Guyana Times Daily

Caribbean Airlines to add another flight to Guyana

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds interacts with patrons of the Guyana Relief Council luncheon sponsored by New Thriving Restaurant at its Main Street location. Inset is Mrs Yvonne Hinds presenting the first place door prize to the lucky winner (Carl Croker photos)

Govt open to review of lie detector test policy at GEA

Government said a possible review of the polygraph testing policy at the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) was welcome, following the recent dismissal of several employees who failed their tests.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, however, stated that the polygraph testing policy is traditional and has been practised by many organisations, over the past five years.

According to him, functionaries and officials in a number of agencies have been using the system. A few agencies have also been abiding with the interventions made on the basis of the results of the polygraph testing.

“This is a historical practice. That does not mean, of course, that the policy cannot be subjected as seems to be now by the opposition to a review or demand for a review,” Dr Luncheon posited.

He said he was doubtful about the opposition’s request for the matter to be investigated. The government spokesman explained that polygraph

testing is used specifically for GEA staffers who are involved in fuel marking. Revenue from importation of fuel, Dr Luncheon said, contributes significantly to revenue collection by the Guyana Revenue Authority and there is no doubt that significant breaches of the legal importation system have indeed been avoided by the work and presence of the fuel marking system and the activities of that component of the GEA.

Work in progress

“It’s not exactly where

we would want it to be. People fall asleep, equipment and markers disappear and all sorts of different things, but it’s a work in progress,” he added. Dr Luncheon further stated that integrity testing via the polygraph assists the management and policy makers in determining and targeting the weak areas in the fuel marking programme.

The GEA sent home 21 employees who failed lie detector tests; 34 employees had taken the test. The agency said polygraph tests continue to ensure the integrity of the system and by extension, the officers employed under the fuel marking programme. These terminations come on the heels of several more within the

past few months. According to one of the sacked employees, this has resulted in a severe staff shortage at the agency.

Dissatisfaction

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) have argued that the polygraph tests are being inappropriately used by the GEA, and have since called for an investigation into the causes for dismissal of the workers. The APNU has also called for an immediate halt to the practice.

In 2009, Dr Luncheon had said the government intended to make the practice of polygraph testing an annual exercise to ensure the public can have complete trust in the authorities that serve them. Polygraph testing was first used in 2008 by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), with all 32 members of the unit being tested. Nine individuals failed and their services were terminated.

Polygraph testing was extended to include employees at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri; the GEA and the Narcotics Branch of the Guyana Police Force stationed at the airport. Based on the number of media reports received, the GEA is using the tests more than any other agency.

Linden power supply still unstable

The mining town of Linden continues to experience a shortage in electricity supply, as technicians battle at the Bosai Power Generating Plant to restore 24-hour electricity.

On Friday afternoon, Bosai Bauxite Company Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) halted its operation in an effort to supply the town with uninterrupted power, but despite this move, both Wismar and Mackenzie were periodically plunged into darkness.

BMGGI officials are reluctant to disclose details of the situation at the moment, noting that a detailed report will be made available today. Currently, technicians are working assiduously to assess the damage.

The outages commenced on Thursday shortly after 19:00h after when BMGGI began experiencing technical problems with two of its generating engines. According to the company, the engines’ crank shafts and bearings have been damaged.

The company sells electricity to the Linden Electricity Company Incorporated (LECI), which supplies electricity to the Mackenzie shore of Linden, and in turn sells power to the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL) which supplies the Wismar shore.

Initially after the shutdown, Wismar and Mackenzie were receiving electricity in six-hour shifts. However, it is unclear at the moment if the schedule is being maintained as reports received differ on the power supply. This is the second time in recent months that the company has developed such issues, causing power outages in the community, despite promises by the company to have the issue remedied.

Staffers at the Upper Demerara Regional Hospital (UDH) located at Wismar have expressed concern over the issue, as the generator at the hospital is not working. Residents have also begun to voice concern.

GPSU proposes hefty multi-year pay hike for public servants

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has proposed a total pay raise of 90 per cent for public servants over the next three years and has called for an immediate commencement of negotiations and a commitment to a businesslike process of discussion to avoid the yearly increase imposed by the government.

The union made the proposal in a letter to Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary, Hydar Ally last week. The union said in a letter on November 20, 2012, it submitted to Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh proposals for his consideration to be included in the proposed national budget for 2013. Among these were increases in wages, salaries and allowances for the public service of 25 per cent. The union also requested to meet with the minister.

The GPSU said at a statutory Executive Council meeting on Monday, May 13, the council approved of a multi-year proposal for 2013-2015, which was immediately submitted to the government through Ally.

The union said the proposals were submitted without prejudice “to our position on the arbitrary increases for the years up to and including 2012, as expounded in our correspondence dated December 6, 2012”.

In relation to the individual years, the following proposals are made: for 2013, a 25 per cent increase across the board in wages and salaries; for 2014, 30 per cent and 2015, 35 per cent.

“The GPSU is also re-

GPSU President Patrick

questing that in view of the fact that the estimates of expenditure for 2013 have already been approved by the National Assembly and among the provisions was a sum of $4.404 billion for the revision of wages and salaries, an interim increase of 15 per cent should be made immediately, pending the outcome of negotiations for wages and salaries.”

The union also requested an immediate commencement of negotiations, so that an award could be made expeditiously to forestall the “unacceptable norm of end-of-year impositions”, which has been a government’s practice for more than a decade.

Regarding increases in allowances for public workers, the union said it is standing by its proposals that were submitted by way of letter to Ally dated September 24, 2009, and is requesting that those proposals be used as the base and that similar increases be applied for all the years.

The proposals called for a 25 per cent in 2013; 30 per cent in 2014 and 35 per cent in 2015.

Tuschen man dies in

Mahaicony

ATuschen, East Bank Essequibo man died when the car in which he was travelling crashed into a culvert at Yorkshire Hall, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

The dead man was identified as Kenny Mendonca, 27. According to information, the vehicle was travelling at a fast pace when the driver lost control while negotiating a turn and drove into a concrete bridge.

accident

Mendonca sustained injuries and was rushed to the Mahaicony Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The other passengers in the car sustained minor injuries and were treated and sent away, while the driver was arrested. He is assisting police with their investigations. The body of Mendonca was transferred to the Lyken Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.

Yarde

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, May 20, from 12:30h to 14:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, May 20, from 12:00h to 13:30h.

Caribbean Airlines to add another flight to Guyana

With effect from May 27, for a period of one-month, Caribbean Airlines will fly an additional flight that is expected to add 900 seats to the country ’ s airlift capacity, acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali disclosed last Friday.

He was at the time speaking to members of the media. Additionally, as the ministry continues to look at having more airlines ply the Guyana route, from June 27 to the end of September, there will be an increase in daily flights. “You will have daily flights to the US… in addition to that, once the traffic remains high, the daily flights will continue past September into the Christmas season,” Minister Ali stated.

The Tourism Ministry has been marketing Guyana as a viable tourism destination through its arm, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), and it is expected that tourist arrivals will increase.

“Government is indeed putting a lot of emphasis on tourism now… we have also seen a tremendous increase in traffic to our website,” added the minister. Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir highlighted that with CAL, there will be two weekly flights to Toronto, and steps are also being taken towards contracting routes in every continent.

Since Delta Airlines pulled out from the Guyana market, government has

been making desperate moves to attract other airlines. Only last week, it was reported that government had made initial approaches to reputable Asian, North American and neighbouring South American airlines in the ongoing effort to broaden the range of commercial air services operating the Guyana route.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said that among them is JetBlue Airways Corporation, an American low-cost airline headquartered in Long Island, New York, which according to President Donald Ramotar, is awaiting the completion of the airport runway extension

The extension of the runway to accommodate large transatlantic aircraft is part of the CJIA expansion project that is now delayed after the political opposition used their one-seat majority to cut the entire air transport allocation.

Among the projects affected is the expansion of the Ogle International Airport that was only recently upgraded to a regional class facility and is aptly situated to act as a hub between the Caribbean and South America.

The government is optimistic nevertheless that the development plans for the air transport sector will allow for expansion of traditional trade ties with North America and Europe while simultaneously broadening the relationship with major economies such as Brazil, India, Russia and China.

President Ramotar, who has vowed to do all in his powers to restore the $31 billion cut from this year’s national budget, told stakeholders gathered at the launch of the “Invest Guyana” magazine about the approaches that have been made to Air China and two major U.S. airlines to fly the Guyana route. Surinam Airways, which re-entered the commercial skies in April last year after six years, was asked to consider flying additional routes when President Ramotar met the airline’s vice president Clyde Cairo during the 24th inter-sessional meeting of heads of government of Caricom in Port-auPrince, Haiti.

The airline resumed with twice weekly flights from Paramaribo to Georgetown and flights to Toronto, Canada. Cairo had noted that there are options which the airline will examine, but that such decisions hinges on discussions at the level of the board. Trinidad’s Caribbean Airlines was recently granted flag carrier status, allowing it to conduct direct flights between Georgetown and New York, Georgetown and Toronto.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Addressing suicide

Globally, one million people die as a result of committing suicide every year. According to official statistics, in the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased by 60 per cent worldwide. It is one of the three leading causes of death among those in the age group of 15-44 in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 1024 age group.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among elderly males, rates among young people have been increasing at such an alarming speed that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries in the world.

Guyana is no different. Almost weekly, we hear of someone committing suicide or witness some kind of incident, reminding us that there is need for more work to be done across the country to address the various ills affecting our citizens. Region Six, in particular, has experienced the highest number of suicide rates when compared to the rest of the country.

Just a few days ago, a murder/suicide of a young couple rocked the country, leaving many of us to ask the question: What is really going on in the minds of our young people? Last week, we reported that a 24-year-old man, Vijay Arjune, allegedly shot his pregnant teenage fiancée, Parbattie Raghoo, then took his own life in what was apparently a premeditated act. From all indications, the man’s mother was not in favour of the relationship he was involved in and may have put some pressure on him to end it.

Whatever the case was, it is indeed a sad story as both persons were very young and the way their lives ended calls for much introspection from all concerned, including state agencies, civil society actors, religious institutions, and more importantly, the family. Is there an explanation for this – like what could have caused the young man to shoot his pregnant girlfriend and then turn the weapon on himself? Could there have been any intervention at the level of the religious community or the ministry that could have avoided such a tragedy? What were the warning signs? These are all questions which must be answered and it would be helpful for an analysis or investigation to be done, with the aim of providing the kind of data that stakeholders can use as a future guide in their work on suicide prevention and treatment.

Surely, the incident brings into question the role of the religious community and the family as important institutions in the society when we consider the kind of future that we hope to create for young people. Weighing in on the issue recently, Reverend Kwame Gilbert made some interesting comments in relation to our local context. He noted that the family unit is most important in fostering a safe and well rounded society. We certainly agree that the family is critical, because that is where every individual receives their first level of socialisation. In essence that is where the value systems are first of all established.

Dr Gilbert’s view is that, not that the family has failed society, but there are a number of conspiring factors that have contributed to what is being played out in the local context. For example, while the role of the male as a father figure in the family is critical, in the absence of such, the second most important institution – the religious organisations – must step in. If the family becomes dysfunctional for some reason, the religious institutions should provide a safety net that will seek to ensure that the value systems and the socialisation that are required for the development of boys into men and girls into women are present.

That being said, the government and a few nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) have undertaken some useful initiatives in the past to address the issue of suicide. For example, a local NGO, St Francis Community Developers, has started its own programme to tackle suicide in the Black Bush Polder community. The organisation has since developed a comprehensive programme called “Reforming Education, Skills, and Capacity for Ultimate Empowerment (RESCUE).”

It is evident that these interventions, even though limited, have produced some positive results and perhaps they should be replicated in other parts of the country. There is certainly need for action on all fronts to drastically reduce the suicide rate in Guyana, we cannot afford to lose our best resource in this manner.

That’s

one big 'lizard'...

Private versus public schools

Dear Editor,

In Barbados, the principal and founder of the Metropolitan School, Olivier Cox stated that it is easier for a parent now to go into a government school, than to go into a private school. “The private secondary schools are on their way out,” he said, pointing to several such schools that have closed their doors.

In Guyana, the preponderance of private schools, particularly high schools, is something that must bother us deeply. Maybe we do have an insufficient number of schools in terms of actual facilities, and so private ones must spring up. It could be that there is a population explosion

that went unnoticed and I am not being facetious.

We have never done the field work. We need to ask ourselves why there are so many private high schools. Well, this is what I tend to see many times, and I think it is worth checking out:

The private schools are inundated with students who, because of bad performances, left the government ones. Please note that I will not equate bad performances with any kind of lack in mental acumen. A lot of these students end up turning things around. They come off with a significant number of passes at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate

(CSEC) exams.

Most of these private institutions offer the bread and butter of mathematics and English Language, with a core area (business, accounts or science). I doubt very much, if many of them would even allow for students to take 13 or 15 subjects.

The lesson here for me is to investigate the practicability of the number of subjects and areas of relevance. If indeed the government schools are creating a bad situation, then something must be done.

If government, via the Education Ministry, can do some work here, it would be great. Not tapping into our free education means that we are

wasting our resources. It also results in added burden on families. Imagine how much more a family would have at their disposal, if they did not have to pay for private high school education.

The private school system (for me) is a bad statement on our education system. It also robs people of much needed money, as education is free. Private schools probably mean that we are doing something wrong – bad teaching strategy or poor salary of staff. So I call for some serious investigation. Guyana cannot allow for anything subversive.

Yours truly, Yolanda

Wilkins

Another case of loose law enforcement

Dear Editor, A prisoner was charged with possession of cannabis and had to appear before the magistrate to answer the charge. The accused first pleaded not guilty, but after being apprised of what may obtain, he switched his position and admitted to the offence.

