Black Bush Polder man gets 20 years for killing girlfriend
Suspect, victim in Lusignan murder were gambling – police
wednesday, november 20, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com
Countrywide distribution of Old Age Pension booklets commenced on Monday with some pensioners complaining about a few administrative hiccups.
When this newspaper visited a few centres in central Georgetown on Tuesday, some of them were yet to commence distribution. However, these centres plan to begin the process at different dates during this week and the weeks ahead. The Geriatric Home (the Palms) and the Carnegie School of Home Economics are among those centres that are yet to begin distributing the books.
However, signs were seen placed outside most of the locations within the city, as to the specific dates and the hours of the distribution of the books. In the case of the East La Penitence Senior Citizens’ Home, Guyana Times was told that the first set of distribution began on Monday, but the next day for distribution is
Thursday. Officials at the home said there are specific dates as it relates to the distribution process and claim that the beneficiaries are aware of this.
Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster during her visit to some locations on Monday said the process has been moving apace in all the regions, with minimal issues
encountered.
In the past, pensioners would show up at their respective centres, only to hear that their names were not on the list. Webster added that the social workers in the respective areas will be visiting those persons who are shut-ins to ensure that their books are delivered directly to them.
This will be done after
the regular distribution process. This exercise will continue until December 13. Government has over the years been steadily increasing the non-contributory Old Age Pension paid, as a supportive supplement to persons over age 65. In 2012, pensioners received an increase of 33.33 per cent or $10,000 monthly; prior, they were collecting $7500 in 2011. This year’s budget allocation saw pensioners benefiting from a 25 per cent increase in their pension.
They now receive $12,500. It was reported that the annual impact of the increase has resulted in an additional $1.3 billion of disposable income being placed in the hands of senior citizens.
Government recently moved to implement new electricity assistance for pensioners, which is intended to support them in a manner similar to that of the water subsidy where pensioners will benefit from an annual sum of $20,000.
Eleven-year-old Ebitayo
Pilgrim is currently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing several wounds about his body after he and two other boys were struck down by a drunk driver.
The other two children are Kesi Carter and Shemar Lesprance. The boys are all students of the Stella Maris Primary School and all reside in Melanie, East Coast Demerara. They were on their way from lessons when the incident occurred late Monday afternoon at Station Street, Kitty.
Pilgrim is said to be in stable condition; however, he is in much pain owing to the injuries about his body. Guyana Times was told that he had suffered a puncture in his neck but the wound was tended by doctors. According to a teacher, who was escorting the children out to Vlissengen Road, the driver reversed
from his parking spot outside of Seeta’s Bar with speed, hitting two vehicles before striking the children.
Pilgrim ended up under the car and sustained severe injuries about his body, including deep lacerations. His two classmates were treated and sent away from the hospital.
Residents from the area who witnessed the incident vented their anger at the reckless behaviour of the driver. One woman told this newspaper that the driver is a regular at the bar and was seen drinking there for some time before he finally decided to leave. The woman said the entire incident happened quickly. She disclosed that the driver hit two vehicles before striking the children. He then hit another vehicle before running into a nearby trench. The driver is reportedly still in custody; however, charges are expected to be instituted shortly.
The case against a 28-year-old handyman was dismissed on Tuesday after Magistrate Judy Latchman ruled that the case was weak and unreliable.
Mark Angel of 138 Waterloo Street, Georgetown, made his first court appearance on September 11 where he pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on September 8 at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he had in his possession 68 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
Attorney Madan Kissoon later entered an appearance on behalf of the defendant.
After several hearings for the case, Attorney Kissoon entered a no case submission stating that the prosecution could not establish that his client had knowledge of what was contained in the haversack nor could they prove that he owned the said haversack, since there were 10 other persons in the area at the time of the arrest.
Magistrate Latchman stated that Corporal Fordyce, the rank who investigated the matter, “fatally wounded” the case since he made no records to substantiate his claims that Angel admitted anything to him.
By Vahnu Manikchand
Amid loud wailing, policeman Michael Forde who was gunned down when a gold miner went on a shooting spree at his Middle Street home last week was laid to rest on Tuesday – the first of the four victims to be buried. Forde, 24, a lance corporal attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), was killed in the line of duty when Deryck Kanhai went berserk, killing three other persons before he was fatally shot by ranks. At the funeral service held at the First Assembly of God in Wortmanville, Forde was eulogised as a committed policeman who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The service included scripture readings by his relatives, and hymns. The church was packed with relatives and friends, along with dozens of police officers.
Before the service started, the body of Forde was taken into the church where persons had the opportu-
nity to view it as they paid their respects and bid farewell to the fallen policeman. In the eulogy, done by a relative, Carlotta Lee, it was disclosed that Forde always had a passion for the police force and dreamt of becoming an officer. “He had a dream of wearing khaki uniform, so he made his dreams come through and went to join the Guyana Police Force. Michael was very involved in his work, he loved his work,” Lee said. She added that Forde was very mature and he was a father-figure for younger persons around him, disclosing that he even took up a job as soon as he left school to support his mother.
Selfless service
Delivering a tribute on behalf of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner George Vyphuis said that there were no words to describe a young man who decided to go into battle without any safety equipment, but just thought about sav-
ing the lives of others. The senior officer, who was also at the scene of the shooting, said for an officer there was no looking back when duty called, as he reprimanded those who criticised the police for not arriving at the shooting prepared.
“Michael went there to serve us. When Michael went on the ground, he was with two ICs and I was on the ground too without bulletproof vest, because it never came to thought. All that came to mind was that we need to stop the lawlessness that was going on, but it did not stop until we lost four lives,” Vyphuis stated.
The assistant commissioner disclosed that since Forde joined the police force in 2007, he has been attached to the TSU, where he committed himself to a job he loved. Vyphuis described Forde as a “fun person”, whose demise left a void not only in the lives of his colleagues but in the entire police force.
He said on Tuesday, November 12, when Forde reported to the scene, he did not go into that battle to die but to serve his country. “He went there to stop a man who decided to take the law into his own hands.”
Vyphuis called on the dozens of officers present in the congregation to reflect on the short but impactful life of Forde and respect the courage that he displayed, adding that they should use it as motivation as they contain the battle they face on a daily basis. The sermon was delivered by Reverend RM Massiah. After the church service, Forde was given a full military funeral with gun salutes at the Le Repentir Cemetery, after his body was escorted outside the church by officers. Forde was killed along with Constable Sherwin Pantlitz on that fateful day. Two civilians Vanessa Vyphuis and Hugh Rowland were also killed by Kanhai. Kanhai’s funeral will be held today in Bartica. (vahnum@guyanatimesgy.com)
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
For many cricket fans around the world, especially those in India, cricket will never be the same again as one of the game’s most legendary players, Sachin Tendulkar, has finally called it a day. Tendulkar played his last professional game on Saturday against the West Indies where he was given a grand send-off by his teammates and his fans alike.
Watching Sachin Tendulkar play for the very last time wasn’t just a historical moment for the cricketing world but also an emotional one. He has brought the entire India together. He has only increased the cricket madness in an already cricket-crazy nation.
Also called “The Little Master”, Sachin started his career at the age of 16 and made his first century in 1990 at the age of 17. There are many firsts that Sachin gave India and that’s why he is often referred to by his countrymen as a living legend. He has had the most runs in a career – 15,921 in Test Matches and 18,426 in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He has also had the most hundreds by one player. He scored 51 centuries in Tests and 49 in ODIs.
To have dominated the cricket arena for 24 years speaks volumes of his passion for the game and his dedication. Perhaps his biggest achievement is the impact he has had in inspiring young Indians to take up the game and to reach for greatness. He is a true role model for the younger generation not only for his cricketing exploits but also for his conduct off the field.
Paying tribute, former West Indies captain Richie Richardson puts it this way: “There are not enough words to describe the contribution he has made to Indian, and world, cricket. I had no doubt when I first saw Sachin, I knew that he will become great. The greatest thing I admire about Sachin is that he has achieved so much, yet he remains so humble. He is such a nice person, nothing has gone to his head, he’s always smiling, always friendly, loves people and to me that is the sign of a remarkable human being.”
Fellow cricketing superstars Brian Lara and Shane Warne flew to Mumbai to honour Tendulkar, with the latter generous in praise of his former rival. “We played against each other for 20 years, but away from the cricket he’s very humble, very softly spoken,” said Warne, a champion legspin bowler.
“As a cricketer, he was the best batsman I ever played against. You can look at his skills and his numbers, but it was the way he did it, with the expectation of a nation. The way he handled himself on and off the field, he was a real credit to the game, himself, and India. Everyone will miss him. I don’t think the bowlers will miss him, but the world of cricket will miss him,” Warne added.
Sachin’s legacy will no doubt inspire and motivate the younger generation, not only in India but in other parts of the world, including the West Indies, that nothing is impossible in this great sport. It would be helpful if they watch the videos and learn how he was able to adjust his technique and style to the changing times and trends in cricket. That said, technique is paramount in batting but mental strength and a strong will is far more important and Tendulkar has always displayed these qualities.
Sporting geniuses like Sachin are rare phenomena. He is indeed one of the finest examples of sportsmen the world has seen with love for the game, humility, integrity, honesty, and pure unbridled talent. We in the Caribbean are proud of his achievements.
As Richardson puts it: “When Sunil Gavaskar played, he was a king in the Caribbean. Sachin is always a massive king in the Caribbean…Sachin is a hero and the entire Caribbean is celebrating his achievements as well.”
Dear Editor,
We are taxi and hire car drivers of the Upper Corentyne, Skeldon, and Crabwood Creek areas in Berbice. We are experiencing problems with private cars doing hire car services on our carriage way and the traffic department at Springlands appears not to be doing anything about it up until now.
After many complaints
and private plate numbers being written down and given to the station (a sergeant – name provided), up to now no action has been taken.
When four or five private cars are pulled in for this offence, before the day is done, these same cars are back on the road working again because the traffic police do not charge them or put them before the courts.
These same drivers say to us “no favour asked because money pays”. Each driver of a private car is reportedly paying $3000 per week to conduct his business. So we are asking the proper authorities to help us out and do something about this problem that is going on on the Corentyne roads. We the hire car drivers are paying more taxes than
the private cars and they are raking in the benefits, and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is losing on one side because the Springlands traffic department is not doing anything.
