Guyana Times Daily

APNU calls for closure of sugar industry

The Government and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Tuesday fired off scathing statements against the main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for its recommendation that the country quit the sugar industry and pursue ethanol production.

At a news conference on Tuesday, APNU Executive Member Joseph Harmon said the sugar industry was dying and the ruling administration was responsible for its decline. He said the problems facing the sugar sector are all connected to the poor management of it. Harmon insisted that the government’s turnaround plan was not working, as he made references to articles written by University of Guyana (UG) Professor Clive Thomas.

wednesday, March 12, 2014|

No word on Marriott’s financial closure

― APNU claims govt still fishing for investor

By Svetlana MarShall

Shadow

Finance

Minister Carl Greenidge said the government of Guyana might be on a “fishing expedition” in an effort to bring financial closure on the estimated US$58 million Marriott Hotel (Guyana) Project.

On September 19, 2013, Atlantic Hotel Incorporated (AHI) Chairman Winston Brassington had boldly stated that AHI would have achieved financial closure at the end of that year.

At the time, the company had already spent US$20 million on the project. But to date, Brassington has been tight-lipped on the matter.

Since December, Guyana Times has been attempting to secure an interview with the AHI Chairman to deter-

mine the financial status of the project, but to no avail.

He had announced that Republic Bank would have invested US$27 million in the project, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), US$19.5 million and a collective US$12 million would have been garnered from two private investors. But although this financial plan was outlined, there was no financial closure on the part of Republic Bank.

Deadline

Greenidge told this publication that with the August deadline approaching, there is a possibility that government might be “fishing for investors to finance the project”.

He said there was also a possibility that the project could be completed using mostly state funds.

If this occurs, he said, it will be a very unfortunate situation, with statistical reports indicating that the occupancy levels of hotels around the country remain below 30 per cent.

Though the financial status of the project remains largely unknown by the public, when Guyana Times visited the hotel site at Kingston, Chinese labourers were working on the exterior and interior of the building.

Romesh Budhram, an official at the construction site, declined to answer when asked for a progress report, stating that permission must be granted first from the AHI Chairman.

Currently, NICIL is partnering with a private investor to acquire the required equity. The investor will be injecting US$8

million, while NICIL will invest US$12 million. The two parties have struck a shareholder’s agreement.

Additionally, the debt is coming from three areas. It was explained that US$27 million is being syndicated from Republic Bank, US$4 million will come from the investor who will be operating the entertainment complex of the hotel, and NICIL will put one-third of the debt – US$15.5 million.

However, AHI still requires financial closure on the multimillion-dollar first-class hotel.

“All we are waiting on is conclusion of the legal paperwork with Republic Bank, we have every confidence that we will conclude the financing and within a short period, we hope to close the entire transaction, the equity investor and the Republic Bank financing,” Brassington had stated. Despite vehement criticism, the government and Marriott signed an agreement in June 2010, paving the way for the hotel to be operated by Marriott.

Government has executed a number of agreements with Marriott, starting in 2009 to operate the hotel for up to 30 years. These include the Management Agreement, the Licence and Royalty Agreement, the International Services Agreement, and the Technical Services Agreement.

Marriott Guyana is anticipated to feature 197 rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a lounge, an outdoor pool, a spa, a fitness centre, a business centre, and roughly 12,800 square feet of conference and function space. (svetlanam@guyanatimegy.)

Countrywide:

Wind: North easterly between 2.5 metres and 3.05 metres per second.

High

Low

11, 2014

Farmers should receive better prices for paddy – Ramsammy

By Jomo Paul

Amid growing concerns by rice farmers about the falling prices for paddy and the lack of market for the bumper harvest currently underway, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Tuesday said the prices offered by millers should not have shown any significant decrease.

He said the Agriculture Ministry will be monitoring the prices being offered to farmers and the subsequent payment of monies. Dr Ramsammy, who was at the time speaking during an interview with Guyana Times, noted that although there was a “hitch in the transportation and export of rice to Venezuela”, all of the traditional markets are still open and operations are progressing smoothly on that front.

Dr Ramsammy noted that the agreement with Venezuela still stands and only one document remains to be processed. He said the exporting of rice to neighbouring Venezuela is expected to commence just before the harvest gets into full swing.

This agreement with the Venezuelan Government, he explained, will see the shipment of approximately 200,000 tonnes of rice to that country, which would account for 50 per cent of the total exports of rice and paddy from Guyana.

As it relates to the shipment of rice to Haiti, the Minister explained that up to 1500 tonnes of rice is expected to be sent abroad on a weekly basis. He noted that agreements with

says, as Belize sews up small deal

the Haitian Government have been finalised and the cargo ships are currently being loaded for the trip to the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.

Haiti deal

On Monday, People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Clement Rohee announced that Guyana secured a 50,000-tonne rice export deal with Haiti through the private sector and the first shipment would be loaded along the Essequibo Coast this week.

Dr Ramsammy also related that export relations with Belize were being finalised and approximately 5000 tonnes of rice were expected to be exported to that country.

Guyana Rice Producers Association President Leekah Rambrich told this publication that a delegation from Belize was on the ground in Guyana to inspect the rice production process. He noted that on Tuesday, the delegation would have toured several mills across the country. Rambrich further ex-

plained that once the team was satisfied with the process, a contract would be signed today, which will stipulate the actual details of the agreement.

He said Belize produces its own rice, but a shortage is expected this year, so in an effort to offset such, the Central American nation decided to import rice from Guyana.

Rambrich highlighted that although new buyers are coming on board, paddy prices will not go up.

“This will not be a farmer’s crop,” he said as he explained that some farmers will be producing at a loss for this crop and some will be making very little profit.

On Monday, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh said foreign buyers are demanding low prices owing to the surplus on the local market.

Singh told Guyana Times that samples of the various rice varieties have been sent to several different markets, as the board seeks alternative export markets, including Holland, England, and Portugal. He said although the countries currently im-

port rice from Guyana, the board is looking to significantly increase the quantities.

Concerns over the shortage of markets came to the fore when Region Six Chairman David Armogan told this publication Guyana was trying to sell some 200,000 tonnes of rice, but there was no market for the commodity.

He said the once-secure Venezuelan market has become unbalanced with the unrest it is experiencing. Ships laden with Guyana’s rice were at ports in Venezuela, unable to offload their cargo, and the demurrage (delay) costs have to be borne by Guyana.

Armogan said already 2500 acres of paddy have been harvested in Region Six for this current crop, with farmers not receiving all the benefits that they enjoyed during the last crop.

The farmers are receiving $5600 per tonne of ‘A’ grade paddy and $1000 less per grade downwards. If Guyana was unable to secure markets promptly, the current bumper crop will see more rice being left in the hands of millers who may start refusing to buy paddy from farmers, he said.

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Crime on the high seas

The issue of piracy has long been engaging the minds of the authorities and while there was some action taken to tackle the issue, including enactment of the relevant legislation, much more ought to be done to address the scourge, in order to provide some form of comfort and safety to fisherfolk.

Over the past couple of years, Guyanese fishermen have faced several tragedies while at sea. Several of them have endured brazen attacks by gangs of criminals with fast boats and assault rifles. In addition to being robbed of their valuable possessions, quite a few of them have been killed by their captors.

Some of the persons carrying out these crimes are themselves fishermen. There is widespread speculation that some of the pirates collude with other fishermen to carry out these brazen attacks which makes it even more challenging to deal with the issue.

This newspaper recently carried a report in which the Head of the Berbice Anti-Piracy Unit Parvinchandra Deodat lamented the fact that some of the individuals who are found to be involved in these attacks get off scotch free because they manage to settle the matter with their victims. This has been allowed to go on for years due to a number of reasons; the main one being that the authorities are too lenient with the perpetrators, even though the legislation provides for hefty fines and heavy jail time.

In interviews conducted with several fisherfolk on the Upper Corentyne, this publication was told that there is growing frustration among persons in the fishing business. No settlement should be made between parties if a crime of such serious nature has been committed; the law should take its course and the perpetrators punished.

Piracy has had, and is having, a very negative impact on the fisheries sector in Guyana. The fear alone for fisherfolk of being attacked at sea is enough reason to prevent persons from getting involved in the field. The fisheries sector employs over 16,000 fishermen and fish farmers, and a further 6000, in processing and marketing. Thousands more depend directly or indirectly from fishing-related occupations, such as boat building, accessories supply, and maintenance services.

It is not an easy task to ensure persons who go out to sea are given the maximum protection from piracy attacks, especially considering Guyana’s expansive waterways and the difficulty policing these areas. Although the government has toughened the anti-piracy law, and has taken a number of steps to assist victims of piracy, enforcement and patrol continue to pose a challenge to the authorities.

The marine police seem incapable of dealing with the problem, and the Guyana Police Force(GPF) certainly needs sufficient vessels and skilled personnel to conduct maritime patrols along the coastland and in the estuaries of the numerous creeks and rivers, especially in hotspots such as Berbice areas.

There is need for more coordination among public and private agencies to exercise efficient control over the country’s ports, harbours and coastlines. The coast guards should intensify their patrols, especially during certain periods of the year when there is an increase in piracy.

The GPF, Customs and Trade Administration, Fisheries Department, Shipping Association, Transport and Harbours Department, and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) need to be brought together to plan for the longterm safety of persons legitimately using our rivers and coast, and for the security of commercial and other activities.

There must be closer collaboration with neighbouring countries so as to develop an effective communication network so that in the event of a piracy attack, that mechanism would lead to more patrols being activated in the event cross-border issues are involved.

While it would be very difficult to totally eliminate piracy, these are measures which can be taken to lessen the frequency of these attacks, thus reducing the risk of losses of equipment, catch, and in some cases, the loss of lives.

Remembering the lives lost

Rodney family made clear what were their specific requirements for a CoI

Dear Editor, Why shouldn’t the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and People’s National Congress (PNC) be congratulated for their blazing pincer assault done daily, targeting Dr Walter Rodney’s Commission of Inquiry (CoI)?

“Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!” (Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar) was not a bad battle cry. Did they succeed? Targeting the inquiry’s terms of reference (ToR) was akin to strategic sabotage of its engine, rudder and command centrr which fuelled the inquiry’s locomotion.

But their apparent too smooth assault only made it more obvious they were on mission to scuttle the entire operation and prevent any damaging fallout. None, even of the three, are blind mice with any bravery whatsoever to anytime publicly denounce the urgency or need of closure for Rodney’s assassination.

The ToR was assumed to be the Achilles heel to derail it. For Attorney General Anil Nandlall to have voluntarily confirmed (as did John Mair of England) that Dr Patricia Rodney and their extended family were steadfast and resolute in proceeding with the inquiry was a gem by itself.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira was most revealing that Rodney’s family did not want anyone else to be involved in planning the CoI to investigate the as-

sassination of June 13, 1980.

“The family made it very clear what were their specific requirements and the non-involvement or involvement of any other partners other than their agreement with the government,” she explained.

Let’s now wait for the daring assault on the legend’s widow holding his flag aloft seeking justice. It will come all right by the script. That the three wise member’s pincer attacks were a coordinated conspiracy couldn’t be more obvious.

How sincere is the skeleton WPA’s resolve to ensure the PNC achieves political power “by any means necessary”? This time around, the WPA’s commitment is to absolutely ensure that Rodney’s legacy would not again be another hindering obstacle to the PNC.

Not trusted

That many in the WPA were not trusted by Rodney was an open secret. Wasn’t he the best martyr by which the WPA would be catapulted to political power with so many educated and experienced rival politicians in their midst?

Who conclusively knows for certain who and company assassinated Rodney to which the inquiry would bring certain closure? Do no evil fear no evil is a common refrain. Since they have always publicly denied involvement with Dr Rodney’s assassination, why would the WPA, PNC, GHRA and even the PPP/C have anything to worry about, or do they?

The protestations swirl around hidden unsubstantiated fear that the inquiry’s fallout could slingshot a PPP/C comeback after their 2011 electoral misfortunes. Even in death, Dr Rodney still has enough magic to seemingly threaten both former friends and become united with more fulsome foes.

With their loud demands of ownership of Dr Rodney’s mantle and entitlement to his legacy by insisting they are his dearest and best disciples, but yet now in so convenient abandon, does he need any enemies? How can anyone now distinguish between the conjoined WPA, PNC and GHRA?

First, the masked GHRA goes public to muddy the inquiry and by an inane habit, automatically casts aspersions on the usual Indo-Guyanese victims, but this time implying they will, as uncharacteristic transformed aggressors, become electrified to the Linden riot, rape and rampage in wrath against the PNC!

Isn’t this a subtle confession indicative of nervousness that it may be their own troubles, but concerns about erupting riots across Guyana against innocent PNC supporters is professed to instead hide guilt that their “own” have conclusively betrayed and killed Rodney?

Rodney was not beloved only by Indo Guyanese if they must be reminded. That Dr Rodney was a close friend and associate of Dr Cheddi Jagan and the PPP was no big secret. That the histori-

an had a secret agreement to organise black Guyanese and reunite back in the PPP as in 1953 was known only to a few.

Why must the mysterious GHRA have its way to now ensure numerous brave black Guyanese and others, including his worldwide admirers, must again die a thousand deaths with no justice for them, the legend and his entire extended family?

What underlies and justifies GHRA’s scapegoat fantasy that only IndoGuyanese wrath will be unleashed? The inquiry may even bring down wrath on the PPP/C itself for those with their mountainous evidence claiming the PPP was involved. So let it be. That same PPP/C held no commission of inquiry for the Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins’ gang massacre of innocent babies, children, men and women at Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek. By what significant difference did it boost the PPP/C fortunes in the last 2011 elections to now fear Rodney’s inquiry would work wonders?

Shouldn’t the WPA be reexamined for conclusive accountability, blame, guilt or definite exoneration with its demands for equality? On cue, Dr Clive Thomas, peeping from the bedroom, cues their brave heart Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to catch and dribble the GHRA ball. True to the script, who best but him to publicly announce what Dr Thomas wrote to derail the inquiry which he could not muddy himself to explain.

Much more about the Colwyn Harding matter

Dear Editor,

One media house has deliberately neglected to report that the Jamaican doctor who examined Colwyn Harding did not issue a medical certificate supporting the claim that he was baton-raped.

This media house also deliberately did not report that Dr Dalgleish Joseph is a former People’s National Congress (PNC) parliamentarian. For all the analysis that this media house did, it failed to analyse how Harding could have done some of the things he actually did. Things that a person who has been savagely treated as he claimed could not have possibly done without much difficulty and pain.

The public does not know that Harding not only walked unassisted from his house to the police vehicle. He climbed into the tray of that vehicle without assistance. He also climbed out of the police vehicle, walked

unassisted from the vehicle to the Timehri Police Outpost. He later walked back and climbed unassisted into the vehicle’s tray.

The vehicle then transported him back to the Timehri Police Station.

Upon arrival at the Timehri Police Station, Harding once again climbed out the police vehicle and walked unassisted up the steps and into the police station. A few days later Harding walked unassisted out the Timehri Police Station, down the steps and climbed unassisted into the tray of the police vehicle that transported him to the Providence Police Station.

At Providence Police Station, Harding walked unassisted up the steps of the police station. This is a whole lot of walking without any sort of assistance for someone who was savagely baton-raped and should have been in immense pain. Had he been in such pain, someone would

have noticed.

Earlier this year, this media house carried a story, stating that “Harding claimed that late last year he was beaten and baton raped by police officers in search of petty thieves”.

