Caribbean Times International

Guyanese head to the polls on May 11

…GECOM says will be ready

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Guyanese will head to the polls on May 11 this year after President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday announced that date for the country’s first snap elections.

The President’s announcement of the date for General and Regional Elections is in keeping with his promise to do so within the first quarter of 2015 after he took a bold decision to prorogue parliament last November.

The President has already informed the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) of the elections date and they have assured him that they will be in a state of readiness to ensure that the elections are held in a free and fair manner.

Speaking during a pre-recorded address to the nation, Ramotar said he had hoped that the prorogation would have allowed for more dialogue and an easing of tensions within the society.

He explained that he also wanted to the opposition political parties which hold a one-seat majority to “constructively engage the government” during the period

of prorogation.

Noting that he has always acted in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, President Ramotar said that the opportunities that were possible during the period were not seized by the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) which together hold a one-seat majority in the 65-seat legislature.

“The parliamentary opposition adopted an inflexible position that they will not engage with me until parliament is reconvened. I had hoped that they would have reconsidered this unpro-

ductive posture and meet with me so that we can discuss our differences and find solutions to advance the development of Guyana”, Ramotar reasoned.

He said that it was the hardline approach of the opposition that forced him to move to calling Regional and General Elections ahead of 2016 when it was constitutionally due.

The President, who became Head of State back in 2011 with a plurality with his party wining the largest block of seats, said that as per the Constitution, until the elections are completed, his Government would continue to administer the affairs of the country.

He said that he will ensure that the international community is present to observe the elections and will leave no stone unturned in his bid to ensure that the polls are free and fair, and free from fear.

“As usual, I intend to invite international observers to be part of the elections process and I will expect the political

Kremi

parties, the security services, and the people of Guyana to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure continued peace and stability before, during and after the elections”.

He reminded Guyanese that they had a collective obligation to ensure the protection of the democratic gains while explaining that Guyana has endured a lot since gaining independence.

The President’s announcement comes on the heels of disinformation and an orchestrated campaign by the political opposition parties to mislead the regional and international community about the reasons he choose to prorogue the parliament back in November.

His announcement also nipped in the bud, the opposition’s further plans to protest the suspension of parliament and lobby the international community with the aim of gaining more electoral, and political mileage out of the current state of affairs in Guyana.

Since 2011, the opposition political parties have been unwilling to work with the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government (PPP/C)which emerged victorious at the polls despite the negative propaganda and vicious campaign waged by the opposition against key principles within its camp especially the then outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo. (Guyana Times)

maker adds Ja$22.3M in inventory

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Kremi maker Caribbean Cream has hiked its inventory by Ja$22.3 million in anticipation of increased sales over the next quarter.

The company in its third quarter financial report ending November said it increased its inventory by 22 per cent to position itself to meet the required demand for the Christmas season. The rise in inventory comes amid negative cash flows at the fast-rising ice cream company.

Kremi, however, managed to squeeze a 19 per cent increase in net profit for the quarter, moving from Ja$11.1 million in

2013 to Ja$13.3 million.

"The increase was aided by the continued growth of our retail line of ice cream products along with strong sales both in novelty items and the bulk market segment," chief executive officer Christopher Clarke stated in the report.

The company showed assets of Ja$404 million, an increase of Ja$55.3 million or 16.5 per cent over the last year. This was attributable to the introduction of the new blast freezer which began operating last November.

Currently, Kremi holds 50 per cent of the bulk distribution market and plans to take an-

other 15 per cent of the retail market by June 2016. In 2013, the company embarked on a Ja$300-million expansion project, installing a cold room and improving its production floor to double the capacity of the company to 40,000 cases of ice cream per week.

Kremi was the first ice cream company to go public after listing on the junior stock market back in 2013.

The company showed an increase in revenues of 26 per cent or Ja$48 million for the quarter which resulted in an increase in gross profit margins for the nine months by 46 per cent. (Jamaica Observer)

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Gender and development

Representatives of the Governments of Chile and Norway and senior officials from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) at a high-level dialogue held on January 12 agreed that “the Post-2015 development agenda should not only include gender equality as a specific objective, but also as a cross-cutting perspective to increase women’s economic autonomy”.

This is the view held by many across the world where women and their economic empowerment are being debated.

The dialogue, “Challenges for Equality: Women’s economic autonomy on the post-2015 development agenda: building new responses from Latin America and Europe” is part of the debates on the new agenda that will be taking over from the MDGs once the period set for achieving them expires this year.

Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been proposed, including one aimed at achieving gender equality and autonomy for all women and girls.

The worldwide survey, MY World, being carried out by the United Nations, has had an especially wide reach: so far more than seven million people, about half of whom are women, have participated by voting on their priorities for the new agenda. Over 2.2 million people put “equality between men and women” in their top six priorities – alongside better education, health care, jobs, honest and responsive Government, and affordable and nutritious food.

Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has reinforced the point that gender equality matters in and of itself. Clark reminded us that investments made in opportunities and services for women and girls are great multipliers of development progress. The benefits to child and maternal health – MDGs 4 and 5, respectively – are very clear.

In giving an update on the level of progress made worldwide in terms of commitments to gender equality, Clark reported that there has been improvement in some important areas, but it is slow and uneven.

On average around the world, gender parity in primary education has been achieved. Most children now enroll in primary schooling, although completion rates and the quality of education are not high across all countries.

In this area, Guyana is faring well, as both girls and boys have equal access to educational opportunities, infact over the years, girls have been outperforming their male counterparts. This country has achieved Universal Primary Education and is well on its way to achieving Universal Secondary Education.

While the rate of maternal mortality has dropped in the last two decades, approximately 800 women continue to die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. It is one of the MDG targets on which the least progress has been made.

In this area, there is much room for improvement in Guyana, as there are quite a few cases of mothers and babies dying from child birth.

Sexual and gender-based violence sadly continues in every country, both developed and developing. Women are still being raped and abused on a daily basis.

Guyana is also one of those countries where a high level of domestic violence in various forms exists. Inspite of several interventions being made by the authorities to address the issue, quite a number of women have been killed by their partners.

Globally, while more women than ever before are participating in the work force, official statistics show that women earn less than men. For example, women’s earnings fell short of men’s by 23 per cent from 2008 to 2009.

This represented only a small improvement since 1995, when women’s earnings were 26 per cent less than those of men. At this rate, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), it would take 75 years to achieve equal pay for work of equal value.

These are all issues which affect women and their ability to achieve their full potential and must remain high on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. 2015 is a big year for global development –and it must be a big year for gender equality too.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is delighted to greet the first Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) female Commander, Antonette Wemysss-Gorman, smartly donned in the new JDF uniform, while Major General Antony Anderson looks on. The occasion was the introduction of the new JDF uniforms to the Prime Minister at her office on Monday. (Photo: JIS)

Jamaica business confidence soars to its highest in 13 years

KINGSTON,

JAMAICA: Jamaica’s confidence in the country's investment climate has reached its highest with 65 per cent of firms reporting that it is a good time to expand their productive capacity to take advantage of the future economic opportunities.

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Conference Board reported that business confidence peaked by 25.2 per cent at the end of the fourth quarter last year compared to the same period in 2013 on the Business and Consumer Confidence Indices on Tuesday. Additionally, consumer confidence has shown a 5 per cent improvement despite little flexibility in spending power.

"People are looking at what's happening around them at the macro level in terms of oil prices going down, the government passing the IMF tests as well as the fact that as we approach the elections consumer confidence usually peaks," managing director of Market Research Services, Don Anderson, stated.

The business confidence index was 122.9 in the 4th quarter survey last year, up from 112.1 in the 3rd quar-

ter and well above the 98.2 recorded in the 4th quarter of 2013. What's more, investment plans have surged 10 per cent higher than the prior peak of 55 per cent set in the 2nd quarter of 2014.

Business firms have expressed increased confidence that the economic policies of the government will act to improve the economy as well as their own firm's prospects, according to the survey which was conducted by Market Research Services. The surge in optimism has occurred despite the fact that firms have so far reported weaker profits than they had anticipated three months earlier.

Anderson stated that the renewed willingness reflects a strong and growing sense that government policies are on the right course. While no comprehensive change in economic policies will be favoured in every detail in every firm, the data clearly indicates that most firms believe that the country is at the forefront of a new economic era, the report added.

"Business confidence is solid. It is the first year in all the 13 years that we have been conducting these surveys that most of the business firms indicate that it is a good

time to invest," Anderson told the audience.

"The government's commitment is now essential in reducing any lingering uncertainty about turning the initial promise into actual economic gains," he said.

Anderson added that business firms expect to see high growth in the tourist industry, while real estate, vehicle purchasing and vacation spending are expected to be flat.

Consumer confidence rose at the end of 2014 to its highest level since the closing of the quarter in 2012. Consumer confidence climbed by 16.2 at the end of 2014, moving from 94.6 in 2013 to 110 a year later. This resulted from increased confidence that the economy and job prospects will begin to improve in 2015.

"Consumers are also confident and they believe that things will get better in 2015," Anderson stated. "With an election approaching, consumers believe that the difficult environment that they are now living in cannot continue into the next year, but then somewhere along the line nothing seems to happen and they lose that confidence." (Jamaica Observer)

Paris-based call centre to open doors in Guyana

…2000 to be employed

By Gomatie GanGadin

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Teleperformance, a global customer service-oriented company based in Paris, France is making its way into the Guyanese market and is expected to open its doors in early May.

This investment which comes at a time when Guyana is battling to reduce its unemployment rate, will be creating some 2,500 much needed jobs opportunities for young Guyanese.

The company’s operations will be housed in the six-storied building currently undergoing finishing touches at the junction of Camp and Robb Streets, Georgetown and is owned by Fazwan Khan, Proprietor of the Discount Store on Regent Street.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Monday, Mark Pfeiffer, the Executive Vice President of the Global Management Team at Teleperformance, related that the company will officially launch its Guyana operations in Paris, France next week, followed by a launch and commencement of operations in Guyana in about 90 days time or early May.

Pfeiffer, though declining to give a definite figure of how much has been invested into the venture, did indicate that the sum was a substantial one and will be released when the launch is done in Guyana.

He confirmed to the Guyana Times that the award -winning company will be creating and pro-

viding some 2,500 jobs to the young Guyanese with positions ranging from Executives down to Customer Service agents in the areas of customer service, technical support, call center and social media, while giving a brief overview of the company.

“We are the worldwide leader in multichannel customer experience. We’ve been providing superior customer care services for leading companies throughout the world since 1978, with expertise in many markets and verticals.

When construction of the building began last year a prominent sign was erected just outside, stating that it would house a food court. However, a close source told this publication that that idea was scrapped after the company contacted the building’s owner and expressed its interest in renting it for the purpose of housing its operations here. This, he said, proved to be a much more profitable venture and the necessary works began.

Meanwhile, Guyanese have welcomed the news with enthusiasm noting that the investment will curb the high level of unemploy-

ment which currently exists in the country.

Speaking to the Guyana Times during a visit to the site on Monday, one young man related that he is elated at the announcement since he knows many individuals who are currently unemployed and are looking for employment opportunities with no success.

The company operates about 135,000 computerised workstations, with more than 175,000 employees across 270 contact centers in 62 countries.

The company conducts programmes in more than 63 different languages and dialects for a wide variety of global companies in various industries.

The company is known to have operations in the United Kingdom, Albania, Brazil, Chile, India, Philippines, China, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Nigeria, Norway, Italy, Portugal, the USA, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Australia and Netherlands as well as Egypt, Russia, Sweden and Germany. The company has copped several awards over the years including Best Employer Award. (Guyana Times)

Paulwell reports strong support for Jamaica’s renewable energy policy

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Energy Minister

Phillip Paulwell says government's policy shift on alternative energy, including the provision of incentives, is resulting in greater use of and investments in renewable options.

Under the policy, government is facilitating access to low interest rate loans for businesses and homeowners to enable them to procure renewable energy systems, particularly for solar devices.

"We have (also) removed taxation from solar (systems). In fact, the government has provided incentives for solar batteries to facilitate solar generation of electricity," Paulwell said.

"Also, we have introduced a net billing policy and, so far, I have signed and issued just about 220 licences to Jamaicans to enable them to generate electricity using, primarily, solar systems, and to be able to sell the excess capacity to the grid," he said.

The minister was ad-

dressing a recent public forum on the topic: 'The New Caribbean Energy Professional for the New Energy Paradigm', at the University of the West Indies' Mona campus.

Government, more than a year ago, began a targeted series of policy shifts to enable and encourage investment in renewable energy projects. As part of the measure, the provision that gave the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica the exclusive right to develop all renewable energy projects in Jamaica was removed. The Office of Utilities Regulation subsequently issued a

'request for proposals' to procure up to 115 megawatts of energy generated from renewable sources. Paulwell said ministry surveys conducted islandwide showed that, "we are witnessing such a dramatic uptake in the use of photovoltaic (PV) equipment to generate electricity in Jamaica". PV is a method of converting solar energy into direct current electricity using semi-conducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. A PV system comprises solar panels composed of a number of cells to supply usable power. (Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica’s Portland farm puts faith into agri-tourism

KINGSTON,

JAMAICA: The owners of a farm in Tom's Hope, Portland, are looking to cash in on the agri-tourism market through a farm tour of their 36- acre property that benefits charity.

Restoration Village Farm, which is owned by Trevor and Jean Campbell, introduced its tours last September, charging Ja$1,600 for adults and Ja$1,100 for children.

The tour comprises a hike through the winding hillside trails of the farm, a wading pool for hikers to cool off, and lunch. Guests are also given packages of produce cultivated on the farm.

With manual labour purposefully used to complete all the planting and reaping on the farm to maintain an eco-friendly environment, the Campbells say the agri-tourism project was implemented after friends and a few visitors kept asking to be shown around the 36-acre property.

"Because it's so pretty, people who came up there kept saying that we need to have tours. They would

always say how beautiful it is and encourage us to have guided tours," said Trevor.

Restoration Village was not created for profit, but is a philanthropic venture developed by the Campbells as a source of food for the Kingston-based Operation Restoration Christian School (ORCS) and a source of jobs for the deep rural Portland community.

"We are doing this from a Christian perspective. We have a company, but it is not designed to really bring profit. It is more designed to provide employment in the Tom's Hope area and to spread

the word of God," Trevor told the Jamaican media

Trevor is originally from Old Harbour, St Catherine, and was educated at St Jago before migrating to the United States, where he met and married Jean, a New Yorker.

Restoration Farm sits about five miles south of Port Antonio at the foot of the John Crow Mountains. Thirty-one acres of the land belong to the Campbells; the other five acres are leased.

Cash crops such as bananas, plantain, dasheen, cocoa, pineapple, yams, among others, are cultivated with the bananas, plan-

tains, and dasheen sold to local exporters.

"We also sell the cocoa to the Cocoa Board," Trevor said, adding that some produce was also sold in the local markets.

The Campbells spent US$200,000 of their own funds to set up Restoration Village, but are yet to reap any returns from the venture. Its expenses are offset by their other business, Trevor said.

The couple also owns Plato Consulting Inc, a Virginia-based information technology firm that specialises in developing customised application software for government agencies in the environmental business.

Other plans for Restoration Village include the manufacture of chocolate bars, which will require investment in a fermenting and drying facility.

"We want to make sure that the things that we are doing right now are working and we can see where we are going to break even. Then, we want to make the chocolate," he said.

Eventually, the farm will also produce coconut oil. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Citizens Bank Guyana increases revenue, sees reduction in profit

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Citizens Bank Guyana Inc has recorded an increase in its revenues for 2014, however its profit after tax saw a reduction when compared the amount from the previous year.

According to Chairman of Banks DIH Clifford Reis, the bank’s revenue increased by seven per cent or Gy$207.0 million; that is, from Gy$3.010 billion in 2013 to Gy$3.217 billion last year. These figures were disclosed in his recent annual report presentation.

“Profit after tax was Gy$989.1 million compared to Gy$1.004 billion in 2013,” the Chairman said, of the 51 per cent owned subsidiary of the Banks DIH. Meanwhile, the Bank’s total assets have increased from Gy$40.7 billion to Gy$42.1 billion, reflecting a three per cent increase of Gy$1.4 billion.

The Chairman went on to say in the report that the Bank’s loan assets have increased by 22 per cent over the previous year from Gy$23.7 billion to Gy$28.9 billion.

On the other hand, the records show that customers’ deposits declined from Gy$34.2 billion to Gy$33.2 billion by Gy$1.0 billion. Additionally, earnings per share are now Gy$16.63 while net interest income reflects an increase from Gy$2.15 billion in 2013 to Gy$2.37 billion in 2014.

In the report, the Chairman remarked that the 2014 financial year was a challenging one but prudent decision-making, along with strict financial controls has yielded an “acceptable” result. “Even though the economic data suggests that the global financial situation may be recovering in some areas, uncertainty and fear have now taken their place on the agenda of the legitimate concerns, which are affecting economic results across the globe and locally,” Reis outlined. Chester had anticipated that the 2014 financial year would bring new challenges as well as new opportunities, but noted that Citizens Bank had already devised mechanisms to cope with the challenges. (Guyana Times)

Steady growth in trade between Guyana, Suriname – Minister Ali

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: As Government continues to work towards fostering trade and new business partnerships with its regional neighbours, acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali has highlighted that there has been steady growth in trade between Guyana and Suriname.

The Minister was at the time speaking at a meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Friday. This was part of the activities scheduled for the second day of the ongoing meeting of the Guyana-Suriname Trade Mission.

He pointed out that both countries depended on natural resources, noting that many in-

vestments were made in Guyana based on rising gold prices, but the current global situation meant the country must now move towards an efficient equilibrium of production. This would minimise wastage and inefficiency, and maximise productivity, to create the capacity to produce at a highly competitive price.

“For the past five years, there has been a tremendous increase in business between Guyana and Suriname,” the Minister emphasised. In 2008, Guyana exported approximately 7000 kilograms of goods to Suriname. In 2012, this figure was almost tripled, to almost 26,000kg. The value of exports moved from approximately US$3.6 million in 2008 – Gy$13.9 million in 2012, repre-

TT Judiciary to probe alleged mix up

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

The Judiciary has confirmed that an internal investigation into the alleged mix up in a defamation matter brought by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is taking place.

It has found favour with Ramlogan and Senator Faris Al-Rawi, the attorney for Rowley.

In a brief release on Monday the Judiciary said it was “aware of statements and comments in the public domain” about the matter, adding that “while the parties may take whatever steps are legally available to them in the meantime, we wish to advise that an internal investigation has been launched into the matters raised.”

Ramlogan told last Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, that the court had issued a default judgment against Rowley as he had failed to present any defence by the January 7 extended deadline.

Rowley’s lawyer Faris Al-Rawi said on Friday he was not informed of a decision to have the matter heard by a different judge or the deadline date for submissions. AlRawi said he had writ-

senting growth of almost 300 per cent.

This market is important for tourism in Guyana, as most of the small hotels are filled by persons travelling from that country. It is also important for access to markets such as Holland.

ten to the Judiciary on Monday seeking to have the matter investigated.

He said on Monday he also filed an application to set aside the default judgment, which the AG entered against Dr Rowley.”

Al Rawi said Rowley and his legal team were unaware of that development and that documentation from the court confirmed that.

He said the AG had made “reckless statements” claiming victory in the matter and that he was “confident we will receive a positive commendation on our application to set aside the judgment.”

Ramlogan said it was important for the Judiciary to investigate the matter “to determine what, if anything, went wrong in its internal procedures.”

He said he was “a victim of what appears to be a terrible blunder as I acted in good faith and never missed a deadline, while those who applied for an extension of time may ironically be given even more time due to no fault of my own.”

Ramlogan said: “A mistake like this can be quite costly and bring the administration of justice into disrepute.”

The AG said he welcomed the investigation by the Judiciary. (TT Guardian)

Likewise, Suriname interests can access via northern Brazil. He added that the partnership should be based on cooperation, rather than competition given that the markets are “so small”. This would create a competitive edge against

many other countries.

The Minister also highlighted the fact that Guyana was moving towards a knowledge-based economy – one that was innovative, proactive, and positive. There has also been much interest in the country’s education sector. He pointed out that over the next three years, three new medical universities would be established. In addition, there has been a growing interest in biodiversity.

Despite all these successes, the Minister added, there were challenges which included Guyanese minibus operators taking passengers all the way into Suriname and vice-versa. He emphasised that this must be corrected and the markets be respected and any agreement that has been made must be hon-

oured, in order to have a successful partnership. Another problem is the fact that many tourists from Holland visit Guyana through Moleson Creek without re-entry visas. This is very critical because there is no selling of re-entry visas and Guyana’s Suriname Embassy closes before 16:00h on Fridays. To curb this, the Minister proposed that the Embassy extended its hours on Fridays, to facilitate these visas or establish the selling of them at Moleson Creek. Also in February, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will be launching a training course in Dutch for the Customs and Immigration Officers working at this port of entry to facilitate a friendly welcome to travellers. (Guyana Times)

Marley’s contribution to Jamaica priceless – Dr. McNeill

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has described as “priceless,” the contribution of late Reggae legend, Hon. Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley, to Jamaica’s music legacy.

“I am often asked the value of Reggae music and…Bob Marley to Jamaica and Jamaica’s tourism, and I would say it is immeasurable…it’s not something that you can put a figure to,” he said.

The Minister was speaking at last Tuesday’s launch of month-long activities, slated for February, to mark the 70th anniversary of the late musician’s birth at Digicel regional headquarters in downtown Kingston.

Dr. McNeill highlighted several notable achievements of Marley, pointing out that Jamaica has benefited from the resulting global recognition.

These, he said, include: being awarded the United Nations Peace Medal in 1978; induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Time Magazine recognition of ‘Exodus’ as Album of the Century; being accorded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; bestowment of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; being ranked number 11 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 100 greatest artistes

of all time; and ‘One Love’ being named the Song of the Millennium.

Additionally, Dr. McNeilll said the extent of Bob Marley’s global appeal also resulted in the town of Banatski Karlovac in Serbia erecting a statue of him in 2008, and Australian Aborigines continuing to burn a “sacred flame” in Victoria Park, Sydney, to honour his memory.

“These are the marks of a great man. These are not the achievements of an ordinary person, and we must give credit to him for all that he has achieved. (But) what made Bob great is the extent of his lyrics. He spoke about things that touched the lives of the common man. He spoke about revolution, he spoke about liberation, and these are timeless values,” the Minister said, pointing

out that this focus is being maintained by several current performing artistes.

Digicel has, again, partnered with the Bob Marley Group of Companies, and the Bob Marley Foundation to stage this year’s celebratory events.

These will commence on the icon’s birthday, on February 6, with a series of symposia at the Bob Marley Museum in St. Andrew, focusing on several topics, including: ‘Reggae Music’; ‘Reggae and Fashion; and ‘Marijuana and the Economy’.

Other scheduled events include: a free concert to be staged along the Kingston waterfront on February 7, featuring local and international Reggae artistes; and the ‘One Love’ celebrity football match, later in

February.

In his remarks, Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer, Barry O’Brien, described the celebrations as “an important event” for the company.

Bob Marley Group of Companies General Manager, Marie Bruce, said the entity is honoured that the 70th anniversary of the Reggae legend’s birth will be celebrated in a “most memorable way”, and encouraged persons to participate in the festivities.

Last Tuesday’s launch featured performances by recording artiste’s Kabaka Pyramid and Nomadzz, who have been designated Bob Marley 70th Birthday Celebrations Ambassadors, as well as members of the Jamaica Junior Music Theatre. Bob Marley

May 11,

Guyana’s Opposition party claims ready to face electorate

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: With Government announcing that the setting a date for General and Elections is “imminent”, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – the majority Opposition grouping – has begun readying its troops for the campaign.

Already the coalition members have begun to fan out across the country,

holding bottom-house as well public meetings with supporters and party groups.

Over the weekend, APNU Leader David Granger led a team to Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo), where they visited several villages, promising residents a “better life” if the coalition took over the reins of power.

Speaking at a news

Jamaica Education Ministry confident of achieving literacy target

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

The Ministry of Education is expressing confidence in attaining its goal of 85 per cent of students in the grade four age cohort achieving mastery of literacy in 2015.

An optimistic Portfolio Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, notes that the country is now 7.6 per cent away from achieving this target.

“The final measurement will be made at this year’s sitting of the Grade Four Literacy Test,” he said.

The Minister was speaking at a meeting with senior journalists at the Alhambra Inn Hotel in St. Andrew, recently.

Rev. Thwaites pointed out that when the 15 per cent of students who suffer from learning disabilities is accounted for, 85 per cent translates to 100 per cent of the educable cohort.

According to National Literacy Co-ordinator, Dr. André Hill, the Ministry will do everything it possibly can in the next few months to maximise as much as possible students’ outcomes in the 2015 Grade Four Literacy Test.

He pointed to the deployment of 66 reading coaches across the island to provide direct support to 420 primary schools. Each will work with approximately seven schools.

“They will be particularly working with the struggling readers in Grade Four, providing clinical attention to these students as well as pedagogical support for classroom teachers, in addition to extending further

support to the parents in schools that have registered low achievement at Grade Four over the last three years,” he said.

Dr. Hill contended that if the Ministry gets support from the community in addition to what the Ministry is now extending to the school system, “we are certain the outcomes, certainly for this year, will take us very close, if not actually to the 85 per cent.”

Meanwhile, the Minister reiterated the importance of the role parents, home life and community have in helping to achieve the target. He noted for instance, that encouraging children to read in Sunday school greatly helps the literacy levels of students.

He further urged parents, even if they are not literate themselves, to encourage their children to read.

The Minister informed that at the 2014 sitting of the Grade four literacy test, 77.4 per cent of the age cohort achieved the acceptable standard of mastery in literacy, which represented a 30 per cent increase for the 10-year period 2004 to 2014.

He noted that the

improvement in literacy has been the result of the combined efforts of the Ministry’s National Literacy Team and dedicated teachers.

“In addition, the country is indebted to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its support in improving literacy outcomes,” he said.

In terms of the numeracy test, Rev. Thwaites informed that 58 per cent of students who sat the grade four test last year attained mastery, a marginal decline of 1.4 per cent over the previous year.

“But, there has been a 20 per cent improvement for the past five years, moving from a low of 38 per cent in 2010,” he said.

The Minister said that using literacy as a benchmark, the Ministry is pleased at the progress the country has made so far.

The Grade Four literacy and numeracy tests are administered to children to determine their literacy and numeracy levels at grade four, in keeping with international requirements and standards.

(Jis)

conference last week, Basil Williams, APNU Executive Member and Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the major partner of the coalition, made it clear that his party was ready for General and Regional Elections “a long time now” .

“We were ready since there was the threat of a snap election,” Williams said

when questioned by the Guyana Times at a press conference on Friday. Williams explained that APNU’s groups across the country have been activated and were currently campaigning in their respective regions.

In Georgetown, there have been several walkabouts over the past weeks by the APNU, he said. (Guyana Times)

MIC transforms skills sectors in Trinidad

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

David Lee, chairman of the MIC Institute of Technology says the institution has been able to positively transform TT’s skills sector to meet the demands of the labour force over the past four decades. He said the technical, vocational and educational sectors received a much needed boast when the institution began monitoring, assessing and evaluating the standards and quality in the technical education system across its facilities.

“This way we ensured a steady supply of industry ready graduates for the manufacturing, engineering, construction and even hospitality industries. It’s no secret that MIC currently has 18 technology centres across TT with the last four centres being opened in Tobago, O’Meara, Diego Martin and Penal between 2010 and 2014. Today, we can boast of a legacy, having transformed from the Metal Industries Company Limited, to the MIC Institute of Technology–a name change which reflects our truer representation of the organisation’s education and training compo-

nent,” he told the TT media.

Lee added: “MIC was launched at a time when tool, dye and mould making was crucial to the development of manufacturing and this joint venture would have opened up new possibilities for the development of an indigenous machine tool industry. These tools, dye and moulds were to be used to cut out, form, shape and make metal and plastic products such as toys, locks, door handles, filing cabinets, ash trays, castors with plastic wheels, telephone parts, kitchen utensils and part for various home supplies.”

Four decades later, he said, the company not only rebranded, but forged new partnerships, expanded it training to meet technological advancements, while reaching out to communities. Lee pointed to work being done at the Diego Martin and Penal Technology Centres and said as of September last year 66 students graduated from higher level programmes including the master craftsman in solar energy and photovoltaic and the engineering-in-training programmes.

Not long after, 3,200

trainees from the MUST, HYPE, ICP and NSDP programmes graduated, making it the largest honour rolls of successful applicants in the history of MIC.

“And now we have yet another reason to celebrate. Just recently, we became the first TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) institution to become accredited in the history of Trinidad. This recent accreditation means that we have met and surpassed internationally acceptable criteria for education quality,” the chairman said.

In an effort to chronicle the achievement of MIC, Lee said, the institute of technology published a commemorative book titled MIC Legacy Book that aimed to capture the organisation rich history.

“We are all proud to be part of this outstanding institution...a place where young people long to start their careers. They look up to this institution and its training as a ticket to a better and brighter future. We stand proud knowing that MIC builds Trinidad by empowering and training its future human resources,” Lee said. (TT Guardian)

Karim: TT Govt to help UWI pay TT$87 million backpay debt

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Government has stepped in to assist the cash-strapped University of the West Indies (UWI) to pay the TT$87 million in backpay to university staff.

Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister Fazal Karim on Sunday confirmed that Permanent Secretary Amroodeen Ali has met with campus administration and the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) St Augustine in a bid to resolve the impasse over the non-payment backpay.

This, as UWI lecturers continue to withhold grades in protest over campus administration’s failure to pay outstanding backpay for the period August 2, 2011 to July 31, 2014.

Karim said government will be making a cash intervention in the wage dispute and will release funds to help the campus pay the monies owed.

“That matter is be-

ing attended to by the PS. We are stepping in to assist the university. The ministry, under PS Amroodeen Ali met with the executive of WIGUT and the campus principal and we are addressing this matter. We have a plan in place to assist in this regard,” Karim assured.

He said two meetings were held with both par-

ties and the Government will be assisting UWI. However the minister did not say when the funds will be released or how the disbursement will take place.

“We are addressing it. It is a high priority for me and we had two meetings to have this matter resolved,” Karim declared.

UWI Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the St. Augustine Campus Prof Clement Sankat on Monday said he had met with government for assistance to pay the outstanding money.

Sankat, speaking briefly in a telephone interview, said Friday he was in talks with Government to get financial assistance to begin paying the retroactive pay to staff at the St Augustine-based university.

“I am working with the government and with the union to have this situation resolved. I met with government on Friday,” Sankat said. (TT Guardian)

National Upstream Oil and Gas Policy to be launched in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will be launching the National Upstream Oil and Gas Policy on Wednesday morning at a National Stakeholders Forum at the Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown. The Policy was developed by the Ministry

and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission with technical assistance from the Governance and Natural Resources Advisory Services Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Work on the Policy started in 2012. Both the Private and Public Sectors were consulted on the document. The Policy was finalised and approved in the third quar-

ter of 2014.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, and representatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat will be in attendance.

In a release, the Ministry said Guyana was currently a prime target for petroleum exploration. The country’s offshore Guyana Basin and, to a lesser extent, its inland Takutu Basin are currently attracting a great deal of interest from petroleum exploration companies.

The vision of the Policy is a strong, vibrant, and sustainable Private Sector-driven oil and gas industry, which will contribute significantly to Guyana’s socio-economic development. The policy document represents Guyana’s first attempt at setting out specific policy objectives and implementation measures for the exploration and potential development of upstream oil and gas resources found in Guyana. (Guyana Times)

Jamaica’s first female public defender sworn in

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Attorney-atLaw, Arlene Harrison Henry, created history last Friday, when she became the first woman in Jamaica to be appointed Public Defender.

Mrs. Harrison Henry, who was sworn into office by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during a ceremony at King’s House, succeeds Earl Witter, QC, who retired last April at the age of 70.

Public Law Specialist, Mr. Matondo Mukulu, acted in the post for eight months.

A former head of the Jamaican Bar Association and Chairperson of the Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights (IJCHR), Mrs. Harrison Henry is Jamaica’s third public defender.

Congratulating Mrs. Harrison Henry, the Governor-General said

her appointment speaks to the confidence reposed in her ability to faithfully and effectively discharge the mandate of the public defender.

He also thanked Mr. Mukulu for the able way he led the office during his tenure as acting Public Defender and expressed gratitude to Mr. Witter for his eight years of dedicated service.

The GovernorGeneral also praised the Public Services Commission (PSC), which oversaw the selection process, noting that the members carried out their duties with transparency, impartiality and fairness.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, in her address, described the appointment of Mrs. Harrison Henry as a “historic occasion for Jamaica.”

She noted that Mrs. Harrison Henry’s track record in human rights and the legal profession

makes her an ideal selection for the post.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said the work of the Office of the Public Defender is “democracy in action,” further noting that the very existence and active operation of such an office is the hallmark of a re-

sponsible and accountable Government.

“The exercise of responsibility and accountability in Government is not a destination. It is a journey to which I am personally committed,” she said.

In her response, Mrs. Harrison Henry said her

immediate concern will be the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry, which resumes in less than a month.

She said the hearing is the most important enquiry in Jamaica’s independent history.

“A section of our people was traumatised by

the loss of loved ones, by what they saw, and damaged property. As the investigator, it is the public defender’s duty to provide the evidence to uncover the truth, the whole truth, and to secure justice for those whose rights were violated,” Mrs. Harrison Henry noted.

She further thanked her deputy, Mr. Mukulu and the staff of the Office of the Public Defender, for their outstanding service.

“Together we shall work as a team to build up the Office of the Public Defender, it being a premier State institution as contemplated by Parliament, and one our people deserve and can count on,” Mrs. Harrison Henry said.

The Office of the Public Defender was established in 2000, to investigate and seek redress on behalf of Jamaicans, whose constitutional rights have been violated.(Jis)

Brahma Kumaris organisation in Guyana honours founder

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Hindus around the world on Sunday cel-

ebrated the life of a man they say was the epitome of peace, and whose mission was to transform

the world with his simple character. In Guyana, the Brahma Kumaris hosted

its day of remembrance at the Brahma Kumaris spiritual organisation at High Street Kingston Georgetown, honoring the life and work of Lekhraj Khubchand Kripalani affectionately called Prajapita Brahma and Brahma Baba.

Originally from Hyderabad, Sindh the founder of the Brahma Kumaris, was born December 15, 1876. He became extremely wealthy from a jeweler in Calcutta. In his fifties, Kripalani reportedly had visions and retired from his job, returning to Hyderabad in Sindh and turning to spirituality.

In 1932, Lekhraj established a spiritual organisation called Om Mandali. Originally a follower of the Vaishnavite

Vallabhacharya sect and member of the exogamous Bhaiband community, he was said to have had 12 gurus but started preaching or conducting his own satsangs which, by 1936, had attracted around 300 people from his community, many of them being wealthy.

At the High Street Kingston office Sunday evening, Brother Mark Chan, who chaired the program said people are generally live with the desire of finding peace.

Of all the feelings, one would like to experience peace”, Chan told the room filled with Hindu brothers and sisters and special invitees. He said the founder of the organisation, during his numerous “visions”, found that “the world

was heading for trouble”, and wanted to do everything in his power to help. It was from that desire that the organisation was founded. The BKWS teaches a form of meditation that focuses on identity as souls. They believe that all souls are intrinsically good and that god is the source of all goodness. The organisation teaches to transcend labels associated with the body, such as race, nationality, religion, and gender, and aspires to establish a global culture based on what they call “soul-consciousness. The movement has distinguished itself from its Hindu roots and sees itself as a vehicle for spiritual teaching rather than as a religion. (Guyana Times)

Jamaica making strides in ensuring children’s rights

- Hanna tells Geneva summit

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

After being grilled for three hours Monday's opening session, Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna returns on Tuesday before the United Nation's Committee on the Rights of the Child to field another round.

Hanna who leads a Jamaican delegation to Geneva, Switzerland where the meeting is being held, told the Jamaican media that many of the questions posed were skewed

based on incorrect and outdated data in its possession.

Speaking with the Jamaican media after being quizzed on all areas of child care, Hanna said she spent much of the session correcting the false records or putting into perspective the questions that she fielded.

Hanna appeared to have taken the intense grilling in strides. She suggested that the intensified approach may have been inspired by the fact it was the first

time that a senior government minister had subjected herself to being probed in such a forum at this level.

She told the Committee that as minister, she was in charge of 4,370 children in Jamaica's child protection sector, 203 of whom are in custodial care; 85 in remand facilities and 118 in housed in correctional centres.

Hanna said this represents 5.4 children per 1,000 in child protection and 0.25 per 1,000 in custodial care respec-

tively.

There was no easing up of the barrage of queries although Hanna pointed out in her statement that since the tabling of the 2011 report her ministry had intensified its strides.

This is in advancing their (children's) rights to access education, protection against violence and ensuring that those who come in conflict with the law are given equal rights and justice consistent with the provisions of the CRC.

"In framing our pol-

icies, we have not only paid attention to this convention, we have also been on the ground, spoken to our children in state care, in schools and in juvenile detention and heard what they had to say about our approaches," said Hanna. She told the Committee that the Child Care and Protection Act passed in 2004 defines a child as any person under the age of 18 and serves as one piece of legislation that sets universal standards for the care and

treatment of children. "This law acts in tandem with over 10 other pieces of relevant legislation," she said Hanna said the legislative and policy frameworks are done in response to a number of service provisions of the Convention and its Optional Protocol to which Jamaica is committed. "As a country, we are always in search of ways by which we can strengthen our child rights provisions," said Hanna. (Jamaica Gleaner)

DLP begins week of remembrance for Barbados’ first Prime Minister

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:

Members of the governing Democratic Labour Party on Sunday commenced a week of remembrance for Barbados’ first Prime Minister, National Hero Errol Barrow.

Speaking at a service at the Vauxhall Methodist Church on Sunday, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told the congregation that Barrow’s entry into politics was based on a desire to move Barbados forward.

“He did not enter politics to see what he could get out of it. He got noth-

ing out of it. He entered politics to see what he could give to it, and he gave much to it. And that is why he is so good an example for all of us who want to set very high standards for ourselves.

“He did not try to capture short-term popularity. He always tried to say things that would last, things that would be a land onto people’s feet, and a light onto their pathway,” the Prime Minister added.

Those present included members of Cabinet and Members of Parliament. (Barbados Today)

58 T&HD staff undergo VIA screening in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Some 58 women attached to the Transport and Harbours Department underwent Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening for cervical cancer when a medical team from the Georgetown Public Hospital visited the agency last week. The outreach was in keeping with the hospital’s announcement earlier in the month that in observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it would collab-

orate with the Health Ministry to host several outreach programmes in an effort to encourage women to get screened for cervical cancer.

Medex of the VIA Clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Lorlene Ramsundar, disclosed that the 58 women represented a 100 per cent turnout for the organisation. She revealed that upon examination, five women required treatment and as such, they were treated using Cryotherapy. Cryotherapy destroys

abnormal tissue on the cervix by freezing it. During this procedure, liquid carbon dioxide, which is very cold, circulates through a probe placed next to the abnormal tissue. This freezes the tissue for two to three minutes. It may be allowed to thaw and then be refrozen for another two to three minutes. A single freeze treatment for five minutes may also be used.

On January 27, the team will host another outreach at the Prisons and then head to Lifeline

TT Newsday lensman attacked outside court

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Newsday photojournalist Angelo Marcelle was on Monday attacked by Matthew Soo Chan, the 21-yearold former University of the West Indies (UWI) student who appeared in court charged with cultivation of 94 marijuana plants in a St Augustine apartment and posses-

sion of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The attack took place as Soo Chan exited the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court after the case was adjourned. Soo Chan was leaving the court along with a relative, later identified as his stepfather and his attorneys Larry Williams and Sade Lee Duprey.

As cameramen gath-

ered around them, Soo Chan’s stepfather pushed Marcelle and on seeing this, Soo Chan who hid his face with a skull-faced hoodie, lunged toward Marcelle as a brief scuffle ensued. Soo Chan and his stepfather were then rushed by their attorneys, to their (Soo Chan) vehicle parked on Centenary Street, Tunapuna. (TT Newsday)

Ministries on January 28. Recently, the Medex had emphasised that getting screened can save women’s lives and noted that from 2009 to present, the VIA Clinic has detected numerous

cervical cancer cases, most of which were successfully treated.

She had highlighted that more and more women were recognising the importance of getting themselves test-

ed, but stated that more education programmes on television and radio would be useful for women who may not know the importance of getting a VIA test done. (Guyana Times)

Wigton Windfarm expansion a go after US$40-m contract signed in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Wigton Windfarm Limited, a subsidiary of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, has signed a contract valued at approximately US$40 million with the Spanish firm, Gamesa, for the construction of Wigton III, a 24 megawatt (MW) expansion of its wind farm complex in Rose Hill, Manchester.

Under the agreement, Gamesa, a global technology leader in wind energy, will execute a turnkey construction project which will involve the installation of 12 of its G802.0 MW wind turbines. This expansion is expected to increase Wigton’s total capacity to 62.7 MW.

id track record of continuously meetings its objectives for production, as well as development and expansion and we are confident in Gamesa’s capacity to help us deliver once again.”

Wigton’s 38.7-MW wind farm is the largest wind energy facility in the English-speaking Caribbean. In its 10 years of operations the company has saved the country close to Ja$3 billion by reducing oil consumption by close to 406,000 barrels.

Work is scheduled to begin in April with commissioning projected for February 2016. The project is expected to create 125 jobs during its construction phase and three permanent positions for engineers after commissioning.

With projected output of 63,072 MWh annually, it is anticipated that Wigton III will reduce na-

tional oil consumption by over 37,100 barrels per year. This should generate savings of approximately Ja$214 million annually at current oil prices.

Additionally, the new facility will provide pow-

er for more than 31,500 homes and increase renewable energy input to the national grid by more than 2 per cent, contributing to the Government’s thrust to have 20 per cent of the national energy supply from renewable

sources by 2030.

“We are pleased to welcome a company of Gamesa’s calibre to Jamaica to implement a project of such national significance,” said Wigton’s Chairman Ian Kelly. “Wigton has a sol-

The Spanish firm, Gamesa, to date has installed over 30,000 MW in 47 countries and has a strong presence in the Caribbean and Central America, having developed wind farms in Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. (Jamaica Observer)

Guyana’s ruling party gears up for ‘battle’

By Gomatie GanGadin

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: General

Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee on Monday disclosed that the Party has been

“oiling its machinery “for elections and is entering full elections mode. This disclosure was made during the par-

ty’s weekly press conference at Freedom House. He noted that the party members are getting ready to venture out across the ten administrative regions in coming weeks as its election campaign takes shape. Rohee related that the PPP/C members have been meeting with citizens since before the Christmas season and they are encouraged by what has been achieved thus far.

“The PPP/C is encouraged by the show of support it has been receiving from party members, supporters, well wishers from the wider community during several outreaches conducted by the party before the Christmas season. The PPP/C will soon recommence its countrywide programme with a series of bottom house meetings as well as community walkabouts. Party leaders will fan out into the coastal and hinterland regions in the coming weeks. The party is well underway in its preparations for these elections. Already we have started to mobilize our volunteers and activate our elections machinery. We have never been afraid of elections”, Rohee stated.

He also disclosed that supporters have pledged their continued support to the Party and indicated that they remain committed to ensuring a victory for the Party whenever elections are called. “The mood of the

people which we met was one of optimism. It is encouraging signs that the PPP/C will win a comfortable majority if the votes when the elections are held thereby being in a better position to continue with its developmental agenda without hindrance by the Opposition”, he added.

The General Secretary who also serves as the Minister of Home Affairs told media operatives that on the issue of the prorogation of Parliament, the citizens were informed and have indicated to the party that they support the decision which was taken by President Donald Ramotar.

Meanwhile, Rohee says that his party is not threatened in any way by the Alliance For Change (AFC) Party since the minority opposition party will lose tremendous support at the upcoming general elections. Rohee made the comments when he was asked why his party consistently attacks the AFC instead of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and whether the PPP/C feels threatened by the Khemraj Ramjattanled group. Rohee however, noted that the party does not feel threatened since the AFC had peddled lies and misrepresented itself in the 2011 General Elections. As such, he added that the AFC’s voters in the 2011 Elections have indicated to the PPP/C members that this was a decision they have since regretted and will be giving the PPP/C their votes in the upcoming elections. He noted too that the party allows itself to be used and abused by the A Partnership for National Unity and the supporters have taken note of this. (Guyana Times)

IMF team to visit TT next week

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be conducting its annual staff visit to Trinidad and Tobago from January 19-26. The IMF team will be headed by Elie Canetti, adviser, Western Hemisphere Department.

This staff visit by the IMF to Trinidad and Tobago was arranged for January 2015 following discussions be-

tween IMF staff and the Trinidad and Tobago delegation to the 2014 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington DC over the period October 9-12, 2014, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Monday.

“The staff visit forms part of its regular meetings with the Ministry of Finance and the Economy and the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, which have been

an annual feature since Trinidad and Tobago became a member of the IMF in 1963.

On a regular basis— usually once each year— the IMF holds detailed discussions with member countries regarding economic and socio-economic developments. These discussions also allow the institution to obtain a firsthand view of the country’s fiscal position,” the ministry said.

Minister Howai ad-

vised that he will focus this year’s discussions around the impact on the national budget of the recent declines in energy prices and the measures being taken to address the shortfalls in revenue.

During the staff visit the IMF will also hold discussions with representatives from Ministries, the Central Bank, Government departments and agencies and private sector organisations. Discussions will

focus on the performance of key sectors of the economy and the outlook for these sectors over the next two to three years.

Finance Minister Larry Howai said in the statement on Monday he was “pleased with the timing of this visit as it offers an opportunity to obtain in-depth information from a major multi-lateral institution on the likely trajectory of oil and gas prices and best practices in man-

aging the effect on the country’s overall fiscal situation”.

Trinidad and Tobago has an A rating from Standard and Poor’s with a stable outlook and extensive financial buffers, including foreign exchange reserves of US$11.3 billion and a Heritage and Stabilisation Fund which currently stands at US$5.5 billion, the ministry’s statement added.

(TT Express)

Guyana’s Opposition leader promises Rupununi Technical Institute if elected President

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: Opposition Leader and A Partnership for National Unity Chairman, retired Brigadier David Granger has promised residents of the Rupununi serious restructuring of their local education system should he be elected President at the upcoming General and Regional Elections. Granger, leading a team of eight APNU Members of Parliament (MPs), is currently on a 28-community tour of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

In a release, Granger said he heard about the low performance of students at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) from villagers in Parishara, Nappi, Hiawa, Yupukarri, and St Ignatius. This, in turn, has led to a high rate of dropouts from the region’s four secondary schools at Annai, St

Ignatius, Sand Creek, and Aishalton. There has consequently been a high rate of youth unemployment throughout the region.

He said too that parents complained of the

high cost of transportation, overcrowding, inadequate staffing, and inappropriate official responses to social challenges facing secondary school students, including some living in dormitories. Many secondary school students, even those with Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), subjects remained unemployed or ended up working as shop attendants

in Lethem, the region’s administrative centre, or as farmhands, stewardesses or domestics in neighbouring Brazil. Granger reacting to the residents’ complaints promised that his Administration would remove the impediments in the primary education system, rectify the problems at the secondary level and restructure the education system in what is Guyana’s largest region. He committed to establishing a Rupununi Technical Institute and a Rupununi Agriculture Institute to give children an opportunity to pursue satisfying employment, become entrepreneurs and develop the economy of the region. (Guyana Times)

Jamaica Gov’t anticipating significant tourism opportunities for Jamaica from U.S. re-engagement with Cuba

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown, says the United States’ diplomatic re-engagement with Cuba and the resulting relaxation of travel restrictions announced by U.S. President, Barack Obama, present an opportunity for significant tourism collaboration between Jamaica and the neighbouring Caribbean island.

Speaking at the Trafalgar New Heights Rotary Club’s weekly meeting, at CRU Bar Complex, Lady Musgrave Road, St. Andrew, on January 15, Mr. Brown said the latest development between the USA and Cuba, presents a platform to further advance “multi-destination” tourism marketing across the Caribbean, of which,

he said, “there has been much talk in the region.”

“There are persons who (attempt to) make the argument and… case that the opening

up of Cuba is likely to impact our (Jamaica’s) tourism industry in a negative manner (particularly in relation to the United States mar-

ket)…it is a view that the Minister of Tourism (and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill) doesn’t share,” he said.

The State Minister said Dr. McNeill has been quoted as saying that: “any increased competition that Cuba will present in the North American market should not be feared, but rather embraced, as we seek to forge an even stronger partnership which will redound to the benefit of both our nations, and the Caribbean, as a whole.”

Mr. Brown argued that Jamaica, as an established global brand, “has significant competitive advantage in terms of our tourism product”, adding that “we really have not ‘maxed’ it out, in its entirety, yet.”

The State Minister noted that Jamaica currently serves as a gateway into Cuba for most Americans who currently travel to the latter country, in the absence of formal direct flight arrangements between the

United States and Cuba. This, he pointed, is expected to change consequent on the diplomatic re-engagement between the United States and Cuba, which, he said, is expected facilitate more “ease of movement” between the countries, as announced recently by US President, Barack Obama.

“I…believe that there is an opportunity for persons (who will be) vacationing in Cuba to also visit Jamaica. They are 90 miles to the north of us, which is not very far from here,” the State Minister contended.

In addition, Mr. Brown said the arrangements between the US and Cuba will provide opportunities for locally operated hotel chains to tap into or re-enter that market “to take advantage of the (visitor) traffic that is going to come there.” (Jis)

Trinidad suspend CAL pilots to investigate near collision

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Both pilots of the Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight which almost collided with a JetBlue plane at John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York on Saturday night have been taken off flying duties, pending the outcome of an investigation.

This was confirmed by director of the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) Ramesh Lutchmedial in a news release on Monday.

Lutchmedial did not say whether the pilots are on suspension.

He noted, though, that safety inspectors of the TTCAA are expect-

ed to meet with Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials at JFK Airport on Tuesday to determine the facts surrounding the incident.

“Caribbean Airlines Ltd is fully co-operating with the investigators,” Lutchmedial added.

The JetBlue passenger flight 1295, which was bound for Texas, was forced to abort its take-off after BW526 shot across the runway in front its path.

Reports have stated the CAL flight BW526 (a Boeing 737) had landed on runway 22L of JFK at 10.27 p.m. following a flight from Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana.

Its pilots were in-

International Airport, New York. —Source: Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC),Germany

structed by air traffic controllers to “hold short” or stop before the parallel runway (22R) on which JetBlue 1295 was about to gain speed for take-off.

According to a tran-

Guyana’s school welfare programme to be strengthened – Manickchand

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Amid increasing violence at public schools, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said the Ministry would strengthen its welfare programme in schools across the country.

Speaking at a press conference last Friday, Manickchand said more welfare officers would be trained by high-level officials from across the Caribbean, noting that a team of 13 supporting masters are currently in Guyana undergoing training.

Manickchand noted that since the initiative was the first of its kind, they may not be able to pull off everything on time and as expected, but would work towards perfection when addressing welfare matters within the schools.

“Again, we will not be able to provide all the services and respond to all the welfare cases as expected. We have to find other ways of having the country band together to address the issues of inter-personal violence, of stranger violence, of resolving issues violently, so we really need everybody on board, the Church, the Mandir, the Mosque, the NGOs, the schools and even the parents in the home,” Manickchand said.

In addition, the minister noted that of the 13 persons lending their assistance to train the welfare officers, eight were attached to the Education Ministry while the other five were placed to work within the Social Services Ministry. She underscored that the trainers had specific training on

script of the (ATC) instructions, the CAL pilots were warned on three occasions to stop.

At 10.30 p.m., the final warning was given: “Caribbean 526, hold short...526 STOP!”

The CAL pilots never responded and as a result JetBlue1295 was immediately told to abort take-off to avoid collision.

It was able to stop 2,800 feet or just over half-mile short of BW526.

There were no injuries to passengers and both planes were not damaged.

The Jet Blue plane, an Airbus A320, returned to the gate and took off for Austin, Texas, three hours late.

ABC News reported on Monday that the CAL pilots were on the wrong frequency and never heard the tower instructions and repeated calls from the tower to stop.

The TT media tried to confirm this informa-

tion with CAL officials but this proved futile. All calls to the cellphone of the airline’s chairman Phillip Marshall went unanswered, while the communications department did not entertain questions.

In a news release on Monday, the airline said it was taking the alleged incident very seriously.

“We are in the process of investigating and compiling the facts surrounding this allegation in co-operation with all regulator agencies.

“In the interim, Caribbean Airlines is complying with all incident management procedures included within its Safety Management System and adjunct regulations.” (TT Express)

Ja$10M sports project for Holmwood Technical High School in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

young people so local officers would be empowered to deal with issues affecting youths.

When asked about measures to be put in place to strengthen the security system within the schools, Manickchand said there were no plans to do so. “You know it will be very hard to provide security personnel to all of our thousands of schools in Guyana. It will be extremely expensive and so we will have to make some hard choices about perhaps which schools will need it most, but no, there are no great plans to increase the amount of security personnel in the schools across the country on a nationwide scale,” the minister noted.

The minister also pointed out that although the ministry had many important issues to deal with to boost the education sector, literacy remained on the top of the agenda.

“Literacy is an unfolding issue that we are addressing; part of it was to make sure that our children have all the resources like text books and work books and so on. We have started implementing the plans that we have rolled out, in fact one of the major developments is that parents will now be able to go into schools and get updated reports about their child’s performance, especially in literacy as this remains on the top of our agenda,” she added.

Moreover, Manickchand added that this new system would help children to learn faster and also keep parents up-to-date with their child’s performance and reading quality. (Guyana Times)

The Government is to undertake development of an additional sports field at Holmwood Technical High School, in Christiana, Manchester, at a cost of Ja$10 million.

Minister with Responsibility for Sport. Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, who made the announcement during a visit to the institution last Friday, said the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) will fund the facility’s development, to be executed under the Government’s High School Sport Infrastructure Improvement Project (HSSIIP).

Speaking during a brief meeting where the details were outlined, Mrs. Neita Headley said the new field will complement and enhance the school’s existing sports facilities, and enable Holmwood Technical’s administration to undertake a tailored training programme specifically targeting the institution’s athletes.

Mrs. Neita Headley who toured sections of Holmwood’s campus, accompanied by SDF officials and Member of Parliament for North East Manchester, where the school is located, Audley Shaw, assured that efforts will be made to execute the project expeditiously.

Additional resources are expected to come from the Holmwood Past Students

Association, and Mr. Shaw, who welcomed the undertaking, noting that the additional field will also benefit the wider Christian community, and “give an opportunity for more involvement from the citizens of the area.”

Mr. Shaw said the school is currently engaged in 12 sporting disciplines, “so the propensity for excellence (in sports),” is great.

Meanwhile, Holmwood’s

Principal, Paul Bailey, told the gathering that sports has contributed significantly to the students’ academic development. He pointed out that a number of student athletes who have participated in and excelled in sports and academics, have secured scholarships to various colleges and universities locally and overseas, and have gone on to represent Jamaica in local and global competitions. (Jis)

TT PM orders foreign exchange meeting

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar has ordered three Cabinet ministers to hold a meeting this week with Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran over the issue of the supply of foreign exchange, Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie disclosed on Monday.

Speaking at a media conference held at the Twin Towers,

Independence Square, Port-ofSpain, Tewarie said the meeting will be with Rambarran and Finance and Economy Minister Larry Howai, Trade and Industry Minister Vasant Bharath and himself.

Bharath is also a Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Economy

“The Prime Minister has mandated the honourable Minister of Finance, myself

and the honourable Minister of Trade and Industry, to meet with the governor of the Central Bank,” Tewarie told reporters. He said this was one of the outcomes of a meeting with stakeholders of the private sector and the Prime Minister held last week.

This meeting took place at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s last Thursday. (TT Newsday)

Guyana among countries with lowest cost of living

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Guyana has been listed as one of the countries with the lowest cost of living, according to a survey done by Numbeo.com

The map shows the difference in living costs around the world using figures from the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide. The Consumer Price Index, used to deter-

mine the difference in the living costs between countries takes into account the prices of groceries, transportation, restaurants and utilities.

The CPI in the infographic is a relative indicator of a country’s living costs compared to New York. So, for instance, if a country has a CPI of 70, on average it enjoys 30% cheaper living costs compared to New York. The Consumer Price Index

takes into account the cost of groceries, transportation, restaurants and utilities, each containing a number of variables. The cost of groceries, for instance, is made up of the price for meat, bread, rice, eggs, fruits, vegetables and alcohol. The transportation cost includes one-way tickets, monthly passes, taxi fares, petrol prices as well as the prices of a Volkswagen Golf. The restaurant costs com-

prise of prices for meals in expensive, mid-range and inexpensive restaurants, as well as the prices for coffee products, alcohol and water in restaurants. The utilities costs are determined by the prices for electricity, heating, water and Internet, among the few. The data was collected by Numbeo, the world’s largest database of user-contributed data on costs and prices around the world. (Guyana Times)

Canadians looking to invest in TT

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Canadian Senator Don Meredith on Monday said Trinidad should look at falling oil prices as an opportunity to move forward and diversify the economy.

Meredith said the government of Canada under prime minister Stephen Harper has been able to weather the growing turbulence in the global energy sector because of its diversified economy.

He made the statement during a visit to the post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

“We (Canada) are one of the countries that have weathered the economic storm under the leadership of prime minister Stephen Harper and we have always been diversified in our economy and so we have not solely relied upon the oil sector,” Meredith said.

canaDian welcome: Prime minister Kamla Persad-bissessar, centre, shakes hands with canadian senator Don meredith, following her meeting with a visiting Canadian trade delegation at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair on Tuesday. From left are Trade Minister Vasant Bharath; Al Baksh—DZIGN Consortium; David Oliver Dundee, Real Estate 360 Consortium; Michael Smith—Ellis Don; Mrs meredith; mP Joe Daniel, toronto, canada; mathabo tsepal—lesotho High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago and Canada; and Dr Suruj Rambachan, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. —Photo Courtesy The Office of Prime Minister

“I think this crisis, or this potential problem creates an opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to move forward and the diversification into other sectors, agriculture, tourism, ICT (Information and Communications Technology) eco-tourism,

creates an opportunity for these sectors to move forward at this particular juncture in time,” he said.

Canadian Member of Parliament Joe Daniel agreed. “Clearly you can’t just cut back everything because this down-

turn won’t last forever and the future is there to be had,” Daniel said.

“If you don’t prepare yourself for that future then you will miss the opportunities. On the upside, it is important that investment

takes place. PPP (PublicPrivate Partnership) has been well established in Canada and it can be used here as well,” he said.

Meredith and Daniel led the “largest Canadian delegation ever to come to Trinidad and Tobago”.

The delegation spent three days in Trinidad and is expected to leave on Tuesday.

“We are leaving with a sense of optimism, a sense of enthusiasm as well with respect to the projects that will be brought back here infrastructure wise and the ICT and investment that will be brought here the oil has affected your revenues of TT$1.2 billion and certainly this is an opportune time for all of us to get together,” Meredith said. Meredith said TT tourism sector has “not been fully developed and engaged and we hope to do that with some

of the individuals here”.

“We are going forward I believe that is the way forward in an economic downturn where your revenues are diminished, PPP model is the best way forward when government and private sector come together to put up these infrastructure to benefit its people,” he said.

“There is no country that is immune to incidents and clearly Tobago is a bright, vibrant area to be developed. Some virgin beaches need to be developed, we went to Chaguaramas and we also looked at that area in terms of the opportunities that exist there for the potential broadening of a causeway for hotels, for a golf course so I think that we need to look at these opportunities and not think that we cannot attain them from a PPP,” he said. (TT Express)

J'can Lorna Goodison wins int'l award

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaican poet

Lorna Goodison has been awarded the Shirley Verrett Award from the Women of Color in the Academy Project (WOCAP), which comes with a US$5,000 prize and entry into the records of United States creative arts.

Goodison, the author of 12 award-winning books of poetry, three books of short stories and the prize-winning memoir From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her Island, has been the recipient of numerous awards. Her work, which has been translated into many languages, appears in the Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, as well as the Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry,

GOODISON... is the author of 12 awardwinning books of poetry, three books of shorts stories and the prize-winning memoir From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and her Island

and the Harper Collins World Reader.

The Shirley Verrett Award recognises a faculty member at the University of Michigan whose work in the creative fields -- teaching, performance, scholarship, or service -- supports the success of female students or col-

leagues who come from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds. The award was established in 2011 by the University of Michigan Office of the Senior Vice Provost in honour of Verrett, and administered by WOCAP at the Center for the Education of Women

An internationally acclaimed opera singer who performed over 40 roles all over the world during the course of her illustrious four-decade career, Verrett was one of the pioneering leaders in the generation of black singers after Marian Anderson's historical Metropolitan Opera debut in 1955.

Lorna Goodison is a member of the noted Goodison family, who are all involved in the creative arts in Jamaica. (Jamaica Observer)

Jamaican to head US Defense Intelligence Agency

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: United States Marine Corps Major General Vincent R Stewart will assume duties as the 20th director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) on Friday, the DIA has announced on its website.

Major General Stewart, a Jamaican who attended Kingston College and who entered the Marine Corps in 1981, will take up his new post after a 10:00 am ceremony scheduled for at DIA Headquarters, Joint Base AnacostiaBolling, Washington, DC.

"The US Senate confirmed his promotion to Lieutenant General December 11, 2014, and he will receive his third star just prior to assuming duties as DIA director and JFCCISR commander," the DIA news release said.

Major General Stewart, the DIA added, served most recently as commander, Marine Forces Cyber Command. Prior to that assignment, he served as director of intelligence at the US Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, DC.

"Stewart is the first Marine Corps officer and the first black officer to take office as the DIA director. As the fulltime DIA director, Stewart succeeds US Army Lieutenant General Michael

T Flynn, who left the DIA in August 2014, and subsequently retired. The agency has since been led by Acting Director David Shedd," the DIA stated.

The DIA provides military intelligence to warfighters, defence policymakers and force planners in the Department of Defense and the intelligence community, in support of U.S. military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition.

The agency also plans, manages, and executes intelligence operations during peacetime, crisis, and war.

(Jamaica Observer)

Tewarie on falling oil prices: Govt wants TT to lead regional response

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Government wants TT to take the lead regionally in responding to the impact of falling oil prices, Planning and Sustainable Development Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie said on Monday. Speaking at a news conference at the Eric Williams Financial Complex, Port-of-Spain, he said government is in talks with leaders of regional governments.

“I want to let you know that TT has always been proactive on these issues and Cabinet has agreed for the Minister of Planning, in consultation with the Finance Minister and Energy Minister, to establish an MoU with the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) looking at a Caribbean solution in which TT is the lead player in terms of the energy challenge and crisis,” he said.

Tewarie said the expectation is that the matter will be on the front burner when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-

TT$15M extension for Hillview College in Trinidad

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Work on a TT$15 million extension to Hillview College to better accommodate its students, is set to begin next month according to Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

Gopeesingh, who on Monday addressed the students prior to turning the sod to mark the start of construction at the all-male school in Tunapuna, said that the extension will include a new auditorium, an extended fifth form block and a staff room.

The school was first established as an extension to Naparima College by the Presbyterian Church in 1955 with 44 students and two teachers. The school now has 800 students on roll.

Gopeesingh noted that similar works, due to be carried out on Hillview College, have already been done at other schools including Naparima College. Works are also set to continue at others including the construction of an auditorium and a science laboratory among other facilities at St Augustine Girls’ Secondary also at a cost of TT$15 million.

In terms of internet connectivity for schools, he announced that Government was moving to provide 25 megabites for primary schools and 50 megabites for secondary schools. The contract for that, he said should be awarded shortly and work should start in all schools by February. This will enable students to connect to the internet in any part of the school, he said.

In addition, Government, he said, was moving to train 600 teachers in the art of infusing Information Communication Technology in the schools’ curriculum with the assistance of Harvary University and the Organisation of American States.

ed his days as a student playing cricket for the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, for Trinidad and Tobago in regional tournaments. and later as the first medical doctor to play in a test match.

As a medical student, he said he spent three and a half hours playing cricket and jogging in the afternoons while his colleagues would spend six to seven hours studying. He took about three hours of study each day to pass the same examinations as his colleagues.

Bissessar attends the Caribbean Energy Security Summit to be hosted by US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington DC next week.

He said government is also working with the TT Chamber of Commerce, the IDB and other stakeholders and there are plans to look at the engagement with Venezuela in the Manatee field, particularly with the processing of gas.

“We might be able to process some of that in TT and have a fair sharing of the revenue benefits,” he said.

The minister said government also plans to work with the Suriname and Guyanese governments and private sector to determine “where there are opportunities in oil and gas, linking that to strategies related to Northern Brazil.”

“I have been working on this for a year-and-a-half with the IDB and other players like the Ministries of Finance and Energy,” he said, adding that there are implications for ports and shipping lines with a new energy corridor being developed north of TT.

He assured that talks with TT’s Caribbean neighbours are not intended to replace PetroCaribe but are for the purpose of finding an energy solution.

“No matter what the terms and conditions of PetroCaribe, you do have an awkward situation (falling oil prices) now,” he said.

Tewarie said government has been having the discussions over the last year about possible declining oil prices and the expectation is that international doners will come forward with a solution of which TT would be a part.

“We don’t want to get into anything in which we are the sole player,” he said. (TT Guardian)

In an address interspersed with loud rounds of applause, Gopeesingh related his life’s experience as a student in which education was not free, and a number of facilities, including free transportation, was not available to them. If he could have achieved under adverse circumstances, he said, students can do better under much improved conditions that are available to them.

Also speaking about the need for students to be more rounded, he relat-

“My reason for telling you this,” he said, “is to tell you to manage your time well and you can participate in sport. If you manage your time you can become physically stronger and more mentally alert.” If he could have done it, he said, “You can do it. You can participate in sports, music and extra curricular activities.” Congratulating the school on celebrating its 60th anniversary, he said that Hillview College remains rooted in academic excellence. Its achievements, he said, reflects the history of Trinidad’s education system and the shared determination of the people to attain an education where even a cowpen was considered a site of learning amidst the discriminatory practices of colonialism. (TT Newsday)

Guyana govt slashes Guyoil fuel prices by 30%

…pressure on other suppliers to follow suit

By Jomo Paul

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: As of Monday evening, consumers in Guyana began buying gasoline from some Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) fuel stations at Gy$695 per gallon, which represents a decrease of Gy$300 or 30 per cent from its former price.

The price for fuel has been dropping around the world since last June, with the latest price of fuel in Venezuela being recorded at US$39.19 per barrel, the lowest in almost half a decade.

The announcement of Guyana’s price drop was made by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh at an emergency press conference on Monday when he also announced similar reductions in the prices for diesel and kerosene oil.

He said that die-

sel would be retailed at Gy$694 per gallon, from a high of Gy$985 per gallon. With respect to kerosene oil, the price was lowered to Gy$496 per gallon which represents a 42 per cent decrease from its previous price. Dr Singh said that the new price structure, which should take effect at all Guyoil-

branded fuel stations from Monday, was decided after a meeting with the management of the state-owned fuel company.

“I am advised that these prices to be charged at the pump are the lowest since early 2009, almost six years ago … it is anticipated that by Wednesday

all Guyoil branded petrol stations and dealers would have implemented these prices,” said Dr Singh.

According to the minister, he is hopeful that the other oil companies and transport services operators will now look at adjusting their prices so that the common man can benefit from the reduction in fuel costs.

When asked why only now the government was looking to decrease the price of fuel at the stateowned Guyoil, Dr Singh explained that it was never within the government’s policy to decrease prices sporadically since it would make the market volatile. “Not in the custom of adjusting prices sporadically … up and down every week. I believe myself it would be irresponsible to adjust the price up or down at the first sight of a drop or increase,” he said.

But while, the price for fuel has been slashed, the tax levied on the import of both diesel and gasoline has been increased to the maximum that is 50 per cent and 45 per cent respectively.

The price of Venezuelan crude oil and its derivatives dropped below US$40 per barrel, the Oil Ministry

said Friday, marking the lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis. State-owned Guyoil imports almost most of its fuel from Venezuela. For 2014 alone, global oil prices have dropped a whopping 45 per cent –50 per cent, which would make for the highest annual decline since 2008.

(Guyana Times)

Ex-UWI student in TT on TT$150,000 bail for ganja trafficking charge

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Matthew Soo Chan was on Monday granted TT$150,000 bail after appearing in the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and cultivation of marijuana.

On Thursday last, officers of St Joseph Police station raided a Bedasie Street apartment and found the 94 pots each containing a marijuana plant. Soo Chan was charged with having marijuana 500 metres away from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine. The charges were laid indictably and Soo Chan was not called upon to plead.

Soo Chan of San Diego park, Diego Martin appeared before Tunapuna Magistrate Gillian David Scotland and was rep-

resented by attorneys Larry Williams and Sade Lee Duprey. Williams told the court his client was only aware he was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, when he arrived at court.

He said his client informed him he only received charge papers for cultivation of marijuana. Williams also told the court his client had no pending matters and no previous convictions. He said Soo Chan is a former student of UWI but stopped attending after he got accepted into a programme at the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute to pursue his “true passion” which was cooking. The magistrate granted the accused TT$150,000 bail to cover both charges and Soo Chan was ordered to return to court on February 13. (TT Newsday)

J'can model featured in L'Oreal Paris' make-up video

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaican-born international model Jeneil Williams last Friday shared a L'Oreal Paris video with the Jamaican media in which she is the only black woman featured.

The video highlights the company’s new Infallible 24H-Matte foundation.

In the 32-second video, close-ups of Jeneil's

face and skin can be seen as she, along with a few other models declared: “I don’t just wear it, I live it”.

Jeneil, a past student of Vere Technical High School in Clarendon, has made strides in the global modeling industry and has been featured on the cover of Vogue as well as the Pirelli calendar. She also shared the video on her Facebook page. (Jamaica Observer)

Trinidad's security minister looks to ban glass bottles during Carnival celebrations

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Minister of National Security Gary Griffith said last Friday the ministry was looking at the banning of glass bottles since it can be used “as a weapon of choice” during Carnival celebrations scheduled for February 16 and 17. He also said there would be “heavy emphasis” with regard to security during Jouvert celebrations. He also said there would be zero tolerance for people like promoters and bar tenders who give minors alcohol and allow them to enter fetes.

Griffith made these

comments while giving an update on security measures for Carnival 2015 at the VIP Lounge, Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. Among those present were Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism

Dr Lincoln Douglas, National Carnival Commission chairman Lorraine Pouchet, Deputy NCC chair Don Sylvester and head, Corporate Communications

Candice Alcantara. The conference was followed by a tour of the Grand Stand.

Zeroing on the debate over the banning

of glass bottles, Griffith said: “We are looking at the concerns about glass bottles. It is unfortunate. Based on the data we have, there have been

major incidents that have taken place, and, ironically by minors who cannot consume alcohol. They can use it (glass bottles) as a weapon of

choice. We need to look at it, even if it is on a basis whereby the vendors can have glass bottles and pour it in cups.”

Griffith added: “It is unfortunate when people... a few... can make comments. Concerns about safety and security should be a priority factor.”

Griffith described the complement of security in Jouvert bands as “totally ridiculous”.

He said: “We need to have a stringent process. If it means a situation where the band is not competitive, and there is a proper route, the best way we can assist the law enforcement agencies is in monitoring the route. We can have law enforcement personnel positioned in proper areas so as not to have bands scattered all over Port of Spain.”

Griffith said the emphasis for the safety of Carnival 2015 was not solely dedicated to Monday and Tuesday. On the issue of Ebola preparedness, Griffith said: “There is a full green light for Carnival 2015. The relevant organisation will continue to address every aspect of Ebola although the risk and threat remain low.(Jamaica Observer)

Guyana’s economic growth continues unabated – Finance Minister Despite Opposition contretemps…

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh pointed out that Guyana, under the People’s Progressive Party Civic/ (PPP/C) Administration, continues to experience economic growth and development despite the challenges encountered in the parliamentary process and the inevitable consequences that these challenges have posed for the political and economic environment.

Singh noted that sustaining nine years of consecutive economic growth is not easy and extending it remains high on the PPP/C’s agenda.

“We (the PPP/C) take very seriously our responsibility for ensuring that the economic environment in Guyana continues to be attractive,” he explained.He also pointed out that the nine years of consecutive growth were achieved despite non-support in the Parliament from the Opposition which can only be deemed as a concerted effort to stymie development.

The Minister further stated that Guyana could have achieved much more, had many pivotal projects such as the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion not been obstructed by the Parliamentary Opposition.

“The Opposition has not been shy of flaunting its tactics for all and sundry to see, and these tactics have been aimed at scaring investors away, intimidating investors, (and even) threatening (them),” he deplored.

Singh then stressed

that in a democratic environment, these ‘opposition actions’ are not deemed as acceptable behaviour, “since all leaders are supposed to act in the country’s best interest, regardless of which side they represent.”

Referring to the AntiMoney Laundering Bill, the Minister expounded that this was “the starkest example” that the opposition parties have made it quite clear, that they have no interest in the consequences of an adverse review by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and the other external bodies that are responsible for reviewing Guyana’s financial actions.

Additionally, the Minister noted that the global economic environment has also been faced with its own problems which negatively impacted many of Guyana’s trading partners.

Notwithstanding those challenges, Singh said Guyana’s economic performance is definitely worth commending.

He also noted that the economy was able to perform as well as it did because of investor policies and prudent fiscal management by the Government.The Minister highlighted that the local economy continues to be conducive to at-

tracting both local and foreign investors.He said the Government’s policy is to provide the same incentives to local and foreign investors who are interested in investing in Guyana.

“If you look across the spectrum, you’ll see a very strong track record of investors from every jurisdiction, responding to the environment that we have created. We have today companies (local and foreign) in the natural resources sector, in gold, in manganese, in bauxite and in new and emerging industries.”Examples of such companies include Guyana Goldfields, a Canadian company and Troy Resources of Australia; Exxon Mobil and CGX, internationally recognised oil companies; Qualfon, a Mexican call service provider; and Massy Group of companies.

Moreover, Executive Director of the National Industrial Commercial Investments Ltd., (NICIL), Winston Brassington attested to the Minister’s sentiments.

The Minister opined that the people of Guyana have every reason to be proud and optimistic that Guyana has been witnessing economic growth for almost a decade with every sector showing significant and steady in-

creases.

He stressed that economic growth is essential for improving everyone’s wellbeing and therefore the government will continue to maintain policies to secure the country’s development.

Additionally, he maintained that government will not become complacent of emerging challenges and will continue

to work assiduously to ensure that the main sectors remain competitive and continue to expand.

Singh stated that the PPP/C Government will continue to place strong focus on the building of key infrastructural projects such as the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project.

“We (PPP/C) are persevering with Amaila …

we continue to work with international partners … notwithstanding the Opposition’s attempts to stymie and stultify these projects (other transformational projects mentioned above), it is (still) very much our intention to ensure that these projects be realised”. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Tami's Historic Walk

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: It is one of the biggest fashion moments of the year-the comeback of fashion's enfant terrible, John Galliano, presenting the Fall 2015 Couture Collection of Maison Martin Margiela. Fading from the spotlight after a falling-out precipitated by anti-semitic rants, the former Christian Dior head designer made a triumphant and much-heralded return as the chief designer at the storied Frenchbased label Maison Martin Margiela. While fashion power brokers rubbed shoulders in the front row, the Rock was represented by Saint International supermodel and French ELLE cover girl Tami Williams, who was one of the chosen few models deemed worthy for this historic moment.

After last year's impressive runway and magazine domination, Saint International model Tami Williams has kicked off 2015 in impressive style. Williams styles in the February issue of W magazine in a multi-ensemble editorial, 'La Clique, C'est Chic', lensed by Steven Klein and styled by the glossy's fashion and style director Edward Enniful. (Jamaica Observer)

The Dutch Legacy to Guyana

B y H emraj m aniram

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America, but English has been the official language for less than half the time Europeans occupied the country. The Dutch language was the main medium of communication for 232 years, from the time a group of Dutchmen sailed up the Pomeroon River and settled there, to 1812 when English replaced Dutch as the language used in the Court of Policy (Parliament). To this day, hundreds of villages have retained their original Dutch names like Uitvlugt, Vergenoegen and Zeeburg. Some present-day Guyanese have names like Westmaas, Amsterdam and Meertens. No Guyanese citizen or visitor can escape visible and other reminders of our Dutch predecessors.

The ruins of a brick fort can still be seen on a little island where the Essequibo, Mazaruni and Cuyuni rivers meet. The original fort was a wooden structure built around 1600 by some Dutch traders who called it Kyk-over-al or "See-over-all" because it provided a commanding view of the three rivers.

From 1627 the fort was controlled by the Dutch West India Company, a Holland-based organization which was vested with the power to establish colonies and which monopolized Dutch trade in the New World. The Company appointed AdrianetzGroenewegel as its first Commander to administer Kyk-overal. The wooden fort was replaced in the 1630s by a brick structure which also served as an administrative centre.

Guyanese farmers and consumers should know that it was Commander Groenewegel, along with his counterpart CornelisGoliat of Fort Nova Zeelandia in the Pomeroon River, who introduced orange, lemon and lime trees to the country from Southern Europe. They also brought in sugar-cane plants and plantain suckers which the Company's sister-organization, the Dutch East India Company, had initially obtained from the East Indies.

Another notable landmark which continues to attract tourists to Guyana is the Dutch Fort Zeelandia on Fort Island in the Essequibo River. This brick fort, which still retains its main features, was built in 1743. The man responsible for its con-

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Coming on the heels of its successful maiden year, the Mas Passion Carnival band has once again entered the mas arena with a depiction that sets it apart from other Carnival presentations.

Mas Passion is portraying ‘Dis

Passion is portraying

Living Maskerade’ for its 2015 presentation. The ten section, all-inclusive band is led by former King of Carnival, Gerard Weekes, and includes sections such as ‘Harlequin’, ‘Ambassador’, ‘Harem’, ‘Jester’ and ‘Cardinals’.

The costuming is intricate and locally hand-sewn with in-store arti-

struction was Laurens Storm van Gravesande. As it turned out, Gravesande played a major role in Guyana's early development. He arrived first at Fort Kyk-over-al in 1738 to serve as Secretary to the Commander, HermanusGelskerke. Together, they decided to move the capital of Essequibo downriver to Fort Island in order to have ready access to more fertile land. Gravesande was appointed Commander (Governor) of Essequibo in 1743, following the death of Gelskerke.

Shortly after Fort Island became the capital, many Dutch planters relocated to the lower banks of the Essequibo River. They continued to cultivate cotton, annatto (a red dye which fetched a high price in Europe), citrus, coffee, ground provisions and sugar-cane. Gravesande encouraged planters of all nationalities to take up land under his jurisdiction with tax-free concessions and other generous benefits. Englishmen rushed in from the West Indian islands and, together with Dutch newcomers, were granted parcels of fertile land along the East Bank of the Essequibo River, the West Coast of Demerara and then along both

sans bending wire for the headpieces. Mas Passion was born out of a need to play, see and experience real mas: mas as it was in the past, made by local artisans and conceptualised right here in the heart of Trinidad and Tobago, according to a media release from the band. With this in mind, Weekes took the step to produce a band with a difference for the mature masquerader interested in real mas.

In this year’s portrayal every reveller will be adorned with a mask, hiding their face but not their real personalities.

“Every day we are who others expect us to be. Every day we mask ourselves, but who are we?” bandleader Weekes asked.

“We play the obedient, the subservient, while our passions remain hidden behind a mask handed to us by a society that does not know us,” he said.

“We are asking the masquerader to find their role, find who they are in this band, in this living masquerade,” Weekes concluded. (TT Newsday)

banks of the Demerara River. It didn't take long for estates to cover the Demerara landscape.

Did the Dutch planters create Guyana's infrastructure and early market economy by themselves? Without the labour of African slaves sugar-cane and other large-scale crops could not be planted and harvested, canals could not be dug, sea-walls and roads could not be built. The first batch of African slaves arrived at Fort Nova Zeelandia on the Pomeroon River from Angola in 1658. By the time the Dutch were finally forced to relinquish Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice in 1803, Africans ac-

counted for the majority of the population. There were 110,000 Africans in Guyana, according to a census taken in 1817, i.e., seventeen years before the abolition of slavery and the introduction of Chinese, Portuguese and East Indians. While the system of slavery should never be condoned, it is useful to remember that the Dutch handed down a remarkable legacy in the form of wonderful human beings who now call themselves AfroGuyanese. Present-day Guyanese are more educated and enlightened than their nineteenth-century forefathers. East Indians, Portuguese

and Chinese never laboured for Dutch plantation owners. Despite that, among the superstitious of all races, a Dutchman jumbie (ghost) is still believed to haunt many villages. And, according to folklore, Dutch jumbies are far more terrifying than other varieties of ghosts. Some people will avoid passing near old Dutch cemeteries at mid-day or midnight, fearing that "Dutchman go hold" them. In life and in death, in the past and the present, those Dutch pioneers who made a whole country out of bush and swamp have left an indelible impression on us all. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

The Amerindian village in Guyana named after a lizard

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Micobie is situated approximately two miles downriver of the famous Tumatumari Falls found in the Potaro River, Region Eight. It is accessible by road via the LindenMabura road, BarticaPotaro road or by aircraft to Mahdia then by road. It is an approximately tenhour road trip.

In the 1800s, a family broke away from a community that was settled at Kangaruma, in the area now called Princeville, a satellite village of Campbell town in the vicinity of Mahdia. It was customary that farming and hunting grounds were the key reasons for seeking “new lands” for a more comfortable livelihood, since in that era there was hardly any form of income generating activities in comparison to present day. The persons from Kangaruma have traced their genealogy to Chenapou and Kopinang.

The Micobie community is made up of predominantly Patamona, the so-called relatives of the Akawaio, and indeed there are many similarities in language, diet, marriage rites and the practice of herbal medicine.

Micobie has been in existence since the 1800s when the Denham Bridge was being constructed. In fact, the workers on

the bridge and some porknockers patronized the small community by purchasing their cassava bread. As a result, it was given the name ‘Cassava Hill’. In the 1960s, when captains were being elected to govern their community, a Mr Bennett, of Arawak descent, was elected and he changed the name from Cassava Hill to New Foundout. Mr Braithwaite (also of Arawak descent) took over from. Bennett, and had a close working relationship with the Guyana Youth Corps, a paramilitary organization that was engaged in mining, agriculture and in the operations of the hydro-station which later gave way to the Guyana National Service (GNS).

The population at Micobie was very small at that time and the GNS continued to purchase ground provisions and cassava bread from the community and about three members of the village joined the GNS.

When Pierre Trudeau, then prime minister of Canada, visited Tumatumari, he met with the residents of lowly New Foundout and asked the origin of the name. Three of the elders, Isaac Williams, Agnes Williams and Mr Roberts, explained that the original name for the village was “Maicopik”, after a small lizard that is prevalent in the area.

At a subsequent village meeting it was unanimously agreed that Cassava Hill/New Foundout even-

tually be given its rightful name Maicopik. The Official Gazette however, misspelled the term as “Micobie” and it has ever since been referred to as such.

The satellite village of Micobie is El Paso located on the right bank of the Potaro River below the Tumatumari Falls. The Aleluya religion (an indig-

enous religion) was also practiced here until the Anglican Church was introduced.

Micobie now has an approximate population of 360 persons. There is a primary school, and students qualifying for secondary would attend the nearby Mahdia Secondary School.

Due to its mineral and forest resources, Micobie attracted a lot of private investors, but no infrastructure or skills remained after the investors moved on. The residents themselves are now engaged in small scale mining and of course their traditional farming.

There is a spring, revered in the village, which provides potable water for its residents.

Micobie is governed by a village Toshao (female) and six councillors. The guidelines for effective governance of the village are outlined in the Amerindian Act 2006. In

2006, after lengthy consultations and accompanied with procedural bottlenecks, Micobie was awarded its Land Title by the government for 24 square miles of land. The Toshao at that time was Majuna Edwards, daughter of one of the elders, Mr Roberts. The present Toshao, Julie Johnson, is the granddaughter of Isaac Williams.

Until the late 1970s, Isaac Williams, the elder of the village, affectionately called Uncle Isaac, was one of the remaining piaimen of Region Eight, until he passed on. A piaiman is one that relies on his exclusive and indepth traditional training in “high science” to cure his patients.

Micobie continues to thrive as a close-knit village and warmly welcomes visitors to explore its rich history. (Information by Ovid Williams and Ministry of Amerindian Affairs)

Honours for 13's music stalwarts in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

The musical heritage of Kingston 13 will be celebrated on February 15 with the Kingston 13: From Ska to Dancehall show at Caribbean Palm Estate, Spanish Town Road.

The event features artistes from various communities in Kingston 13 including Greenwich Town and Maxfield Avenue.

"This event is put on by the Greenwich Town music fraternity and is aimed at highlighting the enormous contribution made by its citizens. We will be presenting the history of our music with a show geared to the entire family," said organiser Tony Mack.

Smith, Prince Allah and Phillip Fraser to young turks

Messenger Selah from the US Virgin Islands and rappers 1926 out of Philadelphia are also on the card.

The artistes represent the evolution of Jamaican popular music: from ska greats Derrick Morgan and Stranger Cole to roots-reggae stalwarts Max Romeo, Johnny Clarke, Earl

Three music industry veterans -- Tommy Cowan, Lloyd Jackson and Jamaica Federation of Musicians president Desmond Young -- will be honoured. (Jamaica Observer)

70 steelbands for TT Panorama single pan prelims

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: The 2015 National Panorama Single Pan preliminaries will run off in all regions over a fourday period with total of 70 steelbands registered to participate.

The first competition, comprising bands from the North, carded for tonight, takes place at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain. In this zone, 32 bands will perform their Panorama selection before the adjudication panel.

Last Saturday earmarked for bands of the Eastern Region preliminary with 21 bands going through their paces at The Arima

The

South/Central Region competing with a dozen steelbands performing their tune of choice at the Petrotrin Sports Club Car Park, Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre.

Bands from Tobago will have their day at the Buccoo Integrated Facility, Buccoo, Tobago. Five bands will compete in this Zone.

Single Pan steelbands, formerly “pan round de neck,” shall comprise 45 players maximum with a minimum of 25 players.

For the purpose of the competition, each participating steelband may select and perform any calypso, as long as the same selection has not been

played by said steelband in a previous Panorama competition.

Bands will be judged by a panel of four judges and will be awarded points for arrangement (40); general performance (40); tone (10); and, rhythm (10).

Each of the Single Pan bands will be vying for one of 32 places in the national semi-final round (Single Pan & Small Conventional Bands) at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. The theme of this year’s competition is Reach for the Stars……. Pan in Ecstasy.(TT Guardian)

19 Yr old TT National scholarship winner -Esther Pope

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: There’s one word to describe 19-year-old national scholarship winner Esther Pope—inspirational. During a visit to her home in an area formerly known as “Hellyard” in Beetham Gardens.

Long stigmatised by society, these “Hellyard” residents also wanted other people to know that good things come out of Beetham Gardens.

A track leads to Pope’s home, and when she walked out, many of the children in the community gathered around her, glowing with pride. Many of them who say they want to follow in her footsteps listened attentively as she spoke during this interview.

Pope firmly believes that “despite where you come from or what you are going through, you can achieve anything.”

Shy, humble and soft-spoken, Pope said her inspiration comes from seeing what her parents had to go through and the struggles she and her siblings faced daily.

With six siblings on her father’s side and three on her mother’s side, she said things were stretched thin. She was raised by her mother and some of her siblings in a two-bedroom home, while her father and other siblings lived elsewhere.

Pope admitted that growing up in Beetham Gardens community was not easy. Many times there would be loud knockings on her door as police officers swooped down on the community during regular raids. The sound of gunshots would also prove to be nerve-wracking. But despite the negatives, Pope has no regrets that she grew up in that community. In fact, she claimed that the negatives portrayed about her community were in the minority.

Pope attended St Francois Girls’ College in Belmont. She is one of six additional scholarship winners from her school this year. Pope was awarded a scholarship in the field of natural sciences, and she plans to start her studies at the UWI School of Medicine next year. She hopes to become a paediatrician.

Meanwhile, as she waits to start university, Pope has found herself a job. “I have already worked at the Loveuntil Foundation in Laventille. It was while working there I got the news about the scholarship.”

So how did she feel when she got the news? Her face lit up as she recalled the moment. “I was both shocked and excited.”

“Firstly, God and knowing the many struggles I see daily in my community,” she said, “plus, the struggles my family had to go through each day. Although the negative was always there, I kept focused on my goals and ensured that my education was top priority.”

This young achiever feels a strong need to give back to her community. She has been running a summer school for the children of Beetham Gardens and dedicates time many evenings to help some of them with their homework.

She said, “I started a summer school downstairs of my father’s home with my sister, encouraging many of the young ones to be able to get extra classes. Since the school was established, I have seen many

of the children now progressing in their schoolwork. I hope next summer we can have the same classes again, which will benefit so many of the young ones in Beetham Gardens.”

A God-fearing soul, Pope always placed her trust in God. Although she was not a member of any church, she always had faith and the conviction that she would overcome the many struggles which she and her family faced.

“I have my goals and aspirations to become a paediatrician. However, I want to do more work within my community, focusing on the younger ones to help them accomplish their goals, and also be a role model to the older people in my community.”

Pope has never had a role model. For her, life’s journey has always been about making a better life for herself and those she loves.

Even with the perception of negativity in her hometown, Pope said she never experienced peer pressure to get involved in any bad habits or face negative influences.

“It was not hard, since I don’t really socialise much outside. I do (socialise), however, with my family and a few friends.” For her, friends must be chosen wisely. “Firstly, I assess whether they are positive and have the same aspiration or are motivated to achieve despite the situation they are in.”

“Choose people with the same goals as you. Separate yourself from the bad.”

She does admit, however, that she is concerned about the state of crime in the country. Many believe that “Hellyard” is unique with this problem, but Pope staunchly believes, “It’s not my community alone but the whole of TT, because crime does not (only) happen here—it may be at a larger scale in these areas, but there are so many positives that are not highlighted.”

And that’s where Pope is hoping she can make a difference.

“In a few years, I would like to become a paediatrician and I think this will impact the country, especially children, as I want to focus on developing strategies to assist them health-wise. Also to mentor children and let them understand that anything is possible, once you put your mind and heart to it.”

What first inspired her to become a doctor was seeing both her grandmothers suffering from diabetes.

“I remember feeling helpless. I told my grandmother I was going to be a doctor when I grew up so I could help people.”

With her love for children and her passion to see them improve academically, Pope said her focus would be to work closely with those parents who are unable to provide the proper medical treatment for their children.

He mother, Diane Pope, a homemaker, clearly admires her daughter’s indomitable spirit.

“Esther is a hard worker, and I pushed her with words of encouragement. I stood over her at nights as she studied,” she said. “Some mornings Esther would even be late for school due to the extra hours placed in studying.

“Keep in mind that many people think that because of the community you are from you are nothing, many good things happen in this community and it’s not highlighted.

“Esther’s achievement is among the hundreds of others who have excelled in sport, music and dance among so many other things.”

The scholarship winner’s father, Kyron Woodruffe, a labourer, said, “I am proud of my daughter. I knew she could achieve. Esther was always a special child, always quiet, and I always knew there was something different about her.”

Woodruffe said he intends to stand by Pope. “My daughter’s achievement has allowed me to see places that I did not even dream of going,” he boasted.

He was talking about a function to honour the 19-year-old at the Hyatt Hotel in Port-of-Spain.

Woodruffe said, “Despite the many the struggles in my life, I never left the side of my children. I want the world to know how proud I am and to let them know, that good comes out of Beetham Gardens.”

Pope’s achievements has now made her an ambassador for many youths in Laventille and especially in the Beetham Gardens community.

Pope said since attaining the scholarship, people from all walks of life are congratulating her on her achievements, while some good samaritans have promised to help her get her medical school. They also want her to share with others how she overcame poverty through education.

Pope, who’s determined to make it big, said, “TT, look out for me!”

(TT Guardian)

Gratitude

By Narine Dat Sookram

Gratitude means being thankful for what we have. It means being thankful and counting our blessings whether that is just a simple pleasure or basically accept everything that we receive.

Having said that, there are a few things we can do to embrace gratitude. Instead of criticising other people, it is best show gratitude, because if we constantly criticize other people, our relationship with them will surely weaken.

I don’t know of too many people who like to be criticized all the time, but it’s important to be able to talk about our challenges. Whenever we feel to criticize other people, it’s probably a good idea to think it through well and take the time to calm ourselves down and instead think about something positive about that person and take the opportunity to share that gratitude right away, because it’s a good healing process.

A simple act of such can easily make any relationship becomes stronger and that person can in return learn from our own example as well. It is also important to look at challenges as an opportunity to change things around. Many of us are accustom see difficult situation as something bad, because for some people it is just another reason to complain about life again.

However, we have to keep in mind that complaining won’t take us anywhere.

Rather than spending our time to complain, I encourage every to learn to be grateful for even the challenges in life, because as mention it’s an opportunity for all of us to grow and become better individuals.

These kinds of attitude will sure to transform anyone from being a complainer into a much more positive person.

I have seen many people complain about their own children rather than being grateful to have them. It is not uncommon for people get frustrated with children, because they are not getting it that children will do things different than us as adults.

And it’s too sad that adult do continue the same routine over and over. As a parent with a toddler myself I understand and to me these kinds of behavior are just bad parenthood.

There are certainly a lot better ways to do things from a parent view. For example thinking of reasons to be grateful to have children and better yet share these reasons to the children will sure to bring better outcome.

Another thing I would suggest is that we if know that our children are not doing the right thing, then it’s probably a good idea to take some responsibility to teach them that ‘right thing’, rather than criticizing them.

Gratitude is important because it’s a different way to look at the bigger picture. For example if we really stop and think about it, then we will probably focus on what’s really matter in life like love, health and just being thankful that we have the opportunity to experience life itself.

It’s an opportunity for us to allow ourselves to see what we have in life and be thankful for it every day.

For questions, comments and feedback, send them to mcnarine@rogers.com.

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

The Christ Church building, located in Waterloo Street in Georgetown, was erected in 1836 after several parishioners of the then just completed St George’s Cathedral were dissatisfied with the services being held at the cathedral. Appealing to the Bishop of Barbados, the group received his permission to build their own church, which was opened June 6, 1837, though it was not consecrated until Nov. 21, 1843 by Bishop Austin.

Permission was sought for the building to be situated on Parade Ground, but the group obtained two land plots on Waterloo Street instead, where the building was con-

structed.

A Mr Bryer was appointed Pastor of the church on July 22, 1837, but died about a month later from yellow fever. He is buried on the church grounds.

His successor, the Rev. Wm. Fox, M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin, carried out more work on the church over the years, constructing galleries in the west, north and south as well as at the east end of the original building. A tower and an organ were also added, but then construction stalled due to insufficient funds, delaying consecration of the church until 1843.

More improvements were carried out on the church when Rev. Thomas Jordan

Moulder erected a chancel in 1882. A stained glass pulpit was constructed behind the pulpit in 1914 in memory of Rev. Moulder.

The church also features a clock and a bell tower, while the church interior, including its walls, contains several tablets and items presented as gifts in memory of some of the more influential persons on the British colony at the time. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Jamaican rapper Jay X goes the distance

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Jamaican rapper Jay X teams with Beenie Man on the song, From a Mile Out. Produced by Razsy Beats, it will be available on ITunes January 20.

Jay X is originally from Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston. It has been 12 years since he relocated to the Bronx, New York.

"I came up with the name Jay X being that whatever I do, I like involving Jamaica. So the JA in my name is for Jamaica and the y is silent. The X represents the Bronx,"

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

“Walk in and fall in love with our food” is chef Ajesh Jose’s invitation to his classical Indian cuisine served at SALTN’PEPPER, in the Shoppes of Maraval, at lower Saddle Road.

Anyone who knows about authentic Indian cuisine will tell you that the curry does not come out of a pack of processed curry powder. These cuisines vary significantly from each other and a variety of spices, such as, coriander, turmeric, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, and herbs are used in the preparation of the wide variety of regional cuisines native to India.

The first time I found this out in 1980, while attending an Indian cooking course in Singapore, I was left in a state of amazement at the many, many, spices listed in the recipes which all had to be ground and applied to different foods.

Jose, from South

Jay X explained.

Born Glenroy Pickersgill, he developed a passion for songwriting at an early age.

"I was always memorising and singing the lyrics from my favourite rap artistes over and over. Hard Knock Life by Jay-Z, Dear Mama by Tupac, and It Was all a Dream by Biggie Smalls were some of my favourite songs," Jay X recalled.

After migrating to the United States, he became more exposed to hip hop. He was influenced by the success of Jamaican rappers in -

India, has been cooking in Trinidad since 2003 and opened the restaurant on November 6, 2014. He obtained a hotel school diploma in India, worked with the ITC Hotel group in India for five years, and with the Radisson and another local restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine.

So far “word of mouth” advertising has been drawing lovers of Indian food to his restaurant which seats some, although most of his clientele prefer to take away their meal.

The curries all have different tastes and he proudly says, “all the spices are from India and are each different for the different foods”.

Since Jose prepares food as ordered, it sometimes is a good idea to call (622-3938) or plan to arrive early as it would take about 30 minutes for preparation according to the order placed.

Now for the food. Jose has found that in TT most people like mild to medium curry.

The name makes people think that pepper is too hot, but the spiciness really is according to the location in India, such as vindaloo from upstate Goa which is very hot.

Masala is mild so “butter chicken masala” and “chicken korma” are creamy and mild. For the vegetable paneer dishes, Jose explained that paneer is our own cheese which would replace cottage cheese. “To make paneer we boil fresh milk and add vinegar, so that “palak paneer” would be a combination of cheese and spinach. “Shahi paneer” are pieces of the cheese in a thick gravy made up of cream, tomatoes and spices. “Paneer dolma” is a combination of the cheese and mushrooms, “paneer tikka masala” is the cheese cooked with ginger, garlic, onion and tomatoes.”

One of the best sellers is the naan (“tandoori bread”), which comes plain, garlic and butter. Since most of us know that local-

Jay X

ly made “roti” is something which exists only here, the replacements are the naan, and dosa (Indian pancake). Only two months

cluding Busta Rhymes and Heavy D.

Initially, Jay X intended to attend college to pursue an associate degree in business administration but his passion for rap music won.

The first song he recorded was Better Than You which created ripples in New York City and opened doors for the emerging artiste.

‘Save Me’, ‘I'm a Real N*gga’ and ‘Only Jah’ -- which has an unofficial remix featuring Popcaan -- are some of Jay X's previous recordings. (Jamaica Observer)

since opening, the very pleasant chef has been able to keep prices down. Thus far, he can only provide one dessert “rasmali”, “as right now

we are taking it step by step,” Jose said. To tell the truth after a meal by Jose, there is very little room left for dessert. (TT Newsday)

Marjorie Letitia Broodhagen

Remembering one of Guyana's most outstanding pioneer women artists

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Marjorie Letitia Broodhagen, AA, was born on 12 December 1912 in Georgetown. A devout Roman Catholic, she was educated at St. Joseph's High School and attended various art courses at Columbia University (1947-49), and in Italy (1955), Spain (1960), Mexico (1965) and Britain (1967).She also taught at St. Joseph's, Bishops' and St. Stanislaus High Schools.

Broodhagen began exhibiting her work in the

1930s and her first effort at arranging a women's exhibition was in 1967. She subsequently exhibited in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Broodhagen was also the winner of the open competitions for the mural for the Bank of Guyana en-

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: ‘Bam Bam’, a three decade-old single from deejay Sister Nancy, is receiving a new lease on life. It currently holds the number one spot on the iTunes Reggae Top 100 Chart.

Recorded in the mid-1980s for producer Winston Riley, the track is from the album One Two.

‘Bam Bam’ is one of two Jamaican songs on the soundtrack of the controversial movie ‘The Interview’. The Vybz Kartel-penned Pon de Floor, performed by EDM group Major Laser, is the other.

‘The Interview’ had a limited release by Sony

on Christmas Day in the United States. The comedy, starring James Franco and Seth Rogen, surrounds a plot to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

The movie angered North Korea, which threatened military strikes against the United States if it was released. Sony initially postponed the release but it opened it on Christmas Day in only 331 cinemas.

Sister Nancy (given name Ophlin RussellMyers) is the younger sister of veteran deejay Brigadier Jerry. She is a bank accountant in New Jersey and still performs in North America and Europe. (Jamaica Observer)

titled Natural Resources (1968-69) and the stage curtains of the University of Guyana entitled Forest Fantasy (1969-1970).

The artist was a founding member and first president of the Guyana Women's Artists Association. She was also an accomplished prize-winning artist and an experienced and excellent teacher.

As an artist, her work was large and wide. In the inaugural exhibition of the revived Guyana Women Artists Association exhibition in 1988, her section alone consisted of 50 pieces. Her work reflects Amerindian subjects, domestic objects, animals, people, landscapes, flowers, seeds, fruits, local activities. This engagement with the life and things around her - while not blocking her access to wider subjects and trends - makes her as a truly Guyanese artist. As a member of the group of pioneer artists of the 1940s, she did much to establish

the validity of the local life and landscape as subject matter for art.

Broodhagen's approach to painting was also varied ranging from the realistic to the abstract, from variations of traditional western approaches to work which were influenced by oriental painting. She not only created paintings, but

also did drawings, textiles and some ceramics. She worked in acrylics, oils, pen and ink, watercolour, crayons - all sort of media.

Marjorie Broodhagen was awarded the national honour of the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA). She died on 23 May in Georgetown. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

PORT-OFSPAIN,TRINIDAD:

Though we may at times take for granted the beauty and splendour of our twin-island Republic, the Friends of Asa Wright are there to give a gentle reminder of the paradise that we, as citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, have the distinctive pleasure to enjoy every day.

Last year, Asa Wright Nature Centre embarked on a project in the form of a calendar to highlight some of the majestic places in Trinidad and Tobago and the animals that live there. This year they highlighted birds of Trinidad and Tobago. For the month of January, they looked at the Crested Oropendola. It is commonly referred to as the Yellowtail or Cornbird that can be found in both islands. The females construct the nest in under a month at the beginning of the year, and it resembles a long brown woven sock. The males perform an elaborate display for the females’ attention. Their crests are revealed as they dance. Cornbirds are omnivorous, eating fruits, insects and occasionally smaller birds.

In the month of February, the Orange-winged parrot takes centre stage. Though native to South America, Orange-winged parrots fly in flocks across the valleys of the Northern Range. Their breeding season peaks from between February and March, and young ones are ready to fly after two months.

March highlights the Oilbird;

the only nocturnal fruit-eating bird in the world. Oil-rich palm seeds are the food of choice, and they can fly miles in search of fruit trees. They are gregarious and nest in colonies in caves. These relatively large birds are reddish-brown in colour with white spots on the nape and wings. They navigate at night using echolocation which is heard as loud “clicking” sounds. Their calls are very distinctive, loud shrieks which may have given rise to the local name Diablotin, devil bird.

Each month is represented with a different bird. Some of these include: The Lineated Woodpecker, Tufted Coquette or hummingbird; Violaceous Euphonia or Semp and the Turquoise Tanager also known as the Blue and Yellow Tanager or Sucrier Martinique.

The Asa Wright Nature Centre was established by a trust deed in 1967. By this act, Asa Wright – an Icelandic woman who came to live here with her British husband –

left the estate called Spring Hill in the Arima valley to be a reserve in perpetuity for the benefit of the people. Through relationships with eminent birders like Richard ffrench and Don Eckelberry; scientists like William Beebe and contemporary naturalists, the Asa Wright Nature Centre has fostered the spirit of research, observation, conservation, education and appreciation for Trinidad and Tobago’s tropical wildlife.

The calendar is intended as a keepsake for international visitors and to also encourage local families to visit the centre.

The beautiful images were captured by local and foreign photographers highlighting these birds in their natural habitat.

For a small subscription, anyone can become a Friend of Asa Wright, which is synonymous with being a friend of the environment.

For further information visit asawright.org (TT Express)

Guyana Amazon Warriors monitoring Narine, Hafeez

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: The Guyana Amazon Warriors will be waiting with baited breath on the progress made by off-spinners Sunil Narine and Mohammad Hafeez with regards their bowling actions, which have come under scrutiny within the past year.

The two are key players for the franchise in the Caribbean Premier League, playing crucial roles in guiding them to the runner-up spot both years.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyanese media on Friday, Team Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, said the franchise would be monitoring closely the progress of the two spinners ahead of the Players’ Draft, which is slated to take place next month.

Both players have been selected to represent their respective teams in the 50-over World Cup, set for February and March in Australia and New Zealand.

“In Sunil Narine’s case in particular, I’ve been having continuous discussions with him in terms of his remedial work and how he’s progressing and he seems to be quite confident that he’s done well,” Khan revealed.

He added, “Remember Sunil wasn’t called at an ICC tournament; he was

called in the Champions Trophy in India and he cannot participate in any BCCI tournaments. But he can go ahead and play in any other tournaments. For that matter, he’s now playing in the NAGICO Super50 and he has been selected by the West Indies for the World Cup so that’s a good sign for us. So we will be monitoring him closely, but having communicated with him, he said he’s very confident his bowling will not be affected.”

Narine’s action first came under the radar during the West Indies Cricket Board’s Caribbean T20 in 2011, and he subsequently worked with bio-mechanical experts at the

TT Under-20 footballers see red against Panama

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: TT’s Under-20 footballers will need to beat USA in their final Group

A match of the Concacaf Under-20 Championship on Wednesday after going under to leaders Panama 1-0 in their penultimate match at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, Jamaica on Sunday.

Going into the match needing a win to keep its qualifying hopes for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand later this year, the Shannon Gomez-led young Soca Warriors suffered a set back in the 23rd minute when striker Kadeem Corbin was shown a second yellow-card in eight minutes to leave his team down to ten men.

However, despite having a player less, the Derek King-coached Under-20 Soca Warriors managed to stay in the contest until midfielder Akeem Humphreys was

then issued a straight red card in the 70th reducing TT to nine men.

Eight minutes later Panamanian defender

Michael Murillo scored the lone goal of the match to hand his team a fourth straight win, and maximum 12 points while TT stayed on four.

In Sunday’s other matches Guatemala, second with seven points faced winless Aruba while host Jamaica battled USA, which has the same amount of points as TT, but a better goal-difference.

And on Wednesday, Panama meets Guatemala, and Jamaica tackles Aruba in the other matches at the end of which the group winner qualifies straight to the World Cup while the second and third placed teams meet the second and third placed Group B teams in one match playoffs for the other two qualifying spots.(TT Guardian)

University of Western Australia in Perth to remodel it.

A proven match-winner, he was ranked No. 2 on the ODI and T20 rankings when his action was again reported as sus-

pect in successive matches during the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) last September. Consequently, Narine missed out on playing in the final for Kolkata Knight Riders, who lost

to Chennai Super Kings.

However, Narine’s citation in the CLT20 has not impacted his chances of bowling in international cricket, as he was only suspended from doing so in Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)organised tournaments.

Hafeez’s situation is different from that of Narine, as he has been banned from bowling in international cricket, after failing two tests late last year.

He is slated to undergo a third test on January 24. Despite this, the Pakistan Cricket Board has included the right-armer in their World Cup squad with the aim of playing him as a batsman only if the ban on his bowling is not lifted.

“We’ve got to monitor that closely and see how it goes. Again, as a Manager, you have to be in touch with these players and find out how they have been progressing, because it’s beneficial for us and beneficial to the player. At the end of the day we don’t want to bring a player and contract him and when we have plans of using him as an all-rounder, obviously if he cannot bowl it would affect us…the team composition and strategy and so on,” Khan explained.

Both Narine and Hafeez have been key performers for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the two seasons of the Caribbean Premier League. In the inaugural competition in 2013, Narine had eight wickets from nine games at an economy rate of 5.66 and followed up with nine wickets in eight matches in 2014 at an astonishing 4.50 runs per over.

(Guyana Times)

Hooper is Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Head Coach

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: Former West Indies all-rounder and Captain Carl Llewellyn Hooper has been appointed Head Coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise for the 2015 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The Amazon Warriors lost at the final hurdle on both occasions, to Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013 and Barbados Tridents last year.

Appearing on TVG’s Sports Beat programme on Friday, Team Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise, Omar Khan, made the announcement, noting that it was in keeping with the franchise’s desire to derive the best possible group of technical staff and players to ensure success.

“In evaluating the overall performance of the team, not only the players but in terms of the support staff and the management team, there is a time when as a business you need to make decisions in terms of trying things differently and make changes to see if things would work out differently,” he said.

Hooper, a former West Indies Captain, brings to the post a wealth of experience playing at the international level and for Guyana and English county sides Kent and Lancashire.

Since his retirement in 2003, Hooper has ventured into coaching, completing stints with the West Indies Cricket Board’s Sagicor High Performance Centre and Australia state side Queensland.

He was also the Assistant Coach of the Antigua Hawksbills in the CPL last year.

Quizzed on what he ex-

pected the 48-year-old Hooper to bring to the position, Khan pointed out that it would be much more than tutoring the players on the technical aspects of the game.

“People’s management skills is a key aspect in terms of

motivating, especially the players we have today; you know those who need guidance, who need a lot of motivation and a lot of direction in terms of being focused on the task ahead.

“Sometimes, you need to communicate differently; you need to be able to do things differently in terms of getting through to the players so that everyone is on the same page in going about achieving the objectives and goals,” Khan related.

The Amazon Warriors were able to reach the final both years, but stumbled when it mattered most, being forced to settle for the runner-up spot.

“The Amazon Warriors have done a tremendous job over the last two years; the players really brought everything together in terms of the way they played.

“But at the end of the day, we just need to evaluate where we’re going,” Khan commented.

He continued, “As I said, we’ve reached two finals and we’ve not been able to win those finals and win the tournament.

“Having said that, we have been a fantastic team, we’ve

done a great job to play in two finals, but at certain times you need to make decisions and move on and it’s just in that aspect of it that we’re moving on – looking to do things differently and hopefully, we would get the result we want to achieve,” explained Khan

Hooper’s first task will entail him being part of the selection panel for the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Players’ Draft due to take place shortly.

In brief remarks, Hooper said, “I am extremely delighted to be appointed as Head Coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Team and to be part of the CPL 2015.

“I do look forward to working with the immensely talented and exciting group of cricketers that are involved with this team. I also want to assist with the overall development of the young Guyana cricketers who will be part of the squad for CPL 2015. It will be remiss of me if I didn’t express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop, Franchise Owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, for providing me with this opportunity.” (Guyana Times)

Watson, Frith capture LIME 6K Run in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Shanieke Watson and Obrien Frith, both of Holmwood Technical High School, emerged victors of the second staging of the LIME Foundation 6K Run/ Walk at Fort Clarence Beach in Portmore, St Catherine, on Sunday. Watson, 17, easily won the female section in a time of 24 minutes and 05 seconds ahead of teammate Shaneeka Reid (24:45) and Jullett Dinnal (24:54) of Church

Teachers' College.

"I am proud of myself because I started late and that made it a bit difficult. So I had to put in a whole lot of extra work to catch up with the front pack," she told reporters after catching her breath.

Meanwhile, Frith was very dominant in victory as he covered the distance in a blistering 20 minutes and 07 seconds. Rupert Green (20:33) was second, while Ricardo Johnson (20:57) claimed third.

"It's a great feeling and I am very thankful that I came out victorious. The course was very easy, I just came out here to do my best and God showed me the way," he told the Jamaica media.

Paula Sinclair of Ageless Wonders topped the female category in the walk event, ahead of Norlene Cornwall and Lesly Gordon. The male section was won by Rohan Gordon of Eden Fitness, ahead of Andre Smith and Lenworth Hunter.

The event dubbed 'Run for the Children' saw a turnout of just over 1,500 participants, doubling the number of participants in last year's inaugural staging. The run, which is aimed at raising funds to assist parents of children with cancer at the

Bustamante Hospital for Children, has so far accumulated over Ja$250,000 from its text line, which is a donation line through which mobile users on both networks could make a contribution of Ja$50 per text towards the cancer fund.

Last year's event saw the LIME Foundation handing over a cheque for Ja$3 million to the Bustamante Hospital to support the acquisition of a Fluoroscopy machine, which is used in the diagnosis of patients with renal (kidney) failure. (Jamaica Observer)

TT’s Perry scorches USC netballers

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Goal attack Chantael Perry scored 30 goals from 43 tries to lead last year’s runner-up TSTT to a comprehensive 39-20 defeat of University of Southern Caribbean (USC) in Alternative Division of the 25th Courts All Sectors Netball League on Thursday.

Goal shooters Sophia Harper with seven from 17 and Kanika Paul-Payne, two from four were the other contributors for TSTT in the lopsided win at the

Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua while goal attack Afiya O’Shaughnesy led USC with 14 of 30 attempts.

In the night’s second encounter, Kelly Ann James and Anita PittRussell combined for 29 points in Fideas’ 29-17 win over Prisons, its first after losing 23-27 to Police on Tuesday. James tallied 17 from 31 and PittRussell added, 12 goals while La Vaughn led Prisons with eight goals. (TT Guardian)

New training pool in Guyana to be opened February

– synthetic track to be commissioned in first quarter of 2015

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has announced that a new 25-meter training pool currently under construction at the National Aquatic Centre is expected to be opened by the end of February.

The Minister made this announcement during an interview on the “Political Scope” programme on the National Communications Network (NCN) on Friday evening.

In addition, Dr Anthony noted that the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry and Government recognised that in order for sports to be developed in Guyana, top-class facilities were a requirement. As such, they were working to ensure that this became a reality.

“Facilities of international standards are important. They are important for our athletes to be able to compete on the international arena and so we have added a new pool, a 25-meter training pool at the Liliendaal facility and very shortly, in another month or so, we will be opening this pool,” Dr Anthony said.

He also noted that the pool would host an internationally trained swimming coach from Cuba.

According to the Minister, the need for the training pool stemmed from the fact that Guyana’s national swimmers many times despite having the potential to come out on top are unable to com-

pete on the international stage owing to a lack of facilities to prepare them for international competition.

“The Government has been focusing on the development of sport facilities in Guyana. If you are going to swim internationally, you have to meet certain standards and the pools we would have had in Guyana were very short. They were not of the length required by the international associations and organisations.

“We didn’t have a 50 meters pool in Guyana so when our swimmers go out to a competition, they are placed at a disadvantage. They may swim the 25 metres quite comfortably, but they have difficulty swimming the other 25 and while we have already built a 50 meters pool at Liliendaal, we are putting in a 25 metres training pool for the swimmers. We want to change that. We felt that if we create an environment, create the facilities conducive for sport, we can better our sportsmen and women’s performances,” Dr Anthony said.

Both of the pools will meet international standards as a computerised system will be installed to monitor the chlorine and chemical content of the water to ensure that it is always swimmer friendly.

“The pools we are having are computerised. It is computerised so that if the chlorine drops in the pool, it automatically adds chlorine and other things that are needed to keep the water up to standard.

We want to ensure that the health and safety of our users are protected,” Minister Anthony pointed out.

Meanwhile, the minister also added that the athletics track would be opened during the first quarter of this year so that the athletes can begin their training for all the major games in the year.

He noted that the ministry and the government would continue to ensure that all of the facilities here in Guyana are constantly upgraded and kept to international standards, especially in the areas of cricket, tennis, squash, swimming and athletics so that every sportsman and woman can perform at their best and excel when placed on the international stage.

“We have added parking facilities at the National Stadium; we have installed lighting facilities so that we can be given international matches. We have opened two courts at the Squash Centre on Woolford Avenue; we have upgraded our lawn tennis facilities. We have built an internationally accredited athletic track with a field which can be used for football matches among so many other things, so we are working to ensure our facilities are top quality.

“It is costing us substantial amounts of money, but these are investments that would lay the foundations for the development of sports in Guyana and we want to continue to make those investments,” Anthony said. (Guyana Times)

Teen footballers in TT told to merge sports, academics

PORT-OF-SPAIN,TRINIDAD:

David John Williams, president of TT Pro League club W Connection, has offered his views on the best trajectory emerging footballers can take in their quest to turn Pro, and its starts with their willingness to be a student of the game.

Delivering the feature address at Friday’s Secondary School Football League 2014 season held at Digicel IMAX at One Woodbrook Place, Woodbrook, John Williams made it clear possessing natural talent, while nurturing ignorance about the rules of engagement would swiftly derail all professional pursuit in the sport.

He said the road to attaining the rank of professional footballer required the dreamer to: be realistic citing football was extremely competitive; be exceptional; be in great shape; be aware of what football scouts

Muschett, Manchester make winning start in Jamaica basketball tourney

MONTEGO

BAY, ST JAMES: ISSA

Western Conference Under-19 basketball runners-up Muschett High and Central Under-16 champions Manchester High were winners on Friday as the national play-offs got underway.

Muschett High came from behind to beat Central champions St Elizabeth Technical 5343, while Manchester High cruised to a 6130 win over Cornwall College at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.

In the Under-19 game, STETHS who were led by a gamehigh 25 points from Alex Levy, led 14-9 and 26-21 after the first two quarters. However, the Muschett team hit back in the third quarter, holding them to just five points to lead by one point (32-31) at the end of the third quarter before outscoring them 2112 in the final frame.

Point guard Damaine Thorpe was the top scor-

er for Muschett with 14 points, while Lamon Thompson scored 11 points and had six rebounds.

There was no such come back for Cornwall College in the Under-16 game as Manchester High led 12-5 after the first quarter and kept increasing their margin with each period.

The lead was 25-14 at the half-time break and 45-22 going into the fourth quarter.

Anjeneil Campbell scored 20 points and had 17 rebounds for Manchester High, Rajae Graham scored nine points and had 10 rebounds, while Javon Clarke and Onye Brown both scored eight points. Jahva Wilson was the top scorer for Cornwall College while Alwayde Thompson scored seven points. (Jamaica Observer)

Alia, Nicholas take top RJR Sport Foundation 2014 National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Boxer Nicholas Walters and swimmer Alia Atkinson were the toast of the RJR Sport Foundation 2014 National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards, while Donald Quarrie was deservedly recognised with the Iconic Award at the glittering function at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Friday night.

Atkinson, 26, also copped the People's Choice Performance of the Year Award following her outstanding world-record 100m breaststroke swim of 1 minute, 2.36 seconds at the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships in Doha, in early December.

Award.

The last time a nontrack and field person won the award was in 1976 when cricketer Vivalyn Latty-Scott triumphed. Kaliese Spencer, the 400m hurdles Commonwealth champion, was the runner-up.

looked for; and commit to playing football through graduated levels and be prepared for hard work.

“Even though you should already be showing top dedication and excellent performance during games, it is helpful to know what scouts look out for when they’re scouting for top talent in football. After all, they might appear at any time to check out your team. Basically, a scout will watch your entire attitude, not just your ball play, which means that you will be watched for character as much as talent,” he said.

The W Connection official related that during his time on the field he had to continuously examine his skills set. To achieve this he had to know what position his ability was best suited, while understanding his role as a team player and not an individual.(TT Guardian)

"This has been an exciting year for Jamaica and Jamaican swimming. We as a nation have done tremendous things. The largest 5K road race per capita, to having the fastest on land and now in water," said Atkinson, to loud applause, after being announced the winner.

Atkinson, who has been swimming for Jamaica for the last 15 years, became the first black woman to win a gold medal at a swimming world championship, and joins Belinda Phillips (1974) and Frances Noble (1968) as the other swimmers to have won the Sportswoman of the Year

Meanwhile, Walters became the first boxer in 24 years to win the award after Michael 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum did so in 1990.

On the announcement of the 'Axeman's triumph, his father, Job, raced onto the stage and presented him with his now famous wooden axe, much to the amusement of the audience.

Walters, who successfully defended the WBA World Featherweight title and later won the WBA Super World Featherweight crown to remain undefeated in 25 professional fights, won ahead of shot putter O'Dayne Richards, the Commonwealth Games champion.

He then threw a jab at corporate Jamaica and the Government as he pleaded for monetary assistance.

Meanwhile, Don Quarrie, the 200m gold medallist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and five-time sportsman of the year in 1970, 71, 75, 76, 77, and now a top administrator, was given the Sagicor Iconic Award for his contribution to the development of the sport in Jamaica and across the globe.

"I am mostly thrilled at the fact that so many athletes in all the sports were honoured here "I look forward to one day seeing athletes in events that we would never perceived them excelling in, be up there for sportsman and sportswoman of the year," said Quarrie.

Female boxer Alicia Ashley was given the Chairman's Award, a selection made by Gary Allen, chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation. (Jamaica Observer)

INTERNATIONAL

By RavendRa Madholall

TORONTO, CANADA: Thirtyseven-yearold Canadian-based Guyanese cricketer Aftab Shamsudeen has announced his retirement from all forms of the game.

Popularly known for his softball phenomenon, Shamsudeen represented Canada in a solitary oneday international and several first-class matches.

Shamsudeen stated his main reason for quitting the game is due to family commitments and his part-time study at York University however he is very anxious to return to the game.

His profound love for cricket began way back in the early 90s in his native homeland, Guyana. He relishes every moment plying the trade at club level in Berbice.

Shamsudeen’s representation for Canada at the highest level was a dream come true while he created a great impression in the softball

fraternity, playing for Dant Cricket Club which was formed almost two decades ago.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my cricket over the years both hard and softball, but I have got family commitment and I always want to be with my wife and two children,” Shamsudeen related.

He is very thankful to his father Muneer who was very instrumen-

tal with his upbringing of the game and also encouraged him on a regular basis to take it up seriously.

He also went on to play for Rose Hall Estate in the Ancient County of Berbice. While he looked promising to wear the inter-county colours he subsequently immigrated to North America with his family.

Nevertheless, he con-

Disappointing finish for TT cyclists

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: National cyclist Njisane Phillip could not advance to the first round of the men’s sprint event at the third leg of the 2014/2015 UCI (International Cycling Union) World Cup in Cali, Colombia, on Sunday.

Phillip clocked 10.291 seconds in the 200-metre event, finishing with the 26th fastest time. Out of the 39 cyclists in the qualifying round, the top 24 advanced to the first round. Finishing ahead of Phillip was

Irishman Eoin Mullen (10.290), while Canadian Hugo Barrette (10.241) was the last rider to qualify.

On Saturday Kwesi Browne (TT) finished fourth in heat two of the first round repechage in the men’s keirin and did not advance to the second round. Needing a first place finish to advance among the four riders, American Matthew Baranoski (first), Dutchman Matthijs Buchli (second) and Adam Ptacnik of the Czech Republic (third) all finished ahead of Browne. It was Browne’s second opportunity to progress to the second round of the keirin, after not advancing past heat six in round one. The meet concluded on Sunday.(TT Guardian)

tinued his passion for the game and immediately joined Malton Sports Club which participated in the Toronto and District Cricket Association Premier Division competition on an annual basis.

His talent was spotted by then under-19 coach Leroy Grey who was very impressed with Shamsudeen proving his wicket-keeping

skills and batting technique and subsequently earned selection on the national team to tour England where he hit two half-centuries.

One of the highlights in his chequered cricketing career for Canada was playing against his all-time favourite cricketer Brian Lara in the West Indies Cricket Board regional one-day tournament held in Jamaica.

“My favourite cricket was Brian Lara and playing against him was fantastic,” Shamsudeen mentioned.

Seven years ago, Shamsundeen gave up hard-ball cricket and continued to be very much involved with the softball cricket. He led Dant to a number of finals and was also very grateful to his teammates including, veteran Yadram Bogh, Muniram Karran among others who played with him for the past 15 years consistently.

Andrew Persaud, the owner of Dant also came in for high praise from the dashing right-hander while he lauded former

president, the late Norman Jackson for their pivotal role.

During his hardball days, Shamsudeen also represented Cavaliers Cricket Club, a club that dominated in Toronto for a lengthy period and he enjoyed the company of former established players, including Fazal Sattur, Abdool Samad and Travis Dowlin. He promised to be a part of the game whether supporting the players off the field or ambitiously to take up an administrative position within a cricket organization. He said he is working studiously to groom his eight-year-old son Jamaal to play the game. According to Shamsudeen, Jamaal has shown great potential and his objective is to be an aggressive batsman. Shamsudeen thanked his wife Wallima, his mother Fareera and is always inspired by his six-year-old daughter Ateeyal for their unwavering support and cooperation.

Jamaican Allen adds half-marathon to mile success

HAMILTON, BERMUDA:

Jamaican Stephen Allen, a 34-year-old Bermuda-based policeman, celebrated a second success at the Bermuda Marathon Weekend by winning Sunday's half-marathon after edging out Jay Donawa, another local runner.

Allen, who won the local men's mile race on Friday night, and Donawa, 42, decided to share the glory.

Allen and Donawa ran side by side for almost all of the 13.1 miles in the absence of any elite runners, with Donawa helping push Allen to a personal best (PB) time of one hour, 12 minutes and 33 seconds.

The pair linked hands as they approached the final straight on Front Street, only splitting moments before reaching the tape, with Allen declared the winner, although the pair recorded the same times.

"It doesn't really matter about the winning," Allen said afterwards. "We both did well and ran together from start to finish, working as a team.

"I was great to get a PB and I always look forward to this event. I won the local

Front Street mile, had a PB and two victories -- it's been a really good weekend for me."

Meto romped to victory in two hours, 28 minutes and 20 seconds to add to his triumph in Saturday's 10K and deny his compatriot and training partner Richard Kessio a third straight victory. Kessio came second in the 26.2-mile race in 2:30.01.

The two Mexico-based runners ran side by side for nearly 14 miles before Meto made the decisive break.

Canadian Wesley Banks was third in 2:57.28.

Olympic cyclist Lyne Bessette, of Canada, claimed the women's marathon title in 3:10.17 after finishing seventh overall.

Finishing second behind Bessette was compatriot and 2011 winner Stephanie Hodge, who was ninth overall in 3:16.45. Rounding off the top three in the women's division was Laura Wright, who was also the first local female to finish, in a personal best time of 3:31.44. (CMC)