26, was expected to play for Randwick Petersham against Northern Districts but withdrew, claiming a need to spend time on batting practice.
However, later that day he was pictured at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse.
“I believed I was doing the right thing by focusing on my training and batting, but I should have played,” said Warner.
He would miss either a Sheffield Shield match or a one-day fixture for New South Wales if he commits
another offence and it continues a controversial year for the Australian. In June, he was banned from playing in a Champions Trophy match for Australia and two tour games after punching England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar.
Warner has also recently struggled for form and only scored 138 runs, at an average of 23, during the Ashes, which England won 3-0. He was then dropped for the one-day internationals against England and has been dismissed for scores of zero and four in his last two matches for New South Wales. The first of five Tests in the return Ashes series in Australia begins in Brisbane on November 21.
The trophies that will be up for grabs on Saturday at Lusignan
Michael Anthony
David Warner
“Ride for Life 7” set for November 13-17
By Avenash Ramzan
The marquee event on the local cycling calendar – the “Ride for Life” Five Stage – will take place on November 13-17, covering a distance of 266 miles of the country’s roadways.
This publication confirmed on Tuesday, after engaging key personnel close to the organising body for the seventh annual event, that the event will be held after many thought it would not have.
It is also understood that a special meeting will be convened this morning by stakeholders to finalise crucial aspects of the greulling race that will stretch all three counties of Guyana.
After travelling to
the Ancient County on November 13, the opening stage will be held the following day from Corriverton to New Amsterdam (46.6 miles) from 07:30h; Stage Two will be on the same day from Rosignol to Georgetown (60.4 miles) from 14:00h.
Stage Three will take place on November 15 from Wales to Parika (35 miles) from 09:00h, while the penultimate stage will be contested from 07:30h the following day from Supenaam to Suddie, covering a distance of 62 miles.
The fifth and final stage will commence in Linden at 08:30h and finish on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown on November 17, covering a distance of 62 miles.
GTTA hoping to attract 30 schools for November event
Students in the school system will once again be given an opportunity to exhibit their skills next month when the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) stages its annual schools championship at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The fourth annual event will be sponsored exclusively by cell phone service provider Digicel and will be held from November 1-4 with action in several age groups.
According to coordinator of the tournament and national coach, Linden Johnson, the format will be a team and single’s competition with schools from as far as Berbice, Bartica and the Essequibo Coast.
Invitational letters have been sent to prospective schools and the GTTA is hoping to attract as many as 30 learning institutions.
Unlike previous years, there will be an Open Novice category catering for players now learning the intricacies of the sport.
According to Johnson, the aim of having this new category is to identify budding talents from an early age, as the GTTA is keen on expanding its nursery.
The general categories to be contested are Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-18 with a round-robin followed by a knockout phase in both the team and singles divisions.
The top schools and individuals will be rewarded with trophies and medals, while the most improved player, best dressed school,
most discipline school and the school with the largest support (50+ students) will also be rewarded.
The tournament will be run on a round-robin basis, with the top two teams in each division advancing to the knockout round, while two players from the single’s grouping will qualify for the knockout phase.
Participating schools are required to submit a maximum of four players with the deadline for submission of entries being October 30, 2013.
The aims of the competition are to foster camaraderie among students, promote and create a healthy lifestyle through table-tennis, create opportunities for individuals to participate in recreational activities and promote the basic objectives of the GTTA by having more players actively participate in the sport, both at the recreational and competitive levels.
As was the case in previous years, the event will be held with the objectives of increasing awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among participants and the general public, and increasing HIV/AIDS activism and volunteerism among the participants and inspiring them to become ambassadors in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The event has over the years attracted a large amount of overseas riders, and this year would be no different.
Record-breaking 2012
In what was a recordbreaking 2012 event, Team Coco’s Jaime Ramirez emerged as the overall winner, but it was Guyanese Paul DeNobrega, who stole the spotlight on the final stage from Linden to Georgetown.
While Ramirez was the overwhelming winner of the Senior title overall, with a new record time, DeNobrega, riding with Team Coco, copped the Junior title.
Ramirez, who won the first stage from Corriverton to New Amsterdam, clocked a blistering nine hours, 46 minutes, 51 seconds (09h: 46m: 51s) to erase the previous record of 10 hours, 29 minutes, 39 seconds (10h: 29m: 39s) achieved in 2011 by another Team Coco rider, Michael Larsen.
DeNobrega had finished in the runner-up spot with a time of nine hours, 57 minutes, 01 second (09h: 57m: 01s), while Antonio Alarton copped third spot in a time of nine hours, 58 minutes, 07 seconds (09h: 58m: 07s).
Rounding off the top ten were Guyana’s Raynauth Jeffrey (09h: 59m: 59s);
Team Coco’s Darren Matthews (10h: 00m: 42s); Aruba’s Gino Hodge (10h: 05m: 19s); Guyana’s Eric Sankar (10h: 05m: 25s); overseas-based Guyanese Paul Choo Wee Nam (10h: 05m: 36s); and the Suriname duo of Murvim Arumjo (10h: 05m: 37s) and Moses
Ricketts (10h: 06m: 02s). In the Junior division, DeNobrega won ahead of Jeffrey and Raul Leal, who occupied second and third spots respectively. The overall top Veteran rider was Kennard Lovell, with Junior Niles in second and Ian Jackson third.
Linden Johnson
GFA submits prerequisite documents to GFF for
…awaiting necessary response, approval
The Georgetown Football Association (GFA) on Monday submitted the “required prerequisite” for the hosting of its annual Banks Beer Cup knockout tournament to local governing body, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), seeking approval to host same.
According to information reaching this publication, the GFA has presented its proposal to General Secretary of the GFF, Noel Adonis, and the association is “now awaiting the necessary response, approval and other relevant documentations as regards the levy fee (sharing formula used) etc. from the GFF.”
The GFA has soliticed the permission of five associations to play in their jurisdiction, while it has also received acceptance/participation letters from 16 clubs. A proposed budget and draft fixture have also been submitted to the GFF.
This newspaper understands that the tournament is set to be launched later this month, while
it is expected to kick off in midNovember and conclude on New Year’s Day 2014. Since its inaugural tournament in 2011, the GFA/Banks Beer Cup has emerged as a strong challenger to the Kashif and Shanghai competition, which has been in existence
for the past 23 years.
The fallout between the GFF and GFA resulted in the latter staging the Banks Beer Cup, which many deemed a rival tournament to the Kashif and Shanghai event, as both competitions were run concurrently.
With a FIFA/CONCACAF team aiding a resolution to the GFF/GFA standoff in January this year, the question now is which tournament will be hosted this year end. In early September, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation wrote
to CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb seeking a way forward on the hosting of its 24th annual tournament.
The organisation is “seeking answers” on the hosting of the tournament, as the GFF is contending the private body has to apply through an affiliate of the GFF in order to be granted permission.
GFF president Christopher Matthias said a meeting was held between the GFF and the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation where the provisions for the hosting of such a tournament were outlined to the body.
Co-director of the organisation, Kashif Muhammad, in a recent interview with one section of the press, said they are mulling legal action should the tournament not be given the regular dates in December/January.
Meanwhile, the GFA, on which body Matthias had previously served as General Secretary, has also been equipped with the provisions for the hosting of its Banks Beer Cup tournament.