Interestingly, in that very article it was reported that crimes such as break and enter and larceny, burglary, sacrilege (break and enter committed on a place of worship), robbery (including robbery under arms, which includes the use of firearms), and breakages into vehicles have been plaguing the Number Four Sub-Division of the Guyana Police Force.

Was this media house deliberately twisting facts, trying to say that the police were just carrying out an exercise in search of petty thieves as Harding claimed, implying that the crimes mentioned above are petty?

What sort of police exercises are normally carried out during the wee hours

Rodney family made...

Dr Thomas’ letter to President Donald Ramotar has expressed how troubled the WPA has become that the inquiry “runs the risk of opening a Pandora’s Box that will guarantee an unwelcome poisoning of the political environment which, you will agree, is already toxic enough”.

Not to be outdone Dr Roopnaraine dutifully adds: “It seems to me a (sic) fishing expedition and I don’t see what there is to be gained from it other than propaganda value against the PNC”. To what purposes does Dr Roopnaraine attacks the lone IndoGuyanese Commissioner from Trinidad and Tobago just before he glides, like an apparition, off stage?

What he has effectively done is sharpen the WPA’s steel dagger for APNU’s arsenal – the same convenient leader who previously

revealed the WPA had been stockpiling weapons which neither Dr Thomas nor Kwayana knows anything at all! Let’s hope the commission has subpoena powers to summon witnesses when the sky comes falling down.

Bias

When the PNC grabs the ball from the WPA’s Dr Roopnaraine, how quickly, but nonchalantly, their shadow Attorney General Basil Williams, explains why the PNC is itself also more troubled by that same Indo Guyanese Commissioner guilty of automatic bias! Same type of bias AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo rushed into PNC acquiescing “suttee” or self immolation to kill his ambition as Speaker?

Does it matter that Seenath Jairam, SC, currently President of Trinidad’s Bar Association, has an excellent and dis-

from page 4

tinguished legal career throughout the Caribbean and at the London Privy Council, representing both citizens, and governments alike, even as a former High Court Judge in Trinidad? Who is making race an issue considering that the distinguished Guyanese commissioner is also the brother of a former PNC Member of Parliament (MP) KV Jairam himself, also a lawyer?

Why is Commissioner Jairam’s associations now astonishingly suspect, but not exonerating enough when considering his brother’s former PNC relationship; but evidently Dr Roopnaraine’s, Mike McCormack’s GHRA and the PNC are all sanctimoniously angelic to make them heaven’s gatekeepers denying justice?

That Williams has apparently forgotten that former PNC Attorney-General

of the morning? It certainly has to be something more important than looking for petty thieves. Guyanese, regardless of their race, social status and political affiliation have been affected by serious crimes.

It would be instructive to note that on the morning of November 15, 2013, a University of Guyana (UG) student went to Timehri Police Station to report a robbery. His home was broken into during the night and his laptop on which he stored all his study notes, along with other articles was stolen.

Luckily, he was able to identify his laptop from among stolen articles recovered by police that night. This young man who made so much investment in his university education would have suffered significant loss, had it not been for that early morning operation by the police.

The overwhelming majority of Guyanese are very

Keith Massiah, SC, was appointed and served on the Commission of Inquiry of then PPP/C Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj seems to only indicate that professionalism is suspect only if any Indian is involved.

What does it say of Williams’ own professionalism when he appeared for another PPP/C Attorney General while he was a PNC MP? Does it confirm this is exactly why Rodney was brutally murdered be-

honest, hardworking people, who at great sacrifices acquired whatever they have, while there is a very small minority, who somehow think that they have some divine right over people’s possessions.

It was an inspector and his colleagues, including a detective corporal, a constable and Community Policing Group (CPG) members who recovered all the ICT equipment (the database computers, scanners and other equipment) which are currently being used at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters and the Brickdam Police Station.

All those equipment were stolen from a bond at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) before they could have been handed over to the Guyana Police Force. I am aware that at least one person has been prosecuted and convicted for that theft. Could it be that the

cause the legend genuinely subsumed race to class as a Marxist and he found the PNC inadequate?

What is even a greater surprise is the GHRA criticising the “absolute pardon” for anyone who may be found guilty of any act(s) related to the murder and inquiry. The GHRA’s flip flops between sobs to reiterate that “the perpetrators of his (Rodney’s) death correctly calculated that it would ensure the survival and continuance of a system sus-

Alliance For Change (AFC) and APNU are exploiting the Harding issue as revenge against those who recovered the stolen database computers and equipment, which is making it a lot easier to catch criminals?

A point to note also is that Harding was the first person visited by the police before the others were arrested. The question therefore is, did Harding snitch on the others who were arrested immediately afterwards?

A very interesting fact which this media house left out of the equation in its analysis is the fact that an organisation protested on behalf of Harding. It is a well-established fact that this group never protests on behalf of anyone unless that person is part of the lesbian/gay/bi-sexual/transgender (LGBT) community.

Respectfully, Reaz Holladar

tained by ethnic insecurity”! How sweet it is that they have all spotlighted their own prejudices. The Rodney CoI is expected to find the complete truth by restorative not retributive justice. Let the hammer fall on whoever is guilty, but let it conclude with sincere forgiveness in establishing the truth and bringing closure. Guyana owes this to him.

Yours truly, Sultan Mohamed

Page Foundation

Pros and cons of the nuclear family

BY MICHELLE BLESSING

Nuclear families, which include a mother, father and any children living in the household, are often thought to be passé. Yet, approximately 70 per cent of children live within a nuclear family unit, according to 2010 U.S. Census data. The nuclear family is generally believed to be the ideal arrangement to raise a family, although it is not without its problems.

Advantages

Strength and stability

Two parent families, whether married or not, tend to be more stable than a single parent or multi-generational family. Spouses or partners can role model a loving, caring and supportive relationship for their children. This will translate into future success by teaching children how to seek out positive relationships and interact well with others. Children will also benefit from watching partners work together to solve problems, delegate household responsibilities and support one another through positive and negative issues.

Financial stability equals more opportunity

Many nuclear families have enough economic stability to provide children with luxuries and opportunities in life. Children may be able to attend dance, gymnastics, music or other types of classes, especially if both partners work outside the home. Children who are provided with these types of opportu-

nities are more likely do better academically and socially, as well as develop confidence and time management skills. Consistency means behaviour successes

The nuclear family can provide children with consistency, in addition to stability. Children who have both stability and consistency in their

towards partners and children, creating lifelong bonds. However, the nuclear family unit can also isolate people from other relatives and relationships. This can break down the extended family unit, which can be beneficial in hard times. Grandparents, aunts and uncles should have a place within a family, but

lives are more likely to behave positively, do better in school and become more involved in community and extracurricular activities. The nuclear family may eat dinner together on a regular basis, go to church and take family vacations, further strengthening relationships and building a solid foundation for future life goals.

Disadvantages

Close-knit or isolated?

The nuclear family unit does provide a closeness that many single parent or multigenerational families cannot. The smaller family size allows for individualised attention

the nuclear family does not always create one for them.

Burnout

Family members, particularly mothers, may have a tendency to burn out from attempting to meet every person’s needs alone. Mom is the cook, maid, babysitter and sometimes, money maker. That leaves little time for pampering and nurturing herself and her relationships with others. Without help, she may need to take off work to care for sick children. Mothers may struggle to balance the demands of work, family and friendships without any outside assistance. Stress, depression,

anxiety or other problems can all be a result of nuclear family burnout.

Less conflict resolution skills

While the idea of less conflict and stress could certainly be considered an advantage to the nuclear family, it also puts the family at a disadvantage. Conflict is a part of life, and conflict resolution skills are beneficial in school, in the community and in the workplace. Nuclear families can begin to develop like-minded thinking, which will lead to fewer arguments within the family unit. However, it can increase the disagreements with extended family members. Extended family, with differing opinions and ideas, can help families see alternate viewpoints and learn to effectively deal with conflicts and opinions other than their own.

Preferred family structure

The nuclear family is still a preferred way of many to raise children, although the incidence of single parent, divorced and multi-generational households is rising. Choosing to raise a family by the nuclear model will not guarantee success or happiness, but it can provide a basis to obtaining those ideals. By being aware of the possible disadvantages, you can look for ways to alleviate them. After all, no family is perfect. Working together with all family members ensures the best possible outcomes for everyone involved. (family.lovetoknow.com)

Benefits of creating a strong extended family bond

Growing up I was privileged to live within 20 miles of most of my mother’s and father’s families. They both had four siblings and thanks to them I had quite a few cousins around the same age. I vividly remember going to each side of the family for all of the major holidays and having more people to talk to and play with than I knew what to do with. Even on the odd occasion that I didn’t have extended family to be around, my three younger sisters were there. I was never at a loss for family growing up. Now that I have children of my own, especially

a step-daughter, I have discovered that there are many benefits to be reaped from creating a strong bond with one’s extended family.

Agree to disagree

One of the things that stands out the most to me right now, as a mother of three and a sister to three sisters with husbands that are very different from mine, is that I learned how to agree to disagree from watching my family. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I watched my mother and her siblings and their spouses spend a great deal of time together and I never saw them fight. Sure, I saw them disagree, but I never saw them fight. I learned that a family bond can be a strong one, but only if you agree to look past your differences and put the family first. You agree to disagree about the things that are minor and work hard at finding common ground on the major things. My children are growing up with the benefit of that knowledge gained by me and my sisters as now we are showing them what it means to be a strong family who can disagree but still love and cherish each other.

Strong sense of self

Strange as it may seem, helping your children form a strong bond with their extended family can give them a stronger sense of who they are. How, you ask? In knowing where we come from, we can be brave enough to find our own place in the world. We realise that we are not alone in the way that we look at the world, and the quirks that others might not understand are often comprehended very well by our family. This concept of belonging gives us the strength to project who we are to others in the world. Our sense of self is often tied to our concept of family and we get a boost from knowing that, while we are unique, we are not alone and we will always be accepted here. (Yahoo!)

Boy, 15, killed in West Dem crash

– was returning home after all-night party

By Vahnu Manikchand

Anight out with friends ended tragically for a 15-year-old who was killed in an early morning accident on Tuesday.

The accident occurred around 04:00h on the Goed Fortuin Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD). The dead teen has been identified as Jamal Archer of Pouderoyen Public Road, WBD. Guyana Times understands that the teen, along with three friends, were returning home after a night out in Georgetown when the accident occurred.

According to a police release, the car in which the young men were travelling veered out of control and slammed into a utility pole.

“Investigations have revealed that the motor vehicle was proceeding along the roadway, allegedly at a fast rate, when the driver lost control and the car collided with a utility pole,” the release stated. The police further stated that the teen and three other occupants were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where Archer was pronounced dead on arrival.

The other three occupants were treated and sent away; however, the driver was taken into custody to assist with investigations.

The teen’s grandmother, Rosalane Giddens, told this newspaper that she last heard from her grandson on Monday night when he woke her up to ask her something; however, she was not aware that he was going out.

The woman recalled that she was awakened on Tuesday morning by her son-in-law asking her for Archer. It was at this point that she noticed the young man was not home. “My sonin-law does work at the hospital and like somebody call

he and tell he, so I go outside with my two grandchildren and then a man on a motorbike come and tell he lil’ brother ‘yuh buddy dead and deh pon the road’,” she stated.

Delayed police action Giddens said she quickly informed relatives who went to the scene. The woman continued that her sonin-law went to the hospital and enquired about the teen from the police and was told that he was dead and his body was still at the scene.

“After he say that, my sonin-law had to ask he if he is a doctor how he know the boy dead and is then they go for him,” she noted.

She believes that if her grandson was taken to the hospital earlier, he would have been alive today.

Relatives and neighbours who gathered vented their anger at the actions of the police, whom they say left the injured teen on the road for more than an hour claiming that he was dead. They said that from what they were told, Archer reportedly suffered a broken rib which punctured his lung.

“The police was very rude… how can they just leave a young man to die… one of the police turn say and he (Archer) done dead left he, he is a wanted man,”

were some of the comments made by relatives and neighbours. They further alleged that the young men, who are all mechanics in the area, had a lot of money in the car; however, it was not found.

Speeding

At the accident scene in Goed Fortuin, the lantern post which the car hit was cracked in half. A resident in the area related to this publication that he was awakened by a loud impact and upon investigating, he saw a car in the nearby drain. The man, who requested anonymity, added that when he went outside, residents began pouring out into the streets.

He went on to say that the police then arrived on the scene and took three of the occupants of the vehicle to the hospital and left Archer there. “The police are no medical experts, they should have taken the young man to the hospital, because even though he was unconscious, he still could have been alive and his heart could still be beating. They were wrong not to take him,” the resident adamantly stated.

The man continued that he was told by another resident who was heading out to the road when the accident occurred that the car was speeding and had overtaken a container truck when the driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the lantern post.

He added that because of the impact and the damage done to the utility post, there was an immediate power failure in the area and nearby posts were seen sparking. Archer, the eldest of three, would have celebrated his 16th birthday on Sunday. The teen leaves to mourn his grandmother and siblings.

Teen crushed by tractor

Ateen was tragically crushed to death after he allegedly lost control of a tractor he was driving, causing it to overturn.

Dead is Ajit “Andrew” Somai, 15, of Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The incident occurred about 11:30h on Tuesday. Somai allegedly drove the tractor without permission and went into the village backlands. Reports are that the teen who lived with his grandmother, Hemawattie Inderjeet, did not attend school.

“Someone call she, we ain’t know who… dem say ah tractor pin down Andrew… When we go at the backdam, the tractor wheel deh top and Andrew deh underneath… he bin already dead,” Looknauth related tearfully.

Speaking to Guyana Times Somai’s aunt, Savitree Looknauth, said, “Andrew ah live with the grandma and this morning he just take the tractor and drive away….” She said no one knew what he had done because no one was home at the time

The woman said about midday Inderjeet received a telephone call informing her that the lad had got into an accident. She said they could not trace the number that placed the call.

According to her, they still rushed the teen to the Skeldon Hospital, hoping against all odds that he would be miraculously saved; however, he was pronounced dead on arrival. The lad was a popular jockey who won numerous horse race events over the years, including as recent as Boxing Day last year. He was the eldest child of his mother, Basmattie Looknauth and Tameshwar Somai who are currently separated. He leaves to mourn his parents, four siblings and relatives.

Ex-policeman charged for Fyrish woman’s murder

Ex-policeman Anthonio Singh Balrup, 26, of West Reliance, East Canje is expected to make his first court appearance today on a charge of murder of a Fyrish, Corentyne woman last Friday.

According to reliable information, Balrup has been positively identified as one of the gunmen who invaded the home of Anette Samaroo, 48, of Lot 10 Fyrish Village on

the Corentyne about 23:00h on March 7 and fatally shot her sister Patricia Samaroo. He will appear at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court.

Balrup was allegedly supposed to join the cadet course for continued training after he graduated from the Felix Austin Police College in 2009; however, owing to his height, he could not do so. Information is that the exconstable was implicated in a

case of possession of narcotics while he was still employed by the Guyana Police Force in 2010. Balrup was a serving member of the force when he was caught with 17 grams of marijuana at the home of a remand prisoner, and was jailed by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo. He was sentenced to three years in prison, but as the case was being appealed, he was set free.

Man charged for 2010 murder after extradition from Suriname

Aman on Monday appeared in a Berbice magistrate court charged for the 2010 murder of his wife after he was extradited from Suriname. Daveanand Albert, 52, also known as “Brother”, who was nabbed in Suriname over the weekend, appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh. .

