Guyana Times Daily

Granger throws down gauntlet to President

saturdaY, NOVEMBEr 8, 2014 | guYaNatiMEsgY.cOM

Tourism Awareness Month in full swing

November is Tourism Awareness Month and acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and all their partners could not be more excited to celebrate.

The month-long calendar of activities, rolled out under the theme “Tourism Entrepreneurs and Ambassadors Mobilised”, kicked off with the grand launch on October 31 when all of the sector players gathered to usher in this celebratory period.

Over the last week, the GTA has executed several activities including the hosting of a “School Talk” at the Berbice High School, last Monday.

“School talks are part of the series of events that are aimed at educating our young ambassadors about tourism, the economical, social and environmental

impacts and what they can contribute as ambassadors and tourism students,” the facilitating officer, Kemie Williams explained.

A power point presentation was done by the GTA representative to fifth and sixth formers.

Meanwhile, the GTA on Wednesday hosted a train-

ing session in the culinary arts, where several groups attended to enhance their skills in kitchen hygiene and safety, meal planning, methods of cooking and cooking terms.

The session was conducted by Doreen Oburmuller who said, “The training was to enhance

what the chefs or cooks already possess and this training is done free of cost to the participants.”

Participating groups included OMG sports bar, Waterchris, Maharaja Palace, Upper Crust Restaurant, Gravity Lounge, Windjammer Restaurant and Bar and Antonio’s Grill.

In the coming weeks, many more activities and events will be rolled out including the Essequibo Bird Guide Training, to be conducted at Fort Island, this Saturday.

A Birding Tour at the Botanical Gardens will also be facilitated on this day.

Additionally, several tour operators and businesses are offering specials packages. These include Dagron Tours, Old Fort Tours, ASL, GuyBraz Tours and Hurakabra River Resort.

Woman critical after drinking bleachlaced beverage

Shelly Gomes, 28, is now in critical condition at The Balwant Singh Hospital after she drank a bottle of Sprite, which she subsequently believed contained bleach.

According to her family, Gomes purchased the drink at the Rose Bud Cafeteria, Forgarty’s on Friday around 09:20am and almost immediately after, she consumed it.

The woman had to be rushed to hospital by staff of the cafeteria.

So far, doctors are unable to confirm if the substance was indeed bleach.

The family maintained that the bottle was properly sealed on purchase and they are awaiting a response on the matter from local distributor Banks DIH Limited.

Gome’s father was extremely upset and is demanding an explanation for what exactly happened.

When Guyana Times arrived at the hospital, Police were already there collecting statements from the family.

There were several family members at the hospital,

all very tense; they refuse to speak on the matter when approached by Guyana Times Doctors and nurses were seen busy attending to Gomes, who was receiving an intravenous solution. The young woman who was wheeled into the hospital appeared very ill. Her family is hoping that she will pull through as the expressed surprise about the cause of the incident.

A few years ago, University of Guyana student Collette Newland mysteriously died after drinking a bottle of “Mountain Dew”. Reports had indicated the young lady felt a burning sensation in her throat and stomach after she drank the drink.

Newland was immediately rushed to the hospital where she died some time after. To date, the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Today, Mountain Dew is no longer available on the local market.

Gome’s family indicated that she might have to remain in hospital for the next few days.

World’s rarest postal stamp...

British Guiana OneCent Magenta to go on display in Washington

The world’s rarest postal stamp, the 1856

British Guiana OneCent Magenta, will go on display at the National Postal Museum in Washington starting in April, the Smithsonian Institution said on Thursday.

The stamp will be displayed in the museum’s William H Gross Gallery for three years, the longest and most publicly accessible showing it has ever had, the Smithsonian said in a statement.

The stamp is the only surviving example of the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta. Printed in black ink on magenta paper, it bears the image of a three-masted ship and the colony’s motto in Latin: “We give and expect in return.”

The one-cent stamp was sold by Sotheby’s in June for US$9.5 million, four times the price ever paid for a single stamp. Sotheby’s said the

postage stamp was the most valuable object by weight and size.

The anonymous buyer is lending it to National Postal Museum.

The British Guiana OneCent Magenta is among the first postage stamps. The postmaster in British Guiana, now the Republic of Guyana, asked a newspaper in 1856 to print stamps after supplies from Britain were delayed.

A schoolboy in British Guiana discovered the stamp in 1873 among his family papers. It passed through various collectors until it was bought by John du Pont, an heir to the du Pont chemical fortune.

Du Pont’s estate sold the stamp at the Sotheby’s auction. Du Pont died in prison in 2010 while serving a murder sentence for shooting wrestler David Schultz in 1996. (Reuters)

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

General Elections soonest next year

... Rohee tells Essequibians as party begins groundwork

By IndrawattIe natram

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has commenced preparations in light of the strong likelihood that there would be early General Elections next year.

Speaking at a press briefing at State House, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) on Wednesday, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee said the party is gearing up for elections.

Rohee, who did not disclose when the elections will be held, said it will be held next year the soonest, assuring that the PPP/C under the Donald Ramotar Administration is pumped, ready and eager to revisit the polls.

The General Secretary will be spending a week in the region visiting various communities, including the Pomeroon River, conducting meetings as well as making representation on behalf of the party.

The main purpose of the visit is to establish the political groundwork for the elections by meeting with residents. A meeting was held with residents of Red Village on Wednesday.

During the visit, Rohee will be meeting with young professionals, members from the business community and long-standing party activists to discuss plans to gain maximum support.

The PPP/C team that visited Region Two included the party’s Executive Secretary Zufikar Muktafar, three Freedom House (Georgetown) staff and an East Berbice Member of Parliament.

Rohee reported that the political ground work has already commenced on

the Corentyne, West Coast Berbice and parts of West Coast Demerara, setting the platform for early elections.

The visits seek to boost the party’s effort to maintain connection with the grassroots, ensuring that there is a continuation of registration and to ensure that residents have the essential source documents.

“For any party to be nurtured, it must maintain a connection with the people, representing their interest as well as display good leadership capacity,” Rohee said.

Hope is not lost

Minister Rohee said while Region Two has been supportive of the PPP over the years, a lot of ground work still needs to be done.

“We have suffered losses during the 2011 Elections in Region Two, though not significant, we still need to do a lot more; we should not become complacement, our meetings with the people, we want to make sure at the party level that whatever mistakes were made in the past are not replicated and we should step up,” Rohee noted.

The General Secretary

said there is full support from PPP well-wishers and the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) branch in the region.

“At the end of the day, at the party level, we have to ensure that the seats lost are regained, not just one seat but we should gain more than one and the PPP, the ruling party and its comrade will ensure this,” Rohee reiterated.

Rohee, who is also the Home Affairs Minister, said at most of the outreach meetings, persons raised problems, most of which were related to the environment and drainage and irrigation.

He said thus far, he is satisfied with the feedback and the vibes he has been getting from Essequibians.

Tangible progress

Meanwhile, Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said much has been achieved in social and infrastructural development under the PPP/C in Region Two, and the progress must continue.

The development includes rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, health centres, upgrading of road and streets, desilting of canals from Johanna

Cecilia to Darthmouth, construction of tail walls, construction and upgrading of internal roads and the installation of new concrete bridges. Samaroo said works will continue in the various sectors for the benefit of the people.

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has assured that come Monday, it will stand firmly behind the Alliance For Change (AFC) as it moves a No-Confidence Motion against the PPP/C Government.

On Wednesday, the parties met at the Leader of the Opposition’s Office, Hadfield Street, Georgetown, finalising their plot against the Donald Ramotar Administration.

The AFC in a release said the parties have “concretised their position on the No-Confidence Motion”, noting that the No-Confidence Motion will be given priority when the National Assembly meets on Monday.

The AFC and APNU intend to use their one-seat majority to suspend the Standing Order, paving the way for the No-Confidence Motion to be debated and passed in the House.

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

What threat!

President Donald Ramotar’s announcement that should the Opposition parliamentarians choose to press ahead with their No-Confidence Motion before dealing with several pressing and critical bills, he would either dissolve or prorogue Parliament, is instructive and timely.

By making such an announcement, the President has expressed his constitutional authority because of his dissatisfaction with the work of, and developments in, the 10th Parliament.

The announcement comes after President Ramotar would have made several overtures and appeals to the Opposition parliamentary political parties to support a series of developmental programmes, projects and incentives aimed at furthering the well-being of the collective Guyanese public.

It also comes on the heels, of sometimes blistering, unfair, and disrespectful insinuations from the leaders within the hierarchy of the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity about Ramotar’s governance, political maturity, and commitment to running a lean and clean administration even before he took office back in 2011.

By virtue of his announcement, President Ramotar has demonstrated his willingness to work within the confines of the Constitution, to explore options and measures that could be used to solve the continued deadlock and grandstanding that has engulfed the 65-seat legislature since the Opposition took control of its hallowed chambers, with a one-seat majority.

He has also given the Opposition parliamentary parties, a way out of the turmoil and confusion that have besmirched the reputation of the National Assembly.

When interpreted in simple language, President Ramotar simply wants the business of the Government and people to proceed uninterrupted before any attempt is made to prematurely end his administration’s term of office.

Interestingly, it appears that President Ramotar is already tactically and strategically prepared to face the No-Confidence Motion whenever it reaches the floor if the Opposition chooses to deliberate on the matters of topical interest to the people and Government of Guyana first.

It is, therefore, more than passingly strange that some in the Opposition political quarters and sections of the media have interpreted the President’s exercise of his constitutional authority as a “threat”.

It is mind boggling how Ramotar’s announcement can come be seen as a threat when the Constitution bestowed upon him the authority to prorogue or dissolve Parliament in the same manner in which the Parliament is empowered to force the demise of a government via a No-Confidence Motion.

Additionally, the APNU’s contention in its press release dated Friday, November 7, 2014 that the “President’s political gamesmanship in threatening to prorogue the Parliament is a dangerous departure from democratic norms”, is disingenuous since they are threatening to exercise an analogous power.

That position could be challenged from many perspectives; and does not hold merit as the Constitution promotes democracy and cannot wilfully empower the President to depart from such a posture.

It appears as though the APNU and its ersatz coalition partner AFC were caught off guard because they were startled that the Ramotar Administration has options too in the form of prorogation of Parliament.

That aside, if the Opposition chooses to flex its parliamentary muscle and move ahead with its No-Confidence Motion at the expense of the people’s business and Guyana’s future, the President is likely to prorogue Parliament given the mere tone of his national address on Tuesday.

Such a move would keep his Administration in office and pave the way for more talks to be held on the way forward. It means too that development could continue uninterrupted unless there were to be political unrest and deliberate instigation of violence.

The truth is, President Ramotar understands the games that are being played and outplayed the Opposition when he made his most recent pronouncement.

So successful was Ramotar’s announcement, that APNU may have abandoned pursuing its own Local Government agenda and decision to force Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh before the Privileges Committee altogether after being blackmailed into supporting the No-Confidence Motion with the promise of a new coalition partner.

Ahead of the first post-recess sitting, Opposition Leader David Granger must understand the perilous path that he is poised to take the country through by giving critical support to a No-Confidence Motion, which was birthed out of sheer spite, and political revenge.

Maybe, all parliamentarians should pause and ask the question, who benefits from the motion and at what expense?

Legendary Tendulkar debunks Freddie on “Monkeygate”

Dear Editor,

Writing in another paper, my handsome friend, Freddie Kissoon, had penned that he heard Harbhajan Singh (aka Bhajji) called Andrew Symonds (who is of Mixed African-White descent born in Britain) a racial epithet during a tour to Australia. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has now debunked Freddie’s myth in a book, “Playing It My Way”, released on November 5 in Mumbai. This response was not published in the other paper.

Freddie has very acute ears because no one else (save Sachin) heard anything (not even other players on the field) between Bhajji and Symonds. TV replays showed some kind of exchange between the two players (Symonds was the bowler and Bhajji the batsman who had some lusty shots off Symonds and some very good scores (several 50s) on the tour frustrating the Aussie bowlers. But Freddie said he heard the remark very loudly and clearly – yes, Freddie heard it.

The remark was never said and like everything else Freddie wrote, it was another fiction. Sachin has written about the anger and sense of betrayal he felt regarding the incident on the pitch.

Tendulkar has maintained that Bhajji did not use a racist epithet and after discussion between the management of the two teams, he thought the issue was resolved. Lo and behold, Tendulkar was shocked when Symonds

and the Aussies filed a complaint that Bhajji called him “a monkey”. Freddie inferred he heard the n-word. Symonds complained Bhajji used the monkey word in contradiction to Freddie. We don’t know who was accurate – Freddie who heard it on TV or Symonds who heard it directly from Bhajji, a few yards away. Tendulkar was the prime witness to the incident as he was on the other side of the pitch closest to Bhajji. Sachin wrote he was quite upset with the way the issue was handled by match referee Mike Procter.

Bhajji was suspended for calling Symonds “a monkey” though it was not verified the remark was used contrary to what Freddie penned. The suspension was appealed by the Indian board. At the time, Tendulkar testified that Bhajji did not call Symonds a monkey, but had cursed him out using an m-word; Freddie disputed Tendulkar, asserting the legend lied without, in typical style, offering no evidence.

In his autobiography, as gleamed from the media, Sachin wrote: “I want to state very clearly that the (Monkeygate) incident arose because Symonds had been continually trying to provoke Bhajji and it was inevitable that the two would have an altercation at some point. While walking up to Bhajji to try to calm things down, I heard him say ‘Teri maa ki’ (Your mother...) to Symonds. It is an expression we often use in North India to vent our anger and to me it was all part of the game”.

By the way, it is a commonly used expression in Guyana, Trinidad, US, Canada, Fiji, Mauritius, England and Suriname among Indians. I also heard it in North India during my frequent visits to the motherland.

It is not farfetched that “teri maa ki”, sounding like monkey, could have been misinterpreted by Symonds leading to the accusation that Bhajji called him a monkey. Incidentally, Bhajji does not speak English and, therefore, would not have used “monkey”, an English word. Bhajji speaks Hindi and Panjabi – “Bhandar” means monkey. Freddie does not understand or communicate in Hindi/Bhojpuri expression that Indians grow up with; Freddie wrote he did not grow up among Indians and it is understandable, therefore, why he is not fluent in the use of common Hindi terms in Guyana. Still, one cannot understand how Freddie translated “teri maa ki” into the n–word.

Sachin wrote as quoted in the media: “Bhajji had retaliated in the face of provocation, which was par for the course in an Australia-India cricket match. But he did not racially abuse any cricketer.”

Tendulkar said: “Procter left him seething in anger by claiming that only one group (Aussies) had told the truth during the hearing”, insinuating he lied. He stated: “Captain Anil Kumble and I took the lead and it was unanimously decided that we would boycott the tour

if Bhajji’s ban was upheld. It would mean an acceptance of guilt and imply that Bhajji had racially abused Symonds, which he most certainly had not.” He added: “We were fully prepared to accept the consequences of walking out of a tour, knowing that such an action might have resulted in the ICC banning the Indian team. The issue was now bigger than just Bhajji. Indians all over the world felt slighted and we felt it was our responsibility to stand up for our cause.”

My friend Freddie does not stand up for anything pertaining to India or Indians, penning “he is not Indian”.

Sachin has been known for his integrity and honesty as a cricketer who would allow batsmen who were given out by erring umpires to bat again if it meant India losing a match. He is the complete opposite of Freddie who engages in name- calling and epithets. Since the Monkeygate incident, Symonds played with and under Tendulkar and Bhajji for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL tournament. They put the incident behind them. It is good of Sachin to explain the incident so that the cricketing world understands what really transpired during the incident. Symonds accepted the explanation.

Contrary to Freddie, a racial epithet was not used and he needs to stop manufacturing information.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

The costs of suicide

Dear Editor,

The research does not seem to exist for Guyana, or if it does, is not easily accessible, but suicide does take a tremendous toll beyond the lives lost.

Such costs are usually referred to as direct costs (costs associated with suicide and its aftermath); indirect costs (costs associated with productivity or earnings loss or projected earnings losses); and intangible human costs (pain, grief, suffering, lost quality of life, lost opportunities and values associated with what life would have offered).

