Guyana Times Daily

tuesday, february 25, 2014|

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, February 25 – 13:30h-15:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, February 25 –13:00h-14:30h

WEATHER TODAY

Countrywide: Thundery showers can be expected during the day and into the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Wind: East north easterly between 2.77 metres and 3.05 metres per second.

High Tide: 13:19h reaching a maximum height of 2.39 metres.

Low Tide: 06:47h and 19:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.96 metre and 0.77 metre respectively.

After-Mash garbage unbearable

– environment campaigners urge enforcement of anti-litter laws

Tonnes of refuse lined several streets of Georgetown up to early this morning following the Mashramani float parade on Sunday, and several environmental campaigners are waiting to see if the authorities will enforce some of the stringent anti-litter regulations it enacted recently.

As was predicted, vendors and citizens indiscriminately dumped their garbage on the roadways leaving a sea of plastic bottles, bags, drink cans, and other debris. The streams of litter started from Camp and Church Streets and snaked their way throughout the parade route into the National Park. The Guyana Defence Force headquarters at Camp Ayanganna was not spared, as its environs were littered with broken glass bottles and tonnes of litter stacked at the corners and on some parts of the roadway.

City Council workers had set about the herculean task of clearing the waste, but by nightfall there was still a lot more work to be done. Mashramani, which was highly anticipated this year, was celebrated with much pomp and ceremony. Families held picnics, party animals had a blast, and officials were satisfied with the success. Mashramani has come and gone and with that, has left much garbage around Georgetown. The question now arises when will this garbage be cleared?

Garbage clearance

During a tour of the Mash route on Monday, Guyana Times observed that most pieces of articles used and dropped on Sunday are still present on the roadways, parapets, and in drains. The

sight which in past years has greeted anyone venturing out on the morning following Mashramani is probably one of the more disgusting ones they are likely to encounter in life.

Just before the Mash activities commenced, Town Clerk Carol Sooba had reportedly increased the prices of the vending spots, openly stating that these increases were to facilitate the clearance of the garbage left after the Mash celebrations. The actions to match these words are yet to be seen. Ranwell Jordan, Chairman of the Market and Public Health Committee, in a recent press conference, stated that one of the council’s two compactor trucks was down and as such, a pile up of garbage will result. The other truck he deemed to be in a “reasonable” condition.

The Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO) had called on designers and all those who were involved in making costumes and other

items for the Mash celebrations, to pay careful attention to the quality of materials used, and to ensure that they do not hurt the natural environment.

ECHO had said it has observed that many designers use plastic and other nonbiodegradable materials to make floats and other pieces for this event. After Mash, many of the floats are simply discarded in an environmentally unfriendly manner.

Environmental health

Many are left on parapets and roadsides, at the mercy of the weather. “ECHO wishes to urge all Guyanese that as we celebrate 44 years of nationhood that we would make the environment our highest priority and ensure the health of our local communities, particularly in circumstances of climate change and global warming,” the organisation warned. It had also asked corporations and companies that sponsor these celebrations to help preserve the health of the en-

vironment by ensuring the groups and organisations they have sponsored take into account the goodness of the natural environment. Under recently-revised laws, litterbugs who dispose of garbage in public places and out of vehicles can be fined $50,000 under new anti-littering rules. Under the Environmental Protection (Litter Enforcement) Regulations 2013, laid in the National Assembly recently by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, individuals who litter in public places or throw garbage out of vehicles can be fined $50,000 if found guilty. If it cannot be determined who threw the garbage out of a vehicle, the driver shall be deemed to be the person who littered and can be fined $50,000 upon conviction. If it cannot be determined who was driving the vehicle, its owner is liable for the offence unless he proves otherwise.

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Becoming a Republic

As we recover from the Mash revelry after the long weekend, perchance we may turn our thoughts to what we can do to really make our republican dream of a self-reliant and self-assured people become real. Or of course, we may choose to begin planning for the next big bash, which we can market for tourists to watch how “the natives” cavort with great abandon. Much as the Trinidadians will be doing this coming weekend, with their Carnival extravaganza.

But we should take note that even though one invited foreign economic “expert” has advised that the Caribbean should concentrate on tourism, because we have a comparative advantage in this area, the advice of even more eminent economic experts have done nothing to remove the developed countries – the present source of our tourists – from their economic crisis. So, he says, we should look towards China for tourists, since with the explosive growth of their economy, there are now hundreds of millions of Chinese in a position to jet across the world for a vacation.

We would have thought, however, that the expert may have spared a thought as to why China was able to accomplish that astounding economic success, when at independence in the 1960s and 70s, every West Indian territory, including Guyana, was light years ahead of China by every economic, and social metric. And it was not a matter of size as some may reflexively retort, as we relapse into our habitual exculpatory mode.

Singapore, which long ago spurted ahead of every other ex-British colony, is still far ahead of China and more to the point was smaller than even Trinidad but without any of the latter’s petroleum reserves. In fact, the Prime Minister of Singapore has explicitly compared his country’s success with the stagnation of the West Indies, especially Jamaica. What we want to suggest therefore is that while tourism should always be a source of income to any economy, it cannot be positioned as the linchpin of that economy. To do so would be to forever place the future of the Caribbean at the whims and fancies of the always fickle wealthy.

As Singapore did 50 years ago, we have to look strategically ahead and plan how we can integrate ourselves into the global economy, not as producers of fun and frolic and certainly not of primary products such as sugar and timber. Our population is too minuscule to create our own markets and our productive capabilities are too small to compete in the manufacture of anything but niche products. Where we can compete is in the brave new world of information communication technology (ITC).

The recent purchase of WhatsApp, a company with only 55 employees, by Facebook for US$19 billion, is an indication of the evolution of the capitalist mode of production, still the most efficient ever. Marx claimed that the value of products was based on the amount of labour that went into them, but that is not true. The value of something is whatever people will pay for it. If you have a product people want enough, you can get a high price.

More than a decade ago, NY Times’ Thomas Friedman, referring to products such as computer chips, pointed out that the lighter the weight of the new exports, the more value was embedded. Today, the connectivity that WhatsApp delivers is totally weightless, but has more value than all the Caribbean Islands combined.

The lesson for the Caribbean is to pursue even more assiduously the path signalled by former Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo, when he decided to initiate liberalisation in his telecoms sector, distribute 90,000 free Internet-ready laptops and bring in the infrastructure for total Internet connectivity. The education system must put its shoulder to the wheel to ensure that young Guyanese deliver us to this brave new ICT world.

Stop APNU, AFC from destroying Guyana

Dear Editor Financial Advisor with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Roger Hernandez visited Guyana and met with the members of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Parliamentary Special Select Committee to address concerns.

The amendments sug-

gested by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are risky and non-complaint with international standards. The AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill must be passed by February 28 and it is important to meet this deadline.

Now here it is where it appears that the APNU committee members never listened to the government

side of the committee, especially in relation to concerns that the bill must be passed by February 28. They didn’t seem to appreciate this until they were told the truth by CFATF advisor. Congratulations to the government side of the select committee. My simple advice to the APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) is to now put aside their pro-

posed amendments and pass the bill by February 28. In this regard, I am calling on the people of Guyana to launch massive protests against APNU and AFC for the passage of the bill by February 28. Together let us all stop the APNU and AFC from destroying Guyana.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

How humans contribute to flooding

Dear Editor,

How long will we put up with flooding and unabated waters when it rains? It seems as though suspending schools, blocked drains, garbage pile-up and eroding roads have become such a norm in today’s society – not to mention the aftermath of having to clean up after flood waters recede, leaving garbage and other materials visibly noticeable on our roadways.

One recurring factor that can be blamed for flooding is our poor drainage systems. It is unfair for good, decent citizens to have to suffer and endure discomfort, loss and other inconveniences during flood times, simply because of those citizens who refuse to dispose of their garbage in a more responsible way.

In fact, all measures should be taken to report these ill mannered individuals to the relevant au-

thorities, who will further determine what their punishment for littering will be.

Though clogged drains is one of the key reason for flooding, it also contributes to an even more serious matter of creating a major health hazard. Clogged drains often allow for waste water to accumulate and if not cleared, can produce a very unpleasant scent. Additionally, it creates breeding grounds for disease causing elements

which can affect us all.

I urge the relevant authorities to be more proactive as it relates to dealing with those found guilty of contributing to clogged drains. Those caught should be made an example of, because we are living in a society where the actions generated by one can greatly affect others.

Sincerely, Patricia Welcome

Practical measures for addressing noise nuisance

Dear Editor,

I am of strong belief that the relevant authorities are not quite serious about curbing the ongoing situation of noise nuisance in Guyana. There have been numerous incidents where police officers and other individuals with authority have observed and witnessed bus drivers and cart vendors playing loud music, yet they fail to confront and discipline them. Additionally, there

have been numerous occasions where police officers could be seen revelling in bars and rum shops amidst all the noise. On another note, when the relevant authorities do decide to address matters of noise pollution, they do so in the most unwarranted and intricate way.

Moreover, court matters should not be taken up with petty issues such as noise nuisance. In fact, in most countries, when

night spots and other festivities violate noise regulations and disturb the peace of the community, they are instructed to shutdown immediately.

Overall, the approaches taken to curb noise nuisance should be practicable and realistic and should therefore include methods such as stripping vehicles of their music systems and establishing stringent consequences for those who fail to take others into con -

sideration when the play their music.

Additionally, entertainment facilities which fail to comply with such regulations should have their licences or noise permits revoked. Noise can greatly affect us all and so all efforts must be made to address this matter with grave concern.

Sincerely, Deewan Jethoo

Brazil’s racial democracy copied by Trinidad’s Williams and Guyana’s Burnham

Dear Editor,

Kindly allow me some space to contribute to the ongoing debate of democracy and resolutions. “Racial democracy” which was inspired by Brazil’s Gilberto Freyre in “The Masters and the Slaves” became Brazilian racial dictatorship policy and practice to ensure Brazil’s overwhelming white population remained supreme.

In the early 1920s, Brazil’s upper white ruling class actively recruited Europeans to come to live in Brazil to outnumber blacks and “whiten” and eliminate their black problems.

As Brazil shifted from racial dictatorship to racial democracy, blacks were given the power to vote, but they still remained economically weak. Master and slave became united by “one love” and no black civil rights demands arose in Brazil.

Compared to the 1960s civil rights eruptions in the U.S.A., the North American juggernaut, adjusted by “affirmative action” to proudly elect a hybrid President in Barack Obama in the 21st century.

The U.S. can now hold itself as the paragon of racial equality and democracy even though blacks are still at the bottom of that country’s economic ladder. What makes American solutions of its black problems the right fit to the Guyana model?

The Dominican Republic (DR) dictator Raphael Trujillo actively pursued a similar Brazilian policy to “whiten” and protect the

country. All subsequent DR policies explain why their mentality and laws consider black Haitian immigration from across their common land border as a constant threat.

With most statistical models currently predicting American blacks will soon be outnumbered by an increasing Hispanic immigrating population from across the Mexican border they will inevitably lose their Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status.

How will this “problem” become resolved? Of course our liberated Guyanese thinkers and organisations – Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), African Cultural Development Association (ACDA), Red Thread, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), People’s National Congress/A Partnership for National Unity (PNC/APNU), Working People’s Alliance (WPA), etc) – actively believe such mistreatment of blacks is most racist, repugnant and should not be tolerated and they are right, aren’t they?

Can both Trinidad’s Dr Eric Williams and Guyana’s Forbes Burnham brazen model of racial democracy be any different than Brazil’s or The Dominican Republic to make black dominance justifiably acceptable?

Both Williams and Burnham aggressively superimposed and institutionalised black dominance in government, education, culture, armed forces recruitment, dance and lifestyle values.

Just because of their

numbers (declining), Indians became automatically guilty to make them targets of black ascendancy. But Indians did not enslave black people as Eusi Kwayana claims. How can Indians be held responsible for black problems with their wealth of education and institutionalised privileges?

Unlike the U.S.A.’s civil rights demands and adjustment with affirmative action, was Brazil’s racial democracy giving blacks the right to vote better than Trinidad and Guyana’s good fortunes, which had no black civil rights movement?

Black ascendancy to political power, already entrenched within the civil service and armed forces was an assured gift on a platter by the white colonials who quickly hurried away from Trinidad and Guyana.

With the black based People’s National Movement (PNM) and PNC parties in complete political control, Indians and other minorities were subjected to similar impositions against blacks in Brazil.

The PNC-imposed the Guyana National Service became the calculated miscegenation laboratory to blacken the Indian population from their cultural uniqueness.

Was Burnham’s PNC different from Brazil’s dominant European strategists who calculated that Douglah/ Mulatto children will become intermarried with the respective country’s controlling stock, making them three quarters black or European?

Facing so great odds,

Improving the stray catching system

Dear Editor,

Though the figures of stray catching appear to be quite impressive, I cannot help but to question the system, since there always seems to be more and more animals on our roadways.

In fact, I am beginning to wonder if the animals that have been caught and released to their owners are in fact the same animals that end up back on the road and further impounded over and over again.

In order for this system to be effective, every animal that is impounded needs to be recorded. Additionally, when the owner of the animal arrives to claim his possessions, he or she should be issued with a receipt for any payment made.

Personally, I also believe that in addition to the required fees that an owner would have to pay for the release of their animals, they should also be required to pay an incriminating fee for being

irresponsible and neglectful. Failure of this system to work efficiently will result in several predicaments for both farmers and society including the theft and loss of valuable livestock.

I urge those responsible to alter and adjust the system accordingly in order to ensure that it yields the objectives that it was intended for.

Yours truly, Annand

Ragubhir

The smuggling of wildlife

Dear Editor, Wildlife smuggling has been a crime that has required grave attention for quite some time. Several people have over the years been accused of committing this illegal act, but not much has ever been done to address the issue, nor were there ever serious consequences in place for those caught.

Many people fail to realise that the act of smuggling wildlife contributes to the extinction or depletion of a particular species. Additionally, they take the risk of not knowing whether they are aiding in the transfer of disease infected animals.

Guyana has been blessed with a vast content of biodiversity that not only rep-

resents our heritage, but also plays a role in promoting nature-based tourism and academic research. It is therefore important that proper protocols and consequences be put in place for those who threaten the continued existence of our wildlife species.

Respectfully,

Charessia Ford

Brazil’s miscegenated black slave descendants proceeded to automatically “whiten” themselves for upward mobility. When a mulatto acquired wealth, he was treated as white.

An Amerindian/ Portuguese descendant also got the same “equality”. It was the original negro slave, after successive miscegenation, who considered himself so white enough to completely eliminate Brazil’s black threat.

Conscious of the Indian numbers in Guyana, it became a PNC problem to be resolved by subsequent intermarriages. Both Guyana and Brazil were expected to become ideal Christian heavens.

Trinidad’s black-based PNM rigged elections for two decades with voting machines. It actively copied Brazil European immigration importations by recruiting nearby Grenadian blacks to outnumber and marginalise Trinidad’s Indians, deculturise and dumb them down to the controlling creole Christian culture.

Dr Williams criticised Trinidad’s Indians as a “recalcitrant” minority who

sent their children to “cow pen” schools. Those schools which have grown to become prestigious educational institutions producing many lawyers and doctors.

Burnham’s PNC was no angel. It committed the original political sin of destroying political and racial unity by siding with hostile foreign forces and by automatic MFN recruitment was catapulted into the government by UK/U.S. political shenanigans.