His wife, 43-year-old Esther Albert also known as “Kamla” of Bhanjara Sawmill Dam, Lot One Grant 1803, Crabwood Creek on the Corentyne was dead found in the home she shared with her husband and children on March 3, 2010. A post-mortem examination performed by gov-

ernment pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgmohan in March 2010 revealed that she had been manually strangled. Jealousy appeared to have been the motive behind the murder of the woman.

It is alleged that Esther and her husband had returned home after imbibing alcoholic beverages on Phagwah Day when an argument reportedly ensued, during which Esther was allegedly slapped and struck with a ‘pointer’ broom. Reports are that Albert hit her with a broom and dealt her several slaps. He also reportedly “choked” her before pushing her down the stairs. Her body was found by the couple’s son, Trevor. It bore two wounds on the head, in-

cluding one on the left eye.

It was also alleged that the culprit instructed his son not to tell anyone, so he did not call out for help. Esther was the mother of five children.

However, due to the excellent cooperation between the Guyana Police Force and their counterparts in Suriname the suspect who had been hiding out in neighbouring Suriname after fleeing the country, via the backtrack route, was arrested. He was subsequently extradited and handed over to the police in B Division on Saturday.

Albert was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to the New Amsterdam Prison until April 4.

Eyew tness Bring it on!!...

...with elections

Alot of people were disappointed when there weren’t any “candid” comments that spiced up the annual Babu Jaan (that’s right...not John) tribute to Cheddi. You know...the ones that “tell it like it is”, especially about the Opposition and their camp followers. The same Opposition calls it a “cuss down”. Of course, when they hurl even worse imprecations at the PPP/C, they’re being “statesmanlike”. What can you say?

The new PPP General Secretary (GS) Clement Rohee, called the Opposition “bulb heads”...and we’re still scratching our heads over it. The Americans talk about “pointy heads” when they want to put down people with pretensions to intellect. Could be the GS sees the Opposition as even more pretentious – and pointy heads became bulbous? We think he was too kind: a better expression would’ve been “flatulent-heads”.

But Rohee didn’t need imprecations to make the Opposition shake in their boots. All he had to do – and he did – was to say that “only elections” can prevent our country’s development from being derailed by this power hungry mafia. We’ve been saying the same thing for the longest while. But it looked like we were crying in the wilderness. We hope the GS is serious and the other comrades in the PPP will act on the suggestion.

In every democracy in the world, incumbents in office for more than two terms face a jaded electorate – from whose memory the depredations of the present Opposition when in office have faded. In the last elections, the Opposition benefited from this sentiment and eked out a oneseat majority in the National Assembly. But rather than working with the government to develop Guyana, the Opposition embarked on the naked pursuit of power and control.

The die was cast when they rejected centuries of hoary Westminster Parliamentary tradition and refused to reappoint the immediate past Speaker of the government, which’d been re-elected. They wanted to absolutely control the post. And

it was a shame and disgrace when APNU had no compunction in declaring they were concerned about the loyalty of the AFC’s nominee for the Speakership – Moses Nagamootoo. Because he was ex-PPP/C. Raphael Trotman was OK – he was ex-PNC!!

Then to rub salt into the wound they also grabbed the Deputy Speaker’s position – which should’ve gone to the party across the benches. The Opposition’s other abuses of power with the Budget and now the AntiMoney Laundering Bill have opened the eyes of the people to the nature of the beast.

The hyena can never shake off its stripes.

...to deal with police excesses

Since people are prone to get their hackles up at the slightest hint of criticism – never mind whether it’s justified or not – we’d better say right up front that we think most policemen are good guys. But the evidence is just too overwhelming that the bunch that’s just up to no good keeps increasing their numbers, much faster than the influx of good guys. In the good-cop/ bad-cop sweepstakes, the good cops are losing. And the Guyana Police Service... oops!!...Guyana Police Force’s image keeps getting further tarnished.

The latest fracas they’ve been involved with is the roughing up of civilians –seemingly without cause. As luck would have it, two of the incidents involved reporters – one from this newspaper. And the unreasonable search and seizure – and we’re being kind with the description here –were inevitably given wide coverage. Then in an even more brazen case, they roughed up a very personable female from the PR field who’d ironically sought their aid.

More bad press. C’mon fellas. Clean up you act – we’re on the same side, aren’t we?

...private sector

Just yesterday, we kvetched about the government not finding markets for our burgeoning rice sector. Well, today there’s news that the private sector bagged a 50,000 tonne deal. Bravo...and way to go!

Shot Good Hope man succumbs to injuries

AGood Hope, East Coast Demerara family was plunged into sadness and mourning on Monday when 21-year-old Inshan Ramlakhan succumbed to his gunshot injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Ramlakhan was shot last Thursday during a robbery in the vicinity of Conversation Tree, just outside Georgetown. He was shot to the left chest just above the heart; however, the bullet travelled through his body causing damage to his spine and lung. The perpetrator managed to relieve the injured man of his cellphone before making good his escape.

Inshan’s brother, Ravi,

had told Guyana Times on Sunday that the young man was in critical condition and had to be placed on life sup-

port. He said his brother could not talk, but used gestures to communicate and was unable to move his feet.

When contacted on Tuesday, the grieving brother said he had gone to visit Inshan during the lunch break on Monday and was told that he had died. The man noted that this news has left the entire family in shock and despair. “Everybody just confuse right now, and nobody ain’t know what to do next,” he stated.

On Thursday around 05:15h, Inshan, in company of a younger relative, was on his way to work when in the vicinity of Conservation Tree, they were confronted by a man armed with a

handgun. The perpetrator tried to relieve the 21-yearold of his haversack, but he resisted, causing the gunman to fire a round at him.

The relative, who witnessed the entire ordeal, rushed to a nearby relative with whom Inshan works for help, and the injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The police took someone into custody on Saturday, the slain man’s brother had said; however, they needed to conduct an identification parade before any further action is taken.

Inshan’s body is at the hospital mortuary and a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted today.

AFC Councillor arrested for aggressive behaviour during farmers’ protest

Alliance For Change (AFC) Region Two Councillor Naith Ram was arrested by police for aggressive behaviour during the farmers’ protest in Essequibo on Friday. He was subsequently released.

Ram had applied to the police to stage the protest on the Anna Regina High Bridge, but instead took the protest to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Office.

Speaking at the RDC statutory meeting for the month of March, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud warned the Councillor about his behaviour. Persaud said Ram was very angry after police stopped him from holding the farmers’ protest in front the regional office’s compound. The Chairman said the AFC Councillor ran up to his office and start-

ed to point fingers. Persaud stressed that he will not allow any farmer to enter the regional building’s compound with placards. He added that the Councillor was the main person leading the protest for better prices.

The farmers were asked to attend a meeting that was addressed by Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj. And Ram wanted the farmers to enter the office armed with placards; when he refused to acquiesce to Ram’s request, he was verbally abused in dramatic fashion, Persaud said.

The Chairman stated that he then informed the Commander of G Division and the Councillor was arrested. Persaud said Ram has no respect for his office and his behaviour was unacceptable.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Farouk Khan, in supporting the Chairman, said it was illegal for farmers to enter government offices with placards. He said the example set by the leader of the protest was unacceptable.

Ram then rose from his seat and told Councillors that the Chairman was lying. He said, “I am not lying, you are lying, I told you ‘Good Morning’ when I was on the step”. Persaud subsequently ordered the AFC Councillor to take his seat and he did.

Region

Two

Councillors call for action to be taken against

GT&T

for poor services

Councillors of the Region Two Democratic Council (RDC) from both the ruling and the opposition parties are calling on the Government to take immediate action against the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company for poor landline and Internet services. Many Essequibo residents have complained about the quality of services they have been receiving.

Speaking at the RDC statutory meeting for the month of March, the Councillors said residents are being “cheated” by the company and something has to be done.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Brian Basil Persaud, raising the issue in the boardroom of the RDC in Anna Regina on Tuesday, said the landline service offered by the company is poor and many phone lines are often “dead”, while the Internet service is slow and unacceptable He said although the services are suffering “teething” problems, customers are still compelled to pay monthly fees.

A very vocal Persaud said residents have been facing these problems for numerous years and nothing has been done by the company to rectify them.

He added that when he told the company representative about the issues, the official promised to investigate the situation, but, to date, nothing has been done.

Another PPP/C Councillor, Farouk Khan, supported Persaud and told the Council it was the People’s National Congress Government who sold the local telecommunication company to GT&T’s parent company, enabling it to get a monopoly in Guyana. He said residents are suffering because of the monopoly.

A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) Councillor Wazeer Latiff noted that it was unfair for customers to pay for a service they were not receiving.

Caricom committed to gender equality – Webster tells UN forum

Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster told a United Nations forum that Caricom member states recognise the critical role of gender equality and women empowerment to achieving poverty eradication, social integration, and sustainable development.

Webster was, at the time, delivering an address on “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and girls” on behalf of Caricom member states to the 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

The meeting is being held at UN Headquarters in New York. Guyana’s delegation is headed by Minister Webster and includes Renata Chuck-A-Sang of the Women and Gender Equality Commission; Vilma DaSilva, an indigenous people’s representative of the non-governmental organisation – the Rural Woman’s Network; George Talbot, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Dinte Conway of the

Ministry’s Special Projects Unit.

Webster highlighted achievements in the areas of girls’ participation and enrolment in educational institutions; and the sharp decline of HIV incidence. “Great gains have been made in girls’ participation and enrolment in education, especially at the tertiary level. However, while primary school enrolment remains high for both sexes, the disturbing trend of decreased participation of boys at the

secondary and tertiary levels continues. At the University of the West Indies (UWI), for example, nearly twice as many females are enrolled compared to males. Of note, however, is the fact that the trend towards superior female enrolment and achievement does not always lead to better labour market outcomes for women, as evidenced by the fact that unemployment among youth continues to be higher among females,” she said.

Major challenges persist Webster further posited that, as of 2011, “the Caribbean had achieved the sharpest decline in HIV incidence of any region, with 42 per cent fewer HIV infections annually compared to 2001.” This decline is especially true for Mother-toChild transmission of HIV.

Nevertheless, Minister Webster noted that in spite of its successes, the region recognises that major challenges persist, including those relating to genderbased violence, adolescent pregnancy, the increased risk of the feminisation of poverty, and the burden and threat of non-communicable diseases. The Caribbean

is working to address these, as “the experience, both at the regional and global levels, indicates that persistent inequality is a fundamental challenge to sustainable development”. “The 2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development concluded that, in the context of gender equality, patterns of progress and persistence of inequality are both consequential to development outcomes.

“Corrective policies are needed that focus on persistent gender disparities, given the evident limitations of economic development in and of itself in addressing these disparities. Studies in the region have shown that gender inequality represented a socio-economic loss to our societies and a cost to human development.”

Equal opportunities

Webster noted that Caricom is of the view that addressing the challenge of gender inequality requires a change of attitudes and approaches at multiple levels. In this regard, the role of men and boys and that of the family, as the fundamental unit of society, is crucial and should be strongly supported, she posited.

“Caricom further reaffirms the need to promote equal opportunities in the acquisition of assets, social protection, access to economic and investment opportunities which promote entrepreneurship and financial independence, as well as women’s participation in all levels of decision-making in society. Our Community remains committed to ensuring that women have equal access to education and health-care services, including primary health care as well as maternal and child health care. Increased awareness through communication, information and education programmes is crucial to empower women to take care of their health.”

Minister Webster also reaffirmed Caricom’s commitment to the acceleration of progress toward achievement of the MDGs and noted that “we are also committed to a transformative post2015 agenda that takes full account of the needs and priorities of the region”. “Such an agenda must address the structural foundations of gender-based inequality and contribute to a better world for women and girls.”

Last week, the Minister also addressed the opening session of the meeting, where she noted that by virtue of adopting a people-centred development approach, Guyana has come a long way towards mainstreaming gender equality and the empowerment of women in national policies.

Satiricus was pleased. Pleased at the lengths his leaders would go to ensure the health, welfare and happiness of their peoples. Here it was, with all the problems they faced in their individual countries, Caribbean leaders were willing to just drop them and head off to St Vincent and deal with the real heavy issues.

“Some might think that the front page picture with local PM Gonsalves and other Caricom officials hanging out next to a pristine pool, with the blue-sea and white-sand beach in the background, sipping piña coladas or scotch on the rocks, meant they were just milking the system,” thought Satiricus.

“Nothing could be further than the truth!” he exclaimed. As he could plainly see, the broad grins on the honourable gentlemen's faces were definitely forced. And it wasn’t because there might’ve been too much ice in the scotch on the rocks. That would have brought on a grimace. That forced smile meant they were wishing they were back home dealing with garbage and strikes and such mundane things.

Fact of the matter is that the Caricom leaders are there to make a momentous decision – whether to “legalise marijuana” or not. Satiricus had winced when he read that. Not at the subject – which was actually close to his heart (or maybe his lungs?) – but at the use of the word “marijuana” rather than “ganja”. As an old hand in the news business, which depended on advertising, Satiricus knew the importance of distinguishing your brand from others.

“Ganja” has already earned its cachet from the indefatigable efforts of Jamaicans to market the product, not only in the Caribbean, but most importantly, in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Pot-heads the world over talked with awe of that heady Jamaican Gold. The Colombian stuff couldn’t hold a light to a good Jamaican Spliff. This was the gold standard and the Caribbean should know a good thing when they smoked it.

And that was the point of the meeting, wasn’t it? The Jamaica Health Minister had declared he and his country were “fully on board with Medical marijuana. A company was already launched in Jamaica by “researchers”. The word “researchers” was in quotation marks, of course, because the research might’ve been considered by some to be “too subjective”.

And so all the Presidents and Prime Ministers were going to have to sample the product themselves before they arrived at their decision. “What dedication to their jobs,” sighed Satiricus.

How else would you have them make such a momentous decision? Question was – when and by whom was the communique going to be written? There was the terse advice by Peter Tosh, back in the day: “Legalise it!” Then again, they could always use the lyrics to “Ganja Gun” by our own prophet Brother Bob:

“I’m gonna smoke’a de ganja until I go blind.

You know I smoke’a de ganja all a de time.

Smoke’a de ganja when I’m with friends.

We gonna smoke’a de ganja until the very end.”

Thieves break into pensioner’s house at Devonshire Castle

Thieves broke into a 94-year-old pensioner’s house at Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast Friday night and stole her March pension of $10,000. Information revealed that the pensioner, Hannah Prince, was fast asleep when her house was burglarised. The elderly woman normally lives alone in the twostorey wood and concrete

building, but her overseasbased relatives were staying with her at the time.

The thieves gained entry to the home via the back door of the upper flat. The house was ransacked and all of Prince’s groceries were scattered on the ground. Residents of the community are fearful of their lives as the village is under constant attack by thieves. They are calling for increased police patrols.

U.S. embassy, Health Ministry hold outreach in Orealla

The United States Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) in collaboration with the Health Ministry held a medical outreach in Orealla, Region Six from March 7-8 at the Orealla Health Post.

More than 350 residents from both Orealla and Siparuta received specialised medical care in the areas of general outpatient, dentistry, and optometry. The team consisted of medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and administrative staff from the Health Ministry.

