Caribbean Times International

Move No-Confidence Motion against Ramjattan … political analyst urges PPP/C

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is being called upon to use its position in the National Assembly to declare “no confidence” in Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and have him replaced by a more capable minister in the crucial area of national security.

The call was made by Associate Professor of Political Science at Nassau Community College, Dr Baytoram Ramharack, in his latest column in the Guyana Times. The New York University trained political scientist was involved in Guyanese politics for several decades and was one of the founding members of the Jaguar Committee for Democracy and the ROAR political party.

Dr Ramharack said the crime situation in Guyana, particularly in Berbice, has risen to unacceptable heights and

believed that a change in management of the security sector may see a change for the better. Dr Ramharack hails from Berbice.

Using the statistics provided recently by the Guyana Police Force, Dr Ramharack showed a 10 per cent increase in criminal activities by the end of July compared to the same period last year. Murders, he said, increased from 80 to almost 100 within a year.

“It’s reported that

35 murders were committed in Georgetown/ East Bank Demerara (A Division), 17 in East Coast Demerara (C Division)and 16 in Berbice(B Division), 12 in the Interior(F Division), and four each in West Bank Demerara/ East Bank Essequibo(D Division) and Linden/ Kwakwani(E Division), while six were recorded in Essequibo Coast/ Islands(G Division). Given our geographical population distribution, these figures indicate that murder is a national problem that occurs throughout Guyana,” Dr Ramharack said.

According to him, there has also been an increase of 68 per cent in the number of rape cases, with 243 cases being reported at the end of July compared to 145 for the same period last year. This, he said, did not speak well for the Minister, or Government for that matter.

Dr Ramharack said that while some believed

that it may be too soon to critique the Government in this regard, having only being in office for just over three months, there was one inescapable conclusion: the coalition has failed Guyanese in the area of security and crime control.

According to him, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime lists Guyana’s homicide rate at about 17 per 100,000 people, the fourth highest murder rate in the South Hemisphere, three times higher than that of the United States.

The professor said Guyana represented a sounding board for criminologists interested in studies on the root causes of criminal behaviour, while sociologists argue that criminal behaviour was generally associated with people coming from broken homes, a bad gene pool, delinquency or drug use.

“Be that as it may, there is one inescapable fact that is being avoid-

ed in the public domain when it comes to a discussion on crime and punishment. There is no question that the majority of victims of the current violent crime wave are Indians. Indians are stereotypically perceived as hoarders of

wealth and are less likely to put up a resistance. Ironically, either Khemraj Ramjattan or Prime Minister Nagamootoo have seen it fit to acknowledge the fact that the majority of the crime victims are Indians. (Guyana Times)

200 on the jobline in TT

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Two hundred people are without jobs after a massive fire at a building housing Hearty Foods supermarket and Ashleys Bed Bath and Beyond on the corner of Queen and Sorzano Streets, Arima .

The fire began at about 5am on Tuesday and quickly spread through the four-storey building. Fire appliances from Arima, Tunapuna, San Juan and Port-ofSpain responded .

The owner, Ishwar Maharaj, said his priority now was to find jobs for the workers .

“We are trying to get places for them, like my father’s place, to assist them to absorb some of the staff and I have asked other friends who have businesses if they could help me,” Maharaj said .

He is the son of managing director of Arima Discount Mart (ADM) Balliram Maharaj .

He expressed concern about his cooks as he said many supermarkets do not have restaurants. The supermarket also housed a restaurant and a bakery .

Maharaj spoke to his workers assuring them that everything will be okay .

Fire officers spent several hours battling the blaze. Divisional Fire Officer for the Northern Division Peter Neverson admitted the officers were challenged as the water pressure was low .

“It took quite a while before we actually got the system boosted,” he said. Several water trucks from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) were on site to assist the fire officers .

At one point, the nearby Arima Boys RC School, appeared to be in danger of being burnt also but Neverson said the fire officers were able to control the fire and keep it within the environs of the supermarket.

Maharaj said he got the call at about 5 am and rushed down to assess the situation. The businessman said he did not have an estimated cost in losses as it was too soon to tell .

“Hearty Foods was in the heart of Arima, everyone depended on Hearty Foods for everything, and they did a tremendous amount of social work in Arima, by also providing stuff for communities. They are one of the businesses that really supported Arima in everything,” he said . (TT Newsday)

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EDITORIAL

Great Debates

Each time, a Finance Minister presents a new National Budget, the country comes to a halt as Guyanese pay avid attention to all of the socio-economic measures contained in that document, and how those measures will negatively or positively impact their livelihoods.

After the Minister is finished presenting his budget, it is time for the parliamentarians on both sides of the house to prepare their debates given their own analysis of the document, its context and the measures contained therein.

Public anticipation swells over the days leading up to the debates and the public’s interest is aroused as to the quality, type, and content of the speeches that will be delivered by parliamentarians on both sides of the house in defense and against key measures in the budget.

The Diaspora, local private sector and other international interests are also eager to hear the debates as it exposes the level of intellect of the speaker on particular subject matters, whether they are in sync with the views of grassroots and business constituencies, and whether they have a better vision that could advance the country’s overall economic development.

It appears, unfortunately that each year, the many spirited and boisterous deliveries that are made on the budget are often times misplaced, aimed at launching nonsensical political attacks to score points in this respect, and void of any real relevance to budget estimates which are to be considered for approval after serious debates.

Apart from the boredom and lackluster presentations of some parliamentarians, the repetitive, infantile and incoherent arguments are forced down the throats of the public who have no choice but to digest them without of achieving a later understanding of what really they meant to say.

English Language is slain, and many times, even the most basic of its constructs are abused by parliamentarians who could care less about their pronunciation, use of tone, posture or style as they attempt to communicate highly mathematical arguments and ideological positions related to the budget.

Even to this date, it appears that some Parliamentarians see the budget debates as an opportunity to dress up, hog the live airwaves, secure a slice of publicity in the media and appear important. For others, it is the only time, they will get to speak in Parliament or address any issue of national import during their entire parliamentary tenure.

This is a sad reoccurring development in Guyanese politics and the legacy of the National Assembly. Guyanese politicians have to adopt a different approach to debating especially in respect to such an important socio-economic document as the National Budget.

They need to do actual research and commence a practice of evidence based debating aimed at securing the confidence of the populace and proving that they actual deserve to be in Parliament.

Our politicians need to also depict higher levels of tact, decorum, respect and tolerance of the views of opposing sides while debating the budget. The distasteful, below-the-belt blows and personal attacks must stop as great debators understand how to achieve the same outcome with the use of sarcasm and other constructs in the English Language.

After all former World Leader, the late South African President Nelson Mandela said “a good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed”.

In international relations, there have been at least four great debates known to scholars that occurred around scholars on their views and interpretations of world events. These debates lasted commenced around 1930- 1940 and continued well into the early 1990’s but at the end of them all, the lives of citizens were better and the societies were stronger after benefiting from a myriad of views and solutions to problems.

Debates, therefore, cannot be aimless. Speakers must be witty, quick in rebuttals and must understand the art and ethics surrounding the art form. Debating is not about making jokes or taking jabs at each other but it is about critical analysis and prognosis of the issue at hand.

US Author Colin Powell also advised that “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand”.

It is time for the National Assembly and the Guyanese public by extension to benefit from a higher level of level headed, seasoned, tempered, researched and political sound debates on all future budgets starting with this year’s which coincidentally speaks about a fresh start.

Children’s Hospital in TT can pioneer mental health model

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Last week, the Government’s prized TT$1 billion Children’s Hospital opened amidst the ominous elements of blustering winds, heavy downpours, and a falling platform—an inauspicious start to an already suspicious venture, as the hospital has been mired by reports of sitting on an earthquake fault line.

Much has been said of the proposed operation of the state-of-the-art, 230-bed facility and the range of services to be offered, which includes same-day surgeries, gynaecology and birthing, endoscopy, critical care, pharmaceutical, psychiatry, a burns unit, diagnostic and imaging, as well as accident and emergency for children and adults.

Each time one passes the Couva complex, out of curiosity and active citizenship, imagine having access to the blueprint for its operations and outreach programmes. But, more so, interest peaks as to what provisions are being made in psychiatry for the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children and what level of priority is being placed on that often neglected aspect of children’s well-being and development.

Among the basic problems with the state of children’s mental health is the fact that overall, low priority is given to mental health/illness and even lower priority to the needs of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems.

But what if we instituted a substantial focus on children’s mental health/illness at this hospital so that children’s psychosocial issues were no longer viewed in isolation? What if children could experience the appropriate interface between mental health and other primary healthcare? What if the services are geared to integrate mental well-being into the complex, multiple needs of

children and their families?

Children are a vulnerable group. There’s agreement in the mental health community that “biological, psychological, relational, and environmental factors all contribute to the development and maintenance of children’s emotional, intellectual, and behavioural problems. For any one child, a single causal factor may be dominant, but typically several factors are involved and are interrelated (www.familyimpactseminars.org).

What ancillary services can we expect for the parents at the imposing structure standing aloof in the central hills? How do we make correlations and participate in the continuous care of the child and or parent(s)? How are clients and systems to be monitored?

The WHO says mounting evidence suggests that antecedents of adult mental disorders can be detected in children and adolescents. The development of policies and programmes for child and adolescent mental health have lagged behind those for adult mental disorders. The reasons for the lag include widespread lack of knowledge about child development and childhood mental disorders, weak advocacy, lack of training and absent financial and professional resources for programme development and implementation.

According to the WHO Atlas: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Resources, “available epidemiological data suggest a worldwide prevalence of child and adolescent mental disorders of approximately 20 per cent, of which four to six per cent of children and adolescents are in need of a clinical intervention for a significant mental disorder (WHR, 2001).

Another report says: “half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders start by age 14,” noting that nowhere in the

world is the documented need for child and adolescent mental health services fully met. Child mental healthcare is a unique phenomenon. The mental health literature is decidedly in favour of “early interventions to prevent adverse effects on developmental trajectories. There are arguments for a child mental health model rooted in prevention, with the understanding that early intervention reduces the incidence of at-risk children becoming high-cost users” of the healthcare systems.

Researchers and practitioners appear to agree that “delaying the implementation of mental health intervention until a child reaches middle childhood or adolescence renders the strategies less effective and more expensive, as the child’s socio-emotional problems have, during the delay in service provision, become more deeply entrenched” (www.frameworksinstitute. org)

“Barriers to care for the mental health needs of children and adolescents exist in all countries and at all levels. Lack of resources has been identified as a universal problem. Stigma is identified as a barrier in 68.1 per cent of countries (Child Mental Health Atlas © WHO 2005). A dramatic gap exists globally between the needed care and the care that’s actually provided. WHO reports few national programmes have been developed to highlight the mental health needs of children and these have been almost exclusively in developed countries.

TT should take the opportunity to use the psychiatric arm of this hospital to pioneer a national initiative aimed at adolescents and children born or living with intellectual, developmental, behavioural, emotional, and physical (psycho-physiological, such as eating disorders) issues. (TT Guardian)

J’can teachers accept 7 percent pay hike

KINGSTON,

JAMAICA:

Public school teachers on Tuesday accepted Government's seven per cent pay increase offer.

In a sudden aboutface, the teachers accepted the very offer of four per cent in year one and three per cent in year two of a new two-year contract with the Government, which they had soundly rejected by a widening 3-1 margin at a special conference at Jamaica College in Kingston on June 20.

In June, 243 of 315 delegates attending the special meeting voted against the package. This time in the resort capital of Montego Bay, 151 teacher/delegates voted, with 93 supporting the offer and 55 against. Two ballots were spoilt and one was unmarked.

The question was whether the reduced number of delegates impacted the outcome.

Newly installed president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Norman Allen, who took over from Doran Dixon after midnight Monday, couldn't explain the change of mind, either.

"As the new president, I have not tried in any way to influence the decision of the teachers. We allowed democracy to take place," Allen insisted.

He said that he was never sure how the result would have gone, following a prolonged debate over the offers, which lasted some two hours over the scheduled time.

The Jamaica media also tried to find out why only 151 delegates voted at the current 51st annual conference at the Hilton Rose Hall, compared to the 315 which voted against the offers at Jamaica College on June 20. It was learnt that the conference

usually attracted far less delegates, because of the cost of transportation and accommodation in the luxurious resorts.

An ecstatic minister with responsibility for the public service, Horace Dalley, told the media on Tuesday that he was happy that the teachers had accepted the package.

He promised to create a "special working team", which he will chair, to ensure that that all items of agreement are implemented during the life of the agreement.

Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites will address the JTA conference, on Wednesday. (Jamaica Observer)

Guyana Gov’t announces reduction in gas and diesel prices

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan announced on Wednesday a reduction in gasoline and diesel prices.

Taking effect from Thursday, at GuyOil stations, the diesel price will be reduced from Gy$174.77 to Gy$168 per liter, while the price of gasoline will also see a reduction of Gy$11, taking it to Gy$199 per liter.

The Minister pointed out that his government is committed to

bring ease to the people of the country and as such this step was taken. He said the government hopes that this benefit will have a trickledown effect, benefiting all sections of the population. However, the main groups targeted are those who transport students, taking into consideration the fact that school will soon be reopened. “I hope that this benefit is passed down especially on to the school children,” said the Minister.

When oil prices had drastically fallen in

January, gas stations across the country, amid public pressure, slashed the local prices for fuel by some 30 per cent.

However, this turned out to be a fleeting experience for consumers as prices began to slowly increase in mid-March.

International oil prices began to climb around May, but drastically fell again in July. Since then, prices have been fluctuating, although there have been no major increases or decreases until they crashed to below US$42 per barrel on Monday.(GINA)

Let us all work to build Guyana

– Dr Clive Jagan echoes Dr Cheddi Jagan

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Given that both the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) were notorious for scheming against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government during their years as

the Opposition, PPP/C Member of Parliament Dr Clive Jagan appealed to all the members of the House to shy away from such practices and focus their energies towards the betterment of Guyana instead.

Dr Jagan, nephew of the late founder of the PPP, Dr Cheddi

Jagan, expressed these inspiring sentiments as he made his maiden speech in the National Assembly during the 2015 Budget Debate on Tuesday. He was following his legendary uncle who made his maiden speech in the Assembly in 1947. In many ways, he remind-

ed older observers of the first Dr Jagan.

Clive Jagan lamented the fact that politics in Guyana has reached a point where parties appear to merely “oppose for opposition’s sake” and blatantly disregard what serves as the best interest of the country and its citizenry.

He alluded to the combined APNU/AFC Opposition and all their desperate attempts to block key developmental projects like Amaila Falls and the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, pointing out to the House that those parties only opposed for opposition’s sake.

“It is perhaps for those members who

were in this side who are now on that side to reflect and determine if it was in good conscience that they served Guyana, when they blocked and refused to support any number of important legislations from the then minority Government.

Dr Jagan explained that the previous Government had everything in place for the execution of this project, but it was blocked by the then APNU/AFC majority opposition, resulting in time, money and energy being wasted.

He said it was the same situation with the PPP/C’s attempt to pass the AML/CFT Bill.

It was on this note that Jagan called on all to not oppose for opposi-

tion’s sake but work for a better Guyana.

Dr Jagan noted that Guyana now has an education system that is once again considered one of the best in the Caribbean: more children are graduating from primary schools, more graduating with high grades in their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Exams; a stabilised exchange rate; rice production soaring at 600,000 tonnes a year; wider distribution of electricity and water; freedom and democracy.

“By any parameter, the country which is being handed over to the APNU/AFC is a better country than which the PPP/C inherited in 1992,” Dr Jagan posited. (Guyana Times)

14-year-old on murder charge...

TT minor sues State over ‘adult jail

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: A 14-year-old boy from Diego Martin, on remand for the murder of a 54-year-old man last year, is suing the State to be removed immediately from the Youth Training Centre (YTC), Arouca.

In his judicial review lawsuit filed in the Portof-Spain High Court on Monday, the teenager, who cannot be named as he is considered a minor in law, is claiming he was unlawfully remanded to the facility after he was charged alongside three older teens, including his 16-year-old sister, for the murder of Dulraj Goyan Deodath last year.

The teenager is relying on several pieces of recent legislation regulating the court’s handling of minors charged with serious crimes, including the Children Act, the Young Offenders Detention Act and the Children Community Residences, Foster Care and Nurseries Act.

According to his court documents, which were obtained by the TT media, the teen is contending that by the cu-

mulative effect of the legislation the court is only empowered to send minors between the ages of 16 and 18 to the facility, with judicial officers being required to assign those out of the age group to non-penal facilities or “community residences”.

However, because the Children’s Authority, the independent agency set up to enforce the provisions of the pieces of legislation is yet to approve any community residences in TT for use by the courts, the teen’s legal team is calling for his release from the facility.

Although he is not entitled to bail as he is charged with a capital offence, the lawyers are claiming he should not continue to be subjected to unlawful and unconstitutional detention at YTC because the State has failed to facilitate the implementation of all the provisions of the legislation. (TT Guardian)

Indo-Guyanese fearful of discrimination

– in wake of Guyana Gov’t’s dismissal of former GPL CEO Bharat Dindyal

By Kristen MacKlingaM

GEORGETOWN,.

GUYANA: In light of the A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s decision in relieving Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Bharat Dindyal, of his duties without proper notice or dialogue, concerns continue to grow as to whether this was truly a political move or an act of ‘ethnic cleansing’.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, in his blog, “The Conversation Tree” on Saturday, stated that the manner of the dismissal of Dindyal, who is one of the best and most dedicated managers in the State system, will send “shivers down the spines” of the ethnically sensitive.

“In justifying his (Dindyal’s) dismissal, a nottoo-subtle attempt was made to portray his continued employment without a written contract, even though he was continuing on the job only until a replacement could be found, as some sort of sinister plot. The incidents that led to the dismissal were reported … [another section of the media] (Friday). If the report is true, then Dindyal resist-

ed gross and continued insubordination from his Deputy, which was supported by the Minister,” said Ramkarran.

He went on to say that the display of rage by Dindyal was not “what did him in”.

He emphasised that political interference crushed all those in its path who attempted to resist. Dindyal was notified on Friday that his engagement with GPL was concluded with effect on the said day at 16:00h.

“Dindyal is the first known victim since the elections and will not be the last unless the Government breaks with this culture. The Government should have no doubt in its mind that these acts will all add up to the growing perception by the Indian Guyanese community that discrimination against them will become a part of their lot under the APNU+AFC coalition. The Government must understand that the rise of such sentiments is not determined by constructive examination of facts and rational conclusions arising there from,” Ramkarran posited.

He added that the rise of these sentiments emerged from perceptions rooted in historical circumstances that were given expression by Guyana’s two-party system which drove and sustained

the perceptions. It was further elaborated that there are growing concerns within the Indian Guyanese community that this administration has embarked on large-scale discrimination against them and this is being fuelled by politically driven accusations by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) using the same emotive language that was used by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in the 1900s – ‘ethnic cleansing’.

“I do not accept that there is such discrimination, but the growing perception is a negative phenomenon so early in the life of Government.

28 to contest for ILP

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Twenty-eight candidates will face the polls for the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) on September 7 and, according to some supporters, out in full force at Sunday night's presentation, it should not be taken for granted that the election race features only two horses.

A large crowd, mostly wearing the party's colour--green--packed into Montrose Junction in Chaguanas to be introduced to the candidates and to hear leader Jack Warner speak. Warner, facing charges by the United States Department of Justice that he was involved in corruption while he was a FIFA vice-president, has prom-

ised to drop more bombshells on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the weeks to come and said he felt his team was the strongest in the race.

