As part of his commitment to have the tourism sector become the most dominant in Guyana within the next three years, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali met his Vincentian counterpart Cecil McKie on Tuesday to discuss formalising a joint initiative to market the two countries as a common tourism package.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is known for its wonderful beaches, sunshine and waters, while Guyana is a fantastic destination for ecotourists and nature lovers.
Both ministers concurred that combining the two products would make both destinations more competitive and appealing on the international market.
Towards this end, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana are in the process of improving their international airports. Guyana is implementing an upgrade of its facilities, while St. Vincent is completing a new international airport.
Ministers Ali and McKie spoke of the immense potential these facilities will fulfil for the two countries.
Meanwhile, in lauding Guyana’s recent success in getting Copa Airlines to launch its
service in the country, McKie was especially delighted at the possibility of having similar arrangements with the air carrier on the completion of St. Vincent’s new airport.
President Donald Ramotar had stated earlier that he un-
derstands that the tourism sector is growing and booming, and as such, his administration will be supporting it fully by helping out in whatever way it can to minimise the challenges confronting operators. (Guyana Times)
JAMAICA: The Jamaican government will this summer spend Ja$20 million on a number of employment initiatives to benefit some 6,000 youth between the ages of 16 and 25.
The programmes, which will begin in early July, are being implemented by: the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF); the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCO); the National Youth Service (NYS), and the Citizens’ Security and Justice Programme (CSJP).
TEF-funded programme will place 380 youth in temporary jobs with private and public sector companies for five weeks, during which they will receive a weekly stipend.
Executive Director of the TEF, Clyde Harrison said the programme has been very successful over the past seven years.
“TEF’s Summer Internship programme has been very successful. It has made a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of young Jamaicans by providing insights into working life. On completion of their studies, some of our interns have been hired by the companies with which they spent their internship. The programme is TEF’s way of contributing to the development of Jamaica’s human capital,” Harrison explained.
Meanwhile, the TPDCo will place 800 youngsters from across the island.
Coordinator, Marline Stephenson Dalley said the initiative, which started in 2009, targets youth 16 to 25 years old, placing them with public and private sector companies for three weeks, starting in July. They will also receive a weekly stipend. (JIS)
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Barbados is plunging inexorably into a financial meltdown that was signalled since the middle of last year when the international rating agencies began downgrading its once-stellar financial bona fides. In February, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that the island’s debt reached 94 percent of Gross Domestic Product, up from 60 percent in 2009. The economy shrank 0.7 percent in 2012 following an average of 0.6 percent per year since 2008.
The government initiated a menu of measures that had been signalled earlier by the IMF and which included laying off some 3000 public sector workers and raising the excise and Value Added Tax (VAT). However, it appears that the government’s programme might have been a case of “too little, too late”, since last week Moody’s Investor Service downgraded Barbados Bonds to “junk bond” status.
Two days later, the IMF swooped down on Little England and in a double whammy, confirmed that “real GDP is expected to decline by 0.6 percent this year”. The IMF warned that more stringent measures will have to be taken.
Moody’s rating action has effectively closed the door on Barbados’ access to international private capital and on June 23, the government is scheduled to meet foreign holders of US$0.5 billion in dollar and sterling bonds. With debt servicing tripling by next year, there is the distinct possibility of Barbados being pushed into default.
Late last year, the government had to withdraw a US$250 million bond issue, because there were no takers on its first offer on junk credit. In contrast, even The Bahamas, which also has challenges, was able to raise more than double that amount three months later at a lower interest rate.
Part of the problem, which is almost certain to lead Barbados to enter into an IMF conditionality programme before yearend, is that the government’s initiatives are self-defeating. For instance, while seeking to reduce its deficit, it increased the Local Loans Limit to Bds$4 billion and subsequently the Special Loans Act by Bds$1 billion to Bds$2.5 billion.
As even the World Bank now accepts, it is increased loans that lead to the creation of money in the economy. Bajans should not be surprised, therefore, that the Central Bank has had to keep the money printing presses rolling overtime and will be increasingly hard-pressed to keep its vaunted 2:1 exchange rate with the U.S. dollar.
But while everyone has focused on the drop in tourism (which is not going to change dramatically soon, unless the Bajans start courting Chinese tourists) as the cause of the financial meltdown, there are other less proximate but no less significant precipitators. One of these is the unremarked status of Barbados as a tax haven for foreign, primarily Canadian funds.
There are more than 1000 Canadian companies with shell operations in Barbados that facilitate Canadian companies to reduce their tax rates from 23 or 24 percent to two and a half percent. With international moves to clamp down on these offshore activities, some of the money has moved out.
Banks have gotten jittery. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce warned last week that it will take a US$420 million charge to goodwill related to its subsidiary CIBC FirstCaribbean, which it blamed on “persistently challenging economic conditions and our current expectations for conditions going forward”. In addition, it took US$123 million of additional loan losses.
But Sir Frank Alleyne, the veteran economist who chairs the Barbados government’s council of advisers, was candid: “What has happened in Barbados is that we have developed an entitlement society. Nothing is free in life. Education and the health-care services in Barbados have never been free, they have been tax-financed…What I worry about is that those of us who have benefited from taxpayer-financed education feel somehow that the society owes them something.”
Will Bajans be able to face the real world while under the ministrations of the IMF?
MONTEGO BAY,
JAMAICA: Having spent approximately US$6 million since 2008, the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) is near completion of the second phase of its Caribbean Microfinance Capacity-Building Programme (CARIB-CAP) which is designed to shore up microfinance sectors in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.
The programme will officially come to an end in December, but already the MIF--a member of the InterAmerican Development Bank group--is looking at ways it can further help Jamaica and its Caribbean neighbours build thriving microfinance sectors based on best practices and integrity.
The programme is being undertaken in collaboration with the European Union, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and Citi Foundation.
"We are going to look at further supporting to the socalled stars (microfinance institutions), the ones who have done well, rather than a regional approach. If we do [take a regional approach) we might target certain aspects, maybe regulations, may be credit uptake, data and MIS (management information systems)...," Winsome Leslie, senior specialist in MIF's Access to Finance Unit, told Jamaican media recently.
Components
Aptly named CARIB-CAP II, the second phase of the programme--which began in 2012--consists three components in institutional capacity-building, consolidation of the Caribbean Microfinance Alliance (CMFA) and knowledge-sharing and dissemination.
The objectives of the three components are to strengthen the institutional capacity of microfinance institutions that are providing financial services, strengthen the institutional capacity of the CMFA, and "develop materials, lessons learned and good practices for microfinance in the Caribbean frontier market and to make it available for public dissemination", respectively.
Overall, CARIB-CAP II is designed to "build on the activities" of CARIB-CAP I, which ran from 2008 to 2011 and had an overarching goal to "change in mindset on the part of these MFIs as well as their general understanding of the sector and the importance of a regional network" of microfinance institutions.
Specifically Leslie said that the programme has helped the region's microfinance sectors to reduce portfolio risks, boost client outreach, infuse best practices from outside the region into local operations, and improve data collection in terms of what goes on in the industry.
Reducing risks
"Within the Multilateral Investment Fund itself, we have a major area focusing on access to finance and under that microfinance is a key component. The MIF focuses on small actors, small producers, small businesses, microentrepreneurs and so forth, so microfinance is a key aspect of that space," Leslie said.
She stated, too, that the impact of the programme has been substantial in influencing a cultural shift and building awareness of what microfinance really is.
"Before the project started a number of institutions thought they were doing mi-
crofinance right by their clients; they believe they were in line with best practices…and within a year, in undergoing training, they found that they were [doing otherwise]," the official indicated.
According to her, a key part of the work in Jamaica focused on magnifying the blurred line that separates true microfinance providers from mere money lenders. She said there has been much confusion concerning the definition of the two, which complicates Jamaica's situation in terms of how to zoom in on and address challenges.
"The reality is that there are relatively few microfinance institutions in the country," she emphasised.
"But we are very much aware that there is a big group of informal moneylenders out there; the ones who accept payday loans and so on. So as part of CARIB-CAP we launched a microfinance network, the Caribbean Microfinance Alliance," she said.
"There are a lot of misperceptions; these so-called moneylenders who are lending at exorbitant rates and don't have any client policies are pulling down the rest of the groups, the ones who are offering a suite of services. So one of the things they (CMFA) wanted to do was to come up with a code of conduct for the sector so their members will sign on to; they will also talk to JamFin (Jamaica Association for Micro-Financing) and JamFA (Jamaica Micro Finance Association) to get their members involved. They will also try to streamline and shake out the bad guys and build some integrity in the sector," she outlined. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)
Remittances to Guyana amounted to US$415 million (Gy$86,506,748,733) for last year–a Gy$54 million decline from the previous year when the figure stood at over Gy$97.8 billion, a new report from the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group has said.
The figure also represents close to 17 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Guyanese have been warned about the possible drop in remittances owing to the fallout from the non-passage of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. However, remittance inflows have been unsteady over the years. In 2011, remittances amounted to US$401 million, which was an increase of 7.2 percent over 2010.
In its report, MIF said remittances to Central America and the Caribbean increased in 2013, over the previous year while remittance
remittances to Guyana (2007–2013) percentage of GDP
flows to South America and Mexico declined, resulting in flat growth for the region as a whole. The report, “Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2013: Still Below Pre-Crisis Levels”, indicates that last year the region received a total of US$61.3 billion sent by migrants to their countries of origin.
Source of income
“Remittance flows to Latin America and the Caribbean remain an important source of income for millions of poor and vulnerable families,” said MIF General Manager Nancy Lee. “Remittance recipients need more access to financial tools that will help them use remittances to save and
make investments for their future in areas like education, housing, and starting and growing businesses.”
The report notes that, as this sector has evolved, there is an increasingly wide variety of services available to remittance senders, allowing them to make transfers using bank accounts and debit and credit cards. However, in many countries in the region, cash withdrawals are still the prevailing option for receiving remittances, showing that financial institutions have business opportunities to offer payment and savings products tailored to customers’ needs and preferences.
JAMAICA: The Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) has appointed nine new Child Ambassadors who will help to raise awareness of issues surrounding child abuse and other matters affecting children across Jamaica.
The 2014 to 2016 group consists of eight girls and one boy, ranging in age from 11 to 16 years. They will serve for a period of two years.
The ambassadors are: Diandra Dixon of Ardenne High School; Zoe Lawrence, Yallahs High; Richard Bradshaw, Carron Hall High; Nicole Raymond, Westwood High; Suzanna Hyde, Mt. Alvernia Preparatory; Daniela Woodbine, Belmont Academy; Rueyella Blake, Manchester High; Kemoy Perry, Immaculate Conception High; and
Kashielle Clarke, Glenmuir High.
Jamaica’s Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, hailed the Child Ambassador programme as an excellent one, noting that children are more likely to talk to their peers when they are being abused.
Hanna was delivering the keynote address at the launch of the OCR’s Child Ambassador’s Awards Ceremony, held at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston, on Tuesday.
The minister revealed that 41 percent of the cases of child abuse reported to the OCR is about neglect, followed closely at 37 percent by reports of children in need of care and protection. Cases of sexual abuse are third on the list of reported abuse cases, she noted. (Excerpted from JIS)
ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA: As close to 48,000 voters in the twin-island nation moves into ballotcasting mode, Thursday, the body responsible for the smooth execution of the process, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), has declared that all its systems are ready to carry out the election.
A latest opinion poll released just two days before the elections on Tuesday predicted that the main opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) is likely to win a minimum of 10 seats.
The poll conducted by the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) indicated that the ALP would hold on to the seven seats it controlled in the outgoing Parliament and “should capture all three, if not two of the UPP’s (United Progressive Party) weakest seats”.
CADRES said that it had conducted the poll in the three weakest seats of the ruling party as it had done for the opposition ALP based on the outcome of the 2009 elections, a few weeks ago.
However, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer remains confident that his ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) will come up trumps when the 164 polling stations are closed and the ballots cast are counted.
"I am pretty confident that the United Progressive Party will win the elections on 12 June. I am satisfied that the people of Antigua and Barbuda have been able to weigh the situation extremely carefully, and we are satisfied that they now see there is a clear choice between whether to return to the decadence and the corruption and the mismanagement prior to 2004 or whether they would want to move forward with the United
Progressive Party," he told Caribbean media.
"All we need to do is win enough seats to form the government. The extent of the margin is open but we can make the same argument that the way things are going we may be able to end up with all 17 seats," Spencer said.
But Gaston Browne, who is leading the ALP into a general election for the first time, says citizens have had enough of the bad policies of the ruling administration over the past decade and pointed to an ailing economy, high unemployment and crime as major reasons for change.
"Antiguans and Barbudans have lived under hopeless conditions for the last 10 years... and I believe they understand in order to reverse the bad fortune we have experienced over the last 10 years the Labour Party is the answer," he stated. (Excerpted from Antigua Observer)
GUYANA:
Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali has disclosed that his ministry is presently holding talks with tourism operators to establish a National Tourism Marketing Fund, to support their work.
He made this announcement at a cocktail reception held last Friday evening at Cara Lodge, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wilderness Explorers Tour operations in Guyana.
According to Ali, the idea was mooted some time ago, but the bigger plan was to establish a Regional Marketing Fund, which can benefit the entire region since all countries in the region are facing challenge pertaining to marketing of their tourism products.
He, however, stated that after it was realised that Guyana has huge potential in becoming a
leading tourism destination and enough was not being done to market and compete with what is being offered on the regional and international levels, a National Marketing Fund was thought to be the best solution.
“The Caribbean had realised that it is nonsensical for every country to develop their own marketing budget. They cannot compete; there aren’t
enough resources to do so and here in Guyana, again, we cannot compete as individual business operators as enough is not being done to market their businesses and so a National Marketing and Development Fund is the best idea. This can help the sector to continue in its growth to become the most dominant sector in Guyana,” he disclosed.
The minister noted
that while the Guyana government is committed to the development of the industry as it has the potential to become a leading income earner in Guyana, they alone cannot do everything, noting that cooperation is necessary among operators, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and the Guyana Tourism Authority.
Incentives being discussed
Disclosing that he has made a commitment to have the tourism sector become the most dominant in Guyana within the next three years, Ali stated that the ministry is also looking to have a mechanism in place, which can offer incentives to those who are involved in pushing the industry.
He related that the mechanism, which is still in the discussion stages,
will seek to offer incentives which can match the diversity of the products being offered.
“If you are in Essequibo, you would know that is mostly river/water-based tours, whereas in the Rupununi, you would know that you need the 4×4 jeeps to get access, and the Caribbean is a whole different matter. So every place has their own uniqueness and their own features and so different incentives would have to be offered according to their products; what they have to offer,” he articulated.
He revealed too that the ministry has held talks with THAG and the operators and a decision has been taken by the government to have tax incentives made available to them, so that they can be better able to compete and market their products. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)
TGovernment intends to take steps to monitor the operations of private kindergarten and nursery schools throughout the country given recent incidents of mishaps involving young children.
Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh told TT media Monday that the government would be soliciting the input of four separate ministries before any plan is implemented.
In the meantime, investigations are con-
tinuing into the death of baby Matai Joshua Cameron Phillip, who died after being taken to a day care centre in Chaguanas last Friday.
Cameron Phillip was the son of Soca Warriors goalkeeper Marvin Phillip. According to reports, at about 6.15am last Friday, Matai’s grandparents Lincoln Halls and Gemma Ottley had dropped off the boy at Anointed Angels Daycare at Cicada Street, Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas. Halls said he had also handed the
infant’s baby’s car seat to the day care.
Halls said that at the time the attendant was alone with Matai and about five other babies but stated that other attendants would be arriving at 8 am.
One hour later, the daycare telephoned Matai’s mother LesleyAnn Halls, a police officer assigned to the Gasparillo Police Station, and told her the baby had been taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility. When the relatives arrived at the Health Facility, baby
Matai was already dead.
