Guyana Times Daily

Sattaur says GRA’s performance has been epic ... in

wake of growing criticism

By Svetlana MarShall

In a quest to salvage the image of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) amid growing criticism, Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur on Friday said “GRA’s performance has been epic over the past 10 years”.

The GRA has experienced phenomenal growth in revenue collection, jumping from $41.5 billion in 2003 to a record-breaking $126.5 billion plus, representing an increase of more than 205 per cent.

The 2014 target has been set at $135.3 billion.

“These phenomenal increases in the area of revenue collection of the agency have been as a result of the direct targeting of Private Sector businesses for false declaration in their imports and in the inaccurate reporting of their income detected through the highly effective work conducted by the Revenue Protection

and Audit and Verification Units, which, on an annual basis, rake in excess of $2.5 billion in additional revenues,” Sattaur explained.

It was further explained that revenues are also collected from commercial entities that continue to withhold the payment of their taxes or that of their employees.

Performance

The GRA maintained that it was proud of its performance, pointing out:

“It is to be noted that while on an annual basis no new taxes are introduced and, quite on the contrary, the rates of taxes have been reduced in respect of the two major revenue categories, personal income tax and corporate taxes down from 33 1/3 per cent to 30 per cent ; and 45 per cent and 35 per cent to 40 per cent and 30 per cent respectively, and economic growth did not exceed more than, on average, six per

Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

cent percentage points annually, yet the average increase of the revenues has shown a remarkable performance of over 11 per cent on an annual basis reflecting increasing levels of performance year after year,” he added.

Nevertheless, he said it was no secret that there was a high frequency of Private Sector businesses offering bribes to tax officers not to unveil their fraudulent reporting.

More alarming, it was a fact that billions are grant-

ed in concessions to businesses in machinery and equipment and raw materials that are either diverted for other purposes or sold to persons who are not entitled to such benefits.

He stressed, however, that the GRA spends millions of its rather scarce resources as well as the officers’ valuable time to police such criminal activities.

Tax evasion

“This does not include the billions that are being evaded annually from fraudulent claims for VAT refunds even as many businesses continue to engage in the very insidious practice by the Private Sector of offering not to charge VAT on condition not to provide receipts of such sales,” he said.

Recently, a meeting was held with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Government during which calls were made for the Private Sector to access more efficient concessions

and duty-free waivers on various items that generally attract taxes for the ordinary citizens of the country.

Loss of revenue

The Commissioner General is of the opinion that there was a strong correlation of corruption in the Agency with aiding and abetting by the Private Sector which is responsible for a significant loss in revenues.

Additionally, Sattaur, who has been at the helm of GRA for approximately

12 years, believes that highranking officials within the commercial sector are not prepared to condemn this scourge, choosing instead to remain silent while all blame is being levelled at the door of the public sector.

The highly controversial Corruption Perception Index of the Transparency International Inc, which was recently released, said Guyana, though showing improvement, was just above Haiti in terms of the most corrupt Caribbean countries.

Orthopedic specialist oversees 83 surgeries in 17 weeks

Some 83 surgeries were performed under the supervision of Dr Shawn Bancroft at the West Demerara Hospital during his 17-week mission at the medical facility.

This was revealed in a presentation by the doctor on Friday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Dr Bancroft, an orthopedic specialist was stationed at the West Demerara Hospital since July last and was tasked with improving the general operations at the medical institution.

He informed the huge turnout of health professionals during the presentation that the hospital now offers the services with regards to surgeries as the GPHC.

The doctor said that his mission was undoubtedly a success as patients were attended to efficiently and areas where improvements can be made were highlighted.

The orthopedic special-

ist stated that there are a number of limitations within the hospital such as the lack of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a High Dependency Unity (HDU), no traction beds and a limited amount of antibiotics and blood products.

On the other hand, Dr Bancroft insisted that “the general outcome of the hospital does not only have to do with surgeries, but leadership”.

He explained that nothing can be done if there is no proper management of the hospital to effect and sustain improvements.

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran stressed the importance of training and leadership in advancing Guyana’s health system.

He said training does not only pay attention to the learning of a particular medical field, but also leadership capacity.

Thundery showers are expected to give way to heavy rain showers during most of the day, with light cloud cover expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Low Tide: 10:26h and 22:53h reaching minimum

of 0.65 metre and 0.51 metre respectively.

Elections set for early next year

– Ramotar to dissolve Parliament

By Vahnu Manikchand

After three years of political gridlock, President Donald Ramotar has taken a decision to dissolve the 10th Parliament, paving the way for General and Regional Elections early next year.

He made this announcement on Saturday at a press briefing at State House, noting that after hosting a series of consultations, he decided “we will go to elections”. Ramotar said that there is a possibility that elections will be held before the 2015 budget presentation, expected to be done in April.

The President had suspended Parliament on November 10, after the combined Opposition threatened to proceed with a No-Confidence Motion against the ruling Administration at the first post-recess sitting of the National Assembly.

The Head of State pointed out that his actions were aimed at the preserving the life of the 10th Parliament, while at the same time giving the parties the opportunity to engage in talks on matters that failed to gain adequate parliamentary consideration.

From the onset, the Alliance For Change (AFC) stated its unwillingness to engage in any talks. Nevertheless, President Ramotar wrote Opposition Leader David Granger inviting him to dialogue. But Granger responded in a brief letter dated December 2, refusing to have any discussions.

“My Administration more than justified its resort to prorogation… During this time, the Guyanese people were exposed to an Opposition that rejected dialogue… I had to conceive that my objectives for prorogation were unlikely to be achieved. It logically followed that other options to prorogation be considered,” he stated.

The President explained that he had two options: either return to Parliament

or go to elections. He noted that the former choice would allow the business of the House to reconvene which includes the debate of the No-Confidence Motion; as such, he resolved to call elections.

The President disclosed that he will be announcing the way forward as it relates to the hosting of elections early next year. He further stated that he has already alerted the international community on the possibility of early elections.

President Ramotar expressed his confidence in the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) once again winning the elections, adding this time it will be with a majority so that this situation of political gridlock will not reoccur.

“This situation has been an impediment to the development of our country and I think the Guyanese people are seeing that and this election the PPP/C is taking the majority,” he reaffirmed, while adding, “…we have been doing very well in reaching out to supporters. A lot of our party leaders have been out, I myself have been out, and I can tell you our responses have been very very good.”

Cocaine in baking powder...

The President noted that he will be consulting with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure that it is ready for the hosting of General and Regional Elections next year. He stressed that proroguing Parliament provided the opportunity to improve the enfranchisement of those Guyanese who are yet to be registered even after the completion of the six round of continuous registration by GECOM.

President Ramotar also refuted suggestions that his decision to hold back setting a date for elections was based on a proposed plan by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) that one month be set aside for talks between Government and the Opposition.

He stated that the Opposition Leader already rejected the proposal so no consideration will be given to it. Nevertheless, the President said that his door is always open for consultations and talks with legitimate stakeholders within society.

Ramotar further downplayed allegations made by the Opposition that his party is misusing state funds. “As I said before, prorogation didn’t give me the power to spend money as I would like in our society or to pass laws I would have liked. If that was the case, I assure you I would have passed the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill and other pieces of legislation pending that I wanted to pass badly… that has been the reason for me to prorogue Parliament to have discussions on these,” he remarked.

In addition, the President said that while he had hoped that Local Government Elections (LGE) would have been hosted before General Elections, current events has “conspired” to knock that option off the table, as such, it will have to be held after. “When we win the next election, I’ll try to make it as early as possible,” he said.

US citizen to be charged

AUS citizen will make a court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday where he is expected to be charged for attempting to traffic more than 40 pounds of cocaine through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, on Friday.

According to information] n received, about 16:05h on the day in question, the sus-

pect was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines Flight to the John F Kennedy International Airport when he was intercepted by ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch with 18 kilograms, 295 grams of cocaine.

The large amount of cocaine was concealed among baking powder and custard powder in two pieces of luggage belonging to the man.

Guyana Times under-

stands that the middle-aged man was in the process of checking in his baggage when the Police suspected something was amiss since it was not normal for a US citizen to travel out with that large quantity of baking powder and custard power.

The man was asked by the Police to conduct a search on his luggage and agreed, but with some sense of nervousness. He was fur-

ther interrogated about the baking powder and custard powder and said he was taking it for friends. The narcotics officers ripped open one of the packets and upon checking, the illegal substance was unearthed.

He was told of their suspicions and escorted to Police Headquarters where the substance was tested and later confirmed to be cocaine.

Sunday Editor: Michael Younge

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 "failed State"??

Of recent, there have once again been alarms raised by members of the Opposition of Guyana being a “failed state”. Nowadays, the world speaks about “fragile states” and one influential explication is from the group “Fund for Peace”. They use 12 factors that are grouped under “social, economic and political” categories.

We propose take a look at these factors and arrive on our common evaluation of our State’s “fragility”. Under the “social” rubric, the first two factors are “Mounting Demographic Pressures” and “Massive Displacement of Refugees, Creating Severe Humanitarian Emergencies”.

We do believe that Guyanese would agree that we have actually experienced constant migration since the 1960s, which has resulted in our population remaining practically constant since that time - and leaving us as one of the more sparsely settled countries in the world.

The above finding might suggest the third social factor: “Chronic and Sustained Human Flight”. While unquestionably, our overall development has been retarded by the outward movement of our people, this actually provided a safety valve for the pressures generated by the dictatorship entrenched by the PNC between 1964-1992. By the 80s, the migration actually began to have a positive effect as the migrants began sending “home” massive “remittances”.

At one time, this amounted to almost 40 per cent of the GDP and because they were denominated in “hard” currencies, this helped to balance the budget, as well as funding imports.

Presently, the migration has slowed appreciably and this can be illustrated by the simple metric of the massive number of US visitors’ visas that are now issued routinely by the US Embassy, because the visitors are returning to Guyana. Only two years ago, the cost of being smuggled into the US via the illegal “backtrack” route was over US$10,000.

The last “social” factor is “Widespread Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance”. While of recent, Nagamootoo of the AFC has been making some claims about “jailing” members of the PPP/C administration for malfeasances committed while in office, most see this as the utterances of an ambitious politician whose schemes to get into power were stymied by his erstwhile comrades in the PPP/C.

Hence his angst cannot be classified as “widespread”. David Granger, leader of the PNC and APNU has promised not to include “corrupt” members of the PPP/C in his “future administration”, but since no one sees him as having even the most remote chance of getting into Government, it is not given much credence.

On the economic front the first factor to be evaluated is, “Severe Economic Decline” and one can immediately conclude this metric is a non-starter for Guyana. When the PNC was forced to demit office in 1992, Guyana was one of the worse basket cases in the world.

Since that time, the economy has moved way beyond its then production possibility frontier and now has a GDP of US$3.2 billion with purchasing power parity at US$6.5 billion as opposed to US$371 million in 1992.

The problem with the Guyanese economy is that the PNC left it is such a debilitated state, while Guyana experienced uninterrupted continuous growth since, even in the face of the collapse of the developed economies since 2008, with massive effort, Guyana has only graduated from a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) to a lower middle income economy.

The final economic factor is “Uneven Economic Development Along Group Lines” and this is one of the most nettlesome issues in any severely divided society as Guyana is.

However, the last two Household Income and Expenditure Surveys (albeit old) from 1993 and 1999, showed that the two major groups - Indians and Africans were roughly on par with each other, while the Amerindians were worse off.

The Government has worked strenuously to correct the last situation. While the latest facts are needed, perception of economic disparities are unfortunately fuelled by unscrupulous politicians.

(To be continued: Political factors.)

DSL Christmas!

Call for PPP/C supporters to switch to Opposition may work if...

Dear Editor,

Probably for the first time, resolution of Guyana’s political problems will not come from outside, as usual. Guyanese are likely to rise as giants and untie the knots which Lilliputians, actually imaging they were better giants, have tied up our country. How so?

“Especially, they must believe that the Opposition (APNU-AFC) and its supporters mean them no harm, under any circumstance….

“They are asked to know that they have nothing to be scared of, ever, because in a democracy, the Opposition understands that it is their duty to convince supporters of the PPP/C and the wider Guyanese population that they (the Opposition) can indeed deliver more and better on Government than the PPP/C.

And that is their message and purpose. Listen to them, hear what they are saying. They do not speak of violence and upheaval,” wrote the indefatigable Craig Sylvester in the KN on December 3.

Previous responses to Mr Sylvester have found him inexorably in want to probably find him with the falling sickness. Hope not. Dialogue is good. But a man who is so gifted in constant excited dialogue with himself, may be enriched beyond comparison. At the risk of engaging a seeming wind talker, he should be reassured that he has been

heard and he matters.