Race riots, massive secret financial donations and agreement to reignite a previously sealed Venezuelan claims to two thirds of Guyana’s territory was Guyanese inheritance from the PNC.

Subsequently, destruction of democracy by denial of press freedom, vote rigging, allowing the dead to vote, violence against its opponents, political murders, nationwide starvation and collapse of the country’s infrastructure and a surge in crime became the norm of the day.

The PNC kept Indians out of the civil service, armed forces, denied them tax funded scholarships, and sponsor-

ship to work in international organisations. The judiciary was subverted and the PNC became paramount to every facet of life in Guyana.

The PNC’s miscegenation national service incubator to make a “new nation” of Guyanese became a forced labour camp for the raping of minority, especially Indian women, as part of PNC government policy funded by taxpayers.

Not until the country changed from PNC racial dictatorship to democracy in 1992 were Guyanese able to participate in free and fair election in expressing their free will. Isn’t the PPP/C a minority government by their actions made obvious through democracy? Compare the vagaries of PNC racial democracy instituting racial dominance to that of Guyana’s current democracy where the current ruling government can be remove by the ballot, the budget or the old fashioned way by outsiders.

Under the PNC Guyanese had no choice but to starve or leave Guyana.

Sincerely,

Vassan Ramracha

Page Foundation

Critical acclaim: Help your child learn from constructive criticism

BY MICHELLE CROUCH

Scenario: Your child is criticised by a coach

The physical education (PE) coach asks your child to stop daydreaming during practice, and she bursts into tears.

Handle it right. Once she’s calm, help her see that the coach was looking out for her because she could get hit in the head by the ball or miss an important instruction. Ask her why she burst into tears. If she was upset about what the other children would think, let her know that her reaction probably got a lot more attention than the coach’s initial comments. Then teach her an appropriate response, like “Got it. Thanks.” Says Dr Berman: “Giving your child a response like that to use next time helps her take power back.”

Scenario: Your child is criticised by a classmate

A classmate told your son that his picture is messy. He responded, “Well, your picture is ugly!”

Handle it right. First, you’ll need to help your child make sense of his emotions. Ask him directly, “How did that comment make you feel?” Let him know that you understand why he may have felt embarrassed – and even hurt. “You want to encourage him to accept, rather than dismiss, his feelings,” explains Dr Cortes. Talk to him about how words can hurt people, and ask him how he thinks his own rude retort made the other boy feel. Explain that if he reacts angrily to a hurtful comment, he can end up doing to others precisely what he didn’t like having done to him – and point out that now two peo-

(CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY)

ple will be left feeling hurt and upset. Give him some options on how to respond in the future if this happens. For instance, he can ask the boy why he thinks the picture is messy, or he could tell the boy that the comment hurt his feelings. You might also suggest he just say, “Well, that’s your opinion.”

Scenario: Your child is criticised by a family member

Your sister tells your daughter that she’s not playing hopscotch the right way. Your daughter won’t let her explain and later tells you she thinks her aunt doesn’t like her.

Handle it right. Her reaction may seem extreme to you. But if you say, “Honey, that’s ridiculous. Of course

she likes you,” you may make her feel worse. Reassure her that her aunt loves her and that she only wants to teach her how to play the game according to the rules. “The trick is to get your child to learn how to handle criticism gracefully and learn from it,” says Parents advisor Michele Borba, EdD, author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions. Use this opportunity to explain to her that criticism, although not always easy to take, is a fact of life. Help her practice how to respond if she’s in a similar situation again. For instance, tell her it’s fine to simply say, “Thank you” or “Okay, I’ll try,” and leave it at that. (Parents.com)

Tips to help children handle disappointment

(CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY)

Self-calming:

* Get a hug: Physical touch is comforting. Learning to ask for a hug when it’s needed is a great coping skill.

* Drink from a water bottle: Make the water “magic calming juice.” This works particularly well for younger children.

* Take a warm bath: A bath is a great way to help wash away bad or irritating feelings.

Humour:

* Read humour books: Laughter can change body chemistry and help us let go of lingering negativity.

* Watch funny videos: Invite your child to watch a funny movie with you. Ask how he or she feels after.

* Find humour in the

situation: This helps teach your child to look at things from a different angle. Let children see you laugh at yourself.

Tip number four: Help them find something they’re good at One of the most common disappointments children face are feeling like they’re not as good as their peers. Perhaps your son didn’t make the final cut to play on the school soccer team or your daughter didn’t get invited to join the chorus. Failure can be a blessing in disguise and serve as motivation for children to practice harder, study longer, or attempt a different approach. Success isn’t always about “winning,” it’s more often about finding another path. Help them find something they can be good at that matches their interests and skills. Or figure out another way to approach the goal that takes advantage of their abilities.

Tip number five: Get ready for next time

Once you help your child through one disappointment, make sure you use the experience to brainstorm ways to fix the next one. If it’s a situation like not earning a role in the school play, you can encourage your child to ask for suggestions from the director on what she can work on to increase her chances for earning a role in the next production. Help her set some specific, attainable goals for the next audition, and then praise her with great enthusiasm when she finally achieves the role!

It’s a good idea to talk to your child about what he or she can do next. How did she handle her last disappointment? What does she think she should do now? Remind her how good it felt when she bounced back from a past letdown. By arming children with the experience of success and determination, you’re providing the cushion they need to fall back on when disappointment strikes. (Quick and Dirty Tips)

Driver ploughs through fence, slams into house

Ahome in the Upper Corentyne, Berbice

will need major repair after an out-of-control car smashed into it after breaking through a wooden and mesh fence when it veered off the Number 43 Public Road.

The car, after going through the fence, struck the verandah of the house before slamming into a parked minibus under the building, resulting in major damages to the property and the vehicle.

According to the owner of the property situated at Number 43 Village, Savitree Baldeo, she went to bed about 20:30h on Wednesday night; however, about 23:30h, she was rudely awakened by a loud noise

and a strong tremor on her home.

“All abbie bin ah sleep and abbie hear wan hard naise, meh house start shake hard, hard, me feel like ah eart quake gal, me hart start beat hard, me tink abbie go ded and me mudin law tink ah thief man,” said Baldeo.

The woman said the silver gray motor car with registration number PRR 9558 was driven by a 26-year-old, who allegedly was under the influence of alcohol.

“He gatta be he bin ah speed an da bai drunk, when me an me two son an me mudin law com down, he bin deh lik he drunk, an he na even kay about anyting, me ah wanda wha he ah do till ya suh dat hour when he ah

live till ah Canje,” she said.

The Baldeos' home is situated some distance away from the public road

According to the woman, her family owns a fishing vessel and her husband and eldest son are at sea, while she and her two youngest sons and mother-in-law were at home at the time.

Debt

She disclosed that her family toiled to purchase the minibus last year and currently they owe the bank for the vehicle as it was bought on a hire purchase plan.

“Me na know wha go happen now, abbie gatta wait and see, me hear he ah only son and he mumma and dadie ole… when ah man hear wha happen, he fall sick,” she revealed.

Baldeo estimated her losses at about $3 million.

Apart from the broken fence, the verandah of the building was badly damaged and the windscreen of the parked minibus was broken.

The woman said she is

happy that all her family members who were home at the time are still alive.

“All abbie poor na dem alone, wha me go do, me gatta pay bank to, dem young bai gatta stap drink rum and drive dem car speed,” Baldeo said, disclosing that police ranks have visited her home and took statements.

Police have since launched on investigation into the incident. The driver is most likely to be charged for reckless driving and might have to compensate the Baldeo family for their losses.

B Division Assistant Police Superintendant Calvin Brutus said speeding is the main cause for the high road fatalities this year.

“This year, there were four deaths on the roads in Berbice alone. That figure compares with one for the corresponding period last year. It is very disturbing.”

Brutus called on motorist to use the road with care in order to save a tear.

Disorderly policeman causes over $200,000 damage to Harbour Bridge

Police officer David Lindo crashed his vehicle into a section of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) late last month causing over $200,000 in damages.

According to General Manager Rawlston Adams, the incident occurred around 23:40h on January 29. The officer’s vehicle collided into the bridge rails at Span 45, which damaged two cable trays and a Diamond panel member. The total figure for the compromised section amounted to $233,703.

Furthermore, the officer involved threw Adams’ mobile phone into the river. However, it has been replaced. The police are currently conducting an internal investigation into the matter. The policeman and DHB officials at the accident scene

Public Works Ministry honours employees

From driver to confidential secretary, employees of the Public Works Ministry were honoured for their outstanding performance and dedication.

During the Ministry’s party held at the Transport and Harbours Sports Club last Friday, Irvin Stephens, Errol Ashley, Denise Burke and Indranie Palto were named the top staff for 2013.

Palto, a personnel officer was adjudged the Ministry’s 2013 Best Worker of the Year; Burke, confidential secretary to the permanent secretary, took the second runner’s up spot while Messrs Ashley, an office assistant, and Stephens – a driver in the Force Account Unit – were awarded third and fourth place respectively. The quartet was given certificates and monetary awards.

Several other employees who were also in contention for the top prizes were given certificates. Balraj Balram, the Ministry’s permanent secretary disclosed that the employees were assessed in several categories, including attitude to work and attendance. The Ministry currently has 459 employees on its payroll.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn urged qualified engi-

neers and technicians “to stop looking down from their ivory towers” and help train their colleagues.

“… they should help one another,” he said. The Minister told the large gathering that despite the criticisms the ministry faces, its ultimate goal is to facilitate growth for the future generation. He proudly pointed out that Guyana is one of the few Caribbean countries to experience growth. He also called for improvements on risk assessments for projects. “We want to continue to develop a culture of safety throughout the country.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar congratulated the Minister and staff for their key role in the infrastructural development of the country, and expressed optimism for more progress in 2014.

“Let’s recharge those batteries so projects are on time and rededicate ourselves to build a better Guyana,” Ramotar said. Similar sentiments were expressed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who added that Guyana “is our creation”. Ministers of education Priya Manickchand and health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran also joined in the ministry’s celebration.

Tommy Lee Sparta saga to go before CCJ

The decision by the authorities to deny Jamaican dancehall artiste Tommy Lee Sparta entry into Dominica will be heading to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

This is according to Attorney Tehani Behanzin, who is representing the artiste locally.

“I have been in discussion with his management team… they have already instructed lawyers in Jamaica to prepare a CCJ case for damages, because the issue with Tommy Lee’s denial of entry into Dominica falls under the Treaty of Chaguaramas,” he told privately-owned Q95 on Monday morning.

“Those provisions are decided and taken care of by

the CCJ.”

The Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the Caribbean Community and Common Market, later known as Caricom, was signed on July 4, 1973 in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago.

Among its many components it acknowledges “the vital importance of land, air and maritime transportation for maintaining economic, social and cultural linkages…” among member states.

Dominica and Jamaica are members of Caricom. Behanzin added that there are “constitutional breaches”, which were expected to be mentioned in the suit to be filed in court on Monday. He said it appears the authorities are trying to deport the artiste from Dominica this afternoon. “We will try to stop the deportation,” he said.

He noted that Tommy Lee was taken to the Marigot Police Station because the Melville Hall Airport has no place designated for those detained, to meet with attorneys. The attorney stated that after Tommy Lee was taken into custody he was denied legal representation, which he said is wrong.

Strip-searched

“Once you detain somebody, you cannot deny them legal representation,” he noted. “What happen is that custom and immigration believe and feel once they hold you, then your constitutional rights all disappear. I keep impressing that upon them, you cannot deny somebody you have detained, legal representation.”

He also said the artiste was strip-searched in public. No reasons have been given by the authorities for Sparta’s denial of entry and detention, according to Behanzin. Tommy Lee, who was set to perform in Portsmouth on Sunday night, was denied entry when his jet landed in Dominica on Sunday evening. He was subsequently arrested after he and his entourage reportedly refused to return to their jet.

The religious fraternity there had expressed opposition to the concert, saying the artiste’s music promotes violence and satanism. Many Dominicans have taken to social media to condemn the action of the authorities. (Dominica News Online)

Eyew tness Dividing...

...the Republic

Distinguished professor of history Dr Clem Seecharan, in his lecture commemorating our attainment of Republican status, advised we mustn’t sweep the discussion of relations between the different races/ethnic groups under the carpet. We couldn’t agree more. But it’s just as important not to encourage the discussants to gratuitously inject divisive elements into the conversation

We must use the discussion to encourage a common destiny and head off fissioning, such as unfolding in the Ukraine right now. This thought was prompted by a letter from a member of “The Cuffy 250 Committee”. They rightfully declared that Cuffy and his band of rebels launched the struggle that culminated in the independence of our country.

But while declaring that Cuffy’s actions form a legacy for all Guyanese, they then specifically appropriated it for one section of our society: “The 1763 Revolt must become a constant symbol of resistance and overcoming in the hands and collective mind of African Guyanese.” To ensure there’s no doubt as to where they are coming from (or going to) they then connected Cuffy’s struggle with that of the “African” protesters at Linden in 2012.

Now tell me in God’s name – how the heck can we ever get Cuffy to be a hero for all Guyanese when groups like this one, insist on expropriating it for one section? If our problem is that people keep talking about “me and you” rather than “us”, surely this exclusive thinking encourages division.

The next thing we might hear is that since Berbice was a separate colony back in the days of Cuffy, he’s only an African Berbician hero. Or even more divisive by going “tribal” – that Cuffy was an Akan African Berbician hero. Or why not the sexist, “male Akan African Berbician” hero. He raped the white women, didn’t he? Where the heck does this divisionism end?

As we try to get our Republic on its feet, it’s disheartening that the political leaders don’t condemn this kind of divisive thinking. Because it was their fraternity that turned our diversity from an asset into a liability. Burnham wanted votes and interpreted every PPP action through “racial lens” to build his “constituents” after 1955. While your Eyewitness is no slavish follower of Marx, at least Jagan and later Rodney attempted to look through other lenses in interpreting our history.

Anyhow, we hope that our citizens have seen through the futility of this kind of blinkered thinking.

...the Judiciary

The opposition’s been stridently attacking the Judiciary ever since the last election. It does not take a rocket scientist to see the correlation between the stridency of their attacks and the decisions by the courts against their high handed moves to take over the functions of the Executive.

They’ve been bleating that the judges are sucking up to the government because the top guns are only “acting” so they’re scared stiff they won’t be confirmed if they go against the government. The opposition’s point being that the mouth is muzzled by the hands that feed it – and all that. If the said judges were to be confirmed, they’d be independent – and presumably, all judgements would go the way of the opposition.

So imagine our surprise when the government decided to confirm the acting Jurists – and the opposition balked! It was obvious that the latter worthies just want to keep their cauldron boiling. This truth became even starker when it was just revealed that the opposition parties haven’t been consulting with the President to appoint one member of the Judicial Service Commission – which appoints the judges – nor two other JSC members via their control of the National Assembly.

O Judgement! Thou are fled to brutish breasts!

...the bar

One partisan of Llewelyn John outlined his many qualifications for appointment as Senior Counsel. He neglected to mention as Home Affairs Minister and responsible for elections, John was complicit in Burnham’s first, seminal rigging.

Granger concerned about non-functioning Integrity Commission

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman David Granger said his coalition would welcome the establishment of the much-needed Integrity Commission, once it was allowed the power to enforce and carry out the Provision of the Integrity act.

