Daily Times

US LEAD project... all systems

Insanally slams “passive” UN over Mideast conflict

Two missing as Guyanese ship capsizes

First Assemblies gets $41.7M from EU to build training centre

Mining auction, lottery are “fair game” – GGMC GECOM’s PRO appointed Deputy Chief Elections Officer

Govt to formally discuss noconfidence motion next week

Seven of the delegates competing in the Miss Jamzone International Pageant at Palm Court, Georgetown on Wednesday as they participated in a media briefing. Nine young ladies are slated to compete for the crown – the remaining two delegates were expected to arrive in Guyana on Wednesday night (Carl Croker photo)

thursday, august 14, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Finance Minister dismisses Vice Chancellor's threat to shut down UG

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has dismissed threats by University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi to shutdown the university as reckless and premature.

Dr Opadeyi at a press briefing on Wednesday warned that if the Finance Ministry does not signal its approval for the disbursement of student loans, the university will temporarily freeze operations.

“I believe the Vice Chancellor should know the matter is currently engaging the consideration of the Cabinet. Instead of making reckless and irresponsible threats, the Vice Chancellor would be better advised to ask the Opposition why they cut the budgetary allocation for student loans in the 2014 Budget,” Dr Singh said.

During the consideration

Committee of Privileges.

A high level of uncertainty surrounding students’ ability to access loans currently exists, even as the Loans’ Department remains mum on the situation. Dr Opadeyi said the non-responsiveness from the Loans Department and by extension the Finance Ministry could trigger a total shutdown on both campuses at Turkeyen and Tain, as he

Joshua Griffith, that this is the next best alternative.

He made this announcement during a press conference at the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus in the presence of the Registrar Vincent Alexander, Bursar Holda Poonai and the acting Student Society President Joshua Griffith.

The Vice Chancellor explained that when contacted on Wednesday about 13:30h, the Student Loans Office was unable to give definitive answers, saying that it was awaiting instructions from the Finance Ministry.

“I am the CEO”

According to him, if a favourable response is not given by the second week of the new Academic Year 2014/2015, the university will be closed, until funding can be made available to students. Questioned whether the “Plan B” was in keeping with the initial “Plan B” agreed upon by the Council,

pecting students to proceed with the payment of their fees, saying that there are a lot of liabilities. He pointed out that security services alone account for $11 million monthly, noting that financial provision must be made also for electricity, water and telephone services, among others.

Grilled on whether the administration had consulted with the Finance Ministry before implementing the increased tuition fees, Dr Opadeyi pointed out that representatives from Cabinet, the Finance Ministry, the Education Ministry and the Opposition sit on the Council of the University. According to him, once Council approves, Government approves. During the consultation process the Vice Chancellor, as he touted the increase in tuition fees, had assured students that they would have been able to acquire loans from the Loans Department. Meanwhile, the acting

of the 2014 National Budget, the $450 million which was budgeted by Government for the Student Loan Fund was disapproved after it was lumped with items the Opposition deemed objectionable.

By June, the Finance Minister had moved to the House with a Statement of Excess on the Current and Capital Estimates totalling $4.5 billion for the period ended June 16. This sum had included $225 million for the Student Loan Fund.

But his decision to spend the disapproved funds has now landed him before the

alluded to Plan B.

“We will close down UG for a year, because if we have no student who can pay fees, then we will have no student to teach and then we will have the liabilities of lecturers who will have to receive salaries every month. So it will just be useful to just shut down for six months or three months,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor told the press briefing at the Education Theatre, Turkeyen Campus in the presence of the Registrar Vincent Alexander, Bursar Holda Poonai and acting University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) President

Dr Opadeyi in response said, “I am the CEO.”

Although 40 per cent of the student population acquired loans in the last academic year, this per centage is expected to skyrocket with the increase in tuition fees that will take full effect come September. Based on this analysis, the Vice Chancellor said it will not be financially viable to operate the university with just those students who can afford to pay cash.

“This is not a cake shop,” he lamented.

Nevertheless, he said as the registration process begins, the administration is ex-

UGSS President said students are already lodging their concerns as uncertainty prevails. “Students are worried about the uncertainty about the student loans,” he said. According to him, the Finance Ministry could prevent the closure of the university by signalling its approval for the release of student loans.

New students are now required to pay a tuition fee of $160, 000, in addition to $50, 000 in facility fees, while continuing students will pay $130, 000 along with the facility fees. Adjustments have also been made to the fees paid by international students.

Bursar Holda Poonai; Vice Chancellor, dr Jacob Opadeyi; acting Ugss President Joshua Griffith and Registrar Vincent Alexander address reporters

Finance Minister, dr ashni singh

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

High school conundrum

In possibly no other country in the world, do high school graduation results engender as much interest as in Guyana. It may be a commentary on our education system. So once again, all eyes are turned on the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) results for Fifth Formers (CSEC) and Sixth Formers (CAPE). As usual, there is great fanfare about the ‘high flyers’.

Of the 13,724 students who wrote the CXC, the Ministry requested a list of those securing Grade One passes in eight or more subjects – and this amounted to 192. This was further refined to those that secured 11 or more Grade Ones – numbering 52.

But the more pertinent question not asked was how many students matriculated – that is, secured at least five passes including English A and Pure Mathematics with Grade Three to One – to qualify as being “graduated”? This would have satisfied, for instance, the minimum requirement to enter the University of Guyana, or be accepted into a CAPE programme.

With only 38.7 per cent passing Pure Mathematics – a nine per cent increase over 2013 – at the very best, this is the highest possible percentage of students that matriculated. Since it is most likely that not all of those that passed Pure Mathematics, also passed four other subjects with English A, the matriculation rate is most likely considerably below that 38.7 per cent.

While the Minister stressed that the overall pass rate for Grades One to Three was 60.21 per cent – a marginal increase from last year – this is rather irrelevant in view of the fact that so many have not matriculated on criteria that even our neighbour Trinidad considers too low. For entry to UWI’s St Augustine Campus, in addition to the Guyanese requirement, applicants must also have passes in two CAPE subjects. The consequence of this low bar for entering the tertiary stream is too well known to bear repetition.

Another significant statistic was that private candidates amounted to approximately 37 per cent of the total entries – 5082, to 8642 from public schools. When one considers that the “cream of the crop” from the National Grade Six Assessment generally attend the “top” public schools, it would be instructive to disaggregate the performance of the private schools.

From the performance of Saraswati Vidya Niketan, a private school, which was third in securing at least eight Grade Ones, it becomes clear that the mode of instruction in the public schools for average students must be improved. As our editorial from yesterday pointed out, these schools and their staff are given a tremendous amount of incentives to do their job but the results are certainly not commensurate.

The absolute dominance of female students as top performers at CSEC is not surprising, since this is simply the continuation of a trend that started more than a decade and shows no signs of abating.

At one level, it might reflect simply the preponderance of females writing the exam (8837) versus males (4887) this year, but this simply shifts the question one level downwards. Why are less boys writing CSEC, when the birth rate for boys and girls are almost equal, and it is the law of the land that ALL children up to age 16 attend school?

The authorities, not just the Education Ministry, must initiate a national conversation to address these ticking time bombs, some of which have already exploded in juvenile criminality. The statistic in CAPE that is most revealing is that only 798 students bothered to sit for it. It reiterates the point we made earlier of the low bar that we have set for matriculating into university and higher education as a whole.

A few years back, there was an announcement that there would be the creation of CAPE schools but this appears to have been abandoned. At this level, however, males have performed as creditably as females. Is it possible that males mature later than females?

Harmon invited to public debate on Bai Shan Lin’s operations, forestry sector

Dear Mr Harmon,

I make reference to the recently held meeting of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Natural Resources on July 14 at which the matter of Bai Shan Lin’s forestry operations was an agenda item.

I wish to refer to a meeting at which all matters and areas of clarification related to forestry activities, including Bai Shan Lin’s operations, were fully addressed with relevant details provided.

In this regard, one of the matters which arose was the allocation of a state forest area to Bai Shan Lin and I provided full information and details to the Sub-Committee.

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has noted that there have been several reports in the local media, which contained allegations, claims and assertions that you, Mr Harmon have allegedly made, on various matters relating to Bai Shan Lin and the GFC’s conduct in this regard. I wish to categorically state that the GFC has clear, transparent and technically sound guidelines and procedures for all aspects of its forestry operation and these are uniformly and consistently applied across the forest sector.

The GFC role as a regulatory agency involves interactive and open dialogue with stakeholders. In this re-

Dr Thomas’ claim to

Dear Editor,

Hope I do not shock Guyana’s black brotherhood by endorsing Dr Clive Thomas’ capitalist claims to total ownership of reparations money. Sure, it should go directly to black slave descendants and Guyana’s native Amerindian people.

The question is how will black people be defined and by whom?

Will Freddie Kisssoon, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Moses Bhagwan, and Christopher Ram, etc get their fair share? What Math's formula has been given to indigenous Guyanese by black reparation leaders so their unfathomable fair share is automatically under indigenous people’s direct control from the get go?

Dr Thomas as the new black economic architect of his people’s destiny cannot represent indigenous people’s rights or determine what’s good for them. He is not indigenous to Guyana nor is anyone else at ACDA.

But as a trendsetter who may want

to enjoin the recent black fashion for indigenous people, he should be commended. He could also invite further disrepute since his socialism diseases were cured by reparations money.

Insisting on exclusive black inheritance of reparations money is totally unprecedented in Guyana’s history. Justifying such a journey into financial partitioning which seals black people in permanent isolation from the rest of Guyana’s inclusive economy sounds admirable.

But in reality it may force them to become totally independent by their own increased self production of consumer goods. Some Indians, like me, totally agree with black people getting reparations money from former Europeans slave masters.

With some Indians apparently now insisting on black reparations for wrongs done to them as a group, they can only be automatically conjoined for the same nobility of reparations justice. What puzzles me is the uncertain-

gard, I would like to invite you to a public debate on Bai Shan Lin’s operations and any other related forestry matter at a time that is convenient to you. In keeping with the intended public discussion session, I am copying all media outlets in this correspondence. The GFC looks forward to your response to this letter, and to addressing any questions or clarification that you may require.

With best regards, James Singh Commissioner of Forests Guyana Forestry Commission

reparations

ty and unknown methodology which will be used to acquire what is due for slavery.

What is most antagonistic also, is the launching pad by which ACDA’s Eric Phillips and others habitually premise and fulcrum their demands to define Indian people, and other indentureds, to black people’s benefit in their just cause. Indentured descendants can only support what’s fair for “equality” in what’s most desirable. If pontificating how black Caribbean, Portuguese, Chinese and Indian indenturedship was “mild” by the misery of slavery, surely Phillips and company do not wish it were otherwise or similar to make us all racially equalised in mutual misery.

Since history occurred as is, and with Indian automatic support for reparations, why is Phillips “indifferent” to Indian misery by which he quotes Eli Wiesel?

A Palestinian woman holds her daughter as they stand in front of their house, which witnesses said were destroyed in an Israeli offensive, during a 72-hour truce in Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip (Reuters)

NACTA’s polls credible and accurate

Dear Editor, I write in response to derogatory comments made about me by columnist Freddie Kissoon. My response was not published in Kaieteur News. I have long ignored Freddie as close friends advised. As his friends and executives of the AFC, PNC and PPP pointed out, Freddie spews a lot of nonsense. They advise it is best to ignore him.

I only respond now to clear the air on why Freddie is bitter in his writings about me and the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA). I have exposed Freddie’s writings for their shallowness and inaccuracies; he is no intellectual and his writings are deficient in scholarship. Any scholar would see that Freddie’s writings lack academic rigour and that demeans him.

Contrary to what Freddie pens about my polls, everywhere I visited in Guyana people shower adulations, admiration and respect for my surveys and writings. Freddie should come with me one day when I visit Guyana and see people’s reactions when they meet me. He would also get a feel of how people view him – it is not pleasant.

Is it any wonder why people routinely poured faeces on him or slapped him when he visited their communities or walked the streets?

By his writings, Freddie clearly craves attention and desires my comments on him apparently to increase readership. He thrives on controversies, misstatements, inaccuracies and erroneous information. Freddie’s interpretation of social theories is incorrect. His classmates in Toronto informed me that Freddie was frequently rebuked by Professors for his lack of understanding of basic theories.

That is not surprising given what he pens on several philosophers including Kant, Locke, Rousseau, Hobbes, Rawle, etc. The mere fact that Freddie penned that there is no such field as political science, of which I did doctoral studies, says a lot about his lack of understanding about political philosophy and theories.

As intellectuals and politicians in Guyana note, he suffers from character deficits. They note that almost all of Freddie’s arguments and claims have lacked evidence; that much is clear from reading his writings that are unsupported.

Freddie has been assailed by no less the editors and or publishers of ev-

ery newspaper in Guyana including Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, Catholic Standard, Open Word and other media organs for his inaccuracies.

Freddie has been rebuked by so many that it leaves one to ask if Freddie has ever written anything that is accurate? He can’t even get the role of the CIOG correct, as Abu Bakr and the organisation’s head pointed out.

Whenever he was challenged to present evidence of his claims, he backed down. No less a person than Albert Ramdin, Ralph Ramkarran and Anand Boodram have condemned Freddie for his dishonesty.

It is inexplicable why Freddie would wish to invoke my name in so many of his commentaries on individuals and subjects (unrelated to me). I am an activist in New York seeking to improve my community’s life and the individuals Freddie ties me with are hardly linked to any form of activism.

I share no relationship with them as they don’t organise rallies or take positions as I courageously do to improve the lot of my community in greater Richmond Hill and working conditions of all. Only a mad man and a uniformed, uneducated individual would tie himself with non-activists or on subjects about which they did not comment.

Freddie penned that in four letters (he keeps count), I stated he was mad. He did not state how many times Laurie Lewis, Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, Nandlall, Donald Ramotar, Clement Rohee, Mark Benschcop, Bharrat Jagdeo, Ravi Dev, Janet Jagan, Joey Jagan and so many others called him a mad man. Freddie also claimed he is “not mad”. That is not for him to pronounce on. He states we are not experts on mental science. I agree. That is why people advised that he visit Dr Hari for an evaluation. I will pay the bill for a full psycho evaluation. If Freddie feels he is no mad man, why does he even have to bother to respond to others about his mental condition.

On polling, myself and colleagues made countless challenges to Freddie to conduct his own polls and we will contrast the findings of his polls and the NACTA polls against the actual results. In 1992, Freddie said his analysis showed the PNC getting 10 per cent of the votes and PPP 25 per cent and the WPA winning the election.

The actual result showed the PPP/C received 53 per cent and the PNC received 42 per cent, with the WPA receiving less than two per cent. Since 1992, Freddie has been saying repeatedly he would conduct his own polls. We wait patiently! In 2011, Freddie condemned the NACTA poll showing PPP/C getting 48 per cent of the votes and praised a poll showing PPP/C getting 34 per cent of the votes. In the actual voting, the PPP/C received 49 per cent.

Freddie’s real issue with the NACTA/Bisram/ TRPI polls is on consultancy fee. In 1991, as Dev, Ramharack, Ramracha, and others would attest, Freddie approached us to be a paid consultant for our polls. We rejected him outright, pissing him off. Since then, he has not forgiven us.

He praises those who pay him and people say he blackmails those who don’t. We engage and pay competent people. Freddie is no pollster and he did not shine in his studies or demonstrated competence in field research. And he is not even qualified as an academic and had to be terminated.

As his friends tell me, Freddie praises polls conducted by individuals and organisations that showed the PPP/C losing elections in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2011 and he condemned NACTA polls that showed the PPP/C winning the elections.

As long as a poll show PPP/C losing, Freddie loves it. NACTA has consistently been accurate and professional in its polling. And the editorial note in Stabroek News on the NACTA poll was not condemnatory. Freddie should reread the editorial since his comprehension is poor.

On people’s respect for me, there lies the crux of the problem with Freddie. He forms a conclusion without supporting evidence. Did he conduct a survey of Guyanese on how they view Bisram? How does he know what most people think? Such a conclusion can only come from a poll?

I conducted a survey on how people view Freddie and they overwhelmingly state that he makes up information. Freddie should present evidence showing the polls are not credible –contrast them with his polls or those of others and he would conclude that all of Bisram’s polls are accurate and credible.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

There is no need for heads

to roll at GECOM

Dear Editor, I refer to a letter published in the August 11 issue of Guyana Times, entitled, “Heads must roll for ACDA’s access to GECOM’s database”, under the pen of one Sultan Mohamed.

Mohamed’s letter was well written and reflects an educated mind. It is therefore inexplicable that Mohamed would take such a stance without seeking to understand how GECOM functions, insofar as access to Lists of Electors is concerned.

The tenets of transparency and accountability place

the onus on GECOM to make Lists of Electors publicly available to all stakeholders. More so, GECOM is statutorily required to publish the Preliminary List of Electors, as we have done for the ongoing Claims and Objections exercise in preparation of an Official List of Electors.

Further, we routinely make hard and electronic copies of the Preliminary and Official Lists of Electors to the Parliamentary Political Parties in order that the Lists may be checked by the respective Parties for accuracy. Also, the Official List of Electors is posted on the GECOM website at www.gecom.org.gy In view of the foregoing it must be absolutely clear that any stakeholder can legitimately access the 2011 Official List of Electors and/ or the current Preliminary List of Electors which has now been posted countrywide. Accordingly, there is no need for “heads to roll”.

Sincerely,

Vishnu Persaud Public Relations Officer Guyana

Elections Commission

GTUC has not been targeted by the

Rodney CoI terms of reference

Dear Editor,

Permit me a brief response to the lengthy letter written by Basil Williams on August 12, in the Stabroek News. Williams’ concept of a Commission of Inquiry is totally misplaced. Williams forgot this Commission is for all Guyanese and the Terms of Reference allow civil participation.