Caution however rules my reach. Shakespeare’s, “As you like it”, best tees off my askance whether his new stirring is because of a new wont: “It is my only suit; Provided that you weed your better judgments of all opinion that grows rank in them that I am wise. I must have liberty Withal, as large a charter as the wind, To blow on whom I please; For so fools have; And they that are most galled with my folly, They most must laugh. And why, Sir, must they so?

“The ‘why’ is plain as way to parish church: He that a fool doth very wisely hit, Doth very foolishly, although he smart, Not to seem senseless of the bob: if not, The wise man’s folly is anatomized, Even by the squandering glances of the fool. Invest me in my motley; give me leave, To speak my mind, and I will through and through, Cleanse the foul body of the infected world, If they will patiently receive my medicine.”

Whether bush medicine or not it comes from a former economist at the Bank of Guyana (2000-2008) who does not officially speak, just like me, for either the PNC, AFC or any other political party in Guyana. But being a national chess player of some repute, he should be considered a long term thinker who is with strategic aim to checkmate and overcome. It’s up to him to best boost, not befuddle, his

cause, and win over PPP/C supporters by his response to simple inquires.

(1) He wrote, “The Opposition has a plan to move this country (Guyana) forward. Of course many, not only PPP/C supporters, would be delighted to be educated about any joint new PNC/AFC plans. Are they secret economic plans or...? Were the new plans drawn up recently, who are its architects and how soon will it be available?

Much obliged that Mr Sylvester has given assurance that “I wish to acknowledge the, at times empathetic, distilled thoughts of Dr Clive Thomas, in particular, and also the contributions made by Mr Granger, the Leader of the Opposition (if I may), in another section of the media (SN January 19. They have undoubtedly witnessed first-hand, more than myself, the extent and prevalence of poverty throughout Guyana”.

Testimony that his coalition leaders have “witnessed” as their best experience the “prevalence of poverty throughout Guyana” would conceivably imply all our political parties are fighting a common preeminent enemy, that is, poverty.

(2) Has the PNC/AFC/ WPA’s constant drum beat of violence and race baiting become temporarily prorogued or is it permanently dissolved? It is important that Mr Sylvester then clar-

ify:

(3) What ideological thrust the coalition will be pursuing, for example, choosing from Dr Walter Rodney’s WPA’s socialist advocacy or the PNC’s new recalibration to capitalism? Mr Sylvester previously wrote in another letter:

“The PNC promotes democratic values and is capitalist-oriented in economic policy, meaning that the private sector (business, not excessive Government spending) is the engine of economic growth and prosperity”.

Mr Sylvester must clarify whether the PNC has totally abandoned cooperative socialism or its party congress approved MarxistLeninist ideological resolution? Please clarify and give reassurance Guyana is not headed for any Alice in Wonderland PNC fantasy. As an economist himself, Mr Sylvester can best confirm whether his hero Dr Thomas’s metamorphosis is genuine and real and he will definitely lead APNU’s ideological makeover to capitalism at the helm of a PNC/ AFC Government.

Mr Sylvester’s awed endorsement that “I imagine the difference between Dr Thomas and the rest of Guyana’s politicians is that, while they all know that many things are wrong about how our country is run, only he knows the sure path to economic prosperity. We still have a chance to try his ideas”.

Int’l Language Institute opens

Guyanese national Enrique Couchman on Friday officially opened a language school in Guyana, the International Language Institute (ILI).

The institute, located on the corner of Laluni and New Garden Streets, Queenstown, will target the younger population of Guyanese and Brazilian nationals.

It will be offering classes where Guyanese children can learn Portuguese and Brazilian children can learn English from the age of five.

called in on his television programme and his fluency in responding to simple questions in Portuguese left him (Couchman) in awe. Couchman also noted that his television programme, which was meant for adults, was largely supported by children.

“I’m like ‘what is going on?’ It wasn’t for children.”

It was these occurrences that lead Couchman to opening a language institute.

Furthermore, Couchman stated that the school will be of a high standard, providing quality service to the public.

“They will learn the dif-

However, the classes will not be limited to children, anyone whose mother tongue is neither English or Portuguese can attend the school to learn a new language.

At the opening ceremony, Couchman explained that the inspiration behind his idea to open a language school came from his interaction with 10-year-old Kenneth Forde.

He explained that Forde

ference between ‘I thought’ and ‘I taught’, between ‘thank’ and ‘tank’, between ‘three’ and ‘tree’,” he said.

Additionally, Couchman envisions the school to be more than about learning a new language.

“So little boys will have the opportunity to have free haircuts on Saturdays… in addition to that, they can play table tennis after they leave the classroom… and we’ll teach them about healthy eating habits.”

Prior to the launching of the school, Couchman had told Guyana Times that he wants to offer a different experience to his students, by exposing them not just to a new language, but a new culture.

Call for PPP/C supporters...

For Mr Sylvester to be knocked out impressed that Dr Thomas, alone “knows the sure path to economic prosperity - is no small irony but revolutionary. When Mr Sylvester emphasised that “the PNC promotes democratic values and is capitalist-oriented in economic policy” with Dr Thomas as the likely new economic czar, they may conceivably be pre-armed to knockout the ruling PPP/C Government in elections.

Lastly, Guyanese should also be educated by Mr Sylvester and our Opposition leaders that our many Dr David Hinds and company as WPA militants submerged, within APNU, have enthusiastically and unconditionally agreed to APNU’s new and improved capitalist voyage.

Never lost for words, Dr Hinds remains perpetually disturbed in capitalist America and made notable revelations, online Demerara Waves of March 4, “Opposition abandoned the people”.

He actually wrote: “When, a few months ago, I complained about this apparent retreat from the (APNU) campaign-electoral platform, I was deemed a non-resident, alien, dirtylinen washer, and troublemaker. Even the (WPA) party to which I belong, by its ambivalence and silence, seemed to have been offended by my truth telling.”

Sultan Mohamed from page 4

Why is both the WPA and the PNC being accused

of secretly oppressing Dr Hinds? Have some cannons been found with missing screws, “On the Good Ship Lollipop” with adorable Shirley “Amna” Temple on board and are confirmed loose?

Any “Mutiny on the Bounty” occurring before the spaceship arrives found bringing political ebola instead, will most likely, wreck the holiday spirit and most assuredly the opposition’s electoral prospects.

Know to be without any cultural filter and gyrating to his own drums, Dr Hinds who was brought up by his Buxton aunt, insists black people are best served by their own race.

Mr Sylvester’s bold invitation for PPP/C supporters to empower the Opposition is however fair in a democracy.

But since Dr Hinds’ mission faithfully continues his guru, Eusi Kwayana’s quest for Guyana’s partition those PPP/C supporters who switch to APNU from both the PPP/C and the AFC will be accused of long division. Black people’s economic magnificence would again become traumatised heading into partition with no resort for backup relief.

Within Federalism, black magnificence will certainly become fully emancipated with no problems at all which cannot be resolved by the same, even better opposition solutions being offered to PPP/C supporters.

Only the Opposition can actively first fix their own

house. With so much discordant Opposition chattering voices, they are bereft of any unifying authority to support Mr Sylvester’s genuine appeal:

“And that is, their message and purpose. Listen to them, hear what they are saying. They do not speak of violence and upheaval. They speak of peaceful protests, engaging international support against the PPP/C, and returning to Parliament and managing the country’s business.”

Because Dr Hinds is much louder his agenda is apparently dominant. His recent bombast of an online article on DW Waves titled, “The suspension of Guyana’s Parliament: Democracy has been subverted”, adequately explains why many Guyanese prefers to be totally divorced from his reality. When he scolds the Opposition he does not mince words.

“What rubbish! The parliamentary Opposition parties have been at the table for three years. And the right to obstruct crude and cruel governances is a sacred one. Truth be told, the AFC and APNU have not done a quarter of the obstruction they should be doing.”

How Mr Sylvester and the PNC/AFC/WPA Opposition resolve their conflicts and commitments will best reflect wisdom.

Page Foundation

AAnu Dev

s a Hindu young woman, who happens to worship God as female - in my case specifically Saraswati, in whom all knowledge reposes and emanates - I've sometimes wondered how some Hindu men who also worship the Divine in her various female forms and incarnations, can inflict violence on females.

But of course, violence against women isn't confined to Guyana and certainly not only to Hindus.

It's just that since we Hindus are supposed to have elevated women to the ultimate Divinity, I was kind of hoping our menfolk would've seen us as in a bit kinder light that those from other religions that insist that God is a man.

In Hinduism, by contrast, while God is ultimately beyond categories - in-

Goddesses and violence against females

“There is no need to request You, Oh Durga, To protect and save us. For does the mother on whom children solely depend, Ever need such a request? And So our salutations to You; So pray the Gods to You.”

cluding sex or gender - the conceived female aspects are actually endowed with the Shakti - or animating power.

In other words, the male manifestations are posited as completely inert without the female. Can't do a thing! So we have, for instance, the Creator Vishnu with his female counterpart Lakshmi. She's the power behind whatever "creation" - or "projection" if you chose - that's going on. One third of Hindus are "Shaktas"whose major object of worship is the Mother in her various manifestations.

In all his human incarnations - whether as Ram or Krishna - Vishnu is accompanied by his Shakti. As Ram, for instance, his double is Sita. Bringing matters to the human level then, supposedly to provide a model for us to imitate.

When one marries, the woman is said to be "the

Lakshmi of the house".

In offering prayers to the Divine, the male householder is incomplete and the offerings aren't accepted if he's not accompanied by his "Lakshmi".

So what goes with all this wife beating and violence against females in our society?? Why hasn't our elevation of women as Goddesses increased respect for women? Well for one, in the "modern" world, we have all accepted that "religion" is just one aspect of "life".

Religion as a seamless, integral way of life is "old fashioned" and "backward. Traditional Hinduism, we are convinced, can't be "modern". So our menfolk worship the Mother of the temple in the temple and then knock around the Mother of the house in the house.

The view that the man is the owner of all he surveys - in reflection of the Fella with the grey beard who's

floating in the sky above looking down at us - undergirds what is called "patriarchy".

In modern Hindu homes, unlike the original model of society in which the female was equal in her own domain, boys and men are still socialized to see females as "their own". And in a capitalist society, this becomes translated as their "property". And more to the point "sexual property", which he "jealously" guards.

If we're ever going to get rid of this mind numbing violence that's inflicted daily on females, this structural power imbalance between males and females which starts in the home - ironically by mothers - must be eliminated.

What was it they said about "the hands that rock the cradle"? It can help to make "ruling the world" a bit more fair.

All hail the Devi!

BY LESLIE CRAWFORD

Growing a family: A parents’ guide to helping siblings bond (Part One)

When you discovered you were pregnant with another child, you probably envisioned the benefits a brother or sister would bring to your firstborn – not scenes of sibling rivalry. But tug-of-war toy spats, backseat pinching,

of give-and-take so they can develop a close relationship for life.”

Keyser tells a story from her own life, recalling the time her son, Calvin, accidentally kicked his baby sister, Maya, in a moment of

and dinner table bickering often go hand in hand with having two or more children.

Helping siblings get along as they grow is one of the toughest tasks moms and dads face. Read on to find proven strategies from experts and parents for managing squabbles and helping your children develop close bonds that will last a lifetime.

Let your children nurture each other

Strangely enough, geometry comes in handy when you’re laying the foundation for sibling harmony. We tend to think of a family as a triangle, with the parents at the top, managing all the children below, says Janis Keyser, coauthor of Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and parenting educator in the Early Childhood Education Department at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. Instead, it’s more helpful to visualize a circle where all family members have something to contribute.

The idea, adds Keyser, is to encourage your children to play an active role in a family support system. With practice, they’ll become less adversary, more advocate.

“I call it working myself out of a job,” says Keyser. “As a parent, as much as I love nurturing my kids, I try to step aside so they can nurture one another. That allows them to have a kind

four-year-old exuberance. Keyser managed to refrain from running to comfort her crying infant. Instead, she let Calvin try, and moments later, Maya was smiling at her brother.

The experience allowed Calvin to see himself as a compassionate person rather than a troublemaker. And Maya was able to perceive her big brother as a gentle, caring person.

Elissa Stein of New York City says that when her son, Jack, was born, she wanted her daughter, Izzy, to feel like he was her baby, too. “I’d say things like, ‘Iz, you’ve got to watch out for our boy.’ This fostered a sense of responsibility and commitment to him that I don’t think would have been there otherwise.” Now that Izzy is nine and Jack is six, Stein says they share a close bond that eclipses small squabbles. Izzy recently invited Jack to join her sockmaking class, and Jack likes to have her make him breakfast instead of Mom or Dad.