The candidates themselves have promised to do what they said the People's Partnership has failed to do and see to it that citizens benefit most from the country's wealth.

But that wealth, Warner and his speakers cried, is dwindling in the face of poor diversification, unimaginative investment, falling oil prices, wild spending and corruption.

Riding hard on the notion that the local economy is heading for a crash, ILP Couva North candidate Sunil Ramjitsingh said the lack of US currency now

affecting banks, businesses and regular customers is but one indication of this country's swelling economic woes.

“There has to be an investigation into the change of policy by the Central Bank in how US currency is released into the system,” Ramjitsingh said.

“And anyone who deliberately does anything knowing that it could or would crash the economy is guilty of treason.”

Within the crowd, which was of mixed ethnicities and ages, supporters were enthusiastic the ILP was a meaningful contender.

“Whoever thinks this race is only between the UNC (United National Congress) and the PNM (People's National

It should not be dismissed, because one such perception takes hold, they are very difficult to overcome. Guyana’s politics are organised for the expression of ethnic sentiments and are driven by ethnic considerations,” Ramkarran noted.

He made reference to the period 1957-1964 when the PPP Government(s) were accused of racism, being a ‘rice’ government and the PNCR era of the 1970s and 1980s when the PNCR Governments were accused of “racial and political discrimination”.

Ramkarran stated that when the PNCR lost the elections in 1992, one dominant theme emanating from its leaders, members and supporters was of discrimination by the PPP/C. This theme quickly developed into accusations of ‘ethnic cleansing’ and finally settled into ‘marginalisation’ where it remained constant throughout the PPP/C’s terms of office and became an ‘accepted fact’ among African Guyanese, explained the Former Speaker of the National Assembly.

According to Ramkarran’s blog, with the advent of the APNU/AFC Government, many Indian Guyanese have become fearful of discrimination and, in particular, fearful

of the loss of promotions or job opportunities, loss of access which is vital for overcoming bureaucratic inertia or manoeuvring around ‘bottlenecks’ in the conduct of business.

However, to Government’s credit, it swiftly recognised the complaint and undertook to review the appointments.

Also on Sunday, the Indian Action Committee (IAC) expressed its concern over the sudden dismissal of Dindyal and how this move contributes to the growing perception of racial discrimination.

The IAC believes that the manner in which he was made to relinquish his post will precipitate much disquiet among employees of the State.

Former President Donald Ramotar had already stated that Guyana was beginning to witness ominous signs of racial discrimination and victimisation that do not augur well for the future of the country given the firing of hundreds of individuals since the coalition took office.

He had also noted with concern, the deafening silence of human rights groups, the international community and the religious community in this regard and urged them to come forth and speak out before it was too late. (Guyana Times)

Movement) is wrong,” said one ILP member.

“They are quick to dismiss the small parties but they will see the worth of the ILP come September,” he added.

The candidates were presented with much fan-

fare, with the crowd being treated to an hour of musical entertainment before the start of the presentation.

The event was punctuated by more entertainment, including a performance by chutney singer Adesh

Young Jamaica alarmed by Crawford’s attack on

KINGSTON,

JAMAICA: People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament Damion Crawford in relation to the police watchdog, INDECOM. According to Young Jamaica, Crawford's characterization of INDECOM as an "enemy of the state" is a boorish and alarming attack on a commission of the Parliament

of Jamaica. The group says the comments were unworthy of a legislator, and in attacking a commission of Parliament, Crawford has called into disrepute the legislature itself. The organisation says it is deeply concerned that there appears to be a move afoot in the PNP to undermine the legitimacy and effectiveness of the oversight body.

"When one considers Crawford's increasing attacks, coupled with the security minister's ill-advised decision to recommend an oversight body for the oversight body, you form the uncomfortable perception that there are forces seeking to destabilize the organization," Young Jamaica said in a release.

"We are not going to al-

low INDECOM to be bullied into submission. This will see us slipping back into the dark days where the law abiding and hardworking men and women of the security forces were overshadowed by the scourge of extrajudicial killings and police abuses. We had an unenviable record where extrajudicial killings are concerned, that number is declining. INDECOM de-

In addition to supporters in green, nearby residential areas yielded another type of crowd, this one curious to catch a glimpse of Warner, who was in his “hometown”. (TT Express)

INDECOM

serves to be strengthened, not attacked and demeaned.

“For the scores of young Jamaicans, especially inner city youth, who are losing faith in the formal justice system, INDECOM represents a champion for their rights. Crawford is grossly misguided if he believes it is anyone's best interest to take that away.” (Jamaica Observer)

New National Toshaos’ Council Chairman elected

–

confusion, chaos mar opening day

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

There was much organisational chaos when new Executive Members of the National Toshaos’ Council were elected on Monday at the Introduction and Orientation Ceremony of the meeting at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Georgetown, much to the displeasure of several Toshaos.

More than 200 Toshaos from Amerindian villages all across Guyana were present at the event. The meeting held under the theme, “Steadfast Indigenous Leadership towards Territorial Integrity and Sustainable Livelihood”,

Lennox Shuman; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – Colin Adrian; Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) – David Henry; Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) –Norma Thomas, Darnis Larson and Eyon Boyer; Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) – Ian Pio, Gideon John and Edward McGarrel; Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) –Lenny Moses, Nicholas Fredericks and James George; and Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) – Wilbert Hall and Telford King. Throughout the day, several Toshaos expressed displeasure with the planning and short notice of the event. Outgoing Chairman

vide strategic plans so that Guyanese in hinterland villages can have access to appropriate and adequate health facilities and proper education.

The Minister mentioned that the Amerindian Act spells out the functions of the Council, namely, to promote good governance in villages, to prepare strategies and plans for the reduction and elimination of poverty, and enhance access to health care and quality education in villages. She stated that the Council must be able to fulfil its mandate as an independent body that will provide adequate advice to the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

is scheduled to conclude on August 22.

The first part of the election process entailed that all Toshaos present elect a Toshao from their respective regions to be on the NTC. The second part saw the newly-elected Council members then selecting a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer from among themselves.

The election, conducted by members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), produced results that named former Vice Chairman of the Council, Joel Fredericks, as Chairman after he received 10 of the 19 votes cast. Eyon Boyal was the only nominee for the position of Secretary and Nicholas Fredericks was elected Treasurer.

Region One (BarimaWaini) will be represented by Cleveland DeSouza, Vincent Emmanuel and Michael Williams; Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) – Joel Fredericks and David Wilson; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) – Aubrey Samuels; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) –

Derrick John, in his presentation of the NTC report, shared that he had only been given notice about the event and report preparations about three days ago and had only managed to complete his report several minutes before he was about to present it.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the fact that the NTC’s report was not given before the election process began. During the first half of the election process, several Toshaos interrupted the process to ask for time to get to know the different members eligible for election to represent their region. A few stated that this move was very unprofessional and many were stumped because of improper planning.

Minister within the Communities Ministry, Dawn HastingsWilliams, in her charge to the new Council members, urged them to ensure that good governance prevailed in each indigenous village. She added that she hopes that the newly elected NTC will be able to pro-

Jamaica on track to pass next IMF test — Byles

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaica should be on track to pass the ninth IMF test and can expect upgrades from the major rating agencies, as a result of recent improvments to the economy, according to Richard Byles, co-chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC).

"Recent economic news has been generally good, with the most important metrics performing according to plan or better, notably the primary balance, the current account, inflation and of course the debt/GDP ratio as a result of the debt buy-back," Byles said.

The PetroCaribe debt buy-back is "quite an event" Byles said, and will bring three major benefits to the country.

First up is the 10 per cent reduction in the debt/GDP ratio -- "a major accomplishment and a major benefit to the country", allowing Jamaica to achieve its March 2017 target twenty months early, Byles said.

The government will also benefit from an increase in income through earnings from the PetroCaribe Fund.

And thirdly, "there will be a big rush of Jamaican dollar liquidity in Febuary," bringing a reduction in interest rates.

In addition, Byles said he expected Jamaica to pass the upcoming IMF text, and for the programme "to focus more on the issue of growth". Byles said he also expects an upgrade from the three major rating agencies of Standard and Poors, Fitch Ratings and Moody's.

The economy grew by 0.4 per cent from January to March.

"That is not as much as we'd want but not a bad performance, given all we know about the drought and so forth,' Byles said.

As the drought kicks in and appears to be even more severe than last year's, Jamaica will once again experience a

hit to its GPD growth figures, Byles said.

"The drought is worse and has probably taken out at least 0.5 to 1.0 per cent of our GDP," Byles told the Jamaican media on Monday. He was speaking at a monthly review on the Jamaican economy at the Sagicor head office in New Kingston.

The effect of this year's drought is a repeat of last year, when a severe drought hit the Jamaican economy, expecially the agricultural sector, reduciing the GDP growth rate by about 1.0 per cent.

Agriculture in Jamaica is very 'harum scarum' Byles said. "We need to move past that."

On the breadbasket agricultural parish of St Elizabeth he said "We need irrigation water at a price that is affordable. That is a low hanging fruit."

The hotel and restaurant industry grew by 4.0 per cent during the first quarter, with construction at 1.3 per cent and mining at 0.6 per cent, but declines were recorded in electricity generation down by 2.8 per cent, agriculture down by 0.6 per cent and manufacturing down by 2.0 per cent. (Jamaica Observer)

Also present at the NTC meeting was Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, who congratulated the leaders on behalf of President David Granger for attending the very important engagement, which Guyana’s Constitution and the Amerindian Act dictate must be held. Trotman also expressed congratulations to the 20 persons who were recently elected as Executive Members of the Council.

The Minister told the Toshaos that the Government had no intentions of interfering in the day-to-day functions of Amerindian villages. He said, “I have heard all manner of things said against Toshaos and I have no doubt that you have heard all manner of things said about the new Government. All I would ask is for you to give us an opportunity to get to know each other better and to win your trust.”

Trotman, in his address, told the Toshaos to not fail to admonish the Government whenever it was at fault. (Guyana Times)

TT energy chamber renews call to remove fuel subsidy

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Energy Chamber

president Dr Thackwray Driver has renewed the group’s call for removal of the fuel subsidy which he describes as economically unsustainable as well as a threat to the environment as it promotes the use of traditional fuels which increase CO2 emissions.

He did so in his welcome address at the unveiling of TT’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDCs) ahead of the 21st Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled for France in December. The launch took place on Friday evening at the International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain.

Dr Driver said the chamber acknowledges climate change as a global issue that requires

commitment from all countries. He highlighted the work the chamber has been doing toward development of a carbon market, including establishment of a carbon emissions trading scheme aimed at eradicating carbon emissions through the capture of fugitive emissions from onshore oil producers, carbon capture and sequestration and switching to CNG and other clean fuels.

He said: “The Energy Chamber has long been an advocate of energy efficiency within the energy sector and the wider economy. We have been encouraging the implementation of an Energy Service Company (ESCO) certification system to allow companies to access the tax incentives which have existed in the law for the past five years but which have not yet been accessed.

Dr Driver added that

the chamber was actively involved in the creation of an energy efficiency policy for the Point Lisas Industrial Estate where several large CO2 emitting plants are located.

“Reductions in CO2 from Point Lisas can be achieved through energy efficiency and investment in improved plant processes,” he said.

Vidiah Ramkhelawan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment, who delivered the keynote address at the launch, said TT was the first Caribbean country and third small island development state to formally submit its iNDCs.

She added that Trinidad is committed to a 15 per cent reduction in overall emissions by 2030, as well as reduction in public transportation emissions by 30 per cent through the conversion of public transport vehicles to CNG. (TT Guardian)

TT Opposition leader defends US speakers

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

PNM POLITICAL leader Dr Keith Rowley on Monday defended the party’s decision to feature two corruptiontainted speakers from the United States on the PNM platform on Saturday, saying comments on the matter had gone “overboard”.

Rowley said the fact that one of the speakers had been fined for lying to an ethics commission did not disqualify that person from further participation in politics.

The Opposition Leader was speaking with reporters at his constituency office at Glencoe, moments after his nomination papers were filed for the

Diego Martin West seat. Members of the media asked if featuring former New York governor David Alexander Paterson and congressman Ed Towns undermined Rowley’s own campaign, given his own focus on corruption issues.

“I don’t think we should overplay that,” the PNM leader said.

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy…

“The bottom line is these are gentlemen who have had distinguished careers. I don’t know what my career is going to be.” Paterson was fined for lying about a matter before an ethics commission and was reported to have exerted undue influence in relation to an abuse case involving an aide.

Towns was involved

in a Congress banking scandal where he was said to have issued hundreds of cheques on an overdraft.

But Rowley said the matters involving the men’s past were part of politics.

Asked if the fact that one of the men was fined for lying to an ethics commission, Rowley said he was not sure

that was a bar. “I don’t know that that disqualifies you,” the Opposition Leader said. “Because if lying in Parliament is a disqualification, half of Trinidad Parliament is not supposed to be there.” At the same time, he said he would take a tough stance on persons who lie. (TT Newsday)

Venezuela to address controversy in Mercosur Parliament

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: A delegation of Venezuelan parliamentarians will be attending the 33rd Regular Meeting and Special Meeting of the Parliament of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) in Montevideo, Uruguay on Sunday where they will present a document concerning its claims against Guyana over the western Essequibo territory, in an effort to seek the full support of the regional body amid the decades-old border controversy.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge was not clear on whether Guyana would be participating in the upcoming meeting. According to Greenidge, “Our colleagues in Latin America claim we have been invited to a meeting in August, but didn’t see it fit to ask us whether we’d be available, whether the time would be convenient, whether we’d be interested and so

forth.”

However, former diplomats have urged the Guyanese Government to attend this important meeting, with the aim of dealing with the recently flared controversy over the illegal claims to the Essequibo.

Venezuelan parliamentarian Saúl Ortega said the delegation will, at the Mercosur meeting, explain how Guyana’s Government plans to “take over” Essequibo – disregarding Venezuela’s sovereignty.

He added that his country expects a unanimous resolution in support of Venezuela. For generations, Venezuela has been claiming most of Guyana’s territory. The controversy surfaced again in May when US-oil giant ExxonMobil revealed it had found massive offshore oil and gas deposits.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree ratifying maritime sov-

More than 800 Jamaicans employed under REDI project

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Omar Sweeney says over 800 Jamaicans have been employed under the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) project.

The World Bank-funded project, implemented in 2010, focuses on income generating interventions in the areas of agriculture and tourism, supported by the various linkages for marketing.

"Today, under the REDI programme, we have supported more than 844 persons, who are now employed to rural micro enterprises and groups that are engaged in the agriculture and tourism sectors," he said.

He noted that "critical to the programme are the linkages, which will allow for persons to see their income being increased and additional jobs being created".

Sweeney was speaking at the official handing over of a drip irrigation system and food safety facility at Braco Farms in Trelawny last week.

The initiative, funded by JSIF under the REDI project,

ereignty over waters within a 200-mile range,including the entire Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast, as well as part of Suriname’s maritime territory.

This decree sparked a nationwide debate regarding the matter, with various regional bodies and nations calling for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

involved collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, and the National Irrigation Commission Limited (NIC).

"This partnership...aims to address a common and often critical challenge facing agriculture...the challenge of inadequate irrigation for farmlands in the sector. In addition to improved access to water for irrigation, the project also supports the efficient and effective delivery of fertiliser inputs," Sweeney said.

He said the intervention by JSIF is expected to boost production yield by more than 50 per cent.

A total of 475 farmers in Clarendon, St Elizabeth, St Catherine, Manchester, St Thomas, and Trelawny have benefited from the provision of irrigation infrastructure under REDI.

Sweeney said in addition to the installation of drip irrigation lines, 225 1,000-gallon water storage tanks have been donated to the farmers.

They have also received 190 fertigation kits and 190 fortyfive gallon drums to store chemicals. (Jamaica Observer)

Guyana already secured the support from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the United States of America (USA), and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, former diplomats have already pressed the Guyanese Government to address the matter at the upcoming Mercosur meeting.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rudolph “Rudy” Insanally had said that Latin American States that are part of the sub-regional bloc of Mercosur should take into consideration the fact that Guyana is now a fully fledged member of the grouping and that the decisions following consultations on the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy should be fair. There is already a widespread perception that the grouping will likely to lean in Venezuela’s favour. However, Insanally, who has been Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since 1987, said those

countries should come to the understanding that Guyana is now a part of them and has been attending all of the meetings ever since joining the group and that in spite of what language a country speaks, the group should always be fair.

Additionally, former Foreign Trade Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey pointed out that if Guyana does not attend the confab, then it could lose out on having a say on any decision that is made.

President David Granger, during a recently concluded Mercosur Summit in Brazil, called on the regional grouping to help his country in the defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Granger told leaders at the summit, which was held in Brasilia, that “Mercosur has the duty to be vigilant against this conflict and urged Mercosur leaders to guarantee the sovereignty of small states of the continent”. (Guyana Times)

Barbados beats Germany to win bid to host leading yachting event

BRIDGETOWN,

BARBADOS:

Barbados has beat out Germany for the bid to host one of the world’s leading yachting events in 2017.

And with the OK Class Worlds set to attract 100 of the world’s best sailors to compete against each other in Carlisle Bay, on the outskirts of the capital, tourism officials are anticipating a big boost in visitor arrivals.

These sailors are known to travel with their families and friends, a trend the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) said would be of direct benefit to local accommodation, restaurants, car rental companies and other industry players.

BTMI chief executive officer William Griffith attributed the win to the critical support of partners who helped make hosting the event in Barbados an irresistible proposition.

“Through the invaluable support of Geest Shipping, which continues to be a loyal partner in getting the boats here, as well as Mount Gay

Distilleries and the Barbados Port Inc., Barbados is once again in the limelight as a premier yacht-friendly destination,” he said.

“We will continue to build on our strong reputation as a preferred host country on the international yachting circuit, having already hosted the Fireball Barbados Worlds in 2010, which was followed by our most successful event to date, the 505 International Barbados Worlds in 2013.”

For the first time, Barbados will host two international yachting competitions in one year, as the island will also be the location for the popular Finn Masters Worlds.

That event will feature races among a class of heavier dinghies, as seen in the Summer Olympic Games and it is expected it will attract as many as 200 boats and 500 sailors and their family and friends. (Caribbean360)

Cuban hotel worker gives another theory of why Jamaica's athletes run fast

HAVANA, CUBA

: The question of why Jamaica's track athletes run so fast has been asked near and far, by the rich and poor, the good, the bad and those in-between.

Although there has been no scientific evidence put forward, the most used suggestion is the yam that the athletes feed on, particularly athletes like Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell Brown who hail from one of the leading parishes that produce the tuber -- Trelawny in the north west.

Bolt himself has joked about the idea on countless occasions and there is some amount of acceptance, albeit reluctance by naysayers, that the yam is indeed the tonic of speed, if not endurance.

But one Cuban hotel worker has put forward another interesting reason. Jamaican athletes, he believes, run so fast because of the mixture of coconut water and white rum that they sometimes consume.

"It is the coconut water, I tell you -- the one with the rum in it," said Jorge Vasquez, a waiter at the Copacabana Hotel in the Havana suburb of Miramar.

"It must be the coconut water, but not only the coconut water. They put the rum in it and it makes them run, run, run," Vasquez maintained.

Like the typical Cuban, Vasquez admitted a love for Jamaicans on a whole, and the island's athletes in particular. Being so near to Jamaica, too, meant something extra special for him and his Cuban comrades, he said.

"We are all one people, we are Caribbean people, we don't speak the same language, but we are the same.

"We love when Jamaicans run well.

Usain Bolt is our hero and you have Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Shell (Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce).