Mercy prevailed for him too as he was fined just $3000 and given six months of community service that will be performed right at the pris -

on. This matter should not end there. There has to be more to it, even if it is a case of just poor enforcement and scrutiny at the prison house. Guyana has had too many cases of colluding officers.

We just cannot gloss over ‘prisoners with drugs’. It means a kind of looseness is prevailing among our prison keepers.

Yours faithfully, Justin Marcelle

This May 7 photo provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shows a Texas state record 800-pound alligator caught during a public hunt on the James E Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area. Wildlife officials say the 14-foot-3-inch gator could be 30 to 50 years old (Yahoo News)

Much more needs to be done in fighting crime Stop feeding street dwellers

Dear Editor,

We have some problems that we are perpetuating in a never-ending cycle. One of them is vagrants (of all sorts) being encouraged to roam the streets, particularly in Georgetown. I will get back to this, as it forms the gist of my complaint. Last week, I went to the University of Guyana, Turkeyen campus, and what did I see? Dogs and dogs and dogs. They were warring among themselves, and then they were literally pulling down the barrels and leaving garbage strewn all over the campus. It was humorous – they stand on their hind legs and stretch and then tilt the barrels forward. When the barrels are about to come down, they slip out of harm’s way. Now some of the barrels are way too heavy for them, so they climb into them and ‘do their ting’.

My suggestion is that these stray dogs, whether or not they have owners, be put down most humanely. Many of the dogs were pregnant females. So the cycle is set to stay with us.

In San Fernando, the mayor, Navi Muradali has urged good Samaritans not to feed the homeless and instead donate food to

the Court Shamrock shelter. This is wise thinking. Some people feel that they are doing a good by attending to vagrants, even in the heart of traffic, at stop lights, too. I can see why this mayor is saying that his city’s attempt to deal with its homeless problem was being disrupted by people, who were encouraging the destitute to remain on the streets. The food and ‘small change’ do that all the time.

This week – a little story for you here – my neighbour dumped a pot of rice and curry right at the top of the street. He was decent to make sure that no one would walk or drive over the food. I queried his reason, and he promptly told me that Mr Vagrant Jon Doe always comes in the morning to eat it up. Now do not ‘yuk’ on me. Vagrants are human beings and when they are hungry, they will eat. Also, if they are accustomed to finding food in a said place, they will go there. After all, human beings, at one level, are animals too, okay?

Shame on me if I say ‘euthanasia’ for them, unless they are terribly sick and beyond recovery. But I can suggest that people stop feeding them and giv-

ing them money. Our resources must be pooled and we can work with various homes and shelters, encourage government input, and then tackle the problem effectively.

Mr Editor, we have had problems with vagrants already (beatings, killings, fatal accidents, etc) and if we do not act now, we will regret it later. For now, even a basic enclosure will be better than what vagrants are up against –they sleep anywhere and are exposed to all the ravages of nature. In many countries, they are sedated and their organs are taken out. In Moscow, one winter a crazy man killed a pack of them. Guyana can nip this vagrant thing in the bud. May we do so, acting maturely?

Regards, Tandhie Cummings

Dear Editor, I care not for statistics when fear is stalking me. Guyana has shown positive returns when it comes to the battle against criminals. However, people are still very much ill-at-ease when in certain places and at certain hours. In fact, the architecture in Guyana is a poignant admission that we have a problem with crime – houses have to be built with extra-safety measures.

In Trinidad and Tobago, there is also a serious crime problem. A few days ago, three murders took place within a 24-hour timeframe. In fact, one victim was a police officer. Now, a mere few weeks after a 45-year-old Chaguanas man was cleared of murder charges, he was shot dead while robbing a KFC outlet.

The interception was by an off-duty police officer, who opened fire on this robber as he was trying to commit his dirty act, and was not too happy about being confronted.

We have so many incidents of robbery under arms. What is most irksome is that they are being carried out with utter impunity. This must stop. Maybe it is time to go to the undercover route and

employ decoys. The minute fear can grip criminals, there will be a turnaround here.

Trinidad and Tobago’s situation is so bad, that no one will seek to reprimand this off-duty police officer. The country is over 70 per cent for keeping capital punishment.

I call strongly for the equipping and use of offduty police officers. I also ask that there be some consideration for the recruitment of part-time police officers. They must be fully trained and empowered but they work right from home and around their precincts.

Army reserves and retired soldiers double up many times as part-time police in many countries. Do we need an army standing idly by? Our soldiers can be bi-vocational.

That is what Venezuela is now doing. The Venezuelan government in fact announced that it is implementing a shortterm plan, called ‘Safe Homeland’, to fight crime. Members of the Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) will patrol areas of Venezuela with the highest crime rates. Revolutionary thinking is needed in this day and age.

Yours sincerely, Xavier Randolph

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

Rice official warns against smuggling of chemicals

Rice Producers Association President Leekha Rambrich is calling on rice farmers to desist from purchasing dangerous chemicals whose origins cannot be traced.

He lashed out at farmers who continue to smuggle dangerous chemicals into Guyana. Acknowledging that Guyana’s border with neighbouring Suriname is porous, Rambrich said that many of these farmers are putting the lives of fellow farmers at risk.

In an exclusive with Guyana Times, Rambrich noted that most of the chemicals that are used in the rice industry and are imported from Suriname enter this country illegally.

“We have a pesticide board which monitors all chemicals coming into this country for the rice sector. The board tries to monitor all chemicals coming into this country to ensure they are safe and they are environmentally-friendly and it would not affect birds and fishes. We have seen that when farmers use the chemicals coming for Suriname and apply it to their fields, it destroys the fish in the canals, even the birds that eat the grains from the fields, they all die,” Rambrich disclosed.

He said persons who make a living out of fishing are severely affected. “It is not a good practice to bring illegal drugs into the coun-

try which are not tested and proven that they are safe to use in our country.”

Untraceable chemicals

Rambrich also addressed the issue of traceability, saying that it is important, since untraceable chemicals could have a negative impact on both the industry and the country. “If, for instance, a drug is imported illegally and it is not registered and it is used in the rice sector and remains in the rice and causes harm, when we trace it, we cannot know where it came from...”

Rambrich said through the pesticide board, all chemicals legally entering Guyana are registered. “So those drugs registered can be traced back to where they came from. But drugs coming from Suriname cannot be traced. Who would take the responsibility for those drugs that are just

selling in the market?”

However when this publication raised the issue with some farmers who asked not to be named, they said the pesticides and other chemicals smuggled from Suriname are cheaper than those imported legally.

The RPA president, however, said that these farmers need to take into consideration several factors, including safety and the environment. “If we are saying that Suriname drugs are cheaper, look at the longterm effects. As a farmer when you are going into the Backdam, you usually take along equipment to do some fishing. What is happening now is that you walk the whole day, and you hardly see fishes in the backdam because of the chemical that are being used.”

Rambrich argues that despite these farmers’ claims, Caribbean Chemicals, as well as AINLIM, sell the same chemicals at the same price. “It is not that the Suriname drugs are selling cheaper, it is that some farmers have a habit of using illegal and deadly drugs. I am asking farmers to use drugs that are safe and those that enter the country through the correct channel if we are to protect our environment, including our fishes and our birds. In so doing, we will eventually be safeguarding our lives.”

Princess Hotel employee dies after East Bank accident

One day after a housekeeping manager at the Princess Hotel and Casino lost control of his car and slammed into a traffic median at Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown, he succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Sunday morning.

The accident occurred about 01:30h on Saturday. Twenty-seven year-old O’Neil King, of Lot 74 Lamaha Springs, Georgetown took his last breath around 11:00h on Sunday. According to information, King left his workplace at approximately 01:15h and was under the influence of alcohol. While driving in the vicinity of the Two Brothers Gas Station, he was reportedly forced off the road by another car.

King, who was alone in the car, was pinned in his vehicle, and sustained injuries about his body, including a partially severed leg. He was assisted out of the car by a friend who was passing at the time and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Doctors worked hard to save his life, but he had lost a lot of blood and suffered internal injuries.

He reportedly underwent two surgeries: one on the left leg and the other to repair the damage to his intestines. King’s family

received a phone call from a hospital official about 11:00h on Sunday requesting their presence at the medical facility where they were told that he had succumbed despite desperate attempts to save his life.

His grandmother, Cleopatra Wharton told Guyana Times that they had received a call from a friend informing them of the accident about 1:45h on Saturday. She said when she and King’s mother made their way to the accident scene, they saw the wrecked car and were told that he had been taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, doctors were preparing

King for surgery.

The grieving Wharton said hospital officials handed over his personal belongings to the family, but they did not get to see him until late Saturday night. “He was conscious and when I asked him if he remembered anything, he told me Granny, another car forced me off the road,” she added.

She explained that King sustained a puncture to his lower right abdomen. He was removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and placed in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

King, a father of one, worked at the Qualfon Call Centre before taking a job with the Carnival Cruise Line, Trinidad and Tobago. He returned home and was immediately employed by the Princess Hotel and Casino and was eventually promoted to housekeeping manager. King was one of the survivors of the Yohance Douglas shooting 10 years ago at Sheriff and Bonasika streets, Campbellville. He leaves to mourn his fouryear-old son, parents, one sibling, and his grandmother.

RPA President Leekha Rambrich

O’Neil King

New North West ferry under consideration – Minister Benn

In the near future, residents of North West, Region One will benefit from a new ferry which will accommodate both passengers and cargo.

It is expected that the new vessel will be more comfortable and faster, thereby reducing the hours of travelling and will accommodate more passengers. This announcement was made by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn during community meetings in Region One over the weekend, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

The minister told residents of this development at White Water where concerns about river transport

were raised. Residents said that they are challenged by the travel schedule which is restricted due to the dry-docking of the vessel Kimbia, which is undergoing repairs to the hull and machinery.

The boat is expected to be back in service in a few weeks. Before the Kimbia started to service the North West, the Lady Northcote and the Barima traversed the route. Minister Benn indicated that active discussions are ongoing with regards to obtaining the new boat, and it is anticipated that it will be acquired within 12 to 18 months.

It was observed that much of the produce in

the region originates from Georgetown, and Minister Benn is optimistic that this trend would be reversed when the new boat is secured, since in the past a lot of produce originated from the North West. The decision to procure a new boat for the region follows similar actions for the Essequibo Coast and surrounding islands which are being serviced by two roll-on/roll-off ferries. These interventions are part of the government’s thrust towards ensuring that Guyanese have access to reliable and safe water transportation, and that they are also able to access critical products and services.

FITUG hails implementation of new minimum wage

Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) General Secretary Kenneth Joseph has applauded the government for its recent decision to implement a minimum wage from July 1.

Speaking with the press recently, Joseph said he was grateful to be a part of the process, noting that the $35, 000 a month benchmark set is reasonable.

“I was a part of the discussions at the National Tripartite Committee; we spent months discussing it and find it’s a reasonable position.”

While most of the workers that will benefit from this move are not unionised, the FITUG general secretary opined that the other trade unions in Guyana are pleased with the minimum

wage standard.

Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul said for too long thousands of workers in Guyana have been working for less than $35, 000. He said this move by government is a step in the right direction for Guyana, taking into consideration the current industrial relations climate. This, he added, will also aid in nation building.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon made the announcement during a recent media briefing. According to Dr Luncheon, the minimum wage will not only cover monthly workers, but weekly and hourly paid workers as well. The minimum wage for weekly workers has been set at $8000 while $200 has been set for hourly workers.

“The new national minimum wage does indeed take

Blind students preparing for CSEC exams

For many students preparing to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, the challenge of studying, completing school-based assessments (SBAs) and extra lessons can be a daunting task.

However, for a few students who were unable to write the CSEC examinations due to visual impairment, it is the opportunity of a lifetime. Among them are 17-year-old Rosemarie Ramitt and 22-year-old Anthony Robinson, whom have not been in a classroom for four and 11 years respectively and are now being able to sit the exams through the efforts of the Guyana Society for the Blind.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times, Ramitt said that catching up has been a breeze since she has always been sharp. “I was a normal person and when I got blind it was like there was a pause in my life,” the CSEC student disclosed.

She noted that her focus now is to pass the five subjects and then attend the

the opportunity provided to him.

“I just hope I will be successful so that I can be able to secure employment when I’m finished and be independent.”

Robinson also offered some advice to persons like himself, stating, “… they should never say this is the end of the world. They can reach out to organisations and make full use of the advantages.” To those without a disability, Robinson remarked “… refrain from discouraging others who want to move forward”.

The Guyana Society for the Blind is offering online classes to CSEC students living in rural and outlying areas across the country. Public Relations Officer Ganesh Singh revealed that there are currently 17 students preparing for the 2014 May/June CSEC examinations.

He disclosed that four of the students accessing online classroom sessions are from Berbice and Linden while there are 13 students in the classroom.

Singh explained that the society was forced to limit the intake by initially targeting

ing support for the online programme.

The telephone company responded by providing free DSL Internet bandwidth so that the CSEC students can conduct research and online students can have access to classroom sessions. According to Singh, the Internet access is available at the organisation, located at St Phillips Green, Werk-en-Rust, and is valid for one year.

The programme could go a long way in empowering persons living with disabilities by increasing their earning capacity, making them more marketable and qualified to enter the world of work. Singh, who is famous for his role in blind cricket, is qualified to tutor visually impaired students using Job Access with Speech (JAWS) computer software that utilises audible letters.

into consideration other provisions. Some statutory, some close to statutory that have been in existence and so hallowed for so long they almost become statutory. I specifically refer to the public service minimum wage and of course, you know, the public service minimum wage today as of 2013, exceeds this new national minimum wage.”