You have lots of opportunities throughout the day to encourage your children to be nurturing: Let your older child read a bedtime story to his little sister or ask your preschooler if she wants to rub her brother’s back before naptime. Suggest that your toddler give your older child a kiss when she’s crying because she wasn’t invited to a party. (www.babycenter.com)

Caricom should seek alternative to Petrocaribe

Rashleigh Jackson

Veteran Guyanese diplomat Rashleigh Jackson has said that he was in total agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which had urged regional countries to begin seeking out new markets for their rice deal with the oil-rich but financially-straitened Venezuela.

As the country’s oil-dependent economy continues to falter in the face of oil prices dropping from around US$115 per barrel to US$70 per barrel, concerns are intensifying.

Speaking to Guyana Times recently, the former Foreign Affairs Minister said it was indeed worrying that the Venezuelan economy was declining. According to him, heavy pressure may come upon the Nicolas Maduro-led Government to review the generosity of the arrangement of the Petrocaribe deal.

“Though they have said there will be no variation of the agreement, I think there are options if Venezuela adheres to its obligations, because they have agreements with China and many Caribbean countries,” Jackson told this publication.

He said that it was rather important that Guyana, which has already found an additional market for rice in Panama and has been pursuing the West African market, ensures that its future in rice exportation is secured.

“So the move to secure more markets is to deal with the increasing production in Guyana and to be on the alert for any possible fallout from the

Venezuelan deal.

So forward planning would suggest that government should continuously look for other markets for rice and continue looking for alternative arrangements in relation to hydrocarbon supplies,” Jackson said.

The IMF recently expressed concern over the future of the Petrocaribe oil-deal in the wake of Venezuela’s deteriorating economy and falling international oil prices especially since several countries had signed the energy agreement.

No guarantee

It had also urged these nations to begin seeking out other avenues for their respective transactions as there was no guarantee that the Venezuelan economy would see an improvement anytime soon.

Economists believe that the dip in the price of oil from US$100 to its current US$82.70 per barrel will persist into 2015, resulting in oil exports from Venezuela declining by US$15 billion to US$20 billion annually.

Some analysts have

said too that the initiative, which allows countries to pay for part of their oil imports from Venezuela over a 20-year period at two per cent interest, will have to be modified or discontinued amid the worsening economic situation in our South American neighbour.

In 2005, Governments across the Region entered into the Petrocaribe accord, and many Caribbean economies are still heavily dependent on the oil subsidies.

In spite of paying a discounted price for oil and only having to pay between 40 and 50 per cent up front with the rest being payable over the 20year period, all the participating countries, with the exception of Suriname, are running balance of payments deficits.

Guyana, over the years, has been paying for some of the oil sourced from Venezuela with rice shipments. Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said Guyana has nothing to fear over the decline of the Venezuelan economy, since its 2015 market has already been secured.

Ramsammy told the Guyana Times that Government was currently in negotiation with Venezuela over the securing of another Petrocaribe deal.

In an invited comment on Friday, Ramsammy told this publication that in spite of the downward spiral of Venezuela’s economy, the country remains “a good market” for Guyana.

Al Qaeda terrorist with Guyanese parentage killed

Pakistan’s military has announced it has killed leading Al Qaeda militant Adnan Shukrijumah, who was wanted by the United States over a 2009 plot to attack the New York subway system.

The wanted man’s father was reportedly Guyanese, a senior Police rank of the Guyana Police Force confirmed on Saturday. He said Shukrijumah is originally from Berbice and they have reasons to believe that he might have visited Guyana.

The official, however stated that there were no records at the Chief Immigration Office which indicated that he was issued with a Guyanese Passport. He nevertheless confirmed that the now dead man was on the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ (FBI) most wanted list.

“In an intelligence-borne operation, top Al Qaeda leader Adnan Shukrijumah was killed by Pakistan Army in an early morning

Dead: Adnan Shukrijumah

raid in Shinwarsak, South Waziristan today,” the military said.

Shukrijumah, a Saudi, was the head of Al Qaeda’s Foreign Operations Council and the most senior Al Qaeda member ever killed by the Pakistani military.

Quite recently, the FBI offered a US$5 million reward for the capture of the 39-year-old Saudi national, who was wanted for conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country, through a plot to launch bomb attacks on the New York subway five years ago as well as other attacks.

The military said his accomplice and local facilitator were also killed in the raid. Pakistan military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said in a tweet that five “terrorists” were also arrested during the raid.

The semi-autonomous tribal areas that border Afghanistan have for years been a hideout for different Islamist militant groups –from Al Qaeda and the homegrown Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to foreign fighters such as Uzbeks and Uighurs. Washington pressed Islamabad for years to wipe out the sanctuaries in the North Waziristan tribal area, which militants have used to launch attacks on North American Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani military launched a major offensive in North Waziristan in June and said they have killed more than 1100 militants so far, with 100 soldiers losing their lives in the operation.

P&P spreads Christmas cheer

P&P Insurance Brokers on Friday donated $1 million altogether to 10 charitable organisations as it spread Christmas cheer to the lesser fortunate.

The company said the donation forms part of its tradition and policy of giving back to the community as part of its socioeconomic responsibility and corporate agenda.

At a small ceremony, the

10 organisations received $100, 000 each.

Chief Executive Officer Bish Panday told Guyana Times that the organisations were selected for their work with children, the elderly and other individuals who require special attention.

He stressed the importance of the season and what the funds can do to enhance the holidays for such persons.

The recipients of the donation were the New Amsterdam branch of Dharam Shala, the Archers Home, the Bright Horizon Family Home, the Bless the Children Home, the Canaan Children’s Home, the Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre, the Uncle Eddie’s Home, the David Rose School for the Handicapped, the Cheshire Homes Guyana and the Hauraruni Girls Home.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister warns against sullying Guyana’s image

By Alexis Rodney

Guyana should be very concerned about, and work towards, ironing out the numerous internal challenges it currently faces, as they could severely impact its foreign relations.

This was the view expressed by former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson, who in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Thursday said the political stalemate here could severely impact the country’s relationship with its regional and international counterparts.

Guyana, after Iwndependence in 1966, had sought out an influential role in international affairs, particularly among third world and non-aligned nations.

It formed diplomatic relations with a host of nations, including those within the European Union (EU), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Organisation of American States (OAS); all of which have offices here in Guyana.

Guyana, which strongly supports the concept of regional integration had also played an important role

in founding the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) and has sought to keep foreign policy in close alignment with the consensus of Caricom members, especially in voting in the UN, OAS, and other international organisations.

In 1993, it ratified the 1988 Vienna Convention on illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and cooperates with US law enforcement agencies on counter-narcotics efforts.

But in spite of all this, Jackson who was also a onetime Permanent Secretary within the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Guyana’s political and social conditions are waning and threatens the very fabric of longstanding connections.

Perception

“I think there are some things that are happening inside Guyana that can negatively affect its image. One is the perception of corruption,” Jackson told this publication.

He cited the recent rating of Transparency International (TI) where the body ranked Guyana very lowly on the index.

Though the nation’s ranking has improved some three points since last year, Guyana’s rating on the global Corruption Perception

Index (CPI) is still considered poor. The results of the CPI were released on Tuesday and out of 175 countries, Guyana ranked 124.

“I presume that our diplomats should meet and see that as a negative,” Jackson said. The former Foreign Affairs Minister said there has been a certain internationalisation of the more recent political actions which have led to the prorogation of Parliament.

He said there remains the question on whether or not that could have a negative impact on Guyana’s ability to conduct its foreign policies.

“I am not saying that it will, just that there may be likelihood,” Jackson stressed, pointing out that while the cessation of Parliament does have its impact on Guyana; it also could affect relations with the foreign neighbours.

He made reference to the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) decision to write to Caricom, noting that in addition to the reports these organisations have received from their offices and embassies here, questions will arise as to how they will interpret these ongoing conflicts and whether they have a negative impact on how they will

deal with Guyana.

“These are things that should be considered”, Jackson said.

Two weeks after the suspension of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition David Granger who has been at the forefront of calls for the resumption of Parliament, took to writing Caricom, the OAS and the Union of South America States (UNASUR) for them to collectively place pressure on Guyana’s Government for it to resumption of Parliament.

Cash-jet issue

Jackson also spoke about the recent discovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars on a private jet owned by a Guyanese in Puerto Rico.

Close to two weeks ago, Guyanese American Pilot Khemraj Lall was intercepted by US Police in Puerto Rico for having in his possession and undeclared sum of US$620,000.

“It raises questions about the illegal transfer of money and whether it will give impetus or credence or add to the concerns that Guyana is becoming a narco trafficking state and is involved in money laundering,” Jackson said.

He continued “these issues are bound to raise questions in people’s minds. These things that are happening in Guyana will cause people to murmur in their minds and to wonder what is going on”.

Jackson said he really does not know to what extent all these factors will affect Guyana’s foreign policy within Caricom and further afield.

Eyew tness Be careful...

...what you ask for, Ramjattan

In one of his now characteristic acts of bravadoremember that’s when you “talk fat” because you want to impress - Ramjattan of the AFC wants the President to “call elections” at once. Like they say, he might just get what he asked for - but based on the sentiments on the groundhe’s not gonna like it. That’s for sure.

Remember when he dared Trotman to leave the AFC when the latter refused to be his PM running mate in 2011?? Trotman didn’t see himself being even nominally “under” a non-entity like Ramjattan?? Well Trotman did quit - he said he was “ill” but recovered miraculously to accept the PNC’s nomination as Speaker. (Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!!)

However, Trotman took all the Afro-Guyanese votes; the AFC lost its one claim to fame as a “multi-racial” party (specious as that was) and Ramjattan was left holding “larwah”!!

And what about his “news-carrying” to the US Embassy when they persuaded him that with their backing (“wink”, “wink”) he’d become President if he took on the PPP/C . The Americans did bring in “Big Dick” Morris, million-dollar presidential pollster - who ran a poll predicting he and Trotman would sweep all before them. The “poll” was more of a “pole” that was stuck up Ramjattan’s posterior orifice as he lost corn and husk and was left holding Big Dick’s larwah!!

But you get the drift and the point, don’t you, dear reader?? This Eyewitness is firmly of the view that the President should set an outside date for elections - so that Ramjattan and Granger won’t be marching up and down screaming “The sky’s falling!!! the sky’s falling!!!” And spoiling people’s Christmas. But hold it!! Ramjattan won’t be marching with Granger - who, he implies, has Kuh-Kuh-Beh!! He’ll be writing those stern letters to the press!!

But for sure the President shouldn’t set elections immediately - which means in three months - early March. With elections looming and folks knowing that the PNC will “behave bad” when they lose for the sixth time...this’ll certainly ruin Mashramani.

In fact, the President should wait until Guyanese have mashed to their heart’s content - and then schedule. The August holidays looks like the time to go to the polls. The kids won’t be in school - and won’t be trapped at Agricola if the AFC decides it has to get back at APNU for taking back its voters.

But whether Prezzie sets the elections in three months or the “summer”, the AFC and Ramjattan’re gonna be “dead meat”. And we know how that stinks when it’s been in the sun for weeks - in this case pleading for votes!!

...of unmitigated racism

The Women and Gender Equality Commission expressed “shock” at Nandlall’s conversation with his school chum Gildarie of the MuckrakerKN. The Commission, chaired by Indra Chandrapaul - Nandalall’s PPP/C comrade, called for all “necessary sanctions to be taken”.

They didn’t bother pronouncing on sanctions for Glenn Lall for intercepting a private conversation. Maybe it’s outside their remit to comment on violations outside sex and gender.

Anyhow, in the blog following the Stabber’s report, appeared this comment:

Uncle Joe: “We shouldn’t expect any better from people who still have the bottom house refuse under their toenails even though they now wear polished shoes. A dog might be born in a stable but that does not make it a thoroughbred.”

This was too much for even the Stabber - which revels in anti-Indian race baiting: they took down the posting when your Eyewitness looked this morning.

We wonder if Uncle Joe also included Chandarpaul in those “who still have the bottom house refuse under their toenails”.

...of financial ignorance

The MuckrakerKN’s been straining mightily to create a scandal about NICIL’s arrangement of a loan from Republic Bank to help finance the new Marriott Hotel.

Will someone explain to Mook Lall the difference between a “debenture and a mortgage”. Please…

NACTA poll...

"Guyanese demand: DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT AND SCHEDULE ELECTIONS!"

An opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) last week found a significant percentage of voters upset with the political parties over their handling of the No-Confidence Motion and the prorogation of Parliament.

The survey showed that while a majority of the nation was opposed to the NoConfidence Motion, citizens were almost equally divided in their position on the prorogation of Parliament. It also revealed that at the same time, an overwhelming majority disagrees with the Opposition’s stance of refusing to meet with the President for dialogue on the reconvening of Parliament.

