Guyana Times Daily

Green calls for city shutdown

Sooba vs Royston King... Court grants ‘quo warranto’ in favour of King

– CJ refuses to recuse self from Sooba’s appeal

High Court Judge Diana Insanally on Thursday granted a ‘quo warranto’ filed by Royston King to have acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba removed from her post.

King had filed the legal action on May 13, after acting Chief Justice Ian Chang had ruled that Sooba is allowed to act as de facto Town Clerk until someone moves to have her removed from the post. However when the ‘quo warranto’ was called before the acting Chief Justice, he recused himself from the matter saying that it was a conflict of interest since he would have made the initial ruling that Sooba could continue to function in her post. As such, the matter was sent to Justice Insanally.

When the matter was called on Thursday, Justice Insanally granted the ‘quo

warranto’ to King’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, in her chambers. Sooba will now have to, through her attorney, show cause as to why she should not be removed from the post.

Meanwhile about an hour earlier, the suit filed by Sooba against King’s appointment as Town Clerk

was again heard before the acting Chief Justice. Sooba had filed a suit on May 13, via her Attorney Roysdale Forde, asking the court to quash King’s appointment as acting Town Clerk, by the City Council during an extraordinary meeting of the Council on May 8 in the compound of the City

Hall. Justice Chang has ruled on May 14 that the Council should provide legal grounds for the appointment of King and the ousting of Sooba, thereby quashing the appointment of King until legal cause is shown to support several decisions that were made.

On Wednesday, Attorney Hughes made an application for the acting Chief Justice to remove himself from the proceedings of the case, since he had done the same regarding the action filed by King. The Attorney pointed out that when King had filed his application for ‘quo warranto’, he (the Chief Justice) had recused himself and given the fact that he also made the decision quashing King’s appointment, he should also remove himself from this matter. However, Justice Chang refused the applica-

tion.

This matter will continue on June 15, giving Hughes one week to file his affidavit in answer to the legal action filed by Sooba, while her Attorney, Keisha Chase, was given three days to respond to whatever is said in the aforementioned affidavit.

The acting Chief Justice had asked Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green to show cause as to why the Court should not prevent the appointment and installation of King as the officer to perform the duties

of Town Clerk and why it should not restrain or prohibit King from usurping the Office of Town Clerk and or discharging any of the powers, functions and duties of the aforesaid Office.

The Mayor was ordered to proffer causes under which Sooba should immediately remove herself and cease to act in the capacity as Council secretary, and to show legal grounds on which a decision was taken to send Sooba on administrative leave.

Sabha’s women’s conference set for Saturday

The Mahila Mandalee, the women’s arm of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, will host a Hindu Women’s Conference on May 24 at the Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra, Prashad Nagar.

The conference commences at 09:00h.

Held under the theme “Inspiring Change: Today’s Hindu Woman in Perspective”, the objectives of the conference is to create a platform to connect, inspire and empower Hindu women in Guyana through the exploration of Hindu values.

The conference will be used as a voice for Hindu women on contemporary issues faced by them as the nucleus of the family and to develop support structures for their holistic, physical, intellectual and emotional empowerment.

Among the topics listed for presentation and discussion are Hindu women in the scriptures, lessons to be learnt, domestic violence and the Hindu woman today and choices.

Presentations will be made by Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster, veteran educator Savitri Balbahadur, University of Guyana lecturer and Behaviour Change/ Communication Advisor Paulette Henry and Dharmic Sabha’s President, Dr Vindhya Persaud.

It is expected that First

Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar will also make remarks at the opening of the conference.

Some 300 women from the Sabha’s Praants in Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara are expected to attend, along with representatives from other Hindu organisations and women's groups.

During its 43 years in existence, the Mandalee has enjoyed many successes and has firmly established its place as the voice and agency for Hindu women in Guyana. It has initiated and implemented a range of programmes and activities with the aim of providing Hindu women with much needed guidance and skills to effectively cope in their daily lives.

These include skills training which enable women to become self-sufficient and religious and cultural programmes to help them pass on the traditions and values to the next generation.

Recognising the importance of education, the Mandalee has also been working with children to improve their literacy by way of special reading programmes. The Mandalee is currently carrying out a countrywide survey, through its mandirs’ network, to assess literacy levels of women in various communities. It plans to launch a literacy campaign for women.

The Mandalee considers the conference to be timely and hopes that it will provide a platform for candid discussions among the women attending. It is the organisation’s fervent wish that the outcome of this forum enables positive future planning and execution of activities for women.

Limited places are available to members of the public who are interested in attending the conference. They can call the Sabha’s headquarters on 227-6181 to register.

Blacklisting imminent – Dr Luncheon appeals to Opposition for sanity to prevail

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

The possibility of Guyana meeting the May 29 deadline set by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) for the passage of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) (AML/CFT) Bill is slim.

ed, would result in Guyana being blacklisted.

Low

THURSDAY,

Guyana will come under review during the XXXIX CFATF meeting in Miami on May 26-29, but though the country faces the possibility of being blacklisted by the international financial watchdog, both the Government and Opposition have been moving at snail’s pace in addressing critical issues linked to the Bill.

The next sitting of the National Assembly is set for June 19 despite the May 29 deadline.

But Head of the Presidental Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon on Thursday said, “No-legislation and a non-compliant legislation are the same.” At the time, he was speaking at the Office of the President during his weekly post-Cabinet press conference.

Based on the advice of Attorney General Anil Nandlall, the Donald Ramotar Administration has long argued that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) proposed amendments to the AML/ CFT Act of 2009 are not in compliance with CFATF/ FATF standards and if enact-

Though it has been argued that the National Assembly of Guyana can “pass any law”, Dr Luncheon said when considering the Anti-Money Laundering Legislation, CFATF’s and the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) standards must be taken into full consideration.

As a result, Dr Luncheon questioned the underlying principle of attempting to pass a Bill that is considered non-compliant with CFATF/ FATF standards.

“The consequences of enacting non-compliant legislation are predictable…. In essence, putting a serving President in an invidious position of assenting to noncompliant CFATF legislation, I think is an imposition that needs to be thought out well by the Opposition.”

He said due to the political nature of the issue that faces the National Assembly and by extension Guyana, the Opposition is holding fast to its position to fulfil its political agenda.

Uncompromising

“The Opposition is clearly willing and of course able to inflict blacklisting on Guyana and its population must now be acknowledged and understood. Their political end remains paramount in this issue.”

Nevertheless, Dr Luncheon said efforts that have been made by political

leaders and civil society can not go unnoticed, but said this is a very sad period for Guyana.

If Guyana fails to pass the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill, CFATF will decide to effectively nominate the country for the FATF International Corporation Review Group (ICRG) review. FATF is due to meet in June. During that meeting, the international financial body will determine whether Guyana should be subjected to a prima-facie review by the International Corporation Review Board.

This therefore means that Guyana could land itself on any of the three blacklisting tiers. The most severe level, which is found at the top of the chart, effectively requires countries to issue countermeasures against countries on that list. Presently, North Korea and Iran are the only

two countries blacklisted at this extreme level

The second layer includes countries that have significant AML/CFT safety deficiencies, but have not given a political commitment to deal with those issues or have not formulated an action plan in collaboration with FATF to deal with outstanding issues.

The lowest tier encompasses countries that have issued a political commitment to implement the reforms and formulated an action plan to be implemented by strategic deadlines. However, if the country during the review period offers to commit to the AML/CFT standards and establishes an action plan in conjunction with FATF, it would be placed on the lowest level. (Svetlanam@guyanatimesgy. com)

Govt withdraws non-approval of LEAD Project

The Government of Guyana has officially withdrawn its non-approval for the entire United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon made the disclosure during his post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President on Thursday.

He explained that this move by the Donald Ramotar Administration is necessary to facilitate discussions on the project which has been halted.

The Government and the US are working towards arriving at a mutually acceptable project.