This new national minimum wage will be implemented across the board for all business sectors in Guyana, replacing the existing one that covered specific sectors.

Dr Luncheon stressed that the new national wage will serve as an ultimate improvement that binds employers across the board to subscribe to a standard, stipulated amount to be earned by any employee.

University of Guyana. Ramitt has her sights set on three options: public management, social work and communications. These, she believes, would be manageable areas for someone with her impairment. “I’ll take it one at a time and see how things fall into place from there.” According to Ramitt, the family unit plays a crucial role in the life of a person with visual impairment.

“There are persons who you can turn to; those who can identify with you and know how you feel,” Ramitt advised. Robinson, who has been out of school since age 11, is preoccupied with making good on

15 students so as to ensure each student could be given individual attention. “We do not want to put too many students in one class because of the nature of their disability, they would require more oneon-one interaction with tutors,” Singh said.

Electronic material

He stated that the notes, handouts and all other work material are computerised. The syllabus is also being taught electronically and with the use of Braille. The organisation had written to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Inc (GT&T) seek-

JAWS is a computer screen-reader programme from Microsoft Windows that allows visually impaired users to read the screen either with a text-to-speech output or by a refreshable Braille display. JAWS was originally created for the MS-DOS operating system. It was one of several screen readers giving blind users access to textmode MS-DOS applications. One of the unique features of JAWS is the use of cascading menus, in the style of the popular Lotus 1-2-3 application. What sets JAWS apart from other screen readers of the era is its use of macros that allowed users to customise the user interface and work better with various applications.

The organisation had also been providing computer training to students pending the distribution of computers under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project.

Singh explained that the programme was being taught to students who were recipients of the government’s laptop project, but had been stymied by the halt in the distribution process. He noted that the last session of the training course was completed in March 2012, with a batch of 29 students.

According to Singh, he is required to provide 30 hours of basic computer training under the OLPF Project.

The tutor said visually impaired persons in outlying areas have not yet been able to access the training. However, Singh expressed hope that during the next round of distribution, he would be able to travel to the hinterland regions to conduct the training.

Anthony Robinson preparing for the 2014 CSEC exams

A rally involving persons with disabilities

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn addressing residents of White Water, Region One during which he announced that a new ferry is under consideration for the North West

Minister Benn inspects roads, addresses concerns in Region One

Residents of Wauna, Region One on Saturday related to the Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, during a community meeting, that the contractor is not using the right material for the road since it is washed away when there is heavy rainfall.

Having had this information prior to arriving at the community, Minister Benn and his team comprising regional officials and engineers, assessed the progress of the work done, and the material being used.

The minister posited that the material used contained a high clay content at the time that it was being laid on the road.

Approximately $15 million is being spent to fix portions of the stretch of road that have deteriorated, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Several weeks ago, the road work was interrupted when residents staged a protest and blocked the road. The minister told the residents that it was unlawful to do so, and that they should report their concerns to the ministry.

“You have a legal right to protest…but do not prevent the work that is on-going, do not avoid a rational and reasonable discussion about whatever problem is there… contact the permanent secretary in the ministry or the chief works officer,” the minister told the residents.

Despite the interruptions in the work, and the inclement weather, the project is expected to be completed shortly.

With respect to the quality of the work, Minister Benn informed the residents that the contract has set interventions that are applied to poor work, and these include the contractor effecting remedial work during the liability period, or the contract being taken away if the work is not corrected.

While interacting with the residents, Minister Benn explained that the Wanaina/ Wauna road project is being done through the ministry’s Hinterland Road Project which would not normally focus on these types of community roads, but would conduct work on the Linden/ Lethem, Amaila Falls access, and Mahdia roads.

However, the Ministry in 2012 expanded its reach to include these roads.

The minister said that he was aware of the issues with the road when the work was

started, and this was due to there being a limited number of contractors in Region One. There are only two in the region.

Meanwhile in Barabina, residents had rejected the material (wood) that was being used by the contractor for the revetment and palloff. The incomplete work impacts the residents in that they have to pay increased transportation costs.

Hinterland Road Engineer Naeem Mohamed explained that because there are not many contractors doing work in the region, the usual two weeks of advertising for the project was extended, however, only one person submitted a bid.

Additionally, the wood initially procured by the contractor was also rejected by the ministry, and a list of appropriate woods was

sourced from the regional administration and passed on to the contractor.

Currently, the contractor is in the process of procuring the wood for the revetment and he has also requested a two-month extension which was granted.

In this regard, work on a section of the road will be completed by the end of July; if not liquidity damages will be applied.

Minister Benn in noting his concern about the situation, stressed that the project will be closely monitored to ensure the community gets relief. He also commended the resident who created a by-pass (walkway) along the segment of the road that is covered with water.

He also recognised that the height of the high tides is affecting the traditional drainage system along the road side.

Police seek Sophia home invaders

– shot man’s condition remains serious

Aminibus driver is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing a gunshot wound to his right side stomach which he sustained during a robbery at his home in the wee hours of Saturday.

The condition of Patrick Nurse also called “Mickie”, 55, of Sophia, Greater Georgetown is being monitored. Hospital officials confirmed that a bullet is lodged in his rib cage.

According to information, Nurse was roused by a noise in his bedroom and upon checking, he was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. Nurse raised an alarm, and in retaliation, the gunman discharged a round hitting him to his chest.

The men then made good their escape with three laptops and $50,000 in cash.

The house at the time was occupied by the injured man and his wife. Their daughter was at the hospital seeking medical attention.

Suzette Nurse, a sister of the injured man, explained that she lives two houses away from her brother and that she normally gets up around 2:00h to pray. While worshipping, she heard dogs barking which prompted her to look through her bedroom window, but she did not see any unusual movements not sounds.

As she went ahead with her prayers, she disclosed that the dogs continued to bark and suddenly she heard a commotion in her brother’s house, but she thought that he and his wife were having a misunderstanding.

A few minutes later, she heard what appeared to be the sound of a gunshot

and soon after screams.

“They shoot me! They shoot me! Y’all come! They shoot me!!!” she added were the shouts coming from her brother’s home. The woman further stated that soon after she saw two men running out of her brother s yard, and without fear, she ran to her brother’s home where she saw blood oozing from his chest.

In immense pain, the injured man drove to the hospital with some encouragement from his sister who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Upon reaching the medical facility, Nurse was admitted. The still shaky woman went on to say that from all indications, the two men gained access into the house from a window located over the front step. She said her brother fell asleep working on his laptop and was fast asleep when the men made

their way into the house.

The bandits detached a flat screen television which they intended to take away, but after the gun went off, they left it behind along with a bag belonging to the man’s wife. The injured man is convinced that the robbers are from the village. The police are continuing their investigations.

Recently, Nigel Lowe, 43, of B Field Sophia, Georgetown was beaten to death after he was accused of theft. Lowe was found dead after being beaten by residents of Sophia, who claimed that he had broken into a house in the community. The 43-year-old man of Block E, Sophia, was discovered tied to a utility pole in B Field, Sophia with several chop wounds. He was also stripped of his clothing. No one was charged for the murder although a number of persons were arrested.

De hypocrites in town

Long ago, in primary school, de boys and girls does play a nice lil game called ‘my riddle, my riddle, my riddle’ – one person would seh sum ting and de others would have to guess who or what de person talkin bout.

If de boys and girls still playin that game, wid all that happen over de weekend and de past few days, dem gon have a lotta riddles to test one another wid. Most of dem bound to be bout who is a hypocrite and who is not.

De first one would go like this: my riddle, my riddle, my riddle – a man don’t want to support de Specialty Hospital because he client didn’t get de construction contract, even though de project gon be good fuh plenty poor people. Who is he? Answer: a hypocrite.

De second one would go like this: my riddle, my riddle, my riddle – a man don’t want to vote fuh de Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill because he got connection wid, and does represent, drug lords and other questionable characters. Who is he? Answer: a hypocrite.

De third one would go like this: my riddle, my riddle, my riddle – a man wanted to be president real bad. He wanted to be president so bad that he run to de U.S. embassy to tell lies pun he colleagues dem in de party so that he could be nominated. Then de colleagues dem put he out de party. Who is he? Answer: a hypocrite.

De fourth one would go like this: my-riddle my-riddle my-riddle – a man don’t want de Marriott Hotel to go up and he vote against it because he friend and party financial supporter own another run-down hotel nearby. Who is he? Answer: a hypocrite.

Well, de other riddle would be bout a man who tryin to fire a woman because de woman expose how he wife don’t want to pay taxes and then he turn round and thief de Japanese money.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And de final riddle gone go like this –who are de biggest hypocrites in town? Answer: Rum Jhaat and Green Ham.

Granger seeks inquiry into deaths, illnesses in Region One

Amotion to appoint a commission of inquiry (CoI) to investigate the incidence of illness and deaths in Region One will be placed before the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The motion will be tabled by Opposition Leader David Granger in accordance with Articles 24 and 36 of the Constitution of Guyana, which states that “every citizen has the right to free medical attention” and that “the well-being for the nation depends upon preserving clean air, fertile soils,

pure water, etc”.

Granger’s basis for such a motion comes in light of reports that several persons, including two babies, a oneyear-old child, and several others have died and over 500 persons have become ill since February 2013.

They are said to have died and become ill due to similar causes said to be associated with the supply of water in the region.

Additionally, in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03, it is outlined that “The president may issue a commission appointing one or more commissioners and authorising such commissioner or commissioners to inquire into any matter in which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the president, be for public welfare.”

The CoI would be tasked with the responsibility of analysing the illnesses and deaths of persons in BarimaWaini and of making recommendations to prevent a recurrence of such outbreaks, thus preserving the well-being of residents in that region.

Opposition Leader David Granger

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn inspecting work being done on the shoulder of the Wanaina/ Wauna road

Global lunacy: Why do we keep excluding mental health from the development agenda?

Times Notebook recently reread a speech made by the former health minister of Guyana, Dr Leslie Ramsammy at the World Health Assembly in Geneva in 2008. In that speech, Dr Ramsammy railed against public health experts and development specialists who collectively keep on ignoring the disabling effect of adverse mental health on the welfare of individuals and of the development of society as a whole.

In particular, he stated then that “people with mental health problems are excluded even from groupings referred to as vulnerable. These persons are not just like the rest of the poor; they are poorer. They are disadvantaged by who they are, because they cannot speak for themselves. People with mental disabilities are locked out of development, not by themselves, but by the very people who say they want to “end poverty”.

The government of Guyana has included vulnerable groups as part of its short-, medium and longterm development plans. Virtually every government in the world has included vulnerable groups as part of their development plans. All development agencies have pronounced on plans for vulnerable groups. The Department for International Development (DFID); World Bank; Inter-

American Development Bank (IDB); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); World Health Organisation (WHO); Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), and many others have been bold in embracing vulnerable groups as part of their development agenda.

Who are the vulnerable?

But who are the vulnerable? People living in poverty, persons living with HIV, refugees, ethnic minorities in certain countries, trafficked children and women, commercial sex workers, and people with disabilities have been identified. Times Notebook keeps checking, but rarely, if ever, sees persons with mental disabilities being explicitly recognised as “vulnerable”.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy was passionate and vehement in demanding that the world recognises the plight of people with mental health problems. Despite their obvious and punishing vulnerability, people with mental health conditions – including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, epilepsy, alcohol and drug-use disorders, child and adult mental health conditions, and intellectual impairments –have been mostly overlooked by development agendas around the world.

This exclusion from even being considered as vulnera-

ble is despite the high prevalence of mental health conditions, their economic impact, and the associated stigmatisation, discrimination, and exclusion. Dr Ramsammy had waged a war to have the chronic non-communicable diseases recognised as part of the millennium development goals (MDGs). He had coined a new initiative called the MDG+. When the United Nations finally recognised this call and had a summit in September 2011 to call for greater and more meaningful action against the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases and cancers, among others, it once again did not find a place for mental health.

The minister was very vocal against the exclusion of mental health from the discussion then.

Look at Guyana, suicide is among the top 10 causes of death. More than 150 deaths were caused by suicide last year, more than AIDS in Guyana. More than 900,000 people died last year around the world because of suicide. Globally, there are more than 160 million persons living with depression and the Health Ministry has estimated that about 20 per cent of the adult population in Guyana may be suffering from depression. While we are unaware of how many persons are living with schizophrenia in Guyana, WHO has estimated that

about 26 million persons are living with this condition globally. Around the world, it is estimated that more than 125 million persons suffer from alcohol-use disorders, more than 25 million from Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and more than 40 million from epilepsy.

Gigantic global challenge

Yet, no health budget or development strategies have allocated any meaningful budget to tackle this truly gigantic global challenge. Indeed, this challenge has become a raging global tsunami. Just consider this fact: mental health conditions almost equal malaria in terms of burden of disease in developing countries. Yet when we look at how much money is available globally to fight mental health conditions, it represents less than 10 per cent of what is available to fight malaria. Times Notebook must immediately caution that we believe the amount spent on malaria is still not enough. But this only underline the bizarre neglect of mental health in the development agendas around the world.

Times Notebook recalls the clarion call of Dr Ramsammy for many years and places it again on the table. Today, it is sheer global lunacy to continue to ignore mental health in national and global development agenda. In Guyana’s

case, we call on the Health Ministry to elevate the profile of the mental health programme. What has happened to the programmes to train psychiatric nurses and for post-graduate training of doctors to become psychiatrists? Why is it that the National Psychiatric Hospital is not being further developed? What happened to the package of mental health services to be established at all health centres, and district and regional hospitals that the Health Ministry had announced many years ago?

What happened to the mental health bill that the Health Ministry had drafted and had extensive consultation across the country? The then health minister had announced that many people think the draft bill was one of the most advanced ones in developing countries. Times Notebook wants to know, where did it fall off?