Frustrated, Concerned taxi and hire car drivers Upper Corentyne, Berbice
Dear Editor,
Recently, a minibus driver got into a scuffle with a friend during which he retrieved a knife he had in his possession and subsequently stabbed the man.
There have been numerous cases where minibus drivers and conductors have had ice picks and blades in their possession. The minibus culture in Guyana can often be considered by many as hostile and intimidating. There is always some
amount of hastiness and aggression at the respective parks that can sometimes initiate and fuel arguments.
Police can sometimes be seen scouring the areas and overlooking the city, but I urge them to address this particular issue closely as it relates to individuals having any form of weapons in their possession.
The minibus system in Guyana was put in place to offer affordable and reliable transportation services
to individuals not fortunate enough to have their own vehicles or for those who may find it more convenient.
Unfortunately, many minibus operators fail to deliver good services and the use of public transportation has become quite a dreadful experience for many. Most minibus drivers are lawless road users and often contribute greatly to the recklessness on roadways.
Viable minibus operators should ideally be expected
to meet a few minimum requirements. They should be well acquainted with the traffic laws and regulations of Guyana.
Additionally, it should be mandatory for these individuals to undertake some form of training regarding road etiquette. The implementation of a uniformed dress code may also be appropriate.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Deen
Dear Editor, It is wonderful to know that $10 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the National Cultural Centre (NCC). The facility has for some time been in dire need of a face lift.
The NCC opened its doors on May 16, 1976 and has for years been used by many to host theatrical performing arts and drama productions, among many other ceremonies.
The magnificent sound and lightening system of the
NCC has never failed to awe, both the audience and performers. Dancers, musicians, local actors and actresses of all ages often claim the stage of the NCC to express themselves creatively.
The NCC is a significant
historical site that speaks volumes for expressing Guyana’s talent. We must continue to uphold the value of this structure.
Respectfully, Jules Ketwaru
Dear Editor,
Stakeholders are calling for an inquiry into the Good Hope/Pomona Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), as for the past decade, no statutory meetings have been held due to the lack of a quorum.
Out of the 15 elected People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) councillors and three People’s National Congress (PNC) councillors, only four are functioning.
Stakeholders within the Good Hope/Pomona area are calling for the election of a new chairman and vice chairman of the NDC, since they claim that the NDC is highly corrupt.
Rates and taxes and other fees collected from the Supenaam market were far less than targeted. The majority of taxpayers and concerned stakeholders are in favour of the replacement of the Good Hope/Pomona NDC.
Under the relevant authority of the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry (MLGRD), Section 305 of the NDCs Act, Chapter 28:02, the minister can hold an urgent inquiry and dissolve the council and install wider multi-sector stakeholders
in the governance and management of the council.
The new council can be reinforced by the involvement of public servants, farmers and businessmen from Good Hope/Pomona NDC area, with the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of public/social property within its boundaries, which is lacking at the moment.
Over the decades, especially since the elected councillors left because of non-cooperation with the chairman, there have been a few projects undertaken with the support of government subventions.
There is no functioning works committee, no finance committee and no social development committee. The NDC is seen by the people as an instrument to be operated by the four councillors, while their only role is limited to the election of those others from time to time.
Many of the grosser defects of this NDC can be corrected and have indeed been largely corrected in other councils with a quorum and statutory meetings on a monthly basis.
Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan
Dear Editor,
Two things I hate being called: a liar and a hypocrite. Please correct me if I’m wrong. But as a citizen of Guyana, I also have a say. After all I did cast my vote at the 2011 general and regional elections. And as far as I’m concerned I made the right choice. I wasn’t fooled or misled in anyway by hypocritical power hungry opposition members of Parliament.
It looks as if the decisions are being made by illiterate persons for our beloved country. It’s an outrage to see opposition parties taking bread out of the nation’s mouth. I’m sure I speak for everyone directly and indirectly affected by the “cuts” of the 2012 national budget. A one-seat majority is being misused.
At one time, Moses Nagamootoo was the information minister. Every nation needs to have proper information dissemination in place. How else can we move forward in this universal effective means of information and technology? Clearly the oppositions did think this through. Had they done this, the decisions they made would differ.
During the 2011 campaigning prior to the elections, we were being told a bunch of stories with much effect at those rallies and
gatherings and eventually they all turned out to be lies. How can the opposition fight for the youths of this nation? Without any thought they made a ruthless decision by snatching their jobs.
They are not fighting for the youths, they are fighting with them. Keep in mind, none of this is affecting the opposition parties. Khemraj Ramjattan and David Granger should be placed in our shoes. They have no idea what it’s like outside of their comfortable den. Their bread is well buttered.
Based on the newspapers, conferences and all news in general, according to the opposition parties, the “budget cuts” are targeted to the “super salaried” workers. However, this was not the case; another lie was being told on their part. This is just the beginning of the opposition’s wrath.
I refuse to wait around for five years, until the next general and regional elections, for a change. This madness needs to be stopped now. So far, instead of creating jobs and better living, we’ve seen the damage the opposition can create. If the budget cuts” cannot be undone and let sane and proper decisions prevail by the parliamentarians, then we should call snap elections.
What’s the point of electing a president of a specific
party only to be told that, because of a one-seat majority, our lives are being placed in jeopardy at the hands of opposition members? The opposition parties are vindictive and heartless.
They will stop at nothing to cripple the government for power. People of Guyana, how can we let these people govern our country and cre-
ate more pain for our people? If they can’t understand simple management of monies allocated to various entities of Guyana, how can they manage other major decisions to be made for our country?
Sincerely,
Ronita Pollard
Choose a live tree
Although plastic Christmas trees are reusable from year to year, real trees are the more sustainable choice. Plastic trees are made of petroleum products (PVC), and use up resources in both the manufacture and shipping. While artificial trees theoretically last forever, research shows that they are typically discarded when repeated use makes them less attractive. Discarded artificial trees are then sent to landfills, where their plastic content makes them last forever.
Live trees, on the other hand, are a renewable resource grown on tree farms, that are replanted regularly. They contribute to air quality while growing, and almost 90 per cent are recycled into mulch. Live trees are usually locally grown and sold, saving both transportation costs and added air pollution. Live trees also smell like Christmas! When buying a live tree, consider:
• live potted trees can be used for years
If you buy a small tree in a large pot, you may be able to reuse the tree for two to three years without having to plant or re-pot the tree.
• re-pot the tree for longer use
If your tree becomes root-bound, you can replant
it in a larger pot for several years’ extended use.
• replant the tree when it becomes too large for your holiday tree
If you have the space, of course, replanting the tree outdoors is an option. Be sure to anticipate the fullgrown size of the tree, and
for your shrub beds and garden pathways.
Homemade cards
Store-bought Christmas cards are rich, elegant and expensive. They also consume a huge amount of natural resources for a throwaway item. The amount of
avoid planting near foundations or underground services.
• chip and mulch the tree
This is useful since the chips are used as mulch for municipal landscaping or sold at low cost to gardeners. This chipped material makes an excellent mulch
cards sold in the U.S. during the holiday season would fill a football field 10 stories high, and requires the harvesting of nearly 300,000 trees. Homemade cards may not be as professional, but they are more personal and just as appreciated. Making the cards is also a fun activity for the
family during the weeks before Christmas.
Last years’ calendar is a good place to start when making homemade cards, since the images are large, colourful and printed on heavy paper similar in weight to card stock. Cut out sections of pictures and ‘glue-stick’ them to a foldedover piece of paper. Size the paper to fit your envelopes, or have the card and message on one side and fold over to put the address on the other side. Staple at the bottom and no envelope is needed.
Children’s art work is another good source for Christmas card pictures. Even the ‘scribbling’ of the wee-ones are interesting, fun and especially appropriate for the season. Parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles will probably appreciate a ‘child-s art’ card even more than a storebought card. Simply cut out sections of the artwork which look best, and gluestick it to a card of the required size.
Making your own cards is easy if you have the material to work with. Try to get in the habit of saving pieces of heavy paper (good one side) to use as the backing for your glued-on pictures. “Card stock” is the ideal weight, and even small pieces are worth saving. (Eartheasy)
BY LUCY DANIELS
Each school year is a new beginning that involves so many changes that it is inevitably a challenge for every child. There are, indeed, a number of ways parents can help preschoolers prepare for a new teacher. As always, we like to think about the meaning of a situation to a child – in this case, the challenge of starting a new class.
Every situation is mixed: Children (and others) long for perfection: parents who know and do exactly what they want, days that go just right, friends who know precisely how to play in the ways that they wish. Of course, this yearning extends to the classroom. A child longs for teachers who do not ask too much, is always understanding and never loses their cool; assignments that are neither boring nor intimidating; and classmates who are just right.
Beginning a new school year is an opportunity to help a child understand that the new classroom is good enough, if not everything that he wishes it would be. Sometimes, children’s difficulty accepting “good enough” is part of their difficulty beginning a school year.
If parents find this to be the case for their child, we recommend that parents convey their understanding and acceptance of his dissatisfactions, such as how he or she misses the way things were done in his or her classroom last year or that the new teacher is stricter than his or her beloved previous teacher. But we also recommend that parents mostly emphasise that the glass is at least half full, too, and that their son or daughter has a role in just how full the glass will be. For example, parents can confidently emphasise that their child will be able to learn and enjoy the new routines, and that he or she will find many things that to like about the new teacher even if she is stricter than he or she might wish.
Every separation is new: Children, and adults, rely on familiarity and routines to feel grounded and secure. We are less lonely and more grounded when doing things that are familiar with familiar people in familiar places. Times of change and transition bring about feelings of loneliness and uneasiness, often felt as anxiety.
Separation anxiety is not something that is felt only in the first few years, nor is it something that is pathological. We feel this anxiety at various points of change or loss. During these times, it is important to be able to dig deep inside and find a self-reliance that can carry oneself through the transition.
Some children can find that extra self-reliance fairly readily, and others need assistance. Some children seem to need a little more help with these times of change than might some other children. We would expect that such children would respond with a greater need for assistance at other common times of separation that may occur during childhood, such as house moves, loss of grandparents, a good friend moving away or a parent gone for an extended period on a business trip.