However, Dr Luncheon warned that this process would not be automatic, and as such, he was unable to indicate when negotiations on the controversial project would conclude.

Last Friday, US Ambassador to Guyana

D Brent Hardt said the re-engagements with the Government on the design of the US$1.2 million LEAD Project have been in-depth and very productive.

However, he was keen on pointing out that the positions put forward by the US and the Guyana Government have been maintained, but attempts have been made to understand the goal and purpose of the project.

He added that while it will be an intensive engagement, they are committed to find a way forward that would benefit both sides and make everyone happy.

The controversy surrounding the USAID LEAD Project began in late 2013 when Government rejected the project, stating that it was not consulted when it was being drafted and further when the Washington, DC-based International Republican Institute (IRI) began implementing the project here.

Government had subse-

quently made several calls for the project to be halted; however, that was not done until they revoked the work permit of the project head.

Dr Roger Luncheon and Ambassador Hardt, however, recently announced that the project will be on hold while re-engagements take place.

The US Ambassador explained that both governments had drafted a framework during their 2009 meeting for assistance in governance and democracy, and as such, USAID was under the impression that the programmes being developed were in accordance with the drafted 2009 framework that was agreed upon.

The USAID LEAD Project seeks to provide opportunities for dialogue and consensus building, facilitating seminars on public events of global and regional interests, and supporting local and national elections.

Tropical Rhythms launches “Money Switch Up” Promotion

Consumers of Tropical Rhythms will be enjoying “a sweeter life” as the brand has launched its “Money Switch Up” Promotion, giving customers the opportunity to win $1 million.

The promotion launched on Wednesday at ANSA McAL Trading Limited will run until the end of July.

Brand Manager Anjeta Hinds stated that in 2013, Tropical Rhythms launched its first promotion to reward customers and received great reviews.

During the promotion, customers won iPads, iPhones, television sets and the grand prize of a Madza Axela.

This year, “we wanted to make our consumers life a little sweeter, and what better way than to reward with money,” she said.

Public Relations Officer

Darshanie Yussuf added that the company has been rewarding customers and will continue to do so with creative promotions.

She noted that customers from throughout the country will get an opportunity to win in this competition and drawings will be held in Anna Regina, Georgetown, Parika, Linden, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and New Amsterdam.

To participate in the promotion, consumers are required to enter four Tropical Rhythms caps with their name, address and telephone number in an envelope and deposit it into any of the company’s boxes countrywide.

While the grand prize will be US$5000, there will be weekly consolation prizes of US$300, hampers and other great prizes.

No Procurement Commission, no AML/CFT Bill – AFC reiterates

... APNU urges compromise

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Even with a “perfect” Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, Guyana faces a high-risk of being blacklisted due to the unchanging position of the Opposition on the critical legislation.

In an effort to stave off any crisis, the Donald Ramotar Administration would have to strike a deal before the May 29 deadline for the passage of the Bill – set by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) – is reached.

“Even with a perfect piece of legislation, we still want the Public Procurement Commission (PPC)… and if Government doesn’t want that, no AntiMoney Laundering Bill and that’s the end of the matter,” AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan said during an interview with Guyana Times

The AFC is demanding that the PPC be operationalised and equipped with the requisite resources, including finance to execute its mandate.

Like the AFC, APNU is maintaining its hardline stance that the Local Government Bills passed in the House by the Opposition must be assented to by the President.

Speaking at the Opposition Leader’s Office on Wednesday, APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Basil Williams said the Opposition’s amendments to the AML/CFT Act of 2009 must be simultaneously passed with the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill of 2013.

But the Bill will only re-

ceive the support of the majority in the House, if the preconditions are met by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

“In addition to the Bill, there are the outstanding Bills that have not been assented to by the President. They too must be resolved,” Williams emphasised in his address to the press.

He suggested that as the Parliamentary Special Select Committee continues its work, the Government should be putting the requisite mechanisms in place to meet the demands of the Opposition, but said a tripartite meeting with President Ramotar was last held approximately three months ago.

Need for compromise

In support of his colleague, Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, who was also present at the press conference, emphasised the need for compromise.

“There is no way that deadline could be met unless the Government takes the action that is required of

it and between Government and Opposition they then collaborate to make sure that the conditions that are required, are met expeditiously.”

But Greenidge said it is not a matter of simply passing a Bill or meeting a deadline, but ensuring that an effective system is in place to

safeguard Guyana against money launderers or acts of terrorism.

“The object therefore is not simply to make the deadline, but to ensure that we have a regime in place that can deal with, on a continuing basis, a series of deadline. Deadlines about implementation, deadline about the effectiveness of reporting, deadlines about analysis of financial transaction.”

Clearing the air

In an interview with Guyana Times, APNU’s MP Joseph Harmon said, “We are not unmindful of the realities, but we understand that Government has to recognise, that this is important to all of us in Guyana and should basically take the step to ensure that we

have these things done.”

Harmon also used the opportunity to refute claims made by the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall that CFATF had rejected the Opposition’s proposed amendments. Minister Nandlall, he said, clearly misinterpreted the letter he received from CFATF Executive Director Calvin Wilson. “We reject the AG’s interpretation of the facts in the letter.”

According to the APNU Member of Parliament

(MP), the AG was not authorised by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee to submit any draft to CFATF, noting that the Opposition is unaware of the content of the letter sent to the regional body.

“We have the technical competence to do what we have to do,” Harmon said while stressing that the work of the Select Committee must first be completed and the Bill is placed before the House before it should be sent to CFATF for review. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

De good, de bad and de ugly

Accordin to a old movie, it got de good, de bad and de ugly. Well, nowadays, it hardly got good any where; bad deh all over de world fuh every body to see; and when it come to de ugly, just visit de s*ity council.

As fuh de fuss category, since good hardly deh round de place, it ain’t got nutten good to talk bout. And accordin to one man, Guyana ain’t got nutten good, which is exactly whah does come out in de mud paper. Never mind tings gettin sweeter fuh de man who own de mud paper.

As fuh bad, de same man wait fuh four years to talk bout some ting bad that happen to he. That sound like he shoulda begin with, “Once upon a time.” Because it look like right now, de story endin with “happily ever after”.

But as far as de chicken feed place concern, dem know it got bad real bad. In fact, dem got a boss man who got BAD in he last name. And added to that, he got ROB in he fuss name. Indeed, that ain’t no chicken feed he been robbin de chicken place. De robbin man so bad that he even try to rob de people wid votin in a meetin. It got to be that he get some trainin from Burnt Ham wheh votin concern. In fact, fuh a man read a piece of paper and ask people to raise dem hand, he got to be more bad than Burnt Ham. At least Burnt Ham used to let de people go and vote, and then just don’t count de vote.

As fuh ugly, de s*ity council is wheh ugliness deh in abundance. From top to de bottom, ugly can’t done. One look at de Mayor-fuh-Life and yuh would get a very visual definition. No need fuh Oxford, Cambridge or Webster. All yuh need is Green Ham. Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! After all, old people seh a picture is worth a thousand words!

friday, may 23, 2014 |

Guyanese chefs to participate in Jamaica Epicurean Escape

Five Guyanese chefs will be heading to Jamaica this weekend to participate in the Jamaica Epicurean Escape, the country’s premiere heritage festival, compliments of Fly Jamaica Airways.

Jamaica Epicurean Escape is an international food, wine and music festival which showcases the country’s best food, music and culture.

It was first held in 2012 at the picturesque Grizzly’s Plantation Cove, Priory, St Ann. This year, the festival will be held on May 24 and 25.

The five Guyanese chefs were selected from local restaurants to participate in the festival, showcasing some of Guyana’s most popular dishes.

Manager of the festival Marcia McDonnough said she is excited at the diversity which Fly Jamaica Airways will be adding to the event.