The hotel worker said he plays only a "little" baseball, Cuba's national sport, but has a long history of following sports in this north Caribbean island, pointing to his countryman Javier Sotomayor as inspiration and whom he described as the greatest high jumper of all time.

Sotomayor, Vasques said, is his very good friend and predicts that the world record mark of 2.45 metres, set by the great Cuban, will not be broken.

Vasquez is merely one of the voices in Cuban that shout Jamaica's name when the athletes do well.

"We love your athletes and we all cheer them along when they run," said one of Cuba's leading biochemists Dr Manuel Raices Perez-Castanedo, business development executive of the Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Havana.

"I myself love Usain Bolt. We jump and celebrate the success of Jamaica's athletes when they do well on the world scene. My family and I are fascinated by the performance of Jamaica's athletes, but you should see my neighbour jump and shout when Bolt and the other athletes win their races," Dr PerezCastanedo said.

The practice of asking one who looks like a foreigner, who often struggles with the right Spanish pronunciations, where he is from is regular. But when the country's identity is disclosed as that of Jamaica, the name Usain Bolt naturally follows as a response.

Is Usain's success all in the yam, or the rum?

(Jamaica Observer)

PM relies on TT’s tradition of democracy

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the National Security Council has put measures in place to ensure free and fair elections without thuggery and violence.

Speaking in Penal with members of the media after she filed her nomination papers as a candidate to contest the Siparia seat on Monday afternoon, the prime minister said they have increased security in the country from now right up until Carnival next year.

“So we have called out the reserves, we are on high alert to ensure we have free and fair elections without thuggery and violence.”

She said the Minister of National Security Brigadier Carl Alfonso and the National Operations Centre will continue to monitor the situation. In addition, Persad-Bissessar said she has invited both the Caricom and the Commonwealth Secretariat to send a team of observers to observe the September 7 general elections.

“The Commonwealth Secretariat came on a mission for us, as a fact finding mission and the Caricom people will also be here. So I am putting everything in place to ensure free and fair election. That is what we are about. That is what my government is about to do everything I can to ensure free and fair election.”

Persad-Bissessar said while she was taking precautions to ensure there was no violence, she said she was not scared because TT has a strong tradition of democracy.

She said all 41 candidates selected had successfully filed nominations and thanked the

Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) for conducting a smooth process.

Responding to selection of Rushton Paray, one day after Roger Morales was named as the successor to Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters for the Mayaro seat, PersadBissessar said she took into consideration concerns expressed.

The prime minister also denied rumours circulating during the day that the PP’s Pointe-aPierre candidate David Lee was rejected because he had dual citizenship with the United States.

“No, he does not have dual citizenship. What he does have is a Green

Card and under our constitution he is entitled to file for the seat.” She said when the allegations first surfaced she spoke with Lee and he assured her that he had no dual citizenship.

On the issue of former Senate President Raziah Ahmed contesting the San Fernando West seat, Persad Bissessar said there was nothing in law to debar her from this process.

She said under that section, if the President of the Senate or any member of the Senate consent to be a candidate, the Constitution says that person shall vacate their seat.

“I have taken the steps, the former Senator has consented to be a candidate, I have written His Excellency the President under Section 43 and there is no bar, There is no disqualification for Mrs Raziah Ahmed to be a candidate and the winning candidate for San Fernando West.” Parliament announced on Monday that Ahmed resigned as Senate President on Friday, hours before she was announced as a UNC candidate. (TT Guardian)

Administrative regions in Guyana to get own flags … moves afoot to decentralise Gov't

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: In an effort to implement a decentralised governing system, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration will assign each administrative region across Guyana with its very own flag as a representation of independence.

Minister of Communities

Ronald Bulkan, who was represented by Ministry official Artiha Henry, made this announcement at the National Toshaos Conference on Monday at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre.

Bulkan was unable to attend the conference due to the budget debates at Parliament.

According to the Minister, Central Government should not dictate what developmental plans are necessary for each region but rather, each region must tell Central Government where their developmental priorities lie. Thereafter, Central Government would provide the capacity and ability needed to achieve those goals.

The vision of the Ministry is to see each village and community being empowered to be self-sustainable and self-sufficient and capable of efficiently and effectively utilising its resources to develop its district.

“Each region, therefore, is ex-

pected to meaningfully participate to improve the lives of the residents and the same expectation of participation applies to villages and community development councils…The introduction of flags for each region is part and parcel of this new strategic vision,” the Minister’s speech indicated. Consequently, each region will have its own emblem which embodies its unique identity. Region One’s (Barima-Waini) emblem is a turtle against a green and gold background. The turtle represents the leatherback turtle found on Shell Beach and the colours represent the two main economic activities in the region: forestry and mining.

Region Two’s (PomeroonSupenaam) emblem is a rice stalk against a white and green background. The rice stalk represents the main economic produce of the region while the colours represent the many waterways and the farming activities respectively.

Region Three’s (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) emblem is a ferry against a white, black and green background. The ferry represents the Ferry MV Sabanto and the colours represent the water resources, endurance of the people and the rich agricultural activities.

Region Four’s (DemeraraMahaica) emblem is the Stabroek Market against a red and black background. The Stabroek Market

is a representation of the region’s economic activity and the colours represent the zeal, strength and endurance of the people.

Region Five’s (MahaiceBerbice) emblem is a rice farmer planting rice. The colours are black and green which represents strength and agriculture.

Region Six’s (East BerbiceCorentyne) emblem is a rice stalk. The colours are red and green and it represents the zeal of the people and the rich agricultural heritage.

Region Seven’s (CuyuniMazaruni) emblem is a porkknocker and the colours are yellow, white and green. They represent the mineral wealth, the water resources and the vast forest.

Region Eight’s (PotaroSiparuni) emblem is the Majestic Kaieteur Fall. The background colours are green, black and gold and they represent the abundant forest, the resilience of the people and the mineral resources.

Region Nine’s (Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo) emblem is the harpy eagle and the background colours are red, green and white. They represent the zeal of the people, the forests and the waters.

Region 10’s (Upper DemeraraBerbice) emblem is bauxite against a gold and black background. This represents the regions mining activities. The gold represents mining while the black represents strength and the ability to overcome challenges. (Guyana Times)

Overseas buyers impressed with agro parks in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Fresh produce buyers from the United States (US), who visited the island last week, say they are impressed with the high quality of produce coming out of the agro parks.

“The parks have been impressive. There is a lot of opportunity to do business here in Jamaica. To grow the export is the goal,” said Carlos Capote of JC Tropicals in Miami.

He was addressing the media to provide details about the visit of the five-member team from August 11 to 13, which was organised by the Agricultural Competiveness Programme in the Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security.

During the three days, the buyers toured agro parks at Plantain Garden River and Yallahs in St. Thomas; Amity Hall in St.

representative for the Inter-American Institute for cooperation in Agriculture (IIcA), Dr. Elizabeth Johnson; and carlos capote of Jc Tropicals in miami.

Catherine; Ebony Park and Spring Plains in Clarendon; and Duff House in St. Elizabeth, and had face-to face meetings with the farmers.

Mr. Capote said the buyers have identified several produce that can be exported immediately. “We have already placed an order for guinep,” he said. He informed that the importers are also in-

terested in breadfruit, June plum, apple, mango, okra, and pumpkin.

“Your pumpkin quality is excellent. The one that we have seen in the last three days are some of the best I have seen in a long time,” he noted.

Mr. Capote said the buyers will be working closely with the farmers to help them understand how the international market works and “what we need to work on to

make this (exports) happen as effectively as possible quickly.”

He noted that while the various produce are “beautiful” they need to be prepared for the international market in terms of packaging, quality and price.

Mr. Capote commended the work being done under the Agricultural Competiveness Programme to increase the country’s exports.

Under the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB)-financed programme, a series of interventions are being undertaken aimed at promoting market access by small and medium-sized farmers; ensuring the production of safe and high quality food and products; and stimulating public-private investment in agribusiness value chain development.

Through the programme, production is being ramped up in the agro parks to meet the demand for Jamaican produce in the international market.

Agriculture Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, in his address at a function to welcome the fivemember team to the island, said there is a huge demand for the country’s traditional and non-traditional produce in the US, which is largely unfilled.

“There are some 52 items on the pre-clear-

ance list for the import of agricultural produce into the United States and we are currently only supplying less than a quarter of the items on the list,” he pointed out. He said fresh produce such as yams, dasheens, sweet potatoes, peppers, pumpkins, herbs, spices and nutraceuticals have “serious potential for export”.

Presently, there are nine agro parks across the island, and according to Dr. Deslandes there are plans in place to increase the number to 21overtime.

Meanwhile, Country representative of the IICA, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, said the IICA is proud to partner and support the Ministry of Agriculture in the operalisation of the agro parks.

“Our role is to support the Ministry and the Government to actually make the goals of the sector a reality,” Dr. Johnson said. (JIS)

Guyana PM says “sugar will not sink” under new Gov’t – promises to turn ailing industry around

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: As Guyana continues to grapple with the ailing sugar industry, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government has assured that it will not let sugar fail.

The one-day conference was held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, during which Prime Minister Nagamootoo delivered the feature address on the importance of sugar to Guyanese and

pointed out that since its assumption to office in May, Government has given the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) a Gy$4 billion bailout to pay wages, adding that the industry needed an additional Gy$12 billion. This, he stated, is despite another

This promise was uttered by Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo on Friday while he was addressing a gathering of stakeholders at the Agriculture Ministry’s first National Cane Farmers Conference where issues affecting the sugar industry were discussed and recommendations made.

the country’s economy. He noted that while in Opposition, the APNU/ AFC coalition had said that sugar was too big to fail, and this position was still maintained.

Nagamootoo stated that the sugar industry contributed significantly to the country’s economy and as such, Government needed to ensure it did not fail. He

Gy$17 billion that was approved in Parliament over the past two years to be injected into the sector.

“This new Government will not allow the sugar industry to sink. However, you will well understand we needed to cast out the political deadweights, whose mismanagement had brought us

at Cane Farmers Conference

to the point where we were forced to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into the operations

PNM caNdidate to tt ceNtral BaNk GoverNor:

Explain plans to ease US$$ shortage facing businesses

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

People's National Movement (PNM) candidate for Port of Spain North/St Ann's East Stuart Young is calling on Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran to inform the country of his plans to alleviate the foreign exchange cash crunch facing business people.

In addition, Young wants Rambarran to say why the Central Bank's allocation policy for foreign exchange dealers was changed and who exactly has received the US$658 million that has been pumped into the local banking system in the last year.

In a statement to the media on Friday, Young said the perennial shortage of US dollars was

OSEAU, DOMINICA

:

cause for concern and could cause Trinidad's legitimate businessmen to be blacklisted internationally.

Young was responding to the decision by Republic Bank Ltd to “tighten controls” on its foreign exchange given the demand for US dollars.

“I had first raised this concern in the Senate in June 2014 when the system began experiencing shortage problems in the prior months, which can reasonably be associated with the unilateral and secret change in allocation by the Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT). To date no explanation whatsoever has been provided by the Governor for his decision to change the allocation policy that was cou-

pled with a decision not to provide reports (that had prior to been provided) as to whom the CBTT allocations were distributed to,” he said.

He pointed to the

Central Bank's re-allocation policy to its foreign exchange dealers in June 2014 which altered the market and for which it has not recovered.

“The fact that Republic Bank Ltd (RBL) has had to take the measures that are now being reported with respect to their sale of USD foreign ex-

change should heighten concern. This is not the first August vacation period that Trinidad and Tobago has experienced so to try and place the blame on the increase in demand in August and a decrease in supply at the same time is respectfully not good enough.

An astute manager of this part of the economy would have predicted this (if it were true to the extent that CBTT would have us believe) and taken precautionary steps and measures to ensure the least disruption,” he said.

“Businesses have been crying out...This continued shortage situation is affecting T&T's international trade position and local citizens. It is quite simply unacceptable,” Young said. (TT Express)

New variety of breadfruit donated to Dominica by Garvey’s son R

A new variety of breadfruit will be introduced to Dominica to mark the 128th anniversary of the birth of Jamaican national hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

On Monday, just under 400 high yielding and fast growing breadfruit plants left the Global Breadfruit Laboratory based in Florida, for Dominica. The plants are the donation of Dr Julius Garvey, the son of Marcus Garvey.

Dr Garvey, is a member of CAN and has dedicated himself to the development of Caribbean food security, in accordance with the principles of self reliance advocated by his father who founded the Universal Negro

Improvement Association in the early 1900s.

Dominica was a major base of support for the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) during its early

years.

The objective of the breadfruit project is to distribute the plants within the seven agricultural regions . Upon arrival the breadfruit plants will be

transported to a greenhouse facility where they will be hardened for three months prior to distribution to local farmers.

The plants are fast bearing and will bear fruit within two to three years, compared to the standard three to five years.

According to CAN’s Director on Dominica, Errol Emmanuel, the breadfruit proliferation effort will complement the cocoa revival project in Dominica.

The objective of CAN is to rebuild the agriculture and food security backbone in Dominica, and the region. (CMC)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation donates 3 million condoms to Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: In keeping with the slogan "Love is the BEST protection" the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) recently donated three million of its LOVE brand condoms to further assist Jamaica in its drive to promote safer sex through condom distribution.

The organisation recently started working with the government in lending assistance to the national efforts to control the HIV epidemic.

AHF, through this partnership, has been providing care for thousands of Jamaicans living with HIV specifically in the Western region (Montego Bay and Savanna-la-Mar) and is also working with Jamaica AIDS Support for Life.

The handing over of condoms and condom boxes, to be issued by nurses in public hospitals and health centres, and specific non-governmental organisations, is in line with the Ministry of Health's commitment to promoting responsible sexual behaviour.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kevin Harvey, in addressing the handing-over cere-

mony noted that unwanted pregnancy is still a major challenge for us as a developing country.

"We still have a significant amount of unplanned pregnancies, which are resulting in terminated pregnancies and in fact, unsafe terminations," Dr Harvey said.

The rate of teenage pregnancy and the new HIV infection among girls ages 10-19 is still a concern for the island as approximately 20 per cent of all pregnancies annually occur within this age group. Girls in this age group are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than boys.

The country received the three million condoms last month and a commitment has been made to also provide LOVE lubricants later this year.

"The National Family Planning Board has been doing good work and it is an honour to collaborate with the Jamaican health delivery system, and we look forward to future collaborations," said Southern Region Bureau Chief for AHF Michael Kahane during his address at the handing-over ceremony. (Jamaica Observer)

Serious crime up by 10% in Guyana

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: As the Government of Guyana “fine-tunes” its public security plan – which is more of a strategic macro perspective – aimed at addressing the crime situation in Guyana, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday disclosed that there has been an increase of 10 per cent in serious crimes at the end of July 2015, compared to the same period last year.

Among the “serious crimes” listed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

The Force stated that a total of 94 murders were recorded at the end of July 2015 in comparison to 80 at the end of July 2014, which saw an increase of 18 per cent. Four more murders were recorded up to August 13 taking the toll to 98 for the year thus far.

Of these, 35 murders were committed in A Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) followed by 17 in C Division (East Coast Demerara) and 16 in B Division (Berbice). In addition, 12 were committed in F Division (Interior locations) and four each in D (West Bank Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) and E (Linden/Kwakwani) while six were recorded in G Division (Essequibo Coast/Islands).

The Police further disclosed

that 37 of the 94 murders committed were disorderly, 15 were committed during robberies and six were execution-style killings; 11 were as a result of domestic disputes, 23 were from unknown causes and two by other means.

In addition, the Police recorded a two per cent decrease in robbery under arms as well as a four per cent decrease in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearm.

However, a three per cent increase was recorded in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used.

As such, the Government allocated Gy$21 billion to strengthen and improve the country’s various national security services in the National Budget pre -

sented to the National Assembly on Monday.

The Finance Minister noted some Gy$11.9 billion will be plugged into supporting the operations of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Fire Service, and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit. Meanwhile, he added that the remaining Gy$9.1 billion will be directed towards the operations of the Guyana Defence Force.

According to Jordan, these allocations will be injected into improving the physical infrastructure, upgrade of the security fleet, and acquisition of tools and equipment within these security services. The money will also be used to upgrade the security features of the machine readable passports, while another Gy$9.7 million was budgeted for the acquisition of specialised equipment for the production of machine readable passports.

However numerous reports in the press stress that citizens have grown tired of promised to “fix”‘the crime situation even as the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan appears stunned into silence by the upsurge in crimes. Ramjattan had been one of the most vociferous critic of his predecessor Clement Rohee but has been unable to come up with a viable response even after he was summoned to meet the President and his phalanx of Security Advisors at 4:am in the morning. (Guyana Times)

Region needs US$120m to fight seaweed

PORT-OFSPAIN,

TRINIDAD: The Caribbean will need US$120 million to clean beaches affected by sargassum seaweed, according to University of the West Indies (UWI) ViceChancellor Sir Hilary Beckles.

The seaweed threatens to affect Caribbean economies that depend on tourism—not only for its coverage of tourist-attracting shores, but also for impact on marine life, tourist attractions and fishing.

Though neither widespread nor large-scale yet, reservation cancellations in the midst of “summer”, one of the region’s tourism peaks, have been reported in Caribbean media.

Speaking at a symposium at UWI’s Cave Hill campus in Barbados on Monday, Sir Hilary said US$120 million and 100,000 contracted people will suffice to remove tons of the marine plant that are washing up on beach shores in Trinidad and Tobago, St Maarten, Puerto Rico, Barbados and other islands.

He suggested a fund

and an emergency agency be established in the Caribbean to coordinate and execute plans to deal with the phenomenon.

UWI Prof Eudine Barriteau said the university is ready to work and conduct studies with international experts to solve the problem. Ministers of Government, ecologists and private-sector representatives were said to have attended the Cave Hill symposium.

Tourism generated a record-high US$29.2 billion in on-shore spending in the Caribbean in 2014, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO). While Trinidad and Tobago is not tourismdependent, its Caribbean export market is. A May 20 (2015) report by Moody’s Investors Service said: “Trinidad and Tobago, the sole net commodity exporter in the region, contributes to 14 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP). The remaining ten sovereigns (states) that rely on tourism account for 86 per cent of the regional GDP.” (TT Express)

Flames spark between marketing companies, retailers in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Gasolene retailers are again up in arms, this time over what they say are continued unfair pricing practices of petroleum marketing companies, which they fear could force some of them out of business.

The retailers have accused the companies of not passing on the full cost of the reductions and discounts they receive from Petrojam, the state oil refinery, and allege that it has been the case for at least four to six months.

"We notice that when there is a reduction in prices, the prices are not passed on to the dealers in terms of the full reduction," President of the Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) Leonard Green told the Jamaican media.

Green argued that this type of unpredictability, while retail margins are being compressed, is forcing the dealers

into a corner, and rendering them uncompetitive.

"Some of our dealers have had to be absorbing these retentions by the marketing companies. Although the marketing companies have only passed on Ja$1.91 in the last instance to the dealers, they have had to pass on the full

Ja$2.91 to the market," he said.

The JGRA president said the dealers want the companies to immediately desist from the practice and come up with a proper pricing mechanism.

Green said that so far one company has indicated

that it wants to have one-onone meetings with the affected dealers, but the JGRA is against the move, calling it "a divide and rule" method.

The retailers have another lingering issue with the marketing companies -- that of new contracts which were to take effect in January, but which were stayed after dealers objected to the terms and threatened to shut down the retail trade.

Retailers complained then that the contracts were onerous and unfair, and following the intervention of the energy minister, Phillip Paulwell, a code of conduct to guide contractual arrangements between the parties was put to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) for review.

Green is dissatisfied that the FTC has not yet made a final decision, and blames the delay on lack of cooperation by the companies.