In another incident last week Monday, fiveyear-old Jomiah Agard, who was a pupil at Sharon’s Pre-School, in Woodbrook, drowned at the nearby Young Men Christian Association’s swimming pool.
Gopeesingh said Monday that regularisation of private kindergartens and nurseries, which normally oversee the care of one and twoyear-old children, is an issue that will have to be dealt with by four government ministries.
Those ministries, he added, would be the Ministry of the People and Social Development; Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development;
Ministry of Education; Ministry of Community Development.
Gopeesingh was unable to say how many private day care and kindergarten schools are operating in the country. However, the minister told the media that a policy framework would have
to be worked out, “taking into considerations that these institutions are being used across the country by working mothers and fathers”.
He noted there was a need for proper management of such centres and kindergartens. (TT Newsday)
The World Bank Group has projected a 4.4 percent growth for Guyana this year, but forecasts lower increases of 3.5 percent and 3.6 percent for 2015 and 2016 respectively.
In its latest global outlook report, the Bank said growth remained broadly flat in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2013, reflecting stable or declining commodity prices, the continued slowdown in China, the drop in first quarter U.S. GDP growth and domestic challenges.
The Bank said regional weakness carries over from 2013, weighing on merchandise exports in a number of countries. First-quarter data for Brazil, Mexico and Peru was also weak, reflecting a variety of influences including the
down, and the recent tax increase in Mexico.
Key currencies
Despite the few weak outturns in the first quarter, industrial activity in early 2014 suggests a pickup in regional growth. Depreciations of regional currencies in the wake of the United States announcement of tapering intentions in May 2013 have persisted in 2014, with key currencies all remaining below their April 2013 level.
Despite the mid-2013 financial volatility, gross capital flows to the region have increased, especially into domestic bond markets. While still generally low across the region, inflation, being imported through depreciated exchange rates, has also been
elevated in a handful of countries. Monetary tightening in Brazil to contain such inflationary pressures continued through the second half of 2013, and contributed to the ongoing slowdown and dampened growth in regional trading partners. In many countries, fiscal and monetary policies remained accommodative in an effort to support growth.
However, the World Bank said regional growth is expected to strengthen steadily from 1.9 percent in 2014, to 2.9 percent in 2015 and 3.5 percent in 2016. “The recovery that is taking hold in advanced countries will increasingly support regional exports, as well as increase tourism receipts and remittances to the region,” the Bank said.
The Barbados dollar, the third highest in the English-speaking Caribbean, could soon be devalued, according to former prime minister Owen Arthur, who wants government to tell the people what the country faces.
Arthur made the comments Sunday night against a backdrop of Barbados last week suf-
fering a downgrade from Ba3 to B3 by international financial rating agency Moody’s, and amidst government’s cost-cutting efforts to tame a runaway deficit.
“Our fiscal situation at its worst should have been five percent of GDP,” Arthur said, adding, “But the government and [Finance Minister] Sinckler reported to parliament that it was 11, so it is
twice as bad as its worst case scenario.
“Moody’s is telling us that it had to downgrade Barbados by three notches because the Central Bank has been printing money and it is undermining and threatening the stability of the Barbados dollar.”
The Barbados dollar at a fixed rate of US$0.50 cents is number three in the region
behind the Cayman Islands and Bahamas dollars in that order. Arthur’s comments came one day after Prime Minister Freundel Stuart had likened the Moody’s report to “garbage.”
Arthur urged the prime minister to seek advice before speaking on such matters to avoid bringing his office into disrepute. (Excerpted from Caribbean News)
JAMAICA: The Jamaican government, through the tabling of a revised Road Traffic Bill in Parliament, has announced plans to clamp down on the use of cellular phones and other electronic handheld devices by motorists while driving.
ers to the Island Traffic Authority.
Earlier this month, Transport Minister Dr Omar Davies, said that when the legislation is passed, Jamaica will have a modernised Road Traffic Act and regulations predicated on ensuring that road safety
issues are addressed according to 21st century requirements.
“We intend to launch pre-emptive strikes against those who are intent on creating imbalances in the traffic environment. This new Act and regulations will, among other
things, deal with the issue of driving while using mobile phones, including ‘texting’ while driving,” Dr Davies said at the recently held International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress in Montego Bay. (Jamaica Observer)
Other proposed road traffic changes in the Bill include the man-
Making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives last Wednesday following the tabling of the Bill, Minister with responsibility for Housing, Dr Morais Guy, said that “several initiatives have been implemented with regard to treating with the number of road fatalities and crashes over the years”.
include the
datory training and certification of driving instructors and a longer period for holding a learner’s permit. Also, contained in the Bill is the granting of increased pow-
PARAMARIBO, SURINAME:
Suriname has recorded its first case of the mosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus and blamed a visitor from St. Maarten for introducing the virus there.
The Bureau for Public Health (BOG) said that a Paramaribo-based man was found with symptoms of the illness upon his return from St. Maarten.
It said the 45-year-old man was diagnosed positive in May and kept for observation in a local hospital. “He has been treated and chikungunya virus
has been confirmed,” BOG general director Leslie Resida told journalists. The man has since been discharged from the hospital.
The Public Health Department considers it an “import case” adding it would continue its monitoring strategy in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
It said that so far 19 suspected cases have been investigated, but the St. Maarten visitor has been the only one found infected by the virus. (Caribbean News)
GUYANA: The Police Officer accused of shooting 15-year-old Alex Griffith in the mouth during a bout of Russian roulettestyled interrogation, and a colleague were on Monday arraigned before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in Guyana.
Cadet Officer Franz Paul and Police Corporal Baichan Singh, both attached to the Mahaicony Police Station, were jointly charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice on May 1 and were placed on Gy$150,000 bail each, after pleading not guilty.
The court was told that the number one accused’s sister was robbed, and during the investigations, the Cadet Officer and a party of policemen arrested Griffith. The Cadet Officer then allegedly placed a firearm to
Griffith’s mouth and he subsequently was shot. A report was later made to the police and an investigation was launched.
After the shooting, 31-year-old Baichan Singh, who has served in the Guyana Police Force since 2003, allegedly took the arms and ammunition book from the Mahaicony Police Station, which is used by police ranks to book in and out ammunition, and gave it to the number one accused for him to alter the entries.
Paul, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, was slapped with three additional charges. On the charge of unlawfully assaulting Alex Griffith on April 30, the defendant pleaded not guilty and was granted Gy$75,000 bail. He also pleaded not guilty to the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm to Griffith, and with in-
tent to maim, disfigure and disable, discharging a firearm at the teen. He was refused bail on these two charges and remanded to prison.
In his objection to bail, Prosecutor Stephen Telford cited the seriousness of the matter and asked the court to take into consideration that efforts were made to pervert the course of justice. However, Defence Attorneys Roger Yearwood and Aroon Gajraj stated that no evidence was given by the prosecution to indicate that their clients are flight risks.
The Police Prosecutor requested that the men return to Court on June 30 for statements.
Speaking with the media, the victim’s mother stated that she believes she did the right thing in letting the matter pass through the system, as she is determined to get justice for her son. (Guyana Times)
TRINIDAD: Legislation proposing to raise the retirement allowance of Trinidadian MPs and to, for the first time, introduce a special “goodbye kiss” or termination payment to any MP who is not re-elected after a general election, was tabled in the House of Representatives last Friday.
The Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) (Amendment) Bill 2014 was tabled in the House of Representatives by the Government Whip Dr Roodal Moonilal.
The Bill proposes to make it easier for an MP to qualify for a retirement allowance by reducing the qualification criteria from service of “not less than five years” to four.
Retiring allowances payable to persons who have served as legislators for various periods, with effect from August 1, 1976, are also to be hiked. In some cases, the allowance will be effectively tripled, moving from one sixth’s of one year’s basic salary to one third of salary plus allowances.
The Bill also proposes to, for the first time, extend the payment of the same retirement allowance to Senators. However, unlike the other provisions, this will apply only to future senators and not have retroactive effect.
An ordinary MP receives a basic salary of TT$17,410 per month. This is
ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA: The Grenada government says it has been able to secure employment for 35 registered nurses in Trinidad and Tobago after “weeks of discussions and negotiations” with the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Health said that all travel arrangements for the nurses had been completed and that they were scheduled to leave Grenada Monday for Port-of-Spain.
“On arrival in Trinidad, the Grenadian healthcare practitioners will be kept at a hotel for two weeks during which they will be presented to the Nursing Council of Trinidad and Tobago,” the statement read.
During the Caribbean
Community (Caricom) Inter-sessional Summit in St. Vincent in March, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar offered regional countries an opportunity to have nurses employed in her country.
St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony said the offer underscored the importance of the regional integration movement.
But the St.Lucia
Nurses Association (SLNA) called on the government to ensure that problems confronting the profession are adequately dealt with before seeking to satisfy the employment needs of member Caricom states. The Grenada government statement said that the nurses will be employed at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, east of the capital. (Antigua Observer)
JAMAICA: Managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde will visit Jamaica on June 27, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance Monday.
It said Lagarde and her delegation will hold meetings with Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips and other senior government officials.
She will also participate in a number of "outreach activities" before departing the island on June 28, the statement said.
in addition to a transport allowance of about TT$5,000. A housing allowance of TT$7,000 has also been proposed in separate proposals. A senator receives a basic salary of TT$13,060 per month and a transport allowance of TT$4,560 per month. These are all exclusive of other exemptions and perks.
In the case of an MP who has served for not less than nine years over two consecutive terms, the retirement allowance could move from about TT$36,000 per year on the current computation to about TT$117,640 per year, under the increase in rate and with inclusion of transport and housing allowance (proposed) in the computation.
But Clause 6 of the Bill also proposes the introduction of a “termination benefit”. The notes to the Bill state, “The new section 6B would provide for the payment of a termination benefit equal to one half of one year’s pensionable emoluments to a current or future member of the House of Representatives who is not re-elected after the dissolution of Parliament.”
In effect, any MP who is not reelected would be the beneficiary of a payment of about TT$176,460, including the proposed housing allowance in the computation. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)
"The visit by the managing director of the IMF underscores the fund's support for Jamaica's economic reform programme, and signals its commitment to assisting the wider Caribbean," added the statement.
In May, an IMF review mission to Jamaica concluded that the country's overall economic performance under the programme remains strong; economic outlook is improving, crisis risks have receded, growth has picked up, net exports are stronger, inflation has been brought under control, and re-
serves are starting to recover.
In May last year, Jamaica entered into a four-year US$948.1 million extended fund facility agreement with the IMF. (Jamaica Observer)
ST. JOHN’S, ATIGUA: An 11-member team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) is observing Thursday’s general election in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Caricom Electoral Observer Mission, is led by the Director of Elections in Jamaica, Orrette Fisher and includes Ian Browne, the deputy Chief Elections Officer of Barbados, Barrette Woodye of the Belize Elections and Boundaries Department,
former Dominica government minister Henry George and Chester Humphrey, trade unionist and former Senator in the Grenada Parliament.
The Supervisor of Elections in St. Kitts Nevis, Windgrove George and Lena Champa Sahadeo, deputy Chief Elections Officer of Trinidad and Tobago are also part of the team.
Apart from the Caricom team, the election in Antigua is also being monitored by a team from the Commonwealth
Secretariat and the Organisation of American States (OAS).
The ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) is seeking a third consecutive term in office, but faces a strong challenge from the main opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP). In the 2009 general elections, the UPP won nine of the 17 seats while the ABLP won seven. The other seat was won by the Barbuda People’s Movement. (Antigua Observer)
GUYANA: Guyana is currently in talks with Venezuela on the possibility of exporting additional products to the Spanish-speaking country under the PetroCaribe arrangement.
These talks are considered opportune, with Venezuela currently facing food shortages, which have given rise to protests across the country, including in the capital, Caracas.
“Talks are going on right now,” Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said Monday. He added that cash crops, vegetables, fruits, medicine and building materials are just some of the products Guyana could export to Venezuela, if talks go favourably with the Nicholas Maduroled Venezuelan administration.
Dr Ramsammy noted that sugar could also be considered “if the price is right” but stated that Guyana currently has contracts to supply sugar to international markets up to 2025. He did say, however, that Guyana has the capacity to produce surplus sugar if there is
the need to.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett also confirmed that the Guyana government is in export talks with Venezuela. “So far we are only exporting rice under the PetroCaribe mechanism and discussions to supply additional items have not yet been concluded,” she related.
Concerns
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that to
question whether Guyana should be concerned about the PetroCaribe agreement suddenly ending due to the perceived political upheaval and declining economy in Venezuela, would be premature.
A wave of anti-government protests, the largest in a decade, has been sweeping through Venezuela since early February. Protesters have been complaining about shortages of
basic food items and high inflation and have resulted in constant anti-government protests, with many people falling victim to violence.
The pertinent question which is being asked in some quarters is whether President Maduro would soon be faced with a decision to end the PetroCaribe, and if this happens, what impact would it have on Guyana. In fact, an even more serious concern is being raised in Jamaica which depends heavily on oil from Venezuela through the PetroCaribe deal.
The Jamaican government had estimated its outstanding debt with PetroCaribe at US$2.5 billion at the end of January. Its debt is 2.4 times the country’s international reserves. Jamaicans believe they have much to fear if PetroCaribe suddenly ends since Diesel-powered power plants make up almost 95 percent of the country’s installed power generation capacity.
PetroCaribe debt
Guyana’s debt to PetroCaribe was estimated at
TRINIDAD: Founder of the Independent Liberal Party, Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner is not seeking re-election as political leader of the oneyear-old party. Warner is proposing that one of his deputy political leaders, former Senate vice president Lyndira Oudit be elected as the party’s first female leader. Warner is seeking election as the chairman. He made the disclosures at an address to the party’s Nomination Day exercise at the ILP headquarters on Edward Street, Port-of-Spain, Monday.
After filing her nomination papers at the party’s headquarters on Edward Street, Port-ofSpain Monday, Oudit hinted the ILP would be
prepared to undertake full-scale alliance talks with the Congress of the People (COP), if COP San Fernando West MP Carolyn SeepersadBachan defeats incumbent COP leader Prakash Ramadhar in that party’s internal election on June 29. Oudit also hinted the ILP would not be closed to an alliance with the United National Congress (UNC). However she said the UNC needed to be “sanitised” before the ILP even considers any negotiations with it.
The ILP’s internal election is also scheduled to take place on June 29. However with the slate led by Warner and Oudit being the only candidates offering themselves to fill the 12 posts on the ILP executive, the election com-
mittee formed to oversee the election simply needs to meet to confirm them as the new executive.
“Me accepting the nomination for political leader was as a result of considerable thought into the direction that we want the party to head into especially coming into 2015 but also beyond. It opens new doors,” Oudit told TT media.
While some persons might question the effectiveness of women as party political leaders,
an interim ILP deputy leader and a key figure in last July’s Chaguanas West by-election, did not stand for election. Former COP founding member Rekha Ramjit, Dr Lena Brereton-Wolfe and Joseph Mendes were the three deputy leader candidates on Warner’s slate.
The rest of the slate was Rosanna Sookdeo (deputy chairman); Ricardo Lee Sing (education and training officer); Amarnath Jagassar (elections officer); Janelle Sebastien
Oudit said, “Leadership is not a gender thing. I can offer my track record. I can offer positions I have taken in the past, very public ones I might add.”
Attorney Anna Deonarine, who was
(gender affairs officer); Dominic Romain (party organiser); Dayne Francois (policy and strategy officer) and Danan Singh (public relations officer).
(Excerpted from TT Newsday)
only US$364 million at the end of 2012 with the latest figure yet to be released. But although not saddled with a debt as big as Jamaica, Guyana would then have to consider other options for fuel purchase or agreements if PetroCaribe suddenly ends.
It should be noted that the second-to-last article of the PetroCaribe Agreement explicitly states the deal can be changed or terminated by Venezuela unilaterally, with just 30 days’ notice through standard diplomatic channels.
But Prime Minister Hinds said the question of Guyana being concerned about the PetroCaribe suddenly ending was a “premature” one.