Some 144 adults and children benefited from extraction, filling, and cleaning while close to 90 persons had their eyes tested and were referred to the Skeldon Hospital for processing of reading or prescription glasses and further assessment and preparation for cataract and pterygium surgeries at

the Port Mourant National Ophthalmology Hospital.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran thanked everyone especially Community Health Worker Joan Vanderburg and Orealla Toshao Floyd Edwards for their contributions to making this outreach a success.

He also promised that this will be an ongoing project to bring specialised care not only to residents of Orealla but also to other hinterland as well as coastal communities where the services are much needed. The HAP team also distributed 80 hygiene kits and educational materials, while donations were made by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Food For The Poor.

Orealla is an Amerindian community located in East Berbice along the Corentyne River with a population of approximately 900 residents.

Caricom hoping to hold reparation talks with Europe in June

Caricom leaders are hoping to hold talks with Europe in June on the issue of reparations for slavery and native genocide, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has said.

“I would say that we made good progress on that issue, and, before the end of June, some approach is going to be made to the European countries in relation to this matter of reparations,” Gonsalves told journalists at the end of the first day of the two-day Caricom intersessional summit in his country.

Gonsalves said the regional leaders are expected to continue discussing the issue on Tuesday with the main focus being on a budget for the regional commission on reparations for African slavery and native genocide. The leaders, who met in caucus on Tuesday, also adopted a 10-point reparatory justice framework, presented by Professor Sir Hillary Beckles, head of Caricom’s Reparations Commission.

He said the framework comprises “basically issues relating to things which have been talked about all the time like an apology, the question of organising with African countries and those persons who want to have reparations matters relating to health, education and literacy; building the cultural institutions, and mat-

ters concerning a special programme for the development of the indigenous people…”

Guyana had backed calls for Europe to compensate Caribbean states for the inhumanity of slavery, saying the injustice had left a deep wound and the desire to right this wrong was a component of the anti-colonial struggle. “Guyana agrees that we must look at this dark history in order to understand and move forward in the present. But apart from the duty to remember, we have the duty to ensure that just and appropriate measures are adopted to compensate for those wrongs,” Culture Minister, Dr Frank Anthony told a regional conference on reparations held last year in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Amicable solution

The conference was the first major event on reparations following the 34th Caricom conference of heads of government in Trinidad and Tobago in July. At the summit, heads of government agreed to the establishment of a National Reparations Committee in each state, with the respective chairs sitting on the Caricom Reparations Commission. The Community’s approach would be to hold a development conversation and to use all reasonable avenues to reach an amicable solu-

apprenticeship period ended in 1838, two years early.

British Guiana planters were generously compensated for the 84,915 Africans who were then freed. The emancipated Africans received no compensation for their years of labour. “Not a single solitary cent,” Dr Anthony lamented.

Campaign

tion on reparations.

“As a Guyanese, and as a descendant of ancestors, all of whom were uprooted, transported and transplanted into an environment of atrocities and injustices, designed to maximise profits by plunder, I join with my brothers and sisters in voicing this claim for reparations,” Dr Anthony said then. He said Guyana also supported the call for an apology from those countries which benefited from the proceeds of the slave trade.

The Abolition Act of August 1833, abolished enslavement throughout the British Empire from August 1, 1834. From this date, there was to be a six-year apprenticeship for field labour during which the slaves would work for a fixed number of hours each week. This

He said the issue was openly discussed in the immediate post-independence era. Subsequently, a number of organisations, including Guyana’s African Cultural and Development Association, led the campaign for reparations and requested that then President Bharrat Jagdeo add his voice to the reparations campaign.

“…. President Jagdeo responded in kind when in 2007, while addressing a commemorative ceremony for the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic trade in captive Africans, he observed: “Now that some members of the international community have recognised their active role in this despicable system, they need to go one step further and support reparation.”

In 2011, President Jagdeo in launching a year of celebratory activities commemorating the International Year for People of African Descent restated his support for reparations.

wednesday, march 12, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teachers urged to maintain professionalism

Educators were on Monday urged to maintain a high level of professionalism as the Education Ministry rolls out its consultation on the 2010 Draft Standards for Teacher Education at the Queen’s College Auditorium.

During the discussion, teachers, head-teachers, and parents voiced concerns on various aspects of the document. National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Director Jennifer Cumberbatch delivered a detailed presentation of the draft.

In the draft, it is stated that teachers should know the subjects they are teaching and how to teach it. It also says that teachers should manage the learning process while recognising the diversity among learners and fostering inclusiveness.

Another area highlighted was their professional skills, as teachers were urged to

maintain a high level of professionalism. Interaction with parents and communities was also brought up and both teachers and parents spoke about the importance of having a sturdy relationship between the two.

One teacher pointed out that while teachers are encouraged to have more interaction with parents, the latter hardly, if ever, shows up at organised meetings unless threats are made. She said parents need to be more ac-

tive and involved in the lives of their children. On the other hand, one parent opined that teachers should, at all times, display calm and responsible behaviour, especially when dealing with rowdy parents. “I

don’t think teachers should be cussing back when a parent confronts them in a similar manner,” the parent said.

Noble profession

Teachers were told that their conduct should be such that it will uplift their noble profession and this should be seen in their behaviour, attire, code of ethics, and knowledge.

Leadership standards for principals were another area which was highlighted as the school heads were reminded of the many tasks they are responsible for carrying out as they manage schools. Assessment, community involvement, guiding the curriculum, ethical behaviour, financial management, planning and organising, and implementing technology are some of the responsibilities head-teachers have. Headteachers were told that they have to set the pace for teachers to follow and society

to look up to. The teachers also called for special training as it relates to dealing with mentally unstable or differently able children.

In addressing the gathering, Education Minister Priya Manickchand expressed her satisfaction at the fact that the teachers have read the draft. She said it showed their resilience and interest partnering with the Ministry to improve the delivery of education in Guyana.

She noted that Government, through the Education Ministry, was committed to providing an environment that will encourage and motivate teachers to work more diligently. She too encouraged the educators to be professional in carrying out their duties.

The Minister also briefly encouraged parents to be more involved in the lives of their children.

OAS gives go ahead for two major meetings on Caribbean security

TOrganisation’s headquarters in Washington, DC.

The Council approved the holding of the Meeting of National Authorities on Transnational Organised Crime, April 24 and 25. The Vice Chair of the Committee on Hemispheric Security of the Permanent Council and Alternate Representative of The Dominican Republic, Flavio Medina, said the meeting will discuss “the implementation of the Hemispheric Plan of Action against Transnational Organised Crime and efficient cooperation between member states”. Moreover, the Council approved May 5, as the date for the holding of the Seventh Meeting of the OAS Group of Experts to Prepare Model Legislation in the Areas to Which the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials (CIFTA) Refers; and May 6, as the date for the 15th Regular Meeting of the Consultative Committee of the CIFTA. Both meetings will take place at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC.

Under another item of the agenda, the Council welcomed the new Permanent Representative of Guatemala, Jose María Argueta. The President of the Council and Permanent Representative of The Dominican Republic, Pedro Vergés, highlighted the vast experience of Ambassador Argueta in academia and government. “I am confident that the Permanent

Council will benefit greatly from your knowledge and your vast international experience, which bodes well for the success of the activities you are starting today with us,” said Ambassador Vergés. In his first address to the Council, the Permanent Representative of Guatemala stated that one of the main goals of his government is “to achieve and consolidate all efforts to address the global drug problem in the Americas”.

Ambassador Argueta also spoke of the need to join efforts to reduce the problems of inequality that prevail in the region, and he quoted former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill when he said ‘“if the inequality is an invention of the human mind, the human mind can also invent equity”’.

At the same time, he celebrated arriving to the OAS in times of “winds of change” in the Organisation, referring to the open debate on the OAS Strategic Vision that consists of revisiting its main objectives.

Negotiating talent

The Council also bid farewell to the Permanent Representative of Chile, Darío Paya, who returns to his country. The Chairman emphasised the “negotiating talent” of Ambassador Paya and recalled that, on behalf of his country, he donated to the OAS Columbus Memorial Library more than 18,000 microfilms on the literary legacy of Chilean poet and Literature Nobel Prize winner Gabriela Mistral.

Hugo de Zela, Chiefof-Staff of OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, expressed on behalf of the Secretary General who is away from headquarters – his appreciation for Ambassador Paya’s work as the head of the Chilean Mission.

“I wish to express my admiration for the outstanding work of Darío as Representative of Chile to the OAS. We have all witnessed of his unflagging work, his in-

telligence, his capacity for dialogue, and his human qualities, that made him in no time and up to now an irreplaceable contributor to the work of the Council,” said Ambassador de Zela on behalf of Secretary General Insulza. Ambassador de Zela also conveyed the appreciation of the OAS Assistant Secretary General and his own to the Chilean diplomat for his work.

The way forward In his last address to the Council, Ambassador Paya described himself as “a public servant” and said that “if I have helped to heal any wound, then I feel that this has not been in vain and that I have fulfilled my duty.”

The Chilean representative stated that “in the world we live in today, it is reasonable for this Organisation to reassess, study, pay attention, and revisit the way we conduct the negotiation on the international commitments we make.

I think that within the context of the Strategic Vision and the future of this Organisation, it not would be good to lose an opportunity to see how we can do it better.”

Moreover, the Chairman of the Council expressed, on behalf of the body he presides, to the governments of Colombia, Costa Rica and El Salvador “the most enthusiastic congratulations” on the occasion of recent elections in their countries.

During the meeting, the representatives of Guatemala, Argentina (on behalf of ALADI); Canada; Trinidad and Tobago (on behalf of Caricom); the United States; Nicaragua (on behalf of SICA); The Dominican Republic; Colombia; Honduras; Belize; Peru; Mexico; Costa Rica; El Salvador; Brazil; Uruguay; Venezuela; Paraguay; Dominica; and Panama took the floor. The Permanent Observer of Spain, Jorge Hevia on behalf of France, Germany and his country also took the floor.

Shrimp smuggling giving Corentyne fisherfolk headache

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy met with fisherfolk at the Albion Community Centre on Monday to address the issue of the smuggling of shrimp from neighbouring Suriname.

Fishermen in Berbice say they are concerned about the illegal importation of shrimp and fish from that country. Reports are that more than 400 fishermen are being affected and that the smuggled seafood are being sold off very cheaply to Guyanese along the Corentyne Coast. According to them, this illegal activity is costing them millions which they cannot recover, since most of them have taken loans from banks for the purpose of improving their businesses.

However, they are of the view that if this illegal practice becomes sanctioned, both parties can work cooperatively and ensure their businesses are profitable.

One fisherman of more than 25 years, Erwin Abdullah, stated that the shrimp is “contaminated since they are mixing it with the Guyanese one… every time they bring the Suriname shrimp, they mix it with the Guyana ones. When we produce good things here and they take ours and mix it up, the whole thing gets contaminated and we lose our market.”

In addressing the issue, Minister Ramsammy stated that there was nothing in the laws that stated that someone cannot bring shrimp to Guyana, but they must import it through the

legal channel. However, he would not like to see any seafood being imported into Guyana. “The rules and the desires are not always the same thing.” He said Guyana has an open policy, but “we also have to protect the industry; at the same time, we have to ensure that people can purchase food that is affordable and these are some challenges we have as an agriculture country,” Ramsammy said.

He added: “Guyana has much more to lose by closing its border, it is a producer country and needs others to purchase our goods, because what is produced here, we alone cannot consume, we export over 30,000 tonnes of fish every year; therefore, If Guyana closes its border, then other countries will close theirs.”

According to Ramsammy, government has never closed Guyana’s borders to goods, “we have done well in getting Guyanese products sold, so we prefer to have the con -

Pomeroon plantain farmer remanded on attempted murder charge

APomeroon plantain farmer accused of attempted murder was remanded to prison on Tuesday when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Peter Paul George, 24, of Manawarin, Lower Pomeroon River is accused of attempting to commit the murder of Lloyd Allen.

According to police, the accused on February 1, at Manawarin, Lower Pomeroon River, with intent to commit murder, wounded Allen. George was not required to plead to the indict-

able charge. Prosecutor Krishna Datt Ramana objected to bail. He stated that the offence is a serious one and the virtual complainant is presently hospitalised. The virtual complainant suffered a severe wound and is still bleeding profusely.

The farmer was not represented by an attorney. He told the court that he lives with his parents at Manawarin and does not have any priors.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned for March 24 at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

Lima man on multiple charges

Lima resident Lesley Conway, aka “Pickie”, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on three charges: break and enter and larceny, using threatening language, and simple larceny.

ditions to which foodstuff can come in the country, we have the laws,” he said.

He acknowledged that goods indeed come into the country illegally, but it is not a policy of the administration to allow this. He was adamant that if someone was involved in importing shrimp into Guyana via Suriname; they need to go through the right channel and do so in a legal and transparent way. Ramsammy assured the concerned fishermen that as soon as possible he will meet with the other stakeholders to further discuss the issue.

Conway, a labourer of Lima Village, Essequibo Coast, was fined $100,000, with an alternative sentence of six months’ imprisonment for the offence of break and enter and larceny. It was his second appearance for the charge after his first on February 10.

According to police, on January 25 at La Belle Alliance, Conway broke and entered the dwelling of Naipaul Lall and stole three tins of Milo valued $2880, two tins of Ovaltine valued $2200, two tubs of butter valued $880, one plucked chicken valued $3000, two fish valued $2100 and $15,000 cash, property of Lall.

Prosecutor Krishna Datt Ramana said on the day

in question, the Virtual Complainant secured his home with all the articles mentioned and went to Charity. On his return, he observed that some window panes and the items were missing.

The defendant, who spent three years in jail for simple larceny after being convicted of the offence five years ago, was not represented by an attorney.

The Administration and Justice Act (AJA) was applied and the charge was re-read. Conway then said he pleaded guilty to the offence, adding that he used the items.

Abusing victim

For the second offence of using threatening language, Conway was fined $15,000, with an alternative sentence of two weeks’ imprisonment.

During his first appearance for this matter on February 10, he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $15,000. The matter was adjourned

to February 25 for statements.

On Tuesday, Conway changed his not-guilty plea to guilty. The charge was reread to him and he pleaded guilty.

The court heard that on January 23 at Coffee Grove, Conway made use of threatening language to Somaria Bipti.

On the final charge of simple larceny, Conway was fined $30,000, with an alternative sentence of three months’ imprisonment. At his first appearance for this charge, he was granted $20,000 bail.

On Tuesday, his second appearance, he changed his not-guilty plea to guilty when the charge was reread, admitting that he went into the virtual complainant’s home.

According to police, on January 22 at Coffee Grove, the defendant stole one cutlass valued $1500 and a plastic bottle containing kerosene oil valued $500, property of Somaria Bipti.

Regional Venezuelan student leader shot dead during protest

Astudent leader was killed during an anti-government protest in western Venezuela, officials have said. Daniel Tinoco was shot in the chest at a road junction during a demonstration in San Cristobal, the city’s police chief Angel Perdomo said.

Eyewitnesses said Tinoco and other students were attacked by armed men riding motorcycles. At least 22 people have been killed since the unrest in Venezuela started more than a month ago.

Both opponents and supporters of the government have been among those killed in clashes with each other and the security forces.

Perdomo did not say who might have been behind the shooting of Tinoco, an outspoken student leader who often manned the barricades erected as part of the anti-government protests in San Cristobal.

The city’s mayor, Daniel Ceballos of the opposition Popular Will party, said the incident happened after a day of clashes between opposition supporters, pro-government armed militia, and security personnel. The opposition has accused the pro-government militia, known as “colectivos”, of targeting and harassing them, and has called for them to be disarmed.