“Our concept, from the inception was to provide Jamaicans and visitors to Jamaica with a rich variety of food provided by the best chefs in the country and the region and we are accomplishing this in our second staging through the generosity of Fly Jamaica Airways in bringing these chefs to introduce a different flavour and new ways of cooking many of the food items we share in common,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of the airline Roxanne Reece said that Fly Jamaica Airways not only sees its role in transporting

people within the Caribbean and other major gateways, but to also help strengthened the bond among Caribbean territories by highlighting the similarities they share. “I have found that one of the areas that demonstrate our connection is our strong common heritage and food. Jamaica Epicurean Escape provides the ideal platform on which to exhibit the ties we share. We eat many of the same foods; it is only that we prepare them a bit differently. Our Guyanese chefs are looking forward to working at the festival and the opportunity it will present to interact with Jamaican chefs,” noted Reece.

The chefs are from popular restaurants that were selected because of their authentic cuisines. The Oasis Café is sending Nisa Walker, who will be preparing authentic Indo-Guyanese cuisines, mainly dhal, rice and various

chokas (coconut, Boulanger, tomato, etc). Walker disclosed that she has some 13 meals to preparing over the two days, including shrimp curry. She will also be preparing coconut choka at the festival to show patrons.

Roast curried fish

Betten Court will be sending its chef John Reman, who will be cooking curry and mostly creole dishes. Reman said that he will be preparing roast curried fish over pickled cabbage and strip chicken curry wrap with sweet mango chutney.

The Siloutte Restaurant will be cooking three different types of cook-up: eddo leave, beef and chicken. He will also be preparing salara, which is a hit with Jamaicans.

According to Reece, several Jamaican culinary schools are participating in the festival and they invited the Carnegie School of Home

Economics to participate.

Dane Kennedy will be representing Carnegie and is tasked with preparing metemgee.

Princess Hotel is the fifth restaurant select and their chef will be going to prepare Guyana’s very own, pepperpot.

Each chef will be allowed to take five assistants with them. Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh commended Fly Jamaica Airways for the initiative, noting that it will ensure that Brand Guyana is represented at the festival.

“This will serve as a platform to introduce Guyana’s cuisine to visitors and to the world and would help to improve our food presentation, culinary skills and to showcase Guyana as a culinary destination for food tourism,” the GTA head said.

Haralsingh added that this presents an opportunity for these chefs to gain valuable exposure, learn and share best practices and network with other chefs.

He went on to say that Guyana is known for its abundance of food and the opportunity will help to further Guyana’s efforts in making the country a food tourism destination. He urged other restaurants and hotels to take advantage of such opportunities.

In addition to the chefs and their assistants, travel agents, GTA representatives and several media personnel were also invited to Jamaica for the Jamaica Epicurean Escape.

They will also be visiting the Bobb Marley and national museums, go on a tour of Blue Mountains and visit the historic city of Port Royal, which the airline is looking to develop into a tourist destination.

Agriculture suffering in Region 10 – Solomon

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon has bemoaned the state of agriculture in the region, pointing out that no agricultural advancement provisions have been set aside in the recent budget.

Speaking at a recent Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting conducted earlier this month, Solomon stated that despite the challenge, the RDC will advance its cause for the development of agriculture in the region.

He noted that while Region 10 has some of the most suitable lands for crop cultivation, there are numerous challenges surrounding the region’s agricultural advancement, which include high food importation.

This issue, he explained, has caused some of the region’s thriving industries, including the poultry industry to become very vulnerable.

Solomon indicated that in an effort to improve sustainable development in the region’s farming community, the RDC is currently working aggressively to have a farmers’ river boat reinstated at farming communities, along the Berbice River.

Disappointment

This will assist farmers to transport their produce. Solomon added that Regional Vice Chairman Byran Lewis is tasked at the level of the regional agricultural committee, with having the boat in operation.

He posited that the region’s soil is so rich that it can facilitate the growth of not only soya beans and corn, but also citrus.

“We would like to convert citrus into orange juice right here, but those services must be available for our farmers to do that. Once the opportunities are provided, we will be able to develop,” he added.

Councillor Maurice Butters expressed dissatisfaction on behalf of farmers whom he noted did not get the opportunity to showcase their produce at the recently concluded Linden Town Week activities.

He noted that the usual

“Farmers’ Market” feature was absent from the calendar of events this year, much to the dissatisfaction of the region’s farmers.

“This last Town Week, it was very clear that no proper programme was put in place for the farmers. Farmers have complained about it, that this year they were not given the sort of recognition for the week of activities. We should ensure that our farmers get the opportunity,” he related. Solomon said the RDC intends to reach out to farmers and other stakeholders in Region 10, through a series of community meetings, which commenced in Linden on Tuesday.

He said that while the Council’s 2014 budgetary submission was $3.2 billion, it received only $2 billion.

“That will not satisfy the amount of infrastructural demand that the region would have included in its 2014 request. So we intend to go around to different communities. This will allow for an explanation of what (allocations) communities will get and a feedback from residents for the preparation of a 2015 budget.” He added: “This is a large region... we may have overlooked over 5000 plus square miles, 55,000 plus residents but it’s important that we know where the neglects are, if not as a region, at the level of Central Government, and collectively as we hold to that spirit of meaningful consultation, we will find the solution to fix it.”

My hope was sustained by faith in God

– found missing teen recounts experience in dense forest

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

It was indeed a very happy moment for the Fredericks family of Siriki/New Haven, Upper Pomeroon River when they received a phone call informing them that their 15-yearold son Ruel Fredericks who was missing for six days was alive.

The family received the call around 14:00h on Wednesday afternoon by his aunt Genevieve Fredericks, who related that their son is alive and well.

Ruel Fredericks went missing on May 16 around 17:30h.

Mother of the 15-yearold, Shavon Fredericks and father Rodney Wong said they were overjoyed in seeing their son, contending that it was through the abundant mercy of the Almighty, their boy returned safely to them.

And to recognise the occasion, the parents said a special thanksgiving will be held on May 30 to give praise to God for giving them light at the end of the tunnel.

Ruel’s immediate family members are devout Catholics. His mother said a special prayer service was made by a Priest for his safe return while at the mercy of nature in the dense forest.

In relating his ordeal, Ruel, speaking from his hospital bed, said his father had sent him to collect a bicycle,

but he lost his way while going to collect it.

The teen, who was still traumatised, said he was led to several roads/trails and was uncertain which one to take.

He said he kept walking bare feet and was not seeing any bicycle, and as the sun appeared on the horizon, he knew he was lost.

The young man, in tears, recalled that experience was horrifying.

Lost in the dense forest, he related that he lost consciousness and at some point, he could not remember where he was going, but was hearing noises which led him on and on, but in no sight of human existence. The young man said he survived by drinking muddy water from the savannah. He was extremely weak when he was found.

Ruel said at some point he wanted to give up, but exercised faith, courage and determination as he persisted on his journey with the hope of finding people.

Fredericks said in the nights, he slept close to the trail and would be woken up by the singing of birds and sounds from other animals.

Sounds of chain saws

He told Guyana Times that as the fifth day approach, he heard the sounds of chain saws and knew that humans were close by and

Caricom deliberating on draft Strategic Plan

The 34th Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Community are deliberating on the third draft of the Caricom Five-Year Strategic Plan at the Caricom Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.

The two-day meeting which concludes today is being held under the Chairmanship of St Vincent and the Grenadines Foreign Minister Camillo Gonsalves.

A summary outline of the Strategic Framework of the Plan was tabled at the 25th Inter-Sessional Meeting held in St Vincent and the Grenadines in March.

Following the InterSessional Meeting, a revised full draft of the plan was prepared and considered by the Change Drivers and Community Institutions in early April. On the basis of comments provided, a further iteration was generated and circulated to the Change Drivers on May 13.

A draft based on the aforementioned changes has now been prepared and will be deliberated on by the Ministers during the meeting of the Community Council.

