Guyana Times Daily

Corbin gave guns

to House of Israel

– Hamilton tells Rodney CoI

Joseph Hamilton, himself a former executive of the PNC, revealed too that Corbin was also active during the PNC reign at the time. He pointed out that it was Corbin who had handed over several pistols to the House of Israel after it had registered its concerns that the WPA members might retaliate over the group’s constant abuse.

“And so, a request was made to the Government at the time for arms and guns for protection purposes, and I recalled some time in 1978, six 9mm pistols were handed over to the leadership of the House of Israel,” Hamilton disclosed.

Carnage on Road

Three killed in separate accidents

8, 13 and 15

Alleged baby kidnapper remanded

Guyana pushes for Karran’s appointment as OAS ASG Lima man knifed to death over old feud Rice farmers still being squeezed by payment delays

tuesday, june 3, 2014|

Alleged baby kidnapper remanded

A47-year-old woman was on Monday remanded to prison when she appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court for kidnapping a nine-day-old baby on the Corentyne, close to two weeks ago.

Baitoon Hussain called “Debbie” of Mahdia, Region Seven, who seemed emotionless when the charge was read to her, pleaded not guilty to stealing the child.

The mother of three was charged under Chapter 18:01, Section 19 for ‘Child Stealing’. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sheriff told the court that on May 24, with intent to deprive Sandra Mc Lean of her nine-day-old baby, Hussain took the child away.

Attorney Rodwel Jagmohan, representing the accused, requested that Hussain be granted pre-trial liberty; however, Sheriff objected, stating the gravity and nature of the offence should dictate that she be remanded.

Sheriff argued that if granted bail, Hussain will not return to court. However, Jagmohan pleaded for reasonable bail.

Magistrate Singh denied the accused bail and ordered that she return to court on June 16 when the Police are expected to present statements and a date for trial.

Hussain was at home at Chesney Village, Corentyne on Sunday with the baby boy when Police swooped down on the house and rescued the child. On May 24, Hussain, who allegedly identifying herself as “Bibi Khan”, befriended McLean under the guise that she had special interest in the child. She lured McLean to Rose Hall Town and later at the Port Mourant Market, where she disappeared with the infant.

Amrita Persaud, a vendor, said that Hussain committed a cruel act.

“I think what the woman did was bad, but I also believe that baby mother should have been more careful and not trust someone so quickly. I feel because she was in

a position where she needed the help that also led to her trusting the woman, but it should not have been that way. That girl ‘Pinky’ was a target because the woman had a lot of information on her from before like going at the hospital and finding out about her and then returning when the baby was born.”

Outside the court, Emily Duncan commented that Hussain appears to have known about the art of allegedly kidnapping a baby.

“She knew exactly what to do and how to do it.” Duncan said there may be other cases out there, but people either get paid off or do not report it.

“I believe you all should do an investigation and find out if they have any more cases like this. It’s very sad and I can only imagine what the family was going through. I believe the Police should have acted more promptly...”

Madramootoo Sinwasay, a driver, said Mc Lean should not have trusted the woman with her baby and she should not have brought the little baby out.

“But from what I understand, like the kidnapper persuaded the mother, these things could happen to any other people; them just have to be more careful now.”

Guyana pushes for Karran’s appointment as OAS ASG

Guyana is to soon begin a fierce lobby for its current Ambassador to Costa Rica Bayney Karran to be given the nod by Caricom for the position of Assistant Secretary General (AGS) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) when the position becomes vacant next year.

However, Karran will be up against Belize Ambassador to the US Nestor Menez, who has also expressed an interest in the post.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana will be hoping that at the level of Caricom, there will be broad support for Karran’s candidacy as this is crucial for him to succeed.

“If you have two candidates from Caricom, then it becomes much harder because the votes would be split... so we would be looking to lobby our counterparts to support our nominee,” Rodrigues-Birkett told Guyana Times in an exclusive interview last week.

Karran and Mendez are their countries’ representatives at the OAS, but the Guyanese has more years of experience at the hemispheric body, being appointed his country’s representative there since 2003.

Mendez for his part was accredited in June 13, 2008. Mendez did graduate work at the Eliot School of International Affairs

at George Washington University. He served as Counsellor of the Belize High Commission in London from 1997 to 1999.

Karran once served as Guyana’s Ambassador to the US. Prior to becoming a diplomat, Karran spent two decades working as an Attorney.

Seasoned diplomat

He received his first ambassadorship in 1997, serving as his country’s representative to Venezuela until 2003. During this span, he was also accredited as Ambassador to Chile and Colombia (1998-2003) as well as Ecuador (19992003).

Since 1997, he has been a delegate to ministerial and multilateral organisations, such as the Rio Group, the OAS, the Association of Caribbean States and the Latin American Economic System.

In addition to his legal and diplomatic work, Karran has worked in the field of broadcasting, including stints as an announcer, operator and programme producer. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation. Karran is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Current, OAS ASG Surinamese Albert Ramdin has served his two terms and would not be eligible to run again. While Ramdin has expressed an interest

in the Secretary General position, his Government said it would not support his candidacy, but rather would give Guyana’s its vote.

Based on the long established tradition, the top OAS position would normally go to Latin America, while the assistant goes to the Caribbean.

Guyana Times was told that while some Caribbean countries have indicated their willingness to support Ramdin’s efforts for the top position, a better and perhaps more guaranteed vote would be on Karran, who is also Guyana’s permanent representative to the hemispheric body.

“Because of how things have been done over the years, its more than likely someone from Latin America will get the top position, so we would be better off supporting Karran for the number two spot,” a senior Government functionary commented.

The de Ware Tijd of Suriname had reported last year that the Desi Bouterse Government will neither nominate nor support Ramdin for Secretary General of the OAS in 2015. Instead, it will support the Guyanese nominee for Assistant Secretary General.

The newspaper quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lackin confirming this decision, adding that he has personally informed Ramdin of this. At the recent 24th Caricom intersessional summit in Haiti, regional leaders were also officially informed that Suriname would not nominate a candidate for this important post.

In the past three years, Ramdin has lobbied intensely to win the support of Caricom member states should he be a candidate for the OAS’s highest post.

Corbin gave guns to House of Israel

– Hamilton tells CoI

By Alexis Rodney

Former leader within the House of Israel, Joseph Hamilton, on Monday testified that the religious organisation, which had created a name for itself during the early 1970s under the leadership of Rabbi “David Hill” Washington, was indeed used by the PNC Government at the time as a “tool of repression” against the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and other political parties.

Hamilton, who was at the time presenting his evidence-in-chief as the Commission of Inquiry into the death of WPA Cofounder, Dr Walter Anthony Rodney continued at the Supreme Court Library building in Georgetown, revealed too that the former Leader of the People’s National Congress, Robert Corbin, had once handed out guns to the religious group. At the commencement of the Inquiry in April, the religious body and its activities during the 1970s and 80s had become the thrust of the investigation. Almost every witness claimed that the group was linked to the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnhamled regime and was carrying out activities based on his bidding.

Black Jews

Dr Rodney’s older brother, Edward, during his testimony, had stated that the organisation, which embraces the concept that “all Jews are Black”, was not just a religious body, but also a “hit squad”. He said the organisation had emerged during a dark period of the country’s history, where the Government was using the reins of power to trample on the poor and working class.

Hamilton said the House of Israel, which was formed during the early 1970s, was closely aligned with the PNC Government. Hamilton said because of the agitation of the WPA at the time, the Government had approached the leadership of the House of Israel, seeking its assistance in disrupting WPA’s political rallies. “It started via exercises, marches, picketing in support of the Government of the day. Any type of political activity, any type of assembly and rallies, the PNC would have had at that time.” He said buses would be used to transport per-

sons around the country. “It was based on the political moment and time, and the support sought by the PNC at the time,” he explained.

These disruptions, he noted, included the cutting of wires, seizing of the party’s amplifiers, and terrorising persons attending rallies with physical violence, beating them with batons and pieces of wood and “anything you put your hand on”.

Corbin gave out pistols Hamilton, himself a former executive of the PNC, revealed too that Corbin was also active during the PNC reign at the time. He pointed out that it was Corbin who had handed over several pistols to the House of Israel after it had registered its concerns that the WPA members might retaliate over the group’s constant abuse.

“And so, a request was made to the Government at the time for arms and guns for protection purposes, and I recalled some time in 1978, six 9mm pistols were

handed over to the leadership of the House of Israel,” Hamilton disclosed.

He noted that the Cadet Corps of the Youth Socialist Movement (YSM) had also collaborated with the House of Israel to carry out these activities. He recalled the organisation’s first assignment was at the WPA’s Tiger Bay Office, where the House of Israel’s members were told to cause mischief at that meeting. In total, the House of Israel may have disrupted “dozens” of WPA meetings, Hamilton told the CoI.

Bedrock

Asked what might have driven the PNC Government to try to drive out all Opposition rallies, Hamilton said the PNC was of the view that the Georgetown district was the “bedrock of its constituency”, and that no other political group had any right to cross over.

In the midst of all that however, Hamilton revealed that the ruling party had great respect for “two sacred cows” of the two main Opposition parties. He said members of the House of Israel were told to tread softly on Dr Cheddi Jagan, founder of the People’s Progressive Party.

He said to have harmed Dr Jagan would have spurred racial conflict. Co-Founder of the WPA, Eusi Kwayana, was also revered by the Government. According to Hamilton, Kwayana was considered a respectable leader in the African Guyanese society.

He revealed that information after he was asked if the House of Israel was at

anytime instructed to target any one individual in particular. He stated, “Any other member of the WPA could have been harmed or assaulted.”

Asked if Dr Rodney was personally targeted, Hamilton said, “Walter was another political leader at the time and I am saying to you that the only persons we were told not to harm were Cheddi Jagan and Eusi Kwayana and, therefore, Walter Rodney could be in the basket of persons who could be harmed.”

Crusade Hamilton told the Inquiry he joined the House of Israel in 1977 when he was just 23 years old, after the organisation had conducted a crusade in his home village of Triumph on the East Coast of Demerara. After filling out the membership form, he was welcomed into the organisation. It did not take too long before he was elevated to the position of priest. He was then tasked with the responsibility of overlooking the members in Buxton. Before the first quarter of 1977, Hamilton said he knew nothing about the House of Israel and its teachings. He said he may have felt drawn to the group too because of its position on African struggles – an issue he had been following at the time. He officially left the organisation in 1990.

Apart from its belief that “All Jews are Black”, Hamilton said, the House of Israel had also embraced the teachings of self-love and self-reliance, and had based those pillars on the Bible.

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

Europe’s fascist revival

While most of the world was focused on the results of elections in India, there was an “earthquake” in France, but it could apply equally to almost every other European country in last week’s vote for the European Parliament (EP). This is the only elected body in the European Union (EU) and would be at the helm of the largest economic bloc on the planet.

The EP implements EU-wide legislation, so the success of political parties with common positions in this year’s election will have significant impacts on Europe as a whole over the next five years – so long as they can come together and vote as a bloc.