The government, meanwhile, has blamed much of the violence on “fas-

cist” groups, who it has alleged are trying to stage a coup against President Nicolas Maduro.

On Monday, the authorities also confirmed the death of a Chilean woman in the western city of Merida.

Giselle Rubilar, 47, was shot in the face while clearing a barricade, officials said.

Merida Governor Alexis Ramirez of the governing PSUV party said Rubilar was “ambushed by extreme right-wing groups”.

President Maduro said her killers had been identified and the authorities

were “on their trail”. “Rest assured, Chile and Latin America, we are going to capture the assassins of this compatriot and they will pay for this horrendous crime,” he added.

The president also told his supporters the the government had the opposition protests under control. “We have faced a coup and neutralised it,” he said.

But students in San Cristobal, where the current wave of protests first started in early February, said they would continue their daily protests and hold fast to their slogan: “He who tires, loses”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Caribbean should not expect much from reparations claims – Dutch historian

Anoted Dutch historian has warned Caribbean leaders that they should not expect much from their reparation claims against Europe even as they on Monday adopted a plan to further pursue the issue.

“Europe is going to entertain the dialogue, but they will not pay,” Professor Gert Oostindie told the Dutch television station, NOS, on

Tuesday.

Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders now winding up their two-day intersessional have adopted a 10-point reparatory justice framework, presented by Professor Sir Hillary Beckles, head of Caricom’s Reparations Commission.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the host and Caricom Chairman said the framework com-

Jamaicans still held

in

Haiti on drug and gun trafficking charges

At least 20 Jamaicans, arrested and detained months and years ago on suspected drug and gun trafficking charges, are still held in custody in Haiti in the southern town of Les Cayes, where they feel abandoned by their government and left without any legal support in the Caribbean country, they say.

The Jamaicans, who are scattered in different cells in the main prison in Les Cayes, denied any involvement in drug trafficking and each of them had a different story to tell about the motive for their presence in Haiti, while Haitian local authorities say they hold strong evidence against some of them.

“I got arrested but they did not find anything on me,” Kenny Burton, 31, told HCNN. “They found drugs

in the area where I was and they blamed it on us,” said Burton who was arrested on July 7 last year, together with another Jamaican colleague.

A first group of 15 Jamaicans were arrested over the past months and years in different coastguard and police operations, supported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, while five other persons were apprehended at the end of last year during a police crackdown near the town of Aquin.

The Jamaicans remain in preventive custody while their cases are being studied by an investigative judge who has to issue a report in which he will order who should be released because of lack of evidence and who should be tried by the Haitian criminal courts. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

prises “basically issues relating to things which have been talked about all the time like an apology, the question of organising with African countries and those persons who want to have reparations, matters relating to health, education and literacy, building the cultural institutions and matters concerning a special programme for the development of the indigenous peo-

ple…”

At least 14 Caricom member states have set up national reparations commission even as some Europeans countries against which claims are being made have said that they will not pay compensation for slavery and native genocide.

Gonsalves said Caribbean countries are hoping to hold talks with Europe in June on the issue.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Water recycling plant is billion-dollar

rape on Treasury – Rowley

Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley is calling on President Anthony Carmona to demand an explanation from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on an alleged billion-dollar rape on the Treasury via the proposed construction of the Beetham Water Recycling Plant (WRP).

He made the appeal during a news conference on Monday. He also called on Persad-Bissessar “to stop this contract and if this water treatment plant is to be built, that a proper tendering process be entered into.” Rowley also said he was calling on the Independent Senators “to stand up in the parliament and point out the failures of the government.”

He said he was going to take the matter to parlia-

ment for debate via a private motion, saying: “The people of T& are not defenceless.” Rowley said all the documents would be made available to Carmona and he was confident the President “will ask of the Prime Minister explanations for this rape of our Treasury.”

He also intends to write to the World Bank, the IMF, IDB, CDB and Caricom to complain about “the behaviour of this corrupt government, which has made a career of raping the Treasury of TT.” Rowley said he was also calling on the trade unions, the co-operative movement, the IRO, the Transparency Institute and all citizens “to stand up and object to the rape of our Treasury by a small, privileged group of people.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Haitians sue UN over cholera epidemic

Anew lawsuit has been filed by 1500 Haitian plaintiffs against the United Nations (UN) over a cholera outbreak that has killed thousands in the Caribbean nation.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a Brooklyn federal court, seeks compensations for deaths and illnesses and funding for clean water in Haiti, which was devastated by a 2010 earthquake.

Scientific studies have shown that cholera was likely introduced in Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal, where the disease is endemic. The new suit also asks the court to declare that the UN has no immunity.

Another lawsuit filed in a Manhattan federal court in October cited World Health Organisation data saying cholera had sickened nearly 700,000 Haitians and killed more than 8400 as of December 23, 2013. The UN has defended its actions in Haiti. (Jamaica Observer)

Michelle Bachelet sworn in as Chile’s President

Michelle Bachelet, 62, has been sworn in as the president of Chile, her second time in office. The socialist leader was inaugurated in a ceremony in the city of Valparaiso after her election win in December over conservative rival Evelyn Matthei.

Outgoing conservative President Sebastian Pinera wished his successor good luck.

Bachelet is the first Chilean president in over half a century to return for a second term.

In a ceremony attended by leaders from the region, including Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Ecuadorean leader Rafael Correa, Peruvian president Ollanta Humala and Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Bachelet swore the oath of

office.

President of the Senate Isabel Allende placed the presidential sash around Bachelet’s neck – the first time it was passed from one woman to another in Chile’s history.

Bachelet won 62 per cent of the vote in the second round of the presidential election in December, well ahead of the 38 per cent cast for Evelyn Matthei. She campaigned on a promise to spend US$15 billion (£9.2 billion) on reforming education, improving health care and reducing income disparity.

She also wants to increase taxes to offer free university education and reform political and economic structures dating from the 1973-1990 dictatorship of General Pinochet. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China tries new role as Asia’s policeman in Malaysian Airlines’ plane disappearance

In the aftermath of the March 8 disappearance of a Malaysian Airlines plane with 239 people on board, 153 of them Chinese nationals, Beijing is flexing its muscles.

The Chinese Government has dispatched two warships, 10 satellites, over 50 marines to the South China Sea, and – although the Malaysian Government did not formally invite them –a 13-member delegation to advise search and rescue efforts from Kuala Lumpur.

The assertive response marks a new stage in China’s ascension as a regional superpower, a role the country has not fully embraced despite its expanding military and trade power in East Asia. While China has made claims over disputed territory (in the air, the sea, and in passports), it has rarely deployed its military and officials in such a public way.

On March 10, Chinese officials said they had “a re-

Clashes

Tsponsibility to demand and urge the Malaysia side to step up search efforts… and provide relevant information to China correctly and in a timely manner.”

In response, the Malaysian Government re-issued its pledge to fly Chinese relatives of the passengers on board to Malaysia.

China’s show of strength may simply be an effort to show angry Chinese families that their government is actively pushing for answers and participating in, if not leading, search operations. Chinese officials have already been pelted with water bottles thrown by the frustrated relatives of pas-

sengers. But the crisis is also an occasion for Beijing to continue what has been a decade-long expansion of militarily and diplomatic engagement in Southeast Asia, a region that’s traditionally been part of the United States’ realm of influence.

(Excerpt from MSN)

in Turkey over death of boy in coma

urkish riot police have fired tear gas at protesters who gathered outside a hospital after a teenage boy injured during last year’s anti-government protests and left comatose, died.

Nearly 1000 people staged a rally outside an Istanbul hospital on Tuesday in solidarity with 15-year-old Berkin Elvan, who was walking to buy bread when he was struck in the head by a tear gas canister during the unrest in the city in June.

during the protests.

“It’s not God who took my son away but Prime Minister Erdogan,” she said.

(Excerpt from Al Jzeera)

India Maoists kills 16 policemen in Chhattisgarh

Maoist rebels have killed at least 16 policemen in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police say. The patrol was on its way to provide security to workers building a road in Sukma district when rebels fired at them, officials say.

Twenty-five policemen were injured in the attack, senior police officer Mukesh Gupta told BBC Hindi. Chhattisgarh is a stronghold of the rebels who say they are fighting for the rights of the poor.

The Maoists are active in more than a third of India’s 600 districts and control large areas of several states in a “red corridor” stretching from north-east to central India.

Tuesday’s ambush happened in the Tongpal area of Sukma. It is not clear whether the rebels suffered any casualties. Last May, rebels at-

tacked a convoy carrying state Congress leaders and party workers in Sukma, killing 27 people, including some top state politicians.

And in April 2012, rebels kidnapped a senior government official in the district, which is part of the Maoistdominated Bastar region. Alex Paul Menon was freed after 12 days in captivity.

The Maoist insurgency began in West Bengal state in the late 1960s and has become, according to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the country’s “greatest internal security challenge”. Major military and police offensives in recent years have pushed the rebels back to their forest strongholds and levels of violence have fallen. But hitand-run attacks are still common, killing hundreds of people every year. (BBC News)

Malaysia Airlines MH370: Plane ‘changed course’

Military radar suggests the missing Malaysia Airlines plane turned west, away from its planned route, before vanishing, Malaysia’s air force says.

Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing went missing on Saturday, after taking off with 239 people on board.

The international search for any wreckage has been widened. Earlier, it emerged two men travelling on stolen passports on board the plane were Iranians with no apparent links to terrorist groups, officials said.

The international po-

lice organisation Interpol’s Tehran bureau has said the two Iranians had no criminal records and had left Iran legally. One of the men is believed to have been migrating to Germany.

There are reports that the plane veered from its route and reached the Malacca Strait, west of Malaysia. The Malaysian authorities initially said flight MH370 disappeared about an hour after it took off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, as it flew over the South China Sea, south of Vietnam’s Ca Mau peninsula.(Excerpt from BBC News)

Silent vigils were held in

The story of Elvan, who spent 269 days in a coma, gripped the nation and became a symbol of the heavyhanded tactics used by police to reign in the biggest demonstrations that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had faced since coming to power in 2003. Police used tear gas and water cannon after several dozen protesters hurled stones at a police bus and stole helmets and shields, an AFP photographer said, adding that one demonstrator was injured.

the cities of Izmir, Antalya and Eskisehir, where a large number of students boycotted their classes, according to local media. The boy’s mother Gulsum Elvan, speaking to reporters outside the Istanbul hospital, challenged Erdogan who had praised police “heroism”

Journalist’s killing in Afghanistan raises fears of possible new trend endangering foreigners

ASwedish journalist was shot and killed Tuesday in Kabul in a brazen attack that many worry reflects the growing danger for foreigners in Afghanistan’s capital.

Nils Horenr, 52, was shot in a neighbourhood populated by Western non-governmental organisations, embassies and journalists. It is the same area where 21 people, mostly foreigners, were killed when a Lebanese restaurant was attacked in

January.

Both attacks sent shock waves through the international community in Kabul.

Horner’s killing, in broad daylight, was particularly disturbing to Western journalists who do much of their work beyond the blast walls of military bases and diplomatic compounds.

According to Afghan police, Horner was conducting an interview on the street when two armed men shot him in the head. “Police

are continuing their efforts to arrest the culprits of the incident,” police said in a statement.

Horner, the South Asia correspondent for the Swedish radio station Sveriges Radio, had previously been based in New York and London, according to the station’s Web site. He had recently arrived in Kabul. No one has been arrested, and the Taliban have not claimed responsibility for the attack.

(Excerpt from The Washington Post)

wednesday, march 12, 2014|

APNU calls for closure of sugar industry

– PPP/C says party playing games with citizens’ livelihoods

By Michael younge

The government and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Tuesday fired off scathing statements against the main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for its recommendation that the country quit the sugar industry and pursue ethanol production.

At a news conference on Tuesday, APNU Executive Member Joseph Harmon said the sugar industry was dying and the ruling administration was responsible for its decline. He said the problems facing the sugar sector are all connected to the poor manage-

ment of it. Harmon insisted that the Government’s turnaround plan was not working, as he made references to articles written by University of Guyana Professor Clive Thomas.

He contended that the industry cannot be made viable if its chief officials are appointed in secret and there is an apparent failure to consult with key trade and worker

bodies.

Echoing similar sentiments, APNU Executive Member and sugar expert, Anthony Vieira, who had initially resigned from his parliamentary seat with the Robert Corbin led-People’s National Congress, said were the Skeldon Sugar Factory to enter into the production of ethanol then it would become viable, but as of now, it remains a white elephant.

Vieira repeatedly expressed the view that the industry is failing, has failed and will continue to fail under the stewardship of the PPP/C. “It would be far better if Skeldon was producing alcohol – ethanol. I say that because the canes of Guyana are very vegetative and when you take a long time to harvest and grind, it is better that you produce ethanol because don’t matter how old a cane is, one tonne of cane will always produce 10 gallons of ethanol...”

He contended that the amount of money being invested in the industry should have resulted in better production. “... this money was supposed to go into the sugar industry since 2006 to offset the loss of that preferential market, which was paying us about 33 per cent more than what the world market price was at the time,” he declared. He further alleged that the industry was being starved of resources, citing the Albion estate and the Skeldon project.

Wanton disregard However, in a swift response, the PPP, in a stronglyworded two-page statement, said the “callous” and “insensitive statements” made by the opposition grouping has shown “wanton disregard” for the livelihoods of thousands

of sugar workers and their dependents. In fact, PPP/C

Executive Member Irfaan Ali said the APNU’s statements clearly demonstrate the opposition party’s willingness to impose severe socio-economic hardships on thousands of hardworking Guyanese.

Ali said the PPP/C would never allow the APNU to trample on the sugar workers who have made an invaluable contribution to the overall development of Guyana despite the current challenges facing the industry.

He accused the APNU of following the historical position of the PNC as it relates to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and sugar workers as he recalled “the catastrophic consequences the closure of various estates had on the once-booming communities during the PNC era of mismanagement and wanton disregard for the livelihood of families of sugar workers”.

“What is upsetting is that the APNU can actually call for a withdrawal of support from the sugar sector or the

existing of the sugar industry without contemplating or even showing any regard for the livelihood of sugar workers and their families,” he insisted.

Ali said it was clear that APNU viewed the sugar industry as a political tool and a political football that can be passed around at the whims and fancies of the dribbler. He opined that the industry and its workers cannot be treated this way. The PPP/C Executive said the socio-economic fallout from any attempt to further downsize or close down the industry would be “unimaginable”.

“This recent call by the APNU should be an awakening for sugar workers as it adds to previous utterances like pouring money down a black hole and other disparaging remarks as it relates to the sugar industry and its workers,” Ali said.

He emphasised that the PPP/C remained “optimistic” about the future of the industry and would continue to support the management reforms and strengthening of the ca-

pacity of the industry itself, while modernising the infrastructure and enhancing the capabilities of the sugar workers to build a highly competitive industry.

Ali, who is a government Member of Parliament and Minister, has hinted that the APNU and its PNC support base appear to have a philosophical problem with sugar workers when one looks at the treatment of the industry and the statements made to date.

Refuse to support

The PPP/C itself noted that the PNC/APNU opposition has consistently refused to lend its support to measures and attempts to make the sugar industry viable. “They voted against the infusion of some $4 billion into the industry and when questioned why, boasted that “it was a PPP/C problem”. This position is further demonstrative of the callousness of APNU towards the dedicated and industrious sugar workers,” the party said in its statement.