“Government will continue to participate in PetroCaribe,” Hinds declared. Guyana’s debt to PetroCaribe is paid in paddy and rice as settlement for oil from Venezuela. Venezuela pays more than 30 percent more per tonne of rice than Europe, where Guyana also exports on a large scale. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)
Jamaica’s commissioner of Police owen Ellington
ST JAMES, JAMAICA: Commissioner
of Police Owen Ellington says that as of Wednesday 50 policemen from Mobile Reserve in Kingston were to be deployed to St James. The move comes in the wake of the recent increase in murders in the parish.
Ellington made the announcement during a press briefing at the Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay last Friday, following a meeting with senior police officers in the parish and a tour of sections of the resort city. He was accompanied by National Security Minister Peter Bunting.
The commissioner added that 100 more lawmen will be deployed to the parish over the medium to long term.
“We are also looking over the medium to long term to bring an additional 100 persons here, but that depends on the ability to get living ac-
commodation for them,” he said, adding that “we are actually looking at some of them living at the Falmouth Police Station.”
Better use, he pointed out, will also be made of the sharing of available information and “scare resources.”
Since the start of the year, 59 people have died violently in the parish, compared to 56 over the corresponding period last year.
Seventeen of the homicides were committed during May.
Among those murdered in the parish last month were People’s National Party’s vicechairman for West Central James Kenley ‘Bebe’ Stephens; two children; a hotel entertainment manager and two taxi-operators.
Meanwhile, Bunting told reporters that the police did not intend to have a repeat of last month’s violent deaths in the parish. (Jamaica Observer)
Government Chief Whip Dr Roodal Moonilal last Friday said he would seek legal advice and described as “disturbing” what he said was the apparent interception of private emails of government and public officials.
Moonilal called on PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley to state whether the party is involved in hacking, in wake of statements made on a PNM platform last Thursday.
In an immediate response, Rowley said, “No we are not involved in email hacking. As the Opposition of the country and the PNM being a political party, we receive all types of information from all kinds of persons.”
Rowley explained that once the PNM receives information in this way, it “may or may not engage the issue and make them public.”
“It is a very disturbing development when the PNM now has the capacity to intercept emails and BBMs and so on, text messages, even from Opposition,” Moonilal told reporters before last Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives at the International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road,
Port-of-Spain.
“We are very disturbed by this trend that they can pick up emails sent to Cabinet ministers, public officials,” Moonilal stated.
“I think the first step is that the Opposition Leader needs to make a categorical statement that he is not involved or no official of his party is involved in hacking the emails of public officials and government ministers,” the Whip said. “I think it is a matter that the political leader of the PNM needs to address as to whether hacking government members emails and public offi-
cials is part of his strategy for the general election.”
Moonilal alluded to legislation current on the books relating to cyber-crime. “It is a crime to be involved in any illegal activity to intercept telephone conversations, emails, BBMs and so on,” he said. “I will be referring this matter to my attorneys and I will take their advice on it.”
Moonilal said the matter was not a single matter and noted Rowley had flourished purported emails in Parliament which Moonilal said were “fabricated”. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)
A 23-year-old Canadian university student was jailed for eight months last Thursday after he admitted importing cannabis worth more than US$40,000.
Moses Adejumo, a naturalised Canadian with Nigerian parents who has been attending the University of Toronto, pleaded guilty to bringing in 885 grams of the drug, after arriving in Bermuda on a flight from Toronto last month.
A charge of possession with intent to supply was dismissed by prosecutor Takiyah Burgess.
Defence attorney Arion Mapp described Adejumo as a vulnerable young man who had made attempts to end his own life after years of battling severe depression. He also suffered from other mental health issues.
Mapp said Adejumo had been “offered the op-
JAMAICA: The Jamaican government is now fighting an award of Ja$8 million in general damages to a woman whose world was turned upside down after being misdiagnosed while pregnant, in 2005, with having HIV.
The government had accepted liability after Karen Reid sued and the case went to assessment of damages where the Ja$8-million was awarded to the 28-year-old woman, who is still in need of psychiatric care to help get her over the trauma associated with the diagnosis, which she lived with for two years before it was corrected.
Now, the government is contending that the award, made in the Supreme Court by Acting Justice Audre Lindo on April 14, is too high.
"The learned judge erred in making the award of general damages as the amount is so extremely high as to be an erroneous estimate of the damages to which the claimant is entitled," the attorney general noted in an appeal filed subsequently.
Added the document: "The learned judge erred in making the award for general damages as the medical evidence did not substantiate injuries of such severity as to attract such a high award of general damages."
But Monday, when
portunity to bring drugs into Bermuda by an unnamed person”.
“He was trying to cope with his problems and made a grave error,” said Mapp, whose request for a psychological evaluation before sentencing was denied by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.
Warner accepted the submission that Adejumo was suffering from mental health problems but he said he saw no reason to order a psychiatric report because “at the end of the day it
is blatant importation”.
After arriving in Bermuda on May 19, Adejumo was stopped by customs officers at the L.F. Wade International Airport after being sent for a secondary inspection of his luggage.
While examining Adejumo’s black suitcase, customs officers found two brown square packages hidden under the suitcase’s cloth lining which subsequent analysis showed to be cannabis with a street value of US$44,250. (Antigua Observer)
Karen reid was misdiagnosed while pregnant in 2005,
Jamaican media contacted Reid, she said the award could not be enough to compensate for her suffering.
"The Ja$8.5 million can't be too much," she said." I suffered for eight years. My child got damaged and they don't pay attention to it. So how that fi be too much for my suffering and my pain and my loss?"
Reid said she's trying to get proof that the medication that she was prescribed after her diagnosis caused her son to be blind in an eye, but that it has been a task getting a doctor to make the connection.
"After eight years? After eight years of my damage and my stress? This government ah stress mi out. After all the shame I felt...the
government a tell me that's too much?" Reid lamented.
Reid was first diagnosed at the Harbour View Health Centre in East St Andrew. She wasn't able to breastfeed her baby, had to give birth by Caesarean section and, on top of all that, the father of the child, who had tested negative for the virus, walked out on her after denying paternity of the child.
She had to undergo extensive counselling as she developed post-traumatic stress disorder resulting for her ordeal.
Reid was correctly diagnosed two years later, in May 2007, at another medical facility after informing a doctor there that she had not been experiencing any of the symptoms associated with being HIVpositive.
In 2009, Reid sued the government and was, in April, awarded Ja$8.5 million in general damages, Ja$285,000 for corrective surgery to her abdomen as a result of the Caesarean section, and Ja$200,000 for future psychiatric expenses. She was also awarded Ja$44,000 for special damages. Interest was awarded on the Ja$8.5 million and Ja$44,000 at three percent per annum from 2009 to date of payment. ( Jamaica Observer)
Describing the reports of low declaration of gold in Guyana as “worrying”, President Donald Ramotar is of the belief that there may be a lot of hoarding of gold by miners.
“That is a very worrying situation at this point in time. The gold price has been a little bit down, although I still think that miners are making money, they are not losing.
“I don’t think they are losing, but there has been a drastic reduction in declaration which means there seems to be a lot of hoarding taking place,” Ramotar told reporters at a press conference at State House on Saturday.
Information from the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) indicates that declarations are below the recorded level for the corresponding period for 2013. Approximately 136,240 ounces of gold
Guyana’s President Donald ramotar believes that there may be a lot of hoarding of gold by miners in the country
were declared between January and April, while during the same period last year, some 151,758 ounces were declared.
“They are probably hoarding to see if prices go up and that nature, but it is a serious issue that can have an impact on the economy,” he pointed out.
A most notable example of gold hoarding affecting an economy was in 1933, which forced the U.S. government to sign an executive order “forbidding the hoarding of gold coin, gold bul-
lion, and gold certificates within the continental United States”.
The order criminalised the possession of monetary gold by any individual, partnership, association or corporation.
The stated reason for the order was that hard times had caused “hoarding” of gold, stalling economic growth and making the depression worse. The penalty was $10,000 and/or up to five to 10 years imprisonment. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)
GUYANA: The formal launch of Dynamic Airways in Guyana was welcomed by President Donald Ramotar, who described the move as another sign of strong confidence in the local economy.
Delivering the feature address to mark the occasion at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown, the President said the airline will help to also lower fares as it offers more competition in the aviation sector.
“I think this new venture, when it gets on stream, it will make a major contribution, not only to make it easier, but I hope we’ll get the same ease in our people moving to the different destinations that we will go to,” he said. “It
will increase arrivals and improve tourism, develop agriculture and make a bigger contribution to the development of our society.”
The company’s operations will be handled locally by their agent, Roraima Airways. The new venture is something that will be good for all Guyanese, he added.
Vote of confidence
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Robeson Benn described the venture as a vote of confidence in Guyana.
“…we are particularly happy when a foreign operation such as this, a significant one in the air transport sector, would give us this vote of confidence,” he said.
Benn added that he
is looking forward to the flights, good service, sustainable optimised ticketing and seeing an enduring partnership that would help to further expand the aviation market.
Mention was made of the expansion plans for the Cheddi Jagan
International Airport, which will all help the country to grow.
For Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, “It was another good thing for Guyana”. He said the capacity of the airline’s fleet of 767 jets will help to boost the agricultur-
al capacity with their expansive cargo capabilities. Noting that the Caribbean imported US$5.2 billion worth of food in 2013, he said this venture will help to transport regional produce to markets further afield, and help to offset the need for im-
ports. Dynamic Airways Chief Business Development Vice President Tom Johnson outlined the company’s plans to hire as many local staffers as possible and described the venture as a great partnership.
The U.S.-registered airline, is gearing to commence New York and Toronto-bound flights from Guyana by month-end. The airline, which offers chartered and scheduled flights across the U.S. and other international destinations, will offer increased cargo capacity particularly for produce, and is the latest to come on board the Guyana route, to capitalise on the busy peak summer season.
(Guyana Times)
JTelecoms rivals in Jamaica Digicel and LIME have joined forces in an unusual partnership to combat fraudulent bypass calls which are costing the companies hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues each year.
Throughout the rest of June, Digicel and LIME will be implementing an interactive voice response on calls that its monitoring systems have deemed to potentially be the result of fraudulent activity, known in the industry as bypass traffic. In a press release
Monday, the companies boasted that they are the first operators in the world to employ these advanced anti-fraud measures.
"Network operators in Jamaica have for several years been battling bypass. Bypass activity occurs when an interna-
tional call circumvents the international switching network of a licensed voice carrier by alternate or illegal routes. The fraudulent call appears as, among other things, a local number to avoid legitimate charges and results in Jamaica losing significant foreign exchange, tax revenue and Universal Service Levy Funds while also impacting the revenues available to legitimate operators to further invest in their networks for the good of customers," the release stated.
"This will take the form of a call interruption where the system will ask the caller to key a unique code in order to verify that that number is legitimate. Once the caller is verified, the call will resume. Importantly, customers will not be charged for the duration of the call interruption," the re-
lease added.
Commenting on the new anti-fraud initiative, LIME CEO Garfield Sinclair said that the company had been "calling for stiffer penalties for the perpetrators of illegal bypass activity for some time".
"These new antifraud practices should go a long way to stopping these people in their tracks and collecting much-needed revenues for the government," he added. Meanwhile, Digicel Jamaica CEO Barry O'Brien disclosed that the company has had great success using a similar technique.
"We're happy that the telecoms industry in Jamaica is coming together to fight this battle and are looking forward to this pioneering work producing positive results here (in Jamaica)," he said. (Jamaica Observer)
GUYANA: After some 17 years of the Canadian Bank Note Company Limited operating the lottery in Guyana, the current government may now be looking at putting the contract out to tender to possibly get “a better deal”.
“They have been here for a long time. Maybe there should be some consideration in going out back to tender to see if we can get a better deal on that,” President Donald Ramotar told reporters at a press conference at State House on Saturday.
The Guyana Lottery Company Limited is owned by Canadian Bank Note Company Limited, a company
'I
the Guyana lottery company pays to the Guyana government a licence fee of 24 percent of gross revenues
which supplies printed products and related issuing and control systems. The contract to operate a lottery was given to the Company in August 1996 by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.
Under the agreement, the Guyana Lottery Company pays to the Guyana government a licence fee of 24 percent of gross revenues,
need my money'
less any additional fees and taxes.
It is not clear how much money has been turned over to government since the Guyana Lottery Company has been in existence.
However, in 2011, the Guyana Lottery Company said it had given out over Gy$8 billion in prizes and raised just under Gy$4.5 billion for government.
The Company had also disclosed that it provides direct employment for 34 persons and business opportunities for approximately 80 retail agents. “We have worked wonderfully well in partnership with the government of Guyana,” the Company said in a statement in October 2011.
Whether that part-
JAMAICA: Eight months after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that Jamaican Shanique Myrie be awarded damages for an illegal cavity search, detention in a dank room in the Grantley Adams Airport, and subsequent deportation, she is yet to collect a cent.
In October last year, the CCJ ruled that Myrie should be paid US$38,620 in pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages by the Barbadian government.
Myrie expressed frustration Monday and said the Barbadian government was deliberately dragging its feet.
"I am getting impatient. I can't understand why after eight months I can't even hear a word about what's happening about the money. It seems they want to wait until I get grandchildren. It's just not fair," Myrie told Jamaican media.
Myrie's plight came to international light after the media chronicled how she was violated by a female immigration official and locked away with another woman in a cold, filthy room before being deported to Jamaica, despite not being found with any contraband or deemed to be in violation of any Barbadian law.
"It was not easy for me to come forward and speak about the treatment. I am encouraging others to speak out for their rights, so this is what I am doing now. I need my money," she said.
As a party to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, Barbados has a duty to comply with all the judgements of the court promptly.
But based on Myrie's long wait it seems that Bridgetown is snubbing its nose at the court.
Three months ago, Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister AJ Nicholson said a five-month wait was by no means long. He added that Jamaica was holding Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to his word that his country is committed to complying with the CCJ ruling.
The Myrie case threatened to spark a diplomatic row between both countries and saw a slew of other Jamaicans coming forward to claim mistreatment at the hands of Barbadian officials.
Another Jamaican woman, who was held with illegal drugs and sentenced to prison time, complained that she was raped by a cop and forced to perform oral sex on another.
The woman also ac-
nership with government has since soured is unclear, but President Ramotar said the fact that government is considering putting the contract back out to tender is the reason for the parent company of the Guyana Lottery Company not being given a long-term contract.
One of the arguments the Opposition has long been making is that the revenue generated from the Guyana Lottery Company should be put into the Consolidated Fund. The Opposition has alleged that the
money is instead put into a special fund controlled by the Office of the President.
It is also being argued by the Opposition that the revenue from the Guyana Lottery Company is subject to Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana which requires that “All revenues or other monies raised or received by Guyana (not being revenues or other monies that are payable, by or under an Act of Parliament, into some other fund established for any specific purpose or that may, by or under such an Act, be
retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund.”
However, government’s legal minds have argued that the funds received from the Guyana Lottery Company were not required to be deposited into the Consolidated Fund. The Guyana Lottery Company was relaunched in 2011 with a new online lottery system and terminals. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)
cused a female cop of aiding and abetting her male colleagues in carrying out the sexual assault on her.
The woman cop and one of the males have since been charged, while another has fled the country. (Jamaica Observer)
JAMAICA: Hotel developers are expected to spend Ja$76 billion through to 2015 on projects already in the pipeline for Jamaica.
Some of the 10 properties, which will add 2,300 rooms to Jamaica's room count within two years, have already begun or have already been completed, according to the government filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Carib Hospitality is spending Ja$1.8 billion on its ongoing hotel development of the 130-room Courtyard by Marriott in New Kingston, while the RIU group spent Ja$3.9 billion to open the 232-room RIU Palace in December 2013.
Additionally, the Tourism and Leisure Development International (TLDI) group is currently spending some Ja$9 billion to build 520 new rooms for a Playa Hotel.