Granger said APNU was concerned about external figures influencing independent bodies such as the Integrity Commission. “It’s not just a matter of appointing these institutions and agencies; it’s a matter of if they are autonomous. Yes we would like an Integrity Commission, but at the same time we want to make sure that the procedures of the appointment of that commission are transparent and when that commission is appointed, it is not under the thumb nail of the executive,” he told Guyana Times

The Opposition Leader said there were many concerns about all the independent institutions. He reflected that APNU had long been lobbying for the appointment of an Ombudsman, and was thrilled when former Judge Winston Moore took office. The retired brigadier said the issue did not lie in the filling of the constitutional offices, but ensuring that they were independent. He stressed that the establishment of the commission, which has been non-functional for some time now, will be welcoming, since it is should be able to carry out its responsibilities. “We don’t want to have an Integrity Commission without being empowered to carry out the functions of the Integrity Act,” he explained.

The Integrity Commission, which is solely

responsible for the accountability of persons holding public office, has been without a chairman for some time now and has reportedly been functioning on a skeletal system. Based on the Integrity Commission Act, the Commission’s staff should comprise a Chairman, three Commissioners, a Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, an Accounts Clerk, a Clerical Officer, a Receptionist, an Office Assistant and a Cleaner. However, this publication understands that almost half of these positions are vacant. The Chairman of the Commission should be as qualified as a Puisne Judge of the High Court or any other fit and proper person appearing to the Head of State. He should be seen as experienced in areas of law, and public administration. The Chairman and other members are appointed by the President after consultation with the Opposition Leader. The names of the Chairman and other members upon the establishment of the Commission and any change in membership must be published in the Gazette

and in the daily newspapers.

The Commission has the power to do anything for its proper performance and is not subjected to the direction or control of any person or other authority.

With respect to the integrity legislation, the Integrity Commission Act was first passed under the leadership of former President Desmond Hoyte in 1991. This was after concerns mounted over the persistent corruption of the People’s National Congress. It was alleged that many “underhand” activities took place within the institutions of the ruling government.

In the face of the growing concerns that public officials with access to the public funds were getting out of hand, the Hoyte regime passed an Integrity Commission Act. This was, however, seen as tepid and unable to curb the excesses taking place. And it never did. No one was ever indicted, sanctioned, investigated, or prosecuted under that Act. When the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic came into power in 1992, it attempted to place emphasis on the Act; however, it was not realised.

On September 23, 1997, the Commission was officially launched with an Anglican Bishop being appointed as the Chairman. This appointment was met with deep concerns by the Hoyte administration and the party never recognised the Chairman of the Commission. The original Integrity Commission Act passed under the Hoyte administration was revoked and replaced by another Act similar to the Integrity Commission Act.

After-Mash garbage...

Meanwhile, businesses that dump garbage in public places can be fined $100,000 on conviction. The lack of garbage receptacles is not a defence. According to the regulations, owners of public transportation must provide one or more receptacles for litter and if this is not done, the owner can be fined $15,000 on conviction. If an individual litters on the private premises of another person, the litterbug can be fined $30,000 or imprisoned for six months on conviction.

Litter wardens

In addition, anyone who assists litterbugs can be convicted for the offence and fined the same amount. If an individual or company continues to litter and is caught and convicted, the fine is doubled. The regulations provide for litter prevention wardens. In addition, the police, public health inspectors, forest offic-

ers, mining officers, harbour masters, and officers of the Environmental Protection Agency are deemed litter prevention wardens.

The rules provide for local authorities or litter prevention wardens to warn persons to remove litter from their premises within three days and if this is not complied with, the offender can be fined $20,000 on conviction with an additional $5000 for every day the contravention is continued after conviction. The local authority, after conviction, can also enter the premises and remove the litter and recover the expenses incurred in doing so. An individual who prevents the authorised officer or litter prevention warden from doing so can be fined $20,000 on conviction.

The local authority and litter prevention wardens are also empowered to remove derelict vehicles from public places. They can order

Public has one more day to make submissions on telecoms bills

The general public has been given a last chance to submit written presentations of their views on the Telecommunications and Public Utilities Commission (Amendments) Bills, which are both before a Parliamentary Special Select Committee.

The invitation was extended by the Chairman of the committee, Carl Greenidge through the Committees Division of the Parliament Office, in a notice published in the local newspapers over the past two weeks titled “Invitation to the Public for Written Submissions”.

In November last year, the PUC (Amendment) Bill 2012 – No 17/2012 and the Telecommunications Bill 2012 – Bill No 18/2012 were both sent to a special select committee. The first Bill seeks to amend the Public Utilities Commission Act while the other Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a telecommunications sector and for matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.

The committee has since begun its work and has reached the stage where it requires comments from members of the public, indi-

PUC and telecommunications select committee Chairman

viduals, and organisations with an interest in these two sectors. According to the notice published, “The Committee is, therefore, extending an invitation to members of the public to make written submissions of their views on these Bills no later than February 26, 2014. It is advisable that the submission address/speak specifically to/clearly outline those segments of the Bills that are of interests to you/ your organisation.”

It further stated that persons or organisations should indicate whether they are

interested in appearing before the committee to answer any queries regarding the written submissions. Prior to their November 8, 2013 commitment to the committee, the Bills had been on the order paper for months following their first reading in August 9, 2012. It was deferred several times since while government and the two major telecommunications providers, GT&T and Digicel, were engaged in talks regarding breaking the more than 20-year monopoly held by the former company. The agency which the Telecommunications Bill seeks to establish will provide for a regular, coordinated, open and competitive telecommunications sector. The agency will also incorporate into it the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and will function as the technical regulator of the sector, responsible for regulating, licensing the spectrum and other technical matters. After the initial 20-year old monopoly ended in 2011, talks commenced between government and the two telecoms companies, since the breaking of GT&T’s monopoly on the telecom sector, especially on international calls, has long been on the agenda.

Road safety stakeholders meeting to craft national strategy

The Home Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana National Road Safety Council, will on Friday host a national conference on road safety under the theme “Road Safety with Your Life on the Line”.

the owner to remove the derelict vehicle within 48 hours and if this is not done, the owner can be fined $30,000 on conviction, with $5000 for every additional day that the car is left. They can order “unsightly premises… by reason of litter” to be cleaned up within 14 days and those failing to comply can be fined $20,000 on conviction. If the person feels that the order is unjust for any reason, he can request the minister to review it. A person can be fined $30,000 if s/he obstructs a warden, fails to comply within a reasonable time with the requirement of a warden exercising his/her power, refuses to give his/her name or address or gives a false name or address, falsely pretends to be a warden, threatens or assaults a warden, or attempts to bribe a warden. Those who tamper with garbage receptacles can be fined $15,000 on conviction.

The conference, according to the Home Affairs Ministry, is scheduled to take place at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown from 09:00h to 16:00h.

The conference aims to examine and adopt road safety methodologies, create public awareness, and develop a plan of action resulting from the National Strategy on Road Safety. The conference hopes to achieve these objectives by creating a platform for dialogue among national stakeholders.

The one-day conference will consist of four workshop sessions, which will address such issues as the National Road Safety Strategy, public awareness, engineering and education. These workshops will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to offer solutions aimed at making our roadways safer.

Earlier this year, road safety stakeholders had agreed to implement an ag-

gressive campaign to curtail the alarming rise in road accidents, with special emphasis on monitoring nightclubs and making better use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage. According to a Home Affairs Ministry release, in response to public outcry against road accidents, fatalities and traffic congestion, as well as its own concerns, a meeting was convened involving the Guyana National Road Safety Council, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Minibus Association, and the Ministry to discuss these matters and to come up with recommendations on the way forward.

Road accidents

The meeting was informed that the main causes for fatal accidents for 2013 was speeding, inattentiveness, and driving under the influence of alcohol. The main victims were pedestrians hit by private vehicles, driven by young people aged 16 to 24 and 25 to 33, between midday and evening hours and between evening hours and midnight on Sundays and Fridays.

In this connection, the Ministry said it was agreed that with this information in hand, there should be more targeted enforcement by the police force and education programmes by the Guyana National Road Safety Council.

Special programmes are to be organised for young drivers in particular. The police force is to set realistic targets with a view to bringing down fatal accidents and road accidents in general. The meeting was informed that between 2010 and 2013, the Home Affairs Ministry procured and delivered to the force 18 breathalyser machines with printers and 400 mouthpieces, as well as 29 radar guns. Additionally, the meeting analysed several recommendations recently advanced by A Partnership for National Unity and found them agreeable and implementable in principle. “These recommendations were assigned to various stakeholders for further consideration as regard implementation, having regard to their respective capacities and competencies to do so,” the ministry said. It was further agreed that a National Conference on Road Safety will be convened early in the year bringing together all stakeholders in the campaign to uphold road safety throughout Guyana.

Regional tourism cooperation can be a “game changer” – top U.S. diplomat

The founder of one of the U.S.’s top economic think tanks has urged Caribbean nations to cooperate regionally in order to tap into the Chinese tourism market, in a way which he believes can be a “game changer” for the region’s economic fortunes.

Dr Fred Bergsten, founder and director emeritus of the widely respected Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, DC, said if a number of Caribbean countries could come together to offer “package trips” which would allow them to island hop throughout the region in a convenient way, this could be the key to capturing more of the booming market in Chinese tourists in particular.

He added that, while developing a single market and economy in the region, as has been proposed but never fully realised, the possibility of Caribbean nations cooperating more closely with each other to promote certain sectors in which they have obvious comparative advantage, such as tourism, is more feasible and could yield huge returns.

His comments echo some recently made by the Washington, DCbased Inter-American Development Bank, in which it suggested a study it undertook had shown that benefits would accrue to Caribbean nations, including The Bahamas, if they were to cooperate to subsidise and establish a “Brazil air bridge” that would launch direct service from

the South American country into the region.

Generating arrivals Once up and running, the collectively subsidised service could eventually become self-sustaining, the bank proposed, generating a significant new pool of arrivals from outside of traditional tourism markets. Meanwhile, noting that the tourism industries of Caribbean countries had suffered in recent years as the sector’s global landscape has become more competitive and its regular source markets less economically dynamic, the IDB also pointed to China and a direct air link between The Bahamas and other Caribbean countries and the developing economic giant as having the potential to “reset [The Bahamas’] course for future economic growth”.

Bergsten, currently the first visiting fellow at the Central Bank of Barbados, where he is undertaking a six week sabbatical,

made his comments about the Asian nation’s capacity to affect a tourism revolution in the Caribbean in response to a question from the audience at a Caribbean Economic Forum held at the Central Bank on Wednesday evening about how islands in the region can diversify as a means of achieving greater and more sustainable economic growth going forward.

Long-term growth

The distinguished economist, a member of the U.S. President’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations, who once coordinated U.S. foreign economic policy in the White House as assistant for international economic affairs to Henry Kissinger, said that rather than diversifying into a variety of different economic sectors, he sees the key to long term sustainable growth for Caribbean countries as the ability to “do more of what you do best”.

“If you are a small economy, you really do have to

Bagotville man remanded to prison for narco possession

Semphasise those few things you do best and try to make sure you do them really well. And really well means on a globally competitive basis. I see enormous opportunities for Barbados and other small island economies in the Caribbean. Small is beautiful. The fact that you are small means that if you got only a very tiny share of such a huge market, it could be a game changer for your economy.

“If the Caribbean countries can get together... to pool resources in a sector where you clearly do have comparative advantage... I do think that some of those principles are very important in developing your economic strategy.

“And so if you can develop targeted strategies for increasing airlift from China to the Caribbean via either Europe or the West coast of the U.S.; if you could put together package deals where Chinese tourists could go for three days to Barbados, three days to Antigua, three days to Saint Lucia, etc, the same way Chinese tourists love to hop from Paris, to London, to Zurich, to Rome and see a few sites and go home and say they’ve done it, if you can put together what I think would be somewhat new creative devices of that type, you might be able to tap a huge new market,” said the economist. (Caribbean News Now)

GT de garbage town lookin like de mayor-fuh-life

Every body was runnin to GT de garbage town on Saturday night and Sunday. By de time Sunday night done and Monday morning come, every body was runnin from GT de garbage town. So one day GT de garbage town was full people, de next day GT de garbage town full of garbage.

By Monday, GT de garbage town was lookin just like how de mayor-fuh-life Green Ham like it…full of garbage. And some of de garbage look just like Green Ham…green bottles, green garbage and green cloth all over. De police should use de day after Mash fuh all de drivin test whah dem does give people when dem apply fuh licence to drive.

Old people seh yuh could tek de pig outta de mud, but yuh can never ever tek de mud outta de pig. Somehow that old time sayin sound like yuh could put in Green fuh pig and GT de garbage town fuh mud in de sentence. Not that Green Ham is a pig, although he close to lookin like one and behaving like one, but GT de garbage town definitely lookin like mud.

And since Green Ham tek over de s*ity, GT always in de mud. So it musbe that wheh ever Green Ham deh, mud also deh. One of dem mashers pun Mash Day seh Green Ham like mud, since de days when he was in guvament. She ask a fella next to she, now that Green Ham in de s*ity council, whah else yuh expect?

But when yuh could be in mud and be proud of de mud, that beat all. No body, no place in de world could beat that. Green Ham happy wid de mud life just like how Mook Lall happy wid de night time pumkin life.

A reporter near a market down de road seh de Mook was mashin pumpins, while every body was mashin in GT de garbage town. De reporter seh de Mook is de best fuh cuttin pumkins and puttin dem back together like if dem ain’t get pick yet.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! That same reporter seh he wish he didn’t know all that because now he friken fuh he job and he life!

IDB, Novozymes to support bioenergy solutions in LAC

NHe told the court that he is a businessman and operates a liquor shop in Araka, Region One.

According to police, on February 20, Smith, while at the Devonshire Castle Public Road was found in

hedon Smith,42, from Bagotsville, West Bank Demerara was remanded to prison for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Smith, who was not represented by an attorney, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

possession of 2308 grams of cannabis sativa for the purpose of trafficking. He told police ranks that the illegal substance was not his but was arrested.

Magistrate Scarce did not find any special reason for Smith to be granted bail, and as such, remanded him to prison until March 18.

Reliance drug trafficker gets three years

Balgobin Singh also known as “One Eye” of Reliance Village on the Essequibo Coast was charged for possession of narcotic for the purpose of trafficking when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

After the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty, explaining to Magistrate Singh that he is aware of his decision.

According to police, on Friday about 06:50h, police were on mobile patrol when they saw Singh in the vicinity of the Reliance Public Road and decided to stop

and search him.

On doing so, they found three grams of a whitish creamish substance in a cigarette pack. He was subsequently arrested and cautioned of the offense.

Singh was given three years' imprisonment, in addition to a fine of $30,000.

ovozymes and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the development of sustainable advanced bioenergy solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The collaboration responds to the United Nation’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative to achieve universal energy access, improve energy efficiency, and increase global renewable energy use.

“This partnership, which represents one more example of the excellent collaboration between Denmark and the IDB, marks an exciting step forward in the field of sustainable energy. Novozymes’ expertise and commitment to SE4ALL will guide the region as it pioneers new energy solutions,” IDB representative in Europe Alejandro Alvarez von Gustedt said.

“We are excited to get this off the ground to start working closely alongside the IDB to support the development of bioenergy projects

in Latin America,” Biomass Conversion at Novozymes Vice President Sebastian Søderberg said.