The party blamed what it called “stringent measures” imposed by the European Union for some of the troubles being experienced in the local sugar industry and the wider Caribbean. It maintained that the investments made thus far in the Skeldon Factory and the sector itself will result in positive economic benefits for Guyana’s economy in the long run when “teething challenges” are resolved.

The PPP/C made no bones about stating that it would work assiduously to protect the jobs of thousands of sugar workers while doing all that is necessary to keep the industry from going down under. The party maintained that the statements made by PNC/ APNU grouping were “reck-

less” and a sign of “total disrespect for sugar workers”.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Tuesday told Guyana Times that those who believe that Guyana’s sugar industry is dead or dying are “dead wrong”.

“I think by 2020, sugar will reach the target established of 400,000 tonnes. Those who think sugar is dead are dead wrong,” he stated. The Minister said that the industry remains viable despite persistent challenges, while the jobs of its more than 20,000 workforce remain secure. Ramsammy said that this year, the industry would meet its revised target of 216,000 tonnes of sugar. He added that all seven factories are functioning, with the production level standing at 18,000 tonnes as of Monday. Dr Ramsammy said most of the estates are meeting their target thanks to good weather.

“We are not investing more than we are reaping, the industry has served Guyana well for centuries, and like every other industry, it has its difficulties and it requires support from the Government so we will give support,” he said.

Dr Ramsammy has argued strongly that the Government’s support for the industry is justifiable and cannot be wished away regardless of the misinformation being peddled by the Opposition. “Those who claim that we are subsidising the industry too much, they are wrong; sugar has contributed to the welfare of the nation, large numbers of people are benefiting and some of the needs of society are being addressed as a result of the operation of the sugar industry.”

GRA launches online payment system

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday launched the pilot of its online tax payment system and its Automated Driver’s Licence Card at a press conference held at its headquarters on Camp Street, Georgetown.

Officials of the GRA explained that the technological move aims to avoid the congestion which is expected with the approaching deadline for submission of income property tax and other returns on April 30, 2014. Both initiatives represent another step in the GRA’s efforts towards modernisation, with the use of the latest in Information Technology (IT) as the pillar.

The new payment system offers taxpayers the opportunity of making faster tax payments from the comfort and convenience of their homes or offices for Personal Income, Property, Corporation and Value-Added and other taxes. Persons can also purchase their motor vehicle licences.

Currently, persons who have accounts with Demerara Bank Limited can make payments while account holders at Republic Bank and

the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry will be able to make payments shortly. Additionally, taxpayers can commence the use of the over-the-counter service of the nearest Bill Express and GraceKennedy locations.

Security features

Simultaneously, the GRA launched its new state-of- theart plastic driver’s licence. The new automated licence card will replace the booklet-form licences. “Instead of the paper licence, our 150,000 drivers will now be holders of this more durable plastic card,” GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur said.

The programme is to be conducted in phases; the Public Relations Department of the GRA would facilitate the agency’s public education campaign. The programme is expected to be extended to other regions in the near future.

It has, however, been made clear that for drivers’ licences for minibus and hire cars drivers, and provisional licences, the cardboard licences will remain until the system is fully automated.

The price will also remain the same until more features are included on the licences.

Security features have been improved on the automated licences, which are expected to be welcomed by taxpayers. It is hoped that they will help reduce the offering and taking of bribes. The initiative seeks to bring to the public a more convenient and faster payment option, as the GRA moves to optimise the use of technology, allowing tax payments to be done via the Internet or telephone from the comfort of one’s home, office or other suitable location.

The system, which is simi-

lar to what is already in place by several utility companies for electronic bill payments, will seek to promote a number of noble objectives. Chief among them are to provide more convenience and security for clients who often flock the GRA’s headquarters to conduct business, particularly as due dates approach. It will also relieve congestion in the building, as well as on the streets as it relates to parking. Sattaur is convinced that the new system will be welcomed by all stakeholders, since it will lessen the onerous time customers and clients have to spend and promote security

for taxpayers engaged in money transactions.

Accommodation and parking for clients has been an issue the GRA has had to address since the bulk of its operations were consolidated at Camp Street. “I think this is a great breakthrough. Therefore, to be able to offer this service through the Internet… we should be seeing a reduction in the number of persons visiting our office,” Sattaur said.

Anti-corruption move

The two initiatives, which have been on the cards for a while, come at a time when taxpayers have often accused the entity of not being transparent. “It would enable the stepping up of anti-corrupt and enforcers’ activities being engaged.” Sattaur also posited that as the platform becomes more filled with highly integrated technology, the police and other law enforcement agencies that rely on the GRA as a source of information will be able to log on to the GRA system and access needed information.

External assistance was needed to put the system in

place, since the facilities were not available at the GRA. “We don’t have the facilities to print these cards. The card has to come from overseas as well, it has to be imported,” the Commissioner General said.

“Hopefully with the acceptance from the commercial banks, from other external agencies and parties that intermingle with us, we’re going to have a greater level of acceptance of the card, the replacement, perhaps, of a photo ID; and then later on, we are going to have more features: bar code and all of that,” he added. After completing the electronic registration process, applicants will be required to return in three to five working days. This period is necessary to facilitate the verification of highly sensitive data provided and members of the public are asked to return in an effort to prevent congestion at GRA’s headquarters and the unnecessary waste of their time. Applicants are also reminded to ensure their licences are renewed before the date of expiration. (GINA)

Caricom to write UWI on law students’ debacle

– calls for review of legal education needs

By GoMatie GanGadin

Caricom Chairman, Dr Ralph Gonsalves is to write the University of the West Indies Council for Legal Education on the impasse over law students here being accepted at the Trinidad-based Hugh Wooding Law School.

The move comes days after the Council for Legal Education stated that it will not be guaranteeing any of the 25 places usually offered to Guyanese students at the end of the degree programme at the Turkeyen Campus of the University of Guyana (UG).

As part of an age-old agreement between the Council and UG, every year, 25 automatic places were reserved for UG students at its Hugh Wooding Law School. The Council, however, recently took the decision that UG’s 2014 batch would not be guaranteed places.

It was understood by this publication that the original agreement had initially expired in November 2012, but, at the request of the Government of Guyana, it was extended until 2013. Negotiations were scheduled to take place to facilitate the 2014 batch of students. However, this discussion never took place until the matter arose one week ago.

Review Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who is attending the Caricom Heads meeting primarily to deal with this issue, said Dr Gonsalves would be writing to the Council requesting that the 25 students be admitted while a review is being swiftly undertaken of the provision of legal education in the region with regard to the increased need for legal services in the Caribbean.

Dr Gonsalves noted that a similar review was undertaken more than 40 years ago and things would have changed radically since then, hence provisions for legal education needed to be reviewed as early as possible for all to benefit.

Just before leaving for the summit, Nandlall stated that Government will spare no effort in resolving the issue. “Government considers this as a matter of priority because… it jeopardises the entire law programme at the university and it jeopardises the future of students….”

“Therefore, Government will spare no effort in ensuring that this impasse is revolved in a manner that is beneficial to our students at the university,” he said.

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, said he was pleased that Government and Caricom have chosen to intervene in the matter, with the Chairman of Caricom writing to the Council. “Our stu-

dents are not just Guyanese; we have students from outside of Guyana who come and study with us, so our interest here is to fight for the rights of our students so that they can become professionals. If we deny them the opportunity to have professional education, we will not be able to move on as a country,” he added.

Not yet briefed Head of Department of the Law Programme at the University of Guyana, Sheldon McDonald, stated that students have not yet been briefed on the situation, and they will do so, once discussion with the higher authority has been facilitated. He noted that he does not wish to create panic in a situation which is not yet definite or final in its course. He also dismissed rumours that classes are being affected, declaring that the programme is carrying on as per normal and is not likely to be affected until a final decision is taken.

Weighing in on the subject also was Head of the Law Programme at Nations’ University, Ashme Singh, who stated that the issue will not affect that University since most of the students pursuing law there will not become practising lawyers. In addition, she noted that the University offers the LLM, the Masters Degree in Law, which requires students to spend only six months to one year at the Hugh Wooding Law School. She stated that this makes it easier for the students, since they will spend less than half of the two years otherwise needed.

Further, she explained that the placement issue was not one that was of pure bias but one of space and accommodation for the students who stay on campus.

Guyana Times was told that UWI had, in the past, released statements alluding to changes in teaching methodologies, teaching content and the poor conditions of the facilities afforded to students as well as the overcrowded nature of the law school. In light of this, the

school had initiated precautionary safety measures before facilitating students.

Guyana Bar Association President Ronald Burch Smith reiterated Singh’s comments, stating that indeed the law school had previously complained of overcrowding. Having broken away from UWI and formed its own university, Guyana does not make a contribution, financial or otherwise, to the law school.

Burch Smith noted that the Council previously made agreements with Jamaica and Trinidad to accept their students who were pursuing their degrees at the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus.

As such, the decision was made to accept the local students and further their development, rather than put the locals out and accept international students, including Guyanese students.

The Guyana Bar Association President said while he understood everything that was explained and put forward, he believes that the Guyanese students should still be given the chance to go to the school, since he knows that they all pay their required tuition and financial expenses and do not receive any allowances, grants or subsidies, from the Government nor the institution.

He believes that all individuals, irrespective of their nationality should be given the chance to access legal education and certificates to practise in their respective countries to their full capacity.

He is of the strong belief that the Council of Legal Education of the Hugh Wooding Law School should consider expanding the school or should consider establishing a law school here for Guyanese students and any other Caribbean student who wishes to pursue a legal education.

GBTI pulls plug on post office deposit service – security seen as main reason

By Vahnu Manikchand

The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry

(GBTI) has pulled the plug on a deposit service it was offering through the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) over apparent security-related concerns.

The GPOC and the bank had launched the service last month at post offices in Mackenzie, Mabaruma, Kwakwani, Matthews Ridge, and Mahdia to assist persons in those areas in managing their cash as banking services were not available in most of them. However, in an advisory on Tuesday, the bank said:” … regrettably, we are unable to continue the service of accepting deposits through any post office.”

The GPOC seems to be lingering in limbo as yet another company removes its services from the corporation. Contacted on the issue, Post Master General Henry Dundas stated that while he was aware of the reasons behind the bank pulling that service, he did not want to comment on that issue. He referred this newspaper to the bank, but Chief Executive Officer John Tracey also declined any comment.

Challenges

Dundas explained that with the advent of technology and other services, the GPOC has been experiencing a number of challenges, and, as such, it was looking to improve its current services and efficiency level in order to remain relevant in the business. However, the Post Master General noted that the mail volume at the corporation has remained consistent over the years. He said while there has been a reduction in two-way mail, a significant amount of the mail passing through the corporation comprises utility bills, bank statements and

insurance mail.

In addition, Dundas noted that the GPOC has diversified its operations and now accepts payments for utility bills, payments to companies such as Courts Guyana Inc and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), and domestic money order services. He pointed out that there was some competition as it relates to the domestic remittance service, since there were many other remittance service providers.

Competition

“Competition is good for businesses, it forces you to adopt new initiatives and find new ways to be ahead of the game,” he said. The PMG continued that as part of the corporation’s initiative to boost its finances, it increased its postage rates; however, the rewards of this have not yet been seen. He explained that the increase was made late last year when the flow of mail was at its highest due to the holiday season. “However, over the next few months, it will be monitored to determine its feasibility,” Dundas said, while acknowledging that with the advent of technology, persons do not write as much, instead they resort to emails and text messages. However, there are some

documents which need to be mailed such as utility bills; hence, the GPOC is now fighting to remain relevant.

Back in February, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) had announced that it was severing ties with the GPOC and has since hired a private contractor to deliver bills to customers. The water company’s Customer Services Manager Jeannette Thomas had said that this was part of its Customer Services Improvement Programme and was meant to address the challenges experienced by the company in delivering bills to customers via the post office.

“Bill payment must be a priority for our customers,” stated Thomas. The prompt delivery of bills via private contractors would also eliminate the possibility of bills getting lost in the post.

However, the GPOC sent out a release a few days later saying that while there have been instances of delays in delivery of the bills, it has, nevertheless, carried out its mandate and has received no complaints from GWI regarding lost or misplaced post. The release was specifically responding to GWI’s statement which said the decision was taken to “eliminating the possibility of Guyana Water Inc’s utility bills being lost in the post”.

“We further wish to point out that in many instances, mail is returned for the following reasons: addressee moved from address; persons at address refuse to collect the bill; addressee is deceased and family members refuse to collect the bills in the deceased’s name; lots are unoccupied or addressee is unknown at the address. We do regret the inconvenience faced by the Guyana Water Inc, but the Guyana Post Office Corporation does not believe that the statement made was an accurate reflection of the issue,” the corporation stated.

FAO Food Price Index sees sharpest rise in months

Weather-related events and increased demand came into play as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Food Price Index registered its sharpest increase since mid2012, averaging 208.1 points in February 2014.

The new level is 5.2 points, or 2.6 per cent, above a slightly revised index for January, but is still 2.1 per cent lower than last year at the same time.

The figures were released amid news reports of spikes in wheat and corn prices in response to recent developments in Ukraine, though the February increase in the Index cannot be entirely attributed to those events.

The Index, based on the prices of a basket of internationally-traded food commodities, saw price upticks in all commodity groups, with the exception of meat, which fell marginally. The strongest increases since January have been seen in sugar (+6.2 per cent) and oils (+4.9 per cent), followed by cereals (+3.6 per cent) and dairy (+2.9 per cent).

“This month’s increase follows a long period of declining food prices in general. But it’s too early to say if this is a true reversal of the trend,” FAO Senior Economist Concepción Calpe said. “The weather is probably a major force driving up prices for certain commodities like sugar or wheat, but

brisk demand is also an important factor underpinning maize, dairy and oil prices.”

The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 195.8 points in February, up 6.8 points, or 3.6 per cent, from the previous month. The price bounce reflected mainly concerns over wheat crops in the United States, a strong demand for coarse grains for both feed and biofuel and high Japonica rice prices.

Still, cereal prices remain, overall, 18.8 per cent below their level in February last year.

Vegetable oils averaged 197.8 points in February, up 9.2 points (or 4.9 per cent) from January, amid concerns over unfavourable weather in Southeast Asia

and South America, and buoyant demand worldwide, including demand for palm oil from biodiesel producers. Dairy averaged 275.4 points in February, a rise of 7.7 points, or 2.9 per cent, over January and meat averaged 182.6 points in February, only 0.5 points below the revised January level.

Following a three-month decline, sugar prices recovered in late February, prompted by concerns of crop damage from dry weather in Brazil and recent forecasts pointing to a potential drop of output in India.

The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 235.4 points in February, up 13.7 points, or 6.2 per cent, from January.

SUDOKU

22Jan. 19)

Learn to be selective in your confidants. A private comment may be repeated. Speaking out too freely may cause difficulties between you and your partner.

20Feb. 19)

Don’t allow anyone or anything to impede your progress. Stay firm and in control of any situation you face. A well-meaning acquaintance could inadvertently delay your plans.

20-March 20)

Your love life will get a boost. A recent accomplishment may tempt you to take on more projects. Focusing on too many things at once will be counterproductive.

21-April 19)

Look for a careerchanging opportunity today. Your abilities and personality will catch someone’s attention. Be honest with yourself and don’t underestimate what you have to offer.

Avoid making hasty decisions. Take time to weigh all the pros and cons. You will have problems if you go rushing ahead without considering the consequences.