Usually, also, there is a total financial cost computed by adding direct and indirect costs. For example in the US these costs have been estimated to be $1,061,170 per suicide. For Guyana, it could well be hundreds of thousands, even millions, per suicide.

A survivor of suicide is a family member or friend of a person who died by suicide. Surviving the loss of a loved one to suicide is a risk factor for suicide (Brent, 2010; Brent et. al., 2006.)

Additionally, surviving family members and close friends are deeply impacted by each suicide, and experience a range of complex grief reactions including guilt, anger, abandonment, denial, helplessness, and shock (Jordon, 2001; AAS, 2008).

And while no exact figure

exists, it is estimated that a median of between 6 and 32 survivors exist for each suicide, depending on the definition used (Berman, 2011).

In Guyana, it would be conservative to estimate that approximately 50 per cent or more of the population knew someone who died of suicide in any given year and can be considered survivors.

Official figures indicate that over 1000 victims have been taken by this heinous act since 2011. At this rate, the nation may lose 1000 or more lives to suicide every three years.

And indicators do not provide any comfort in this respect. The recent poll conducted by INEWSGUYANA clearly explained the feelings of isolation, neglect and depression being experienced by youths between the ages of 15 and 24.

How long before many give in to the feelings of total despair and hopelessness that will lead to suicide as an escape from their present living conditions? Already almost all of the suicides from this age group seem to be the result of lack of coping skills.

This loss to suicide becomes more massive when one looks at the impact of migration. In 2011, Guyana’s emigration rate was tagged at 33.5 per cent or one out of every three Guyanese, with an estimated two out of eve-

ry three skilled Guyanese leaving.

In 2013, the birth rate was 16.31 births per thousand while the death rate was 7.18 per thousand which means that the overall increase to the population should have been nine per thousand or an increase of 7200 per year.

In effect, in spite of net birth rate that indicates an annual increase in the population, migration has ensured that the total population has remained almost constant for the last three decades or more.

Furthermore, this migration has also fuelled the brain drain, which has robbed the nation of human resources much needed for development. Now with suicide decimating the ranks of the younger population, the replacement human resources, necessary for development, would be hardpressed to materialise. The effect on development and the economy could be debilitating.

This also brings a number of other questions into play: Who will replenish the national insurance? Who will be the support for families and head the households? Who will be the doctors, nurses, teachers, policepersons or farmers?

So you see, everyone has something to lose and that is the true tragedy of this plague, for it does not dis-

Nowrang Persaud should have known how the NCFC functions

Dear Editor, Please permit me space to respond to Nowrang Persaud’s letter dated October 30, headlined “Is this another symptom of debility in the sugar industry?”.

Firstly, Mr Persaud himself, being a cane farmer for 20 odd years and GuySuCo’s former Human Resources Director, should have known how the National Cane Farming Committee (NCFC) functions, and of the benefits farmers are receiving.

Mr Persaud, for your information kindly note that presently the NCFC has a revolving fund to assist small farmers. Farmers (you included) benefited from a 50 per cent reduction in their cost of fertiliser, which was negotiated for by the NCFC.

Your canes are harvested by the Estate, supplied with fertiliser from the Estate, and applied by the Estate labourers, your farmlands are also tilled and planted by the Estate as you require. Therefore, I was mortified at the sentiments you expressed and captioned “Is this another symptom of debility in the sugar industry?” when you were invited to the meeting and chose to remain silent when requested to make a contribution.

Your claim that your “repeated attempts to get some clarifications from the Chairman of the NCFC were fruitless” is baseless, because you were advised to refer to the NCFC Act Chapter 69:04, and to the Estate’s Liaison Committee for clarification of your issues.

You acknowledged your attendance at the NCFC meeting of which I presided, and could have gotten any information you desired. I repeatedly enquired from you for any comment, clarification or issues you may encounter that needed to be addressed by the committee, to which you replied “no” in the presence of all the members and other cane farmers who attended.

The 17 issues listed on the action sheet were issues highlighted at the previous NCFC meeting, which are summaries for members of the committee to address, give updates and clarifications at that meeting on the progress of work.

You mentioned farmers’ diminishing output, discontinuation, selling off, etc; you are probably speaking on your own behalf. Because more lands were leased by the Government to farmers at Wales, Uitvlugt, Albion and Skeldon locations.

criminate. Suicide is everybody’s business and it is rather difficult to understand why so many continue to sleep, as their neighbours die deaths that are eminently avoidable.

Are we not our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers? Have we lost the outlook whereby the village did indeed raise the child and one villager’s challenges became shared challenges.

Most importantly, there is also an overriding question: why has the situation relating to suicide, domestic violence and related issues been allowed to reach such massive proportions.

The records reveal that a great deal of aid, grants and budgetary allocations have been provided over the years for redressive work on suicide, abuse and other social ills.

Also significant training has taken place and many programmes and policies were either launched or planned. So while not pointing fingers or apportioning blame, The Caribbean Voice, asks, “why have all these resources not made any critical impact?

Sincerely,

Bibi Ahamad Managing Director The Caribbean Voice

Feeding ourselves and food security for the nation

Dear Editor,

Pineapple farmers in the Tapakuma/Whyaka Amerindian communities could have drawn a dual advantage in making money to help educate their children and feed themselves if the Amcar Pine Apple Factory was still in operation at Mainstay, Essequibo Coast.

Some of these farmers were being trained in organic pineapple chunk production and the rest of the community was benefiting from access to good quality suckers suited to local needs and conditions.

A tilapia fish pond at Red Lock, which is now abandoned, was also been developed. At the beginning of the project, farmers supplied the pineapples to the factory and were equally enthusiastic, reporting significant improvements in their yields.

However, farmers found themselves at a disadvantage after the factory was closed and the fish pond was abandoned, often these farmers in the Amerindian communities suffer from inadequate access to transportation and prices for their produce. This has left them with no other alternative than to sell their pineapples cheap in the market at Anna

Regina.

Ten years ago, Amcar introduced varieties of pineapples that originated from the North West District, as part of the programme. Some of the country’s highest and short-yielding and most popular pineapples were tested, including the sugar loaf.

The trials were carried out by Rickey Roopchand and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). In all the Amerindian communities in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), the pineapples were planted. These varieties of pineapples proved to be well-adapted, including those cultivated in marginal areas. And while Government extension and fisheries services still exist in the region, they are often seriously under-financed in the interior location. We are richly endowed with natural resources which can create the appropriate base for material prosperity, if they are used wisely. The pragmatic objective should be to feed ourselves and food security for the nation.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

Finally, I will continue to ensure that you receive a copy of the NCFC minutes, to keep you informed on what the NCFC is achieving.

Mr Persaud, it seems like you have just awakened from a deep slumber, because you mentioned that you have attended occasional meetings of which you don’t even know the name – those are the Cane Farmers Liaison Committee meetings, from which farmers were elected to represent their colleagues from that location.

You stopped attending those meetings claiming that they are a waste of your precious time; now you seem to have renewed interest.

Mr Persaud, you were surprised by the preponderance of “officials”, kindly do us a favour and familiarise yourself with the NCFC Act, Chap 69:04, and just in case you still do not get it, those ex-officios (as you called them) are there for a special purpose (apart from abiding with the Act) – to assist, and guide farmers accordingly, by firstly making themselves all available in one room with the farmers, for the farmers.

Sincerely,

Roy Hanoman Chairman, NCFC

Page Foundation

Facebook gives users ‘Ebola button’ to donate money

Facebook has added an Ebola button to users’ profile pages to help people donate to charities fighting the disease.

The money will go to International Medical Corps, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Save the Children.

Facebook is also paying for 100 satellite communication terminals to help improve Internet and phone services in West Africa. The disease has killed nearly 5000 people across Liberia, Sierra Leona and Guinea.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced the Ebola donation button with a video on his own profile page, saying “I want to make sure Facebook does its part to help fight Ebola.”

Last month he donated almost US$25 million to the

fight against the virus. And he’s been forced to point this out again, with critics accusing him of adding the button purely as a marketing move.

“Facebook is giving everyone the ability to donate, but how much is Facebook donating? ... this seems just marketing to me one more time,” said Pepe Pepe Pepe.

Zuckerberg responded in person, writing: “I personally donated US$25 million and Facebook is spending millions more on providing Internet connectivity in the affected regions.”

Facebook says it chose charities that work directly on the ground and are able to accept money globally.

Ebola aid donations have so far lagged behind the money given by the public after natural disasters like last year’s Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, or the

Ebola fact box

Protecting ourselves against Ebola

Wash hands frequently or use an alcoholbased hand sanitiser.

Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any person, particularly someone who is sick.

Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.

earthquake in Haiti four years ago.

It’s well known Facebook is trialling a payment system and it’s likely the Ebola button will help the firm measure how its servers handle secure money transfers.

In October, hacked screenshots appeared to show a hidden payment option inside the site’s Messenger app, which is used by around 200 million people.

All the evidence adds up that Facebook wants to move into the money transactions market.

In June, the company brought in PayPal President and payments expert David Marcus as boss of its messaging service.

It’s thought he’s looking beyond adverts for how chat apps can begin to make real profit. (BBC)

Do not touch the body of someone who has died from Ebola.

Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bruising or bleeding.

Limit your contact with other people until and when you go to the doctor. Do not travel anywhere else besides a healthcare facility.

Source: CDC

Parenting For Success Fostering children in need

– ChildLinK’s vision is a Guyanese society where every child enjoys the right to a childhood in a safe and caring family, free from poverty, violence and exploitation

Successful intervention

Case Study – Names have been changed to protect persons’ privacy.

Where once two young lives who were no strangers to devastation straddled the thin line of hope and despair, destiny would have caused persons to connect and soon blossom into a family. These two young persons were placed in a foster home which has seen their potential climb to new heights as their entire beings became set on a course to progress and elevation .Their growth is a testament to the effects of placing a child in the institution that has been and always will be ‘the bedrock of society’— the family.

Lydia and her brother Daniel made their way into the care of the Child Care and Protection Agency one afternoon after they were abandoned by their mother. Seemingly frustrated by the challenges associated with being a parent, she resorted to desperate means to relieve herself of her parental responsibilities. The unaccompanied minors were abandoned at a police station, which ultimately led to a referral to the Child Care and Protection Agency which has remained the guardian of the children.

As part of the Agency’s immediate response, the children were placed into Residential Care (a Children’s Home) to ensure their safety while investigations commenced into the identity and whereabouts of their mother and kin. Efforts to locate suitable family members to care for the sibling pair proved futile and as a result, the children remained in Residential Care for a period of 18 months prior to their placement into foster care. Although Residential Care provided for the children’s basic physiological needs, foster care placement was considered a more viable care option for the sixand four-year-olds, affording the individualised care and attention crucial for their development.

Foster care

Foster care is the act of rearing a child who is not your biological or adopted child. It involves providing for their daily needs and care; and creating a family environment that offers supervision, guidance, nurturing and discipline, in the same way as you would for your biological child.

Most Guyanese will know of, or have been in a home, where a relative’s or neighbour’s child was cared for. This

practice of choosing a ‘surrogate’ family to perform the functions of biological parents has been happening in Guyana in an informal way for many years prior to the establishment of the Foster Care Programme by the Child Care and Protection Agency within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security in 2009.

As the Agency’s mission is to preserve sibling bonds, the pursuit of the noble foster parent who would be willing to accept the challenge and responsibility of caring for the two young children commenced.

Ms Isabella King, an applicant who learnt of the Foster Care Programme through the media, expressed an interest in becoming a foster parent and providing a loving and comfortable home to a child in need. Ms King is a mother of three adult children and owns her own business. She expressed a longing to give back to society and help those less fortunate, especially innocent and vulnerable children. Daunted at first by the prospect of fostering not one but two children, Ms King’s concerns subsided upon learning of the children’s background and what led them into the care of the Child Care and Protection Agency.

Interwined

In an interview, Ms King related that hearing the children’s story and seeing their bond and interactions, the way they depended on each other made an incredible impact on her and inevitably her decision to foster. Providing a home environment for the children on Christmas Eve was a moment laced with an array of emotions as these lives intertwined to set off on their journeys together.

In their daily struggles and challenges created by merging lives together, there were difficulties, triumphs, uncertainties and feelings of destiny as they wondered how they ever survived before meeting each other. Ms King said “the (foster children) have their own names for us, they are the centre of attention at our family gatherings and have provided the perfect complement to our lives”. The children expressed similar sentiments. From observation of the family’s dynamics, it is evident that the children’s playful innocence has transformed their foster home into a place filled with unpredictable moments of laughter, fun and overwhelming joy.

1200 parents in Prospect receive education grant

Over 1200 parents residing in Prospect, Providence and Covent Garden on the East Bank Demerara gathered at the Covent Garden Secondary School to uplift the Government of Guyana “Because We Care” $10,000 education grant.

This $2 billion investment, which will see a total of 188,406 families of students in the public school system benefiting, was well received by parents who expressed gratitude to Government for implementing such an initiative and expressed hope that it continues.

Velda Sandy, a mother of three, said that she feels very happy to receive the education grant which will assist her in ensuring that her children receive quality education.

Ranjanie Sarjoon, who

has a son attending the Covent Garden Primary School, said that this is a great initiative which will aid in the development of her child.

She hopes too that the Government will continue this programme and urged parents to use the grant for the benefit for their child/ children.

Today, the education sector is best place it has ever been, and investment in this sector is at its highest.

Minister Manickchand, during an address to the parents at the school’s auditorium, highlighted that the distribution process has been going smoothly with no hiccups.

She said that even though Government understands that people’s lives are better now, parents still need the support to ensure their children receive the

quality of education needed for their development.

The ‘Because We Care’ initiative complements school uniform, school feeding and the hot meal programmes which are intended to increase enrollment and attendance rates, as well as reduce the drop-out rate.

“The only way your children’s lives can be better is through education, there is no short cuts even if you win the lotto. If you don’t have education you wouldn’t know how to invest that money… we are begging you to send your children to school, we have the infrastructure in place,” Minister Manickchand urged the parents.

She also took the opportunity to highlight that Guyana copped four of eight Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) regional awards. She explained that the parents of those students understood the importance of education and urged the parents to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure their children excel academically.

This event marks the end of the distribution process for Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and 10, East Bank and East Coast Demerara, and on November 8, Georgetown will be completed.

Regions Seven and Eight will be done shortly.

Guyana, South America Undiscovered takes centre stage

Guyana was once again presented in all its glory to a high-profile audience gathered at the Guyana High Commission in London.

During the recent meeting, presentations on the new Guyana Tourism Brand and Investment Opportunities in Tourism, those present were informed of the essence behind the new destination branding and told of the myriad of opportunities that exist for the addition of new tourism enterprises and expansion of existing ones.

The information was presented by Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh, to the gathering that included Guyanese businessmen/women, members of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Commonwealth, tour operators, travel agents, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), travel writers, and media, among other prominent business people.

Additionally, copies of the GuyExpo Magazines as well as copies of the Guyanese Magazine produced by the Government Information Agency (GINA) were distributed; the newly-branded

promotional and marketing materials for Guyana, South America Undiscovered were also launched in London.

The GTA in collaboration with the Guyana High Commission (GHC) will also be participating at the Commonwealth Fair on Saturday, November 8 at the Kensington Town Hall, London.

While there, the Guyanese delegation will use the opportunity to promote the new destination brand, showcase the tourism product including the food, music, craft, rich cul-

Baptist Church General Assembly opens here

By Svetlana MarShall

President Donald Ramotar underscored the importance of the church and religious organisations in promoting harmony across the region as he addressed the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship General Assembly on Thursday.

The 2014 Caribbean Baptist Fellowship General Assembly opened at the National Cultural Centre in the presence of President Donald Ramotar and Opposition Leader David Granger.

Addressing the gathering, President Ramotar expressed pleasure in the fact that churches continue to promote unity across the region, noting that the Baptist Fellowship General Assembly is a perfect example.

“It is good to see that the Baptist Church has recognised the importance of promoting oneness in our region.”