“This is an initial, but important step towards realising the great potential around bioenergy as a sustainable source of energy on the continent. Just as important, it gets us yet another step closer towards a biobased economy; a sustainable economy based on food, feed, fuel, and materials derived from plants and waste – sourced and refined locally.”

Novozymes and the IDB will organise workshops to advance best practices for deploying sustainable bioenergy. Along with technical assistance and capacity building, the two organisations will work jointly to identify opportunities and specific countries in which to develop bioenergy solutions in areas including clean cooking, waste to energy, and advanced biofuels for transportation. Over the coming months, the MoU will be put into action, building on the organisations’ commitment to SE4ALL and relevant public-private partnerships. The IDB is a multilateral financial institution supporting Latin America and the Caribbean’s efforts to reduce poverty and inequality, and to bring about development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. Established in 1959, it is the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean, with a strong commitment to achieving measurable results.

Novozymes is the world leader in bio-innovation and a leading producer of enzymes that turn biomass into bioenergy. Together with customers across a broad array of industries, Novozymes creates tomorrow’s industrial bio-solutions, improving its customers’ business and the use of our planet’s resources. With over 700 products used in 130 countries, Novozymes’ bio-innovations increase industrial performance and safeguard the world’s resources by offering superior and sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s ever-changing marketplace.

Region Two Mash transformed into rocking party

Businessman Ganesh

Jaigobin from Johanna Cecilla has emerged victorious in the large category of the recently held Region Two Mashramani float parade.

The Jaigobin and Son Supermarket costume depicted a mermaid, a mystical folklore creature, combing her hair. It did not only steal the hearts of the judges, but won him the $100,000 prize. Vish Turbo Constructing agency was in at second in the large category.

In the medium category, the New Opportunity Corps was placed first, followed by the Essequibo Technical Institute at second and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at third.

In the small category, the President's Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) was placed first, the region’s Education Department, second and the Pomona Neighbourhood Democratic Council, third.

Chief Judge Desire Charles said the floats were assessed based on originality, clarity, craftsmanship, uniformity, punctuality and the spirit of Mash.

The parade, organised by the Region Two administration in collaboration with the Mashramani Committee, commenced at 10:30h at the Three Friends Bridge en route to the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

The colourful parade brought the quiet town of Anna Regina alive with thousands of Guyanaese gathered at various points to witness the procession.

It was a scene to behold, as revellers tramped along the roadways in unison to the sounds of blaring music sets.

Many who were not on the road were seen peeping

from their bottom houses, shops, windows and even tree top.

Junior Agriculture Minister Alli Baksh, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud, Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo and other government officials danced along with the various bands in a bid to encourage them to get into the party mode.

And when they got into the swing, it was carni-

val at best, as thousands swarmed the streets to watch the rocking parade, with some bitten by the music joining the party posse.

Among the entities that participated in the parade were the Region Two administration, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, the Suddie Public Hospital, the Jaigobin Supermarket, the Essequibo Technical Institute, Vish Turbo,

North Essequibo Cricket Committee, the Capoey Village Council, the New Opportunity Corps and the region’s Education Department.

The region’s Education Department costume depicted characters of the mermaid, mood gazer,

Ol Higue and Massacura Man, dancing and gyrating around a birthday cake.

The cake had 44 candles, representing the country’s 44th Republic anniversary.

The Region Two administration’s costume depicted Grandma’s Kitchen folk-

lore, showcasing several kitchen utensils used in colonial times.

Mashramani activities ended at 17:30h on stage, but that end started the beginning of the Mash after party which finished after midnight at the ground.

Barticians reportedly reject APNU's AML amendments – says GINA

Bartician have reportedly rejected the proposed amendments by the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (amendment) Bill during a town hall meeting on Friday.

The meeting at the St John the Baptist School was attended by junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall.

According to Government Information Agency report, Minister Edghill, who sought to bring the mining community up to date with the status of the bill, explained that the select committee is currently working towards yet another deadline in keeping with requirements of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

“Because of our lobbying, we have earned ourselves

some more time, and we are slated for a review in May,” he said, “but the fact of the matter is, in order for us to be reviewed, we have to make a submission on February 28 indicating to the Financial Action Task Force what steps we have taken to correct those deficiencies in the bill,” Minister Edghill noted.

The Minister added that a commitment has been made to the financial body and it is expected, that the government would make available in that report an assented copy of the bill.

However, if the bill is not passed, “The first thing that will happen is that the CFATF will put out an advisory, saying that we are not a country that has sufficient legislation to fight money laundering and this will cause banks in other countries that have legislation to start looking with extra care when dealing with business-

es from Guyana.”

The Minister pointed out to residents how the nonpassage of this bill has already started to affect the country in terms of several road construction projects being stalled. “Right now, there is a shortage of stones for the construction of roads, we have awarded 165 contracts to about 35 contractors… there is no stone and the ready mix company wants to buy stones and he wants to transfer money to St Vincent.”

Trickledown effect

This, the Minister said, is just a start of the trickledown effects the non-passage of this bill would have. “If Guyana is blacklisted it will affect all Guyanese, all foreign direct investments will be affected, companies which plan to come and companies that are already operating in Guyana will not stay because

they will have difficulties in their financial transactions,”

Minister Edghill said.

Nandlall also stressed on the devastating effects the non-passage of this will have on all Guyanese. “It is so important that we come to you in person to clarify any issues you may have about the bill so that in the end whatever the outcome we in the government must, with a clear conscience, say to ourselves we did our best and all we could have done,”

Minister Nandlall said.

“The devastation that will befall this country, the adverse effects that will be unleashed, and the economic stagnation that will follow if this bill is not passed will not discriminate in its effect.”

Minister Nandlall further reiterated that not only will government supporters be affected, but Guyanese from all walks of life, economic and social standing and geographic location , “Because the world that we

live in is a global village, countries can no longer isolate themselves from each other or from the rest of the world. Whatever happens in one part of the world we feel it here because we all depend on each other, that is how small the world has become,” he reminded Bartica residents.

Criminal

Touching on the contentious issue of the recent proposal made by the opposition, which seeks to give police and customs officers the power to stop, search, seize and arrest citizens found with currency totalling $2 million if they have reasonable suspicion, the Minister said this is a move to criminalise each citizen.

“Why are we going to put that in the law of this country? It is not the law of any country, how can you make money illegal in your country? I have said we live in a cash-driven society, we don’t have plastic cards…

are we going to criminalise our people for the money that they earned? There was a time this had happened because of what we eat and now again we are going to be made criminals because of what we earn.”

The Minister told residents that if they do not speak out against the amendment, this will become the law of Guyana.

Responding to questions from residents about how they can have their say in the passage of the bill, Minister Nandlall told residents that they can get in touch with their party representatives or pen letters to their leaders in order to have their voices heard.

The passage of the AML/ CFT Bill has been in limbo for more than 10 months with little to no support given by the opposition. As part of the government’s effort to get Guyanese involved in the process, two other town hall meetings were held in Regions Six and 10.

Caribbean countries prepare to strengthen HIV programmes

Last week government and civil society representatives from eight Caribbean countries finalised country-specific strategies to strengthen their HIV programmes by making them more responsive to human rights.

During a three-day workshop hosted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and supported by the Ford Foundation, country representatives discussed cultural, social and political barriers to eliminating stigma and discrimination and increasing access to social justice.

In the Caribbean, the HIV response has experienced remarkable progress. However, inequality and exclusion are hampering efforts to reduce new HIV infections and to increase the number of people on treatment. Stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV and

key populations such as sexually active young people, men who have sex with men, transgendered people, sex workers, people who use drugs, homeless people and prisoners, remain a major obstacle to expand-

ing access to HIV services. It also hinders people’s ability to live full and productive lives of dignity.

UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team Director, Dr Ernest Massiah, said that the in-

vestments made in securing social justice in the context of HIV would positively impact other areas of Caribbean life.

“The fundamental challenge we are faced with is recognising the equal-

ity and humanity of all. The lack of attention in Caribbean societies to ensuring the rights of all citizens is the reason we have problems with under-development. Investment in human rights will give returns

beyond the HIV response by helping societies to develop,” Massiah said.

Participants from Barbados, The Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago explored practical ways to integrate human rights into their HIV responses. They developed detailed plans to address a range of country-specific issues, including workplace discrimination, genderbased violence, discriminatory laws and prejudice in the healthcare, social security, law enforcement and judicial systems.

UNAIDS Human Rights and Law Division Chief Susan Timberlake, explained that UNAIDS, other United Nations agencies and some global partners will support the countries to implement their national human rights and gender equality action plans.

Man gets 11 years for killing wife’s, mother’s lover

AWest Berbice Man was on Thursday jailed for 11 years after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter at the Berbice Assizes.

Rakash Janack of Blairmont Settlement, West Bank Berbice was responsible for the death of Brentnol Isaacs on October 27, 2012 at Zorg-En-Hoop, Blairmont Settlement.

In a probation report, Probation and Welfare Officer Odessa Semple told the court that efforts to contact the wife of the accused proved futile.

“From investigations, it was revealed that the deceased shared an intimate relationship with the mother of the accused and the accused's reputed wife.”

Semple said the accused was described by his community members as hard working, quiet, soft spoken and a well mannered and willing individual.

“His parents separated when he was two-years-old and he lived with his mother. He was forced to leave school at the age of eight years old due to severe financial difficulties. His mother was physically and verbally abused by his stepfather.”

She said this forced the family to move to a home for battered women and children at Albion, where they stayed for five months.

At age 18, he started cash crop farming. Semple told the court during her

investigations that the deceased was described as a trouble maker.

In presenting the state’s case, prosecutor Attorney Renita Singh told the court that on October 27, 2012, Satwatie Sahadeo claimed that she and her reputed husband were at home at Blairmont when an apparent drunk Isaacs entered their yard armed with a piece of wood.

Verbal abuse She said the man started to verbally abuse her and her husband.

According to Singh, after the incident, Janack was arrested and he gave police a statement on October 29, in which he admitted to chopping Isaacs.

Singh also explained that a post-mortem report revealed that Issacs died

from a gaping wound on the left hand and another to the chest.

Justice Diana Insanally, in imposing sentence, said she took into consideration all the facts in the probation report, and the fact that the accused was remorseful.

“However, it is a serious act which cost someone their life,” she said.

The judge also expressed concern over the amended death penalty law, which stipulates that a person found guilty of murder must receive a sentence of no less than 15 years in prison.

“If 15 years is the minimum for murder, why do we have persons receiving prison terms of 30, 35, 20, 25 years for the lesser count? I don’t understand. Why then do we have persons who are pleading guilty for the lesser offence receiving such high sentences? That is something we need to address. I would want to believe that a sentence for manslaughter should be less than that,” the judged remarked.

Attorney Raymond Ali, who appeared for the accused, told the court that he is in agreement with the judge’s reasoning.

Justice Diana Insanally imposed a sentence of 17 years, deducting the time for the mitigation, the time spent in prison before sentencing and two years for not wasting the court’s time. Janack will therefore spend 11 years in prison.

Unity, peace vital for development – Baksh

Junior Agriculture

Minister Alli Baksh has issued a call for peace, love and unity to prevail at the Region Two flagraising ceremony at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground on Saturday.

Speaking at the occasion to celebrate Guyana’s 44th anniversary as a republic, Baksh said these are necessary ingredients for Guyana to move forward and to realise its dream of becoming the paradise in the Caribbean and South America.

He told the gathering, which involved students, residents, members of the disciplined forces and senior government representatives, that Guyana is moving in this direction, pointing out that it has already moved from a highly indebted country, to a nation on the move.

Baksh said prior to 1966, Guyana was going through some “dark days”, pointing out that the country has come a long way in reversing the trend.

Today, he said, Guyana is a democracy, has managed to pilot its economy on an upward trajectory, created more jobs for young people, and provided an environment for businesses to grow and expand.

The minister also that while Mashramani is a time to celebrate, the significance of the event must not be lost as it should not be seen as a vulgar parade.

“We should look at the moral value, rather than people just dancing vulgar on the road ways, let’s bring back the old stories, sing patriot songs and reflect on the past, this is what Mashramani is about,” Baksh stressed.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said the region has made tremendous strides in all sectors, particularly the health sector.

He said the region has its

Prime Minister lauds arts, craft producers’ contribution to economy

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has commended the Guyana Arts and Craft Producers Association for the growth they have achieved, but challenged greater movement towards contributing to Guyana’s economy.

Prime Minister Hinds was addressing the association’s members on Friday at the Umana Yana at the closing ceremony and exhibition of a one-month training programme, whereby

The association itself was incorporated in 2008.

“You have come a long way, but I want to encourage you to keep on going and advance even further,”

Prime Minister Hinds said.

He pointed out that Guyana looks to tourism to be an important growth sector in the economy and that the production of art and craft would be an important part in a growing tourism industry.

He challenged the association to recognise

and that is what they did, they prepared us for the Caribbean market,” president of the association Denzil Hollingsworth said.

“The techniques that Beverley and Paul brought to Guyana have changed the entire outlook of leather, that is making us ready to go into any market that we want to go into,” she said.

own diagnostic centre, hospitals, ambulances and doctors are at all the health centres.

Persaud said gone are the days when Region Two was categorised as the “Cinderella County” with “abortion” roads.

He said after Guyana gained republican status, the region began to make progress in the education and drainage and irrigation sectors.

However, the chairman noted that the many achievements would not have been possible had it not been for the hard working people of the region. Apart from the heath sector, he said the region has seen significant improvements in the aviation, ferry, rice and drainage and irrigation sectors.

The flag-raising ceremony featured cultural dances, storytelling, dramatic poetry, chutney and calypso renditions, African drumming and dances and masquerade.

Also in attendance were Region Two Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, former Vice Chairman Heera Lall Mohan, G Division Commander Dale Alves and Regional Executive Officer Sunil Singh.

12 members of the association benefited from the knowledge of two Canadian experts in leather craft production, Paul and Beverley Williams. The programme was facilitated through a very effective and mutually rewarding relationship with the Canadian Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) and the Canadian Executive Services Organisation (CESO.)

The relationship is among many that the association has been fostering over the years towards carrying out its mandate of supporting the craft and art producers throughout the 10 administrative regions in terms of marketing, training and networking. The agreement with TFO dates back to 2011.

that they have to reach a point where they become a net provider of cash to Guyana’s economy. “We have to become a cash cow for the economy sometime because there are other areas which are calling for support and development also, and maybe sugar cannot carry the load it used to carry, bauxite cannot carry the load it used to; we are looking to other things. We need other things to start picking up the load that our traditional areas like sugar and bauxite could carry in the way it used to before,” he said.

“TFO has changed the lives of the Guyana Arts and Craft Producers Association, the one thing with GACPA is that we need some hands on skills

She explained too that the Williams have encouraged and fostered a relationship with Harris Paints for the association. She said that the artists in the association were making use of acrylic paint that was very expensive, and through discussion with the company, it was found that the company could produce a much cheaper paint that works on leather, wood and all the other materials utilised by the association.

Accessible

She said that Harris Paints is now producing these paints in smaller tins, and it is accessible to all of Guyana, and available now all over the country. The Williams also crucially imparted to the association several safety measures, especially as it relates to the dangerous use of lacquer and contact cement, Hollingsworth said.

CESO Programme Manager Beatriz Munarriz said that the organisation’s support in the venture would not have been possible without the Canadian government’s assistance through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. She said that CESO believes strongly in the concept of partnership and expressed hope that the venture with the Guyana Arts and Craft Producers Association, in association with the Canadian Trade Facilitation Office, will be a successful one.