Preparation is key: The most important way to provide extra help with the upcoming challenge is to assist children with preparation. Children, like adults, are more successful when they anticipate and plan for what lies ahead. For example, we may visualise a scene, organise a task, quickly imagine a possible interaction or gather in our emotions. This process is so familiar and automatic that we usually don’t think twice about it. (lucydanielscenter.org)
By Samuel Sukhnandan
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) has made a dent in cocaine smuggling in the region, officials said on Tuesday as a two-day meeting to review the work of the U.S.funded programme closed.
Cocaine seizures across Caricom member states, training of police personnel, and the provision of fast boats to help curtail maritime criminal activities are among the successes of the initiative.
This is according to cochairs of the meeting, Astonia Browne of Caricom and U.S. State Department Office of Caribbean Affairs Director Juan Alsace, at a news conference following the meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Successful meeting
Browne, who is the St Kitts and Nevis National Security Ministry permanent secretary, said the meeting was successful and areas that required improvement were identified. She said some projects
that were discussed included Advanced Fingerprinting Information System (AFIS); Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS); Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network (RIBIN); and counter arms trafficking and crime prevention efforts in relation to at-risk youth. She stated that one of the aims of CBSI is crime prevention and there was a focus on preventing at-risk youth from becoming involved in criminal activity while helping them to develop vocational skills. Achievements were also
highlighted and recommendations made to improve agencies tasked in securing the region; working collaboratively with the U.S. government.
Alsace told media operatives that the investment has been worthwhile and the CBSI is showing great success thus far. He said some US$263 million has already been expended on the programme since its launch in 2011, with an additional US$60 million set aside for this year.
Co-chair Alsace alluded to comments made by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at the
opening on Monday, reiterating that indeed no one country can tackle regional security, as it requires a collaborative effort. The U.S. official said that theme was reflected in the discussions during the CBSI meeting. It was also agreed that countries of the Caribbean must work in partnership with each other and the U.S. government to improve communications and information sharing.
Discussions also touched on law enforcement and security strategies, especially to help at-risk youth find a bet-
ter future. Alsace said out of the meeting, regional standards on arrest warrants and other law enforcement matters are being considered. This discussion is likely to be expanded and continued at another CBSI meeting in Washington, DC, December 5-6. During this meeting, Caribbean security ministers will hold talks with the political leadership of the U.S. government, to determine the priorities and leadership for 2014 and years to come.
Alsace also agreed with
Prime Minister Hinds’ comments that a holistic strategy was needed to tackle regional crime and security challenges, and said this will also be looked at during the next meeting.
Commitment was also given to sustain the initiative. Browne said a joint plan of action for regional security, in partnership with the U.S., has already been put in place, with several programmes and initiatives already reflecting the strategic goals of the region’s crime and security strategy. This, she said, will serve as the blueprint that will inform the region’s strategies.
Gun-related crimes
The rise in gun-related crimes, gang-related violence, drug trafficking, cyber crimes, and human trafficking are among some challenges affecting the region. It was noted that greater collaborative efforts are required with regional and international agencies if the Caribbean is to enhance security by reducing crime.
The cricketer who was charged for the murder of Shawn “Red Man” Nelson, on Orange Walk, Georgetown, earlier this year was freed owing to the absence of witnesses, among them police detectives.
Magistrate Fabayo Azore discharged the case at the preliminary inquiry (PI) stage, saying that a prima facie case was not made despite there being video evidence of the cricketer – Carlyle Barton – when he allegedly shot Nelson, with whom he had a long-standing friendship.
Barton was elated and sprinted out of the court mere seconds after Magistrate Azore announced that she was forced to set him free, owing to the lack of evidence, since the witnesses failed to show up.
Barton made his first
court appearance on May 28 before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell and was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on May 27 at Orange Walk, he murdered Nelson. The matter was then
transferred to another court where the PI had commenced.
As the PI continued, several prosecution witnesses did not show up to testify, which brought a halt to the proceed-
ings and forced the case to be adjourned.
The entire shooting incident was captured on surveillance cameras and based on the evidence, the cricketer was charged with the man’s death. The surveillance recording that was uplifted from a nearby business was reportedly not presented in court.
A relative of the dead man when contacted voiced his concern about the way in which the matter was handled.
“We think it is unfair and we think no proper investigation was done and the matter was handled unprofessionally… the main problem is the lack of officers to testify and the video recording of the shooting was not presented in court,” the man’s nephew, Gavin Dover, explained.
He said since there was no evidence to commit Barton to stand trial in the High Court for his uncle’s death, the case was discharged.
“It is sad that it came down to this… we think things would have been done in a better manner with the assistance from people we know, but that was not the case… we lost a life in the most horrid manner and now to see the case being handled this way, it is heartbreaking,” he said.
The young man, who is also a friend of the cricketer, disclosed that the footage was seen on national television and yet the court was unable to rule in their favour. He also highlighted that there was other evidence that could have been used in court to make the case stronger, but it was not used during the PI.
He added that immediately after the shooting incident, the Barton family visited their home and they had talks.
Dover added that the family will come together and make a decision on whether or not to make an appeal.
On the day of the shooting incident, Nelson had left his D’Urban Street home and was walking to his Robb Street job when he was shot. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day. After driving away from the scene, a panicked Barton crashed his car a number of times on his way home. Barton later surrendered to the police in the company of his lawyer.
Justice Dawn Gregory on Monday imposed a 20-year jail term on Satrohan Mannaru, also called “Andrew” of Black Bush Polder, for killing his girlfriend at a school sport in the area back in October 2011.
Mannaru had murdered 13-year-old Indranie Basdeo also known as “Cynthia” on October 7, 2011. The jury arrived at the decision 25 minutes after receiving directions from Justice Gregory. After the jury returned the unanimous verdict, Mannaru told the court he has nothing to say. Before imposing the sentence, the judge told him that he will get five years off the 25 years because it was a “crime of passion”.
During the month-long trial, the prosecution called 11 witnesses while the defence called the accused who gave an unsworn statement in which he claimed that the incident was an accident, as it was done unintentionally.
In addressing the jury after closing the defence’s case, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos urged the jurors to believe that his client had shown love for Basdeo, in that even when she was on the ground bleeding, he hugged her and buckled her with his legs.
He reminded the jury that in his evidence, the brotherin-law of the now dead teenager said, “a crowd had gathered”. He asked the jury to consider the fact that in their investigation, the police only picked out three persons from the crowd.
“What happened to all the other people, only three relatives of the victim? Couldn’t they get an independent wit-
ness?”
The attorney argued that one of the prosecution’s chief witnesses Tulsiedai Basdeo, who is the sister of the diseased, admitted that when she gave a statement to the police on the day after the incident, she made no mention of a knife, but in a subsequent statement made mention of it.
Different story
De Santos pointed out to the jury that Tulsiedai told a different story during the trial to what she told the magistrate during the preliminary inquiry (PI). “Remember when I cross-examined her, she told this court that she was confused and that the story she was giving here is the truth.” He asked the jury to consider her as a programmed witness. “She refused to answer a number of questions when cross-examined by me.”
De Santos submitted that the girl was injured. “She was injured by a knife which the accused had.” He argued that the accused was committed to the deceased, in that, he tat-
tooed her name on his forearm. “I ask you to find that the caution statement was not the words of the accused,” he challenged the jury. “During all the evidence given, you did not hear of any enmity between the accused and the deceased.”
Before closing, he asked the jury to accept the defendant’s account of what transpired. “… Indranie accidentally get bore when she hold on to me hand… I did not intentionally do it.”
Consequences
In her address to the jury, State Persecutor, Attorney Renita Singh said “Tulsiedai is human, and you saw her, she broke down even two years after the incident as she recounted the events as they unfolded. She also told us that she was here to tell the truth and what she remembered. She said that during the preliminary inquiry at the magistrate’s court, she was confused when she gave evidence because the lawyer was hollering on her.”
Turn To page 10
...budgets
And there are people who still wonder why Georgetown has gone to the dogs...very mangy dogs at that. News is that Mayor (for life) Hamilton Green was behind the City Council’s rejection of the $2 billion budget.
According to the mayor, the budget –prepared by the fellow who’s in charge of that task, Chairman and Overseer of the City’s Finance Committee, Junior Garrett, did not have a “philosophical content”.
You read that right! And here it is, we thought budgets should just be about how much money you plan to spend on what you think is necessary. Evidently, Garrett thought so also. You know...garbage is piling up in the city...the garbage trucks the city acquired at great expense are all lying in various states of disrepair – and say, $50 million should be allocated to fix the trucks.
Or City Council looks like hell and maybe some paint should be purchased to spruce it up. Or maybe that the $9 million owed to the City Council by the mayor’s wife could be counted as “income” – since she decided to pay up.
“Stuff and nonsense!” huffed the mayor. Where’s the “philosophical content”? He felt that this “philosophical content” should be in the prelude to the budget, but wasn’t too specific as to what exactly should’ve been stated therein. Knowing, however, the mayor’s well-known bent towards a moral awakening, maybe the prelude should’ve waxed philosophically about Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Genealogy of Morals”.
So we have to decipher the mayor’s cryptic remark on philosophy. There’s his comment that Garrett shouldn’t just say how much is going to be spent on fixing the cemetery, but rather how much the city wanted to spend, but didn’t have the funds to do so.
Philosophically then, Garrett should’ve indicated that the Mayor and the City Council were not “empiricists” but idealists. None of what we see is “real”, so why bother with the nasty things staring us in the face. Let’s just make believe. Garrett should’ve titled his
budget prelude as “A Wish List”.
But maybe the mayor’s philosophical demand is much more mundane. The Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green spoke about the omissions of the budget. And you know, sins of omission are as fatal as sins of commission. Seems Garrett omitted salary increases for all the councillors who had done such a sterling job on behalf of the city. Now if this is not a fatal omission, what is?
Philosophically, it’s called “looking out for number one” or “every man (and woman) for himself and the devil take the hindmost”.