When the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) applied for standing its purpose was clear in the orders being sought; an order granting standing as an interested party to the GTUC with full participatory rights including the

following:

1. The right to have counsel present at the Inquiry;

2. The right to receive all correspondence provided to the Commission or sent by the Commission with respect to this proceeding;

3. The right to apply for preliminary, interim or summary orders and to respond to requests for preliminary, interim or summary orders brought by Commission Counsel or any of the interested parties with standing;

4. The right to participate in the hearing of this matter, including the right to all evidence, request summons,

Dr Thomas’ claim...

Even using the word “coolie” (defined as hard labour) has one meaning for those Indians who know its correct connotative meaning, but is used by non Indians as an insult. The “coolie” experienced travesty was not paved with a red carpet of gold even up to now.

They still toil from 05:00h until 20:00h up to today in the scorching sun. Stop this blatant nonsense of minimising Indo Guyanese contributions. Both the PNC and AFC majority must stop playing down Indian contributions to Guyana.

Would it be most unfair, or is it completely accurate that black people had absolute power for 28 years under the PNC to revolutionise their economic trajectory? The Indian narrative in Guyana should not be played down by blacks saying Indian got “paid”, “got lands”, and “black people paid for their passage”. To what purpose? All indentured servants from all groups had no say in the matter.

This kind of debate can degenerate into a perverse rebuttal that former slaves got a free trip to the Caribbean, free food and free housing, to which they have become historically addicted when all other indentureds including Indians had to work and buy their own to survive daily. No work and they starved.

The PNC seized the

Indian Immigration Fund and misused it. Stealing elections and stealing Indian money became PNC national policy. Stealing is stealing. PNC political doctrine was designed to break and absorb every other ethnic Guyanese group, including the indigeous original Guyanese.

The PNC Government of 1964-1992 promoted “one love” for a “new nation” by its political, economical and cultural policies. Today, PNC’s David Granger is pushing “one nation” as the second chapter.

Why should defenceless innocent Wismar Indians who faced genocide by coordinated black vengeance be denied compensation? For too long people like Phillips have instituted their black measurement scale by which poverty and progress is measured.

The PPP was impotent to respond to it and forged ahead by chanting its usual class ideology, which incurred the wrath of foreign interests. If all the PNC atrocities against Indo Guyanese, violence, brutality, torture, murders, raping of Indian women during street riots and at the Guyana National Service can count for nothing because it was only a small percentage by the black scale, something is fundamentally wrong.

cross-examine witnesses and provide submissions to the Commissioners; and, 5. Any other participatory rights generally provided to an interested party.

6. Such further and other order as may be appropriate. Nothing in his poorly constructed letter warrants a response from me. His misplaced objection was summarily dismissed by the three members of the Commission, in light of the above.

Yours faithfully, Selwyn A Pieters Lawyer, Notary Public

From page 4

Now that Thomas has given public claim to the reparations landslide for separatist racial development, are we likely to find a termination of violent bacchanal from black people?

I do hope that the changed Professor, ACDA others will not only limit reparations funds to liquid, cash but negotiate transfer of technology and technical expertise to boost black enterprenship. My best wishes go to black people for all the European and Arab billions they can get. So be it. Me casa es me casa, samjay?

Is this the black road of reconciliation for all Guyanese by percentages? Suffering is suffering regardless. Black leaders and future beneficiaries cannot so unjustifiably continue to bludgeon Indians to set their basis and debase the Indian contributions, their religious observances, their unique culture and their very existence to improve their lot. Any Indian indifference which may underline any black lamentation of individualised neglect is due to the violence and hate ritualistically blitzkrieged on Indians. It is absolutely not Indo Guyanese fault that black people do not own a bigger percentage of the GDP. Should the Indo Guyanese blame, say the Portuguese, or hard working thrifty Chinese (who can build a hotel overnight), or local and foreign whites who have more than them?

Sincerely, Vassan Ramracha

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

Page Foundation

Page Foundation

BY ALEXANDRA KIRKMAN

Prices are going up, up, up – and chances are your pay cheque isn’t. We’ll help you WIN (Whip Inflation Now) without feeling like you’re scrimping.

Life is expensive for families, and it’s getting more so every day. According to the US Department of Labour, the Consumer Price Index rose 3.9 per cent through September 2011 – more than double the rate that wages increased during the same period. And the figures are even more daunting when you look at these specific household costs:

egg prices jumped by 15 per cent and meat by nine per cent; energy rose by 18 per cent, and gas soared by a whopping 32 per cent.

degrees Fahrenheit (rather than the industry standard of 140 degrees Fahrenheit), you’ll cut costs by up to 10 per cent and won’t notice the difference.

Ditch your incandescent lighting . Compact fluorescent bulbs use 80 per cent less power and last at least six times as long as standard incandescent

an energy-efficient one.

Install water aerators. These devices, which increase the oxygen saturation of water, cost as little as US$1 apiece and save up to 5 gallons per faucet per day.

Switch to reusable microfibre cloths . Shop around to find ones suitable for cleaning a variety of different surfaces. You’ll spare trees and go through fewer paper towels.

Director of LetsTalk.com, a consumer resource for wireless products, explains how to find the best plan for your family.

(Continued from Wednesday)

Give the final numbers a hard look

Compare the alternatives. Searching for a better deal isn’t as dizzying as it may seem. There are two major carriers, and most offer only three or four options for families. See what’s best for you and the family.

Invest in insurance

We won’t bother to explain the complicated economic forces at work, but suffice it to say that prices aren’t likely to ease up anytime soon. What can you do about it? Plenty.

Live greener

Many of the steps you can take to live an ecofriendly lifestyle also help you spend less on household bills. Environmental advocate Simran Sethi offers tips for saving the planet – and money too.

Turn down the water heater . By setting it at 120

ones.

Prevent phan - tom energy waste . To cut down on your appliance costs, we suggest buying the Belkin Conserve Socket (US$10; belkin.com), a plug-in device that shuts off the power automatically after 30 minutes, three hours, or six hours (your choice).

Look for the Energy Star logo . Products with this designation can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and your energy bills. Go to energystar.gov to see how much you could save by replacing your old fridge with

Make your own cleaning products. Doing so is cheaper and healthier for you and your children if you use nontoxic products, such as baking soda, cornstarch, white vinegar, and lemon. Go to eartheasy. com for recipes.

Keep more of your money

To make your hardearned cash work for you, try these clever changes from Celia Santana, a Financial Advisor in New York.

Refinance your mortgage . At press time, the average 30-year fixed rate was four per cent, near its historic low. Dropping your rate by a mere one per cent on your mortgage will save you some money at the end of the year.

Spend less on your cell Joni Blecher, Editorial

For families, the $5 per month cost per phone is usually well worth it. “Phones break and children drop them, and they’re expensive to replace,” says Blecher.

Drive down car costs

Auto expenses account for one eighth of the average family’s expenses. But Dan Weedin, an insurance and risk-management consultant in Seattle, has ideas for saving big on and off the road.

Put your policies together . A number of insurers offer a package if you bundle your auto and home coverage.

Go for cheaper gas Stick with regular octane: Paying for premium is like throwing money out your car window.

Be more fuel-efficient . Carpool whenever possible, avoid idling, and don’t use the A/C except when you’re on long distance drives. Also make sure your tyres are properly inflated; it’s an easy way to improve your mileage by up to three per cent. (parents. com)

All this adding and subtracting should help you answer the big question: Can you stay home? If your partner’s income far exceeds all your family’s expenses – or if it falls significantly short – then your decision will be an easy yes or no.

If the numbers are close, you still have some figuring to do. With your new budget in hand, sit down with your partner and consider your options.

Are there ways to cut back on your monthly costs? And are these sacrifices that you’re both willing to make? (If you go ahead and cancel your cable service against your partner’s wishes, he or she won’t be enthusiastic about this transition.)

If you plan to persuade your partner that you can make it on one income, make sure you come to the table prepared. Calculate exactly how much you’ll be saving on childcare costs, for example, and show how you plan to cut the grocery bill. Be open to your mate’s point of view – even if you don’t agree with it.

Think about the alternatives – and don’t give up If you’ve cut your budget to the bone and living on one income remains beyond your family’s reach, see if you can adjust your work situation. Could you cut back your hours or work part-time? Will your employer let you work from home on some days or adjust your schedule? Some parents prefer to work four 10-hour days in-

stead of five eight-hour days. And some couples work staggered shifts so that one parent is always with the children.

McCoy is convinced that it’s possible for a determined parent to stay at home, at least part-time.

Before you make a final decision, spend some time with your budget, your calculator, and your creativity.

“I’m the poster child for making it work,” she says. “I was making a higher salary than my husband when I quit my job. We were living in the high-priced San Francisco Bay Area. And I had no experience at budgeting or cutting back: I was raised in an affluent family. We lived overseas and had five servants when I was growing up. If I can do it, anyone can.”

Living on one salary was hard at first, McCoy says. She limited her family of three to a $40-a-week food budget. They cut all their expenses, particularly entertainment, and McCoy made a project out of planning family outings that didn’t cost any money. “We’d look for free museum days or interesting factory tours, or we’d find a park we’d never visited before,” she says. “We focused on being together.”

To make staying home a reality, start developing a long-range plan today. Talk to other parents and see how they manage. Create a budget and try to reduce your costs, but do so gradually.

“Don’t cut back all at once,” DeGeorge says. “If you go to extremes, you won’t be able to stick to it. It’s like going on a crash diet. If you say, ‘I’ll never eat ice cream again,’ the first thing you want to do is run out and get an ice cream. So start slowly, and cut back in one area at a time.” (babycenter.com)

Insanally slams “passive” UN over Mideast conflict

BY SVETLANA MARHALL

Former President of the 48th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and Guyana's Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Rudy Insanally says that body has been reduced to a toothless poodle as violence and war rage in the troubled Middle East with no clear solution or end in sight.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of his new book, “Dancing Between the Raindrops – A Dispatch from A Small State Diplomat,” Dr Insanally criticised the posture of the UN as far as piloting effective policies and actions that would lead to the permanent resolution of crises in the various nation states.

“Regrettably, the UN seems to have become now a helpless onlooker, observer for various countries, instead of serving as an effective arbitrator of peace,” the former Foreign Affairs Minister said.

He added, “the pursuit of self-interest by major powers and time-wasting procedures of the Security Council keep violence alive,” even as new battle grounds are being formed in cyber space and in others domains.

Warfare

According to Dr Insanally, modern-day warfare gives little hope that peace will prevail in the near future.

“I feel dehumanised every time I watch the television, and see these tragedies occurring involving men, women and children, going through such horrific suffering by the hands of their fellowmen.

"What sort of humanity is that?” he questioned, while addressing the audience comprising mainly diplomats and Government officials, including President Donald Ramotar and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett.

Even as “evil” prevails in the Middle East, Dr Insanally contends that there is a threat of a new cold war and possibly that of a third world war. But diplomacy, he said, must be called upon to minimise conflict and to protect peace.

Dr Insanally’s comments come on the heels of the current Gaza-Israeli. Hamas and Israel have been at enmity since the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in June, but tensions flared after the suspected revenge

killing of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem on July 2, resulting in six suspects being arrested.

July 7 marked the beginning of a new war between the neighbouring states when Hamas fired rockets for the first time in 20 months, following a series of Israeli air strikes.

Reports now indicate that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have begun discussions with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the conflict in Gaza. These discussions are unfolding amid an ongoing ceasefire agreed between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas. As the truce holds, there are signs of normalcy in Gaza.

Death toll

But since July 8, approximately 2000 people have been killed. According to the UN, those killed include more than 1900 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Sixty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in the fighting and three civilians in Israel have also died.

Though it was the launching ceremony of his second book, which chronicles his life as a career diplomat, he used the opportunity to address the diplomats who have been attending the Biennial Conference of the Heads of Guyana’s Missions overseas on the importance of diplomacy.

The old diplomacy, he said, spanned the 18th, 19th and a great part of the 20th

centuries, focusing on diverse issues of war, peace, and territorial questions. According to him, it was characterised by secrecy, protocol and social etiquette.

“The agenda would focus on just one or two items, agreed upon by the parties, the objective once set can be pursued and met on time, assuming of course there were not impediments,” he recalled.

But with the end of World Wars I and II, and the creation of a multiplicity of international organisations and agencies, Dr Insanally said a new diplomatic order emerged.

By this time, he explained that the agenda had evolved to include a wider spectrum

democracy, they opine that it delays the process of negotiation and diminishes the prospects of successful outcomes.

But Insanally acknowledged the need for greater inclusion in this changing world.

“This new diplomacy which now prevails in international relations, has come about through the spread of globalisation and the invent of information techniques which have radically transformed the work of unification,” he said.

According to him, these scientific and technological advances will continue to change the face of diplomacy.

As he turned his attention to future diplomacy, he said historical trends have sug-

of issues on the scene, including that of democracy, human rights, climate change, conflict, humanitarian assistance and technology, among others.

Due to the complexity of these matters, specialisation is often required to reinforce traditional diplomacy. But notably, he said is the seemingly astronomical number of participants present at the negotiating table.

“At most meetings these days are not only the representatives of member states but also the private sector, nongovernmental organisations and civil society,” he said.

While some argue that though high numbers reflect

gested that it will continue to be state-centric.

“States will continue to be involved in international affairs,” posting that they will play a key role in this increasingly complex and globalised world.

He further opined that diplomacy in the future will be guided by public opinion, even as civil society and other actors begin to have a greater say in international affairs.

Though, recent catastrophes seem frustrating with some states collaborating while others disintegrate, future diplomacy must play a leading role in promoting world peace amid the geopolitical landscape. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

Teen to be charged for Plaisance murder

An 18-year-old is expected to be charged for the capital offence of murder after he reportedly confessed to killing 57-yearold Ann Mendonca of Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

Mendonca was found bound and gagged on her bed on Saturday evening last by her son moments after he returned home from work.

Guyana Times was told that based on Police intelligence, they managed to crack the case on Monday evening during continuous investigations.

A Police source confirmed that the teenager was taken into custody on Monday evening and during interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the heinous crime.

However, the teenager is well known to the now dead woman and her son, since they would call upon him to assist with chores in and out of the house.

Mendonca was found dead by her son after neighbours contacted him at his place of employment claiming that their calls had gone unanswered.

He rushed home and found his mother’s motionless body lying on her back in her bed. Her mouth and hands were duct-taped, while her head was covered

with a pillow.

On the night of the discovery which occurred at about 21:00h, he told media operatives that he last spoke to his mother in the day as she was preparing meals. The distraught son said that he works and she took care of the home and cannot come to grips with her death.

Initially, he said that there was indeed a feud between his family and his neighbours, and he thought that they were responsible for his mother’s death.

He recalled that about two weeks back, two men went into the home but he did not report the matter to the Police upon his mother's persistence.

He also suggested that it was cold-blooded murder and the perpetrator removed a DVD player and jewellery to distract the Police as they carried out their investigation.

Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination was performed on the body of Mendonca and it gave her cause of death as asphyxiation due to strangulation and blunt trauma to the head.

The autopsy was performed by Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary on Wednesday.

Dr Rudy Insanally speaking on Tuesday

Sections of Gaza that were destroyed in July by Israel (BBC photo)

Ann Mendonca

Two missing as Guyanese ship capsizes

Two Guyanese crew members of a locally registered vessel are missing after their boat capsized off the Corentyne Coast.

In a statement, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) said that ap-

proximately 21:00h on Tuesday, the Guyana registered Motor Tanker Swift Dolphin reportedly capsized off the coast in the vicinity of the mouth of the Corentyne River.

It was proceeding from Paramaribo,

Suriname to Georgetown, Guyana. There were four crew members on board; two were rescued while the other two are missing. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the two missing crew members.

Motorcyclist killed in accident at Bath Settlement

Amotorcyclist was killed on Wednesday afternoon when his bike collided with a van on the Bath Settlement Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

In a statement, Police said that investigations are being conducted into the accident that occurred around 15:10h on the main road at Bath Settlement, WCB, and which resulted in the death of motor cyclist Suraj Chandradai, 35, of Bath.

Investigations so far have revealed that Chandradai allegedly rode out of an

access road on to the main road into the path of a motor van and was struck down. He was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment. The driver of the motor van is in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

Angoy’s Avenue fire leaves three homeless

Three persons are now homeless after fire destroyed a building at Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The fire reportedly started in the lower flat of the two-storey building, and within minutes, the entire structure was flattened, a neighbour told Guyana Times

Ray Khan, 43, a labourer and his four-year-old son

were the only occupants at home at the time.

According to reports, the New Amsterdam Fire Service was summoned but arrived after the house was completely destroyed.

A fire official said while they did receive a call, they were not given details of the location, in addition to which the area is difficult to manoeuvre.

Meanwhile, initial inves-

tigations indicate that the fire might have been caused by the child who was reportedly playing with a lighter.

Fires in that area of the town have ravaged several building in recent times, despite the community being very close to the New Amsterdam Fire Station.

On April 5, Prince Sinclair, 38, of Levi Dam, died in hospital a day after he was burnt

in a fire at his Levi Dam Angoy’s Avenue home.

On May 31, 2011, a mysterious fire started just after 20:30h on Saturday evening and destroyed a two-bedroom home at Mai Mai Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.

No one was occupying the building at the time. The investigation into Wednesday’s fire continues.

Friendship resident fined for unlawful assault

On Wednesday, in the courtroom of Magistrate Ann McLennan, a 45-yearold man made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with unlawful assault.

Dhanchanan Singh was fined a sum of $25,000 or an alternative 12 months imprisonment after facing an unlawful assault charge. According to the charge, it

alleged that on August 9, at Friendship, he unlawfully assaulted the Virtual Complainant (VC) Abrahim Mohamad Khan, to cause him actual bodily harm.

According to the

facts presented by Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones, on the day in question the defendant was under the influence of alcohol when he went to the house of Khan and began to speak ill of his daughter. The VC ignored the defendant and this led to the defendant becoming annoyed. The accused then dealt several cuffs to Khan’s head and body.

The VC went to the Grove Police Station, where he lodged a complaint against Singh and he was subsequently arrested.

