Guyana Times Daily

tuesday, March 25, 2014|

Toddler crushed by minibus

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

What started out as play among several children at Dartmouth Village on the Essequibo Coast, ended tragically when a toddler was run over by a minibus on a street in the village.

Dead is one-year-old Javiel Peters of Dartmouth Village. The incident occurred Sunday evening around 17:00h.

Peters was killed by a driver believed to be unlicensed in a street he resided. According to information received, the minibus BRR 7143 was proceeding south on the eastern side of Clark’s Street in Dartmouth when the driver ran over the toddler.

Information revealed that the driver Devon Fordyce, is usually the conductor of the bus. His wife and children were proceeding to Anna Regina when the tragedy struck. Fordyce has been arrested and the minibus impounded.

Guyana Times was told that the driver did not notice the child on the street; however, he reportedly felt the bus wheels “humping” on something. It was at this point neighbours shouted at him,

by which time the child was already crushed. According to a relative, Peters was left in care of some elder cousins when it is believed that he went away from the company of the other children.

“The children were playing and did not even realise the toddler headed for the street,” the relative said. His parents were inside the house.

Not speeding

According to an eyewitness, she was heading to the public road when she saw a green bus heading out the street, but the vehicle was not speeding.

The vehicle then ran over the child, leaving the toddler dead.

She shouted and the parents, neighbours and other relatives came out to the scene. The child was in a bloody state with his head and left arm crushed. Peters

was rushed to Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital where he was certified dead.

Residents are of the view that the accident was due to poor parental supervision. They contended that once children are playing in a yard, the gate must be shut for security purposes.

Police at Anna Regina are investigating the unfortunate accident. Since the year began, three toddlers have perished in accidents on the Essequibo Coast.

Josiah Persaud, three, of Charity Extension Scheme was knocked dead by a truck on January 19, while Andrea Locust from Supenaam Creek was crushed by a car on February 12.

Backer to be laid to rest on Friday

Three days after the death of former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Deborah Jan Backer, Chief Whip of the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) Amna Ally on Monday announced that the political stalwart will be laid to rest on Friday.

There will be a viewing ceremony in the Full Court of the Parliament Buildings and a subsequent church service at the Saint Andrews Kirk, opposite the Parliament Building.

Speaking at a People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) press briefing on Monday, Ally noted that several activities were planned to celebrate the life of the former Deputy Speaker.

She explained that those activities included the opening of a book of condolences across the country. The first was held at Congress Place on Monday.

Ally further noted that another book will be mounted at the Parliament Building while the party will also be working to place more books at various locations across the country so as to afford all Guyanese the opportunity to record their condolences on the loss of the “Opposition Iron Lady” as she was dubbed by many.

There will be a Night of Reflections for Backer at the West Demerara Secondary school tonight. Ally said the term “Citizen of quality” which was bestowed upon Backer by former President Desmond Hoyte, was particularly suiting when one considers the life she led. She further reflected on several humorous occasions in the National Assembly, one of which was when Backer took a box of cornflakes to a Parliament meeting, in an effort to persuade Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee to be more industrious in his work in the security sector. Also sharing similar fond memories of the late Backer was fellow parliamentarian Volda Lawrence. She maintained that Backer was a strong advocate for gender equality, and did many pro bono jobs for women.

APNU and PNCR Leader David Granger said in spite of her being very humorous, Backer was very serious when it came to matters regarding her work as a lawyer and as a PNCR representative in the National Assembly. Backer died last Friday after battling cancer for months. She succumbed to her illness at the Davis Memoriam Hospital.

Javiel Peters

The ill-fated minibus at the Anna Regina Police Station

APNU and PNCR Leader David Granger recording his sympathies in the condolences book at Congress Place, Sophia on Monday

Govt unveils $220B budget

By Svetlana MarShall

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Monday presented a $220 billion budget which will see a $6 billion injection into the troubled sugar industry, along with a five per cent hike in Old Age Pension and the increasing of the electricity subsidy for pensioners from $20,000 to $30,000.

There were no new taxes nor any tax relief announced, but the budget proposed an annual $10,000 grant to each child attending public schools (see other story on page 17) and a $500 million boost to make the rice industry more competitive. The budget, which surpassed last year’s $208.8 billion, was presented under the theme: “A Better Guyana For All Guyanese”.

Rice industry

Regarding the $500 million injection for the rice industry, Dr Singh said much in the same manner the sugar industry has served “our country well, so too has the rice industry”.

He noted that favourable market conditions, along with supportive and facilitative initiatives by Government have helped the industry to grow to a historic high.

According to him, as is the case with any externally-traded agricultural commodity, the industry’s fortunes are affected by both weather conditions which are increasingly unpredictable and the vicissitudes of world market prices.

“It is, therefore, imperative that the industry be placed on a path that would sustain its strong performance even under the most testing conditions."

“In order to ensure that our rice industry retains its competitive advantage, even in harsher market conditions, Budget 2014 makes a provision of $500 million to

be injected into the industry to support its efforts to increase competitiveness and resilience.”

Singh also said agriculture continues to be one of the sectors that offer brighter prospects for diversification of productive activity in Guyana.

“Whether it is other crops or livestock for meat production, the potential exists for Guyana to meet considerably more of our domestic food requirements from local production. In much the same manner, the potential exists for a much larger share of the Caribbean’s food import bill to be met from our domestic production.”

Rural enterprise

To this end, he said an expanded effort will be launched by Government to promote increased and more diversified food production, including the acquisition of planting material and breeding stock for distribution to farmers along with expanded extension services, for which, a sum of $200 million has been allocated.

Government has also proposed to spend $1 billion to support the Rural

Enterprise Development. It is an initiative that is expected to benefit thousands of persons either through employment obtained or other linkages, from enterprise incubation grants made under this facility. Dr Singh said in order to promote more sustainable progress in rural communities, it is important to encourage a deepening of entrepreneurial activity in these communities.

Hospitality institute

Additionally, in an effort to improve the quality of Guyana’s tourism product, Government said it will commence making a US$4 million investment in the establishment of a hospitality institute to ensure that “we produce world-class personnel for this important industry going forward”.

Besides, the Finance Minister said there is urgent need for the dredging of the mouth of the Demerara River. He said this has been the subject of considerable attention from Government, and from the private sector affected by its implications for shipping access to the river channel.

He noted that the depth

of the channel basin has been reduced to an unsatisfactory level, which has resulted in limitations in the draft of vessels able to transit the route. “The consequence has been reductions of the volume of cargo per vessel being moved and increased freight costs.” The Minister said Government will establish a special purpose entity to address this matter this year, and will work closely with the private sector during 2014 to attract the necessary financing for this endeavour to commence and be successfully executed. To support the preparatory work, Budget 2014 makes an allocation of $100 million to advance the required technical and other assessments.

Meanwhile, the budget also made provisions for another controversial entity, the Guyana Power and Light with a proposed $3.7 billion subsidy.

In justifying the allocation, the Finance Minister said fuel prices remain high and, as was indicated last year, GPL has faced considerable challenges meeting the cost of its operations without a tariff increase since 2007.

the National Assembly in session during the 2014 Budget presentation

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

No clothes

In their Editorial of March 24, the Stabroek News (SN) accused the government of "airbrushing" the events following the Mash Jailbreak of February 23, 2002. The SN claimed that money laundering and the financing of terrorism accompanied the the activities of "several death squads" and of Roger Khan.

If the authorities' corrective to these allegations constituted an "airbrushing", then the SN's own defence of its earlier jaundiced review of the period constituted not even a fig leaf, but a revelation that they are stark naked to the charge of wilful blindness to historical facts.

The crucial question that SN and its opposition media colleagues elide is the context in which the Jailbreak Five launched their assault on the state and which precipitated several countermeasures to protect the state from anarchy.

SN contends that the PPP/C had been warned that the police had to be professionalised "a full decade earlier" than the February Mash Jailbreak - which would precede the general elections of October 5 1992. The SN is obviously unwilling to blame the police breakdown on the Hoyte administration, in office at the time, but which has since been bestowed with utopian qualities.

The context was that upon demitting office under pressure from the U.S. administration via U.S. exPresident Jimmy Carter, the PNC of the now sainted Desmond Hoyte launched an all out attack on the new government, which it accused of "ethnic cleansing".

And this was remarkably, in the face of the PPP/C government abandoning the "retrenchment" of Public Service workers that had started under Hoyte, in the IMF's Economic Recovery Programme. Not wishing to provide tinder to a very combustible ethnic atmosphere, the PPP/C held off cleaning the Augean Stables the Disciplined Forces had been transformed into under the PNC.

The December 1997 elections provided the PNC with another "occasion" to escalate the war of attrition it was conducting against the state. At the time the notorious criminal Blackie London, ex-GDF Special Forces graduate, was creating mayhem in the business community.

Before he was killed in a shoot-out in 2000, he had robbed more that $150 million dollars and dozens had been killed, kidnapped or maimed by his gang. In 19981999 alone, over 30 businessmen had been killed. Yet the apostle of peace and reconciliation, Desmond Hoyte, saw it fit to drape London's coffin with the flag of Guyana.

This action, which surprised the uninitiated, must be viewed against the violent protests Hoyte had launched against the government for allegedly "rigging" the elections of 1997. The city of Georgetown became a battleground as hundreds of Indian Guyanese were beaten, robbed and molested on January 12, 1998, and fires began to light up the night sky as in the 1960s riots.

President Janet Jagan was forced to quit the presidency and the term of the presidency was truncated by two years, even though a Caricom "forensic audit" demanded by Hoyte showed that there were no irregularities.

The Mash Jailbreak of 2002 was preceded by elections in 2001, which once again precipitated protests in Georgetown and the East Coast. It should be noted that the leader of the Mash Jailbreak Five, Andrew Douglas, was a lieutenant in Blackie London's criminal gang.

The terrorist activities of Douglas and his bandits, after they took refuge in Buxton, would definitely have been funded from the loot of London's depredations against the people of Guyana. The saintlike Desmond Hoyte declared the strategy of "slow fyaah; mo fyaah" which left nothing to the imagination as Georgetown burned.

In light of the above recitation of the facts surrounding the 2002 jailbreak, it is rather ironic that then President Jagdeo would be blamed for not implementing the Symonds Report on reforming the Police Force. Could it be that it was because police were being killed like flies by the bandits whom the sainted Mr Hoyte had denied were in Buxton?

The SN should put on some clothes.

U.S.-China relations

Government will not engage in blackmail politics (Part Two)

Dear Editor,

The PPP/C administration is on public record as saying we are prepared to ensure that the PPC is established and that all of its functions as provided for by the constitution be carried out. (Nothing more, nothing less).

Articles 212 X (1) states: the PPC shall consist of five members who shall have expertise and experience in procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters.

Article 212 X (2) states: the President shall appoint the members of the Commission after such members have been nominated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and approved by not less than two thirds of the National Assembly.

It is clear that the President can only appoint after nominations have been made by the PAC and that nomination having been made, receive the approval of not less than two thirds of the elected members of the National Assembly.

Not two thirds of those present at a sitting but two thirds of all elected members. No one party can cause this to happen. Guyanese must not be misled, we need consensus to get this in place.

Government is prepared to act now. We have only asked that the No Objection role of Cabinet be preserved. Guyana is the only coun-

try in this part of the world where the Cabinet does not award contracts. In our sister Caricom countries, it is the Cabinet that awards contracts.

We are not asking to be able to award contracts. We have voluntarily given that up when we initiated the Procurement Act of 2003.

We are simply asking that Cabinet maintain its right to offer “No Objections”.

How can we as a Government be asked to be responsible and accountable for the affairs of the State, the execution of works and projects when we play no role? Our reasonable position is that the Amendment Bill that is before the National Assembly that allows Cabinet to preserve its “No Objection” should be supported by all parties.

The article “key to breaking the dead lock over the anti-money laundering bill” (AML) as appeared in another section of the press highlights the gross misunderstanding of the facts presented before in this missive.

The architect(s) of this document has knowingly misled the nation when they suggested and I quote “as a compromise the AFC has drafted and submitted to the Government an amendment to Section 54 of the Act that would enshrine the right of Cabinet to object to the PPC the award of any contract.”

Cabinet cannot object to

PPC since as stated before, the PPC is not a procuring entity. The AFC is being very simplistic

The other issues as highlighted, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) amendments, the President assenting to non assented bills, and the President’s assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill are all extraneous issues.

The Government has publicly stated that it will not engage in blackmail politics. It’s immoral. The request by both the AFC and APNU can be considered unconscionable. It is an unashamed display of the barbaric and diabolical nature of the kind of politics that the joint Opposition is seeking to introduce.

The positions adopted shows the lack of patriotism and reveals that they are prepared to ensure that Guyana is blacklisted by the CFATF and FATF since we have already missed the February 28 deadline.

It would appear that the authors of this article are setting their own deadline of March 27. If the Opposition is serious about Guyana having in place a CFATF Compliant Bill, let’s bring it to the house NOW.

The next sitting of the parliamentary Special Select Committee on the AML/ CFT Bill is slated for today. At the last sitting of the Committee, having received submissions from the Chief

Parliamentary Council as it relates to their amendments the APNU was still seeking to have a reformulation of language to accommodate “a new thinking” on their part that was not envisaged in their previous instructions to the Chief Parliamentary Council. They don’t seem to know what they really want.

Government makes this appeal while the APNU is clarifying their thoughts, while the AFC seems to be passionately romancing their new found love. Let the CFATF Compliant Bill that is to say Bill No 22 of 2013, as agreed upon by all parties on February 9 be submitted to the House and passed unamended and let Guyana be deemed compliant.

Government has said repeatedly we are ready to act. It’s time for us to put Guyana first. No more time for gimmicks, no more smoke screens, no more cheap politicking, but the call is for responsible action in the national interest.

The paid advertisement appearing in the press should be seen as an act of desperation by some in our society to appear to be reasonable when in fact they are holding the country hostage and are making demands that can best be described as outrageous.

Sincerely, Bishop Juan Edghill Minister within the Ministry of Finance

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, Malia (right) and Sasha, are greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Diaoyutai State guest house in Beijing (Reuters)

Granger should make public apology to public servants

Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/C (PPP/C) wishes to respond to an article in another section of the press headlined, “Corruption festered by low Public Servants morale –Granger”.

David Granger is reported as saying that public servants turn a blind eye to corrupt practices because of inadequate wages and salaries paid to them which in turn led to low morale.

The PPP/C takes strong objection to the statements and insinuations made by Granger against public officials, the vast majority of whom serve the people of

this country with high levels of dedication, competence and professionalism.

To suggest that our public servants are prone to facilitate corrupt practices in the exercise of their duties is tantamount to an attack on their integrity and professionalism.

No less disrespectful is the attempt by Granger to draw a link between the salaries paid to public servants and the standard of professionalism that currently exists in the public service.

The PPP/C is of the view that a public apology should be made to the nation’s public servants by Granger, whose party lacks

the political and ethical morality to speak on the issue of public servants’ salaries and conditions of work after having pauperised public servants when the PNC held power by offering salary increases which were well below the rate of inflation on a consistent basis.

One of the first tasks embarked upon by the PPP/C when it assumed office in October 1992 was to significantly increase the emoluments of public servants which at that time was a paltry $3000 per month. The salaries of public servants at the minimum level have seen consistent increases reaching today $40,000.

In addition, the PPP/C Government has kept inflation rates in check unlike what obtained under the PNC regime when real wages were gobbled up by the monster of inflation.

In this regard, the PPP/C commends the current administration for offering salary increases to public servants every year since its assumption to office in 1992 at a time when many countries in the region were forced to impose salary cuts and retrench public servants.