Still to come is a Ja$2.2-billion medical tourism hospital facility to be built by Spanishbased Hospiten group.
Phase two of the Fiesta Group's Grand
Lady Paladium hotel, which is projected to cost Ja$20 billion to build the 800-room hotel, is still awaiting building approval and a casino gaming licence.
"The former Grand Lido Braco, Royal Decameron at Paradise Cove, Ritz-Carlton, Poncianna and Breezes Runaway Bay are under new management and are currently undergoing, and will reopen after, major refurbishment," said the government filing to the SEC. "Approximately Ja$12 billion has been committed to refurbishing these properties.
"The Grand Lido Braco is under refurbishment and expansion. The Ritz-Carlton is still under construction
and expansion to reopen as Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall with an additional 193 rooms."
The tabulation of these projects, which runs between 2013 and 2015, is meant to show that the island can attract investment.
In addition to the private sector investments, the notice speaks to the long-delayed, government-conceived Harmony Cove project, which once again aims to start this year.
"Construction on the first phase of the project is scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2014 with a total Phase One budget of approximately US$800 million," said the filing. "Phase One is expected to take approximately
three years to complete.
"Full build-out of all phases of the project is expected to be completed within the next 10 years, based upon demand."
The plan for the Harmony Cove resort, to be located in Trelawny, includes several upscale hotels and residences totalling 5,000 units and a full range of amenities.
Just under one million tourists visited the island over the first three months of 2014, which represented a 2.4 percent dip year-on-year due to a dip in cruise arrivals.
"The decreases of total visitors and cruise passengers were primarily due to the decline in calls to the ports of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios," stated the notice.
In 2013, the tourism industry earned some US$2 billion in foreign exchange, which represented 59.5 percent of gross foreign exchange earnings from the productive sector last year, excluding remittance inflows.
Total visitor arrivals hit 3.27 million in 2013 or one percent less than a year earlier. (Jamaica Observer)
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: In the last few months, Guyana has managed to secure three airlines which will begin operations soon; however, there seems to be negotiations in the pipeline for yet another airline.
This is according to Foreign Affairs Minster Carolyn RodgriguesBirkett, who did not reveal much detail about the airline, or the negotiations, but hinted that it is an airline from the Middle-East.
Only last Friday, a U.S.-registered airline, Dynamic Airways, officially launched its services as it gears up to commence operations in Guyana on June 26.
Dynamic Airways will be partnering with local airline, Roraima Airways, to provide its services to Guyanese.
Also partnering with Roraima, is another airline, Insel Air, which will commence operations in Guyana on June 18. The Curacao-based airline had announced its services from Guyana in April last. It will be operating flights to Miami and other destinations from Aruba and Curacao–its two main hubs.
Insel Air will also
be offering a pre-clearance service with the U.S. Customs and Immigration in Aruba, allowing passengers to clear customs in the Dutch country after which they will be flown to the U.S. on a domestic flight and do not have to go through the tedious process there.
Then there is Copa Airline, which had announced its arrival in the local market in January and will commence flights from Guyana to Panama on July 11, twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. The flight will stop at Panama then to the various Copa destinations, which includes several U.S. cities; Toronto, Canada; and Mexico. Copa Airlines will also be flying to several destinations across the Caribbean and South America. (Guyana Times)
JAMAICA:
Members of the Excelsior Community College family in Jamaica are trying to come to grips with the gruesome killing of educator Nigel Riley Monday morning in Old Harbour, St Catherine.
Riley is the third educator from the institution to die within the last seven months.
Former Excelsior Community College Principal Dr Nadine Scott passed away in early May and Vice Principal Dr Earl Buckle died in December of last year.
Principal Philmore McCarthy told Jamaican media on Tuesday that Riley’s murder has left the institution in shock and described the death as “a real tragedy that has left us feeling battered”.
“Riley was very loving,” he said. “He had an excellent relationship with students and lecturers (alike).”
News of Riley’s death came
during a prayer session Monday morning as students and teachers prepared for final exams, McCarthy added.
According to the police, Riley’s body was found on a playing field in Old Harbour with the throat slashed about 7:00 am Monday.
The 40-year-old educator who focused on business studies at Excelsior was completing his PhD.
Riley resided in the Lennonville area of Old Harbour. (Jamaica Observer)
KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT: Police in St. Vincent have confirmed that the bodies of 39-yer-old football coach, Othneil Delplesche, 39, and his six-year-old son, have been found after they went missing while swimming at the San Souci Beach on the east coast on Saturday.
Police Commissioner Michal Charles confirmed that the bodies were recovered on Monday. The
two had gone bathing at the San Souci beach when Delplesche’s son and two others got into difficulties.
The football coach and another person went to their rescue but while the youngsters were saved, Delplesche and his son were not.
The Coast Guard had assisted in the search of the sea that is notoriously rough, with dangerous undercurrents that side of island.
(Caribbean News)
‘NIS funds are safe’ - PM Stuart assures Barbadians
BARBADOS: Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has assured Barbadians that funds in the National Insurance Scheme are safe following reports that money to pay benefits to the country’s unemployed could run out in about two years time.
“So far as the National Insurance Fund is concerned, no need to worry at all,” he told reporters while touring BMEX at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre Monday.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo disclosed last week that the government borrowing from NIS is way past target.
However, when questioned by journalists the prime minister said, “There has never been a
time in the history of the Unemployment Benefit Fund in Barbados when it was not under challenge, because as I said, unemployment has been a serious endemic problem to Barbados. Our severance fund is healthy. The National Insurance department administers a number of funds and those funds are all in a state of robust health.”
“To segment or to segregate the unemployment fund, highlight that and to give the impression that all is danger, all is sadness and loss at the department of National Insurance is a monstrous perversion of commonsense. It is also a monstrous perversion of the truth,” Stuart added.
Placing the issues faced by social security fund in a regional historical context,
he stated that, “employment has always been an issue here in the Caribbean. One of the features about Caribbean history after about 450 years to 500 years, is that we’ve only had full employment in the Caribbean during the days of slavery.
“We’ve always been trying to create an environment where our economies could have the absorptive capacity to provide employment for the wide range of young, and not so young people who want work.”
For this reason, he said, “the unemployment fund has always been the most challenged of our funds because unemployment, in these islands in the Caribbean, Barbados included, has always been a challenge”. (Barbados Today)
Guyana has declared war against the chikungunya disease ever since its discovery in Region Six, Health Ministry’s Vector Control Services Department Director, Dr Reyaud Rahaman said.
The declaration comes amid reports of 15 confirmed cases of the virus in the Ancient County.
According to Dr Rahaman, a massive fogging and spraying exercise has commenced in the region and New Amsterdam, East Canje have been targeted first.
“We have conducted fogging exercises in the Vryman’s Erven area, Stanleytown, Central New Amsterdam and Canje.”
Dr Rahaman was at the time addressing a national symposium hosted by the Environmental Department of the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA)
He said the department had responded to a call of mosquito nuisance in New Amsterdam and found an infestation of the pest there.
“What we found [is]
guyana’s Vector control services department director dr reyaud rahaman
that there are plenty of breathing grounds… People have tyres and other receptacles in their yards which have been collecting water and helping the mosquitoes to breed,” he said. The virus was first discovered in the Caribbean on December 23 last year in St Martin and has since become a worry for the Caribbean.
Since then, local transmission has been identified in 17 countries or territories in the Caribbean or South America, namely Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, The
Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana (South America), Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Barthelemy, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Maarten.
Discovery
Guyana’s Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran last week reported that the discovery in Berbice was made
after 130 blood samples were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in Trinidad, for testing.
Apart from the positive samples which have been returned, an additional 82 suspected cases have been identified by the New Amsterdam Hospital and have been sent for testing.
Meanwhile, scores of persons have been visiting hospitals in the re-
gion with symptoms similar to those of chikungunya. At the New Amsterdam Hospital, dozens of persons complained of feeling unwell and claimed to have symptoms similar to those associated with chikungunya.
Dr Rahman said the patient must have severe symptoms to be admitted into a hospital, pointing out that doctors have been trained to detect the virus.
“It is impossible to take a sample from everyone that comes in with fever and other similar symptoms.”
These symptoms include high fever, intense joint pains, headaches, muscle pains, swollen joints and nausea. The symptoms last for one to three weeks, but may go for months or even years.
(Excerpted from Guyana Times)
JAMAICA: President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Senator Norman Grant said the Denbigh Agricultural Industrial and Food Show will be of a world-class nature this year.
"The transformational and game-changing approaches we are implementing will make Denbigh a world-class event," said Grant as he addressed the official launch which was held on the lawn of the Hi-Pro ACE Supercentre in White Marl, St Catherine last Wednesday.
According to Grant, the agricultural show has served as a reminder of what the country has achieved in agriculture and its related sectors as well as highlight the contribution of the more than 200,000 farmers to the development of Jamaica's economy.
Organisers of the event, slated to be held from August 1 to 3 at the Denbigh Show Grounds in May Pen, Clarendon, are expecting ap-
He explained that there will be five hubs which will focus on health, children and family, tourism, organic agriculture and youth in agriculture.
proximately 80,000 patrons to attend.
In order to facilitate a better 'Denbigh experience' the village concept has been replaced by the hub concept which is said to offer a more effective means by which patrons will interact with the various activities and linkages on show.
"This year the hubs will be more cohesive, more organised and more likely to achieve value added goals," said Grant, who is also chairman of the Denbigh organising committee.
The show, which is being held under the theme "Grow What we Eat, Eat What we Grow: Agriculture Growing for Growth, will also feature it's traditional exhibitions, car show, farmer's market, bamboo display, various competitions and symposium on global trade. The symposium will provide sponsors, and stakeholders an opportunity to interact, establish contacts and learn about other markets and products locally and internationally. Other attractions and activities will include a Caribbean Food Festival hosted by the 4-H Club, a National Farm Queen Coronation Show and a gospel concert on the final night.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke commended the organ-
isers of Denbigh for their contribution to the country and the sector over the years. He said it is at the Denbigh show that farmers, the persons who feed us, are given the recognition they deserve.
"Denbigh is a critical element in what we do. It is that place where our farmers gather each year to trade thoughts and we recognise them as pillars of growth development in the country," Clarke said.
The minister symbolically handed the Denbigh torch to the committee's chairman, which is expected to go around the island over the next 60 days to promote the show. It will be brought back to the show ground on July 31 where it will be handed over to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen as a declaration of the show's official opening on August 1.
This year will be the 62nd staging of the agricultural show in Jamaica. (Jamaica Observer)
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Guyana’s premier trade fair, GuyExpo, was launched at the Georgetown International Conference Centre with President Donald Ramotar and acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, urging sustained growth and development in core areas from Guyana’s private sector.
Addressing the gathering of entrepreneurs and potential exhibitors at the launching ceremony, President Ramotar underscored the need for the private sector to invest in Guyana’s tourism and natural resources sectors, noting that the private sector plays a pivotal role in Guyana’s economic wellbeing.
The president further related that the government will continue to be unyielding in its pursuit of cheaper energy via the Amaila Falls Hydropower project.
He said that it would be remiss of the government to urge private sector investment and further development in the manufacturing sector with the current high costs of energy.
Further, the President urged continued partnerships between the government and the private sector in tackling projects that would be of benefit to Guyana.
Private Public Partnership
He noted that the government is in pursuit of more areas to
develop Private Public Partnerships (PPPs), much like the Berbice Bridge Company which has been a resounding success, according to the President.
He noted too that another Private Public Partnership project was the controversial Marriott Hotel project which is scheduled for completion in the latter part of this year.
The President said that he is sure that the Marriott Project will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in the PPP arrangement, that is, the Berbice Bridge Company.
This advent, he stressed will increase Guyana’s capacity to develop as a nation.
Meanwhile, acting
Tourism Minister Ali also underlined the need for private sector investments and partnerships to maximise capacity and production out of resources available.
These investments, he stressed, will “capture what is taking place in Guyana…changing the outlook of Guyana, changing the outlook
of business and change business standards”.
This year’s GuyExpo is being held under the theme: “Transformation: Partnering For A Better Guyana” and will follow the trend of a long history of successful trade expositions.
It was noted at the opening ceremony however that this year, less
emphasis will be placed on the entertainment aspect of the trade exposition as was the case in the previous years.
Emphasis will be placed on small businesses and its exhibits. It is expected that this year will see the largest number of exhibitors in comparison to the other years. (Guyana Times)
MORVANT, TRINIDAD:
Two teenaged cousins one of whom was a national track athlete and the other described as an IT “genius”, were shot dead Monday by police in Morvant, bringing to 26 the number of persons shot dead by police in Trinidad and Tobago this year.
Dead are Tevin Alexander, 15, and cousin Hakeem Alexander,16, the latter winning bronze for TT in the Boys’ Under 17 3,000 metre race last year at the Carifta Games in Bahamas.
Police Service spokesman Insp Wayne Mystar told the media that at about 4.15 pm, officers from the Inter Agency Task Force and North Eastern Division responded to reports of gunshots in the Chinapoo area of Morvant.
He said that on arrival officers were met with gunfire forcing them to take cover and return gunfire which led to the Alexander cousins being shot. The teens were taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Mystar said three suspects were arrested and two firearms recovered.
But relatives of the shot teens painted a different picture of events. They said the cousins were confronted by a gunman who had been “terrorising” the area since Christmas and who had tried to convert the cousins to Islam. Relatives said the teens were running from the gunman toward their grandmother’s home at Lezama
Trace when they ran into the police officers at Superville Hill.
Tevin’s mother Lisa De LeonAlexander claimed she witnessed the shooting. “The boys on running into the police, dropped to their knees, put their hands in the air and said, ‘we not in nothing’. They literally begged for their lives...but the police still killed them. They did not search them they just shot them,” she cried.
She further claimed that when relatives and others begged for the boys’ lives, the officers turned their guns on them.
Tevin was a Form Four student of Belmont Boys Secondary and dreamed of becoming an IT technician. De Leon-Alexander recalled he stayed home from school Monday because she did not have money to send him. Hakeem was on a court-ordered bond for fighting but Tevin had no run-ins with the law.
Hakeem was a student at Success Laventille Secondary but dropped out of school at Form Three due to frustration over the lack of opportunities at that school for track and field events.
He worked with his father at Peake’s Marine in Chaguaramas.
Hakeem’s father Henry Alexander said his son had been running since he was seven and showed off his son’s many trophies and medals. Hakeem attended the Carifta Games in Martinique this year but did not compete.
(Excerpted from TT Newsday)
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Some eight months after, Guyana and Venezuela are yet to meet on the maritime boundary issue arising out of the incident last October, where a research vessel in Guyana’s maritime territory was seized by the Venezuelan Navy.
Teams of technical experts from the two neighbouring countries were scheduled to meet on the issue and examine a way forward on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries between Guyana and Venezuela; however, this meeting never happened.
In a recent interview with Guyanese media, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, said that because of the unrest in Venezuela, the scheduled meeting with the technicians had to be postponed.
“My colleague, the (Venezuelan) Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated to me some time ago that he was optimistic that we would be able to have the meeting within a month or so, but that month has passed,” she stated.
The interview was done days before the Guyanese minister departed for Paraguay to attend the 44th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, where she had indicated that her Venezuelan counterpart, Elías Jaua, would also be present. Minister Rodrigues-Birkett had noted
that she would discuss with him a possible meeting in the near future.
“It has been a while now and we are anxious to have this first meeting take place,” she said while adding that the earlier the meeting is held, the better it will be for Guyana. The Foreign Affairs Minister acknowledged that the longer it takes to resolve this maritime boundary issue, the longer Guyana would take to fully utilise its resources.
According to Minister RodriguesBirkett, while there are several options around whatever decision is taken, it would be within the confines of international law. “We have said that and Venezuela have said that as well so we hope that these meetings will be held under the umbrella of the international law and whatever settlement we have come to will be governed by the same laws,” she pointed out.