According to the VC who spoke with Guyana Times, said that Singh and his daughter shared no relationship of any kind and that this is a “steady thing” with Singh. He told his newspaper that Singh lives at Lot 38 while he lives at Lot 32 Friendship, and every time Khan consumes alcohol and becomes intoxicated, he assaults him. He noted that he had made several reports at the station but nothing was being done. He concluded that had it not been for two men who were in a car passing at the moment, he would have been dead on the spot.

The defendant’s side of the story stated that he was walking out and Khan started the argument first and dealt him a cuff to his head.

There were no prior antecedents for the defendant according to the Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones.

Eyew tness

Race...

W...and foreign policy??

hat a tangled mess we create trying to ride two horses at once – especially in politics. Not least by making one appear rather stupid. Take Carl Greenidge at the African-Guyanese forum. He and his cohort Aubrey Norton, fresh from being rigged out of their inheritance in the PNC by David Granger, criticised the Government’s policy with China. Since there’s no “two China” dispute anymore, we gather the rubs are the loans and businesses the Chinese are involved in, here.

The two PNC ejectees claim the construction and infrastructural projects funded by the Chinese “no longer benefit manufacturing or mining” but “privileged foreigners such as Chinese, Brazilian and Indian businesses”. Now, what the heck does this mean??

Let’s look at manufacturing – cited because it’s presumably dominated by African-Guyanese. The biggest hindrance to increasing manufacturing capacity is the cost of electricity, no?? But the Government was going to solve this problem with the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, (AFHEP), no?? Damned right, they were. With a Chinese loan from their Development Bank.

Which “individual foreigners” were going to benefit??? Last thing WE heard was that the “individuals” who benefited most from that deal were Guyanese – the Hughes man-and-wife duo from the Executive ranks of the AFC! But it gets even richer. Who scuttled that programme that would’ve opened up the manufacturing floodgates of Guyana – AND HELPED African-Guyanese?

Was the same PNC of which these two were members when the dirty deed was done. So the PNC cut its nose to spite its face!!! It hurt its own supporters just so the PPP/C Government shouldn’t look good.

And then on to mining, which is also Afro-Guyanese dominated. Well, the PPP/C can’t win, can it?? After the PNC wrecked the bauxite industry, then dumped it off to Green Mining, it was the PPP/C that finally stabilised it with the Bosai and RUSAL takeovers. And they, at least, are keeping production steady in a depressed market.

Which didn’t cut any ice with the Linden and Kwakwani PNC supporters. They flocked to Norton’s banner. But a fat lot of good it did he and Greenidge at Congress!! You can take a horse to water....

...to elections

With the yoke of the PNC off his neck, Vincent Alexander seems to have found his voice. This Eyewitness wishes him well. At least he’s not being drawn and quartered trying to ride horses galloping off in different directions. Like Greenidge and Norton who’re still beating at the PNC door to let them in. Pleeeeease!

Anyhow, Alexander thinks the PPP/C and President Ramotar might just up and call snap elections before the wankers in the PNC-AFC coalition get back from their summer vacation. Last we heard they were lip locked on an island in the Essequibo River, haggling who’ll be the “Indian Bed-Mate” to David Granger. Nagamootoo’s miffed that he’s out: Granger’d nixed him for being “PPP/C-tainted”, when the Speakership was up for grabs.

Well we think Alexander has a point. And we think not only this MIGHT happen...but it darn well BETTER happen. Look at it this way. Never mind the Opposition’s fat talk. They’re down and out – and no way can they fund an election. Maybe another internal election – this time in the AFC so that Ramjattan can rig himself back as the Presidential candidate – to mate with Granger. But not a national one.

Then of course, there’s the recent exposure of the mark of the beast on Granger’s PNC. PNC supporters mightn’t vote for the PPP/C – but some’ll probably stay home for Granger.

...and CSEC

Some people inject race into the weirdest places. Take the upcoming declaration of CXC’s “top student”. Just because the Minister tried to avoid last year’s blooper when the student with the most subjects wasn’t declared the “winner”, she’d been called “racist”!! Last year, wasn’t the “loser” Indian-Guyanese??

Mining auction, lottery are “fair game” – GGMC

The Guyana Geology and Mines

Commission (GGMC) said that the current auction and lottery of mining blocks is fair and transparent and clarified that every effort was made to ensure that lots with Geological Surveys information are equally shared for both the lottery and auction.

Small miners have complained that all of the mineral-rich lands are being snapped up by medium- and large-scale miners at the current auction and they are left with next-to-nothing blocks during the lottery phase of the exercise.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday, the GGMC said that the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has been actively pursuing the early allocation of new mining lands via the process of lottery and auction.

This, the Commission said, has led to the ongoing lottery and auction being held with each having 1000 blocks of land, 1200 acres in size, that will be allocated; a total of 2000 blocks and 2,400,000 acres.

Further, the GGMC said the hosting of the auction and lottery is done to ensure that mining lands are continuously made available to miners so that gold declaration levels can be maintained to promote the development of the sector and the country.

“These auctions and lotteries are a common occurrence and are done under the Closed Area Committee Regulations which was enacted to ensure that the process of allocation of cancelled lands is as transparent and fair as possible.

"One may recall that in past years, the position of the industry was that only selected persons were able to access lands that were

cancelled. Given this assertion, the Closed Area Committee was established via regulations to govern the reallocation of cancelled lands.”

The Commission said it would have undertaken Geological Surveys for some areas which were identified for lottery and auction. These surveys would provide information on the mineralogy of the various areas and would serve to guide buyers on the economic potential of the block.

According to the GGMC, a minimum starting bid of $60,000 is set for every block, but bidders are then free to competitively bid for a block based on the potential that the block has.

The reason that the blocks are being placed on auction is due to the high cost associated with exploration and geological surveys and the auctions offset some of those costs.

“For the auction and lottery this year, every effort was made to ensure that all stakeholders can have access to lands.

"Each of the 2000 blocks was numbered and every even-numbered block was placed in the auction and odd-numbered blocks in the lottery.

"This mechanism en-

First Assemblies gets $41.7M from EU to build training centre

The First Assemblies of God Church located on D’Urban Street, Georgetown has received $41.7 million from the European Union to construct a centre to teach life skills and build capacity among youth and seniors in the East Ruimveldt area.

sured that not all blocks with geological information would have been auctioned and gone to the highest bidder. Therefore, blocks with geological information would be scattered within the auction areas and within the lottery areas, thus giving all persons equal opportunity to access those lands,” the GGMC explained.

The Commission said it is cognisant of the fact that persons with financial means would be able to bid higher than others.

However, this is to be expected given the nature of an auction. “It would be unfair to state that the auction was geared towards the large miners when every effort was made to ensure that small miners have equal opportunity in accessing land. In a similar vein to the auction, the Commission will be holding a lottery on August 18.

"However, unlike the process of the auction where interested persons are required to bid for specific blocks, persons will simply be required to apply for the area of their choice.”

The Commission also disclosed that historically, there has not been 100 per cent use of the facilities of the lottery, since not all blocks were applied for.

“This clearly indicates that lands are being made available by the Commission, but are not being taken up by small-scale miners.”

Dubbed the “Ruimveldt Life Improvement Initiatives (RLII) MultiPurpose Business and Recreational Centre,” the project is funded under the European Union’s Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development (NSA/LA) thematic budget line, which aims at encouraging non-state actors and local authorities, both from the EU and in developing countries, to get more involved in development issues.

It is not the first time the church has benefited from EU funding for similar initiatives. Back in 2008, the church had received support from a $200 million EU micro-project scheme which helped it commission a $100 million complex named Generation Next.

Support programmes

That project is also used to provide training, recreation and support programmes to empower mainly children, youths and the destitute to realise their potential so they can meaningfully contribute to society.

The church had said that the project had cost $100 million to build and it is equipped with the facilities to offer technical and vocational skills training, information technology, career mentorship, recreational events, protocol training and fine arts training.

Meanwhile, in a release, the EU said that the $41.7 million represents 83.16 per cent of the total cost of the programme towards the realisation of this project.

Commenting on the project, Head of Delegation of the EU to Guyana, Ambassador

Robert Kopecký expressed satisfaction with the pace of works and highlighted that he was looking forward to seeing its timely completion and commissioning.

He further highlighted that the European Union has a long-standing relationship and cooperation with non-governmental organisations and other civil society bodies and recognises the important role they play in the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Almost 20 months into the project, construction is moving apace and already residents are eagerly anticipating its completion, which is scheduled for the end of August. T

he RLIC’s construction is part of a vision to empower and equip youth, women, and unemployed residents with the rele-

vant abilities to enhance their entrepreneurial and developmental capabilities and by extension the development of the community.

This will be achieved through training and services in the areas of barbering, beauty care, videographics and culinary arts in the multipurpose building. The four-storeyed facility will have a recreational room which will encourage residents of the community to engage in socially acceptable activities under the guidance of the dedicated team from the Assemblies of God Church.

Recruitment for training has commenced and already a sense of hope has begun to fill the community as expectations are high for the potential this project will have in enhancing livelihoods, initiating social behavioural change and equipping the vulnerable and underprivileged of the community.

The EU-funded Ruimveldt Life Improvement Initiatives Centre under construction

Miners turned out in their numbers at the auction

GGMC Commissioner Rickford Vieira

Bai Shan Lin pegs investment in Guyana at US$160M

Embattled Chinese firm Bai Shan Lin

said it has invested over US$160 million in Guyana since it set up shop here even as it dismisses allegations that it was shipping out logs illegally.

In response to a series of Kaieteur News articles on its operations, the Chinese company said it is being suggested that the Government of Guyana “has handed us the country’s forests and has allowed us to operate unregulated by the laws, which govern the sector. This claim is inaccurate,” the company said.

The company said the newspaper drew attention the public’s attention to the scale of their operations and to the quantity of logs being extracted and exported. Bai Shan Lin said it began operating in Guyana since 2007. Over the period 2011–2013, it applied through the Guyana

stantial financial and capital resources into these operations. This investment includes road construction and rehabilitation, harvesting and trucking equipment, and human resources,” Bai Shan Lin said. The company noted too that currently it employs close to 200 local Guyanese in various areas of operation, including in harvesting, heavy-duty equipment operation, field teams and administrative personnel.

Intention

Additionally, the company said it has always been its intention to process logs in Guyana.

It said by 2008, they applied to the Government of Guyana through Go-Invest and other agencies to lease lands to set up a factory to process logs and engage in value-added production, such as the making of fur-

engineers in China drew up the layout and design of this factory in the beginning stages of our company’s engagement in Guyana. The estimated cost of setting it up is in excess of US$80 million. We began clearing the lands but encountered difficulties with the administration of Region 10. Objections were made about processing 100,000m³logs per year.”

Investment

The Chinese firm said it has already expended approximately US$30 million to purchase equipment, conduct site-preparation works, and recruit specialist engineers for this factory, and other development aspects, but have been unable to commence construction because of the difficulties referred to, among others.

“But we will persist in having it set up. The eco-

Forestry Commission forest allocation process and was granted two State Forest Exploratory Permit (344,849 hectares).

Involvement

“We wish to note that these applications were made for areas which were publicly advertised by the GFC. Additionally, the company has established, following discussions with and approval by the GFC, cooperation agreements with local companies currently involved in the forest sector (Joint Ventures).” Bai Shan Lin said, noting the area size under these agreements total to 274,053 hectares.

In some cases, “our joint venture partners, were not meeting the maximum sustainable level of harvest that was allocated by the GFC. Some of them were indebted even to the GFC. Through the various partnership arrangements, our company has invested sub-

niture, craft and hardwood flooring.

“Because of the fact that our value-added operation is currently in development, the processing of raw materials is currently being done in China. Our products are sold in Europe and North America in addition to China and India,” the company explained.

“We were granted that lease for the construction of our processing plan four years after we applied for it. The lease is around 200 acres of lands located in Region 10.”

Bai Shan Lin said for strategic reasons, it would have preferred lands closer to port Georgetown, but the Government insisted that the factory be set up in Region 10 to provide employment to the people of Linden.

“Our company commits to fulfilling its social responsibility to the people of Linden and its environs. Specialist

nomic and spill-over benefits for Guyana will, as you have appreciated, be tremendous. The setting up of a modern wood-processing plant here will result in cost savings for our company as well. There is a significant cost involved in shipping logs to China to be processed and exported from China to the EU, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. The plant will make available to the Guyanese public, high-quality wood products never before produced in Guyana.”

Additionally, Bai Shan Lin said it has already injected around US$160 million of investment into Guyana, noting that it has rehabilitated over 225 kilometres of roads with its own funds and created access for other loggers to areas which were previously inaccessible.

“We have rehabilitated roads and bridges in communities where we have no economic interest. We intend to employ thousands of

Guyanese once we are given an opportunity to realise our planned projects. We have successfully promoted species, which were never before marketed commercially. We entered the sector with the aim to contribute positively to the development of forestry in Guyana through injection of financial and capital resources and by further building Guyana’s export markets for forest products.

“

Acknowledging that the law regulates the maximum amount of logs it is allowed to harvest from these concessions, Bai Shan Lin said at no time, “contrary to what the public is being led to believe, have we exceeded the maximum allowable cut. We invite you to verify this. These regulations and policies have been in existence well before we began operating here”.

The company said there are several other areas of economic activity in Guyana that needs investment. “Our company will continue to look at investment opportunities in Guyana that will contribute to the economic development of this country following all required national laws and policies. We are prepared to inject the necessary capital and skills to make this a reality. It is regrettable that these efforts are not being represented in a fair manner and the genuine actions by the company to contribute positively to Guyana’s development has been misrepresented.”

Police investigators have recovered an unlicensed 12-gauge shotgun in a clump of bushes at Hogg Island, in the vicinity of where a man was shot dead and another seriously injured. The gun was found on Tuesday.

On Monday night, Rudolph Persaud, 51, was shot dead and Roy Williams wounded when a gunman opened fire on them while they were drinking on the island.

Williams is currently a patient at the Suddie Public Hospital. A man and a woman are in Police custody assisting with investigations. The men who are employed by Raywattie Katwaru were apparently mistaken for the woman’s relatives who it is believed were the intended targets.

Williams sustained multiple gunshots about his body. Speaking from his hospital bed, Williams told this newspaper that he works as a labourer on a boat for

It still got hope fuh de Hopeless Canal

Guyana is a land of many waters, but it is also a land of plenty hope. And right now de Guvament and a Minister gotta lotta hope fuh de Hopeless Canal, which supposed to help solve some water problems in de Hope area.

De Minister just give de Hopeless Canal Project some more hope after bein hopeless fuh a couple of months. Now bear in mind that this was a project that was supposed to bring hope fuh de farmers and hope fuh de residents in all of Hope and even outside of Hope.

Since de project start, de people in that area start gettin hopeful. Dem hope fuh less floodin, dem hope fuh better drainage, and overall dem hope fuh less water pun de land wheh dem live and de land whah dem farmin.

Even de animals had start to get hopeful because de grazin lands woulda stop gettin flood out every time de rain fall, or every time it got high tide at sea, or every time some dam break down in de conservancy.

Now de Minister get hopeful again that de project gone done by September. De other day was August. Then before that was July. A nursery school child can learn de months of de year backward and forward by just followin all de new deadlines fuh de project every year.

So a reporter seh de Minister gotta a lotta hope to believe that de project gone finally be over by the time September come. But de reporter not sure if de Minister mean that September is de new deadline fuh de project or if de project gon be dead by September. Another one seh de project don dead already.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And talkin bout dead, a lotta tings dead or lookin dead these days. De man pun de Essequibo Coast a couple of weeks ago drop he pants and every ting look dead. Rum Jhaat try a similar stunt in a bottom-house rum shop and it look like he dead a long time now.

Shotgun used in Hogg Island shooting recovered

Raywattie Katwaru, and at about 21:00h on Monday night, he and Persaud were walking along a dam at Northern Hogg Island when shots were discharged in their direction. Persaud was hit in the abdomen and neck, while Williams was hit to the chest.

They were taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival and Williams was admitted for medical treatment.

Williams told this newspaper that all he could recall was hearing the sounds of “gunshots”. At the time, he said, he and Persaud were consuming alcohol on a dam at Northern Hogg Island when someone pulled up and started to shoot at them.

He said that he shouted and then the person started to aim at him. He noted that he did not have any grievances with anyone and is stunned at the attack. Williams has been working

in the interior for approximately five years. Meanwhile, Katwaru, the men’s employer told Guyana Times that she received a call on Monday night about the incident. She said persons from the area assisted both Williams and Persaud to the hospital. Katwaru, who transports groceries from Parika to Hogg Island, said that last August she was robbed. She said during the the robbery, the bandits had threatened to kill her entire family if she took the matter to court. She said according to information received, the shooter might have mistaken her workers for her son. She said her son had been in the company of both Williams and Persaud earlier that day.

Surendra Persaud, the son of the dead man said he too responded to a call that his father was killed. He had to identify his father’s body whom he had not seen since he was a child.

CreditInfo on mission to help Guyanese secure loans

BY ALEXIS RODNEY

CreditInfo Guyana, a recently established credit information company, is on a mission to assist Guyanese in their bid to secure loans and other credit related businesses with little or no hassle.

Officially launched in Guyana in September 2013, Credit info is a global information company that has access to certain types of credit information that could provide credit granters including banks, retail, mortgage and utility companies with the capacity to make informed credit and financial decisions.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana branch, Judy SempleJoseph, speaking exclusively to Guyana Times on Wednesday at the entity’s New Market Street location, explained that while the company has not yet “gone live”, it is in the process of securing an accurate and clean database so that banks could have access to the information on prospective borrowers.

“If someone should seek to access a loan from the bank, their credit information could be in the database that the bank could access it and make a better credit decision,” she said.

Since its establishment in September of last year, the company has been involved in the process of having credit information of consumers and businesses in a

database by the subscriber. In explaining the benefits of the service, Joseph said that in the event a consumer may be seeking a loan, the bank, not knowing that individual will have to depend on the information that he provides. This, she explained, may lengthen the procedure because of the verification process.