Sincerely, Public Relations Unit, PPP/C Freedom House

No indication of major overcrowding in public education system

Dear Editor,

The Education Ministry (MoE) wishes to respond to an article in another section of the press headlined “Crammed classrooms concern Teachers’ Union”, in which the General Secretary for the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) Coretta McDonald, on behalf of the union, expressed her concerns about overcrowding in classrooms throughout the public school system.

While the concerns raised by McDonald seem legitimate and well-founded on the surface, the Ministry feels compelled to address, with facts, those apparent concerns raised by the General Secretary.

According to statistical data gathered by the Education Ministry’s Planning Unit using the non-academic standards of the Ministry, there is absolutely no real indication of any form of major overcrowding at any level in the public education system.

The following information was extracted from the tables on class size for the 2012-2013 academic year, and unambiguously outlines

the adequate number of children per classroom in their respective levels in the public education system.

1. Nursery level – The maximum number of children per class according to the standards is 25.

There are 1520 classes nationally at this level. Fourteen of these classes in five regions (not more than three in any region) have more than 31+ children.

2. Primary level – The maximum number of children per class at this level is 30 for Grades One and Two and 40 in Grades Three to Six.

There are 3740 classes nationally at this level. There are twelve classes with 41 to 50 children and one class with over 50 children.

3. Secondary level – The maximum number of children per class at this level is 45. The number is lower for practical classes.

In the secondary departments of primary schools there are 540 classes. Sixteen of these classes have more than 40 students. Eleven classes have 41-50 students, four classes 51 to

60 students and there is one class with 61 to 70 students. There are 1536 classes in General Secondary schools. One hundred and thirty eight of these classes have 41 to 50 students, while twelve have 51 to 60 students and there is one class which falls into the 61 to 70 category.

The Ministry has also been very proactive in recent years in checking the enrolment of schools and changing their grades.

In addition, it has also been much more systematic in placing students in nursery and primary schools near to their homes; this has significantly reduced, in fact almost eliminated, the super A schools in Georgetown.

Between 2012 and December 2013, 63 primary schools were downgraded because of a fall in enrolment as against 15 being upgraded. While there are a few instances in the public education sector where some classrooms have a little more than their required quota of students, this most certainly does not amount to major overcrowding.

The MoE remains com-

Tribute to a Guyanese stalwart

Dear Editor, The management of Channel Two Television will be designating two hours on March 25 from 20:00h for persons to pay tribute to the late former Deputy Speaker Deborah Jan Backer. Management feels that since many persons who had the opportunity of working with Mrs Backer will be unable to pay tribute at her funeral, they

have decided to make the time available for persons to do so publicly. The programme entitled, “A Tribute to a Guyanese Stalwart”, will be hosted by Bobby Vieira, and is expected to see many of the former Attorney and politician’s associates, including Ministers of Government, parliamentarians (present and past) and Attorneys drop in to make their contribution.

Members of the Lions Clubs in Guyana will also sit on the panel. The programme is expected to highlight and celebrate Mrs Backer’s life and her contribution to Guyana.

For more information, please email bobbyvieira@ onebox.com or call (718) 4043908, ext 1882.

Thank you, Bobby Vieira

Someone was responsible for leaving a loaded

firearm carelessly

Dear Editor, This past week we have been alerted to a news item which speaks of a seven-year-old bringing a loaded firearm to school. Thankfully, no one was hurt. However, the most troubling part of this story is the fact that all those involved seem to have a plan on to cover up this very serious matter.

They, for whatever reason, are treating this whole situation as a trivial occurrence which should not reach the level of prosecution for the offender. Well, they are ever so wrong.

Firstly, those responsible should be held accountable for their handling of a deadly weapon, and not seeing to it that it is properly secured and well out of the reach of the sevenyear-old. Secondly, the school erred in not reporting a life threatening situation at the institution.

mitted to continuously working towards ensuring that students and teachers both enjoy a comfortable teaching and learner-friendly environment.

To this end, aggressive teacher training programmes have been conducted and will continue with a view to having more trained teachers available for classrooms.

In 2008, the Ministry had promised in its strategic plan to train 1818 additional teachers by 2013. The Ministry is pleased that it surpassed its own target and trained instead 3084 teachers over the period. Guyana now enjoys more than 70 per cent trained teachers, the most trained teachers our country has ever had.

Despite the indisputable successes, the Ministry recognises the need to continue to work every day to lessen the challenges facing the system and the ministry commits to so working.

Yours faithfully,

Suelle Findlay-Williams Public Relations Officer Education Ministry

This is not a so called private matter and should have been reported in the first place. The police should have been called in forthwith and the matter dealt with in a professional manner.

Someone is responsible for leaving a loaded firearm in a place where the

child could have gained access to it and, in the ensuing scenario, taken that firearm to school endangering the lives of countless others.

Picture the scene if that gun was aimed at the teacher or other students nearby. Then we would have awakened to a crime scene of bloody mayhem in that classroom. So this is no laughing matter – it is a situation where countless number of persons could have been either dead or critically wounded.

So, this is the seriousness of this case and I am concerned about the safety of society. In this regard, those responsible should face the full weight of the law. I am recommending a hefty fine and a total revocation of this gun licence. There is no excuse for this kind of lawlessness.

Right now, Guyana is reeling from the high incidence of firearm usage, both legal and illegal. Therefore, with the latest display, all efforts should be made to get that firearm out of that home. We cannot risk the lives of others.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

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

Page Foundation

TDyslexia basics

(continued from Saturday)

What are the effects of dyslexia?

he impact that dyslexia has is different for each person and depends on the severity of the condition and the effectiveness of instruction or remediation. The core difficulty is with word recognition and reading fluency, spelling, and writing. Some dyslexics manage to learn early reading and spelling tasks, especially with excellent instruction, but later experience their most debilitating problems when more complex language skills are required, such as grammar, understanding textbook material, and writing essays.

People with dyslexia can also have problems with spoken language, even after they have been exposed to good language models in their homes and good language instruction in school. They may find it difficult to express themselves clearly, or to fully comprehend what others mean when they speak. Such language problems are often difficult to recognise, but they can lead to major problems in school, in the workplace, and in relating to other people. The effects of dyslexia reach well beyond the classroom.

Dyslexia can also affect a person’s self-image. Students with dyslexia often end up feeling “dumb”

and less capable than they actually are. After experiencing a great deal of stress due to academic problems, a student may become discouraged about continuing in school.

student is below that benchmark the school may immediately deliver intensive and individualised supplemental reading instruction before determining whether the student needs a com-

tion makes sense. There is no benefit to the child if special instruction is delayed for months while waiting for an involved testing process to occur. These practices of teaching first, and then de-

How is dyslexia diagnosed?

Before referring a student for a comprehensive evaluation, a school or district may choose to track a student’s progress with a brief screening test and identify whether the student is progressing at a “benchmark” level that predicts success in reading. If a

prehensive evaluation that would lead to a designation of special education eligibility. Some students simply need more structured and systematic instruction to get back on track; they do not have learning disabilities. For those students and even for those with dyslexia, putting the emphasis on preventive or early interven-

termining who needs diagnostic testing based on response to instruction, are encouraged by federal policies known as Response to Intervention (RTI). Parents should know, however, that at any point they have the right to request a comprehensive evaluation under the IDEA law, whether or not the student is receiving

instruction under an RTI model.

A comprehensive evaluation typically includes intellectual and academic achievement testing, as well as an assessment of the critical underlying language skills that are closely linked to dyslexia. These include receptive (listening) and expressive language skills, phonological skills including phonemic awareness, and also a student’s ability to rapidly name letters and names. A student’s ability to read lists of words in isolation, as well as words in context, should also be assessed. If a profile emerges that is characteristic of readers with dyslexia, an individualised intervention plan should be developed, which should include appropriate accommodations, such as extended time. The testing can be conducted by trained school or outside specialists.

What are the signs of dyslexia?

The problems displayed by individuals with dyslexia involve difficulties in acquiring and using written language. It is a myth that dyslexic individuals “read backwards,” although spelling can look quite jumbled at times because students have trouble remembering letter symbols for sounds

and forming memories for words. Other problems experienced by dyslexics include the following:

* Learning to speak

* Learning letters and their sounds

* Organising written and spoken language

* Memorising number facts

* Reading quickly enough to comprehend

* Persisting with and comprehending longer reading assignments

* Spelling

* Learning a foreign language

* Correctly doing math operations

Not all students who have difficulties with these skills are dyslexic. Formal testing is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of suspected dyslexia.

How is dyslexia treated?

Dyslexia is a life-long condition. With proper help, many people with dyslexia can learn to read and write well. Early identification and treatment is the key to helping dyslexics achieve in school and in life. Most people with dyslexia need help from a teacher, tutor, or therapist specially trained in using a multisensory, structured language approach. It is important for these individuals to be taught by a systematic and explicit method that involves several senses (hearing, seeing, touching) at the same time. Many individuals with dyslexia need oneon-one help so that they can move forward at their own pace. In addition, students with dyslexia often need a great deal of structured practice and immediate, corrective feedback to develop automatic word recognition skills. For students with dyslexia, it is helpful if their outside academic therapists work closely with classroom teachers.

Schools can implement academic accommodations and modifications to help dyslexic students succeed. For example, a student with dyslexia can be given extra time to complete tasks, help with taking notes, and work assignments that are modified appropriately. Teachers can give taped tests or allow dyslexic students to use alternative means of assessment. Students can benefit from listening to books on tape, using text reading computer programs, and from writing on computers. Students may also need help with emotional issues that sometimes arise as a consequence of difficulties in school. Mental health specialists can help students cope with their struggles. (ldonline.org)

Troubled GuySuCo to get $6B bailout

...in hope of reversing

By Michael younge

Government has budgeted a whopping $6 billion for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to assist the struggling industry which is facing what is being described by the Finance Minister as “bedevilling challenges” in the hope of achieving a “reversal of fortunes”.

Dr Ashni Singh made the announcement on Monday afternoon while presenting his eighth consecutive national budget which totals $220 billion. The Minister said the multibillion-dollar transfer should be seen as a provision to “help” the industry which has been affected by a variety of problems. He also pointed out that the help given to GuySuCo was testimony of the Administration’s unswerving support for the sugar industry and its commitment to the sector’s longterm viability and profitability.

“This commitment has manifested itself not in void rhetoric but in tangible support,” he told the National Assembly, while acknowledging the fact that 120,000 persons (the sugar workers and their families) would benefit from the injection of funds into the sector.

Dr Singh’s announcement comes at a time when feverish debates are taking place about the future of the sugar sector, its underperformance, and the ongoing challenges facing

fortunes

the industry. The budgetary measure for the sugar sector is also being undertaken at a time when calls have been made for a closure of the industry so that its resources could be better utilised to produce ethanol. That position was advanced originally by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and supported by the Alliance For Change, but both Opposition parties have since done complete somersaults on these positions.

Contraction Singh reported to the House that the non-sugar Gross Domestic Product grew by 6.3 per cent in 2013. As expected, sugar production suffered a contraction of 14.4 per cent

in 2013 to 186,770 tonnes of sugar. “The issues confronting the industry such as labour shortages and disruptions, irregular weather and managerial capacity constraints, are wellknown, and a more concerted effort is required to return the industry to a growth trajectory... with viability and profitability,” he stressed.

Last year, Guyana’s sugar export accounted for 8.3 per cent of total exports valued at US$112.2 million. The industry, according to the Finance Minister, managed to contribute 3.9 per cent of the GDP for that year as the sector remains the largest employer. In 2013 as well, Dr Singh reported that through cogeneration, GuySuCo was able to meet 50 per cent of the demand in the

Berbice area for electricity. He did acknowledge that developments on the global and regional economic markets have led to massive problems for the ailing industry. “... sugar prices have been on a declining trend over the past two years,” Dr Singh noted, projecting that the abolition of the production quotas for beet producers in the European Union in 2017 may impact on the volume and price of sugar exported to the EU from Guyana.

Industry aid

Minister Singh revealed that Government transferred a total of US$195 million to GuySuCo over the period 2005 to 2013 as part of actual support for restructuring and turnaround activities.

“This exceeds the total of... US$145.9 million received from the EU under the accompanying measures programme since its introduction.” This statement comes on the heels of baffling allegations made by People’s National Congress Reform Executive Member Anthony Vieira that Government had failed to directly pay into GuySuCo’s coffers grant aid and assistance received from the EU to help the industry restructure to meet modern production requirements.

The Finance Minister argued staunchly that GuySuCo must urgently increase its production while reducing costs in order to survive.

He pointed to a myriad of opportunities which exist as corridors of hope for the industry’s revival.

“These opportunities include existing demand for approximately 70,000 tonnes of brown sugar within Caricom, which is currently being sourced extra-regionally,” he stated.

The Minister mentioned the advancement of the industry’s mechanisation process, improving yields with the use of organic fertilisers and improved efficiency which must be advanced in order to move the sugar industry away from the tidal wave that is threatening its existence.

There was also scant mention of a “soon-to-be appointed new Board of Directors and senior management”, which Government hopes will work to addressing the challenges facing the sector. Last year, Government budgeted $1 billion for the industry and before the end of the year, it moved to the National Assembly to approve another $4 billion.

In 2012 alone, Government provided $4 billion in subsidy to GuySuCo to assist the sugar company’s cash flow. On average, the Government has been injecting between $4 billion and $5 billion yearly into the industry, which is haunted by mismanagement and production trends stuck in a downward spiral. At the commencement of this year, GuySuCo had owed in excess of $10 billion to creditors.

House pays homage to the late Debra Backer

Asolemn atmosphere pervaded the National Assembly on Monday as members expressed their sorrow over the loss of their former colleague Debra Backer.

During the special sitting of the House for the presentation of the 2014 National Budget, parliamentarians of every stripe paid homage to the late Backer as they recognised her sterling contributions to politics and the development of the country.

Retired Brigadier David Granger, Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which Backer represented in Parliament, said his party has lost an invaluable member.

He noted that while Backer could be remembered for her many contributions as a parliamentarian and Attorney-at-Law, she was devoted to her principles and was very concerned about interpersonal violence, the rights of women and children, and the general condition in which citizens were forced to live.

Granger continued that Backer was very proud of her mixed heritage, accepting it as an asset since it gave her insight into different sections of the population. The Opposition Leader said she was very committed to her parliamentary work and took her position as Deputy Speaker seriously, “She felt that whatever she did in the Eighth, Ninth

and Tenth Parliament was for the greater good of our country and the citizens of this country,” Granger noted, as he expressed his condolences to her family.

Patriot Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Cathy Hughes said her party was saddened by the death of the former parliamentarian, who has served Guyana beyond the call of duty. “There was an aspect to Debbie that was about moving Guyana forward, it was about being able to negotiate so that ordinary people would be able to benefit and better served by this country,” Hughes stated. The AFC member noted that she had personally lost a mentor, who guid-

ed her through the ropes of Parliament. She added that Backer was also a strict member of her faith.

In acknowledging the contributions made by the indomitable Backer, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds noted that she represented her party and cause well. He said she was a keen debater who was known for her ability to heckle Government members and put them off. He expressed his condolences to the late parliamentarian’s family, stating that her death was also a loss for the National Assembly and the country.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, recounted Backer’s career as a parliamentarian. He noted that she entered the Parliament in 1998 during

its Seventh Edition after National Elections the previous year. Trotman added that Backer continued to serve in the Eighth Parliament after the 2001 elections and went on to serve in the Ninth and Tenth Parliaments after the 2006 and 2011 elections respectively.