That bill and a programme to deal with the indigent and the people with obvious mental health conditions that roam our streets were promising programmes that seem to have fallen off the horizon. Times Notebook urges the national authorities and the relevant global institutions to stop the lunacy that pervades our collective failure and put mental health conditions high on the development priorities for 2020.

GRC, New Thriving host annual luncheon

The Guyana Relief Council, in collaboration with New Thriving Restaurant, hosted its annual Chinese Food Festival on Sunday raising funds to boost the council’s operations.

The luncheon was held at the New Thriving Restaurant on Main Street, Georgetown; approximately 200 persons attended the feast. This luncheon is the GRC’s biggest fundraising activity and was sponsored exclusively by New Thriving.

According to GRC’s Chairperson Yvonne Hinds, the agency has been hosting the event for more than 10 years, and over the past few years it has raised $1 million annually. “This event was no expense to the GRC, it was fully sponsored by New Thriving, every year the restaurant does this and we are grateful to them for this magnificent contribution,” Mrs Hinds said.

She disclosed that so far for the year, the GRC has helped 58 families, consisting of more than 225 persons, who were victims of various disasters. Hinds noted that the agency does not only bring relief to disaster victims, but also continuously assist families who face extreme difficulties in their life.

“We also have special

welfare cases that we support every month; for instance, there is an old woman who has six grandchildren to maintain, they are all orphans and she took them in, so we support her monthly; we also have a single-parent father whose house was demolished by a tree and neighbours are helping to rebuild it, but because he has to stay home

and take care of the children, we also help him out monthly, and then there is this policewoman who shot in her head during the prison break, every month we provide her with some assistance,” she stated.

Hinds said she is pleased with the turnout, noting that it is not surprising to have a full house since the 200-plus tickets were sold out two

weeks before the event. The tickets cost $5000 per person and allowed each holder access to a buffet of a variety of delicious foods and desserts.

In addition to the scrumptious meal, there were also two items sold during a "Dutch Auction” – a plaque, donated by the Chinese embassy, was sold for $61,000

while a bouquet was auctioned off for $38,000. The GRC is a non-profit organisation that extends relief to victims of natural disasters and persons who are in extreme hardship. The agency operates under the motto “Caring and Sharing” and also does welfare work for special cases.

Patrons enjoy a sumptuous meal at the GRC luncheon hosted by the New Thriving Restaurant

GRC Chairperson Mrs Yvonne Hinds with two of the guests at the luncheon

Kuru Kuru centre gets Japanese IT teacher

The Japan International Cooperation Association (JICA) on Friday last loaned the Kuru Kuru Training College (KKTC) a volunteer teacher of information technology and computer repairs, who will be at the SoesdykeLinden Highway centre for six months

According to JICA Coordinator Mutsuko Kinjo, the association in strengthening ties with Guyana has over six years been attaching volunteers to various institutions across Guyana, with the most recent being the KKTC. Thus far, the education, agriculture and health ministries and the Georgetown Public Hospital have received volunteers.

Volunteers

Kinjo noted that another volunteer will be attached to the Cyril Potter College (CPCE) by the end of June and to date, Guyana has benefited from at least 20 volunteers. JICA is advancing its activities around the pillars of a field-oriented approach, human security and enhanced effectiveness, efficiency and speed.

The new teacher, Susumu Suzuki noted that during his six months tenure with the KKTC, he will ensure that his expertise are utilised to the fullest capacity. Suzuki has previously served as volunteer in Thailand and Jordan. During a recent courtesy

call made to Culture, Youths and Sports Minister Frank Anthony, he noted that the KKTC will benefit tremendously from the expertise Suzuki will bring to the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the KKTC, Assistant Youth Director Devanand Ramdat said the centre is extremely grateful for the presence of Suzuki since it needs to stepup its game in information communication technology.

Intervention

“We are grateful for Suzuki presence, especially since it’s a new intervention for youths to benefit from,” said Ramdat. He continued, “despite the cultural differences, there would be immense effort on behalf of the KKTC to ensure that both the youths and volunteer have a pleasant stay and learning experience…”

The KKTC utilises available resources to combine skills training and entrepreneurship as one way of enhancing the employment potential of young people who have left the formal school system and need to be gainfully occupied.

The programme offered at the continuing educational institution is advancement to youths countrywide, who participated in technical vocational skills available, primarily at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and the Sophia Training

Centre in Georgetown.

“The young people are chosen from over 800 student applications from all across Guyana, to be trained in skill areas such as business studies, carpentry, electrical installation, joinery, masonry, motor mechanics, plumbing, welding and fabrication and garment construction,” said Ramdatt.

Training is fulltime from Monday to Friday, while during the 10-month period, students are trained in the skill of their choice and visits are made to places of interest related to the skill, and a six-week period of work attachment to agencies are arranged for students.

Broad curriculum

He continued, “Cultural activities, sports, hikes and confidence building are part of the curriculum. This is our premier centre because there is more intense work being done here, and currently we’re working on improving the accreditation of those who are completing the courses.” He noted that additionally the programme will somewhat help to build the confidence and self-esteem of the youths.

According to Senior Training Officer Dennis Gillis, training varies in that there are non-residential and residential courses, some of which are full- time and others part-time. Gillis stated that the centre on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway

offers one-year residential training and facilities for youths between the ages of 16 and 25. These persons must apply and complete an entry level test for admission to this programme, which runs from September to July. The KKTC has an annual capacity of 170 youths.

Second chance

While underprivileged youths are often viewed as a burden to society, these programmes aim to prove that everyone deserves a second chance.

The KKTC is a special place that affords young people the skills that they need in order to engage in positive activities for theirs’ and Guyana’s benefit.

The Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry has over the years worked steadfastly to improve the quality of life at the institution and to offer more courses, so that students entering the institution every year would experience different levels of improvement. The KKTC has formed working alliances with the University of Guyana, the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions (Guyana Chapter), the Association of Cooperative Educators, the Guyana Forum for Lifelong Learning, the University of Wisconsin, USA, the Guyana National Cooperative Union, the Department of Cooperatives and the JICA.

Natural Black releases new music video

Guyanese-born reggae artiste Natural Black brings his own heat for the summer with the exciting video for his hit single “Party Truck”, which made its worldwide debut last week. The highly anticipated video was shot on location in New York City (Manhattan and Brooklyn), during March and April, and was directed by Brian K Roberts for Honest Illusions Multimedia.

The video sees Natural Black spreading party vibes throughout New York City, and even taking a ride on a party truck, driving around and sending his infectious sounds throughout the streets of New York.

Dance crews also show off their skills in the video, including the Active Dancers (Lionel and Christopher Esty), and the Blak Starr Dancers (Navarroe “Bling Starr” Crossman, Anthonio “Dims Starr” Randall and Romeo “Kay Starr” Howard).

“I always try to keep my music fresh for the fans,” said Natural Black. “Everyone looks forward to summer time to enjoy the beach or the sunshine and I want to give everyone a feelgood fun track to add to their playlist with ‘Party Truck’. I’m all about conscious music, but I’m also conscious of life and want my fans to en-

joy it to the fullest,” the artiste added.

The video was produced by Ghetto Lynxx and Shaggillia Records, with his management and booking agency Triple T Production at the helm.

“We assembled a great team, from the director to the producers to the dancers, and really wanted to put together

MONday, May 20, 2013 |

National paralympics games on the cards

Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities Public Relations Officer Ganesh Singh said the local paralympics committee is preparing to pull off the 2013 national paralympics games.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Friday, Singh said the games will be staged while the committee continues to work to finalise its draft constitution which has been developed from consultations in all 10 regions.

“We are in the final stages of having the constitution finalised so we can have the body recognised locally,” he said.

Last year, the committee conducted consultations and the feedback was dispatched to the Labour Ministry’s Co-op Division for its recommendations.

Those recommendations have since been adopted and added to the draft constitution which is being

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony told this newspaper that the committee has been formed and work has begun.

He detailed that some measures had been put in place to have the local committee receive assistance from the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education.

A workshop was also conducted by the Trinidad Alliance and the proposed constitution was updated.

Dr Anthony confirmed that the committee’s agenda was mapped out for the year and a report was submitted.

Back in March, Minister Anthony pointed out that there was a great urgency for the establishment of a paralympics committee in Guyana.

a quality video that properly portrays Natural Black, and we look forward to a positive reception from the industry and fans alike,” Tripe T Prodcution, Chief Executive Officer Tasz Smith said.

Natural Black has been claiming 2013 as his year, with the release of five new singles, “I’m On My Way”, “Natural Chronix”, “Who Cares For Me”, “Don’t Play With My Heart” and “Party Truck”. In addition to the “Party Truck” video, he also recently shot the music video for “Don’t Play with My Heart” in New York City, and fans can stay tuned for that in the coming weeks.

The artist and his management extend a heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their support in the production and release of the “Party Truck” video, including all crewmembers on the production team, and all dancers and everyone who lent their talents to the storyline.

fine-tuned to allow the body to seek recognition from the International Paralympics Committee.

The feedback is now being analysed and will subsequently be fine-tuned to form a fully-developed constitution.

Singh hopes that once this process has been completed, the Guyana Paralympics Committee can hold elections and begin its work.

Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities President Cecil Morris as well as Singh are members of the Paralympics Committee.

The culture minister revealed that there have been several attempts to have the body constituted in recent years, but this had been compounded by a myriad of issues, chief among them is the failure to include persons living with disabilities on that committee.

Dr Anthony explained that Guyana had failed to meet all the necessary requirements to be recognised by the international paralympics body. He, however, expressed hope that the situation would be rectified by year-end.

“If we are to get it done by year-end, we can have many gold medals at the Olympics, but we have not been utilising these opportunities because the structures are not in place. If we work closely together, we can get it done by year-end,” the sport minister said.

Singh, who is famous for his role in blind cricket, has been a prominent advocate for the community of persons with disabilities.

Singh said Guyanese must refrain from treating differently-abled persons as objects of charity and display greater levels of sensitivity during interactions. He stated that persons living with disability are not asking for special rights, but at the very least to be treated as equal members of society with meaningful contributions.

Dr Frank Anthony Cecil Morris

Ganesh Singh

Natural Black

Jamaican government looking at violence insurance for teachers

The Education Ministry of Jamaica is consid-

ering implementing an insurance package to compensate teachers who are attacked and injured by

unruly students while on the job. The revelation was made by Education Minister Ronald Thwaites during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston.

“The teacher in that situation would have the normal recourse against his or her employer if there was any negligence or want of care. The question of having specific insurance coverage for teachers is worthy of consideration. There will be a cost connected with it, but in my view in the same way we provide some measure of insurance for our students, we should also

extend to the teachers,” Thwaites said.

Presently, teachers who get injured by violent students refer their grouses and seek compensation from the attorney general, who will rule whether or not the teacher should be compensated.

However a teacher who spoke to the Jamaica Observer said that such claims often takes years for a ruling to be handed down and the cumbersome nature of acquiring compensation from the government had turned off teachers from even claiming for compensation. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Murders stump police, TT police chief admits

Trinidad and Tobago’ s acting Police

Commissioner Stephen Williams has admitted that the police service is struggling to deal with rampant murders in TT. This, despite him being quoted in a Sunday Guardian interview that serious crimes had declined by

CDB meeting in St Lucia to explore Caribbean debt crisis

The Caribbean Develop-ment Bank’s annual meeting is to take place in St Lucia next week and is expected to be intense as members of the CDB plot a fiscal way forward for the upcoming term. Saint Lucia will be handing over its chairmanship of the CDB and already activities began

earlier this week and, from Sunday, delegates will be gearing up for what promises to be a productive meeting.

Vice president of corporate services and bank secretary of the CDB, Yvette Lemonias-Seal, explained that a critical component of next week’s activity is a session to explore the Caribbean debt crisis.

“One of the seminars we plan to host next week, it’s actually on debt and on debt sustainability, debt reduction. What can we as small developing countries do about this? What should we be asking of the multilateral development partners and other development partners and other commercial institutions? How did we get here? And

what can we do about it?” she said.

St Lucia has benefitted tremendously from CDB interventions. One of the latest projects from the CDB which, Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony announced during his budget address on Tuesday, is the feasibility study of the island’s new north/south link. (Excerpt

Judge to review death penalty cases in Antigua

Ahigh court judge is revisiting the death sentence handed down to seven men based on the landmark Privy Council ruling of more than nine years.

All of the men, Atley Alexander, Michael Mason, Fitzroy Jarvis, Michael Lorriston Cornwall, Mellanson Harris, Marvin Joseph and Steadroy “Brer Fox” McDougal have been

on death row for more than 12 years.

The Privy Council’s landmark decision in the case of Jamaicans Pratt and Morgan versus the attorney general of Jamaica, 1994, stated that the mandatory sentence of death following a murder conviction is unconstitutional.

The law lords also took the view that where persons have been on death row for

FARC rebels ask for “

more than five years, such circumstances could constitute inhumane or degrading punishment and as such are unconstitutional.

The Pratt and Morgan decision was followed by other cases from the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

The condemned men were informed of the state’s decision Friday when Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

Anthony Armstrong told the court that the state has now taken the necessary steps to have the men resentenced.

The condemned men will be taken before a High Court judge on June 21 for the court to determine their fate.

All the death row inmates were present in court to hear the DPP’s announcement. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

more time” for peace

Colombia’s left-wing FARC rebels have rejected criticism that efforts to end almost 50 years of conflict are moving too slowly.

FARC lead negotiator Ivan Marquez said achieving lasting peace in Colombia would take “more time”. He spoke as the rebels and the

Colombian government marked six months since peace talks began.