In addition to fostering unity, the President said the church continues to play a leading role in grooming Guyana and the Caribbean region by extension.

“I am also happy to recognise the role the church is playing in the development of our country and the fact in many cases, has taken the side of the oppressed and the side of the poor in fighting for the betterment in the society.”

The Caribbean Baptist Fellowship General Assembly is being held under the theme “In Step with the Spirit – Free at Last”.

The Caribbean Baptists, who are affiliated with

the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship (CBF), are gathered at the Princess International Hotel for the General Assembly which will conclude on November 9.

The General Assembly will also feature special presentations on “Using Technology to Advance the Christian Mission” and “Crime and Violence in the Caribbean – The Response of the Church” during the plenary sessions.

The CBF is a voluntary fellowship of Baptist groups in the Caribbean region called into being for the purpose of working to fulfill the mission of Christ. It is also a regional entity of the Baptist World Alliance, which is expected to reflect and promote global Baptist concerns in the Caribbean.

The organisation was formally constituted at a meeting held at the Conference Centre of the Florida Baptist Convention, Lake Yale, Florida, USA, on April 13, 1970.

Bermuda Baptist Mission, Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and

Educational Convention, Jamaica Baptist Union, Puerto Rican Baptist Association, St Kitts Baptist Work, Guadeloupe Baptist Mission, the Guyana Baptist Mission, Haitian Baptist Convention, Cayman Islands Baptist Mission, St Thomas (USVI) Baptist Association, St John’s (USVI) Baptist Association, the Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad Baptist Mission are the 13 religious bodies that participated in the assembly.

Over the CBF’s 44 years of existence, some of the names of the founding members have changed; others have become non-functional while new members have come on board. Among the new members are the Mission Evangelical Baptist of South Haiti, Haitian Connection Baptist Churches Integral of Haiti, St Vincent and the Grenadines Baptist Convention, Barbados Baptist Convention, Barbados Baptist Alliance, Baptist Union of Turks and Caicos Islands and Grenada Baptist Convention, among others.

ture, and diversity of the destination; Guyana Home Coming 2015 will also be promoted.

This is an annual event which the GHC has always supported and participated in; the fair is organised by the Commonwealth Countries Leagues to raise funds for the Commonwealth Countries League Education Fund.

A large number of Guyanese is expected at the fair as well as thousands of others from the Commonwealth, visitors to the UK and EU citizens.

saturDaY, november 8, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

Aim for the stars, unleash your potential

– Nandlall tells Hope

Secondary graduating students

The Hope Secondary School on Thursday under its motto “Determination and hard work brings success”, held its 2014 graduation ceremony.

Delivering the feature address, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall congratulated the students on their achievements.

Commendations were also extended by Nandlall to the parents for making the necessary sacrifices to educate their children.

He charged that their sacrifices are now being celebrated and that the parents should continue to give the necessary support and guidance, as the children venture further in their studies.

The Attorney General also laid praises at the feet

of the teachers who he said are often underappreciated and not given the rec-

ognition they so rightly deserve.

Minister Nandlall said

that he was impressed with the quality of results emanating from the school, with two of its student placing in the top one per cent of the country.

He also praised the substantial improvements being made in important subject areas such as Mathematics and English. He noted too, that the school was doing very well, even though it was not even in existence five years ago.

“Five years ago, the site

Eyew tness Rejecting...

...APNU’s marriage offer

Back in the day (when the PNC was aiding and abetting the imperialist coup of the PPP Government) Burnham was incensed at the demands of D’Aguiar’s UF to enter into a coalition. “Do we have “Kuh-kuh-beh”??” he screamed. He’d also complained that D’Aguiar, though he could buy “black people”, like used “sweet drinks” bottles. So we wonder what’s Granger’s reaction, now that he and PNC/APNU’s coalition offer has been rejected by Ramjattan.

After all, Granger’s been wooing the AFC for three years now and his knees must be getting quite bruised after making so many proposals and offering so many gifts. Look how he supported the AFC-induced riots in Linden – after he’d already forced concessions from the PPP/C. How many times hadn’t he supported the AFC in Parliament?? Should we count the ways?? That needs a column by itself!

where this school is located was a pasture. It has now been converted into a centre of learning capable of producing students with the potential and caliber of being leaders of our country for tomorrow.”

The reason, according to the Attorney General, for the school achieving so much even though it was not in existence five years ago, is because of the dedication of Government to specifically target the education sector.

The reason for targeting the education sector, Minister said was because, “our young people are our greatest asset, and the best way to nurture and prepare that asset is by education. Education is the safest vehicle to transport a people out of the vicious cycle of poverty”.

Nandlall highlighted that Government redesigned how resources to schools were distributed throughout the geographical landscape of the country by ensuring that it was more equitable.

Prior to now, he said that urban schools were given the greater bulk of the resources and naturally they performed better. However, in this new dispensation, the resources were spread out more evenly among urban and rural schools so that each child, wherever they were located, had access to the same resources.

The Attorney General called on those graduating to “aim for the stars” in whatever field of discipline they decide to pursue. He advised the students gathered that they have completed only the foundation and must dedicate their energies in the further pursuit of their careers.

So what’s really going down?? In these matters, it’s always better to go to the record, lest one is accused of “making up” things. Well, back in August, as the AFC launched their campaign in Region Nine – they were that sure APNU would back them with their No-Confidence Motion even BEFORE the recess – the coalition question with APNU was posed strongly at a meeting to Chairman Nigel Hughes.

His answer was that voting in Guyana is still along “racial” lines and in 2006 when Trotman was the AFC candidate, African Guyanese voted for the party – pulling them away from the PNC/APNU. In 2011, on the other hand, with Ramjattan at the helm, Indo-Guyanese moved over to the AFC while African Guyanese returned “home”. Hughes rejected any coalition with APNU – and with his later endorsement of Nagamootoo as the AFC’s Presidential Candidate, we can easily see why!

Indians would again vote AFC (they hope), Africans would vote PNC/APNU (they know)... and with any luck, APNU’d form the Government on its own by securing a plurality! We can also understand why Hughes committed political hara kiri by standing aside for Nagamootoo as the AFC’s candidate. It was the “African” leader’s turn.

The other, not necessarily contradictory take – since it leads to the same result – was expressed by Ramjattan. He recently insisted that the AFC would be “dead meat” if it had a pre-election coalition with PNC/APNU. His “financial backers” and Berbice supporters would jump ship –presumably back to the PPP/C. Why?? Does the PNC/APNU have “kuh-kuh-beh”

Ramjattan danced around the dirty premise of his refusal to merge publicly with PNC/APNU. As his Chairman Hughes said – it’s all about race. If Granger had less class, he’d probably say, “Haul yuh ass, you racist Ramjattan!!”

...genetics

Former AG Charles Ramson earned the ire of some sensitive soul in the GTUC because they claim he compared some hulking brutes in the Burnhamite Police Force to “monkeys”. They issued a press release on the “insult” though they admitted they hadn’t seen Ramson’s testimony in front of the Rodney CoI. Even their Counsel, who was there grilling Ramson on the issue, didn’t mention “monkey” on his blog. But what the heck...the GTUC has to stir the race pot.

The sad thing, though, is that everyone sees being compared with “monkeys” as the ultimate insult. What’s so bad about monkeys?? We share some 97 per cent of our genes with them. We can’t get much closer than that in who we are, can we?? 100,000 years ago, a visitor from Mars would’ve been hard pressed to distinguish between humans and monkeys. It’s only our transmission of cultural information that’s made us different.

And incidentally, didn’t Rodney say Burnham was the biggest monkey of them all?? Was the great Pan Africanist racist??

...being distracted

Mook Lall’s smirking because he’s distracted a lot of people from the duty-free scam charge he’s going to face in court on Nov 24. But old people say, “Day does run till night catch up wid am”.

General Kelly wraps up visit to Guyana

US Marine Corps

General John Kelly, Commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) based in Miami, Florida has wrapped up his brief visit to Guyana.

SOUTHCOM is responsible for overseeing all US military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean including contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation.

The US Southern Command area of responsibility includes 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty. The region represents about one-sixth of the landmass of the world.

General Kelly met with President Ramotar and discussed the strong bilateral security relationship between the US and Guyana, particularly as it relates to dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking in the region.

Chief-of-Staff, BrigadierGeneral Mark Phillips hosted General Kelly at Camp Stephenson and viewed a

sharpshooting demonstration. General Kelly spoke to the troops and applauded their commitment to the Guyana Defence Force. This was followed by a visit to the GDF Coast

Guard Headquarters where they boarded Metal Shark boats donated by the United States under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, and they conducted a brief patrol of the Demerara

River.

General Kelly also visited Camp Ayanganna and the GDF Medical Corps Laboratory to receive briefings on current activities and initiatives.

At a reception in his honour at the United States Ambassador’s residence, General Kelly emphasised the strong partnership between the two nation’s militaries in addressing region-

al security challenges, and Guyana’s strong leadership in the promotion of regional security cooperation.

He met with members of the diplomatic corps and key stakeholders within the Government and the private sector.

Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt remarked that “General Kelly’s leadership of the United States Southern Command has coincided with the growth in security cooperation between the United States of America and Guyana under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.

“This regional effort, in which the United States Southern Command plays a critical role, is designed to assist Caribbean nations, including Guyana, to increase their capacity to address the many joint challenges that our nations confront, particularly in combatting narcotics, weapons smuggling, and human trafficking in this region”.

General Kelly was in Guyana from November 4-5.

Shot Sarah Johanna man paralysed

Wilton Edwards, 50, also called “Lazzo” of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara who was shot by Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara (EBD) businessman is now paralysed, his daughter said on Friday.

Felicia Gilgers said her father was shot at least six times by the businessman Dereck Jaisingh in the wee hours of Monday morning after he went in aid of a relative who was being assaulted by the businessman.

She explained that two

of the bullets were lodged in her father’s back and doctors are skeptical in removing them since it can cause further discomfort to the injured man.

Recalling the incident, the woman told the media that her father operates a business opposite to the businessman’s premises and on the night of the shooting, his nephew Sherwin Hamilton had informed him that the businessman was assaulting a relative.

Without hesitation, she explained her father went

to enquire but instead the businessman opened fire, hitting the two men in the process. Hamilton was reportedly shot about eight times.

Not satisfied, Jaisingh reported stood over Edwards and pointed the gun at him but fortunately, the gun did not have any bullet. She is also claiming it is not the first time that the businessman behaved in this manner.

Persons in the neighbourhood, she noted are all family and would not turn up to give evidence against Jaisingh. She also stated that the Police are close friends of the businessman.

However, Jaisingh was subsequently charged with two counts of attempted murder committed on the two men. He was placed on $400,000 bail for each charge by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

It was reported that Edwards were drinking at Dereck’s Food Court and Beer Garden when they attempted to gain entry into the shop via a window.

The businessman, who was inside, said he heard a sound and upon check-

ing, he saw the two men. He ran for his firearm and discharged several rounds.

As a result, Edwards was shot in the abdomen and back, while Sherwin Hamilton was shot in the abdomen and foot. They were both admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

One of the men was reportedly carrying an ice pic while the other was armed with a gun.

The two men had allegedly stripped the businessman’s truck of its battery a few days ago.

On the other hand, relatives of the two men claimed that the businessman was under the influence of alcohol and on the night of the shooting, he accused the two men of stealing a battery from his truck.

The daughter is seeking justice and is calling on the relevant authorities to look into the matter.

Remigrant scam fallout

Sattaur unaware of ACCA body in London investigating him

– accuses local body of collusion with Glenn Lall

Amid reports in the dailies of Kaieteur News about a purported investigation being launched by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG) against Guyana Revenue Authority Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur, it is now widely believed that the two are colluding.

It is being alleged that the ICAG has engaged the Kaieteur New in some sort of partnership in an attempt to attack the character and credibility of the Commissioner General.

When contacted on

Friday, Sattaur told Guyana Times that he too is of the belief that the two bodies are working together. He said contrary to reports appearing in the Kaieteur News, he is unaware of any investigation being launched against him by any international body.

“The ICAG is colluding with a certain individual in an obvious effort to tarnish my reputation and smudge my character. That is all this is, a smear campaign. The institute sent me a letter asking me to clarify some issues, and time and time again, I have clarified those same matters in the public domain. Yet still this body under the pretext of an ‘investigations’ deems it fit to send me a letter asking me to clarify the release of information. It is totally uncalled for, the information is right there,” lamented Sattaur.

In a letter signed by Ramesh Persaud, Chairman of the Investigations Committee of the ICAG, who is also the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, it was confirmed that a meeting was held on October

22 to deliberate on the complaint made by Glenn Lall regarding the alleged misconduct of the GRA Commissioner General.

But the Commissioner General said he previously held the organisation in much regard and honour, but all of that has gone down the drain when the body allowed itself to be controlled by Kaieteur News.

Further, he related that he is now contemplating revoking his membership from the committee given recent developments.

He also affirmed that contrary to reports in the

Kaieteur News, he is unaware of any investigation being launched by any international accountancy body.

On November 6, Kaieteur News had reported that “a global accountancy body has started the process to hear a complaint of unethical behaviour and abuse of office by Tax Chief Khurshid Sattaur”.

The report added: “The complaint, made last month by Kaieteur News, was filed after a number of damning emails disclosed a shocking plot to use audits of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to silence outspoken media houses and more specifically Kaieteur News. In those emails, the Commissioner General allegedly breached secrecy regulations and leaked confidential tax information pertaining to Kaieteur News and other media houses, including Stabroek News.”

The report went on to identify the said accounting body as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which is reported to be based in London.

Peter had better watch he back

Lyin is a terrible ting, but lyin got money. And that is why poor people does find it hard to get rich.

Dem dont learn to lie fast enuff. De Prezzi could mek this country get sheer rich people if he only tell every body to start lyin bout every ting under de sun.

Well, talkin bout under de sun, a big lie man who done mek big money from a lotta big lies set up a big protest and only one man turn up. That was a big flop, but de big lie man turn it around and seh it was a oneman protest. Yuh hear lie? That is lie.

And that is one example of how that big lie man turn filthy more rich. Is because he filthy. And that mek he rich. De other day de lie man lie to de Pullice, lie in he own paper, lie to he staff, lie to de nation, and lie to he lawyer.

And talkin bout lawyers, de fact that it ain’t got no poor lawyer should mek every body know that lyin got money. Plenty money. When yuh could tell a good lie as a lawyer, rest assured that yuh gon be rich. Super rich.

De same reason it ain’t got no deh bad lawyer is de same reason that it ain’t got no deh bad politician. Especially dem politicians who mek it to Parliament. Yuh only have to tink bout Uncle Rafeel and yuh would understand why.

That is why he is both a lawyer and politician. Yuh know for sure he ain’t deh bad, he just plain bad! And that is because he does lie both ways, and this ain’t even got any ting to do wid Lil Johnny.

Is just that any ting Uncle Rafeel do he does do it two times. That is why he gag Lil Johnny and now he wanna gag Guyana Times. He got to be a gag man. And de way it look, it got more gaggin to come.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Peter had better watch he back.

14 litter cases before the courts

Atotal of 14 littering cases were brought before the courts last week, two of which were successfully prosecuted, while the remainder is pending trial.

For one of the cases, the offender paid a fine of $160,000 ($100,000 for littering, $30,000 for failure to comply with a clean-up order and $30,000 for failure to comply with litter warden). The other offender paid a fine of $130,000 ($100,000 for littering and $30,000 for attempting to bribe a litter warden).

Litter Wardens will now be patrolling the streets of Georgetown and the Regions in Guyana to enforce the provisions of the Litter Prevention Regulations (2013).

Under the Litter Regulations, it is an offence to litter in a public place, particularly to deposit litter in a public place, to deposit litter from a moving vehicle onto a public place and to

cause or permit persons to commit the above offences.

Anyone found guilty of any of these offences shall be liable to a fine of $50,000 or three months’ imprisonment. In the case of a business entity, a fine of $100,000 will have to be paid.

These Litter Wardens are part of a campaign to reduce the amount of garbage and littering, especially during the upcoming Christmas Season. Georgetown will have 16 wardens and the others will be split up throughout the various regions in Guyana.