"The FTC has spoken to the retailers and other stakeholders, but the marketing companies have been very reluctant to cooperate with the FTC. We are saying to the FTC: "having given them so much time to give you their response, why don't you move ahead and make your recommendations based on the evidence that we have provided? he queried. He said in the meantime, the companies are trying to "coerce and in some instances pressure" the dealers to sign these contracts, as , among other things, access to capital financing has been stymied because the dealers continue to operate under the old contracts.

Executive Director of the FTC David Miller told the media that the code of conduct is still in draft format, but that the commission should be "tying it up" before the end of this month. (Jamaica Observer)

PPP/C returns to Parliament – Jagdeo elected Opposition Leader

By Michael younge

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Monday made a classy return to the National Assembly to be part of the 2015 National Budget Debate.

The Party had refused to attend the first six sittings of the National Assembly to occupy its 32 seats following the May 11, 2015 elections which it is maintaining were rigged and fraudulent.

General Secretary Clement Rohee had told the media that the PPP/C had every intention of occupying the seats, while promising that it would return to the Parliament “when the time is right”.

Over two dozen Party members joined former President Bharrat Jagdeo as they made their way into the compound of the National Assembly and then into the chambers to be part of the official sitting.

Most of the Members of Parliament (MPs) were smiling and appeared energetic, with some explaining that they were now even more committed towards defending the rights and expectations of the public while in Opposition.

Former President Jagdeo appeared extremely excited as he made his way back into the halls of Parliament which he had last visited back in 1999, more than a decade and a half ago, before becoming

President.

“So much has changed….I have to see what is going on….It

feels so good to be here,” Jagdeo was heard saying to himself and others as he took a brief stroll through the parliamentary corridors and chambers.

Decked out in a dark suit, the former President mingled with MPs before being flanked by anxious media and parliamentary staff.

Jagdeo entered the Chambers to loud applause from his colleagues as some Government MPs looked on with what appeared to be a mixture of shock and subtle admiration.

“Thank you. Thank you, Comrades,” he said as he took his seat as the head of the Opposition side.

After this other senior members of the Government trickled in with State Minister, Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo making a quiet entrance into the House.

Nagamootoo ap-

peared extremely quiet and less active than he usually was before the regular sittings. He exchanged cold stares with the former President who was smiling throughout the entire session.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland welcomed the PPP/C to the 11th Parliament explaining that the Party’s return was appreciated.

He quickly updated the Party on the number of bills that were passed by Parliament and assented to by President David Granger during its absence.

Soon after, Jagdeo and other PPP/C parliamentarians retired to Committee Room Two, during the break, where the election of the Opposition Leader was scheduled to take place.

Speaking with reporters after being unanimously elected as the country’s Opposition Leader, Jagdeo committed himself towards giv-

ing his all to ensuring that citizens get what they deserved from the new Government.

“I was truly, truly happy to be out of competitive politics but since I have made this commitment and am back in…I do not do things by half measures so I am starting to feel the excitement of Parliament again. I did not come for ages since ‘99 and there are lots of changes here and so I am starting to feel the excitement of competitive politics again,” he responded when questioned by a media operative about his readiness for the new role.

He explained that the PPP/C did not want to be negative and would be working very hard to support the Government on implementing positive measures if good proposals are being made.

Jagdeo served as Guyana’s sixth Executive President for three terms before demitting office and welcoming his colleague successor, President Donald Ramotar.

After a series of problems, Ramotar was defeated at the May 11 elections. The elections were precipitated by a no-confidence motion, which threatened to end his presidency by two years. This forced him to prorogue the National Assembly and call fresh elections.

Throughout the period, Jagdeo has lobbied and campaigned in support of PPP/C. He is seen as the party’s best chance for regaining State Power and Government. (Guyana Times)

Ex- TT reporter threatens to sue Jack's newspaper

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Former Express journalist Anika Gumbs is threatening to sue the Sunshine newspaper owned by corruption accused Jack Warner over an article in which it was alleged she had acquired wealth and information for stories through Government connections.

A pre-action protocol letter has been issued on behalf of Gumbs by Nizam Mohammed and Company, in which the former investigative reporter is demanding an apology, a sum in “exemplary” damages for injury to her reputation and legal costs of TT$15,000.

The article under question appeared in the weekly Sunshine last Friday, headlined “Anika's Wealth Exposed!”.

Included in the piece were allegations that Gumbs had purchased a house in St Joseph for TT$1.2 million in cash, an Audi vehicle at a cost of TT$600,000 and was also the owner of a Housing Development Company (HDC) house in Chaguanas, which was being rented out.

The warning letter issued to the Sunshine on Monday by Gumbs's lawyers stated:

“In addition to publicising these false and malicious statements against our client, the article went so far as to publish the area in which she resides.

“The release of our client's personal and confidential informa-

tion into the public domain was deliberately done to cause her fear and distress for her personal safety as she could now be targeted by anyone with ill intent who might mistakenly believe your defamatory remarks.”

The letter also stated that the Sunshine has sought to discredit Gumbs in the eyes of possible future employers, peers and the public.

“The words and statements published were made spitefully, deliberately and with express malice to injure our client's reputa-

tion and were specifically calculated to vilify our client,” the letter stated.

Sunshine is being called upon to meet certain demands or face the High Court.

Gumbs is seeking an apology and retraction of the article in a conspicuous part of the Sunshine, an appropriate sum in damages to compensate for serious injury to her reputation and associated distress and embarrassment, an amount for damages for libel, including aggravated and exemplary damages and legal fees of TT$15,000. (TT Express)

Facebook money scam hits Turks and Caicos

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

The police have confirmed reports of a Facebook money scam that is being headed by a local woman who has so far fleeced individuals of thousands of dollars.

Investigators from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force say they are preparing to charge the woman in the racket that is taking route.

According to the Financial Crimes Unit of the police force, swindlers use banks or money transfer companies to wire funds electronically.

The media reports that some of the fraudsters operate from externally, but lure unsuspecting persons to collaborate with them in their scheme locally.

It is reported that the scammers befriend a local person on Facebook and when approved, would seek out

:

their relatives or other friends on the social media site, especially ones that live in a different country from their new local "Facebook friend”.

They would also collect banking information from the person and then hack into someone else’s bank account and transfer funds into their ‘new local Facebook friend’s’ account, later contacting and telling them that a relative or friend that lives in another country has transferred certain amount of funds to the account.

They then ask the unsuspecting person to withdraw a certain amount from their account and wire it to them, and keep the remainder.

Once the deal goes through, the scammer would close down that Facebook account and move on to the next victim. The police have warned persons to be on the lookout for individuals contacting them about such transactions. (CMC)

Saraswati Vidya Niketan girl tops CSEC in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

As the 2015 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination results were revealed last Thursday, a 17-yearold female student from the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) School was named Guyana’s top CSEC performer.

The Education Ministry has disclosed that some 172 students from regions across the country have attained Grade One passes in eight or more subjects from the Caribbean Examination Council. Of this a list was issued with those candidates who secured 11 or more Grade Ones, amount to 47 students.

Crediting hard work and support from loved ones, the country’s top CSEC performers were elated to learn about their achievements when they were contacted by Guyana Times Seventeen-year-old Victoria Najab of SVN topped the country with a whopping 20 Grade Ones. She is currently out of the country but told this newspaper via social media that while she was excited about the news, she was expecting to do well.

“I was (expecting to do well) but still, it could have gone either way because there are many brilliant children who wrote exams this year… (But) the exams were all very easy not what I was expecting,” she stated. Najab noted that she was relaxed throughout the examinations and was confi-

dent afterwards that she would have done well. She recalled how stressful it was preparing for the exams and the difficulties she experienced; however, she managed to balance it all.

The teenager told Guyana Times that she opted to write 20 subjects because she wanted to achieve the best. “I didn’t want to write CSEC knowing that I could’ve done better,” she declared.

The aspiring Petroleum Engineer disclosed that she plans to further her studies and write A Level exams, after which she hopes to attend the Colorado School of Mines to pursue her desired career. She credited her success to her parents, teachers and God. Meanwhile her dad, Mohammed Najab of Najab Trading, indicated to this publication that he was not surprised at his daughter’s performance.

Another SVN student, Vamanadev

Hiralall copped the second spot with 19 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. He told this publication that the news came as a surprise since he was not expecting to do this well.

The 16-year-old revealed that when his mother informed him of the news, he could not believe it. “It was chaotic in my mind… I was both excited and relieved; relieved because it was extremely difficult the past few weeks without knowing my results. I don’t think it’s good to overestimate yourself so while I knew I would do well, I didn’t think it would be this well,” he stated.

Hiralall pointed out that while he is still undecided about his career choice, he is sure it would be in the medical field, preferably a Cardiologist or a Radiologist. He expressed his gratitude to the SVN and his parents, whom he said “indescribably”, supported him. (Guyana Times)

PPP/C passes on nominating Deputy Speaker

…matter

to be raised at next sitting

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Monday said it had no nomination for the Deputy Speaker post after the matter was raised by the current Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Dr Barton Scotland.

Dr Scotland said the matter was put down at previous sittings as a result of the absence of the Opposition party.

PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira then rose to inform the House that her Party had “no nominations for the post” at this time.

Former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall had been pipped for that post. According to PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, the post is a very strategic position and the Party’s move has to do with parliamentary tactics which will be seen unfolding later on. According to him, the Party has to decide how to tactically utilise its resources in the Parliament to make sure that it is not short-changed.

The Speaker said given the Party’s position, the matter would be dealt with at the next sitting of Parliament.

In the 10th Parliament, the then A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Opposition, which enjoyed a oneseat majority, had taken both positions declining to continue the past parliamentary custom and practice which established the Government holding the Speaker post and the Opposition occupying the Deputy position.

The two parties, however, had negotiated behind closed doors who would become Speaker and Deputy Speaker – blocking out attempts by the PPP/C, which was in Government but had a minority

in the Parliament, to occupy the latter.

The PPP/C had complained bitterly about the move explaining that APNU and the AFC had hijacked the notion of parliamentary democracy.

This time the coalition, which won the May 11 General and Regional Elections, left the post open to the PPP/C.

Currently, there is no one to attend to the business of the National Assembly if the substantive Speaker is unable to carry out his responsibilities for any given period of time.

(Guyana Times)

J’can MP provides free medical for back to school

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Member of Parliament Dr Dayton Campbell has undertaken the fourth staging of a series of health fairs in several communities across his constituency in a bid to save parents the expense of medical for their children as they prepare for back to school . The health fair series which started on July 6 will continue until August 27.

Campbell, a medical doctor, said the average number of students seen in small communities is between 40 and 60, while over 200 students are seen in some of the larger communities.

"Monday we were in Free Hill, a place where we normally see about 40 persons, and we saw over 100 persons, so it has been going well," he told the Jamaican media North East last month, while attending to students at the

health fair at the Salem New Testament Church of God in Runaway Bay.

The health fairs have been strategically positioned to allow access to all children across the constituency; however, more communities have since been added to the schedule.

"A few persons called asking why we are not coming to their community, so we have added a few," he said, adding that the number of communities where the

medical will be done across the constituency has grown based on the demands of the residents.

"Now that Parliament is out, we have added the Tuesdays, (so) we will have about 35 communities in all," he explained.

Campbell said the health fairs were held on weekdays excluding Tuesdays. However, with Parliament now on break, Tuesdays will be included.

Although the health fairs are being held for the children, Dr Campbell said there are days when adults turn up to be seen by a doctor.

"Anybody comes it is kind of difficult to tell them no; so you have some location where we go, where you have adults come in who want to have their blood pressure checked and

other things like that, and who wants to see a doctor to raise concerns, to ask a question... We have to accommodate them," he said.

Dr Campbell said he is the only doctor who works at the smaller locations; however, for the larger communities, he has up to five doctors volunteering.

"We have two nurses: Nurse Itene Francis, who is a registered nurse, and we have Nurse Denise Campbell, who is a practical nurse," he said, explaining that there are also several other volunteers who are not medical professionals assisting the team.

Dr Campbell said members of his team give of their time freely, even paying their way to the different locations.

"We really want to commend them for putting out the effort...volunteerism is not dead. I

think people recognise that we are trying to assist and they do want to give their contribution," he said.

Other than writing prescriptions for those who require it, Dr Campbell said some medication was also available at the health fairs.

"We have a few medication for cough, cold, and those other things that we give to them," he said.

Parents have expressed their appreciation for the venture, saying it has helped many who would have had to find money for their children to go to the doctor.

"We do appreciate the health fair. It's cost-saving and it's really helpful. We really appreciate things like this," Jacqueline Rhoades, one parent said. (Jamaica Observer)

Advertising executive, wife terrorised by bandits in Guyana

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: A Barbados-based Guyanese and his wife were on Monday morning terrorised by a group of armed young men seconds after exiting a taxi in front of their Festival City, North Ruimveldt home.

Ian Shanks and his wife of Lot 1955 Festival City, Greater Georgetown, was out for the evening and returned home about 03:00h.

According to information received, as the couple exited the taxi, three young men pounced

on them and demanded that they hand over all their valuables. The young bandits proceeded to hold Shanks at gunpoint and relieved him of his jewellery, money and other valuables that he was carrying.

Subsequently, another three men joined the robbers, but they turned their attention to the man’s wife and demanded that she hand over the keys to the house.

The woman reportedly did as ordered. The couple was ordered into the house by the men who were armed with

guns and a chopper. As they entered the home, a few of the men held the couple at gunpoint while the others ransacked the house for money and jewellery which they found.

The bandits then dealt several blows to Shanks’ body as they left the home. Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, the advertising executive explained that he returned from Barbados in October last and was in the process of setting up an office in Guyana, but now he would have to rethink his position.

Regional journalists get lessons from Grenada PM

ST GEORGE'S,

Grenada: — The Barbados-based Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) began its 46th annual general assembly on Monday with Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell urging regional media companies to fully understand their role as providers of information in the public good.

"The challenge of your role in regional development is likely second only to that of the politician. You have a tremendous burden, and you have tremendous opportunity and responsibility. The ease of which will depend on how you balance that overwhelming task," Mitchell told delegates from across the Caribbean, the United States and China.

Mitchell said that the world has markedly changed since the CBU's inception, and indeed, since the last decade. He said new advances in technology has forced the region to take a new look at the way business is conducted and the way Caribbean countries communicate.

He said as broadcasters, "you are charged

with the public good. You have essentially signed up for public service, and with that, for all the other ills such as public pressure, and public regulation. Most of all, you have signed up to work for the public interest".

But he warned that the public interest does not simply mean what interests the public.

"Public interests are many and varied, and you have an inescapable responsibility to serve all of those interests. Your job is to not only sell to the public but to build the public's character and intelligence -- to expand the minds of the public. You are the soul and conscience of the nation."

Prime Minister Mitchell told the ceremony that while he was not here making out a case for himself, he has nonetheless seen "many instances where people, from whatever sphere of public life, have had their reputations tarnished by stories that have been crafted and published about them, without their input or verification of perceived facts".

Mitchell said that on

Shanks, who served in the Guyana Police Force in the 1980s, said he adhered to the demands of the group of young gunmen. “Whatever they said, I went along with it… after they held me up at gunpoint, one of them pat me down, and collected my wallet and my jewellery. These guys are no older than 25,” he stated.

Shanks further explained that his wife was heading up the stairs, but she was confronted by another set of men who asked for the keys to the house. “The

key was in my wife’s bag and these men so brazen they went into her bag, took out the keys and opened the door,” he recalled.

He noted that his wife was traumatised and was serious about moving back to Barbados. He said they were now trying to ascertain if the young men hailed from the village since he would have received information about two who he saw during the ordeal.

He stated that he attempted to talk one of the young men out

of committing the robbery, but he threatened to shoot his wife. “These are young men who need guidance… it is a clear indication that they are young and we cooperated since with the times now, any one of them could have pulled the trigger,” he stated.

Shanks noted that he was extremely grateful that none of them cause further harm to him and his wife. The matter has been reported to the Police, but no arrest has been made, The investigation continues. (Guyana Times)

11 file to contest two Tobago seats

too many occasions media practitioners and broadcasters regard themselves as people in show business, warning "your role is to seek the truth so as to edify the minds of the very people you are called to serve; not simply to sensationalise stories for public consumption. This is not in the public's interest".

Mitchell, who has led responsibility for information, communication and technology within the quasi Caribbean Community (Caricom) Cabinet, said it was imperative for the CBU general assembly to reflect on innovative ways to broaden the Caribbean market, and develop areas in digital and social media.

He said social media and live streaming have to become part of the agenda reminding the delegates that "media houses and reporters must accept that the public should no longer have to wait on the evening news to get the details of what happened that morning, or afternoon, for that matter".

The four-day general assembly will discuss a number of issues including: Communication Rights and Freedoms in the Caribbean; Digital TransitionThe Conversion of Broadcasting and Telecommunications as well as Programming Rights and Responsibilities -Regional and International Dimensions.

Among the highlights of the assembly will be the induction of two stalwart Caribbean broadcasters into the CBU Hall of Fame and the awards ceremony. (CMC)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDD:

All is set for the general election in three weeks time as the candidates vying to be elected to represent Tobago’s for the next five years crossed the final legislative hurdle on Monday, as they were officially registered to go into battle.

The final nomination was filed around 2.30 pm.

The two Tobago seats are being keenly contested as there are 11 candidates from six different political entities. They all said they were optimistic of victory. All eleven candidates said the process ran smoothly.

The People’s National Movement (PNM) candidates Ayanna WebsterRoy and Shamfa Cudjoe were the first to file their nominations shortly after 9 am and they were accompanied by scores of cheering supporters.

Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) candidates Joseph Frederick and Natasha Second were also accompanied by a small group of party members.

However, it was the Tobago Forwards candidates Christlyn Moore

and Regis Caruth who stole the show as they arrived with the their entourage to the sounds of African drums.

The Platform of Truth (TPT) Hochoy Charles and Juliana King arrived at the Scarborough office without much fanfare. Charles, a veteran politician, said the fanfare in which some of the candidates arrived at the Returning Officers’ office was “disgusting bacchannal behaviour.”

“We have been in government in Tobago for a long time, THA, we have won those from 1980 to 2001 and we have been coming to file nomination papers, we have won both seats in Parliament, we have never seen such disgusting behaviour so many flags coming to a registration office. I come alone. I was Chief Secretary I came alone, you don’t do that on nomination day,” Charles said.

Independent candidate Watson Duke arrived shortly before 11 am with his supporters who had to be warned by police for flocking the compound. The Independent Liberal Party was the last to file at 2.30 pm with Porsher Powder and Paul Peters. (TT Guardian)

TT among first to accept Trade Facilitation Agreement

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

TT became the ninth country out of 161 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to accept the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on July 29. This country is also the first Caricom member to accept the TFA, a Trade Ministry said in a media release.

The TFA is the first multilateral agreement to be completed out of the protracted Doha Development Round (ongoing since 2001). It provides a series of global measures for expediting

the movement, clearance and release of goods. Some major reforms covered by the agreement include disciplines on fees and charges; transparency measures such as the online publication of trade information for traders and procedures for faster release and clearance of goods.

The TFA, when globally enforced, is expected to reduce trade costs by 13 per cent. It’s entry into force requires formal acceptance by at least two-thirds of the WTO membership. (TT Guardian)

Irfaan Ali schools Minister Jordan on economics

By Michael younge

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali delivered what can be described as a ‘masterful if not fiery’ presentation on Monday while schooling newly-appointed Finance Minister Winston Jordan on economics and basic mathematics as the 2015 Budget debate got underway.