“Voters overwhelmingly expressed disappointment with the PNC/ APNU [People's National Congress/A Partnership for National Unity] Leader David Granger and AFC

[Alliance For Change] Leader Khemraj Ramjattan for rejecting President Ramotar’s invitation for dialogue to break the impasse,” the survey noted. It revealed that businessmen and religious leaders, in particular, were angry with the Opposition for refusing to talk with Ramotar, or to accept mediation to break the political stalemate, by returning to Parliament. It was found that Guyanese showered praises on Ramotar for his efforts to reconvene Parliament.

The NACTA Poll also said that voters see no harm in the Opposition

leaders talking with the President. “The people want Parliament to meet to address pressing concerns. The No-Confidence Motion is not their primary concern,” the poll revealed.

It said a large majority feels the President should

dissolve Parliament and hold fresh elections since the Opposition is unwilling to meet with him to work out a solution to the prorogation.

The poll randomly interviewed 410 voters to yield a demographically representative sample of 44 per cent Indians, 30 per cent Africans, 16 per cent mixed, nine per cent Amerindians and one per cent comprising of other races. The poll was conducted through faceto-face interviews and was coordinated by New Yorkbased pollster, Dr Vishnu Bisram.

The results of the poll were analysed at a 95 per cent significance level with a statistical sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Asked if they approve of the AFC-APNU No-Confidence Motion to bring down the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government and hold new General Election, only 35 per cent said “yes”, with 55 per cent saying “no” and 10 per cent not offering a response.

Asked if they support President Ramotar’s decision to prorogue Parliament, 42 per cent said “yes” with 44 per cent saying “no” and 14 per cent not giving an opinion.

A sixth of “nays”, are PPP/C supporters who feel that instead of “the prorogue”, the President should have dissolved the Parliament and call snap elections to resolve the po-

litical impasse. And among the “yeas” are a significant number of APNU-AFC supporters who did not want Parliament to be dissolved as yet.

Asked if the Opposition should accept the President’s invitation for a dialogue on reconvening Parliament, 70 per cent said “yes” with 21 per cent said “no” and nine per cent not offering an opinion.

Asked if the President should dissolve Parliament and hold fresh elections in light of the Opposition’s re-

fusal to meet with him to address the prorogation, 80 per cent said “yes”, with 12 per cent saying “no” and eight per cent not offering an opinion.

The survey also polled voters on social issues like suicide and domestic abuse and on the approval and favourability ratings of President Ramotar and Opposition Leader Granger, popular support for the political parties in the event of a General Election, as well as support for AFC Presidential aspirants.

Region Five residents urged to settle outstanding taxes

The Chairpersons of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) have expressed frustration over the difficulties they face in collecting rates and taxes from residents.

In a release, they stated that the situation results in the Council being short of revenues in carrying out their daily duty of collecting garbage.

On Friday, the West Berbice Chamber of Industry and Commerce met with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) to address the garbage problem within the

Region Five districts.

The garbage has been piling-up at the road corners, creating an “environment embarrassment,” the Chairpersons said. Moreover, the residents continue to dump their garbage along the roadsides, especially in Rosignol.

“(They have) no regards to the damaging images to their communities.”

The Councils noted that residents still dump garbage irresponsibly even after the recent cleanup campaign.

Regional Chairman Bindraban Bisnauth has also ratified that the area where garbage shall be dumped within the region

and he encouraged the business community to dump the commercial garbage at those dumpsites.

Addressing those present at the meeting, President of the Chambers Shabeer Baksh has committed a working relationship between the Chambers and the NDCs in which funding and transportation will be provided through the Chambers to assist the NDCs with their schedule in garbage collection.

He noted that this will be a continuous venture along with educational advertisement to inform residents about keeping their environment clean.

AFC proposes alliance with PNC/APNU

... snubs Granger; wants to “lead” coalition

By Jomo Paul

Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC)

Khemraj Ramjattan says that while the party remains open to discussions on a broad national alliance to govern the affairs of that country, it must be understood that the AFC will not be taking the back seat in any such alliance.

Ramjattan was at the time delivering the Leaders Report at the AFC’s third Biennial Convention held at the St Stanislaus College, Brickdam, Georgetown on Saturday morning.

The Convention was held under the theme, “Uniting for healing and reconciliation of our people and equi table growth of our nation”,

and saw hundreds of AFC delegates in attendance.

Ramjattan addressing the crowd underscored the need for an alliance, but said that the AFC had certain pre-conditions that had to be met.

This included the party being named as the frontrunner in any coalition that would be formed, be it with the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) or any other political party.

According to Ramjattan, the AFC has the capacity to deliver the leadership that is required to propel Guyana forward noting that “hard decisions have to be made” one of which is the possible coalition with other political forces in Guyana and in particular the APNU.

It was noted that after this National Convention, the AFC hopes to work “purposefully” with the APNU on matters of common interest.

He said, “Indeed the AFC is ready to enter, if necessary, into negotiations to lead, to lead a pro-democracy alliance with progressive forces” adding that these included “workers unions, political forces and by political forces we mean even PPP/C [People's Progressive Party/ Civic] members who have been disenfranchised…and APNU”.

He contended that given recent developments the AFC should no longer be considered to be a minority opposition party but rather one of the more major politi-

cal forces in Guyana.

“We have arrived not as a minority political party but as a huge one” said Ramjattan.

Further Ramjattan told the conference that it is time for the end of the rule of the PPP/C, calling on the persons gathered to use their constitutional right and “fire” the elected office bearers.

This was greeted with applause from those gathered who shouted, “We ready”, signifying that they are ready for General and Regional Elections.

The AFC leader made it clear that at present, the party is in election mode and in fact the party is “operating in the certain knowledge that elections are imminent.”

Ramjattan said that the party’s nixed No-Confidence Motion should be seen as a warning letter to the Government that the electorate is ready for a change.

He challenged that persons should be able to hold public officials accountable for their work.

He said that should the AFC take the reins of office, the party should not be spared of the accountability process.

He said “you have a duty to crack the whips on our backs”.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the AFC David Patterson in his report remarked that since the last conference the party’s membership has grown by some 15 per cent. He said that at present the party has some 7500 members.

Patterson also related that these new members are mainly from Regions Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands), Four (DemeraraMahaica), Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

According to the AFC General Secretary a lot of the party’s members have left but have been returning because the pastures aren’t greener on the other side.’

It was also noted that the construction of the party’s headquarters are in its final stages.

Patterson said the building is located at 26 Railway Embankment Kitty.

Do fuh do...

Satriricus was getting confused (as usual). He just couldn’t keep up with these politicians and their constant ‘jooking’ of each other. Was Rum Jhaat really a racist because he and his buddy Naga Man didn’t show up at the Square?? “Maybe they were just being honest when they said they thought it was a ‘black thing’. And that’s why they sent the brothers NoGel and Pat-a-Son,” thought Satiricus.

Maybe the ‘N’ word was going to be used...and they wouldn’t want Naga Man to put his foot in his mouth again.

Then there was Prezzie. Why did he have to keep pestering GrainJa for “dialogue”?? This was soooo provocative. Jeez...when would Prezie understand that GrainJa was a soldier...trained in warfare his whole life?? For a fella like GrainJa, “dialogue” was what you did AFTER you’ve defeated the enemy and you’re dictating the terms of ceasefire. (For example, “Give us all your firstborn for the next 50 years”.) Granger should be invited to a “dialogue” AFTER the next elections when the PNC would have gone down in defeat for SIX times. (“We’ll top up the Opposition Leader’s perks like we did the last time.” Wink, wink.)

And GrainJa was just as bad. Why did he have to embarrass Rum Jhaat and Naga Man to invite them Cuffy Square?? Didn’t he know that was a “Blackmaan” place and for two fellas from Berbice, that was suicide!! How would they be able to cuss down Blackmaan under the bottom house like they did in Whim last week?? Did Granger think that just because Berbicians led the country in suicides, he and Naga Man were ready to take the plunge?? “What a dope” thought Satiricus, “GrainJa should stick to marching up and down in the sun. That’s all he did when he was a soldier for 30 years!”

“What to do??” moaned Satiricus as he held his head in his hands. And then he saw the letter from the Black Sage from Buxton in the Stabber News. “Glory be to the one most High!!” thought Satiricus. All his problems were solved.

The Black Sage was answering the whining by a member of the PPEE - one HiDar. HiDar claimed it was “unfair” for the Opposition to take both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions - when for all of history this was shared between Government and Opposition.

And the Black Sage who was the veritable fount of wisdom according to the Stabber News, gave his answer which brought light to Satiricus dim witted brain. The Black Sage said that he too had once felt like that.

But then he had concluded that even though there was no tradition of the President sharing positions in the Cabinet to the Opposition, since the President didn’t do this, he should be punished.

And so he declared his judgement, which Satiricus accepted henceforth: “Do fuh do na obeah.”

Gov’t can function without Budget – President Ramotar

President Donald Ramotar has pointed out that there are provisions in the Constitution that allow Government to continuing running the country without a National Budget during the time of prorogation or the dissolution of Parliament.

The President was at the time responding to questions from media operatives at a press briefing on Saturday, when he announced that the 10th Parliament will be dissolved, hence making way for General and Regional Elections early next year.

“In all of these circumstances, the Constitution and the laws of our country provides how spending of public funds are done within this period of time and I can assure you that whatever we do, we will do within the law and our Constitution –how it allows us to spend money – that will be how it will be done,” he explained.

The President said there is a possibility of elections being set before the presentation of the 2015 National Budget, which is usually done in April.

On the other hand, the President rubbished allegations made by the Opposition of his Administration misusing public funds, stating that Government spends state funds within the confines of the law.

“Clearly that’s not a reality… As I said before, prorogation didn’t give me the power to spend money as I

would like in our society or to pass laws I would have like. If that was the case, I assure you I would have passed the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Bill and other pieces of legislation pending that I want to pass badly. That has been the reason for me to prorogue Parliament, to have discussions on these,” the president stressed.

Following the 2011 elections, Government has been in a battle against the majority parliamentary Opposition, fighting for funds to be allocated to several projects it says are crucial for the country’s development. Since then there has been political gridlock among the parties stalling such projects.

This situation has also resulted in billions being cut every year from the National Budget since 2012. Only this year, a whopping $37.4 billion was cut from the original 2014 Budget of $220 billion. These were

budgeted to fund the construction of the Specialty Hospital, the upgrading of regional and district hospitals, the procurement of ambulances and surgical instruments, the procurement of TVs and boats for hinterland development, and the American Development Fund, which is so vital for American development, and other items.

Other projects affected by the Opposition cuts are the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Modernisation Project, Civil Aviation and hinterland airstrips.

The situation further escalated after the opposition claimed that Government continues to spend state monies without the approval of the National Assembly. This resulted in the minority parliamentary Opposition party, Alliance For Change (AFC), tabling a motion of No-Confidence against the ruling party on August 7. The one-line motion contained the sentence: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.”

In September last, Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, had announced that he found the motion to be unprecedented and qualifies for debate. However upon the resumption of the National Assembly after recess, President Ramotar suspended Parliament for six months.

President should have reconvened Parliament – Granger

... APNU, AFC boast elections readiness

APartnership For National Unity (APNU) says it would have preferred the reconvening of Parliament, but the President’s decision to dissolve the legislature and head for General Elections was expected.

Speaking with Guyana Times shortly after the President’s announcement, APNU Leader David Granger said that by choosing this option, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is now seeking to buy time and is engaging in delay tactics.

Granger told this newspaper that the “PPP/C had already decided long ago to go to polls… the decision has long since been to go to polls. They are playing for time to continue misusing state resources.”

He said that decision also gives the Government additional time to continue to misuse state funds for campaigning purposes. “As far as I am concerned, what he ought to have done is reconvene the National Assembly” said the Opposition Leader.

The APNU has already indicated a financial and institutional readiness to go to General Elections. The main Opposition party has also been hosting several picketing exercises in front of the Office of the President for the past weeks.

The protests have seen the Opposition calling for the President to reconvene the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Alliance For Change

(AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan in a separate interview with Guyana Times said that the President should not have announced his intent to dissolve Parliament.

“He should dissolve it and let’s get on with it,” Ramjattan said.

Ramjattan over the past days has been advocating heavily for the President to set a date for General Elections. He had told this publication prior to the announcement that he expected the President to dissolve the National Assembly.

Even at his party’s National Conference, Ramjattan rallied the call for the President to name a date for General Elections.

“Bring it on; the elections, we ready,” Ramjattan said.

According to Ramjattan, at this time, the AFC is fully prepared for General and Regional Elections. When asked if that preparedness extends to the party’s financial ability to go to polls Ramjattan responded in the positive.

“Of course we are prepared for elections” Ramjattan had said.