The Speaker continued that after the 2011 elections, Backer was appointed Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, in which capacity she served until her resignation last month, owing to illness. Trotman highlighted Backer’s depth of experience in the Parliament, noting that she served as the Opposition Chief Whip and in various positions on several parliamentary bodies, including the Committee

of Privileges, Committee on Appointments, Parliamentary Management Committee, and the Special Select Committee on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism A(ML/CFT) Amendment Bill. He noted that she tabled the Married Persons (Property) Amendment Bill 2013 and laid six motions, some of which were endorsed.

Backer retired from the National Assembly on February 7 due to her prolonged illness, to which she succumbed on Friday last. Her funeral service will be held on Friday at the St Andrew’s Kirk and there will be several events held in her memory.

The Finance Minister said GuySuCo must urgently increase its production while reducing costs in order to survive

Parliamentarians observe a moment of silence for the late Deputy Speaker Debra Backer

GDF rank accused of murder further remanded

Abiola Jacobs, the 22-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend’s mother, Donna Taylor, made yet another court appearance on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Relatives of the deceased on Monday complained to the Guyana Police Force that the accused murderer, of Lot 55 Evan Phillips Park, Agricola,

East Bank Demerara, was making contact with them.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that relatives of the deceased made the complaints about the defendant making contact with them via letters and phone calls even though she is on remand. Mangru requested that Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry warn the accused to desist from making contact with the relatives.

Govt unveils...

He said in order to ensure that the company can meet its investment and operational obligations, Government provided the allocation to support critical capital expenditure without which steeper tariffs would be unavoidable. “This support will ultimately redound to the benefit of all 170,000 of GPL’s customers and their families.”

Similarly, $3.2 billion has been budgeted for Linden electricity supply. Dr Singh said no progress has been made on the matter of adjusting electricity tariffs in Linden and as such the allotted sum is being proposed to meet the cost of maintaining the electricity subsidy

in Linden and Kwakwani so that 10,500 electricity customers in Region 10 can continue to benefit from rates that are highly subsidised. He said as indicated last year, this translates to a monthly benefit of over $23,000 for each electricity customer in the beneficiary communities.

Pension

Regarding the Old Age Pension, Dr Singh said recent years have been marked by dramatic increases in the non-contributory old age pension paid to persons over the age of 65 years. This monthly cash supplement has been increased annually from

Defence Attorney Adrian Thompson related to the court that his client had been unaware of the allegations made by the relatives of the deceased.

The Chief Magistrate then advised the defence lawyer to advise his client that it was not wise to be making any sort of contact with the relatives.

It is alleged that the female soldier on January

from page 3

$3,500 in 2006 to $12,500 last year, he said. According to him this year budget provides for the old age pension to be increased by 5 percent with effect from 1 May 2014 to $13,125 monthly. This increase would result in a total of $212.5 million in additional disposable income being placed in the hands of 42,500 of our senior citizens, and will bring the total old age pension bill to $6.6 million.

Simultaneously, the Finance Minister said in addition to the Old Age Pension Government pays every month to senior citizens, it also assists pensioners to pay the water tariffs due to the Guyana Water

31, at Agricola Public Road, Greater Georgetown, murdered 55-year-old Taylor. According to police reports, Taylor’s body was found at the back of her Agricola home, with her throat slit and her hands bound behind her. Jacobs was further remanded to prison until May 6 for the commencement of the preliminary inquiry (PI). Some 17 witnesses are expected to testify in the case.

Inc at an annual cost in excess of $200 million. Last year, “We introduced an annual contribution of $20,000 payable annually to every old age pensioner who is a customer of GPL, helping them to meet the electricity charges they incur with that company. I now wish to announce that, with effect from 2014, the value of this electricity assistance programme will be increased by 50 per cent to $30,000 per annum for each eligible beneficiary. This will result in an additional $300 million of disposable income being placed in the hands of our most senior citizens,” Dr Singh concluded.

Eyew tness Conversations...

Ayear or so ago, we had a “conversation on race” hosted by ACDA, over at their Thomas Lands headquarters (HQ). As we complained then, it was more like a soliloquy since no other “race group” was invited to the palaver. As they used to say in the 1970s, it was a “black thang”. But we thought maybe the solipsistic retreat was necessary so that all the brethren and sisteren could be on the same page, ideologically speaking.

We’d hoped that soon after, however, feelers would’ve been sent out to the “others” in what was hopefully accepted to be a multi-racial, multi-cultural agglomeration. Land of six peoples and all that. Better late than never, since over half a century before Eusi Kwayana had pointed out that all we had here were “pre-nations”. But all we got was a deafening silence.

Until yesterday, that is. And we thought once again “better late than never”. David Hinds, one of the four surviving members of the WPA – and even he seems to be hedging his bets with this new Cuffy 250 – and a participant at the Thomas Lands Conversation, opened up what your Eyewitness hopes is a conversation across the aisles. Can’t be much fun just preaching to the choir, if nothing else.

As is his wont, Brother Hinds waxed long and hard –especially hard – on a disquisition on the genealogy of anti-African racism. While he didn’t use too many big words like “ontological” and such-like, we must confess we found the going rough. And your Eyewitness is paid to do this.

We were surprised that he quoted therein his erstwhile comrade Kissoon from the MuckrakingKN. Back last year, Kissoon was barred from attending the aforementioned Conversation, because he wasn’t “black enough”. That must’ve been the unkindest cut of all, to the poor fellow. Seems Kissoon must’ve since rectified the facticity of his blackness.

But it seems that some hitherto fore unknown information must’ve been distributed last year at Thomas Lands. Hinds complained that “despite widespread crime in both Indian and African Guyanese communities, disproportionately more black boys are being summarily executed by the police”. To make such a statement about “disproportion”, Hinds would’ve had to be in possession of the identities of those who committed the “widespread crime”.

We wonder where he got the figures from and hope that he can share them with our police. The latter, after all, have been having their challenges with apprehending those miscreants.

...between cosmopolitans

Now when you talk about having “conversations on race”, who better than Eric Phillips and Abu Bakr? Even though both are Guyanese, they’re very cosmopolitan –with Phillips spending time in the U.S. and Africa and Bakr, in France. Even though both would’ve been allowed in at the Thomas Lands affair (Philips was even an organiser), it doesn’t appear from their conversations in the papers, they see eye to eye on everything. Or maybe anything.

Part of it is because of the different epistemological tools bequeathed in the diaspora. It would seem that Bakr is living proof that the French policy of assimilation (laiceite) – which is supposed to turn natives into “Frenchmen” – does work. And the man was all over Phillips for daring to suggest that Whites might have something to do with the present conditions of Africans. And even if they do, Bakr pouted, why should Africans be seeking reparations in the present?

As an “insider” he brings another arrow to the European bow in rejecting reparations. Africans, he said, were also complicit in the slave trade, so where’s the moral justification in not going after them for reparations?

Well for one, because those folks are even poorer than us because they were subsequently raped more violently?

...on Budget?

Well, the Budget’s been read. Do you suppose after two weeks of perusal, the MPs will be having a conversation? Don’t hold your breath.

Hydropower still on the cards

– Brazilian consortium investing US$45M in feasibility studies

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

ABrazilian consortium will provide US$45 million to conduct prefeasibility studies to determine Guyana’s potential to develop hydropower stations in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven.

Queiroz Galvao (QG) and OAS are the two multibillion-dollar Brazilian companies that make up the consortium. They are expected to commence the prefeasibility study in April followed by the feasibility study, a process which is expected to take two years.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds made this disclosure on Monday at a press briefing at the National Communication’s Network (NCN) in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett,

Amerindian Affairs

Minister Pauline Sukhai and Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mahender Sharma, among other officials.

The Government of Guyana has embarked on an exercise to brief stakeholders on the undertaking of the prefeasibility and feasibility studies, which will determine the potential of hydropower development in the Middle and Upper Mazaruni to the capacities of 1500 megawatts and 3000 megawatts re-

spectively.

During the execution of the prefeasibility and feasibility assessments, hydrology and arial topographic studies will be conducted to secure precise data on the areas of study. Hydrology involves the measuring and graphing of river behaviour and river flow within the district over a period of 12 months. To facilitate such, the consortium will be required to establish substations at strategic locations within the Upper and Middle Mazaruni. Meanwhile, the arial topographic study would include the usage of an aircraft and sophisticated equipment to map the areas of study.

Financially secured

Boasting of the consortium’s ability to execute the multibillion-dollar hydro project if found feasible, a Director pointed out that both QG and OAS have an annual revenue of US$3.5 billion or a collective US$7 billion in over 23 countries, spanning South America to Central America, Africa, South East Asia and Russia. They are specialised in infrastructural development, but more notably hydropower.

Dr Sharma added that the prefeasibility and feasibility studies in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni will identify the social, environmental and economic impacts of hydro power to this

magnitude.

Size of the reservoir, storage required, power output, how much power could be generated at any one time over the cycle of the project, expected energy output, cost construction, cost of operation and the cost of transmission lines are among variables to be determined at the end of the feasibility study.

Preempting the findings of the prefeasibility and feasibility studies, Dr Sharma is convinced that tremendous benefits will derive from such an initiative in Guyana. He said the hydropower plants at Region Seven will not only provide cheap but clean electricity, boosting the social and economic sectors through direct and indirect job creation.

Less dependent On the national scene, he said such a move will pave the way for Guyana to be less dependent on imported fossil fuel which cost the country a whopping US$543 million in 2013. But with the introduction of hydro power, Guyana can generate a new source of energy by selling power to Brazil. Additional studies will also determine whether Guyana can become a part of the international grid. It was explained that under the North Arc (The Arco Norte) Initiative, Guyana is analysing the possibility of building electrical interconnection lines between Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil. If feasible, Guyana is also looking to sell its power to neighbouring countries in need.

The Foreign Affairs Minister pointed out that Guyana is the only country in South America without hydropower, although it is the Caricom country with the greatest potential for hydropower. Guyana has a potential of 7100-7600 megawatts of power.

“We all know Brazil needs additional energy and she is willing to buy

from whoever is willing to sell. Guyana we need cheap and reliable energy and we need to expand our revenue base as well,” she said. She also noted that even if the Amaila Hydropower Project comes on stream, there will still be need for more renewable energy.

Already consultations have commenced on the prefeasibility and feasibility studies that are scheduled to commence soon. Last week, Prime Minister Hinds

and Minister RodriquesBirkett, along with several other officials, met with political parties, the private sector, the National Toshaos Council and the Region Seven Regional Democratic Council on the development of hydropower in the Mazaruni.

Persons residing in the Upper Mazaruni, who were consulted, expressed concerns about the flooding as was contemplated in the 1970s when a similar project was being considered.

However, they were comforted by the officials who stated that with the advancement of technology; there is a totally different approach to the design, reducing the reservoir significantly in the vicinity of 90 per cent or more when compared to the 1970s. This response given to the residents of Upper Mazaruni was based on a preliminary study conducted by the consortium.

This new development stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on infrastructure development

that was signed by the two countries on December 5, 2012 with the primary objective of stimulating projects in the area of hydropower, road development and the construction of a deepwater port. Through the MoU, a Guyana-Brazil Joint Technical Working Group was established. This group is led by Ambassador Elizabeth Harper on the Guyana side. (svetlanam@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

GEA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mahender Sharma

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

AFC boycotts budget presentation

The Alliance For Change (AFC) walked out of the National Assembly minutes before Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh presented the 2014 Budget.

The AFC said it was registering its protest against Government’s violation of the country’s Constitution by not holding meaningful consultations on the budget.

Quoting Article 13, the AFC pointed out that Guyana’s Constitution provides principal objectives for the political system of the state to establish inclusionary democracy.

The AFC argued, in a statement issued shortly after its historic walkout, that “the GovernmentOpposition consultation promotes the type of democracy that Guyana needs. Unfortunately, in keeping with its misguided winner-takes-all posture, this Government tries to reduce the role of the majori-

ty Opposition from an active participant in national decision-making to one of a passive listener.”

The AFC does not believe that the Finance Minister would make a sober presentation this year. “High on a propaganda blitz against the Opposition, he would not resist the blame game and the sojourn into the past, to but-

tress evident failures,” the party said.

It was argued too that the capital estimates would be padded to include highprofile pet projects with multibillion-dollar contracts. According to the AFC, the budget is being presented by a Minister who has acted in contradiction of the decisions of the House by moving to restore funds that were not approved.

Social sector spending

“For us, as a patriotic and national movement, we have a vested interest to support increased allocations for the social sectors, including education, health, housing, water, environment and security. AFC will demand more dollars for wages, pensions and social assistance,” the AFC said.

The party endorsed the financing of organisations that continue to foster growth within their communities and regions.

However, it noted that the 2014 budget is overshadowed by the ruling of the acting Chief Justice (CJ) that the National Assembly may only approve or disapprove the estimates of expenditure. This ruling by the CJ has since been appealed.

While the party is respectful of the court’s ruling, it said it reserves the right to abide with the people’s mandate to guard the national purse, and fight squandermania, waste and corruption by whatever means available under the standing orders of the National Assembly, in the Committee of Supply.

Monday’s action of the AFC is presumably just the tip of the iceberg with regard to the Opposition’s posture on the budget. Both the AFC and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had registered their intention to axe the budget for the third time.

Two shot, robbed at horse race meet

Two men are hospitalised after they were shot and injured by bandits who robbed them during the Kennard Memorial Horse Race meeting on Sunday According to reports, on Sunday, Bansingh Gayadeen also called “Eagle”, 72, of Corentyne, Berbice, was operating a drink bar at the Kennard’s Memorial Club horse racing event.

Upon heading home after the event, he reversed his canter truck to off load unsold stocks into his home when the bandits struck.

The incident occurred about 19:00h. Speaking to

bullets randomly,” he said.

He opined that the robbery carried out on him was well planned as most likely, someone was tracing his movements on the said day.

“I know that this is a set up because they went ahead and waited at my home for me to arrive, I could not recognise them as it was already dark… but the shot me on my left foot and said ‘drop the bag’,” he stated.

The injured man said he immediately dropped the bag that contained all the cash and was told to lie on the ground, which he complied out of fear for his life. The bag reportedly contained approximately

Guyana Times from his New Amsterdam Hospital bed, Gayadeen recounted his horrific ordeal.

“I was running a bar at the horse race and in the afternoon, I collected all the stocks and finance to take home, when I stopped my vehicle in my yard, I was confronted by two men armed with guns and start firing

$600,000.

The other injured person, Kissondat Madhoo also called “Kris”, 30, a teacher of the Central Corentyne Secondary School, was also shot in both feet at the time of the robbery. He told Guyana Times that he was working with Gayadeen in the capacity of an accountant on the day in

question.

He said after the race ended, he went with Kissondat to his home to balance up the stocks and finance.

“After the canter reversed and parked, he exited (Gayadeen) the vehicle first and then I got off as well; he was on his way to put on his lights, however, when he reached the stairs, I heard a shot… something like a bomb or a squib going off,” he explained.

Madhoo said he did not take it as a threat as he was of the opinion that someone was playing; however, after a second shot was discharged, he became fearful.

“I heard someone saying lie on the ground but I wasn’t aware of exactly what was going on, I was shocked and disoriented,

then there was a third shot and I fell to the ground,” he said, noting that he began to feel excruciating pain in both his legs, and soon collapsed.

While on the ground, the bandits kept insisting that he lie face down. The ordeal, he recalled, lasted for about 15 minutes and after the bandits had exited the premises, Gayadeen came and shook him and helped get him up.

The two of them assisted each other by hobbling painfully towards the public road where they were assisted by a passing driver who took them to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Surgeries were conducted on both men to extract the bullets; they are currently hospitalised, but in a stable condition.