President Juan Manuel Santos has said he hopes a deal can be reached within months rather than years. Peace negotiations began in Cuba in November.

Marquez told reporters in the capital, Havana, on Sunday that he did not understand why the pace of talks was being described as slow.

“You have been watching the Giro d’Italia (cycle race). Some people want us to go at this pace, but if we go at this pace, we will fail.”

deal

“We have to approach these issues with serenity, with depth if we really want to form the solid basis to build a stable and long-lasting peace,” he said.

Talks remain stalled over the issue of land redistribution in Colombia, the first of a five-point agenda.

The Colombian government has promised to return millions of hectares of stolen land to displaced peasants, one of the rebels’ main demands.

But Bogota insists that the rebels must first put down their guns and cease hostilities. (Excerpt

25 per cent, as opposed to the same period last year.

Williams spoke to reporters following the funeral of slain Police Corporal Terrence Abraham at St Michael’s RC Church in Marabella. He said police had been making progress despite the country be-

ing challenged with violent crimes. According to the Police Service’s crime statistics database, there were 166 murders at the end of May 2012, in comparison to 143 murders up to Saturday. Williams said, “We are progressing and we have been receiving the support of law-abiding citizens as we tackle crime and criminality across this nation. That is the reason why there is a clear direction in the reduction of serious crimes in 2013, but we need to do something more. “We need even more support from the public as we are still struggling around violent crimes, especially shooting incidents where people are dying.” (Excerpt from

Trinidad and Tobago to collaborate with Canada to improve criminal justice system

The governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Canada have agreed to collaborate and share best practice and policies with respect to prison and forensic services.

Both Commonwealth nations have agreed to strengthen bilateral co-operation in criminal justice system reform as it relates to security and intelligence, prison facility planning, offender management, juvenile justice as well as correctional programmes and practices.

The Justice Minister, Senator Christlyn Moore, and a team of senior justice officials visited Canada during the period April 2228, 2013. Among the facilities that the justice team visited were the Division of Anatomical Pathology (Eastern Ontario Regional

Forensic Pathology Unit) of the Ottawa Hospital, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Correctional Service Canada (CSC).

At the Ottawa Hospital, the visiting delegation met with its senior officials to discuss the operations of the Forensic Pathology Unit, its work flows and quality assurance mechanisms. The team also received a tour of a modern post-mortem room.

Ottawa’s Forensic Pathology Unit extended an offer, which was accepted by the ministry of justice, to visit the pathology section at the Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre with a view to assisting in the upgrade of the quality assurance capacity of the local forensic facility in Trinidad and Tobago. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Humala’s approval rating in Peru slips to six-month low

President Ollanta Humala’s approval rating fell five points to a six-month low of 46 per cent, reflecting the unpopularity of his proposal to buy an oil refinery owned by Spain’s Repsol and his support for Venezuela’s new government, an Ipsos poll showed on Sunday. The nationwide poll was published by the newspaper El Comercio. Humala abandoned his idea of buying the Repsol oil refinery after business leaders complained it would hurt the private sector and put one of the country’s main refineries in the hands of an inefficient state-run firm.

Although Humala has drifted to the right since running for office in 2011 as a moderate leftist, his critics have hammered him over his friendship with late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Peru’s diplomatic support for his successor, Nicolas Maduro, who won a disputed election in April promising to push ahead with Chavez’s socialist drive. El Comercio reported that three-quarters of Peruvians polled said they did not approve of the way Maduro won. The poll of 1221 people was conducted May 15-17. It has a margin of error of 2.1 points. (Reuters)

Jamaica’s Education Minister Ronald Thwaites

Police officers honour their fallen comrade PC Terrance Abraham as his body is borne by colleagues following his funeral

FARC lead negotiator Ivan Marquez

North Korea fires short-range missiles for two days in a row

North Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast on Sunday, a day after launching three of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said, ignoring calls for restraint from Western powers.

Launches by the North of short-range missiles are not

uncommon but, after recent warnings from the communist state of impending nuclear war, such actions have raised concerns about the region’s security.

“North Korea fired a short-range missile as it did yesterday into its east sea in the afternoon, “ South Korea’s news agency

Yonhap reported, citing a military official.

A South Korean defence ministry official confirmed the Yonhap report, but did not provide any details.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was concerned about North Korea’s launch of shortrange missiles, urging Pyonyang to refrain from further launches and return to stalled nuclear talks with world powers.

Ban, who spoke to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti during a visit to Moscow, called Saturday’s launch a “provocative action”. Tension on the Korean peninsula has subsided in the past month, having run high for several weeks after the United Nations Security Council imposed tougher sanctions against Pyongyang following its third nuclear test in February. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Syrian army, Hezbollah attack rebels in border town

Syrian troops supported by Hezbollah militants launched an offensive to retake a major town near Lebanon from rebels on Sunday, the heaviest fighting yet involving Lebanese armed group, opposition activists said.

At least 32 people were killed when rebel fight -

Shooting of gay man in New York was a hate crime, police say

The fatal shooting of a gay man just blocks from New York’s historic Stonewall Inn was a hate crime and could be linked to a rash of recent homophobic attacks, police said.

Before opening fire early Saturday, the gunman confronted the victim and his companion in Greenwich Village, yelling: “What are

you, gay wrestlers?”. The suspect then asked if the pair “want to die here” before shooting victim Marc Carson in the face.

Carson, 32, was taken to hospital but died of his wounds. The gunman, identified as 33-year-old Elliot Morales, fled but was chased by officers and arrested. Morales appeared on Sunday in Manhattan

criminal court and was charged with murder as a hate crime and with criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.

The incident follows a series of recent hate attacks on gay men in New York, but this was the first deadly one. NYPD chief Ray Kelly said police were looking into possible links between Saturday morn -

ing’s killing and other incidents.

The shooting took place in Greenwich Village, a neighbourhoods long-associated with the gayrights movement. It took place just streets from the Stonewall Inn – the site of a celebrated 1969 riot by patrons being harassed by police due to their sexuality. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

At least four police officers killed in Iraq violence

Gunmen attacked a police station and an army position in the town of Rawa northwest of Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least four police officers and wounding three, a local official said.

Qais al-Rawi, the head of the local council for the area, said that gunmen killed and wounded the police in an

attack on their station in Rawa, while they also assaulted and then set fire to an army position. There were 15 soldiers and an officer at the position, Rawi said, and their fate is unknown. There have been a number of attacks in recent weeks on security forces in Anbar province, home to Ramadi and Fallujah, two

centres of Sunni protests that broke out almost five months ago.

Up to 10 people were kidnapped in Anbar on Saturday, according to security officials. Tensions are festering in Iraq between the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite, and Iraqi Sunnis who accuse authorities of

marginalising and targeting their community, including through wrongful detentions and accusations of involvement in terrorism.

The government has made some concessions, such as freeing prisoners and raising the salaries of Sunni anti-Al-Qaeda fighters, but underlying issues have not been addressed.

(Excerpt from France24)

EU says worried by Russia’s human rights record

The European Union criticised Russia’s human rights record on Sunday, saying it was increasingly concerned at a wave of restrictive legislation and prosecutions against activists.

The 27-nation bloc cited the cases of protesters arrested at a demonstration on the eve of President Vladimir Putin’s inaugu -

ration last year who are still awaiting trial, and a new law requiring charities with funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents”.

“Both sides discussed at length the worrying situation of civil society in the Russian Federation,” the EU said in a statement, which followed a meeting on human rights

with Russian officials in Brussels on Friday.

Human rights groups in Russia accuse Putin of a clampdown on dissent since he returned as president, which they say is designed to tighten his grip on power.

On a trip to Moscow this month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry avoided harsh criticism of Russia’s

record on civil liberties as he sought the Kremlin’s help in securing a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

The European Union said it would closely watch developments affecting nongovernmental organisations in Russia, and asked the government to ensure that defence lawyers were able to work freely. (Excerpt

ers clashed with mechanized Syrian army units and Hezbollah guerillas in nine points in and around the town of Qusair, 10 km (six miles) from the border with Lebanon’s Bekaa valley, they said.

Speaking from Qusair, activist Hadi Abdallah said Syrian warplanes bombed Qusair in the

morning and shells were hitting the town at a rate of up to 50 a minute.

“The army is hitting Qusair with tanks and artillery form the north and east while Hezbollah is firing mortar rounds and multiple rocket launchers from the south and west,” he said.

“Most of the dead are civilians killed by the shelling.” The region near the Orontos River has been segregated into Sunni and Shi’ite villages in the civil war that grew out of protests against Syrian President Bashar alAssad.

It is vital for Assad, who belongs to the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam, to keep open a route from Shi’ite Hezbollah’s strongholds in the Bekaa to areas near Syria’s Mediterranean coast inhabited by co-religionist Alawites. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Guangdong hit as deadly floods sweep southern China

Flooding and landslides across nine southern Chinese provinces have killed more than 50 people and left 14 missing, officials say. Guangdong was hardest hit, reporting 36 deaths after days of heavy rain, said the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Six people had died in Jiangxi, added the ministry.

And further bad weather is forecast for Guangdong later on Saturday, with warnings of heavy wind and rain causing more flooding in the next few days.

Teams of relief workers have been sent to oversee the recovery efforts in the hardest hit areas, officials said.

Heavy rainstorms in Guangdong reportedly caused widespread flooding in the province’s mountainous areas and affected nine cities including the provincial capital, Guangzhou. Nearly 900,000 people had been affected across the state, with floods destroying 2675 houses, China’s Xinhua News Agency reported. (BBC News)

At least 10 terror suspects dead in Nigerian military offensive

Awalk on April 30 in

t least 10 suspected terrorists were killed and 65 others captured as Nigerian troops continued their “massive deployment” against insurgent groups, a defence ministry spokesman said Saturday.

Among the groups targeted by the military was Boko Haram, in the coun-

try’s northeast. Government forces stopped an attempt by insurgents to infiltrate Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, as they fled from various camps that are under attack, the military said. Troops also seized weapons, including rocket propelled grenade launchers, the ministry said. (CNN)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) visits the “February 20 factory of the Korean People’s Army” in this photo released by North Korea’s Central News Agency on May 17

A man is seen on a damaged staircase in Homs, May 19

Soldiers

the street in the remote northeast town of Baga, Borno State

Jamaica has imposed additional duties on lube oil product from Trinidad and Tobago, accusing the oil-rich twin island republic of engaging in a scheme to circumvent the rules of origin in the Treaty of Chaguaramas, governing the Caribbean Community (Caricom). Industry, Investment and Commerce

Minister Anthony Hylton told parliament the scheme was brought to the attention of the Portia Simpson Miller administration by the private sector.

“The alleged scheme in-

Yahoo’s board has approved a deal to buy New York-based blogging service Tumblr for US$1.1 billion (£725 million), U.S. media reports say. The acquisition is expected to be announced as early as Monday. The deal was a “foregone conclusion” and was a unanimous vote by the board, tech blog AllThingsD reported, citing sources close to the matter.

If confirmed, it will be

Europe

volved the exportation of lubrication oil by the stateowned oil company Petrotrin (Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago) which holds the dominant share of the Jamaican market for this product.

“The product has been claiming Caricom origin status for years without attracting the applicable duties under the Customs Act. The submission by the Jamaican private sector firm alleged that there was misrepresentation in regards to origin in that the product was being represented to be a product of

Trinidad and Tobago when it was not.”

Hylton said after discussions with an inter-ministerial trade enforcement team, Jamaica Customs issued a verification query on the product to the Trinidad and Tobago Customs and Excise Division. “The applicable rules require the Trinidad and Tobago government to respond to a verification request within six weeks, it is now over six months and there has been no verification response by the government of Trinidad and Tobago…”, he added. (Trinidad Guardian)

South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers said it would seek pay rises of up to 60 per cent from gold and coal producers, raising the prospect of fresh strikes as firms battle higher costs and falling prices in an already heated labour climate. Africa’s biggest economy is hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2012 wildcat strike action at platinum and gold mines that cost billions in lost revenue and

Asia

CEO Marissa Mayer’s largest deal since taking the helm of Yahoo in July 2012. Analysts say that by acquiring Tumblr, Yahoo would gain a larger social media presence and enhance its ability to attract younger audiences. It will also help Tumblr generate more revenue from advertisements.

On its home page, Tumblr says it hosts 108 million blogs, with 50.7 billion posts between them. Under the terms of the acquisition, Tumblr

would continue to operate as an independent business, the Wall Street Journal said, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation. About 700 million web surfers visit Yahoo’s website every month, ranking it among the top in the global industry.

However, it shed more than 1000 jobs during 2012 and has long been divided over whether it should focus on media content or on tools and technologies. (BBC News)

Marks & Spencer under fire over online tax arrangements

Marks & Spencer has become the latest in a string of UK companies to face criticism from tax campaigners over the way it structures its online sales to Europe – with one describing its sales operation as similar to that of the internet retail giant Amazon.

The British retailer has been expanding its online operations to several countries across Europe with a new marksandspencer.eu site,

hoping to grow its business in a difficult economic climate.

But internal M&S documents seen by the Guardian show the firm’s structure involves shipping goods from one country – the UK – while invoicing the transaction to another – Ireland.

Orders made through the site by customers from France, Germany, Ireland or other countries are shipped from M&S’s UK warehouses – but the transactions are

all made with, and charged to, Marks & Spencer (Ireland) Limited, a subsidiary located in the Republic of Ireland, which has the lowest corporation tax rates in Europe.

M&S’ UK branch is paid a wholesale price for the goods it ships by M&S Ireland, and this is subject to UK corporation tax, but the rest of the retail markup is subject to Ireland’s much lower corporation tax rate of 12.5 per cent.