On Thursday, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in a lengthy document, called on President Ramotar to reconvene Parliament before December 31. Additionally, it was recommended that the No-Confidence Motion against the PPP/C Government be shelved, allowing for a month’s moratorium during which critical issues would be dealt with.

During the period of moratorium, the PSC said commissions such as the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) should be placed into operation, in addition to the setting of a date for the longawaited Local Government Elections.

These proposals in the form of a letter were sent to President Ramotar, the Opposition Leader and AFC Leader Ramjattan.

“We share the view that there is still room for the life of the 10th Parliament to be preserved once the prorogation comes to an end and the No-Confidence Motion is stayed to make room for a meaningful attempt to dialogue on the important issues that will persist even after elections are held,” the PSC said on Thursday.

In addition to bringing the prorogation of Parliament to an end as soon as possible but no later than December 31, the PSC is recommending that political parties agree to a moratorium of one month after the end of the prorogation to facilitate dialogue.

Guyana celebrates International Volunteer Day

The Culture Youth and Sport Ministry

in collaboration with CUSO International on Friday, held the annual Volunteer Fair on Main Street, Georgetown where voluntary organisations from all across Guyana participated.

International Volunteer Day was designated by the United Nations to offer an opportunity for volunteers to make visible their contributions at local, national and international levels.

In Guyana, volunteers from all across the nation will observe this day through various charitable activities.

The volunteer fair aimed at providing an opportunity for voluntary organisations to educate the public about their work

and the impact they have made in people’s lives.

The fair also provided an opportunity for volunteers to meet and collaborate with stakeholders to work together for change in various aspects.

Over 20 volunteer organisations converged along Main Street, Georgetown to showcase their booths to the public.

Habitats for Humanity Volunteer Core’s Coordinator, Onika Stellingburg, was very excited to talk about the progress of the volunteers in the corp.

“For the year, we’ve done several things, one of which is a very large pedestrian painting project on the East Coast Demerara… for month to month we have different corporate volunteers coming on board

on building sites and they might help to build a home or just help a family in need.”

Additionally, Habitat for Humanity is encouraging vibrant persons to come onboard and volunteer.

“We offer training in a diverse set of areas such as first aid, community mobilization…”

Similarly, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) had its volunteer booth on display. Representative of the volunteer core, Olisa Peters, spoke to this publication about the commendable work they have been doing as it relates to teenage pregnancy.

portunity to display a volunteer’s role in moving Guyana forward.

“This event here today is to showcase the work of volunteers in Guyana, what we’ve been doing and to encourage other people to volunteer.”

In his remarks, Dr. Frank Anthony stated that he is pleased with the many partners who have joined, not just the MCYS but other agencies as well, in the promotion of volunteerism in Guyana. He highlighted that CUSO International has made an indelible contribution to the improvement of education in the hinterland regions.

Minister Anthony not-

Volunteers setting up their booth on Main Street, Georgetown for the Volunteer Fair

“Right now we have an integrated programme where we try to get teenage mothers and fathers back in school for educational courses.”

Peters also said they provide financial sponsorship for qualified persons.

Peters further noted that it is not practical to tell a teenager to abstain from sex because chances they will indulge nonetheless. She said the best thing to do is inform them of how they can protect themselves whilst engaging in sexual acts.

“We just can’t put a blind eye to sex and say that we’re too young to be having sex because its happening and what we need to do is target the problem and try to deal with it.”

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony noted that the event is the perfect op-

ed that while there is still a need for more people and agencies to get involved as volunteering is a good opportunity for people to take a pause in their schedules to help others in one way or another. The Minister emphasised that regardless of your status, background or age, everyone can volunteer.

“There is no discrimination in volunteering,” he said.

Minister Anthony also made a call for more schools to establish volunteer clubs in the schools as this gives students an opportunity to help their fellow students.

International Volunteer Day 2014 is themed “People’s participation make change happen, volunteer.”

As a famous quote from Winston Churchill says “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Police Officer arrested after caught with stolen car

APolice Officer has been placed under close arrest after a car which was stolen in June of this year was discovered in a yard at Fort Ordinance, Canje, Berbice on Friday.

On June 25, a white Primo bearing the number plate HC 3220 was stolen from Deo Persaud at John Smith Street, Campbellsville, Georgetown.

Since the vehicle was

carjacked, Police had been looking for the perpetrators of the crime and on Friday, acting on information, a team of investigators went to a home at Fort Ordinance where the vehicle was discovered.

According to Police sources, the vehicle was discovered minus the number plates.

A Police Officer was taken into custody, transferred to Georgetown and placed under close arrest to fascinate the investigation.

Younge’s Take Political gamesmanship

Weeks have passed since President Donald Ramotar took a decision to prorogue Parliament to create the platform for dialogue with the Opposition political parties aimed at securing the passage of several critical pieces of legislation which were before the House for consideration.

Sadly, the Opposition parties have refused to enter into any form of dialogue with the President while the Parliament remains prorogued. They have also rejected a number of proposals put forward by independent civil society groups, the Private Sector and labour organisations, which were aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing deadlock and political gamesmanship on both sides of the political divide.

Additionally, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have both vowed not to support any part of the Government’s legislative agenda when Parliament reconvenes. Instead, they have strengthened their collective resolve to proceed with the No-Confidence Motion against the Donald Ramotar administration, which if successful could trigger early Regional and General Elections.

It is also interesting to note that the posture of the two main Opposition parties suggests a lack of interest in dialogue with the President and any extra-Parliamentary solution to their bedevilled relations since the November 28, 2011 General Elections heralded a new dispensation.

It is therefore clear that the Opposition sees early elections as the only means of returning normalcy and calmness to the country’s political affairs, and as the only solution to the wide-ranging conflicts being experienced with Government.

APNU and AFC obviously believe that they will succeed jointly or separately at becoming the next Government, if early elections are called as a result of a successfully piloted No-Confidence Motion in the Legislature.

It appears too that these parties are confident that their perceived anti-corruption crusades, stance on issues in Parliament and articulation of policies have been effective to the point where they will win widespread support and cause a change in the Government at any future elections.

But this is not so. In fact, the false sense of consciousness demonstrated by the APNU/AFC grouping is likely to cost it at any upcoming election.

The leaders of both parties have failed to demonstrate the political maturity and statesmanship that are necessary to lead a modern Guyana in a very robust and dynamic global arena.

They have also failed to exhaust every other opportunity available to them, including the Judiciary, to seek recourse whenever they believe that Government is acting in an unlawful manner.

The APNU and AFC have single-handedly manufactured all of the controversy that have led to tension and anxiety in Guyana. They have inflicted grievous harm to Guyana’s Budget by cutting Government spending on key socioeconomic projects and budgetary allocations that could have led to massive improvements in the livelihoods of Guyanese.

Together they managed to block critical support for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project that could have revolutionised the country’s manufacturing sector.

Since 2011, the combined Opposition has launched an unprecedented assault on the country’s security forces, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and specific law enforcement bodies. They also sought to justify acts of criminals, while some of their prominent members have even gone as far as defending them in the halls of justice.

Both the APNU and AFC appear to be misreading the mood of the people like they did over the past decade. Gone are those days when it was easy to mislead people and steal votes. Guyanese are now more than in tune with the political happenings in their country and cannot be duped easily.

If the Opposition does not end their political gamesmanship, President Ramotar should call elections before the six-month prorogation period has ended in the interest of curtailing the Opposition’s pursuit of partisan agenda and revenge at all costs.

AFC leadership farce...

as

standoff...

boy” – PPP/C Govt insists small, medium-scale miners get concessions

Ramjattan, Hughes, Patterson and Nagamootoo return to helm unopposed

The Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Saturday accused the Alliance For Change (AFC) of using re-elected Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo as an “errand boy” in its campaign to steal PPP/C voters.

According to a release from the party, “Nagamootoo is highly unpopular within his party and would never be elected as the Presidential Candidate for the AFC were he to stand for such a high office at a convention of the AFC”.

The release went on to say that Nagamootoo and AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan “have conspired against upholding the pathway to elect the Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidate of the AFC at their Biennial Convention and have instead opted for the same pathway they had once openly rejected”. The party said too that because of the lack of support for Nagamootoo, the AFC’s strategy follows that of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU).

According to the PPP/C, this strategy is “to set up Nagamootoo to go for PPP/C votes knowing that Nigel Hughes is more popular within the AFC, but who will not succeed in wooing PPP/C voters. The strategy therefore is to set up Nagamootoo as the errand boy to woo PPP/C voters and then later to use him as the delivery boy to deliver whatever paltry votes the AFC may win to APNU with the hope of increasing

the joint Opposition’s votes at the upcoming elections.”

The PPP/C said that it is convinced that this strategy adopted by the AFC will fail and may even result in negative repercussions for not only the AFC but for the APNU as well.

“Further, it is to be recalled that prior to his failed attempt to win support for his “leadership or nothing” bid within the PPP/C, Nagamootoo had complained that the selection of the PPP/C’s Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates should have been done at a Congress of the Party,” the release said.

While this release came from the PPP/C, Ramjattan at the National Convention on Saturday morning told supporters that the party will be electing its Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates at a special conference.

Ramjattan stated that as a result of the configuration of the AFC constitution a special conference has to be held for the candidates to be nominated.

He told the AFC delegates that this conference would happen as soon as a date is announced by the President for General and Regional Elections.

At the AFC Convention on Saturday, Ramjattan, Chairman Nigel Hughes, General Secretary David Patterson, and Nagamootoo were all re-elected to their respective posts within the party.

According to information received from party officials, their nominations went unopposed at the Convention.

As the price of gold remains unsteady on the markets, and more gold miners contemplate their future in the mining sector, there is a virtual standoff between the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA).

dozers and other machinery used in the mining industry. These waivers on duty are available to new entrants to the sector and for current miners based on production levels” said a release from the Natural Resources Ministry and GGMC on Friday.

According to the release,

The GGMC and the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, in the face of calls for support to the mining sector over the past weeks, have pointed to several long term measures in place to support the industry.

This included the provision of duty free concessions to all miners for the import of vehicles to support their work such as All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). While this has been coming from the GGMC the GGDMA has made it clear that duty-free concessions only go to largescale miners and not the small and medium-scale mining community who are worst affected by the sharp decline in gold prices.

But the Government is standing by its position that duty-free concessions are filtered down to the small miners, but only on entry to the sector.

“Small and medium-scale operations benefit from duty free access to all terrain vehicles (ATV), excavators, bull-

the GGDMA is cognisant of the fact that the Ministry and the Commission have made representation for the implementation of the waivers on equipment and spares and this has been granted to the mining sector; “not just large-scale miners but also small and mediumscale miners.”

“Also position of the Association should be defined clearly as it regards the relief being sought on fuel. Given the request of the Association, the fuel licence was granted to allow for the cheaper importation of fuel. However, the position currently seems to be one where in addition to the Fuel Importation Licence, a reduction on the levy on fuel is also being sought” noted the release.

It was noted that discussions are ongoing with respect to the maintenance of hinterland infrastructure and ensuring that value for money expended is achieved. In this regard, a slew of approaches

are currently being carried out by the GGMC.

“The Commission is currently engaging the University of Guyana, the Institute of Applied Sciences, GGDMA and other stakeholders to identify feasible road designs and construction methods that can be adopted bearing the constraint of financial resources in mind.

Simultaneously, efforts are being made to implement the requisite Road Users’ Agreement for specific heavily traversed roads that are prone to destruction, since it is recognised that heavy usage of the road in wet conditions lead to damage and require continuous rehabilitation at significant cost.”

The GGDMA on Thursday said that while duty-free concessions should be available

the concessions are only extended to large-scale miners and not small and mediumscale.”

In the release, the mining body emphasised that while it was grateful for the current intervention initiatives put in place by the Government, there was need for more “immediate” relief to be provided to the sector.

Observers have already noted that at present the gold industry is in a crisis and is in need of an intervention on the part of the Government, but this has not been forthcoming.

The GGDMA pointed to several relief initiatives that could be implemented by the Government to save the sector from its downward spiral. These included: reduction of

to all miners, this was not the case. A release from the Association made it clear that the concessions only go to the large-scale miners.

“The Association perceives there have been a breakdown of communications as it refers to the Ministry statements on duty-free for spare parts on equipment, and the reduction of tax on fuel. For the record, these statements can be deemed partially accurate, but

rental payments by two per cent for small and mediumscale miners once the price for gold is less than US$1400 , duty-free allowances for spare parts, and reduction of the tax vis-à-vis the price of fuel.

The Association also called for the reconvening of the inter-ministerial task force that is supposed to meet, discuss and make recommendations to President Donald Ramotar on the mining sector.