(May 21June 20)

Your unique talents make you who you are. Don’t be afraid to stand out in the crowd. Express your thoughts and intentions, and press on until you reach your goals.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22)

Be cognizant of professional opportunities that come your way. Review any leads or details personally. Someone in the background may be trying to feed you false information.

(July 23Aug. 22)

You’re in a high cycle, so take advantage of any opportunity to express your likes or dislikes. Make travel plans. A change of scenery will add a spark to a relationship.

A stressful money matter can be resolved. Don’t feel torn between problems at work and issues at home. Trust your judgment. Advice from others may lead you astray.

23Oct. 23)

You may not realize it, but communication and networking will pave the way for future alliances. Continue plans to advance your education. The knowledge you obtain will enhance your career prospects.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take the time you need to gather your thoughts. Refuse to let anyone entice you into revealing your plans. Keep a low profile in order to avoid criticism and interference.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

There is a whirlwind of activity around you. You may be asked to make a quick financial decision. Don’t feel that you have to participate in a joint venture. Choose your partners wisely.

Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

Shalom Driving School. Lot 2 Croal Street. Call 227-3835, 227-3869, 622-8162 and enjoy 20% discount

& CDs. Call 657-0482

is fun! Register now and learn to

FOR SALE

Agricultural tractors and machinery; single and 4-wheel drive: Massey Ferguson, Ford, John Deere, New Holland and Fiat. Also available spares parts for these machines. Phone: 6194483, 601-7883, 226-6325

Spare parts for 1-2-3-4 and 6 cylinder diesel engines for Lister, Pieter, Kobota, Perkins, Veutz, Fiat, John Deer, Case IH, Cummings, Bedford and Leyland Daf. Also all middles of diesel generators: super silence and open air from 3KVA- 600KVA. Contact Rams Auto Spares on telephone 226-6325, 2271454, 619-4483 and 685-3568 Chinese-made gas stoves. Call 2315866, 231-5857

Cheap earth delivered to spot on ECD and EBD. Call 627-9977 &698-0182

Clean garden earth and builders waste; our services also includes Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing and leveling. Call 616-0617 or 663-3285

Healthworld Holistic Centre offers clinical psychotherapy for suicidal thoughts, attempted suicides, depression, stress, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, homicidal thoughts, hallucinations, loneliness, conflicts, anger management, relationship & sexual problems, paranoia and much more. Call +592-6210552 and make that appointment now before it’s too late. 12:00PM – 6:00PM. Mondays - Fridays. Email: healthworldhc@gmail.com

Two storey wooden building. Bare Root. Phone: 687-5653

Property for sale at 48 Light Street, Alberttown (between third and fourth streets) Contact Ram on telephone: 619-4483 685-3568 and 226-6325.

First Phase Good Hope, Anna Catherina, East bank Demerara (property with ongoing business). Call 6735546, 695-4382, 669-3313, 231-4586.

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect

J Eastman & Associates. Taxation (VAT, income & Property), Cash Flow Projections, Business Development Plan, Personal Financial Adviser, Accounting & Consultancy. 190 Church Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana (two buildings east of Austin’s Book Store. Phone: 223-2105, 662-7467

Suriname Astrology Palmist and Djuka Healing, the most powerful spiritualist in the world, are you suffering from the following problems (any religion) love, marriage, family, health business, husband and wife relationship, property, court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking? Also you can have all evil forces destroyed such as black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, obeyah etc and give powerful protection. We also do upliftment for clearing of land, dredging operations strictly in the interior. For private and confidential service call 674-2112.

Get your home or business spiritually clean to enhance good luck and prosperity. Telephone: 687-5653

& Visa

We han

dle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students vi

sas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca TO lET

Cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá protection against evil. Get help to overcome problems with love, relationships, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money. Call 592-6901824 from 10:00-16:00h Email:anewlife@live.com

Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to businesses. Call: 612-6417, 2200708, 687-5653.

JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; HONDA CRV RD4; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA

PROCEED 4WD EXTRA-CAB PICKUP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; 3 TONS DUMP TRUCK; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PREORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 2205177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST.

4x4 Nissan Titan fully powered Immaculate condition $3.5M. No reasonable offer refused. 622-7740

Full & part time security guards. To arrange an interview, call 231-5866, 231-5857

Caricom concerned about AML delays – Ramotar

By Svetlana MarShall

Caricom leaders have expressed concern over the failure of Guyana to approve the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill (AML/CFT) 2013, President Donald Ramotar has said.

Ramotar told reporters in St Vincent and the Grenadines that the issue was raised during the 25th Caricom intersessional summit and his colleagues were “extremely concerned about what is taking place in Guyana.

“While it is Guyana directly, it has the implications of affecting the region as well, so Caricom leaders are very worried about it and they will be making a statement on it today,” he told reporters after attending the caucus meeting that lasted for more than six hours.

Blacklisted

Last November, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) announced that it had blacklisted Guyana after this country failed to approve legislation to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Organisation of American States (OAS) has said it was prepared to help Guyana ensure that it enacts the legislation.

Last month, the Guyana Government launched a series of town-hall meetings aimed at pressuring the opposition into supporting the measure. A major stakeholders’ consultation is planned for today at the Guyana International Conference Centre.

Meanwhile, speaking with Guyana Times from Kingstown, Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the caucus of Heads of Governments expressed dismay over the impasse.

He further stated that the meeting reflected on the ramifications and consequences that will affect not only the economy of

Guyana, but those of sister Caribbean states.

“These consequences can undermine the regional integration process as well as affect trade and financial transactions within the region, as well as outside of the region.”

Subsequent to the deliberation, Nandlall said the leaders arrived at a consensus, agreeing that they will issue a statement. “The statement will recite all the concerns. It will also call upon the relevant parties that are refusing to pass this Bill, to pass the Bill as a matter of national and regional importance and interest,” he said.

Deeply concerned

In February, Caricom had said it was “deeply concerned over the impasse.”

In a statement, the Caricom Secretariat said “the continuing delays in Guyana’s progress towards implementing recommendations to address deficiencies in its anti-money laundering regime” were worrying.

“Caricom remains deeply concerned that failure to pass the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill in Parliament could result in action by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), which could have an adverse impact on the Guyanese economy and by extension, the Caricom region as a whole. Any action that reduces the ease or increases the cost

of processing international financial or trade transactions will adversely affect trade and financial flows in the region, retard the regional integration enterprise, limit the opportunities for growth in Guyana and the region and result in hardship for the people of Guyana,” the statement read.

It was on this note that Caricom advocated for the matter to be speedily resolved, through the passage and subsequent enactment of the AML bill. The interest of the Guyanese people must be placed on top of the agenda, the regional body stated.

Today, the AML/CFT Parliamentary Special Select Committee is expected convene at the Parliament Building to discuss the oppositionproposed amendments, which were sent to Chief Parliamentary Counsel Cecil Dhurjon for drafting. Already completed, however, is the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill of 2013. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); and the Alliance For Change (AFC) members sitting on the committee had agreed to the contents of this Bill since February 9. However, it was only on the night of February 9 that the opposition tabled its first set of amendments not to the Bill in question but the Principal Act – the AML/CFT Act of 2009.

GNRA ‘A’ Team wins Queensway Cup Team Shooting competition

The Guyana

National Rifle Association (GNRA) ‘A’ Team, which comprised Gordon Richards, Dr Johann DaSilva and Ryan McKinnon amassed 726 points to win the Queensway Cup Team

Shooting competition organized by the Smallbore Section on the GNRA on Sunday at the Timehri pistol ranges.

GNRA made a clean sweep of the top three places, while the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had to settle for fourth and fifth places.

The GNRA ‘B’ Team, made up of David Dharry, Lawrence Layne and Vidushi Persaud, finished second with 703 points, while their ‘C’ team of Murtland Smith, Harold Hopkinson and Azaad Hassan finished third with 611 points.

Police ‘A’ Team comprising M Melville, A Easton and E Scott placed fourth with 603 points, while the Lawmen ‘B’ team complet-

ed in fifth position with 600 points.

The competition attracted eight teams, four

representing the GNRA, two from the GPF and two from Bank of Guyana Security.

Novak Djokovic reaches Indian Wells fourth round

Novak Djokovic survived a secondset blip against Alejandro Gonzalez to reach the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Serbia's second seed won 6-1 3-6 6-1 against the 25-year-old world number 91 from Colombia.

Djokovic, 26, will next meet Croatia's Marin Cilic, who beat 16th seed Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-4 6-3.

Elsewhere, eighth seed Richard Gasquet of France lost 7-6 6-1 to Spain's 30th seed Fernando Verdasco.

Djokovic was cruising towards victory before losing his serve to trail 5-3 in the second set. Gonzalez quickly levelled the match but the world number two broke in the second game of the third set and powered home.

In January, the six-

time Grand Slam champion missed out on a fourth straight Australian Open title with a quarter-final loss to eventual champion Stanislas Wawrinka, and he fell to Roger Federer in the semi-finals in Dubai in his only other tournament this year. In the women's event in California, Serbia's Jelena Jankovic beat fellow former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

Romania's sixth seed Simona Halep also made it to the last eight with a 6-2 1-6 6-4 win against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada.

Halep's next match will be against the Australian qualifier Casey Dellacqua, who got a walkover after American Lauren Davis retired through illness. (BBC Sport)

Arsenal out of Champions League

Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League after a brave draw at Bayern Munich saw the holders progress to the quarter-finals.

A dominant Bayern, leading 2-0 from the first leg, had a Javi Martinez volley ruled out for offside before the break.

Bastian Schweinsteiger gave Bayern the lead from close range before Lukas Podolski shot high into the net to level the score on the night.

Thomas Muller had a late penalty saved as Bayern won 3-1 on aggregate.

Arsenal's European exit leaves them just two more chances to end a nine-year trophy drought this season.

Arsene Wenger's men are in the FA Cup semi-final and seven points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The damage was done in the first leg at Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal

will rue an early missed penalty by Mesut Ozil and the dismissal of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Few gave the Gunners much chance of overturning the 2-0 deficit at the defend-

ing European and German champions, who won a record 16th Bundesliga game in a row against Wolfsburg on Saturday to go 20 points clear at the top. No side has ever retained

the Champions League crown but, unbeaten in the league for 49 matches, Bayern are strongly fancied by many to make history in Lisbon in May. Arsenal did go into the

match with reasons for hope, having been the last team to prevent the German side from scoring when they beat them 2-0 at the Allianz Arena at the same stage last season, although the Gunners went out that night on away goals.

Bayern's defeat by Arsenal last season was the only game the Bavarians had failed to score in in their last 100 matches and a composed start by the hosts made the prospect of another shut-out an unlikely one.

For all their control, Arjen Robben's volley that bounced over the bar was the closest Bayern went in an uneventful opening before Martinez's volley was rightly disallowed for offside.

Alex OxladeChamberlain was looking a threat for Arsenal, who only named six substitutes because the Gunners did not realise Ryo Miyaichi was ineligible to play, as his inter-

mittent quick breaks gave the visitors hope there was still a route back into the tie. By the break, Bayern had enjoyed 71% of possession with a resilient Arsenal impressive defensively but needing more as an attacking threat.

The difficult task became almost impossible soon after the restart as Franck Ribery cut inside on the left and squared for Schweinsteiger, who calmly converted from close range.

Arsenal hit back immediately though as Podolski nudged Philipp Lahm off the ball, before shooting high into the net from an angle, leaving them needing two goals again to progress.

Bayern never looked threatened though as Muller was prevented from winning the match on the night for Bayern by Lukasz Fabianski's penalty save, after Robben was fouled by Laurent Koscielny. (BBC Sport)

West Indies-England T20 Tournament...

Sammy, Santokie set up series success

Ablistering knock from captain Darren Sammy led west Indies to a five-wicket win over England in the second Twenty20 International at Kensington Over, Barbados on Tuesday.

The win ensures that West Indies have secured the three-match series following Sunday’s win and with one match remaining.

Sammy took charge, hitting two sixes and smashing three fours to race to 30 in just nine balls, swinging the match back in West Indies favour, after England had made some inroads by taking quick wickets and suppressing the run rate.

Sammy’s men reached the target with seven balls to spare after England, who won the toss and chose to bat, were restricted to 152 for 7, undermined by Jamaican seamer Krishmar Santokie, who finished with an outstanding four-wicket haul.

Santokie led the onslaught by removing opener Michael Lumb and front-

line batsman Moeen Ali for single digits to throw the England innings into disarray at 26 for three. But a fourth wicket partnership of 76 between Joss Buttler and Alex Hales pulled the Englishmen out of the slump.

Hales scored 40, while Buttler top scored with 67, before Santokie struck again shortly after he was recalled into the attack late in the England innings.

Santokie, who was named man-of-the-match, had Buttler caught, while attempting a big shot and removed Ravi Bopara for 14 to finish with figures of four for 21, his best T20 figures.

Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets for 34 runs.

Buttler and Bopara had also teamed up for a fifth wicket partnership that produced 35 runs.

Earlier in the West Indies innings, Chris Gayle put on an opening stand of 48 with Dwayne Smith and led the West Indies scoring with an entertaining innings of 36, which included

a four and four sixes.

Three of Gayle’s sixes went flying onto the roof of the stands and out of the ground.

Smith scored 30 and Marlon Samuels 28, while Lendl Simmons scored 19 from 13 balls.

West Indies who were coasting along at 111 for three, lost two wickets in two balls as Tim Bresnan threatened to derail their chase.

Bresnan dismissed Samuels then Andre Russell to leg side catches, forcing Sammy to step up on arrival to play a captain’s knock, batting alongside Dwayne Bravo.

Before Sammy exploded, West Indies found themselves needing 30 runs from three overs and then 9 runs from nine balls for victory.

The West Indies captain was particularly severe on Bresnan, hitting him for two sixes and a winning boundary in the penultimate over to seal the series.

West Indies and England play the third and final T20 on Thursday. (WICB)

Malteenoes to host Corporate 15-15 cricket tournament

Malteenoes Sports Club will be hosting a Corporate 15-15 cricket tournament sponsored jointly by Noble House Seafoods, Star Party Rental and Friends of Malteenoes on March 17 at the club ground in Thomas Lands, Georgetown, commencing at 09.00h.

The tournament, which is being held to foster camaraderie and encourage physical activity within

Guyana’s corporate community, will see companies such as Wartsila Operations Guyana Inc, Qualfon Guyana, the Upper Level Barbers and the National Park BBC – a group of entrepreneurs and media officials who come together daily at the park for physical activity –competing for the Noble House Seafoods Trophy. Each of of the teams will be graced with the presence of some cricket -

Brackett emerges winner of Morris Solomon Golf Tournament

As expected, it was a keen contest for the Maurice Solomon Accounting Firm Stableford Golf Tournament champions trohies last Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club, East Coast Demerara.

Aftert 18 holes, Brian Brackett emerged the winner with 36 points, followed by veteran Colin Ming finishing with 35 points and former West Indian Test player Joe Solomon with 35 points taking third place.

Ming and Solomon had the same score, but using a count back system Colin Ming had a better back nine and was adjudged the winner of the second place.

David Mohamed was no far behind scoring 33 points for the fourth place finish.

The best female player award went to Christine Sookram, while Mark Lashley won the nearest to the pin

Terrence Jaskaran representing the Accounting Firm said that their Principal

Maurice Solomon was an avid golf player and their firm was pleased to be part of such a huge turn out of 44 players promising to repeat the same sponsorship in 2015.