(The Guardian)

production and caused the deaths of more than 50 people. Mineworkers are mobilising to assert themselves, with the NUM fighting a challenge to its once near monopoly in the shafts from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), which has poached tens of thousands of platinum miners from it in a violent struggle for members.

NUM said it was seeking an entry-level minimum

monthly wage of 7000 rand (US$750) for gold and coal surface workers and 8000 rand for those underground in a submission to the country’s Chamber of Mines, Elize Strydom, the industrial relations adviser at the Chamber of Mines, said the minimum wage for surface workers is currently 4700 rand and for underground miners it is 5000 rand, so the demands are a 60 per cent increase. (Reuters)

China’s Sina sees loss narrow as

revenues rise

Sina Corp, which runs China’s biggest microblogging service, saw losses narrow in the first three months of the year as revenues rose. The net loss was US$13.2 million (£8.7 million), compared with a loss of US$13.7 million a year earlier, the U.S.-listed company said.

Non-advertising revenue, from sources such as web games and membership fees, rose 17 per cent to US$27 million, beating expectations. Sina has amassed more than

Middle East

State-run Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) appointed a new chief executive and suspended other top officials after the country paid US$2.2 billion in damages to Dow Chemical Co over a scrapped plastics joint venture. Nizar Mohammad al-Asani replaced Farouk Zanki as CEO at the oil firm and the Cabinet approved the nomination of six board members, a statement

Today, most Internet users use eBay as a starting point for online shopping. The popular auction site, which went online in 1995, has become so well known that the phrase “found it on eBay” has entered the cultural lexicon as the definitive synonym to using online retail. How can everyday users use eBay’s massive website to start their own online business?

First and foremost, sign up for an account and browse the website. Make a few purchases, in order to get a feel for the website’s mechanics. When you’re ready, follow the site’s instructions to become a buyer. They are fairly straightforward and will

500 million users on its popular weibo micro-blogging site.

The company said it continued to see strong growth in user numbers even though the Chinese government has tightened restrictions on comments made on microblogs in recent months.

Sina and other Internet companies have struggled with rising costs and finding ways to generate money from their hugely popular products. As more users access the Internet on mobile devices, the companies

are spending more money on boosting their offerings on smartphones and tablets.

In April, Sina Weibo sold an 18 per cent stake to Alibaba Group, China’s ecommerce giant, for US$586 million, valuing Weibo at over US$3.2 billion. The deal was aimed at providing more advertising revenue as the company competes with other microblogging services and social messaging apps in China, including one by Tencent Holdings. (BBC News)

on state news agency KUNA said. Newspaper al-Rai said that two of the board members were new.

The government also suspended officials at KPC unit Petrochemical Industries Company which pulled out of the US$17.4 billion K-Dow petrochemical venture in December 2008, citing the deteriorating global economy. It did not give details. The chief executive of KPC holds

a seat on Kuwait’s Supreme Petroleum Council, which sets oil policy. Kuwaiti newspapers reported on Sunday that other KPC members of the council had been replaced, without giving details. K-Dow was a politically sensitive deal in major oil exporter Kuwait and came under scrutiny in parliament, where lawmakers often clash with the government, especially over large state investments. (Reuters)

hold your hand through the registration process.

From the start, you should be aware of eBay’s “triple fee.” eBay’s main site will first charge you an insertion (ad placement) fee, based on the value of your product, ranging from 10 cents to two dollars. If your product is sold, then the site will take nine per cent of your profits – with a maximum charge of US$100. Finally, its subsidiary PayPal – the primary way to pay on eBay – will then take another 2.9 per cent as a transaction fee when you receive the payment. Make sure you set a reserve price, which dictates the minimum amount that you’d be willing to sell the

item for. Without a reserve price set, your item could end up being sold to the highest bidder at a price far below what had been intended. Make sure you set your reserve price approximately 10 per cent higher than your intended profits in order to cover the aforementioned triple charge. eBay now offers tools to estimate your product’s marketplace worth and reasonable prices. You can also do a quick search of the site to see what other sellers are charging. If you don’t wish to sell your product via an online auction, you can sell via the fixed price “Buy it Now” option, or use a combination of both. (Business Dictionary)

Robbing Peter to pay Paul is never a good way to manage your money, so don’t start now. You’d only make your situation much worse.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Your and your mate’s intentions might end up conflicting. Unless you both agree to a plan, your actions could prove counterproductive.

When it comes to business matters, don’t waste a lot of time hammering out what you think will be a good deal. Chances are, it won’t be.

Be careful, because a strong-willed associate might try to impose his or her decision on you in a situation that requires cool heads. Don’t cave in.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)

Through the auspices of another, a situation you need to correct and/or resolve should go smoothly. It might turn out differently if you have to handle things unaided.

(March 21-April 19)

If you have to deal with someone who is quite unreasonable, don’t give up easily. A steady supply of tolerance and patience will gradually defang this person.

(April 20-May 20)

Even though your victory might not be totally complete, it looks like you’ll still be able to achieve an important objective. Do the best you can.

(May 21June 20)

You’ll have to work in close proximity with someone whose views differ considerably from yours, but you can still get things by being as diplomatic as possible.

Certain duties and responsibilities that require immediate attention should not be put off. Don’t be oblivious to the need for immediate action.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

There are indications that if you’re not careful you’ll place far too much importance on trivial issues. If you want to worry, do so over something worthwhile.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t allow your ego to control your behaviour. You might think that you look great preening and strutting, but others will disagree.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

To advance your selfinterest, you should avoid working with people whom you suspect to be more more adversaries than friends. Experience and intuition will be your guides.

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Noel’s “First Resort” creating stir in Caribbean

The captivating new collection from Sonia Noel titled “First Resort” has been creating quite a stir in St Lucia, and it is sure to make a similar impact when it hits the United States of America, next month.

Recently, Noel, who was in St Lucia for the launching and promotion of her quarterly publication, “makin’ style”, decided to showcase the new collection.

Two shows were held at the enchanting Bay Gardens Resort. During the two-week annual celebration, both Mariska’s Designs and First Resort had significant presence at all of the events which were attended by renowned Caribbean travel journalist and Radio Talk Show host Jeanille Bonterre to the fashionista divas of the island. The Ozone Boutique in the JQ Rodney Bay Mall is now proudly carrying the First Resort Collection by Sonia Noel.

(Between

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The collection will also be the closing act at one of the nights of the Tobago Fashion Week, this weekend, as a climatic run-up to its debut in the U.S. In Atlanta, Georgia, on the Guyana Family Fun Day on Memorial Day Weekend, a fashion show was planned especially to showcase the exquisite designs of Sonia Noel, during an evening of fun and fashion, hosted by Sandra Velasquez.

The makin’ style Magazine will also be launched in Atlanta at this event and then subsequently at the Caribbean

Week in New York on June 2, along with the First Resort line. Noel said, “My trip to St Lucia was very productive and with great networking opportunities during the Jazz and Arts Festival for further development of the creative arts in the region”.

Makin Style is an allinclusive, Caribbean publication focusing on the nuances, ideals and diverse behaviours of the region’s people. From art and food, to music, this magazine offers its readers the opportunity to celebrate in the uniqueness of the Caribbean lifestyle.

In St Lucia, copies are available at Sunshine Book

Store and in Trinidad and Tobago, at the Chocolate Trousers in Tobago. The magazine is also located in Guyana at Sonia Noel Designs, Barr St Kitty, Giftland OfficeMax, Germans Restaurant, Milady’s House of Beauty, WaterChris Hotel, Williams Supermarket, Bartica, Community Pharmacy, Grove and Gordon’s Stationery, Berbice. Noel, as full as her hands are, is also ensuring that preparations are well under way for the sixth edition of the Guyana Fashion Weekend, and casting auditions for models and designers will be announced shortly.

Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam for June 1

Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the

Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam has now become a signature event and is back at the people’s choice venue, The Garage Bar and Grill, located on Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens on Saturday, June 1.

Chow Pow, who recently represented Guyana at

the Alternative Comedy Festival in Trinidad, will be spearheading a lineup of comedians to leave patrons wanting more on that evening.

In the lineup is queen of “Uncensored” “Parika Gal” Leza Singh aka “Radika”, Henry Rodney, Chris Gopaul, Kwasi Ace and Chubby. The line of actors

includes Tash Innis, Randy Critchlow, Mark Kazim and Mark Luke Edwards. All of the comedians will be performing new routines and with Granny Ivelaw also known as “The Mix Doctor”, dancing and mixing the music up; missing the show is not an option. If that is not enough to stimulate interest in purchasing a ticket, Chow Pow has called out CAC bodybuilding medalists Devon Bess, Kerwin Clarke and Alesha Fortune to tease the audience with their well chiselled bodies and, there will be more. The sensational Lisa Punch will also grace the stage, performing hits from her latest album. No one packages it better than the “POW”, so fans make it a date with Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam.

Mark Kazim Chow Pow

Travel journalist Jeanelle Bonterre and St Lucia carnival queen wear First Resort designs

Broad’s best secures crushing win for England

Stuart Broad took seven wickets in 11 overs to rip through New Zealand and inspire England to an astonishing 170-run win in the first Test at Lord’s on Sunday.

Chasing 239 for victory, the Black Caps were bowled out for 68 in 22.3 overs after lunch on the fourth day as Broad finished with Testbest figures of 7-44.

Only two players - Neil Wagner and BJ Watlingmade double figures as New Zealand succumbed for the 10th lowest score in a Lord’s Test.

ing burst from Broad, who took advantage of seamerfriendly conditions to give England a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. They needed only nine balls to break through as Broad found the edge of Peter Fulton’s bat and Matt Prior claimed his 200th Test dismissal.

BCCI to regulate player agents

Brimming with intent as he charged in from the Nursery End, Broad uprooted Hamish Rutherford’s off stump with a gem of a ball that darted away off the seam, and had Ross Taylor well caught low to his left at first slip by Alastair Cook two balls later.

With five slips in place and Broad threatening with every ball, Kane Williamson - whose 60 off 167 balls had anchored New Zealand’s

SCORE BOARD

England 2nd innings

A Cook* c Brownlie b Boult 21

N Compton b Wagner 15

J Trott b Williamson 56

J Root b Southee 71

J Bairstow b Southee 5

M Prior† c sub (MJ Guptill)

b Southee 0

S Finn c sub (MJ Guptill)

b Southee 6

I Bell c Brownlie b Southee 6

S Broad not out 26

G Swann c McCullum

b Southee 1

J Anderson c Southee

b Williamson 0

Extras: (b 3, w 1, nb 2) 6

Total: (all out, 68.3 overs) 213

Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-36, 3-159, 4-167, 5-171, 6-171, 7-183, 8-200, 9-210, 10-213

Bowling: T Boult 15-3-56-1, T Southee 19-4-50-6, N Wagner

Just two hours earlier, the tourists appeared to have given themselves a good chance of victory when they took England’s last four second-innings wickets in under an hour to bowl them out for 213.

But any chance of a successful run chase disappeared in a thrilling open-

13-2-44-1, B Martin 13-2-400, K Williamson 8.3-2-20-2 New Zealand 2nd innings P Fulton c †Prior b Broad 1 H Rutherford b Broad 9 K Williamson c Finn b Broad 6 R Taylor c Cook b Broad 0 D Brownlie c Cook b Anderson 5

B McCullum* lbw b Broad 8

B Watling† c Trott

b Anderson 13

T Southee c Root b Broad 7 N Wagner run out (Bairstow/ Anderson) 17

B Martin b Broad 1 T Boult not out 0

Extras: (lb 1) 1

Total: (all out, 22.3 overs) 68

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-16, 3-16, 4-21, 5-25, 6-29, 7-41, 8-54, 9-67, 10-68 Bowling: J Anderson 11.35-23-2, S Broad 11-0-44-7

first innings - had an uncharacteristic rush of blood and drove loosely to Finn at short extra-cover.

There was no let-up from England’s new-ball pair as James Anderson had Dean Brownlie caught at first slip before Broad trapped Brendon McCullum leg before for eight to reduce New Zealand to 29-6 and complete a breathless morning session in which 10 wickets fell.

The final four wickets went in less than an hour after lunch. Tim Southee pulled Broad to Joe Root at deep square leg, Watling played through the pain of a knee injury to make 13 before he was caught at first slip off Anderson, and Broad bowled the similarly ailing Bruce Martin.

New Zealand’s misery was completed when Wagner was comically run out after a mix-up with Trent Boult after the former was dropped at fine-leg.

Earlier, England offered little resistance when re-

suming on 180-6, aside from Broad’s counter-attacking unbeaten 26.

Southee finished with 6-50 - and 10-108 in the match - to cap an England collapse in which their last eight wickets tumbled for 54 runs.

Night-watchman Steven Finn dangled his bat at Southee’s fifth ball of the day and nicked to second slip before Ian Bell, who was ill for much of Saturday, pushed away from his body and was caught by Brownlie at second slip.

Graeme Swann edged a loose drive at Southee and Anderson fell to spinner Kane Williamson when a drive cannoned off silly point and looped to cover.

At that point New Zealand held the initiative, but Broad’s devastating new-ball burst provided the decisive twist in a thrilling match. (BBC Sport)

Pacers knock out Knicks with

INDIANAPOLIS

106-99

–

Indiana spent the entire season perfecting its defense. On Saturday, it produced the biggest payoff for the Pacers in nearly a decade.

Roy Hibbert’s block of Carmelo Anthony’s dunk attempt midway through the fourth quarter spurred an 11-2 run that rallied the Pacers to a 106-99 victory in Game 6 of their second-round series, sending them into their first Eastern Conference final since 2004.

New York native Lance Stephenson scored nine points in the run, finishing with a playoff career-high 25.