However, with CreditInfo, and the combination of all its partners including the Guyana Power and Light, the Guyana Water Incorporated, among others, all the necessary information would be available in one place “with the click of a button”. She explained however that that could only happen if the consumer gives the permission for that information to be shared.

Permission

She said the company is also involved in a strong public relations and communication campaign to ensure that persons understand why it is important for them to give that permission, “so that when you receive a letter from your bank asking that you give your information to CreditInfo, they could understand that it is specifically for their benefit”.

Joseph emphasised that the system is a technologically and webbased platform, where the database is transmitted and hosted in “the highest level of security in a datahosting facility in the Caribbean”.

The information provided, she

informed this publication, is not hosted in any building in Guyana because there is a need to ensure there is absolute security here.

She said that while the market here is absolutely necessary, in Guyana there is some resistance faced by some consumers. This, she explained is understandable and could be attributed to the fact that they are ill-informed.

She noted that for some consumers – especially those who have been exposed to the North American lifestyle – are a little more receptive to the system. With this is mind, the company has also been involved in the training of bank employees so as to ensure the security and the ground work are prepared. Asked about the challenges to the service since it is just under one-year-

old, the CEO said she only sees one now, and that is to get the public in general to understand the value of getting involved in this service.

Credit report

Among the benefits, she said, are that customers are entitled to an annual credit report, which reflects information on payments, and entities that are making queries about the individual. According to her, the report may serve as a catalyst for improvement, should there be a downplay in one’s credit performance.

“It will help the consumer to address and make better financial decisions, especially for persons who have not been paying on time.”

There are absolutely no fees for consumers for this service, unless

they require more than one credit report. Since 1997, CreditInfo Group has been among the fastest-growing companies. Between 1998 and 2007, the average annual growth rate exceeded 50 per cent.

Since 2003, the company has offered diversified services in the area of credit risk management with information provision as the core of services, including tools for decision-making, models and software. All of CreditInfo’s core services comply with European Union Directives on the handling and transmitting of personal information.

The Group is owned by Reynir Gretarsson with 93 per cent shares while the remaining seven per cent is owned by smaller shareholders and employees. CreditInfo is a leading service provider for credit information and risk management solutions worldwide.

It has developed through its multiple subsidiaries, numerous products and services from official and customer information sources to facilitate best practice decisionmaking in credit risk management and has been the preferred partner of local Credit Bureaus.

The most recent ones are in Tanzania (Central Bank), Sudan (Central Bank) and Cape Verde (Chamber of Commerce). CreditInfo, with its headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland, employs around 250 people worldwide. Jamaica is known to be the first Caribbean country to have latched on to the service in 2012.

GECOM's PRO appointed Deputy Chief Election Officer

Vishnu Persaud was on Wednesday sworn in as the Deputy Chief Elections Officer/Deputy Commissioner of National Registration (DCEO/ DCNR) following the approval for his appointment to the twin position by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In a release, GECOM said Persaud’s appointment resulted from a transparent recruitment process which involved (i) advertising the vacant position, (ii) receiving applications and shortlisting suitable candidates, and

(iii) the conduct of interviews by a panel comprising the GECOM Chairman, four Commissioners and the Chief Election Officer.

Prior to this appointment, Persaud had served as GECOM’s Public Relations Officer since November 2001. Persaud also served GECOM in the capacity of Scribe to the Commission from 2004 to April this year, and as Personal Assistant to the Chairman from 2002 up to his current appointment.

Further, Persaud has been integrally involved in GECOM’s Public Education campaigns and

in promoting the image of GECOM.

Persaud holds a Diploma in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and a Level 5 Certificate in Elections Management from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), both being educational institutions in the United Kingdom. In terms of international exposure, Persaud participated in numerous overseas training sessions and seminars and also observed several elections overseas.

Chief Executive Officer of CreditInfo Guyana Judy Semple-Joseph says CreditInfo can be found in almost all countries globally

Vishnu Persaud takes the oath as the new Deputy Chief Elections Officer/Deputy Commissioner of National Registration administered by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang (seated). Looking on is GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally (third from left) and Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield (extreme left)

thursday, august 14, 2014

Eligible voters must be on final list

– PPP/C urges GECOM

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is calling on GECOM to ensure every eligible Guyanese is on the final voters list, especially with the possibility of early General and Regional Elections looming, following the Opposition’s floating of a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.

The party in a release said it remains dissatisfied with the poor public relations by GECOM during the Claims and Objections period thus far.

“Time and again we have voiced our concerns over the inadequate time mobile units have spent in commu-

nities, especially in the hinterland regions during the Sixth Cycle of Registration. We also pointed to the lack of proper and timely notification to residents as regards mobile units visiting their communities,” the party said.

The PPP/C said much thought must be placed too on identifying convenient days and times unique to each community, based on the diverse culture and way of life of people.

“It is our expectation that GECOM will act now to correct these deficiencies, since the Claims and Objections period will conclude soon. It is our hope that no Guyanese

will be disenfranchised during this very critical period in our country’s history.

“The People’s Progressive Party calls on all Guyanese to make good use of this period in ensuring everyone of voting age is registered, persons who would have changed residence must take transfers, correct particulars where necessary and of course make bona fide objections to persons listed on the PVL (Preliminary Voters List) – those who would have died, are imprisoned for a lengthy period, medically challenged or under the voting age,” the release concluded.

Kings Jewellery World employee hurt in Friendship accident

An employee of Kings

Jewellery World is now in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital following an accident at Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Tuesday evening.

Delon Harlequin, 32, of Lot B Grant Scheme, Craig, EBD sustained lacerations to the head, a broken leg, damage to his pelvic bone and other injuries. His condition is listed as stable but serious.

Harlequin was reportedly on his way home when he was struck by a motor car that sped out of the Friendship Service Station.

As a result of the impact, Harlequin was flung off his motorcycle and landed in a nearby trench, hitting his head on a concrete structure in the process. The driver of the car reportedly fled the scene, leaving the car behind, but was subsequently arrested by Police.

The injured man was picked up and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre from where he was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. There, he was rushed into theatre where he underwent

emergency surgery.

Merle Harlequin, the injured man’s mother told Guyana Times via a telephone interview that her son would normally attend the gym at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) compound at Garden of Eden, EBD and while returning home he met in the accident.

The woman said she received a telephone call from a young man who informed her of the accident and advised her to go the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, and without hesitation, she rushed there.

She later leant that after her son got into the accident, the young man rushed to his rescue while residents “grabbed” what they could have. Residents reportedly stripped his motorcycle and took the money that he had.

She praised the young man and called him an “angel”. “The young man told me that my son said his name and give a contact number for the house… that is how he got the number to call,” the woman stated.

While going through his personal items, she noted that persons saw a firearm licence and it was from that they assumed that her son was a Police officer.

Nevertheless, she added that after she arrived at the hospital, she accompanied her son in an ambulance to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he underwent surgery.

Guyana Times understands that the young man was a member of the Guyana Police Force and is a power lifter who has won a number of titles. His father was also a member of the Guyana Police Force.

“State of African Villages” forum in Buxton on Sunday

The Buxton First of August Movement in collaboration will the Cuffy250 Committee will be holding a “State of African Villages” forum in Buxton on Sunday. The forum is in response to recent calls for AfricanGuyanese revitalisation by Vincent Alexander and will be held at 13:00h at the Friendship Primary School.

Under the theme, “This Confounded Nonsense must Stop: Time for African Guyanese Revitalisation Now,” the forum will bring together villagers, African Guyanese leaders, along with

Buxtonian educators and activists to discuss issues affecting African-Guyanese villages and communities and begin charting a way forward.

Cuffy250 and the Buxton First of August Movement believe this forum is timely, given the obvious decline in the social and economic pillars of African villages.

Topics to be discussed include “The village still matters: African revitalisation and the future of Guyana”, “Local government”, “Village councils and African revitalisation”, “The state of education in Buxton and other African villages and what to do”, “The

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said it has received reports from Region One (Barima-Waini) that unauthorised persons, claiming to be employees of the Commission have been visiting homes with copies of extracts of the current Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) to check, and advise residents, on their registration status.

“Our investigations have revealed that the persons engaged in this activity are alleged 'Community Support Officers' in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, North West District.

"The investigations have also revealed that the persons have in their possession a copy of a letter purportedly written by the Regional Executive Officer of the region authorising them to engage in the activity of concern,” GECOM said in a statement.

The electoral body said in view of the foregoing, “we hereby note emphatically that no GECOM staff is engaged in any such activity in Region One or any other region.”

GECOM said its staff members are authorised to embark on mobile exercises to provide opportunities for eligible persons in far-

flung communities to conduct transactions relative to the ongoing Claims and Objections exercise.

“All such activities are adequately announced within the respective communities prior to the visits.

"Further, we take this opportunity to make it abundantly clear that all of GECOM’s employees working in the field wear, and are identifiable by, certified identification badges at all times during working hours.

"They are accompanied by duly accredited and adequately identifiable Scrutineers representing the Parliamentary Political Parties,” GECOM said.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic

(PPP/C) at its Monday news conference again called on GECOM to ensure every eligible Guyanese is on the final voters list, especially with the possibility of early General and Regional Elections looming following the Opposition’s floating of a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.

“The PPP/C remains dissatisfied with the poor public relations done by GECOM during the Claims and Objections period thus far.

"Time and again we have voiced our concerns over the inadequate time mobile units have spent in communities especially in the Hinterland regions during the Sixth Cycle of Registration," said the PPP/C.

Navy launches new initiative in Latin America

Washington has launched a new initiative in Latin America called “America Visits the Americas”, which consists of expeditions, in what is described as cooperative maritime security operations to enhance inter-operational activities and build partnerships to foster regional security.

Under this umbrella, the amphibious assault ship USS

America (LHA 6 conducted a port visit to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while transiting to its home port of San Diego, California, on July 21.

During the port visit, Guantanamo Bay provided diesel fuel as well as 45 pallets of provisions, supplies, and mail. Additionally, 30 pallets of Operation Hand Clasp materials, a programme that

transports educational, humanitarian, and goodwill materials on US Navy ships were loaded.

This ship, and possibly others, is slated to visit several Latin American nations allowing the ship’s crew to serve as goodwill ambassadors and experience local culture, according to international media reports that cited the website Navaltoday.com. (Caribbean News Now)

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) exported goods and services totalling US$8.4 million to the US during the month of June, according to figures released by the US Census Bureau.

importance of reparations to African-Guyanese revitalisation”, “Entrepreneurship, business and village revitalisation”, “Reviving Black/ African Guyanese cultural pride”, “Creative arts as tools of African-Guyanese revitalisation”, and “Youth empowerment and village revitalisation”.

Speakers include Deon Abrams, Norwell Hinds, Kidackie Amsterdam, Barbra Thomas-Holder; Vincent Alexander, Dr David Hinds, Jonathan Adams, Dr Norman Ng A Qui, Ruel Johnson, Dwayne Benjamin and Nigel Hughes.

The figures showed that St Kitts-Nevis led the way among the nine-member subregional grouping with exports totalling US$4.7 million, compared to US$4.2 million for the corresponding period last year.

St Lucia was the only other OECS country to surpass the US$1 million mark in exports, with revenue of US$1.3 million as against US$1.2 million in 2013.

St Kitts-Nevis is also leading the way in exports to the US during the first six months of the year, with revenue pegged at US$29.9 million compared to US$27.4 million last year.

Most of the OECS coun-

tries registered slight increases in export revenue, with the US Census Bureau indicating that St Lucia received US$11 million compared with US$7.9 million last year.

Grenada was the next OECS country with improved

exports to the US, registering a figure of US$6.8 million as against US$5.9 million for the corresponding period last year. St Kitts-Nevis exports mainly electrical and industrial equipment to the US.

Injured: Delon Harlequin

The GECOM office

Squatting is an illegal, unfair practice

– Persaud reminds Good Hope residents

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

Natural Resources and Environment

Minister Robert Persaud has reminded residents of Good Hope, Region Two, that squatting is illegal; pointing out that it is unfair for those who went through the correct process.

Persaud was at the time speaking to residents at a special meeting convened to address land issues affecting residents of that community.

The meeting was organised to address the issue whereby persons are claiming that others are occupying lands in the Good Hope backlands agriculture scheme, even though they do not have legal documentation for occupancy.

Addressing the issue,

the Good Hope lands are ancestral property passed on from generation to generation. He said the process involves conducting an occupation survey, preliminary award, final survey and plan. The process will enable land transactions for

Minister Persaud told residents that squatting is illegal and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) has received numerous complaints that residents are living on lands that have already being leased to others.

He urged residents to understand the objectives of the land registration, survey and titling process and the level of legal entitlement to the Good Hope areas.

Persaud said, according to information he received,

Aloans, sales and rental.

Residents were told that the land registration process is administered by the Commissioner of Title who “shall” be the presiding judge at every sitting of a land court, the Commissioner or his designee of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and the Registrar of the Land Registry.

“The Good Hope area represents ancestors lands that were inherited, we have descendants occupying, it is the

Parika, East Bank Essequibo resident is urging the travelling public to guard against using private hire cars while in Georgetown, describing it as a dangerous practice, following a personal experience on Tuesday.

The woman, who travelled to Georgetown with her teenage son to transact business explained that if it were not for her knowledge around Georgetown, she and her son might have been kidnapped, robbed and even murdered.

She told Guyana Times that about 09:00h on Tuesday morning, she took a taxi from the Georgetown/Vreed-enHoop Ferry Stelling and requested to be taken to Lombard Street, Georgetown.

On her journey, she related that the driver took a wrong route and upon realising that he was going in the wrong direction, she objected. The man, she

Government to ensure that there is a mechanism for persons to receive legal entitlement,” Persaud noted.

He said the GL&SC will be working to give persons living there titles to their lands within the coming weeks.

Approximately 4050 farmers will acquire Freehold Titles (certificates of title) which accounts for approximately 400 acres of land.

“While you are sitting waiting for the area to be demarked, people burst in and occupy, people need to respect others who went through the process,” Persaud said.

The Minister noted that the Housing Ministry has embarked on a massive programme, whereby approximately 8000 persons throughout Guyana can have access to houselots.

“Land ownership is a key ingredient for a democratic nation having right to access all resources available to them, only then things can progress,” Persaud explained.

The Minister noted that since the area has issues in relation to persons claiming each others’ lands, the GL&SC will be moving to carry out surveys to ensure residents have their fair share.

There have been reports of the GL&SC taking too long to process land titles, a matter which Minister Persaud said he is aware of,

added stated “Is nah Lombard Street you going… this is another route.”

This was around Leopold Street, she added, but after she raised her concerns about the route he was driving, he turned around and made the drop off.

The woman recalled other taxi drivers at the stelling warning her not to travel with the man, accusing him of being dangerous. Initially, she ignored the accusations hurled about the man’s character and thought they were making jokes, but after the stunt he pulled, she now realises they might have been telling the truth.

She also recounted that when they boarded the car, the man wanted her son to travel in the front seat, but she objected. She was not sure what was his motive but was happy that she did not allow her son to do so.

noting that a special plan has been designed to address the matter.

The GL&SC is currently working to computerise its operations, which would help to speed up the application process. “We face difficulties from time to time, but I want to assure you that this issue will be taken care of and your welfare will be taken care of as a people,” Persaud said.

Meanwhile, Survey Division Manager Rene Duesbury said the residential area in Good Hope has already been surveyed, but residents have requested for a survey to be conducted on the agricultural lands.

He said the GL&SC then requested and gained permission from the Government for the land registration process to commence. Residents were advised to bring their legal documents for the land they occupied.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said the region has also received numerous complains about persons occupying lands of others who have secured leases.

Persaud noted that his interest is for residents to receive their Certificates of Title and called on residents to be cooperative with the Commission as the process has started.

Good Hope is located one village from Supenaam and is predominantly an agriculture community.

The woman added that after the experience, she contacted the Police Outpost at Stabroek with the intention of lodging a complaint, but the Police officers told her that she needed the car’s registration number to lodge the complaint. The worried woman added that out of fear, she exited the car upon reaching her destination without looking at the number plate.

She described the taxi driver as tall, dark skinned and slim in built.

In the past, there have been calls by both the Police and the Taxi Service Association for commuters to utilise taxis that are in the registered yellow colour. At that time, they were regulating the taxi service in Guyana and one of the issues looked at was the dangers associated when using a taxi other than a yellow cab.

thursday, august 14, 2014

Some students blocked from accessing CSEC results online

– Education Ministry urges that they return textbooks

The Education Ministry said the difficulty experienced by some students and their parents in accessing their results via the Caribbean Examination Council’s (CXC) website, may be because they have not returned outstanding school materials.

The Ministry is reminding parents and students of notifications published in the mainstream media between June 18 and June 20, asking that Government textbooks/materials that were loaned by the schools be returned, noting that failure to do so would result in access to their results being denied.

According to the Ministry, this request is in keeping with the Ministry’s textbook policy, which states: “Learners must return books before progress reports, examination results, recommendations, or references are uplifted.”

The Ministry said it has been forced to adopt this un-

fortunate position to give the same opportunities to the incoming batch of students as were afforded to the students now requesting their results.

“Headteachers were asked to submit lists of students who had returned all items. Where those lists were submitted, access has been granted. For example, all the students in Region Seven can access their results. Students who do not return materials will not be able to access their results. Additionally, those headteachers who failed to submit lists or respond by the date given, which was August 8, will be disciplined.

“The Ministry is once again appealing to students and parents to please make every effort to return all outstanding materials belonging to their respective schools. We look forward to being able to allow access to CXC results online,” the Ministry urged.

CANI hosts “Youth It” conference

Come Alive Network Inc (CANI) on Tuesday hosted the first ever “Youth it!’’ conference at the Theatre Guild, Kingston, Georgetown.

The conference which started at 18:30h and ended about 21:30h saw a scope of talented Guyanese personalities performing and giving motivational speeches to the audience.

Speaking at the conference was Social Media Marketer and Coach, Dr Rosh Khan, who gave the audience tips on using social media and how it impacts their professional lives.