The election threw up parties from the far right to their greatest strength since the fascist heyday of the 1930-1940s, controlling almost 30 per cent of the 751 seats when the Parliament convenes in June. However, while the Western press universally dubbed the winning Bharitiya Janata Party (BJP) of India as “Hindu Nationalist”, they did not do the same for these parties all of which stressed their “Christian Nationalist” credentials.

Additionally, the major issue that unites most of the rightist parties is their opposition to immigrants and immigration in Europe. While now Prime Minister Narendra Modi was castigated as far away as Guyana for being concerned about illegal immigrants entering India from across her borders with Bangladesh, there was also scant condemnation of the right wing parties that would not recognise individuals as citizens who may have European citizenship if they dared to keep the citizenship of their former countries.

In France, the Front National secured 25 per cent of the vote – a plurality in the fractured vote based on an anti-immigration, anti-European and anti-globalisation thrust. Their Islamophobia has been palpable. Unifying virtually all of the parties in this list is an overt hatred for Muslims – or, more specifically, those of Muslim cultures.

The United Kingdom Independence Party, led by the far-right Nigel Farage, is a reflection of Britain’s increased Euroscepticism and Islamophobia. The party secured 24 seats in this year’s European elections making them the top political party coming out of the UK.

The Front National’s closest ally from the Netherlands, the Party for Freedom did not do as favourably as it has in past elections, following some rabidly racist remarks of its leader Geert Wilders. But this loss was more than made up by the gains over in neighbouring Austria, where, because of its blatant Islamophobia, their Freedom Party ended up doubling its seats in the European Parliament after this year’s elections, after its third-place finish in Austria.

Most intriguingly, the Danish People’s Party (DPP), which previously had only two seats, now occupies four of Denmark’s 13 allocated seats in the European Parliament, with 26.7 per cent of the vote. It has attempted to downplay its antiimmigrant bent by phrasing its concerns as “protecting Danish heritage”.

Most of the rightward, anti-immigrant movement in Europe, as in the USA, has increased exponentially in the wake of the 2008 financial meltdown in those countries. Rather than looking at the undisputed figures that show wealth being drained from the middle class and the lower strata of their societies and accumulation in the top one per cent, the right wing parties have floated and flogged the immigrant as the scapegoat for all problems. They resent the austerity packages that solidify the present disparities in wealth and other inequalities and fall prey to the diversion of racist anti-immigrant propaganda.

Instead of uniting against austerity measures (although anti-austerity popular movements certainly have been active), many citizens have been attracted to this nationalist and protectionist politics, buying right-wing myths about immigrants “stealing” natives’ jobs. If these parties cooperate, countries such as Guyana that have “special relationships” with European countries, will witness an increasing unilateral abandonment of such arrangements, such as occurred with the “sugar protocol”.

We must turn to renewable energies

Dear Editor,

I have been asked by a number of persons about my reaction to the address of Dr Warren Smith, President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), at the opening on May 20 of the Annual Board of Governors Meeting of the CDB.

Dr Smith advocated with great zeal that, on account of the steadilyrising costs of petroleum fuel, the steady improvements in technology and falling prices of alternative energy sources, all Caricom and Caribbean countries must turn away from our traditional, and accustomed, reliance on petroleum fuels as our primary source of energy, particularly for generating electricity for the grid.

Electricity generation, based on petroleum fuels at today’s prices, leads to tariffs charged to customers in the range of 30-40 US cents per kWh, which is the prevailing range across the region and which negatively impacts the costs of our goods and services. The region must turn to the abundantly-available alternatives – hydro, geo-thermal, photo-voltaic and wind – which can now provide lower generation costs and reduce the generation of the greenhouse gases which are causing climate change.

I could not agree more with the CDB President, “Let us make Amaila happen, and let us get Hope Beach Wind-Farm in place, quickly.” We Guyanese must do all we can, at such times that we can, to clear the way

in the National Assembly for the Amaila Falls Hydroelectrical Power project to happen.

In Guyana, we Guyanese, since the 1960s, have been looking to find economically attractive and less-costly ways to generate electricity, by developing one or more of our many waterfalls. The Amaila Falls was identified already, by the 1980s, as one of the falls which presented the best possibilities to meet our local needs.

Focused and progressive studies of the Amaila Falls, from the late 1990s, reached the stage of a more or less complete proposal in 2003/2004. At that time, however, with crude oil prices in the range of US$20 to US$30 per barrel, and electricity generation costs utilising Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) at about eight US cents per kWh, it – that proposal –was not an improvement.

Indeed, for the first five to 10 years, the cash ‘outflow’ to the developer to pay for the electricity (and hence the development) would have been greater than the ‘out-flows’ to purchase fuel and spares, and so, that proposal was rejected.

Today, however, with crude oil prices above US$100 per bbl, the ‘allup’ costs of generating electricity, in HFO-fuelled sets sized for our network, is about 21 US cents per kWh, whilst, with the current proposal, the initial costs of generating electricity at Amaila Falls and transmitting it to Sophia, should not exceed 12 US cents per kWh.

This price could fall to about nine US cents within the first nine years, then fall to just the ‘running costs’ of about three US cents per kWh, at the end of the BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) period of 20 to 25 years. With this projected reduction in generation costs to about half the costs of generation based on HFO, the development of Amaila Falls is clearly very advantageous, and we must proceed quickly to project closure and construction. Each day of delay is costly in delayed savings of about US$0.2 million (G$40 million) per day.

It is projected, now, that electricity generated from Amaila Falls could be available commercially in about five years time, including about four years for construction and a year for closing and breaking ground. Every day earlier in attaining commercial operation would be worth so much to us, that every Guyanese should put his/her full weight behind the earliest completion of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, if needed, with their votes at the next election.

In the meantime, we should all pay heed to the programmes on improving energy efficiency, on energy conservation and energy reduction, and on accompanying changes in procedure and life styles, being offered by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), and others.

Also, while our business executives quite properly and validly focus on, and call attention to, the high costs of electricity locally, there are few businesses where electricity costs are more than 10 per cent of their total costs. Our business executives, whilst doing all they can in demanding sustainable, lower electricity costs in Guyana, should not be unmindful in ignoring the other 90 per cent of their total costs. We have to learn to be good in many things, in everything, as quickly as we can.

With respect to wind energy, there have been, from decades ago, small wind-driven electricitygenerating sets along the coast, and water pumps on the savannahs in the hinterland. In 2000, the CDB financed an engineering survey of the potential of wind along the coast for the large-scale production of electricity.

The prospects were judged to be not fantastic but, still possibly economically attractive, and Delta Caribbean of Curaçao which had established a wind-farm in Curaçao –the wind regime was very favourable there – was invited to study the possibilities of wind-farms along Guyana’s coast. Delta Caribbean began their appraisal with a yearlong study of wind speeds at Hope Beach, and also studied various generators available then to see how they would perform in our wind regime...

Continued on page 5

CFATF has done its job, Guyana and Guyanese must do theirs

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) views with concern and understanding the position taken by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). The CFATF’s consideration that Guyana is a risk to the international financial system and referral to the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF) bears testimony to the seriousness and commitment this institution takes of its responsibility to ensure legitimate and antiterroristic financial transactions among member states. The CFATF has done its job, Guyana and Guyanese must do theirs.

The trading of words, absent efforts and appropriate leadership to resolve outstanding matters to allow passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill (AML/ CFT) will not de-escalate the situation or bring resolution. The President is the nation’s Head of State and Head of Government and has a greater responsibility to protect the integrity and reputation of this country at home and abroad.

Guyana’s deficiencies in the AML/CFT Bill have been a matter engaging CFATF since 2009. That notwith-

standing, now is not the time for propaganda, scoring partisan political points or insisting that the Bill be passed without conditions. These will not work because this is not the way real politics work, especially when the support of political rivals is needed.

Having been placed on the Caribbean Watch list/ blacklist in 2013 – and given as per the CFATF’s Financial Advisor that it requires a minimum of two years to be removed and such is contingent on adherence – to be placed in a similar situation by FATF will do this nation further disservice.

GTUC is concerned at the state of affairs that is resulting in the non-passage of the AML/CFT. This is clearly a crisis in leadership that is spilling over into creating a crisis in governance.

A political environment that guarantees collective participation and representation, inherently leads to negotiation and consensus, but is yet again squandered in pursuit of political gamesmanship.

No environment that allows for competitive party politics will see any party cede opportunities to hold the incumbent accountable or extract conditions for support. Actions by the

Opposition to tie passage of the AML/CFT are normal and acceptable political behaviours. They are also not unreasonable or unjust because they seek to bring about a level of good governance, of which accountability and laws are prerequisites.

Rather than the Government using the AML/ CFT opportunity to demonstrate to the nation and our regional and international counterparts that Guyana is capable of good governance, the worthwhile opportunity is seized upon to gain divisive political mileage.

Borrowing phraseologies from another society to accuse the Opposition of engaging in ‘the politics of no,’ when the originator of this phrase uses it to addresses the strategy of his opposition who made known on the night of his first inauguration their singular intent is to make him fail will not work. Guyanese are smart and will not be fooled by such posturing.

The current political leadership can learn lessons from their predecessors. Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan worked together on matters of national importance. These leaders got things done together without having to give up their political pursuits. For instance, the nationalisation

of bauxite (1971) and sugar (1976), the takeover of the private schools, and issues of border security (Venezuela and Suriname) required the Opposition’s support in the National Assembly and in the public sphere.

The support of the Opposition was not without conditions and these were met by the Government. The two leaders also spoke in unity on matters attending to the violation of local workers by foreign businesses and managers.

Nothing prevents the current corps of leadership from emulating this politics of engagement, negotiation and agreement. The society desires it. When the nation’s business is taken care of, they can go back to their partisan bickering and grandstanding which is a characteristic element of politics.

President Ramotar is encouraged to deliver the required leadership to the country and protect the nation’s integrity and reputation by convening a meeting with the three parliamentary groups on the way forward. In the final analysis the buck stops at him and everyone is looking to him.

Respectfully submitted, GTUC

I was present when Justice Bovell-Drakes injuncted both factions of the DCB

Dear Editors, I refer to the recent utterances of the ‘phantom’ Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) and Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA), and must support the UDCA’s response.

During August 2011, I was in court when Justice James Bovell-Drakes, in answer to a query from Attorney Emily Dodson, clearly stated that both the Bissoondyal Singh and Raj Singh factions were barred from carrying out the functions of the BCB. Members of both factions were present and Justice Bovell-Drakes specifically instructed both

lawyers to advise their clients accordingly. I journeyed to the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground where the GCB Office is located on Regent Street, on January 25, 2013, at approximately 16:00h with a court Marshall after Justice Dianne Insanally had granted an injunction against any DCB Annual General Meeting, and found the gate padlocked with a number of officials upstairs looking out of the windows. They refused to allow the Marshall entry to carry out his duties. Several officials were served with their copy

of the injunction.

The East Bank Cricket Association could not vote and both Georgetown and East Coast respected the judge’s ruling and did not participate. The West Demerara Cricket Board alone could not form a quorum, hence there could be no legal Demerara Board elected, unless gross violation of the two court orders was in effect.