The Panama-flagged Teknik Perdana was carrying out a seabed survey for Texas-based Anadarko in conjunction with Guyanese authorities, when Venezuela’s navy boarded it and escorted it to Margarita Island. Reviving a centuryold issue with Guyana, Venezuela accused the ship of violating its maritime territory. The government of Guyana, retorted that the ship was well within its territory and the seizure was an act of aggression.
(Excerpted from Guyana Times)
KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The University of the West Indies (UWI) says it will this year confer honorary doctorates on 20 people, including the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Carmona and Grenada’s Governor General Dame Cécile Ellen La Grenade.
The region’s premier tertiary institution said that the degrees will be awarded to the 20 for their “stellar contributions to Caribbean development” and the conferral will take place during the 2014 graduation ceremonies at its three campuses.
UWI Chancellor Sir George Alleyne will confer the degrees at the graduation exercises during the months of October and November.
Former acting chief justice of the OECS Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne, and St Lucian Dr Earl Long, a parasitologist will be honoured by UWI’s Open Campus.
Others to be honoured include the Barbados-based women’s rights activist, Dame Maizie Barker-Welch and former Barbados foreign affairs and foreign trade minister Dame Billie Miller.
Guyanese-born writer, journalist, public servant and politician, Dr Robert Moore; former diplomat, writer, journalist and international consultant, Sir Ronald Sanders and singer McCartha Linda Sandy-Lewis, better known as “Calypso Rose” will also be awarded honorary doctorates. (TT Newsday)
Prominent St. Kitts businessman dies suddenly after receiving top honour
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS:
Former president of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) Krishan (Kishu) Devidas Chandiramani, has died, less than 24 hours after he was honoured by the organisation at its annual banquet.
Chandiramani, 72, was also a past president of the Hotel and Tourism Association.
“It is with shock and horror that I learned of the passing of Mr. Kishu Chandiramani, the former president of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce,” said CIC president Damion Hobson, recalling that it was only on Saturday night Kishu was honoured for his outstanding service to the organisation, business development and the country generally.
He said the Indian-born businessman and philanthropist would also be remembered “for his love for family and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The Chamber and the business community here in St. Kitts and Nevis have lost a pioneer, a visionary and a national who practiced with the greatest sincerity, philanthropy at its best. We shall all miss him as a person, as a friend, and someone on whose wise council you can always depend.”
Chandiramani also served on several boards including the Bank of Nevis and was a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of St. Kitts since 1969. (Caribbean News)
The best days of Guyana’s sugar industry is still ahead said President Donald Ramotar, who also noted that the industry has been affected by the need for restructuring as well as low labour turnout in the fields.
Speaking at a press conference at State House on Saturday, President Ramotar urged the media to give the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) a chance to breathe, since he said it has been given a lot of bad publicity lately.
He said GuySuCo should be given the opportunity to concentrate on work that is necessary to bring back the industry to full vitality since he has every confidence the best days of the sugary industry is yet to come.
Low Labour turnouts
“The difficulties GuySuCo has been facing in recent years has to do with the need for restructuring as well as a result of the trading regime that has occurred internationally.
Therefore, GuySuCo has to change because those changes have been occurring internationally,” he said.
Only last month, the President had said the world market prices for sugar are discouraging, but that the Corporation would have to continue to find ways of being cost effective, efficient and productive.
Ramotar also stated that GuySuCo needs to adapt to address the situation of low labour turnout in the fields, and noted that it has been operating as a whole at just over 60 percent turnout in the fields, while in some estates the labour turnout has been as low as 40 percent.
He named the Uitvlugt Estate as one example where labour turnout has been as low as 40 percent.
“GuySuCo has to change because of the local labour
situation in our country where we do not have huge surplus of labour anymore,” Ramotar stated.
Targets
“The industry is important to us not only as an economy but psychologically. It is responsible for all of us being here in many ways and we should give as much support to it as we possibly can,” he said.
Despite the challenges in the sugar industry, he highlighted that GuySuCo recently surpassed its target in
Emphasising the need for the restructuring of the sugar industry, Ramotar also called for support and understanding from stakeholders, including the media. He said criticism is always welcomed, but it must be constructive.
reaching 79, 900 tonnes of sugar and that even the Skeldon Sugar Factory, which has been under so much scrutiny since its modernisation, reached its target of 13, 795 tonnes of sugar. He also noted that the Berbice and Rosehall Estates and the Enmore Packaging Plant have also been doing well. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)
Guyana’s acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali is in Spain wooing European tourists as he tries to take Destination Guyana to a new level.
Guyana has been recently invited to become a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the minister, during a presentation at the Executive Council, spoke extensively about investment opportunities available in Guyana.
According to a release, Ali in marketing Guyana, highlighted ways in which the country through collaboration, could tap into non-traditional tourism markets.
He pointed out that recently, the arrival of Copa Airlines in Guyana has brought the possibility of Guyana reaching tourism markets in Latin and South America.
Several airlines have also begun to operate in Guyana, all of which would add to the tourism product and make Guyana more accessible to tourists.
The invitation to Guyana came after the 98th session of the UNWTO Executive Council meeting in Spain, which highlighted the role of tourism routes in promoting regional integration and development.
The Council debated key factors to stimulate tourism growth such as visa facilitation and air connectivity, while outlining the role the tourism sector can play in the sustainable development agenda.
UNWTO’s membership includes 156 countries, six associate members and over 400 affiliate members, representing the private sector, educational institutions and tourism associations.
Promotion
As the leading international organisation in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a major contributor towards economic growth, all inclusive development and environmental sustainability.
The organisation offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. UNWTO is tasked
with the responsible of promoting responsible sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
UNWTO’s Secretary General Taleb Rifai emphasised the important role tourism plays, pointing out that the sector contributes nine percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This news of the invitation to Guyana comes on the heels of Ali revealing that the ministry is presently holding talks with tourism operators to establish a National Tourism Marketing Fund, to support their work.
According to Ali, the idea was mooted some
time ago, but the bigger plan was to establish a Regional Marketing Fund, which can benefit the entire region since all countries in the region are facing challenges pertaining to marketing of their tourism products.
He, however, stated that after it was realised that Guyana has huge potential in becoming a leading tourism destination and enough was not being done to market and compete with what is being offered on the regional and international levels, a National Marketing Fund was thought to be the best solution.
(Guyana Times)
JAMAICA: A record number of Chinese visitors came to Jamaica over the first three months of 2014 resulting in that country usurping Japan as the key source market from Asia for the first time.
The growth trend is likely to continue with the announcement in February of the removal of visa requirements for Chinese visitors.
It meant that Chinese stopovers at 664 visitors actually outnumbered arrivals from Japan at 643.
The numbers are small as a percentage of total arrivals, but the economic importance of China (the world's second largest economy) to the island in relation to mega projects puts weight on these numbers.
Also, the number of arrivals from China was up one-third year on year and nearly double that of 2012.
Visitors from Japan (the world's fourth largest economy) engage in business, volunteerism and culture.
However, Japanese arrivals for much of the last two decades have remained flat based on an austere economy and an established reggae cul-
ture in Japan.
China's main interest in Jamaica relates to construction and agricultural projects.
However, the government wants more Chinese as tourists within the context that China spends the most globally on international tourism.
In February, government announced that Chinese nationals can visit Jamaica as tourists for up to 30 days without a visa.
The modern relationship between the governments of China and Jamaica reached a symbolic cresendo in 2005 with the official visit of then vice-president of China Zen Qinghong. He remains to date the highest official to visit the island from that country. The trip coincided with the ChinaCaribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum and Business Conference, and also the China-Caribbean Trade Fair.
The trip also resulted in Jamaica getting approved destination status from the Chinese government.
Total visitor arrivals hit 3.27 million in 2013 or one percent less than a year earlier. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)
and Barbuda
on a semifinal list with several states such as Brazil, Chile, Malaysia and Mexico
ANTIGUA: The positive recognition by the international community of the Antigua and Barbuda economy continues with the inclusion of the twin-island state on a list of middle income countries poised to become rich.
A Forbes article reports that Senior Research Analyst of U.S. Trust Bank of America Wealth Management Ehiwario Efeyini reviewed the 215 countries tracked by the World Bank.
The three attributes the report said Efeyini considered were “already being a middle to high income country; a high level of governance; and improvements to corporate securities monitoring agencies post-2008 financial crisis.”
Antigua and Barbuda is on a semifinal list with Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Botswana, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Tonga and Mauritius.
“In a word, governance is the perennial issue that separates emerging from developed and low- or middle- from high-income economies,” Efeyini said in the report.
Antigua’s Finance Minister Harold Lovell said the Forbes report reiterates sentiments made in the international fora concerning the country in recent years and underscores the point local technicians and the ruling administration have been making about the government’s stewardship of the economy.
“This most recent designation is a natural corollary to the United Progressive Party’s management of our fiscal and economic portfolio since taking office in 2004. It follows our removal earlier this year from the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force after demonstrating that Antigua and Barbuda is compliant with international standards and practices,” Lovell said.
“It has been said before but it bears repeating that this administration was able to rebuild the economy and place it on a stable path in the face of the global economic crises which was coupled with the regional and homegrown realities of the CLICO/BAICO collapse and the Stanford debacle. We remain extremely proud of the fact we were able to weather the storm without laying off a single public sector worker and that we did so with a homegrown plan,” Lovell added. (A&B gov’t)
Kreketeh is Guyanese Creole for snail, and escargot (pronounced ez-car-go) is the French word for snail. What these “snails” have in common is that many natives of these countries eat them, although it is much more popular in France than in Guyana.
Additionally, the most common edible snails in France are the Helix aspersa, or Common Garden Snail, served as petit gris in French cuisine, and the escargot de Bourgogne (helix pomatia).
In Guyana, usually Golden Apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata) or Pomacea urceus are eaten most often by, but not restricted to, the poorer classes. It won’t be found on upscale Guyanese restaurant menus unlike in France where escargot is considered a delicacy.
In fact queries about escargot at some leading restaurants in Guyana revealed that the word itself is almost unheard of, much less demands for the dish.
It is often assumed that escargot is the name for a specific kind of snail, but it is actually the general name given to the variety of snail used for food. Many snails, but not all, are consumed as food. It is said that there are more than 100 kinds of edible snail.
In European countries, most edible snails are farm-raised or bred as a hobby. This farming practice is called heliciculture. In Guyana, there is no such organised tradition, and most persons looking to eat them or sell, usually utilise any of the many canals from which to catch them.
The idea of eating a
snail is not one that has caught on in Guyanese cuisine, though it is all the rage in France as well as other European cuisines. The French can consume some 40,000 tons of snails per year. Ask many Guyanese and the first reaction is usually an expression of disgust, though they would often “know someone” who eats the dish.
However, a snail meal has always been in the dietary tastes of humans since prehistoric times,
as archaeological finds indicate. In addition, historical writings from the Mediterranean also show that early inhabitants dined on snails, as did the Romans, who viewed the dish as elite.
It is still often considered in the Western world as an elite dish or only for the adventurous.
High in protein and low in fat, with about 80 percent water before cooking, snails must be thoroughly cleaned since the stomach con-
tents will influence flavour. According to the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, snails are also high in essential fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids. In France, escargot is usually cooked and served with garlic butter or cream sauces, while in Guyana kreketeh is also served as rum shop cutters in “bunjay curry”. (Excerpted from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
They travelled from all over Jamaica, some able-bodied, a few almost too frail to strut their stuff, but all beaming with pride and delight as they walked to the lectern inside the Jamaica Pegasus to collect their token of appreciation for service to Jamaica's education system over the 61 years since the establishment of the Ministry of Education.
Sixty people, among them retired and current school principals, teachers, education officers, permanent secretaries past and present, administrative and ancillary workers, some wearing their finest outfits, turned up at the Jamaica
Pegasus Hotel in Kingston last Wednesday for the Ministry of Education's 60th Anniversary Banquet and Awards Ceremony.
One veteran educator who was among several, who could not hold back the joyful tears, said: "I have never felt so appreciated in all my life." And for former chief education officer, Wesley Barrett, a thousand kudos should be extended to the ministry for its effort to recognise the contribution of the educators and support staff.
Bin the ministry of education
services to the office of minister. Many others have also served with distinction but we selected only a few to recognise as a representative group on this occasion. And we are certain they will receive their awards in that spirit," said Foster Allen.
Her sentiments were echoed by Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, who thanked both the "sung and unsung heroes" of the education system for their contribution to the development of Jamaica.
Waveney Ann Moore is a general assignment reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. She covers a wide range of topics in the metropolitan area and, notably, was a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize “For Their Own Good”, about abuse at Florida’s oldest reform school.
The event was the culmination of several activities, which began late 2013 with a church service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, to mark the ministry's milestone.
In her opening remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Elaine Foster Allen lauded the awardees and made it clear that many other persons were worthy of such accolade. "All the persons being awarded tonight are deserving of honour. They have served the ministry in various capacities from ancillary
ARBADOS: Jamming to old and new tracks, revellers in the Christ Church Carnival made merry as the street parade made its way from the area of Silver Sands Park to Wotton Playing Field.
The inaugural event got off to a late and slow start with the first band moving off after 10 am, roughly one hour later than its scheduled 9am start. The revellers in the remaining three bands took to the street after 11am.
This late start did not dampen the spirits of the masqueraders in the bands–‘Swerve’, ‘Pressure Point’, ‘Below-Rock Jammers’ and ‘Masqueraded Fantasies’, as they intended to have nothing but a great time.
The Whit Monday festivities attracted large groups of individuals from varying Christ Church communities to the main street. Lining the route, which was well secured
Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, who spoke on behalf of Opposition Leader and Spokesman on Education, Andrew Holness, also commended those who served the country's education system over the past 60 years. She noted that Jamaica has made significant strides in the development of its education system.
Among the awardees, for their contribution to the education sector, were: Professor Errol Miller, Dr Alfred Sangster, Rev Jeffery McKenzie, Dr Henrietta Stewart, Byron Farquharson, Margaret Bowie, Basella Tai, Sharon Reid and Woodburn 'Woody' Miller. (Jamaica Observer)
The series won the Dart Award for covering trauma, the Casey Medal for exemplary reporting on children and families and first place for nondeadline reporting in the 2010 Green Eyeshade competition run by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Moore was also a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer as part of a team that covered the story of the Rev. Henry Lyons, former head of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. She’s a former reporter for the Kansas City Star.
Born in Guyana, she is a naturalised American citizen. Moore, a former Bishops High School stu-
by Marshalls and members of the Royal Barbados Police Force, persons watched with excitement as some revellers showed off their dancing skills. Using cameras and other recording
devices some spectators captured the movements of the masqueraders who were dressed in T-shirts and shorts as well as bikini-type costumes. Speaking to the media prior to join-
dent, recalled that she has always been an avid reader. After migrating to the United States, she graduated cum laude with a BA in English and Communications from the College of New Rochelle in New York. Her first reporting job was with the Kansas City Star, in Kansas City, Missouri. She also wrote for several gourmet food magazines. She has been writing for the St. Petersburg Times since 1994. The Dart Awards are administered by the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, based at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Established in 1995, the annual Dart Awards recognise outstanding reporting that portrays traumatic events with accuracy, insight and sensitivity while illustrating the effects of trauma on victims’ lives and the process of recovery from emotional trauma. (www.guyanesegirlsrock.com)
ing the band, ‘Below-Rock Jammers’, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley expressed satisfaction with the response from communities to the event. He further said the carnival should improve over time.
“It is of course a community executed event with logistical and other support from the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and I believe that as we move from year to year, we will have even a bigger and better event but this is the first one,” he explained.
The Member of Parliament for Christ Church West Central added that plans are in the pipeline to make it an annual occurrence.
“It is intended to make this an annual event and of course, we are going to work with the community organisation that is involved and provide as much help and support as we think is necessary,” he stated. (Barbados Advocate)
this year would mark 125 years since Guyana’s city Hall came into existence (Guyana Times photo)
Through the efforts of the National Trust of Guyana, City Hall has been successfully selected for listing on its 2014-2016 World Monuments Watch List as a site at risk globally. This enlistment aims to raise awareness at both international and global levels in an effort to promote and possibly aid in the safeguarding and long-term survival of this unique wooden historic structure.