Ali, representing the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and speaking first during the debate at the seventh sitting, exposed what appeared to be “dishonesty” and recent corrupt undertakings of the new A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government which came to power back in May this year.

He started his presentation on a high note by expressing the PPP/C’s appreciation of the hard work, dedication and support shown by the country’s public servants and scores of young professionals during the Party’s tenure in office which aided in fast tacking Guyana’s overall development and

growth. Ali said the PPP/C wanted to record its concern during the Budget debate over the mass firings and dismissals that have been taking place across the country, as it was shocked that following the recent election, a new Government could undertake such partisan, politically motivated and ethnically-biased actions.

“The recent elections remind us how fragile democracy is,” he noted, explaining that his presentation on Budget 2015 was being made even as the PPP/C is holding out that it was cheated at the polls. Ali contended that if indeed democracy held sway, there would have been no objections to calls for recounts of ballots cast as this would further validate the results of the elections and inspire higher levels of confidence in the election machinery and the right of the new Government to govern.

“The foundation on which you stand is questionable, confidence in you and trust in you is difficult,” Ali told the Government as he warned that the PPP/C will nonetheless contin-

ue to represent the people of the country.

Taking his first jab at the Finance Minister during his presentation, Ali said he was shocked by the Minister’s postelectoral rhetoric on the State of the economy arguing that he has inherited a vastly developed Guyana which recorded nine years of continuous economic growth made possible by the PPP/C.

“Winston Jordan must have learnt something under the leadership of Dr Ashni Singh,” he offered before questioning the current posture and actions of the Minister. Ali told Parliament that shockingly in just two months, the new Government has

taken away over Gy$1 billion of development from the Amerindian villages across the country, thousands of jobs and some basic aspirations of Guyanese people.

He said the new Budget, presented under the theme, “A fresh start to a good life in a green economy”, failed to address the issues of Private Sector confidence and the need for more domestic and foreign inflows and investments if any good life is to be achieved.

Government Members of Parliament (MPs) started heckling immediately, but Ali skewered the actions of the new Government as he pointed out its subtle move to reduce capital estimates and spending in all of the regions that the PPP/C chaired which it won at the last elections by at least Gy$800 million. He said the new Government had reduced the agricultural allocations in the Budget, cutting some Gy$81 million

of spending on this area primarily in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) which were won by the PPP/C.

He was concerned that the move now deprived these regions of important resources to keep them moving along the development trajectory and lambasted the new Government over its treatment of the country’s hallmark Low Carbon Development Strategy which he claimed was “laid aside”.

At this point, the Government members burst into heckling and interrupted Ali until his presentation was completed.

The PPP/C MP also rebutted allegations made by the Finance Minister that the country was bankrupt as he contended that the statistics and financial figures presented by the Minister contradicted his own rhetoric.

“The Minister is a vi-

sionary…..By the time he is finished, I am sure the economy will be bankrupt…he is a good visionary,” Ali said to smirks from both sides of the House. He contended that the economy grew by 300 per cent over the last couple of years under the PPP/C.

He said that it was not surprising that the Government may want to mislead the country as monies could be “earmarked for questionable projects or they have no idea of the financial status of the economy”.

Additionally, the former Minister said that something was wrong with the new Finance Minister’s math ability as he did not give out increases that would benefit the poor in a big way as he said he did, but rather public servants who earn more will make 300 per cent more than other lower paid public servants.

Ali also waded in to condemn the new Government for the manner in which it went about conducting and recruiting auditors and forensic audits explaining that contracts were awarded without any levels of transparency or accountability.

“The illegal transfers to the auditors …no advertisement…no tender process…no examination of the qualifications,” he said, was something that would not sit well with the new Opposition in Parliament.

(Guyana Times)

J’can wins landmark victory in Bermuda court

HAMILTON,

BERMUDA: A Jamaican national, who claimed his constitutional rights were infringed because he was not allowed to apply for parole after serving a third of a jail sentence, has won a landmark victory in Bermuda's Supreme Court.

Leighton Griffiths was convicted in 2007 of importing 480 grammes of cocaine hidden inside an air compressor.

He was initially sentenced to 14 years in prison, but that was later reduced to 12 years by the Court of Appeal.

Earlier this year, Griffiths, who is married to a Bermudan, launched legal action because, as a foreign national, he was denied the opportunity to be released on licence after serving a third of his

sentence, although he was otherwise qualified for such early release.

He claimed that the provisions of the Prisons Act 1979, which set down the rules surrounding prisioners' access to parole, breached Section 12 -- that prevents discrimination on the grounds of place of origin -- of the Bermuda Constitution.

In a written judgement, Chief Justice Ian Kawaley ruled in favour of Griffiths, saying his constitutional rights had been infringed.

"The provisions of the Prisons Act 1979 relating to parole, as applied to the applicant as a Jamaican national who presently has no opportunity to apply for any form of early release, discriminate against him on the grounds of his place of origin in contravention of his rights

under section 12 of the Bermuda Constitution," said Justice Kawaley. Bermudans and people with an unrestricted right to live and work in Bermuda are able to apply for release on licence in Bermuda after serving a third of their sentence.

Nationals originating from some countries, including the United Kingdom, are also able to obtain an early release on licence because their governments have agreed to supervise them on their return to their countries of origin.

The Royal Gazette newspaper said, however, that Jamaica has not agreed to accept prisoners released on licence.

As a result, Griffiths was required to remain in prison for twice as long as those prisoners who were able to obtain parole. (CMC)

TT Gov’t breaking up highway project

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

The Solomon Hochoy Highway Project cannot be completed by main contractor, OAS Construtora of Brazil, People’s National Movement leader Dr Keith Rowley has claimed.

Recalling that in 2010, the People’s Partnership (PP) coalition boasted that the TT$7.5 billion project was “supposed to be finished within budget and within time for the next election,” Rowley scoffed, addressing a public meeting in Maloney on Wednesday night. “Well the next election is here and they are far from finished,” he further declared.

Reminding party supporters the PP negotiated the contract for that project in three days and gave it to OAS Construtora, Rowley remarked, “The next thing we hear, the contractor is filing bankruptcy in Brazil. They are under pressure from corrupting the govt agencies and banking (in Brazil). On March 31, Grupo OAS (OAS Construtora’s parent conglomerate) filed for bankruptcy protection for nine of its units. A Reuters report at that

time said the “heavily indebted Brazilian engineering conglomerate” was struggling with an economic slowdown, government austerity, a slumping currency and corruption allegations.

Dismissing statements from the Government that OAS filing for bankruptcy in Brazil would not affect the completion of the highway project, Rowley said, “The Government of TT is now moving post haste to break up the contract into smaller pieces because the main Brazilian contractor can go no further with the project.” He claimed, “The difficult parts of the project, they will now break up and give to local contractors and the Government will pay the local contractors while the Brazilian contractor will hold on to the easy part that is left.”

Claiming that “a number of local contractors have now been called in and been asked to price the various components of the project of the contract,” Rowley charged, “OAS has already sucked the juice out of the orange and they are about to give the peel to local contractors.” Efforts to contact Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan and Nidco president Dr

Carson Charles for comment were unsuccessful.

Government is however expected to officially open the Debe segment of the highway, already in use, Monday.

Also on Wednesday, Rowley said the Integrity Commission has informed him that his request to investigate the circumstances of the award of a contract to build a wastewater plant in Beetham did not find favour and the matter would not be pursued.

However, Rowley claimed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had ensured that two government ministers who had responsibility for this project were not available when he raised a motion on this issue in the last Parliament.

He also said an unsuccessful bidder on the Beetham project later indicated it had no issue with not getting the contract and received another contract from Government. Referring to the proposed Curepe Interchange Project, Rowley said there was no competitive bidding on that project and contractors were simply allowed to state their price for their respective component. To date, no work has taken place on this project. (TT Newsday)

J'can imprisoned in Qatar en route to Jamaica – Bartlett

KINGSTON, JAMAICA

– Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

Edmund Bartlett says, after much delay and controversy, he has learnt that Jamaican Paul Stephens, who was imprisoned in Qatar, has now departed that country and is en route to Jamaica.

Bartlett says Stephens boarded a flight that was set to depart Qatar on Sunday at 16:40 local time, and will transit through London and Miami before ultimately arriving in Jamaica.

Bartlett said: "I am heartened by news that procedures related to Mr Stephens' return to Jamaica have finally been completed such that he could have departed Qatar on Sunday en route to Jamaica. This development is the culmination of the efforts of many, particularly his family and friends, who have stuck with him, come to his assistance

and made representation on his behalf throughout what has been a most difficult experience.

"On behalf of the parliamentary Opposition, I take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the effort of those who played a part in securing this outcome," Bartlett said.

The Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade said irrespective of the circumstances in which Jamaican citizens find themselves abroad, "we have a duty to protect their interests and advance their cause".

PPP/C and Jagdeo return to Parliament

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic, led by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, is expected to take up its 32 seats in Parliament, as the legislative body resumes for the 2015 Budget debate which began on Monday.

The PPP/C, which had not attended any sittings of the 11th Parliament since it began, had told media operatives that it would return to the National Assembly when the time arrived for the debate of the first budget presented by the new Administration.

Former President Jagdeo had recently said that the role of the PPP/C would be to hold the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government to account: to push it to fulfil its promises while ensuring that the legacy of the PPP/C was preserved. He stressed that the new Opposition would not act like APNU and the AFC did in the years after 2011 and try to stymie development.

The new Opposition Leader on Monday after the presentation of the Budget themed “a fresh approach to the good life in a green economy” blasted the APNU/AFC Administration and more so the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, for presenting a number of the PPP/C’s initiatives and

plans in hopes of making the public believe that these are initiatives of the APNU/AFC.

Jagdeo, in a brief press statement moments after the budget presentation, accused Minister Jordan of being “lengthy in generality” and having “lofty goals” in his budget speech.

Jordan had used most of his presentation to attack the previous PPP/C Government while articulating his Government’s plan to develop the country over the next five years under a new brand of governance that would hopefully augur well for all Guyanese.

Among the measures announced by Jordan were the transfers of billions of dollars to the rice and sugar industries as

bailouts to meet the operating costs and debt incurred by those industries; the raising of the Public Sector minimum wage to Gy$50,000; the relaxation of taxes for some mining equipment and commodities; promises to reduce unnecessary bureaucratic State procedures, and hikes in Old Age Pensions and public assistance along with the return of subventions for trade union bodies.

With the PPP/C and the APNU/AFC Government already having publicly attacked each other on the 2015 National Budget outside of the National Assembly, the public anticipates a longawaited ‘showdown’ in Parliament. (Guyana Times)

Caribbean boasts as having one of the world’s highest immunization rates

G"While Paul Stephens' return to Jamaica is long overdue and has been subjected to undue delays and marred by considerable controversy, we can breathe a collective sigh of relief on his behalf and take comfort in the fact that his nightmare and suffering are now over," Bartlett continued. "If nothing else, what the Paul Stephens case highlights is the critical importance of proactive engagement on the part of our consular services in ensuring the safety and well being of Jamaicans abroad." (Jamaica Observer)

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The Caribbean can boast of having one of the highest immunization rates in the world, according to Assistant Secretary-General in charge of Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat Dr. Douglas Slater.

And he says the region’s high immunization coverage, which was better than even the United States, was due largely to the work of Caribbean nurses who had also made a valuable contribution to other areas such as maternal health and child health.

Slater made the comments as he addressed the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Regional

Nursing Body at the CARICOM Secretariat earlier this week.

The senior CARICOM official added that the work of the region’s nurses had made a significant impact on communicable and non-communicable diseases and their involvement in enhancing healthy lifestyle promotion was also commendable.

Minister in Guyana’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, also acknowledged the value that nurses brought to the public health care system across the Caribbean.

“We understand the critical importance of investing in human capital necessary to enable our nurses to thrive prosperously in a dynamic health care environ-

ment,” she said. However, Cummings added, more work needed to be done with respect to tackling emerging trends and diseases.

The four-day meeting, which ended Monday, will review the current status of preparations for the October 2015 Regional Examination for Nurse Registration (RENR) and give guidance on any outstanding issues related to the CXC-managed RENR over its first year.

Participants will also approve the way forward for a new Strategic Plan for Nursing in CARICOM and will receive updates on current areas of regional and global health policy of particular relevance to the nursing community. (Caribbean NewsNow)

A surprise find at Le Repentir Cemetery stirs an interest in the past for overseas-based Guyanese Wayne McWatt

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Wayne McWatt left Guyana at the age of 16 to live in the UK; his knowledge of his homeland and its history is what he has read, researched, garnered from accounts told by his parents, and information

gathered during his occasional visits to the country.

During one of his visits to Guyana, in 2010, McWatt visited the Le Repentir Cemetery in search of a family vault built for the Sharples family. (McWatt’s great grandfather was John

Bradshaw Sharples, the architect builder in Guyana.) In addition to locating the vault, McWatt stumbled upon another precious piece of Guyanese history – the tomb of William Dawes.

In some far-flung bit of land at the Le Repentir Cemetery lies the tomb

of William Dawes, who died in Guyana on March 23, 1855. He was 69. The magnificent granite obelisk that marks his grave is carved with the insignia of his regiment and the laurels of victory, depicting a military career.

Dawes, as the inscription states, was a veteran of the battles of Waterloo (1815), Toulouse (1814), Sahagun (1808), Vittoria (1813) and Orthes (Orthez) (1814). His epitaph reads: “His youth was spent in faith, full and active military service. His latter years in honourably discharging the civil duties intrusted [sic] to him.”

“I discovered the tomb of Dawes by chance as there was a clearing, which meant it was newly revealed. I was looking for a family vault built for the Sharples family. It was a great surprise to find that the vault contains both of

John Bradshaw’s wives, who happened to be sisters. He himself chose to be buried at sea. He died February 1913. The vault was all overgrown so I got Pertab to repaint and tidy up,” McWatt recalled in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

According to McWatt, Pertab is a young man whose family worked in the cemetery restoring graves and monuments. McWatt said Pertab knew Le Repentir very well and was an enthusiastic guide.

century. He noted that the man in charge was retiring in 2011 and seemed quite conscientious and meticulous in holding the records. McWatt hopes that the records are still there.

“These registers are important documents and should be digitised and kept in the archives. The information they provide is quite unique – including the last address of the deceased, date of death, date of burial, age at death, relation to kin – all linked to a grave number and location. I would like to know more about Dawes. He must have served in the early 19th century European wars, including Waterloo. There must be a record in the British Army records. It is of course interesting to know how and why he was in Guyana. There might be an obituary for him. I would love if someone who might have some information shares it with me. I will continue searching for records on

“Le Repentir Cemetery gets a bad press – and deservingly so because of its poor management from the City Council and it is a disgrace to the nation. Having said that, it deserves better. It’s a very historic plantation site. Some might know the history of French planter Pierre de Saffon who named the plantations Le Repentir and La Penitence in remorse of having killed his brother in France,” McWatt narrated.

McWatt added that at the Le Repentir Cemetery gate in Louisa Row is the office where the burial registers are kept, which date back to the mid 19th

Dawes,” McWatt noted.

Dawes’s tomb can be easily located in the old Anglican part of the cemetery; not far from the main cemetery road.

June this year marked the bicentenary of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo. The French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armies of the Seventh Coalition: an Anglo-allied army under the command of the Duke of Wellington, and a Prussian army under the command of Prince Blücher.

To contact Wayne McWatt email demerara8@aol.com (Photos and information by Wayne McWatt)

Filmmakers head to Canada for CaribbeanTales programme

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Ten teams of Caribbean filmmakers from nine different countries have been selected to attend the renowned CaribbeanTales Incubator (CTI), taking place this year in Toronto, Canada, from September 8–13 at the University of Toronto. Among them are renowned Trinbagonian producer/writer/director Danielle Dieffenthaller; Trinidadian animator, visual artist and writer Omar Lewis; director/ producer team Rampaul Banseelal; and Sean Mohan.

Dieffenthaller is most famous for her long-running TV series Westwood Park, who will be developing and pitching a new series, this time a crime/drama called Plain Sight. Lewis will be developing an exciting new animation for children— The Wonderful World of Myat; and, Mohan’s production company (Total Chaos Productions) is now working on the second season of Life with the Ramsinghs, a soap opera set in a small fishing village in south Trinidad during the 1960s that centres around the Ramsinghs.

Dieffenthaller, Lewis and Banseelal’s participation in the Incubator will be sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank through its Regional Entrepreneurial Asset Commercialization Hub (Reach).

Trinidad-born writer Maureen Hill’s story concept has been picked up by Montreal-based producer Michael Mosca, owner of highly successful production/distribution company Equinoxe Film. Mosca will be attending the Incubator programme on her behalf.

He said this week: “The Incubator is a wonderful venue to help strengthen our project and pitch to industry professionals. We are thrilled that Black Mariah was amongst the

projects selected. The Incubator’s belief in our pirate story has motivated us even further and provides us the possibility of seeing our ambitious series come to life.”

This project’s participation in the Incubator is supported by Telefilm Canada.

The CTI, now in its sixth year, is a marketing and financing platform that offers selected Caribbean and diaspora filmmakers an opportunity to hone their creative and business skills in the context of an international marketplace environment. The six-week programme includes an intensive five-day workshop in Toronto, and culminates in a Caribbean Pitch Breakfast at the TIFF Bell Lightbox attended by high-profile industry delegates. The overall goal of the CTI is to increase the pool of strong, monetisable, world-class, indigenous film and television content from the Caribbean and its diaspora, in order to build the region’s audio-visual capacity.

The CTI programme is an end-to-end process that supports projects from concept through production and marketing to sales of content. CTI aims to accelerate the creation of a vibrant world-class Caribbean film industry, by assisting filmmakers to generate dynamic, distinctive, and viable long-running content to be sold internationally. Both Dieffenthaller and Mosca intend to shoot their series at least partly in TT.

The projects were selected by a panel of international industry specialists. Mentors include producer, director, playwright Nicole Brooks; producer, artist, academic Rita Shelton Deverell; director, producer, author Rodney V Smith; director, producer Floyd Kane; and Christopher Laird (co-founder of Banyan Ltd and Gayelle: The Channel).

Alongside the IDB Reach programme and Telefilm Canada, this year’s CTI is supported by the French Consulate in Toronto, and the St Lucia Tourism Board.

The project is also a component of CaribbeanTales’ 3D project, supported by a financial contribution from the European Union and the assistance of the ACP Group of States. (TT Guardian)

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Sanneta Myrie, a 24-year-old medical doctor, is Miss Jamaica World 2015. The dreadlocked Myrie was crowned at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James Saturday night.

First runner-up was Royanne DeSilva and second runner-up Roshelle McKinley.

Myrie, who won the Miss UWI contest in 2012, also mentors youth in Kingston's inner-city communities and runs an after-school progamme.

She will represent Jamaica at the Miss World pageant in China in December.

Sectional prizes went to Richelle Parchment

(Most Adventurous Contestant) and Krystal Tomlinson (Most Congenial and Beauty in Business).

Roshelle McKinley won for Best Figure, while Shari Jo Robinson walked away with the prize for Best Smile.

Guyanese youths climb Kanuku Mountain to inspire loyalty

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

Accomplishing a daring feat to etch their names at the top of the Kanuku Mountain, a group of 28 persons, mostly youths, from the First Assembly of God Church on Durban Street, has a renewed love for their country.

Chatting with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Celicia Paruag, communications officer for the church, disclosed that the aim of the expedition, called Expedition El Dorado, was to develop a sense of loyalty for their country.

“With the constant migration of youths, brain drain – which we believe is due to a lack of knowledge of their country – we want to instill a sense of pride and patriotism in our young ones.