...on food
In case you missed the announcement, this week is “Restaurant Week” and you’d better put that down in your social calendar. We haven’t gotten to the point where our home away from home is the restaurant down the street – but we’re getting there fast.
In Guyana, we don’t seem to distinguish between “restaurants” and “fast food” joints. Most of what we call “restaurants” fall into the latter category. And it’s a real fast-growing category. Did you ever wonder why?
Apart from the fact that the economy’s doing good and incomes are rising – the socalled “pull factors”, there’s a big push factor in operation – the “fat factor”. The Americans, who invented this fast food phenomenon with their burger (McDonald’s/Wendy’s/Burger Kings) and chicken (KFC/Popeyes) joints, suddenly realised they’re all overweight and unhealthy.
Much of this is courtesy of their fast food industry, which discovered that it’s fat that gives most food their flavour and just loaded up on this “nutrient”. Now they’ve clamped down on the industry, like with cigarettes decades ago, the fast food joints have discovered the Third World.
...on pharma
When the government launched its own warehouse, we predicted it wouldn’t be able to handle the supply-chain discipline for the pharma industry. In less than a year, it has piled up $85 million in expired drugs.
“Tarzan” of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who is accused of stabbing to death Dhanraj Budhan called “Troy”, 18, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara on Sunday morning during a gambling game at the “Fantasy Night Club” in Lusignan (ECD), remains under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Police spokesman Ivelaw Whittaker told Guyana Times on Monday that as police continue their investigations, it was revealed that the suspect and a group of men were gambling on the morning when an argument broke out among them.
He said during the argument, “Tarzan” reportedly broke a bottle and attacked the now dead teen and the other men, but they put up
a fight, hence, he was also injured. A third person who was injured was treated and sent away.
Whittaker also stated that the man is recuperating and will probably be slapped
with a manslaughter charge since he was involved in the fight.
Budhan was beaten to death outside the night spot at Lusignan. It was reported that Budhan got into an argument with some other young men, resulting in them attacking him, using a broken bottle and pieces of wood. He was lashed to the face and other parts of the body with bottles and other articles.
The man, who was seen hitting Budhan outside of the club, was subsequently admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital under police guard. The dead man’s aunt, Denny Singh, told this publication that after Budhan’s mother passed away a year ago, he stayed with her.
On Sunday, Singh was informed that her nephew was
beaten and rushed to the hospital, but at no point in time did they tell her that he was dead. The woman went to the emergency ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital, but did not see him.
Later her family was given Budhan’s belongings and she was subsequently told that the young man died. She recalled that her nephew left on Saturday evening around 19:00h with some friends to drop something for his father at La Bonne Intention, ECD.
The young man was described as a good person who always had a smile on his face, no matter the situation. Budhan leaves to mourn his brother, sister and father. His body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination today.
Satiricus sighed. There were so many things people just didn’t get. Look how everyone cussing down Duvid GrainJa and Rum Jhaat – because they didn’t vote for the bill to stop money laundering in Guyana. But they didn’t know what great patriots these men were...how they only thought of what was good for the people and never for themselves.
The thought came to Satiricus as he marvelled at the Christmas tree at Rahaman’s Park. He passed it on the way back from his place of toil. Every year, his spirits would have been lifted around now, because he knew his toil would be lightened in the Christmas season.
And why not? All the “small piece” from the clan in New York and Toronto used to become quite a “big piece” when he added them up. But not as big as the sport he would throw with all that moolah in his hands.
He and the fellas would live it up at the backstreet bar every night – booze and beers!! The fellas used to receive their “small piece” also. Man, it was bedlam in the backstreet. But never mind his name, Rum Jhaat decided this carousing had to stop.
Not for him, of course. He was too far gone, poor fella... he was an alcoholic and had to put away a bottle (or two) every day. As for Duvid GrainJa...well...he never believed in fun. Did anyone, anywhere, ever see the man smile?
And that is why they voted down the bill...so that the outside banks would make it hard for the family up in New York and Toronto to send down money. Kill bill!!! Kill bill!!! Satiricus had heard them chanting in Parliament at the time.
Satiricus knew it must have been harder on Rum Jhaat and GrainJa than on the Guyanese who wouldn’t get money. But it showed the calibre of these great leaders: when the going gets tough – the tough gets going.
But then the thought struck Satiricus. Not everybody spent their “small piece” on beers and rum. Lotsa people would use the money to buy Christmas decorations. His wife used her “small piece” to buy curtains every Christmas. And it also paid for black cake and ginger beer and such Christmas fare. And some people bought clothes.
What were they going to do this Christmas now that Rum Jhaat and GrainJa cut off their money? Satiricus sighed. He knew these great leaders knew what they were doing. The people would have eaten too much. It was for their own good. Kill bill!!
The prosecutor said the accused had all intentions to kill and after stabbing the girl, he buckled her down and did not allow her relatives to get to her to render assistance. “Even though the murder weapon was not produced as evidence that does not say that the incident did not occur. All the witnesses mentioned a knife; even the accused mentioned a knife. The knife was produced as evidence in the magistrate court during the preliminary inquiry,” she noted.
The attorney argued that the fact that the caution statement was taken in the enquiries office at the police station, it is enough proof that it was free and voluntary since that office is open to the public. She asked the jury for them to be satisfied of his guilt before convicting him.
Justice Gregory had ad-
From page 8
vised the jury to consider the caution statement as to whether it was what the accused told the police, or whether the police wrote their own statement. She said if they agree with anything that both the prosecution and the defence said in both their addresses, then they may use it in their deliberations.
She reminded the jury that there were differences in the evidence that was given by Tulsiedai and her husband, Arnold Reddi. “If you feel that a witness is lying, then you may discard that evidence.” The defence case was that Mannaru was acting in self-defence when Basdeo was killed, in that, he became scared when he saw Basdeo’s brother-in-law Reddi, running towards him and thus he pulled out the knife to protect himself.
Children across the country will now be more au fait with some of their fundamental rights, following the creation for distribution countrywide of booklets of child-friendly versions of three recent updated laws.
The pieces of legislation are the Adoption of Children Act (2009 and 2011,) the Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act 2011 and the Status of Children Act, Number 19 of 2009.
The documents were produced by the Rights of the Child Commission, and the Child Rights Division, Childcare and Protection Agency, and the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry with technical and financial support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster, as she received copies of the three booklets from Rights of the Child Chairperson Aleema Nasir on Monday at the commission’s Peter Rose and Anira streets building, credited the late Rights of the Child commissioner Shirley Ferguson for starting the initiative.
Child-friendly
“Shirley in herself would have been happy today that this really became a reality because she was working on it,” Minister Webster said. She explained that “Shirley was one of those persons who advocated that things for children, especially sensitising our children, should be done in a very child-friendly way.”
Translating the documents from their legal language into simple terms was the passion of the late commissioner but Ferguson, regrettably passed away earlier this year before the project was completed. Minister Webster also commended too, the commission for the initiative of having the laws that pertain to children become child-friendly so that children throughout Guyana would be familiar with the laws that exist.
She said that the ministry is committed to ensuring that
all the booklets are distributed as widely as possible, recognising the importance of ensuring that children understand their basic human rights in keeping with the Convention of the Rights of Child.
“I think the more our children become au fait with their rights, I think Guyana will become a better society,” she said.
Nasir explained that the need for the booklets was recognised at a recent child participation workshop, which was attended by children from all 10 regions.
She said at the workshop, the children spoke very asser-
tively about all the things that they would like to see happen with regards to childcare and child rights in Guyana.
She said one aspect that the children were very vocal about was the need to better understand their rights.
Nasir also recognised the effort of Ferguson, who she said had a passion for children and was meticulous in her oversight of the project and worked meticulously and with much enthusiasm on it. In attendance also was UNICEF representative for Guyana and Suriname Marianne Flach, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
Cummingsburg, Georgetown, and $7 million for 158 B, according to court documents. He is also believed to owe the M&CC another $2.9 million for another lot in the same Waterloo Street property. In total, Ram reportedly owes the M&CC more than $11.3 million. He was, on Tuesday, represented by Attorney Rinee KissoonSingh.
The court cases brought by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for millions of dollars reportedly owed in taxes by Lallbachan “Lalloo” Christopher Ram and Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall, were on Tuesday further adjourned.
Ram and Lall, who were set to make another court appearance on Tuesday, had their matters further adjourned to December 2 and January 17 respectively.
Ram allegedly owes more than $1.4 million in taxes for sub lot D of 157 Waterloo Street, North
Lall and his wife, Bhena Lall, are accused of owing the M&CC more than $5.6 million in taxes for a property at 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, according to court documents seen by this newspaper. The Lalls are being represented by Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan.
Awoman was on Tuesday placed on $110,000 bail after she appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to two charges against her.
Sudil Burges, of Lot 378 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on November 17 at Queen Street, Kitty, Georgetown, she assaulted Vijaity Mala Jaserdeen causing her actual bodily harm.
Burges also maintained her innocence on the oth-
er charge which stated that on the same day, she made use of abusive language to Jaserdeen.
An unrepresented Burges told the court that she is married and is the mother of a four-year-old child. She stated that she is self-employed and has never had any run-ins with the law before.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt told the court that Burges hit the complainant’s head against a wall causing her to sustain blunt force trauma to her forehead and lacerations.
She also verbally abused her with a series of expletives. Jaserdeen told the court that the defendant would normally “smoke up” marijuana and would behave disorderly. She went on to say that when Burges hit her head against the wall, her vision was distorted and her heart rate accelerated.
Burges was granted bail and placed on a bond to keep the peace pending the outcome of the matter, which was transferred to Court One for November 27.
omestic violence, now labeled as gender based violence, unfortunately, continues to plague societies with devastating effects in many instances. Often, death, which seems an ultimate outcome, overshadows the lingering trauma faced by surviving members, especially children. Their challenges in a broken home while brought to the fore in a headline case, are quickly banished from the media spotlight because cases are swiftly replaced by others on the front page. The cycle continues; unfortunately.
The word "fleeting" readily comes to mind. Given the general scenario of how people are pre-occupied with ensuring their welfare, a pause, precipitated by a glance at a screaming headline, is noted. At that moment the indignation, if accomplished, is either vociferously internalised or expelled with those in proximity. Suggestions of what should have been done to avert the current tragedy or for the future become abundant. Such reactions can be deemed a natural propensity; a propensity that is regrettably ephemeral; fleeting to be precise.