Also addressing the gathering were Gordon Moseley, Sarah Bharrat, Imarah Radick and Ryan Hoppie.

Apart from the guest speakers, there was also a fashion show which highlighted designs made by local designer Randy Madray, dances and a song by Tenicia DeFrietas.

Also present was lo-

cal Guyanese artiste and “Rising Star” performer Lisa Punch, who spoke briefly about her experience on the ABC show. She also spoke about the need for strict copyright laws in Guyana and the need for Guyanese to support local artistes. The organisers say that they were very satisfied with the turnout of persons attending the conference.

CANI is a non-governmental organisation which aims to build and encourage development. It was founded on April 2, 2012 by Ryan Hoppie to actively support youth development and to inspire, motivate and to enable young men and women to effectively contribute to local and international development.

The organisation hopes to teach young men and women about self-value as well as to promote development and capacity-building among young people.

Some of the residents of Good Hope at the meeting

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persuad (second right in green shirt) interacting with Good Hope residents

The Education Ministry is urging students to return all outstanding textbooks

Regional

Brazil presidential candidate Campos killed in plane crash

Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday, throwing the October election and local financial markets into disarray.

A private jet carrying Campos and his entourage crashed in a residential area in bad weather as it prepared to land in the coastal city of Santos. The accident killed all seven people on board, the Sao Paulo state fire department said.

Campos, 49, was running on a business-friendly platform and was in third place in polls with the support of about 10 per cent of voters. While he was not expected to win the October 5 vote, he was widely seen as one of Brazil’s brightest

young political stars and his death instantly changes the dynamics of the race.

Some analysts said that Campos’ death could make it harder for President Dilma Rousseff to win a second term, especially if his running mate Marina Silva runs in his place, as allowed by electoral law.

A renowned environmentalist and former presidential candidate, Silva is better known nationally than Campos and could eat into Rousseff’s support among leftist and younger voters. Silva’s religious beliefs also make her hugely popular among evangelical Christian voters, an increasingly important demographic in Brazil. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica pushes for greater recognition of Maroons

The Youth and Culture Ministry of Jamaica will be lobbying for greater national recognition of the Maroons.

Principal Director of Culture in the Ministry Dahlia Harris said there is need to “put together some kind of a position to say ‘this is how nationally we have to recognise, we have to engage, we have to respect the Maroon community’.”

“The vision is that we will put together a concept paper that will be presented to Cabinet, which says that this is a national issue that needs to be addressed... we really want to see how we can get this done and get this moved,” she said.

Harris was speaking at the final in a series of Signature Conversations held Sunday at the Institute of Jamaica Lecture Hall, Kingston. The conversation focused on ‘The

Jamaican Maroon: Towards Recognition of an Indigenous People.’

Colombia sends more troops to ELN rebel stronghold

The military in Colombia says it is sending more troops to the eastern province of Arauca, a rebel stronghold, to deal with a recent wave of attacks.

The announcement comes hours after gunmen shot dead a local politician, Pedro Antonio Bohorquez, and his bodyguard in the city of Saravena.

Earlier on Tuesday, eight soldiers were also injured by a homemade explosive device in a separate incident. The area, which borders

Venezuela, is a stronghold of left-wing ELN rebels.

With an estimated 2500 members, the ELN is Colombia’s second biggest rebel group. It has been fighting the Colombian state for five decades.

On Tuesday, Colombia’s Police Chief Rodolfo Palomino, offered a reward for information on the attackers.

“Reward of up to 50 million Colombian pesos (US$26,600, £15,800) to those who help us arrest the

Chile gang heists

Eight masked gunmen held up an armoured money transport in the Chilean capital Santiago on Tuesday, making off with more than US$10 million (£6.2 million).

The robbery is the biggest in Chilean history. The gang held up the guards unloading the money from a van belonging to US security firm Brinks at a cargo area at Santiago’s international airport.

criminals who brought terror to Saravena,” Colonel Palomino tweeted after arriving in the city.

Earlier, Colombia’s Defence Ministry announced it was boosting its troop presence there. In the last two weeks, gunmen have killed nine people in Saravena, Colombia’s El Tiempo newspaper reports. Last week, a soldier died and at least six others fell ill after eating pork they had bought from a local person. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Harris said that the Maroons not only resisted slavery but inspired others as well, during the period of enslavement. She said discussion on the maroons is critical, noting that nationally, they are viewed in different ways “depending on who you speak to and at what level”.

Harris also noted that the ministry is still pursuing efforts to get the Blue and John Crow Mountains in eastern Jamaica recognised as a World Heritage Site. The area is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, being home to the maroons, whose traditions were recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Chinese doctors in TT to help with amputations

Trinidad’s Health Minister Fuad Khan on Tuesday welcomed a team of Chinese doctors and one nurse to the local health care system. The team of 10 specialists will be based at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) for six months, after which there will be a rotation and a new team will enter the country. Khan said that was the result of a collaboration between China and TT stemming from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit last year.

“At that time we had indicated that we had a problem sourcing neuro-surgeons and we had requested a team to come to our country.” He said he was sur-

prised at how quickly the request was answered. “We were not ready for the quick pace in which the team was sent but we made ourselves ready,” Khan said. Khan said the SWRHA had a high incidence of cardio-vascular disease and diabetes.

He said with the expertise being offered by the Chinese doctors, each of whom has over 10 years’ experience practising medicine, he was sure the number of amputations would decrease. “We do need a cadre of specialists to treat with our population,” Khan said. He encouraged the team to do research while in TT and to help local doctors with research. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica’s UWI Mona Campus confirms case of Chikungunya virus

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has confirmed a case of the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus at one of its campuses and is urging students and administrative staff to take preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease.

The UWI said that officials at its Mona campus here have implemented measures to prevent a spread through a fogging exercise and students and employees are being urged to ensure that they have no containers which could become mosquito breeding sites.

It also urged individuals, to protect themselves from mosquito bites and seek medical help if they develop acute fever and severe joint pain. It said that they should remain alert and refrain from panicking.

Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson recently confirmed four recorded cases of Chikungunya, whose symptoms include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.

Health officials say while Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, the symptoms can be severe and disabling.

(Caribbean360)

Panama resumes literacy programme with Cuban assistance

The Panamanian Government has resumed a national literacy programme to lower current illiteracy levels estimated at 5.5 per cent down to 3.0 per cent in five years, an effort that will count on Cuban assistance.

Panamanian Social Development Minister Alcibiades Vasquez told reporters in Panama City

that the 2007 literacy programme has been revived with the participation of Cuban specialists, who are already in the country.

At present there are over 192,000 illiterate citizens in Panama, particularly in indigenous areas in the provinces of Veraguas and Chiriqui, in central and western Panama, which represents 5.5 per cent of the

total population, said national literacy director Rufino Huertas.

The Panamanian literacy programme, known as “Move Throughout Panama,” was implemented in 2007 as a Government-led initiative to fight poverty is similar to the Cuban programme “Yes, I Can,” which was launched by the Cuban Government. (Caribbean News Now)

van in record theft

The cash had been destined for delivery to banks and mining operations in Copiapo, in northern Chile. Security footage showed the gang arriving disguised as workers in a white van at 06:21 local time (10:21GMT).

The robbery itself was not captured on camera, but the footage shows the same van leaving the airport two minutes later. Chilean Interior Minister

Mahmud Aleuy said security at the airport was “an embarrassment”.

He said the security measures should be in proportion to the value of the goods transported. Security at the cargo area is handled by the civil aviation authorities, not by the Police, he said.

The robbers fled in two vans in opposite directions, scattering nails on the road in their wake, local media reported. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday. President Dilma Rousseff has declared three days of national mourning and cancelled campaign events

Principal Director of Culture in the Ministry Dahlia Harris said “... the vision is that we will put together a concept paper that will be presented to Cabinet, which says that this is a national issue that needs to be addressed”

One of the getaway vans was later found abandoned in a field

Fresh strikes follow fiveday Gaza truce extension

Israel has launched air strikes on Gaza after being targeted by rocket fire, just as agreement had been reached on extending a truce by five days.

Israel’s military said it was targeting “terror sites” after at least five rockets were launched from Gaza. The ceasefire extension was agreed in indirect talks in Cairo, minutes before an existing three-day truce expired.

It is not yet clear if either side sees the latest strikes as a major breach of the ceasefire, correspondents say. Palestinian sources say the truce extension will create a window for further negotiations.

But the BBC’s Kevin Connolly in Gaza says future talks are likely to be forbiddingly difficult. Officials

Consignment

from both sides have been communicating their demands through Egyptian in-

of experimental Ebola drug arrives in Liberia

Aconsignment of experimental Ebola drugs arrived by plane in Liberia on Wednesday to treat two doctors suffering from the virus, which has killed more than 1000 people across four West African countries.

The drug, ZMapp, arrived in two boxes on a commercial flight from the United States carried by Liberia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Augustine Ngafuan, and was unloaded at the VIP terminal, a Reuters witness said.

It will be taken to a hospital in the capital and administered to Liberian doctors Zukunis Ireland and Abraham Borbor, who officials said contracted the disease while attending to patients, including a late colleague.

termediaries in Cairo.

The talks are aimed at finding a more durable solution to the conflict in Gaza. Israel’s military said at least five rockets had been fired from Gaza on Wednesday evening. No casualties were reported in Israel. Hamas militants have denied they fired the rockets.

The extension to the ceasefire was agreed less than an hour before the existing three-day truce expired at midnight local time (21:00 GMT).

“We have agreed to give more time for the negotiations,” the head of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo, Azzam al-Ahmed, told AFP news agency. (BBC News)

Five

US troops land on Iraq’s Mt Sinjar to plan for Yazidi evacuation

Ateam of US marines and Special Forces landed on Mount Sinjar in Iraq on Wednesday to assess options for a potential rescue of 30,000 Yazidi civilians threatened by Islamic extremists and worn down by lack of food.

The personnel flew in on V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft that can land vertically, joining a small number of American Special Forces who, The Guardian has been told, had been on the mountain for some days.

That team had been assessing the military and humanitarian situation and guiding US air strikes

against Islamic State (Isis) fighters encircling the mountain.

A handful of British SAS soldiers were also in the area to “gather intelligence”, a British official said. The developments were the first confirmation that international forces were on Mount Sinjar.

Fleeing Yazidis have reported seeing small teams of American soldiers high on the northern flank. “We weren’t allowed to go near them,” said a man from Sinjar who was airlifted from the former base. “They were being guarded by the Kurds.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Police investigated after Delhi launches WhatsApp anti-bribery campaign

Five Policemen in India are being investigated for alleged corruption after officials received complaints on a newly-launched helpline number.

Since its launch on August 6, the helpline has received more than 3700 WhatsApp messages and 622 calls.

Officials said they had received two video and three audio messages and were investigating the reported incidents. Correspondents say there have long been allegations of corruption in the Delhi Police Force – and the rest of India.

The world’s worst outbreak of Ebola has claimed the lives of 1069 people and there are 1975 probable and suspected cases, the vast majority in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to new figures from the World Health Organisation.

difficult ethical questions about who should get priority access.

Three people have died in Nigeria. The UN health agency said only around 10 to 12 doses of the drug have been made and this raises

Iranian Stanford professor first woman to win top math prize

ranian Mathematician

IMaryam Mirzakhani on Wednesday became the first woman to be awarded the Fields Medal, Mathematics’ equivalent to the Nobel Prize.

The Professor at Stanford University in California was among four Fields Medal recipients at the International Congress of Mathematicians held in Seoul, and the first female among the 56 winners since the prize was established in 1936.

“This is a great honour. I will be happy if it encourages young female scientists and mathematicians,” Mirzakhani was quoted as saying on Stanford’s website.

“I am sure there will be

many more women winning this kind of award in coming years,” she said. Mirzakhani, 37, was born in Tehran and lived there until she began her doctorate work at Harvard University. She said she had dreamed of becoming a writer when she was young, but she pursued her enthusiasm for solving mathematical problems.

“It is fun – it’s like solving a puzzle or connecting the dots in a detective case. I felt that this was something I could do, and I wanted to pursue this path,” she said. Mirzakhani was recognised for her work in understanding the symmetry of curved surfaces, according to the Stanford site. (Excerpt from MSN)

The doctors will be the first Africans to receive it, though it has been given to a Spanish priest who later died and two US aid workers who are reported to have shown signs of recovery.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi last week launched a new helpline number asking the public to send audio or video messages via the instant messaging service WhatsApp “if any cop seeks a bribe or harasses a person”.

Advertisements were

Maliki refuses to go as Iraqis turn to new leader

An increasingly isolated Nuri al-Maliki again protested his removal as Iraqi Prime Minister on Wednesday, as his own political party and his former sponsor in Iran publicly endorsed a successor who many in Baghdad hope can halt advancing Sunni jihadists.

Although abandoned by former backers in the United States and Iraq’s Shi’ite political and religious establishment, Maliki pressed his legal claim on power. Premierdesignate Haider al-Abadi, meanwhile, held consultations on forming a coalition government that can unite warring factions after eight years that drove Sunnis to revolt over what

they say was Maliki’s sectarian bias.

Shi’ite-led Government forces and their allies among the ethnic Kurdish militias of northern Iraq were in action on the frontlines against the Sunni fighters of the Islamic State as European Union states began to follow the US lead and provide arms directly to the Kurds and step up efforts to help tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the advancing hard-line Islamists.

Maliki has built up a network of commanders in the armed forces and Shi’ite militias who are loyal to him, but there was no sign that he was ready to resort to force against Abadi, a longtime associate in the Islamic Dawa Party. (Excerpt from Reuters)

taken out in popular Hindi and English newspapers as well as on FM radio channels to make people aware about the new helpline.

The “response from the public has been good”, Deputy Police Commissioner Sindhu Pillai told the BBC.

Ms Pillai is part of the vigilance department which investigates policemen after complaints of bribery, corruption, bad behaviour with complainants and inaction on complaints.

“Most of the messages we have received so far are from people wanting to know about this service, but we have also received some complaints,” she said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

5 climbers dead on Mont Blanc peak; 6th missing

Five French climbers died and a sixth was missing Wednesday on France’s Mont Blanc, after a night of snow and wind on Europe’s tallest mountain.

August is the height of the climbing season on Mont Blanc, where even in the warmest months fierce storms can strike quickly. Several mountaineers have died already this summer – including at least one experienced guide – and local officials say they fear many people come to Mont Blanc ill-prepared for the dangers.

The group of five climbers and a guide were reported missing overnight when they failed to return to a refuge after a planned trip to

the Aiguille d’Argentiere, which tops out around 3900 metres (12,800 feet). Mont Blanc, in addition to its primary peak, contains some 200 summits.

The bodies of five of the climbers were located Wednesday, while a sixth has not been found, said Jean-Marc Peillex, mayor of Saint-Gervais, a town at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Search and rescue teams headed up the slopes and a helicopter took advantage of brief windows of calm weather to fly over the area, said Christophe du Payrat, a local official. Mont Blanc touches France, Switzerland and Italy, and thousands try to reach its summit each year. (MSN)

Thousands of homes have been destroyed by the fighting in Gaza, according to the United Nations

The Ebola outbreak has now claimed the lives of more than 1000 people

The new helpline has been launched to help contain corruption among the Police Force

thursday, august 14, 2014

Corpse of headless infant found, tomb vandalised

The decapitated corpse of a three-month-old baby who was laid to rest two months ago was found outside of his tomb in a clump of bush nearby.

The corpse was with the head and right hand.

According to Fareena Ali, the mother of the deceased, the discovery was made by a relative who received a phone call about the tomb being broken.

“My uncle and some family visited the cemetery at around 20:00h and saw that [the]tomb was broken and the baby was missing, they search but it was too dark to see anything so they left and went back in the morning.”

Ali explained they were in Canje Creek when they received the news and when they got out of the area, it was after midnight, so they

waited until dawn to visit the burial ground. Upon arrival, both parents were at a loss for words and were inconsolable after they saw the mutilated body of their only son.

“When I reach the burial ground and see me son without his head, I was speechless, I freeze, all the life

was drained out of my body. Whoever did this does not have a heart, they have no feelings and if they believe they hurt us, God will deal with them,” the grieving mother said in tears.

The infant, Yadram Rameschant called “Sanjay” of Betsy Ground Canje, died on June 22 at the Georgetown Hospital from pneumonia.

He was given a normal burial according to Hindu rites on June 25 and was dressed in a white kurta, gold jewellery with money next to him.

The mother explained that the infant was found in his vest, diapers and all the jewellery and money he was buried with, but the kurta was missing.

The Police are investigating the matter.

Govt to formally discuss noconfidence motion next week – says Opposition appears to be shifting “goal posts”

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon has confirmed that Government has not yet held, what he calls, “formal” discussions on the no-confidence motion tabled by the Alliance For Change (AFC) that could trigger early General and Regional elections by January 2015.

Dr Luncheon, speaking during an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, said that informal discussions were held and Government members sought to offer various perspectives on the motion which the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) says it will support when tabled in Parliament.

“No, it wasn’t discussed at Cabinet this week. I suspect, it will be but the swirling views that are in the media from media and from politicians, I suspect that Cabinet would defer a substantive review after there has been a compilation of all

of those views,” he said.

Dr Luncheon noted that every day, there is an emergence of new positions by various political actors which are proving interesting to Government.

“What started out as a no-confidence motion has morphed into different possibilities... I am not even certain in my mind, listening to what is being said in the media and what is being attributed to David Granger and

Auditions for local movie “Upriver” to commence soon

The upcoming Guyanese movie, Upriver, was officially launched at the opening of the inaugural Guyana Festival last Friday.

The movie, which is currently in pre-production, will be released in 2015. The Dramatic Arts Academy (DAA), the banner under which the movie will be produced, is extremely grateful to acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali for the opportunity afforded for the launch.

Also, the DAA would like to thank Impressions for realising the booth. Hundreds of patrons, both local and overseas, flocked the

will comprise the cast with 90 per cent of the movie being filmed in the interior. Online auditions would be facilitated shortly at www. uprivergy.com.