It is expected that at the end of the meeting, a final draft of the Five-Year Strategic Plan for the community will

Ruel said amid hopelessness and despair, he prayed, imploring Christ to guide his path in the thick, black and scary forest, noting that at times, he would collapse from

exhaustion but would get a sense of hopefulness from the ray of light of the sun, beaming through the thick branches of trees in the dense forest, the next morning.

The youth said as he

trudged along, the sun appeared to be brighter, the trail narrower, and houses began to appear and amid the scene before him, he saw a woman who gave her name as “Shirley”. The vil-

lage was Lima Sands on the Essequibo Coast.

Ruel said he related his story to her, and was comforted, given a shower, food and the Police were contacted.

At this point, the teen said he knew he was safe as his neighbours some 2000 miles away at Siriki/New Haven, Upper Pomeroon were contacted.

Ruel was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital and is currently being treated by doctors.

His feet were bleeding from injuries he sustained from from thorns and cuts while walking through the rugged terrain, dusty train and thick vegetation.

He was shocked twice by an electric eel. The young man is the last of five children of his parents.

The Region Two Administration had launched a search to locate him, and on the news of his safe return, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud rejoiced, saying the Lord had guided him.

be ready to be tabled for consideration by the Caricom Heads of Government with a view to adoption at their 35th regular meeting in Antigua and Barbuda from July 1 to 4.

The Strategic Plan identifies six integrated strategic priorities for the community over the five-year period (2015-2019) and key areas of interventions for each.

The six integrated strategic priorities are building economic resilience, social resilience, environmental resilience, technological resilience, strengthening the Caricom identity and spirit of community and strengthening community governance. Two enabling priorities have also been identified.

These are coordinated foreign policy and research, development and innovation.

A key issue for attention is the need to identify and seek agreement from Heads of Government on a very narrow range of priorities to be accorded top priority for implementation over the five-year period.

The Community Council of Ministers will also discuss other matters in relation to the provisional agenda for the 35th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.

Woman freed of “septic tank” murder

A12-member mixed jury panel on Thursday found 62-year-old Desiree Jeffers not guilty of the murder of her reputed husband whose body was found in a septic tank in his yard.

Jeffers was indicted with the murder of exPolice Officer Igris BobbBlackman, at his residence at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. The State had claimed that Jeffers had killed Bobb-Blackman in January 2011 and hid his body in the septic tank.

During the trial, which lasted close to a month, State Counsel Natasha

Backer, in association with State Counsel Mercedes Thompson, presented several witnesses to testify against the accused.

Among those who testified was Gale Franker, who told the court that she and Bobb-Blackman shared an intimate relationship and as a result, Jeffers threatened to kill the two of them a few days before his body was discovered. She noted that the accused would threaten her on a regular basis and even threatened to burn her house down.

Franker recalled that on January 19 that year, she was speaking to the de-

ceased on the phone when she heard loud voices in the background, one of which she recognised as Jeffers’; as such, she alerted the police. It was believed that the man was tied up in a room at his home; however, when the Police forced entry into the room, the man was not there.

Discovered

The brother of the deceased, Ptolemy Blackman, testified that during the search for his brother, he discovered his body in the septic tank wrapped in a carpet. The man said he used a long stick to fish out

his brother’s body. BobbBlackman’s feet were tied and his entire head was covered with a piece of cloth, while his body was wrapped in a coloured carpet.

The trial also saw Inspector Sergeant Ron Nedd recalling that he had seen a red substance dripping from the upper flat onto a cabinet in the lower flat. The Sergeant stated that he had shown it to the accused and cautioned her, saying that ‘this was where the man was murdered’.

He said the woman denied having any knowledge of what transpired. It was further disclosed in court that the woman

had claimed ownership of a blood-stained knife and a sledgehammer which the Police had found at the property.

Jeffers was represented by Attorney Peter Hugh. He defended his client by saying that she was not present at the time and had an alibi.

When the accused was called upon to lead her defence, she told the court a lengthy story about having a relationship with the deceased who used to take care of her house while she travelled.

On Thursday’s date, presiding judge Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes summed

up all the evidence presented against the accused to the jury. This process took approximately four, hours after which the panel returned into the jury room to deliberate.

In the presence of a packed courtroom, the panel returned some two hours after with a unanimous verdict of not guilty. When the accused was told by Justice Gregory-Barnes that she was free to go, she ran out of the courtroom and headed straight for the road.

The verdict upset the relatives of the deceased, who remained adamant that they knew the identity of his killer.

US criticises Cuba over blocking of dissident website

The United States criticised Cuban censorship on Thursday after Cubans were blocked from an independent website that is challenging the state monopoly on news on the island.

Dissident Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez started publishing 14ymedio.com on Wednesday, but wouldbe readers were redirected to another site that is highly critical of her, reflecting the official line.

Sanchez’s site remained blocked to the small minority of Cubans with Internet

access on Thursday, though it was accessible outside Cuba. The US State Department stopped short of directly blaming Cuba, referring instead to media reports that the Government blocked the site, but it took advantage of the incident to denounce Cuban censorship.

“The Cuban Government continues to limit fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and of the press, freedom of assembly, and the free flow of information to, from, and within the island,” a State Department spokesperson said.

“Cubans deserve the right to freely express themselves and the right to petition their Government.” Cuba rejects such U.S. criticism as hypocritical intervention in its affairs.

A Cuban Government spokesman said he was unaware who was blocking Sanchez’s site in Cuba, suggesting it might be the US Government. He also declined to make available a representative from Etecsa, the state communications monopoly and Cuba’s internet service provider. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Guatemalan ex-President Alfonso Portillo jailed in US

Acourt in New York has sentenced former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo to five years and 10 months in jail for taking bribes from Taiwan. Portillo, who was extradited to the United States last year, has also been ordered to pay a US$2.5 million fine.

He pleaded guilty in March to attempting to launder the illegal money through American banks. The judge has not decided whether he

will serve the remainder of his sentence in the US or Guatemala.

Portillo has already spent a substantial amount of time in jail and has only another 18 months of his sentence to serve. The time in jail was “a big learning experience for me but also great pain for my family”, Portillo said in court.

District Judge Robert Patterson said that the case “will have an impact on how we will treat the violation of laws against corruption in this country”.

Portillo had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money and agreed not to appeal against any prison sentence between four and six years. He admitted taking US$2.5 million (£1.6 million) in bribes and promised to return the money. The US court had jurisdiction over the case because the bribes came from an account at a bank in New York City. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Thai coup draws international condemnation

The military takeover in Thailand has drawn swift international condemnation, with the United States saying it was reviewing its military aid and other dealings with its closest ally in Southeast Asia.

Thailand’s Army Chief, General Prayuth Chanocha, seized control of the Government two days after he declared martial law, saying the military had to restore order and push through reforms after six months of turmoil.

The military declared a curfew from 22:00h until 05:00h, suspended the Constitution and detained

some politicians. Rival protest camps were ordered to disperse.

Members of the now ousted Cabinet, along with leaders of the Puea Thai party that had been in power, were told to report to the military in central Bangkok at 10:00h (03:00 GMT) today.

“There is no justification for this military coup,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

European and Asian nations expressed concern over the coup, with Germany, France and Britain issuing statements of condemnation, Japan’s Foreign Minister calling it

“regrettable” and Singapore urging all sides to avoid violence.

Kerry said he was concerned by reports that senior political leaders had been detained and called for their release. He urged the “immediate” restoration of civilian Government and the lifting of curbs on the media.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was “seriously concerned” and appealed “for a prompt return to constitutional, civilian, democratic rule and an all-inclusive dialogue that will pave the way for longterm peace and prosperity.”

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Biggest attack in years kills 31 in China’s troubled Xinjiang

Explosives hurled from two vehicles which ploughed into an open market in China’s troubled Xinjiang region killed 31 people on Thursday, state media reported, the deadliest act of violence in the region in years.

China called the attack in the regional capital of Urumqi a “serious violent terrorist incident” and Domestic Security Chief Meng Jianzhu vowed to strengthen a crackdown on the “arrogance of terrorists”. Ninetyfour people were wounded.