Guyanese author Ryhaan Shah launches two novels

... published in UK

By Erica Williams

Weaving Water and A Death in the Family written by Guyanese author Ryhaan Shah have been released into the Guyanese populace.

The two books, published in the United Kingdom by Cutting Edge Press were launched in the presence of a large group of book lovers and well wishers at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, Georgetown on Friday.

Former University of Guyana Lecturer and Historian Pat Dyal said Shah is one of the only writers of her stature who have gotten their books published abroad and well received but has chosen to remain in Guyana despite

pressures to travel abroad.

He further explained that Shah’s work is unique to novels done by other Caribbean writers since she is the only Caribbean writer who has used a “complete mythology” – that of Hinduism in its entirety during her writing. Even writers like Derek Walcott, he noted, creolised Greek Mythology.

Shah’s work, though fictional, creates a sense of realism Dyal said, as he explained the context on her two novels.

In giving his synopsis on A Death in the Family, Dyal said it is a novel the Guyanese audience can relate to.

The plot of the novel can be delves into the life of the Muslim Indo-Guyanese in the past 30 years. It follows the

life of a young man who inherited his parents’ business and soon developed it into the biggest hardware store in the country.

A scenario similar to which many Indo-Guyanese can may have experienced, the character married a young woman, who was brilliant but not wealthy, and the saga unfolds…as the wife dies early and leaves four children. They all gather in Georgetown – from abroad and here – for his funeral and the undercurrents that had built up rise to the surface and are eventually resolved.

Weaving Water was published in 2013, and involves the Hindu world view with the motif of the Devi or God in the female form, while the

third novel written by Shah, A death in the Family was published in 2014. Shah studied in the United States and has a degree in journalism. For 20 years, she worked in the UK , US and the Cayman Islands as a journalist.

Her first novel is used in academia in Europe, the Caribbean and the US.

Shah explained that the idea for Weaving Water was conceptualised after a late friend of hers; Gaitree told her the story of her ajee (grandmother) who was born aboard

She explained that he coaxed her to incorporate the idea of the Gladstone family, a British family who brought Indian Labourers to Guyana during the 1900s. This aspect of the novel is expected to capture the English audience.

Shah said since her first novel A Silent Life was published in 2005, she thought it was due time for another

one of the last ships that came from India to Guyana to bring indentured labourers.

Shah thanked the “Madrassie” Pandit attached to the Mon Repos Mandir, John Chinapen, who filled in details of Madrasi beliefs and culture necessary for the characters of Bila Kotiah and his son Krish. Shah also thanked former Member of Parliament Ravi Dev for significant contributions to details in this novel.

Persaud said in order to successfully publish a book in Guyana, writers must unfortunately be well “connected” to a local coterie. However, Shah said she faced challenges in acquiring a publisher in the UK.

She explained that after sending samples of her work to nine publishers, when she thought it was the end of the

novel. She felt it is well-justified to have two novels entering the market consecutively after nine years of rest. A silent life was described by local artist Bernadette Persaud as “lyrical”.

Persaud received high praises for successfully designing the covers of all three novels and pointed to the challenges faced by local writers. She lauded Shah for being able to acquire a UK publisher.

rope, her work was finally accepted. “When we got him, my editor was saying to him that he has to take both books. At this stage I thought ‘we are going to lose the cutlass and the guana’ but he took both. It just takes one publisher to say yes.”

There’s hope, remain positive – HIV victim urges

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

For 25-year-old

Jane Doe, living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is extremely difficult.

“It’s not easy living a life you do not want, a life you did not choose; a life people hate you for living, a life followed by constant fatigue, criticism, condemnation, a life that makes you not want to live. As a child, we are often told to ignore the monster under our beds. As adults, we are often told we need to face the demons in your closets.”

was in a lonesome trance like a lonely ranger wandering through an open space.

“I quit my job. I gave up. I hated everything around me. I hated him. All the memories that were kept in the corner of my mind have just exploded inside my head.”

After the first test, Jane was required to return for another series of test in the latent period.

The test was repeated and it was confirmed that she was HIV positive even after the latent period.

“I remember standing, looking at the letter and telling myself that it meant

It’s extremely difficult for her to talk about her monsters, because no matter how hard she tries, those monsters can never be ignored and they will always be a reminder of the life she never wanted.

Jane, who was an office assistant at the time, was diagnosed with HIV when she was 24 years old.

“I was blank and lost. I know the tears just rolled down my cheeks because I lost all hope,” Jane sobbed.

The young lady said she constantly thought about how to break the news to her family and friends. She also spent a lot of time worrying about how they would react.

“I can still remember clearly how I went down on the floor screaming loudly and crying,” Jane painfully remembered when the results were handed to her.

For the first three months, Jane explained she

nothing, that I was no different today than I had been the day before…it was still me.”

Jane received extensive counseling, which helped to restore her faith. She constantly acknowledged her influential counselor who always helped her see the light at the end of the long and gloomy tunnel.

“At first, post-test counseling seemed a bit pointless,” Jane said, but after time elapsed, she decided to try it and it worked in her favour.

Jane was hesitant about describing the challenges she faced and the struggles she endured during the period after diagnosis to now.

No one likes to wake the monsters under their beds.

Nevertheless, she mentioned that she locked herself away from the world and was adamant about being left alone.

“All my friendships were ruined. I had no one. I locked myself in my room many days. Sometimes I still sit in the corner of my bed, burying my face in my hands, thinking it will keep me away from the haunts of my illness.”

Jane said it was an awful experience when she broke the news to her parents. She felt like a black hole had consumed her.

However, the young lady noted that her mother never flinched at the news.

“She kept, just saying ‘never mind love, just live life as healthy as possible’.”

Jane broke down in tears.

She noted that her dad was hurting, even though he tried to be positive about the situation; she knew he was disappointed and that he was hurting.

“My dad was visibly heartbroken that his baby might die before him. I felt like I had really let them down,” she tearfully related.

Jane said it was hard adjusting to the reality, but she had quite a lot of support from her family and the few friends she had remained.

“I know that they (her family) are intensely proud now that I lived beyond society’s scorn and hate. Society approach and reaction is basically the biggest culprit in a victim’s life…My little family has given me back the courage and the reason to stand back up, breathe and keep on walking forward.”

For Jane, there is definitely some truth in the saying ‘blood is thicker than water’. While Jane’s family was completely supportive, her friends were callous critics who fell into the pit with the majority of society who embolden the stigma and discrimination of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

“I lost all my friends. They didn’t talk want to talk to me… the news spread like wildfire after my single confession to my best friend.”

Jane said at first, no one wanted to talk to her, sit

with her or touch her.

“Words were thrown to me like stones,” Jane dismayed.

Jane said its hard reflecting on life without the disease, noting that she had many friends but now she has a mere few. Jane said this reality hurts the most than anything else.

Recovery

Today Jane is engaged, to a man she describes as very compassionate and supportive of her condition.

“I wanted to move on and be honest, so I told him the truth. He knew everything,” Jane said.

“He is the most understanding person in my life and he said to me that he doesn’t care what people say he is going to always support me and I trust his words.”

Jane said she was ashamed of her status but now she has accepted the truth and is on her recovery journey.

“I won’t lie about it. It’s my truth and I’m living my truth.”

Jane currently has to take antiretroviral drugs two times a day. She noted that the drugs are available at the Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinic.

“You must also eat healthy and sleep well. The most important thing you can do is to see a physician or go to the health department, take your pills and believe.”

Her advice to persons living with HIV/AIDS is to follow the instructions for a healthy lifestyle and most importantly, do not seek revenge.

Guyana Heritage Society to launch book on Brickdam Cathedral

– celebrating 100 years

The Guyana Heritage Society continues to lead the way in preserving the nation’s heritage with the launch of a new publication, “From Ashes to Ferro-Concrete: A History of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 1924-2014”.

The publication, which coincides with the celebration of the Cathedral’s 100 anniversary, will be launched on December 8 and will be available for purchase from the Society for $3800.

The book was written by Dr Joanne CollinsGonsalves and tells the story of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, one of Guyana’s most historic buildings.

The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, better known as the Brickdam Cathedral, is the only Roman Catholic cathedral in Georgetown.

The structure was one of the first steel-reinforced concrete buildings that were constructed in British Guiana in the 1920s. The building, a Romanesque architectural style, is 200 feet long and 1000 feet wide, and was designed by one Leonard Stokes.

The publication is the latest launch by the Society, and follows a long list of rare and out-of-print books to be reprinted by the Society, including The Twelve Views of the Interior of Guiana, Story of Georgetown and The History of Victoria Village

The Guyana Heritage Society is a non-governmental organisation open to all persons who interested in the promotion and preservation of Guyana’s Heritage. The Guyana Heritage Society can be contacted on telephone number 226-3139.

Central Bank ramps up monetary regulations

- to bolster financial system

By Tajeram mohaBir

The Bank of Guyana in 2015 will roll out a three-year strategic plan, designed to scaleup monetary regulations to maintain and enhance the soundness of its financial system.

Speaking with Guyana Times in a recent interview, newly-appointed Central Bank Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga said the plan, the first of its kind, will coincide with the bank’s 50th anniversary.

The visionary document, put together by staff of the bank, with the input of the Directors, and Dr Ganga, who played an instrumental role in the process, is results-based.

Dr Ganga said Guyana has enjoyed a stable financial system, and for the banks, it has been one that is highly liquid, profitable and solvent, and the new plan will build on these positive indicators.

This aside, the plan also addresses issues relating to anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism, but notwithstanding, the Central Bank Governor urged parliamentarians to arrive at a consensus, sooner rather than later, allowing for the passage of the vital legislation currently before the House.

This, Dr Ganga said, is imperative in protecting Guyana from being blacklisted by the FATF, noting that the global reputational risk would significantly impact national growth, balance of payment, exchange rate and transacting business both within the economy and externally.

Guyana has been given an extended deadline of September 2015 to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, which has been held up in Parliament.

The held up has been largely due to feet-dragging and some unreasonable demands from the combined Opposition, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Scores of persons from civil society, the business community and regional or-

ganisations have implored parliamentarians here to green light the legislation to protect both the local and regional financial architecture.

Dr Ganga on Friday echoed these calls, noting that the non-passage of the amendments to the Principal Act of the AntiMoney Laundering Bill will have a devastating impact on the economy as trading partners will not want to do business with Guyana.

The local economy, he said has been doing well, enjoying sustained growth, mainly due to prudent financial management, which in part has resulted in Guyana achieving an inflation rate of around 1.2 per cent.

Low inflation means more disposable income in the pockets of the citizenry, which means they are able to purchase more.

Positive outlook

Dr Ganga said the lowered price levels experienced during the past 11 months, are expected to continue during the Christmas period, allowing everyone, whether they are rich or poor, to enjoy a high level of disposable income.

An important term in economics is liquidity, which speaks to money supply. With excess money supply, there is excess aggregate demand and excess aggregate demand results in an increase in price levels, causing high levels of inflation.

This is not good for the economy of any country, and Guyana has been able to be on top, in managing to avoid a situation of high of inflation.

Coming back to the sub-

ject of liquidity, Dr Ganga explained that Government does not control the economic variable, pointing out that it is done by the Central Bank.

“Essentially, what we do, we target a certain per cent of money supply in the system that will be conducive and allow for growth and development,” the Central Bank Governor told Guyana Times

He explained that excess liquidity is sterilised, absorbed from the system to the issuance of Treasury Bills, noting that these bills are essentially Government’s Treasury Bills.

Government has sequestered some $90 billion to control excess liquidity, and over the past decade, Dr Ganga said it has cost the Government around some $20 billion.

He disclosed that this figure has been reduced significantly since the mid-1990s when in excess of $5 billion was sent in terms of interest costs and absorbing liquidity. In 2014, the cost is around $1.4 billion.

The bank has also been investing foreign reserves in government-backed securities that are highly credible and are A and above in rating.

“We are very conservative, at no one time we try to put investment in securities that will result in a loss, Dr Ganga said.

Currently, the bank keeps about 15 per cent of its reserve in gold, earning an interest on the holding.

He explained that gold has seasonality, pointing out that the holding of gold is very low cost from what the bank would have acquired it from the Guyana Gold Board.

The drop in gold prices, he said will not affect the bank in any way as gold held over a period of time will ensure a larger return.

Overall, he said, to ensure sound monetary policy and an efficacious fiscal policy, the Finance Ministry plays a coordinating role with the Central Bank.

This relationship, Dr Ganga explained, is vital in ensuring growth and development in terms of spending.

16-year-old remanded on robbery under arms charge

A16-year-old Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam teen was on Friday remanded when he appeared in a New Amsterdam Court before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver on a charge of robbery under arms.

The teenager who told the court that he does not attend school and has been before the court before on similar offences, is alleged to have used a cutlass while

in the company of others to rob Zabair Baksh. Baksh is a pump attendant attached to M. Ali Service Station.