With players from both teams standing on the court as the final seconds ticked off and Pacers fans roar-

win in Game 6

ing in appreciation, the sellout crowd wasted little time breaking into chants of ‘’Beat The Heat!’’

For Indiana, it sets up a postseason rematch with the defending NBA champs, the team that eliminated them last May after the Pacers had taken a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven semi-finals. The Heat wound up winning Game 4 at Indiana and followed that with two more wins as Danny Granger struggled with a knee injury.

Indiana used the lessons from that series as motivation to improve this season and wound up beating the Heat twice at home before losing the third game of the season series at Miami. The Pacers will return to South Florida for Game 1 on

Wednesday night.

With Granger missing all but five games this season because of the lingering knee injury, the Pacers put an even greater emphasis on playing defense and it showed.

Indiana led the league in rebounding, defensive field goal percentage and defensive 3-point percentage while finishing second in points allowed per game during the regular season. It was no different in the playoffs, as the Knicks found out.

New York had another subpar shooting night Saturday, making just 40 percent of its shots, and again wound up on the wrong side of a 43-36 rebounding discrepancy. In the paint, New York was outscored 5220, and Anthony, who fin-

ished with 39 points, scored just four points in the final 12 minutes when he went 2 of 7 from the field.

Iman Shumpert added 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers, and J.R. Smith scored 15. Nobody else was in double figures.

The combination, as it had been in the previous three losses to Indiana, produced the same frustrating result.

The biggest question coming into Saturday’s game was whether starting point guard George Hill would play. He took part in the team’s morning shootaround, was cleared by the team doctors and wound up returning two days after missing Game 5 with a concussion. His return gave the Pacers a big boost.

The Indian board has outlined its first detailed response to the spot-fixing controversy, which includes an accreditation process for player agents and increased security for teams during the IPL.

The plan was announced by BCCI president N Srinivasan after a meeting of its working committee on Sunday, three days after three Rajasthan Royals players were arrested on charges related to corruption in cricket.

The BCCI also appointed a commission of an inquiry into the spot-fixing, to be headed by its AntiCorruption and Security Unit (ACSU) chief Ravi Sawani. He will present his findings to the BCCI’s disciplinary committee, after which the Indian board will decide what action to take on the three players.

Srinivasan also said that Rajasthan Royals will file a police complaint against three of their players arrested earlier this week on allegations of spot-fixing. He said the BCCI itself will not press legal charges. “We are advised that the BCCI

by itself cannot because they (the players) are contracted to the franchise, the franchise is filing.”

In a statement issued by Royals on Sunday, the franchise said they would file FIRs to help the police carry out the investigation. “It is critical that this evil is rooted out of the game, and as such we will be filing FIRs with the Delhi Police. This will ensure that justice is pursued to its most complete end, and that the police is able to appropriately conduct its investigation.”

Betting on sports, except horse-racing, is illegal in India and since the controversy broke, there have been demands for legalising betting, but Srinivasan wasn’t sure that would solve the problem. “In other countries they have legalised betting and it has helped control ... but I do not know as far as India is concerned.”

Srinivasan also acknowledged the limitations of the ACSU in stopping corruption in cricket. “They can’t gather information like police can. They can’t tap phones. They have got a lot of restrictions,” he said. (Cricinfo)

Hill finished with just 12 points on 2-of-10 shooting but had five rebounds and four assists, and kept the Pacers composed enough to

commit only nine turnovers - 10 fewer than Thursday night’s loss in

Stuart Broad took a career-best 7 for 44

Sreesanth

New York. The results showed up everywhere on the floor. (Yahoo! Sport)

Lance Stephenson

Sammy, Sunrisers hold nerve to make playoffs

Sunrisers Hyderabad threatened to blaze into the playoffs. They then opened the back door for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Then Darren Sammy danced down the track and lofted Iqbal Abdulla for successive sixes to send the Uppal Stadium into a frenzy on Sunday. Sunrisers had taken the final playoff spot in their debut IPL season, after almost blowing it towards the end.

Having watched their bowlers tie Rajasthan Royals in knots during a similar chase two nights ago, Parthiv Patel and Shikhar Dhawan came out determined to be positive. They continued in the same manner for 89 runs in just over 11 overs, and had it not been for a rather needless reverse-sweep attempted

SCOREBOARD

Kolkata Knight Riders innings M Bisla† c White b Perera 15 G Gambhir* run out (Samantray/†Patel) 10

J Kallis c Dhawan b Steyn 24

E Morgan lbw b Sharma 9

Y Pathan not out 49

R ten Doeschate lbw b Mishra 1 P Dogra c Perera b Steyn 5 S Narine c Perera

b Anand Rajan 1 Iqbal Abdulla not out 2

Extras: (lb 7, w 7) 14

Total: (7 wkts, 20 overs) 130

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-42, 3-59, 4-89, 5-95, 6-111, 7-121

Bowling: D Steyn 4-0-242, Anand Rajan 4-0-22-1, N Perera 4-0-33-1, D Sammy

1-0-9-0, A Mishra 4-0-201, K Sharma 3-0-15-1 Sunrisers Hyderabad innings

P Patel† lbw b Iqbal Abdulla 47

S Dhawan lbw b Iqbal Abdulla 42

G Vihari c Dogra b Iqbal Abdulla 6

C White* run out

(Morgan/†Bisla) 2

N Perera b Shami Ahmed 4

D Sammy not out 17

B Samantray not out 5

Extras: (lb 1, w 8) 9

Total: (5 wkts, 18.5 overs) 132

Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-100, 3-103, 4-108, 5-112

Bowling: Y Pathan 4-0-290, P Sangwan 2-0-17-0, S Narine 4-1-11-0, Shami Ahmed 4-0-32-1, J Kallis 1-0-13-0, Iqbal Abdulla 3.5-0-29-3

by Dhawan, Sunrisers, Royal Challengers and their respective fans would have been spared several tense minutes. It was Parthiv who all but sealed the chase at the start. He came out in a volley of cuts, pulls and flicks when offered the slightest width. By the time Dhawan slog-swept Yusuf Pathan for his first boundary, Parthiv was already on 31 off 20. Dhawan now started to toy with the bowling, walking out to hit through extra cover and jumping to slash Jacques Kallis for six over cover.

This was the same slow pitch on which Kolkata Knight Riders had limped to 130. Even after Dhawan went legbefore to Abdulla, Sunrisers needed 31 off 40 at one stage. Then Parthiv walked out to Abdulla and was given leg-be-

fore.

Hanuma Vihari, as he has done often in the season, sucked momentum out of the innings. And then heaved a top-edge to backward point after making 6 off 13. In between, he was involved in a terrible mix-up that led to the run-out of Cameron White. Shami Ahmed disturbed Thisara Perera’s bails with a yorker, and Sunrisers suddenly needed 19 of 13.

Fortunately, Biplab Samantray got one on the pads to put it away for four. Sammy, who had been made to look absolutely clueless by Sunil Narine during the 17th over which was a maiden, found enough courage to step out to Abdulla and finish the game with a couple of sixes.

Only Yusuf has been able to hit sixes when Knight Riders batted after winning the toss. Gautam Gambhir had run himself out again, and none of the other batsmen had been able to get the measure of a slow pitch and an attack that had thrived on it through the season.

Dale Steyn and Anand Rajan, who replaced the ill Ishant Sharma, hardly provided any width, and the legspinners Amit Mishra and Karan Sharma tied Knight Riders down further. They tossed it up, they bowled flat and quick, they turned legbreaks, they turned their googlies. And Knight Riders plodded on, finding no rhythm at all.

Yusuf has not done much during three seasons at Knight Riders, but he appeared to find some touch towards the end of this season.

(Cricinfo)

Nadal hammers Federer in Italian Open final

Rafael Nadal dropped only four games as he beat Roger Federer in 68 minutes to win his seventh Italian Open title on Sunday.

In the 30th career meeting between the pair, who share 28 Grand Slam singles titles, the Spaniard raced to a 6-1 6-3 victory at Rome’s Foro Italico.

In 2006 Nadal edged a classic final against Federer in this event, but this year he prevailed with plenty to spare.

He has now won six of his eight tournaments since returning in February from a seven-month break due to injury.

“If you’d told me that four or five months ago I would have said you are crazy,” said the 26-year-old, who has won

36 of 38 matches in 2013.

“So after eight tournaments, six victories and two finals, it’s a dream for me.”

Nadal heads to the French Open in tremendous form as he looks to win an Open-era record eighth title at Roland Garros, and knowing he is likely to be seeded fourthand so potentially avoid leading rival Novak Djokovic until the semi-finals.

With 11 wins in their 13 previous matches on clay, the Spaniard was a heavy favourite against Federer in Rome, but the manner of this victory was still mightily impressive. Federer, 31, did not help himself with too many unforced errors in the early stages, and his forehand let him down as he was broken in game three.

A fizzing backhand return at the start of game four was Nadal’s 11th point out of 13 as he tightened his grip on the first set.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams completed her French Open preparations by beating Victoria Azarenka to win the Italian Open - her fourth consecutive tournament victory.

Williams, the world number one, powered to a 6-1 6-3 victory in Rome, extending her unbeaten run to 24 matches.

The American, 31, will head to Paris as a strong favourite to win the title at Roland Garros for only the second time.

Her victory at the Foro Italico on Sunday followed wins in Miami, South

Pune consign Delhi to last place

Amid the bad news in the IPL, and with the knowledge that Sunday afternoon’s game was as dead as it could get in this tournament in the battle of the bottom-placed sides, a healthy crowd made its way to the Sahara Stadium in Pune, a considerable distance from the main city.

It was worth it, as they saw their team beat Delhi Daredevils comfortably, consigning the visitors to the last place in the IPL points table and marking an ignominious end to a journey that began with Unmukt Chand’s off stump being knocked out of its place in the tournament opener.

Aaron Finch, Angelo Mathews, and Luke Wright played a critical role with the bat to set a tough target on a slowish pitch, and Ali Murtaza, who had been scarred by Chris Gayle during his assault of 175, picked up three wickets in the chase to put the task beyond Daredevils. Robin Uthappa and Finch have shared a productive opening stand this IPL, and Uthappa began Warriors’ charge with some lovely drives through the off side before his stay ended with the score on 38. Finch then took over, opening up in the ninth over bowled by Umesh Yadav, who was in for an expensive spell.

Umesh struggled with his length, serving up one in the slot that Finch dispatched over long-on, a short one that was pulled over midwicket, before doling out a full toss that was slammed through extra cover in an over that went for 17. Irfan Pathan was flicked through square leg for 12 runs in an over, but Daredevils found their way back with the wickets of Finch and Yuvraj Singh to

A final tally of 41 winners to 12 illustrated the difference between Sunday’s finalists, with Williams constantly threatening Azarenka and keeping her on the back foot.

Azarenka, 23, lost her number one ranking to Williams earlier this year and had won only two of their previous 13 encounters.

The Belarusian put up some stern resistance in the early stages but, despite repeatedly taking Williams to deuce in an opening three games that lasted more than 20 minutes, the American won them all.

Azarenka got one of the breaks back in game four but then immediately dropped serve to love under pressure from the Williams return.

leave Warriors at 97 for 4 in 14 overs.

Wright has had a quiet tournament with the bat, while Mathews has had a consistent run, and both stepped up at the death. Some of their shots were a result of luck - a top-edge for six, an inside edge for four - but both also middled the ball well, tearing in to Yadav in the penultimate over, both smacking him for sixes to snatch 24. Length balls were not spared, and Wright was especially adept at playing the pull and clipping the ball past square leg. The last five overs yielded 65, and it proved decisive.

In the chase David Warner’s poor form continued, but Mahela Jayawardene and Bharat Chipli, who replaced Chand, appeared to be putting Daredevils on track. The pair added 23 in quick time, but Daredevils’ slide began when Murtaza was brought on to bowl in the fifth over. He was unlucky not to get Jayawardene stumped, but dismissed him next ball as he spooned a catch to point.

Virender Sehwag struck a couple of attractive boundaries, but holed out against Murtaza, who also trapped Chipli in front next ball to leave Delhi at 55 for 4. Ben Rohrer dragged one back on from Ashok Dinda and Irfan was left with too much to get with the lower order.

Warriors have slipped up badly in the last few overs with the ball, but a half-century stand between Irfan and CM Gautam didn’t unsettle them. A double-strike from Mathews in one over all but sealed the game for Warriors, who may have won today but, bought for US$370 million, have had three forgettable seasons on the trot. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Pune Warriors innings

R Uthappa† c Warner b Yadav 24

A Finch* c Sehwag b Kaul 52

M Pandey b Nadeem 10 Yuvraj Singh c Sehwag b Pathan 3

A Mathews not out 30

L Wright c Sehwag b Kaul 44

R Gomez not out 4

Extras: (lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 5

Total: (5 wkts, 20 overs) 172

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-74, 3-91, 4-96, 5-167

Bowling: I Pathan 4-0-341, M Morkel 4-0-36-0, S Kaul

4-0-27-2, U Yadav 4-0-521, S Nadeem 4-0-21-1 Delhi Daredevils innings

M Jayawardene* c Wright

b Murtaza 14

D Warner c †Uthappa b Parnell 2

B Chipli lbw b Murtaza 16

V Sehwag c Gomez b Murtaza 11

B Rohrer b Dinda 7 I Pathan c Pandey b Mathews 24

C Gautam† c Gomez b Mathews 30

M Morkel c Parnell b Mathews 0 U Yadav not out 8 S Nadeem c Mathews b Dinda 6 S Kaul not out 0

Extras: (lb 5, w 10, nb 1) 16

Total: (9 wkts, 20 overs) 134

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-40,

Darren Sammy finished the game off with two consecutive sixes

Carolina and Madrid.