China has blamed a series of knife and bomb attacks in re-

cent months on separatist militants from Xinjiang, the traditional home of the ethnic Muslim Uighurs.

The cross-country vehicles rammed into shoppers in an open market, Xinhua news agency reported, citing witness reports. Explosives were flung out of the windows, and one of the vehicles exploded.

At the rain-soaked scene of the attack late in the evening, surrounded by police vans, elite police units guarded a cordoned-off candlelight display for victims.

Police kept away onlookers

trying to take photographs and blocked foreign reporters from approaching the area.

One witness told Reuters he saw the aftermath of the blasts on his way to work. “The air was full of the smell of gunpowder and the sound of sobbing,” he said. “There were simply too many (casualties), old folks who were at the morning market.” Xinjiang has been plagued by violence for years, but rights activists and exile groups say the Government’s own heavyhanded policies in the region have sowed the seeds of unrest.

(Excerpt

UN committee imposes sanctions on Nigeria's Boko Haram

The UN Security Council has approved sanctions against the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, five weeks after it kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls.

It will now be added to a list of al-Qaeda-linked organisations subject to an arms embargo and asset freeze.

US envoy Samantha Power said it was an "important step" in support of efforts to "defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable".

It was earlier blamed for the deaths of 27 people in a north-eastern village.

Residents said gunmen

had shot dead farm workers in Chikongudo, set fire to nearly all the homes there, and stolen food in an attack on Wednesday night. The assailants stormed the village in cars and motorbikes, a trademark of Boko Haram, the residents added.

It came a day after twin bombings killed 122 in the central city of Jos. The authorities suspect Boko Haram of being behind them, but there has so far been no claim of responsibility from the group.

Boko Haram was added to the al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee's list of designated entities on Thursday at the re-

quest of Nigeria. "Today, the Security Council took an important step in support of the Government of Nigeria's efforts to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities," Power said. The sanctions designation would help "close off important avenues of funding, travel and weapons" to the group, she added.

On Wednesday, Nigeria's permanent representative, U Joy Ogwu, said: "The important thing is to attack the problem, and that is terrorism." (Excerpt from BBC News)

Amazon Warriors set for encampment from July 2

– Ramdin to be appointed captain, three U-19 players named

By Rajiv Bisnauth

As the second Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draws closer, members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad will assemble from July 2 for an encampment period under the watchful eyes of head coach Roger Harper and team mentor Curtly Ambrose.

With the franchise having a make-up of regional and international T20 stars, having all the players available for early encampment is not a luxury the territory can enjoy.

Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, is fully aware of this, and as such, his franchise, which has been bought by NEW GPC INC., has already started putting measures in place to ensure the squad is fully prepared for the July 11 start of the highly anticipated event.

“We have already booked

flights for most of the support staff and players to arrive in Guyana from the 30th June . Two of the international players will be joining the squad: Martin Guptill, who will arrivive on July 1 and Mohammad Hafeez, who will join the squad on July 2 upon arriving the same day. All the local players as well as Navin Stuart will join the squad from the start,” Khan, the former West Indies team manager told this publication on Thursday. He added, “The franchise as a whole sees it as critical that the players have a lengthy encampment period, so that they will be in tip- top shape, both physically and technically.”

Captain

Meanwhile, Khan revealed that new West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin, who was part of the Warriors squad last year, will lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors after a unanimous decision was taken.

Under-19 Players Khan further stated that West Indies under-19 opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Demerara left-arm fast bowler Daniel Basdeo and Essequibo all-rounder Kemo Paul will join the squad as the under-19 players. The other under-19 player will be selected shortly, according to Khan.

This year, each franchise team consists of a squad of 19 players, comprising two pre-selected players — one West Indies Franchise Player (WIFP) and one International Franchise Player(IFP), selected by the franchise,

as well as four under-19 players from each playing franchise.

Confident

Khan believes the squad selected is capable of facing the challenges ahead, adding that the squad is a well-balanced unit, comprising the maximum number of match-winners.

“I think the squad is well balanced, I think it’s a good squad in terms [of] when you put it together, and it’s a squad capable of winning.”

The former West Indies team manager also believes the team’s flexibility provided by the presence of batting and bowling allrounders will be a major asset in the tournament, singling out Corey Anderson as the foremost asset to the team

Structure

Further, according to Khan, the structure this year is different, since the team to win its respective league will automatical-

ly reach the final.

“Unlike last year, we won our league but had to still play in the semi-final, so this time once you win the league you reach straight to the final,” Khan said.

The Warriors have retained 10 players from last year’s edition and have already become a force to be reckoned with.

The players retained are: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, New Zealander Martin Guptill, Trinidadians off-spinner Sunil Narine, opening batsman Lendl Simmons and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, Jamaican Krishmar Santokie and Guyanese Christopher Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul and Trevon Griffith.

The formidable combination of these retained players forms

the nucleus of the team, and with the retention of the core players, the Warriors will look forward to building a stronger, well-knit unit.

New Zealander Corey Anderson has been named as the Guyana Amazon Warriors international franchise Player. The all – rounder, who caused a stir in the T20 world of international cricket, has replaced former Pakistan Captain Mohammed Hafeez as the International Player.

Newcomers

The newcomers are Guyanese Leon Johnson, Ronsford Beaton, Robin Bacchus and Trinidad and Tobago fast-bowling allrounder, Navin Stewart.

Missing

Missing from last year’s squad are: Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, William Perkins, James Franklin and

Keon Joseph.

This year’s tournament commences on July 11 and ends on August 17, with Guyana hosting three of the 30 matches to be played.

Jamaica’s Tallawahs won the inaugural tournament when they defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by seven wickets in the final in Trinidad and Tobago on August 24.

They will defend their title against the St Lucia Zouks, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, Antigua Hawksbills, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents.

Guyana Amazon Warriors comprises Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Navin Stewart, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus, Corey Anderson and Trevon Griffith.

Records could tumble at inaugural World Relays

Olympic and world champions will gather in the Bahamas this weekend for a special global meeting that has no field events or individual competitions but the promise of world records and rich cash prizes.

The inaugural IAAF World Relays are all about speed as Jamaicans ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Yohan Blake join Kenyan double world champion Asbel Kiprop and a host of other worldclass runners in challenging global records in the men’s and women’s 4x100 meters, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and 4x1,500m relays.

“We are trying to create something very fun and very different,” Paul Hardy, competitions director for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), told Reuters in a telephone interview.

The world governing body decided several years ago it needed a team com-

petition to add to its series of global events, and relays, always popular with fans, seemed to fit the bill, Hardy said.

Relay loving Bahamas will host the 2014 and 2015 competitions with the event likely to go to a two-year cycle after that.

More than 500 runners from 42 nations are expected for this weekend’s competition in Nassau’s soldout Robinson Stadium with $1.4 million in prize money and lots of bragging rights at stake.

The emphasis will be on breaking world records in events outside the traditional 4x100m and 4x400m relays, which are the staple events at the Olympics and world championships.

“Those are the events where we are very likely to see records...the 4x8, 4x15, 4x2,” Hardy said.

Kenya’s women already have broken the 4x1500m world record this year and

are hoping for even more improvement.

Kiprop and the Kenyan men do not expect to be outdone, aiming to smash their country’s 2009 world record in the 4x1500m. Ethiopia looms as their biggest challengers.

Record breakers will pocket $50,000 in addition to the $50,000 going to the winners of each of the 10 events.

The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, who has yet to launch his season, will miss the competition, but a bounty of speedsters will be on hand.