That is the reason why the phantom group masquerading as the DCB has not released their identities to the media nor even the constituent members of the DCB.

Now they are presumptuously attempting to interfere with the legitimate UDCA which has been operating for over 10 years with properly re-elected executives.

It is amazing that a group of known personalities, but who operate within a framework of anonymity could continuously violate the law and not be prosecuted. Maybe this is because they have friends in high places.

Yours truly, Winston G Boston

A coalition is still viable

Dear Editor,

There has recently been a strong signal from the main Opposition party of its willingness to form a united Government with the ruling party. I sincerely believe that this may be the very thing that Guyana needs at this time – a Government which is seen to cater for all the various interests and has the support of our different groups, especially as these relate to racial and geographical location.

It is clear that there can be no end to the squabbling over how the affairs of our country should be administered in the present political dispensation, and I am sure most patriotic, right-thinking and generous-minded Guyanese will see the option of a united front as the best way forward. I strongly feel that both the President and the Opposition Leader are men of this ilk, and would certainly agree if they are convinced of their party being fairly treated in any coalition.

It must now be obvious that any Government which would be able to hold its own in this country, and truly rule in the best interests of all sections of our society, must not only possess the capacity for so doing, but must also be accepted by all the major groups of its sincerity and ability to succeed in this endeavour.

Just so, no matter how capable or earnest each party feels about itself, none on the contenders acting alone will be able to maintain the peace and pace of development that is now urgently required for the recovery of our nation.

To my mind then, the best solution to our political dilemma is that we resign ourselves to a unity of forces, albeit incongruent ones, and encourage the major parties to start adjusting their policies and mind-sets so as to be better able to fit in to such a coalition.

Added to this, no Government that has a sizeable Opposition as we have can hope to fulfil its responsibilities as effectively as it needs to. From the lessons of history, men have now generally become distrustful of authority when they are not part of same. We all know of the stories, whether based on fact or fantasy, that are being

We must turn to renewable energies (continued

Unto about 2006, a project could not be put together which would be financially attractive to all parties, and Delta Caribbean withdrew, passing on all its rights and obligations to a new local company, Guyana WindFarms Inc.

The search to put together a “closed” project was maintained. One may recall, at one time, that an artist’s impression was present-

ed of a wind-farm along the Georgetown sea-wall, from the head of Camp Street to the head of Vlissingen Road – the apparent public response was to stay at Hope Beach.

During the years since 2000, wind generating technology has improved and prices have fallen, while oil prices have risen. Guyana Wind-Farm Inc has recently put forward a very attrac-

tive project which could see GoldWind of China, rated at least third in the world in establishment of wind-farms, establishing a 10x2.5 MW wind-farm at Hope Beach for a total cost of about US$42 million.

Gold Wind would provide 75 per cent of total financing and take 51 per cent of the equity shares. Republic Bank has offered to support the project, with a US$2 mil-

lion loan. Some ground studies have already been done, and the wind-farm could be built and be in operation within a year of a ‘go-ahead’. Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, are not available 24 hours by seven days a week, throughout a year. There would be times when no power would be available.

One has to discount their installed-capacity, and they

constantly pedalled around of corruption in the highest echelons of the administration, and without doubt these must be the reaction of those aligned with the Opposition. A united Government would patently remove this circumstance.

Another requirement of any Government in a democracy is one that is evolving. We find that in each aspect of modern life the individual is being called upon to accept greater responsibility for participating in the functions of administration.

This creates a structure in which each individual in this democratisation process has a bigger say in its management, and so the Government must be able and willing to capture the interest and involvement of the great majority of its citizens, as well as accept each individual’s right to share in the decision-making processes. We must agree that the present system does not lend itself to this being implemented, and we need to convince our people that their voice is being heard.

The extremists and diehard supporters of each of the parties in the executive and parliamentary arms of the administration would certainly raise their voices against any arrangement which involves surrendering their present position. Also, when we look at the disparate positions on issues which the Government and Opposition have been representing, we can only surmise that the way to a united Government may be a long and tortuous one.

But I strongly feel that a coalition of the major forces in our country is still absolutely viable and the best way forward, and I would like to posit that the supporters of the two major parties should pressure their leaders to think more of the good of the country, and less of maintaining party power, and start the process of forming a united front.

Otherwise, Guyana is doomed to this perpetual division and discord, resulting in more and more regression in our affairs and fragmentation of our society and nation.

Yours sincerely, Roy Paul

from page 4)

are paid with prices no more than that of the net savings in the cost of petroleum fuel and maintenance which would have been incurred in the course of traditional generation with HFO – the ‘avoided’ costs. This Hope Beach Wind-Farm Project, too, is cast in the nature of a BOOT, with write-off and transfer projected to occur at the end of five years, and with a useful life of about 20

years. Let us get Hope Beach Wind-Farm in place quickly! Let us turn our electricity generation away from petroleum fuels, thereby saving ourselves a good quantity of money and doing our bit to reduce climate change.

Sincerely, Samuel Hinds Prime Minister

Page Foundation

When your child says, “I don’t fit in”

by JaMeS LehMan

Seven tips to help your child

• Let your child talk about it and give reassurance

When their child tries to talk to them about not fitting in or being picked on, parents may unconsciously become less warm or receptive. Or they may give other signals, verbal or non-verbal, that say they’re uncomfortable talking about it. They may try to minimise the problem, and make it seem like it’s “not that big of a deal.”

But the danger here is that your child gets the message, “They don’t want to talk about it anymore.” Try to remain open to hearing what they have to say, and be calm and soothing in your response. Let your child talk it out – don’t try to make the problem seem like it’s not important, because in the child’s life, it’s huge. Yes, all children go through this. But maybe all children don’t go through what your child is going through.

Remember that when a child tells you something, that’s his way of asking for help. So parents really have to work on being comforting and accepting. They have to give their child the tools he needs to learn social skills, to learn how to read social situations. You can start by saying, “What you’re going through happens to children sometimes, and I can get you some help with that.” Both are important for your child to know. Telling them that many children have experienced this feeling or situation “right sizes” the problem, and letting them know that you can help them offers them some tangible hope. It may come from the school, as a result of your discussions with teachers or administrators, or from counselling or workbooks your child can do. Regardless, let your child know that help is out there, and that

they don’t have to go it alone. If you freak out and start to panic about your child not fitting in, he’s going to think you think he’s a freak, too. So, it’s very important when children share their feelings of being different for you to remain calm. Often it’s very comforting for children to hear things like, “That happened to me when I was a child, and I know how much it hurts.” They

can move to the offer of help: “I’m going to get us some help with that. I bet you’re not the only child that doesn’t feel like he fits in. I bet there are books out there and stuff we can find online that will help us.” You’re showing positive regard to your child, being comforting and being helpful.

• “Try to find one friend first.”

feel comforted when you identify with their problem and empathise with them. Another way of doing that is to say, “That must feel awful for you.” That’s framing it for them and empathising with them at the same time.

• Affirm what you’ve heard Affirm what’s going on in your child’s life and acknowledge that it’s hard for them. You can say things like, “It must be really tough to feel like you don’t fit in.” And then you

It’s a lot easier to start a relationship with one person than trying to fit into the group. When you talk with your child, tell them to deal with other children one at a time. You can say, “How about if you start with trying to find one friend first? Is there anyone at school who you might like to hang out with?” Suggest people they might not have thought about before. “What about the child sitting next to you? Or the child sitting on the other side of you? Try talking to one of them, maybe

(Part three)

you’ll get a better response.” In addition, see if your child can find friends outside of school, in other circles, or places where they might meet other children with the same interests. Your child can join things like the Boy Scouts or the Girl Scouts, where the uniform basically levels the playing field: everybody in the room has the same shirt on, so children stand out less in that crowd.

• Teach them how to read social situations

Another skill to teach children is how to read social situations. So if there’s a group of children that doesn’t like your child or picks on them, your child needs to learn how to stay away from them and find other children who they get along with: maybe there are some shy children they can befriend or other children having a hard time. For some children, reading social situations is more difficult than for others. But there are tools that can help parents work with their children that will teach them how to read expressions and pick up on social cues.

* The power of postive selftalk

Positive self-talk doesn’t mean that you’re saying, “I’m wonderful and everything’s all right, lah, lah, lah.” That’s not positive self-talk. Positive self-talk is reasoning, soothing self-talk that helps you stay calm and keep your perspective.

Children get anxious when they’re feeling left out or being picked on. Their adrenaline starts to pump, they think less clearly, and they panic. Positive, soothing selftalk is meant to bring them back down. In other words, it calms down their internal physical system, and accordingly, their thoughts. (Empowering Parents)

Children earning privileges

by Shirin Sherkat

Should your children earn their privileges?

“If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, then put some responsibility on their shoulders” – Abigail Van Buren What is the best way to use privileges (or rewards) to motivate children?

That is every parent’s question. The key to your success is not just what to use as privileges, but how to use them correctly. There’s more to it than “dangling a carrot at the end of a stick,” I assure you. I support you in reaching your goal: To create not only a motivated child for today, but also to create a selfstarter for the future. What you teach your children today will impact them in the long run.

Simple and easy actions on your part may include praising your children when you see them trying their best, and allowing them to earn treats or certain rewards for making good choices. Privileges can be powerful incentives for children of all ages.

Nine important factors that parents must keep in mind about all privileges:

* Privileges can include longterm rewards (such as getting a bike), as well as short-term rewards (such as a special treat after dinner).

* Privileges vary according to your child’s tastes and needs. As your child’s tastes change, so do their choices for rewards. So, stay in tune to their needs.

* Privileges must be EARNED. Never change this rule. The moment your children notice they don’t have to work for a privilege, they will feel entitled to it.

* Privileges should be appropriate to your child’s developmental age.

* Privileges are not necessarily something you have to purchase; they don’t have to cost a thing. For example, it could be a fun family activity or access to a toy already owned.

* Privileges should be incentives from your child’s perspective. They are not necessarily something you desire, but you must approve of them. For example, music by a band whose music you wouldn’t enjoy, but do approve of!

* You and your child must agree upon what’s a privilege. Keep in mind, however, that the privilege should be enticing mainly to your child.

* At first, your child may not succeed in earning a privilege. This situation is quite common and usually due to lack of effort on the child’s part. If it happens, loss of that privilege should not punish other members of the family.

* A privilege must closely match in value the amount of work your child puts toward earning it. For example, you would not reward a child with a new bike just for doing one day’s worth of chores.

Studying in Russia a life changing experience

– Guyanese students on scholarship

By Svetlana MarShall

Come, September 1, the five Guyanese students who have the previlidge of fulfilling their academic dreams at the People’s Friendship University of Russia, will enter their third year.

In September 2011, Patricia Anthony, Kiefer Bacchus, Tenesha LesFlores, Kollis Smith and Dendre McGarrell left for Russia, after the Bauxite Company of Guyana (BCGI) provided them with five scholarships to study at the People’s Friendship University in the fields of Economics, Mining Engineering and Geology. BCGI forms part of Russian aluminum company RUSAL, the largest alumina and aluminum producer in the world.