Pastor Wilbert Lee, a retired soldier, wanted to help youths to understand what Guyana can offer. He came up with Expedition El Dorado, which was not only an adventure, but an opportunity to instill love for country. These youths could have used their holiday time to leave the country or do something else, but decided to go through rigorous training to complete their mission of climbing the Kanuku Mountain,” Paruag explained.

The youths, ages 13 to 21, prior to the weeklong expedition, were seen walking the streets of Georgetown with loaded backpacks, weighing about 30 pounds. This is

the amount of weight they would have had to carry on the trail to and up the mountain. Their hike up the Kanuku Mountain to Schomburgk's Peak was more than 3,000 feet high. At the peak they hoisted the Guyana flag, the Christian flag and placed a plaque with their names.

“They did this as a testimony for other youths that whatever you put your mind to is achievable. The youths held fundraising activities to go on the trip and were able to raise about Gy$1.2 million. During their trip in Lethem, they also did some community work,” Paruag pointed out.

Nulli Secundus, Latin meaning “second to none”, is the name of the youth group that accomplished the feat of hiking the Kanuku Mountain. The group is regularly involved in community projects and outreaches.

One of the climbers, Adielle Rosheuvel, 20,

said the experience is an unforgettable one that taught her determination.

Her fellow climber, Martin Massiah, also stated that the past eight days and nights have been some of the toughest and most exciting times he has had.

“From walking through the treetops at Iwokrama, to swimming near the banks of the Takatu River, to persistently evading the attacks of the relentless mosquitoes, sand flies and cuburos [sic] in Annai and interacting with some members of our indigenous community in Lethem; this journey was one to behold. Though these events were quite entertaining and informative, they never served to distract us from our primary objective of planting the Golden Arrowhead and Christian flag alongside each other for the first time on Schomburgk's

Peak on the Kanuku Mountain. With the grace of God, at 6 am on August 8 we achieved our primary objective, aided by Shamal Khan and Jessica Campbell, the youngest members on the Expedition El Dorado contingent,” Massiah recalled.

Shamal Khan, 13, the youngest on the expedition, recollected that while the group was on a caiman watching trip on the Essequibo River, the boat he was in with 12 others capsized. A wave caused by another boat knocked over the boat Khan was in. Khan, who can swim, tried to assist those next to him, while the others held on to the boat. Luckily, there were no casualties.

Despite the challenges faced on the expedition, the group of youths said they would do it again, and encourage others like themselves to do the same. (Guyana

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Rice cultivation in Guyana is said to have been introduced by Dutch governor Laurens Storm Gravesande in the early eighteenth century, after first importing rice mainly for domestic consumption.

Not long after, rice cultivated on the colony was also being used for supplementing the diet of the slaves.

Seed for the crop ar-

say too that runaway slaves would survive partly on the rice they would grow in small clearings in the coastal swamps.

An 1810 report told of a large swathe of land destroyed in the Mahaicony backlands by planters after a group of runaway slaves were discovered growing rice there.

After slavery was abolished, slaves began acquiring their own

rived from Carolina in North America and small fields were cultivated on Essequibo plantations. When the French briefly took control of Guyana in 1782, seed was imported from Louisiana, then a French colony.

Slaves also began cultivating rice on small plots on the plantations in farming areas designated to them. Sources

lands, and rice cultivation expanded on the colony, though mainly for personal consumption rather than on a large scale.

Guyana.org notes that in 1853, a company was formed to grow the crop on a large scale on the West Bank of Demerara but it experienced problems with the irregular supply of irri-

gation water and poor knowledge of cultivation methods.

It was forced to close operations after a few years.

When the Indian indentured workers arrived to replace slave labour on the plantations, the demand for rice increased.

From around 1860, Indian immigrants on the West Coast Demerara, who were experienced in rice farming, began to cultivate the crop. By 1865 they had planted about 16 acres of rice but their efforts at first were not very successful, also because of poor irrigation.

They persisted however, and more Indians in other parts of the country joined in the enterprise, even though it was still done on small plots.

Those who had completed their indenture and opted to stay in the colony, turned to rice

farming.By 1886, writes guyana.org, more than 200 acres of land in Anna Regina were under rice; by 1893, rice was cultivated on over 2,500 acres in different parts of the country.

Much of the lands they acquired for rice cultivation was purchased from former slaves as well as the colonial gov-

ernment, and rice cultivation soared.

By 1896, according to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Guyana was producing more rice than was needed for local consumption, and the first export shipment to Trinidad took place that same year.

By the time the importation of rice ended on the colony in 1917, guyana.org notes that more than 14,000 tons were already being exported to the islands of the West Indies.

However, the GRDB notes that between the two World Wars, the industry stagnated. In 1939 a single marketing organisation for rice was established and by the end of the Second World War Guyana had secured

a virtual monopoly of the West Indies market.

In 1946 the British Guiana Rice Marketing Board (BGRMB) was established; mandated to buy and sell all rice produced in the colony.In the same year, the British Guiana Rice Producers Association (BGRPA) was established. By 1956 Guyana had been labelled the “bread basket of the Caribbean”, and at independence in 1966, paddy production had reached 167,600 tons. The post-independence Guyana rice industry has since had a turbulent history that has seen its decline and progress over the years. More than 500,000 tons were exported in 2014. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Jambiz scores again TT dancer Mortley gives stylish farewell

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

The producers at local theatre company Jambiz International have openly stated that they have found the formula when it comes to writing and staging hit productions, and their track record seems to bear out this point.

Their latest production, The Baby Scam, showcases their skill at tapping into the psyche of their audience and delivering a presentation which connects on both a serious and comedic level.

The Baby Scam follows Rocky (Courtney Wilson), who is a successful pharmaceutical salesman and is at a company retreat when there in a knock on his hotel room door. In walks the sexy vamp Trixie, dressed as a French maid. The happily married Rocky is not about to have any of it but his salacious co-worker Scrappy is game, especially when Trixie is joined by Lilah (Camille Davis), the Jamaican Sophia Loren.

These 'ladies' are determined to show the gentlemen a good time, but a series of revelations including their presence at Rocky's bachelor party a few months prior, bring them to the

real reason they are in his hotel room.

Before, during and after all this, writer Patrick Brown and his director Trevor Nairne have the audience in stitches.

Campbell, Deer and Davis have become so comfortable in these roles written for them by the Jambiz writing team. However, this does not make them complacent and deliver solid performances in The Baby Scam. Davis is a natural when it comes to her comedic timing. She is able to drop the great oneliners with that added physical accompaniment that makes it even more hilarious. Deer is an actress of some depth and the layered nature of her character is given excellent treatment. Campbell has become adept at using his eyes to tell a story.

But it is Wilson who truly steps up in this work. Usually relegated to the not so meaty roles, as Rocky he carries a fair deal of the production, and must be given credit.

Although The Baby Scam is not as funny as Jambiz's most recent work Saving Alligator High, it is quite entertaining and worth the watch. (Jamaica Observer)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: One of Trinidad’s most talented young dancers is heading off to the Far East to be a part of one China’s most prestigious dance institutions.

Michael Mortley showed why he was chosen to attend the exclusive Beijing Dance Academy at Off To China, a benefit held in his honour at the Central Bank Auditorium, on August 12.

Wednesday’s variety concert featured young artistes showcasing their talent and giving the assurance that the future of our performing arts is in good and capable hands. The show was attended by Mortley’s parents (Cathy-ann and Trevor), family, friends, fellow students and well wishers.

The tightly knit programme which was stage managed by Zamora Simmons—daughter of Phil “de Thrill” Simmons—started promptly at 7 pm and lasted exactly two hours.

Show host Jehiah Hope presented a dozen items, com-

mencing with Mortley doing a solo titled Journey Through Time. This was followed by Ola, a dance piece by Fire Queen Entertainment, choreographed by limbo queen Nydia Byron. UTT student Tylah Head was next rendering Like a Star, originally performed by British guitarist/singer Corinne Bailey Rae.

After a 15-minute intermission the show resumed with Yewande, a duet performed by Mortley and La Juenesse, to the strains of Ibeyi’s Mama Says.

To end a night of excellent performances, Mortley

and La Juenesse teamed up to perform the poignant You and I, choreographed by both dancers and performed to La Del Rey’s Young & Beautiful. Beautifully costumed in white, this duet looked the perfect couple in love as they displayed precision and grace on stage.

Already an accomplished dancer, Mortley, 23, was mentored by Breedy and the late Andre Ettienne and is certain to be an asset during his ten-month scholarship at the Beijing Dance Academy. He leaves on September 4. (TT Guardian)

Trini artist wins prestigious US fellowship

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Trinidadian born artist and educator Daniela Fifi has been awarded the prestigious Samuel H Kress Interpretive Fellowship Award, which she will pursue at the Miriam and Ira D Wallach Art Gallery at Columbia University in New York. The Samuel H. Kress Fellowship Award is valued at some TT$30,000 and is offered to American art museums to host fellows in a professional environment.

The fellowship provides mentored professional development opportunities within American art museums and encourages fellows to explore interpretive careers in art museums, whether as museum educators or future curators, and to expand the range of promising career options available to students of art

history and related fields.

Fifi is co founder of the Scarlett Project, a nonprofit organisation based in Trinidad which promotes Caribbean Art education through art education workshops and annual theatrical productions.

Now purusing her doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University, she beat out a competitive field of artists, museum educators and future museum curators from across the United States to earn the highly coveted fellowship, which began on August 1.

During the period of her fellowship, Fifi will work closely with Deborah Cullen, PhD, Director and Chief Curator of the Miriam and Ira D Wallach Art Gallery, to develop and implement the gallery’s museum education plan towards its move to The LenFest Centre of the Arts in 2017.

The education plan will focus on developing programming towards audiences in Harlem and its environs, at the gallery’s new home in Manhattanville.

Prior to her arrival in the United States, Fifi worked

at the National Museum and Art Gallery of Trinidad and Tobago for three years and has been awarded numerous professional and academic honours throughout her career including the Presidents Scholar Award from the Pratt Institute, the Museum Education Research Fellowship at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Columbia University Teachers College International Student Merit Award.

Her current doctoral research examines the sustainability and longevity of museum- community relationships and she is particularly interested in communities that are underrepresented in museums, specifically Caribbean populations.

“I feel truly blessed to be selected as a 2015 Kress Fellow at the Miriam and Ira D Wallach Art Gallery.

An interest in old Guyana becomes a hobby

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA:

John Sargent, of Yorkshire, England, often shares some of his most valuable postcards and photos of British Guiana, when Georgetown was known as a “Garden City” online.

Sargent’s interest in Guyana and collecting old photos of the country were prompted by 19th century British naturalist, Charles Waterton.

“I have no connection with the Watertons apart from the fact that I live in the village of Walton in Yorkshire, England,” Sargent told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, “the village was once the home of Squire Charles Waterton (1782 - 1865) of Walton Hall. Waterton was a pioneering naturalist and created the world's first nature reserve at his home, Walton Hall in England. He spent some time in Guyana, and I thought that it would be interesting to visit the country itself,”

Sargent has visited Guyana once, in 2012, as a tourist.

The pictures he shares with Sunday Magazine were either bought online, in auction houses in Britain, or are from photos other persons have shared with him.

Who was Charles Waterton?

Charles Waterton arrived in Georgetown in 1804 to manage the plantations of his father (Walton Hall) and his uncle, Christopher Waterton (La Jalousie and Fellowship), who had returned to England.

High St, Georgetown circa 1900 postcard

One of his uncle's estates, of which the principal crop was coffee, had no less than 500 slaves working on it. The other estate produced sugar and cotton, worked by 300 slaves.

Walton Hall is near The Jib and Hampton Court, north of Anna Regina on the road to Charity.

In The Argosy, published in 1883, Walton Hall is recorded as being part of Hampton Court, the most northerly plantation in the colony:

“This fine property formerly consisted of four separate sugar estates, viz., Walton Hall, Devonshire Castle, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle. The three latter were vac-

uum-pan estates in a small way, but from want of labourers to carry on the proper cultivation of the soil, one by one ceased to have an independent existence; and in the course of time the Colonial Company became sole owners of this fine block of land.”

Such spare time as he had, Charles spent with his paternal aunt Anne Daly and her husband Michael at their estate, Bellevue. This became his second home. He also met Charles Edmonstone who lived at Mibiri creek; the friendship endured the test of time.

Waterton’s family owned plantations at La Jalousie, Walton Hall and Fellowship and he

managed them for a while. When he inherited them from his father, he disposed of them.

Later, Waterton wrote his "Wanderings in South America" about his journeys in South America. His wife also had connections with Guyana.

Waterton eventually married Anne Mary, Edmonstone's second daughter. He had attended Anne's christening in 1812, on his return from his first wandering; 17 years later, this infant became the wife of the Squire.

Edmonstone had originally been a timbercutter and merchant, in partnership with William Reid (a fellow Scot).

Reid had married an Arawak named Princess Miranda, daughter of a chief. Their daughter, Helen, married Edmonstone.

William Reid lived on Kamuni Creek. Charles Edmonstone lived at Warrows Place, Mibiri Creek, a tributary of Demerara River, not far from Santa Mission.

For more information and photos of British Guiana, visit http://overtown.org.uk

It’s such a privilege and deep honour to be working with and learning from Deborah Cullen,” she said on receiving word of her award.

“This opportunity will not only allow me to truly engage our youth and larger community at the gallery’s new location, but it will also enable me to continue my research into the strengthening of the links between art institutions and underserved parts of the community, through innovative art education and interactive awareness programmes. This has been my passion in the arts as an educator, and consequently, this award is truly an extraordinary opportunity.” Among Fifi’s recent publications is Doing and Undergoing- A Site Specific Multi Media Art Exhibition at Teacher’s College, Celebrating its 125th Anniversary (2015). (TT Newsday)

Elijah celebrated in music

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The National Chorale of Jamaica's 2015 season's premiere of Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah was a true indulgence in the music we refer to today as the classical greats. A tremendous masterpiece, the iconic oratorio tells of the life and episodes of the titular prophet. The work stands on its own even if an audience were not familiar with the biblical story.

The gathering at the well-appointed Sts Peter and Paul Church recently was reminiscent of the days when Jamaicans got gussied up and went to the theatre. There are so few occasions for lovers of such music these days. The approximately three-hour experience must not be delivered so scarcely.

The music of the evening was presented with much dexterity and with great appreciation for the text and score. Though not a perfect presentation, the choir and soloists did well.

The soloists were operatic bass-baritone Sir Willard White in the title role, his wife soprano Sylvia Kevorkian, contralto Leah Brown, and tenor Byron Johnson. Janine Coombs and

Christine MacDonaldNevers also had places in front of the chorus. Sir Willard certainly did not disappoint. His presentation grew stronger and more impressive each time he sang. He delivered the changing moods of the work with his vocal variety, even though a listener would already be charmed by his voice's ability to fill the church. His rendition of It is Enough was powerful and moving. Equally as entertaining was the work of Kevorkian. A smooth and velvety voice, she was able to soar above and 'fly an ordinary pitch' with ease whenever the score called for it. Her second half was particularly thrilling, as her voice seemingly caressed the notes and richly entertained from the start with Hear Ye Israel. Brown and Johnson were not as impressive, with Johnson failing to make a connection as his tone and attack lacked the gusto and presence usually associated with strong tenors performing this work. With the soloists so unevenly matched, it was definitely fortuitous that Mendelssohn did not score more than one quartet and a few duets. (Jamaica Observer)

The Skeldon Collection is homage to the village of Skeldon, where US-based Guyanese designer Sarah Bacchus grew up as a young teenager

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: “It is the place where women were resourceful in the clothing they wore, whether it was niceties received from family members abroad, buying from the local stores or just making sense of fashion from magazines available to them, using fabrics from the markets. Somehow, it always worked, seamlessly,” said Bacchus in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

The Skeldon Collection is certainly amped up from those olden days but the sense of fashion, style and exquisite feminine sophistication shines through.

Bacchus’s fashion label, 34-24-36, is always consistent with luxurious fabric choices- silks, cottons, linens and blends of these; colours that complement many complexions; and “seasonless wear” - clothing that can be worn year round to any events.

The Skeldon Collection

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Model and beauty queen maker, Jacqui Koon How, Sharon Imbert, retired permanent secretary – Office of the Prime Minister and Caribbean fashion impresario Richard Young are to be honoured for their sterling contributions to the fashion and modelling industries in Trinidad and Tobago. The three will receive Industry Pioneer Awards at the “Styleweek Seminar on Fashion 3” at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain on August 27. Styleweek Seminar on Fashion is a fashion industry forum meant to provide fashion industry stakeholders with information about the projects, services and upcoming initiatives that will support the growth and sustainable devel-

used ruffles (sometimes over-sized ruffles), rounded slits, sheer midriffs, ruching, cold shoulder and many very subtle details to make big statements.

“Using nude colour palettes is considered the new black and, keeping that in mind, it was an integral choice in lessening the use of too many black pieces in the collection. Black was mixed with laces and done very elegantly; rich navy was exceptional; and the red, well it was red hot! For a fresh, clean feel of summer, or a destination wedding ensemble, the white pieces are crisp and a must-have in any closet,” the designer described.

The Skeldon Collection was showcased in Highbridge Park in New York City, part of the ECO Fashion in the Park event.

This is an initiative by founder Gina Constanza, who hascentred discussions around eco-friendly practices and educating the masses on clothing life. The Highbridge was closed for 40 years. Its grand reawakening and restoration was celebrated by several overseas designers showcasing various collections, and 34-24-36 opened the festivities.

The Skeldon Collection is said to be “a revival to what once was to what is current!”

For more information, visit 34-24-36.com/Sarah

Bacchus on Facebook. (Photos by Stealth Productions)

opment of the sector. Hosted by Coco Velvet International Fashion Management, the seminar will focus on public and private sector efforts to develop Port-of-Spain into a viable fashion centre. Participants will be able to interact with leading industry professionals including fashion designers and production technicians, international model agency representatives from New York, fashion association directors, officials from government ministries and state agencies charged with the commercialisation of the fashion industry. (TT Express)

maureen webber: Goddess of microfinance in Jamaica

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: She has been described as a powerhouse, a woman who has been dominating the microfinance arena, promoting economic and social inclusion of underserved young people, and helping small businesses to capitalise on their individual potential.

But getting there was never easy. The hallmark of brilliance and accomplishments that has always been associated with the Webber name was not always true for Maureen. Having failed her A'level examinations in high school, her father, who was a disciplinarian, scolded her for believing that she could underperform because she was privileged. His reaction to her less than glorious performance was not what many of his stature would have opted for -- he enrolled her in the National Youth Service (NYS) programme, which at the time was seen as an avenue for young people without money.

While this may have been punishment for others of a similar status, Webber used the opportunity as a foundation to find her purpose as well as to contribute to the lives of others through her voluntary work, while gaining experience in the different capacities which she served.

"At NYS I was able to see that not everyone had something to eat every day or had access to resources that they needed for their development and growth. This was one of the many things that ignited a passion to contribute to the lives of those who are socially and economically excluded," she explained

The experience of the 70s was an eye-opener to the conditions of the poor, Webber said. But more importantly, it was pillars on which Webber's passion for microfinance developed.

"I saw that people were struggling and failing," she said.

She said this observation was what piqued her interest. It was from there that a greater love for microfinancing flourished, a love she could not deny because it was embedded in her genes. Her dominance of the microfinance industry has earned her the title, 'Goddess of microfinance'. But it was not until July of this year that the title was secured, when Webber, founder and CEO of Development Options, was named the region's Most Outstanding Microfinance Leader, copping the CitiCMFA Annual Caribbean Microfinance award in Miami.