Venezuela death toll rises to 13 as protests flare

Anti-government demonstrators put up barricades and set fire to trash in Caracas on Monday despite calls from within the opposition to rein in protests that have led to 13 deaths in Venezuela’s worst unrest for a decade.

Traffic in the capital slowed to a crawl and many people stayed home as protesters burned trash and piled debris along main avenues a day after opposition leader Henrique Capriles called on them to keep demonstrations peaceful.

“We know we’re bothering people but we have to wake up Venezuela!” student Pablo Herrera, 23, said next to a barricade in the affluent Los Palos Grandes district of Caracas.

Authorities in the convulsed border state of Tachira confirmed another death: a man who fell from his second-storey apartment after being hit by a bullet from a nearby protest.

The demonstrations are the biggest challenge to President Nicolas Maduro’s 10-month-old government, though there is no sign they could topple him or affect the OPEC member’s oil shipments. Venezuela is Latin America’s biggest exporter of crude oil and has the world’s largest petroleum reserves.

The government says 529 people have been charged over the unrest, with most given warnings but 45 kept behind bars. About 150 people have been injured, authorities say.

Capriles, 41, spurned an invitation to meet Maduro in the afternoon as part of a gathering of mayors and

governors that some had hoped would open up communications between both sides.

“This is a dying government... I’m not going to be like the orchestra on the Titanic,” he told reporters. “Miraflores (presidential palace) is not the place to talk about peace, it’s the centre of operations for abuses of human rights.”

Capriles and other opposition figureheads are demanding that the government release imprisoned protest leader Leopoldo Lopez and about a dozen jailed student demonstrators.

They also want Maduro to disarm pro-government gangs and address national issues ranging from crime to shortages of basic goods.

Hardline student protesters, though, are demanding that Maduro step down, less than a year into his term.

“If there’s one thing these violent protests have done, it’s unite ‘Chavismo’,” Maduro told state television, using the term for government supporters coined during the 14-year rule of his predecessor, Hugo Chávez.

The president, a 51-yearold former union activist who has made preserving Chávez’s legacy the centerpiece of his rule, accuses opponents of planning a coup backed by Washington.

Accusations fly

Addressing a rally of pro-government motorbike riders on Monday, Maduro accused the opposition of bringing in “mercenaries” to fuel the violence, including one man from the Middle East who was detained with 11 telephones.

Prices of Venezuela’s bonds surged as much as four per cent on Monday, though this was largely due

to the announcement of a new currency exchange platform that investors believe will strengthen government finances.

In a rare stance for a Socialist Party official, the governor of turbulent Tachira state criticised the government’s response to the protests and called for Lopez’s release.

“It’s a matter of peace; all of those in jail for political motives should be sent home,” said Jose Vielma, referring to Lopez and another well-known oppositionlinked prisoner.

Socialist Party leaders have for years avoided making comments that could appear to be diverging from the party line, making Vielma’s comment all the more uncommon.

The protests have hit the border state Tachira harder than any other, with gangs of student demonstrators now the de facto authorities in some parts of its principal cities.

Even though Maduro has sent in troops to restore order, transport is frequently disrupted by improvised roadblocks that charge tolls to those seeking passage and throw rocks at those who attempt to move on without paying. Supermarkets in Tachira are opening only for several hours in the morning, with supplies of food limited because delivery trucks cannot get through.

The nationwide wave of protests began with sporadic demonstrations in Tachira’s capital of San Cristobal due to outrage over an attempted rape, sparking student protests around the region.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

CAL to airlift Trinis from Venezuela

The Trinidadian government is preparing a contingency plan involving Caribbean Airlines to evacuate any TT nationals and staff of this country’s Caracas Embassy out of strife-torn Venezuela if the situation there deteriorates further, acting Foreign Affairs Minister Roodal Moonilal said Sunday.

Moonilal told the TT Guardian that he has been talking with National Security Minister Gary Griffith and Finance Minister Larry Howai, the line minister for CAL, about the plan, in case violence in Venezuela – going on for more than a week –becomes worse.

Clashes have been taking place since February 12 between students and state agencies, as well as between supporters of Venezuelan opposition groups and those of President Nicolas Maduro. Most recently, paratroop-

ers were dispatched to the state of Tachira where violent student protests were reported.

Late Saturday TT’s Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement assuring that all of the six TT

staff at its Caracas embassy were safe and arrangements were being made to secure them.

It also said the embassy’s hours were being reduced to deal with the situation in Caracas and an

evacuation plan was on the table. Moonilal said: “We’re monitoring the situation very closely via Ambassador Anthony Edghill in Caracas. I’m getting reports every 12 hours. (Excerpt fromTrinidad Guardian)

Barbados political parties drum up support as struggle with economic slump continues

The ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is observing its first year in office telling supporters that despite the ongoing economic crisis in Barbados, it was still confident that its policies will bear fruit.

Finance Minister Chris Sinckler, addressing DLP supporters in the St Michael North constituencies on Sunday night, said the Freundel Stuart administration had been able to hold the economy together and maintain adequate levels of foreign reserves up to May last year.

The government has been forced to implement a retrenchment programme that would result in at least 3000 public servants losing their jobs within the com-

ing months and also said it would not be seeking to fill vacancies in a hurry. Sinckler, who has come under increasing pressure to step down as a result of the state of the local economy, told supporters of the ruling party that the government had no choice but to institute the new economic strategy.

“We did what we had to do to support the people of Barbados,” he said, noting that the plan to send home workers was “the most painful decision any manager could have to make. “It would have been irresponsible not to do anything,” he said, adding that he would only leave office asked to do so by Prime Minister Stuart. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Jamaica to decriminalise marijuana by yearend

The Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Taskforce (CCMRT) says it has been given an assurance that Jamaica will this year decriminalise marijuana as the island seeks to establish a medicinal marijuana industry.

CCMRT leader Dealana Seiveright, in a statement, said that the assurance had come from Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell.

The statement quoted Paulwell as telling members of the taskforce that “ganja will be decriminalised in Jamaica this year and emphasised that Jamaica cannot be allowed to be left behind on the issue”.

“He also reiterated the multiple economic, social and cultural benefits that Jamaica stands to gain if the laws are adjusted sooner rather than later,” the statement said.

Last year, Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries agreed to discuss the issue of decriminalising marijuana for health reasons at their inter-sessional summit in St Vincent and the Grenadines in March.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves had written to regional leaders calling for a “reasoned debate” led by Caricom’s political and civic leadership in the context of the legalisation of marijuana for medical and health purposes in 20 states in the United States.

But regional leaders, who met in Trinidad last September have not gone heels over Gonsalves proposals saying that a decision had been taken to have the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat conduct further research on the medical and legal implications of decriminalising marijuana. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Ugandan President signs harsh anti-gay bill into law

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

signed into law

Monday a controversial bill that will see homosexuals jailed for life, defying international pressure and criticism.

Museveni signed the bill at his official residence in an event witnessed by government officials and journalists. The bill calls for first-time offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in jail.

It also sets life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for a category of offences called “aggravated

Ugandan President

homosexuality,” defined as repeated gay sex between consenting adults as well as acts involving a minor, a disabled person or where one partner is infected with HIV.

The bill is popular in Uganda, but international rights groups have condemned it as draconian in a country where homosexuality is already criminalised.

U.S. President Barack Obama saying the law was a “step backward” that would complicate ties with Kampala and that he was “deeply disappointed” in the move.

South African Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu said Sunday the law recalled sinister attempts by the Nazi and apartheid regimes to “legislate against love”.

The anti-gay bill cruised through the parliament in December after its architects agreed to drop a death penalty clause, although the bill still says that repeat homosexuals should be jailed for life, outlaws the promotion of homosexuality and requires people to denounce gays. (Excerpt from France24)

Egypt's interim government resigns unexpectedly

Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi has unexpectedly announced the resignation of his government. Beblawi said the decision was taken “in light of the current situation the country is going through”. It comes amid a series of strikes, including one by public sector workers and rubbish collectors, and an

acute shortage of cooking gas. Beblawi was appointed in July after the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi following mass protests. Since then, more than 1000 people have been killed and thousands of others detained in a crackdown by the security forces on the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist

U.S. plans to shrink army and cut warplanes

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the air force would eliminate its A-10 aircraft to ensure funding for the F-35 jets

The United States has unveiled plans to cut the army’s overall troop numbers as it withdraws from Afghanistan in an austerity drive long predicted by defence officials.

Chuck Hagel, the Defence Secretary, said on Monday that the Pentagon planned to reduce the size of the U.S. army to between 440,000 and 450,000 soldiers after about 2015, a cut of by about 50,000 on current levels and the smallest number of troops since 1940 at the start of the Second World War.

The Pentagon said it would also eliminate the A-10 “tank killer” aircraft and reduce military benefits in order to meet 2015 spending caps, setting up

an election-year fight with Congress over defence priorities, AP news agency reported.

Hagel said the Air Force would eliminate the A-10 to ensure funding for the F-35 joint strike fighter and other critical air force needs. Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan, speaking from Washington, said that the changes would allow the U.S. to fund cyberwarfare special forces and marine projects.

However, she said critics say that the army cuts would mean the U.S. could no longer be able to fight two wars simultaneously – a cornerstone of contemporary U.S. defence strategy – and that there would be a lot of congressional pushback to the proposals. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

movement to which Morsi belongs.

Militants based in the Sinai peninsula have meanwhile stepped up attacks on government, police and military personnel, killing hundreds. Beblawi did not give a clear reason for the Cabinet’s resignation in his televised address.

He acknowledged that

Egypt had witnessed a sharp rise in strikes, but said no government in the world could have fulfilled all the demands of its people in such a short period of time.

“The Cabinet has, over the past six or seven months, shouldered a very difficult responsibility... in most cases, the results were good.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Fugitive Ukraine leader wanted for murder; Russia sounds alarm

Ukraine’s fugitive President was indicted for “mass murder” on Monday over the shooting of demonstrators as new leaders in Kiev sought urgent Western aid to make up for a loss of funding from Russia, which is angry at the overthrow of its ally.

Moscow said it would

not deal with those who led an “armed mutiny” against Viktor Yanukovich, who was elected in 2010, and said it now feared for the lives of its citizens, notably in the Russian-speaking east and Crimea on the Black Sea.

Russia’s top general agreed with NATO to maintain contact on a crisis that has raised fears of civil war and which UN chief Ban Kimoon said called for an “inclusive political process” that “preserves Ukraine’s... territorial integrity”.

While Russia, its strategy for maintaining influence in its former Soviet neighbour in shreds, made clear its US$15 billion package of loans and cheap gas deals was in jeopardy, the European Union and United States offered urgent financial assistance for a new government that may be formed today.

They were responding to warnings from Ukraine’s acting Head of State that the country was heading for bankruptcy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

India drops anti-piracy marine charges

India has dropped a plan to prosecute two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen under a tough anti-piracy law, a government lawyer has said.

This comes after India’s Defence Minister, Arackaparambil Kurien Antony, on Sunday said the government would proceed with stringent actions against Italian marines charged with the killing of two Indian fishermen.

Italy had strongly opposed India invoking the law, arguing that it would amount to treating the men as “ter-

rorists” and last week it recalled its ambassador to New Delhi in protest against the delay in the two-year-old case. The sailors, part of a military security team protecting a privately-owned cargo ship, say they mistook the fishermen for pirates and fired warning shots into the water during the incident in February 2012, off the coast of Kerala state.

Indian attorney general Ghoolam Vahanvati told the Supreme Court on Monday that the prosecution did not intend to proceed against Massimiliano

China must reduce “unbearable” smog, government adviser says

Air pollution in China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter, has reached intolerable levels and the country should aggressively cut its reliance on coal, according to the government’s climate-change adviser.

“China’s pollution is at an unbearable stage,” Li Junfeng, Director General of the National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, said at a conference in Beijing on Sunday. “It’s like a smoker who needs to quit smoking at once otherwise he will risk getting lung cancer.”

Chinese authorities have pledged to shut polluting factories and limit the number of cars in response to growing public concern

that dirty air and water are damaging people’s health. China, which now uses coal for about 65 per cent of its energy, should cut that ratio by two percentage points a year, according to Li.

The comments came as the concentration of PM2.5, fine particulates that pose the greatest risk to human health, rose to at least nine times higher in Beijing than levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). PM2.5 levels near Tiananmen Square today were 239 micrograms per cubic metre at 11:00h and had averaged 228 in the past 24 hours, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Centre said on its website. The WHO recommends 24hour exposure of no higher than 25. (Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Latorre and Salvatore Girone under the anti-piracy section of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts.

“We want to delete the anti-piracy clause,” he said. The men can still be tried under India’s criminal laws, but the punishment there in case of a conviction is ordinarily less stringent than under the piracy law.

The government had originally sought to prosecute the marines under the piracy law partly because the incident occurred outside the geographical area covered by the country’s criminal code. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Top Pakistan Taliban commander Asmatullah Shaheen “shot dead”

Asenior Pakistani Taliban commander has been shot dead in a militant stronghold near the Afghan border, security sources and relatives say. Asmatullah Shaheen was ambushed as he drove through a village near Miranshah in North Waziristan, reports said. Three aides in the vehicle also died. It is unclear who killed them. There has been no word from the militants.

Shaheen was briefly the TTP (Pakistani Taliban) interim leader after its chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed last year.

Mehsud died in a U.S. drone strike in November and was later replaced by a new leader, Mullah Fazlullah. Since then, there

have been a series of attacks in which unidentified gunmen have targeted militants in the tribal areas, puzzling observers about who could be behind them. The attacks have taken place against a backdrop of continuing militant violence across Pakistan and a limited military operation against Taliban strongholds, despite attempts between the two sides to hold peace talks. Those talks broke down last week after a Taliban faction said it had killed 23 security force personnel in retaliation for the killing of militant fighters by the army.

Shaheen, who is believed to have supported peace talks, is the most senior militant to die since Hakimullah Mehsud was killed. (Excerpt from BBC News)

To sell energy services abroad there needs to be trade delegations in those countries, Dax Driver, CEO, Energy Chamber of TT has told the TT Guardian.

Driver was referring to a report last week on his statements at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where he spoke from the floor at the Joint Dialogue on TT Private Sector Assessment Report (TT-PSAR).

“I was talking about the

North America

potential for exporting energy services which was the entire point of discussion. I made the point that to sell services you needed to have someone on the ground constantly looking at business opportunities.

"I contrasted TT overseas missions with the missions of countries which were competing against in terms of selling energy services, such as the U.S., UK and Norway and pointed out that those coun-

Caribbean Asia

Africa

Zimbabwe: Tobacco farmers must reap their rewards

mer commercial farmers.

Disney has raised the price of a one-day ticket to its Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida by US$4 to US$99 (£59.50).

Magic Kingdom is the world’s most visited theme park, with more than 17 million visitors in 2012. Ticket prices at other parks within Walt Disney World, including Epcot and Hollywood Studios, also jumped by US$4.

The hike comes after Disney reported surging revenues from its theme park

businesses. In 2013, Disney made US$671 million from its theme parks – a 16 per cent increase from the same period in 2012. Overall, its parks brought in US$3.6 billion in revenue in 2013, a six per cent increase from 2012, according to the firm’s most recent financial filings. The boost in revenue was “primarily due to increased guest spending at our domestic parks and resorts, which reflected higher average ticket prices and food, beverage and merchandise spending,”

tries had strong presence on the ground in the markets that we have identified as good potential targets such as Ghana and Tanzania,” he said. Driver said TT has missions in three African countries – Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa.