Written by Neaz Subhan, winner of the best playwright title for “When Chocolate Melts” in the 2013 National Drama festival, Upriver with its captivating story-line, is set deep in the heart of Guyana’s forests and would present a thrilling and chilling rollercoaster ride through this vastness.

In addition to the entertaining adventure it will capture, Upriver will pre-

of films needs no convincing. It can propel Guyana to become a major international filming location with resounding economic opportunities. Guyana has the potential, both in its beauty and the talent of its people.

Nagamootoo, there seems that there is indeed “some consolidated view” of what this no-confidence motion is all about,” he opined.

He said it is clear that the “goal posts are changing” as he readily opined that there is no doubt in Government’s mind that the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman would see the motion as admissible and acceptable, given his track record as well as rulings on contentious issues such as these.

The Cabinet is likely to discuss the motion next week and will decide on what is the most suitable course of action.

The ruling political party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee has already told media operatives that there are a number of options available to Government to deal with the vote of no-confidence and that they were under consideration and being given due credence.

Upriver tent and from feedback received, they were enthralled by the promotional video.

They lauded the noticeably different approach to local film making and commended the effort. Patrons clearly could not hide their excitement for the release of the movie. President Donald Ramotar graced the tent and interacted with the staff. He also commended the effort and extended best wishes for its production.

Some 300 persons of all ages and from all backgrounds took the opportunity to register for auditions which will be held soon in various parts of the country.

Over 120 persons, including three foreign actors,

sent Guyana’s eco-tourism in a format that is captivating to an international audience. Guyana’s natural beauty through its pristine forests, breathtaking and iconic waterfalls, rolling savannahs, majestic mountains and flora and fauna, has always been magnetic to those with cameras.

The numerous images captured have been mind-blowing and over the years have propelled unprecedented interest. Filmmakers, especially, cannot resist this enticing attraction to enthusiastically present the astounding cuts to viewers around the world. Documentaries produced by international film entities have proven this.

The marketing influence

The DAA believes that the time is ripe for a major local film production, worthy of international audiences and film festivals. Upriver presents an opportunity for a few steps towards this. In this regard, the DAA is hopeful that corporate Guyana can join in making this journey a reality while benefiting from strategic product and service placement.

Placement of products and services in movies is one of the most effective means of advertising. Many companies, big and small, fast food, restaurants, beverage producers, banks, phone establishments, car dealers, etc have, and continue to benefit tremendously from this.

Upriver provides an opportunity for local companies to explore and benefit from product and service placement. The world is now a global village waiting to learn about other products and support would not only assist in realising the movie, but would also enhance the awareness of products and services of companies.

Hospitalised woman questioned in connection with dead foetus

Police are questioning a 33-year-old woman who is currently a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital in relation to the discovery of a dead foetus next to a garbage bin in the vicinity of Church’s Chicken Corriverton branch on Monday.

The woman, Nandranie Mohan of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne was transferred from the Skeldon Hospital on Wednesday. Mohan said she had a miscarriage two months ago and at the time she was four months preg-

nant.

The woman was initially admitted to the Skeldon Hospital after suffering from severe pain. She was also bleeding profusely at the time of her arrival at the hospital.

After her condition was analysed, she was transferred to New Amsterdam Hospital where she was taken into the operating theatre and a surgical procedure was performed.

Meanwhile, Police sources say that as soon as the investigation is complet-

ed, the Director of Public Prosecution (PPP) will be contacted on recommendations of a charge of infanticide.

The source, however, noted that the DPP can recommend otherwise.

On Monday, workers attached to Church’s Chicken franchise Corriverton, discovered the dead foetus at the side of the building. The employees were in the process of opening the door to the fast food restaurant when the discovery was made.

President Donald Ramotar with cast members of the movie Upriver at the recently held Guyana Festival

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon

Family members fixing the vandalised tomb

Yadram Rameschant

US LEAD project... all systems go

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

After months of stalemate and controversy, the Government of Guyana has finally agreed to the full implementation of the International Republican Institute (IRI) managed USAID Leadership Education and Democracy (LEAD) Project.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, speaking during a joint press conference with the US Charge de Affairs Bryan Hunt, said that a mutually acceptable agreement has been reached, which puts to rest the concerns Government had over the initial design and implementation of the project.

He said Government was keen, from the outset, on ensuring that Guyana and Guyanese were not robbed of the opportunity to exploit the benefits that could be derived from the project.

Dr Luncheon advised that discussions have led to the development of a regime of measures that removed the ambiguity and uncertainty that loomed over the intentions of part of the project.

“I don’t believe, however, that we should close our eyes to the actual task of implementation in those specific areas that have been identified in the three components.... It is up to us, the main stakeholders, to ensure that we do obtain all that is in the plate,” he said, explaining further that Government will closely monitor the roll-out of the project.

Robust governance

Asked by Guyana Times whether Government was still “iffy” about the involvement of the IRI given its own track-record in other democracies, Dr Luncheon said Government had done all that it could have done

to ensure that enough governance mechanisms were in place via the project’s content and implementation phases to avoid the surfacing of any negative concerns.

“A fairly well established process contributes enormously towards allaying fear from one side and concerns about the use of fear on the other side. We are in a situation where you might say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, but we have a robust regime of governance mechanisms by which this project would be judged, evaluated and monitored,” he insisted.

Hidden agenda?

Hunt dispelled the perception of many that the US had some hidden agenda behind implementing the project, which was marred by controversy since its announcement.

“The LEAD Project will be able to stand as a model of collaboration and innovative development assistance for democratic governance....The programme can now embark on its important work of facilitating conversations and undertaking activities that will hopefully yield to consensus and collaboration between all stakeholders that

serve Guyana’s national interest.”

“It will provide tools, international expertise and opportunities to help facilitate conversations on activities of national interest,” he said.

Hunt went at length to explain to media operatives that the project would not engage or provide assistance to political parties and their representatives in any shape or form. “While we may engage with people that have roles in Guyana’s political parties, our intention is not to provide support or direct engagement under LEAD with political parties,” he said.

He denied that the US Government ever funded any activities of APNU under the LEAD Project, even though a senior member of the Opposition reportedly told a section of media that funding was received for some activities in Region One.

Stakeholders

Hunt made it clear that the project was geared toward creating inclusive governance and allowing civil society stakeholders to shape and fashion the democratic structures and new brand of democracy for their country.

“While the discussions that led to this agreement have been lengthy and at times challenging, I can confirm that in the end both sides feel that the LEAD Programme’s designs and implementation mechanisms are now stronger and have benefited from the additional review and consultations that have been undertaken,” he said.

Hunt acknowledged the significance of Government’s input into the project which he believed was strengthened in the end, thereby making the Government “comfortable” with the project. This, he

said, was always the intention of the US Government.

“I don’t think that any significant modifications were made to the broad areas of our collaborations. We did receive some quite useful information from the Government,” he remarked. LEAD Project Coordinator Glenn Bradbury would continue to pilot the project through the IRI.

Questioned on possible delays in completion and timelines following the period when the programme was shelved, Hunt said there would be none. “In terms of the actual contract with IRI, that was not altered. We will continue to work along the timeframe that was agreed upon with IRI at the time the contract was signed, which means we have a little less than a year remaining,” he said.

PPP/C asserts voters’ list padded

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is accusing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) of “padding” the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee made the claim on Wednesday at an emergency press conference held at Freedom House.

According to Rohee, the party’s attention was brought to the some irregularities that were found in the PLE. He explained the irregularities with the names surfaced while checking the PLE for some communities, which are traditionally People’s National Congress Reform/ A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/ APNU) stronghold.

Rohee said from all indications, it appears as though the PLE was padded.

“GECOM needs to explain to the nation the surge amounting to 78,000 plus new registrants appearing on the PLE, whereas the pattern over the years has been approximately 11, 000,” he stated.

The General Secretary is demanding a complete breakdown of the new registrants and their area of origins. These irregularities, he noted, came from Regions Four, Three and One.

He noted, however, that the US/IRI may agree to extend the contract at some time in the near future if it becomes necessary. The National Assembly, Women and Gender Equality Commission, Culture Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Guyana Elections Commission will play key coordinating roles in the execution of the project.

Guyana hosting military delegations from China, Brazil

Guyana will be hosting two key military events within days as it strengthens ties with China and Brazil.

On Wednesday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said Guyana will be welcoming a Chinese military delegation that will be participating in a Biennial Exercise from August 1921. This exercise will see a military exchange between the Guyana Defence Force

(GDF) and the People’s Liberation Army. It was explained that the exercise is among ongoing activities between the two countries to address several mutual concerns.

“Quite a bit of the focus is on expanding linkages between the PLA and the GDF, a big focus on the training opportunities, and the supply of defence sector goods and services,” Dr Luncheon explained.

Additionally, during

this exercise, Guyana will benefit tremendously from military hardware such as shoes, helmets and radios, among other items. However, Dr Luncheon made it clear that guns and ammunitions will not be included.

Meanwhile, from August 26-29, Guyana will host the inaugural highlevel meeting of the GDF and the Brazilian Army.

“This inaugural engagement in essence re-

places the Bilateral Staff Conference between the GDF and the Brazilian Army that has been an ongoing historical feature of the two neighbouring states,” Dr Luncheon explained, noting that it has been elevated.

Given Guyana’s porous borders, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat said the GDF will be capitalising on training opportunities, military goods and services.

He said the sudden spike in the numbers of registrants is worrisome to his party; hence, the need for them to do a house to house verification to find out where the additional names came from.

“That is why we have to engage in this process of verification, we have find out where this 78,000 came from and that is what is happening on the ground,” he said.

Allegations

Meanwhile, Rohee refuted allegations made GECOM and the APNU/PNCR that People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) activists in Region One are posing as GECOM staff and are conducting house to house consultations.

“The PPP rubbishes the statements made by the PNCR and GECOM on the use of Community Support Officers posing as GECOM’s staff, checking list in Region One on behalf of the company,” the General Secretary mentioned.

He opined that he hopes this new set of attacks by both entities is not intended to be an obstruction in the party’s verification process of the PLE.

Rohee went onto highlight that GECOM failed to disclose to the public that all the political parties have copies of the PLE and are conducting verification checks countrywide. This omission of information, he noted, may pose danger for those PPP/C activists on the ground.

Process

He explained that the party has always worked with the process of its activists explaining to people which party they are from and that they are just verifying that names of the people.

“Whether these people are telling these homes that they go to that they are representing GECOM or they representing AFC or APNU or PNC or PPP, we can’t know that,” Rohee pointed out.

In a statement released, the Elections Commission said that it has received reports that unauthorised persons, who claim to be employees of GECOM, have visited homes in Region One with copies of the current PLE to check on the registration status of residents.

However, GECOM had distanced itself, emphatically stating that none of its staff is engaged in any such activity in Region One or any other region. The Commission disclosed that those engaged in this activity are alleged “Community Support Officers” in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma.

“We take this opportunity to make it abundantly clear that all of GECOM’s employees working in the field wear, and are identifiable by certified identification badges at all times during working hours. They are accompanied by duly accredited and adequately identifiable scrutineers representing the parliamentary political parties,” GECOM said.

PPP/C General Secretary, Clement Rohee

US Charge de Affairs Bryan Hunt

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon

Russells’ heroics give Tallawahs semi-final win over Red Steel

Abrilliant late order batting performance from Andre Russell secured victory for the Jamaica Tallawahs in the first play-off in this year’s Limacol Caribbean Premier League. It looked as if the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel had done enough to win this game, but Russell’s arrival at the crease changed all of that. The Tallawahs were five wickets down and needing 12 runs an over when Russell came in to bat. Thanks to his efforts, the Jamaicans won the game with two balls to spare.

A fantastic innings from Ross Taylor meant that the Red Steel had a decent total, but with Samuel Badree ruled out with injury, they would have to defend it without their best bowler. Taylor was well supported by Darren Bravo, and they would have won easily if it had not been for the Russell fireworks.

The Red Steel innings began slowly as three wickets inside the Powerplay left them struggling for momentum. Kevin O’Brien was the first man to go, edging the ball to first slip. After an excellent run of form in the middle of the tournament, the Irishman has struggled. His 11 runs here was his highest score in four innings. The Red Steel took a gamble with Nasir Jamshed who had not played since the Trinidad & Tobago side’s second match. He replaced Javon Searles, but the change did not work as the Pakistani player pulled a ball from David Bernard in to the hands of Nkrumah Bonner on the square leg boundary. Just three balls later, Evin Lewis repeated the trick, departing in exactly the same fashion as his team mate.

Taylor and Bravo went about steadying the ship, and they took the score from 36 to 146. The partnership could have been broken with the score on 87 when Taylor skied a ball from Andre Russell, but Nikita Miller and Bernard collided as both went to take the catch. Neither man was hurt, but the chance was gone.

Taylor made the most

of his luck as he went on to score 70 runs from just 44 balls in a partnership of over 100 runs with the younger Bravo brother. Taylor accelerated after the chance was put down, scoring another 43 runs off 17 balls to really make the Tallawahs pay for their poor fielding. When Taylor fell slogging into the legside, it slowed things down again for the Red Steel. Darren Bravo went in the same over to leave two new batsmen at the crease for the last seven balls of the innings. It was therefore not surprising that they only managed a run a ball from that point until the end of the innings. A middling score meant

that the Red Steel bowlers would have their work cut out, especially with Badree missing. They got off to the best possible start when Chris Gayle was dismissed LBW for just a single by Shannon Gabriel. The replays showed Gayle was unlucky to go as the ball had pitched outside leg stump.

The rate continued to rise as the Tallawahs also lost early wickets. After Gayle had gone, the Jamaicans lost the wickets of Chadwick Walton and Adam Voges, both men making single figures. As in the last match, Bonner was the only member of the top order who found a way to make a score of any substance. The man

who was picking up the other end was Sulieman Benn. He mixed his pace well and his three wickets were well deserved.

Bonner was run out for 39 and the game looked like it was over, although Andre Russell did not want to give up. He blasted the ball from the moment he arrived in the middle. He was particularly harsh on Jason Mohammed. The off spinner was in the side as a replacement for Badree, but he could not come close to matching the man he was deputising for. Russell went to his fifty with a shot that broke his bat, off just 22 deliveries. Russell rode his luck, but when Evin Lewis put him down in the

19th, it looked like it was the Jamaicans night.

In combination with Rusty Theron, he just refused to give up. Russell finished on 62 not out, but it was Theron who hit the winning runs, a flat six over extra cover that saw his side through to the second playoff game tomorrow night.

Mickey Arthur, Jamaica Tallawahs coach, said; “Ten overs into our innings, I really didn’t think we would do it, but with two overs to go, I was very confident. Andre Russell was our last hope – he has won three matches for us in the tournament and he was brilliant again tonight.

“I am still waiting for us to put together a complete performance – we bowled well to begin with today and again in the final three overs, but we need to concentrate in the field for the full twenty. In terms of our batting tomorrow, we really need our top order to begin performing and not just rely on Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.”

Simon Helmot, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel coach, said; “I am obviously so disappointed with the result as I feel we had a great opportunity to get to the semi-final. The last two overs cost us dearly with the dropped catches and the misfields, but in many ways we played well throughout the game and the tournament as a whole. We were just not quite precise enough when bowling to Andre Russell and his amazing innings took the game away from us.

“I have really enjoyed my time in the Caribbean with the Red Steel and have made lots of friends. I have coached in the IPL and in Australia but nothing compares to the Caribbean. The 36 hour flight home will be a long one knowing we came so close, but that is T20 cricket.”

The Tallawahs now play Guyana Amazon Warriors in Semi-final 2 today with the winner meeting Barbados Tridents in the final on Saturday.

Man of the Match for the Jamaica Tallawahs, Andre Russell, said; “When we were six wickets down, we were in a bit of trouble and the run rate was rising, but hitting a boundary straight away right out of the middle got me going nicely. This gives us a lot of confidence for tomorrow’s match and all the hard work in the nets paid off for me today.”

Jamaica Tallawahs innings (target: 156 runs from 20 overs) CH Gayle*

(lb 1, w 18)

(6 wickets; 19.4 overs)

(8.03 runs per over) Did not batDL Vettori, NO

JE Taylor Fall of wickets 1-3 (Gayle, 0.6 ov), 2-24 (Walton, 3.5 ov), 3-25 (Voges, 4.1 ov), 4-39 (Blackwood, 6.3 ov), 5-72 (Bernard, 12.4 ov), 6-76 (Bonner, 13.3 ov)

JE Taylor 4-0-41-0, AD Russell 4-0-37-1, J Theron 4-0-32-2, NO Miller 1-0-5-0

Man of the Match for the Jamaica Tallawahs, Andre Russell

Man of the Match Morgan seals Beefy’s Bash win

– Piers Morgan XI (181/4) beat Brian Lara XI (177-7) by six wickets with one ball remaining

Piers Morgan was the unlikely hero as his side shocked a team captained by West Indies legend, Brian Lara, to win the ‘Beefy’s Bash’ charity Twenty20 match as part of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in St Kitts.

In an entertaining match organised by Sir Ian Botham and played in front of a capacity crowd at Warner Park on Tuesday night, Morgan starred with bat and ball. In what must surely be his greatest sporting achievement, the broadcaster dismissed double-world record holder Lara for a duck, caught at mid-wicket. As if that wasn’t enough, he then smashed the former West Indies captain for a six and a four in the final over of his side’s run chase to seal a thrilling victory, by six wickets, with one ball to spare.

The moment

removes Brian Lara for a duck in Beefy’s Bash, a charity match in St Kitts ahead of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League semi-finals this week

Tobago Red Steel coach, Simon Helmot, to help his team get near the target. Lara brought himself on to bowl for the final over, but Morgan was to be the star, sealing a Man of the Match performance with a boundary which sparked jubilant celebrations from the former newspaper editor. The ever-modest Morgan was keen to play down his achievements: “I got Brian Lara for a duck, then slapped him for a six and a four in the last over to win the game...and the Man of Match award. No big deal! Seriously though, for a club cricketer like me, playing in front of a crowd like this with some of the world’s most legendary players is a dream come true.”

but to no avail.