Workshop organised

A workshop was organised on Thursday by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to appoint the Litter Prevention Wardens. These newly appointed Litter Wardens were giv-

An awful pile of garbage in Georgetown

en an overview of the various provisions of the litter prevention regulations, and guidance on standard operating procedures in terms of identifying offences, and collecting and giving evidence in court against an offender.

The Litter Wardens were officers of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana

Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Harbour Masters as well as Public Health Officers.

These categories of officers are deemed Litter Wardens under Section 21(6) of the regulations. Honorary Litter Wardens were also appointed under Section 21(1),

and included officers of the Protected Areas Commission and the City Constabulary of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

A representative of the National Parks Commission described the disgraceful state of the Zoological Park and the Botanical Gardens. He said in the afternoons

and on weekends, persons would disregard the bins and throw their garbage wherever they please. He also mentioned that persons get extremely aggressive when they are told to do the right thing by the zoo securities.

Additionally, observers noted that while Guyanese are always complaining about the unpleasant garbage situation we live in, many are not doing their part in keeping the nation clean.

Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud is committed to having staff of the regulatory agencies of the natural resources and environmental sectors, along with other critical agencies such as the Guyana Police Force and City Constabulary play a much more proactive and prominent role in providing support to the EPA and the Ministry in enforcing the Litter Prevention Regulations.

Granger throws down gauntlet to President – demands

Local Government Elections or

else!

The David Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Friday threw down its last challenge to President Donald Ramotar, as it demanded the holding of the long overdue Local Government Elections while stating that it will no longer accept what it deems a “denial of democracy”.

“APNU will not accept continued non-compliance with the Constitution, especially with regard to the compulsory conduct of Local Government Elections,” the coalition said in a press statement issued on Friday in response to the President’s announcement on Tuesday.

APNU also alleged that President Ramotar’s delay in the holding of Local Government Elections has damaged democracy which has resulted in a dip in public confidence in his administration.

These sentiments were expressed by APNU even though President Ramotar promised to hold the elections by the second quarter of 2015 after consulting with the Guyana Elections Commission about the least amount of time that is needed to prepare under the new local government system for the polls.

APNU interpreted the commitment given by the President as a last ditch effort to block any move by the coalition to give the Alliance For Change’s No-Confidence Motion critical support. “Local Government Elections, like General and Regional Elections, are a constitutional

entitlement, not a benefaction of the Government,” the APNU said in the release.

The party argued that the further postponement of elections to an unannounced date sometime in the second quarter of 2015 makes a mockery of the Constitution, as it insisted, “It is a denial of democracy to delay elections”.

The tone of the party’s statement suggested that other mechanisms would be explored to press for Local Government Elections if the President refuses to accept the challenge to name an exact date.

Over the last few days, talks between Opposition Leader David Granger and President Ramotar broke down after no agreement could be reached on a date for Local Government Elections as well as a series of other matters.

When contacted on Friday, a senior Official at the Office of

the President told this newspaper that President Donald Ramotar is standing by the announcements made and remains committed to holding the elections in the second half of the New Year.

The official reported that the President made the announcement on the basis of official correspondence from the Guyana Elections Commission to his office, which indicated that six months was necessary to prepare for the elections.

The official further explained that it is not the President who has to name the date for the elections technically, but his Local Government and Regional Development Minister.

“In fact, the President is prepared to name the date as soon as he garners more advise on the preparations of the Guyana Elections Commission under the new rules,” the official said. “In the meantime, he will not respond to threats nor will be pressured into acting in haste. The President is truly committed to upholding local democracy and very soon more announcements would be made in this respect,” the official explained. Additionally, it was President Ramotar’s administration that paved the way for the elections to be held by assenting to several pieces of critical legislation to enable the holding of Local Government Elections under a new and revised as well as reformed electoral system which will breed new life into the local democratic organs.

AFC, APNU finalise plan on No-Confidence Motion

The Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have finalised their plan in moving ahead with the No-Confidence Motion against the Donald Ramotar Administration.

The plan was finalised when the parties met at the Leader of the Opposition Office, Hadfield Street, Georgetown on Friday.

APNU Member of Parliament, Dr Rupert Roopnarine said the parties which have been meeting since Wednesday, have achieved their collective objective.

He explained that the Opposition decided at what point of the parliamentary agenda it will intervene, allowing for the No-Confidence Motion to be debated and pass.

“We will capitalise on the first possible opening,” he posited, noting that a motion to suspend the Standing Order would be moved before the NoConfidence Motion comes to the floor.

Asked if the Opposition will allow for other items on the Order Paper to be moved, debated and if possibly passed, Dr Roopnarine responded in

the negative.

“We will elevate the NoConfidence Motion,” he added. The AFC and APNU have also assigned the specified tasks to key Opposition parliamentarians.

Additionally, during the high-level meeting, the parties discussed at length, the implications of the President’s threat to prorogue or dissolve Parliament.

Meanwhile, APNU

General Secretary Joseph Harmon at a press briefing on Friday said the Opposition will

Trotman’s pedophile allegations

Welshman’s file still with DPP

ommunications

COfficer attached at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Liz Rahaman on Friday confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was still in the process of reviewing the file Johnny Welshman vs Raphael Trotman et al.

Rahaman explained that the file was being given due attention, but did not state when the DPP will complete her review.

On Tuesday, acting Chief Justice Ian Chang is set to make a decision on the injunction filed against 22-year-old Welshman by the Speaker of the National Assembly on November 11.

This is according to

Welshman’s Attorney Peter Hugh, who told Guyana Times that the case was adjourned for the acting Chief Justice to make a decision after the last hearing on November 4.

Welshman, who accused Trotman of sodomising him as a 12-year-old child, has already disclosed that he was seeking international assistance to get justice, even as investigations are continuing here.

The young man on Tuesday demanded that the Opposition parties, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) fire Trotman from his post as Speaker of the National Assembly.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Welshman said he was frustrated by the manner in which his most recent court appearance played out.

“I, Johnny Anthony Welshman, am letting Guyana know that I am ready to go to jail 10 years, 20 years because what Uncle Raphael, Colin and my father did to me is wrong. They are saying I must come to a mutual understanding and go back

to Trinidad and Tobago. I was born in this country; I am not going back to no Trinidad and Tobago,” said a very emotional Welshman.

He said he was giving the political Opposition three days during which time they must take steps to have Trotman replaced as the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Welshman had promised to release several damning recording of Members of Parliament. However, that three day ultimatum has since passed with no action on the part of the Opposition. It is now up to Welshman to make public the recordings he claims he has.

not allow President Donald Ramotar to determine what the Opposition does in the National Assembly.

“We have said we have noconfidence in this Government and we will not put anything in the way of getting to that point where we will make that firm expression in the National Assembly.”

On Thursday, AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo expressed the hope of having the motion pass without any interruption from Government.

The AFC is anticipating that as Nagamootoo rises to move the No-Confidence Motion on Monday, the Government would have a supplementary or extraordinary paper waiting to announce the prorogation of Parliament in order to disrupt the sitting.

“I can see them coming at a certain time during the proceedings on Monday when they know the next item on the table is the No-Confidence Motion, they will try to avoid and trigger the prorogation,” Nagamootoo said. According to him, this is a possible tackle that could be employed by the Donald Ramotar Administration.

saturDaY, november 8, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

Rodney CoI hears PNC had no right to kill Dr Rodney – Dr Gopaul

Labour Minister and former head of the National Association of Agriculture Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), Dr Nanda Gopaul has said that despite the political conditions existing during the 1980 period, the People’s National Congress Government had no right to kill Dr Walter Rodney.

Under a heated crossexamination by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Attorney Basil Williams at the Supreme Court Library building on Friday, the two parliamentarians went head to head, in a frenzied vocal combat.

Williams during several submissions to the witness said the security forces back then had a moral responsibility to protect the Head of State and anything which threatened the safety of the people.

He was referring in essence to claims that the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) had ramped up a civil rebellion against the Government back in 1979.

That rebellion, Williams indicated was meant at overthrowing the Government of the day. He also directed Dr Gopaul’s attention to the threatening remarks allegedly made by Dr Rodney when he indicated that Prime Minister Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham must leave office by December 1980.

Dr Gopaul indicated that the statement could not be any significant threat, but a positive outlook embraced by the WPA, which was seeking a radical change from the dictatorial leadership of the PNC regime to some form of democratic rule.

He said Opposition Leader, Dr Cheddi Jagan was also at the time in discussion with the PNC, of-

fering his party’s “critical support” in that regard.

Dr Gopaul said too that with all the public rallies he attended held by Dr Rodney and the WPA, he had never heard any pronouncement which indicated that the party wanted to overthrow the Government.

All he knew that from the political climate at the time and the conditions which existed back then, the Burnham regime caused the death of Dr Rodney.

But Williams sought extensively to discredit the evidence given by the former labour union leader, saying that he was making up stories along the way.

Dr Gopaul was led through the cross-examination on the allegation that the PNC had also displayed “Party Paramountcy”.

This was quite evident, he related by the flying of the party’s flag at the Supreme Court building.

He said, the imposition was so much that Magistrates and Judges had no say in any action taken by the Government.

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader Brigadier (retired) David Granger had already said that members of the security forces back in 1979

and 1980s had a responsibility to defend the state against any form of threat.

He contended, during an interview with this Publication that the allegations brought against the then PNC Government at the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) might be unfair.

A onetime Army Commander, Granger reasoned that the “civil rebellion” created by the political Opposition was a threat. That rebellion, he recalled, was staged to overthrow the PNC Government.

He recalled that during the “rebellion”, Dr Rodney had become very outspoken, publicly ridiculing

Marissa Nadir admitted to the Bar

Prime Minister Burnham. He pointed to his speech where he implied that the Guyanese leader was “King Kong”, and “should be placed in a zoo and people would come from all over the world to pay to see King Kong”.

Reports from witnesses at the commission of Inquiry (CoI) claim that the security forces, including the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, had been infiltrated by the Government of the day and was being used to work against the political Opposition.

Granger had said the situation at the time was getting out of hand and needed to be quelled instantly.

The testimony against the security forces suggest that their leaders at the time, retired Major General Norman McLean as Chiefof-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and the late Laurie Lewis of the Guyana Police Force, had worked their way into the WPA, through members of the lower echelon.

Ex-Police Corporal and now convicted felon Robert Gates, who also has several other aliases, had told the Commission in his testimony earlier this year that he was used by the Guyana Police Force to spy on the WPA.

The Rodney CoI, since its commencement on April 28, has been flooded with testimonies, lashing the PNC and the role it allegedly played in the death of Dr Walter Rodney.

The sixth round of the investigation came to an end on Friday. The next session is expected to be opened in January 2015. The only known witness to the June 13, 1980 explosion Donald Rodney is scheduled to headline that session.

Marissa Nadir, the daughter of former Labour Minister and current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Manzoor Nadir, was admitted to the Bar of Guyana on Friday. Her petition was presented by Attorney-at-Law Stephen Fraser before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang. Fraser, in presenting the petition, spoke of Nadir’s academic and scholastic achievements and the high level of competence she displayed during her short stint at his office. He then advised her to stay focused and to continue to shine as she has been doing over the years.

In accepted the petition, Justice Chang said he was convinced by her high level of qualifications that she will certainly be another successful lawyer and urged her to not give up when faced with trials but to remember the people she is

fighting for.

Flanked by top Government officials, including First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, PPP/C Member of Parliament Bibi Shaddick and her father, the young lawyer said her journey had not been easy, but she was grateful that her dream had finally come true. Noting that all of her hard work had finally paid off, she said she will continue to work hard to make sure that the standard of a lawyer is kept.

Nadir said although she did not have a particular area of law she wanted to focus on, she had a strong connection with company law having been employed with the NEW GPC INC for five years.

Nadir shared with Guyana Times her journey to becoming a lawyer: her primary career began in St Lucia and concluded at the Stella Maris Primary School where she wrote

the Common Entrance Examination and was awarded a place at Queen’s College. She then wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in 1999 and was once again successful. She ventured on to the University of Guyana where she did her bachelor’s degree in International Relations, before entering the law programme from which she graduated in 2005.

The young woman, who is also a long-time dancer and has been actively involved in politics both in Guyana and around the Caribbean, said she was currently setting up a private practice.

In her closing remarks, she said her success would not have been possible without the guidance and help of Dr Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop, Attorney General Nandlall, her family and many others who have endured hardships with her on her journey.

Justice Ramson: I said “hunky” not “monkey”

–

following criticism of alleged comment at Rodney CoI

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister

Charles Ramson took up a matter he deemed defamatory with the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, expressing umbrage of a report carried on Tuesday in the Stabroek News.

The report quoted him making an alleged degrading comment about the Guyana Police Force during the 1970- 1980 era.

Ramson’s agitation came in wake of the Stabroek News’ publication and a statement released by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), which condemned the alleged remarks made by the Appeal Court Judge.

The resentment expressed saw the intervention of Chairman of the Commission, Sir Richard Cheltenham, who ordered a replay of Ramson’s evidence.

GTUC Human Rights Attorney Selwyn Pieters

The testimony indicated that instead of “Monkey” as reported by the Stabroek News, Ramson had rather said “Hunkey”.

The adjective was used by Ramson in his evidence on Monday, while he was describing members of the Police force during that period.

He had earlier testified that the Force was known to

recruit men with a certain height and stature. That, he posited was used as a form of intimidation.

“In those days, we used to call it the riot squad. I do not know it is the same as the TSU now, but the Riot Squad had a particular set of clothes that you know when they are coming and they were big hunky, five foot, six foot and six foot, four people, the mere presence use to frighten them.” Chairman Cheltenham said he hoped the newspaper would take full responsibility for the error. Ramson expressed disappointment with the publication, noting that they were meant to defame his character.

Human rights lawyer Selwyn Peiters, who is also representing the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) has apologised for the misinformation.

DPP giving “due attention” to

Lall’s

alleged threat to Sattaur

The Office of the Director on Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Friday confirmed that it is still reviewing the file on the matter of abusive language and threats allegedly made to Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur by Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall.

Communications Officer for the DPP Liz Rahaman told Guyana Times on Friday that the file was being “given due legal attention”.

The file was initially sent to the DPP Chambers on October 14 and returned to Crime Chief Leslie James on October 15. Based on reports received, the DPP would have returned the file to the Police requesting clarifications on several aspects of the allegations.

The Police, on the other hand, would have included the information request-

ed by the DPP and resent the file to her Chambers on October 22.

With the necessary clarifications noted, the DPP will now decide if there is enough evidence to institute charges against the publisher of the newspaper.

Guyana Times understands that according to

Williams, Dr Gopaul clash over collective bargaining

Attorney representing the interest of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Basil Williams on Friday accused Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul and the current ruling party of failing to hold collective bargaining with the working class.

Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching agreements to regulate working conditions.

The interests of the employees are commonly presented by representatives of a trade union to which the employees belong.

Dr Gopaul was at the time under cross-examination on the final day of the sixth session of the Walter Rodney CoI at the Supreme Court Library building, Georgetown.

His evidence was grounded in the mistreatment meted out to the working class, particularly sugar workers during the reign of the PNC Government between 1978 and 1980.

Dr Gopaul had testified, and under cross-examination, reiterated that the PNC Government was not involved in collective bargaining with the people.

It was at that point that Williams lashed out at the Labour Minister, contending that the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has not had any collective bargaining with public service workers since 2001.

Rather, what Government does, he argued, is to impose a five per cent increase to salaries at the end of each year.

But Dr Gopaul, in denial, maintained that his Ministry has had several agreements signed by unions year after year.

He admitted; however, that Government has not been able to reach a reasonable consensus with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), because of some unending issues.

He said Government has been prudent and has been taking into account the recommendations made by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which states that if Government and the people could not come to an agreement, Government has the prerogative to implement wage increases in times of economic crisis.

Just last month, the GPSU had threatened to take serious action against the Government if it failed to meet its end of the bargain in addressing the issues affecting members of the public sector.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde had said that if Government could not act responsibly and meet with the union to address issues surrounding wages and salaries, it may take industrial action.