“This is a great start but we need to have a much stronger permanent trade delegation presence in those markets and in Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya,” he said. (The Guardian)

Walt Disney World increases prices at its theme parks

according to Disney.

Disney said that the majority of visitors to its parks buy tickets for multiple days.

The company has theme parks throughout the world, with locations in Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.

According to a report from the Themed Entertainment Association and technology company AECOM, Disney’s theme parks globally had more than 126 million visitors in 2012, the most recent year for which statistics are available. (BBC News)

Europe Trade delegations can sell TT’s energy services

HSBC profits tick higher in 2013 helped by cost cuts

HSBC has reported a nine per cent rise in profit for last year, boosted by cost cuts as it restructured the business.

Reported pre-tax profit was US$22.6 billion (£13.6 billion), compared with US$20.6 billion in 2012, the bank said. HSBC said it had also increased its bonus pool for staff by six per cent to US$3.9 billion for last year.

Chief executive Stuart

Gulliver also saw his overall pay rise last year. He received a total pay package of £8 million, up from £7.5 million in 2012. The bank also revealed that 239 of its staff, 93 of whom are in the UK, had been paid £1 million or more last year.

HSBC also said that for 2014, it would offer senior staff higher fixed-pay allowances. The move will enable the bank to sidestep new

European rules, which came into force in January, preventing bankers from being paid bonuses worth more than twice their salary.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady criticised the move. “It would be great if banks put the same effort into lending to small businesses and investing in infrastructure as they do to getting round EU rules on boardroom bonuses,” she said. (BBC News)

The 2014 tobacco selling season opened with the first batch of the lucrative crop going for US$4.85 per kilogramme compared to US$4.50 in 2013, raising hope among farmers that they might reap good rewards from their sweat this year.

The land reform programme has recorded tremendous success in the tobacco sector, which has seen at least 90,000 farmers venturing into the growing of the golden leaf, up from about 4000 white for-

As the selling season begins, we implore Government to ensure some monitoring mechanisms are put in place to ensure buyers and merchants do not fleece hapless farmers by offering ridiculously low prices.

Some unscrupulous players in the sector have a tendency of offering impressive prices in the presence of the agriculture minister during the official opening, but slash the prices as soon as they are

gone, resulting in the situation degenerating into violence in some instances. There are cases where merchants offer as little as U.S. 10 or 60 cents per kilogramme to farmers for the early crop, prices that any sane farmer should reject. However, some poor farmers from rural areas, who do not have accommodation in Harare and also use hired transport, are normally taken advantage of by the merchants and surrender their crop for a song. (allAfrica)

China’s home price rises ease for first time in 14 months

China’s home price rises eased for the first time in 14 months in January, the latest sign that the government’s more than four-year campaign to rein in property risk may finally be starting to bite.

Average new home prices in China’s 70 major cities rose 9.6 per cent in January from a year earlier, easing from the previous month’s 9.9 per cent rise, according to Reuters calculations based on data released by the National Bureau

Middle East

of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. It was the first slowdown in the rate of price increases since November 2012.

House prices in China have surged in the past year but the market began to show signs of losing momentum at the end of 2013 as local governments took further tightening measures at the prompting of a central government worried about the risk of an asset bubble.

“Because of the effects of a series of government meas-

ures including tightening curbs in some cities and an increasing supply of affordable housing, the market environment and pricing expectations were relatively stable,” said Liu Jianwei, a senior statistician at the NBS.

“Tightening credit conditions and easing pressures from housing inventories also helped home sales to drop, which in turn eased the home price rises further in some cities,” Liu said in a statement accompanying the data. (Reuters)

Qatar plans to invest US$45B in tourism by 2030

The government and the private sector will invest around US$45 billion in Qatar’s tourism sector by 2030, said Hassan Al Ibrahim, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) director of strategy at the unveiling of the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030.

Qatar’s latest tourism plan will help expand the economy, grow the number of SMEs, encourage entrepreneurship and actively in-

Marketing

manpower and capital required to successfully market a product can be impossible for a tiny startup. How can a novice entrepreneur gather the resources necessary to successfully market a product?

Initial steps

The three initial goals of marketing should be clear to the entrepreneur.

* Establishing and increasing the customer base

* Increasing the product sales per customer

* Increasing the sales of

volves the private sector, a statement said.

The strategy also has plans to increase the total tourist spend in Qatar to nearly $10.7 billion and aims to achieve a greater balance in the breakdown of tourists by their origin and purpose of visit. More than 60 new tourism development initiatives are in the pipeline, QTA said.

“Our target is to attract seven million visitors to Qatar from all over the world by 2030,” said Al Ibrahim. The new Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) and the Hamad International Airport, both of which are scheduled to open in 2014, will further help in boosting tourist numbers, the statement said. QTA added that it will closely monitor the initiatives planned under the strategy and will ensure their timely implementation. (Gulf Business)

more expensive, higher margin products per customer

Develop a marketing plan

Large companies usually tackle the first hurdle through expensive advertising campaign. But let’s assume you don’t have the millions necessary to launch large scale television, print and online media campaigns. We have to start small, with a basic marketing plan. A good marketing campaign should consist of the following:

* Target demographics

* Seasonal demand

* Advantages over competitors

* Product pricing and mar-

gins

* A simple message delivered via an effective advertising strategy

If you have trouble drafting a coherent marketing plan, you can conduct public surveys to gauge the public reaction to your products or services. Make sure you survey is given to a diverse group – in ethnicity, gender, age, income and education level – to get the best sample. These are separated into two kinds – quantitative and qualitative. Do you want quality over quantity, or vice versa? Both have distinct advantages.

(Business Dicionary)

TO BE CONTINUED

Mash Day security holds up

– despite a few pickpocket crimes

By Jomo Paul

ADivision

Commander George Vyphuis said the police’s Mashramani Day security plan was well-executed with just a few reports of pickpocket theft, which did little to mar the celebrations.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Monday, Vyphuis related that he thought the ranks did a good job on Sunday. “I think the police force, the ranks, they did a good job. I must commend them for a great job,” said Vyphuis.

Just about 20:00h on Sunday, the Mashramani celebrations were stopped as law enforcement officials instructed the music players to turn off their sets, much to the annoyance of some of the revellers. However, according to the commander, the action was taken as a security measure, as unsavoury characters would have started roaming the streets at those hours. He said the celebrations got off to a great start and finished at an ideal time. He further justified shutting off the music sets at that hour by explaining that Guyana has many vehicles and people would usually start making their way home at that hour and they would not have been able to do so if the streets had not been cleared.

Incidents

Vyphuis related that there were a few scattered reports of incidents during the celebrations, including a young man snatching a chain, but he was apprehended a few minutes later, as officers in the vicinity of the incident gave chase to the man who attempted to flee the scene by foot.

Commander Vyphuis noted too that there were some reports of fights in the KFC and Pizza Hut area. This area is infamous for the revellers who gather each year. On many

previous occasions, fights would ensue. This would eventually see the police intervening and several persons being injured.

The commander also indicated to this publication that a Joint Services initiative was launched which saw the cooperation of the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force as they patrolled the streets of Georgetown. He explained that patrols were conducted on the East Coast Demerara corridor, certain sections of the city, and on the East Bank Demerara corridor. He said this was aimed at deterring any criminal activities since it has become a trend – thieves striking during the Mashramani celebrations.

He also noted that their efforts were successful largely in part due to the support of Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell from the Guyana Police Force Headquarters at Eve Leary. However, some of the revellers had a different take on the situation. One such reveller related that celebrations in Caribbean islands usually go on for days without any interruption from the police. The young woman,

who told Guyana Times that she was a student of the University of Guyana, said: “I think the timing is ridiculous for the biggest holiday in the country to end abruptly.”

Another reveller, also a student of the University of Guyana, contended that it was strategic thinking on the part of the Guyana Police Force. He related that the timing was perfect for such an occasion since after certain hours, criminals would emerge to “do their dirty work”.

Meanwhile, Town Clerk Carol Sooba related that the clean up efforts by the Mayor and City Council were astoundingly successful. (see other story on page 3) She relat-

GTUC against ban on cellphones in schools

ed that just about 05:00h Monday morning, workers from the Mayor and City Council were on the streets with their tools as they sought to clean up the streets of Georgetown, after the Mashramani float parade and celebrations. The town clerk explained the work was expected to be completed during the course of the day. She added that the clean up campaign entails several different groups working in different areas. Republic Day/Mashramani was observed under the theme “Cultural Folklore, Celebrating 44”.

Activities

The activities of the day included the annual float parade, which saw approximately 17 floats make their way through the city, much to the delight of the hundreds of people who inundated Georgetown to observe the creativity of local designers and have a grand time. Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony lauded the designers for their creativity. The Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry contingent, which included steel pan players, was well received by the crowd en route to the National Park. Other floats that were eye-catching included those of the Education and Amerindian Affairs Ministries, Pulse Entertainment and Digicel. Other floats included those of Hits and Jams, Tropical Rhythms, Banks DIH, and the Human Services and Social Security Ministry. Many of the observers had related that they were in awe of the Digicel Guyana band.

The float parade is being touted as the largest costumed parade, but several revellers expressed disappointment in the number of floats that took part. Nevertheless, they contended that they were delighted with the few that participated.

Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) General Secretary Coretta McDonald said contrary to popular belief, she does not support the banning of cellphones and other gadgets in schools, but said they must be used in a controlled manner.

Her comments come in wake of a call by the main opposition, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) for the banning of cellphones with cameras in school.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times, Mc Donald said that while the usage of electronic devices has its pros and cons, its use must not be defined or based solely on the cons.

“Everything has its advantages and disadvantages and it’s how we monitor the use of these gadgets, it will work towards benefiting us or not benefiting us,” said Mc Donald.

She said the negative things that students would use the electronic devices for can be done using school computers in the information technology laboratory.

The top GTU official said too that the gadgets can play an impacting

role in children’s education, explaining that with the guidance of parents and teachers, learners can properly utalise the vast amount of information at their disposal.

She contended that parents need to play a more integral role in the lives of their children, pointing out that it is unacceptable for them not to monitor their children’s usage of the Internet.

On this note, the GTU general secretary said the tripartite relations between the school, parent and children should progress and grow to involve

more parents and students.

This, she said would have a positive impact on children since parents would be aware of their actions.

Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan said parents, teachers and other stakeholders need to teach young learns to be responsible when using electronic devices in schools.

Ramjattan said he will not support the proposal made by APNU because technology is rapidly advancing, and as future leaders, students must be familiar but they must be monitored so that they do not gravitate to the bad more that the good.

In a recent telephone interview with this publication, the Member of Parliament posited that the recent incidents in the public schools and subsequent release of the footage on popular Internet sites such as YouTube are despicable.

Over the years, several calls have been made for the banning of cellphones in school. Currently, their use in public schools is restricted.

Caribbean body broadens climate change campaign

The Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) has broadened its “1.5oC to Stay Alive” campaign that was launched ahead of COP15 in Copenhagen in December 2009.

The two-tiered campaign sought to sensitise citizens across the Caricom about the impact of climate change on livelihoods in the region, and make a convincing case at the global level for the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions to a level not exceeding 350 parts per million (ppm) as an effective means of stabilising global warming.

The Copenhagen Accord contained several key elements on which there was strong convergence of the views of governments. This included the long-term goal of limiting the maximum global average temperature increase to no more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, subject to a review in 2015.

There was, however, no agreement on how to do this in practical terms. It also included a reference to consid-

er limiting the temperature increase to below 1.5 degrees – a key demand made by vulnerable developing countries.

Targeting children

The CCCCC said it has since broadened its effort through the crafting of curricular resources designed for Caribbean children ages 12 to 16. It said that these resources, crafted by educators in collaboration with the centre’s technical team, forms part of the thrust to embed climate change in the region’s education sector beginning in Belize.

“The Caribbean is among the most vulnerable group of countries to the effects of climate change and climate variability. Given its particularly youthful population, the Region must engage this significant demographic to shape a robust and appropriate range of responses to ensure climate resilience and safeguard livelihoods,” said CCCCC communication specialist Tyrone Hall.

“The centre has been long interested in developing a comprehensive programme that can build

awareness and move the Region’s youth towards meaningful action. We ran a youth forum on climate change in Belize about four years ago, and one of the outcomes from that initiative was the need for climate change education to be mainstreamed into the education sector. So the “1.5 oC to Stay Alive” Initiative is a response to that particular finding,” he added. Hall said the CCCCC will be piloting the resource in Belize, “while simultaneously working with our partners throughout the region to have it utilised.

“Earth Hour Caribbean is just around the corner and we’ll be using that as an opportunity to really publicising the resource.”

The four-unit curriculum – “The Warming Climate, Sea Level Rise, Pine Forest and Social Impacts of Global Warming” – includes classroom face-toface interaction, field trips, workbooks and varied assessments, and has a total of 46 wide-ranging lessons with supporting resources and several videos.

Formulate a concrete plan for an important discussion. Have a clear idea of your own responsibilities, and consider the expectations of others. You can be outspoken without being argumentative.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Your compassion and understanding will help others accomplish worthwhile goals. Your good deeds will be reciprocated in an unusual manner. Favourable changes to your personal life will occur.

20-March 20)

You should use discretion when dealing with others today. Many people respect your opinions and will look to you for guidance and advice. Your empathy and compassion will help them find the answers they are looking for.

(March 21-April 19)

Keep your opinions and ideas to yourself. It is not necessary to reveal your secrets to others. A conversation with an old friend may provide inspiration for a new project.

(April 20-May 20)

Information you have recently received may have had a negative effect on your life. Dwelling on the issue is not productive. Swallow your disappointment. Keeping busy will help to avoid emotional outbursts.

(May 21June 20)

You may be tempted by an appealing investment offer. Do your research thoroughly before you commit to anything in writing. You have an innovative idea that can benefit your friends and family.

Have a heart-to-heart discussion with someone who concerns you. Take care to avoid criticism, and offer helpful ideas that will bring you closer to an agreement.

(July 23Aug. 22)

Prepare to focus on business matters today. There is opportunity for advancement if you exceed your employer’s expectations. Being industrious and persistent will enable you to work toward fulfilling your career goals.

23Sept. 22)

Be assertive, and direct your efforts into socialising and networking. Your personal and business relationships will improve if you make new acquaintances that could have a positive influence on your future.

23Oct. 23)

Family and friends may not be totally honest with you. Find someone impartial to provide the answers to your questions. A self-improvement project will turn out better than you expected.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Your commitment and determination will provide you the necessary ingredients to get ahead. Fulfil your obligations in a conscientious manner in order to realise your expectations. A strong and steady focus is the key to success.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You should consider previous outcomes before taking action. If your tried-and- true methods have worked in the past, there’s no need to change your approach.

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

DRIVING SCHOOL

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

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

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

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

Chinese-made gas stoves. Call 2315866, 231-5857

IMMIGRATION

Immigration & Visa Services

We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

KEY CUTTING

Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 6213249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks. Get your extra key today.

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

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

We buy cash any land in Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 675-7292 Property for sale at 48 Light Street, Alberttown (between third and fourth streets) Contact Ram on telephone: 619-4483 685-3568 and 226-6325.

One unfurnished three-bedroom flat concrete house with concrete fence at Parfaite Harmonie. Call 2310821 or 643-4740.