It would not necessarily be erroneous to note that another propensity is for all to rightly condemn, but expect everyone else to become involved. The expectation is for others to lift a voice, which if not muted, cannot only be a cry for help, but a roar which can resonate to heightened awareness and to engineer behavioural change. Sadly, the seeming lack of cries can be in some way attributed to the perception of the stigma that such abuse may be confined to one section of society; a section which is not deprived of poverty.
Under these circumstances it would not be challenging to posit that the absence of a roar may be because those who possess the related vocal intensity are not stereotyped in the category noted. In other words, if one is not bothered, why bother! The pressures of culture, stigma and law enforcement compound an already untenable situation. Education through unremitting awareness becomes imperative.
It is in this context that I am extremely pleased to be part of this venture by the Indian Arrival Committee (lAC), to discharge its social mandate to aid in the amplifying of such awareness. I can only hope that the messages contained herein can be reflected from the mirror that is embedded in the stage.
My profound gratitude to the cast for their unwavering dedication to this endeavour. To the audience, don't allow your chocolate to melt! Enjoy!
Name of group: Indian Arrival Committee
Name of play: "When Chocolate Melts"
Playwright: Neaz Subhan
Director: Neaz Subhan
Stage manager: Sonia Yarde
Assistants: Kevin and Jake
Props: Yvette Ramharack
Costume: Vanya S Persaud
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Monday highlighted the need for individual responsibility to senior programme and divisional managers of various ministries at a five-day Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Workshop at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
The Finance Ministry’s workshop targeted managers from the foreign affairs, home affairs, human services, labour, health, education, tourism, housing, and water, legal affairs and public works ministries, as well as the Parliament Office. The workshop will focus on designing and building of a results-based M&E system.
Briefly reviewing his address to permanent secretaries and their deputies on November 15 at their workshop, the minister reiterated the need for more effective management.
Minister Singh emphasised their responsibility for mobilising and managing resources and their teams, with emphasis on ultimately delivering results to their superiors. This, he pointed out, is not different at any level, whether their respective areas are large or small.
“Whatever the scope and scale of your responsibility, the issue of managing more effectively, of delivering more results in a timelier, effective manner, is one you can’t escape from,” the minister emphasised.
He said government has rec-
ognised the need to actively promote more effective management within the system, and pointed out that this would rest with the workers and individuals within the system who have the responsibility of ensuring that they do their part. A more robust system to measure this would help, the minister noted.
He pointed out that even as results are measured, “the system for results-based management must be one that also sets targets, and measures the results of the individuals.”
Emphasis can be placed on achieving this by constantly monitoring and measuring the indicators or feedback which would set the targets needed, he said. “There has to be a greater emphasis on measuring results so that we can manage more effectively.”
The minister observed that this performance-based management in the M&E framework will be applied when government reports to parliamentary committees on sectoral performances and the Cabinet sub-committees.
Additionally, ministries would hold the employees accountable for their performance by setting annual targets and monitoring feedback against those targets.
Minister Singh also pointed to individual responsibility, which he noted was essential since all government workers are active participants. “A good start would be for you to do more… if you go to work early, work hard, work a full day, go to work every day,
make sure you discharge your responsibilities every day diligently… you are contributing to a more efficient industry.”
The workshop is being conducted by Dr Ray Rist, a renowned world authority on developing monitoring and evaluation systems and co-founder of the International Programme for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET).
Diploma level
Dr Rist said the current workshop is a condensed version and deals with public policy and evaluation at a diploma level. The participants will work in groups and develop presentations. “This is how you start to build an evidence-based public sector,” Dr
Rist explained, pointing out that evidence is what the 21st century world needs for policy and decision-making. Dr Rist will focus on topics which cover the understanding of the evaluation context and the programme theory of change; developing evaluation questions and starting the design matrix; selecting designs, data collection and data analysis; and presenting results.
This is part of an ongoing series of capacity building initiatives on monitoring and evaluation across government which is being led by the Finance Ministry. The aim is to address demands and pressures for improving the lives of citizens and public management.
Improvements may include greater accountability and transparency and enhanced effectiveness of interventions. M&E is a management tool to help track progress and demonstrate the impact of development projects, programmes and policies.
IPDET is an executive training programme that aims to provide managers and practitioners with the generic tools required to evaluate development policies, programmes, and projects at the local, national, regional and global levels. The programme features in-depth workshops, taught by renowned international faculty members drawn from southern and northern organisations.
On Tuesday, a duo was remanded to prison after they made their first court appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer to the charge of robbery under arms.
In Court Three, Ronell France, 22 and Neko Devinish, 19, both of Eccles, East Bank
Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on November 16 at Lombard Street, being armed with a gun, they robbed Keswick Miller of a quantity of articles and a sum of cash, totalling $196,000.
The prosecution’s facts stated that on the day in question around 00:45h,
the complainant was in an abandoned building on Lombard Street speaking to someone. He was approached by the defendants along with another man armed with a gun. They then relieved him of one pair of sneakers, two cellphones, a motorcycle key and a quantity of cash before making good their
escape.
Miller later saw the duo on Lombard Street and pointed them out to a police officer. They were subsequently arrested and charged.
Both defendants were represented by attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat who stated that both of his clients have had no trouble with
the law before. He said that France is a machine operator employed Banks DIH while Devinish is a mason. Attorney Fung-A-Fat made applications for reasonable bail to be granted for both of the young men.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt objected to bail on the grounds of the quantum involved in the charge
and the fact that a gun was used in the commission of the offence. He also stated that if granted their pretrial liberty, they will not return to court.
The matter was transferred to Court One and will be heard before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on November 28.
The Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) on Monday hosted a workshop targeting the development of skills within the mining sector, particularly in the area of heavy-duty equipment maintenance.
The two-day workshop held at the TVET secretariat, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, was attended by representatives from three leading mining companies and heavy-duty technicians from MACORP, along with senior lecturers from the Government Technical Institute (GTI), the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) and members of the TVET secretariat.
It was facilitated by Meg Savory, who is the coordinator for International Projects and Grants, International Education, Vancouver Island University, Canada.
The initiative stemmed from a job market survey conducted by the CTVET in the industrial sector, in which the development of skills within the mining sector, particularly in the area of heavy-duty equipment maintenance was identified as a critical need.
According to a release, as part of its mandate, CTVET was established to develop a national system of competency-based modularised training and to initiate its implementation across TVET institutions in Guyana.
Walters said a critical part in the establishment of comprehensive competency-based TVET programmes that meet the required standards of the Caribbean Vocation Qualification (CVQ), is the systematic development of curricula, based on the internationally accepted Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) process.
He explained that the DACUM process of occupational analysis is premised on the development of competencybased curricular to match the specific industry needs that prevail. In other words, com-
petency-based curricula will be developed to better suit the job requirements of industries.
Acute shortage
“The first curriculum that will be developed is one in the occupational area of heavy equipment maintenance. This curriculum development emerged after a labour market survey we conducted which highlighted that there is an acute shortage in this particular skill set in the industry. This development is what is being done presently at this workshop,” Waters stated.
He also pointed out that “The Caricom Education for Employment (C-EFE) project has held several workshops to train persons to prepare DACUM charts as part of the curriculum development initiative to strengthen the local institutions in each of the territories involved in the project. Guyana has participated in these workshops and we have persons from LTI (Linden Technical Institute), GTI, and the TVET secretariat who would have received the necessary training in the DACUM process.”
The workshop provided an
excellent opportunity for the newly-trained local DACUM personnel to demonstrate their understanding of the processes, and also to further help in the establishment of better partnerships with industry personnel to further advance the work being done by CTVET. Guyana will soon be applying to the Caribbean Examinations Council to gain certification status in order to confer the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) on students successfully completing subjects in the various fields of TVET.
To achieve its diversification goals, TT needs to create an innovative and entrepreneurial mind set among the citizens, Hugh Howard president of the American Chamber of Commerce of TT (AmCham) said on Monday. He said once that mind set is created there will be a paradigm shift from job seekers to job creators. Howard, speaking at the opening of Global
Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2013 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, said: “It is a recognised imperative for TT to achieve sustainable wealth creation and good quality of life for its citizens. “Our economy must be diversified from the heavy reliance on the wasting resources of oil and gas, which contribute about 45 per cent of gross domestic product and
approximately 80 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.”
Howard said the private sector has a role to play in “facilitating germination of the twin elements of entrepreneurship and innovation.”
He suggested the building of public/private partnerships is through assistance with financing since banks “do not have lending models that cater for budding innovators”.
(Trinidad Guardian)
U.S. labour costs rose marginally in the third quarter, pointing to tame wage inflation that should allow the Federal Reserve to maintain its bondbuying programme to stimulate the economy. The Employment Cost Index, the broadest measure of labour costs, increased 0.4 per cent after advancing 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, the Labour Department said on Tuesday.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected labour costs to increase 0.5 per cent. In the 12 months through September, compensation costs rose 1.9 per cent for a fifth straight quarter. During periods of strong economic growth, the U.S. central bank closely monitors the index for signs of wage inflation.
High unemployment amid a tepid economic recovery is keeping a lid on wage pressures. Some Fed officials have
expressed concerns about inflation being too low. That makes it unlikely the central bank will scale back its monthly US$85 billion bondbuying programme this year.
The monthly purchases are intended to boost demand by keeping longer-term borrowing costs low. Wages and salaries, which account for 70 per cent of employment costs, rose 0.3 per cent in the third quarter after gaining 0.4 per cent in the prior period. (Reuters)
The outlook for the global economy has darkened as the prospects for emerging markets deteriorate and the United States approaches another potentially catastrophic debt deadline, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The thinktank upgraded its outlook for the UK but cut its forecasts for the global economy. The Paris-based group forecast that unemployment would remain stubbornly
high in several of its 34 mainly rich countries, that growth would slow in many emerging markets and that there was a significant threat to financial stability from the U.S. Federal Reserve unwinding its stimulus programme – a process known as tapering.