The teen allegedly relieved Baksh of one cellular phone valued at $3500 and $7000 cash.

The incident is alleged to have been committed on December 3, 2014.

The accused who had his mother present in court as the charge was

GPF recruits given early Christmas treat

The Guyana Police Force on Thursday hosted its annual luncheon for recruits attached to the Felix Austin Police College at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown. The activity is part of the Force’s Christmas celebrations. More than 100 young men and women were pampered with goodies at the event attended by acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Similar luncheons will be held at the various Police departments. The ranks were served with scrumptious meals by the Minister, acting Commissioner and other senior ranks attached to the Felix Austin Training College.

Agricola church gives back to community

The Agricola Seventh Day Adventist Church on Saturday hosted a community health fair under the theme “Our Community, Our Health, Our Future” in an effort to enhance the image of the community and give back to its residents.

The church hopes to make the event a regular practice, as it changes the way the public views the community while improving the lives of residents.

message,” Fourth Elder of the Church Milton Smith noted.

Services that were

were made possibly by generous donations and support from various agencies, including the Davis Memorial Hospital, Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre, National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), among others.

Residents were extremely grateful for this opportunity and expressed gratitude to the church and their supporting partners for the wonderful service.

“This is good for the community. It’s helping the old ones and the young ones, everyone. They’re coming together and living in love and unity. It’s so good. I think they should do this more often,” a resident from the area remarked.

read to him, told the court that he lived with his step father and mother, did not go to school but worked in the fishing industry.

Magistrate Weaver told him that he was being remanded to a juvenile facility in Georgetown but will have to return to court on Monday. Upon hearing that, his mother walked out of court, leaving the teen to the police officers at hand.

“We’re hoping with this programme, we can make an indelible impact into this community so that changes can come for the better,” Second Elder of the Church Levi Adams stated.

Instead of holding an ordinary sermon, the church decided to host a health fair, noting that they want to “be the message” they usually deliver at previous services.

“We’re accustomed to coming out to church every Saturday and sitting down in church and listening to a message but today’s activity, we are being the actual

available at the fair were blood pressure and diabetes testing, pharmaceutical services, dental checkups, doctors’ checkups, HIV testing and counselling, advice on health and nutrition, among others. All the services offered

“As Christians, we are supposed to be setting different examples to the community and this is one way in which we are reaching out to the communities medically,” Dr Greene from the Linden Hospital Complex noted.

Petra Girls U-11 football…

Enterprise girls chalk up 3-0 victories

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Thwarted by bad weather over the past

two weekends, the Petra Girls Under-11 football competition for primary schools in Georgetown enjoyed a full day’s action on Saturday with seven of the scheduled nine games being played at the Education Ministry ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Two games did not materialise after Smith’s Memorial failed to honour their match times with Stella Maris and Tucville. Undoubtedly, the bubbling ballweavers from Enterprise Primary were the stars of the day, churning out identical 3-0 victories over South Ruimveldt and St Margaret’s. Aaliyah Elaine was the golden girl for Enterprise

Primary, blasting in a hattrick in the victory over South Ruimveldt. She scored in the 1st, 20th and 29th minutes.

Elaine would go one to score another in the win over St Margaret’s, netting in the 13th minute to play the supporting role to Alliana George, who led the way with a double. George was on target in the 7th and 16th minutes.

GFA Banks Beer Cup… Alpha United decimate Black Water 17-0

Every team at the start of a competition would harbour thoughts of being the one to come out victorious at the end of it all.

It’s only natural to have that feeling before the action gets going, but that’s just an aspiration, as when reality steps in, it can be treacherous. That’s exactly the situation Black Watera virtual unknown on the football circuit- and its players found themselves after the opening night of the fourth annual Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Cup.

There was nothing celebratory about TGIF for Black Water, as they were completely overwhelmed, decimated actually, losing 0-17 against arguably the country’s leading football club, Alpha United, at the GDF ground.

Goals flew left, right and centre and only the sound of the final whistle saved Black Water from further embarrassment. For Alpha United, the victory came as no surprise, but it was the margin that may have shocked many.

Never before had a team conceded 17 goals in the short history of the com-

petition, and though Black Water have a chance at improving in the other two games of the round-robin stage, it would be a tough task to rebound from such humiliation.

Dwain Jacobs led the onslaught with a haul of six goals, while Daniel Wilson and Jahaal Greaves etched their names on the score sheets with four goals apiece.

Jacobs opened the scoring in the 6th minute and added another five in the 28th, 56th, 58th, 60th and 83rd, while Wilson netted in the 18th, 22nd, 33th and 70th and Greaves scored

in the 44th, 55th, 64th and 82nd minutes.

Wayne Ellis (13th), Jacob Stephenson (75th) and Jamal Codrington (90th) managed to add one each amid the carnage by their three teammates.

In the main game of the night, Police arrested Northern Rangers 3-1.

Rawle Haynes netted a double for the lawmen, scoring in the 2nd and 6th minutes, while Andy Gillis scored the other in the 86th. Northern Rangers’ lone goal came off the boot of Shawn McCalman in the 35th minute.

F.E. Pollard got the second largest margin of victory on the day, beating Stella Maris 2-0. On target for the victors were Jealena Rollins and Omefia Langellier in the 3rd and 18th minutes respectively.

South Ruimveldt needled St Pius 1-0 with Keiara Phillips finding the back of the goal, while the other games all ended in stalemates.

St Pius and St Margaret’s played to a 1-1 draw with Makayla Eman (3rd) scoring for St Pius and Crystal Newton (19th) netting for the former, while East La Penitence and St Stephen’s tussled to a similar result.

Alliyah Collymore (26th) of East La Penitence and Odelli Stranghn (28th) of St Stephen’s were the scorers. The other game of the day,

featuring West Ruimveldt and North Georgetown, ended in a nil-all draw. The competition will continue next Saturday with another round of matches. The tournament is collaborative effort of the Petra Organisation, Ansa McAl Trading under its Smalta brand, the Health and Education Ministries and Health 2000 (Guyana) Inc.

Singh’s maiden...

Resuming the day at 271, the Guyanese progressed to 84 before Hetymer was bowled by Imran Khan.

The other overnight batsman Chandrika, who was batting with absolute comfort, was joined by the in-form Deonarine and together they pushed the total to 115.

During that period, the right-handed Chandrika brought up his half-century, but perished on the stroke of lunch when he was caught at silly mid-off by Yannick Ottley off Akeal Hosein. The Guyanese added 88 runs during that session and were trailing the Red Force first innings by 83 runs.

Deonarine picked out Ottley who took a brilliant catch to give Hosein his second scalp.

The hosts then watched the diminutive Singh and

all-rounder Reifer consolidated the visitor’s supremacy.

Singh reached his third half-century at this level before the Jaguars surpassed the Red Force’s first innings total.

At tea, the Jaguars were well placed at 218-4, with Singh on 68 and Reifer on

27, an overall lead of

runs.

for most part

by Daniel St Clair just before stumps. Hosein (2-52), Emrit (1-28), St Clair (1-44) and Khan (1-71) have been the successful bowlers for the Red Force so far.

Suriname’s bodybuilder to guest pose at Flex Night

Suriname’s first IFBB professional bodybuilder, Eddy Wilson, who is visiting Flex Night as the coach of two of the Suriname’s Miss Bikini competitors, will give a brief posing exhibition tonight at the National Cultural Centre.

That decision will give a large number of Wilson’s local admirers the opportunity to witness live his phenomenal thighs and muscular proportion in posing motion.

This is just one of the several treats lined up for patrons of Flex Night, which is set to commence at 18:00 hours.

Representation at the final bodybuilding event of the year will come from Buddy’s Gym; Extreme Fitness; Fitness Paradise; Fitness Zone; Genesis Fitness;

House of Pain; Precision Body Max; Republicans Flex-In Gym; Skeldon Community Centre; Tej Mohall, Skeldon; Top End Fitness Centre; Universal Barbell Club, Linden; and Suriname.

The males will compete in the Men’s Physique, which will be an Open category; the bodybuilding segment would see competition in the following weight classes: Under-143 lbs, Under-154 lbs, Under-165 lbs, Under-176 lbs and Over176 lbs.

On the distaff side, there will be the Miss Bikini for the ‘short’ and ‘tall’ classes of athletes, with the benchmark being 5’4”. There will also be the Miss Best Legs, which is an Open division.

Tickets are on sale at $1500 each.

Ronaldo breaks hat-trick record in Real win

Cristiano Ronaldo set two personal milestones as he led Real Madrid to a recordequalling 18th-straight win on a historic night at the Bernabeu.

The Portugal forward has now scored more hattricks than any other La Liga player after completing his 23rd treble with his 200th Spanish top-flight goal.

He put Madrid ahead by drilling in a disputed penalty, after he had been fouled under seemingly minimal contact.

And his clinical volley and guided finish moved Real four points clear with a 3-0 win.

Ronaldo, who is the favourite to win the 2014 Ballon d’Or for his performances this year, was given a standing ovation as he was substituted towards the end of another memorable performance.

The 29-year-old had scored the same amount of hat-tricks as legendary Madrid forward Alfredo Di Stefano and Telmo Zarra of Athletic Bilbao, and eclipsed their tallies when he steered in Marcelo’s cross. And it also meant he reached his second centu -

ry of La Liga goals in his 178th match for Real.

Ronaldo illuminated the Bernabeu in the final stages of what had been a largely uninspiring performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s side against mid-table Celta.

Celta shaded possession against their illustrious rivals, but failed to have a

meaningful shot on target at Iker Casillas’ goal.

And Ronaldo took advantage to fire Madrid to their 18th successive victory in all competitionsmatching the Spanish record set by Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona between October 2005 and January 2006. (BBC Sport)

Windies will come out swinging, warns Williams

With pundits already writing off West Indies’ chances against World number one South Africa, assistant coach Stuart Williams has warned the Caribbean side will not simply roll over and play dead.

West Indies languish at number eight in the Test team rankings and have been given virtually no chance of winning the threeTest series which bowls off December 17 in Centurion.

But Williams said the Windies had already acknowledged the tough nature of their assignment and were ready to make their mark on the series.

“We have come here to compete. Obviously we have our hands full. It is a tough task playing against South Africa at home,” Williams told reporters here.

“They are the number one team but we’re not going to come here and lay down. We are coming to play some positive cricket and we want to win.”

To beat the Proteas, West Indies will also have to defy the weight of history. Not since the one-off Test in the Caribbean have they defeated South Africa in a series. Further, they have won just one of 12 Tests on South African soil, losing ten and drawing one.

However, Williams said there was a strong determination among the group to do well, and said the presence of experienced former players like Sir Richie Richardson and Sir Curtly Ambrose on the management team, would play a key role on the tour.

“Having Ambi and Richie here … helps the guys with their self-belief, commitment and discipline and that sort of stuff,” said Williams.

“Our management team and everyone are working together to make this tour a successful tour.”

West Indies have already been setback by the withdrawal of superstar opener Chris Gayle, who

is one of two players in the squad with over 100 Tests, and Darren Bravo, who has emerged as one of the mainstays of the batting in recent years.

They have been replaced by Devon Smith who averages an unflattering 24 from 33 Tests and Assad Fudadin, who played the last of this three Tests nearly 2-1/2 years ago.

Williams, however, remained positive West Indies could overcome these challenges.

“When you have a young team missing Chris Gayle and Bravo it is always going to be a difficult task but it is an opportunity for the younger guys to put up their hands and perform,” Williams contended.

“It is fortunate for us that we are coming out of the first class cricket [in the Caribbean]. Kraigg Brathwaite he got a hundred, Devon Smith he got a hundred under his belt … (Jermaine) Blackwood, (Leon) Johnson, these guys are young and upcoming batsmen [and will be looking to do well], and what better place to come and play than South Africa.”

He added: “All in all, things are looking up. We just want to ease into the tour, ease into the first three-day game and into the Test.”

Man City close gap on Chelsea

Manchester City moved to within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea after a hardearned 1-0 win over Everton at the Etihad Stadium.

Yaya Toure’s penalty, after Phil Jagielka was controversially adjudged to have fouled James Milner, secured a fourth straight league win.

But the victory came at a cost as key striker Sergio Aguero made a tearful early exit with a knee injury.

Everton had their chances, with Romelu Lukaku denied brilliantly by Joe Hart.

City’s fourth straight league

win leaves Manuel Pellegrini’s men breathing down Chelsea’s neck five weeks after finding themselves 11 points behind the Premier League leaders.

But victory came at a cost.

They will already be without suspended midfielder Toure for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League tie at Roma, while captain Vincent Kompany is struggling with a hamstring injury and David Silva is recovering from a knee problem.