No one has been arrested for the shooting and robbery, but police say they have intensified their investigations.

Rum Jhaat buy another scissors fuh de budget

De Finance Minister present de budget yesterday, but Rum Jhaat had want to sleep so he decide that he had to mek a excuse fuh walk out. And it ain’t that he had want to sleep because de budget was borin. De budget got a lotta action, accordin to de Minister.

Is just that Rum Jhaat had different kinda action late at 7-owe-4 and even later at Gravi-T de night before. Plus one a dem vendors pun de pave seh Rum Jhaat does even get more action after he leff de club every night.

So at three o’ clock in de afternoon, when was budget time in de House, Rum Jhaat had budget siesta fuh de same time, so he could wake up after and head down to 7-owe-4 and Gravi-T again. Rum Jhaat own neighbour seh de man does gravitate towards de Gravi-T just like how he does gravitate to dem bottle at de cricket club by de sea wall.

Now Rum Jhaat had fuhget that he had done tell a reporter who been at de Gravi-T that he ain’t got time to listen de Minister present de budget. But de same reporter who does cover de House seh Rum Jhaat don’t listen to any ting in Parliament anyway. Rum Jhaat seh he had want a sober presentation, but he gon never be sober to listen.

At least some people who ain’t hear the budget does read de budget. But right now Rum Jhaat ain’t even wanna read de budget. He seh he just waitin fuh de budget debate so he can tek out he scissors and cut de budget.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Now de See-Jay had done cut down Rum Jhaat to size and tek away he scissors, but it look like he went and buy another one. After all, Rum Jhaat is a cut man. He get a cut from New York and then he get a cut from Berbice. And now he gettin a cut every month all de way from India!

Four arrested for narco possession

Four persons have been arrested as Berbice police clamp down on the trafficking of narcotics in Sub-Division Two under the leadership of Deputy Police Superintendent Khali Pareshram.

Ryan Fernandes, 25; Krisoondat Ali, 17; Fazal Ali, 23; and Rodney George, 16, all of Grant 1803 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne were arrested for possession of the illegal substance. According to reports, on March 21, police ranks acting on information received, went to the location and found the cocaine and cannabis in the possession of the perpetrators. They were found to be in possession of two grams of cocaine and seven grams of cannabis.

The four were arrested and taken into custody at the Springlands Police Station. Charges are expected to be laid against them shortly.

Meanwhile, Bilall Mc Lennon also called “Lips” was on March 21 charged with robbery under arms. Reports indicate that on March 16 at Rose Hall Town, armed with a knife, he robbed Jagnarine Narine of one iPhone valued $37,000 and $20,000 in cash.

Mc Lennon made an appearance before Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on March 21, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted bail in the sum of$40,000 and ordered to return to court on April 8.

Khemraj Ramjattan

Bansingh Gayadeen. Inset is a photo of the injury he sustained to his leg

Kissondat Madhoo displays his shot legs

President Ramotar meets Norwegian delegation

President Donald Ramotar on Monday held discussions with a technical team from Norway on the implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The visiting team comprises members of the Norwegian Climate and Environment Ministry and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) – Marianne Johansen, Maarten van der Eynden, and Mads Halfdan Lie, a Government Information

Agency (GINA) release said.

Progress under the landmark Guyana-Norway forest and climate partnership and the implementation of the LCDS, as well as matters regarding support for the implementation of LCDS projects were among the key areas of discussion.

The President reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment under the partnership and shared perspectives on Guyana’s LCDS and the

Litter Prevention Regulations

Under the Litter Prevention Regulations, littering from a moving vehicle or a trailer in motion is an offence. Motor vehicles include those used for transportation of people and goods such as cars, buses, speedboats, ferries, etc.

A person who litters or causes litter to fall off or blow off from a motor vehicle or trailer in motion is guilty of an offence. As such, persons who transport goods are advised to:

(a) Secure their materials in such a way to prevent it from falling off the motor vehicle or trailer; and

(b) Cover materials in such a way to prevent them from blowing off the motor vehicle or trailer.

If a person fails to heed this advice and litter falls or blows off the vehicle/trailer, then the person is guilty of an offence.

(a)An individual found guilty of this offence will be fined $50,000

(b)A company found guilty of this offence will be fined $100,000

Encouragement of offence against littering from a moving vehicle

A person who causes or knowingly permits another person to litter from a moving vehicle shall also be guilty of an offence, and be convicted for the same offence together with the person who committed the act.

Increased penalty for subsequent offence

A person having been convicted of littering from a moving vehicle, and is convicted a second time for the same act,will have to pay double the amount of the maximum fine attached to the offence or face three months imprisonment.

Owners of public transportation are required by law to provide containers for the disposal of litter!

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation plus (REDD+) model. Useful lessons are emerging through the implementation of the LCDS and partnership with Norway and these are helping to shape global initiatives on REDD+.

On November 9, 2009, Guyana and Norway entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to foster cooperation between the two countries on issues related to the fight against

climate change. Under the agreement, Norway has committed to providing Guyana with up to US$250 million by 2015, depending on Guyana’s delivery of results from avoided deforestation.

Guyana has since earned US$115 million in three consecutive payments and a fourth payment is expected. These funds are supporting the implementation of several projects under the LCDS, including the Micro and Small Enterprise Project, the Amerindian Development Fund and the strengthening of key institutions.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project will also benefit from funds earned under the Norway partnership. While in Guyana, the visiting team is expected to be part of a review process on the implementation of Guyana’s Monitoring Reporting and Verification System (MRVS) roadmap.

President Donald Ramotar

tuesday, march 25, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

Education sector gets $32.8B

The allocation to the education sector this year increased by some $3.8 billion from the previous year, with focus to be placed on infrastructure development, teachers’ training and education delivery.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during his budget presentation on Monday, said some $2.9 billion will be allocated towards the construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of the various educational facilities.

This includes expansion work at the Zeeburg Secondary School and the Kato Secondary complex.

In addition, the Government will also be implementing a $10 million Universal Secondary Education Project, which will see the construction of new secondary schools, the provision of materials to improve teaching techniques and the provision of technology to improve students’ comprehension of mathematics.

According to the Finance Minister, the teachers’ training college will continue offering existing programmes; measures are also in place for evaluation and development of lecturers. This, he noted, will see some teachers pursuing post-graduate degrees in their respective fields.

The Ministry will also be strengthening its efforts to eliminate illiteracy and

raise public awareness in order to ensure that parents understand their vital role in their children’s education.

ICT

Meanwhile, regarding Information and Communication Technology (ICT), an additional 2500 teachers will be trained. Resources have been provided to ensure that all secondary schools are equipped with computer laboratories by the end of 2014.

Dr Singh added that this year will see the expansion of training opportunities to include occupational programmes in the mining and hospitality industries. This is being done as a roll off from the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme, which along with entrepreneurship training, will be directed towards enabling their viability.

In the area of tertiary education, $1.4 billion will be plugged into the management and operation of both the University of Guyana Turkeyen and Tain campuses.

Of this sum, some $450 million will go towards the student loan programme. Government will also be introducing online degree programmes while some 17 programmes will undergo a curriculum reform.

In addition, under

the university’s Science and Technology Support Initiative, 14 science and technology buildings will be rehabilitated and reequipped. Also, a feasibility study on the new Centre of Excellence for the Study of Biodiversity will commence.

Dr Singh further explained that the new Education Strategic Plan for 2014 to 2018 is being finalised and is expected to focus on areas such as improving literacy rates, early childhood development, teacher training, enrolment in single sciences, technical vocational educational programmes, and more structured partnerships with private sector providers and parents.

Education sector

Minister Singh disclosed that the $28.5 billion that was allocated to the education sector in 2013 was expended towards the final year of the last strategic plan. He noted that $2.7 billion was used for infrastructural works done on schools and other educational facilities, including the reconstruction of the One Mile Primary and Parfaite Harmonie primary schools and La Venture Secondary.

The sum of $50 million went towards the construction of the Harold B Davis Special School for differently-abled children. This school was commissioned

in January this year. Also, 16 secondary computer laboratories were built as Government continued its works towards ensuring that secondary schools have access to information technology.

Some $35.2 million was directed towards the commencement of the University of Guyana Science and Technology Support Initiative. Further, another $50 million was plugged into ensuring much greater access to tertiary level education through online programmes. In the area of teacher training, upgrade programmes were held in Regions One, Eight and Nine, enabling persons there to become eligible to access the Trained Teacher’s Certificate Programme. Under this programme, 159 teachers were certified last year. An additional 177 teachers have entered the system as trained teachers from Cyril Potter College of Education. The Minister further revealed that in excess of $1 billion was spent on the National School Feeding Programme from which more than 65,000 children benefited. A further $208 million was also expended on the National Uniform Programme. This saw over 139,000 children benefiting from the programme as Government continues its efforts to encourage school attendance and attentiveness in the classroom.

Fire destroys $100M in equipment at GuyTrac

Alate night fire at the GuyTrac storage bond on Mandela Avenue has resulted in more than $100 million in losses.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, sparks from a neighbouring furnace spread over to GuyTrac’s compound igniting several pieces of heavyduty machinery that were close by. The furnace is located at the back of what used to be the Bowling Alley building. It is now used as a factory that creates pallets.

According to neighbours and workers at the bond, the fire started shortly after 22:00h and the Fire Service was immediately informed. However, by the time the fire tenders arrived on the scene more than five machines were damaged, including a new boat. Two excavators, two combines and one bulldozer were severely damaged in the inferno.

One of the neighbours noted that upon seeing the fire, he alerted the security guard who was unaware that the fire was consuming the

GuyTrac bond on fire

back of the compound. When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, firefighters were still trying to completely extinguish the blaze. Ranks of the Guyana Police Force were also seen on the scene.

The owner of GuyTrac,

Shamnarine Sugrim told this publication that he received a call about 22:00h from a worker informing him of the fire. The businessman complained that for the past two years he has been having problems with the fur-

nace which is in close range of his property.

The man noted that several complaints were lodged but nothing was done. Now he is wondering who will stand the cost of the burntout machines.

Ganja planters up production in Berbice River

– residents urge authorities

to stop their free reign

By Shiran ramnauth

Large scale ganja cultivation up the Berbice River, more specifically at De Veldt, Sand Hills, Tataballi and Gateroy, have caused much consternation among residents, with many expressing fear for their lives.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, last Thursday night, some 800lbs of marijuana cultivated there was off loaded from a small boat along the Berbice River, and transported to a larger vessel, allegedly bound for Suriname.

Sources say that the financial transactions for the prohibited substance took place a stone's throw away from the police head quarters in New Amsterdam. The substance was reportedly bought by a Dutch man.

Several residents are fearful for their lives as the illegal cultivation has been flourishing in the absence of eradication exercises for the past two years.

Ganja entrepreneur

One resident at De Veldt, which is some 50 miles up the Berbice River, said there is an excavator worth $10 million, acquired by a known “ganja entrepreneur”, reportedly from the proceeds of his illicit activities.

Reports indicate that the excavator was purchased in Georgetown and taken to the Berbice village by river and road transportation. The ganja cultivator in question has been arrested three times for the unlawful activity, but in the absence of concrete evidence, he was subsequently released. In 2010, the suspected drug dealer was arrested and two speedboats and other articles were seized.

“We saying that this machine will be used to clear more bushes so he can cultivate more ganja man… this thing getting out of hand and someone need to do something about it, he not getting caught and he making much money out of it,” the resident told this publication.

According to residents, the cultivator last Christmas reportedly purchased two cars, both used

for special hire, but he subsequently crashed one while heading home from a drinking spree. He allegedly was taken into custody, but was surprisingly released, even thought he allegedly did not have a driver’s licence.

The ganja planter was soon after seen imbibing with some law enforcement officers at a popular Chinese restaurant on Main Street, New Amsterdam. The expanding scale of ganja cultivation has reportedly created a glut in Berbice, resulting in a price decrease, and greater access to residents.

Schoolboys on weed

According to a well placed source, even secondary school students have easy access to the illicit substance- also called ‘weed’ which is being sold at $100 per joint. Residents are blaming the increase in crime in Berbice on the increase in drug cultivation, pointing out that most of the perpetrators are young people, many of whom turn to criminal activities when they do not have money to purchase the illicit substance.

Residents also pointed out that the expansion in ganja cultivation is due to the little or no drug eradication exercises in the past few years, noting that some farmers who used to cultivate legal crops, have switched to ganja cultivation for their livelihoods. They are calling on the authorities not to sit back and allow the drug trade to destroy Berbice.

Amid calls for some limited legalisation of marijuana here, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee recently reaffirmed the government of Guyana’s zero-tolerance policy on all drugs that are deemed illicit, including marijuana. There has been a global debate regarding the legalisation of marijuana, with even United States President Barack Obama saying ganja was less dangerous than alcohol. Rohee made the comment as he launched the National Drug Report for 2012, compiled by the Task Force on Narcotic Drugs and Illicit Weapons, at his Brickdam Office.

Residents say ganja cultivation up the Berbice River has reached alarming proportions

APNU says budget bloated with spending – warns of difficult debates, cuts

By Jomo Paul

The main Opposition

A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) has criticised the $220 billion National Budget presented by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Monday, saying it is bloated with expenditures while warning a “difficult debate” even as it threatens to cut sections of the estimates.

While addressing media representatives, Opposition Leader and APNU Chairman, Retired Brigadier David Granger said: “I don’t know what the budget is all about” as he registered his concerns.

Granger said several issues were not adequately addressed, for instance, the plan to computerise hinterland secondary schools. He said there are plans to “computerise these schools when the schools do not have proper infrastructure, especially electricity”.

“I have seen the widest variety of plastic buckets in my life as the children of Paramakatoi Secondary have to fetch water,” declared Granger as he explained other areas of concern in the 2014 National Budget.

Social programme

He contended that the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme that was implemented which should afford indigenous people the opportunity to be trained and subsequently gain meaningful employment is merely a “social programme” in that it does not fulfil its mandate. He noted that the programme does not provide jobs and is more of an “elections gimmick” than a development venture.

Granger went on to indicate that there were some aspects of the budget that he was in support of and those included the Rural Development Plan which would see $1 billion being spent as the Government

aims to promote small busi nesses in rural communities by increasing infrastructure in those areas and place some focus on labour-intensive activities. Granger further related that more emphasis should have been placed on riverine communities, urging that a transportation system be set up in those areas. He explained that many children miss school on a daily basis in those areas and such a system would prevent such occurrences.

When questioned on whether he was satisfied with the increase given to Old Age Pensioners, Granger responded in the negative, stating that his party was hoping to see the pension rising to $15,000.

“What might be okay for Georgetown is not okay for people in the hinterland area,” he added, promptly relating that persons in those outlying areas pay a lot more for transportation and their cost of living is considerably higher.

Granger contended that the 2014 National Budget is not a “developmental budget, arguing that the city will be in the same position that “it is in right now in 2015”.

On the $6 billion subsidy for GuySuCo, Granger said: “We don’t want to throw good money at the bad.”

Meanwhile, APNU Executive Member and Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge lamented that the budget does not show any signs of growth. “Expenditure is not growth, expenditure is not development… the Government is confusing development with spending,” Greenidge said. He went on to explain that enough careful thought was not given to the budget when it was compiled by the man of the day, Dr Ashni Singh. Greenidge noted that he heard complaints from the Public Service Union which had noted that the consultation exercise that they had embarked on with the Finance Minister was “a fruitless and meaningless

$19B proposed for security sector

– $1.1B to augment land, sea, air operations

The Shadow Finance Minister further pointed out that the Government was only thinking about itself when the budget was compiled. As it relates to the $6 billion allocation to the sugar industry, Greenidge maintained that money was not the solution to the problems faced by the sugar industry. “They are going to come for six billion now and later in the year, they are going to come back for more,” the former Finance Minister of the Desmond Hoyte Administration said.