The award was founded from a desire to recognise the efforts of individuals and institutions that are committed to developing and ensuring the social and financial returns within the microfinancing sector throughout the Caribbean.

It is the hope of the organisers that the awards will create an environment for greater awareness on the importance of microentrepreneurship and microfinance in supporting the financial inclusion and economic empowerment of lowincome individuals in the Caribbean.

Webber told the media that she never imagined that she would have been recognised for the work she has been doing, but the award has propelled her to revisit her vision for microfinancing, not just for Jamaica but for the Caribbean.

"I cried. I don't believe I have ever functioned, knowing I would be awarded for something that is in my DNA, something I have a talent to do," she gushed.

Webber said that microfinancing in Jamaica, and by extension the Caribbean, is at a very vulnerable stage. She said not enough is being done to assess the implications of lending to lower-income households. (Jamaica Observer)

‘Sons Of Sardaar’ based on the true story of the 21 Saragarhi Sikhs who died fighting the Afghans

The famous 'Battle of Saragarhi' was fought on September 12, 1897, by 21 Sikhs of the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, who gave up their lives defending an army post, fighting against 10,000 Afghans. The battle occurred in the North-West Frontier Province and is now named the KhyberPakhtunkhwa and is part of Pakistan. The 21 Sikh contingent was led by Havildar Ishar Singh and they all fought to death. Apparently, they had

a brave cook too who also fought with them and died. So they were actually 22 of them. Some historians consider it one of the greatest military battles as a result every year September 12 is celebrated as 'Saragarhi Day' across many parts of the world and in India. The epic poem 'Khalsa Bahadur' has also been written in the memory of these brave men. To commemorate these men, the British had built two Saragarhi Gurudwaras, one in Amritsar, close to the Golden Temple and one in Ferozepur

Cantonment, the district these men belonged to. We have learnt that Ajay Devgn's Sons Of Sardaar will not be a comedy like the first, but will be based on the story of these real sons of sardaars, the 'Sikhs of Saragarhi.' 'The Battle of Saragarhi' has all the drama, is a true story and is highly patriotic and we have no doubt that it has the ability of becoming one of India's biggest films ever made. He will be shooting this film post Shivaay in July 2016 for a release on the Diwali of 2017. (TOI)

Sonu Nigam stirs up a controversy by comparing Radhe Maa to Goddess Kali

Singer Sonu Nigam raked up a controversy when he compared controversial self-styled god-woman, Sukhwinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa to Goddess Kali and the Naga sadhus. Sonu posted his opinions on his Facebook account.

He wrote, "To my fellow Indians... To the people who both do, and don't have the honesty to read a message in it's real context, interestingly ... Over the years, we have created another kind of rowdy mob of hooligans, a Twitter Mob, that has no boundaries. That will mercilessly and pointlessly abuse and attack, you could be a senior actor, you could be someone's wife or mother. They don't care! But I put across my point in Complete awareness of the consequences .. I know that religious hypocrits go on offensive when they are cornered philosophically. Rational point of views , have always received brickbats initially before the wise of the society come together to empower it." [sic]

Sonu has explained his stance with points. Here's what he had to say: "Point 1, I have no clue who she is.. Never met her... But in my eyes, she's someone's wife, someone's daughter, and many others,

call her a mother. # Point 2, if she's proven guilty by the law, she'll be punished by law. Before that, she's as respectable a citizen as you and me. And more so since she's a woman in a country infamous for it's rapes and atrocities over women. #

Point 3, a country that worships Kaali maa, who's depicted in the least clothes, (and I've been ok all my life with it, so should everyone else be), has the galls to judge someone's spiritual quotient by his/her attire! A country that has a Mela called Kumbh, where thousands of Naked Naga Saadhus roam around; a country that has Digaambar Jains who don't wear anything, for religious reasons, has issues with a woman merely wearing a short dress in her personal time! How does the number and length of clothes on a person define his or her Spiritual Quotient? # Point 4, we have issues with

Saif Ali Khan worked with Hezbollah militants in 'Phantom'

In 'Phantom', Saif Ali Khan embarks on a revenge mission.

The film's director Kabir Khan has always maintained that he prefers real locations instead of relying on CGI (computer-generated imagery) because the actual backdrop adds more depth to his story. A major portion of this film is shot in Beirut and many from the supporting team were affiliated to the Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group (and also a political party).

Saif says, "When I picked up a conversation with one of the guys I was doing my action sequence with, he told me he is with the Hezbollah. Half the junior artistes and local supporting actors in the film belonged to some sort of an extremist faction. Kabir had met them somewhere, I guess. For most part of our shoot, I was just hoping no one shoots us." (TOI)

Shraddha Kapoor’s grandfather passes away

Shraddha Kapoor's maternal grand-father Pandharinath Kolhapure passed away on Saturday evening. He was a respected name in the world of music and the cousin brother of playback singing legends, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.

Pandharinathji was one of those no-nonsense star fathers with middle-class values. When Padmini shot to fame in the early 80s, he was perhaps the one who kept her grounded. Though friendly, he never allowed journalists to get familiar with him, he was a hospitable man. He had been ailing for a

while now.

Last Sunday he suffered a heart attack and was moved into the ICU of a city hospital for four days. While it was his second daughter Padmini who lived with him throughout. His elder daughter Shivangi Kapoor (Shraddha's mother) and younger

daughter Tejaswini were also extremely attached to their father. The sisters took turns to stay by his bedside throughout his illness.

Shraddha, who has musical leanings, always looked up to her granddad. Having lived next door to him throughout her childhood, she was very attached to him. The actress was heartbroken with the news of his death. Our condolences are with the Kolhapures and Kapoors in their moment of grief. Juhi Chawla, who learnt music from Padmini's father, also expressed her grief on a microblogging site. (TOI)

her dancing on songs, most dancers like Hema Malini, portray Durga ballet on stage regularly. So? Big Deal? If her devotees have no issues with it, why should we be bothered? They see their God in a dancing Guru, many others see their God's in a SAI Baba Idol, or a Shiva Idol!! What then is a difference between those terrorists who call everyone else who don't follow Islam as Kaafirs, and us? Where does religious freedom go? # Point 5, what kind of country are we living in where we cannot discuss an issue without using foul language, circulating semi pornographic images on whatsapp and reducing someone's dignity to trash? If you can't stand by a woman just because you don't know her, get the candle that you are gonna carry on the next Candle March after a rape, and Shove it into your Aggressively Opinionistic Hypocritical Ass." [sic] (TOI)

Deepika Padukone endorses three key eyewear styles

Representing the multi-cultural beauty of women across the globe, Vogue Eyewear launched the Fashion Story #3 Collection dedicated to and inspired by its three new Muses — actress Deepika Padukone, the Brazilian model Adriana Lima, and the Chinese actress Liu Shishi.

This collection translates local and global fashions into a unique visual language that communicates the essence of Vogue Eyewear: aspirational, contemporary glamour defined by dynamic women who wear it and take pride in their style! Indeed this Fashion Story #3 is inspired by the culture of each Muse that comes to life through three distinct internal patterns.

The filigree of the lustrous aqua green of Indian Jade decorate

the three styles inspired by Deepika Padukone, the exotic and tropical blooms define the three styles autographed by Adriana Lima and delicate blossoms inspire the styles dedicated to Liu Shishi.

The glamorous and world-renowned Indian celebrity Deepika Padukone, has inspired three key styles from the collection. Drawing inspiration from the rich cultural fabric and natural beauty of her native India, the Fashion Story

#3 Texture Collection explores exquisite textures and colours of Indian art, transforming symbolic Indian patterns into sublime elements of universal eyewear design. The collection reinterprets intricate filigree, which evokes a sense of joy, freedom and energy and the distinctive green of Indian Jade representing optimism, zest for life and enhanced creativity through innovative high quality finishes, harmonious lines and modern shapes. (TOI)

Calvin Harris, Zayn Malik engage in Twitter spat over Taylor Swift

The online tiff began when Malik, 22, retweeted a post critical of Swift's refusal to stream her music on website Spotify on Monday.

Harris, a 31-year-old Scottish DJ, stepped in to defend Swift, who is his girlfriend, thus initiating a war of words on the micro-blogging website, reports dailymail. co.uk.

The online feud ensued when Malik retweeted a post comparing Swift's refusal to stream her music for free with a quote from Miley Cyrus saying she cares about money.

"The difference is astounding," wrote the poster.

Harris quickly jumped to Swift's defense, writing: "You've made your money?

Cool... f*** the 99 percent of musicians who depend on these services to survive, right? Yeah

"If you don't get what it means when a successful artist uses their celebrity to benefit every other musician and songwriter in the industry... then stay out of my f***ing mentions."

Malik then hit back at Harris, saying he had made an absolute fool of himself by jumping to conclusions.

"@CalvinHarris ha you just made an absolute fool of yourself mate", adding that it

had been a general statement, not a dig at Swift.

"@CalvinHarris you clearly don't understand what I just said either... So I suggest you calm your knickers before them dentures fall out," he tweeted.

Both musicians have since deleted many of the offensive posts, although Harris did end the exchange by telling Malik it was nothing personal, adding "best of luck, you've got a great voice". (TOI)

Kelly Rutherford's appeal to get her kids back denied by judge

In order to gain her kids' custody, Kelly Rutherford filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the verdict of a Manhattan judge but her suit was denied the same day.

The 46-year-old actress, who was ordered to produce her children Hermes and Helena in to court so that they could leave to return to their father in Monaco, chal-

Orlando Bloom, who split with Miranda Kerr in 2013, is reportedly romancing Australian model and DJ Kate Elsworth.

A source told a US magazine, "He's done all of the chasing, but in a very gentlemanly way. He lets her know he really likes her and appreciates spending time with her and that she's not just another girl to him." (TOI)

Actress Laura Linney is in talks to play Hollywood star Tom Hanks' wife in director Clint Eastwood's upcoming film 'Sully', to be produced by Warner Bros.

Sully is the biopic of retired captain Chesley SullySullenberger, based on the book 'Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters', by him and Jeffrey Zaslow. The story takes a closer look at Sullenberger, who became a national hero after his plane began to malfunction short-

ly after takeoff and he was forced to take drastic measures in order to save the passengers, reported Variety.

Liv Tyler shares 'first picture' of her newborn with fans

Looks like Liv Tyler is very close to her fans as the actress has shared the first picture of her newborn son Sailor on Instagram.

The 38-year-old actress, who captioned the picture, "Our beautiful baby boy Sailor Gene Gardner. 6 months old so so sooooo in love and grateful," also shared a series of pictures of little Sailor all snuggled up in onesie on a bed, E! Online reported.

Earlier, Tyler has also shared her little one with her HBO co-stars, including Justin Theroux. Posting a picture with Theroux and her new born on Instagram, the actress captioned it, "My #theleftovers family meeting my baby boy @the_left0vers @hbo #justintheroux #margaretqualley . I feel so blessed in all parts of my life." (TOI)

Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr. poses for a reunion beach selfie

lenged the court's ruling by saying that the decision was incorrect, reported Us magazine.

The Gossip Girl star and her former husband Daniel Giersch, who split in 2008 when Rutherford was pregnant with Helena, have been fighting for custody of their children since their divorce. (TOI)

Hanks. 59, will play Sullenberger.

Producer Frank Marshall acquired the rights to the book in 2010 and had been developing ever since. Aaron Eckhart is also on board to play the co-pilot in the pic.

Allyn Stewart will also produce with Marshall.

Linney, 51, can currently be seen in Mr Holmes opposite Ian McKellen and recently wrapped production on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. (TOI)

Reunion alert! American actress Gwyneth Paltrow has shared a cute a beach selfie with her 'Iron Man' co-star Robert Downey Jr. on Instagram.

The 42-year-old actress, who captioned the picture ""@RobertDowneyJr how I love thee #pepperony," did not wear any makeup for the sunset shot whereas Downey donned a hat along with pair of sunglasses to cover his face , E! Online reported.

Previously, Paltrow had shared a picture with her son Moses, resting atop a horse with the polo player Nacho Figueras. (TOI)

Chris Hemsworth's 'Ghostbusters' reboot look out

The look of Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth as the receptionist in the all-female reboot of 'Ghostbusters' is out.

In the picture, Hemsworth is seen wearing Ghostbusters uniform while riding a motorcycle with a proton pack and a carriage attached on the back side of the bike.

The motorcycle Hemsworth rides is seemingly the previously-teased ECTO-2. It is a white classic motorcycle with a Ghostbusters logo on the right side.

The uniform that Hemsworth is wearing is similar to while his co-stars Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon wear in the Paul Feig-directed drama, reported Vulture.

The Australian actor has black glasses and a smile on his face while riding the bike on the Boston set of the movie.

Annie Potts played the receptionist in the 1984 classic, starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis but in a role reversal of sorts Feig decided to cast Hollywood hunk Hemsworth as the receptionist in his female version. (TOI)

Christina Aguilera dedicates song to fiancé

The 34-year-old Dirrty hitmaker hit the stage in the Hamptons event at The Creeks, the estate of billionaire philanthropist Ron Perelman.

She performed tracks including ‘Lady Marmalade’ and ‘Ain't No Other Man’ for guests including Jack Nicholson, Mary-Kate Olsen, comedian Jimmy Fallon, US presidential candidate Chris Christie and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, reported People magazine.

During the performance, Aguilera decided to give a special shout out to her man as they prepared to mark their baby girl Summer Rain's birthday, telling the crowd, "This is a special weekend. It's my daughter's first birthday."

She then dedicated a tune to Rutler, before belting out Etta James classic ‘At Last’.

The couple became engaged on Valentine's Day last year. Aguilera is also mother to sevenyear-old son Max, from her first marriage to Jordan Bratman, which ended in 2011. (TOI)

J'can Junior Reid returns as a legend

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

August 25 is the release date for Junior Reid: The Living Legend, a 19-song album from the veteran roots singer.

The set will be launched with a listening party at Reid's Crescent Court guest house in St Andrew.

"We plan to stream the album release party, it's going to be a great night of entertainment," Reid said.

'The Living Legend' is the 52-yearold Reid's 17th album and first in over 10 years. It contains songs like Love You Back, Never Let You Go, This Generation (with Sizzla), Same Boat, Lonely Girl and Never Too Rough which features Julian Marley.

Several producers worked on the album including Reid, his son Adoney and Lynford 'Fatta' Marshall.

The durable Reid, whose career started in 1978 as a protege of singer Hugh Mundell, said he went back to

basics for his latest work.

"We went for an original roots-rock feel. However, the lead single Love You Back has a pop-commercial feel, that is why we shot a video for the international market. The video will be released a week before the album is officially released," Reid said.

From the Kingston community of Waterhouse, Reid emerged as a bona fide talent in the 1980s with songs like Original Foreign Mind, The Great Train Robbery (done while he was with Black Uhuru) and Boom Shacka Lacka.

Anthems such as One Blood, released in 1990, have earned him a lasting dancehall following, as well as new fans in the hip hop arena.

Since 2006, Reid has had three strong sellers in the United States with It's Okay (with rapper The Game), This is Why I'm Hot (with rapper MIMS) and No One, a remix with Alicia Keys. (Jamaica Observer)

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Itabali is a small community in the Mazaruni River, Region Seven, and a short distance by boat from Bartica.

Known for its tranquillity, Itabali’s trails are perfect for a cool, relaxing walk.

The community of Itabali is close-knit, with a growing populace and commercial area.

The Mazaruni River flows past the Itabali landing, an area buzzing with an influx of visitors, and the

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD: The post-Civil War era saw the emergence of freed blacks taking political office and challenging in-

stitutional racism. In order to maintain white supremacy, the hierarchy perpetuated negative stereotypes of blacks. Leader of “Nation of Islam”, David

Muhammad, expressed his dismay at institutionalised racism in his new book, Black Studies — The Black Book Mind Revolution.

Muhammad is an international lecturer and broadcaster for “Black Agenda Project”, a national organisation whose aim is to educate African peoples throughout the diaspora. Black Studies was launched recently at the Central Bank Auditorium in Port of Spain. The book highlights the social progression and hardships of black people. (TT Express)

KINGSTON,

JAMAICA: The iconic image of Sintra Arunte-Bronte, the bewitchingly beautiful girl in the wet T-shirt on the Jamaica Tourist Board's (JTB) most successful poster ever, is back in the news again.

This dramatic resurgence has come about because pop music idol

Alicia Keyes has made a remarkably bold and commanding attempt to recreate the Sintra poster in her own image, and millions of copies of the stunning double frame with Sintra to the left and Keyes to the right are being shared at record-breaking pace on social media with mixed reaction. Some hate it, but most love it.

So how did this worldfamous 1972 image of Sintra that has been described as the most pow-

erful travel poster ever, and that has been the recipient of numerous travel awards come about? I spoke with a number of persons who were close to the project, including Sintra herself, to weave the pieces together.

"I was in absolute shock when I realised a few days ago that the poster was back out, and that people were calling me from all over the world for interviews," Sintra, now 69 and semiretired, told the media from a vacation spot in South Florida.

From all reports, the jaw-dropping poster came about by chance and not by design.

Shortly after the first, Michael Manley government came to power in 1972, an American advertising agency, Doyle Dane & Bernbach, was in Jamaica with a French

photographer on a search for a buxom and voluptuous Chinese Jamaican girl who would be used to promote Jamaica overseas.

There was, at the time, an early wave of curiosity about China in the United States, and the then tourism director, Anthony Abrahams, liked the agency's idea of pushing the message

that the exotic east was also present in nearby Jamaica.

After more than two weeks of combing the island, no such girl was found, and the agency team reported back to the tourism director to say, instead, they found a beautiful Indian girl who happened to be Trinidadian. During the meeting, Abrahams re-

mained skeptical and unimpressed until the agency team pulled out a photograph of Sintra. That changed everything, and the print and television shoot proceeded at Frenchman's Cove in Port Antonio without a hitch.

About six versions of the poster were generated and it became an immediate smash across all demographics. A television commercial was also derived from the shoot. The JTB could hardly keep up with the demand for the poster. Sintra ended up living in Jamaica for a few years and she worked for the Special Projects Division of the JTB in Montego Bay.

She later moved back to Trinidad where she ran a hotel as well as a travel company that chartered private jets from Tobago

For emerging artist Guyanese Angelica DaSilva

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA: Using art as an “escape” and avenue of expressing her emotions, Angelica DaSilva is well on her way of becoming a notable Guyanese artist.

the only limit is her imagination

to Venezuela and to the Grenadines. She is married to William BronteTinkew, an international shipping investor.

So what does Sintra think about the Alicia Keyes poster? "Frankly, I feel quite honoured to be the recipient of all this attention," she chuckled. "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery."

The JTB, too, is very excited about the buzz that the posters are creating on social media. "This is a wonderful endorsement of the power of the original poster and we are thrilled to see this branding playing out on social media," tourism director Paul Pennicooke told Outlook.

Special thanks to Anthony King, Noel Mignott, Winston Stona and Annette Stowe who assisted with this story. (Jamaica Gleaner)

“I have always been passionate about art. From constantly visiting my mother's close friend, who is an artist, (Nicole Bissoo) I immediately fell in love with her paintings. Nicole has inspired me since I first saw her work. Another reason for my love is that I’m driven to become an established artist. I have also received great encouragement from my family and friends to do what I love - painting. Lastly, the works of great artists have also inspired me,” expressed DaSilva in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

“passion” has been a driving force for her in wanting to pursue art as a career.

The budding artist said her passion for art developed at a very tender age. This

“When I was old enough to actually hold a crayon/ pencil I drew anywhere and everywhere, like every other normal child except I’m still doing the same thing up to now. In primary school, I drew in all my school books, but as I grew older I did it more seriously and at a higher level, even though I’m still an amateur,” DaSilva admitted.