Presenting its global outlook, Pier Carlo Padoan, the OECD’s deputy secretary-general and chief economist said many parts of the global economy had been left vulnerable
by a deep recession and exceptional stimulus packages.
“The global economy continues to expand at a moderate pace, with some acceleration of growth anticipated in 2014 and 2015. But global growth forecasts have been revised down significantly for this year and 2014, in large part due to weaker prospects in many emerging market economies. Downside risks dominate and policy must address them,” he said. (The Guardian)
Nigeria attracted over N205.4 billion worth of fresh investments into her retail sector in the last two years, the Trade and Investment Industry Minister, Olusegun Aganga, has said.
The minister, who was speaking at the inauguration of the Retail Council of Nigeria in Abuja, on Monday, identified the retail sector as a major driver of economic growth, job creation and wealth generation globally;
pointing out that Nigeria had great opportunities for existing and new investors to take advantage of.
Aganga said that Nigeria was beginning a journey to strengthen and deepen one of the most important segments of the economy, adding that the retail sector was the glue that binds economic activities together, by connecting the final consumers, to products from the producers. He said the impact of retail business in Nigeria cannot be over-em-
phasised, considering that anywhere in the world; it was a major driver of the economy.
“Globally retail trade accounts for 27 per cent of the world’s GDP (gross domestic product), which means we have about US$19 trillion of retail sales each year,” the minister said. “Retail sector also employs 17 per cent of the global workforce, which is about 800 million people. In the United States alone, one in every 10 people works in the retail sector...” he added.
India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has inaugurated the country’s first ever state-owned bank for women in the western city for Mumbai. The Bharatiya Mahila Bank, which begins with seven branches, will employ women, accept deposits from and lend mostly to women.
The bank plans to open 500 branches all over India by 2017. Just 26 per cent of women in India have an account with a formal financial institution, compared with 46 per cent of men.
That means an account in either a bank, a credit union, a cooperative, post office or a microfinance institution, according to a study by the World Bank. Singh opened the first branch in Mumbai’s Air India building on Tuesday.
“Both men and women can open accounts. But the bank will be predominantly for women in accepting deposits and giving loans. Our main objective will be to empower and educate women financially,” Usha Ananthasubramanian, chairperson of the bank, told
BBC Hindi’s Rupa Jha. The bank will also open branches in villages, where women face more problems opening an account. In February, the federal government announced the launching of the bank with initial capital of US$184 million (£116 million).
Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said the bank would employ women, lend mostly to women and “address gender-related issues, empowerment and financial inclusion”. (BBC News)
Iraqi Airways’ desire to reemerge as a significant regional and international carrier took another major step today after it signed a letter of intent (LOI) for five CS300 jetliners from Bombardier, with options for 11 more, at The Dubai Airshow. Based on current list prices, the deal would be worth US$387 million, which would rise to US$1.26 billion if all options are converted.
Captain Saad Al-Khafaji,
CEO and director general, Iraqi Airways, said it has successfully utilised the CRJ900 next generation aircraft and today marks the next phase, as the airline plots new fuel-efficient routes into MENA and European markets in the 100-to-149-seat sector. The aircraft, due to be delivered from 2016, will contain 132 passengers with 12 business and 120 economy seats. As befits the globally scattered nature of aviation, and its compo-
nent industries, today’s top table saw Captain Saad joined by officials from Northern Ireland and Canada, with Bombardier Aerospace Belfast making the composite wings and Bombardier itself headquartered in Montreal.
Canada’s International Trade Minister Ed Fast, said the LOI will add another dimension to Canada’s participation in Iraq’s reconstruction and help grow bilateral trade. (Gulf Business)
How to value a company in three steps (part one)
In a manner of metaphor, valuing a company is like valuing a middle aged rock star. What instruments do they own? What songs do they own the copyrights on?
And can they fill a stadium of fans or just a coffee house? Eddie Van Halen is still making money on his guitar patents, but when was the last time Van Halen had a hit record?
Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead passed away in 1995, but the Jerry Garcia clothing brand is still going strong. Valuing a company
requires evaluating actual value alongside perceived values and somewhere in between is the estimated market value.
The challenge is that while the middle aged rock star (aka company) is looking in the mirror – they see themselves as a “rock legend”.
However, value is determined from the other side of the looking glass.
Follow these steps, and you will have the right point of view for valuing a software start-up to a rockabilly come back artist.
Step 1a: Asset value – Tangibles Assets are what the company owns outright, like office equipment, vehicles, inventory etc. The list can get long and represents a tangible value. In other words, if the company closed its door today, this is the value of what could be sold. There is no guarantee of course what the actual sales would be and this value would be affected by debt and accounts payable. Nevertheless, tangible asset value is a form of perceived security blanket. If the company liquidates, this is the approximate value. (Business Dictionary)
The Organisation of American States (OAS) on Tuesday received U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who spoke in favour of cooperation among the countries of the Western Hemisphere based on a relationship between equals, with the aim of strengthening democracy, investing in education and combating climate change.
The event, co-organised by the OAS and the InterAmerican Dialogue, was opened by OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, who recalled the positive changes that have taken place in Latin America and the Caribbean over the last decade, both in economic and political terms, and urged the government of U.S. President Barack Obama and the other OAS member states to continue working to advance key issues on the hemispheric agenda. “This is certainly the best place to discuss the common challenges our region faces today and in the near future,” he said.
In his address, entitled “The United States and Latin America: The Power of Partnership”, Kerry expressly rejected the poli-
cies pursued by his country in the past in Latin America and the Caribbean through the “Monroe Doctrine”, and opened the door to a relationship of equals between Washington and the other countries of the hemisphere.
“The era of the Monroe Doctrine is over. The relationship that we seek and that we have worked hard to foster is not about a United States declaration about how and when it will intervene in the affairs of other American states. It’s about all of our countries viewing one another as equals, sharing responsibilities, cooperating on security issues, and adhering not to doctrine, but to the decisions that we make as partners to advance the values and the interests that we share.”
Common goal
Secretary Kerry called on the countries of the Americas to work toward the same goals because, “as the old proverb says, La union hace la fuerza” (The union – in unity, there is strength). In this regard, he raised three questions crucial to the future of the region. The first question, he said, is wheth-
er the countries of the hemisphere are able to work together “in the promotion and protection of democracy, security and peace that all the peoples of the Americas deserve”. The second question raised by the chief U.S. diplomat referred to whether “we will be able to advance prosperity in the Western Hemisphere and educate our youth to lead the economies of the future”. And the third question was “whether together we will be able to address the threat posed by climate change?”
Achieving positive responses to these questions, he continued, will mark the future of the hemisphere.
“The real challenge of the 21st century in the Americas will be how we use our democratic governments to deliver development, overcome poverty, and improve social inclusion,” said Secretary Kerry, who recalled that 50 years ago, then-President John F Kennedy called for a similar vision in the region, in which each country is secure and acts independently.
Protection of democracy
Regarding the protection of democracy, Secretary Kerry said, “we can be immensely proud, I think, of this hemisphere’s democratic trajectory and of the institutions that we built in order to hold ourselves to the future and to be accountable. Successful democracies depend on all citizens having a voice and on respecting those voices, and all governments having the courage and the capacity to listen to those voices,” the U.S. diplomat stressed. He noted the importance of members holding themselves to the mandates
of OAS Charter.
In terms of education, Secretary Kerry argued that investment in the area must be a priority in order to advance the economic development of the hemisphere. “To start with, educational opportunity, above all, must be a priority. It is only with widely available, high-quality education that our workforce, the workforce of the hemisphere, will be equipped for the jobs of the future. Education, as we all know, opens up other doors as well,” he said.
Efforts to improve education, however, must be accompanied by other measures to provide the desired benefits. “Education, as we know, is only the first step. We must also press even harder to help create jobs and economic opportunity for our young people,” he said.
Local distribution giant, DeSinco Trading is going above and beyond this Christmas in their philanthropic efforts to give back to the community.
The business will be investing funds into a new project which will undoubtedly serve as the icing on the cake of the company’s community projects this year.
According to a release, every week until Christmas, DeSinco Trading will be donating a substantial amount of products to one local charity from their extensive food, personal care and household lines.
“We’ve decided to switch it up this year,” said DeSinco’s Marketing Manager Sarah Savory. “Our normal Christmas plans would include printing calendars and distributing hampers to our customers, but this time around, we’re upping the ante in hopes that we can make meaningful contributions to the people who look forward to it, especially during this time of year.”
DeSinco Trading is Guyana’s leading distributor of quality consumer goods. For over 20 years, the company has been serving the Guyanese public and ardently supports youth development through sponsorship of educational facilities and sporting activities nationwide.
On Tuesday last, Guyana Red Cross Society’s Welfare Officer Prudence Bowman and field officer Andrea Phillips received two boxes of personal care products on behalf of the company for senior citizens who benefit from their outreach programmes.
Make your move. Strategy coupled with insight and a little luck will lead to victory. Put personal relationships first. Pay attention to what your friends and family respond to most favourably.
By Bernice Bede Osol
(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
Don’t ignore the facts. Listen and assure anyone who has concerns that you are aware and willing to compromise, but you won’t take the brunt of the responsibility alone.
Expand your interests and explore what life has to offer. Subscribe to something that will help you broaden your perspective and choices. Follow your heart and make a positive change. Make the changes you desire, but do so discreetly. The less people know about what you are up to, the less interference you will face. Don’t take on responsibilities you cannot handle.
(Aug. 23Sept. 22)
(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)
You will have the upper hand. Don’t stop when there is so much to gain. Wheel and deal until you get what you want. An emotional relationship will be best dealt with passionately.
(March 21-April 19)
Everything will be dependent on how you get along with others. Reach for equality, and you will find common ground that will bring you closer to your goals.
(April 20-May 20)
Shop around and look for bargains. Heading for a destination that offers information and a chance to share with someone you enjoy being with should highlight your day.
(May 21June 20)
Work toward getting whatever is expected of you out of the way. You will discover a talent you didn’t know you had if you offer to help someone in need.
Getting in touch with people you have worked with in the past will bring about new opportunities. Mix business with pleasure, and you will please everyone and secure your position.