He then chided the Finance Minister for what he said was his failure to provide background information into the projects that are to be undertaken by the Government this year. He noted that there was “no justification of the budget”. He said the National Assembly was just given an extensive list of things the Government intends to do.

Accomplishments

He noted that while the Finance Minister spoke of accomplishments in the sectors, to the country continues be plagued by serious issues – among them: 40 per cent youth unemployment, the continued migration of skilled labour from Guyana and suicide, for which Guyana has recorded the highest rate in the Caribbean. “We are talking about spending a lot on education when the illiteracy rates are appalling,” added Greenidge.

When questioned on whether the Opposition will be cutting any aspects of the budget, Greenidge responded in the positive. He noted that the debate on the budget which is set to commence next Monday will be “difficult”. He noted too that going forward, there will be problems with the budget that his party plans to adequately address.

He added that some of the estimates are not in compliance with Article 222A of the Constitution of Guyana.

mid concern over surging crime rates, Government has proposed a $19 billion allocation for the security sector with $1.1 billion to support land, air and sea operations of the Joint Services while another $1.1 billion is being channelled into effectively equipping the forces to serve and protect citizens.

The announcement was made by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh as he presented the 2014 National Budget in the National Assembly on Monday. Dr Singh also disclosed that the long overdue National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) 2014-2018 will be finalised to enhance Guyana’s ability to combat drugs at the local, regional and international levels.

National Action Plan

In addition, a new National Action Plan 20142015 for trafficking in persons is currently being developed and will guide ongoing efforts by seeking to reduce vulnerability to the lure of traffickers, expanding sensitisation and awareness, broadening the involvement of civil society, and strengthening law enforcement response.

He said this year Government will continue to place substantial emphasis on ensuring that strategic planning and evidencebased interventions are made towards the maintenance of public order and safety throughout Guyana and to this end, a total of $19.5 billion is allocated for the sector.

Training, he said, will be conducted for the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Unit and a sum of $382.6 million has been allocated to train the Joint Services, while $413 million is budgeted to train and equip Community Policing Groups countrywide in an effort to restore safe neighbourhoods to citizens.

According to him, training will also commence for staff at the forensic laboratory on chemical analysis, drugs analysis, toxicology,

and courtroom procedures. A sum of $1.2 billion has been allocated for the completion of the forensic laboratory and the fire training school and the continuous upgrading of physical infrastructure at the Joint Services locations across the country.

“Mr Speaker, in keeping with the vision of ensuring the safety, rights, and dignity of all citizens are preserved within the context of being responsive to a dynamic environment, Government will continue to prioritise resource allocations to our security sector.

We will emphasise the need for competent human capital and modern technology as we strengthen the capability of our institutions and communities in a professional and proactive approach with the aim of maintaining law and order in our society,” Dr Singh told the House.

Strategic planning

The Minister said in supporting strategic planning and evidence-based intervention, technological advancement remains a priority for the administration.

He said $99 million was spent last year on the installation of IT equipment and software for remote surveillance and the expansion of the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS) to support the development of additional modules in traffic, digitising firearm licences, and executive management interface.

“Citizens’ confidence in law enforcement is one indicator used to measure the effectiveness of security systems. Several initiatives were undertaken directly targeting the restoration of public confidence, including the administration of safe neighbourhood surveys, the institutionalisation of online crime reporting, including reports from persons who have paid bribes across Government agencies and the establishment of 10 Houses of Justice, with five each in Regions Two and Three.”

Dr Singh said with the

view of improving the effectiveness of the sector and supporting the implementation of priority actions stemming from the strategic plans within the sector, $17.3 billion was expended in 2013.

He said training was a priority across the Joint Services and more than $230 million was expended targeting 81 police officers who benefited from overseas training in areas such as police procedures and operational issues, community oriented policing and leadership, and computer skills.

Further, 12 coxswains were trained in command of territorial sea patrol boats, 60 firefighters underwent a training of trainers exercise in specialised rescue and municipal firefighting while the first batch of eight recently graduated traffic wardens are now working in Georgetown, Linden, West Demerara, East Coast Demerara, and Berbice.

Infrastructure

In terms of infrastructure development and enhancement, the Minister said in excess of $1 billion was expended in 2013 for the construction and rehabilitation of Joint Services buildings countrywide, including the forensic laboratory; $338.1 million on police stations and related facilities; $261.1 million was expended to provide a more secure environment for prison officers and inmates; and $67 million was spent on the fire service training school at Leonora.

A further $1.2 billion was spent on the acquisition and maintenance of equipment to support the operations of the security sector, while the land and water transport fleet benefited from investments totalling $913.1 million.

Finally, $232 million was spent to support marine operations in order to strengthen capacity to combat piracy and other crimes committed in Guyana’s territorial sea and internal waterways.

Billions have been spent to build capacity

Opposition Leader and APNU Chairman, Retired Brigadier David Granger

APNU Executive Member and Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge

Regional

World Bank approves funds for St Vincent, St Lucia storm damage

The World Bank has approved US$36 million for St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia after the two Caribbean countries were affected by a freak storm last Christmas resulting in the deaths of more than 12 people.

It says more than 30,000 people will benefit from the funds approved under the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window.

The bank said the weather heavily impacted infrastructures in both countries with substantial damages on roads and bridges, and the impact was concentrated in areas with the highest levels of poverty.

The World Bank said the respective governments’ Rapid Damage and Loss Assessments, conducted in January with assistance from the World Bank, the Africa Caribbean Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) Natural Risk Reduction Programme and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) estimated total losses to be about US$108 million, or 15 per cent of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ gross domestic

product (GDP) and US$99 million or eight per cent of St Lucia’s GDP.

The bank said the disaster took place in the peak of the tourism season.

“While the financial impact of the disaster remains unknown, early estimates conclude that this event will affect the agriculture and tourism sectors and result in economic contractions in both countries,” it said.

Within a few weeks of the disaster, the World Bank said it was able to make US$1.9 million in emergency funds avail-

able to support the governments’ recovery efforts.

“The reconstruction efforts are crucial as the hurricane season in the Caribbean is fast approaching,” said World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Sophie Sirtaine.

“Our financial support will not only rebuild critical infrastructure and boost the economy, it will also help build long-term climate resilience.”

The World Bank said approval for specific investments under these operations will be sought under

streamlined emergency response procedures that allow the bank to respond quickly to meet reconstruction needs following natural disasters.

“We will never forget the people who lost their lives as a result of this disaster, and will use their deaths as a wake-up call for the entire nation that we are a country that is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and the impacts of climate variability,” St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves told the World Bank. (Caribbean360)

Antigua: Police bicycle patrol a good thing – experts

The Antigua Police Force announcement of the introduction of bicycle patrol in the nation has been welcomed by regional counterparts who are emphasising the importance of proper training and preparation.

Last week, Police Commissioner Vere Browne, in an interview on state media, announced

that the force was attempting to secure half a dozen bicycles. He said a donor had already contributed a couple.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in Tobago Brian Headley, who oversees that island’s bicycle patrol unit, said the bicycle patrol initiative has been in existence for eight years, and has been successful in

fighting crime, especially as Tobago is a tourist destination.

“You have the officers on foot, and while that is a very good tool, having the officer now mobile he can cover more ground,” he said.

“When organisations have their different walks and demonstrations, we use the bicycle officers for that

purpose. When we want to ensure visibility, when there are tourist ship arrivals we ensure that we have the bicycle patrols which can cover more ground.”

Fitness expert and former Defence Force officer Captain Lenroy Browne praised the initiative and said it could lead to increased health benefits for police officers. (Antigua Observer)

No smoking at launch of Jamaica ganja association

Organisers have warned marijuana smokers to leave their weed behind or stay away from the historic official April 5 launch of the Ganja Future Growers and Producers Association (GFGPA).

“We want to state categorically that the launch is a no-smoking event, nor is anyone allowed to carry ganja into the meeting and on the premises,” the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Taskforce (CCMRT) said in announcing the launch of Jamaica’s first ganja growers association.

To ensure the ban is enforced, the taskforce said, “we have written to the Commissioner of Police asking for assistance in ensuring that there is strict compliance”.

The GFGPA will have its official launch at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, almost five months after local and overseas ganja advocates met in Kingston and agreed to establish the association to spearhead an estimated billion-dollar ganja industry. Participants are expected from the U.S., Canada

and elsewhere, the organisers said.

Explaining the ban, the organisers said: “It is important to note that while we expect a very responsible and law-abiding group of participants and potential members, there will also be the curiosity seekers and, unfortunately, some persons

who may believe that it will be an opportunity to smoke.”

Besides the smoking ban, the taskforce reiterated that all members, upon signing to join the association, will have to declare that they will not be involved, directly or indirectly, in the growing of ganja “until there is in place a legal and regulated framework, a matter which we will continue advocating for in the earliest possible time”.

The association comes out of a collaborative initiative spearheaded by the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Taskforce, the National Alliance for the Legalisation of Ganja, and the Ganja Law Reform Coalition.

The group is chaired by University of the West Indies, Mona, Principal ProVice Chancellor Professor Archibald McDonald. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Former Turks and Caicos premier to stand trial

Asecond hearing to review the sufficiency of evidence against former Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Premier Michael Misick went forward last week despite pleadings by Misick that he has no liquid assets to pay his attorneys.

Chief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough found that the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) had enough evidence to commit Misick to trial. The trial date was not indicated. There will be another hearing on April 4 to determine if Misick can access some of his assets to pay for his support and legal fees.

It is not clear, however, how Misick supported himself in Brazil prior to his arrest there or how he paid the attorneys representing him in his unsuccessful request for asylum or his fight against extradition.

Further, local supporters were quickly able to raise the $10 million required for his release on bail after his return to the TCI.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Misick’s bail was extended but he is no longer required to report to the police twice a day. He is now required to report only once and also each time he leaves Providenciales to travel to another island. He must return to his place of residence by 12 midnight and cannot leave before 06:00h.

Misick, who was said to be penniless when he became Chief Minister in

August 2003, now reportedly has 17 bank accounts. The accounts include several in the TCI and also accounts located in London, California, Florida, the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein.

He also has a known interest in 35 corporations. Said to be holding assets for Misick are former ministers Floyd and Jeffrey Hall and associate and long time Progressive National Party (PNP) supporter Carlton Williams, Misick’s former wife Lisa Raye McCoy, nephew Lyndon Gardiner, as well as brothers, Chalmers and Lofton. Misick also has a number of real estate properties, his mansion in Provo’s Leeward section and his interest in Provo’s Lisa Raye Cinema movie theatre. He also owns several condos in Provo. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

TT: Boy, 12, slaps, chokes teacher

A12-year-old Trinidad and Tobago (TT) primary school student will be sentenced on April 11 after he pleaded guilty on Friday to slapping and choking a teacher.

The incident comes as education authorities deal with a wave of unruly activities by school children that have gone viral, including a fight involving 10 female students at a secondary school in the capital. Those students have been suspended pending an investigation.

The TT Unified Teachers Association has expressed alarm at the level of school violence, especially in primary schools.

The student from the Jordan Hill Presbyterian Primary School, who appeared before Magistrate Avason Quinlan in the Princes Town Second Court,

said he had “tripped off” because other pupils had provoked him about his mother, who died three years ago. The court was told that the 32-year-old female teacher had observed the schoolboy during recess throwing bottles at other pupils, and she spoke to him about his behaviour.

He was again approached later and that is when he slapped her several times and choked her.

The court was also told that the teacher suffered bruises and swellings during the incident.

The Magistrate instructed that the school boy visit a probation officer and ordered a report be submitted to the court.

She placed the schoolboy on TT$5000 bail with his sister as a surety, and postponed the case to April 11 for a decision. (Caribbean360)

The Christmas storm left over 12 dead and impacted infrastructure in both countries with substantial damage to roads and bridges

Former Premier Michael Misick

Organisers have warned marijuana smokers to leave their weed behind at the historic official April 5 launch of the Ganja Future Growers and Producers Association

Missing flight crashed into ocean

Passengers’ relatives in China took in the news with a mixture of

Malaysia’s Prime Minister has announced that missing flight MH370 crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

Najib Razak said this was the conclusion of fresh analysis of satellite data tracking the flight.

Malaysia Airlines had told the families of the 239 people on board, he said.

The BBC has seen a text message sent to families by the airline saying it had to be assumed “beyond reasonable doubt” that the plane was lost and there were no survivors.

There were 227 passengers on flight MH370, many of them Chinese.

Relatives of those on board who watched the announcement at a Beijing hotel wept with grief, and some were taken away on stretchers by medical teams.

Flight MH370 disappeared after taking off on March 8 from Kuala Lumpur.

A big international search operation has been taking place in the southern Indian Ocean, along

the southern arc or corridor of the plane’s possible route, more than 1500 miles (2500km) off the south-west coast of Australia.

In the past day, both Australian and Chinese air force crews have reported spotting debris.

The unidentified objects have been seen in separate parts of the vast search area, in some of the world’s most treacherous and remote waters.

The announcement by Prime Minister Najib Razak came at a late-night news conference in Kuala Lumpur.

It was based on new analysis by British satellite firm Inmarsat, which provided satellite data, and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The firms “have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth,” Razak said.

“This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is therefore

Egypt sentences 528 to death

An Egyptian court sentenced at least 528 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death Monday on charges related to violent riots in the southern Egyptian city of Minya last August, including the murder of a police officer, the country’s official news agency said.

The riots took place after a deadly crackdown by security forces on two large sit-ins in Cairo, where demonstrators were supporting ousted President Mohammed Morsi.

with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.” Razak appealed to the media to respect the privacy of the families of the passengers and crew, saying the wait for information had been heartbreaking and this latest news harder still. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ukraine orders Crimea troop pullout

Interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov ordered the withdrawal of armed forces from Crimea Monday, citing Russian threats to the lives of military staff and their families.

Russian troops have seized most of Ukraine’s bases in the peninsula, including a naval base at Feodosia on Monday. Russia annexed Crimea last week after a controversial ref-

erendum that Ukraine and the West say was illegal.

“The acting President of Ukraine has given an order to the Ukraine Defence Ministry for the withdrawal of all Ukrainian forces from Crimea,” a spokeswoman for Turchynov told CNN. The soldiers’ families will be evacuated as well.

Earlier, Russian troops stormed and seized the

Ukrainian naval base in Feodosia, a port in Crimea, a Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman said. Witnesses said several Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters were involved in the raid. Between 60 and 80 Ukrainian troops were captured and taken from the base, said Vladislav Seleznev, a Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman in Crimea. (Excerpt from CNN)

While the official MENA news agency reported 528 death sentences, other Egyptian media said 529 people were sentenced to death.

The semiofficial Ahram Online news site said it was the largest set of death sentences handed to defendants in the modern history of Egypt.

Not all of the defendants are in custody, according to EgyNews. The defendants can appeal their sentences.

The court also acquitted at least 16 other defendants.

deep anguish and some anger

Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohamed Morsi supporters in Cairo on November 29, 2013

TUESday, march 25, 2014|

Jagdeo not interested in third term

– Rohee says PPP/C solidly behind Ramotar

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Monday said it was standing firm behind President Donald Ramotar in the wake of a combined Opposition-sponsored poll that showed him as the most liked eligible presidential candidate should a snap election be called.