Club President Jerome Khan expressed his gratitude for the firm's sponsorship, noting that it is very challenging to maintain over 90 acres of land with a small membership and every cent that comes into the club is utilised for maintenance and infrastructure work.

Promising TT cricketer, 16, murdered

Sixteen-year-old

Ackinton Walker, an avid cricketer, was selected to try out for TT’s national under-16 team on Monday but instead his relatives spent the day at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, making funeral plans.

Walker, who was called “Akie” by those who knew him, was shot just outside his Third Avenue, Barataria, home just after 20:00h on Sunday.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex. His autopsy report

said he had been shot four times.

Speaking with the media at the centre, Walker’s stepfather Keith Prime said he took care of Walker even before he was born and viewed him as his son and not stepson. Prime said the bond between the two grew stronger when Walker’s mother passed away a few years ago.

Walker and two of his friends were selected for trials for the national cricket team, he said. Walker, a Form Five student of the Barataria South Secondary was an allrounder.

“It was school, church and cricket. Ask anybody about him and they would say the same thing, everything in his life was cricket,” Prime said. He said the last conversation they had was about the Windward Islands versus TT match played at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday, adding that it was an understatement to say Walker loved cricket.

Residents of Third Avenue heard gunshots just after 20:00h and called the police after they found Walker lying on the road. His cricket gear was scattered around him.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

ers to bolster their ranks.

Among the notables are Colin Stuart and Kellon Carmichael (Qualfon), Lennox Cush and Jermaine Neblette (Upper Level Barbers), Roderick Lovel and Paul Castello (National Park BBC), and Neil Barry, Sean Holder and Troy Lewis (Wartsila). Delicious take away lunches will be on sale, as the club continue to raise funds for its on going rehabilitation works.

Guyana’s Team Manager calls for batsmen to stand up – Shiv Chanderpaul returns after injury

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Guyana’s Team Manager Alvin Johnson remains positive his side can bounce back in the current West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-Day

Tournament, despite two consecutive defeats.

He, however, was unable to explain the cause of the poor batting displays, but called for a show of maturity and concentration, particularly from his senior players.

“It’s a tough one to explain,” he said. “Ultimately, there are guys who need to put in some big performances. They know that there will be some questions asked about their form over a period of time.”

“It’s important that they put their hands up and put in some match-winning performances going forward,” Johnson said on Tuesday, after Head Coach Esaun Crandon refused to speak with this publication at the conclusion of the squad’s net session.

“We’ve certainly got to bat better, we’ve got to get

better at batting full stop,” Johnson said.

In contrast, Johnson praised the bowlers for their decent performances, adding that the bowlers have been outstanding so far.

The current tournament has shown in no uncertain manner that there is a lack of commitment in the field among some of the current crop of the Guyanese players.

The Guyanese have shown major weaknesses in several areas of the game and have looked like amateurs just learning the game.

Their running between the wickets has been poor, and the overall batting is well below what is expected at this level.

They were beaten by hosts Jamaica by seven wickets last week before being humbled in their own backyard by 131 runs by Barbados inside three days on Sunday.

Boost

Meanwhile, veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul will return to the Guyana’s line-up for the third round game against the Windward Islands, beginning from Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara from 10:00h daily.

The evergreen left-hander missed Guyana’s first two games because of an injured thumb, is the only change to the 13-man squad. He replaces fellow left hander Chanderpaul Hemraj, who was called up for the last game against Barbados, but did not make the final eleven.

Chanderpaul will take over the leadership role of

SportEditor Letter to the Govt must play lead role in the new challenge of sport

Dear Editor, February 21 marked another memorable day for all Guyanese and especially for the Culture Youth and Sport Ministry/National Sports Commission and the sport fraternity. The National Sports Resource Centre was commissioned by the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

This $55 million project adds to the ambience of the National Racquet Centre which accommodates the tennis and squash courts. The commissioning of this important and necessary facility marks a new beginning for sport in Guyana.

the side from stand-in captain Christopher Barnwell and will definitely boost the Guyanese batting line-up that was severely depleted for the first two games.

Further, Johnson disclosed that batsmen

Ramnaresh Sarwan and Leon Johnson are still unavailable because of injuries.

According to Johnson, fast bowler Ronsford Beaton, who missed the last game against Barbados because of a side injury, has recovered fully, but he has not been included in the final squad.

The Guyana squad for the third round reads: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Tagnarine Chanderpaul, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell (vice-captain), Amir Khan, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Raun Johnson, Keon Joseph and Vishaul Singh.

The resource centre will create the opportunity for athletes to be exposed to information, via print and electronic media, which will take them and the various sports disciplines to the highest level.

The resource centre is the forerunner for a national sport institute which is an essential necessity if Guyana is to continue with positive development in the world of sport.

This aesthetic and educational facility is expected to give guidance training and certification to the stake holders in sport –athletes, coaches, umpires, referees, scorers, journalists, managers, chaperons, technical persons and even the general public.

The facility houses a library of books covering various sports disciplines which will guide all involved for the proper preparation and effective management, a section for online researchers and a conference room which will be used for theoretical training and presentations.

To complement the impressive commissioning ceremony, which was attended by a large number of Guyanese, was the lecture, entitled, the “History and Development of Cricket in Guyana and the West Indies (1860s-1960s), which was conducted in the conference room.

This historic educational talk was done by the eminent Professor Clem Seecharan, Professor of Caribbean History, Head of Caribbean Studies, London Metropolitan University.

Dr Seecharan is a Guyanese writer and historian of Indo Caribbean experience, as well as a historian of West Indies cricket. Among his alma maters are Sheet Anchor Anglican School, Berbice Educational Institute, Queens College (Guyana), MacMaster University (Canada) and the University of Warwick (London).

In 2002, Clem was awarded a Professorship in History at the London Metropolitan University where he is now Emeritus Professor of History. He was also in 2002, awarded a Certificate of Distinction by the Guyana High Commission (UK) for his “achievement in his profession in the United Kingdom”.

As a distinguished historian, he is the author of a number of publications. Professor Seecharan’s most successful, respected and admired lecture attracted the attendance and attention of many recognised Guyanese in the calibre of Dr Frank Anthony, Dr James Rose, Dr Ian McDonald, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, Dr Tota Mangar, Doreen De Caries, Hector Edwards, Conrad Plummer, Alfred King and foreign diplomats, among others.

The impeccable lecture generated much interesting and inspiring discussions from the cadre of highly trained minds who were present. It is anticipated that the lecture will set the stage for monthly occurrences which will attract large attendance of persons of various levels.

The President, Secretary and other executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) were all present and participated in the inaugural lecture at the resource centre.

It is imperative that officials who represent national teams and Guyana be better trained and qualified to represent our teams and country. Gone are the days when Guyana will be represented with mediocre officials.

This resource centre must be able to certify and ultimately give certificates and diplomas to our sport officials. Our Guyanese athletes certainly have

Neil Kumar

potential and talent. However, raw talent and potentials must be harnessed and developed with knowledge that will make them worthy of selection to represent Guyana Guyana must produce world class umpires, referees and scorers. This eventual institution will give rise to qualitative and quantitative development in sports. The Government of Guyana over the last decade invested heavily in the construction of world class sport facilities.

The Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, the Aquatic Centre, the Racquet Centre, the Synthetic Track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, along with the tremendous development of Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the National Gymnasium, are all proud achievements.

With the resource centre, preparation for the future of sports in Guyana will ensure better performances of our athletes and officials.

In order to develop sports clubs and associations, there will be special seminars on basic sports management and community sports, along with lectures on how to manage sports events and sports tourism.

The time is now when Guyana must develop a pro-active approach to the advancement of sport. The development of our human resources is imperative. The government must play the lead role in the new challenge of sport in this country.

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar Director of Sport

Guyana’s contingent looking sharp for South American Games

– Team Coach

By Treiston Joseph

The Guyanese con-

tingent currently in Chile for the South American Games – with the athletics aspect set to commence on Thursday – has been putting in hard work to get acclimatized to the conditions in the Spanish speaking nation.

Guyana Times Sport was able to speak exclusively interview with Coach Lyndon Wilson, who believes the team is looking sharp.

“So far, so good. We had a few sessions and they are looking good. The good thing is the place is sunny, despite being cold. It’s kind of like our weather,” Wilson noted.

Wilson also noted that the athletes are very confident ahead of the games and believes that Guyana can come away with some medals at the event.

“They are all on the high and are willing to do Guyana proud,” he told Guyana Times Sport. “And I should think we have medals in the making, because we have with us two seasoned campaigners in (Cleveland)

The Youth Basketball Guyana will look to tip off their 2014 year with the Sprite Challenge Series from March 15 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Georgetown.

The event will have some of the best secondary schools in the country battling against each other, while

Meanwhile, Limacol CPL has confirmed that an impressive 228 players have registered for the 2014 Draft, which will take place in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 3.

The number includes 121 overseas players, more than five times the number that entered the 2013 Draft.

Over 100 Caribbean players have thrown their hats into the ring in the hope of earning a contract to take part in the “Biggest Party in Sport”, alongside a host of international stars.

This year’s tournament will give cricketers from across the Caribbean the op-

having a chance to participate in the dribbling, passing and shootout challenges that will run through to March 17.

However, the game action will only require five players per team to spice things up for the short prelude to what is to come later in the year when the real

portunity to play along side or against some of the best players in the world.

A total of 107 players in the region, from up-andcoming youngsters to established West Indian international players, will go into the draft alongside big name stars from 11 nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and, for the first time, England.

Australia will have the largest overseas group in the Draft with 30 names, including 15 international cricketers, while the vast majority of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad have also

Several changes made to KMTC Phagwah programme

TForde and (Winston) George, and if the others hold their own, they should be among the medals too.”

Focusing on George, who is an Olympian, and Alisha Fortune, whose age was a concern going into the meet, Wilson indicated that both athletes can achieve after the few days of training.

“Everybody knows that George is always positive and he is looking good in his build up to the competition.

“With Fortune, she is always a hard worker when it comes to performing; she has the experience so she will give account of herself,” Wilson told this publication.

Meanwhile, when the competition begins on Thursday, George, Wayne Harlequin, Cleveland Thomas and Fortune will be in action in their respective first rounds.

he organisers of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) annual Phagwah horse race meet have made several changes from the original programme.

The meet is scheduled for March 23 at the club’s track, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

President of the KMTC Cecil Kennard told this publication on Tuesday that organisers have added a race for winless Guyana bred horses, making the programme an eight-race meet.

He further indicated that the E class race has now been replaced by a D3 race.

The feature attraction will be the A and Lower Class over a distance of six furlongs. The top prize is $1 million, while the second place finisher will receive $500,000.

Horses that place third and fourth will receive $250,000 and $125,000 respectively.

The other six-furlong races are the ED3and Lower, I and Lower, J1 and

Lower and Three-year-old for Guyana bred horses. The winners of those four races will pocket $400,000, $250,000, $200,000 and $250,000 respectively.

The G and Lower race offers a first prize of $300,000, while the Three-year-old event for Guyana and West Indies bred horses has a top prize of $400,000. Both races will last a distance of seven furlongs.

The final race of the day is for J3 and Lower horses for a top prize of $150,000 over five furlongs.

The deadline for registration is March 17 and horse owners can register with Roopnarine Matadial on 325-3192; Ivan Dipnarine, 331-0316; Cecil Kennard, 226-1399, 225-4818 or 6237609; Isabella Beaton, 6937812; or Dennis Deroop, 609-9143. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

regional competition begins.

Further, the challenge series will be for players in the Under-16 and Under-19 categories, as the games are set to be in knockout format.

Meanwhile, the event will begin from 09:00h on March 15 with a registration period before games get under way from 11:00h.

signed up.

New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka are also well represented and the Draft will include several current and former international captains, leading Test stars, T20 specialists, and limited overs legends.

The full list of players will be announced to the public next week.

The tournament returns in July and August 2014 where Jamaica Tallawahs will defend their title against the Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

Limacol CPL expands to St Kitts and Nevis

The Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis has been chosen as the host for six group phase matches, the semi-finals and final of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014 tournament.

The venue, which was originally built for the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, with an 8,000 seating capacity, is set to welcome the Limacol CPL for the very first time, giving the people of St Kitts and Nevis the chance to experience the thrill of the tournament.

The people of St Kitts and Nevis will also be able to enjoy a week of celebration and entertainment put on to support the final, ensuring that the tournament lives up to its reputation as being the “Biggest Party in Sport”, a release from Limacol CPL said.

In addition to the arrival of world class Twenty20 cricket, the local community of St Kitts and Nevis is set to reap the economic and social benefits created by the tournament.

A recently released report from the Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies (UWI) revealed that last year’s competition contributed to the gross domestic product (GDP) of all six host countries, with a combined impact of US$105 million generated across the region.

Warner Park has undergone recent developments to

enable it to host Limacol CPL matches with the construction of state of the art lighting facilities. In addition to being awarded the games, the investment is set to be key to the development of local grassroots projects, with the country’s Sport Ministry planning to utilise Warner Park’s new capabilities to hold after school programmes for local students.

“We cannot wait to bring

the big-hitting excitement of the Limacol CPL to Warner Park,” said Pete Russell, Chief Operations Officer.

“By awarding these prestigious matches to St Kitts and Nevis, we are demonstrating that the whole of the Caribbean can celebrate and enjoy the successes of this global tournament.”

Rusell said the renovation of the stadium was a key factor in the bid succeeding.

“The new facilities are second to none, and we’re keen to provide show-stopping cricket to match,” he said.

St Kitts and Nevis Sport Minister Glenn Phillip said his government is delighted to welcome some of the biggest stars in cricket to Warner Park during this year’s competition.

“Carnival cricket has always been synonymous with the Caribbean, and we’re looking forward to showing an audience of millions around the globe that St Kitts and Nevis can host a party like no other,” he said.

SCOREBOARD

England

M Lumb LBW Santokie 4

A Hales c Simmons b Bravo 40

M Ali LBW Santokie 5

E Morgan* c Simmons b Badree 3

J Buttler+ c Sammy b Santokie 67

R Bopara c Bravo b Santokie 14

L Wright not out 7

T Bresnan c Ramdin b Dwayne Bravo 7

Total: for seven wickets 152

Extras: (b 1, lb 3, w 1) 5

Did not Bat: J Tredwell, S Parry, J Dernbach

Fall of Wickets: 1-13 (Lumb, 1.6 ov), 2-21 (Ali, 3.3 ov), 3-26 (Morgan, 4.6 ov), 4-102 (Hales, 13.5 ov), 5-137 (Buttler, 18.2 ov), 6-143 (Bopara, 18.6 ov), 7-152 (Bresnan, 19.6 ov)

West Indies Bowling: S Badree 4-0-30-0, K Santokie 4-0-214, MN Samuels 2-0-17-0, R

Rampaul 3-0-30-0, D Sammy 1-0-17-0, Dwayne Bravo 4-034-2, A Russell 2-0-13-0.

West Indies (Target:153)

D Smith c Bresnan b Dernbach 30 C Gayle b Bresnan 36 M Samuels c Hales b Bresnan 28 L Simmons c Buttler b Wright 19 A Russell c Hales b Bresnan 2 D Sammy not out 30 Dwayne Bravo not out 8

Total: for five wickets 155

Extras: (w 2) 2 Did not Bat: D Ramdin+, R Rampaul, K Santokie, S Badree England Bowling: T Bresnan 3.5-0-51-2, J Dernbach 3-030-1, J Tredwell