Speaking to Guyana Times from Moscow, Russia, Patricia Anthony, who is majoring in Economics, said within a few weeks, their second year will come to a close. “It is mandatory for us to do practical work in our different fields, so we will be venturing into that at the end of the semester,” she explained.

Challenges

Studying away from home is not like a bed of roses as some may assume, the Economic student said.

“Every year has its challenges, but we always overcome and we are ready for the next one!”

Chronicling their stay in Russia, the 25-year-old said it continues to be a life changing experience. After travelling for more than 30 hours, Anthony recalled that they arrived in Moscow on September 27, 2011, minutes before the clock ticked 00:00.

In Russia, they met six other Guyanese students, five of whom were on scholarships with the Guyana Government and also in their final year. However, the sixth person Taudgirdas Persaud had moved to Russia independently to study medicine. Unlike the others, Persaud was in his first year and became closely knitted with Anthony, Bacchus, LesFlores, Smith and McGarrell as they spent

their first year learning the Russian language at the same university.

“I found my first year to be amazing. Our language classes comprised of students from all different races, different countries, and different cultures, speaking different languages: Africans, Latinos, Arabic, and Asians and of course, we had our little Caribbean community. The amazing thing was that we all could communicate with each other in one common language, Russian!”

By September 2012, the Government of Guyana sponsored students had already returned home, leaving behind Anthony and her colleagues. At the time, Persuad’s younger brother Leonardas Persaud had arrived in Russia to study as well, but at another university.

“Through the years, our studies have been our number one priority of course, but every now and then, we get together to and do things that would give us a feel of Guyana,” Anthony told this publication.

Picnic

On May 1, each year, they would host a Labour Day picnic in the forest behind their campus with their Caribbean friends, who hail from Jamaica, Antigua and St Vincent as the special invitees. “On our menu this year was pepperpot, roti and curry, cook-up and many, many more foods. The Jamaicans have a serious liking for the roti and curry. We also entertained them with a cricket and domino competition.”

The Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia is also big on promoting cultural diversity, and as a result, every year an exhibition is held on the premises of the school’s main building. During this spectacular event, students from across the world are given an opportunity to display their rich culture to the Russian society.

For the first time, the Guyanese group opted to participate and the experience was overwhelming. Many Russians were amused

Lima man knifed to death over old feud

By IndrawattIe natraM

It was indeed a sad day for the Williams family after they received the tragic news that their father was stabbed to death at a liquor spot in Anna Regina, Region Two.

Dead is Edward Williams 56, also known as “Strong man”, of Lima Sands Village on the Essequibo Coast.

The incident occurred around 17:00h on Sunday afternoon at “Flower Lady”, a popular liquor shop at Anna Regina.

to hear about Guyana, for many of them had never heard of the country before.

The girls decided to make skirts using the colours of the flag. “I was up the entire night before trying to complete those skirts and the next day we boldly wore our skirts which were as bright as the sun. Mittai and pholorie with mango sour were sample foods which we prepared that morning to distribute to persons interested in tasting our food. I can remember one old Russian woman gave me a thumb up when she tasted the pholorie,” Anthony recalled.

Cultures

She added: “When given a chance to walk around the exhibition, it felt like travelling around the world. I got to experience a little bit of some many different cultures, all in one place. As a foreign student, experiences such as these make it all worth being away from friends and family. I have so much to share with them when I return to Guyana.”

After leaving Guyana on September 26, 2011, the five students who have been sponsored by RUSAL will return to Guyana in 2016, ready to serve the company and by extension the rest of Guyana. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

The deceased and the perpetrator were consuming alcohol at the shop when an argument started over old grievances. The perpetrator “Kenrick” (only name given) pulled out a knife and inflicted a stab wound to the left side of Edward Williams. The murder weapon was not recovered.

It is unclear what triggered the stabbing; however, family members claimed that it was out of revenge the father of three was stabbed. Relating the story to Guyana Times , wife of the deceased Theressa Williams said she believes that the perpetrator was out for revenge against her husband.

Theressa, who had been married to Edward for the past 35 years, described her husband as a “peace maker” who cared much for his family.

“My husband is a qui -

et individual, he nah owe anybody, he just calm and has not interfere with anyone, I can’t believe why he was killed like this.”

She last saw her husband around 14:00h on Sunday evening, when he left to transport some black spiders to a wild life trader in Three Friends Village. The deceased was a labourer by profession.

Call

Theressa said she received a phone call around 17:30h on Sunday evening from her daughter Jennifer Williams, stating that her father was stabbed and was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital.

The frustrated Williams related that she hired a car and rushed to the Suddie Hospital where she saw her husband lying in pain with a “huge” stab to his left side.

“He was bleeding profusely, blood was oozing, he was in too much pain, we knew he won’t have made i t, t he stab was too deep.”

The mother said before she could have reached home, she received another call, stating that her husband succumbed to the stab wound.

The mother said the perpetrator, who is in custody, has grievances with her family.

She said her daughter Jennifer, who is a member of the Neighbourhood Policing Group, was investigating the alleged killer’s aunty, who was caught with drugs recently.

According to the grieving woman, since then, Kenrick has had grievances with her family over the incident.

The liquor shop owner is also being questioning.

Man crushed to death by sand truck

Afather of three was on Monday crushed to death after he reportedly walked into the path of a sand truck on the New Hope, East Bank Demerara Road.

The accident reported occurred around 09:00h.

Dead is Hilton Nedd, 38, of 21st Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara. He was reportedly run over by the vehicle, which dragged him several yards before coming to a halt.

From all indications, he may have sustained a broken neck and several broken bones about the body, including the chest. His body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The driver of the motor lorry was whisked away to the Grove Police Station shortly after the accident.

He was heard telling Police ranks on scene that Nedd attempted to get onto the roadway, but apparently reconsidered. It was on his second attempt that he ended up in his path. At the time, the driver said he recognised when he ran over the man’s body. “When I come out the truck, I see he under de truck,” the driver said.

An eyewitness told Guyana Times that he was standing in front of his house and from a distance, he saw Nedd running on the road as if he suffered one of his attacks.

“This is not the first time "Monkey Man" trip… since he wife dead about a year ago, he does trip.”

The eyewitness posited that as he turned his back, he heard a sound, followed by people screaming, and as he turned around, he saw the man being pulled under the truck. He died on the spot, the man added.

Sanjay Ramdas, Nedd’s former employer told this publication that the now dead man worked with him for the past four years, but he would suddenly leave for a few months and then return. The young man said he saw Nedd minutes prior to the accident, and from all accounts, he did not look like himself.

Strange

He recalled a few days ago, Nedd went to his home and asked for some cold water and petroleum gel, and to his surprise, the young father said he was going to use it to take a shower.

“Monkey Man was a good worker, but then he started to get seizures and would walk the road and would be missing for a few days and then resurface,”

Ramdas added.

Thomas Nedd, an uncle of the dead man related that he lives in Turkeyen and received a telephone call informing him that his

nephew was involved in an accident. He said that he was asked to go to the Lyken’s Funeral Home to identify the body.

“When I go to the mortuary, I see he tongue out of his mouth, his chest look flat as if he get run over and he head look like when it break,” the uncle stated. The man said that he was not at home on Sunday, but

upon returning home, he heard that his nephew was by his house.

“I don’t know what he wanted, but he tell meh wife that he was passing through the area and he decide to stop.”

Nedd lived a short distance from where he was struck down. The owner of the scrap iron garage said when he reached to his garage on Monday; he saw Nedd hunting the garbage bin, as if he was looking for things to eat.

The man said after a while, he went to a shop and saw Nedd walking up the road. In a matter of minutes, he heard a crashing sound. He knew that something was wrong since a crowd had converged. Nedd worked with him at the garage a few times.

He leaves to mourn his three children and nine siblings.

Eyew tness

New beginnings...

...at Tain?

Everyone’s unanimous that the UG Campus at Tain, in Berbice, is fast going downhill. If not already there. Even the new Vice Chancellor. They’re talking about “unqualified staff” and staff teaching “over their head” at Tain, but are studiously avoiding the elephant in the room. Isn’t the teaching quality just a symptom of the underlying problem, because Tain is structured as merely an appendage of Turkeyen?

Let’s call a spade a spade. Berbice got a “campus” even though for years Berbicians had lobbied for their own “university”. For some unfathomable reason, the powers-that-be decided Berbice couldn’t be trusted with running their own university. UG at Turkeyen, which had demonstrated through the last two decades, that it was incapable of even running a “Lil ABC” class, was tasked with the responsibility.

It wasn’t even a case of “one-eyed man, king in blind man country”. UG was a blind man in a one-eyedman country. UG had been transformed from the bold experiment that Cheddi Jagan had launched back in 1963, with Sir Lancelot Hogben, into a retirement home for PNCites thrown out from Government in 1992. A retirement home where the inmates receive a hefty sinecure. To place Tain into their hands was to wave a red flag at a maddened bull.

Right off the bat, Berbice was for all those rice farmers and cane cutters. Why in the world, would they need a University education? Pearls before swine didn’t even begin to describe the preposterous anomaly! So UG used Tain to expand their sinecure system. The UG lecturers – who never taught to begin with – now had to troll over to Tain to teach. They received duty-free cars for the bother.

Eventually, there came along a native son, Daizal Samad, who finally had the guts (or naïveté) to tell the emperor that he was buck naked! Tain would better serve Berbice – and Guyana, of course – if it was autonomous. And it wasn’t just peculiar to Tain – all over the world, it was demonstrated that the centralised university trying to run multi-campus facilities just couldn’t deliver the goods.

Apart from UG being absolutely dysfunctional, Berbice had its own needs and idiosyncrasies. But, of course, the mandarins of Turkeyen fought the idea of autonomy. Did you even meet a tenured sod who’d willingly jettison even a book, much less a department?

So the moaning and groaning will continue – but the solution will be studiously avoid.

FREE TAIN NOW!!!

...for clay-brick factory?

The much-criticised Government privatisation entity, NICIL, had announced that the Clay Brick factory over at Canal – with over 46 acres of surrounding land – is up for sale. This announcement brings up the “cut your nose, to spite your face” syndrome that’s most prevalent in the Opposition and the Opposition spit press.

This clay brick factory is a huge structure. But it’s been lying empty ever since 1994 – two decades ago –when all the bricks were sold off for a song. It’d stopped making bricks long before. It had been one of the white elephants that the industrialist extraordinaire – Forbes Burnham – had launched. There had been the glass factory, the leather factory, the ceramic factory, the fabric factory and so on and so forth.

So when the fabric factory – lying in ruins for God knows how many years – was privatised and the new private owner turned a sow's ears into a purse, the green-eyed monster struck. Especially a particular newspaper gossip-mongering wanker. So the Eyewitness has a simple suggestion. Why doesn’t Mook Lall buy the Clay Brick Factory and become a billionaire.

He can quadruple his special sweetie output prepared for the export market!