Now Aguero may be missing after the Premier League’s top scorer limped off against Everton. (BBC Sport)

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Akshaya Persaud recounts beneficial CPL experience

During last year’s Caribbean Premier League, a new concept was introduced whereby four promising Under-19 players were afforded the opportunity to train with the six franchises. West Demerara’s all-rounder

Akshaya Persaud was one of the four selected by the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and today the talented young man reflects on his experience mingling with some of cricket’s biggest names.

On being selected: When I was selected to be part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad, I was overjoyed. I was aware of my selection when I was in school writing my CSEC examination. It was two days before I finished my exams when I was made aware of my selection. At school, all my friends and teachers were very excited and surprised and many of them didn’t expect me to be selected for the team at an early age (16 years). My friends were more excited than I was when they heard the news. They gave me best wishes and my teachers gave me lots of advice. My parents were very happy when they heard and I knew that I made them very proud. Also, my relatives and my friends were very happy.

The experience: My journey with the Guyana Amazon Warriors started on June 30 and ended on the July 20. All the players had to join the team on June 30 for the start of the camp on July 1.

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was at the same point at the end of every training session. The activity which I enjoyed and loved the most during the training camp was the ice bath after every training session. We had to sit in the bath tub, which was filled with ice and water for seven minutes. The first day I went in the tub I felt like jumping out, because it was really cold, but the teammates were encouraging me a lot and they said not to worry about the pain, because the time will be over soon.

The training started off tough for the first few days and as the camp was coming to a close the training became less tough. During the tough training, each and every Warrior of the team was motivating each other so that the team is at one level. The most amazing thing was that the senior players were always encouraging the other players so that the team

After the first day experience with the ice bath, it was very easy for me for the rest of the camp. I really enjoyed those seven challenging minutes in the bath tub.

Also during the training camp, we had game simulation sessions in the evening and some in the afternoon. During those sessions I learnt a lot from the senior players. In the game simulation sessions, we were giving a total to achieve in a certain amount of overs. I learnt

Windward Islands Volcanoes, replying to Barbados Pride’s 352, were 151-2 in their first innings at the close on the second day of their fourth round match in the WICB Professional Cricket League at Arnos Vale on Saturday. Barbados 352 (Roston Chase 120 not out, Shai Hope 50, Omar Philips 38 ret. hurt, Carlos Brathwaite 29, Jonathan Carter 25; Alston Bobb 3-89, Kenroy Peters 2-62, Shane Shillingford 2-110) Windwards 1512 (Johnson Charles 79 not out, Andre Fletcher 35 not

out, Tyrone Theophile 20; Jomel Warrican 2-33). Leeward Islands Hurricanes, trailing by 119 on first innings, were 1556 in their second innings at the close on the second day at Sabina Park. Jamaica 222 (Nikita Miller 62, Damian Jacobs 41; Gavin Tonge 5-57, Orlando Peters 4-44) Leeward Islands 103 (Wilden Cornwall 20; Damian Jacobs 5-27, David Bernard Jr 2-10) and 155-6 (Montcin Hodge 58, Lyndell Richardson 36, Jahmar Hamilton 27 not out, Nikita Miller 3-23, Damian Jacobs 3-29)

how to approach different situations of the game differently and at very important time of the game.

Another thing I will cherish is bowling and batting against both the local and overseas players. Firstly, bowling against Martin Guptill, Mohammed Hafeez, Lendl Simmons and Denesh Ramdin was like a dreaming come through for me. All of them are sensational batsmen. Also, not forgetting the local batsmen like Christopher Barnwell, Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs and Trevon Griffith. Secondly, batting against the bowlers, both local and overseas, was awesome. The bowlers didn’t give me a chance to settle down and I enjoyed the challenge. Thirdly, I will cherish the advice and encouragement that I received from Veerasammy Permaul. He encouraged me a lot during my time with the team and he gave me some vital bowling tips, since both of us are left-arm spinners.

The Warriors man-

agement: Being part of the Warriors squad was a dream come through for me at a very early age. The Coach Roger Harper helped me a lot during that period of time. He gave me a lot of vital tips in my batting and bowling, and also fielding. The Manager Omar Khan is the best team manager I have ever come across. He also did his job and ensured that the players were also comfortable and had no problems to deal with. Not forgetting the captain, Denesh Ramdin, he is a very good captain. Also, he’s the best captain I had ever played under and he’s always thinking of another idea in the case of one not being executed properly. He always keeps calm in any situation, which I admire the most. Not forgetting the legend, Sir Curtly Ambrose. He shared a lot of his memorable games with us. The rest of the management was very helpful and kind towards me.

Special thanks: I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who helped me throughout my cricketing career. I would like to thank my parents, who played a very important role in my career, my friends, my school Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Cornelia Ida Cricket Club, West Demerara Cricket Association, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, my relatives and other family members and also the Management of the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad and Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, the franchise owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and not forgetting my coach, Rabindranauth Seeram, who has been at my side from a very early age and who has guided me in every step of my cricketing career. My next goal is to be part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team as a member, playing in the Caribbeal Premier League.

DMW International Indoor Hockey Festival...

Old Fort upstage GCC 7-4 in Men’s action

The Old Fort men’s hockey team produced their second thrilling performance in as many nights when they upstaged GCC by 7-4 as the Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival continued on Friday evening at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The Pepsi Hikers maintained their unbeaten run with a 5-0 victory over the Under-19s, while Renegades chalked up their first win at the hands of Saints. The GCC Tigers cruised to a 5-0 win over Spice in the Ladies division, while the Hikers Ladies defeated the Old Fort Shooting Stars 5-1.

Both Veteran matches of the evening were settled in the final minute as the Hickers maintained their unbeaten run with a 4-3 victory over Carib Hockey Club of Trinidad and Old Fort completed a 4-3 come-frombehind win over GCC.

Old Fort threw two goals on the board before the half in their high-paced and entertaining duel with GCC in the Men’s division. A Chris Low-Koan field goal and an Aderemi Simon penalty corner goal, while his team was down a man due to a yellow card, separated the teams at the half.

GCC came out pressing hard in the second period and it only took two minutes for Orland Semple to complete a fine string of passing by the Bourda side with a goal to pull them back within one. GCC produced sev-

eral opportunities that were thwarted by brilliant goalkeeping from national player Tony Cole in goal for Old Fort.

Old Fort however, in absorbing the GCC onslaught, executed a brilliant counterattacking play that saw Captain Chris Low, high in the left corner, hammer home a first time shot with surgical precision. Old Fort would move further ahead through Jason DoSantos, but despite the now 4-1 score line, GCC seemed to be determined to close the gap.

A plethora of goals would fill the final six minutes of play as GCC’s Alan Fernandes scored a penalty corner and Aderemi Simon replied for Old Fort. Stephen Xavier scored for

GCC in the 35th minute and John Abrams gave a reply. In the penultimate minute, a skilful spin and fire from Old Fort’s Stephon King sealed the deal and GCC’s penalty corner goal by Xavier in the final minute would be far too little to catch Old Fort leaving them the 7-4 victors.

The highly anticipated clash between the Pepsi Hikers and the Under-19 Men’s sides produced a result of experience over exuberance.

With both teams beginning patiently like two prize fighters assessing each other in the opening rounds, it would take until two minutes into the second half before Captain Robert France could put the national champions, the Hikers, on the

No damage to Phillips after head blow

The Barbados Pride players were breathing a collective sigh of relief on Saturday.

That’s because a CT Scan done on the brain of Barbadian opening batsman Omar Phillips on Saturday came up negative for any damage, after he was struck at the back of the head and rendered unconscious while representing his country.

Phillips, 28, was at the crease in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League

match between the Pride and the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex when he was injured.

Phillips was at the nonstriker’s end, and his part-

ner Shai Hope played an aggressive shot which blasted off his bat and slammed into the batman’s skull. Phillips was wearing a helmet, but fell unconscious to the ground. (windiescricket)

score sheet.

As the match wore on however, the Under-19s seemed to wear down and the superior quality of the Hikers was evident as they smashed home four more goals to secure a 5-0 win.

The Renegades and Saints squared off in the final match of the Men’s division with each team trying to secure their first points. The Renegades managed to achieve their first success of the competition with a 4-2 victory in the end. Young Dylan Francis of Trinidad was the high scorer of the match with a double to close out Saints.

The GCC Tigers managed to record their second convincing win of the competition, this time over Spice 5-0. Sisters Kerensa

Fernandes, with the opening double, and Sonia Jardine, with a hat-trick, were too much for the Spice defence to handle. Despite their lack of goals, Spice put in a creditable performance with young striker Aliyah Gordon proving to be a handful for the Tigers’ defence.

The Hikers Ladies secured their first win of the competition at the expense of the Old Fort Shooting Stars with a 5-1 victory.

Former national Amanda Garnett led the scores with a hat-trick, while teammates Makeda Harding and Tekeisha Deleon chipped in with one apiece. Old Fort’s Carol Caine managed to salvage a lone goal for the Stars in the dying minutes.

The Veteran division saw two exciting and competi-

tive matches for the evening. The Carib hockey club of Trinidad surprised the defending champions, Hickers with an opening goal in just the third minute of play, but the Hickers soon corrected the score in their favour going into the half with a 2-1 lead. Scores were drawn at 3-3 until the final seconds when Jerazano Bell let fly a ferocious penalty corner shot high into the Carib net for the win. GCC seemed once again the victim of complacency as their 3-1 lead by half time would be squandered by some sloppy defence in the closing minutes. With the teams tied at 3-3, Old Fort’s Ivor Thompson found himself unmarked in the GCC circle for the easy put away and a 4-3 victory.

Atkinson makes history with World title

Jamaican star Alia Atkinson wrote her name in history on Saturday, storming to victory in the 100m breaststroke in World record time at the World Short-course Championships, to become the first black woman to hold a global title.

The 25-year-old stunned defending champion and World record holder, Ruta Meilutyte, touching the wall first in a time of one minute, 2.36 seconds ahead of the fast-finishing Lithuanian.

Meilutyte was timed at 1:02.46, missing out on becoming the first woman to successfully defend the 100m breaststroke title.

Moniek Nijhuis of the Netherlands clocked 1:04.03

Banks Classic basketball bounces off today

Tto take bronze.

Atkinson’s time also shattered the championship record of 1:02.43 set by Meilutyte during Friday’s semi-finals.

“I couldn’t believe it! It came down to the same thing as the 50 and on the 50 I got out-touched so in my

click. It took a while!” Meilutyte looked the favourite to successfully defend her title when she took an early lead with Atkinson in strong pursuit, and was ahead at the half-way point. However, Atkinson closed quickly off the final turn and just got up in time

Alia Atkinson was in ripping form on Saturday

The Banks DIH Classic Basketball tournament, organised by sports enthusiast Vibert “Town Man” Garrett, will be played on a roundrobin basis at the group stages with the top two teams in each group emerging to con-

he Banks DIH Classic basketball tournament for teams in Berbice will begin today on the Corentyne. The opening game of the three-week tournament is set for the Area ‘H’ Court in Rose Hall Town. The tournament will bring together the top six teams in Berbice, playing in two groups. Today Fyrish Black Sharks will be the visiting team when they take on Rose Hall Jammers in a Group ‘A’ match-up. Canje Knights is the other team in that group, while Group ‘B’ will consists of Smythfield Rockers, Ithaca Hardliners of West Berbice and New Amsterdam Warriors.

test the semi-finals. The winners will meet on December 26 in the final.

Both the winner and runner-up teams will receive cash incentives along with medals. A trophy will also be presented to the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

mind I went straight back to that,” said Atkinson, who celebrates her 26th birthday next Thursday.

“I just thought ‘oh okay’ and looked up at the board and it didn’t really click yet and then it really started to

to beat Meilutyte, to create the upset.

Atkinson is a three-time Olympian and was good enough to finish fourth in the 100m breaststroke at London 2012 in a time of 1:06.93.

Skipper Vishual Singh plundered a career-defining hundred with a dominant batting display, putting the Guyana Jaguars in a superior position against hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on the second day of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League fourth round match at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.

Singh fulfilled his immense promise with an unbeaten 115- his maiden hundred- to help the visitors build a first innings lead of 102, at the close on the second day.

Opener Rajendra Chandrika, a graduate of the Sagicor West Indies High performance Centre, enhanced his reputation with a resolute 60, Barbados’ Raymond Reifer made 58, while Shimron

Hetmyer and Narsingh Deonarine made 31 and 23 respectively to underline the Guyana Jaguars’ dominance.

The Guyana Jaguars, after bowling out Trinidad and Tobago Red Force for 198 just after the tea interval on day one, closed on 300-5.

The partnership between Singh and Reifer had worth 146 for the fifth wicket.