Former England spinner, Swann, playing for the first time since retiring from all cricket in the middle of last year’s Ashes series, performed well with both bat and ball for

The teams were formed of a mixture of cricketing legends such as Lara, Graeme Swann, Darren Gough, Ian Bishop, Tom Moody, Roger Harper and Matthew Maynard, celebrities Piers Morgan and Marcus Mumford, lead singer of folk-rock giants, Mumford and Sons, politicians, cricket administrators and local players. Fans were treated to spectacular entertainment and comedy, with practical jokers Gough and Danny Morrison playing up to the crowd.

Team Lara, helping local batsman Shane Jeffers to add 100 for the sixth wicket, and drying up the runs when he bowled. Britain’s Grammy award winner, Mumford, wasn’t so lucky, as his lively medium pace was dispatched to all parts of the ground. At one point, he even resorted to pleading for mercy from Jeffers,

Former Glamorgan and England batsman, Matthew Maynard, coach of the St Lucia Zouks in the CPL, rolled back the years for Team Morgan with some clean hitting, but when he was dismissed with a few overs remaining, the responsibility fell to Morgan and Trinidad and

Proceeds from Beefy’s Bash will go to Special Olympics St Kitts and Nevis, St Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities and the Creative Youth Academy.

The semi-finals and finals of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League take place this week.

Hetmyer, Chanderpaul tons keep Guyana unbeaten

At Providence, Barbados were led by half-centuries from opener Joshua Drakes and Lee-Germon Gaskin, who added 82 for the third wicket. Drakes topscored with 75 and Gaskin made 69, but no other batsman got past 20 as the boys from the Land of the Flying Fish failed to take full flight.

For the second day in succession, Hetmyer and

Chanderpaul notched up a century partnership to lay the foundation for what turned out to be the highest total of this year’s competition.

After skipper Brian Sattaur again won the toss and elected to bat, the West Indies Under-19 openers proceeded to plunder the attack, with Hetmyer being the dominant partner

SCOREBOARD

LEEWARDS UNDER-19s (50 overs maximum)

R. Powell c Jaggernauth b Jadoo 53

S. Martina c Christmas b Jadoo 38

K. Carty not out 83

D. Weste c Solozano b Seetal 36

*J. Louis c wkpr Jangoo b Seetal 0 +J. Clarke c Seetal b Jadoo 6

S. Williams c Jaggernauth b Joseph 1

A. Hodge c Carimbocas b Roopnarine 17

A. Joseph c Solozano b Joseph 6

T. Bussue not out 3 Extras (lb1, w6) 7

TOTAL (8 wkts, 50 overs) 250

K. Scott did not bat Fall of wickets: 1-90, 2-95, 3-142, 4-142, 5-182, 6-184, 7-236, 8-244

Bowling: #Phillip 9-0-530, Joseph 10-0-60-2, #Seetal

7-0-39-2, Roopnarine 100-44-1, Christmas 4-111-0, Jadoo 10-0-42-3

T&T UNDER-19s (target: 251 off 50 overs)

*J. Solozano c wkpr Clarke b Louis 6

+A. Jangoo b Martina 44

J. Joseph c Joseph b Scott 27

C. Carimbocas c wkpr Clarke b Louis 60

B. Christmas not out 57

B. Jaggernauth c Hodge b Bussue 16

J. Maniram not out 17

Extras (b2, lb7, w17, nb3) 29

TOTAL (5wkts, 40 overs) 256

A. Phillip, S. Roopnarine, A. Seetal, T. Jadoo did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-91, 3-125, 4-191, 5-218

Bowling: #Joseph 6-0-480, #Hodge 3-0-26-0, #Louis 8-0-42-2, #Carty 2-0-11-0, Martina 7-0-42-1, Scott 6-044-1, Bussue 8-1-34-1

Result: T&T Under-19s won by five wickets

Points: T&T Under-19s 6.2, Leewards Under-19s 0.2

and Chanderpaul playing the sheet anchor role. The 50 came up in 11.1 overs and Hetmyer brought up his 50 soon after off 53 balls with seven fours. It was Hetmyer’s third score over 50 in a row, following his 75 against Jamaica at Bourda and 86 against the Windward Islands at Albion.

The Berbician continued to grow in confidence as the innings progressed, racing to 70 by the time the

century partnership materialised halfway through the 21st over.

Seemingly determined to notch up the elusive three-figure mark after missing out in his last two innings, Hetmyer reached the landmark off 93 balls, an innings that included 14 fours.

He hit four more boundaries before being bowled by Matthew Jones for 123, ending a record partnership of 176 in 29.4 overs.

SCOREBOARD

Guyana innings (50 overs maximum)

S Hetmyer b Jones 123

T Chanderpaul not out 103

B Sattaur run out (Toppin) 38

K Paul c Harding b Drakes 19

A Homraj c Springer b Drakes 00

R Ali-Mohamed b Harding 02

Extras (nb-3, w-6, b-3, lb-1) 13

Total (for 5 wickets; 50 overs) 298

Fall of wickets: 1-176, 2-257, 3-287, 4-292, 5-298

Bowling: K Harding 6-0-25-1 (w4, nb-2), N Persaud 10-0-50-0, M Jones 10-0-59-0, S Springer 7-0-41-0 (w-1), C Williams 9-059-0, N Kirton 5-0-39-0 (nb1), J Drakes 3-0-22-2 (w-1) Barbados (Target: 299 from 50 overs)

J Drakes b Sankar 75

N Kirton c Ali-Mohamed b Ramcharran 10

A Greenidge lbw b Paul 10

LG Gaskin st Homraj b Ramcharran 69

S Springer c Hetmyer b Sankar 15

M Jones b Ramcharran 15

J Toppin c Ali-Mohamed b Baldeo 11

D Wilson c&b Ramcharran 07

K Harding b Sankar 03

C Williams not out 10

N Persaud c wkpr Homraj b Waldron 12

Extras (lb-1, nb-1, b-1, w-14) 17

Total (all out; 50 overs) 254

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-58, 3-140, 4-162, 5-199, 6-218, 7-225, 8-230, 9-236, 10-254

Bowling: B Baldeo 10-0-501 (nb-1, w-3), K Paul 8-0-341 (w-2), S Ramcharran 9-059-4 (w-2), R Ali-Mohamed 3-0-12-0, D Waldron 10-1-461, S Sankar 10-0-51-3 (w-1)

Hetmyer’s knock, which took his tally to a tournament-high 321 runs, spanned 102 balls and at his dismissal, Chanderpaul was coasting on 46.

The son of prolific West Indies Test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul brought up his 50 off 81 balls and proceeded to add 81 for the second wicket with Sattaur.

The pair continued to build on the solid foundation and brought up the 200 in 35.4 overs, before Sattaur was run out for 38 (36 balls, 4x4s, 1x6) at 257-

2 at the start of the 46th over.

Kemo Paul then stroked a quick-fire 19, including two massive sixes and a four, before Akshay Homraj went first ball. Chanderpaul got to his hundred in the penultimate over off 148 balls, an innings decorated with eight fours and a six.

Bowling for Barbados, Drakes picked up 2-22. In the other game on Wednesday, Trinidad and Tobago defeated the Leeward Islands by five wickets.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA (50 overs maximum)

L. Lugg lbw b Phillip 10

O. McCatty c John b Lewis 4

S. Crooks b John 10

A. Mansingh c wkpr Latchman b John 11

+R. Morris c Edward b John 9

*R. Lewis not out 49

N. Walters c John b Pope 8

R. Burnett b Hypolite 6

O. Smith c Latchman b Phillip 2

G. Walker b John 5

G. Henry run out 1

Extras (lb5, w20, nb5) 26

TOTAL (all out, 45.4 overs) 141

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-28, 3-45, 4-56, 5-61, 6-77, 7-90, 8-95, 9-112

Bowling: #Lewis 6.4-0-30-1, #Phillip 10-0-33-2, #John 101-29-4, Edward 2-0-9-0, Pope

10-2-15-1, Hypolite 7-0-20-1 WINDWARDS UNDER-19s (target: 142 off 50 overs) G. Pope st Morris b Walters 75 +A. Latchman not out 41 M. Gordon not out 14 Extras (b1, lb1, w10) TOTAL (1 wkts, 38.4 overs) 142 *R. Cato, S. Hooper, K. Jno Lewis, R. John, S. Lewis, D. Edward, D. Hypolite, C. Phillip did not bat Fall of wickets: 1-115

Bowling: #Henry 7-0-230, #Smith 8-0-31-0, Lewis 6-1-12-0, #Crooks 6.4-0-370, Burnett 5-0-16-0, Walters 4-0-16-1, Mansingh 2-0-5-0

Piers Morgan

Marcus Mumford begs for mercy after local batsman, Shane Jeffers, hits the Mumford & Sons musician for four sixes in one over

Chanderpaul is MVP of Regional U-19 three-day tourney

B

Guyana’s opening batsman

Tagenarine Chanderpaul was crowned Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the three-day version of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19 competition on Wednesday evening when the presentation ceremony was held at the main pavillion of the GCC ground, Bourda.

At a simple presentation ceremony organised by the Guyana Cricket Board, the left-handed batsman, the son of prolific West Indies middle-order batsman and former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, was recognised for his brilliant 132 not out, which was crucial in Guyana defeating Trinidad and Tobago by an innings and 41 runs and lifting the title for the first time since 2007.

Shivnarine was on hand to witness his son collect the award, an accolade he also won in his final year at the youth level more than

two decades ago. This is incidentally Tagenarine’s last year at the youth level, and he amassed 247 runs, one short of the leading run scorer Kacey Carty of the Leeward Islands.

Young Chanderpaul has also chalked up 233 runs from six innings in the 50over tournament, including 103 not out against Barbados on Wednesday at the National Stadium, and he would look to add to that tally on Friday when the Guyanese face the Windward Islands in the limited overs final at the Everest ground.

Carty was given an award for scoring the most runs, while Chad Williams of Barbados was the highest wicket-taker with 26 victims. Leniko Boucher of Barbados with six catches and five stumpings had the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper, while the most promising fast bowler was Alzarri Joseph of the Leeward Islands.

Guyana’s captain Brian Sattaur was presented with the three-day tro-

phy, while the match officials, namely Umpires and Match Referees, were given medals and plaques for their contributions towards the smooth running of the tournament.

Delivering remarks at

the ceremony, President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Drubahadur, lauded the Government of Guyana and the West Indies Cricket Board for agreeing to have the tournament hosted in Guyana, after the third

and final Test match between West Indies and New Zealand was pulled from Guyana owing to administrative issues.

He told the players that cricket is not just a sport, but can be a career, as he urged them to make maximum use of the opportunities being afforded to them.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar said the future of Guyana and West Indies cricket looks good with the talents that have been unearthed in this year’s competition. He specifically earmarked young Chanderpaul and his compatriots Shimron Hetmyer and Kemo Paul as players he expects great things from going forward. He also urged stakeholders to work diligently in getting Guyana back to the pinnacle of regional cricket.

Secretary of the Guyana Cricket and Director of the WICB, Anand Sanasie, in congratulating the Guyana team on their success, said this year’s competition has “produced a bundle of talents” and it’s just a case

now of harnessing those for the good of the game.

He challenged the players to stay fit and also qualify themselves academically, as more often than not its smarter players who enjoy success at the game. Meanwhile, it was highlighted that there was no award for the best allrounder of the tournament. However, Kumar said the National Sports Commission will put up a trophy for that category and Paul will be the recipient given his outstanding performance with bat and ball and in the field for Guyana this year.

Sattaur and his troops will look to create history on Friday when they face the Windward Islands in the final of the 50-over tournament. Should they win that game, Sattaur will be the first captain to win the ‘double’ for Guyana. Given the Guyanese fine form- they are the only team to win all six gamesSattaur’s place in history seems assured.

Pakistan hope to spoil Jayawardene’s farewell

The umbrellas went up in Galle almost as soon as Angelo Mathews had swatted away the winning runs for Sri Lanka. Making their way back to the dressing room as the drizzle intensified, Pakistan’s players must have wondered how on earth they lost the Test match after scoring 451 in the first innings. Whether it was their Test-match rustiness or an outcome of over-caution in their second innings, Pakistan simply didn’t maintain their standard of play over five days. Against a team as buoyant as Mathews’ Sri Lanka, you cannot afford to do that.

Over the following days, Pakistan’s spirits were further dampened by news of Saeed Ajmal being reported for a suspect action. It is a cliche that Pakistan are at

their most dangerous when they have their backs to the wall, but Misbah-ul-Haq’s team will have to believe in that old cornered tigers line as it tries to square the series at the SSC. After a quietly impressive climb up the Test rankings under Misbah, Pakistan are in danger of dropping from third to sixth if they lose the series.

Beating this Sri Lankan side, at a notoriously difficult venue for wicket-taking, will be a difficult ask. More so when they face a team that will want to give its most-capped player a fitting farewell at his favourite venue. Mahela Jayawardene will play his 149th and final Test match, and Sri Lankan cricket will never quite be the same again without those silken drives and late cuts from

Ltd

their No. 4.

While filling the Mahelashaped hole will be a headache in the long-term, Sri Lanka aren’t without more immediate issues to sort out. The opening combination isn’t yet settled, and a recall for Dimuth Karunaratne suggests the team management aren’t quite convinced by Upul Tharanga. All three of their first-choice fast bowlers are battling one niggle or another, and a new-ball combination of Dhammika Prasad and Chanaka Welegedara - if Shaminda Eranga can’t recover fully from an inflamed hip - doesn’t look the most convincing, on paper. Pakistan’s batsmen will need to put pressure on Sri Lanka’s bowlers, and not let Rangana Herath in particular get on top of them. There is a grow-

ing feeling among followers of Pakistan cricket that the formula that led to the team’s rise under Misbah - of cautious batting and run-strangling by spin - is in need of change, and that the natural style of their younger batsmen such as Ahmed Shehzad should be given more space to express itself. A flat batting track and an injury-hit attack will afford Pakistan the opportunity to try and appease their fans. Whether they do so or not remains to be seen.

In the spotlight

It is fitting that Mahela Jayawardene’s final Test match was moved from the P Sara Oval to the Sinhalese Sports Club, where he has scored more runs than anyone else has at any other ground in the known universe. He has

scored 11 centuries at the SSC in 26 Tests, and nothing in his recent form suggests he won’t finish off with another, for old times’ sake.

He will play the second Test, but it remains to be seen what Saeed Ajmal’s state of mind will be, having been reported for a suspect action after the first Test. Pakistan will desperately want his action cleared when he undergoes testing, but before that will want him at his best at the SSC if they have any chance of squaring the series. Judging by the disparity between Ajmal’s figures in Galle - 5 for 195 in 65.1 overs - and those of the rest of the attack - 7 for 418 in 114.2 overs - Pakistan’s bowling will look a lot less threatening without its banker-cum-magician.

Passing on the mantle! MVP Tagenarine Chanderpaul displays his two trophies in the presence of his illustrious father, the prolific West Indies middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Executives of the Guyana Cricket Board and Director of Sport Neil Kumar share a proud moment with the Guyana Under-19 team which copped the Regional Three-day title for the first time since 2007 (Photo: Carl Croker)

thursday, august 14, 2014

GOA proud of Commonwealth performance

By TreisTon Joseph

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) is proud of the overall performance of the 2014 Commonwealth Games team that was unable to bag a medal in Glasgow, Scotland when the event concluded on August 3.

“Unfortunately, we did not get any medals but I do believe that there were performances that we can be proud of,” were the words of the GOA president KA Juman Yassin at the press briefing held on Wednesday at the GOA’s head office in Kingston.

While all seven disciplines were unable to grab any hardware, manager of the team Garfield Wiltshire highlighted that the rifleshooting team barley missed

out on bronze after finishing five points out of the position.

Yassin on the other hand noted that top 20-ranked squash player Nicolette Fernandes’ performance in the round of 16 was the pinnacle of the event for him, as she had received a standing ovation for her “gutsy” performances.

With most of the managers present at the press conference echoing similar sentiments that their teams must be measured by the calibre of competition they faced and how well they did in the past, the general consensus of the forum was simply that all the stakeholders need to be involved with sport for it to move forward.

One interesting point from the Guyana Table

Tennis Association (GTTA)

President Godfrey Munroe, was simply that “countries are investing heavily in sport and most of the countries and winners that receive medals had the full backing of their governments and various stakeholders.”

However, Yassin was quick to note that Guyana has no full- time athlete and coach and a programme of such would be needed if the nation was to medal at any major meet.

Yassin was also optimistic that the GOA and the government can work together to improve sports in general and in particular with track and field, especially when the synthetic track in Leonora is officially opened.

Ganesh Parts and General Store donates 144 footballs to NSC

The National Sports Commission (NSC) was blessed with 144 footballs from Ganesh Parts and General Store on Wednesday at the store’s headquarters in Robb Street.

CEO of the general store Chatram Persaud noted that

it was a part of the store’s responsibility to give back to the community, thus the impetus to donate the large sum of balls to the NSC.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar who was present to receive the donation was very appreciative of the gesture by the well known general store.

“These balls will kick start our school programme as we will look to focus mainly on the interior regions as we look to develop the grass roots. We are very thankful for this donation,” Kumar stated at the simple handing-over ceremony.

Members of the head table during the press conference at the GOA headquarters

Neil Kumar (right) receives the footballs from Chatram Persaud at the store’s main location in Robb Street

Jamaica beat Guyana to become Super50 Champions Murray, Findlay praise Lloyd’s appointment

The invincible women of Caribbean Women’s cricket, Jamaica, nailed their fifth Regional Women’s Super50 title by blowing Guyana by 218 runs in the final of the tournament at Windsor Park on Wednesday.

While Guyana finished as runners-up in the competition, Trinidad and Tobago placed third, defeating Barbados at Botanical Gardens. It brought an exciting tournament to an end in quite entertaining fashion.