...for Avi

The poignant reunion of kidnapped Baby Avi and his young mother captured the imagination of all Guyana. There’s no love greater than that of a mother.

Young people leaving agriculture for gold mining – Baksh

Minister within the Agriculture Ministry Alli Baksh said young people are gravitating to gold mining as they are not too interested in farm labour.

According to Baksh, this is a major problem facing the agricultural sector today, noting that if it is not addressed, it will negatively impact the sector in the not so distant future.

The Minister was at the time speaking at the Guyana Agricultural Producer’s Association (GAPA) Regional Conference, attended by scores of farmers on Friday, at the Anna Regina Town Council.

The conference was held under the theme “Towards participatory agricultural programme development”.

He said farmers are the backbone of the economy and they can look to the Government as a viable partner in development.

Baksh said though there are vast areas of agricultur-

al lands available, there are a shortage of skilled persons, pointing out that the shift to gold mining is a setback to agriculture.

He said the impact of the shortage is already being felt as there is a demand for some produce but the supply is not there.

Baksh said GAPA has an important role to play in addressing this problem and to revive young people’s interest in agriculture.

He encouraged persons to form themselves into groups and tap into the assistance being provided by GAPA.

GAPA Regional Coordinator Laxmi Jaikeshan said the non-governmental organisation will be partnering with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to source small grants for several projects.

She said assistance will be given to help farmers construct shade houses in Regions Two, Three, Five and Six.

People’s Progressive Party

PPP re-launches Progressive Organisation of Pioneers

(PPP) Member of Parliament Cornel Damon called on farmers to expand their production by making maximum use of the lands available to them.

He also proposed that farmers pool their resources and acquire a processing facility to preserve their perishable crops and fruits.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud welcomed the farmers to the conference, saying that their work cannot be underestimated as they feed the nation.

He said Region Two farmers have been on top of their game, exporting natural juices to various Caribbean territories, and soon farmers will be tapping into the Trinidad market, supplying coconut water.

Region Two Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said Government over the years has paid much emphasis on crop production; thus the heavy investment in the agriculture sector.

Prefeasibility study on Mazaruni hydro project delayed – Foreign Affairs Minister … Brazilian consortium reviewing draft surveying licence

The prefeasibility study into the development of hydropower in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni regions has been delayed. The prefeasibility study was expected to commence in April by a Brazilian consortium.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett explained that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has submitted a draft survey licence to the Brazilian consortium for consideration; and the review process is ongoing.

Once the survey licence is agreed, the prefeasibility study will be conducted, followed by a feasibility study.

Queiroz Galvao (QG) and OAS, the two multibilliondollar Brazilian companies that make up the consortium, are investing US$45 million into the prefeasibility and feasibility studies to determine Guyana’s potential to develop hydro-power stations in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni. These

processes are expected to take approximately two years once the prefeasibility study has commenced.

During the execution of the prefeasibility and feasibility assessments, hydrology and arial topographic studies will be conducted to secure precise data on the areas. Hydrology involves the measuring and graphing of the river behaviour and river flow within the district over a 12-month period. To facilitate such, the consortium will be required

to establish substations at strategic locations within the Upper and Middle Mazaruni.

Meanwhile, the arial topographic study would include the usage of an air craft and sophisticated equipment that will be used to map the areas of study.

This new development stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on infrastructure development that was signed by the two countries on December 5, 2012, with the primary objective of stimulating projects in the area of hydropower, road development and the construction of a deep water port. Through the MoU, a Guyana-Brazil Joint Technical Working Group was established.

While there has been some progress with the hydropower agreement, the Governments of Guyana and Brazil have not yet determine how the US$10 million engineering design of the Lethem-Linden Road will be facilitated.

The women’s arm of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) on Sunday relaunched the Progressive Organisation of Pioneers (POP) at Freedom House, Anna Regina.

The event was part of activities in observance of International Children's Day.

Hundreds of energetic and vibrant youths, drawn from throughout Region Two, attended the occasion and participated in an interaction forum.

Speaking at the event, PPP Executive Member Hydar Ally encouraged the children to take their education seriously and strive to become meaningful contributors to society.

He said youths are the future leaders of Guyana and attention must be given to them, pointing out that the PYO and WPO provide this kind of grooming.

Ally told the children that they have made a wise decision in joining POP, an

organisation that emerged from the PPP, to aide in creating positive change in society.

and urged them to be integrally involved in POP’s activities.

“It is important that children learn correct values in society so that children can be brought up as good boys and girls,” Samaroo said. He spoke about illegal drugs, and cautioned young people not to get involved.

“An education is important, make sure you attend school regular and punctual, getting involved in this group will make you actively and meaningfully involved,” Samaroo said.

WPO Executive Member Juilet Coonjah welcomed the children and interacted with them. The

“You are the future leaders of tomorrow, tomorrow’s future is in your hands, you need to come together and make a change and a positive one,” Ally said.

Region Two Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo wished the children well

re-launching featured poems, prayers and a discussion forum involving the children, age nine to 14. POP, which was formed years ago, provides an opportunity for young people to share their views on issues affecting them.

Land mix-up snags Guyanese Embassy construction in Brazil – funds for design approved

By Vahnu Manikchand

Amix-up over a plot of land allocated to Guyana by the Brazilian Government to construct an embassy at Boa Vista has halted the project, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said.

She, however, noted that funds have already been approved by Government for the design of the building and currently they are waiting the settling of the land issue before works start.

“Apparently, in terms

of where the specific land should be, there was a mixup from the authorities on that end and they are trying to resolve that, but we are committed to building a mission there… we had secured the land but this new situation came up,” the Minister told Guyana Times in a exclusive interview.

She said the land allocated to Guyana is being used by another country.

The construction of the Embassy will help strengthen ties between the neighbouring countries, Rodrigues-Birkett said, add-

ing that Guyana and Brazil have already undertaken several initiatives to deepen their bilateral relations.

This was particularly shown in the GuyanaBrazil Joint Commission on Infrastructure Development, which dealt with projects such as the road from Linden to Lethem; the establishment of a deep water harbour; and the exploration of a hydropower plant to supply energy to both countries.

Over the last few years, Guyana has established embassies and consulates in countries such as Barbados

and Kuwait. The most recent was in February this year when a mission was established in Pretoria, South Africa.

Appointments of ambassadors

Meanwhile, responding to a question regarding the rotation of ambassadors, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said, “we have had movements of our various ambassadors. We don’t have a fixed period and I don’t think we’ve ever had a fixed period of time for an Ambassador to be at one mission but ambassadors usually move from mission to mission.”

Narrinarine Nawbatt was moved from Brazil to Canada, while Merlin Udho was posted in Brazil in 2012 after being moved from Suriname, where she had been posted since 2009. Udho had replaced Kellawan Lall.

Ambassador Keith George was posted in Suriname in 2012, also replacing Udho.

However, RodriguesBirkett conceded that the President is responsible for diplomatic postings, while she is responsible for the Foreign Service Officers.

The Minister said over the years, several ambassadors on assignments overseas were brought back and new officers dispatched.

“Recently, one officer was posted to Kuwait and one will be sent to India so those rotations within my remit are ongoing,” she said.

Times does change and people does change too

Times does change and people does change wid de times. That is why old people seh this time nah long time. It even gotta song that seh very de same ting. Every ting people do now used to be done a different way long ago, and it gon be done a different way next couple a years. De people who doin dem does change too.

Nutten and no body does stay de same. Although it got some exceptions like wid people who does be House Slave fuh life, dem does still change in certain ways...like who was dem master long ago and who is dem master now. So it does all come back to de fact that nutten does remain de same fuh too long.

Rum Jhaat don’t stay wid one bottle fuh too long at 7-owe-4. As fuh GT de garbage town, even wid two Town Clerks de s.ity don’t stay clean fuh long. And not even dem beauty queens who does look good fuh today and tomorrow does look good fuh too long. Just watch dem next year and yuh gon see fuh yuh self.

Is only one beauty queen pun 69 does look de same way all de time. And in this case yuh can never be sure if de looks got any ting to do wid de number of de station. At least every body know that de 69 owner would never tek a 6 and turn it over fuh it look like a 9. But it musbe a good reason why de beauty queen choose 69 and not 6 to look fuh a piece a wuk.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! First of all, 6 way smaller than 69. And when yuh tink bout de owner fuh 6, he like turn over 6 to mek into a 9. And all dem people at 6, seh de owner like to turn over tings. Dem even seh that is why he end up in trouble, which might land he in a cold concrete room fuh 6 + 9 years!

Region needs to be prepared for data revolution

As the Caribbean Community (Caricom) seeks to position itself to take advantage of the data revolution, it has been cautioned to prepare for an increased demand for information and a difference in the way it is collected and disseminated.

Participants at a HighLevel Forum on Statistics held on May 26 in Grenada were of one accord that the data revolution had to be taken seriously and that the region had to revolutionise the way it operated.

The theme of the oneday forum was “A Data Revolution for Sustainable Development with a new international initiative to improve the quality of statistics and information available to citizens”.

At the core of the data revolution is the need for better, faster and more accessible data in order to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. The collection process and the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) are key factors in the data revolution.

Representative of the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the TwentyFirst Century (PARIS21), El Iza Mohamedou, stressed that harmonisation, standardisation and validation of statistics would be critical to the community’s involvement in the revolution.

During the forum’s wrapup session to chart the way forward, Mohamedou said that the changes would be evident in the greater de-

mand for data, the modification of data collection and data analysis.

“The demand for data will be part of this data revolution. It will be bigger and it will be more diversified demand for data. Another aspect that National Statistical Systems and in particular National Statistics Offices (NSOs) will have to take into account is that data collection systems will also be modified. We are looking at new sources.

Faster dissemination

We’re looking at big data mining, satellite imagery, new technologies that would affect data collection processes. Data analysis will also change and that has a lot to do with the funding and making sure that there are data scientists within the realms of the NSOs coming out of the regional universities and the regional centres of excellence. “Data dissemination will also change drastically. We’re looking at faster, wider, greater data dissemination and that also calls for micro data.

Rice farmers still being squeezed by payment delays

– millers, RPA blame lack of

By Jomo Paul

With mounting claims by rice farmers that they are not being paid by millers for paddy, some officials say the unavailability of sustainable export markets for rice and its by-products is severely hampering the payouts.

Guyana Rice Producers Association President Leekah Rambrich and SAJ Mills owner Carlos Carbos explained that if the markets were sustainable, the millers would not have a problem paying rice farmers promptly.

Carbos said the global rice market is very competitive at the moment, with rice from several Asian countries flooding the marketplace.

“Look at Vietnam and Thailand, Vietnam produced 15 million tonnes of rice,” Carbos noted.

He maintained that SAJ Mill is taking all possible steps to ensure that the farmers received monies owed to them.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Monday, Rambrich explained that if the millers are unable to sell the rice, it would be expected that they would be unable to pay the farmers, saying “both parties need to be fair with each other”.

Private sector too laidback – GRDB

However, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh lashed out at the millers for using the “unavailability” of markets as an excuse for not paying farmers.