He said that while promises have been made by Government to hold discussions, nothing has been forthcoming.

the Customs Act, Lall could spend up to three years in prison for attempting to impede Sattaur from the discharge of his mandate and issuing threats to him via telephone in August.

Sattaur had made a complaint to the Brickdam Police Station when the incident occurred. Up to last week, Sattaur told this newspaper that he was fearful for his life given recent revelations about Lall’s involvement in the vigilante-style killing of an East Bank Demerara resident years ago.

“This individual has a certain propensity to be very vicious. Recent reports I have seen … have made me most fearful for my life right now. I would only hope that the DPP would act very swiftly in having whatever advice should be given to the Police on the report I

made … I don’t know what more I can do, I have filed a complaint,” he had said.

Sattaur explained to Guyana Times that Lall had shown that he has the “propensity to deliver” on the threats he had made.

Sattaur said: “I am not a type of person to make a report against a taxpayer unless I have a belief that those threats are likely to be executed, or I have a fear of those threats. I receive threats all the time.

“In this case, I chose to go to the Police because of the likelihood that this individual would come through on his threats.… He said he is going to give me fire; I don’t know if it’s literal fire or metaphorical fire.

The metaphorical has been proven already and I pray to God every day that he does not mean the literal fire.”

Excavator operator jailed for 9 months for burglarising storeroom

A48-year-old excavator operator was on Friday afternoon sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to a break and enter and larceny charge.

Collin Boston, of Lot 106 Middle Road, Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine- Beharry.

It was alleged that between October 30 and October 31 at Omai Backdam, Essequibo River, he broke and entered the storeroom of Omkar Persaud and stole the following items:

one chainsaw valued $170,000, a washing machine valued $20,000, four rods of electrical wire valued $300,000, a outboard engine with tank valued $200,000, a radiator valued $120,000, a quantity of medical supplies valued $10,000, five gallons of engine oil valued $19,500, 24 bearings valued $26,000 and a toolkit valued $62,000 – a total value of $927,500.

The facts were not read in court; however, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant noted that the facts were as charged. Inspector Grant then revealed that some of the items were recovered.

Caricom prepared to walk out of Peru climate change talks

The 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) is making it clear that it is prepared to walk out of the world climate change talks in Peru next month if rich countries are not prepared to agree on a deal that will reduce the impacts of climate change on the Region.

The 20th Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is expected to work towards a legally binding agreement to be signed in Paris in 2015.

Countries are expected to agree on ways to reduce human-induced climate change and finance mitigation and adaptation for the worst affected countries, such as those in the Caribbean.

There is much anticipation for the 2014 and 2015 talks, as a similar exercise in 2009 ended in failure.

Jamaica-born climate negotiator, Clifford Mahlung, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that while the Lima talks “is the bridge to the agreement” in 2015, Caricom and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have already drawn a red line.

Suriname: Husband chops wife to death in bitter divorce battle

Police say a 42-year-old woman was “chopped all over her body” and killed while her husband attempted suicide following a bitter divorce battle.

his motorbike to Santo Dorp with the intention of killing his estranged wife, whom he had seen walking down the street with her niece.

The Police said he cornered his wife and started hacking into her with the machete.

“He chopped her all over her body; everywhere he could,” Police said.

“We have as a redline with respect to our position, that if the commitments with respect to reducing greenhouse gases are not of a significant and meaningful amount, then we will not accept the agreement,” he told CMC on the sidelines of Jamaica’s national consultation ahead of global climate change talks.

Police said that Sardha Goeptar-Soekhoe died while undergoing treatment at the hospital and that her 58-year-old husband, B Goeptar, remains warded after drinking a poisonous substance after committing the crime.

“We will not accept a bad agreement,” he said, explaining that a bad agreement is one that does not speak adequately to reducing greenhouse gas emissions or the provision of financing for poorer countries. (Excerpt from CMC)

CWC mega deal worries TATT

Concerns have been expressed that Cable & Wireless Communication’s proposed US$3 billion acquisition of regional cable provider Columbus International could lead to a decline in telecommunications competition across the Region and anti-competitive behaviour in Trinidad.

The atmosphere was created after CWC announced in London Thursday that its board had agreed on terms to purchase 100 per cent of Columbus International Inc,

the fibre-based telecommunications and technology services provider for US$1.85 billion. CWC will also assume Columbus’ US$1.17 billion in net debt.

CWC said it would finance the US$1.85 billion acquisition cost through the payment of US$707.5 million in cash and the issue of 1.55 billion new ordinary CWC shares to Columbus’ three major shareholders — John Risely, John Malone and Brendan Paddick — worth US$1.14 billion. If the trans-

action is approved, the three main Columbus shareholders will own about 36 per cent of CWC and collectively will be the telecommunications provider’s largest shareholders. The proposed transaction will bring together CWC, which has 5.7 million mobile, fixed line and Internet customers in Panama, the Caribbean and Seychelles, with the 700,000 customers of Columbus in the Caribbean, Central America and the Andean region. In TT, the acquisition will mean CWC, which owns 49 per cent of majority state-owned TSTT, acquiring FLOW’s cable TV, Internet and telephone services. The CWC announcement said the completion of the transaction was conditional on it receiving regulatory approval in Barbados, Jamaica and TT.

Speaking Thursday, Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) CEO Cris Seecharan, said the local regulator was required to approve any change of ownership in licensed entities. (Excerpt from TT Guardian)

Mexico cancels China contract for high-speed train line

Mexico has abruptly cancelled a US$3.75 billion contract awarded on Monday for a Chinese-led consortium to build a high-speed passenger rail link.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said he wanted to avoid “any doubts about the legitimacy and transparency” of the bidding process.

Mexico has forged closer links with China, while Nieto is going to Beijing on a state visit next week. The tender for the 130-mile rail link is being re-opened.

Mexico’s

Communications and Transport Ministry said the new auction would start from mid-November and be open for about six months.

The contract was scrapped after lawmakers accused the Government of favouring China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC).

Rival bids by Germany’s Siemens, Canada’s Bombardier and France’s Alsthom were considered.

According to reports, the three had asked for more time to prepare their submissions, but the requests were denied. Japan’s Mitsubishi

also expressed an interest.

But only CRCC and its Mexican partners had submitted a bid proposal by the October 15 deadline for the link between Mexico City and Queretaro. It is possible that CRCC could be eligible for compensation because its contract has been withdrawn, Government officials admitted.

Construction of the rail line, part of the Government’s plan to bolster the economy, was due to start in December, with services running from 2017.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

They said that the woman had left the house in Jarikaba in District Wanica on Wednesday and was staying with one of her children when the attack occurred.

According to the Police, the 58-year-old man rode

Goeptar then rode off, but was found a short while later in Latour, lying on the ground next to his motorbike.

He had swallowed poison and Police said they took him to the hospital where he remains listed in stable condition. He is expected to be charged with murder. (CMC)

Mexico says detainees confess to mass killing in missing student probe

Members of a gang arrested in a probe into the disappearance of a group of 43 trainee teachers feared massacred have admitted to killing a large group of people, Mexico’s Attorney General said on Friday.

Attorney General Jesus Murillo said three new detainees admitted setting fire to the group, some of whom were still alive, in a rubbish dump near Iguala in the state of Guerrero, where the students went missing on September 26 after clashing with Police. Dozens of Police have also been arrested.

Mexico’s Government is still waiting for DNA confirmation from Argentine

to confirm the identity of those killed.

Earlier this week, Mexican Police captured a

the students. (Reuters)

Antiguan Lower House approves Bill to curb late-night loitering by children

The Bill seeking to hold parents and guardians accountable for children found loitering on the streets between 22:00h and 06:00h was passed in the House of Representatives Thursday after two hours of debate.

Despite Opposition calls for the Bill to be put back until further consultations with a number of agencies, the “ayes” had it and the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2014 was adopted with “sundry amendments”.

The amendments to the Bill, moved by Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, were not divulged to the media up to press time.

During the debate, the Attorney General told his colleagues no responsible parent would allow a child

to be loitering on the streets after 22:00h.

He said, “This Bill addresses the important social issue of young children loitering on the streets at night. Parents or guardians are first cautioned and may be held accountable and fined, if the court deems appropriate, $500 where the child has no proper reason for being on the streets at 10 pm and beyond.

He added, “The authorities responsible for taking care of children will be duly notified where the child is in need of care and protection.”

The Minister said there’s evidence to show that many young people “tend to get involved in certain matters because of peer pressure, which they would not have ordinarily done.”

For that reason, he said,

Government sees it fit to enact legislation to ensure the young population is protected.

He said the police would be required to investigate incidents where they find persons under 16 years loitering in the streets, and if not satisfied with the reason(s) given, that child would be held and the parent(s)/ guardian(s) called in for questioning.

Minister Benjamin said prior to the preparation of the Bill, discussions were held with the probation department and its head, Alethea Byers, who spoke about the apparent disregard parents have for their duties.

He said other stakeholders, such as Citizen Welfare, also participated in the discussions. (Excerpt from Antigua

Around the world

US to deploy 1500 additional troops to Iraq

US President Barack Obama has authorised the deployment of up to 1500 additional troops to Iraq in order to help train and advise Government and

Kurdish forces fighting the armed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, the White House has said.

“As a part of our strategy for strengthening

At least 10 Nigerians killed in Bauchi state blast

At least 10 people have been killed in a bomb blast as they queued to withdraw money from a cash machine in northern Nigeria, residents have told the BBC.

Security operatives say a female suicide bomber was responsible for the attack in Azare, Bauchi state. No group has said it carried out the attack, but suspicion is likely to fall on Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The group has killed thousands since 2009 in its campaign to set up an Islamic state in north-eastern Nigeria. Boko Haram has in the past claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the north. The attack took place outside the branch of the First Bank in Azare, not far from a bus station where a bomb killed several people last month. One eyewitness

told the BBC he heard an explosion and then turned to see clouds of smoke.

“After the smoke had dissipated, we saw a number of bodies – I saw with my own eyes at least nine bodies without heads or limbs,” he said.

Police spokesperson Haruna Muhammad told the BBC that the investigation is still ongoing, but Police have arrested four people suspected of involvement in the incident.

It is not clear how many died in the blast. Police say seven people lost their lives and 10 were injured. But hospital sources say 14 people died and more than 20 were injured. The BBC’s Ishaq Khalid in Bauchi state says many people from the neighbouring states of Borno and Yobe go to Azare to withdraw money. (Excerpt from BBC News)

partners on the ground,

President Obama today authorised the deployment of up to 1500 additional US military personnel in a non-combat role to train, advise, and assist Iraqi Security Forces, including Kurdish forces,” the statement said on Friday.

The Obama Administration will ask Congress for US$5.6 billion for the operations in Iraq and Syria, which includes $1.6bn for the new “Iraq Train and Equip Fund,” the White House Office of Management and Budget said.

The deployment will roughly double the number of US troops in the country.

Some of the advisers will be deployed to western Anbar province, where the

Iraqi army has been forced to retreat from advancing ISIL fighters, a defence official who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP news agency.

Some of the additional troops will begin to arrive in Iraq in the next several weeks, the official said.

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended the move to Obama based on a request from the Iraqi Government and the assessment of US Central Command, which is overseeing the air war against ISIL, the Pentagon said.

The deployment coincides “with the development of a coalition campaign plan to defend key areas and go on the offensive” against ISIL fighters. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Indian PM Narendra Modi to expand Cabinet

ndian Prime Minister

INarendra Modi is set to expand his Cabinet over the weekend, five months after he led his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a landslide win, media say.

Forty-five Members of Parliament (MP), including seven women, from Modi’s party and their allies were sworn in as Ministers in May.

More than six Ministers are holding more than one portfolio, including Arun Jaitely, who is in charge of both the key Ministries of Finance and Defence.

Media reports say Modi

may include as many as 10 new Ministers. The reports say that the Chief Minister of the BJP-ruled state of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, could be chosen as the new Defence Minister.

The speculation was triggered after Parrikar cancelled a meeting with his Ministers in Goa and travelled to Delhi to meet Modi on Wednesday.

However, after meeting the Prime Minister, Parrikar said he had discussed “issues of Goa”, and that he continues as the chief minister. (BBC News)

Ukraine accuses Russia of sending in tanks, escalating crisis

Ukraine’s military accused Russia on Friday of sending a column of 32 tanks and truckloads of troops into the country’s east to support proRussian separatists fighting Government forces.

Thursday’s cross-border incursion, if confirmed, is a significant escalation of a conflict that has killed more than 4000 people since the separatists rose up in mid-April and would call into question Russia’s commitment to a two-month-old ceasefire deal.

The truce has looked particularly fragile this week, with each side accusing the other of violations after separatist elections last Sunday condemned as illegitimate by the West.

“Supplies of military

China, Japan smooth over East China Sea island row

China and Japan have agreed to try to reduce tensions over a disputed chain of islands in the East China Sea.

Beijing officials said a crisis management mechanism had been set up to prevent the situation from worsening. The strategically important islands, known as Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan, are controlled by Japan.

Meanwhile Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the ground was being laid for a bilateral meeting between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.

“Both Japan and China are coming to the view that it would benefit not just the two countries but regional stability if a summit is held,” he said, quoted by Reuters news agency.

The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday.

If it happens, it will be the first proper exchange between the two leaders since they came to power, in 2012

and 2013 respectively.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that senior Chinese and Japanese officials had reached a four-point agreement, which included a recognition of their “different positions” over the islands. (Excerpt from BBC News)

equipment and enemy fighters from the Russian Federation are continuing,” military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told a briefing in Kiev, describing a column that included 16 big artillery

guns and 30 trucks carrying troops and ammunition as well as 32 tanks.

He said five Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the past 24 hours although Kiev has denied rebel charges of

launching a new military offensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin summoned security chiefs on Thursday to discuss the deteriorating situation, but announced no new moves afterwards.

Although Russia blames the crisis on Kiev and the West, NATO says it has overwhelming evidence that Russia has aided the rebels militarily in the conflict and it has left Moscow’s relations with the West at their lowest ebb since the Cold War.

A NATO military officer said on Friday the alliance had seen an increase in Russian troops and equipment along the border and was looking into reports of Russian tanks crossing into eastern Ukraine. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ebola outbreak: MSF confirms case decline in Liberia

Liberia has seen a significant reduction in the number of new Ebola cases, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has confirmed.

It said one of its treatment centres in Liberia has no cases at all at the moment – but warned Ebola was still on the rise in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

MSF, which employs thou-

sands of staff across West Africa, is seen as the best-informed authority on Ebola.

Nearly 5000 people out of about 14,000 cases have been killed by the virus.

Chris Stokes, the head of MSF’s Ebola response, told the BBC that the decrease in the number of cases in Liberia presented an opportunity for health workers to step up their work.

But he said the disease could “flare up” again, pointing to Guinea, where the number of cases is rising again despite two significant lulls. For the disease to be contained, Stokes added, it needed to be tackled in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone at once. Of the West African countries hit by the 11-month outbreak, Liberia has seen the most deaths. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Libyan court rules elected Parliament illegal

Libya’s Supreme Court has announced the dissolution of the United Nations-backed elected Parliament, which has taken refuge in the eastern city of Tobruk, while another Parliament vying for legitimacy is stationed in the capital Tripoli.

The decision, announced on Thursday, came in light of a request by a Tripoli

Parliament member to rule on the constitutionality of the June 25 vote that led to the creation of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni’s Government in the North African country.

“The Constitutional Circuit in the Supreme Court has ruled on Thursday to accept the appeal concerning the illegality” of developments leading to the

elections, the news agency LANA reported, Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdul-Wahed, reporting from Tripoli, said the court ruling renders al-Thinni’s Government “unconstitutional”.

He also reported that supporters of the Tripolibased legislature gathered in Tripoli to celebrate the court decision. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

saturDaY, november 8, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

battles for historic Miss International title

OInternational Pageant that is being held in Tokyo parad ed on stage before the me dia displaying their national costumes and from feedback received, Guyana’s Ruqayyah Boyer is doing quite well.

tume, “Goddess of the Lost City of El Dorado”, was done by Guyanese de signer Michelle Cole. The beau ty queen looked stunning in the rich golden cos tume that de picted Guyana’s splendour.

a forum where each del egate had to choose one question from a set of five and give their re sponse in more than one minute. She chose question one which asked, “What is one social problem in your country and have you done anything to solve

– final set for November 11 in Tokyo

around the world, domestic violence has claimed the lives of thousands. This is a form of abuse and bullying which has found its way into our homes, schools, workplaces, and the victims are not the only ones affected.”