The same poll also revealed that former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who says he will not run again for the country’s top post, would have been the most formidable candidate to contest the elections.

Speaking at a PPP/C news conference on Monday, Party General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee told media operatives that former President Jagdeo will not be running for the

presidency in any elections in the future.

He further stated that the party stands 100 per cent behind President Ramotar.

“We have always stood behind President Ramotar; we believe he is doing a good job in representing Guyana, both regionally and internationally, and when elections come, the party will decide who will be the best presidential candidate,” Rohee said.

Not interested

In ruling out the probability of Jagdeo’s running for the presidency, Rohee maintained that that wish was never expressed by anyone, particularly the former head of state, as Jagdeo had made it clear after stepping down that he was not and will not be interested in running for a third term at any point in time.

“The former President had expressed that he was not interested in a third term. Not only is he not interested but it is constitutionally wrong for him to do so and the party will not be drafting any legislative measures that will even allow that,” he emphasised.

Also weighing in on the subject, Presidential Adviser on Youth Development, Odinga Lumumba told a gathering at an event in Buxton on Sunday that the rumours about Jagdeo running for office again were not true and that he was “tired”

of addressing the issue.

Lumumba emphasised that it was the last time he was going to address the issue, stating that he was making it “absolutely clear” that the former President will not be running for a third term.

Scoop

Guyana Times last week broke the story on the combined Opposition poll. The poll was conducted earlier this month, according to highly placed sources in the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

Evidently worried that the PPP/C would call snap election in response to their controversial stance on a host of issues, the combined Opposition rushed through their polling exercise even as their leaders fanned out on outreaches in PPP/C strongholds.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh has announced that some $910 million is allocated for the Specialty Hospital Project, which has previously incurred the wrath of the combined parliamentary Opposition.

In December last year when Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran requested supplementary funding for the hospital, he did not receive the support of the Opposition, but the $34.4 million he was asking for was approved, after A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Volda Lawrence was absent from the House when a vote was taken on the matter.

Preparatory work on the construction of the multimillion-dollar hospital has since commenced and the Health Minister said that Donald Ramotar Administration is very passionate about seeing the project to fruition.

During the 2013 budget debate, the $1.25 billion provision for the controversial hospital was cut by the combined Opposition, using their oneseat majority in the House. APNU had contended that the formulation of the project was not transparent, a view rejected by the Government.

The construction of the hospital is part of an agreement between the Government of Guyana and India, for Guyana to use US$18 million through

a line of credit to build the hospital. The hospital is being built to cater for complicated surgeries, ranging from heart operations, organ transplants to cosmetic surgery.

Dr Singh in his budget presentation on Monday said efforts will continue to advance the construction of Guyana’s first Specialty Hospital, which aims to deliver tertiary level health care not previously available to Guyanese.

Strategic goals

Meanwhile, Dr Singh speaking on the health sector as a whole, lauded the developments made in 2013, and announced that some $21.5 billion has been allocated for the sector to meet its strategic goals this year.

Some $2.4 billion of this amount will be spent on construction and rehabilitation of health care facilities countrywide.

Dr Singh said among the facilities to benefit from the physical infrastructure works are the Port Kaituma District Hospital, the Linden Hospital Complex, the Kwakwani Hospital, the acute care facility at the National Psychiatric Hospital, and the Georgetown School of Nursing.

In addition, $382.7 million has been allocated for the purchase of medical equipment and $117 million for the purchase of 12 ambulances, which represents a 40 per cent in-

At the memorial service for PPP’s founder, Dr Cheddi Jagan at Babu John, in Berbice around the same time, Rohee had suggested that the elections route might be the only way to break the present “political logjam”. President Ramotar had also alluded to this possibility.

The Opposition parties have been taking identical positions on issues such as cutting the budget, even though the courts have ruled that this is illegal, voting against the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill, and closing down the sugar industry (on which they later tried to backtrack).

Absolute majority

On the other hand, they have been pushing for local government elections. Their poll confirms their suspicions that they would fare very badly at the General Election if it was held now, and they would perform marginally better at local government elections.

Showing broadly similar results to the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) poll conducted several weeks before theirs, and which they attempted to discredit, the combined Opposition poll showed that in head-to-head contests, the PPP/C would obtain an absolute majority of 51 per cent if Jagdeo were to head the party’s ticket.

President Ramotar also had a good showing in the poll. If Ramotar were the candidate, the PPP/C would still emerge victorious in securing the Presidency/Executive with 45 per cent of the vote.

In the first instance, APNU would secure 37 per cent of the vote and the AFC, four per cent, while in the second, their support would rise marginally, with APNU getting 38 per cent and AFC, five per cent.

In both instances, APNU’s presidential candidate identified on the poll was present Leader David Granger.

The Opposition source who provided Guyana Times with the polling data said that the Granger faction of the PNCR absolutely refused to place Carl Greenidge as a possible candidate on the poll.

The two have been report-

crease in the national fleet.

The Minister explained that Government in its effort to continue both primary and specialised health training, over $428 million has been allocated to train 20 additional post-graduate residents and upgrade over 4000 providers.

“In keeping with Government’s focus on maternal and child health, Government will continue to prioritise resource mobilisation for improving maternal health and efforts will be made to accelerate the achievement of this goal in collaboration with our developmental partners,” he said.

As such, in 2014, the sum of $50 million is allocated to commence the extension of the maternal facility at the

Georgetown Public Hospital to ensure increased bed capacity while $22.6 million is allocated for the establishment of maternity waiting homes in Lethem and Bartica to cater for antenatal high-risk mothers.

Recognising the growing incidence of personal and domestic violence, the Minister disclosed that the provision of services in mental health will focus on the prevention and management of suicidal behaviours.

In 2011, a cost of illness assessment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Guyana was conducted and found that total annual direct and indirect costs accruing from NCDs were estimated at over $40 billion. With this in

mind, a national commission is soon-to-be established to oversee the accelerated implementation of the national plan for prevention and control of NCDs. Some $50 million has been allocated to launch a public education and outreach programme, Dr Singh said.

Government recently launched the updated National Health Strategy, Health Vision 2020, for the period from 2013 to 2020. The strategy seeks to integrate the delivery of quality, effective and responsive health services and prevention measures to improve the nation’s physical, mental and social well-being.

Cuban doctors

“Government remains unwavering in our commitment to securing access for all to appropriate, promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services without suffering financial hardship,” the Finance Minister said, pointing out that the sector expended in excess of $17.7 billion in 2013. Dr Singh said of this amount, over $1.2 billion was on construction and upgrade of health infrastructure countrywide and $257.8 million on medical equipment.

In 2013, the human capital of the health sector was strengthened by the return of 278 Cuban-trained doctors, and according to Dr Singh, significant progress was made in delivering post-graduate

edly locked in a bitter battle for control of the PNCR.

One political analyst, who was contacted to scrutinise the data, said the Jagdeo factor would appear to pull more of the PPP/C’s traditional voters out from their apathy, which was exhibited at the last elections, in any new elections.

It is also possible that the Opposition’s quibbling at the arrangements to treat the former President’s recent illness backfired by stimulating some “sympathy” votes.

Sympathy

The analyst speculated that the Opposition might have floated the name of Jagdeo as a candidate, even though he has indicated that he would not be seeking a third term, to discern whether the support for a Ramotar candidacy was “soft”.

The results show that this was not significantly so.

In light of their findings, the analyst predicted that the Opposition will continue to push for local government elections.

Those findings by the combined Opposition poll, concluded the analyst, exposed the baseness of the orchestrated campaign by the Opposition parties and their operatives in the media to vilify Jagdeo and to deny the sterling role he played in returning economic stability and security for citizens in Guyana.

programmes in gynaecology, orthopaedics, internal medicine, paediatrics, emergency medicine, anaesthesiology and surgery.

He said some 44 government medical officers benefited from these programmes, which also increased the number of skilled operating room technicians and enhanced capability in neonatal intensive care and emergency obstetrics.

Together, these interventions reflected over $364 million in health training, Dr Singh disclosed.

Also, in keeping with the need to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, the Finance Minister said over 78,000 long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets were distributed to mining communities which contributed to a reduction of over 1000 malaria cases nationally.

In the area of improving maternal health, Guyana completed a Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Acceleration Framework, which focuses on the MDG Goal to improve maternal health.

The framework is intended to harmonise strategies to leverage resources for achieving sustainable improvements in the quality of maternal care offered nationally and which focus on solutions for the reduction of maternal mortality.

PPP/C General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

President Donald Ramotar

Economy to grow by 5.6 per cent

By Svetlana MarShall

Guyana’s economy is projected to expand by 5.6 per cent in 2014, with the non-sugar economy projected to grow by 5.2 per cent, this is according to Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh who presented the country’s largest budget on Monday. He told the National Assembly that the inflation rate is pegged at five per cent compared to 0.9 per cent last year, the lowest rate in decades. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.2 per cent last year while the non-sugar GDP rose by 6.3 per cent.

In 2013, the country’s economy recorded its eight consecutive year of growth. “Mr Speaker, it is significant to note that the eight years from 2006 to 2013 represent the longest period of uninterrupted real economic growth in independent Guyana,” Dr Singh told the National Assembly.

However, while the economy as a whole continues to show sustainable growth, the sugar industry continues to struggle. According to him, a more concerted effort is needed to return the industry to a growth trajectory that would be consistent with viability and profitability.

On the other hand, the rice industry continues to blossom with the production of 535,439 tonnes of rice recorded in 2013, representing a 26.9 per cent increase when compared to the previous year’s output. This harvest has been registered in the history books as the highest ever annual production in the history of the industry.

But rice was not the only crop that performed favour-

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said Government has already made significant investments in the education sector, seeking to ensure universal access, and to raise both quality of delivery and attainment rates.

The result, he said, has been the achievement of universal primary education and significant progress towards achieving universal secondary education.

According to him, supportive programmes have included the National School Feeding programme and the National School Uniform Programme, both of which have helped to lift attendance rates and, in particular in the case of the former, raise classroom attentiveness and participation.

He said in an effort to provide additional support to parents with school-age children, Government will provide this year a cash grant to the parents of every child attending a nursery, primary, or secondary school in the public education system in the amount of $10,000 per child for the year 2014.

“This grant can be used

ably. Dr Singh disclosed that production of other crops grew by 4.2 per cent, while livestock production increased by 4.3 per cent. However, “the fisheries industry declined by 6.5 per cent due to some overfishing, which resulted in a suspension of issuance of further industrial fishing licences and a reduction in operational trawler fleet,” Minister Singh explained.

Forestry on the up

The forestry industry grew by five per cent while the mining and quarrying industry recorded eight per cent growth over 2012. In a similar fashion, the gold industry recorded significant growth after achieving a total declaration of 481,087 ounces of gold or an 8.7 per cent increase when compared to 2012. “This year’s level of declarations represents the highest level of production in the history of the industry, exceeding production levels even when OMAI Gold Mines were at their peak,” Dr Singh said. Diamond declarations also increased by a whopping 56.9 per cent while stone production increased by 47.8 per cent.

However, in the area of bauxite, there was a significant decline of some 11 per cent in value-added production. The service industries, however, continued to record overall positive growth with 5.5 per cent achieved at the end of 2013. “This growth was led by the construction sector, which recorded 22.6 per cent growth as a result of vibrant expansion in private sector construction buoyed by the national housing drive and by commercial construction, as well as implementation of public sector construc-

tion projects. Information and communication grew by 5.9 per cent reflecting continued growth in demand with the increased availability of Information Technology products and services,” the Minister said.

Balance of payments

The Finance Minister told the House that by the end of 2013, the balance of payments deficit stood at US$119.5 million. According to him, this outturn is attributed primarily to current account developments including a decline in net current transfers coupled with higher service payments, in addition to lower capital accounts surplus.

Dr Singh reported that export earnings contracted marginally by 2.8 per cent to US$1.4 billion due to the

sharp decline in gold prices, along with lower export volumes of sugar, bauxite, and timber.

Similarly, export earnings on sugar contracted by 13.6 per cent to US$114.2 million, due to an 18.7 per cent decline in export volume to 160,284 tonnes, outweighing the 6.3 per cent increase in prices to US$713 per tonne.

“Rice export receipts expanded by 22.2 per cent to US$239.8 million mainly attributed to an 18.2 per cent increase in export volume to 394,989 tonnes, combined with a 3.4 per cent increase in average export prices to US$607 per tonne.”

Meanwhile, gold exports amounted to US$648.5 million, a 9.5 per cent decline compared to 2012. The sharp decline was linked to the av-

erage price of US$1344 per ounce compared to US$1575 in 2012, outweighing the six per cent increase in export volume which amounted to 482,527 ounces.

In addition, bauxite exports contracted to US$134.6 million, due to a 24.7 per cent decline in export volume to 1,678,971 tonnes, outweighing the 18.6 per cent increase in export prices to US$80 per tonne. Timber export earnings declined by 1.4 per cent to US$38.5 million, primarily as a result of lower export volume.

Meanwhile, the gross international reserves of the Bank of Guyana amounted to US$776.9 million, equivalent to 3.9 months of import cover at the end 2013.

Referring to the inflation rate, Dr. Singh told the House that prices remain “relatively flat” during 2013 due to the Government’s continuous move to offer financial assistance to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and other suppliers of electricity. He said Government’s push for the production of food right here in Guyana was also linked to the stability of prices. “Altogether, these conditions resulted in consumer price index movement of 0.9 per cent in 2013, the lowest rate of inflation in decades.”

Interest rate

Turning his attention to the interest rate, he said the average rate of lending at commercial banks jumped eight basis points to 11.16 per cent, a marginal increase from 11.08 per cent in 2012.

In the area of Central Government, the Finance Minister disclosed that the net of inflows from the Guyana Reducing Emissions

from Deforestation and forest Degradation plus (REDD+) Investment Fund (GRIF), amounted to $135.7 billion, 4.8 per cent over 2012, reflecting strong performance across several tax categories.

“Tax revenue collections, which accounted for 93.3 per cent of total current revenue collections (net of GRIF inflows), amounted to $126.5 billion, a 6.9 per cent increase over 2012,” he added. Additionally, net property tax collections from private sector companies showed significant growth with increases totalling $507.1 million or 29 per cent as a result of significant arrears collected. On the other hand, personal income tax collections under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system contracted by $955.8 million or 5.9 per cent and income tax on the self-employed declined by $67.4 million or two per cent, reflecting the reduction in the personal income tax rate from 33.3 to 30 per cent with effect from January 2013. Customs and trade tax collections stood at $13.2 billion, representing a 2.4 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, Value Added Tax (VAT) collections totalled $34.4 billion, 0.8 per cent above 2012 collections. According to Dr Singh, this growth was triggered by the $739.2 million or 3.8 per cent increase in collections from VAT on imports for goods (net of refunds).

In contrast, VAT collections on domestic supply contracted by $499.5 million or 3.4 per cent. Excise tax collections amounted to $27.3 billion, a 19.9 per cent increase over 2012, primarily attributed to increased taxes collected on fuel, which more than offset a reduction in taxes collected on motor vehicles. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

to meet such costs as transportation, and will provide added impetus to raising enrolment and attendance rates, in addition to having the effect of increasing the disposable incomes of the parents of school aged children. This initiative will benefit the families of the 188,406 families of the students of public nursery, primary, and secondary schools, and will cost a total of $2 billion.”