Natasha McLean did it with the bat and Vanessa Watts did it with the ball as Jamaica rose to their best to take the 2014 edition of the Regional Women’s Super50. McLean fell just short of a century while Watts took a five-for.

After being put into bat first, Jamaica put up a mammoth 309/7 from their 50 overs. The Jamaican openers put on an opening stand of 51 runs but quickly slipped to 83/2. It was at that time McLean and Chinelle Henry met in a 77-run partnership.

McLean struck 96 runs from just 94 balls, hammering eight fours and as many sixes along the way. Through her and Henry, Jamaica had recovered from a slow start. At the other end, Henry scored 85 runs from 87 balls, hitting 12 fours during her stay at the crease. Hasena Mohammed, Phaffiana Millington and Akaze Thompson all took two wickets each.

Guyana struggled in their chase being reduced to 36/3 just after the 15-over mark. In addition to their scoring rate being slow, they continuously lost wickets along the way. Watts was the main destroyer that ripped through the Guyanese batting line-up. She would finish with 5-21 as Guyana were bowled out for 91 runs in 32.4 overs.

Jamaica won by 218 runs, claiming and defending their Regional Women’s Super50 crown.

Jamaica Innings: 309/7 (50

Ogle Community Centre will come alive on Sunday August 17, 2014 when the powerful Lusignan Sports Club and talented Ogle Cricket Club clash in the Elizabeth Styles/East Coast Cricket Board first division 40 overs final. The game is expected to be a thrill-

Overs). Natasha McLean 96, Chinelle Henry 85, Chedean Nation 42, Jodian Morgan 38; Hasena Mohammed 8-0-50-2, Phaffiana Millington 10-0-662, Akaze Thompson 8-0-61-2, Heema Singh 6-0-29-1.

Guyana Innings: 91 All Out (32.4 Overs). Hasena Mohammed 19*, June Ogle 17, Kavita Yadram 15, Katana Mentore 10; Vanessa Watts 8.4-0-21-5, Alecia Bookal 5-117-2, Natasha Mclean 3-0-5-1, Stephanie Taylor 5-0-20-1.

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago finished 3rd after a clinical victory over Barbados in the 3rd/4th Place Playoff match at Botanical Gardens. Both teams were beaten in the semi-finals of the tournament.

After being out in to bat first, T&T lost an early wicket but bounced back to get their innings on track. Opener Amanda Samaroo was patient in her approach, scoring 23 runs from 80 balls. By and large, it was a slow scoring innings from T&T as the Trinis scored 183/6 from their 50 overs. It was Stacy Ann King who muscled the ball around, striking 63 runs from 65 balls

to propel the innings. Britney Cooper made 38 runs from 65 balls, striking four boundaries.

Barbados in response also lost an early wicket and continued to lose wickets throughout the chase. T&T were led in the field by their skipper, Anisa Mohammed, who picked up 3-11 from nine overs. Deandra Dotton top scored for the Bajans with 31 while Kycia Knight scored 28 runs. Barbados were bowled out for 107 runs in 33 overs, handing T&T a 76-run victory.

Trinidad & Tobago Innings: 183/6 (50 Overs). Stacy Ann King 63, Britney Cooper 38, Amanda Samaroo 23, Anisa Mohammed 20; Aaliyah Alleyne 9-0-353, Danielle Small 6-0-17-1, Shamillia Connelle 8-0-27-1, Shaquana Quintyne 10-1-30-0. Barbados Innings: 107 All Out (33 Overs). Deandra Dottin 31, Kycia Knight 28, Shaquana Quintyne 12, Aaliyah Alleyne 7; Anisa Mohammed 9-0-11-3, Stephanie Ramcharan 9.5-025-2, Gaitri Seetahal 6.4-1-262, Kirbynia Alexander 4-0-251.

SCOREBOARD

J Morgan c Giddings b Thompson 38

N McLean c Smartt b Mohammed 96

*S Taylor c wkp Henry b Singh 5

C Henry c Thompson b Mohammed 85

C Nation b Millington 42

R Williams c Singh b Thompson 7

+T Sanford c wkp Henry b Millington 4

K Cotien not out 11

V Watts not out 2

Extras (b1, lb2, w15, nb1) 19

TOTAL (7 wkts, 50 overs) 309

Did not bat: A Bookal, R Outar.

Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-83, 3-160, 4-240, 5-265, 6-276, 7-297.

Bowling: Smartt 10-248-0, Giddings 8-1-52-0, Thompson 8-0-61-2, Singh

6-0-29-1, Millington 10-0-662, Mohammed 8-0-50-2.

GUYANA

*J Ogle c Cotien b McLean 17

+M Henry run out 2

K Mentore c Henry b Taylor 10

K Yadram c Cotien b Watts 15

C Campbelle c Nation b Watts 8

T Smartt c Taylor b Watts 0

A Thompson c Cotien b Bookal 1

H Singh b Bookal 0

H Mohammed not out 19

E Giddings c and b Watts 17

P Millington b Watts 0

Extras (w12) 12

TOTAL (all out, 32.4 overs) 91

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-24, 3-36, 4-61, 5-61, 6-64, 7-64, 8-65, 9-91, 10-91

Bowling: Cotien 5-0-22-0, Nation 6-4-6-0, McLean 3-05-1, Taylor 5-0-20-1, Watts 8.4-0-21-5, Bookal 5-1-17-2

er with both teams fielding quality players and as usual Ogle Community Centre is known for its large crowd.

The Lusignan Sports Club squad is made up of Kumar Bisoondial, Vishnu Ramjeet, Somdatt Bharat, Brian Sattaur, Steven Ramdass, Gajanand Sukdeo, Steve Alick,

Former West Indies cricketers Deryck Murray and Michael Findlay welcomed the move by the West Indies Cricket Board to appoint former captain Clive Lloyd to the post of chairman of selectors but both insisted Lloyd’s appointment alone will not be enough to take West Indies cricket back to the top of world cricket.

“I welcome the move but I think the public needs to have a little bit of patience,” Murray told the Express yesterday.

“I hope that he will focus a lot more on the development of our young players. Although his role is to select the West Indies international team from the present crop, to me the future well-being of West Indies cricket is in our youth policy and how we impart the fundamentals of the game to our youth cricketers,” the former West Indies wicketkeeper explained.

Murray also noted the changes to the selection panel was a good move and a step in the right direction. However, he said the future of the game does not only depend on selecting a team but on preparing future players for the international arena.

“There needs to be other measures to move West Indies cricket forward. If we are to get back to number one or two, that is not an overnight process. That involves polices that have to be put in place and resourc-

es that have to be properly distributed, and those resources are not purely financial, but actual persons you put to look after the players and to coach and mentor our young players,” he added.

Findlay also sees it as a positive move noting that Lloyd brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the post.

“I think with his experience, his quality of leadership and his exposure to cricket at all levels, he will bring to the selection committee that kind of thinking that is needed at this stage in West Indies cricket,” said Findlay.

“People must understand that changes to the selection committee will not necessarily bring about changes to the fortunes of West Indies cricket immediately because Clive Lloyd will have the same panel of player to select from. The problem in West Indies cricket is much

deeper than that,” he added.

Findlay said the problem facing the selectors was that the standard of West Indies domestic cricket is very low and that has to improve in order for the regional side to improve.

“The WICB is moving forward with changes to the domestic competition and that is a good innovation to bring in players from other territories and international players. That is a good move if raises the standard of cricket being played,” said Findlay.

“We have to lift the standard of our domestic cricket so we can compete adequately with the cricketers at the international level. Clive Lloyd will be able to inject that quality of leadership from his own experience into the selection committee but the selectors can only choose from what talent is available,” he added.

(WICB)

Caribbean Regional Badminton Championships

Narvan Singh, Emran Khan, Rajindra Naikbaran, Leon Morgan, Shazam Ali, Ferron Kadir, Chetram Gangadeen, Mahendra Jeenarine. The Manager is Jewan Persaud and coach Jeenarine

The Ogle Cricket Club squad comprises Anand Persaud, Irfan Ali, Andre Gomes, Khemraj Jaikaran, Chris Pattadin, Khemchand Dindyal, Soopaul Sanichar, Sahadeo Ramkellawan, Davindra Ramtahal, Vishal Moorchan, Sunindra Ramsingh, Ayodha Joseph, Daniel Chunilall, Michael Deonarine, Tulsieram Balkaran with David Harper being the coach and Mohamed Khan the Manager.

Play is expected to start at 10:00h and the umpires are Gavin Daguiar and Eva Baker with the match referee being Judister Rampersaud.

Abosaide Cadogan was the only successful Guyanese on day two of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Championships (CAREBACO) being played in Jamaica.

Cadogan defeated Kayla Miller of Barbados 27-25, 21-13 in the Under-13 Girls Singles quarter-finals at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, University of Technology, Kingston.

Meanwhile, in the Under-17 Girls Doubles quarter-finals, Guyanese Ambika Ramraj and Trinidadian Brittney Mohamed lost to Jada Renales and Ralitsa Wong of Trinidad 21-13, 21-23, 2116.

In the Open Men Singles second round, Christopher Persaud of Guyana lost to Shaquille Palmer of Jamaica 21-9, 21-13.

Several quarter-finals featuring Guyanese players were to be played on Wednesday.

Priyanna Ramdhani was scheduled to play in the Under-13 Mix Doubles, Narayan Ramdhani in the Under-17 Boys Singles, Narayan Ramdhani and Ambika Ramraj in the Under-17 Mix Doubles, and Narayan Ramdhani and Christopher Persaud in the Open Men Doubles quarterfinals.

The Caribbean Regional Badminton Championships (CAREBACO) is being held from August 9-16, 2014. The Guyana Badminton Association expressed appreciation to the many sponsors who made Guyana’s participation possible, including Continental Group of Companies, National Sports Commission, E-Networks, Neville Osman Investments, Republic Bank, Woodpecker Products, Demerara Bank, Dr Philip Dasilva, Dr and Mrs Yesu Persaud, GBTI, Hand –inHand Insurance Company, Rubis Gas Station- Bel Air, General Equipment, Farm Supplies Limited, Décor and Gift Gallery and Fitness Express.

Clive Lloyd

Abosaide Cadogan (left) of Guyana defeated Kayla Miller of Barbados in the Under-13 Girls Singles quarter-finals

Andre Gomes Brian Sattaur

El Dorado sends two lucky Guyanese to Limacol CPL final

George Pile of Lot 6

Hyde Park, Timehri, and his guest Ritudeo Ramgulam are off to see the final of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL), compliments of El Dorado Rum, the Official Spirit of the T20 tournament. Pile and Ramgulam will join 12 other winners from around the Caribbean who entered the El Dorado “Play De Winnin’ Shot” Promotion. Consumers of El Dorado in Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, Grenada and St Kitts were asked to remove the specially placed CPL stickers from the bottle and place them into entry

boxes around the country for a chance to win hundreds of prizes.

Pile was selected at the final drawing held on August 8 and will hopefully get a chance to cheer the Guyana Amazon Warriors on in the final in what is slated to be the Biggest Party in Sport.

The lucky winner will receive two airline tickets, accommodation at the St Kitts Marriott Resort and The Royal Beach Casino, two cricket tickets and spending money. They will depart Guyana on Friday.

A very excited Pile noted, “I was surprised and happy that I won the trip.

I have never travelled to St Kitts before so I am looking forward to the opportunity.”

Maria Munroe, Brand Manager of Demerara Distillers Limited, congratulated the winners and noted that El Dorado was very pleased to be a major partner of the Limacol CPLT20.

“El Dorado is already established around the globe as the World’s Best Rum and we are extremely happy to be able to give cricketing fans from around the Caribbean a chance to see some of the world’s greatest players competing in the Biggest Party in Sport,” Munroe noted.

NaMilCo joins Boyce/Jefford Classic for first time

Khan.

The National Milling Company (NaMilCo) is the newest sponsor of the Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic scheduled for August 16 and 17 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden. At a simple handing-over ceremony on Tuesday, the milling company was happy to join with the organisers of the event for the first time, according to Marketing Consultant at NaMilCo,

“We are happy to be part of this programme and we wish it a success. We know that with you gentlemen at the helm, it will be a success,” Khan stated.

Director of the Boyce/ Jefford Classic, Colin Boyce, was optimistic that the event will be highly competitive and produce some of this year’s best athletics.

“I want to assure you that this fifth edition, with

Caribbean Karate Championships 2014…

GT&T Mobile Money supports Association do Shotokan Karate Guyana

GT&T Mobile Money Guyana in its continued efforts to promote healthy activities and discipline among young Guyanese, said it is pleased to sponsor The Association do Shotokan Karate Guyana in their participation at the IKD/ CKC Caribbean Karate Championships 2014. The event is scheduled for August 14-18, 2014 in Trinidad.

The handing-over ceremony took place on Friday August 8 at the Mobile Money Office on Croal Street. The sponsorship will go towards the team’s par-

ticipation in the Games in Trinidad this weekend, a press release from Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) stated.

The Marketing OfficerMMG Kester Abrams stated: “Given the number of temptations and destructive activities our youths face daily, MMG is very proud to support this initiative. Karate promotes discipline and structure in life, which can play a crucial role in the development of our youths, and the nation as a whole.”

Mr John Peroune (Team Manager) expressed his gratitude to GT&T’s Mobile

Money for their contribution towards the cause. Mr Peroune stated: “The contribution will go a long way in assisting the team’s participation at the Championships.”

Marketing Officer Kester Abrams handed over the sponsorship cheque to the Association do Shotokan team.

GT&T Mobile Money applauds the effort of the Association; and pledges to continue support of activities that promote healthy lifestyles and discipline, especially among young Guyanese boys and girls.

Goodwill team makes courtesy call on Director of Sport

The Goodwill swimming team and executives of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) paid a courtesy call on Director of Sport Neil Kumar on Thursday at the National Sports Commission (NSC) head office on Middle Street before leaving for Suriname for the event.

President of GASA Ivan Persaud shared that the team is fully prepared to represent Guyana in Suriname.

“We have been doing our best in preparation for

the Goodwill Games and we promise to represent our country at all levels well,” Persaud noted.

Kumar highlighted that he was proud of his swimmers and their progression in the sport, “I get emotional when I see my young swimmers… I feel what will happen eventually is that you will in the next five years or so go to Carifta and dominate.

“I think our coaches have been doing a good job and you guys are closing the gap, you are going to be very proud one day and I urge you

to continue your studies,” Kumar stated.

Meanwhile, Kumar urged the swimmers to focus more on the longer distances, “I see a lot of you doing the sprints and with the short distances they might be 1000 persons in one event but with the longer ones there might only be 50, so focus on your endurance,” Kumar quipped.

Guyana are the defending champions at the Goodwill Games and is expected to return on Monday from the meet that starts this weekend. (Treiston Joseph)

Fernandes to miss senior caribbean squash championships

– National Champs Alex Arjoon and Mary Fung A Fat to participate

Tall the athletes we have competing from Guyana and overseas, will be one of the biggest athletics meets in Guyana to date,” Boyce mentioned.

The Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic has become Guyana’s biggest athletics meet with the aim of bringing international competition to local athletes, while giving the people of Linden a major event to witness.

he Guyana Squash Association has named its team to participate in the Caribbean Senior Squash Championships scheduled to be held in Bridgetown, Barbados from August 16 - 23, 2014.

The men’s team will be spearheaded by National Champion Alex Arjoon and includes Sunil Seth- 2013 Caribbean Individual runner-up, former Caribbean Champion Richard Chin, Jason Ray Khalil, Robert Mc David and Nicholas Narain.

The women’s team will be lead by 2014 National Champion Mary Fung A Fat and includes Ashley

Alex Arjoon

De Groot, Akeila Wiltshire, Larissa Wiltshire, Victoria Arjoon and Tiffany Soloman. The veteran’s team in-

cludes 2013 Caribbean Over 50 Champion Brendon Mounter, Ramon Chan A Sue and Dennis Dias.

Manager of the team is former Caribbean Over 40 Champion Alwyn Callender. Guyana will be defending the Men’s, Women’s and Overall Team titles which they won in Guyana last year. The women’s team will be without the services of defending Caribbean Champion and World ranked No 19 Nicolette Fernandes who has to play a mandatory World Squash Association event in Hong Kong and Ashley Khalil who is unavailable.

Affeez

Maria Munroe (left), Brand Manager of Demerara Distillers Limited, and Angelique Lall (right), Marketing Assistant of Demerara Distillers Limited, pose with George Pile, who will head to St Kitts this weekend for the Limacol CPL final

Colin Boyce (extreme left) and Director of Boyce/Jefford Edison Jefford (middle) receive cheques from representatives of NaMilCo

Director of Sport Neil Kumar poses for a photo opportunity after the courtesy call

Hetmyer, Chanderpaul tons keep Guyana unbeaten

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Twin hundreds from opener Shimron Hetmyer and Tagenarine Chanderpaul ensured Guyana emerged with a flawless record following a 44-run win over Barbados in the final round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19, 50over cricket competition on Wednesday at the National Stadium, Providence.

Hetymer’s attacking 123 and Chanderpaul’s cautious 103 not out piloted Guyana to a tournament-high 2985, following a record opening stand of 176, before offspinner Sharaz Ramcharran claimed 4-59 and leg-spinner Steven Sankar bagged 3-51 as Barbados posted 254 in 50 overs.

The victory, Guyana’s sixth from as many games in the 50-over competition, gained the hosts automatic entry into Friday’s final against the Windward Islands at Everest after they accumulated an unassailable 36.4 points. The Windward Islands earlier in the day had whipped Jamaica by nine wickets to finish on 21.9 points, pipping the defending champions Jamaica by 0.1 point.

continued on page 19

Shimron Hetmyer on the go during his 100 on Wednesday at Providence

Tagenarine Chanderpaul acknowledges the applause of his team-mates upon bringing up his 100

Andre Russell is ecstatic after Rusty Theron hit the winning runs for Jamaica Tallawahs against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel