Caribbean Times International

Canada's IDRF marks 30th Anniversary with support for Guyana - condemns terrorism

TORONTO, CANADA:

Winston Kassim, CM, ICD.D, Chairman of IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation) says the Canadian-based charity will continue to invest thousands of dollars in improving access to education and medical care for needy people in Guyana.

Speaking at IDRF’s 30th Anniversary celebration Gala on October 18, 2014, Mr. Kassim told the capacity crowd of 500 supporters in Toronto that IDRF had helped millions of people in 35 countries plus Canada, over the past 3 decades.

A native of Guyana and the first Guyanese Order of Canada recipient, Mr. Kassim has visited a number of IDRFsponsored projects, including in Guyana, during the past three years and has come away impressed with how much was being done to support needy people.

“As a Canadian of Guyanese heritage, I am always proud to see how the generosity of our

Canadian donors is being put to such good use for the benefit of needy people in Guyana,” he told the Caribbean Times. “We take great pride in measuring the performance of our partner organizations, and the strong results they have produced in Guyana made it clear to our board that they deserved our continued support.”

IDRF supports a variety of projects in Guyana as there is a growing need for health services and access to education in Guyana. He said this need will be addressed by continuing IDRF’s strong and longstanding partnerships with a number of non-profit groups in Guyana, particularly the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) and the Doobay Medical Centre.

IDRF partners with CIOG in providing educational assistance, ensuring that children with limited access to schools – due to the absence of transportation over long distances – are picked up and dropped off each school day.

The Doobay Medical

Centre is another beneficiary of IDRF’s support. This centre provides medical services for the poor and underprivileged in Guyana, and recently opened the Doobay Renal Centre in 2012, the first pro-poor dialysis facility in the country, offering subsidized dialysis services to the poor and less fortunate. Dr. Budhendra Doobay, the leader of the clinic, was in attendance

at the Toronto gala, and praised IDRF for its support which he said his helping to save the lives of many people.

M. Kassim, who is a Vice-President with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), thanked his employer for sponsoring the past 10 Galas and for giving him the opportunity to serve as a director of IDRF, and take the necessary time to serve as its Chairman for the past four years. He also acknowledged the founders of IDRF, Dr. Fuad Sahin, Mr. Ebrahim Sayed and the late Mr. Muin Muninuddin and their wives. “Thanks to these visionary leaders,” he said, “we and our partner organizations have been able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of needy people in Canada and around the world.”

Dignitaries attending the Gala included the Consul General of South Africa, Nyameko Goso; the Consul General of Pakistan, Asghar Ali Golo; Sheherazade Hirji, President of the Ismaili Council of Ontario; and, International journalist and author, Sally Armstrong, who delivered a key note speech to the Gala about the need to support the education of young girls in poor countries.

In describing IDRF’s work over the past year, Mr. Kassim highlighted the Islamic principles of human dignity, selfreliance and social justice for all without discrimination, which form the foundation of IDRF’s mission. He said these principles were worth thinking about in light of the barbaric atrocities being committed by terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria purportedly in the name of Islam.

build the type of world of which we can all be truly proud.”

Mr. Kassim concluded by saying that one of the mainstays of our society is the common understanding that the stronger must share their strength with the weaker.

For instance, it is a maxim of Hinduism that “he does not live in vain who employs his wealth, his thought, and his speech to advance the good of others.”

The Taoist philosophy says: “The way to heaven is to benefit others.”

“From beheadings of aid workers, to enslavement of defenseless women, to the mass slaughter of innocent people fleeing the conflict, these atrocities are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Islam and every other major religion, he said. “As an international aid organisation dedicated to doing good, we at IDRF must stand tall in condemning these heinous acts and the terrorist groups that carry them out.”

In contrast, Mr. Kassim concluded his remarks by pointing to the inspiring example of Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani woman who was recently awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous and unwavering support of education for girls. After recovering from a Taliban bullet to the head for wanting nothing more than an education, he said that Malala would have been forgiven for going into hiding. But instead she responded with these courageous words:

“The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions, but nothing changed in my life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.”

Mr. Kassim said it is important to realize that Malala is not alone in her courage. Many young Muslim girls continue to go to school every day despite the dangers surrounding them.

“If they have the courage to fight for what they believe is right, then surely we have the courage to support them,” he told his audience. “And with your support, we can and will help them get an education, and

The Old Testament tells us: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

And according to the Prophet Mohammed, may the peace and blessings of God be upon him, “A man’s true wealth Hereafter is the good he does in this world to his fellow man.”

“Together,” Mr. Kassim concluded, “we can fulfill the teachings of these great religions and make the world a better place.”

Founded in 1984, IDRF is a Canadian registered charitable organization that provides humanitarian aid and sustainable development assistance around the world to the poor and disadvantaged, and to those who have been displaced by natural disasters and conflict.. The types of initiatives supported by IDRF include the provision basic necessities such as food, water, clothing, shelter, hygiene kits, trauma counselling, and medical assistance to people affected by floods, cyclones, famines and earthquakes. In addition, IDRF has opened clinics, built homes, created clean water facilities, provided job skills, helped erect waste management facilities, and much more for hundreds of needy communities. Projects have been conducted in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Americas. In Canada IDRF has provided development assistance to First Nations people and to new immigrant communities.

People wishing to support the work of IDRF in Guyana and elsewhere, can make a donation online at www.idrf.com. Donations can be directed to specific IDRF projects in various countries.

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EDITORIAL

Sustainable development

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator

Helen Clark recently addressed students at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Uzbekistan. She spoke at length on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the challenges faced by countries in meeting key targets, and the current global debate on what should succeed the MDGs at the end of 2015.

Important achievements have been made against the MDGs which Clark alluded to, for example, the proportion of the world’s people living in extreme poverty was reduced by half by 2010 –five years ahead of the 2015 target date. The target of halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water has also been met.

On average, gender parity in primary education has been achieved, and most children now enrol in primary schools, although completion rates and the quality of education are not high across all countries.

The lives of slum dwellers in urban areas have improved, and levels of infant and child mortality have decreased significantly. There is a downward trend of TB and global malaria deaths.

Guyana has made tremendous gains in achieving key MDGs. This country has advanced in its efforts to reduce hunger, increase access to social services and benefits, improve enrolment in and completion of primary education, increase empowerment of women and achieve environmental sustainability.

Guyana is also well on its way to achieving universal secondary education. However, there is still much work to be done in relation to meeting the other MDGs.

On the global level, there are still many challenges to be confronted. Around one billion people continue to live in extreme poverty. Lack of sanitation leaves many people vulnerable to the rapid spread of disease – particularly in the aftermath of the increasingly frequent and severe climate-related disasters the world is experiencing.

A number of the world’s ecosystems are under serious stress, which threatens the ongoing supply of basic services on which we depend – like water.

The future of all countries is closely linked to global trends, be they economic, environmental, or peace and security. Clark explained that globalisation and interconnectedness bring benefits, but they can also increase vulnerabilities. To seize the benefits and build resilience to global risks is in itself a development journey.

According to Clark, inclusive and sustainable growth and developing institutions with strong policy and delivery capacity, transparent and responsive governance, and civil society – able to advocate for citizens – are all part of that development journey. In her view, to achieve all these objectives, “societies need to develop a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities before them”.

Now that the deadline for achieving the MDGs is coming to a close, discussions around the “Post-2015 Development Agenda” are picking up pace. In 2012, the UN development system began facilitating global consultations to enable people from all walks of life to share their priorities for the Post-2015 Agenda.

At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, UN Member States agreed to establish an Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which would be “coherent and integrated into the UN development agenda beyond 2015”.

And in January last year, by decision of the UN General Assembly, the Open Working Group (OWG) was established and tasked with the preparation of a proposal on the SDGs. This past July, the OWG proposed a set of 17 goals and 169 targets, covering all issues related to sustainable development, and placing poverty eradication as a core objective.

The report builds on the unfinished business of the MDGs with proposed goals on poverty and hunger eradication, health, education, gender equality, and the environment. It also broadens the scope with proposed goals on reducing inequalities, and a focus on infrastructure, energy, peaceful and inclusive societies, and other new areas.

The agenda would be applicable to all countries, and aim to shift the world towards sustainable consumption and production.

Trinidad: A welcome strategy

- to reduce the number of adolescent pregnancies

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Caricom’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) has approved a Strategy and Plan to reduce the number of adolescent pregnancies in each country of the English – and Dutch-speaking Caribbean by at least 20 per cent, over the five year period 2014-2019. The Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) and its parent body, the International Planned Parenthood Federation/ Western Hemisphere Region welcomes this important move. All member Family Planning Associations across the Caribbean stand ready to work with our respective governments to effectively implement this strategy. Member associations have the technical experience and know how to collaborate with respective governments and national population programmes to provide comprehensive sexuality education and youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services to be able to arrest this problem. It is one that will seriously impact the sustainability of the sub region and the future of the region’s adolescent population negatively, if the opportunity provided by this framework is not firmly embraced now.

It is a global consensus that having babies during adolescence has serious consequences for the health of the girl and her infant and has serious implications for adolescent women’s ability to fully develop their capacity and have better educational and employment opportunities.

In the Caribbean, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), complications from pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of death among girls aged 15-19 years and it is estimated that around 20 per cent of women have had at least one child by the age of 19. Most of the Caribbean countries have pregnancy rates near or higher than the least developed coun-

tries in the world, and in all cases the adolescent pregnancy rates are higher than the pregnancy rates of older women See table below for more details.

According to the Central Statistical Office, in the year 2000 teenage girls gave birth to 2,638 children, representing 15 per cent of all live births in Trinidad and Tobago. The teenage pregnancy rate has not changed over the last decade; it stood at 14.7 per cent of all live births as at 2013.

In 2011 the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH III) identified the reduction of adolescent pregnancy as a priority to be addressed by Caricom Member States. That decision was followed by the creation of a Multidisciplinary Regional Task Force to develop the Strategy that was approved by COHSOD last month.

The overall objective of the strategy is to reduce the number of adolescent pregnancies in each country of the Englishand Dutch speaking Caribbean by at least 20 per cent within the time-period 2014 – 2019, by achieving five outcomes:

1.By 2019, all adolescents have access to age appropriate accurate information as well as quality sexual and reproductive health services and commodities, in accordance with WHO definition of quality dimensions for adolescent health care: services should be available, accessible, acceptable, appropriate, equitable, and effective.

2. By 2019, all adolescent girls and boys have access to age appropriate comprehensive sexuality education (at least as of the age of ten) as included in national school curricula implemented in all schools, and through informal education modalities for those adolescents not in school.

3. By 2019, all governments implement social protection mechanisms for the prevention of all forms of violence against adolescent girls and boys, especially the poorest and most marginalized.

4. By 2019, all govern-

ments in the English- and Dutch speaking Caribbean adopt common legal standards concerning ages of marriage, consent, prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence and access to social protection and sexual and reproductive health services.

5. By 2019, governments in the English, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean exchange knowledge, information and adopt good practices in addressing social determinants of adolescent pregnancy.

According to the Strategy, each country should establish a national multi-sectoral commission that will be responsible for overseeing the planning and implementation of activities, informing key decision makers on progress and advocating for action and adequate investment. This commission will also oversee the annual preparation of the scorecard that will be presented to Caricom.

As a first step in the implementation of the Strategy, it is fundamental to ensure a high-level and progressive government actor (preferably a Minister) takes the lead in establishing this commission and to ensure that it includes civil society participants as full members. Forward movement in this regard cannot be achieved in isolation. Partnerships at the national level are extremely crucial in facilitating this effort.

With the government, FPATT and other key stakeholders in the field, we can envision a tomorrow in which the sexual and reproductive health needs of our adolescent population are adequately met. It is high time that we remove the negativity and sensationalism surrounding adolescent sexual health, and treat it as a social concern, which necessitates a mature, social and collaborative response.

FPATT calls on the government of Trinidad and Tobago to act decisively and appoint the commission to implement this strategy. (TT Express)

Guyana’s President leads tributes to Chandarpal

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

President Donald Ramotar has described the passing of former Agriculture Minister and long-serving executive of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Navin Chandarpal as a significant blow to Guyana.

President Ramotar, on behalf of the government and his family, has extended sympathy to the family, relatives and friends of the late Presidential Adviser on Sustainable Development. The Head of State said Chandarpal’s death is a significant loss to Guyana, noting that he served the country with distinction, first as a parliamentarian and then as a government minister.

The President stated that Chandarpal’s death is also a significant loss for the PPP/C, which he served as an executive member for many years, noting that he showed the fortitude of

a true fighter in battling his illness to the end.

The Head of State said Chandarpal, who died early Tuesday morning at his home after a oneyear battle with cancer, had been a very close friend and will be deeply missed. Chandarpal served in the Seventh and Eighth Parliaments for over five years.

The PPP/C Central Committee and the Party’s entire membership said they were saddened by the death of Chandarpal. Chandarpal was, at the time of his passing, a member of the Central and Executive Committees of the Party. He started out as a member of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), rising to the post of General Secretary. “He played an active role in student politics and at one time was elected President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS). Those were the days when the PNC regime sought to control all facets of na-

tional and student life, but Cde Navin succeeded in defeating the PNCsponsored candidates to take control of the student body at a time when all national and regional elections were massively and blatantly rigged by the PNC regime.”

Sorely missed

According to the party, Chandarpal represented the PPP/C and the PYO at several meetings and seminars, both locally and internationally. He played a key role in the struggle against imperialism and dictatorial rule in the country. “Following the restoration of dem-

ocratic rule and the assumption of the PPP/C to office in October 1992, Chandarpal served in several capacities, including that of Minister of Agriculture and as Presidential Adviser, a position which he held until the time of his passing. He served in several other Committees such as the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre and the Cheddi Jagan Commemoration Committee both of which he was Chairman.

He was the husband of Indra Chandarpal who, like him, also served at the leadership of the Party and as a former government minister and currently holds the post of Chairman of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO).

“The PPP/C wishes to express its deepest condolences to his wife; his two children, Geeta and Robin; relatives; friends; and the entire Party membership on his passing. This is indeed a great loss to the Party, but his sterling contributions, his dedi-

cation, commitment and loyalty to the party will no doubt serve to inspire others in the struggle for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana.”

The Alliance For Change (AFC) also joined in extending condolences to Chandarpal’s relatives. The party said it was saddened by the death of the former Government Minister and Presidential Adviser. “The late Chandarpal has served his country in several fields – as a teacher, youth and student leader and in the fields of trade unionism and politics.

“The AFC shares the loss of Chandarpal and expresses sympathy with his wife, Indra and his children; other members of the bereaved family.”

In paying tribute, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett said Guyana has lost one of her best sons, with the death of Chandarpal. (Guyana Times)

Breach of wiretapping law: AG to test court’s ability to prosecute in Guyana

Georgetown, Guyna: Attorney General (AG)

Anil Nandlall has signalled his intention to test the strength of the 2008 Interception of Communications Act as he moves against Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall, who allegedly illegally recorded a private conversation he had with one of the newsman’s reporters.

The gist of the conversation was evidently related to the Gy$100 million duty-free scam in which Lall is presently enmeshed before the courts.

The Interception of Communications Act of 2008 prohibits the interception of communication

unless a warrant is issued by a judge based on an application.

The law is also clear that any recording or tapping of citizens’ private communication must be authorised by the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

However, these officers would first have to apply to a judge for a 90day warrant to intercept communication.

Only under these conditions does the Act allow the monitoring and recording of transmissions conveyed by fibreoptic cable or any other

form of wire line, by wireless telegraphy, Voice Over Internet Protocol, Internet satellite and all other forms of electromagnetic or electrochemical communication.

Telecommunication service providers will be duty-bound to provide as-

Jamaica govt welcomes subsidy for breast cancer test

minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson (right), converses with educator and breast cancer survivor, Jennifer Fearon rodney, at the recent launch of the National Hea lth Fund (NHF) breast cancer support programme

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The recent subsidy of almost Ja$5,000 provided by the government for an important test for breast cancer patients, has received the endorsement of the medical community, as well as the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS).

Under the initiative, the National Health Fund (NHF) has extended its individual benefits portfolio to include support of Ja$4,800 for the Breast Cancer Receptor Studies test carried out by the University Hospital of the West Indies’ (UHWI) Pathology Laboratory.

“We are applauding the efforts of the NHF in providing this financial benefit to our many breast cancer patients. We are truly grateful for this subsidy, which covers this mandatory screening,” says Executive Director of the JCS, Yulit Gordon.

For his part, President of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), Dr. Shane Alexis, says the support marks a “great day” for breast cancer patients.

He also hails the NHF for the initiative, and the support it provides for other illnesses.

Head of the UHWI Pathology Department, Dr. Gillian Wharfe, says the support is a “significant burden lifted off the patients, who are already burdened by the (cancer) diagnosis.” She says if the tests were to be sent overseas, the cost would be US$100 each.

The UHWI lab is the only local facility offering the Breast Cancer Receptor Studies test.

Breast cancer cells are tested to determine receptor status, that is, whether they are hormone receptors or biological receptors, the result of which is important in making treatment decisions.

Outlining the importance of the test, Dr. Wharfe says it will better enable doctors to design treatment for particular patients.

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the provision of the benefit by the NHF is in keeping with the agency’s mandate to provide greater access to medical treatment for specified diseases, one of which is breast cancer.

Head of the agency, Everton Anderson, informs that since its forma-

sistance on interception warrants.

According to the law, anyone found guilty of illegal wiretapping would be liable to a fine of Gy$5 million and a jail term not exceeding three years.

A judge, before granting the warrant, the law

states, must be satisfied that the information obtained would likely assist investigations.

None of these conditions existed with the recording the AG’s conversation with the reporter, which appeared to be friendly banter via cell phone.

Government has already slammed the newspaper owner for attempting to taint the integrity and image of the AG by distributing a “manipulated” audio recording.

“Broadcast on social media, the recording contains a distorted, manipulated conversation between a Minister and Leonard Gildarie, a reporter from the Kaieteur News.

“It is abhorrent that someone would be so indecent and immoral to manipulate a loose private conversation, in such a dastardly way,” the Government said in a release.

The Bill was passed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) majority government in response to the widespread use of mobile phones in the planning and commission of major crimes.

Government members had also argued that the absence of the law was one of the reasons why it was difficult to do anything about the tapping of phones. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

tion in 2003, the NHF has been providing support for thousands of Jamaicans with breast cancer. “A total of 5,442 persons are enrolled for breast cancer, of which six per cent are men, or 307, who receive subsidy to purchase their medication. We have paid 49,275 claims, totaling over Ja$322 million in subsidy for breast cancer medication,” Mr. Anderson reports.

The NHF provides subsidy for medications for the treatment of breast and prostate cancers. There are nearly 80 pharmaceutical items on the NHF drug list for treating these two conditions.

Among the beneficiaries is educator, Jennifer Fearon Rodney, who is a breast cancer survivor.

It was after entering a weight loss competition, organised by the NHF that Mrs. Fearon Rodney found out she had cancer. She won the top individual prize and she says that losing the weight helped during the treatment and recovery processes.

Mrs. Fearon Rodney is also encouraging women not to fear the breast cancer test, noting that, had she been doing regular screenings, her cancer might have been detected earlier.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancerrelated deaths among Jamaican women, and early detection is important in effectively treating the disease.

Risk factors associated with breast cancer are: family history; obesity; beginning menstruation before age 12; starting menopause after age 55; and women, who have their first child at an older age, such as 35 and over (Jis)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Cabinet will discuss whether or not it is necessary to curb any of the expenditure outlined in its TT$68 billion 2014/2015 Budget in light of falling oil prices, when it holds its weekly meeting on Thursday. Finance Minister Larry Howai made this disclosure on Monday as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), to which Trinidad and Tobago’s budgeted oil price of US$80 per barrel is pegged, fell to its lowest price since June 2012 after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its oil price forecasts. The Bloomberg news website reported that WTI for December delivery declined to as much as US$1.57 to US$79.44 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest intra-day level since June 29, 2012. The contract was at US$79.58 at 1:10 pm London time.

“The case for curtailing expenditure in the face of falling oil prices is one to be discussed at Cabinet level and I am sure it will be raised there on Thursday,” Howai said.

Reiterating that government is closely monitoring the fall in global oil prices, Howai said, “We need to moni-

tor the situation and the extent of the action taken will depend on a number of factors including whether the fall in price is temporary or more prolonged and the extent of the drop in price.”

Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London, who was at the briefing, told TT media, “There’s no leader at any level who is not going to be concerned, but if your minister of Finance gives you an assurance then at least for a little while you will be less apprehensive.” (TT Newsday)

November to be Observed as ‘Eat Jamaican Month’

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: As the government intensifies efforts to get Jamaicans to eat more locally produced food, November has been designated as ‘Eat Jamaican Month’.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, officially launched the month during the staging of the World Food Day National Ceremony and Exhibition at the Greater Portmore High School in St. Catherine on Wednesday, October 16.

He said the observance “will provide us as a country, with a renewed opportunity to focus attention on this critical aspect of our development”. Emphasis will be placed on food security, rural development, and poverty eradication through wealth creation in the areas of

primary and value-added agriculture.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the ‘Grow What We Eat, Eat What We Grow’ campaign that was launched by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) in 2003. To mark the milestone, the government took the decision to extend the observance beyond the one day ‘Eat Jamaican Day’ on November 25, to have a month-long celebration.

“Already, we have received commitment from partners in the media and in the supermarket sector to assist us to promote the 'Eat Jamaican' call to action. We would like to see in every supermarket, a shelf dedicated solely to Jamaican products, and we would like to see that everywhere in every supermarket,” the minister said.

He said that as the government works to

produce more foods that are safe, nutritious, affordable, and palatable, consumers can do their part by selecting balanced diets, including the fresh fruits and vegetables “we grow in abundance in Jamaica”.

“We need to stop and check what is in our food baskets. We all need to check what we are growing in our backyard gardens. We all need to check what our young people and children are consuming as snacks,” he said.

Activities to commemorate the month include a church service on November 3 at the Portmore New Testament Church of God, St. Catherine.

On November 25, the annual 'Eat Jamaican Day' will be celebrated on the lawns of King’s House.

Also on the day, a revised Eat Jamaican proclamation will be issued to focus on a Zero Hunger programme to be undertaken locally, and the Eat Jamaican anniversary awards will also be presented.

The celebrations will also include the launch of an Eat Jamaican cookbook; parish activities; an Eat Jamaican farmers’ cook off competition; and a schools’ quiz competition.(Jis)

New queen promises to represent Guyana well

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Draped in a gown designed by Randy Madray, Miss Palm Court Niketta Barker was on Sunday evening crowned Miss Guyana Universe 2014 when the pageant was hosted at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston.

Niketta Barker, 24, who is two years away from attaining her Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Guyana, outshone eight other delegates to cop the coveted title to the delight of her many fans who were present.

Barker also copped the prize for Best Smile and winner of the Intelligence Segment which was aired on national television prior to competition night.

From all indications, Barker would have been judged high on all the judges’ scorecard in the Swimwear, Evening Gown and Intelligence Segments, but more importantly, from the time the

Select post-graduate subjects in proposal mode for TT

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

GATE may be expanded to fully cover select postgraduate programmes. However, currently this expansion is still in the proposal phase.

This was announced on Monday by Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister, Fazal Karim at the launch of the Work Force Assessment Centres at the Ministry’s head office at Tower C of the International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain.

Currently, the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses Programme (GATE) pays 50 percent of the cost for all postgraduate degrees. Karim said full funding for postgraduate students in select fields is still in the proposal stage.

“It is a proposal that we are going to look at. What we have to ensure is that our graduates are responsive to the labour markets – to jobs, or else what we would be doing is ensuring we have graduates who are accumulating in numbers in which there is no access to jobs.

“We want to look at the shortages of the labour or the competencies of the persons or the graduates at the postgraduate sector to see whether there are insufficient numbers that we could increase the numbers to,” Karim said.

cent in certain areas where there is a critical shortage,” Karim said.

One of the fields that has a “critical shortage” Karim said was postgraduate work in the medical stage. He said this shortage in the medical fields was the reason why there was an increase in the number of scholarships to persons who pursued areas of specialisation at the post-doctoral level.

Karim does not anticipate the expansion of GATE for specific postgraduate degrees to be a hefty cost on the government.

“The cost would depend on when we assess the number of programmes and the duration of the programmes. What is important at this phase is to establish what are the programmes that we want to look at . . . I don’t see it becoming exorbitant,” he said.

Draperies, Crystal Nursing Schools and the Divine Healthcare and Home Care Agency.

Now, people who have work experience, but have not been officially trained can gain validated qualifications in their field.

“Private training providers are coming onboard to certify those who are uncertified. They will do that in coordination with the National Training Agency. It is part of the expansion of GATE in the vocational sector,” Karim said.

Karim reaffirmed his position on people not doing a second Bachelor’s degree. He said as the government has tried to guide people in their career decisions, there should not be a need for a second degree.

pageant was launched.

Guyana Times caught up with the new queen who was elated to have won the pageant, noting that the months of preparations ahead of the pageant finally paid off.

She recalled that the training as compared to the 2012 pageant was not that tense, claiming that the delegates had some fun time.

On pageant night, Barker stated that while all the delegates brought their unique styles, she was somewhat keeping an eye opened for Soyini Fraser, who looked elegant and gracefull and Joyti Hardat, who looked absolutely stunning.

Now that she has won the pageant, she will be heading to New York City in January where she will undergo training ahead of the international pageant slated for January 24, 2015 in Miami, Florida, all complements of Fly Jamaica.

While the judges tabulated their scores, Miss Guyana Universe 2013 Katherine Roshana took her final walk and recapped on her one-year reign.

During her walk, she stumbled but was assisted up by members of the audience. As she stood up, she was given a loud applause. Her speech also had to be cut short after it went over 10 minutes, prompting various remarks from the audience.

Apart from the US$10,000, Barker received the crown and two airfare tickets for her and her chaperon to New York, among other prizes. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

The minister said he has already spoken to Finance Minister Larry Howai about the postgraduate expansion of GATE. He hopes to bring that proposal to Cabinet soon.

“I have already spoken to Minister Howai but of course this would have to be approved by the Honourable Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The proposal we would want to take through the GATE standing committee in terms of recommendations for 100 per-

Queen

Karim said there is currently a study being conducted. There will be a GATE committee meeting this week to discuss the issue. He anticipates that within a month’s time there should be able to go to Cabinet with a recommendation.

Another expansion of GATE was the award of certificates to companies that can certify their workers as part of the Workforce Assessment Centres. This is part of the expansion of the GATE vocational training programme.

Some of these companies include A-Class

“Make sure we advise our training providers if persons want to do a second first degree, we may want to consider allowing them to do that – at their cost, but we want to advise them as far as possible, after you finish your first degree, go on to your postgraduate –Masters and PhDs.

“What will happen with persons who pursue a second first degree is that it keeps you in the system where the first degree is three years or four years. This prevents other persons for a period of three years or four years from entering the system because you would be taking up space and also the investment cost,” Karim said.(TT Newsday)

to knight Antigua

and Barbuda’s new Governor General

ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA: Recently appointed Antigua and Barbuda Governor General Dr. Rodney Lawrence Williams has been conferred with a knighthood by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, according to a government statement issued in Antigua.

It said that the award was made on the Antigua

and Barbuda government of Prime Minister Gaston Browne which came into office following the June 12 general elections. Williams was appointed to the post soon after the new government was sworn into office.

According to the statement the Governor General is now a member of the Most Distinguished

Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. “Consequently, His Excellency is now an Ordinary Member First Class, or Knight Grand Cross of the said Most Distinguished Order (GCMG). The award, which is dated 30th August, 2014 was announced in the London Gazette of the 17 October, 2014.” (Caribbean News)

Tablets will empower students to be innovators in Jamaica

– State Minister Robinson

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The government’s Tablets in Schools programme is crucial in empowering the country’s young people to be global innovators, says Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson.

Mr. Robinson made the comment at the Clan Carthy Primary School in St. Andrew on October 27 before the start of a distribution exercise in which 960 students were presented with tablet computers under the Ja$1.4 billion pilot project. He said that while persons have argued that the funds could have been used for other pur-

poses, “preparation of young minds for the digital revolution is an important investment that cannot be left undone.”

“We have a vision… for you to become persons, who can use the tablets to develop solutions to problems in Jamaica, problems that may exist outside of Jamaica, and we want you to become your own entrepreneurs and business persons,” he added.

“All we need to do is provide you with the tools so that you can demonstrate that you can be the best,” he told the large gathering of parents, students and teachers at the distribution ceremony.

The Tablets in Schools pilot programme

is being implemented by E-Learning Jamaica Limited. It involves the distribution of computers and multimedia devices, including interactive white-boards/projectors, scanners and printers, in addition to the installation of Wi-Fi at 38 educational institutions.

Mr. Robinson indicated the project is “a significant investment” in the students, parents and the community, as in many instances, the tablet might be the only computer device in a household.

“We are ensuring that these tablets can reach out to the entire family so that we can transform the students and communities; that is the vision that we have for this

Tablets in School project,” he noted.

“Ensure that you take care of the tablets, us them for the designated purpose…explore, innovate, but we want you to be responsible,” he added.

Local Muslim cleric in TT says ISIS must be exterminated

PORT-OFSPAIN,

TRINIDAD: A Muslim cleric has branded the Islamic State (ISIS), as a “terror organisation” which poses a physical threat to the survival of the human race and must be exterminated from the surface of the globe.

Addressing the third day of the Jalsa Salana, staged by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at its centre, Polo Grounds, Preysal on Monday, Maulana Ibrahim Bin Yaqub, also identified the Ebola virus as another catastrophe which is creating havoc in the world.

Bin Yaqub said, “I speak about ISIS and Ebola. As far as the ISIS is concerned, it is a terror organisation consisting of fanatically-driven Muslims. Their interpretation and understanding of Islam is quite different from what we know. This organisation is a menace to the world and the world should treat it as such. The world must do everything to exterminate it from the surface of the globe.”

And regarding the deadly Ebola virus which has claimed 4,922 lives worldwide, the majority of deaths having occurred in West African countries, Bin Yaqub said the world is frightened because the world does not have a cure for the deadly virus.

The Muslim cleric

said, “We can run but we cannot hide. It is only a fool who will be daydreaming and thinking that he is far away from the epicentre of the deadly Ebola virus. At the moment, the world has to turn to God Almighty, for without his intervention, we stand upon the precipice of total destruction.”

Canadian High Commissioner, Gerard Latulippe, who attended the event, delivered greetings and thanked the Ahmadiyya worldwide community, especially in Canada, for their condemnation of last week Wednesday’s attack on the Canadian Parliament building in which two soldiers were killed. He said the attack was a direct attack on Canada’s democratic institutions and by extension, all Canadians and democracy.

Latulippe said, “This underlines the global

reach of such threats to our core values. Canada and Canadians will not be intimidated by terrorists. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Canadian Ahmadiyya community who categorically and unequivocally, publicly condemned the terror attacks on the Canadian Parliament and the national war memorial.”

The Canadian High Commissioner said the world could learn a lesson from Trinidad and Tobago, regarding its religious tolerance, saying Trinidadians and Tobagonians did not only respect each others religious observances, but also actively participated in the observances. Latullipe said, “For a foreigner, it is amazing sometimes that to see Trinbagonians not only pay respect but even celebrate the religious holidays of their fellow countrymen.”

Also addressing the convention was Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, who observed that the term “jihad” had been used by muslim fundamentalists to justify their acts of terrorism.

Tewarie said, “But you and I know that this is wrong. It represents an intellectual failure which has led to a misguided theological interpretation of the meaning of that word.”

Islam, Tewarie said, is a religion of peace, a religion of humanitarian concerns, of good works, of tolerance and of a responsible citizenship.

Tewarie assured the audience that government was committed to strengthening and building the middle class, while battling to bring the drug trade criminal activities under control.

(TT Newsday)

Meanwhile, Chairman of the school board, Donald Foster, reported that the institution has been preparing for the infusion of technology in education, and 10 years ago a computer laboratory was built from a fundraising drive. He said with the school now at 80 per cent mastery in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), and “getting our tablets, it will help us to move closer to 100 per cent by 2015.” (Jis)

Pilot’s error blamed for 2011 Caribbean Airlines crash

By Bhisham mohamed

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Some two years after a Caribbean Airlines Flight, BW 523, with 157 passengers and a six-member crew, skidded off the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, investigators on Friday disclosed that human error was the instigating factor for the crash.

This was according to head of the investigative team, Paula Mc Adam. The team comprised several high-level aviation experts from Guyana, the Caribbean and the United States of America. “Our findings show that there was pilot error and more so, poor cockpit management,” she said. There was little or no communication between the pilot and co-pilot. She added that they both had duties to carry out and from all indications, both of them erred.

This, she noted, occurred as a result of the captain maintaining excess power during the flare, and upon touching down, failing to utilise the aircraft’s full deceleration capability hence the aircraft overshot the remaining runway and the fuselage was fractured.

Mc Adam further stated that the pilot increased power to maintain the glide path and did not significantly reduce power when cross-

ing the runway threshold. Also, during the investigation, it was proved that the crew did not command maximum brake pressure until the aircraft was 250 feet from the end of the runway. While the runway was wet, this did not affect the braking capability of the aircraft.

On this note, the report confirmed that the aircraft could have been brought to a safe stop on the remaining pavement if maximum braking pressure had been applied.

On July 30, 2011, the Caribbean Airlines Flight touched down at approximately 4700 feet of the approximately 7448-foot runway – some 1700 feet beyond the runway touchdown zone. The aircraft ran off the runway, broke through a fence and came to a halt at the bottom of an earthen embankment. Due to the impact, the aircraft broke into two in the vicinity of the first-class bulkhead causing both engines to be destroyed, but fortunately there was no postcrash fire.

During this time, the aircraft was defueled and fuel samples were taken for testing. The same day, Caribbean Airlines officials out of Trinidad and Tobago arrived in Guyana as well as members of the National Transport Safety Board. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Former TT TV icon dies

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Hazel Redman Ward, a radio and television icon, affectionately called “Aunty Hazel”, has died after a battle with prolonged battle pancreatic cancer. Her age was not disclosed, but she is believed to have been in her late 70’s.

A former English teacher, she began her career with Radio Trinidad and in 1962 she became one of the news anchors on the country’s first television station, Trinidad and Tobago television (TTT).

She was also the first weather anchor.

She is best known as Aunty Hazel to the thousands of children to whom she gave exposure on her shows “Twelve and Under” which aired for almost four decades and “Teen Talent”.

One television station in Trinidad had listed her as among the 50 most influential people of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mrs. Redman Ward

received several national awards including the Trinidad and Tobago Broadcasters Award in 2007. She was also awarded the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) in 2000.

“They just don’t make them like Hazel anymore and she comes

from a breed of broadcasters that epitomizes excellence,” said veteran media personality Jones. P Madeira. The funeral of WardRedman will take place on Saturday at the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Harris Promenade, at 10.30 a.m. (TT Express)

Jamaica’s ministry looking at options to address housing needs

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

The Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing says that several options are being looked at to address Jamaica’s growing housing needs.

In an interview with the Jamaican media, Chief Technical Director for Housing in the Ministry, Doreen Prendergast, said that some of the solutions that are being considered are: “providing incentives to developers, and getting persons to consider renting [as] everyone will not be able to own a home.”

As part of the Ministry’s Joint Venture Programme, public/private partnerships with greater responsibility are also being encouraged.

“We do think that they can work, but we have to ensure that whoever we are partnering with, have some stake in the process, and that they bring some collateral to the table,” said Mrs.

Prendergast.

She added that this suggestion is due to issues in the past, “where persons came and utilized government lands and they never had a real stake in the process and at the end of the project, they stepped away [when] there were challenges.”

The recommendations came following a recent Caribbean Association of Housing Finance Institution (CASHFI) Conference that was held earlier this

Guyana: Stakeholders launch series of workshops aimed at reducing suicide in Berbice

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: The Caribbean Voice (TCV), a non-profit organisation, launched its series of countrywide workshops to tackle suicide last weekend in Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice.The objective of the sessions was to raise awareness on suicide prevention . The workshop was an interactive programme, which saw persons being trained to recognise individuals who are at potential risk, to respond appropriately and where to find help. It was conducted by a team of professionals including Dr Dawn Stewart, TCV Director and Founder; Monique’s Helping Hand; Chief Oba, President, Guyana Physiological

Association; Dianne Madray, Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) Director; Janelle William, and American University of Research.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Managing Director and Guyana’s Coordinator, Bibi Ahamad said the community of Black Bush was chosen due to its high rate of attempted suicide and suicide and also the easy accessibility to chemicals. “We at TCV took an initiative to visit Black Bush to launch this outreach because of its high suicide rate; our main objective is to have an interaction, to find out what are the issues, the causes with the aim of helping.

“We are here to help and if we can help someone from committing suicide, we have achieved something … there are many causes somebody could be abused; it could be depression, domestic violence, peer pressure whatever little we can help to eradicate/ stop suicide we will do,” Ahamad said.

In Guyana, almost all suicides are committed via the ingestion of poisons, especially agricultural chemicals, and hanging, and are generally driven by depression, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and powerless; an inability to deal with problems and a low level of self-acceptance and/or feelings of inadequacy.

Comprehensive training

Ahamad went on to say that after the workshop, the facilitators will analyse the findings, so as to make recommendations for the follow-up meetings. She stressed that the team will be back in the community to do comprehensive training on suicide prevention. “We will be identifying persons to work as counsellors in the area to help persons not only on suicide alone but issues such as domestic violence, various forms of abuse”.

Pandit Amitnarine Rabindradat, TCV Executive Member, spoke about the importance of believing in God. “I believe if everyone follows the spiritual path of life, they will not think negatively. The spiritual path is very simple; it is the way of life:

month.

The conference provided the ministry with an opportunity to assess the state of the housing sector, to look at the challenges and the policy measures. It also provided an opportunity to be exposed to best practices.

Data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) reveals that just over 4,000 housing units are being generated annually. However, a projection done by the ministry in 2001 indicated that over 13,000 units are needed annually to address the housing deficit.

Mrs. Prendergast informed that a draft National Housing Policy has been prepared by a University of Technology/Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies (UTech/SALISES) team. That draft is now being revised by the ministry, with expectation that it will be tabled in Parliament early next year. (JIS)

TT Coast Guard seizes TT$160K in ganja

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD: The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard seized more than TT$160,000 worth of marijuana on Friday night from a boat travelling off the coast of Chaguaramas.

live a righteous life and fear God and you will not want to harm yourself.”

Similar workshops were conducted in Lesbeholden, Mibicuri and Johanna and saw a number of persons, mainly females, turning out to be part of the session.Guyana is ranked first in suicides per capita worldwide and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the country has 44.2 suicides per 100,000 persons per year. Suicide is also the leading cause of death among young persons aged 15-24 and the third leading cause of death among persons aged 25-44, while in the 15-19 age range, it is the leading cause of death among females and the second leading cause of death among males.

(Guyana Times)

According to a release, at about 8.05 pm, a Coast Guard interceptor gave chase and intercepted the pirogue one mile south of the Second Boca.

The interceptor crew noticed that passengers on board had thrown something white overboard.

After stopping the boat the crew received a white crocus bag approximately 200 metres away from where they had intercepted the pirogue. Two men and the pirogue CIAO were both taken to Staubles Bay for detailed searches.

The crocus bag contained 26 packets of marijuana weighing a total of 15.5 kilogrammes with a street value of TT$165,000.

The men and the illegal narcotics were handed over to the Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearm Bureau (OCNFB). (TT Newsday)

Dominica airport renamed in honour of two former prime ministers

ROSEAU, DOMINICA:

Dominica has renamed its main airport in honour of two former prime ministers and has indicated that an agreement has been signed with a private sector concern in China for the construction of an international airport.

“I am adamant that we cannot continue, in this day and age, to have our main airport named after an 18th century slave-owner, while at the same time this government is actively seeking, along with our brothers in CARICOM, to get reparations for slavery from the British and European powers.

“No my friends, it is time. It is long overdue, that we have to honour our own. And so let us reflect on the lives of the two patriots for whom this airport will be renamed,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said.

Prime Minister Skerrit dismissed suggestions that his administration was engaged in politics by renaming the Melville Hall airport, north of here, after former prime ministers Roosevelt Douglas and Pierre Charles. Douglas died of a heart attack in 2004 and Charles succumbed to a heart attack four years later.

Prime Minister Skerrit told the re-naming ceremony that the two former prime ministers had inherited the burden of an economic crisis from the previous United Workers Party (UWP) government “but they were not daunted by the task, nor were they pre-occupied with constantly laying blame on individuals”.

Skerrit said that as the island approaches the 36th anniversary of political independence the demand for a larger

airport has now reached the stage “at which we must expand the facilities.

Prime Minister Skerrit recalled that as far back as 2000 the airport was in an “absolutely deplorable” condition and that “if something were not done quickly to improve Melville Hall airport, our standing would have been downgraded by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and our capacity to provide air access and attract new airlines or even to maintain the ones that we had, would have been severely challenged.

Skerrit said that the task was therefore left to the two former prime ministers to launch a major project to expand and upgrade the airport, which had been neglected for so many years.

“Thanks to our excellent relations with the government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, under the leadership of the late lamented Hugo Chavez, we were able to make a start to clear the land and extend the runway at both ends,” he said praising also the European Union for its tremendous financial support towards the expansion of the airport.

(Caribbean News)

Trinity PLC net production increases

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Trinity Exploration & Production PLC on Monday said its net production increased slightly in the third quarter, with current production rates higher, following what it said was “successful workover activity”.

The Trinidad and Tobago focused exploration and production company said net production averaged at 3,619 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the third quarter, up from 3,613 barrels in the second quarter.

It said current production is 3,845 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

The company said West Coast net third quarter production averaged at 596 barrels of oil per day, and current West Coast production is 620 barrels per day. This compared with net production of 612 barrels of oil per day in the second quarter.

It also said that workover operations for the ABM-151 and the ABM150 wells will be com-

pleted once negotiations are finalised with its joint venture partner on a rig sharing arrangement.

Trinity said East Coast net production in the third quarter averaged at 1,100 barrels of oil per day, higher than the 978 barrels of oil per day in the second quarter.

“Current production at the Trintes field is around 1,110 barrels of oil per day. Production at the Trintes field was in line with forecast, and has continued to be so,” the company said in a statement.

Onshore, Trinity said net production averaged at 1,923 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

“Since the quarter end, Trinity has undertaken a successful recompletion at the PS-575 well in the WD-2 field which has added around 200 barrels of oil per day,” the company said, adding that current onshore production is 2,115 barrels of oil per day.

Trinity said its portfolio presents an inventory of development drilling and workover opportunities, which it said are currently being assessed by the board as part of its annual budget plan for 2015.

Trinity’s chief executive officer, Joel “Monty” Pemberton, said in statement on Monday, “Trinity has a solid production base and continues to generate positive cash flows. Production is up over 225 bopd with minimal expenditure, and capital has been deployed to increase our asset portfolio. The development of the 1a and 1b fields will materially increase production and cash flows and strategically diversify our portfolio into natural gas supply for which the Trinidadian market offers a very attractive supply and demand dynamic. We recognise the need to secure additional funding to progress these developments and remain focused on achieving this through industry-sourced solutions.” Trinity shares are traded on the London stock exchange. (TT Express)

Capitalise on economic transformations taking place in Guyana - Minister Ali urges Lindeners

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali said Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) should not isolate itself from national and international developmental initiatives and the community should rid itself of the “devils of the past”.

At the time, Ali was delivering remarks at the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development’s Annual Luncheon. Isolation, he said, can be a stumbling block to economic growth and development, preventing the local economy from capitalising on existing opportunities on the national and international scene. With Guyana experiencing eight years of consecutive economic growth through rapid Private Sector investments, Ali said the leaders of Linden and, by extension, Region 10 should mobilise their people to capitalise on the economic transformation taking place.

He made reference to the controversial Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, telling the regional leaders to think about the potential benefits that can evolve from such a multimillion-dollar initiative that would bring cheaper electricity

to Guyana.

He stressed that Linden as the gateway to the interior should unlock opportunities and create a new environment based on cohesion and trust. Businesses, he said, would not prosper and achieve full potential if the society is not cohesive.

Meanwhile, Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development President Kevin De Jonge said research has indicated that there are three main issues blocking growth and development in Linden, despite its wealth of resources. Politics, lack of unity, and high unemployment were the three factors identified.

According to him, there is a perception that politicians are pursuing their own agenda rather than fulfilling their mandate to serve the people.

The Chamber’s

President explained that representation was made on behalf of the people of Linden to have the local body play an integral role in the execution of major projects in Region 10. This, he said, is necessary to ensure that the projects are executed in accordance with the scope of work or standards laid out by both the government and the Region.

Alluding to the issue of lack of unity, De Jonge said Linden was known as a town of togetherness, that spoke in a united voice but there has been a shift. However, he added the Linden Chamber stands ready to serve as a catalyst for such unity to be developed again.

In the area of unemployment, De Jonge noted it was a known fact that after graduating from high school or even the University of Guyana, youths are often faced with the issue of unemployment. In addition to welcoming investments being made by foreign companies such as Troy Resources, De Jonge said the Chamber will remain a strong advocate for entrepreneurship, positing that the Tourism and Agriculture Sectors are areas to be fully exploited. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

TT education officals allow mehindi student back in school

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Officials of the St Gabriel’s Girls’ RC Primary School on Monday allowed a sevenyear-old student to return to classes, days after they barred her from classes for wearing mehindi on both hands.

On Monday, Standard One pupil, Chelsea Balgobin, went to the school’s compound at Lord Street, San Fernando, accompanied

by her mother, Sandy Mahadeo. Mahadeo admitted that she was unsure whether or not her child would have been allowed on the compound as the mehindi was still visible on Chelsea’s hands.

“She is a child and this was not supposed to happen. It is not fair. They (school officials) called us on Wednesday and told us to take her home. They said she will not be allowed in school unless it is off. I brought

her to school to see what they would do,” Mahadeo said .

The child, who was still wearing the mehindi on both hands, was allowed on the school’s compound without any hiccups on Monday.

Mahadeo recalled that on Wednesday last, the family a school official suggested that they visit the school to collect Chelsea as she was not properly attired and she had to leave the compound.

The mother added that the officials said the student cannot return to classes unless the mehindi comes off her hands.

Henna is a plant that has been used as a dye and henna designs can last for days or even months.

“She does not want to stay. She was wondering what would happen. She wanted to know if she is going to be victimised and she is very conscious of what happened,” Mahadeo added.

Contacted yesterday an official at the Education Ministry confirmed that the situation was “amicably resolved”. The official, who requested anonymity, added that a similar incident occurred last week with another student.

On Tuesday school supervisors in the Victoria Educational District are expected to meet with both parents and staff at the said school. (TT Guardian)

Barbados not seeking IMF assistance for economic turnaround – Sinckler

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:

The Barbados government on Monday said it would not seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help turn around an ailing economy, insisting that the fiscal programme it has embarked upon is working, despite having laid off thousands of public workers.

“What we have to do is to do the things that would help us achieve the (economic) growth,” Finance and Economic Minister Chris Sinckler told a news conference.

“Based on what we are seeing we know growth will return,” he said, telling reporters that the government was working to achieve the two per cent economic growth as predicted by the Central Bank of

Barbados.

Sinckler said that in relation to the discussion pushed by the private sector for the Freundel Stuart government to contemplate a programme with the IMF, “we have said what our position is.

“We are measuring the situation and we feel at this stage that (IMF programme) is not required at this stage,” he added.

Last year, the government announced the plan to cut public service jobs in a bid to save BDS$143 million (One BDS dollar = US$0.50 cents). Government said it would also institute a “strict programme of attrition” across the central public service, filling posts only where it is absolutely unavoidable, over the next five years, ending 2018-2019.

Ferguson to provide Ebola update in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Ferguson recently returned to the island after leading a team on a four-day visit to Cuba.

The health ministry says the discussions focused on several areas including the training of local healthcare and other workers in Ebola preparedness; the possibility of Cuba providing doctors and nurses in the event of an outbreak; and the possible provision of additional Personal Protective Equipment.

The ministry says the outcome of the discussions will be provided to the country by way of a press conference on Tuesday.

Last week Thursday,

acting permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Kevin Harvey, indicated that Jamaica will have to adjust its Ebola response protocols as some of the measures, which were developed by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, have failed. Harvey also hinted that Jamaica may look to Cuba as it fine-tunes its response protocols.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Guyana gets help from China for geographical mapping

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Guyana is one step closer to completing its geological mapping after Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud participated at the 2014 China Mining Conference and Exposition.

The Minister was there at the invitation of China’s Land and Resources Minister Jiang Daming.

Accompanied by Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) chairman Clinton Williams, Minister Persaud participated in discussions relating to the devel-

Asked whether any of these cuts would result in further layoffs within the public service, Sinckler replied:” No, that is why I said not in any major or dramatic way.

He said there would be some “smaller attrition in terms of retrenchment because of the exercise but not the 3,000…not that type of thing,” he added.

Last week, the Central Bank noted that the fiscal adjustment measures have reduced the deficit by 0.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) so far this fiscal year and that the measures already in place are forecast to yield an additional one per cent and a recovery of revenue is expected to yield an additional two per cent. (Caribbean News)

opmental trend of both Chinese and foreign mining industries as well as the global commodities outlook.

He told the conference that Guyana encourages green mining and investments that are environmentally safe and sustainable.

This, he said, is guided by policies and programmes that are aimed at maximising the benefits of the extractive sector.

However, he cautioned that all investors must adhere to the various acts and regulations governing the mining sector and respect the laws of Guyana.

Additionally,

Minister Persaud pointed out that numerous opportunities exist for investment in the mining sector, but investors must be compliant with strict environmental guidelines which are being enforced by several regulatory government agencies.

As a result of Guyana’s participation at the global event, the China Geological Survey has committed to assisting the government of Guyana to undertake a mineral property assessment to gather geological data as vast tracts of land have not been geologically mapped. (Guyana Times)

Jamaica seminar to focus on enhancing tourism's social and economic impact

KINGSTON,

JAMAICA: An impressive cadre of local, regional and international tourism stakeholders will converge in Montego Bay, Jamaica, next month to share ideas, examine best practices and discuss strategies for advancing tourism.

The annual Tourism Outlook Seminar (TOS) will take place from November 20 to 21, 2014, under the theme, “Tourism: Enhancing Social and Economic Impact”. The two-day forum will be hosted by the ministry of tourism and entertainment, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Preparations are in high gear for the greatly anticipated event, which will feature contributions from several local, regional and international experts. It will focus on areas such as enhancing tourism linkages for social and economic impact; crisis management;

creating resonance in the vacation experience; developing the local memorabilia sector; and opportunities for partnership with the entertainment and creative industries.

Minister of tourism and entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill, said the seminar will provide an ideal opportunity “to discuss how we plan to overcome the specific challenges affecting the tourism industry locally and in the region in order to enhance the social and economic impact of the sector, improve dialogue among stakeholders within the industry, and examine policies and strategies needed to

boost competitiveness.”

“Tourism is one of the island’s major foreign exchange earners and is one of our largest employers of labour. It is therefore important that the full impact and contribution of the tourism industry be examined, understood and harnessed” said McNeill. He also pointed out that the seminar will provide invaluable insight to participating tourism stakeholders on how to further develop and grow the tourism sector.

McNeill will give the opening address at the seminar, which will see several presentations and interactive sessions over the two days, featuring speakers from the UNWTO, United States Department of Justice, Solimar International, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and JAMPRO, among other local and international organizations. (Caribbean News Now)

Five murders keep Forensic Science Centre in TT busy

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINDAD:

There was little breathing room at the Forensic Science Centre in St James on Monday as grieving friends and relatives of the five persons who were murdered on Saturday packed the compound.

Dead are Anthony Suenarine, 16; Ebo Adams, 23; Kadeem Sawyer, 24; Anil Jaikaran, 38; and Dale Mathis, 40.

All five men were slain in separate incidents between 1.30 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Suenarine was stabbed in the neck along De Verteuil Street, Arima, by an unknown assailant; Adams was shot and killed during a robbery along Pinto Road, Arima; Sawyer was gunned down at the Tunapuna Market by unknown assailants af-

ter purchasing doubles; Jaikaran was in a moving vehicle in Marabella which was shot at by unknown persons; and Mathis, a member of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, was gunned down while waiting in a parked vehicle outside of a supermarket in Diego Martin.

Suenarine’s relatives, in speaking briefly with the media, simply said the teenager was a “normal, teenage boy” and they did not understand why anyone would want him dead.

Adams’s relatives barely spoke when approached by the media, simply saying they were still in a state of shock over the incident.

They said Adams was a quiet person who had a 15-month-old child and they were “simply struggling” to come to terms with why his robbers felt the need to shoot and kill him.

Sawyer’s relatives said they were left in a state of fear following the “brazen style” exhibited by the killers.

Jaikaran’s relatives said they were still trying to come to terms with the incident, lamenting that he was a “kind and loving” family man who did not deserve his fate.

They said the “wanton killings” in this country needed to be addressed by the police, as innocent people were falling victims to the brazen acts of criminals.

Mathis’s family refused to speak when approached by members of the media.

However, police sources confirmed that the autopsy results showed that he was killed by injuries consistent with multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigations are continuing into all five homicides. (TT Express)

Guyana’s rice exports top 400,000 tonnes

BY JOMO PAUL

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Rice export for this year will likely reach over 500,000 tonnes, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said.

Dr Ramsammy said the amount of rice exported so far this year is 401,000 tonnes and there is still 137,000 tonnes left to be exported by the end of 2014.

“That was supposed to be the production in 2020, but that is now the export. Some of you who have followed the story that in January we were being attacked, that we can’t sell our rice, the truth is that we better have a minimum of 160,000 tonnes on hand, because during January, February and March, we have no production as

rice is still growing,” Dr Ramsammy said.

In 2013, rice export accounted for about 395,000 tonnes and approximately 58 per cent of the rice was exported to Venezuela with other significant buyers being Europe, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean countries.

Dr Ramsammy has said Guyana’s rice export market will be able

to survive in the eventuality the PetroCaribe rice for oil agreement with neighbouring Venezuela falls through.

The minister also noted that the government through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and other agencies has been assiduously working to acquire additional markets.

Dr Ramsammy told the media in a recent interview that everything is moving according to plan and the contract with the Panamanian government should follow through without any hiccup.

Since the start of October 2014, 5000 tonnes of rice has been exported to Panama under the rice shipment deal signed between Guyana and Panama late August. (Guyana Times)

TT man sorry -jailed for exposing himself

PORT-OF-SPAIN,TRINIDAD:

A man who unzipped his pants and held on to his private parts while in the back seat of a taxi, also occupied by two policewomen who are sisters, was on Monday jailed for two months.

The prison term is the maximum penalty for his crime.

The sentence was imposed by San Fernando Magistrate Margaret Alert who expressed concern over the penalty for wilfully and obscenely exposing oneself in a public place.

She also said it was “very disgusting” for a person engaged in public transport to be subjected to this type of behaviour.

He was charged by constable Keisha Cruickshank who was travelling in the taxi with her sister when the incident occurred.

Alert heard that at around 6.35 p.m.

last Friday, the officer was a passenger in the car when, on reaching the vicinity of Gulf City Mall, La Romaine, she saw McMillan unzip his pants and touch his private parts.

The officer identified herself and told McMillan of the offence, police prosecutor Sgt Veano Ragoo said.

McMillan told her, “Ah sorry it happen.”

Alert told McMillan, a sign painter, that his criminal background showed he had 13 previous convictions.

McMillan, who was unrepresented, said he was intoxicated at the time of last Friday’s incident but Alert told him he should not hide behind alcohol.

She sentenced McMillan to two months in jail and Cruickshank was commended for her immediate response and apprehension of McMillan. (TT Express)

Guyana: Queen’s College celebrates 170th anniversary

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Guyana‘s premier secondary school Queen’s College on Monday celebrated its 170th anniversary, with a special General Assembly attended by past and current students.

The audience, which included President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and Opposition Leader David Granger, was treated to a delightful cultural presentation by students.

Headteacher Jackie Benn said the institution has always been commit-

ted to maintaining high academic standards, its cultural tradition and actively raising the quality of life for every student.

“Our mission here is to provide equal access to quality education regardless of the socioeconomic status of our students,” Benn told the huge Audience.

President Ramotar, who delivered the feature address, congratulated the students who he said have all kept the flag of the distinguished institution flying high.

According to him, the institution has been able to produce some of the

greatest minds in almost every sector within the country.

“And I would also agree with those who say that it will contend with any institution in the world for producing graduates with high caliber as Queen’s College has done.”

The head of State said he would like to see Queen’s College being replicated all across the country, pointing out the government through the education ministry is currently working to ensure that the high quality education offered at the institution, be asso-

ciated with every secondary school in Guyana.

He said the country is moving in that direction even as he cited the recent accomplishment of the school for producing three of the four students who received top Caribbean awards at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. The fourth came from the New Amsterdam Secondary School.

Queen’s College was established in 1844 as the Queen’s College Grammar School for boys by William Percy Austin DD Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of then British Guiana. The female equivalent was the Bishops’ High School.

The first assembly was held on August 5, 1844 with an enrollment of 15 boys. Although the school started out as an Anglican Church School, Bishop Austin was interested in making it a more broad-based institution to include non-Anglicans. Its first administration, however, consisted only of members of the Church of England. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

New-look TT$50 bill in December

- same material used to make Canadian currency

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

On December 13, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago will unveil a redesigned TT$50 bill made from polymer— the same material used to make Canadian currency.

The new banknote will be gold in colour and its major security feature will be a transparent plastic area with a metallic holographic image.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday at the Central Bank tower in Port of Spain, Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran said the redesigned bill will go into circulation from December 15 and is expected to receive wider acceptance than the current TT$50 bill.

He said there were also some challenges around the design of the last TT$50 note.

“Most of you will know that the current TT$50 was olive green in colour, which made it a little difficult to distinguish be-

tween the current TT$5 and TT$10, especially in low light and at night. Sometimes you weren’t too sure what you were receiving and some persons actually gave away their TT$50 thinking it was a TT$5,” Rambarran said.

Rambarran noted that a typical polymer bill will last twice as long as the cotton note and is environmentally friendly and cleaner and will be unveiled at the bank’s 50th gala anniversary celebrations on December 13. Initially TT$5 million worth of TT$50 bills will be issued, Rambarran said. (TT Express)

TT$15 million spent for electrical upgrades in schools —Gopeesingh

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD: The Education Ministry is bracing for possible electrical overloads in the nation’s schools because of the installation of aircondition units in classrooms.

In a bid to prevent any fires or electrical surges, the ministry has already started doing full electrical overhauls in some schools.

Speaking to reporters

after touring 18 schools in south Trinidad on Monday, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh said over TT$15 million was spent in August to do electrical upgrades in 15 schools.

“A number of schools have installed air-conditioning systems which is throwing a load on the electrical situation. Pretty soon we may have lots of problems,”

Gopeesingh said. Earlier this month, the electri-

cal wiring at the Princes Town Presbyterian Primary school caught fire, causing a one-week disruption and subsequent protest action by parents.

However, Gopeesingh said the Education Facilities Company Ltd and MTS will continue to monitor the school conditions to ensure that teachers and students had a safe and comfortable environment. (TT Guardian)

Crump urges businesses to join fight against Chik-V in Jamaica

MONTEGO BAY,

JAMAICA: As members of the western Jamaica workforce fall prey to the Chikungunya virus, immediate past president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce (MBCCI), businessman Davon Crump, has called on the Montego Bay business sector to get involved in the fight against the disease.

As an example, Crump, who is CEO of Global Outsourcing Solutions, a call centre in the Montego Bay Freezone, contributed Ja$25,000 to the Western Health Authority towards the fight against the virus.

He urged the commercial sector to join the fight particularly because workers are absent from work when they fall ill, resulting in a negative impact on productivity.

"As everyone here is aware, persons all across the island are being ravaged by the Chikungunya virus, and whilst I've seen where a few companies in Kingston are getting involved in mitigation ex-

crump... contributed

Ja$25,000 to the western Health authority towards the fight against the virus.

ercises, I'm yet to see a company in Montego Bay doing so, even though their workforce is being affected, as more and more staff members are being affected," Crump argued."In my very own company and by the most recent tabulation from our Human Resources department to date, we have had about 37 employees affected by this virus. That's about 25 per cent of my workforce that had to be out of office for approximately five to seven days on average."

He stressed that with

that many people out sick "or even a tiny fraction of that for most organisations could be crippling".

"That could cause some serious effects to already ailing businesses in our country. And let me point out very clearly, I don't want to be insensitive to the situation, but let me just explain that in dollar value what that means to me and for those who are not familiar with my type of business, we invoice our clients for the amount of hours that our employees work each day. In the call centre business the more hours you are able to bill the client the more you earn. So just a quick math: 37 employees out for approximately one week, we lost approximately US$20,000 or Ja$2.2 million dollars just for that one week of those agents being out sick," the immediate past president of the MBBCI argued.

He was delivering the keynote address at the St James Parish Council Junior Mayor competition held at the Montego Bay Civic Centre last week. (Jamaica Observer)

LIAT takes road shows to Guyana ahead of introduction of additional flights

ST JOHN’S,

ANTIGUA: A delegation from LIAT’s Commercial Department will be in the Guyana capital, Georgetown, this week for two road shows to promote the launch of three additional flights per week between Barbados and Ogle, taking the airline's weekly services to ten per week.

LIAT will be offering special fares to current and prospective customers who attend the road shows and everyone will be able to book flights right there on location.

In addition to the many giveaways, those in attendance will be able to win free flights on LIAT by posting pictures of themselves from the

Jamaica stands in solidarity with Canada in wake of shooting

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The Jamaican government and Opposition, on Saturday, expressed solidarity with Canada following the shooting attack on that country's parliament and the killing of a soldier guarding a war memorial, last Wednesday.

road shows on the company’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

LIAT currently operates a daily service between Guyana’s Ogle Airport and Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados.

The three additional flights per week will be added from December 1, 2014.(Caribbean News)

Road safety project in Belize to get additional CDB funding

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:

The government of Belize will receive an additional loan of US$4.584 million from the Caribbean Development Bank for an ongoing road safety project. The original loan of US$7.248 million was approved in 2012, but stakeholder reviews of the project have led to a revision in scope that required further financing.

The road safety project was designed to assist in the reduction of deaths and serious injuries associated with road traffic accidents. Initially it involved such areas as road safety infrastructure; accident emergency services; road safety enforcement; public education and awareness including curriculum development and teacher

training; and capacity building.

Because this is a pilot project, annual review meetings were incorporated into the process. These meetings afforded the opportunity for feedback from a wide cross-section of public and private sector stakeholders.

Following the discussions at the stakeholders meetings it was agreed that a number of adjustments will be made to the project design including additional guardrails, drainage and intersection improvements, and mobility and safety features for the infrastructure works.

Additionally, the projected cost of some of the civil works packages has risen from original appraisal estimates. (Caribbean News)

IDB study suggests way forward to boost Caribbean exports

WASHINGTON D.C., United States– A new study by the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) is urging Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to do more to facilitate trade in order to boost exports.

“Three years of sluggish growth in the exports of Latin America and the Caribbean make it urgent to implement policies that facilitate trade,” notes the study, entitled “Trade and Integration Monitor 2014”.

It notes that the fall in international demand and in the prices of many basic goods that are exported from the region highlight pre-existing vulnerabilities in the external sector.

Despite efforts to diversify exports, the study notes that over the past decade, the region’s export basket has been concentrated on basic goods and their by-products, making Latin America and the Caribbean vulnerable to fluctuations in price and demand.

It said that in 2013, the region’s exports rose only 0.1 per cent, after hav-

ing grown 1.2 per cent in 2012.

The Monitor argues that, given uncertainty in multilateral trade-facilitation talks, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean should implement unilateral reforms and other measures linked to preferential accords in the region so as to stimulate exports.

Conservative estimates indicate that only 20 per cent of the commitments included in the Agreement on Trade Facilitation negotiated through the World Trade Organization (WTO) have taken force under regional preferential agreements, the report notes.

It includes a detailed report on recent trade performance indicators for the IDB’s 26 borrowing-member countries as well as profiles of free trade accords that are in effect.

The Monitor is part of a series of annual studies that analyze the evolution of Latin American and Caribbean integration within the global trading system using systematized data available in the INTrade data base. (Caribbean News)

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has sent a condolence message to Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper condemning the terrorist act carried out in the nation's capital, Ottawa.

"I am deeply shocked to learn of the harrowing incident in which a gunman shot and killed a Canadian soldier on duty at the Canadian National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa and then entered and fired shots in the nearby parliament building. We are relieved that the brave and quick action of the Canadian security forces to intercept and eliminate the perpetrator undoubtedly saved the loss of other innocent lives," Simpson Miller said, adding that; "Our condolences are extended to the relatives, friends and associates of the fallen soldier, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country."

Simpson Miller added this calculated, unprovoked attack at the seat of the Canadian government is an attack on the democratic way of life everywhere and must be condemned in the strongest possible way by

those who champion democracy, peace and freedom.

No effort, she said, should be spared in locating the mastermind and those who carried out this dastardly act.

"Please accept, Prime Minister, our profound sympathies, as the government and people of Jamaica mourn with the people of Canada on this very sad day," she stated.

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) also conveyed its solidarity with Canada following the brazen act.

"As peaceful and lawabiding citizens, the JLP joins with the more than 300,000 Jamaicans living in Canada, in categorically condemning these attacks," said Opposition Spokesman

on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Edmund Bartlett.

The Member of Parliament, who is presently with the Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness in Canada, added: "Militant extremist attacks must be dealt with the full force of the law, and we stand in solidarity with Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he redoubles efforts to curb such extreme acts of terror. We also extend our prayers and support to the families of the fallen soldiers."

The party said Canadians are great friends and partners of Jamaica, not just through the Commonwealth relationship, but as home to many in the Jamaican Diaspora. (Jamaica Observer)

St Vincent celebrates 35 years of political independence

KINGSTOWN, ST.

VINCENT: St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is celebrating 35 years of political independence from Britain with the leaders of the two main political parties providing contrasting views on the future direction of the country.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves noted that since 2011, positive economic growth has been recorded annually while Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace suggested that there is nothing to celebrate this independence.

workers at their jobs, particularly in the private sector,” he added.

Gonsalves said employees in the public sector have not been laid off as a consequence of any economic or fiscal challenge, adding that there are special employment programmes for public works and for university and Community College graduate.

longed droughts in the first five months of 2010 and 2014.

Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Finance, said these natural disasters caused loss and damage amounting to EC$600 million or one-third of the country’s gross domestic product.

Gonsalves said that the aggregate real economic growth in St Vincent and the Grenadines has increased by 4.9 per cent for the three-year period 2011-2013, inclusive.

year period 2008 to 2010, inclusive.

“This improvement has just about edged ahead of the aggregate decline in the economy for the three-

“Still, the economic recovery is too slow, and uneven, to absorb an acceptable level of new entrants to the labour market while maintaining the existing

Gonsalves, said that in the last five years, the island has been struck hard by five major adverse climate events: Hurricane Tomas in October 2010, the April Floods of 2011, the Christmas Eve disaster of 2013, and two pro-

The Christmas-eve disaster alone amounted to EC$330 million (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) or 17 per cent of GDP, he said of the trough system, which also claimed 12 lives.

“Over the last 10 months since the Christmas-eve disaster, our people and their gov-

ernment have responded admirably to rebuild the lives and material conditions of families, communities, and the nation. In this process, we have been accorded prompt, and ongoing assistance, from friendly governments and institutions regionally, in our hemisphere, and internationally.

“We thank them from the bottom of our hearts. In our profound gratitude, we assert that we are not, as yet, out of the proverbial woods. There is much work to be done in the enterprise of relief, rehabilitation, and sustained recovery,” Gonsalves said. (Jamaica Observer)

Jamaican Chamber of Commerce head passes on

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Alert government officials and recipients of national awards knew that there was something ominous when Francis ‘Paco’ Kennedy’s wife Marjorie had to receive his honour in his place at King’s House last Monday.

The joy of the national honour failed to mask the sadness which Mrs Kennedy bore as she accepted the Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD) from Governor General Patrick Allen on behalf of her ailing husband.

But Francis Kennedy, president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce

(JCC) had no time to bask in the glory of the award which symbolised the invaluable contribution he had made to his country in the areas of business and voluntary services.

The retired executive of GraceKennedy died early on Monday of heart failure at Aventura Hospital in Florida, United States, where he had gone for treatment after undergoing surgery in Jamaica. He was 74. News of his passing immediately roused sympathy across the nation. The business and political worlds paused to pay homage to the business icon who was described as a “nation builder” and hailed for his “leadership role in driving commerce and business” in Jamaica over the last 30 years.

us a giant in the field of commerce and business in Jamaica”.

Prime Minister Portia Smipson Miller said that Kennedy’s passing “has taken from

“Mr Kennedy must also be recognised for his years of contribution to the efforts to revitalise downtown Kingston. He was a passionate be-

liever in the Kingston market district and he, along with others, has been working tirelessly to make this a reality. Paco was also integral to the Partnership for Jamaica agreement,” said the prime minister who noted that Kennedy was born with manufacturing in his blood, being a descendant of the founders of the popular GraceKennedy Company.

The prime minister extended on behalf of the government “deepest sympathies to his family, especially his dear wife Marjorie, daughter Catherine and son Charles, whom we all have in our prayers at

this time”. Kennedy, a past student of Harvard Business School, Campion College, and St George's College, was recently re-elected JCC president. He served GraceKennedy just under 46 years. But his service to Jamaica covered a wide sphere from the shipping industry, through commerce and the private sector, to education. He served several other businesses, civic and charitable organisations with dedication, selflessness and distinction.

Kennedy is survived by his wife, children, Catherine and Charles and other relatives. (Jamaica Observer)

TT President hits bullying on social media

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

President Anthony Carmona condemned per-

sons who use the Internet to denigrate others, an hour after the Office of the President confirmed legal

action against radio host, Rachel Price, for alleged defamation of his wife, Reema.

Carmona launched a sustained attack on cyber-bullying as he gave the graduation address at the first day of the 2014 Presentation of Graduates at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, where he received an honorary doctorate along with former Calypso Monarch, McCartha “Calypso Rose” Lewis.

“Regrettably, in all these fora, like-minded minds tend to recycle and restate their agreed opinions. Graduates, you have a responsibility to bring more enlightened, dispassionate approach to the discourse on issues of national and regional importance,” urged Carmona.

He reflected on man’s inhumanity to man as he related TS Elliot’s poem, “The Wasteland” which he said speaks to our dark side.

“What are you doing about this, young graduands? Will you continue that mean streak so prevalent in our society, because, ‘you’ve got the power’, and

are engrossed in that obsession that your culture calls ‘me, myself and I?”

Carmona hoped for changes to legislation that debars anyone under age 25-years-old being a Senator, and hoped UWI would establish a Department of Philosophy. Topically given the diplomatic tensions between Jamaica and TT, Carmona spoke of how his days as a university student in Jamaica and Barbados had shaped his personality such that today he calls himself a “Trini-Jam-Baj” in nationality. Barbados had taught him civility,

while in Jamaica he had seen unrelenting nationalism and the aspirations of democratic socialism for a just, fair and equitable society, all set against a backdrop of the splendor of the sands of Negril Beach, the climbing of the Blue Mountains and crayfish catching in Spanish Town River, plus the despair of the voiceless of Trench Town. Carmona said he was humbled by his award and he hailed Calypso Rose whose song “Tempo” he quoted to the delight of a smiling Mrs Carmona seated in the audience. (TT Newsday)

Gov’t seeking pardon for J’can jailed in Qatar

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Information Minister Senator Sandrea Falconer last week responded to questions raised about what the government is doing to assist Paul Stephens, a Jamaican in jail in Qatar. Following is her statement which was released to the press:

“I have asked for and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) has updated me on this matter. The Embassy of Jamaica in Kuwait has been taking steps with regard to the welfare of Mr Paul Stephens. He has been visited by the Ambassador and there have been several calls made to him from the Embassy. MFAT has been in touch with his next of kin in Jamaica and MOST IMPORTANTLY we have transmitted to the government of Qatar a formal request for a pardon.

“The ministry will continue to do its best to see to his welfare and secure his release, as

Muddy

Pwe try to do for the many hundreds of Jamaicans who are incarcerated in numerous countries around the world.

“As the matter is being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, it would not only be inappropriate but would send the wrong message if another ministry interferes with the diplomatic work which is the purview of MFAT. The minis-

try does not provide details of any of the cases it is involved with publicly, other than to the next of kin.

Jamaican media sources said the government’s request for pardon for Stephens, who was jailed for an alleged sexual incident, could be successful, as prisoners are expected to be released during Ramadon as is the practice during the holy month. (Jamaica Observer)

clean-up after South floods

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: One day after heavy flooding in several areas of Siparia and Fyzabad, residents were shovelling mud from their homes and sweeping muddy water from their yards.

The flooding was a result of the downpour last Thursday morning. Many of the villagers remained marooned in their homes after floodwaters rose to over five feet high.

On Saturday when TT media visited Quarry Village, Siparia

residents had finished washing away mud and debris from their homes.

At Guerra Trace, father of two, Kawal Baal spent the morning shovelling mud in his backyard following a landslide. Baal, who has lived in the village for about 40 years, said he never experienced a landslide before. “It really came as a shock and especially on Diwali Day when we had already made preparations and family was coming over,” he told TT media.

Other residents said, for years

they have made complaints to officials of the Siparia Regional Corporation, but they have fallen on deaf ears. TT media learnt that a team from the corporation was expected to visit affected families on Saturday. Efforts to contact Siparia Regional Corporation chairman Leo Doodnath proved futile.

(TT Newsday)

Montserrat Festival slogan released

BRADES, MONTSERRAT:

“Jus’ Come-Cyan Miss De Festival!” is the slogan for the 52nd Annual Festival on Montserrat.

The event which is the biggest cultural celebration on the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean opens on December 13, 2014, offering visitors and residents an opportunity to experience a spectacular display of Montserrat’s culture and creativity.

The celebration features pageants, calypso, soca, steel pan, folklore, masquerade, jump-ups, fetes and street parades throughout the month and ending on January 1, 2015.

Chairperson of the Montserrat Festival Committee, Denise Phillip said, “This year’s slogan ties in perfectly with the Committee’s drive to promote the festival as an event not to miss.”

The slogan, which is worded in “colloquial terms, instructs persons to come to the festival while at the same time sharing a form of Montserrat’s cultural expression -- our dialect,” stated Phillip.

The slogan is also linked to the festival’s official theme song, which was

released earlier this month to create an extra buzz and excitement for the festivities.

Titled ‘Carnival’, the signature song is an upbeat, modern remix version of local artiste, Nyne’s ‘Nah Miss No Carnival’ song.

The song is a collaboration of three artistes -- Nyne, New York-based Vincentian Soca Artist Maddzart and international Montserratian recording artiste, Kulcha Don, also based in New York.

Events coordinator Veta Wade noted that some persons decided to miss out on last year’s festival, which turned out to be great and “one of the lines in the song says ‘if I knew festival was so sweet, I wouldn’t miss it at all”.

“We don’t want them to have that feeling this year because it’s going to be hot, we are going to have lots of exciting acts here for Christmas,” explained Wade.

To listen to the festival theme song ‘Carnival’, go to www.cdbaby.com

For more information on Montserrat’s Festival visit the Facebook page: Montserrat Annual Festival. (Caribbean News Now)

Limacol goes global!

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: The NEW GPC INC is proud to announce that it is about to rollout its iconic Limacol splash-on in most of the major markets of the world.

According to Executive Chairman, Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the launch follows a timeline built into Limacol’s expansion strategy that was initiated when the brand became the major sponsor of several major sporting events in Guyana and the Caribbean.

The ensuing broadcasts in every continent made the Limacol Brand a talking point in all the nations where the sports, especially cricket, were played.

In the U.S., the Limacol Brand will be associated with baseball as well as with the new cricket leagues being launched. Now that the Limacol Brand awareness has reached the critical benchmarks set in the strategy, the decision to launch was made.

Limacol – and several of its brand extensions – will now be introduced into major new markets in Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and the Middle East.

In the U.S., Canada and Britain, it will strike out

into mainstream outlets, in addition to the traditional Caribbean ethnic market where it has always had a loyal following and customer base. The increased sales in its home Caribbean markets will also be augmented.

This major marketing push will see the Limacol production facilities at Farm, East Bank Demerara ratcheted up to deal with the increased demand.

NEW GPC INC has always been in the forefront of boosting the local manufacturing sector with Limacol and numerous other products.

All of these had been shipped to the traditional export markets. With the massive Limacol expansion occasioned by the new market roll outs, it is projected that Guyana will benefit substantially both in terms of increased employment opportunities and in earning foreign exchange. Dr Ramroop emphasised that his company is very bullish on Guyana.

Limacol is a unique body splash on, manufactured in Guyana since the 1920s. Its signature slogan “Freshness of a breeze in a bottle” is known across the Caribbean – and now it will be on lips across the globe. (Guyana Times)

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: While not a holiday in Guyana, Halloween has become one of the major events many Guyanese look forward to.

Celebrated locally by keeping up parties for adults and children, Halloween is a time when creative costumes are worn and artistic body painting is displayed.

Bravo Arts, a local art company, is famously known for its production of scary and ghoulish costumes and body painting. With depictions of bloody faces, torn flesh and ghostly body paint, Bravo Arts has become the go-to company for Halloween costumes.

What makes them the best of the rest? Bravo Arts

comprises of a fun loving team of young people who enjoy putting smiles on people's faces even if it means painting them on. It offers its clients an opportunity to transform their body through the medium of body painting, nail art, hair art, makeup, temporary tattoos, and glitter art. Bravo Arts customises its services to meet the unique needs of its clients. Its team of young, talented and dedicated artists and entertainers add to the youthful energy and creativity of the group.

Bravo Arts, which was launched in 2009, is the brainchild of local artist, Steve Douglas.

Reopening old Amerindian trails in Tobago

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: He is popularly known as ‘Bullet’. The man who revives old Amerindian trails across the rain-forested terrain of Tobago is maintaining preservation status of these trails.

Samuel ‘Bullet’ Eastman arms himself with rope, cutlass, tote bag, boots and hat and sets out to reopen the forgotten trails of the first people’s all on his own.

He has had a long list of successful trail cuttings including routes to the heights of Main Ridge as well as those in the more difficult Bloody Bay area that required many detours and crossings of the river.

“I started out as part of a scout group but eventually discovered that I was born with a special love for Tobago. I set out to rediscover my country and open it up to share with others.

“I was adventurous. The Bloody Bay Forest for example is rugged. There are massive tree falls all over and I had to cut fresh routes around them. Sometimes it meant going way off course for about a quarter mile because of the wild nature of the place then cutting back and finding the original passage.

“I blazed the trail from L’Anse Fourmi to Delaford and that was really a challenge. There was a time when I found that Mother Nature had come down at Pigeon Peak. This is one of the tallest peaks in Tobago and when these landslides happened this made my task seem hopeless. That was the period when there were widespread landslides and flooding in the north eastern area after three days of bad weather.”

Eastman however did not let this deter him. He persisted in blazing new trails where the older ones had become impassable.

Eastman recently opened up a broad trail to the top of a hill where open views of the island can be had for miles around. He named the site ‘The Cottage’ and insisted that the younger ones try to walk up the hill and not sit in a vehicle and be driven up. He thought that this was one of the ways where they could learn to appreciate their natural surroundings all the more.

The grounds of the ‘Cottage’ include the site of a historic structure with a stone marker. Eastman has set out benches, slung hammocks between the trees, erected facilities and makes use of an outdoor fireside beyond the kitchen area.

Views are spectacular from this elevated site especially at night when the lights illumine the darkness and give shape to the villages. Campers have the luxury of sleeping outside in the hammocks or indoors.

During the daytime, views as far as Pigeon Point and Buccoo Reef round to the lush hills of Castara and the hills and valleys spread below the rest of the site can be had.

“This is a site where I have the opportunity of seeing people really appreciate the beauty of Tobago. It is breezy up here and you can hear the sounds of the cocrico in several areas around the hill.” (TT Express)

TT Lawyer Lindianne pursues her dream

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Since her primary school days Lindianne Marshall had always dreamed of a career in law or politics.

“I actually wanted to become the first female Prime Minister in Trinidad,” she laughed during an interview with the TT media.

Even though Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar claimed that title, Marshall remains undaunted.

Growing up in Village Council Street, Laventille, the 27-yearold said she had an ordinary childhood.

“Life in Laventille was not as bad as others may think it is. I would hear the things going on around but my immediate neighbours were not involved in anything so it was not hitting home that often,” she said.

While Marshall added she is lucky to have never been a victim of criminal activity in the area, she said she has been indirectly affected as she had previously lost a family member to crime.

Despite the reputation of the area and several killings in the street over the years, Marshall noted she had nothing to fear partly because both her father and brothers were police officers, and partly because of her faith in God.

“My mother always carried my brothers and me to church. She ensured that we had those values and support and I think that is what kept us,” Marshall said. “I was never afraid and I am still not afraid.”

Fearless and determined, Marshall continued to pursue her dream of a legal career, gradu-

ating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London in 2009 and obtaining a post-graduate diploma in mediation studies and behavioural sciences from The University of the West Indies (UWI) in 2012. Not stopping there, the ambitious Laventillian recently completed her studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School and is awaiting graduation.

Now, she is anticipating being called to the bar in November.

Her hope for the future is to work in criminal law and prosecutions and, with the first female Prime Minister title taken, her aim is to become a judge.

She credited her parents, Eleanor and Lindley Smith, her three elder brothers and her husband, Yohan Marshall, who she said

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

A culinary competition put on by the Culinary Federation of Jamaica. Overall, the event had just over 250 participants working in teams or individually vying for a range of titles including the following: Chef/Junior of the Year; Junior Apprentice Chef of the Year; Pastry Chef of the Year and Bartender of the Year. This event also serves as part of the selection process for the Jamaican team to enter the Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition to be held in Miami in June 2015.

Bartender Competition

Bartenders are asked to prepare a variety of drinks to demonstrate their creativity and skills in three categories: Non-Alcoholic, Vodka and Rum. Each bartender has five minutes to prepare three portions of the beverage. All participating bartenders compete for the honour of Bartender of the Year. The final test of the weekend was The Mystery Basket, more like mystery ingredient, section.

have all been instrumental in her success thus far.

Marshall noted that the road to her accomplishments was not always a smooth one as she experienced financial strains to pay registration and examination fees not covered by the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme. Additional fees and books would amount to approximately TT$10,000 each year, she said.

However, she was grateful for the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP), which she said she was eventually able to access and which helped to fund her three years of study at the University of London. She said she wants more youngsters from the Laventille area to take advantage of these kinds of pro-

grammes that are available for their benefit.

Marshall’s hope for her community is for the stigma to be lifted, and for persons from Laventille to not have to lie about their addresses in order to secure jobs and other opportunities.

Her advice to other young women in the community is to not be a victim of their circumstances.

“Just because you are

from an area where negative things are taking place, it doesn’t mean you have to get involved in it as well. You don’t have to follow that pattern. You don’t have to be like everybody else. You can make a difference. It’s all about making the right choices. Your response to difficult circumstances will determine whether or not you are successful.” (TT Express)

Essequibo rice miller to convert paddy husk to energy in Guyana

The participants this year were asked to design, prepare and present a cocktail of their choice using any of the ingredients of the basket which consisted of Appleton Genesis White Rum, Appleton Estate V/X, Sky Vodka and the compulsory item - Campari.

Scoring Criteria:

The scores for each drink in each section were as follows: for

a total of 50 points judges were to weigh the following: Name, originality & creativity; timing, method & neatness, visual appeal and presentation; aroma, taste and balance; sanitation; contemporary Jamaican theme; use of recipe; cooking/flaming.

We had 16 very enthusiastic participants in the bartender competition. It was an enlightening and gruelling two days of tasting 16x5 drinks in addition to other drinks made by teams for another event.

After the dust had settled the Bartender of the Year went to Adrian Johnson from Rockhouse, Negril, Johnson also won the best non-alcoholic drink category. A very close second was Gregory Goffe from Grand Palladium who also won best rum and vodka categories; and third went to Gossette Brown, also from Rockhouse, Negril. Congratulations to these gentlemen on their achievements.

This competition is very important to Jamaica and we should endeavour to keep it alive and take it to the next level.

(Jamaica Observer)

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Energy sources and energy producers have always been a ‘hot topic’ for the world, particularly since modern society (Industrial Revolution to present) consumes large amounts of fuel, making the energy industry a crucial part of the infrastructure and maintenance of society in almost all countries.

Consequently, alternative energy, any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuel, and alternative energy sources have become significant for all countries especially developing ones. Over the years, the race to find alternative sources of energy has proven futile for some and successful for others.

Ramesh Ramlakhan, an Essequibo miller from Region Two, is one of those successful individuals who have found an alternative source of energy. Ramlakhan, a simple Guyanese rice miller, seeks to convert paddy husk into energy.

After 14 years of farming, Ramlakhan, who said he “grew up in rice”, decided to purchase a Rice Husk Gasifier. The machine produces combustible gases from rice husks. The rice husk are burned which produces carbon and when the carbon gas reacts with air, it then produces combustible gases that are rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

“We are spending too

much on energy and fuel. When we burn paddy husk we lose more than we gain according to the calculations,” Ramlakhan disclosed in an interview with Guyana Times.

According to Ramlakhan, after receiving the machine, he should be able to remake what he spent to purchase the machine – a very significant accomplishment for the miller.

Based on a survey conducted earlier this year, Ramlakhan realised that his disposal methods of the paddy husk were “wasteful”, so he sought out measures for improvements; this led to his purchase of a Rice Husk Gasifier for US$100,000, which will enable him to reduce the wastage of rice by-products.

Earlier this year, Abrams Zuil Secondary School, on the Essequibo Coast, emerged as the winner at the National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair 2014 for its project “Husk particle board factory” in the Industrial Category. Science teachers and students from the school designed a factory, converting paddy husk (paddy waste product) into solid wood.

The school subsequently recommended that rice millers diversify their businesses by investing in this project. (Excerpted from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: For over three decades, Major’s Products have found its way into the pots and plates of Guyanese locally and abroad.

Current owner Denise MajorGopple aims to continue this tradition by ensuring that it remains the same products that persons have come to know and love.

Major's was established by Edna Major, a popular businesswoman in Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara.

She began her trade with starched clothing, which she did using cassava. She immediately plunged into the food seasoning business with her famous cassareep, before going into making coconut oil and tarts.

The business died with her a few years later, but after sometime, her son, Allan Major, reopened and expanded the product range.

“My dad had learnt the trade from his mother so after sometime, he wanted to continue the business and also wanted to enter the manufac-

turing sector so he began making pepper sauce then green seasoning...but he also died about three years ago and his wife took over the business,” Denise recalled.

It has been two years now since 52-year-old Denise has been managing Major's Products and the production line has expanded to include hot sauce, mustard sauce, Chinese sauce, achar and cake

colouring.

While business is doing well, Denise said she is focused on recapturing the prestige Major Products once had by regaining the confidence of supermarkets and other major buyers.

Looking for new markets

Noting that such a business would not find many markets in its surrounding, especially in the countryside where most

households would make their own products, Denise said they have been trying to break into new markets.

“There has been a bit of a problem with the company since my father died and so now I’m trying to reverse this and put Major’s Products back on the scene. I know a lot of new competitors out there, but we have a brand that most Guyanese know and love, it’s just about getting it back out there.”

In Guyana, Major's Products have a steady market in Georgetown and in Linden and would see increased sales during the Christmas season.

Denise explained that while Major’s is known worldwide for its casareep, its other products continue to be of high quality and standard.

“We always try to maintain a certain standard with our products because other companies will make the products, and we can’t stop them, so it’s all about standard and that’s what sets us apart from them,” Denise pointed out.

Major’s acquires its ingre-

dients through supporting local farmers along the coastal areas. The peppers are sourced from farmers in Berbice and the seasonings from those along the East Coast.

At present, Major’s Products is looking to expand its production line and is currently conducting

Denise explained that while they currently manufacturing their products using traditional methods, Major’s is trying to upgrade its facilities and in doing so has been invited by the United States Embassy to attend a fair in Chicago.

Despite these challenges, Denise is confident that Major’s will remain on the market for a very long time, noting that she will work relentlessly to ensure it does.

“When my father restarted this business, his intention was for it to go on, so that’s what I’m doing and will be working to achieve. It’s my father’s wish and desire and I will fulfil it,” Denise declared. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Trinidad: A story of rum and food

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

members of the JPc catering team with Jamaican-born, UKbased reggae artiste Jason stylo G' mcDermott, who got the mobo 2014 award nod (bottom) for best reggae act

KINGSTON,JAMAICA: Kanya King, MBE, the conceptualiser of MOBO (Music of Black Origin), Europe's biggest urban music brand - which has helped to catapult musicians like Craig David, N-Dubz, Amy Winehouse, Emeli Sande and Rita Ora - not only returned the Awards to London last Wednesday night for its 19th iteration, after an absence of five years, but tantalised the taste buds at the after-party that was held at Hilton London Wembley with Jamaica patties and Devon House ice-cream courtesy of Jamaican Patty Company (JPC).

Naturally, JPC director Theresa Roberts, who famously threw a birthday party for King at her palatial Tryall Club home in Jamaica a year ago, and who never tires of supporting brand Jamaica, was pleased with the response and looks forward to welcoming patrons to JPC's Covent Garden locationSo shares a few of those who partied till the wee hours of Thursday morning. Alas, there was no sign of 22-year-old Sam Smith, who swept the board at the MOBO awards, copping four of the evening's big ones. (Jamaica Observer)

TRINIDAD: Ever thought about Mount Gay Silver rum paired with dill and tomato soup served with a lemon herb scone? Well that’s how dining started when Hadco hosted a Mount Gay Rums Storied Dinner at Aioli, Ellerslie Plaza, Maraval on October 15. The occasion also served to launch the Mount Gay’s newest blend, Mount Gay Black Barrel. Mount Gay Rum is produced by Mount Gay Distillers Ltd of Barbados, and according to Wikipedia, the oldest surviving deed for the company is from 1703, making Mount Gay Rum the oldest existing brand of rum in the world.

Invited for the food and rum pairing experience were a handful of media representatives who received a warm welcome to the occasion from John Hadad, executive chairman of the Hadco Group and Nikkita Romain, brand manager for Mount Gay Rums. Aioli’s executive chef John Aboud prepared an appetiser of curried chicken liver paté with cognac simmered red onion marmalade and herbed crostinis which was enjoyed with Mount Gay Eclipse.

Mount Gay international brand ambassador Chester Browne introduced diners to the Mount Gay Extra Old which was paired with

toP: John Hadad, executive chairman of the Hadco Group savours the aroma of mount Gay extra old.

bottom: aioli’s executive chef John aboud served top sirloin with grilled asparagus, smoked tomato chutney, grilled prawns, bone marrow and blue cheese butter to be paired with mount Gay rum.

top sirloin with grilled asparagus, smoked tomato chutney, grilled prawns, bone marrow and blue cheese butter. The evening was not just about treating the taste buds, however. Browne told a few rum stories and invited his guests to tell their own stories. As expected, some story tellers distinguished themselves more than others.

After the storytelling, executive chef John Aboud and his staff served Indian spiced chicken with mango salsa and pappadom crisps paired with Mount Gay Black Barrel. The night ended with a desert of Mount Gay 1703 with Aioli’s vanilla ice-cream, fresh raspberries, maple glazed pecans. (TT Guardian)

Evett Malcolm: sport is her passion as a Jamaican

Evett malcolm

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA:

At 46, Evett Malcolm still finds time to play netball for her club Crystal United, despite her hectic work load at the St James branch of the Social Development Commission (SDC), where she is employed as a community development officer.

A former teacher of physical education, Malcolm has been a permanent fixture at a slew of local and regional track and field meets across western Jamaica for more than two decades, serving for the most part as a chief finish judge.

"Sport is really my love and that's what I wanted to do," said Malcolm, who started to play netball at the age of 17 with the St Jamesbased Montego Bay Police Youth Club.

According to Malcolm, it was while playing for Crystal United that her love for the game and sports in general blossomed.

The graduate of the Mount Salem All-Age School in St James, who now holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from the G C Foster College,

said that after leaving the college she taught at a number of schools before landing a job with the SDC.

Earlier this year, Malcolm, who is pursuing a master's degree at the Central Connecticut State University, was recognised by organisers of the JPS/Western Primary Schools' Championship, for her invaluable contribution to sports.

"Malcolm's voluntary contribution to sports, which spans over 25 years has been a remarkable journey, one in which her service has been heavily requested, especially in the area of track and field, where she serves in the technical area as finish judge." Albert Ferguson, the chairman of the organising committee told the Jamaican media.

Added Ferguson: "One of the interesting characteristics of Malcolm's commitment to the development of sports is the fact that she has been sharing her wealth of knowledge with young aspirants so that the process of transition and continuity for the future development of sports are secured."(Jamaica Observer)

Trinidad:A darling of a CD from Narell

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Andy Narell’s new album, Oui ma Chérie!, has arrived with nerve and soul, and pacing and passion. And its mystery and mastery make it all the more engaging.

Judging by the CD’s voluptuous heft, Narell doesn’t appear to be on a mission impossible—an angst to grind, old material or cliches to dig out from under the Panorama; or leftover impulses from his Savannah experience to address. No dark rum from which to take a swig over slights, real or imagined.

Instead, he delivers an operatic performance primed with a Caribbean coloratura.

The fastidious pannist employs colours that are forgotten, refracted; even rented from the imagination, to fashion a mosaic of ideas and sounds.

Each sideman gets his due. Trumpeter Etienne Charles, guitarist Mike Stern, Guadeloupean drummer Gregory Louis and Cuban conga player and percussionist Inor Sotolongo perform their roles at full stretch. Their cohesion exalts the senses and teleports us through provocative themes as solid as pieces of Swiss chocolate that match mood and elicit emotion.

There are moments on Oui ma Chérie! that may take the top off your head, as poet Emily

renditions on the pans that at the very least dignify Narell as a savant of music, period.

Take the opening cut, Forward Home (arranged by Narell and Raf Robertson), featuring Thomas Dyani on djembe (a West African drum). It is evocative of composer André Tanker’s quest to shine a light on roots music, pulling strands of African rhythm and story from the guts of the earth. At one point, Narell appears to flick his sticks with perceptive playfulness during an eloquent passage in tribute to Tanker, as if to say, “This one’s for you.”

The American expatriate who resides in France, and, some believe, frequents Trinidad as a third home, turns all this virtuosity into an extraordinary work about vision, destiny, identity,

and light; though tellingly counterpointed by the crystal lines he imbues his pan family.

A total of 25 pan parts, authored by the maestro himself, inform the basic sound of the album, each hatching the perfect note.

Imagine the player behind the pans, his phlegmatic demeanor doused in sparkling water. The 21-minute track, Visibly Absent, an experimental work for steel band that smells the music of other countries, getting its groove on by introducing a soothing affect, soft as teardrops that fall like beaded petals on notes fashioned by Ellie Mannette; then burbling through the crevices of a composition awash with raw sensibilities of Middle Eastern and North African culture. And, just so, in midstream, Narell starts a tinkle on the iron; as if

caressing the métier of a slow jam from the engine room of Trinidad All Stars, a band with which he once collaborated on a concert at Queen’s Hall.

From the extended dalliance of the opening statement to the sentimental coda, One More Touch, also featuring Charles and Stern, Narell’s observations of his own creative landscape - a whole life spent in its construction - seem to be sifted through a keen mind that very well may be cynical about the romantic patois of the genre. Taking into consideration that the instrument, while evolving, continues to grow blessed and cursed alike, despite eminence laboriously gained around the world.

Closer to home, in the umbilical region, it is the romantic ideal that shines through. You get that in Oui ma Chérie!, which makes for good theatre and great listening. As for transmission on radio, there should be plenty to extol about the album’s casual, jazzy tone and speculative arc.

Well, then, let’s ponder an imponderable. Is Narell’s CD a confession of sorts, given the title is the subtitle of The Last Word, and Forward Home the first cut?

And will "Darling" age well?

You know what they say. The longer the rum is aged in the barrel the darker the rum will become. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Rashaun 'Kush' McAnuff came of age in the 1990s, an era usually considered the golden age of dancehall. However, he has always been drawn to classic roots-reggae.

McAnuff is drummer/lead singer of the Uprising Roots band, which is preparing to release its second album, Black to I Roots, in early 2015.

The sextet's debut, Skifiya, was released in March 2011. McAnuff says while he and his bandmates have matured as musicians, their focus has not changed.

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: After over 20 years of experience working in the plus-size industry, and as former franchise holders of the TT Miss Big and Beautiful Pageant, the Carivog International organisation has learned quite a few things about predominant attitudes surrounding plus-size women and plus-size fashion in the Caribbean.

In its third year hosting the Caribbean Fashion Plus Week (CFPW), these lessons have shaped and guided the organising team to craft a plus-size event geared towards the longterm development of the plussize fashion industry.

Caribbean Fashion Plus Week began at the Cascadia Hotel and Convention Centre, St Ann’s, on Friday.

The plus-size fashion market has been underserved for over many centuries, this fashion week is the medium to showcase what is available and for established and emerging designers to include in their collections’ attractive and trendy outfits

"Is the same works highlighting I an' I culture, the message of truth and rights an' upliftment," he told the Jamaican media. McAnuff, bassist Ruel Ashburn, percussionist Junior Sutherland and keyboardist/dub poet Lloyd Palmer, are Uprising Roots' core members. Veteran guitarist Winston 'Bo Pee' Bowen and keyboardist Kimmy Gold are also members of the present lineup.

Though the band has strong ties to dancehall (they have toured and recorded with Gyptian), McAnuff believes there is not much regard for roots bands

in Jamaica.

"Wi have nuthin' gainst dancehall but fi a country dat produce Bob Marley I an' I as a roots musician shoulda get more respect," he said.

Two songs have been released from Black to I Roots which was produced by the band -- Time and the title track.

While there has been an almost four-year gap between albums, Uprising Roots has maintained a steady live schedule. They have performed in Europe and North America on shows such as the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. (Jamaica Observer)

for women of figure. The importance of the industry, though underserved for many years, must now begin to be taken seriously as a viable emerging market for the local and regional fashion industry.

CFPW’s aim is to empower women by building confidence, eloquence and self-esteem. By developing the plus-size fashion market in the region and taking a world view to fashion trends, we believe that fashion can be used as a resource for change. Fashion is the number one resource to instantly improve confidence and lifestyles, for when one puts on a well-designed piece of garment their spirit is instantly uplifted. Those who attend the Caribbean Fashion Plus Week 2014 event this October will be able to witness the transformation first-hand!

The event is open to the general public and to all stakeholders interested in the development of the plus-size fashion industry in the Caribbean. It features local, regional and international emerging and established fashion designers and stores who

will display their apparel in a variety of fashion-related activities. In addition to the presentation of this year’s participants in a series of themed runway shows there will be competitions with plus- size models hailing from Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, London, USA, Haiti, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago, to name a few, who will display both local and international designers clothing in all activities.

Part proceeds of this weekend of events will be donated to Kids in Need of Direction (KIND). The organisation, located in Laventille, seeks to fulfil its mandate of “Empowering Children and Transforming Lives” through remedial education and poverty reduction programmes. Feel free to visit www. kindkids.net for more details.

If you are a plus-size consumer who has a passion for fashion and designer products, but finds it difficult to access quality brands and services or a stakeholder who is interested in the development of the plussize fashion industry this is the event for you. (TT Express)

Crossing boundaries

By Narine Dat Sookram

Professional boundaries are probably one of the most challenging ethical skills to practise, though they’re easy to understand. It is so important to have a clear understanding of our limits, especially when we are in positions of power.

Generally speaking, boundaries are usually put in place to keep us focused on the work we are doing with the client, for those of us who are constantly in contact with a client for example. The thing is, without any sort of boundaries, there is that chance of us overstepping our obligations when providing support to our clients.

In a professional relationship, we can certainly be friendly with our client, but we cannot be their friend – a key factor to remember. Once we understand this and put it into practice, then we are making life easy for everyone.

Some poor boundaries would be a situation where we find ourselves discussing the client and his/her case with our family and friends or if we are having discussions with the client about other workers or staff members at the workplace.

It could even be things like exchanging gifts with the client between us and the client, or worse yet if we are revealing personal information that is not relevant to our client’s case. These are all things to consider when we are working with a client.

To avoid any conflict, it is best to explain our role as the helper and the limits of our availability to the client outside of business hours right from the beginning of the first meeting.

Once it is understood that the client will only be able to contact us at an arranged location and that our personal life is not up for discussion, then that should help. If we are in a situation where a client crosses the professional boundaries, it is so important to take quick action to redirect it right away to clarify our role and the limits of our relationship with them.

The bottom line is to avoid having a dual relationship with a client. And basically, a dual relationship is when we have a therapeutic relationship with our client and soon after find out that we both attended the same school and had the same teachers for example.

In a situation like this, it is best to end the professional relationship by referring him/her to another worker. Mentioning the situation to our co-worker or the person we report to is not a bad idea.

It is key for us to know the consequences of poor boundaries, because without it we may not be able to provide a relationship boundary in an appropriate manner to our client. Actually, we may make it difficult for the client to present their problems: if we are acting as a friend, the client might want to see us in the helping role.

So being their friend isn’t really helping. Believe it or not when we fail to set professional boundaries, we can cause ourselves to burn out from caring for our client beyond what is required of us as a professional helper.

If professional boundaries are not maintained, we may find ourselves acting in an unethical manner. For example, if a student is having sex with his/her teacher, this is unethical, but it can happen. Professional training can help to prevent this, so let’s do our part to avoid any unethical situation.

For questions, comments or feedback, email them to mcnarine@rogers.com.

Playback singer Nikhita Gandhi, who has crooned her first title track for A.R. Rahman in upcoming Tamil magnum opus "I", says the double Oscar winning composer never lets his singers get nervous.

Nikhita's song ‘Ladio’ is already a chartbuster.

"I've recorded with Rahman sir in the past, but this was my first title track. When I walked into his studio to record 'Ladio', I experienced the 'Oh my god!' moment, but it lasted only for seconds because he doesn't give his singers the time to get nervous," Nikhita told IANS.

She has also crooned to Rahman's tunes in films such as ‘Jab Tak Hain Jaan’ and ‘Raanjhanaa’.

"I'm sure one of the challenges for Rahman sir must be dealing with people who get nervous when they come to record with him. But you feel so comfortable around him and he never makes you feel that he's a celebrity," she said.

Nikhita, who's half Bengali and half Punjabi, recorded the song in four hours.

"The biggest challenge was the language, but thanks to the lyricist Madhan Karky, I didn't have to struggle to learn the song. The whole recording process only took us about four hours. We took about one hour to get familiarised with the lyrics and then we recorded the song," she added.

She wrote the song in Hindi and recorded it.

A former student of Rahman's K.M. College of Music and Technology, Nikhita's first association with Rahman was during the Indo-German exchange.

"I was part of the

choir which performed with German orchestra during the exchange program few years back. Rahman sir then heard me individually and auditioned me for a project called 'Qyuki' with Shekhar Kapur," she said.

Nikhita, who recently cut her debut album in Bengali titled ‘Kotha’, is also part of a Sufi band called ‘Noor', and is a trained Odissi dancer as well.

She was one of the vocalists of the Tamil song ‘Modern Kalyanam’ from Tamil adult comedy ‘Kalyana Samayal Saadham’. (TOI)

Exclusive: Arshad Warsi and Jackky Bhagnani in ‘Welcome To Karachi’

‘Welcome To Karachi’ is a satire directed by Ashish R Mohan, based on two Indian characters, played by Arshad Warsi and Jackky Bhagnani, who unknowingly land themselves in Karachi, without even their passports.

The story is about them trying to find their way back into India and while we don't know whether they will finally manage to come back or not, we bring you the first look from the film from a situation where these two gentlemen find themselves in the middle of the Taliban, who give them a special look much like themselves, to help them escape. (TOI)

Shraddha Kapoor's 'Dance Basanti' item number in ‘Ungli’

Actress Shraddha Kapoor, known for her roles in ‘Aashiqui 2’ and ‘Haider’, will be seen as a glamorous item girl in Karan Johar's production venture ‘Ungli’.

Directed by Rensil D'Silva, ‘Ungli’ stars Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut in the lead.

"I don't know whether to call it an item song or a promotional song, but yes, it's a very different thing that I am doing," Shraddha, who will team up with Emraan in the song, told IANS.

"Karan offered me the song and said: 'You have never been seen like

We were the first to tell you that Sanjay Gupta cast Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Irrfan in his action suspense thriller ‘Jazbaa’.

We learnt that he has found his third key character, who is a college professor, played by the powerhouse performer Shabana Azmi. The story is about

a lawyer (played by Aishwarya) who will race against time to achieve the impossible, of a suspended cop (played by Irrfan) who will go beyond the call of duty and it has a mother (played by Shabana Azmi) who will fight both of them for her own justice.

The film will be shot entirely in Mumbai and

shooting starts early December. And it's not just the actors who are racing against time in this thriller; even Sanjay will do everything he can to ensure that he finishes the film in time for the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, having Aishwarya and Irrfan, two of India's most popular stars there. (TOI)

Tulsi Kumar engaged, wedding slated for February 2015

Singer Tulsi Kumar got engaged to beau Hitesh Ralhan, a Jaipurbased garment and home furnishings exporter, last week. The couple has been in a relationship for over a year, after she first met him at a common friend's wedding.

Revealing that the proposal happened at a Juhu hotel, Tulsi says, "He popped the question with a ring on October 21. It was sudden and I was definitely not expecting it." The formal ceremony followed on October 24 at her Worli residence in the presence of both the families.

The wedding is slated for February 22 in New Delhi, while the celebrations will begin as early as February 8 — with one function scheduled in Jaipur, three in the Capital and a reception in Mumbai . (TOI)

this before. It's a very glamorous song.' So all that excited me and I said yes to it. The moment I heard the song, I was all the more excited as it's such a catchy song," she further added.

Titled ‘Dance Basanti’, the song choreographed by Bosco-Caesar will go on air Tuesday.

When asked does the song have any link to Hema Malini's Basanti from ‘Sholay’, she said: "I guess, it's definitely a take from original Basanti. It's a modern day twist. I can't compare myself with Hemaji's Basanti. She is the original legendary Basanti." (TOI)

The wrestler-turned-actor is busy shooting for the show and told us,"I am playing the character of Armaan Kumar, who is an actor and always plays a superhero in his films. He goes by the character of Aryaman in all his films. My superhero character is a rage among the kids." When asked about the reason for taking up the role, he said, "JD Majethia, the producer of the show, is a friend. The lines that I have are quite funny and my entry sequence on the show is also hilarious - I make an entry hanging from a crane! It's a mix of action and comedy." At present the role will be a cameo, but Sangram says that it might get extended if it receives positive feedback from viewers. (TOI)

Hugh Jackman all good now post third skin cancer scare

Hugh Jackman has suffered from skin cancer for the third time in less than a year, however the actor is "all good" now, it has been revealed.

The 'X-Men' star had earlier posted pictures both times of him wearing a plaster on his nose, the Mirror reported.

The actor first got the sacre in November 2013, then again in May this year, and he had just recovered for a third time.

Jackman also encouraged people to take precautions and wear suncream, before getting it again in May this year.

Basal cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer which results in a sore on the skin which comes from long-term exposure to the sun.(TOI)

Taylor Swift's new album '1989' officially released

Taylor Swift's new album titled '1989' has finally hit the stores and is reportedly getting good reviews from the music pundits.

Billboard's Jem Aswad declared the album as Swift's best work saying that it is a sophisticated "pop tour de force" that deserves to be as popular commercially as with Robyn-worshipping bloggers, CNN reported.

Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield stated in his review that the country singer had already penned enough great songs for two or three careers.

Sheffield added that the 24-yearold's new record was deeply weird, feverishly emotional, wildly enthusiastic and sounded exactly like the nothing she's ever tried before. (TOI)

Russell Brand quashes London Mayor rumours

Russell Brand has revealed that he is "absolutely not" planning to run for Mayor of London.

The 39-year-old comedian, who is interested in "real change," said that if people want a daft comedian running London, they should just leave the things as they are, as Londoners have already got a comedian who's more known for his hair than his policies, Sky News reported.

Discussing "funny and affable" Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who has got a nice way with him, in the interview, Brand added that this is a time where a lot of Londoners are facing real fear about their homes.

Brand continued that the elected mayor, who was elected to look af-

ter people of London, takes five times more meetings with bankers than he does with civil servants, or representatives of the fire brigade, or any ordinary Londoner. (TOI)

Anne Hathaway freaks out

AKristen Stewart allegedly struggles to keep childhood buddies

Kristen Stewart is allegedly struggling to keep her old pals in her life, as her childhood pals are "are dropping like flies".

According to sources, the 'Twilight' star doesn't even resemble the person that we knew from before she was with Rob and used to be a very low-key, cool girl, the Mirror reported.

Insiders claimed that her inflated ego has convinced her that even her childhood friends only want to hang out with her because of 'who she is.'

The 24-year-old actress' friends have ditched her due to her change in behaviour and "inflated ego" since dating her co-star, English hunk, Robert Pattinson in 2008.(TOI)

Scurrent girlfriend - singer FKA Twigs. Pattinson, Miller and Sturridge all went to see Twigs in a concert. Pattinson loved her music, a source told eonline.com.

After spending time together over the past few months, it was confirmed in September that Pattinson and Twigs are officially dating. The couple was first spotted together in New York while hanging out with Sturridge. They recently enjoyed a date at Soho House in West Hollywood.

"They were with a big group of friends, sitting at a table in the garden dining area, about 10 people," a source said at the time. And just last week, the pair went on a romantic getaway to France. Pattinson and Twigs were photographed together during a shopping trip.(TOI)

Christopher Nolan to visit India in December

It's India calling for Christopher Nolan! The Hollywood director who awaits release of his forthcoming movie ‘Interstellar’, will reportedly be in Mumbai Dec 28 to attend Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay's annual festival Mood Indigo.

The 44-year-old's visit to Mumbai was announced via a post on the official Facebook page of Mood Indigo, the college cultural festival, which is slated to be held Dec 26-29.

"'It's not a mountain, it's a wave'. The first event of Mood Indigo, IITBombay's Illuminati 2014 is outChristopher Nolan," read a post along with a poster on the page.

IANS confirmed the news with the organisers. However, it is not yet clear

as to what Nolan plans to do at the fest.

Nolan, highly acclaimed worldwide for ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy, is also credited with popular movies including 'Memento', ‘The Prestige’ and ‘Inception’. The news of his visit seems to have created waves on social media.

The institute is also running a special contest.

"Presenting the #NolanInIndia contest. Answer questions about Nolan's best movies and get a chance to attend the event at #MI2k14," read a tweet from @iitb_moodi, the official Twitter handle of the event.

Mood Indigo started in 1971, and it will celebrate its 44th edition this year. (TOI)

the first time wasn't a great experience.

"When I stepped on the set, I freaked out," she said about her first day shooting ‘Interstellar’, reports people.com.

"And when I put on the space suit, I freaked out!" she added.

Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey play astronauts trying to find a new planet to house the citizens of the Earth, which has been ravaged by famine. (TOI)

Actress Cameron Diaz has reportedly asked partner Benji Madden's sister-in-law Nicole Richie to help her plan her wedding.

Diaz, who sparked rumours of her engagement to Madden when she sported a new diamond ring at various events , has turned to his stylist sisterin-law for advice, reports contactmusic. com.

"Cam (Diaz) has never been a big fan of weddings, so she has no idea where to start," OK! magazine quoted a source as saying.

A refreshing dip

UWI and the Colombian Embassy have been working together to help children by using music and sport.

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: As a continuation of its cultural exchange initiatives, the Embassy of Colombia in TT in collaboration with the Department of Creative Arts at UWI St Augustine will present Los Sensacionales de Codazzi and Uwisteel in concert.

The free performance takes place at The UWI’s Learning Resource Centre on Monday.

Los Sensacionales de Codazzi is just one of the many bands that rehearse at the Casa de la Cultura, an arts academy sponsored by the Mayor’s office of Agustin Codazzi.

A press release said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, through its Office of Cultural Affairs

and its Embassies, has been working to improve living conditions of children who inhabit some challenging zones, working since 2011 in the development of sports exchanges abroad and, since 2013, with musical exchanges.

By promoting sport and local arts abroad, the Ministry pursues the protection of these children and, as a consequence, develop Colombian cultural diversity internationally and closer fellowship bonds with other countries and civil society. This concert and partnership with the DCFA, therefore, is expected to be one of several initiatives over the coming year. All are invited to witness this musical and cultural infusion. (TT Guardian)

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: For those living in Linden, swimming at Bamia creek, which is along theLinden/Soesdyke Highway, is a regular fun feature on weekends, where friends and families get together for drinks and a cool swim. It is lesser known among residents of Georgetown, who are more familiar with the creeks closer to the highway junction nearer to the city.

Bamia Creek is the last creek before meeting the Linden junction: about 10 minutes before the bauxite-mining town.

Bamia itself is a quiet community surrounded by lush nature.The few households live closely and are selfsufficient. Everyone depends on the rich black water creek, which divides the community from the main road, for cooking, drinking and washing.

The next time you are travelling along the highway or visiting Linden, ensure you visit this little oasis and indulge in a revitalising swim. For more information on Bamia and other tourists’ sites in Linden, visit www. guymine.com(Sunday Magazine)

Buffet performance from Dennis Walks

KINGTSTON, JAMAICA:

Veteran singer Dennis Walks was the star performer at the Sea Food Buffet and Cabaret show at Cecil's Restaurant and Lounge in Spanish Town, Saturday night.

It was vintage Walks. In a dark suit with grey felt hat, the hometown entertainer impressed vocally as well as with showmanship.

Ironically, he performed before a small audience as most patrons left the venue before Walks took the stage after 10:00 pm.

His titillating performance included his hit songs Heart Don't Leap, Margaret and Drifter as well as Otis Redding's These Arms of Mine and The Commodores' Easy Like Sunday Morning.

Richie Spice gave a lively, abbreviated set built around the popular Groovin My Girl, Brown Skin, Earth a Run Red and The Plane Land.

Despite technical glitches, singer/bassist Benjy Myaz served a unique brew of vocals and instrumentation.

Starting with a guitar interpretation of People Make the World go Round, Myaz moved

to vocals and keyboards for Johnny Ace's classic Never Let Me Go, before going into his best-known songs, Time and Higher.

The King FI-DEM Band set the tone with vintage instrumental tunes Rockfort Rock, Real Rock and Swing Easy. Vocalists Ranchy and Patrick Anthony stirred

the

- former Camperdown standout keeps dram alive despite the odds

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: At 19 years old and living in one of the toughest inner-city communities in downtown Kingston, Akeem Laws has emerged as a shining light who enjoys the respect of those around him.

"Even the gunman look up to me," the former head boy of Camperdown High School declared last week as he sat with our news team metres from his house in George's Lane in a depressed section of central Kingston.

A few months ago, Akeem was leading Camperdown to a record semi-final finish in the TVJ's 'Schools' Challenge Quiz'. Despite his roles as quiz team captain, head boy and president of numerous clubs, Akeem still managed to finish high school with passes in eight sub-

jects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate level and and eight units in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination.

"I wanted to study overseas. Because of my financial constraints, it wouldn't be best for me to study in Jamaica. If overseas, I could have scholarships while working on campus and boarding at the same time," the youngster told the Jamaican media.

STOPPED IN TRACKS

But even with a scholarship which covered 70 per cent of his tuition fee at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and promised additional funding from the CHASE Fund, Akeem was unable to clear the final hurdle in the way of higher studies.

"I was supposed to do the SATs, but [I wasn't able to] due to the finan-

cial burden as my stepdad passed last year. It is just me and my older brother, who is my backbone at the moment, and some of my older relatives, and they don't have the money to finance me through the SAT programme," said Akeem.

The SAT is one of two aptitude tests used by most United States uni-

versities to evaluate students' academic level prior to acceptance.

The Camperdown High School Past Students' Association provided significant assistance to Akeem to allow him to complete his high-school studies. The association provided him with a scholarship for his two years of sixth form

and also flew him to the United States to speak to some of the persons who had helped him. The past students also gave him grants from grade nine to help with lunch and other auxiliary expenses.

Akeem, who was left solely in the charge of his stepfather at age six, said the acquisition of the US$55-US$85 that he needed to pursue SAT studies had been made harder by the death of his caregiver to lung cancer. However, through the goodwill of his alma mater and the GraceKennedy Foundation, he is now able to attend SAT classes for free on Saturdays and Sundays.

COMMUNITY BEHIND HIM

"Even though a garrison, when him deh round we, we nah demotivate him because we know weh him a aim fah. We may not have it, but even one a wi can come out to be a lawyer or something," added fellow George's Lane resident Kevin Allen.

Despite the challenges, Akeem, who spends most of his free time at church and volunteering at the Cross Roads Foundation, is not let-

ting go of his dream of becoming a biomedical or electrical engineer.

"That is one of the main reasons why I tried out for the quiz team, so they would have the opportunity to see me on TV," declared Akeem. "When I was playing 'Schools' Challenge Quiz', the moment Camperdown High School came on, the lane was empty."

Akeem, who was actively involved in football and cricket in high school, says the circumstances under which he was raised helped to make him the determined person he is today.

According to Akeem, in addition to pushing for further studies, he is working on mending the relationship with his parents. His father migrated to England before he was born and spent 11 years there. His mother moved to St James when he was six and has only returned twice to attend his graduations.

"The greatest challenge growing up was feeling as if my parents had forsaken me," said Akeem, with sadness etched on his face.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

a christmas carousel celebrating classical dance for tt

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Queen’s Hall audiences will take a journey with a carousel of classical performances on November 15 and 16. A Christmas Carousel promises to delight lovers of dance and classical music as the Cascade Festival Ballet with Bentley Potter School of Dance stages yet another repertoire of entertaining pieces to celebrate the joyous season. A Christmas Carousel will feature well-loved compositions by Tchaikovsky and Waldeufel, with his Skaters’ Waltz, and other enchanting pieces performed by disciplined, highly skilled and versatile dancers.

The evenings’ range of programmes will feature a mélange of 12 dance pieces and will peak with the well-loved Christmas favourite, Waltz from the Nutcracker Ballet. The Festival Ballet promises to thrill audiences with elegance and poise of colourful costumed dancers, beautiful stage settings, and an entertaining blend of music. According to release, the Festival Ballet is an innovation of the Bentley-Potter School of Dance. It comprises talented students, some of whom have earned themselves a coveted place in the annals of TT dance. Both the school and the Festival Ballet have long been associated with excellence in traditional classical ballet, and their concerts feature an interesting mix of ballet and modern dance. (TT Guardian)

Busch for Barbados Bushy Park

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:

American NASCAR superstar Kurt Busch has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2014 Race Of Champions (ROC) slated to be held at the Bushy Park, St Philip Circuit on December 13 and14.

Busch has been a major force in America’s most popular racing series ever since he became the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion in 2004, the first year the ten-race chase for the title was introduced. He has now amassed 25 top flight wins, including victory at this year’s STP 500 at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

That mix of ability will now certainly serve Busch well as he bids for even more glory at his Race Of Champions debut in December. Team USA last won the ROC Nations Cup title in 2002 with a NASCAR-heavy team of Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Colin Edwards.

This year Busch and Hunter-Reay will be part of a ROC line-up featuring stars from all over the world: nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, Formula 1’s Romain Grosjean (reigning ROC Champion Of Champions) and Susie Wolff (Williams development driver), Australian V8 Supercar legend Jamie Whincup and 2014 FIA World Rallycross champion Petter Solberg are already confirmed. The rest of the ROC 2014 field will be announced in the run-up to December’s event.

Busch said: “I’ve raced for a lot of great sponsors in my career, but to race for my country, that’s something pretty special. You look at the names of the people who’ve competed in the Race Of Champions, past and present. To be included on that list is a real honour. I’m excited to team up with Ryan again. He won the Indy 500 for our team, hopefully we can win this one for the United States.”

The Race Of Champions, which has been held for over 25 years, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s major disciplines – Formula 1, World Rally, Le Mans, MotoGP, NASCAR, IndyCar, Touring Cars and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery on a unique track with two parallel lanes linked by a crossover bridge. (Nation News)

Guyana Women’s Hockey team named

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: The final 16 members of the Women’s Hockey team have been announced by the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) on Friday.

The team comprising of six overseas-based players, four of whom are temporarily displaced to pursue their studies while the other two reside overseas along with 10 locals will represent Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games set for a November 15 start.

Six reserved players have also being training with the team for several months before the final squad was named.

Guyana will face Dominican for the first time in international

competition when they open their campaign on the first day of competition.

Guyana known for its midfield build ups will go against a Dominican side that plays with a longer passing game and should prove and interesting contest against the first time opponents who were in the semi-finals of the CAC games four years ago finishing fourth. Guyana finished sixth that year. Along with the Dominican Republic, Guyana will have a tough road to the championship having to face Bermuda and defending champions Trinidad and Tobago in group B action.

Guyana will meet Trinidad on November 17 for their second

St Catherine defeat GC Foster College in 50-over semi-final game in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Despite a brilliant century from captain Gavin Wallace, GC Foster College went down to St Catherine Cricket Club (CC) by four wickets in their semi-final encounter of the 2014 Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) All-island 50-over competition at Chedwin Park, on Saturday.

Batting first, Wallace smashed 121 not out as GC Foster College amassed 253-5 from their allotted 50 overs on a batting pitch that offered a lot of bounce.

Set a winning target of 254 runs from 50 overs, St Catherine CC got home with 13 balls to spare, thanks to halfcenturies from captain Danza Hyatt and opener Shacoya Thomas.

Scores: GC Foster

College 253-5 (50 overs); St Catherine CC 258-6 (47.5 overs).

Wallace, who came at the crease at 21-1, blasted six boundaries and seven huge sixes off just 117 deliveries on his way to three figures. Wallace put on 78 runs for the third wicket with Derval Green, who hit a patient 47 (73 balls), that included one four and three sixes. He then shared in a 86-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ziggy Levy.

Earlier, opener Ransford Henry scored 21 (50 balls) that assisted in his team passing the 250 mark.

Andre Russell (10-034-2) was St Catherine's best bowler, while Tamar Lambert (131), Pete Salmon (1-33) and Odean Brown (140) chipped in with one wicket apiece.

In reply, needing to score at exactly 5.08 runs-per-over to win, Hyatt topscored with a well-played 54, that included two fours and three sixes off 97 balls. He shared in a century second-wicket partnership of 128 runs with Thomas, who smashed only two boundaries on his way to 54 from 76 deliveries.

Russell, dubbed 'Superman', then came and blasted 43 (36 balls), inclusive of five fours and two massive sixes, which easily cleared the Park.

Tamar Lambert also chipped in with 26 (24 balls), that contained four boundaries. Andre Henry (14) then formalised the victory with two huge sixes off consecutive deliveries to send 'The Saint' into the final. (Jamaica Observer)

Saint Lucia under-17 finish 4th in CFU

match and face Bermuda on November 19 in their final group match.

Hosts Mexico and Cuba are expected to be the top contenders in group A which also includes Barbados and Jamaica.

However, the team will be under the watchful eyes of coaches Philip Fernandes and Peter De Groot.

Squad: Alysa Xavier (GK), Ulrica Sutherland, Ashley DeGroot, Tiffany Solomon, Maria Munroe, Trisha Woodroffe, Aliyah Gordon, Marzana Fiedtkou, Leigh Sandison, Gabriella Xavier, Kerensa Fernandes, Chantelle Wales, Samantha Fernandes, Shebiki Baptiste, Tekeisha Deleon and Princessa Wilkie. (Guyana Times)

CASTRIES, ST LUCIA: Saint Lucia ended their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Men’s Under-17 Finals tournament with a 0-2 loss to defending champions Cuba on Sunday night at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port Au Prince, Haiti.

Having emerged second from Group A, beating Trinidad & Tobago, losing to the host nation and earning a draw against Barbados, Saint Lucia was matched up against the second-placed team from Group B.

Carlos Cerbranco in the 16th minute and Raycharle Herrera in the 37th sealed the deal for Cuba, though the Saint Lucian custodian preserved the 0-2 scoreline when facing a penalty early in the second period.

Saint Lucia will be well pleased with their trip to Haiti, having earned passage to the CONCACAF Championships next February in Honduras, where – along with Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago – they will meet regional heavyweights the United States of America, Mexico, Canada, the host nation and three more qualifiers from the Central American subregion.

Guadeloupe got the Fair Play Award, whilst the three individual awards went to players from the two teams in the final. Haitian goalkeeper Emmanuel Chery got the Golden Gloves. Jamaicans Nicholas Nelson and Alex Marshall got the Golden Boots and MVP. (St Lucia news online)

Guyana’s Forde dominates at South American 10k

By TreisTon Joseph

EORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Cleveland Forde waited until he passed his training ground at Base Camp Ayanganna before making his move that eventually won him another South American title on Sunday that finished inside of the National Park.

Forde clocked the fastest 10k time in Guyana this year of 32:27.39s to win the event ahead of Trinidad’s Richard Jones who clocked 32:39.21s. Cleveland Thomas was third with a time of 32:56.25s while overseas based Guyanese Kelvin Johnson was fourth in 33:21.28s. Nathaniel Giddings rounded out the top five with a time

of 33:24.43s.

The race started with a bit of a mundane pace before Kevin Bayley, Giddings, Thomas,

Jones, Forde, Johnson, Jones and Horatio broke away from the group after the first kilometers. However, at the turn-

ing point at Turkeyen the race was further broken down to just five athletes with Johnson leading the way followed by

Thomas, Giddings, Jones and Forde.

With both Giddings and Johnson falling away at the Russian embassy, Jones took over the lead for a short period before Forde made his move just in front of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground.

Meanwhile on the distaff side, Trinidad’s Tonya Nero led from start to finish winning the event in 37:35.46s while finishing ahead of American based Guyanese Euleen JosiahTanner who clocked 37:39.18s for second.

Guyana’s Alika Morgan was third in a time of 40:05.39s, outrunning Andrea Foster who finished fourth in 40:22.68s. Jenelle Nedd of Trinidad took fifth in 41:21.89s.

Alisha Fortune won the women’s masters category in a time of 50:16.28s, finishing ahead of Cyrleen Phillips who clocked 50:24.89s for second to leave Carla Benjamin picking up the slacks in third with a time of 50:44.25s.

The men’s 40-55 masters age category was won by Ian Archibald in a time of 37:12.86s while Ravi Purohit won the men’s master 56 and over in a time of 46:13.31s. At the presentation ceremony held immediately after the race, the athletes received the trophies and prizes and were congratulated by the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Aubrey Hutson. (Guyana Times)

Antigua reach highest-ever FIFA ranking

ST JOHN'S, ANTIGUA:

Antigua and Barbuda are celebrating their highest-ever FIFA World ranking after they jumped this week to 70th in the world.

The Benna Boys, as they have come to be known, have improved 10 places over their September ranking and are now only behind powerhouses Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) rankings at number

two. Their movement has come as a result of their impressive form in the recent second round of the Caribbean Cup qualifiers as they qualified for the Finals in Jamaica next month.

Playing in Group Seven earlier this month in Port of Spain, they beat St Lucia 2-1, drew nil-all with the Dominican Republic before losing 1-0 to hosts TT.

Antigua now lie seventh in the CONCACAF rankings.

Meanwhile, French Caribbean side Haiti, minnows Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago were some of the biggest movers in the latest rankings.

Haiti, who slipped to their worst-ever FIFA ranking of 119 last month, jumped 26 spots to 93rd in the world. Like Antigua, this movement was driven largely by their

good run in the Caribbean Cup qualifiers where they won Group 8 in Port-au-Prince by going unbeaten.

Barbados, meanwhile, rose 15 places to 146th in the world despite failing to qualify for the Finals of the Caribbean Cup when they finished bottom of Group 8.

They are 12th in CFU and lie 20th in CONCACAF.

TT were the most dominant movers, leaping 47 places

to 49th in the world to achieve their best ranking in 13 years.

They were second only to Togo as the biggest overall movers, the African nation having jumped an impressive 73 places.

Traditional Caribbean powerhouses Jamaica experienced no such enterprise, however, as they slipped 13 places to 113th in the world.

They sit seventh in CFU. (Jamaica Observer)

TT Princesses slip in extra time

PORT-OF-SPAIN,

TRINIDAD: TT’s senior footballers lost their second of three opportunities to book their first ever spot at the Fifa Women’s World Cup, on Monday, after conceding two goals in extra time in a 4-2 loss to Mexico in the Concacaf Women’s Championship third place playoff, in Pennsylvania.

The disappointing loss, after another gruelling 120 minutes of football, followed only two days after Costa Rica defeated the Soca Princesses on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at full time at the semifinal stage.

The loss, again, was not the last chance for the team as it now remains with a third and final chance of qualifying for the World Cup via an intercontinental two-match playoff against Ecuador.

The South Americans will host the first leg on November 8, three weeks before TT hosts the second on December 2.

Monday’s loss was perhaps more disappointing as the TT players conceded a sloppy goal immediately after taking the lead late in the second half.

And, even though TT started with much more purpose than it did against Costa Rica on Friday, efforts on goal were hard to come by. In fact, Mexico

registered 19 shots, while TT made only three attempts, two of which resulted in goals.

The Las Tri enjoyed a 1-0 lead at half-time after Sandra Mayor scored in the 24th minute, which clearly spurred TT onto a much more positive second half performance.

But it took another 10 minutes to get the ball rolling for TT in a desperate attempt to overturn the deficit. But coach Randy Waldrum’s team did just that in the 57th minute when Kennya Cordner scored her third goal of the tournament to level the scores.

Cordner met a beautiful cross from Ahkeela Mollon on the head and threw her frame forward to make it 1-1, a move very similar to Cordner’s two previous goals.

Buoyed and confident, TT continued to enjoy more forward movement despite the hindrances of fatigue and capitalised once again to take a shock lead from Shade. Cordner with a strong run on the left side of the penalty box crossed in for Brianna Ryce who chested down in the path of an onrushing Mariah Shade to finish.

This time, Mexico scored another two goals to ensure its second straight spot at the Women’s World Cup. Waldrum and his charges are expected

to head back into camp almost immediately upon their return in order to regroup ahead of the playoffs, starting in under two weeks’ time.

Line-ups:

TT: Kimika Forbes, Arin King, Brianna Ryce, Lauren Hutchinson (Patrice Superville 93rd), Khadidra Debessette (Tasha St Louis 105th+2),

Maylee Attin Johnson, Karyn Forbes (Anique Walker 68th), Liana Hinds, Ahkeela Mollon, Mariah Shade, Kennya Cordner.

Mexico: Pamela Tojonar, Kenti Robles, Alina Garciamendez, Christina Murillo, Bianca Sierra, Teresa Noyola (Lydia Rangel 48th), Sandra Mayor, Monica

Ocampo

score:

Mexico 4

v

Ja$63-m gold rush

- Sunshine Girls seek to raise funds to finance 2015 World Cup campaign

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The rebranded Netball Jamaica has embarked on a campaign dubbed 'Gold Rush Down Under', seeking to raise Ja$63 million to offset the cost of sending the senior Sunshine Girls to represent Jamaica at the 2015 World Cup in Sydney, Australia, scheduled for August 7-16.

Jamaica is among 15 countries that will be participating at the World Cup, including number-one ranked Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa. Jamaica's best finish at the Netball World Cup was third in 1991, 2003 and 2007. Australia have won 10 times and New Zealand four.

Delivering the keynote address at the launch of the Gold Rush Down Under campaign and the new website at the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) offices on Tuesday, minister with responsibility for Sport Natalie Neita-Headley said the government of Jamaica is 100 per cent behind the Sunshine Girls in their quest to the 2015 Netball World Cup.

"Today (Tuesday) marks the beginning of a new phase of the Jamaican netball team as they seek to raise funds to represent our country at the World Cup. Based on the team's record over the years, I believe they can reach the top of the world," the minister said.

Marva Bernard, president of Netball Jamaica, said that her organisation is

unable to raise the financial support to adequately fund training programmes and to send the senior team to compete at the World Cup and so she is calling on Jamaicans for their support.

"Gold Rush Down Under is the formal campaign slogan Netball Jamaica will be using to describe the preparation for the Netball World Cup and it will cost Ja$63 million to send the team to Australia, which includes preparation costs along with hosting test series," she said.

Bernard noted that netball has never depended solely on external support, but has initiated its own fund-raising programmes over the years.

In addition, Netball Jamaica has also launched its new webstie, which is located at www.mynetballjamaica.com.

"We have been very successful at disseminating information via our social media platforms and now we are launching this new webstie which is strategic to kick off our campaign. The site is a resource for students, sponsors, fans, members and stakeholders. It will feature pictures along with stories and players' profiles as well as our annual reports will also be available on it," she said.

The Sunshine Girls will depart the island on Sunday to represent Jamaica at the 2014 Fast5 Netball Series in Auckland, New Zealand, November 8-9. (Jamaica Observer)

OSCL Celebrates 2014 Season with...

cumulating 364 runs and Nirmal with 344.

In this same division, Burnett copped the most wickets (30) while Mahdeo Mangal collected 23 and Shivrathan with 22 while in the Conference “A”, Dyal grabbed 25 wickets followed by Anil Persaud with 21 and Shiv Persaud with 19.

Vijay Persaud led the way for the West Division with 20 wickets while Abdul Hamid picked up 19 and Doodnauth claimed 18.

The League also recognised several individuals for their commitment and dedication over the months. Sports Journalist Frederick Halley was given a plaque for providing coverage in the Guyana

Chronicle while Oswald Kanhai, a long-standing member was treated with a cake on his 70th birthday.

Photographer Krisho Singh, Terry Mathura, Ravendra Madholall, Shine Party Rental, Fly Jamaica and Nyssa Narine were also among those who received plaques. Meanwhile, Kim Sue, the eldest daughter of the late Norman Sue, was on hand to present a plaque to Vish Jadunauth in honour of her father. According to Kim, Norman was a very dedicated sports enthusiast and she always wanted to remember him in this special way by giving back something tangible to the game. In closing, MC and

Ma Pau donates TT$7K to Shotokan Karate-do TT

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Ma Pau Charities had donated TT$7,000 to the Shotokan Karate-do International Federation Trinidad and Tobago (SKIFTT) for their upcoming tournament scheduled to kick off in the United States of

vice-president Mathura thanked the sponsors for the night’s activity and throughout the 2014 edition with trophies and other necessities to the different competitions for making it a success which include: Norman Sue Bakery, Sweet Temptation Grill and Bar, Rajin’s Roti Shop, Rems Employment Agency, D.J.E Industries, Hollis Wealth Financial Advisor, Twilight Restaurant and Bar, Remax All-Stars, Realty Inc, Trophy Stall Inc, Active Green and Ross, Paradise Travel, Fly Jamaica, National Credit Help, Alliance Mortgage Advisor, B&B Video, TDMJ Accounting and Bookkeeping Services and I saw that on TV& More.

America.

Ma Pau Charities, a strong advocate for success, expressed pride in supporting the organisation and is pleased that TT is being represented internationally and wished them a successful competition.(TT Express)

Braithwaite defies elements to win Recorded Shoot in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Lennox Braithwaite defied inclement weather and poor lighting conditions to win last Sunday’s Recorded Shoot at the Timehri Rifle and Pistol ranges.

The competitors found the going tough against adverse weather, but the reigning Caribbean individual champion dropped just two points to win the match with an overall score of 148 points with 12 V-bulls to win the X Class Grand Aggregate from a grand aggregate of 150 points with 30 Vs. Braithwaite shot a possible 50 points with 6 V-bulls at 600 yards and recorded scores of 49.3 at 300 yards and 49.3 at 900 yards on his way to victory. National Vice Captain Dylan Fields also recorded 148 points but he had 11 Vs with scores of 49.2 at 300 yards, 50.4 at 600 and 49.5 at 900 yards.

The current national champion Ransford Goodluck, who was the winner of the previous competition, finished in the third spot with 146 points and 10 Vs with scores of 47.2 at 300 yards, 49.4 at 600 yards and 30.4 at 900 yards.

Leo Romalho placed fourth with 144.11 (49.6, 49.5 and 40.0). Peter Persaud topped the competition in ‘O’ Class with 127 points and 9 Vs. He shot 45.3 at 300 yards, 50.5 at

600 yards and 32.1 at 900 yards. In second position was Sherwin Felicien, who ended with 122.10 (45.6, 46.3 and 31.1), while Chaflin Velloza shot 107.2 with scores of 42.1, 39.1 and 26.0. Inspector Dane Blair and Colin Loncke were also in action as they fine tune preparations for the National Senior and Junior Championships, which will fire off on Saturday at Timehri starting at 10:00 hours. (Guyana Times)

Youths shine in Sando Open Chess in TT

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Fide Master (FM) Vishnu Singh, a student of Presentation College, Chaguanas, leads the field of 28 players in the inaugural San Fernando Chess Open.

The tournament is currently in progress at District Scout Headquarters, Embacedere.

Singh is high in confidence, having just won an Open scholarship in science and topping the recent Paladins Open, defeating national champion FM Ryan Harper and Olympian Ravishen Singh in the process.

Singh has three points from three games with victories over Simon Ramdath, Roderick Noel, and Isiah McIntosh. Close behind are FM’s Ryan Harper, Roger Matoewi of Suriname, Mario Merritt, CM Adrian Winter-Atwell and Kena Bartholomew all on 2.5 points.

“The youngsters are doing well, particular-

ly the 16 of them from South and Central,” assistant tournament director Courtney Lee said.

Young Isiah McIntosh is creating waves, having beaten Keevin James and David Martin in the early rounds. The student of Presentation College, San Fernando gained valuable experience from his recent CAC tourney in Colombia.”

There is only one foreign participant, Matoewi of Suriname, the second highest rated player after Harper. Playing the black pieces against Sears in the second round, he was subjected to continuous pressure

being down a pawn that was doubled, from as early as the 11th move until he recovered it on his 34th move; and the game petered out to a draw on the 47th.

Matoewi defeated Mentor Hermes and Mahendra Singh in the other two rounds. So far, every game has been hard-fought perhaps because of the magnificent challenge trophy donated by the Mayor of San Fernando Kazim Hosein, in keeping with the organisers’ intention to make the tournament part of San Fernando’s City Week annual celebrations. (TT Newsday)

OSCL Celebrates 2014 Season with Annual Presentation & Award Ceremony

By RavendRa Madholall

TORONTO, CANADA:

The 2014 season culminated with the 19th annual presentation and award ceremony on Saturday evening at the Eastown Banquet Hall in Scarborough.

Batsmen, bowlers dominated with the prizes while several plaques were handed out to special individuals for their various contributions.

It was another successful year, according to President Albert Ramcharran in his feature address.

The turnout was grand and part of the night’s proceedings also included a buffet dinner and dance.

Ramcharran said since the formation the League, there has been steady growth.

He and his executives will continue to work together for the betterment of softball cricket in Ontario.

He stated that they are there to perform a duty and it was well executed.

Based on the standard, everything is done in a democratic manner and with a large participation of teams which symbolised the League’s continued goal for excellence.

“We had a good year until the semi-final stage when we had some problems with a few

teams, but we as executives had to make some tough decisions and let the League’s rules apply which I think did not go well with the teams that were affected,” Ramcharran declared. He continued: “At the AGM, the rules were made, but many representatives did not attend and agree with them but complain when their teams are affected. As an executive of this League for 19 straight years, this one of the best grand finals we have had.”

However, he also took the opportunity to congratulate the winning teams and players on

their achievement and recognition while his heartfelt gratitude went out the sponsors.

New team Dant gleefully carted off the top four trophies at stake winning the 10, 15, 20 and West End Division 20-over trophies while East Coast made a great impression too but in the Consolation segment.

There are too many outstanding individual performances to mention but all were awarded with trophies. Statistically, eight batsmen registered centuries and ten bowlers picked up a fivewicket haul to be among the top performers.

Anand Nirmal, Anil Girdharry, Azam Haniff, Iman Ghafour, Richard Shivrathan, Rishie Samuel, Rovendra Mandolall, Shaun Deonandan and Surujpaul Deosaran hit hundreds in this year’s competition.

And in the bowling department, Asif Ali, Sunil Ramkissoon, Sheldon Burnett, Shivrathan, Ahamad Bashir, Ryan Bhup, Anand Balwant, Imtiaz Abjal and Robert Kanhai grabbed five wickets or more in matches for their respective teams.

While Azeem Khan, Jairam Ramoutar, Hazari Girdhari,

Hyde, Whyte top Courtney Walsh Award for

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence continued its trend of recognising the accomplishments of high school students who excel in academics and sports at the cosy 2014 edition held at the Pegasus Hotel on October 16. St Jago High's starlet Natalliah Whyte won the female award, while the irrepressible Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer's Boys was picked the winner in the male category.

The 17-year-old Whyte, who hails from Point Hill in St Catherine, won gold in the 200-metre event at the Youth Olympic Games. At the World Junior Games she anchored the 4x100m relay quartet to second place behind the United States. The sprint athlete was also a gold medal winner in the 200m and 4x100m relays at the Carifta Games. Whyte won the 200m event in Class Two at the Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships. Whyte said she was surprised at being awarded and thanked her mother for providing the support to make her achievements possible.

"I didn't know I was going to win. But I live a far distance from school so I have to put in extra work in terms of getting up in the mornings. My mom is always there for me, pushing me, and I know she's very proud. I'm also proud of myself because I worked very hard," she

told the Jamaica media.

Hyde, an outstanding schoolboy football player, has earned even greater repute on the track. The versatile runner took gold medals in the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles at the World Youth and World Junior championships, respectively.

Kanhai, Narindra Buchana, Rakesh Dyal and Ramkissoon claimed hat-tricks.

In the East End Division Conference “A” division, Richard Dias led the runs tally with 386 while Mandolall followed second with 383 and Deosaran with 356. In the West End, Deonandan aggregated 353 runs while Kumar Doodnauth made 313 and Ashik Haniff with 246 to be the to three batsmen.

In the Conference “B” category of East End, Ricky Mahadeo scored 507 runs. Girharry chipped in with second by ac-

Excellence

"It's good that people recognise that you are not only an athlete, but a student/athlete and you have to balance both of them. I knew I was nominated, but I didn't know that I would win. I'm used to winning so it's one more to the collection," the confident-talking Hyde said.

The student award is for a male and a female who display exceptional qualities in their academic performance and who also demonstrate team commitment and excellence while representing their schools in sport.

Minister of Water, Land, Environment, and Climate

Change Robert Pickersgill delivered a speech on behalf of guest speaker Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who was unable to attend.

In the speech, Pickersgill lauded entities which have helped to develop sport, including the CHASE Fund, Institute of Sport, Sport Development Foundation, Social Development Commission, the private sector and the Jamaica Diaspora.

He also encouraged Jamaicans to "use sport as a vehicle for development" of youth.

Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, the conceptualiser of the award, now in its 10th year, was acknowledged with a trophy for his role in its success.Walsh told the Jamaican media he was touched by the kind words which streamed his way.(Jamaica Observer)