Hinterland

Additionally, Dr Singh said notwithstanding the introduction of these measures along with all of the other expenditure plans announced, Budget 2014 is fully financed and introduces no new taxes. He said access to hinterland communities remains absolutely critical to the well-being of more remote communities as well as to the economy of the country. According to him, the opportunities that arise from improved access to Brazil via the Linden to Lethem Road, the reduced costs associated with accessing hinterland villages when interior roads are in passable condition, the economic ad-

vantages that arise when hinterland routes are open, all make a compelling case for investment in hinterland roads.

To meet this need, Budget 2014 provides an allocation of $1 billion to be expended on rehabilitating critical interior arteries, including the Linden to Lethem Road.

The budget also makes provision for $500 million to be channelled into clean-

ing up of Georgetown. The Finance Minister told the House that there can be no doubt in the minds of any observer that the city of Georgetown, and indeed many other places in Guyana, have a serious sanitation problem.

“Piles of garbage and litter abound. The national public health hazard that this presents, especially in the face of emerging diseases can no longer be ignored.

Notwithstanding the statutory responsibility of the local government bodies for maintaining the environment in communities and neighbourhoods, it is visibly evident that they have failed in the discharge of this basic duty.”

He said Government can no longer stand by in hope, waiting in vain for comatose local government bodies to address this problem.

“In an attempt to ad-

dress this problem, Government will spearhead an effort that will result in the capital city, all other towns, and rural villages implementing a Clean Up My Community action plan that will address the collection and removal of garbage as well as the reporting of residents who irresponsibly dispose of their garbage.”

He said citizens, businesses and institutions will be tasked with ensuring that their garbage is properly discarded in appropriate receptacles.

Efforts will also be made to enlist the support of the private sector and other institutions to assume greater involvement in helping to maintain the environment in which they operate, the Finance Minister said, adding that while the support and involvement of businesses and households alike will be required to ensure the success of this initiative.

The Government will allocate the sum of $1 billion to this Clean Up My Country initiative, of which the sum of $500 million will be dedicated to immediate efforts to clean the capital city.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

SUDOKU

Refuse to be bullied into something that you don’t agree with. Be flexible, and try to arrange a compromise that will suit everyone. Don’t say something you may regret later.

By Bernice Bede Osol

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

Keep abreast of what’s going on around you. Focus on collaborating with influential people. Consider the past before renewing contact with an old friend or lover.

Don’t be reluctant to act quickly if an opportunity arises. The offer may be revoked if you are too slow to accept, and you could lose a chance to advance your position.

Get involved with those who have similar ambitions to yours. You have made great strides, but a little extra help never hurts. A team effort will be beneficial to your current situation.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

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

You shouldn’t assume that everyone is as honest as you are. Do your homework before accepting a tempting offer. An exciting new prospect may come with strings attached.

(March 21-April 19)

There is no need to be envious. Devote your energy to your goals, and you will be successful. Precious time will be wasted if you get caught up making comparisons.

(April 20-May 20)

Consider the consequences before rushing into a situation, or you may end up repeating past errors. Make sure to take a long look at any proposition that comes your way.

(May 21June 20)

Don’t sell yourself short. Be proud of all you have experienced and accomplished. Expanding your social circle will provide you with influential new associations. Put your assets front and center.

While your professional profile may be strong, a personal relationship may be weakening. Allot some time to take care of your home, family, friendships and any other connection you deem important.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Maximise the positive energy that currently surrounds you. It’s likely that your current colleagues will play a key role in your future plans.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

It’s fine to follow your dreams, but be honest about your intentions. Don’t make any false promises if you want to continue to get the necessary help to reach your goals.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Romance is highlighted. Take a chance and get involved in a project that interests you. A sudden change of plans will take you by surprise and bring you a tasty reward.

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Kevin Pietersen has ‘point to prove’

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been backed to “prove a point” with Surrey after his international career ended in Ashes humiliation.

The 33-year-old, sacked after England’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash by Australia, will return to the county game this summer.

“For such a destructive player to leave the England side is just a shame,” said Surrey bowler Chris Tremlett, who was also on the Ashes tour. Kevin has big personal pride,” added director of cricket Alec Stewart.

“He’ll want to do well as an individual and help Surrey do well.

“The way he’s conducted himself within the dressing room and the training ground has been a credit to him and he has set high examples for the rest of our team to follow.”

Surrey’s new head coach, Graham Ford, who was recruited by Stewart during the close season and has known Pietersen since he was a boy in South Africa, said he was a “good enough player to prove a point in any format”.

He added: “I have known Kevin for a long time and I’m sure he’s going to be extremely positive in our dressing room.

“I don’t really know what went on with England, but, unfortunately, he’s got to move on from international cricket. Kevin will certainly entertain. It will be great for the fans.”

Pietersen will captain Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts on 16 April, before joining his Surrey team-mates at the end of the competition.

England’s record run-scorer will this year be able to compete in a full IPL season for the first time, having previously been restricted by international commitments.

The England and Wales Cricket Board explained their decision to release Pietersen from his central contract, saying it had been made in order to “create a culture” in which Test and one-day captain Alastair Cook had “the full support of all players”. (BBC Sport)

Walton seeks consistency in India

Chadwick Walton said he was looking to achieve consistency in front and behind the stumps when he suits up for the West Indies A-Team on their upcoming tour of India.

The Jamaican wicketkeeper/batsman, who has played most of his regional cricket for the Combined Campuses and Colleges, will be part of the team for the three four-day matches. He views the trip to the sub-continent as a stepping stone towards regaining a place on the West Indies senior team.

“I just want to be as consistent as possible,” he told WICB Media. “Once I achieve consistent performances, I will be satisfied and I know that will help the team as well.

“It’s always a pleasure to wear West Indies colours. I will be only playing the fourday matches so I have conditioned my mind to be ready for the tour.”

Walton played two Tests for West Indies against Bangladesh four years ago at the Arnos Vale Multiplex in St. Vincent and the Grenada National Stadium.

He struggled with the bat,

Chadwick Walton

but was brilliant with the gloves – taking seven catches, including a record five in one innings in the second match.

“I have been working really hard to achieve consistency and I want to make sure I give my all on this tour,” he said.

“It will be a very important one for me. I see myself contributing in both departments – with the bat and the gloves. I still have some work to do both in front and behind the stumps so I will try my best to balance both.

“In the four-day tournament earlier this year, I gave myself a chance by looking to build a long innings every time I went to the crease. I still need to achieve more consist-

Wayne Rooney is

ency so I will be looking to prepare well and execute well on this tour of India.”

Windies-A will play three One-day matches and one Twenty20 against India-A to be followed by the three “Tests”.

Kirk Edwards will lead the team in the four-day matches and left-handed opener Kieran Powell will be at the helm for the limited-overs portion.

Walton was a member of the Jamaica Tallawahs, which captured the inaugural Caribbean Premier League last month.

He shared the dressing room with legendary Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and said the two spoke a lot about conditions in Asia.

“I spoke to Murali a lot during the CPL and he told me a lot of what to expect from the pitches in India,” he said.

“He was a very good help to have around in the dressing room. I have never played in India before so I tried to gain as much information as I could and he was very helpful.”

Walton also backed Windies-A to do well on the tour. (WICB Media)

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a Manchester United legend, says David Moyes

David Moyes says Wayne Rooney has already established himself as a Manchester United legend and backed him to go on and become the club’s highest-ever scorer. Rooney, 28, scored twice in a 2-0 win at West Ham on Saturday to take his United tally to 212 goals, the third highest total in the club’s history.

“If you are the third top scorer of a club like this, you already are a legend,” said Moyes. “He has a real appetite back again.”

Rooney’s first goal against the Hammers was particularly impressive as the England forward scored from over 40 yards.

He then finished from close range just before the break to take his season’s total to 15 goals.

Rooney trails Denis Law

Wayne

by 25 goals and is 37 behind highest-ever scorer Sir Bobby Charlton.

“As long as he doesn’t pick up any serious injuries, he has a real good chance of breaking Denis Law’s and Sir Bobby Charlton’s records and that would be some feat,” added Moyes.

“He has a big energy back again. Everyone who knew Wayne Rooney from old in his early days would say one of the biggest things was that he had big energy, a big heart and his effort. And if you get Wayne playing like that, the rest of his football takes care of itself.”

United head into Tuesday’s derby with Manchester City at Old Trafford looking to record their third successive victory in all competitions, the win at West Ham having followed a 3-0 defeat of Olympiakos last week that sent them into the Champions League quarterfinals.

The reigning Premier League champions are seventh, 11 points off the top, but Moyes says his side are improving and challenged his players to come out fighting City.

Rooney

Kevin Pietersen

‘Classic’ is here!

– IFBB Pro athlete Jeff Beckham arrives for Hugh Ross Classic this weekend

By Avenash Ramzan

Packing 280 pounds of muscles on a well-chiselled physique, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro athlete, Jeff “Classic” Beckham, touched down on local soil on Monday morning, immediately creating an impact on Guyanese.

The 32-year-old American’s main purpose of his maiden trip to the Land of Many Waters is to guest pose at Saturday’s highly anticipated Hugh Ross Classic Bodybuilding and Fitness Show, but would be using the next few days to tour Guyana, help to promote the show and wow locals with his symmetrical body.

Beckham got his tour of Guyana going in fine style on Monday morning, making a stop at Chase Academy in Kingston where he left students and teachers in awe with his tremendous structure.

After brief remarks, “Classic” pulled off a few poses which sent the all in attendance scurrying for their cameras to snap photos of the international bodybuilder.

“I’m excited to be here in Guyana for the first time, and I encourage you to bring out your family and witness the show on Saturday. There will be some good competitors so I look forward to seeing you,” Beckham re-

marked.

Beckham added that he has something special in store for the fans on competition night, “But of course, they have to be there to see and enjoy what I intend to show off.”

The soft-spoken sportsman also interacted with the students and teachers, as he fielded questions from them and afforded photographic opportunities.

Beckham also a Musclemania Pro and became an IFBB Pro after winning the Overall title at the NPC’s NY Team Universe in 2012.

Prior to his arrival, Ross, in whose honour, this Saturday’s event is being held, had a few words of advise to the students.

“I see in front of me the future. Take this opportunity to enhance your education as this will help to launch you into life. Don’t let go of your dreams,” Ross, who was recently given a Medal of Service by the government of Guyana, advised.

Moments after, Ross received an undisclosed sponsorship package from student Rosheda Gilgeous on behalf of Chase Academy to help with expenses for the Hugh Ross Classic.

Saturday’s event Come Saturday, there will be three female categories: bodybuilding (females who are of a more muscular body type); Miss Figure (athletes who are symmetrical and toned) and the Miss

Bikini (for the softer and more feminine eye pleasing type of figure).

The male categories are: Bantamweight- up to 65kgs (143lbs), Lightweight- up to 70kgs (144-154lbs), Welterweight- up to 75kgs (155-165lbs), Light Middleweight- up to 80kgs (166-176lbs), Heavyweight (176 and over).

The respective category winners will then face off in the Overall battle to decide Mr. Hugh Ross Classic 2014.

Mr. Hugh Ross Classic 2012, Kerwyn Clarke, will be defending his title and will face stiff challenges from a number of seasoned and not so seasoned athletes. Tickets are on sale at the National Cultural Center at $1500 each.

Sri Lanka consign Netherlands to record low

Perhaps no team in world cricket puts weaker sides away so emphatically as Sri Lanka. Since becoming full-fledged graduates from the easybeats category in the mid90s, they have spared no thought to their former peers, and on Monday they added two more world records to the small pile they have accumulated against easy-beats over the past 20 years. Netherlands’ 39 all out is the lowest ever Twenty20 score. Sri Lanka chased the target in a record five overs. (Cricinfo)

Netherlands innings (20 overs maximum) SJ Myburgh c Malinga b Kulasekara

wickets 1-0 (Myburgh,

(Swart, 1.4 ov), 3-1

1.5 ov), 4-9 (Borren, 3.6 ov), 5-25 (BN Cooper, 6.5 ov), 6-33 (TLW Cooper, 8.2 ov), 7-36 (van Beek, 9.3 ov), 8-39 (Mudassar Bukhari, 9.6 ov), 9-39 (Seelaar, 10.1 ov), 10-39 (Jamil, 10.3 ov)

Bowling: KMDN Kulasekara 2-2-0-1, AD Mathews 4-016-3, SL Malinga 2-0-5-2, BAW Mendis 2.3-0-12-3

Sri Lanka innings (target: 40 runs from 20 overs) MDKJ Perera c Swart b Jamil 14 TM Dilshan not out 12 DPMD Jayawardene not out 11 Extras (w 2, nb 1) 3

Total (1 wicket; 5 overs) 40 Did not bat KC Sangakkara†, LD Chandimal*, AD Mathews, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, SMSM Senanayake, BAW Mendis, SL Malinga Fall of wickets 1-20 (MDKJ Perera, 1.6 ov) Bowling: T van der Gugten 3-022-0, MAA Jamil 2-0-18-1

Steyn delivers last-ball win for South Africa

No team had successfully chased 170plus against South Africa and Dale Steyn single-handedly ensured it stayed that way. The pace spearhead led the defence of 29 off the last three overs and seven off the final one to keep South Africa in the hunt for a semi-final spot.

After Steyn conceded just five runs in his first two overs, the third and 14th of the innings, Faf du Plessis held him back for the final squeeze and it proved a master move. With 18 balls of New Zealand’s innings left, Steyn stepped up and exorcised the ghosts of Dhaka 2011 by putting the choke on new Zealand.

Corey Anderson scored six runs off the first two balls but could have been out off the second - a top-edge that Quinton de Kock got his fingers to. Anderson tried to hit the third delivery over longon but did not have enough power behind it and found the fielder. Steyn sniffed an opening and went back to his default ball for the next two. They were short, curled away and beat Ross Taylor as he

ing that kind of day. He could easily have conceded all 21, having gone for 36 in his first two overs, and he almost did. His lengths let him down as he bowled an over laced with full tosses that cost 14 runs. Ross Taylor had his way and New Zealand entered the final over needing only seven.

Steyn started with a full ball. Luke Ronchi tried to play a cross-batted shot through the off side but got an edge instead. De Kock dived to his right and held on. New Zealand still needed seven but Steyn had planted doubt in their minds. He followed up with two fireballs at 143 and 148 kph and beat Nathan McCullum with pace. McCullum caught up by the third and hit it over extra cover for four. New Zealand only need three.

Shortish and wide, like the next ball was, should have given it to them but McCullum hit it with the bottom of his bat. The shot was miscued and du Plessis took the catch to leave New Zealand needing three with just a ball remaining.

Taylor was on strike. The field on the leg side was mostly up, plugging the gap there with boundary-riders on the off-side. Steyn pitched it up, Taylor only managed a push back to him but ran anyway. Steyn ran faster. Taylor was run out. (Cricinfo)

NL McCullum 4-0-24-1, CJ Anderson 3-0-282, KS Williamson 1-0-13-0 New Zealand innings (target:

fished outside the off stump. Taylor got bat on ball to end the over with a

couple but New Zealand still needed 21 runs. Morne Morkel was hav-

Dale

Here you go! Student Rosheda Gilgeous presents Chase Academy’s sponsorship to Hugh Ross in the presence of international bodybuilder Jeff “Classic” Beckham (left) and HRC Finance Officer, Dexter “Bushman” Garnett

Bangladesh v WI, World T20, Group 2, Mirpur

Gibson happy with West Indies methods

Chris Gayle

When two opposition players speak openly about your weakness, a reply is awaited. When asked if his players are too reliant on boundaries and place a low emphasis on singles and twos, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said he took pride in having big hitters in the team.

Before the India-West Indies game, Suresh Raina had said that India would look to cut out fours and sixes, because West Indies don’t like rotating the strike. On Sunday evening, India bowled plenty of dot balls, cut out the boundaries and restricted West Indies to a modest score.