The National Trust of Guyana, under the auspices of the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, with support from the World Monument Fund (WMF), held a Watch Day Forum last week aimed at raising awareness of City Hall for protection and promotion of this historic building.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the WMF is a private, international, non-prof-
it organisation dedicated to the prevention of historic architecture and cultural sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grant marking and education
The prestigious list offers recognition of the world’s most endangered sites. WMF will aid in its promotion as much as possible through international linkages and public awareness, through various mediums. Guyana is expected to raise local awareness among its stakeholders
JAMAICA: To the current students at UWI Mona, Gibraltar Hall is simply the name of a road on campus. But to the young, ambitious minds of the 1950s at the then University College of the West Indies, it was the first student hall of residence, their home away from home.
"We lived in huts that had been previously used by evacuees from Gibraltar," Professor Ken Magnus, one of the hall's residents told Jamaican media.
"There were two long verandahs, divided into 15 rooms and each had a back and front door. Doors were divided into two so you could use it as a door or a window. When we got there, there were beds and bookshelves to use as living quarters," Magnus recalled.
Occupying the landscape between what are now the Old Library and UWI Mona & Community Co-op Credit Union on the campus, Gibraltar Hall was established among the buildings that used to be Gibraltar Camp. During World War II, such camps were used by the men, wom-
to ensure restoration of this site during and beyond the two-year listing period.
Speaking at the event which was held at the Umana Yana, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that he was pleased that City Hall was selected out of the 248 applications which were submitted to WMF. This is the first such listing for Guyana on this list.
Minister Anthony noted that City Hall was not even supposed to be selected, noting that this historic site should have been maintained. However, the site will be known globally, and will eventually have a positive effect on Guyana’s tourism sector. He further stated that if this historic site disappears, it will be not only Guyana losing a valuable monument, but the entire world.
History
This year would mark 125 years since
City Hall came into existence and over the years, this building would have provided a number of services to the people of the city and the country.
Minister Anthony explained that the building had deteriorated, and last year, the TVA consultants came to Guyana and did a report, and from that report, a number of recommendations were made as it pertains to saving the building.
This year, the government announced its intention to invest Gy$200 million to start the restoration work
en and children of active service under the command of the military of Gibraltar. By 1944 the war had ended and the buildings were abandoned, after which they were used until 1947 as an Ex-Serviceman's Training School.
Hall life
But by October 1948, in the embryonic stages of UWI Mona, the camp had become Gibraltar Hall, opening its doors to its first set of undergraduate residents. These included 20 natural science and 30 medical science students from
all over the Caribbean.
Outfitted with elevated sentry stations, bath facilities, dining and sleeping quarters from the old camp, Gib Hall as it was called, paved the foundation for hall life as it is now known.
Though Hazel Darby Richardson only spent one year on the hall before moving to what is now Irvine Hall, she said that she enjoyed the activities of the university as a whole as "it was nice to be in the company of the other girls."
Fellow classmate, Dr Owen Minott, described
on the building. The National Trust will be spearheading the restoration of the building.
City Hall was designed by Father Ignatius Scholes. He was born in London and was elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1856. On December 23, 1887, under a tent, Governor, Sir Henry Turner Irving laid the foundation stone for City Hall. A mere 18 months later on July 1, 1889, under heavy rainfall before a gathering of 400 influential people, the new offices of the Council were
declared open. The architecture of City Hall is of the Gothic Revival style with features of the British Victorian era. It shows expert craftsmanship in the manipulation of wood, including the decorative use of iron at verandas and stairways. Its architecture distinguishes it from all others in the country and regional neighbours. Historically, it is a source of 125 years of heritage and is at present being used as the office to carry out the duties of Mayor and City Council.
bol, the residents, Gibraltarites, made their mark on the campus for the next six years.
In 1953, pressure from the school's then administration forced 35 Gibralarites to leave the old huts and move into what is now Chancellor Hall and others to Taylor Hall. With them they carried their well-known values of brotherhood and camaraderie.
Sixty-one years after its closure, Gibraltar
ational area is now the Dramatic Theatre and the Sacred Heart Church that housed the bell, which disappeared in 1968, is now the Old Library. Scattered across that end of the campus are some wooden structures and an old kitchen/dining room unit. The stone washtubs outside of the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) are remnants of the camp, of
his hall experience as "the best in the world." With the Bell of Gibraltar as their sym-
GUYANA: The John Campbell Police Museum, also known as “the Police Museum”, housed at the Felix Austin Police College at the Police Headquarters in Eve Leary, Guyana, is a repository for the history of the country’s Police Force.
Not a well-known museum, it is in recognition of the work of John Campbell a former Assistant Commissioner of Police, who was instrumental in re-organising it in 1975.
In 1932, a few police officers saw the importance of preserving the history of the Police Force, and thus the museum came into existence. It was first housed at the Police Depot, now referred to as the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). However, in the same year it was removed from that location to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where it remained until 1938.
In 1938, the collection was growing, as more exhibits were added, but due to the absence of trained personnel, the development and overall upkeep of the museum suffered. Ten years after
the museum was relocated at the Police Depot, but remained under the administrative control of the CID.
The museum keeps uniforms, helmets, and even musical instruments from colonial times among its many other police artefacts
the initiative of reorganising the museum. As a result of the long period of inactivity, many of the artefacts were either damaged or suffered some degree of decay. Moved by the decaying condition of the museum, Campbell had set himself the task of contract-
H. Greene, who was the new officer-in-charge of research, planning and publication, assumed responsibility for the museum’s rehabilitation programme. It was moved from CID to its present location, Felix Austin Police College, and was under the ad-
that also include photographs.
During the 70s, the late John Campbell, who was at the time the research, planning and publication officer, took
ing divisional officers throughout the country with a view to replacing the depleted collection.
In 1989, the museum was given a face-lift when Senior Superintendent
members of the public on July 24, 1989. After more than a year of preparation, the museum was officially opened by Mrs V. Campbell, wife of John Campbell, on October 14, 1993.
ministrative control of Assistant Commissioner L. Gilkes.
To coincide with the Force’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the museum was opened to
In the museum one will see the Presentation and State Swords that were used in state ceremonies, and those presented to individuals as a mark of esteem or honour. They have been used for many centuries at coronations, inaugurations and other solemn
public occasions. Among them are the Sword of Justice, the Sword of Mercy and the Sword of Mourning. Police sword belts, riot shield used in the 1960’s, and Campbell’s paintings depicting the Enmore Riots, are part of the collection.
Presently, the Force is working on revamping the research and planning department to help to sustain and improve the museum. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Carl Lauder gently pulls out a record from its cover, dusts it and places it on the turntable, gently placing the needle on the groove, and lets the player turn out the sounds of music. Lauder is not a fancy disc jockey, in Randy's Record Mart in Parade, downtown Kingston---a melting pot of the city---he is striving to preserve and keep a musical tradition alive.
"I have been working here (at Randy's) since I was a teenager," said Lauder, as he meticulously wiped traces of dust from an LP (long play) record. "I love what I am doing and this gives me the motivation to carry on."
Lauder is a lone soldier, treading the path to keep the romance of analogue tones alive in the 21st-century digital world. Randy's is testimonial to the crests of the island's musical history.
Established by Vincent 'Randy' Chin, a producer of early Jamaican music and later a distributor internationally, the record store's name was inspired by a United States late night radio show called Randy's Record Shop.
Chin acquired the name.
He, along with his wife, Patricia, established VP Records in the late 1970s---V for Vincent and P for Pat. Unique charm
Surrounded by cubbyholes, and records interspersed with raunchy and racy posters hanging from the ceiling, the store is encapsulated in its own
mysticism and charm and the crackling music emitting from the turntable.
A dimly lit passageway from the store leads to the once-bustling recording studio, which now whispers the sounds of silence. The scenario transcends one to the Thomas Alva Edison's phonograph, and a tungsten carbide bulb hanging from the ceiling lights up the room.
Recording equipment, on which
Holt among others---made music here. Now, the equipment sits crammed into the room, bathed in yellow, the light from the bulb and the colour of ageing.
Check for grooves
"We used to make 3,000 to 4,000 records back in the days, and this place used to be filled with customers," Lauder recalled, staring into an empty space and the breeze from a fan to keep him company.
But Lauder is optimistic, as there is a revised interest in records across Europe, with music aficionados opting for this analogue playback medium.
"I am hoping that the good old days come back," he said. Till then, Randy's and Lauder keep the grooves mov-
flowed the creative juices of Jamaica's music greats---The Maytals, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Stranger Cole, John
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt who is a very busy girl these days has finally disclosed the secret behind the 'Pataka' tattoo that she got inked on the nape of her neck.
Alia who is currently shooting for her upcoming film with Varun Dhawan named ‘Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya’, was spotted sporting the tattoo since a few months.
All talks of her tattoo went in the direction of her then upcoming film ‘Highway’, since the film has a song titled ‘Pataka guddi’ in it.
Now Alia has put all speculations to rest and revealed that the tattoo is to commemorate the ‘Pataka’ Punjabi girl's character that she will be playing in ‘Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya’. Alia apparently feels that having the tattoo makes her feel more connected to the character and personality of her role. (India Today)
Bollywood star
Hrithik Roshan and his two sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan recently enjoyed a day out at Disneyland.
The 40-year-old actor took to Twitter to share a photograph of the funfilled day with his sons. The trio were dressed casually in jeans and T-shirts which they teamed with baseball caps.
"On the road less travelled you must
sometimes stop and take a picture," Hrithik posted along with the photograph.
The ‘Krrish 3’ star
and his wife Sussanne decided to separate and end their 17 year long relationship last December. (TOI)
Vidya Balan: Actress Vidya Balan made headlines with her pregnancy rumours of late. The ‘Kahaani’ actress has been making frequent visits to a multi-specialty hospital in Mumbai, raising speculations that she might just be on her way to motherhood. The rumours also spread more as Vidya opted out of Sujoy Ghosh's next. Later, it was revealed that the actress wanted a break.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: After Aishwarya Rai Bachchan got married, the actress was often in news for her pregnancy. Her weight gain and film rejections added to the rumours. However, after she gave birth to her daughter, she again grabbed headlines. The actress couldn't lose weight and allegedly she was rumoured to be pregnant for the second time. Aishwarya has urged everyone not to speculate about her second child after Aaradhya.
Kareena Kapoor: Some years back the paparazzi clicked an apparently plump picture of Kareena Kapoor while she was making an exit from the airport and news channels went haywire with speculations on whether Bebo was pregnant. While allegedly Kareena was much amused about the news, she chose to maintain stoic silence over it and sources close to the actress confirmed that there was no truth to these speculations and perhaps the pictures were clicked from an improper angle.
Esha Deol: Esha Deol has recently refuted rumours about being pregnant. She took to microblogging site Twitter to set the record straight about her pregnancy. "Sweet of the media, but I'm NOT PREGNANT," tweeted Esha. Rumours were rife that the former actress is in the family way and her loose top did make her baby bump visible. (TOI)
It seems there is trouble brewing in Ranbir KapoorKatrina Kaif's paradise. Reports suggest that the lovebirds were spotted fighting on the sets of film ‘Jagga Jasoos’. This fight comes as a shock as the two were spotted walking hand-in-hand in Cape Town a few days back.
An India Today report stated that the fight started when Katrina pointed out that a stunt Ranbir was performing was similar to Hrithik Roshan's in the upcoming movie ‘Bang Bang’. The report added that the similarity that was pointed out, allegedly made Ranbir angry. (TOI)
Abhishek Bachchan has been shooting non-stop for
the last few months. So, when he flew down to London for some work
two days ago, Bachchan Junior decided to extend his stay for a holiday. Reports indicated that wife Aishwarya, daughter Aaradhya, mom Jaya and sister Shweta joined him earlier this week. However, papa Amitabh, who had earlier decided to go along, had to change his plans. He is most likely to stay back in Mumbai due to some prior commitments. (TOI)
Priyanka Chopra's father, the late Dr. Ashok Chopra, renowned surgeon, armyman and philanthropist who lost his battle to cancer last year, is fondly missed and remembered as the city commemorated his memory and all the great work he was instrumental in achieving.
The late Dr.Chopra has a street named in his honor, located in Yari Road close to the Chopra residence. However, the event grabbed attention and according to a report in Mid-day, a few local residents are not happy with the development.
The report stated that the road was revamped and a pandal was erected after 10 pm which is the deadline. People around Priyanka's community also complained about their cars getting towed and roads getting blocked.
Bollywood actor Imran Khan and his wife Avantika Malik have been blessed with a baby girl.
An Indian Express report says that Avantika gave birth to the baby on Monday morning at a hospital in Mumbai. Both mother and the baby are healthy.
Imran Khan, who tied the knot with
The Mid-day report further stated that a social worker feels that there were freedom fighters after whom the road could have been named. (TOI)
Avantika in 2011 after dating her for 10 years, is very excited about his new role as a father.
Imran's maternal uncle Aamir Khan had gone on record to say that the family is very excited about the new arrival.
The couple had announced that they were expecting their first child in December 2013. (TOI)
Halle Berry has been ordered by a judge to pay ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry $16,000 a month in child support, it has been revealed.
The settlementwhich was approved by Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon on May 30, requires the Oscarwinning actress to pay nearly $200,000 a year plus tuition money, to support their daughter Nahla.
According to U.S. magazine, it also calls for her to pay a retroactive payment of
$115,000 and $300,000 to Aubry's attorneys to "cover the costs of their custody dispute."
The exes will split Nahla's health care ex-
penses.
Although they never married, Berry and French-Canadian model Aubry, dated from 2005 to 2010. (TOI)
Rachel McAdams and Jake Gyllenhaal were spotted together on a din-
ner date, fuelling dating rumours. McAdams, 35, and Gyllenhaal, 33, are
filming ‘Southpaw’ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and were snapped having meal together at a local eatery called Meat And Potatoes, reported Radar online.
McAdams previously dated Michael Sheen. She had a long term romance with her 'The Notebook' co-star Ryan Gosling.
Meanwhile, Gyllenhaal's high-profile relationships include Kirsten Dunst, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, Alyssa Miller and Natalie Portman. (TOI)
The burglar that broke into Sandra Bullock's house recently may have been obsessed with the actress, it has been revealed.
Sources told Today that the 39-yearold intruder, identified as Joshua Corbett might have even kept dairies dedicated to the 'Gravity' actress, People magazine reported.
Corbett was arrested on suspicion of burglary after rummaging through Bullock's personal belongings and at the time of the encounter, the actress was inside her home with 4-year-old son Louis. (TOI)
‘My father was gay’ - Robert De Niro
Hstar Robert De Niro has revealed that his father was gay and he discovered that years after his parents separated when he was a toddler.
His father was an abstract expressionist painter who died in 1993, reported
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Tuesday launched a four-day summit on ending rape in war, calling for an end to the "culture of impunity" and more prosecutions.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who will attend the conference in London on Friday, said the delegates from 117 countries wanted to "relegate sexual violence to the annals of history".
The summit is the fruit of a two-year campaign by UN special en-
voy Jolie and Hague, who have visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bosnia to meet victims of rape during conflict.
People magazine. De Niro, 70, honoured his father in the HBO documentary 'Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro Sr', premiering on June 9.
"He never told me. He was very private about it. He was loving and affectionate. But he wasn't the kind of dad who played baseball. He liked to take me to the movies on 42nd Street: 'King Kong', 'Beauty and the Beast'," De Niro said.
As the 'Silver Linings Playbook' star looked back on his five decades of acting and his own life as a father, De Niro said he knows the importance of passing along memories. (TOI)
AAs she opened the conference, Jolie said she and Hague had discussed a woman they met in Bosnia, who was still too ashamed to tell her son that she had been raped.