– Serena Williams beats Azarenka to lift title

Serena Williams

Rafael Nadal

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, may 20, 2013

CPL franchises ready and waiting

With the start of the inaugural Caribbean Premier League tournament less than three months away, CPL officials have recently concluded a tour of the six franchise countries – Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago –meeting with Government Ministers of Sports and Tourism, cricket board executives, stadium management teams/owners and tourism authorities.

The man charged with the task of keeping the relevant parties in each franchise country informed about, and satisfied with the preparations as it relates to their country and the overall tournament is CPL’s newly-appointed operations manager, Carlisle Powell, a Senator from Nevis and father of West Indies batsman Kieran Powell.

Powell is also a former Minister of Communications, works, utilities, physical planning, natural resources and environment in Nevis and a past member of the West Indies Cricket Board. He brings years of political di-

plomacy and finesse to the table as well as experience and relationships with the cricket community.

Powell says the meetings in all of the countries have been positive and encouraging, and that the excitement has started to build.

“The opportunity to sit down at the table with each of these groups in the six franchise countries was imperative because we wanted to make sure we answered the questions, and addressed any concerns they had,” explained Powell. “Once we did that, everyone had a greater understand-

ing of the CPL vision, what we hope to accomplish and the benefits to their country specifically and the region in general. The result was that the governments, the cricket boards and the tourism boards are all pleased to give their full support to the CPL, and are excited about the prospects of a first-class sporting event being hosted annually in the region, bringing a much needed economic boost to the Caribbean and attracting new and repeat visitors.”

Powell went on to say that the general response from the country heads and

Spurs rout Grizzlies 10583 in West finals opener

SAN ANTONIO – Tony Parker had 20 points and nine assists, Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and the San Antonio Spurs struck first in the Western Conference finals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 105-83 on Sunday.

The Spurs avoided a repeat of their Game One loss when the teams met two years ago in the first round. The Grizzlies went on to knock San Antonio out of the playoffs as the top seed that time.

San Antonio raced out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter, then came up with a response when Memphis rallied to get within six in the second half. Both teams

pulled their starters with over 5 minutes left and the Spurs leading by 21.

Quincy Pondexter led Memphis with 17 points.

Grizzlies All-Star Zach Randolph missed his first seven shots and scored his only points on a tip-in with 9:26 left in the game.

Game Two is Tuesday night in San Antonio.

The NBA’s stingiest defense wasn’t up to its usual standards, allowing the Spurs to hit 53 per cent of their shots and a franchise postseason-record 14 3-pointers while Randolph struggled. Randolph was a non-factor after going for a playoff-best 28 points and 14 rebounds as Memphis eliminated defending West

champ Oklahoma City in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies started to rally as soon as Randolph came out of the game for the first time in the second half.

Pondexter made a baseline cut for a layup off Darrell Arthur’s pass, then hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a 10-0 burst. Jerryd Bayless’ two-handed, fastbreak dunk off a steal got the Grizzlies within 62-56 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.

The comeback was shortlived, though.

Bayless missed a 3-pointer on the next trip, and Manu Ginobili was able to make one at the opposite end to spark an 11-1 response that immediately restored the Spurs’ lead to 16 by end of the quarter. Leonard hit a pair of 3-pointers and Gary Neal had one as San Antonio kept pouring it on in the fourth.

The four regular-season meetings were all won by the team with more points in the paint, but perimeter shooting proved to be a bigger factor in the playoff opener. Memphis, which was second in the NBA by holding opponents to 33.8 shooting on 3-pointers, let San Antonio make 13 of its first 24 from behind the arc and finish 14 of 29.

Danny Green connected three times and scored 16, and Matt Bonner hit four of his five attempts for 12 points. (Yahoo! Sport)

boards was that of a desire to cooperate however they could, and to do what is necessary to ensure the tournament’s success.

Speaking about the relationships between CPL and the local boards, CPL CEO Damien O’Donohoe expressed, “Our goal is to keep the countries abreast of as much of the planning surrounding the tournament as possible. After all, they have demonstrated their hospitality by welcoming us into their jurisdiction, opening their grounds to us and allowing us to utilise the valuable resources that they have. We are eager to recip-

rocate.”

Guyana

In Guyana, Powell had appointments with the ministers of tourism and sport Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Dr Frank Anthony.

After the meeting Minister Ali commented “CPL is an amazing opportunity to use sport as a catalyst to advance the region’s tourism product since CPL will give us access to reach important global markets. In this regard Guyana has the best potential since we have the largest diaspora who love cricket, and so we in Guyana will pull out all the stops and give the CPL our full commitment.”

The first ever Caribbean Premier League will get underway on 30 July with 24 matches played in six franchise countries - Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago.

Six top West Indies stars have been confirmed as franchise players – Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels. Also confirmed are six overseas

UG hold

franchise players – former Australia captains Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting, ex-New Zealand captain Ross Taylor, Pakistan Twenty20 International captain Mohammad Hafeez, Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa and Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

A total of 90 players will be contracted to play in the CPL. Each of the six franchise teams will comprise 15 player squads. All teams are required to have a minimum number of local players from their franchise country and at least two of them must be under the age of 23. Teams can also field a maximum of four international players. The remainder of the team must consist of regional and/or local players. Also confirmed is the make-up of the CPL Cricket Committee, which is being chaired by former Jamaican Prime Minister, The Most Honourable PJ Patterson and include Zorol Barthley, Conde Riley and Walter Scott, QC alongside Ian Bishop, Lance Gibbs and Charles Wilkin, QC. (WICB)

on to 44-43

win, stay undefeated

By TreisTon Joseph

The University of Guyana (UG) held on to defeat President’s College (PC) 4443 on Sunday at Mon Repos Primary School hard court when the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) East Coast Regional Conference, sponsored by Digicel, Beharry Group of Companies and Banks DIH, continued with the senior games. With the game tied on 39 with 1:36s left on the clock, Quincy Easton made a floater to put UG up by two before Fonsie James sank another lay-up for UG to put them up by four points with 36s left.

The game, already physical and scrappy with a lot

of turnovers, saw James notching a rebound before being fouled. He sank one of two from the line that would eventually seal the game.

However, with 11s left in the game Nyambekerie Bacchus gave UG a scare scoring four points to come within one point of tying the game.

Easton ended with a game high 21 points, grabbing seven rebounds to lead the way for UG while Jonathon Pooran contributed nine points.

Bacchus was a beast in the paint for PC dropping a team high 13 points while grabbing a game high nine board in the heartbreaking loss that kept UG undefeated.

Meanwhile, Nikkoloi

Smith had an all-round game to lead Plaisance Secondary to a 32-25 win over Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). The dynamic and explosive guard constantly penetrated the defence of GSA to pick up a number of three point plays as he ended the game with 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Emmanuel Archibald dropped a team high 12 points to lead GSA as the men of agriculture failed to stop the overflow of points in the run-a-gun style of game.

Earlier in the day, Plaisance Secondary routed Annandale Secondary 34-8 in the under-17 category of the tournament.

Wayne Calendar poured in a game high 10 points while Terrence Daniels was a beast on the defensive side of the ball, grabbing nine rebounds and collected five picks.

Raphael Sobers scored five of Annandale’s eight points and collected six rebounds as well in their atrocious shooting effort.

Meanwhile, PC had their way with Bladen Hall in the under-17 category, routing them 31-10.

Eli Innis contributed a game high 10 points and five rebounds while Jaleel Duke had an all-round game with eight points along with three rebounds, assists and steals.

Mickel Austin had six of Bladen Hall’s 10 points as they could not sink a shot from any part of the court during the game.

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker drives past Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

Nikkoloi Smith finishes the fast-break with a smooth finger roll during Plaisance Secondary’s game against Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) (Treiston Joseph photo)

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali (right) met with Digicel Group Marketing

Director Kieran Foley (left) and the CPL operations manager Carlisle Powell (centre)

Eastman crowned new Three-Stage champ

– Persaud wins final stage from Linden to Georgetown

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Barbados rider Jamal Eastman capped a remarkable weekend by lifting the overall title of the 31st annual Independence Three-Stage cycle meet, in the process becoming the new champion of the gruelling 171.5 miles/274.3km race on Sunday.

After placing himself in a prime position for the overall title by winning the opening two stages on Saturday, all Eastman needed to do on Sunday’s final stage from Kara Kara, Linden, to Homestretch Avenue was to place among the leading pack.

And that he did! He finished with an overall time of six hours, 58 minutes, 13 seconds (06h: 58m: 13s), seven seconds less than Guyana’s Geron Williams, who secured the runnerup spot with a time of six hours, 58 minutes, 20 seconds.

The winning time was far slower than Team Coco’s Ivan Dominguez’s six hours, 44 minutes, 55 seconds (06h: 44m: 55s), recorded last year to win the title.

Orville Hinds of Linden

Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club

rode in third overall with a time of six hours, 58 minutes, 25 seconds (06h: 58m: 25s), while the local trio, Alonzo Greaves (06h: 58m: 26s), Raynauth Jeffrey (06h: 58m: 33s) and Raul Leal (06h: 58m: 33s) founded out the top finishers.

Although Jeffrey and Leal gained the same time, Jeffrey secured the fifth

spot by virtue of crossing the line ahead of his Team Coco (Guyana) partner.

Leal emerged as the leading junior cyclist, finishing ahead of Hamza Eastman and Stephano Husbands, who ended in second and third spots respectively.

Horace Burrowes, who finished seventh overall with a time of six hours, 59 minutes (06h: 59m),

emerged as the winner of the veteran category, with USA-based Guyanese Aubrey Gordon and Team Coco’s (Guyana) Junior Niles in the runner-up and third position respectively.

Naomi Singh of East Coast Demerara was among the four females who participated in the two-day activity, but was the lone competitor on the distaff side to start all three stages. She

minutes, 54 seconds (02h: 40m: 54s), shaving off a minute, 45 seconds off Dominguez’s stage record of two hours, 42 minutes, 39 seconds (02h: 42m: 39s), achieved last year.

Persaud, who ended eighth overall with a time of six hours, 59 minutes, 21 seconds (06h: 59m: 21s), ended the final stage ahead of Andrew Reece and Christopher Holder in that order.

The opening stage from Corriverton to New Amsterdam, which covered a distance of 46.6 miles/74.2km, was won by Eastman in a time of one

Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Anguilla and the United States of America.

Successful race

At the presentation ceremony which followed at the National Cultural Centre, all the speakers reiterated the call for a Team Guyana to participate at the race, a proposition that is yet to be realised.

President of the Guyana Cycling Federation Cheryl Thompson, said “a team effort is needed” by the Guyanese in order to challenge their foreign counterparts. Director of Sport, Neil Kumar proffered the idea of having an inter-club championship among the various local clubs where the top riders will be selected to form a Team Guyana.

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony said that while the race was “very competitive”, the females should be allowed to ride a shorter distance than their male counterparts.

The minister also challenged the organising committee to come up with a concept to “celebrate cycling” in 2016, which will be the 50th independence anniversary, as well as the

collected a special prize for her effort.

The other females were Hazina Barrett of Linden, Marica Dick of Berbice, and Tashwana Doris of Georgetown.

Persaud victory

The 64.5 miles/103km final stage was won by experienced Guyanese Robin Persaud, who clocked a record time of two hours, 40

hour, 43 minutes, 08 seconds (01h: 43m: 08s) on Saturday morning.

Stage Two from Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue on Saturday afternoon, a leg that covered 60.4 miles/97.1km, was also won by Eastman in a time of two hours, 34 minutes, 31 seconds (02h: 34m: 31s).

The race attracted 73 riders from Guyana,

year of the Olympic Games. National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, giving a detailed review of the activity, said the 2013 edition was highly competitive, as was illustrated by the close timings among the top six finishers.

A total of 73 riders started the race on Saturday, but only 42 completed the activity on Sunday morning.

Greaves off to USA for one-month stint

National

finished fourth overall in the 31st annual Independence Three-Stage, which concluded on Sunday, but had to miss the presentation ceremony at the National Cultural Centre,

noon. Speaking to Guyana Times Sport from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Greaves said he is looking forward to the stint, noting that apart from the training, he will also participate in a

few races.

This is Greaves’ third visit to the USA to participate in cycling training/competition. He informed that he would be back in time to challenge local counterparts in the Guyana Cycling

Federation’s national championship, which is billed for the end of June.

Greaves has been in tremendous form this season, winning an impressive eight races so far in 2013. His trip has been made

possible with support from

Robin Persaud crosses the final line on Homestretch Avenue to win Sunday’s final stage, which started at Kara Kara, Linden

Overall champion Jamal Eastman of Barbados is all smiles as he receives the winner’s trophy from Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Raul Leal of Team Coco (Guyana) receives his trophy and cash prize for topping the junior category from Director of Sport, Neil Kumar

Girl power! Naomi Singh was the only female to start all three stages. She was presented with a special prize by national coach Hassan Mohamed

cyclist Alonzo Greaves is off to the United States of America for a one-month training stint, which starts today. The 23-year-old Roraima Bikers Club representative

as his flight was booked for Sunday after-

Digicel, Bounty Farm, Spads Inc, Toucan Industries, Kevin Jeffrey and family, Café Sol, Compton Persaud, Roraima Bikers Club, Linden Dowridge, and George Humphrey.

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony (seated third left); Director of Sport Neil Kumar (seated second right); president of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Cheryl Thompson (seated third right); PS in the Sport Ministry Alfred King (seated second left); USA-based Guyanese rider Aubrey Gordon (seated left); and former president of the Guyana Cycling Federation (seated right) share the National Cultural Centre stage with top performers of the various categories of the 31st annual Three-Stage (Photos: Avenash Ramzan)

(Treiston Joseph photo)