Singh said the rice industry is fully privatised and

that prior to 2010 when the Board assumed partial responsibility for marketing Guyana’s rice products, the private sector marketed and exported 100 per cent of the rice produced.

He explained, however, that subsequent to the Government coming on board, those private sectors bodies became complacent and sought to depend on the Government to facilitate all of the exports.

“The rice industry is full private sector,” the General Manager stressed, adding “the private sector needs to get up... they are playing a laidback role”.

He further highlighted that it is as a result of the Government’s intervention in the rice industry, the majority of rice exports are now facilitated by the Government.

“The Government is doing all it can, we are sending people here and there trying to get all of these markers,” Singh noted, revealing that 60 per cent of rice exports is

markets

the 42 days stipulated for millers to complete payments to farmers, saying it has proven to be disadvantageous to farmers and should be amended to ensure farmers are paid on time.

“That legislation is faulty and should be removed,” said Ganga, who explained that not only should there be stricter penalties for the millers who fail to adhere to the regulations of the Act, but there is also need for the enforcement of the current Act.

Fpossible through the efforts of the Government.

Flawed Rice Factories Act?

Another factor that is believed to be contributing to millers being delinquent in payments is the need for the enforcement and further amendment of the Rice Factories Amendment Act of 2007.

When questioned on whether there is need for reform of the Act, so as to facilitate faster payments to farmers, Rambrich explained that the Act does not need to be amended but rather enforced.

“But then again,” he said, “if the millers are unable to pay the farmers the monies owed for pay, how are they going to be able to pay the interest rate?”

One farmer, Ganga Persaud, told this publication in a recent interview that there was need for amendments to be made to the Act, citing several flaws.

Persaud related that he was in disagreement with

He further explained that some rice millers would pay half of the monies owed for paddy on receipt of the rice, but fail to complete payment within the stipulated timeframe.

The Act stipulates that if this occurs, the miller is required to pay farmers an interest rate that is two per cent higher than the going interest rate of the Bank of Guyana.

This stipulation, Ganga pointed out, has been blatantly ignored by some of the millers who, he said, are attempting to stymie the progress of rice farmers who may have commitments such as bank loans and other financial responsibilities.

“This is a dangerous path to tread, because one day confrontation between millers and farmers will have dangerous effects…. It can happen one day.”

He highlighted that a possible solution would be open dialogue between the millers, the RPA, the GRDB and the farmers, since the farmers, in particular, “do not want anybody to go away with the false impression that he is being victimised or sidelined”.

Merundoi tackles gender-based violence

Radio serial Merundoi will be putting the growing phenomenon of gender-based violence in the spotlight as it attempts to reduce the occurrence of the now rampant social ill.

Project/Operations

Manager of Merundoi, Durwin Humphrey, lamented that domestic violence has taken a firm grasp of our society and it is time to act effectively to assuage the scourge. Several women have been murdered by their partners and thousands suffer domestic violence in silence in Guyana. Non-Governmental Organisation, Help and Shelter has also recently said more men are reporting instances of domestic violence.

Multifaceted

Under a European Instrument For Democracy and Human Rights programme, Merundoi will be embarking on a countrywide outreach aimed at sensitising the public on genderbased violence.

Humphrey told Guyana Times, in a recent interview,

that “this is not just another talk shop”.

He revealed that in addition to Season Four of the radio drama tackling the issue in its storylines, the organisation will be embarking on street theatre, exhibitions, listening and discussion groups and multimedia interactive programmes across the country.

“Gender-based violence is a multifaceted issue and cannot be discussed in one forum,” Merundoi’s Project/ Operations Manager explained. “Men will have a

voice, children will have a voice, women will have a voice.... everybody is affected.”

Humphrey pointed out that the programme will be officially launched on June 6 when Merundoi will host a collaborative exhibition and stage play entitled “Before Her Parting”. Empretec and the Institute for Private Development (IPED) will be part of the exhibition and will be providing persons with guidance on being self-sustainable, especially those who

would have been victims of domestic violence. While the play, written by Guyana Literary Prize-winning author Mosa Telford and directed by renowned director Tivia Collins, condemns domestic violence. “The production is designed to send a message and be a catalyst in the fight against domestic violence,” Humphrey said.

Social media aspect

Secondary and primary school students will be invited to see the play at the National Cultural Centre and will also be part of the countrywide outreach.

With respect to the multimedia aspect of the project, Humphrey pointed out that the organisation is moving to spread the anti-domestic violence message on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, where it will attract the attention of more persons in particular, the younger generation.

Humphrey said the initiative will be very effective in getting the message against domestic violence out to the public.

Timing is everything

reddy Oystein Weel v the Attorney General of Barbados and the General Dental Council [2014] CCJ 1 (AJ)

The decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the Freddy Oystein Weel case examines the considerations that Court will take into account where an Appellant applies for special leave to appeal in circumstances where there has been delay and noncompliance with conditions imposed by the Court of Appeal.

Dr Weel, a Dentist, challenged one of the Dental Registration Rules as unconstitutional. He alleged that the rule restricted his right to free speech. He was unsuccessful both in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Dr Weel obtained permission from the Court of Appeal to make a further appeal to the CCJ. However, two conditions were imposed; namely, a payment to the Court of Bds$10,000 as security for legal costs in the appeal, and that he file a list of documents within 90 days from the date he obtained permission to appeal. Dr Weel filed the list of documents within time, but failed to make the required payment, before the expiry date.

Nearly two years later, the Registrar of the Supreme Court issued a certificate of non-compliance. Dr Weel then applied directly to the CCJ to grant him permission to appear before the Court, by way of a procedure referred to as ‘special leave after rescission’, ie an appeal by way of special leave after the issuance of a certificate of non-compliance. The Court noted that applications for special leave after rescission are governed by the test for all ordinary applications for special leave, that is, there must be a ‘good arguable case’, with a realistic prospect of succeeding. There must also be good and substantial reasons for both the non-compliance with the order of the Court of Appeal and for the delay in approaching the CCJ after the expiration of the period for compliance. The CCJ was prepared to accept that the test for ordinary special leave was satisfied, but Dr Weel was unable to meet the other requirements.

The CCJ rejected Dr Weel’s “bald assertion” that he was unable to make the required payment as a result of financial difficulty. The Court was unconvinced by the argument that the Registrar’s failure to issue the certificate of non-compliance “promptly” contributed to the delay in making the application. As such, the CCJ dismissed the application seeking leave with costs to be paid to the Attorney General and The Dental Council, ending almost eight years of litigation.

This summary is intended to assist the Caribbean public in learning more about the work of the CCJ. It is not a formal document of the Court. The judgment of the Court is the only authoritative document and may be found at http://www. caribbeancourtofjustice.org/wpcontent/ uploads/2014/01/2014CCJ-1-AJ.pdf.

Region needs to be...

The role of the NSOs will also change; NSOs need to be prepared for regular challenges. The data revolution will affect communication and will affect leadership skills of NSOs staff and NSO heads, in particular. The statistical laws will also be affected by this data revolution in terms of validation of the data that comes out and in terms of confidentiality,” Mohamedou said.

Referring to what she described as the “existential threat” of the data revolution that needed to be “taken seriously”, she pointed to a recommendation for global surveys to replace NSO work. She advised on the better use of administrative data to counter this threat.

“The ultimate goal should be to look at statistics as having the same vision that monitoring and evaluation has managed. There is not a single project nowadays without an M&E component that covers at least one to five per cent of that project costs. The aim is for statistics to have the same fate. That no

from page 10

development project is put out without having a clear statistical goal that goes through the national statistical capacity,” she stressed.

Underscoring the importance of the data revolution, Crispin Gregoire of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) pointed out that the Caribbean was being disadvantaged by not having the most up-todate information to guide decision-making. This, he said, in turn, limits the development of a framework that is relevant to the Caribbean context.

The community, he said, risked a repeat of the case of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) where, in the absence of baseline data, it was difficult to develop plans towards the achievement of the goals.

“Having access to data means we can build highly adaptive and sustainable societies,” he told the gathering of senior Government officials, representatives of other international organisations, and statisticians. The forum featured more than 20 presentations.

Draft reparations report completed

… will be sent to President Ramotar on June 21

With two months to go before Guyana and other members of the Caribbean Community observe African Emancipation Day, Guyana Reparations Committee Chairman, Eric Phillips has since disclosed that the committee’s report has already been drafted and will be handed over to President Donald Ramotar on June 21.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Phillips in providing an update on the committee’s report which was supposed to have been completed by June 1, stated that the date was not an official deadline, but was one which was set by the committee to ensure that time was used efficiently. He assured that the committee is adhering to that deadline and will present the report no later than June 21.

“We have completed our research, our analysis and other important parts of the report. It has already been drafted and it is now with our experts in history. After this, we will have a public forum where the citizens can come and view the report, give their input and then it will be sent off to the Minister and the President,” Phillips related.

After perusal by President Ramotar and the Minister, the report will then be sent to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and then subsequently off to Caricom, after which legal letters will be issued to countries compensation is being sought from.

The Guyana Reparations Committee was established in September 2013 following the mandate of the 34th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, which was held in July 2013

Guyana Reparations Committee Chairman, Eric Phillips

in Trinidad and Tobago.

During the meeting, it was agreed by Caricom governments that national committees on reparations should be established in member states.

The aim was to establish a committee which would seek reconciliation between victims and beneficiaries, without having an actual confrontation. It seeks to restore equity in social relations, equality before the law and justice within the fabric of human diversity, which typifies humanity.

Closure Phillips noted that reparations aspire to heal, atone and bring closure to the human tragedies of mass slavery and to restore a higher moral order by removing the shame and guilt that persistently poison the relations between descendants on all sides of the crime.

In presenting his case for the formation of the Reparations Committee, Phillips related that “the European governments were owners and traders of enslaved Africans; had instructed genocidal actions upon indigenous communities; created legal, financial and fiscal policies nec-

essary for the enslavement of Africans; defined and enforced African enslavement and native genocide as in their ‘national interests’; refused to give compensation to the enslaved at the end of this enslavement, but compensated slave owners at Emancipation for the loss of legal property rights of enslaved Africans; and has refused to acknowledge such crimes or to compensate the victims and their descendants.”

He noted that because of this, the need was seen by Caricom to present their case for reparations as Guyana was not the only country which was affected, as several countries, including Jamaica, Suriname and Barbados had experienced a similar history.

The mandate of the committee is to develop and implement a national strategy to pursue reparations. For this to be done, the committee has to undertake the creation of a detailed historical narrative of indigenous genocide and African slavery; link past discrimination to present day inequality; define and prove the nature of modern inequality; and denote policies adopted by Europe to continue this process.

Process

The process had involved the development and recommendation of decisive political action at the national and regional levels; consultations to develop proposals on appropriate forms of redress through reparative programmes and projects; coordination and undertaking the preparations of a detailed brief on the cost of damages; and current manifestations of the damages on indigenous and enslaved people and their descen-

dants in economical, social, cultural, religious, medical and educational areas.