"This day is for her," said Jolie. "We believe it truly is a summit like no other." (TOI)
fears she will run into her ex-husband Brad Pitt at the celebrations.
Aniston, who is engaged to Justin Theroux, is said to be nervous of coming face-to-face with Pitt and his fiancée Angelina Jolie when their mutual friend Clooney ties the knot with lawyer Amal Alamuddin later this year, so she is doing everything she can to put her anxieties to rest, reported contactmusic.com.
"Jen's no stranger to therapy, so she decided to seek some help," a source was quoted as saying by Britain's Grazia magazine.
"At the wedding, she'll have Justin there for support, but the thought of seeing Brad and Angelina is quite overwhelming. The therapist has been helping to build her confidence and eliminate the fear she seems to have built up about coming face-to-face with them. She has also been having hypnotherapy," the source added. (TOI)
Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas are ending their 18-year marriage, as the actress filed for divorce last Friday in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences for the split.
The actors were married in May 1996 and have a 17-year-old daughter together, Fox News reported.
The pair first worked together on the set of the 1995 romantic comedy 'Two Much' and the 52-year-old actor directed his wife in the 1999 film 'Crazy in Alabama.' (TOI)
Gwyneth Paltrow revealed her fascination with the research on how negativity affects structure of water, on her website GOOP recently.
The 41-year-old actress wrote that she's had the coffee table book by Dr. Masaru Emoto for a while, which tells how the molecules behave differently depending on the words or music being expressed around it, News.com.au reported.
Palrow, who split from husband Chris Martin, also shared an essay by Dr Habib Sadeghi, titled ‘Figure of Speech: How the Words We Choose Shape Our Lives’, which highlights Emoto's experiment on water that
proved energy generated by positive or negative words can change the physical structure of an object. (TOI)
Jamaican Marcia
Erskine, a renowned journalist and managing director of Marcia Erskine and Associates, is the recipient of the 2014 Marcella Martinez award, while freelance journalist, Baz Dreisinger, has received the 2014 Marcia Vickery-Wallace award.
The recipients, who were chosen because of their commitment to marketing the Caribbean as a premier travel region, were presented with their awards during the Caribbean Tourism Organisation's (CTO) Caribbean Media Awards Luncheon held at the New Yorker Hotel last Thursday as part of the activities to mark Caribbean Week 2014, in New York.
In presenting this year's Marcella Martinez award to Erskine, Deputy of Director of Tourism Donnie Dawson, said "Marcia embodies the spirit behind this award and those who know her know that her passion for the region is undeniable".
He said her impact is far-reaching, having developed and implemented public relations support for several tourism-related entities, including the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, British Airways, Delta Airlines, BWIA, Half Moon Resort, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Hotel Four Seasons, the Wyndham Kingston Hotel as well as ESPN Caribbean.
In the Caribbean,
Erskine served as public relations representative for British Airways, spanning the entire region with responsibility for Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Sharing the Caribbean experience
She has also led teams of Jamaican hoteliers on overseas marketing missions throughout the Caribbean, the United States, and Europe. Her company has had the distinction of representing the Barbados Tourism Authority for several years, and during that time hosted a number of Crop Over Festival promotions in Kingston.
The Marcia VickeryWallace and Marcella Martinez awards honour the significant achievements of individuals whose work has shared the Caribbean experience with the world.
Established in 2004, the Marcella Martinez Award is presented annually by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) for unparalleled achievement in the design and implementation of successful programmes to strengthen and support Caribbean tourism. The award is named in honour of Jamaican Marcella Martinez, who dedicated her extraordinary career as a public relations professional to the promotion of tourism in the Caribbean.
In presenting the Marcia Vickery-Wallace Award to Dreisinger,
TRINIDAD: Trinis who live abroad will be all too familiar with the seasonal longings for all things local, and TT-born-andraised, Toronto-based filmmaker Richard Fung is no different. His longing for—and near obsession with—dhalpuri roti turned into an epic journey, taking him from Canada to Trinidad and thence to India, in search of the origins of this tasty dish. Fung recorded this culinary quest, and the result was the documentary ‘Dal Puri Diaspora.’
Jamaica Tourist Board's Regional Director, Airline and Tour Operator, Anthony King said while she has written extensively about the Caribbean, her most compelling features were two New York Times cover stories in which she explored the history of Caribbean rum and cocoa.
King noted that while every island has a piece of her heart, Dreisinger lists Jamaica as her most memorable.
Promoting culture Dreisinger, whose love for the Caribbean, its culture, music and lifestyle is unparalleled, earned the award for her dedication and commitment to reporting on the Caribbean region. She is well travelled and has written numerous stories that reflect each island's cultural nuances -- going beyond the sun, sand and sea to explore locations off the beaten path, said King Currently, Dreisinger serves as an associate professor of English at John Jay College.
The Marcia VickeryWallace Award was established in 1987 as a tribute to Marcia Vickery-Wallace, former editor of Brides Magazine.
Each year the JTB, in conjunction with the CTO, dedicates an award in her memory to a journalist who has followed in her footsteps with the same dedication to promoting the Caribbean region. (Jamaica Observer)
A free screening of the 80-minute film was held by the TT Film Festival (TTFF), as part of the We Beat Festival, on June 7 at the St James Amphitheatre in Trinidad, said a release from the TTFF. In the film, Fung visits various restaurants at home and abroad, talking to cooks, noting the variations of ingredients for roti— dhalpuri and paratha, and others—while also poring over archival documents to piece together the shared historical experiences that have resulted in TT's remarkable multicultural blend of food. In India, he heads for the Bhojpur re-
gion, where the majority of indentured labourers who came to TT originated.
In addition to finding and sampling a wide range of tantilising dishes, he also comes back with a greater understanding of dhalpuri’s remarkable passage across space and time, linking colonialism, migration and the globalisation of tastes.
‘Dal Puri Diaspora’ also features interviews with leading scholars and food writers, including Brinsley Samaroo and Patricia Mohammed of TT, and Pushpesh Pant and Radhika
Mongia of India.
The screening of the film on Saturday was sponsored by the TT Film Company (TTFC) and presented in association with the St James Community Improvement/We Beat Committee. This is the fourth year that the ttff presented a film during the We Beat celebrations.
Now in its ninth year, the ttff is presented by Flow, and given leading sponsorship by bpTT and TTFC. Technical services will be provided by North Eleven, the ttff’s official screening partner. (TT Guardian)
GEORGETOWN , GUYANA:
Contrary to articles published by Guyana and other newspapers recently, this publication was advised by the Tourism Ministry that Eddy Grant will not be performing at the Guyana Festival.
The Tourism Ministry source confirmed that Grant was one of the artistes who were first contacted to perform before his home crowd at the Night of the Legend Concert billed for the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara on August 9.
However, from the inception, Grant indicated that he could not perform. The official stated that initially his photograph was placed on the banners, but those had to be redone after he could not perform. If Grant had agreed to perform, it would have been his first in Guyana. Nevertheless, the three-day event will see exciting events that will celebrate sport legends,
culture, art, entertainment, food, music and much more.
On Day One, there will be an air show, followed by an international concert with drumming and lots of food. Day Two will commence with the Festival Games–where the Master XI will take on the President’s XI in football and cricket.
Famous names on the rosters include Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Lennox Cush, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Clive Lloyd, Narsingh Deonarine, Veerasammy Permaul, and Trevon Griffith. An unforgettable night
of legends will see the likes of Dave Martins and others.
Day Three will see the electrifying National Cook-off with foods from every corner and every culture of Guyana represented at the Guyana National Stadium.
There will also be a Generation Next Concert with local artistes such as Adrian Dutchin, Jumo Primo and Vanilla.
Every evening of the festival, there will be Coney Island rides for the entire family, an arts and craft exhibition and sale, and a wide variety of food and drinks on sale. to date, Eddy Grant has never performed in his home
JAMAICA: A FEW changes are coming for this weekend's staging of Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Jamaica.
One of the major shifts is that the number of public fashion shows has been reduced to two-Saturday and Sunday nights--from the previous three.
The event's organiser, Kingsley Cooper of modelling agency Pulse, says they have added The Black Tie Fashion Gala which will celebrate the best of Caribbean style. He noted that in previous years the Friday night was "relatively weak".
"Everything else remains in place, including Friday morning's press conference, the business forum on Saturday, the concert performances to end the shows and the after-parties," said Cooper.
He is adamant that CFW has lived up to the support it offers emerging designers. According to Cooper, CFW 2014 will again see the Emerging Designers showcase on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Emerging Designers competition, sponsored by DHL, the Emerging Designer
Award, adjudicated and presented by British and Vogue CFW designer Gavin Douglas, as well as workshops and a business forum geared at enhancing capacity for designers, are also part of the package.
Cooper is quick to remind designers of their role in moving their brand forward.
"Of course it is up to designers, even more so than CFW. Each design label is its own business, so while CFW provides marketing and development, it is up to designers to fund and organise their businesses, as well as to produce and sell," he said.
CFW continues to mix fashion with music. Singer Maxi Priest tops the bill on Sunday; Major Lazer's Jillionaire, Color Festival's Kyle deSouza, as well as RDX and Tony Matterhorn, are scheduled to perform on Saturday.
There will also be performances by Ishawna and Denyque.
Among the designers anticipated this year is Cedella Marley, whose collection, called Marley, is inspired by her father, reggae superstar Bob Marley. (Jamaica Observer)
JAMAICA: The Grace Thrillers will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the second Canadian Caribbean Gospel Music Awards, slated for the Mount Zion Apostolic Church in Toronto on June 14.
According to Howard Mahoney, event conceptualiser, the influential group deserves the honour.
"The Grace Thrillers are the forerunners for Caribbean gospel music. Most Caribbean gospel artistes have patterned themselves off their work. The Grace Thrillers have been more than a group but an institution," Mahoney told Jamaican media over the weekend.
Noel Willis formed The 'Thrillers' in 1971. They hit their stride during the 1980s when their songs such as ‘Living Waters’ (Jesus Jesus) and ‘Can't Even Walk’ won them a large secular following.
At different stages, members included Shirley Willis, George Banton, Leroy Smith and Sandra Brooks.
The Canada
Caribbean Gospel Music Awards will recognise performers in a number of categories including Best Album, Best Song, Best Male and Female Artiste, Best Group, Best Choir and International Artiste of the Year.
"We are using the theme RAP, which is Recognising, Appreciating and Promoting Canadian Caribbean Gospel Artistes. We believe that in Canada there are dozens of Caribbean gospel artistes that haven't gotten the opportunity to be recognised on an international basis, so we will be showcasing at least 20 Canadian Caribbean gospel artistes," said Mahoney. (Jamaica Observer)
With a yearning desire for success and the belief that anything is possible, 21-yearold Rafieya Husain's ambitions include becoming a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), owning and operating a financial business, winning Miss World 2014, walking the runways of Paris and Milan and to support a non-profit that focuses on children. With several titles to her name, she is no stranger to pageantry and describes herself as fearless, persistent and dedicated and practical. She is of the opinion that the “culmination of beauty in any woman is her confidence”. She further noted that when a woman's confidence radiates, you can see not only how beautiful she is in appearance but also the beauty within. She was born in her grandparents’ home in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. The beauty was raised in Georgetown and attended Mae’s Under 12. She then migrated to the U.S. where she received her Associates’ Degree in Business Administration at Marymount University. Rafieya was recently crowned Miss World Guyana and is presently preparing for the Miss World pageant, which will be held in London on December 14.
JAMAICA: ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce, the 2013 Diamond League winner in both the 100 and 200 metres, has withdrawn from the adidas Grand Prix, the New York leg of the Diamond League circuit set for Saturday, June 14.
The 2013 World Champion-ship triple gold medallist has been battling injury in recent weeks that have seen her withdraw first from the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai and then finish eighth twice at meets in Rome and Eugene.
New York will now be the second meet from which the champion sprinter has withdrawn.
"We're sorry to report that Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, working to regain fitness after a minor injury this season, has withdrawn from the meet. Shelly-Ann, best of luck for the rest of the season, and we hope to see you next year," the organisers said in a statement.
The 27-year-old multiple World and Olympic champion is believed to be suffering from shin splints, which has affected her ability to train ef-
fectively and to compete at her usual high standards
Organisers are said to be actively seeking a replacement for the 'Pocket Rocket', who was down to compete in the 200 metres on Saturday.
Making history
Meanwhile, young St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) sprinter Nigel Ellis, and Vere Technical's Rene Medley-who could well be making history at the meet- are among four Jamaican athletes down to compete in the high-
school Dream 100 metres.
Ellis, whose personal best is 10.62, was a member of STETHS' 4x100m relay team that won the small school finals at the Penn Relays. He was also a member of Jamaica's all-conquering Under-18 sprint and 4x400m relay teams at the CARIFTA Games in Martinique.
Two other sprinters, one unnamed from St. George's College and Edwin Allen's Monique Spencer, are also slated to compete. (Jamaica Gleaner)
Canada-based Grenadian-born Davis Joseph is still reeling with excitement following his recent induction into the inaugural Cricket Canada Hall of Fame.
He represented Canada at the 2003 International Cricket Council (ICC) 50-over World Cup in South Africa while in 1998, Joseph played for the North American country in an ICC Olympic limited-over Commonwealth tournament in Malaysia, where he bowled India’s retired batting star Sachin Tendulkar very cheaply.
On the local scene, Joseph is known for his hostility and intimidation while playing for Victoria Park Cricket Club and Overseas Cricket Club.
Following Canada’s early elimination at the World Cup in 2003, Joseph announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 39 having donned the country’s colours for 16 consecutive years, an unprecedented achievement.
“I thoroughly enjoyed playing for Canada. That was everything to me and that meant sacrificing a lot by taking ‘no-pay’ leave for six successive months prior to the 2003 World Cup just to be prepared and ready and now being recognised [is] also a great honour,” Joseph related.
While representing Canada in a number of ICC Intercontinental matches, he faced his own Caribbean sides in a plethora of encounters.
His splendid bowling performance (6-39) against Jamaica was another highlight of his career.
Joseph is a true believer that discipline and hard work can take you to the top. For him there was a tre-
With five weeks to go before the start of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014, hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle is set to defend his franchise’s title when he leads the Jamaica Tallawahs against the St Lucia Zouks on July 13.
Despite injury concerns, the Jamaican said he is ready for the landmark occasion and is aiming to make fans happy.
“Put percentages of how fit I am aside, no matter what, I will be fit, ready and raring to go, I would like to make the fans at Sabina Park happy and that will be my aim for this landmark occasion,” Gayle said in a release last Friday, adding that he was looking forward to another exciting CPL, although the pressure is on as defending champions.
“I feel very excited and honoured to play in
mendous amount of satisfaction seeing Canada make it to the World Cup mega event after many attempts during his time on the team with qualifiers’ tournaments.
With a profound desire to learn any art and technique to improve his bowling skills, Joseph recalled several former great West Indies’ quickies for their personal support.
He said he was very thankful to Andy Roberts, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh among others distinguished and legendary fast-bowlers from the Caribbean.
“It was a great privilege to meet these guys on tour and (to talk with them) about the game. They were happy to teach you something and I was blessed to be in their presence,” Joseph stated.
the Limacol CPL once again. As defending champions, a lot of pressure will be on us, but I feel that we have the strength to do very well this season,” he said.
“With 11 Jamaicans in our 15 man squad chemistry, cohesion won’t be an issue and, as Jamaicans, we are warm
people, so our four overseas players will feel right at home.”
Gayle who has hit the fastest century in T20 history, is still suffering from a back strain he picked up a few months ago prior to the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh. (Jamaica Observer)
JAMAICA: Darren Bravo and Stefanie Taylor were named West Indies Cricketers of the Year for 2013 at the WICB/WIPA second annual awards ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel in Jamaica last Thursday night.
Chris Gayle was also specially recognised by the WICB as he approached his 100th Test at Sabina Park Tuesday against New Zealand.