She continued: “Taking action against this social ill is where I found my purpose. I’ve held awareness marches; toured over 40 schools and last year founded the Hope Phoenix Foundation to act as a medium via which vic tims can get help.

I sincerely pledge to continue educating our generation on upholding basic human prin ciples. Self-love, respect, and kindness to one another should come first and by working together through goodwill, we can end this and achieve a higher purpose, ending not just domestic violence but any kind of violence existing in the world.”

their deportment, to their attitude, the way they speak, and all aspects of their personality.

With the competition set for Tuesday, November 11, Boyer told Guyana Times Entertainment that she was quite content with her experience thus far. “That for me feels like a victory in itself and whatever will be must be. I’ve made many genuine friendships and for me that has more value than a crown, but I will still put my best foot forward.”

Another plus?

While in most major international beauty contests, candidates spend more time rehearsing, filming and competing in preliminary events, in the Miss International Pageant, the delegates get to experience the rich culture of Japan.

Her response went viral, dubbed one of the best by social

Boyer in her national costume, “Goddess of the Lost City of El Dorado”

With every competition and appearance counts, as throughout the pageant, each delegate is considered in a competitive manner— from the way they dress,

The experience thus far in Tokyo has been amazing, Boyer said, highlighting that her most enjoyable outing would definitely be her “Ikebana Class” where she learnt about the connection that lies within everything in life – that is the interdependency between plants and animals.

Guyana Times Entertainment wishes Boyer the best of luck on Pageant Night.

“EXPRESSIONS 2” for Theatre Guild Sunday

“EXPRESSIONS 2”, as the name suggests, is the second in the new series of productions staged by GEMS Theatre Productions at the playhouse in Kingston. The event is set for Sunday, November 9. It brings together seasoned performers and poetry readers, along with singers and dancers, providing an evening for patrons

to enjoy the arts, including excerpts from Shakespeare.

There will also be storytelling by Paul Keens-Douglas, experimental theatre from the students of the National School of Theatre Arts, readings of Martin Carter poems, and performances by Elly Niland, David Dabydeen, Ian McDonald, Janet Naidu, CEJ Ramcharitar-Lalla, Mahadai Das, Ruel Johnson, Cassia

Alphonso, Lloyd Marshall, Kai Davis, William Blake, Chris Tse and Rudy Williams.

Local actors Sean Thompson, Mariatha Causway and Randolph Critchlow will be performing their own poems alongside poets Petamber Persaud, Cassia Alphonso and Lloyd Marshall. Seasoned readers Vanda Radzik, Kit Nascimento and

Scheherazade Khan will be taking the stage along with Damian Fernandes doing one of Robert Fernandes’ poems from his first book of poetry.

And Kimberly Samuels will be using her ‘opera-style’ voice to perform Franco Zeferilli’s Doctor Zhivago theme song “A Time For Us”.

Other performers on stage will be Ron Robinson, Derek

Gomes, Rajan Tiwari, Mark Luke-Edwards, Nuriyyih Gerrard, Nicola Moonsammy, Sonia Yarde, and Paul Budnah. Students of the Burrowes School of Art will enhance the foyer with various pieces that will be on sale. Tickets cost $1000 and are available at Oasis Café and The Theatre Guild. The action gets underway at 18:00h.

Analog to digital switchover plan approved by Cabinet

Cabinet has approved the final draft of the roadmap that outlines the process of transition from analog to digital television broadcast, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon said.

Understanding the necessity of the switchover, the Government had approached the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) seeking sponsorship of a consultant to draft the said roadmap of Guyana’s transition.

The Consultant, Dr Andres Navarro subsequently arrived in the country and held engagements with stakeholders including officials from the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU).

The recommendations of the committee that was established to review the work of the Consultant were also endorsed by the Cabinet.

“Armed now with a roadmap and with the body that had been established to oversee the implementation of the roadmap, the Government is now assuming the responsibility of the transition of analog TV broadcast to digital,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

Guyana’s transition process is set to commence in 2016 and will be completed

in 2020. The timeframe is a matter of great importance, not only because of Guyana’s need to join the worldwide technological revolution, but also because of similar transition processes that will be undertaken by neighbouring countries (Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela).

The Government will now be moving to hold stakeholder engagements to discuss the main issues of the Cabinet-approved roadmap such as the timeframe, technology, market (procuring of digital television) and the regulatory framework governing digital television broadcast.

Digital terrestrial television offers many advantages such as better quality signal and affords tremendous benefits in terms of spectrum usage.

When television broadcasters switch from analog platforms to digital only platforms, part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been used for broadcasting will be freed up because digital television needs fewer spectrums than analog television.

This worldwide transition releases valuable spectrum which can be used to provide mobile broadband services among others.

The release spectrum is referred to as the digital dividend. The location and size of digital dividend vary among countries due to the factors including geographical position and penetration of satellite/cable services.

The switchover for individual countries varies; in some countries it is being implemented in stages as in India and the United Kingdom, where each region has a separate date to switch off.

In others, the whole country switches on one date, such as the Netherlands, which switched off all analog services in December 2006.

saturday, november 8, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

Young Haitian lives saved in the Cayman Islands

– Health City, Digicel, Have A Heart and Haiti Cardiac Alliance partner to offer free heart surgeries

Four young Haitians returned to their home country last week having recently undergone life-saving heart surgery at Health City Cayman Islands.

The youngsters, aged between six and 16, travelled to Cayman last month to receive these vital surgeries, which were performed free of charge by Health City cardiac surgeons, led by Dr Binoy Chattuparambil, a Senior Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, and Dr Sripadh Upadhya, a Senior Paediatric Cardiologist.

The surgeries were the first performed under Health City’s partnership with Have a Heart, a philanthropic organisation formed in 2000 by Harry Chandi and Manu Chatlani.

The charity has supported more than 6000 paediatric heart surgeries in India to date. Chandi is now broadening this work and is in the process of forming Have a Heart Cayman with Gene Thompson, Project Director at Health City Cayman Islands.

Staff working at Haiti Cardiac Alliance, a USbased non-profit organisation that has facilitated cardiac surgery for 58 Haitian children and young adults since early 2012, identified

Ex-Policeman jailed for trafficking young girl

Former Police Lance Corporal Huford

David was convicted of human trafficking and sentenced to four years in prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The 36-year-old man of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, was found guilty following a trial. The court heard that between January

1 and January 31, he trafficked a 14-year-old female juvenile to the interior for sexual exploitation. It was revealed that he offered the Virtual Complainant and her sister a job in a bar, and told the teen she must collect two ounces of raw gold or $20,000 from every man she sleeps with and hand over the payments to a shopkeeper named ‘Rankin’ to keep.

The court heard that the

teenager did as she was told, but did not receive any payment as promised. Contact was then made with the Guyana Women Miners’ Association and the matter was reported.

David was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat and Peter Hugh. During the mitigation process, Rahamat informed the court that her client had had an immaculate record while being

a member of the Guyana Police Force.

She added that he was a father of four minor children and was the sole breadwinner for his family.

Following the sentencing, Hugh orally informed the court of his intention to appeal the matter. As such, he requested that his client be granted bail during the appeal. However, his request was denied by the Chief Magistrate.

Taxi owner to serve 48 months for trafficking ganja

A59-year- old businessman, of Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, was sentenced to 48 months in prison after he was found guilty of trafficking in narcotics.

On his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan on July 1, 2014, it was alleged that on June 30, at his residence, Lloyd Allen had

in his possession 470 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The court had heard that on the day in question around 15:00h, acting on information, ranks conducted a search of Allen’s home and unearthed the prohibited substance.

However, Allen’s Attorney, Euclin Gomes stated that on the day in question, several other per-

sons were at the home of his client watching football and the cannabis was found in an unoccupied room. He said it was possible that persons who had access to the room could have placed the illegal substance there. The Attorney’s application for bail was denied after Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah informed the court that Allen admit-

ted to owning the substance. Before handing down sentencing, Magistrate McLennan cited the nature and prevalence of the offence, Allen’s age and the need to prohibit others from considering and performing such offence as factors she considered.

The businessman was also fined $705,000.

the Haitian patients as in desperate need of such surgery.

Among the key stakeholders making the initiative possible was mobile telecommunications operator Digicel, which facilitated transportation for the young patients and their parents to and from the Cayman Islands.

Haiti Cardiac Alliance Executive Director Owen Robinson said there are more than 200 children on its surgical waiting list, a number that grows by the week.

He said the organisation was delighted to be contacted by staff at Health City Cayman Islands about a year ago to see how they could assist.

“Half have conditions that can’t be dealt with in Haiti because they are too complex. These young people may also need intensive care after surgery. We are so excited to be working with Health City because we knew they would have the facilities and abilities that we don’t have in Haiti right now.”

Robinson said the surgeries went incredibly well and the young people were up and about soon after surgery, eating, smiling and relieved they were through the ordeal. Some had even begun to learn a few words of English and were happy talking with Health City’s staff.

Incredible staff

“Staff at Health City were incredible, not only within the hospital, but they also went shopping for toys and snacks for the children,” Robinson said. “They went out of their way to make the patients feel at home.”

Medical and Facility Director at Health City, Dr Chandy Abraham said the Caribbean hospital was honoured to be of

service.

“When we met with Haiti Cardiac Alliance last year in Haiti, we realised just how great the need was for our services, especially among young people. Haiti Cardiac Alliance does a tremendous job in pushing hard to scale up surgical opportunities in Haiti and overseas, and we were privileged to assist them in reaching their goal of helping those in critical need of help.”

Raul Nicholson-Coe, Chief Operating Officer with Digicel Cayman, said the company was delighted to be supporting the initiative.

“Across all of our markets worldwide, we are firmly committed to giving back to our communities and to helping those most in need. In Haiti for instance, this has seen us building 150 schools and providing education to 50,000 children each day.”

“The children are a credit to themselves and we’re touched by their incredible bravery and positivity. We hope this is the beginning of a much wider initiative,” he added.

Robinson said Digicel’s contribution was significant to the initiative: “Without the use of the company’s plane, the youngsters would have needed to travel via the United States and would require transit visas - adding thousands of more dollars in airfares which was not a viable option,” he said.

Haiti Cardiac Alliance’s goal is to ensure that more than 100 children access surgery in 2015.

“Eventually, to keep up with the incidence, we need to reach a level where at least 500 children access surgery each year,” Robinson said.

“There are at least 50 children among those on our list who are at high risk of death within the next six to nine months if we cannot get them the care they need.”

Gene Thompson said Have a Heart Cayman looked forward to extending its charitable offering to many others in dire need.

“It’s a blessing to see how much better those children were when then left Cayman and the new lease on life they had,” he said.

“Demonstrating compassion and care for our neighbours is at the heart of Health City Cayman Islands’ mission,” said Dr Abraham.

“Along with our partners, we look forward to embarking on more projects such as this in the near future to touch many more lives in the Caribbean.”

We must safeguard the integrity of this noble House

Dear Editor,

There is a lot of sabre rattling going on in the AFC’s camp on the No-Confidence Motion filed by parliamentarian Moses Nagamootoo. It is their contention that this matter should be given priority over all others before the House.

In their estimation, very important and other serious matters that should take pre-eminence should be sidelined for this ludicrous No-Confidence Motion. In their view, Parliament is a place where their “monkey business” is paramount.

Well, I am not so sure of that motion being anywhere near to priority rating, if ever it should be debated at all. This country has constructive ways to utilise its time than to be engaged in a hollow no-confidence debate.

The point is, several motions of grave importance to

this nation’s development were left undone in the last sitting of the House and the AFC would want us to put these aside for some nonsensical No-Confidence Motion? Outrageous! So, I would like to apprise my learned friends in the AFC that this is not going to happen; our Parliament has important things to do. But far more important is the fact that at the next sitting of the House the matter of the Speaker’s removal should be tabled. A hot topic such as the alleged rape and buggery of a minor by the Speaker is of grave importance to Members of Parliament as well as our nation as a whole. I would not want to sit in Parliament where such an individual presides and I am calling on the Government’s Chief Whip to whip up the debate on this matter.

Trotman has to be removed from the Speaker’s chair before we can proceed with anything in this noble House.

I must remind my readers that a similar situation occurred here in St Lucia with the Speaker of the House and he resigned forthwith. Why is Trotman still there? Such an allegedly twisted and perverted character should not be holding office.

So, if there is to be a matter of importance, the burning issue of rape and buggery of a minor should be one.

The PPP/C for its own part would be grossly negligent in its duties in not safeguarding the integrity of our House of Parliament if the embattled Speaker is allowed to stay in office.

Sincerely, Neil Adams

New York Guyanese observe Teerat/Kartik

Dear Editor, Guyanese American Hindus joined others in observing the annual festival of teerat or kartik snaan by fasting and performing special prayers on November 6. The festival closes out the year for popular spiritual observances among Hindus. The festival is usually observed with a bath in a waterway (preferably the sea or ocean).

In India, Hindus flocked to the holy rivers. Since Indian indentured labourers came to the West Indies in 1838, kartik has been observed. In Trinidad, the observance is carried out at all sea fronts throughout the country and in the river. And in Guyana, devotees flock to the coast all over the country or rivers.

It was a warm rainy day in New York. But celebrants still found time to offer prayers at the coast. In Florida, many from New York thronged the ocean. Tens of thousands flocked to the beaches in Trinidad conducting puja. Those who could not make it to the waterway offered prayers at home mixing Ganga pani with regular water to purify their souls.

Teerat is celebrated on the last day in the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar. The month normally falls in November in the western calendar and the day usually coincides with the full moon.

It is called Kartik Snaan

or Kartik Nahan in India, Suriname and Trinidad or teerat in Guyana. It is the last Hindu festival in the calendar year. It is customary for people to go to the rivers or oceans to do pujas and take a bath (snaan). It is the general belief that your sins or bad karma are washed away or forgiven when you perform this ritual.

The phrase teerat comes from “Kartik” and it literally means “to have a bath in the river or the sea”. The holy river “Ganges” or the deity “Ganga Mai” is the main deity worshipped at the festival. It is believed that the Goddess of Water, Ganga Mai, came unto the earth on the day and so Hindus seek her blessings by performing special prayers devoted to her.

Kartik is a time to cleanse oneself and to ensure that something is given back to the goddess of the sea; Hindus make offerings back to nature. The Mother of the Sea is asked to protect her devotees and provide whatever they wished.

At various water outlets in New York and Florida, Indo-Caribbeans conducted puja and immersed themselves or their legs in the chilly water. They prayed and chanted special mantras (verses from the holy scriptures), sang bhajans (spiritual songs) and made offerings as part of Kartik celebrations.

An alternative to the education grant

Dear Editor, Now that we have the benefit of hindsight regarding the recent hand-out of $10,000 to parents of every public school student, we can consider how we perhaps could have done better and in this context, I wish to propose a system that is gaining popularity elsewhere, including North America to where our compatriots seem to be flocking in ever-increasing numbers. Enough has already been said/written about the good intentions of the cash-grant scheme, which unfortunately incurred much criticism because of the manner in which it was implemented and more particularly, the

indignities and personal suffering endured by the poor parents who had to lineup for unending hours in the blazing sun before they could have collected the cash.

There were also the innuendos about the money being used for purposes that are not of direct benefit to the students and in some cases being totally misused.

For all the reasons given above, I propose a more beneficiary-focused, less bureaucratic approach which guarantees that the students themselves will directly benefit in more ways than one.

My proposal is not ‘original’ in that it is widely used

in some developed countries: it simply involves our Government providing ‘breakfast’ at school for each registered and attending student.

As indicated above, this is done abroad; it is sometimes supplemented by businesses and voluntary, civicminded organisations.