Phillips said Great Britain has a policy which prevents persons from suing for reparations for incidents which had occurred in its colonies before 1974, but since the case was one of slavery and genocide, it took prevalence over the law.

He stated that if the law of the land cannot afford justice and provide reparations, the countries will then take Britain and Holland to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“The legal process of reparation demands of perpetrators and beneficiaries an apology rather than a Statement of Regret that expressed no responsibility for the suffering of victims; an admission of wrongdoing; and commitment to reasonable reparatory actions,” he said.

If reparations are given, Africans can expect a better economic reality, health and educational services. It will also enable the nation in general to implement policies and developmental projects which will be maintained from money received in compensation.

He noted that this money will not be going to the country’s Consolidated Fund, but will solely be used for the benefits of all Guyanese, more particularly Africans.

An African Development Bank and an African and Amerindian Development Fund are said to be two of the many projects which will be undertaken if reparations are made. In addition, the committee is seeking to have repatriations where descendants of enslaved persons can return or visit their original countries with less barriers and harassment.

Seminar for bakers opens on Wednesday

The National Milling Company of Guyana Inc (NAMILCO) in collaboration with Seaboard Corporation, USA and Engrain LLC, USA will be hosting a baking seminar on Wednesday.

The seminar will begin at 08:00h and end at 16:00h at Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park, East Bank Demerara.

According to a release, the main objective is to give local bakers an opportunity to learn new techniques to further enhance their baking skills, to learn about the latest developments in the global bread industry, and to learn about creating niche products to bring variety to consumers.

“We will also focus on Good Manufacturing Practises (GMP). The presenters are both specialists in the baking industry, with experience stretching across North and South America,” the release said.

The presenters are

Miguel Galdos, based in Chile, South America, and Keith Clemens, a graduate of the “American Institute of Baking” attached to Seaboard Corporation, Namilco’s head office.

He has over 25 years of experience in the baking industry, with stints in Africa, North America and the Caribbean.

Some of the areas to be covered are a review of baking process with emphasis on the relation of good man-

ufacturing practises and final baking results; functionality of baking ingredients and the relation with baking performance and final product; mixing and fermentation: dough development, relation between mixing and fermentation and different mixing techniques; preferment: types and advantages for the baker; sweet goods (types, ingredients, makeup procedures); and bakery item trends (what’s hot around the world).

tuesday, june 3, 2014 |

Man freed of stepfather’s murder

Aman was on Monday freed at the High Court after he was found not guilty by a jury of stabbing his stepfather to death five years ago.

Anthony “Ryan” George was indicted with the offence of manslaughter, with the State alleging that he fatally stabbed his stepfather, Ralph Jacobs, 40, of Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, in December 2008.

George was represented by Attorney Sonia Parag and had pleaded not guilty to the indictment during the trial into Jacobs’ death, which began on May 27 and saw the prosecution, led by State Counsel Natasha Backer, along with Mercedes Thompson, calling several witnesses to testify against the accused.

The prosecution closed its case last week after which George was called upon to lead his defence. He told the court that he accidentally stabbed Jacobs while protecting his little brother.

George stated that on the day in question, Jacobs was hitting his brother when he intervened. He said he tried to stop Jacobs from hitting his sibling; however, Jacobs

dealt him a lash to his head with a bottle, causing a scuffle to ensue between them. The defendant said Jacobs was getting the upper hand during the fight, and, as such, he became fearful for his life and grabbed a knife in self-defence.

On Monday, presiding Judge, Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes summed up the evidence presented during the trial before the jury panel retired to the jury room to deliberate on a verdict.

The 12-member mixed jury returned some time later with a verdict of not guilty. This case brought to an end the April Criminal Assizes in Demerara. The Goal Delivery was done on Monday afternoon before Justice Gregory-Barnes who heard how many persons were requesting early trials.

The June criminal session will begin today and will see several high-profile cases being called. These include the murder of 16-year-old former Queen’s College student, Neesa Gopaul, who was reportedly killed by her mother’s lover. The teen’s mother, Bibi Shareema Gopaul and her lover, Jarvis “Barry” Small are both to stand trial for her 2010 murder.

One dead, one injured in WCD accident

One man is dead while a woman is hospitalised after the car in which they were travelling slammed into a utility pole along the Greenwich Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD). This was the third fatal accident that occurred on Monday.

The dead man was identified as Paul Gonsalves, 21, of Pomeroon, Essequibo River while the injured woman is Gillian Raphael, 23, also of Pomeroon River.

cle back on the road proved futile and the car crashed into the utility pole. The passengers were rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where Gonsalves was pronounced dead on arrival. The young woman was admitted, nursing several injuries about her body.

The driver of the car is reportedly in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

Bakers will also get the opportunity to have oneon-one discussions with the presenters at the cocktail reception immediately after the seminar.

“This collaboration is in keeping with our commitment and our ISO 9001:2008 mandate to maintain our reputation for excellence in the services that we provide to our customers,” the release said.

The seminar will be opened by Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who will touch on some innovative ideas. US Ambassador D Brent Hardt will also address the occasion.

All bakers, pastry and cake professionals and owners of snackettes are encouraged to attend. Those interested can contact NAMILCO on telephone numbers 2332462/2463 or visit the company’s website www.namilcoflour.com for additional information.

According to information received, Gonsalves and Raphael boarded the car at Parika, East Bank Essequibo and were on their way to Georgetown when the driver of the car reportedly swerved from a pothole, thus losing control of his BMW.

Attempts to get the vehi-

A25-year-old man was accused of attempting to steal a BlackBerry smartphone from a fellow pedestrian’s purse when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Winston Letlow was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a charge of simple larceny.

The charge alleges that on Saturday, April 5, Michelle Baynes was walk-

Earlier in the day, in one of the other fatal accidents, Hilton Nedd died after he reportedly walked into the path of a truck at New Hope, East Bank Demerara.

In the third accident, Neil Wallerson, 55, of Hopetown, West Coast Berbice was killed after he was struck down by a motor vehicle along the Golden Grove Public, WCB.

ing west along Regent Street with her BlackBerry smartphone valued at $38,000 slightly out of her purse, when she felt someone touching her. The Virtual Complainant then turned around and saw the accused attempting to steal the phone.

Letlow was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 after he entered a plea of not guilty. He is to return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on June 9.

Four murders in 24 hours push TT toll to 187

Two murders in south Trinidad on June 2 have taken this year’s murder toll to 187.

Roopchand

Harripersad of De

Verteuil St, Lambert Village, San Fernando, was found dead around 08:00h. He had a single gunshot wound to the head. The 41-yearold, who worked odd jobs,

UN discusses plan to begin withdrawing troops from Haiti in 2016

Officials of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission to Haiti discussed last week with a group of Haitian senators a plan to begin withdrawal in 2016, of thousands of Blue Berets deployed to the Caribbean country 10 years ago, but the UN SecretaryGeneral may speed up the process should circumstances allow it, UN officials say.

The UN Secretary General’s special representative and chief of the UN Mission in Haiti, Sandra Honoré, confirmed, in a speech last week, the existence of the plan, but did not attend personally the meeting held on Wednesday between UN representatives and a group of senators, during which the plan was dis-

cussed.

According to the spokesperson for the UN Mission in Haiti, Sophie Boutaud de la Combe, the discussions took place in the framework of a series of consultations with Haitian actors from different sectors, as the world organisation prepares to decide on the plan, which provides for the beginning of the withdrawal in the course of 2016.

“The current initiative follows the presentation of the Secretary General’s report in March, which proposed five options to perform the political and peacekeeping functions that are likely to remain relevant beyond 2016,” de la Combe told the Haitian-Caribbean News Network (HCNN). (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

was found by one of his employers in front of his home. He was released from jail about two weeks ago, and was well known to the Police.

Earlier, 17-year-old

Michael Miguel, was found dead in Claxton Bay. No arrests have been made for both murders.

On June 1, a close-knit community in Morvant was left in mourning, after two brothers, aged nine and 15, were killed and their teenage cousin wounded in a gang-related incident at their home. Teenager Jamal Brathwaite and his brother Jadel Holder had just had lunch at their mother’s home at Petunia Avenue, Coconut Drive, Morvant, around 15:00h when two gunmen raided the small two-storey duplex.

Homicide detectives said the intruders ordered the siblings to lie face down on the floor of the living room, before shooting each once in the back of their heads at close range. The shooting was witnessed by relatives. Police are probing the matters. (Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica’s Security Minister promises Deportees Policy this year

National Security Minister Peter Bunting, says that a policy is being developed for the management of returning deportees and their reintegration into the society, as well as the repatriating of foreigners from Jamaica, starting this financial year.

According to Ministry Paper Number 94, titled ‘Achievements and Plans of the Ministry of National Security’, which has been tabled in the House of Representatives by the Minister, the policy is at an advanced drafting stage and will be tabled before the Public Order Committee of Cabinet during the first quarter of 2014/15.

In the Ministry Paper, the Minister explained that, up to 2013, on average, Jamaica received the highest number of criminal deportees in the re-

gion. He said that over the period 1996 to 2013, a total of 48,726 persons were deported to Jamaica. In 2013, a total of 2139 persons were deported to the island, for both criminal and non-criminal offences.

He said that the deportation of women, and the minors who accompany them, is also a growing concern for his Ministry, as policymakers, given the impact on family life.

“This high level of attention and activity that the return and reintegration of Jamaicans has been receiving in recent years, has presented the need for the Ministry to develop a policy for the management of the returning and reintegration of Jamaicans and the process of repatriating foreigners from the island,” Bunting explained. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Antigua Labour Party launches manifesto

The Antigua Labour Party (ALP) launched its manifesto, titled “The People’s Rescue Plan” Monday morning at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort.

Many of its promises, the abolition of personal income tax, the construction of 500 homes in 500 days, and greater foreign direct investment, came as no surprise as they have been significantly ventilated throughout the campaign season.

Other promises announced by Party Leader Gaston Browne included strengthening of anti-corruption laws to prevent conflicts of interest and other ethical breaches in public life.

Lennox Weston, ALP candidate in St Phillip South, tackled economic and energy matters. He announced that a Labour Party Government would rebuild the Halcyon Cove and Half Moon Bay hotels. He promised that the Offshore Banking sector would be “resuscitated.”

ALP candidate for St Mary’s South Samantha Marshall told the jubilant audience that a Labour Party

Dog Control Act kicks in but, TT not yet ready – stakeholders

The law governing ownership of dangerous dogs came into effect on Monday but several issues, including insurance coverage for people who do not own homes, the type of microchip to be used and the process to retrieve a dog, once given up, remain unclear to citizens. Because of this uncertainty, the TT Veterinary Association (TTVA) is urging Government to postpone the Dog Control Act 2014 until such

issues have been properly resolved.

President-elect of the association, Dr Karla Georges, said the body had already met with the Local Government Ministry and recommendations had been put forward, but these were yet to be implemented. “So far the Local Government Minister has met with the vet association and with the TT Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (TTSPCA) and other interest groups, but at this point, there are several issues which have not really been clarified,” Georges told the TT Guardian.