Bravo, who is expected to lead the Windies batting going forward in world cricket, was also named Caribbean T20 cricketer of the year. His female counterpart, Stefanie Taylor won her eighth straight women's cricketer of the year award. The awards ceremony ended on the stroke of midnight, and many who turned out at the function remained clearly to witness Gayle's special recognition.
The big left-handed opening batsman is one of only four cricketers in the history of Test cricket to score two triple centuries, the others being Brian Lara, Verender Sehwag and Sir Donald Bradman.
The 39-year-old
Shivnarine Chanderpaul was also recognised by the WICB. He too played in his 154th Test Tuesday and has amassed 11,219 runs at an average of 51.94 with 29 centuries and 62 half centuries. Chanderpaul was also named West Indies test cricketer of the year, while his son Tagenarine was named West Indies Under-19 player of the year.
Lockhart Sebastien was gifted the WIPA Lifetime Achievement Award, while Edward
"Teddy" Griffith was given the WICB Lifetime Achievement Award. Shane Shillingford was adjudged the first class limited overs cricketer of the year and Nikita Miller the first class four-day cricketer of the year. The WICB's emerging player of the year was Miguel Cummins of Barbados, Sunil Narine was named T20 Cricketer of the Year while the WICB's ODI player of the year is Dwayne Bravo. (TT Guardian)
The Biggest Party in Sport just got Bigger! The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed that hiphop superstar, Rick Ross, will headline one of the biggest concerts ever seen in St. Kitts and Nevis, during CPL Finals Week.
The multi-million selling rapper will top the bill at the concert, to be held at Warner Park Football Stadium on Friday August 15th, the night before the CPL final. The Miami rapper will bring yet more international star quality to the high- octane cricket tournament, which boasts some of the most exciting players on the planet, as well as Hollywood shareholders, Mark Wahlberg and Gerard Butler.
“Rozay” has scored five Number 1 albums in the U.S. and collaborated with the likes of Jay Z, Kanye West and Drake, and fans will be hoping to see him per -
form some of his biggest hits, including 'The Boss', 'Aston Martin Music', and 'Nobody', from his latest album, Mastermind. The concert will undoubtedly add spice to what already promises to be a thrilling Finals Week in St. Kitts, ensuring that the CPL lives up to its reputation as the Biggest Party in Sport. Fans will also be treated to Beefy’s Bash, an allstar charity match featuring Sir Ian Botham,
Brian Lara and Piers Morgan, as well as two semi-final showdowns during the week, as well as the main event, the final of the Limacol CPL 2014, on Saturday 16th August.
Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of Limacol CPL, said: “The fact that CPL can attract one of the biggest names in music proves how special and unique the competition really is – there’s no other cricket tournament in the world that could
have pulled this off. This is brilliant news for St. Kitts and Nevis and the entire region, and the whole CPL team is thrilled with this fantastic addition to Finals Week.”
The CPL, which thrilled sell-out crowds across the Caribbean in 2013, is once again looking to excite fans with high-intensity T20 cricket in an even bigger and better tournament in 2014. The tournament will feature the biggest names in Caribbean cricket, including Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, as well as global stars Kevin Pietersen, Saeed Ajmal and Corey Anderson. Grenada, known for its vibrant culture and hospitality, will serve as the opening venue to showcase the region’s most exciting domestic Twenty20 tournament.
CPL II will take place from 11th July to 16th August of 2014.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA:
Jamaica's swimmers will get the opportunity to improve their technique when head coach of McMaster University, Andrew Cole, hosts a technique clinic in the island this weekend.
The clinic, which will run from Friday to Sunday at St Andrew High School and the National Aquatic Centre, will include evaluation and instruction on all four strokes; videotaping and one-on-one commentary and evaluation.
Cole will be joined by former national coach of Jamaica, Jackie Walter.
He has been at
McMaster University since 2005 (eight seasons) and has led the men's team to a fourth-place finish at the Canadian University Swimming Championships (CIS) and second in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and the women's team to 10th place at CIS and third at OUA for 2013-14.
He was also the Canadian team coach at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics and is a four-time Atlantic University sport coach of the year.
"I coach because I had such a wonderful experience as a swimmer and I believe that competitive swimming teaches
the clinic will run from Friday to sunday
us wonderful life skills," said Cole. "We need to share this excitement of dedication and the pursuit of excellence with the Jamaican swimmers and show the parents how invaluable it can be for their child's development."
The swim technique clinic is open to all swimmers above the age of 10.
On Saturday, parents and swimmers 13 years and older are invited to attend a presentation by coach Cole on agegroup swimming and swimming in Canadian Universities. This session will be held at the AV Room of St Andrew High School, starting at 5:45 p.m. (Jamaica Gleaner)
port is essential for the hosting of the games, since according to him, international matches have certain standards and government plays an important role in ensuring that those standards are achieved.
The Guyana franchise, bought by the NEW GPC/Limacol, will play three of their nine preliminary games at home, on July 17 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel (19:30h), July 19 against St Lucia Zouks (16:00h) and July 20 against Jamaica Tallawahs (16:00h).
Prior to the three home games, the Warriors will play Antigua Hawksbills on July 11; Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on July 24; Barbados Tridents on July 27; Jamaica Tallawahs on August 2; Antigua Hawksbills on August 7; and St Lucia Zouks on August 10 in their final preliminary game.
This year, each franchise team consists of a squad of 19 players, comprising two preselected players- one West Indies Franchise Player (WIFP) and one International Franchise Player(IFP), selected by the franchise, as well as four Under-19 players from each playing franchise.
BARBADOS:
Former Carifta games’ junior boys’ 800 metres gold medalist Jerad Mason has qualified for both the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Juniors and World Junior Championships in the Under-20 boys’ 400 metres hurdles.
Mason clocked an impressive 52.58 seconds in finishing second to the more heralded hurdler Kion Joseph, who
won the event in 52.52 seconds as the two-day Barbados Olympians Classic climaxed at the National Stadium in Barbados, on Sunday night.
Sprint hurdler Michael Nicholls, who has already qualified for CAC Juniors in the boys’ Under-18 110-metre hurdles and the same event at World Juniors, also ran a CAC Juniors’ qualifying time of 21.57 seconds in winning the
The players retained are: Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, New Zealander Martin Guptill, Trinidadians, offspinner Sunil Narine, opening batsman Lendl Simmons and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, Jamaican Krishmar Santokie and Guyanese Christopher Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul and Trevon Griffith.
New Zealander Corey Anderson has been named as the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ International Franchise Player. The all-rounder, who caused a stir by hitting the fastest ODI hundred against the West Indies, has replaced compatriot James Franklin as the International Player.
The newcomers are; Guyanese Leon Johnson, Ronsford Beaton, Robin Bacchus and Trinidad and Tobago fast-bowling allrounder, Navin Stewart, while the Under-19 players named are talented Everest Cricket Club fast bowler Kevin Paul, West Indies Under-19 opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Demerara left-arm fast bowler Daniel Basdeo and Essequibo allrounder Kemo Paul. (Guyana Times)
The Warriors have retained 10 players from last year’s edition and are among the favourites to lift the title this year.
Under-18 boys’ 200 metres.
Tristan Whitehall also qualified for the NACAC Under-23 Championship in Canada, August 8 to 10 with a winning put of 16.12 metres in the men’s shot-put.
The CAC Juniors will be held in Morelia, Mexico, July 4 to 6 while the World Juniors are slated for Eugene, United States, July 22 to 27. (Nation News)
By RavendRa Madholall
CANADA: Three Guyanese batsmen registered centuries over the weekend as the 2014 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) regular 20-over season rolled off with a series of matches at various venues across the Greater Toronto Area.
On Saturday, Azam Haniff of Masters plundered 11 sixes and 9 fours in his scintillating, unbeaten 150 to inspire his team to a facile 123-run win against Annandale at Elia ground in the West End Division.
Also on Saturday in the East End Conference B division, Anand Nirmal fashioned an attractive 107 to spur Rebels to a comprehensive 130-run margin over Robbies at Goldhawk facility while on Sunday in the East End Conference A category, REMS were indebted to for-
mer Guyana under-19 batsman Rovendra Mandolall’s entertaining 123 as they trounced Caribbean Sensation HD at Ellesmere by 100 runs.
The competition will continue on Saturday and Sunday with another set of matches at different grounds across the GTA.
On Saturday, Wakenaam beat Bacchus by six runs at Ashtonbee. Wakenaam made 124 all out off 19.5 overs. Abdool Azeez top-scored with 59.When Bacchus batted, they replied with 118 all out off 18.4 overs as Imran Khan took 3-1 off 1.1 overs.
REMS, Betterhope game ended in controversy when several bowlers called for pelting. However, Betterhope made 153-7 off the 20-overs with Richard Dias making 47. REMS were coasting at 72-0 off seven overs when proceedings came to a halt.
Rovendra Mandolall was 43 not out.
Bellevue Sports thrashed GTA Storm at Littles ground by a handsome 111-run margin. Bellevue tallied up 196-7 off their 20-overs and GTA Storm responded inadequately with 85 all out off 18.3 overs. Richard Shivrattan led
TRINIDAD: Welterweight Atiba
Barton emerged overall winner at the TT Bodybuilders and Fitness Federation (TTBBFF) National Junior Bodybuilding Championship held at the ballroom of the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in St Ann’s, Port-ofSpain, on Saturday.
Vanessa Hill was the Miss Bikini Overall champion, while Akeem Jackson copped the Men’s Physique Overall.
The Women’s Physique Open went to Anya Abddol. The Bodyfitness Open prize went to Jenelle Schulere-Smart.
Barton’s victory, however, was not achieved without controversy. It was the first time in recent memory that an athlete in this category would succeed in beating out light middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight winners, who by design should have been able to better him at every turn.
His feat completed the list of first-
time athletes at the national juniors who clinched victory in their respective class at the championships.
Barton beat veterans such as Dennis Jagassar, the bantamweight winner, and Adrian Amsterdam who topped the light heavyweight category.
Michael Callender (heavyweight), Joel Baldeosingh (light middleweight) and Cori Baynes (lightweight) were the other division champs.
The beauty and poise of Hill was no fluke. As she exhibited her well-sculptured body, the athlete wheeled the beautiful characteristics at every stage of the competition. Shannon Hutchinson who won the Bikini Fitness Tall Class and Natasha Ali winner of the Bikini fitness short class vied for the title, too, but Hill was able to climb to the top with ease, having won favour with the panel of expert adjudicators and the audience alike. (TT Guardian)
Sensation 176-7 off the reduced 19 overs. The cut of the overs was due to time restriction. Anand Balwant topscored with 42 while Sheik Khan made 40. Caribbean Sensation HD, in response, was left hanging at 103-8 when the overs ran out. Balwant returned with the ball to claim 3-8 off three overs.
the way for the winner with 86.
At Elia Primary school ground, Masters thrashed Annandale by 123 runs. Masters accumulated a mammoth 256-1 off their 20-overs with Azam Haniff hitting 150 not out while Troy Gobin and Mark Nazir chipped in with 52 and 30 respectively. Annandale replied with 133 all out in the 15th over.
At St. Bedes, Caribbean Sensation beat Caribbean Sensation HD by 73 runs. Caribbean
At Goldhawk venue, Rebels embarrassed Robbies by 130 runs. Rebels piled up a massive 197-1 from the allocation of 20-overs while Robbies only made 67-7 off the full quota of overs. Anand Nirmal stroke his away to an unbeaten 107 while contributions came from Ricky Mahadeo and Shiv Seeram with 43 and 34 not out respectively.
At EarnsCliff Public School ground, Dant got a walkover from Lions.
At Lancaster, Matrix got the better of Strikers by 17 runs in a shortened game owing to time. Matrix secured 92-7 off 18-overs. Ram Chand 3-8 off four overs. Strikers only mustered 75 all out off 14 overs as Ivan Chung grabbed 3-5 off 2 overs.
At Smithfield Park,
defending champion Cricketers Cove beat Originals by nine-wickets. Originals secured 108-7 off their 20-overs. Cove responded with 109-1 off 15.3 overs. Kumar Doodnauth scored 61 not out. At Ellesmere, Scarborough Angel defeat Ramblers by six runs. Scarborough Angel landed 132-9 off 20-overs. Ramblers in reply reached126-9 when their overs expired. Deokumar Singh led the fight with 51. East Coast beat Enmore by 33 runs at Ellesemere. East Coast scored 143-4 off 20-overs with Rakesh Dyal securing 32 not out. Enmore replied with 110 all out.
Essequibo Sports thrashed GT Bannas by 140 runs at Ashtonbee. Essequibo Sports compiled a daunting total of 194-3 off 20-overs while GT Bannas only responded with 54 all out in the 13th over. Bharrat Lachman stroke 94 not out and Jaimini Singh chipped in with 54 to be the top batsmen. Rudy Bhoopaul was the chief wicket-taker for victorious team as well nabbing 3-11 from his maximum four overs.
The Guyana government signed the Host Venue Agreement (HVA) with the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL), confirming Guyana’s hosting of its leg of the Limacol CPL T20 tournament, scheduled to be played at the National Stadium, Providence.
The agreement was formalised on Tuesday between the Guyana government and Limacol CPL officials in the boardroom of the Sport Ministry.
Speaking just before the official signing ceremony, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the Guyana government is once again
happy to be part of the Limacol CPL, since T20 has changed the cricket world beyond recognition.
“It’s a game that offers this form of highintensity and great entertainment,” Dr Anthony disclosed.
The Sport Minister also mentioned that Guyana had the distinction of being the first venue to sign the Host Venue Agreement (HVA) in the inaugural tournament last year.
Dr Anthony indicated that the National Stadium will be made available for the Guyana Amazon Warriors preparatory phase. Top gear
Meanwhile, General Manager of the Guyana National Stadium, Anthony Xavier, disclosed that while the stadium authority is
Several Jamaican athletes led by horizontal jumpers Kimberly Williams and Damar Forbes recorded season best performances at the IAAF World Challenge Meeting held in Hengelo, Holland, Sunday.
With the JAAA National Senior Trials set for later this month to help select teams to the Commonwealth Games, NACAC Under-23 and the 1st PanAmerican Senior Championships, athletes are nearing the first phase of preparations for the Trials set for June 26-29.
disappointed by the removal of the third Test match between the West Indies and New Zealand, preparations are moving apace for hosting the Limacol CPL matches in the country.
“We are in a continued state of preparedness, while we are disappointed not to have the Test match, we are fully in top gear for the Limacol CPL,” Xavier related.
The former Sport Minister further advised that a team from the Limacol CPL had conducted its mandatory venue inspection and have expressed their satisfaction.
Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, in his remarks said that government supcontinued on page 30
After a disappointing show at the Rome Diamond League meeting last week, Williams leapt to 14.56m (+0.6m/s) in the triple jump, just off her personal best 14.62m set last year at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.
She finished second to World Champion Caterina Ibargüen of Colombia, who won with 14.63m (+1.7m/s), with Poland's Anna Jagaciak third with 14.20m.
Despite finishing in sixth place, Forbes, a finalist in the last three global championships, jumped 7.98m in the men's long jump that was won by Loúis Tsátoumas of Greece with 8.25m.
Schillonie Calvert, a member of the gold-medal-winning women's 4x100m relay team in Moscow last year, was third in the women's 100m in a season's best 11.26 seconds behind a pair of Americans, Jeneba Tarmoah (11.12 seconds) and Barbara Pierre (11.20).
Kerron Stewart, who was also on the relay team in Russia, was eighth in 11.39 seconds, ahead of Jamaican-born Jamile Samuels who competes for Holland.
There was also a season's best for Kimmari Roach in the men's 100m, clocking 10.12 seconds (+1.4m/s) for sixth place as Trinidad's Richard Thompson's season's best 9.95 seconds just held off Great Britain's Chijindu Ujah's lifetime best 9.96 seconds.
Andrew Riley was seventh in the men's 110m hurdles in 13.66 seconds, while Patricia Hall was fourth in the women's 400m hurdles in 52.14 seconds. (Jamaica Observer)