It has the added advantage of improving regular student attendance, enhancing the health of the students and consequently their concentration and academic performance which, after all, is the raison d’etre for their attending school.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

Some nurses really cast a horrible image on this noble profession

Dear Editor, I cannot contain it, please allow me space to share some thoughts and express my concerns on a very recent encounter at the New Amsterdam Hospital. This incident was witnessed by me and at least 30 persons visiting the facility during the afternoon visitation period last November 4.

The cold water kept many New Yorkers from taking a full bath as they normally would do in Guyana. As in Guyana, offerings included prasad (fruits, mohanbhog, food), and clothing; havan service and burning of incense and other paraphernalia).

Other offerings include rice and perfume. In Trinidad, thousands gathered at Manzanilla and other beaches and rivers for a day of sports after puja.

As in Guyana, puja began with purification of the ground and the environment and offerings to the Goddess, and culminated with aartee. At the end of the puja, all of the offering were placed on a piece of cloth and released into the water.

The significance of the ritual is that the devotee is feeding the earth back everything that comes from the earth. Jhandis or flags were then planted throughout the beach creating a colourful spectacle as in Guyana.

In Trinidad, Hindu schools were closed for the occasion to allow children the opportunity to take part in the prayers. It is not a holiday in New York or Guyana where some children would take the day off for a day of fun at the beach.

Submitted by, Vishnu Bisram

On the day mentioned, I accompanied a relative to the New Amsterdam Hospital: his wife was due to deliver their fourth child. We sat on the wooden seat near the Labour Room hoping and praying that all will go well.

Sometime after 4pm, heartbroken relatives of another expectant mother reacted to the most terrible news ever, after waiting for hours they were finally informed that the foetus did not make it and had succumbed in the womb.

In the midst of their weeping in that earth-shattering moment, someone pointed out that the Public Relations Officer, Mr Michael Itwaru was in the vicinity. The people he was talking to at the time I overheard said to him that the ‘people baby died’.

Mr Itwaru stepped up to the two mature women and after introducing himself, they spoke for a few seconds and women seemed to respond well to what he had to say. Mr Itwaru then left and entered a room nearby where some nurses were and shortly returned with what appeared to be a paper and pencil in hand. By this time the women had come out into the main corridor of the hospital and Mr Itwaru was just about to engage them when something happened.

A nurse started to bark, not shout ‘ya’ll move from there, move from here, go, move’. She just tripped and went crazy and continued and that caught the attention of everyone. Mr Itwaru tried talking to the nurse, but I could not hear what he

said because she continued to bark even louder at him and the horrified women.

It was a shameful public, unethical display of rudeness, disrespect for the rights of patients and another human, insubordination to and humiliation of a senior officer of the institution. No feelings of empathy were shown to the grieving family. It was callousness to its best.

It did not stop there, this woman then marched hastily into the room Mr Itwaru had entered earlier and the barking continued to get even louder, everyone outside was hearing; she started to bellow the PRO’s name, Mr Itwaru then left off speaking to the confused women and entered the room and closed the door.

I did not hear his voice, but the woman continued her ranting and raving, ‘I don’t have to listen to you or anybody, I don’t have to listen to you!!!’ was her chanting inside. A few seconds after, the door flung open and she emerged, carrying on like a maniac. I did not see her again.

Mr Itwaru returned quietly and spoke to the women calmly, I did not hear what he said again, but they seemed pleased and he left and returned again and the women followed him to a quiet area in the hospital and that was it. I wish to make the following observations and comments.

I learnt that the nurse is a senior midwife, since she seemed to be more powerful than the hospital administration in public and I don’t want to imagine what she would do to helpless pregnant mothers who are in distress behind closed doors in that Labour Room.

I heard about the horrible tales mothers delivering babies in New Amsterdam Hospital would tell and had some doubts, but the display of that midwife has confirmed why mothers would use [forgive me please] words

like ‘dog’ and ‘pig’ to describe some midwives at the New Amsterdam Hospital. The fear and anxiety levels of everyone waiting for babies to come safely reached an all-time high especially after learning that this woman just showed up to work the night shift. New Amsterdam Hospital does not provide an environment of reassurance to those seeking help.

Is there anyone in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) or Guyana who cares, has the will, authority and the commitment to address the deterioration of the New Amsterdam Hospital regarding the conduct of staff?

It will be a shame if the mess that hit the fan last Tuesday is covered, that women should be fired and everyone like her. I don’t care how some may feel, we deserve better in this country and I am demanding it with the sacking of this nurse. She just can’t get off and I hope the union that represents these nurses takes note.

I close by saying that I am not narrow in perspective: I know that there are many caring, kind and compassionate health workers giving their all even as I pen this letter; I salute them, they are gems among the demons in this health system. Finally, I look forward to this newspaper doing some investigative work and following the developments in this matter I raised.

Everything went well with our case thanks to those who helped in that Labour Room, but it was not without the humiliation and embarrassment a mother is forced to endure; however, it’s always wonderful to leave alive. I’m just so sorry for that family and their ordeal and many others we do not hear about.

Thank you, Eyewitness to a horrible incident that needs immediate intervention

“Let’s use this to strengthen relations”− Dr Anthony

– Tradewind Tankers International Club Festival underway

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony has underscored the importance of the linkages that can be built through the hosting of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Tradewind Tankers International Club Festival.

The third edition of the tournament began on Friday afternoon at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, and it was Anthony who delivered the feature remarks prior to performing the ceremonial serve-off to signal the start of rivalry among male and female teams of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

“Through this we can transcend the language

barrier and foster camaraderie among the Guianas,” Dr Anthony remarked.

The minister said the

event also serves to strength relations among the countries. Dr Anthony also hinted at the setting up of a facility with rubberised surface in Berbice, similar to the surface at the National Gymnasium.

GVF President Captain John Flores welcomed the visiting delegations, noting that the aim of the threeday tournament is to test the level of skills among the three nations.

“I know we’re friendly neighbours, but I’m looking forward to some keen rivalry...and may the best team win,” Flores said.

Meanwhile, two games were played immediately after the opening. Up to press time, Guyana A male team had eked out a hardfought 27-25 first set win

over French Guiana.

Today, a total of seven games will be played, starting at 10:00 hours, while Sunday’s action will get underway at 11:00 hours with the semi-finals and finals of the two categories.

The first five games on today will be male encounters with Guyana B versus Suriname; Guyana A against Guyana B; French Guiana versus Suriname; Guyana A against Suriname; and Guyana B versus Suriname.

The female games will bring together Guyana and French Guiana, followed by French Guiana versus Suriname.

Admission to the venue is $100 and children under seven will be admitted free.

Banks DIH Golf Classic billed for Sunday

Banks DIH Limited and Citizens Bank will team up to host the Citizens Bank/GT Beer Golf Classic on Sunday at the Lusignan Golf Club, East Coast Demerara.

It is the second time the foursome tournament will be played this year and will feature some of the top local players and several overseas golfers who participated in the just concluded Guyana Open.

Teams of four players will compete against each other in the foursome and the team with the best combined net score will be declared the champions. The

individual player with the best net will be crowned the Citizens Bank Players Championship winner.

When the tournament was first held in February this year, George Bulkan shot an impressive net 63 to win the Citizens Bank Players Cup and piloted his team, the Underdogs, which also comprised Ronald Bulkan, Troy Codogan and Kassim Khan to victory.

Guyan Open Men’s champion Avinash Persaud had won the Best Gross prize. There will also be individual prizes for second and third best net scores. In addition, several other attractive priz-

es will be at stake.

Bank DIH Limited has already announced its team for Sunday with Clifford Reis- Chairman of both Banks DIH Limited and Citizens Bank- playing alongside Christine Sukhram, Gavin Todd and Mark Lashley.

Citizens Bank Managing Director Eton Chester is expected to perform the symbolic tee off of the players at 09:00 hours. Players have until today to register with the Lusignan Golf Club.

Officials of both companies will be on hand to witness the tournament and assist in the presentation

Southland International

Southland International Inc, through its recently acquired Carlsberg brand, has joined forces with the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) for next weekend’s Caribbean Motor-Racing Championship.

During a simple ceremony at the GMR&SC on Albert Street, officials of Southland International were on hand to present their company’s sponsorship to executives of the motor racing body.

Secretary of the GMR&SC, Carey Griffith, and Treasurer Hansraj Singh both expressed pleasure at welcoming the company onboard for the first time at the country’s premier motor-racing event, set for November 16.

Both officials were ad-

amant that the partnership with Southland International and Carlsberg beer will be a long-standing one, as they collaborate to push the sport to higher heights.

Chief Executive Officer of Southland International, Irzad Zamal, said the brand Carlsberg is not new to sport, but is making its first entry into sport on the local scene. He made specific reference to the beer’s association with the popular Barclay’s Premier League as a testimony to its global appeal.

The Caribbean MotorRacing Championship is slated for the South Dakota Circuit with top drivers and riders from Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean set to clash in what is expected to be a day of speed, thrills and spills.

Courts Pee Wee finalists to be known today

After weeks of heated rivalry, the annual Courts Pee Wee football tournament for schools in Georgetown has boiled down to four teams, who are still in with a chance of being crowned champions of the 2014 edition.

Like all the previous Saturdays, the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park, is yet again poised to be a venue buzzing with activity with the players’ every move being cheered on by eager classmates, teachers and parents. The coaches would not be left out, as they shout instructions from the sidelines.

Defending champions St Pius, who started the competition with two drawn encounters, have quietly slipped into the knockout round, but they would

boast that their chances are as good as the other three teams.

Indeed, what has transpired over the past weeks is documented in history and it’s now down to who handles the pressure better in a ‘do or die’ situation.

Both semi-finals will start simultaneously at 13:00 hours, with St Pius throwing down the gauntlet to a determined Tucville side and Stella Maris trading skills with South Ruimveldt.

The teams gained entry to the semis after hardfought victories at last Saturday’s quarter-final games.

St Pius and Stella Maris both won 4-3 on penalties after regulation and extra time produced 1-1 stalemates against F.E. Pollard and St Margaret’s

respectively, while South Ruimveldt gained a 1-0 result against West Ruimveldt and Tucville stitched together a similar scoreline against St Angela’s.

Six other games are carded for Saturday as the other schools battle for positions 5-16.

Action will kick off at 10:00 hours with Enterprise against Ketley, Smith’s Memorial against Marian Academy, East La Penitence against St Stephen’s, Green Acres against North Georgetown, F.E. Pollard against St Angela’s and St Margaret’s against West Ruimveldt.

The competition, which will conclude on November 15, is a collaborative effort of Courts (Guyana) Inc., the Petra Organisation and Banks DIH Limited.

Rahaman ready for Caribbean motor racing championships

Group four motor racer Ryan Rahaman is prepping for some stiff competition on November 16 when the Caribbean motor racing championships are held at the South Dakota Circuit.

Rahaman who drives a Forde Sierra but has not revved his engine since last November when he last competed at the Caribbean championships.

However, the former group three driver, is optimistic about his chances heading into the new territory where he will be at a disadvantage since his two wheel drive car will be competing against four wheel drive cars.

“Because of the rule changes we have to race in group four and we are already at a disadvantage but I am confident that the car will perform the way I

know it can from my races in group three but this will be a new test bench for the car,” Rahaman stated.

Further, Rahaman noted that a lot of preparation work has been ongoing to get the car ready for the mega event.

“Preparations are ongoing, we did a lot of work on the car over the last two months, and we haven’t raced since last November because we were trying to fix a lot of the things that needed fixing.

“A lot of development can still be done on the car since we moved up to group four we can take some weight off add more horse power, a lot of technical stuff to lay around with or even build a new car but this is a good car,” he noted.

Further, Rahaman is optimistic that he can finish in pole position, “You never know what can hap-

pen on race day, it’s unpredictable… a lot of conditions can change, accidents can happen, rain can play a big factor so we are hoping things go our way and we can finish in the top three pole positions,” the skilled drives stated.

However, Rahaman was not worried about the competition, “ It’s a new category for us and it’s a testing ground, the thing is people prepare a car for a whole season and to change the rules in the middle of the season was tough so it puts us at a disadvantage but you have to go out and race,” Rahaman quipped.

With the competition little over a week away the atmosphere for the mega racing event where a number of Caribbean countries will be arrive to be a part of is expected to provide much excitement and quality racing for the fans of motor racing.

WIPA boss sued for defamation

The yorkers just keep coming at West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) Chief Executive Officer, Wavell Hinds.

Just weeks after being asked to step down as WIPA’s head by West Indies captain, Dwayne Bravo, following the ill-fated tour of India, Hinds now finds himself at the centre of a defamation lawsuit which has been brought against him by former Barbados cricket manager, Hartley Reid.

In an 11-page claimant statement lodged in the Barbados Supreme Court on November 3, by Reid, obtained by Barbados TODAY, Hinds is listed as the first defendant and WIPA as the second defendant.

The lawsuit accuses Hinds of making false and malicious allegations against Reid during this year’s NAGICO Super-50 cricket competition.

It stems from the highly publicized incident, which took place in February and resulted in former Barbados captain Kirk Edwards being sent home from

Trinidad and Tobago for refusing to sign for his team uniforms. Hinds, who acted as Edwards’ representative in the matter and WIPA director Michael Hall, had tried unsuccessfully to resolve the issue with both Edwards and

Reid prior to the player’s expulsion.

Following the disciplinary action by the Barbados management team, Hinds issued a Press release which stated: “We were firmly of the view that what Kirk had advised us of as being the issue was a matter which could be easily resolved through sensible and well-intentioned dialogue, and certainly nothing, not even in the our wildest dreams, which might warrant the drastic and draconian abuse of power by the team’s manager. Kirk Edwards has been sent home –but Hartley Reid is still there –the sponsors must be overjoyed.”

Hinds said back in February that throughout the discussions Reid remained totally inflexible and at no time did he try to find a solution to what WIPA considered a non-issue. Hinds noted then that WIPA was extremely disappointed with Reid’s attitude.

“At the end of the day, an unnecessary blot has been placed

on the career of a dedicated and talented West Indian cricketer, all because those entrusted with leadership roles in our game appear not to have the requisite skills to execute the job,” Hinds said.

But in the lawsuit, Reid’s attorney Guyson Mayers contended that his client “remained within the confines of his man-

date given by his principal and at no time was his actions draconian or drastic”.

Furthermore, he said Hinds’ comments “meant and was intended to mean that the claimant was unfit for his role of manager of the Barbados cricket team because he had no negotiation skills and was unable to resolve minor issues”.

Mayers also noted that there was “nothing puzzling about the Barbados Cricket Association ordering the return of Edwards to Barbados for not complying with team rules. The assertion of the defendants meant and was intended to mean that Edwards was sent back to Barbados because of the sinister action of the claimant”.

The attorney-at-law argued there was no evidence to suggest that the action had placed a blot on Edwards’ career as he had since gone on to represent the West Indies senior cricket team, in spite of having no form to recommend him for selection. (Barbados Today)

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MMZ West, Unity clash in 30-over match on Sunday

– Shiv, Tage set to feature

Meten-Meer-Zorg West (MMZ West) will clash with Unity in a highly anticipated 30-over cricket match on Sunday at the Meten-Meer-Zorg centre ground, starting at noon. A large crowd is expected to throng the venue since the Unity lineup is touted to include veteran Test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his son, the talented and promising Tagenarine “Brandon” Chanderpaul.

Meten-Meer-Zorg team will be lead by from Essequibo Intercounty player Sheldon Alexander and will include Vishal Jaigobin, veteran player Vinod

Rajkumar and 17-yearold Levroy Miggings among others.

According to the organisers, “The match should be an interesting battle with the amount of quality players which will be participating for the host and their visitors. Meten-Meer-Zorg community centre and the village is very busy with this friendly 30-over cricket match creating quite a buzz.”

Christian enjoys stint in Canada

By RavendRa Madholall in ToRonTo

West Indian and Guyanese cricketer Derwin Christian expressed total enjoyment after completing another stint in Canada representing Brampton Masters Tranzac Cricket Club in the 2014 Toronto and District Cricket Association (T&DCA) Elite 50-over tournament.