DaSilva pointed out that her interest in art also stems from her father, two of her great aunts and a few cousins who dabble in art, but merely as a hobby.

Exposure to art at Marian Academy High School at an early level inspired her interest, and DaSilva decided she wanted to pursue it as a

subject for CXC.

Most of her paintings, she disclosed, she learnt to do on her own, but was guided by her art teacher and godmother, who is an artist and also teaches at E R Burrowes School of Art.

Angelica’s inspiration when painting is listening to music, the support from her parents and relatives, and a quote from Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter, draftsman, sculptor, architect and engineer. Leonardo da Vinci’s quote, “art is never finished, only abandoned”, pushes DaSilva to keep improving and completing her art pieces.

“Art does a lot for me: it is an escape from reality, where whatever you could think of could come to life. The only limit is your imagination.

Art is a way to express my emotions. That is why my paintings communicate all types of emotions. Although my pieces are an expression of self, I’m open to other interpretations,” DaSilva noted.

According to DaSilva, her focus over the past few years was “more or less people” and “fantasy” in the category of mixed media art, which was encouraged by her CXC art teacher, though limited to a theme during the CXC Visual Arts syllabus. DaSilva is now “willing and eager” to expand her art to capture the beauty of buildings, silhouettes, landscapes and “anything that challenges” her.

The emerging artist stated that even though she would like to advance in architecture, art is something she will never cease pursuing. Her goal is to study art at a university level.

“Being a young artist, my advice to youths would be to use the advice that I have been given my whole life, which is: ‘Do what you love and never give up; you can only get better’. Even though there may be some bumps on the road (art blocks) just relax, take a break and persevere. To those who have helped me, I say a big thank you. I thank God for this talent that he has blessed me with, though I know it’s only the beginning and I still have a long way before I can consider myself an accomplished artist,” she declared. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Wallace delivers ninth for TT

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Goal shoot Samantha Wallace capped off a stellar debut at the 14th Netball World Cup when she scored a team best 53 goals to inspire TT Calypso Girls to a 64-51 triumph over Samoa in their ninth place playoff at the Allphones Arena, Sydney Park, Sydney, on Sunday.

It was an impressive display by the 21-yearold Wallace who had netted 49 goals in her previous two matches as the tenth ranked ‘Calypso Girls’ showed no signs of fatigue following their 57-56 overtime win against Scotland, the night before, storming home to claim victory.

TT , joint champions on home soil in1979 with Australia and New Zealand found easy route to goal in the first quarter through their 193 cm tall shooter Wallace, whose clear holds and athletic leaps made it easy for her feeders to find her under the post where she finished the quarter at 100 percent accuracy with 15 goals

from as many attempts. Samoa however were forced to work harder, with goal attack Sanita To’o controlling the play for her side as they looked at their strongest when playing a short sharp game.

But on a number of occasions, Samoa tried to force the long ball into their goal shooter Juliana Naoupu-Laban making for easy pickings for the lanky and aggressive TT goal keeper Daystar Swift who helped TT to a 15-13 lead.

Neither side made changes to start the second quarter as TT dominated in the circle with goal attack and captain Joelisa Cooper at her crafty best, teasing outside the circle to tempt a defender to float off a double-teamed Wallce for a second and create space for her shooting partner.

Strong work around the circle from centre Candice Guerero and wing defence Onella Jack forced a number of turn overs to see TT pushing out to a seven goal lead early in the quarter.

CP Got

TT used an injury time out to add fresh legs to their mid-court, but the pause came at the perfect time for Samoa, with goal keeper Natalie Jones picking up two key intercepts in quick succession to pull back the difference at half time, at 30-26.

The third quarter was a scrappy affair, with errors and high penalty counts from both sides.

TT opened the quarter with a number of

turnovers outside the circle which were converted by Samoan goal shooter Naoupu, whose movement began to open up space against goal keeper Swift.

However as the quarter went on, the Samoan shooters stagnated and again reverted to holding against the taller Calypso Girls defenders, which, while successful at times, gave TT a number of opportunities to again extend its lead to

finish the quarter, 45-38 ahead.

The Wesley “Pepe” Gomes-coached TT continued their patient ball movement into the final quarter, as clever feeds from the experienced wing attack of five World Cups and 157 matches, Rhonda John-Davis constantly found Wallace under the post.

A clean centre pass intercept from Guerero, now at wing defence, with five minutes re-

maining seemed to spark her side, who powered through the remained of the match for a comprehensive 13 goal win.

The 21-year-old Wallace got her 53 goals from 60 attempts and Cooper added 11 from 12 for TT while Naoupu led Samoa with 32 from 36 attempts, and To’o got 19 from 25.

Overall Wallace was TT’s top scorer in her first World Cup with 280 goals from 324 attempts for 86.4 per cent while Cooper (73/84) shot 86.9 per cent in her third World Cup, and another debutant, Kalifa Mc Collin, 74 from 79 for 93.7 per cent, the second best percentage in the tournament.

Speaking after the win, Swift was ecstatic to finish the tournament with a win, the sixth on the trot after a 0-2 start, and believes her side will go away a stronger team from the experience.

“It was very tough, but it made us really want to win more. It really made us put the extra effort into the game today, “ ended Swift. (TT Guardian)

Even defends Guyana Cup title

Score’s Even deemed unfit minutes before race

By Rajiv Bisnauth

GEORGETOWN,

GUYANA:

Jockey Semple with a free running effort in almost fading sunlight rode a tactical race aboard CP Got Even from the Poonai Racing Stable to stun the field and take the feature A3 and Lower event at the ninth annual Guyana Cup horse race meet on Sunday.

A colourful sold-out crowd, which included Director of Sport Christopher Jones, sought to take advantage of every possible viewing area to witness the day’s action at the Port Mourant Turf Club,

as over 100 horses competed for over Gy$25 million in cash, trophies and bragging rights.

The final race, the showpiece event of the day covered a distance of 1,800 metres, and 15 horses entered the starters’ gate, minus one of the pre-race favourites 'Score’s Even', who was ruled unfit by the medical team minutes before the race.

As the race kicked off, it was Princess She Is Not, who took the lead from start until the animals approached the final turn for home.

However, as they came about four lengths to the finish line, 'CP Got Even' seemed to have

called on his jockey to give him more ‘rein’ and Semple responded affirmatively, which saw the race favorite galloping to the front through the field.

CP Got Even did not display any signs of tiredness even after he passed the pole, as Semple celebrated by making several whole circles with his whip hand, fully aware that he had just won for his handlers, Gy$3 million and the beautiful Banks DIH trophy.

Princess 'She Is Not' finished second.

Colin Ross was adjudged best jockey, while the Sheriff Racing Stable won the best Stable award. Due to the fad-

ing light, the final race, the I1 and Lower, did not materialise.

Below are the summarised results from the other eight races.

Unclassified K and L Lower- 'Liquid Lion', 'Plain Land', 'Call She’s Royal' and 'Blue Lighting'; F3 and Lower –'Rossetta' and 'Appealing Harvest' (only five horses

participated so there was no third place winner); Two-Year-Old Guyana Bred- 'Slim Shady', 'Red Jet', 'Party Time' and 'She is a Message'; FourYear-Old West Indies Bred- 'Unsettled and Just Call Me Boss' (only four horses participated so there was no third place winner); G3 and Lower- 'Compador', 'Bird

Man', 'She so Special' and 'Caisse'; Two-YearOld West Indies BredWichie Poo, 'Fire in Line', 'The Girl in Mine' and Jumbo’s Gift; ThreeYear-Old West Indies Bred- 'It’s my Choice', 'Keep on Swinging', 'Storm Bird' and 'Settling Star'; and E1 and Lower'Swing Easy' and 'Right to Rule'. (Guyana Times)

30 sport

Guyana Police make it back-to-back titles at Boyce/Jefford Classic

By TreisTon Joseph

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Only 15 points separated the Police Sports Club from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as the Police men and women arrested their second straight title at the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic which concluded on Sunday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden.

Police amassed a total of 354 points for the win, while GDF ended on 339 points. A combined Linden squad ended third on 110 points, while the Mercury Fast Laners (MFL) finished fourth on 71 points. Rounding out the top five was Super Upcoming Runners with 58 points. With the win Police

pocketed Gy$600,000, while GDF were able to take home Gy$400,000. Linden received Gy$250,000 and MFL Gy$100,000.

It was an actionpacked day despite a soggy outfield as the athletes displayed their talents.

Kevin Bayley ran an excellent 800 metres to win in 2:05.8s, defeating Trinidad’s Ashton Gill who clocked 2:07.9s.

Wayne Harlequin also made his return to the track finishing third with a time of 2:08.5s.

Olympian Winston George followed up his 200 metres win from earlier in the day with a thrilling win in the men’s 100m that ended in 10.4s. Rupert Perry was second in 10.7s, while Compton Caesar was third in 10.8s.

Natreena Hooper topped overseas-based Guyanese 400m hurdler Jeamae McCamon in the women’s 200m clocking 22.5s for the win. McCamon clocked 26.0s for second, while Deja Smartt finished third in 26.4s. Smartt later returned

to win the women’s 100m in 12.3s, while Aniqua Powley was second in 12.6s. Kezia Bess was third in 12.8s.

Carifta bronze medallist Andrea Foster was dominant topping Trinidad’s Dawnel Colleymore to win the women’s 1500m in

Cameron wants T20s for Olympics

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dave Cameron says that he would love to see cricket in the T20 format make an appearance at the Olympic games. Speaking to the TT media, the Jamaican said: “I do support T20s in the Olympics, I think it will appeal to a global audience, so having it there will be great for the sport.

“Another benefit of having T20s on the Olympic set up is that the smaller countries have an opportunity to compete in the format.” While cricket was played at the Commonwealth Games some years ago, it has not found favour with the International Olympic Committee.

Even the so called big countries that play cricket, seem not interested in having the sport in the Olympics. According to Cameron: “It is very difficult to get in because

even in the cricket environment, the other big countries will have to agree. Some of the bigger countries are not in favour so this makes it very hard.”

India and England are not in support of cricket going to the Olympics, as the only ‘big’ cricket country that is supporting the move is Australia. Cameron continued:”We have to start by getting cricket into the Pan Am Games and similar organisations first to see how well it fits in and then we can take it from there.”

Way back in 2010, T20’s push to be part of the 2020 Olympics received a major fillip with news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to have the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved. However, while cricket — along with power boating—can now bid to join the 2020 games the ICC currently has no imminent plans to have the format in-

cluded.

“They are recognised federations by us, which now means that they can take part in IOC events,” said IOC director of communications Mark Adams during a meeting in Vancouver ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics. A cricket tournament, played as part of the 1900 Summer Olympics, took place on August 19 and 20 at the Vélodrome de Vincennes. The only match of the tournament was played between teams representing Great Britain and France, and was won by 158 runs by Great Britain.

Originally, teams representing Belgium, France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands were scheduled to compete in the tournament. Belgium and the Netherlands pulled out of the competition, leaving Great Britain to play France. Neither team was nationally selected. The British side

was a touring club, the Devon and Somerset Wanderers (alias Devon County Wanderers), while the French team, the French Athletic Club Union, comprised mainly British expatriates living in Paris.

The two-day game commenced on 19 August 1900. Great Britain batted first and scored 117, and bowled France out for 78. Great Britain then scored 145 for 5 in their second innings, setting the hosts a target of 185. The tourists bowled out France for 26 to win the match by 158 runs, a significant margin, but with only five minutes of the match remaining.

The Great Britain team was awarded silver medals and the French team bronze medals, together with miniature statues of the Eiffel Tower. The match was formally recognised as being an Olympic contest in 1912, and the medals were later reassigned as gold and silver. (TT Guardian)

4:42.9s, while Bayley was third in 4:66.2s.

National Javelin record holder Leslain Baird won the javelin event with a throw of 52.08 metres while Julio Sinclair won the men’s discus and shot put with throws of 41.77m and 13.47m.

5:17.7s. Colleymore was second in 5:20.6s, while Alika Morgan was third in 5:57.8s.

Guyana’s most dominant distance athlete Cleveland Forde after winning his 5000m returned to win the men’s 1500m in 4:35.2s. Grivon Grant was second in

GDF dominated the relay events, winning five out of the eight relay races including the 4×100 men and women, 4×400 women, 800m medley women and the 3000m men distance medley.

Meanwhile, George finished tied on 20 points with Forde and Sinclair for the male champion athlete, while Foster won the female award with 30 points after winning the women’s 800m, 1500m and 3000m races. (Guyana Times)

Hi-Pro AllJamaica Tennis Championships underway

KINGSTON, JAMAICA;

Some of the country's top players were in action as the 2015 HiPro All-Jamaica Senior Tennis Championships got underway on Monday at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre.

Seeded players will also have the opportunity to showcase their prowess on the newly refurbished courts in the one-week tournament which will run through to Saturday.

This year the championships promise some exciting and thrilling match-ups from Jamaica's leading players in both the men's and women's sections.

The defending champion of the men's singles is Damion Johnson, while last year's women's singles winner Phadria Kepple will not be defending her title this year.

Action in the men's singles will see players hunting the first prize of Ja$100,000, Ja$50,000 for the runner-up, and Ja$25,000 each to the losing semi-finalists, while players reaching the quarter-finals will receive Ja$15,000 each. Additionally, the men's doubles winners will pick up Ja$10,000 each, while the women's winner will collect Ja$40,000 and the runner-up Ja$20,000.

The men's singles main draw field is a very strong one with defending champion Johnson the top seed, followed by Rowland Phillips and last year's beaten finalist Daniel Harris. Other seeded players in the men's singles are Marcus Malcolm, Yussuf Migoko, Orick Angus, Matthew Rodriquez, and Jevaughn Mullings.

There are only four seeds in the women's singles, with Selena Blythe holding the top slot, ahead of Ffion Fletcher, Jenna Harrison and upcoming sensation Mikalia Stephens.

The players to watch in the men's singles are Johnson, Phillips, Harris and the hard-hitting Malcolm from Montego Bay who is expected to spring a surprise should there be any. However, they will find the experienced, hard-hitting and fast-serving Johnson a very tough nut to crack.

The women's section should be a wide open affair, with Blythe, who was the runner-up to Kepple in last year's final, being given the nod to turn the tables this time around. However, she will have to get by Fletcher, a former winner of this tournament, as well as the young players that will be hoping to leave their mark on the tournament. (Jamaica Observer)

Beacon Cycling on the Ave pedals off Oct 7 in TT

PORT-OFSPAIN, TRINIDAD:

Barbadian cyclist Jamol Eastmond is expected to get tough competition from local, regional and international cyclists when the Beacon Cycling on the Avenue Four takes place at Mike’s Bikes on Ariapita Avenue, Portof-Spain, from 7.30 pm on October 7.

Eastmond, representing TT club Heatwave, defeated a quality field to win the 30-lap main event last year. Yondi Schmidt of the Netherlands was second, while Norlandy Lavera of Dominican Republic was third.

The top TT cyclists in the main event were Adam Alexander of Team Foundation and veteran road cyclist Emile Abraham, who finished fourth and fifth respectively. The Tobago International Cycling Classic takes place in Tobago from September

29 to October 4, therefore many cyclists are expected to make the trip to Trinidad to compete.

The 30-lap event will again close the night’s programme this year. The other two highly anticipated events are the 200-metre sprint event and the one lap event, both for invitational and international riders.

Other riders showcasing their talent on the night include senior ladies, juveniles, juniors and masters. Up to TT$70,000 will be awarded in cash prizes and primes.

At the event’s media conference on Tuesday at Mike’s Bikes, Michael Phillips of Phillips Promotions spoke about the importance of exposing local cyclists to top international competition.

“The key to a cyclist’s success is the opportunity to compete. The more exposed our local cyclists are to international competition in our lo-

cal events, the better prepared they are when they compete abroad,” said Phillips. “The involvement of corporate TT at events such as this can significantly improve the chances of our national cyclists medaling at the Olympic Games.”

Nisa Dass, manager—corporate marketing at Beacon, handed over a cheque worth TT$350,000 to Phillips, which represented Beacon’s sponsorship of Cycling on the Avenue and other Phillip Promotions events in the coming year.

Dass said that sport has always been important to Beacon. “Sport has always been a keen interest of Beacon’s. We stand by the belief that it is one of the most successful avenues for personal growth and creates well-rounded, disciplined individuals who can contribute to the positive development of our communities.” (TT Guardian)

GFC, Junior Jags football camp underway

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Over 30 young boys and girls from the city and its environs on Tuesday morning started a football training camp organised by the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) in association with the Junior Jags Football Academy.

Under the guidance of club executive and FIFA Agent Faizal Khan, the camp, which caters for the 5-11 years age group, will be held for the next week from 09:00h- 12:00h.

Khan told this newscast that the aim is to have the camp on an an-

nual basis, as the club is keen on maintain a highquality multi-age football programme.

“The first Junior Jags football camp has started really well and I’m grateful to all the parents and staff that have supported us so tremendously. It’s the first time for GFC doing this project, but something I have had experience in managing for years via UK company 360 Sports Coaching, which I part own,” Khan said.

He added, “It’s great to see over 30 boys and girls aged between 5 and 11 enjoying themselves

whilst being drip-fed the basics in football in a fun, safe and developmental environment. Hopefully holiday camps like this can be a regular event on the GFC calendar. We are running each day this week and still have a few spaces available for anyone with children interested in coming and giving football a try.”

While developing local talent is a big part of the club’s plans, Khan revealed that the North Road club is also looking to secure financing to refurbish its football pitch and club house later this year.

(Guyana Times)

INTERNATIONAL

By RavendRa Madholall

TORONTO, CANADA:

The Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) team is eager to dominate at the upcoming inaugural Toronto Cup slated to be played early September under the auspices of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC).

On Saturday at the Littles ground in Scarborough, the side began preparations under the watchful eyes of player/coach Ian Baldeo and manager Terry Mathura. Both expressed confidence that the combination is capable of making a huge impact at this Mini Softball World Cup event.

Approximately 15 teams

are expected to feature in both the Masters and Open categories from Friday, September 4-6 across the Greater Toronto Area.

According to Mathura, the current Vice-President of the League, and chairman of selectors, the captain will be named soon while players were chosen based on performance and availability to participate.

Several teams that will be playing in this year’s OSCL competitions will also take part at the Toronto Cup and the players are opted to represent their respective clubs.

However, Baldeo and Mathura stated that they will continue to prepare energetically for the tournament with more practice sessions and warm-up matches.

“I think we have come up with the best team for this tournament; we are accustomed to play with the regular supreme ball but this tournament will have the white balls which may be the only challenge; our players are capable of playing with it though,” Mathura related.

“We will be playing as a unit and that is very important; we have a well-balanced side to compete; we will continue to focus a lot on the physical aspects of things because we have got to be ready both physically and mentally,” Baldeo commented.

President of the OSCL, Albert Ramcharran, was also in attendance and he wished

the team best of luck and expects them to be the victorious side. He similarly mentioned that he admires the players’ willingness and commitment to represent the League on this predictably historical tournament.

Former Guyana fast-bowler Trevon Garraway’s inclusion in the team is a huge boost as well, according to Ramcharran.

The full squad reads: Anand Gurdial, Travis Blyden, Sunil Ramkissoon, Richards Dias, Avinash Sookdeo, Rovendra Mandolall, Trevon Garraway, Harrinarine Chattergoon, Pradeep Singh, Ravendra Madholall, Walley Bacchus, Muniram Karran, Gavin Glasgow and Andy Persaud.