Jamaican Blake, the world’s second-fastest runner at 200m and co-number two at 100m, will join forces with Olympic relay gold medalists Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Kemar Bailey-Cole in the 4x100m. The experienced Nickel Ashmeade, Oshane Bailey and Warren Weir also will be available for the 4x100m or 4x200m.(Reuters)

Super Kings v Sunrisers , IPL 2014

Warner keeps Sunrisers in the race

Sunrisers Hyderabad needed to win this game in Ranchi to avoid elimination and David Warner’s punishing innings secured the two points that took his team to fifth place in the league. Chennai Super Kings’ third successive defeat weakened their hold on second place, and narrowed the gap between them and the other contenders, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

While Super Kings relied on three batsmen to achieve a formidable total, Sunrisers needed only one to gun it down. By the time Warner was done, the game was all but won, and Shikhar Dhawan saw Sunrisers through to the finish with an unbeaten half-century that was the ideal foil to his aggressive opening partner.

Everything seemed to fall in place for Sunrisers at the start of the chase. Warner, who had scored 59 in his previous innings, began in high gear and received generous helpings of loose deliveries from Mohit Sharma and R Ashwin. He got the lion’s share of the strike too, with Dhawan playing only 11 balls in the Powerplay, and powered Sunrisers to 64 in six overs.

With the pitch offering no movement for the seamers, Mohit gave Warner several opportunities to free his arms and paid the price by watching the ball disappear between point and cover. Unlike the previous game in Ranchi, there was no turn tonight, and Warner was able to hit Ashwin down the ground without risk. The serious acceleration came in

the sixth over, from John Hastings on season debut, when Warner collected five boundaries in the Vs behind and in front of the wicket to pass fifty off 25 deliveries.

The other Super Kings spinners - Ravindra Jadeja and Pawan Negi - were also punished by Warner and by the time he dragged Hastings on for 90 off 45 balls, Sunrisers needed only

70 off 52 balls.

Having contributed only 22 to the opening stand of 116, Dhawan now took over, finding the leg-side boundary with regularity against the spinners to get to 50 off 40 balls. Though Sunrisers lost three wickets in 13 balls towards the end, the asking rate was entirely under control, and Dhawan ensured the job was done. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Chennai T20 innings (20 overs maximum)

DR Smith lbw b Sharma 47

F du Plessis run out (Sharma) 19

SK Raina c Finch b Sharma 4

DJ Hussey not out 50

MS Dhoni*† not out 57

Extras (lb 7, w 1) 8

Total (3 wickets; 20 overs) 185

Did not bat: RA Jadeja, M Manhas, R Ashwin, JW Hastings, MM Sharma, P Negi

Fall of wickets 1-33 (du Plessis, 3.3 ov), 2-68 (Smith, 6.5 ov), 3-77 (Raina, 8.4 ov)

Bowling: B Kumar 4-0-360, DW Steyn 4-0-43-0, KV Sharma 4-0-19-2, Parvez Rasool 4-0-35-0, IK Pathan 3-0-340, DJG Sammy 1-0-11-0

Hyderabad T20 innings (target: 186 runs from 20 overs)

DA Warner b Hastings 90

S Dhawan not out 64

NV Ojha† c Negi b Raina 19 AJ Finch run out (Raina) 7 DJG Sammy* c du Plessis b Jadeja 0 Y Venugopal Rao not out 4

Extras (lb 1, w 3, nb 1) 5 Total (4 wickets; 19.4 overs) 189 Did not bat: IK Pathan, KV Sharma, Parvez Rasool, DW Steyn, B Kumar Fall of wickets: 1-116 (Warner, 11.2 ov), 2-168 (Ojha, 17.2 ov), 3-176 (Finch, 18.1 ov), 4-184 (Sammy, 19.2 ov) Bowling: MM Sharma 3-0-33-0, R Ashwin 4-0-29-0 JW Hastings 3-0-29-1,

England v Sri Lanka: Chris Jordan stars as hosts win first ODI

Chris Jordan enhanced his growing reputation as England beat Sri Lanka by 81 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first match of the one-day series at The Oval.

His unbeaten 38 off 13 balls carried the hosts to 2476 off 39 overs, which also featured 64 from Gary Ballance, 50 for Ian Bell and 45 from Joe Root.

Jordan, 25, then claimed 3-25 and James Tredwell 3-38 as Sri Lanka - chasing a twice-revised target of 226 in 32 overs - were bowled out for 144 with 4.1 overs unused.

Victory was significant in that it represented England’s first against a Test-playing nation since Peter Moores was reinstated as coach last month.

“Chris Jordan’s innings really gave England momentum because it gave them an above-average total, and then he bowled really well.

“I think England have found a good death bowler in Harry Gurney, too.”

He will also be buoyed by the comprehensive margin of victory over a team that had won their last 10 ODIs. (BBC Sport)

England innings (39 overs maximum)

AN Cook* c †Sangakkara b Kulasekara 11

IR Bell c Malinga b Mathews 50

GS Ballance c Chandimal b Senanayake 64

EJG Morgan b Senanayake 3

JE Root lbw b Kulasekara 45

RS Bopara lbw b Senanayake 3

JC Buttler† not out 26

CJ Jordan not out 38

Extras: (b 1, lb 1, w 5) 7

Total: (6 wickets; 39 overs) 247

Did not bat: JC Tredwell, JM Anderson, HF Gurney

Fall of wickets 1-22 (Cook, 5.2 ov), 2-101 (Bell, 20.4 ov), 3-104 (Morgan, 21.2 ov), 4-145 (Ballance, 29.2 ov), 5-152 (Bopara, 31.2 ov), 6-193 (Root, 35.3 ov)

Bowling: SL Malinga 8-0-71-0, KMDN Kulasekara 8-1-60-2, RAS Lakmal 6-0-34-0, NLTC Perera 3-0-25-0, AD Mathews 6-0-251, SMSM Senanayake 8-0-30-3

Sri Lanka innings (target: 226 runs from 32 overs)

HDRL Thirimanne lbw b Anderson 0

TM Dilshan c Gurney b Jordan 33

KC Sangakkara† b Gurney 8

DPMD Jayawardene c Morgan b Tredwell 35

AD Mathews* c Cook b Tredwell 18 LD Chandimal c †Buttler b Jordan 8 KMDN Kulasekara c †Buttler b Jordan 0 NLTC Perera c Root b Tredwell 2 SMSM Senanayake

of wickets 1-0 (Thirimanne, 0.5 ov), 2-19 (Sangakkara, 5.3 ov), 3-63 (Dilshan, 14.1 ov), 4-88 (Jayawardene, 17.3 ov), 5-108 (Chandimal, 20.3 ov), 6-108 (Kulasekara, 20.6 ov), 7-114 (Mathews, 21.6 ov), 8-118 (Perera, 23.2 ov), 9-138 (Senanayake, 26.3 ov),

(Malinga, 27.5 ov)

Bowling: JM Anderson 5-122-1, HF Gurney 5-0-20-2, CJ Jordan 6-0-25-3, JE Root 1-0-7-0, RS Bopara 4.5-025-1, JC Tredwell 6-0-38-3

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21 SPORTS

Riders v Royal Challengers, IPL 2014

Uthappa powers Knight Riders into playoffs

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obin Uthappa was little more than a spectator for eight overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore displayed the intent of a side fighting for survival. Three Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen were in the hut just after the Powerplay and Uthappa was 20 off 18. He finished an unbeaten 83 off 51 to confirm his team’s place in the playoffs by extending their unbeaten run to six matches. Royal Challengers’ loss meant they were out of the tournament.

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They did have the resources to threaten a target of 196. But they persisted with a misfiring Chris Gayle and endured another poor start. Yogesh Takawale, inducted in the XI to offset Gayle’s dot balls, looked scratchy early on and when he was becoming fluent, he perished. Sunil Narine’s script was near flawless against Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh - who made a brief fist of it when he swatted Umesh Yadav in a 22-run 16th over - and AB de Villiers to scupper any chance the visitors had.