First Phase Good Hope, Anna Catherina, East bank Demerara (property with ongoing business). Call 673-5546, 695-4382, 669-3313, 231-4586.

YELLOW PAGES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

One two- storey concrete house located at Mon Repos, ECD: 3 bedrooms, 1 self contained with A/C, 1 laundry room; $35M negotiable. Call 642-2116

SERVICES

Trails & Treasures. Learn to decorate with balloons. Class begins March 1, 2014. Call 225-3133, 613-7513 for registration and more information.

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

SPIRITUALITY

Suriname Astrology Palmist and Djuka Healing, the most powerful spiritualist in the world, are you suffering from the following problems (any religion) love, marriage, family, health business, husband and wife relationship, property, court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking?

Also you can have all evil forces destroyed such as black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, obeyah etc and give powerful protection. We also do upliftment for clearing of land, dredging operations strictly in the interior. For private and confidential service call 674-2112.

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

Cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá protection against evil. Get help to overcome problems with love, relationships, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money. Call 592-690-1824 from 10:0016:00h Email:anew-life@live.com

Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to businesses. Call: 612-6417, 220-0708, 687-5653.

2 Modern Apartments located in Campbellville; hot and cold water etc. Call 219-4535 House located at Lamaha Gardens; hot & cold water. Call 219-4535

VEHICLES FOR SALE

BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; HONDA CRV RD4; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRA-CAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; 3

TONS DUMP TRUCK; NISSAN ATLAS

2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PREORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST.

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

1-RZ H minibus, BPP series, full long base, stick shift, A/C, CD player, excellent condition. $2.6M negotiable. Call 626-1375

Karen De Souza cops Anthony Sabga award

Head of the Red Thread organisation, Karen De Souza has copped the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence for Public and Civic Contribution, the Trinidad Guardian has reported.

De Souza, a women’s and children’s rights activist here is the co-founder of Red Thread, an advocacy organisation which provides support, education, and advocacy for victims of rape and domestic and other forms of violence and for the lowest-waged sectors of women. De Souza and Red Thread also do research and have contributed to the drafting of laws and training for judicial officers to support protection of women and children and victims of human trafficking. They also participate in national, international and regional agency programmes on areas of interest, as well as take education directly to the people.

In addition to De Souza, the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence (ANSCAFE) has announced in the category of Arts and Letters, Professor Liam Teague is the winner and for Science and Technology, Dr Richard Robertson of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Chairman of

the Eminent Person’s Panel

Michael Mansoor announced the names of the winners during a ceremony at ANSA McAL’s head office, Tatil Building, Maraval Road, Port of Spain.

ANSCAFE is the Englishspeaking Caribbean’s leading recognition programme in arts, sciences, and public and civic work. The ANSA McAL Foundation launched this programme in October 2005. Up to 2010, the awards were made biennially but in 2011, ANSCAFE became an annual event. Since 2006, when the first laureates were named, several sets of laureates have been presented with prizes: in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and annually thereafter in ceremonies in the Trinidadian capital. Its goal is to recognise significant Caribbean achievement, and to encourage and support the pursuit of excellence by Caribbean people, for the benefit of the region. The ANSA McAL Foundation is convinced that talent needs to be sought out, brought to light, and encouraged. It is in this context that these awards were conceived. This is the first such recognition programme of its kind. It is privately funded, free of political and other influence, and offers tangible, significant benefit to the laureates. It is the most noteworthy philanthropic initiative by a Caribbean organisation in recent times.

OAS lauds new education initiative

The Organisation of American States (OAS) on Monday opened at its headquarters in Washington, DC, the meeting of the Board of Directors and Advisory Council of Virtual Educa, a multilateral initiative of innovative projects in the fields of education and training for human development promoted by the hemispheric organisation.

The event was inaugurated by OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development Sherry Tross and Peru First Vice President of the Government of and Virtual Educa President Marisol Espinoza, who highlighted the importance of Virtual Educa as a cross-cutting platform between governments, academics, corporations, and civil society.

lic-private partnerships that contribute to development and to work together with academics, “because we are convinced that, through them and by extending SouthSouth cooperation, we can increase the impact and reach of our efforts achieving better and broader results”. She further analysed that through the use of ICTs, “we can make education more inclusive and open, and we can break the barriers of knowledge acquisition and revolutionise education so that it meets the demands of the international labour market”.

Exceeding expectations

the countries of the Americas.

She also stressed the relationship between education and the fight for inclusion in the region, and highlighted the importance of using information technologies in education, one of the key themes promoted by the government of her country. “We have worked extensively in providing the technological infrastructure to rural areas and closing the digital divide by connecting communities through virtual classrooms that allow them to communicate with the world.”

In her address, Executive Secretary Tross said since its inception, Virtual Educa “has been a meeting that promotes cooperation, collaboration, exchange of ideas, and successful experiences that allow countries to face challenges in terms of education and the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) from a multidisciplinary and holistic perspective.”

In this regard, she added that the Virtual Educa annual meeting, which has taken place since 2009, is the leading exponent of the work of the initiative and has become “a world leader that brings together those who are working to identify key mechanisms that contribute to social inclusion”.

The senior OAS official said the organisation seeks to promote the creation of pub-

Referring to the success that the international conference on education has had, Tross said “year after year we are exceeding expectations. Medellin’s 2013 annual meeting attracted more than 17,000 participants and 140,000 took part online”, which was a record attendance. In that sense, Executive Secretary Tross raised the challenge of continuing to broaden the participation and the business entity. “We hope that as part of this meeting we can discuss how we can better institutionalise the virtual education programme within the organisation and make of this a growing contribution to the future development of our countries,” she added.

Meanwhile, the First Vice President of Peru, a country which will host the XV Conference of Virtual Educa, agreed with Secretary Tross’ perspectives in terms of promoting public-private partnerships to address social and economic challenges in

“Competitiveness is a key in the globalised world in which we live,” said the Peruvian Vice President, and this concept requires a large commitment from governments to highlight education as a key element in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

“We are convinced that education is a task that we must work on to contribute to the growth of the Americas,” she added and invited participants to take advantage of the “dynamism and excitement” that the region currently enjoys to promote public policies for childhood and youth.

Finally, Vice President Espinoza extended an invitation to the regional event that will take place in her country from June 9 to 13, and which is expected to bring together officials from institutions, school administrators, educators, and experts from Latin America and the Caribbean involved with strengthening the benefits of technology in the field of education.

– George dominates Bayley states case

By Treiston Joseph

National

athlete

Kevin Bayley stat-

ed his case for selection to national teams by winning the 800 metres at the 2013 senior championships on Monday at t the Eve Leary ground.

Bayley dominated the field by running away from the South American selectees Wayne Harlequin and Cleveland Thomas to finish the 800 metres in a time

of 1:56.80s Thomas was second in 1:59.60s while Harlequin finished behind the pack.

Meanwhile Winston George dominated by winning the men’s 400 metres in 51.00swhile winning the men’s 200 meres in 21.50s for a sprint double.

Akeem Stewart won the men’s 100 metres in 10.90s while Alisha Fortune who will be representing Guyana at the South American games ran 12.40s to win the

female 100 metres.

Junior athlete Jevina Sampson won the female 400 metres in 59.20s while falling second to another junior athlete in the female 200 metres in Natrica Hopper who won the event in 25.60s.

Cleveland Forde trampled his opponents in t the men’s 5000 winning the event in 15:44.00s while Lelslain Barid threw away the Javelin with a throw of 52.22 metres.

Three Antigua and Barbuda’s cricketing greats to be knighted

Antigua and Barbuda’s cricketing greats will be knighted during the first One Day International (ODI) between England and the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds on Friday.

Former fast bowlers Andy Roberts and Curtly Ambrose are among the three cricketers, while former Windies captain Richie Richardson stands between as the lone batsman.

Although those close to the planning of the event have been tight-lipped, sources have said that the trio will be knighted during the lunch break by Governor General Dame

Louise Lake-Tack.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Leader of the Opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Gaston Browne will also be in attendance. Roberts, the first Antiguan and Barbudan to represent the West Indies made his debut against England back in March of 1974. The bowler was part of the “quartet” of West Indian

Anamayah Memorial Basketball…

NA Warriors beat Smythfield Rockers again

New Amsterdam Warriors are the winners of the Anamayah Memorial Basketball competition. In the finals played on Sunday at the GuySuCo Port Mourant Training Centre court, the Warriors secured a narrow 50-49 win over arch rivals Rockers.

The Warriors had their smallest lead with only five seconds left in the game. At the end of the first quarter, they had secured a 2715 lead and maintained that 12-point lead at the half time whistle 36-24.

The Warriors had been able to stay on top because of some excellent playing by Randy Richardson, especially in the first quarter.

As the second half of the game started, it saw the Warriors making mistakes in their passing, but the Rockers failed to capitalise. However, in the dying stages of the third quarter, the

fast bowlers from the mid1970s to the early 1980s that had a devastating effect on opposition batsmen at both Test and ODIs.

The other three bowlers are Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft.

(Antigua Observer)

Rockers made a game out of the final, when they scored three buckets and then a three-pointer.

Eventually the session ended with the Rockers trailing 37-40.

The Warriors were able to keep the Rockers with several turnovers in the last two minutes of the game, with the score reading 4650.

Hugh Author scored a game high of 17 point, with his team mate Randy Richardson supporting the winning team with 16. In a losing effort, Jamal Felix scored 10 points.

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Nigel Hinds said he was impressed with the performance of some of the players in the competition.

“We will be trying to provide come amount of coaching for top players in all of the clubs. I have seen some

of the games and the players could go a far way with a little coaching,” he said.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament was Author, while Richardson took the MVP of the final. Author had scores of 25 and 10 during the competition.

Hinds said that he was impressed with the performance of Felix during the competition. Felix opened the competition with the tournament’s highest score of 29 points against Canje Nights, and then returned in the semi-final against Rose Hall Jammers to dunk 25 points.

Earlier in the tournament, the New Amsterdam Warriors lived up to their name to beat Smithfield Rockers 42-32 at the Municipal Court in Vrymans Ervin, New Amsterdam. The tournament was organized by Vibert Garrett.

Pakistan edge out England in tense semi-final

Pakistan rallied from 142-7 to chase down a target of 205 in the final over of their Under-19 World Cup semi-final against England in Dubai.

Zafar Gohar (37 not out) and Amad Butt (26 not out) shared an unbroken eighthwicket stand of 63 to see Pakistan to a three-wicket victory and deny England their first appearance in the final of this event since 1998.

Pakistan collapsed from 57-1 to 57-4 before Saud Shakeel (45) and Ameer Hamza (35) revived their side's cause with a fifthwicket stand of 74.

Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher had both caught behind to tilt the match back in England's favour, only for Gohar and Butt to provide a sting in the tail.

Jack Winslade dropped Butt on the boundary, palming the chance from spinner Rob Sayer's bowling over the rope for six to reduce Pakistan's equation to 16 required from 16 balls.

And Butt made the most of his reprieve, going on to hit the first ball of the 50th over from Winslade (0-56) through the covers for four to seal victory.

Fisher (2-21), Sayer (239) and leg-spinner Rob

Jones (2-39) each finished with two wickets.

Half-centuries from Ryan Higgins and skipper Will Rhodes had earlier led England out of early trouble to a total of 204-7 after they chose to bat first.

England slipped to 1-2 in the fourth over of the match with both openers, Jonathan Tattersall and

SCOREBOARD

England Under-19s innings

JA Tattersall c Imam-ul-Haq

b Zia-ul-Haq 0

HZ Finch c Hasan Raza

b Amad Butt 0

RF Higgins st †Saifullah Khan

b Karamat Ali 52

BM Duckett c Hasan Raza

b Zia-ul-Haq 22

E Barnard b Kamran Ghulam 13

WMH Rhodes* not out 76

J Clarke† b Karamat Ali 0

R Jones b Amad Butt 17

RJ Sayer not out 18

Extras: (b 4, w 1, nb 1) 6

Total: (7 wickets; 50 overs) 204

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tattersall), 2-1 (Finch), 3-38 (Duckett), 4-69 (Barnard), 5-119 (Higgins), 6-119 (Clarke), 7-154 (Jones)

Bowling: Zia-ul-Haq 9-1-462, Amad Butt 10-1-43-2, Zafar

Gohar 9-0-29-0, Karamat Ali 100-36-2, Kamran Ghulam 10-036-1, Saud Shakeel 2-0-10-0

Pakistan Under-19s innings

Imam-ul-Haq lbw b Jones 28

Sami Aslam* lbw b Sayer 18

Hasan Raza (2) c Sayer

b Rhodes 8

Saud Shakeel c †Clarke b Fisher 45 Kamran Ghulam c Duckett

b Jones 0 Ameer Hamza lbw b Sayer 35

Saifullah Khan† c †Clarke

b Fisher 0

Zafar Gohar not out 37

Amad Butt not out 26

Extras: (b 2, lb 2, w 4) 8

Total: (7 wickets; 49.1 overs) 205 Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Sami Aslam), 2-57 (Hasan Raza), 3-57 (Imam-ul-Haq), 4-57 (Kamran Ghulam), 5-131 (Ameer Hamza), 6-133 (Saifullah Khan), 7-142 (Saud Shakeel)

Bowling: MD Fisher 10-321-2, JR Winslade 9.1-2-560, RJ Sayer 10-3-39-2, WMH Rhodes 10-1-46-1, R Jones 10-0-39-2

Harry Finch, out for ducks.

Left-arm seamer Ziaul-Haq accounted for Tattersall and followed up with a second wicket, that of Ben Duckett (22), later in his opening spell.

Spinner Kamran Ghulam bowled Ed Barnard (13) to leave England on 694, but Higgins and Rhodes forged a half-century stand for the fifth wicket.

Middlesex right-hander Higgins was stumped off leg-spinner Karamat Ali's bowling for a 99-ball 52 that contained only one four.

Yorkshire's Rhodes batted throughout the remainder of the innings, hitting four fours and a six to finish unbeaten on 76 - but it wasn't quite enough in the end.

Australia take on South Africa in the second semifinal at the same venue on Wednesday. The final is next Saturday, also in Dubai.

The result means it is 16 years and counting since the lone occasion England reached the final of this competition. On that occasion, a side containing four future Test players - Robert Key, Chris Schofield, Owais Shah and Graeme Swannbeat New Zealand by seven wickets to claim the title. (Sky Sports)

Mashramani Cup… Young and the Restless take Mash Cup 2

Young and the Restless are the 2013 Mashramani Cup champions. The Cumberland Village team won the competition for teams in the East Canje district on Sunday.

The five-overs-a-side competition organized by the Young Warriors Cricket Club attracted ten villages. In the final, which was reduced to two overs per team, Young and the Restless secured victory over Rose Hall with five balls to spare.

Batting first Rose Hall were restricted to 16-3 off their two overs. In reply Young and the Restless hit off the required runs in seven deliveries without losing a wicket.

Earlier, Young and the Restless brushed aside Young Warriors in their semi-final match. Batting first Young Warriors scored 61 without loss in five overs, with Mortimer Fraser taking control and hitting 55 not out with the aid of 2 sixes and 6 fours. In reply, Young and the Restless reached 62-2 in 4.4 overs.

Rose Hall had earlier drawn a bye into the final after getting passed Canefield in a trilling encounter. Batting first, Rose Hall posted 52 for 5 off their allotted five overs. In reply, Canefield were restricted to 48-2 when the overs ran out.