(Sept. 23Oct. 23)
Share your concerns, but don’t try to lay down the law. Compromise and keeping the peace will be your ticket to getting what you want. Change will be inevitable. Go with the flow.
(Oct. 24Nov. 22)
Discuss sensitive issues, and you will find workable solutions. A personal relationship will benefit if you take a unique approach to domestic duties. Follow your heart.
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
Altering where or how you live may lead to an emotional situation, but once you do, it will eventually prove to be a good choice. Don’t let anyone manipulate you.
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Another miner was on Monday reportedly beaten to death during an altercation with other miners at West Fork Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven, police said.
Michael Morris, 42, also called “Disguise” of Lot 1544 Cummings Park, Sophia, Georgetown, reportedly succumbed to the injuries that were inflicted on his head with a piece of wood used by his assailant. The suspect, Guyana Times understands, is still on the lam.
According to reports, ever since Morris left the camp that he originally worked at to work at another, he and another guy were at constant loggerheads, with the two verbally abusing each other.
However, this newspaper understands that up to last Tuesday evening, the body of the father of three did not arrive at the Bartica Hospital Mortuary. According to information received, Morris left with one of his friends about two months ago and was not heard from since.
Relatives plunged into a state of shock when they learnt of Morris’ demise and were still convinced that he is alive, since they were told a different story to what was reported by the police.
“When I come home this morning, an Amerindian boy who took him in the bush, called my nephew and told him that my brother had a little altercation with another man and he injured the man… the man he injured would always trouble him but he spoke to him about it, but it continued,” Karen Morris, a sister of the dead man stated.
She went on to say that about 12:30h, she was told that after they sat to have lunch, the other miners did not see Morris nor the other guy, but soon after they heard screams and went to look. “I don’t know is who chop who but a chopping happen, so I heard the other miners held him, tied him to a tree and beat him with a piece of wood.”
The frustrated woman claimed that something was not right since they were initially told that her brother had injured another miner and was arrested and taken to the Bartica Police Station.
The relative is calling on the
Guyana Police Force to thoroughly investigate the matter.
The sister further stated that this is not the first time that her brother went to the backdam, and he is not someone who would get into trouble easily. “It had to be that they attacked him and he probably retaliated and put up a fight and they killed him,” she cried.
The woman, who works at the Georgetown Public Hospital, said since her bother left home, he was not heard from, claiming that he would usually spend some time before he returns.
However, the friend who took Morris into the interior explained that he left after spending some time, claiming that the camp was suffering some “blows”. He said he learnt about Morris’s decision when he returned to the area after he left to purchase goods.
The man also explained that when he returned to the interior location, Morris came across to his camp and borrowed tractor oil and he took the opportunity to ask him to return it, but he refused. He also confirmed that Morris told him that he was having trouble with one particular man at the camp, “who was always on his case”.
A few days later, the friend told Guyana Times that he left the interior after he took ill, thus leaving Morris behind. He explained that on Monday afternoon, he received a call from a friend informing him that Morris was involved in a fight and he injured a man in the process. He was also told that Morris was arrested and transported to the Bartica Police Station while the injured man left the area to seek medical attention. It is very difficult to make contact with people in the area unless there is a radio set, he disclosed.
The police outpost, he added is at Aranka, which is a few miles from the West Fork Backdam and has to be reached by tractors. He reiterated that he has not gotten any information that Morris was killed, but he had injured another person. The police are continuing their investigations. Morris leaves to mourn his mother, three children and four siblings.
President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, paid tribute last week to Shivnarine Chanderpaul for becoming the first West Indies player to appear in 150 Tests.
The 39-year-old Chanderpaul reached the milestone during the second Test against India which ended on Saturday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“Shiv may be a quiet man, but he is the tower of strength in our batting,” said Cameron. “He may be small in stature and we may call him “Tiger”, but he is lion-hearted and hardworking; qualities that our young players should emulate.
“He may not be as destructive as Chris Gayle or as flambuoyant as one of his other contemporaries Brian Lara, but Shiv is an icon in his own right and we want him to know that we value him.”
“On behalf of the West Indies Cricket Board and the people of the Caribbean, I want to pay tribute to Shivnarine Chanderpaul on reaching this landmark.”
Chanderpaul made his
Test debut 19 years ago on home soil at Bourda Oval in the Guyana capital of Georgetown, becoming the 204th player to wear the maroon cap of the Windies.
“Tiger”, as he is affectionately known, is the seventh player in the history of the game to play 150 Tests.
The 2008 ICC World Player-of-the-Year has scored 10,963 runs at an average of 51.71 including 28 hundreds and 61 half-centuries. Only fellow left-hander Brian Lara has scored more runs (11,953) for West Indies.
Chanderpaul also had
the honour of leading West Indies in 14 Tests between 2005 and 2006.
The WICB arranged for Chanderpaul to be presented with a commemorative plaque by legendary former West Indies captain Clive
Ramcharitar Construction 50-over cricket…
Lloyd prior to the Test.
The West Indies team also hosted a celebratory dinner to hail Chanderpaul’s accomplishment and he was presented with a specially embroidered cap on the first morning of the Test.
The Guyana Volleyball Federation will stage its second international club festival from Friday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Teams from Trinidad and Tobago (Big Sepos) and Suriname (Yelico) will take on local sides Young Achievers, Port Mourant Training Centre and Guyana Defence Force Combined, while the newly formed Vanguard female team will take on their counterparts from Surinam (Yelico).
The festival is part of Guyana Volleyball Federation’s Bloc Development Plan, which was designed to promote increased activity among neighbouring countries at affordable cost and to provide international exposure to players in Guyana.
Two more first round matches of the 2013 Ramcharitar Construction Services first division 50-over knockout cricket competition were played off last Saturday, resulting in convincing victories for Albion Community Centre and Universal Solutions Bermine.
The victories ensured they advanced to the second round, joining Port Mourant Karibee Rice, Police and West Berbice who won their respective first round matches two Saturdays ago.
At Blairmont, Albion Community Centre defeated Blairmont Community Centre by 127 runs. In the match, which was reduced to 40 overs because of a late start due to rain, Albion Community Centre racked up 221-6.
Albion, having lost former West Indies batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon for 38 at 82-3, benefitted from a 59-run fourth wicket stand between former Guyana T20 batting star Jonathan Foo and Guyana wicketkeeper/ batsman Anthony Bramble. Foo made 60.
Bramble carried on with former West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and together the two of them put on 80 for the fifth wicket before Bramble went for 37. Bishoo ended on 60 not out, while legspinner Kevin Jawahir took 2-47 from eight overs.
When Blairmont replied, former Berbice Under-19 offspinner Veerapen Permaul took the first three wickets to leave them at 25-3. National batsman Leon Johnson and Berbice Under-19 batsman Nick Ramsaroop then put on 32 for the fourth wicket to help stabilise the innings.
However, after Johnson fell for 34 to Guyana Under-17 off-spinner Sharaz Ramcharran, West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie picked up two quick wickets to reduce Blairmont to 72-6.
Bishoo then took three in quick succession, includ-
ing Ramsaroop for 32, as Blairmont folded for 94. Bishoo took 3-24 from three overs, Permaul 3-27 from eight overs and Motie 2-17 from two overs.
Over at Edinburgh, Universal Solutions Bermine beat Edinburgh by eight wickets. With the match starting late due to a disorganised Edinburgh having to “rounds up” their team from around the village, Edinburgh won the toss, batted first and were bowled out for 79 in 25.1 overs. Deonarine Seepersaud made 20.
Bowling for Universal Solutions Bermine, Berbice off-spinner Devon Clements took 3-8 from 6.2 overs, Guyana Under-19 pacer Romario Shepherd 3-35 from seven overs and former Guyana Under-19 all-rounder, left-arm spinner Eugene La Fleur 2-15 from six overs.
Universal Solutions Bermine hit off the runs without much bother, reaching 81-2 in just 10 overs with former Guyana opening batsman, Shemroy Barrington, batting through with 50 not out, which included seven fours.
The sixth first round match between Bush Lot Rising Star and Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets will be played on Saturday at Bush Lot in West Berbice. The second round of the competition is scheduled for this weekend.
By Avenash Ramzan
Top teams from Guyana, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados will compete in the ninth annual Diamond Mineral Water International indoor hockey festival, set to start on November 28 and conclude on December 1 at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
At the launch of the festival on Tuesday at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, president of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Phillip Fernandes, promised four days of high quality hockey, featuring some of the best players from this part of the globe.
Success
The GHB will organise the event for the ninth year in a row, and according to Fernandes, who will serve as coordinator, the board is pleased with the success and popularity the festival has gained over the years.
indoor players in their lineup,” Fernandes outlined. Meanwhile, Fernandes also revealed that the GHB has invited leading regional umpire Susie Gomes and international judge Richard Shaw of Jamaica to ensure officiating is at its optimum.
Corporate support
In endorsing the festival, both Wills and Yussuf pointed to the fact that the event provides an excellent opportunity for local players to match talents with their overseas counterparts, and in the process, test their skills in a competitive environment.
“The festival continues to attract top teams from the Caribbean region and North America and is a key ingredient for keeping the level of hockey in Guyana on par with that of the region. We are happy to have out platinum sponsor, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), who has been with us from the inception of this tournament, and to whom we owe a great deal of its success,” Fernandes pointed out.
He said the festival is one that is highly respected by the overseas teams, who plan their schedule around Guyana’s premier indoor tournament, which will encompass rivalry in the Men’s, Women’s and Veteran’s divisions.
He added, “Before this tournament, there was no international hockey being played in Guyana and Diamond Mineral Water took a risk when they embarked on this ambitious project with us back in 2004. We look forward to associating with this quality brand throughout the tournament and hopefully for many years to come.”
Fernandes said the GHB is equally delighted to once again welcome gold sponsor, Ansa McAl Trading, through its Carib Beer brand. Carib
Beer is the sponsor of the sponsor of the Veteran’s segment of the competition.
The GHB assured representatives of the sponsorsBrand Executive Larry Wills of DDL and Public Relations Officer Darshanie Yussuf of Ansa McAl Trading- of the high level of talent that will be on display at this year’s event.