The pitch had offered early evidence of stopping on the batsmen a couple of times. Uthappa decided nudging around was too risky and enacted a counterattack. Concise footwork added power to his straight hits. His indulgence in unorthodoxy went as far as sweeping and reverse-sweeping, but more often than not he concentrating on guiding the ball into gaps with necessary angling of the bat. A caress to third man gave him the orange cap and his ninth 40-plus score in 13 matches ended up becoming his first unbeaten innings this season. Eden Gardens was rumbling “Uthappa, Uthappa” as he drilled the final ball of the innings - a full toss on mid-

dle - into the sightscreen to reach his highest IPL score.

Shakib Al Hasan was a brilliant deputy. Knight Riders were 56 for 3 in the eighth over when he joined Uthappa. The 121-run partnership took shape with singles and twos before Shakib, batting determinedly deep

in his crease, brought out his bottom-handed swipes. The bowlers obliged by failing in their search for the blockhole and both batsmen began finding the boundaries with ease. When Yuzvendra Chahal was razed for 24 in the 15th over, with three towering sixes, Royal Challengers were rattled beyond recovery. They offered width, full tosses and bungled an easy run-out of Uthappa in the penultimate over to enable 78 runs off the last six overs.

Royal Challengers’ hopes were pinned to an 85-run stand between Kohli and Takawale. They needed to balance the construction of a springboard for their finishers with an asking-rate that was persistently above 10. Rotating strike was not a problem and Vinay Kumar was carted for 17 runs in the ninth over to tempt their fans. However, with 26 runs and two wickets coming in the next four overs and 103 needed in the remaining seven, the dire need for big hits overcame the batsmen’s ability. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Kolkata T20 innings (20 overs maximum)

RV Uthappa†not out 83 G Gambhir*c †Takawale b Starc 4

MK Pandeyc Starc b Dinda 13 YK Pathan run out (Kohli/ †Takawale) 22 Shakib Al Hasanb Ahmed 60 RN ten Doeschatenot out 6

Extras(b 1, lb 1, w 4, nb 1) 7

Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 195

Did not bat: SA Yadav, R Vinay Kumar, M Morkel, UT Yadav, SP Narine Fall of wickets 1-5 (Gambhir, 0.5 ov), 2-23 (Pandey, 3.4 ov), 3-56 (Pathan, 6.6 ov), 4-177 (Shakib Al Hasan, 18.4 ov)

Bowling: MA Starc 4-0-32-1, AB Dinda 4-0-38-1, AN Ahmed 4-0-33-1, M Muralitharan 2-019-0, Yuvraj Singh-2-0-21-0, YS Chahal-4-0-50-0

Bangalore T20 innings (target: 196 runs from 20 overs)

CH Gaylelbw b UT Yadav 6 YV Takawale†b Narine 45 V Kohli*c Morkel b Narine 38 Yuvraj Singhc Vinay Kumar b Narine 22 AB de Villiersb Narine 13 S Rananot out 19 MA Starcnot out 12 Extras (lb 8, w 1, nb 1) 10

Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 165

Did not bat: AN Ahmed, AB Dinda, YS Chahal, M Muralitharan Fall of wickets 1-7 (Gayle, 1.6 ov), 2-92 (Kohli, 12.3 ov), 3-93 (Takawale, 12.6 ov), 4-129 (Yuvraj Singh, 16.2 ov), 5-133 (de Villiers, 16.6 ov) Bowling: M Morkel 4-0-21-0, UT Yadav 4-0-45-1, SP Narine 4-020-4, R Vinay Kumar-4-0-44-0, Shakib Al

Spurs rout Thunder to take 2-0 series lead

The San Antonio Spurs put the Oklahoma City Thunder to the sword with a spectacular exhibition of shooting in the second half to tighten their grip on the Western Conference finals with a 112-77 win in Game Two on Wednesday.

With All-Star point guard Tony Parker scoring a teamhigh 22 points and Danny Green pouring in a dazzling array of seven three-pointers, the Spurs sizzled on their home court to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Veteran forward Tim Duncan contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds while Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw tallied 11 points apiece off the bench as San

Tony Parker

Limacol Caribbean Premier League to host Beefy’s Bash

Star-studded charity game to be highlight of final week celebrations in St Kitts

Today, cricketing legends, Sir Ian “Beefy”

Botham and Brian Lara, together with media personality, Piers Morgan, have teamed up with the Limacol Caribbean Premier League to announce ‘Beefy’s Bash’, an all-star charity T20 game to take place at Warner Park, St.Kitts, on Tuesday 12th August.

The match will bring together a host of celebrity personalities, cricketing legends and current stars, and will form part of an exhilarating week in St.Kitts, building up to the final of the Limacol CPL 2014 on Saturday 16th August.

Cricketing royalty, Sir Ian Botham and Brian Lara, have been designated as captains for the two teams, and have issued a call to arms to cricketing superstars, personalities and fans across the world to take part. In spite of his chastening experience against Australian fast bowler, Brett Lee, over Christmas, Piers Morgan was the first to volunteer, and has been snapped up by fellow Englishman, Botham.

Sir Ian Botham said: “I know how important cricket is to everyone in the

and

Caribbean, and [Limacol] CPL has done a lot to reignite the region’s love for the game. St Kitts is an amazing island of rare beauty, full of wonderful people, and I’m excited to give something back to the country through this charity match, as well as getting the chance to watch the closing stages of the [Limacol] CPL.”

the Biggest Party in Sport was too good an opportunity to miss. I’ve already asked Brett Lee to join in, but this time playing WITH me - not breaking my ribs!”

Brian Lara added; “I’ve seen first-hand the impact [Limacol] CPL has had on the region. Players and fans love it, it’s great for our up and coming talent, and it provides an economic boost as well. I’ve always believed in the importance of giving back to the Caribbean, and this match will be a great way to do that. It’s going to be fun to play with and against some old friends and reignite some old rivalries, and I’ve already been contacted by plenty of fast bowlers keen to have a bowl at Piers!”

in the coming weeks.” The game will add spice to what promises to be a thrilling finals week in St. Kitts, ensuring that the CPL lives up to its reputation as the Biggest Party in Sport. As well as the two semi-final showdowns during the week, fans will be treated to a concert on Friday 15th August featuring international and local stars, before the main event, the final of the Limacol CPL 2014, on Saturday 16th August.

About the Caribbean Premier League:

Caribbean Premier League is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life –dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere.

Hinds clears the air on basketball issues

By Treiston Joseph

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, expounded on the real issue that has caused a bit of conflict between his federation and the National Sports Commission (NSC) earlier this month, as he looks forward to a better working relationship with the NSC.

“The key issue we have is the IGG basketball games and GABF not being allowed by the NSC to co-ordinate, manage, and organize the basketball component of the games.

“Let us leave that aside for now, as I am sure discussions and deliberations are ongoing at the highest levels in Guyana to resolve this issue; and I am sure the Director of Youth and Sport is involved in the process,” Hinds said via email.

Hinds also highlighted another major issue that he views as clinical for the future development of the sport.

the GABF’s position that future YBG activities will not be approved. The Youth Basketball Festival was approved by the GABF and I do not foresee YBG school programmes not being approved by GABF.

“YBG is able at any time to be affiliated to GABF; all documentary issues have already been filed by YBG and it is only the fees for membership that are due,” Hinds indicated via email.

Piers Morgan commented; “As soon as I got the call from Beefy, I knew this was something I wanted to be involved in. I¹m a huge fan of cricket and I love the Caribbean, so a chance to play in this special game and get involved with

Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League said; “It was no surprise when Beefy got in touch about the game. The Limacol CPL is the Biggest Party in Sport and as a result, we’re naturally attracting some of the leading names in sport and entertainment. Beefy’s Bash is set to be a remarkable highlight of finals week in St. Kitts and expect some more big names to be announced

Contender Series

Eastman goes distance with ‘Bus Boy’,reaches semi finals

Howard Eastman, who left New Amsterdam in March for Jamaica with the goal of returning with the Contender Series title, has stuck to his game plan and has now moved on to the semi-finals, following a unanimous win over Kevin ‘Bus Boy’ Hylton on Wednesday night.