Now Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has echoed Raina’s words. In four T20s against Bangladesh so far, West Indies have averaged eleven fours and eight sixes a match. That sixes count is higher than their overall average of just over five per match.

Gibson responded by saying there was nothing wrong with West Indies’ method, and they had done well basing their strategy around boundaries, even if India had taken advantage of intelligence gathered on his team’s players during the IPL.

“We are blessed with players who can hit the ball to the stands,” Gibson said. “I am sure people will look at [Chris] Gayle to hit the ball to the stands rather than take a quick single and pull a hamstring. If you look back at the game, most of our best players are in the IPL and I think they [India] know them quite well, and a lot of the plans from last night seem to come out of IPL. Bangladesh are different and we look forward to it. We have to focus on winning, to survive in the tour-

Ravens are first ever Road to Mecca champions

By Treiston Joseph

nament.

“People will make assumptions based on what happened last night. India bowled well. We didn’t get singles but we don’t normally get singles. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Gibson believes that talk of taking more singles wouldn’t necessarily mean his team would start doing that. He wants the batsmen to be more aware of the situation they are playing in, and then find ways to find the boundaries.

“You can’t change much technically but it is in the mindset,” he said. “We have to be aware of what the opposition is trying to do. We need to adjust mindset to counteract that. We can’t just start taking singles, but take those that are there. I wouldn’t want them to be run out, like Gayle did last night. He would have got 3040 extra runs.”

Against India, West Indies didn’t include the experienced Ravi Rampaul, and went with the inform left-armer Krishmar Santokie instead. With India discovering plenty of swing under the lights, Gibson said it would be a factor in their selection against Bangladesh, in what will be another night game.

“The ball swung more at night, as the Indian bowlers showed,” he said. “We have to look at it when we form the eleven. Rampaul and [Sheldon] Cottrell are in our side, both are excellent so we will see how the team shapes up.

“I thought he [Santokie] bowled okay. Defending 130 was never going to be easy against the Indian batting line-up. He will get more and more comfortable in the tournament. He was probably a bit nervous, and he will work to improve.” (Cricinfo)

Dominic Vincente’s three-point barrage coupled with Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai’s two dunks in the fourth quarter ignited a run that saw the Dyna’s Ravens throttle the Retrieve Raiders 8557 in the final of the Road to Mecca Championship on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Rated number four in Georgetown, The Ravens used a run that started in the final minutes of the third quarter to rout the Retrieve Raiders from Linden by 28 points to become Guyana’s number one club.

Raiders started the game well, going to post and keeping the game at a slow pace as they worked the smaller players of the

Ravens on the inside to take an early advantage after the first quarter which ended 13-9.

Raiders continued their dominance from the post in the second quarter as they cleaned the glass keeping the Ravens limited as the Georgetown side struggled to convert shots around the rim.

However, the Ravens would ignite a monstrous 27-9 run in the third quarter starting with a Jermaine Slater put back that would give the Ravens the lead for good with the score on 27-26.

The onslaught from the Ravens did not stop there as Kanhai would throw down a thunderous one -handed tomahawk dunk that brought spectators in the packed sports hall to their feet to continue the momentum from the third period.

Vincent would then start drilling threes in the final period, going three for three from down town, while Kanhai punctuated the win with a two -handed dunk and another three posing to watch the ball as it swished the net.

Kanhai would finish with 20 points, eight rebounds, five steals and four blocks, while Jermaine Slater would drop a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds.

Vincente, who was named MVP of the final for his crunch- time barrage of three, ended with 16 points with 11 coming in the fourth quarter. Rodwell Fortune was also hot for the Ravens dropping 18 points in the blow-out win.

Neil Marks had 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Dwyane “Brown

Suga” Roberts had 14 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.

Third place went to the Bounty Colts as they routed the Amelia’s Ward Jets 71-48 to pick up the win.

Shelroy Thomas kept attacking the rim relentlessly scoring 20 points with six steals to carry the Colts to the win.

Nikkoloi Smith chipped in with 15 points while Dave Causway had 11 points five assists and six steals.

Alister Webster had the team high for Amelia’s Ward Jets with 10 points and 14 rebounds while Joel Webster had 10 points in the loss.

Meanwhile, in the supporting game, the Diplomatic Core routed the Media United team 76-57 to cap off a thrilling night of basketball and the Road to Mecca National Club Championship.

The winning Ravens team poses with the president of the GABF Nigel Hinds (extreme right) and vice president of the GABF (Michael Singh) at the presentation ceremony held after the final (photo: Treiston Joseph)

MVP of the final, Dominic Vincente lays one in during his MVP performance

Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai sky-walks for a onehanded tomahawk in the fourth quarter

Yassin disappointed with performance of South American Games team

By Treiston Joseph

President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), KA Juman Yassin, expressed disappointment in the performance of the South American Games team at a press conference held on Monday at the GOA headquarters.

The team that featured two disciplines in athletics and boxing, returned from Chile last week without any medals to boast of, but should have done better according to Yassin.

“I am disappointed in the performance with regard to the track; I thought we could have done much better.

“I was not very pleased with regard to boxing, Theresa London I can excuse her because it was her

first time and we do not have much female competition, when you see some of those girls fight, they fought better than some of our male boxers,” Yassin stated at the press briefing.

Terrence Poole, coach of the boxing team related that his three fighters Eon Bancroft, Dennis Thomas and Theresa London all faced more experienced opponents.

Coach of the athletics

Wiltshire wins again

Shomari Wiltshire defeated Matthew Phang to claim his third title in the Toucan Industriessponsored Kraft Junior Skill Level tournament organised by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its dependable corporate sponsor, Digicel Guyana.

Wiltshire is only 10 years old, but has won his category in the past three editions of this tournament. Each year, Wiltshire has faced and beaten older opponents as he has always been the youngest competitor in the category.

This year’s tournament was not much different, as Wiltshire, the youngest player in Category ‘B’, finished atop the standings after winning all his matches. On Sunday, he defeated Phang 11-8, 12-10, 11-8.

It was Phang’s only loss of the tournament. Phang had to settle for second place just as he did to Wiltshire in

Category ‘C’ last year, while 13-year-old Alex Cheeks placed third and Daniel Islam took fourth this time around.

Benjamin Mekdeci won Category ‘A’ ahead of Akeila Wiltshire, who survived a gruelling five-game encounter against Alec Melville for the second place spot. A. Wiltshire prevailed 11-5, 11-6, 4-11,7-11, 11-3, forcing Melville to settle for third. Incidentally, Mekdeci and A. Wiltshire were adjudged most outstanding male and female players respectively of the tournament.

Anthony Islam had convincingly completed his victory in Category ‘C’, but it was quite an interesting race for the runner-up spots. Michael Ramroop was the eventual second-placed finisher, with four wins and two losses. Jael Gaskin, who also finished with four wins and two losses, finished third as one of those losses was against Ramroop on the

opening night.

Savannah Mendes managed to pull off a stunning win against Ramroop in four games on the final day. With that win and a walkover conceded by Sarah Lewis, Mendes ended up in fourth place.

Anthony Islam was adjudged most improved boy of the tournament, while Harding was named the most improved girl .

Brandon Debidin dominated Category ‘D’, while Gianni Carpenter took second, John Phang third and Demetrius DeAbreu took fourth. Michael Alphonso was able to emerge victorious ahead of Madison Fernandes and Nechemiyah Levans respectively for the top spot in Category ‘E’.

Reza Ali won Category ‘F’, while Kirsten Gomes took second and Tome Reis placed third. Nadine Jairam won Category ‘G’ ahead of Kamir Khan and Chad DeAbreu who took second and third, respectively.

team, Lyndon Wilson,who believed that the team sent was not the best team pointed out that the younger athletes should have been focused on more.

“Generally, we need to

know where we are going, know the way forward and I think that the GOA and the AAG need to keep a keen eye on what’s going on.

“It was a learning experience not just for me but for

the athletes as well,” Wilson shared.

President of the AAG Aubrey Hutson justified the selection of Alisha Fortune, who happens to be 38 years old and was viewed by many as undeserving of making the team.

“When we looked at her times and compared it to some of the times the other athletes in South America were running, we believe that she had a good shot in the 100 metres,” Hutson noted.

Meanwhile, the GOA will be hoping to host an open forum on April 11 when members of the public can air their opinions on what they believe can be done to improve sport and voice their thoughts on the problems that are preventing sport from progressing.

Score’s Even takes top honours at KMTC post-Phagwah horse race meet

Score’s Even of the Simply Royal Stable negotiated the hot conditions successfully and landed safely to take top honours in the feature ‘A’ Class event when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club successfully held its annual Phagwah horse race meet at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, on Sunday.

The six-furlong event was an intense, continuous battle among the six horses as the lead changes rapidly prior to the final turn.

When the horses hit the homestretch the race was still wide open, but with about 100 metres to the finish line jockey Richmond, aboard Score’s Even, used all his experience and came through on the inside to win by a neck.

The win was worth $1 million, while Got to Go and County Armagh had to settle for second and third positions, respectively.

The Simply Royal Stable was in winners’ row again in the J1 six-furlong race, with Iron Man working its way to a comfortable victory ahead of De Gump, Party Time and Famous Pride.

Iron Man returned again to win the J3 and Lower race from Sugar Boy, Pick Pocket and Red Jet.

The Jagdeo Racing Stable was in winners’ row in the D3 and Lower six-furlong event, when Milwaukee Blitz took care of business from Some Legend, Red and Lovely and It’s my Turn.

The Three-year-old for

Guyana-bred horses was won by Royal Cash. The animal took pole position from Little, Mobile Import and Sunny Silent. Meanwhile, the G and Lower race was upgraded to a G2 race, which saw Shooting Star of the Shariff Racing Stable winning ahead of Bridal Stone Corner and Damascus Dream. Marian won the ‘I’ and Lower race from Party Time. Further, the race for the Three-year-old Guyana and West Indies- bred animals was cancelled because of the dearth of entries.

Jockey Ajai won the champion jockey award, while the Simple Royal Stable took the champion trainer and stable accolade.

(Rajiv Bisnauth)

Kraft Junior Skill Level tournament… Shomari

The winners and runners-up pose at the conclusion of the championships on Sunday night

Members of the head table during the press conference that included President of the GOA KA Juman Yassin

DDL Berbice Branch Manager Albert Budhoo hands over the winner’s trophy to a representative of Simply Royal Stable

2014 Indoor Pan American Cup… National men’s hockey team in final stages of preparation

After four months of training, the national men’s hockey team is in its final week of preparations for the 2014 Indoor Pan American Cup, scheduled for Uruguay from April 7-13.

The team is scheduled to play several matches against rest sides at the National Gymnasium over the coming week to fine-tune their systems and strategies.

Guyana will be up against regional powerhouses Canada, Argentina, USA and Uruguay as they attempt to qualify for the 2015 Indoor World Cup in the week-long tournament.

Although several fundraisers were undertaken, the team still finds itself short of the required funds to make the tour possible and will be depending heavily on corporate support to reach its budgeted target

over

Taylor, Dottin inspire Women to victory

West Indies Women made a winning start to their World Twenty20 campaign when they beat England by nine runs in their Group B encounter here Monday.

Defending 133 for seven at the Sylhet Stadium, West Indies restricted England to 124 for nine, with medium pacer Deandra Dottin snatching four for 12 from four outstanding overs.

England seemed to be en route to victory at 80 for two in the 12th over until Dottin intervened. She knocked over captain Charlotte Edwards for 44

off 37 balls, in a devastating spell that saw England lost five wickets for 17 runs in quick time.

Requiring 18 from the last over, England got a four from the first ball but then lost two wickets, as any hopes of victory disappeared.

Earlier, Stafanie Taylor top scored with 56 from 45 balls and Kycia Knight, 43 from 42 deliveries, as they got the Windies Women up and running with an opening stand of 87.

Seamer Natalie Sciver was England’s best bowler with three for 18.

SCOREBOARD

England (Target; 134)

C Edwards* c Aguilleira b Dottin 44

S Taylor+ run out (Dottin) 17

L Greenway b Daley 14

Dottin c Shrubsole b Sciver 9

Aguilleira*+ st Taylor b Shrubsole 11

S Campbelle b Grund 1

S Quintyne not out 4

S Daley b Shrubsole 0 A Mohammed not out 1

Extras: (lb 2, w 4) 6

Total: (7 wickets; 20 Overs) 133

Did not Bat: T Smartt, S Selman

Fall of Wickets: 1-87 (Kycia A Knight, 12.3 ov), 2-108 (Dottin, 14.5 ov), 3-113 (Kyshona A Knight, 16.3 ov), 4-115 (Taylor, 16.5 ov), 5-116 (Campbelle, 17.3 ov), 6-129 (Aguilleira, 19.1 ov), 7-129 (Daley, 19.2 ov).

Bowling: A Shrubsole 4-0-25-2, D Hazell 4-0-23-0, R Grundy 4-020-1, J Dibble 2-0-21-0, J Gunn

3-0-24-1, N Sciver 3-0-18-3.

N Sciver b Dottin 7

T Beaumont b Dottin 2

H Knight c Campbelle b Smartt 6

J Gunn LBW Dottin 2

D Hazell not out 11

A Shrubsole run out (Aguilleira) 10

J Dibble b Selman 0

R Grundy not out 1

Extras: (b 4, w 6) 10

Total: (9 wickets; 20 Overs) 124

Fall of Wickets: 1-42 (Taylor, 5.2 ov), 2-63 (Greenway, 7.6 ov), 3-80 (Sciver, 11.5 ov), 4-84 (Beaumont, 13.1 ov), 5-94 (Edwards, 15.6 ov), 6-96 (Knight, 16.4 ov), 7-97 (Gunn, 17.2 ov), 8-120 (Shrubsole, 19.2 ov), 9-120 (Dibble, 19.3 ov). Bowling: S Daley-2-0-28-1, T Smartt 3-0-25-1, S Selman 4-0-22-1, S Quintyne 3-07-0, A Mohammed 4-026-0, D Dottin 4-1-12-4

a

and

The

reads:

Aderemi Simon, Anthony Cole, Marvin Dannett, Robert France, Raphael DeGroot, Jamarj Assanah, Andrew Stewart, Aroydy Branford, Mark Sargeant, Kevin Spencer, Shane Samuels and Laured Stewart.

The manager is Gavin Hope, with Andrew Xavier being his assistant. Robert Fernandes is the coach.

the next two weeks. The team is scheduled to

Members of the national training squad before the team was shortlisted depart for Lethem on April 4, then travel by road to Boa Vista before making connecting flights to Manaus and Sao Paulo, arriving in Uruguay on April 5.

The team features a balanced blend of experienced nationals such as Devin Munroe, Aderemi Simon and England-based Marvin Dannett, complemented by

young

exciting crop of play-makers, including Jamarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Raphael deGroot and Andrew Stewart. The team is further solidified by the outstanding talents of Anthony Cole in goal.

squad

Devin Munroe,

Deandra Dottin celebrates the wicket of Natalie Sciver

est Indies Women made a winning start to their World Twenty20 campaign when they beat England by nine runs in their Group B encounter here Monday.

Defending 133 for seven at the Sylhet Stadium, West Indies restricted England to 124 for nine, with medium pacer Deandra Dottin snatching four for 12 from four outstanding overs.

Rodwell Fortune rises for a lay-in during his 18-point performance for the Ravens. (photo: Treiston Joseph)

IFBB Pro athlete Jeff “Classic” Beckham (right) and Guyana’s bodybuilder Hugh Ross wowed the students of Chase's Academy on Monday (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)