After four overs,

Skipper Smith salutes South African comeback

South Africa achieved something in the second test that would have been beyond most teams, said captain Graeme Smith after his side's 231run win over Australia on Sunday.

The world's top-ranked outfit came under under-fire after their crushing 281-run defeat in the opening test, but Smith was proud at the way his players responded as they set up a thrilling

third and final match in Cape Town on Saturday.

"We have had to draw on past experiences in this match to find a way to win," he told reporters after South Africa bowled Australia out for 216 in their second innings on the fourth day.

"It has been a difficult week for us after the Pretoria test. We knew we needed to be smart and clinical and work on good ideas on how we could respond.

"I would say not many teams could respond in the way we did but it is something this side has done before," added Smith.

Having set a daunting victory target of 448, South Africa were on the back foot when the tourists raced to 126 without loss but firedup paceman Dale Steyn suddenly got the ball to reverse-swing and claimed four victims as Australia lost 10 wickets for 90 runs.

"Dale always ranges from very angry to extremely angry when he bowls," Smith joked. "But it was a hell of an effort from all the bowlers.

"The intensity they showed with the ball on a wicket that did not do that much was amazing. To get nine wickets in a session is remarkable.

"We always know Dale is one spell away from being able to create something for us. It is great to see that

Canefield were 44 without loss and were poised for victory but two dot balls to start the fifth over and a wicket in the third delivery changed the game. They need six off the last ball but lost a wicked to hand Rose Hall victory by five runs.

For Rose Hall, in their first round match against Betsy Ground, who were restricted to 40-2 off their five

overs, Rose Hall reached home with one ball to spare. In other first round matches, Number 19 lost to Canefield. Scores: Number 19 batting first 57-2 off five overs. In reply Canefield 58-2 off 4.4 overs.

Betsy Ground 40-2; Rose Hall in reply 41-2 off 4.5 overs. Young and the Restless 81-2 off five overs with Kishar Gangarram 58 not out with the aid of 5 fours and 5 sixes. In reply Number 2 Village 31-4 when the overs ran out.

Young Warriors 43-4 off five overs. Goed Banana Land 31-3 off of their five overs. In the first match of the day, Gangaram chalked up 35 without loss and the restricted Bristol warriors to 34-4 to move onto the second round.

In their second round match Gangaram were restricted to 37-3 in search of 48, which Young and the Restless had set for them to win.

The competition was organized for Second Division teams in the East Canje/ East Coast Berbice area. This is the second year that the tournament was held. The winning team took home of $60,000 plus a trophy, while Rose Hall took away $30,000 and a trophy. Third place winner Young Warriors received $15,000.

Windies Women crash to second defeat

The White Ferns have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead against the West Indies Women, after beating the visitors by 94 runs in the second One Day International in Lincoln.

Anchored by Sara McGlashan with 71 and aided by some heavy hitting from Rachel Priest at the death, the White Ferns posted an imposing 274 for five in the first innings. The West Indies response lacked a big partnership and after 50 overs they were restricted to 180 for nine. Holly Huddleston was the chief destroyer with the ball for the White Ferns, taking her maiden five-wicket-bag.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bat, the White Ferns suffered an early hiccup when captain Suzie Bates was dismissed for seven. However, the pair of Samantha Curtis and Sara McGlashan steadied the ship for the hosts, putting on 98 for the second wicket.

Curtis, playing in her second match, gave away few chances on her way to 42, but was run-out thanks to an athletic bit of fielding

from Shemaine Campbell. Thankfully it didn’t take long for her replacement, Sophie Devine (45), to establish herself at the crease.

Even McGlashan’s dismissal in the 35th over didn’t slow the White Ferns down, with Katie Perkins teaming up with Devine to put on 62 for the fourth wicket. Devine’s knock came from 40 balls and included six fours, before ending when she was caught on the boundary.

With eight overs remaining the White Ferns were 196 for four, but a flurry of boundaries from Perkins (45 not out off 34) and Priest (40 not out from 19) would add a further 78 to their total. Priest in particular was in formidable touch, crunching five consecutive boundaries at one point.

Two run-outs hurt the home side, while three West Indies bowlers took a wicket apiece.

With such a high target it was going to take a special individual effort to topple the White Ferns total, but the bowlers did a good job of pegging the West Indies

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand Women innings

S Bates* c Henry b Taylor 7

S Curtis run out (Campbelle) 42

S McGlashan c Taylor b King 71

S Devine c Campbelle

b Quintyne 45

K Perkins not out 45

N Browne run out ( Smartt) 7

R Priest+ not out 40

Total: (5 wickets; 50 overs) 274

Extras: (lb 5, w 11, nb 1) 17

Fall of wickets: 1-20 (S Bates), 2-118 (S Curtis), 3-134 (S McGlashan), 4-196 (S Devine), 5-216 (N Browne)

Bowling: T Smartt 10-0-52-0, S Taylor 7-0-34-1, S Quintyne 8-147-1, S Daley 6-1-20-0, S Selman

10-0-55-0, A Mohammed

3-0-28-0, S King 6-0-33-1.

West Indies Women innings

N McLean b Devine 9

S Taylor c McGlashan

b Mackay 32

S Campbelle lbw b Huddleston 45

M Aguilleira*+ lbw b Huddleston 14

S King c Priest b Huddleston 5

S Quintyne b Huddleston 18

C Henry run out (Bates) 10

S Daley b Huddleston 26

A Mohammed not out 1

T Smartt c Mackay b Browne 10

S Selman not out 1

Total: (9 wickets; 50 overs) 180

Extras: (lb 03, wd 6) 9 Fall of wickets: 1-20 (N McLean), 2-65 (S Taylor), 3-88 (M Aguilleira), 4-98 (S King), 5-131 (S Campbelle), 6-132 (S Quintyne), 7-166 (C Henry), 8-167 (S Daley), 9-178 (T Smartt)

Bowling: S Devine 6-1-20-1, M Nielsen 10-2-31-0, N Browne 9-1-26-1, S Bates 2-0-18-0, F Mackay 8-1-39-1, H Huddleston 10-2-36-5, H Jensen 5-2-7-0

Jamaican sprinter CampbellBrown cleared to continue career

Jamaican sprinter

Veronica CampbellBrown has been cleared to continue her career by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Campbell-Brown won 200m gold at the Olympics in both Athens and Beijing, but tested positive for a banned substance in May last year at the Jamaica International Invitational.

In a statement released by her management company, OnTrack Management, Campbell-Brown said: "The final court available to us as athletes have spoken and humbly I say they have confirmed my innocence."

Campbell-Brown added: "I harbour too much self-respect and a similar respect for the purity of competition to resort to illegal means to success.

back whenever they began to look threatening.

The key wicket was that of Stafanie Taylor, who looked dangerous en route to 32, before driving one to McGlashan who took a sharp catch.

Shemaine Campbell (45) loomed as their last hope, but in the 33rd over the 21 year-old fell victim to Huddleston, who almost singlehandedly destroyed the West Indies middle-order. In the end the 26-yearold finished with impressive figures of five for 36 from 10 overs.

The White Ferns will have a chance to go for the clean-sweep on Wednesday.

(WICB Media Release)

"This same self-respect will now enable me to leave behind the insensitive and ill-informed media remarks and look towards returning to the track to give of my best to God's glory," she said.

She said the past few months have brought "much pain and suffering".

Campbell-Brown was provisionally suspended in June by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, which gave her a public warning in October.

Resume career

The sprinter had to wait for the IAAF's verdict before she could resume her career, though, and it has emerged the world governing body handed her case to CAS.

Campbell-Brown has arguably been the biggest star

of women's sprinting over the past decade.

During that time she has won seven Olympic medals in all, and been crowned world champion in both the 100m and 200m, taking the latter world title in Daegu in 2011. The drug allegations prevented her from defending her title in Moscow last summer.

In the London Olympics last year, she won silver in the 4x100m relay and bronze in the 100m.

"Yes, I lost out on the opportunity to compete for most of 2013 and the chance to defend my World 200m title, however, I press on. Dr Martin Luther King Jr spoke of the redemptive quality of unearned suffering and I must say I am redeemed," said Campbell-Brown.

"I would be remiss in not

thanking the IAAF for expeditiously handing my case to the CAS," she noted.

She added her focus was now on "moving forward" with her "career and philanthropic efforts".

She could return to the world stage at next month's World Indoor Championships in Poland and could also appear at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.

The decision is also a boost to Jamaican athletics, which was dogged by drug allegations last year.

Asafa Powell, the former 100m world record holder, and Sherone Simpson both tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine and have been suspended since. The pair are still waiting to find out what sanctions they will face. (Sky Sports)

Khan indicates potential Mayweather fight will not happen

Amir Khan has indicated that his potential fight with Floyd Mayweather will not go ahead.

Khan signed a contract in December that put him in line for a possible super-fight with Mayweather this year, with the American asking fans to vote on Twitter whether his next fight should be against the Bolton-born fighter or Marcos Maidana.

However, in a series of tweets on Friday, Khan revealed that he would not be fighting the undefeated Mayweather, who he implied would be taking on Maidana, who lost on points to Khan in 2010.

“No response from Mayweather or his team,” wrote Khan. “Fight’s not happening. I should have taken the title fight last December against Alexander...

“Very disrespected by his team. Wasted my time.

Good luck to Maidana, against Mayweather.

“Can I apologise to the thousands of people who are let down. You me and everyone wanted the Mayweather fight. He’s running scared,” said

Khan.

Khan, 27, has been holding out for a lucrative clash with Mayweather since suffering a scare in his dramatic points victory over Julio Diaz in Sheffield last April.

The Bolton man has a 28-3 record as a professional, while Mayweather has won all 45 of his bouts, including victory over the previously undefeated Ricky Hatton in 2007. (Sky Sports)

WICB Regional Four-Day Tournament…

National cricketers leave today for Jamaica

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Guyana has not tasted success at the regional first-class level since 1998, when they won the last of six titles against Barbados at the Kensington Oval.

However, the squad will head for Jamaica this morning to contest their first match in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-Day Tournament, starting on Friday.

The Guyanese will open their campaign against Jamaica at Sabina Park, beginning at 10:00h (11:00h Eastern Caribbean time).

Guyana finished at the bottom of the points table last year, with their only win being against the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC). Guyana drew with the Leeward Islands in their opening game, but suffered defeats at the hands of Barbados, Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.

Last year, Leon Johnson was the top Guyanese run scorer with 430 from six matches, with a highest score of 87, while Assad Fudadin (289) was Guyana’s next best batsman.

Veerasammy Permaul, with 30 wickets, Devendra Bishoo, 20 and Steven Jacobs, 17 were Guyana’s most successful bowlers.

On the other hand, after a disappointed NAGICO Super50 tournament, the national selectors have made three changes, at least for the opening game.

Batsmen Vishal Singh and former Test player Sewnarine Chattergoon, along with fast bowler Keon Joseph have replaced Royston Crandon, Trevon Griffith, Robin Bacchus and Paul Wintz.

Meanwhile, Manager Alvin Johnson is confident that the team will make amends from their disappointed NAGICO Super50 tournament.

He firmly believes that the team will use their semifinal exist from the NAGICO Super50 tournament to push them on in going aggressively after their seventh title at this level.

Other first round match-

es will see defending champions Barbados playing the Windward Islands at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in a day/night match, the first of nine to be played this season.

The Leeward Islands and the CCC will start their season on March 1 at Warner Park in St Kitts.

Trinidad and Tobago open their season in the second round when they host the Windward Islands at the Queen’s Park Oval, starting on March 7.

The semi-finals are scheduled for April 19-22 and the final from April 2528.

New system

This year, the tournament will see the introduction of a batting and bowling points system in an effort to encourage positive play, according to the WICB.

Teams will be awarded batting and bowling points for performances in the first 110 overs of each first innings only and retained whatever the result of the match.

The WICB said that the teams will be playing for two trophies this year. The team that accumulates the most points following the seven preliminary round matches will be awarded the WICB President’s Trophy and will qualify as one of four teams for the semi-finals of the

tournament to play for the George Headley/Everton Weekes Trophy.

Barbados claimed an unprecedented 21st regional first-class title, following an innings and 22 runs victory over long-standing, sporting arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago with a day-anda-half remaining in the final last May on home soil, Kensington Oval.

Members of the Guyana squad are: Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (vice captain), Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Keon Joseph and Vishal Singh. The coach is Esuan Crandon.

Rafael Nadal wins Rio Open in straight sets to claim 43rd clay title

Rafael Nadal beat Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 7-6 (73) in the Rio Open final on his return from injury.

The world number one's victory comes four weeks after he lost the Australian Open final to Stanislas Wawrinka having tweaked his back while warming up.

The Spaniard, who survived two match points in the semi-final against Pablo Andujar, never looked under threat.

It was Nadal's 43rd clay title and stretches his record on the surface to 298-21, the best of the Open era.

Dolgopolov hit several exquisite winners, especial-

ly from the backhand wing, but struggled to find a consistent enough game to trouble Nadal, who made only a handful of unforced errors in the whole match.

The world number 57, who upset David Ferrer in the semi-final, rallied in the second set to break Nadal's serve for the only time when the 13-time Grand Slam winner was serving for the match.

But Nadal, 27, took the title with a dominant tiebreak.

The 2013 French Open champion has not lost on clay since his defeat by Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters 10 months ago. (BBC Sport)

Williams wins 50-miler in Berbice

Geron Williams, of the Continental Cycle Club, in a time of one hour, 35 minutes, 40 seconds (1h: 35m: 40s), won the Sanko Benjamin 80th birthday 50-miler cycle race on Monday.

Williams out sprinted Raul Leal, Orville Hinds, Wayne De Nobegra and Raynauth Jeffery to take the event, which started at Fyrish and went up the Corentyne Coast to Number 43 Village, before returning to the starting point to complete the 50mile journey.

Williams took home

$80,000, a bouquet and a bottle of Champagne.

In second place was De Nobrega, with Hinds, Jeffery, Leal and Alanzo Greaves finishing in that order.

Greaves was part of the second bunch to cross the finish line and had to pull hard in the last few meters to claim a meaningful place.

There were two events –one for the regular senior,

junior and veteran riders, while another, a sevenmile race, was for beginners. The main event saw 47 riders taking the starting line, while 53 started the beginner’s race.

After taking top honours the day before in the annual Forbes Burnham Memorial Cycle road race in Georgetown, the inform Williams was among

a bunch of about ten riders who broke away early in the event.

As the race got deeper, the bunch broke up to a group of five that included Williams, Hinds, Lead, De Nobegra and Jeffery.

It was a tough battle, as the five kept the lead, with each cyclist taking turns to pass the other for the possible break away.

However, none was successful, and the trend continued until the turn-back point.

The top junior on show was Leal, with Akeem Author second, and Michael Anthony third.

Junior Niles rode home first among the veterans, with Kennard Lovell second, and Wilbert Benjamin third. Richard Charles

won the Mountain Bike category from Oseao McCaulay.

The special seven-mile race, which began at the Benjamin Sports Store, turning back at the Tain Berbice Campus, saw David Simon winning the boys’ category from Symion Allicock. The girl’s race was won by Deonce Welch from Shenica Texeria and

Allia Benjamin. It was the second event sponsored by Benjamin, a former national cyclist, and his family for the year so far. The event was organized by Coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) Randolph Roberts. The Benjamin’s family plans to make the event an annual affair.