The New Amsterdamer outpunched ‘Bus Boy’ in all six rounds of the welterweight fight at the Chinese Benevolent Centre on Hope Road in Kingston, only asking the ‘Bus Boy’ to make two brief stops on his ride to the semi-finals; once when he floored him in the second round for an eight count; and again when he was floored later on in the fight. However, the second knockdown was from a punch to the back of the Jamaican’s head. The referee ruled it

an illegal punch and deducted a point from Eastman.

Some sections of the Jamaica press reported the fight as not being a one sided affair, but eyewitnesses to the fight reported that Eastman controlled the entire bout. “Hylton kept turning his back to Eastman to force him to foul and some-

times to avoid punches.”

Eastman, who was not available for comment when Guyana Times tried to contact him, reportedly said that he was under no pressure and just took the fight one day at a time.

Asked of Eastman’s stamina at the end of the six- round fight and whether he might be under pressure in the semi-final which will be fought over eight rounds, a source close to Eastman’s camp said he was preparing for a six round encounter and now he will start training for an eight -rounder.

The winner of the contender series will take home $2M; the runnerup $500,000; third place $250,000 ; and fourth place $200,000.

The final which is scheduled for July 9th will be a 10round encounter. (Andrew Carmichael)

The inaugural Limacol CPL, billed as “the Biggest Party in Sport” featured six teams competing throughout the region in August 2013 –Jamaica Tallawahs, The Red Steel, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Zouks, Antigua Hawksbills. The Jamaica Tallawahs, captained by Chris Gayle, emerged as champions.

Limacol CPL II will take place from 11th July to 16th August of 2014.

“The fact that GABF is paying for national squads to use the Sports Hall for practice sessions. The research I have done indicates this does not apply to other sport disciplines and certainly not to YBG (Youth Basketball Guyana). Hopefully, this will be corrected soon,” Hinds highlighted.

Hinds also explained the GABF’s position with the YBG, as it relates to their affiliation as well as their upcoming programmes.

“It is not my position or

Hinds also noted the one issue that can have implications going forward with the YBG: “The training sessions that are held under the banner of a national practice by YBG are the only training sessions that could have negative implications for the players, officials and coaches,” Hinds pointed out. Further, Hinds believes that all parties involved in the process have the best interest of the sport at heart, and he looks forward to dialogue with Director of Sport Neil Kumar in order to have the situation resolved as quickly as possible.

Alas! Albion gets lights

Lights have at last been installed at the Albion Sports Complex. After several months of preparatory work, the lights were mounted on Thursday, making Albion the second ground in Guyana with approved lighting facilities for international matches.

The installation of the lights was done by Musco Sports Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa, USA. This is the same company that

One of the lighting towers

had installed the lights at the Providence National Stadium.

Project Manager Brad Chellsvig explained that the installation project took three days. Six light towers now decorate the Albion Sports Complex. “Each tower carries 17 fixtures (lights).

Each fixture is 1500 watts, so we should have about 550 lux over the entire field.”

This Chellsvig said will be sufficient lighting for

night cricket. The lights are towering at 120-feet from the ground.

The project manager told the Guyana Times that he is confident that there will be no problems during the Independence Cup on Sunday, since this is the third cricket field in addition to numerous baseball and American football fields on which he has installed lights.(Andrew Carmichael)

ECCCC family fun day and softball cricket on Sunday

As part of its fundraising efforts, the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) will on Sunday stage its second annual family fun day, bar-b-que and softball cricket competition for both male and female teams.

The action will get under way at 09:00h at the Enmore Cricket Club ground, East Coast Demerara.

Four male teamsFloodlights XI, Parika Defenders, Mike’s Wellman and host club Enmore- will vie for supremacy in the 10/10 softball competition, while on the distaff side,

Trophy Stall Angels, Mike’s Wellwoman, 4R Lioness and Lady Jags will do battle.

According to the organisers, admission to the venue is free and bar-b-que will be served from noon to 17:00h.

Apart from the on-field action, there will be several activities beyond the boundary, including novelty events, trampoline, face painting, raffle, children games, music and food and beverage bars.

The organisers have also instituted a no-entry policy to cool down carts, coolers and gambling boards. At last year’s event,

Success/Mahaica Invaders and Mike’s Wellwoman emerged as champions of the male and female categories respectively.

Watched by a crowd of about 1,500, Success/ Mahaica Invaders, a team featuring players from the two villages, whipped Parika Defenders by 10 wickets in the Men’s 15-over final, while Mike’s Wellwoman had to work hard for their three-wicket win over Trophy Stall Angels in the female 10-over final.

As was done in 2013, proceeds from the event will go towards cricket development at the ECCCC.

GVF hosts referees’ clinic

By Treiston Joseph

The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) opened their referees’ clinic on Thursday at the National Resource Centre. The clinic will feature presentations by president of the Regional Volleyball Federation/ Referee Commission member, Cimino Carlos.

The clinic will conclude on Sunday and aims to help local referees attain the same levels as their counterparts in the Region.

“It [the course] is part of a programme the South American Confederation

did to develop in all the areas of the volleyball… this part is a referee course, a refreshing one to put all the referees on the same level like in FIVB (Federation International of Volleyball) ,” Carlos stated.

The regional president noted that it is imperative that the referees grasp opportunity to become better as well.

“All the people must catch this opportunity to put yourself on the same level, on the same interpretation of the rules because all the participants must understand the rules on the same level especially

the coaches, referees, players and the people who organize the volleyball here in the Guyana Volleyball Federation,” Carlos pinpointed.

Meanwhile, Carlos believes that the clinic will only raise the level of the referees to benefit the sport.

“The consequences I told all the people are that they mete out information for the other participants that are not here.

“So that’s the reason to increase the volleyball and in turn mete out information they receive here for all the people involved in the volleyball,” Carlos stressed.

Amazon Warriors set for encampment from July 2

Limacol Caribbean Premier League to host Beefy’s Bash

Anew champion will be crowned in the East Coast leg of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets football tournament, after last year’s winners Plaisance suffered defeat at the quarter-final on Wednesday evening at the Haslington Market Square tarmac.

After six exciting games on Wednesday night, Melanie ‘A’ and Beterverwagting ‘A’ have advanced to the final set for Sunday evening at the same venue.

In the first semi-final, played in front of another large crowd, Melanie ‘A’ defeated last year’s runners-up Victoria Church Yard United 2-0. Jamal George was the man on target for Melanie ‘A’, blasting in goals in the 3rd and 5th minutes.

Semi-final two produced a sol-

itary goal, with Beterverwagting ‘B’ needling Melanie ‘B’ 1-0. Erin Fraser was the goalscorer for the champions.

Earlier in the evening during the quarter-final games, Victoria Church Yard United defeated Paradise 1-0 with Keyron Johnson scoring in the 13th minute.

Beterverwagting ‘B’ got a similar result against defending champions Plaisance, with Erin Fraser on target in the 19th minute.

Melanie ‘B’ were also 1-0 victors over Victoria Eagles with the goal coming from Ryan Seals in the 19th minute, while Melanie ‘A’ prevailed 3-2 on penalties against Beterverwagting ‘A’ after a 3-3 stalemate.

Melanie ‘A’ scorers were Dwight Peters (18th and 20th) and Shermon Fraser (11th), while

Akin Curry netted a hat-trick for Beterverwagting ‘A’, scoring in the third, 12th and 17th minutes.

Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste, said patrons will be in for a treat on Sunday, judging from the high level of competitiveness displayed by the players during the East Coast leg.

The winner of the East Coast leg will join four teams from Georgetown and three from Linden in the national playoff on May 31-June 1, to decide Guyana’s representative at the Guinness Caribbean Street Challenge in Trinidad next month.

According to Baptiste, the Caribbean Street Challenge, which is billed for June 6-8, will be streamed live on Sportsmax across the Region. (Avenash Ramzan)