Known extensively for his wicketkeeping ability, Christian performed excellent with the bat tallying 630 runs from 28 games hitting a highest score of 79 while he took 16 catches to round off a remarkable season.

The 31-year-old right-hander was also ecstatic, alluding to the fact that his team emerged as the champion side, dethroning Centurions Cricket Club in this year’s final which was played at the King City ground recently.

“Definitely, I enjoy my second stint in Canada and looking forward to make another impression next year because I have already been invited to represent them again and most of all to be in the winning team,” Christian related.

Christian, who plays for Demerara Cricket Club in Georgetown, Guyana over the years, featured in 51 first-class matches and 35 one-day games while he only wore the maroon colours in two T20 games.

He still believes he has enough cricket left in him to be back in those prestigious colours and therefore playing competitive cricket which can attract the selectors.

“It [is] still my desire to represent Guyana and West Indies; I know you have got to perform consistently and regarding my keeping, I was able to maintain my excellent gloves work,” the former Guyana under-19 athlete divulged.

On his inaugural visit 2008, Christian done well too for a West Indian club but missed out over the past five years owing to Guyana and West Indies’ commitment.

However, the experience playing in North America is fantastic on these two

occasions so far, according to Christian while he lauded the welcome too by his teammates.

“It was an honour to be part of the Brampton team this year as I was also privileged to play with cricketers of caliber like Cheema (Rizwan), Patel (Hiral), Gordon (Jeremy) and Searles (Javon) among others.

Apart from that, Christian candidly mentioned about the sturdiness he endured playing on the foreign soil but adapted to the challenging conditions very quickly with a number of indoor practice sessions.

“Playing cricket in Canada is not easy as playing in the Caribbean like Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago; the weather and the pitches here make it very challenging at times but my body acclimatized having lots of indoor training sessions assisted me a greatly and then I was able to score runs consistently towards the end of the tournament,”

In the final, Christian, who toured with the Caribbean team to England in 2011, produced a fine batting display by making 48 runs.

Castlin interacts with local talent during training exercises

By TreisTon Joseph

Top American talent and 100 metres hur-

dler Kristi Castlin mingled with some of Guyana’s top junior talent, guiding them through some paces to effectively warm-up before having some showcase runs at the Guyana Defence Force ground, Base Camp Ayanganna on Friday.

Castlin was in full instructor mode and helped the athletes through a dynamic type of warm-up witnessed by the Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Permanent Secretary of Sport Alfred King, Director of Sport Neil Kumar and President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson as well as a num-

ber of top national coaches around Georgetown.

The 26 year old hurdler hopes that the athletes and coaches picked up on a few things that they can incorporate into their regular training schemes to allow the athletes to better themselves.

“I really hope it impacts them, that they are able to apply some of the things and they can possibly improve,” Castlin stated

Further, Castlin sees a lot of potential in the athletes especially after the showcase runs were completed.

“I see great potential in the athletes here and hopefully things can progress for them so they can be successfully because that’s what I preached to them that success is hard work and I think

they kind of observed that in my message,” Castlin noted.

Meanwhile Kumar was in good spirits that such a talented athlete can grace Guyana’s shores, “It great to see such a talent coming to Guyana and mingling with this talented crop of athletes that we have here, it’s great for track and field and maybe we can have more of these programmes happening,” Kumar stated.

Meanwhile in the showcase races, Kevin Abbensetts won the boy’s 100 metres in 10.9s while Travis Belgrave recorded 11.20s for second. Quacey Simpson was third in 11.30s.

On the distaff side Deja Smartt won the girl’s 100 metres in 12.3s to defeat Jevina Sampson who clocked 12.4s

for second. Tirana Mitchell was third in 12.7s.

In the boy’s 400 metres Kristopher Archer was first in 51.5s to top Delmar Stoby who ran 52.1s for second. Anfernee Headecker was third in 54.3s.

Long distance prodigy Andrea Foster took advantage of a lackluster field to win the girl’s 400 metres in 1:00.07s while Claudrice McKoy was second in a time of 1:03.50s. Maria Uqhart was third in 1:04.40s.

However, Castlin hopes to be back in Guyana soon, “Well I have to go back and start my training get ready for my season but I have already had some talks with Minister Anthony and hopefully I’m back sooner rather than later,” she stated.

Second practice game end in tame draw

– Permaul bags match haul

Skipper Vishual Singh, who partner overnight batsman Kandasammy Surujnarine was the first to fall shortly after the resumption on the final morning.

He was clean-bowled with a sharp turner without scoring. Royston Crandon (8) follows soon after, before Surujnarine was bowled for 22 at 55-5.

The left-handed Chanderpaul Hemraj and Steven Jacobs then revived the innings with a 61-run sixth wicket partnership.

But as soon as Hemraj was shaping up well he lofted a short delivery to the mid-wicket boundary and was comfortably caught by Gudakesh Motie for 29. Jacobs was on 34 and Ricardo Adams was yet to score when lunch was taken at 123-6.

Upon resumption after lunch, the last four wickets crashed 28 runs with Bishoo removing Jacobs for 40. Adams was run out for nine before Kemo Paul (6) was removed by Bishoo and Amir Khan (10) was dismissed by Permaul.

The two practice games were part of the Guyana

Jaguars preparation for next week’s start of the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League Regional four-day Franchise tournament.

A fifteen-man squad for Guyana‘s first game against Leeward Islands will be release shortly, according to head of the Guyana Cricket

Board senior Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith. Guyana Jaguars will play their first three games at home, Leeward Islands

Franchise from November 14-17, Windward Islands Volcanoes from November 21-24 and Barbados Franchise from November 28. All three matches will

Roraima Bikers to stage 17th annual Troy Humphrey Memorial race today

Organised by Roraima Bikers Club, the 17th annual Troy Humphrey Memorial Cycle programme, will be staged today around the inner circuit of the National Park beginning at 09:30h.

The cycle meet was originally scheduled for October 25, but due to other engagements at the venue the meet was postponed.

The eight-race programme is being staged in memory of a former leading cyclist whose life was snuffed out following an accident in 1996, when his motorcycle collided with a motor vehicle on Carifesta Avenue.

All eight races are for the various categories of cyclists and will carry cash prizes, with the feature event being for categories one to three cyclists and will be over 30 laps, with the winner taking home $30,000, while the other top five finishers will receive $20,000, $10,000, $8000, $6000 and $5000 respectively.

Category Four and junior riders will contest a 15-lap race and the top four finishers will receive cash prizes.

Juvenile cyclists will compete for five laps and the top three finishers will also receive cash prizes as will the veterans Under-50 years and veterans Over-50 years. Both veteran races will be over five laps.

ICC has to

There will also be a fivelap race for mountain bikers and an eight-lap `win and out’ novelty event for all cyclists desirous of competing.

Marlon “Fishy” Williams won the feature event last year along with nine of the prime prizes to underline his dominance of the event. The programme is being held in honour of former National cyclist Troy Humphrey who died tragically in a vehicle accident and has been remembered by the Roraima Bikers Club which was founded by his father George Humphrey, an ardent cycle fan and administrator.

save Windies

– Caricom is all talk

Nine of 17 WICB directors contacted by Wired868— Azim Bassarath, Baldath Mahabir (Trinidad & Tobago), Billy Heaven, Don Wehby (Jamaica), Anand Sanasie, Anand Kalladeen (Guyana), Joel Garner (Barbados), Enoch Lewis (Leeward Islands) and Julian Charles (Windward Island)— all refused to comment on the matter.

However, one prominent director, who spoke anonymously, did not hide his scepticism about what the CARICOM leadership brings to the table.

“CARICOM speaks a lot (but) in the past never did much,” said the director, “only when WICB is in a crisis you suddenly see them appearing as mediators. Gonsalves from past evidence is just a big talker.

be played at the National Stadium.

The Regional four-day will be played on a home and away basis over 10 rounds from November 14, 2014 to March 23, 2015.

Each team will play 10 matches, five at home and five away.

“Prime example was two years ago when you had the Chris Gayle situation when President Julian Hunte and CEO Ernest Hilaire were at the helm and these same two Prime Ministers were involved. If they (Caricom) had been working more closely with WICB in the last decade maybe all these governance structure and depth issues would not still be around today.

“CARICOM will only dictate to WICB if this crisis is

solved under their guidance, it’s not a proper working relationship.”

The director further admitted that the WICB cannot meet the BCCI’s financial demand. However, he expects the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene in the matter since the WICB is not financially capable of meeting BCCI’s demand for US$42 million compensation.

The WICB suggested that West Indies cricket was too valuable to the sport for it to be allowed to fall into an abyss.

“Some ICC intervention will be needed to help solve the matter because no cricket nation really wants to see Windies collapse as an institution and team,” he said.

“The WICB is US$6 million in the red, so good sense will have to prevail in the global cricket community over this issue.”

The anonymous director said all three parties— the WICB, WIPA and the players—made a huge faux pas during the events that led to the aborted series in India. However, he confirmed his support for WICB president Dave Cameron as the Board’s “front man” and called on fellow directors to rally behind the Jamaican administrator who is “under tremendous pressure.” (Wired868)

Athletes to watch at School Championships

By TreisTon Joseph

Now that the venue has been picked and dates confirmed for the National School Championships, it is time to switch attention to the athletes that will be performing on the track.

A number of Guyana’s top youth and junior athletes will be and show and there is no doubt that the competition will be at a high level.

So who are some of the top junior’s to keep an eye on when the event rolls around on November 17?

Cassey George

Well for one Guyana’s three time Carifta 1500 metres gold medalist Cassey George has been out of the lime light for a while and it will be interesting to see how the 15 year old has been progressing.

Definitely one of Guyana’s most talented athletes on the track, George who participates for District 10 (Kwakwani/Linden) is leaps and bounds ahead of

most of her competitors and should easily run away with the under-16 1500 and 3000 metres. Further, George can go for the triple if she participates in the 800 metres event.

Jason Yaw

Another athlete out of the lime light for a while has been Carifta 400metres bronze medalist Jason Yaw.

At the tender age of 17 standing at 6’2”, Yaw can be considered a top five quarter miler in the country and while there are reports of the athlete not being consistent with training, Yaw will make the 200 and 400

metres in the under-18 category look like a cat walk when he dons his spikes again for District four (East Coast).

Tirana Mitchell

It has to be a bit disheartening that Mitchell has not been at her best for the entirety of this year.

The 18 year sprint goddess that has a 200 metres Carifta bronze medal to her name, is brimming with potential but has been derailed by one injury after the next.

However, presuming at 100% Mitchell will take

the track for the first time since March in an individual event but this time not as an athlete but as a teacher.

While the standard of the competition in the under-21 teachers will not pose any threat to Mitchell, it will bode well for the athlete just to be back on the track.

Further, the lesser type of competition will serve as a fitting re-introduction to the track in order to get her muscles back into the feel of explosive running.

How her body reacts will be the simple story for Mitchell return to the track.

Tevin Garraway and Kevin Abbensetts

Tevin Garraway and Kevin Abbensetts will provide a much needed rivalry at the event in the under-20 100 and 200 metres sprints.

Garraway hailing from District Three (West Dem) and Abbensetts from District 11 (North Georgetown) will have their sights set on Julian Edmonds 10.6s 100 metres record which will make the clash between the

two that much more interesting.

Both athletes hold victories over each other and the clash at the school championships will be the final chapter they write in the rivalry that will have a fitting at the grandest stages of them all.

Sampson, Hooper, Samuels

Staying on the sprints, there is also a clash that might prove to be interesting among Natricia Hooper of East Georgetown, Jevina Sampson of North Georgetown and Avon Samuels of east Coast.

All three females are expected to clash in both the 200 and 400 metres under-18 final which might just be the races of the entire event, especially the 400 metres.

The interesting part is that all three girls come from the Running Brave Athletics Club.

In addition, Hooper is an excellent triple jumper and should add an exciting dynamic to what is expected to be a bland field events section of the School Nationals.

Deja Smartt

Meanwhile Deja Smartt is back yet again and is expected to rule the roost in the female under-20 sprints.

Smartt has always been untapped talent due to the amount of injuries she has had over her young career dating back to her under-14 days.

However, the product of North Georgetown, confirmed with Guyana Times Sport at the Government Technical Institute (GTI)

sports that both her hamstrings are feeling than they’ve had in a long while. It will be interesting to see whether Smartt can escape Nationals without having to be carried off the field.

Tasnica Lovell

While Lovell representing South Georgetown will be featuring in the under-20 sprints against Smartt, Lovell will be the top candidate to win both triple and long jump at School Nationals.

However, Lovell has

been in this position before and has failed to pull out the goods.

Her quest to capture that elusive individual gold medal in the jumps will definitely be intriguing to observe. All in all while a number of other top athletes were left off this list such as the Griffith sisters and Claudrice McKoy, these athletes are expected to bring excitement and dram the 2014 edition of the National School Championships.

Skeldon High School crown Parbattie Jaggai memorial under-17 champions

Skeldon High School whipped Tagore Memorial Secondary by 27 runs to win the Parbattie Jaggai Memorial Secondary School under-17 T20 cricket competition played recently at the Crabwood cricket ground.

Batting first Skeldon High was bowled out for 105 runs in 19 overs with T Rajaram hitting a top score of 25. He received support from T Baichan with 24. Bowling for Tagore A Ajib took 3-8 and by far was the most successful bowlers.

In reply, Tagore were bowled out for 78 runs in 14.3 overs with V Sugrim, 20 was the only batsman showing any resistance to Skeldon bowling. T Rajaram was the pick of the bowlers taking 4-18.

T. Rajaram was later

named man of the match and received a gift for his all round performance. At the presentation Steven Seeraj son of the late Parbattie Jaggai handed over the winner trophy to Skeldon along with a stationery voucher worth $15,000. The runner up, Tagore Memorial Secondary School received a trophy and stationery voucher worth $10,000.

Seeraj also pledged his continue support for next year and requested the inclusion of Bush Lot Secondary from Central Corentyne area for next year competition. This competition was organised by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association with approval from the Ministry of Education.

Second practice game end in tame draw

Permaul bags match haul

By Rajiv Bisnauth

West Indies leftarm spinner, Veerasammy

Permaul exploited the significant bounce and turn on offer on a final day pitch to take five second innings wickets, finishing with a match-haul of 13-145.

His performance - the highlight of which was a relentless accuracy - helped Leon Johnson’s X1 dismissed Vishual Singh’s X1 for 151, batting a second time. Set 208 for victory in 45 overs, Leon Johnson’s X1 reached 74-3, and as a result the game ended in a tame draw. In the run chase, open-

er Rajendra Chandrika (15), Trevon Griffith (37) and Raymon Reifer, who was promoted to number three (15) were the batsmen dismissed.

Pacer Jeremy Gordon and spinners Steven Jacobs and Raj Nanan were the successful bowlers.

When play was called off, skipper Leon Johnson was yet to score and Narsingh Deonarine was unbeaten on four.

Earlier, batting was a constant struggle - a few deliveries stayed low, most bounced sharply and there was always a degree of spin.

Resuming at 31-2, Vishaul Singh’s X1 batsmen were again undermined by

the clever spin bowling from Permaul on a pitch that offered him sharp turn and generous bounce.

Permaul continued the demolition job, which was initially started by his club mate Devendra Bishoo prior to the close on the penultimate day.

The 25-year-old, who played four Tests, took all four wickets before lunch and finally wrapped up the innings with the final wicket, an hour in the second session.

Permaul received valuable support from Bishoo, who finish with 4-77, as the duo never allowed the batsmen to settle down.

Veerasammy Permaul finished with a match-haul of 13-145

ICC has to save Windies

– Caricom is all talk

The West Indies Players

AWest Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director, speaking on the condition of anonymity, has questioned CARICOM’s ability to solve the present impasse between the regional cricket body and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and suggested that only the International Cricket Council (ICC) can save West Indies cricket now. St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and

Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell met WICB directors and their attorneys over the weekend about the impending BCCI lawsuit and the players’ dissatisfaction with the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Already, there have been suggestions that the MOU will go to arbitration while the WICB supposedly promised not to victimise players.

Castlin interacts with local talent during training exercises