“In the Men’s competition, through Revamp HQ of Toronto, we see the return of some of Canada’s top players, including representatives of the Maple Leaf in
the last indoor hockey world cup: Jonathon Roberts, Scott Sandison and Jewan Batt. The YMCA of Barbados, led by captain Rohan Thomas and former Guyanese national Jerry Bell, will also add to the calibre of the competition. On the female side, both Malvern and Magnolias of Trinidad feature a series of current and former national players, including Stacey Sui-Butt and Sherlan Cabralis. The Toronto Toros also present a strong challenge for the title with some of Canada’s top
Diamond Mineral Water has been on board since the inception in 2004, while Carib Beer has partnered with the hockey board for the last six years.
The winning Men’s and Women’s teams will receive US$1,000 each with the runners-up getting US$500, while the winner of the Veterans division will collect US$500.
Local side Hikers are the defending champions of the Men’s and Veteran’s categories, while Toronto will put their title on the line in the Women’s segment.
inth Dan Shuseki Shihan
NFrank Woon-A-Tai recently held a grading examination where 113 karatekas graduated at the YMCA building, Thomas Lands.
Woon-A-Tai, the founder of the International Karate Daigaku, was assisted by sixth Dan Sensei Amir Khouri when the grading was held on Sunday.
At the conclusion of the grading, 36 students were promoted to White/Yellow belt (9kyu), while 21 students graduated to Yellow belt (8kyu).
Four students were promoted to Orange belt (7kyu), 12 to Green belt (6kyu), 11 to Blue belt (5kyu), four to Purple belt (4kyu), six to Brown belt (3kyu), six to Brown belt (2kyu) and five to Brown belt (1kyu).
Five students also graduated to First Dan Black belt (Shodan) and another three were promoted to Second Dan Black belt (Nidan)
Promoted to Shodan were Nechemiyah Levans, Jonathon Singh, Omar Browne, Kimberley Pyneandy and Orville Critchlow, while those elevated to Nidan were Alexander Cheeks, Theresa Sampat and Prince Alguedown.
Outstanding among the kyu grades were Stephen Lewis, Jayden Speirs and Saif Ghanie of YMCA, Chelcia Benjamin of Land of Canaan, Alexzanda Karpen of Albion, and Kanda O’James and Afelie Henry of North Georgetown who all skipped White belt (10kyu) to Yellow belt (8kyu).
The instructors were Clinton Moriah of New Amsterdam, Hazrat Ali of Albion, Parmeshwar Persaud of Land of Canaan and Camille’s Institute, Laurence Lowe of North Georgetown and West Field schools, John Fernandes of Annai and Amir Khouri, Nathalie Gibson and Roger Peroune of YMCA.
The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) on Monday evening hosted a cocktail reception for drivers and sponsors ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) at the South Dakota Circuit.
The event was held at the GMR&SC headquarters on Albert Street and saw a large turnout of drivers and representatives of the large group of sponsors.
When action revs off at 08:00 hours on Sunday, Guyanese drivers, riders and go-karters will thrown down the gauntlet to their counterparts from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands, United States of America, Canada and Suriname in what is anticipated
to be an electrifying day of daredevilry.
Jamaica’s Doug “Hollywood” Gore is expected to be the star attraction with his Audi TT, touted as the fastest car in the Caribbean at the moment. However, he will face a stiff challenge from the Guyanese trio of Andrew King, Mark Vieira and Kevin Jeffrey, who will now do doubt look to exploit home court advantage.
Other high profile drivers and riders slated to compete are Doug Maloney and Mark Maloney of Barbados, along with the Guyanese brigade Raj Singh, Danny Persaud, Ryan Rahaman, Irfaan Kalamadeen and Joel Neblett.
The sponsors of the CMRC
are: Seaboard Marine, Banks DIH Limited, GT&T, Rent-A-Tent, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, CCS, Prem’s Electrical, King’s Jewellery World, Valvoline, Nabi, Marsha Mining, John Fernandes, E.C.Vieira Investments, Mohamed Roshandin, NTN, New Thriving, Versus Auto Sales, TVG, Bounty Farm, Castrol, Hilton Quan, Trophy Stall, Readymix Concrete Limited, Extreme Motorsports, GTM, Ricks and Sari, Friendship Oxygen Limited, Automative Arts, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Beharry Group of Companies, Kaylees Service Station and Jiffi Lubes among others.
Admission to the venue is $2,000 (adults) and $1,000 (children).
Report and photos by Treiston Joseph
North Georgetown (District 11) started their title defense on a high note by taking the swimming segment when the first day of the 53rd National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Athletics Championships concluded on Tuesday at various venues in Georgetown.
District 11 won the swimming after amassing an unassailable 377 points, while Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10) was second 258 with points. Cuyuni/ Mazaruni (District Seven) was third with a total of 206 points.
The 40km male cycle road race gave the gathering in attendance thrills as North Georgetown’s Hamzah Eastman and South Georgetown’s Paul DeNobegra came surging to the finish line only to end in a tie. Both Georgetown athletes registered a time of 1:03.27s, while Alonzo Ambrose of North Georgetown finished third in a time of 1:05.27s.
The female cycle road race mirrored the males as North Georgetown’s Toshwanna Doris and New Amsterdam’s Marica Dick ended in a sprint to the finish that also resulted in a tie. The girls clocked 55 minutes, one second. Crystal Lamburt was third in a time of 58 minutes, 28 seconds.
Meanwhile, Beverly Ignacio out of Rupununi (District Nine) ran away with the female 10km road run, winning in an impressive time of 43 minutes, 30 seconds.
Delicia Harper was second in 48 minutes, 18 seconds, while Marissa Lawson finished third in 58 minutes, 28 seconds.
On the male side, Marlon Nicholson of West Coast Berbice (District Five) out ran his opponents, winning the event in a time of 37 minutes, 27 seconds, while Denzil Leitch was second in
37 minutes, 52 seconds.
Aram Francis of District Nine finished third in a time of 37 minutes, 59 seconds.
Turning to the jumping pit, Kevin Abbensetts of North Georgetown leaped away with the Boy’s Under-20 triple jump with a leap of 13.08 metres to top Samuel Gray, who finished second with a jump of 12.71 metres. Brent Alleyne was
third with a jump of 12.64 metres.
Donella Joe from District 15 won the Female Under-16 triple jump in a tough battle that was decided on the last jump with a leap of 10.87 metres. Natricia Hooper finished second in the event with a jump of 10.70 metres, while Tyianna Garnett was third with a jump of 10.16 metres.
The Male Under-20 long
jump was won by Devon Browne of West Demerara (District Three) with a jump of 6.16 metres to top Abbensetts, who finished second with a leap of 6.08 metres. Kade Pearce was third with a jump of 5.89 metres.
Shannon Griffith of Upper Demerara River and Kwakwani (District 10) upset Tasnica Lovell from District 13 to win the
Female Under-20 long jump with a leap of 4.95 metres, while Lovell finished second with a jump of 4.60 metres. Shomaine Daniels of District 11 was third with a jump of 4.56 metres.
“Nationals” will continue today from 09:00 hours with a grand opening ceremony at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, which will be followed by track and field action.
By Rajiv Bisnauth
Planning for the third annual Georgetown Football Association’s (GFA)/Banks Beer Knockout Cup is going smoothly, according to president of the GFA, Vernon Burnett.
The tournament, which will feature 32 teams from across the country, will kick off on Saturday and conclude on New Year’s Day 2014 with the grand final.
During a tournament update on Tuesday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, Burnett said all the necessary logistical arrangements have already fallen into place, and plans for the tournament are going forward scheduled.
“All plans are in place for the tournament and regards security I think we are in a better shape this time around to deal with the security aspect,” Burnett assured.
The GFA president further indicated that with the aim of having football played at various venues countrywide, the organising team has planned preliminary games to be
tive in organising the tournament for the third consecutive year.
Tournament coordinator, Lavern Fraser-Thomas, encouraged the registered teams to make available all the necessary team information requested in a timely manner so there will be no hiccups during the tournament.
The GFA/Banks Beer tournament started two years ago with Alpha United being the inaugural champions, carting off $3 million.
Prizes
Last year’s tournament was won by Camptown and they received a first prize of $4 million,
As was the case in 2012, the champion team will receive $4 million, while the runner-up, third and fourth placed finishers will collect $2.5 million, $1.5 million and 1$ million respectively.
A new addition to this year’s tournament is the monetary incentives for all the teams, including $250,000 each for the losing quarter-finalists, $150,000 each for those knocked out at the second round and $100,000 each for teams booted at the first round.
played in Georgetown, Buxton, Berbice, Den Amstel and Linden.
He, however, indicated that a venue for the final has not yet been confirmed, but the GCC ground has been identified as a tentative venue. Burnett said with regards to the GCC ground, the eastern side of the ground will be refurbished and renamed the “Party Stand.”
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony is billed for Saturday from 17:00 hours, prior to the double-header at the GCC ground.
Tickets for the opening ceremony will be sold at the venue, and the first 200 patrons enter the venue will receive a bottle of beverage from Banks DIH Limited. Tickets for all preliminary games will cost $500. However, ticket prize for the semi-finals and final will be confirmed at a later date.
Banks Beer Brand Manager, Brian Choo-Hen, said the tournament will definitely give footballers an opportunity to prove themselves. He congratulated the GFA for taking the initia-
There will also be individual prizes for the Most Valuable Player, highest goal scorer, best goalkeeper and most discipline team. The most outstanding coach will pocket $100,000 cash.
Each association will also receive 20 percent or a maximum of $250,000 as gate receipts after expenses from all games played in their jurisdiction.
The participating teams are Alpha United, GDF, Camptown, Beacon, Police, Fruta Conquerors, Black Pearl, Flamingo, Pele, GFC, Northern Rangers, BK International Western Tigers, Houston Stars, Riddim Squad, Santos and University of Guyana of Georgetown; Den Amstel, Seawall and Slingerz of West Demerara; Monnederlust and Cougars of Berbice; BV/Triumph, Mahaica Determinators and Buxton United of East Coast Demerara; Grove HiTec of East Bank Demerara; and Winners Connection, Silver Shattas, Netrockers, Topp XX, Milerock, Botofago and Kwakwani Strikers of Upper Demerara.