“One of the most important issues is the microchiping of the dogs. Up to now, we do not know exactly who is doing it and whether there has been any decision on the particular type of microchip to be used.” Georges said. Others matters which need to be ventilated are the registration and training of the dogs. “We do not know who will be doing the registration, where it will be done or who will be collecting the monies for registration. Nobody seems to know what is going on,” she said.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Government would not eliminate the schools meals and uniform grant as some have suggested and that they would eliminate the US$5 per week costs to students that currently exist.

The Opposition point man on edu-

‘Chavista’ school books stoke passions in Venezuela

Venezuela’s Government has published dozens of new textbooks that glorify late President Hugo Chávez and belittle his adversaries, infuriating Opposition critics who call them part of a campaign to indoctrinate school children.

Originally introduced in mid-2011, the textbooks have become a hot-button is-

sue again amid a broad staterun review of the education system that some fear could boost the ruling Socialist Party’s imprint on classrooms.

“The Government has made great efforts to redefine historic events with an ideological bent, and these books represent that intention,” said Juan Maragall, Education Secretary in the

Opposition-run state of Miranda. “Teachers are concerned.”

The books describe Chávez as the man who liberated Venezuela from tyranny, at times making him appear more important than 19th century founding father Simon Bolivar. Ironically, Bolivar was the inspiration for Chávez’s self-styled socialist revolution. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Three dead, five injured in Suriname road carnage

Three people were killed on Sunday when the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with another on the busy Afobaka Road on the outskirts of the capital.

Two men, who were passengers in a Toyota Ipsum, were killed instantly, while another man – a passenger in a Mitsubishi Pajero –died on the way to hospital in Paramaribo.

Five others were injured, two of whom were admitted to hospital. Police spokesman Humphrey Naarden said the Toyota, which was travelling from District Brokopondo to Paramaribo, was speeding.

“The force of the accident was that great that the engine of the car literally flew out of its hinges and landed in the bushes,” Naarden told journalists. The Police have not

yet released the identities of the men.

The accident comes just over a week after another crash killed a school bus driver and a student in District Commewijne. Afobaka Road is a long artery that leads from Paramaribo to District Brokopondo where the gold mining and tourism industries are experiencing an upswing.

(Caribbean360)

No solution to Procurement Commission soon – Rohee

The passage of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill in the National Assembly is still in limbo, although the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has referred Guyana to its parent body, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for possible sanctions.

On Monday, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee, speaking at the party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House, hinted that there is not likely to be any agreement on the passing of the bill soon, since Government is not prepared to grant the Alliance For Change (AFC) its wish for a Public Procurement Commission.

The AFC in October of last year withheld its support for amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, since it wanted a Public Procurement Commission (PPC) established. The party also recently stated that the Bill could be passed

within 72 hours if there was the political will to make it happen.

“I don’t think that we are very near to finding a solution to the Public Procurement Commission. We have consistently made the point that there has to be no linkage between the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and any other Bill in the House of Assembly. This question of linkage is the invention of the AFC which we reject completely,” Rohee stated.

According to the PPP General Secretary, each bill must be debated and solutions sought on its merits and demerits. “The question of linkage is non-acceptable as a negotiating ploy or as a deal breaker...”

Blacklisting

The PPP also said it was deeply concerned with Guyana now being blacklisted internationally for failing to pass the AML/CFT Bill in the National Assembly due to the non-support of the

Opposition.“This is not only profoundly embarrassing to our nation, but could bring to bear untold hardships on all Guyanese.”

The regional watchdog, CFATF, which comprises 27 jurisdictions within the Caribbean Basin region, said Guyana remains a country with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies due to its non-compliance with the Action Plan developed with the body. “As a result of not meeting the agreed timelines in its Action

Boat mysteriously goes up in flames at Land of Canaan wharf

Aboat belonging to well-known scrap metal dealer Joseph Balkarran went up in flames on Monday morning at Rambarran’s Wharf, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

According to information received, the boat was docked at the facility since February and was being dismantled to be used as scrap.

The fire reportedly started in the engine room and spread quickly.

When Guyana Times arrived at the shipyard, firefighters attached to the

Guyana Fire Service’s Timehri Operations were busy putting out the blaze.

Terrence Mangru, manager of the operations, told this publication that he arrived at the shipyard at about 11:00h and noticed smoke emanating from the rear of the vessel.

He could not say what started the fire, but admitted that on Sunday, some workers were using welding torches to cut the iron of the boat into pieces so that it could be taken to the scrap yard.

He said no one was on

the vessel when he saw the fire; hence, no one was injured. Jason Balkarran, the son of the boat owner, said he was supervising the operations for his father, who is overseas.

He thanked the Guyana Fire Service for their quick response, but added that several valuable parts of the vessel went up in flames, noting that it was moored at the facility to be dismantled.

The Police were also at the scene and were taking statements. An investigation has been launched.

Plan, … CFATF considers Guyana to be a risk to the international financial system,” the statement read.

With respect to Guyana, CFATF members are being encouraged to enhance their due diligence measures, introduce enhanced reporting mechanisms or systematic reporting of financial transactions; and refuse the establishment of subsidiaries or branches or representative offices. Additionally, it was clearly stated that countries should minimise their business relationships or financial transactions with Guyana and even persons within the country.

Consequences

Rohee said Government had warned of the impending consequences of not passing the Bill, but now the Opposition has made Guyana’s blacklisting a reality. He said blacklisting could have been avoided had the Opposition demonstrated patriotism and concern for the people of this nation, including its own supporters.

It was also suggested by Rohee that the budget cuts and now blacklisting indicate that the Opposition does not have the interests of the nation at heart.

“The Opposition is fully aware of the harsh consequences and what this international blacklisting will inevitably lead to, including economic downturn and hardship for all the people. Similarly, they are aware of the mechanism this Bill contains including to combat money laundering and drug trafficking.”

The PPP spokesman said all Guyana should come out in support of the Bill and not allow the Opposition to use its oneseat majority in Parliament to inflict economic hardship on citizens.

Elections

Meanwhile, Rohee said Government is ready for Local Government Elections and it is in fact the Opposition who is not ready. However, he contends that now is not the appropriate time for elections to be held in Guyana. Rohee’s re-

marks come on the heels of statements by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon that elections were not a priority. Luncheon said while elections are always possible, Government will not, by any means, seek to use elections as a weapon to resolve the issues in the National Assembly. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has said that it was ready for the hosting of Local Government Elections.

Labourer killed in WCB hit-and-run accident

Alabourer was on Monday killed in an early morning hitand-run accident along the Golden Grove Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

Neil Wallerson, 55, of Hopetown, WCB, would have sustained severe injuries about his body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Fort Wellington Hospital.

In a release, Police stated that they are investigating the accident which occurred about 05:15h.

Investigations thus far revealed that Wallerson was riding a pedal cycle along the roadway when he was struck down by a motor vehicle, which reportedly sped from the scene.

Based on reports reaching Guyana Times , the father of five left home and was heading to work at the time of the accident.

Persons in the area recalled hearing a crashing sound followed by a screeching sound, which promoted residents to in-

vestigate and they realised that someone had been struck down.

Wallerson’s mangled bicycle was found some distance away from where he was found. The man suffered broken limbs and had a huge gash to his head. He was picked up by public-spirited citizens who took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. His body is at the Fort Wellington Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination.

King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicates

King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his intention to abdicate, after nearly 40 years on the throne.

“A new generation must be at the forefront... younger people with new energies,” the 76-year-old King said in a televised address.

His son, Crown Prince Felipe, 45, will take over the throne.

For much of his reign, Juan Carlos was seen as one of the world’s most popular monarchs, but recently many Spaniards have lost confidence in him.

His reputation has been tarnished by a long-run-

ning corruption investigation into the business dealings of his daughter and her husband.

Support for the king fell further when it was discovered he had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in April 2012, in the middle of Spain’s financial crisis.

The first announcement about the abdication came from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who told reporters: “His Majesty, King Juan Carlos has just informed me of his desire to renounce the throne and begin the process of succession.”

Later, the King himself said in a televised address that it was time for a “new era” in which a new generation could take on the transformations and reforms required.

He said his son, Prince Felipe, had the maturity and preparation to be king.

Left-wing groups have called for protests in support of a referendum on the future of the monarchy, with the El Pais newspaper quoting police as saying some 20,000 people have gathered in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square. (Excerpt from BBC News)

tuesday, june 3, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

Night of Legends Concert to be night to remember

The Night of Legends Concert promises to be a night to remember with artists like Eddy Grant, Terry Garaj, Mighty Rebel and Dave Martins, set to grace the stage on August 9 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The Guyana Festival Committee on Monday announced the more than 16 artistes who would be performing at the concert as part of the inaugural Guyana Festival – set to be the country’s showcase – during a launch at the Housing Ministry’s boardroom.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali stated that the four-hour concert will showcase everything Guyanese and will make history in Guyana.

“It will be the renovation and revoking of the characteristics and personalities of what we ought to have as Guyanese. It is now time for all of us to embrace the opportunity of loving who we are, celebrating who we are,

sharing who we are, and endearing others to be who we are,” the Minister stated.

In brief remarks after the announcement, some of the artistes stated that they were very happy to be part of such an event and hoped that it continues. They noted that they were waiting for such an event to take place so that they can showcase their talent.

Some of the other names that will be performing include Teddy Jones, Sash Persaud and Aubrey Mann. Guyana Festival Coordinator Tameca Sukhdeo Singh and Chairman of the Night of Legends Lennox Canterbury were also in attendance at the launch.

Cost Meanwhile, the Minister was questioned by media operatives about the cost of the Guyana Festival, which will be held August 8-10 under the theme “Sound, Soul and Taste of Guyana”, but he said “if we worry about costs for the event, the

event will not happen”.

He, however, noted that the Festival carries a lot of expenses and thus far the private sector has played a very big role, as 10 entities have already given the Ministry their commitment to the Festival, “which is a very good sign”.

Ali also announced that they are collaborating with Fly Jamaica Airways for special packages for Jamaicans to come to Guyana for the Festival.

Around 20,000 Festival Passports are presently being printed and will be sold in countries around the world including the United States of America, Canada, and all Caribbean Countries. The Passports will be sold for $3000 each at venues to be announced shortly. In respect to the Festival Coins which are being designed by Kings Jewellery World, production will begin shortly.

The family-oriented event will take the format of an exhibition during the daytime showcasing local

craft, art, and culinary delights, in addition to celebrity and demonstration tents, with concerts in the evenings. There will also be a children’s playground.

On Friday, August 8, the opening ceremony will feature an air show by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and will see a fusion of Guyanese cultural items comprising dramatic performances, poetry, and dance, etc. On Saturday, August 9, before the concert, games and various community competitions will be hosted in the day. The event will culminate with a culinary cook-off competition of traditional Guyanese foods, such as duck curry, pepper pot, cook-up, metemgee and black cake, followed by a grand concert aimed at promoting the next generation of Guyana’s musicians and developing new/young talent. Performing will be Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo, Adrian Dutchin, Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts, and others.

Teacher suffering ‘blurred vision’ after whipping from student

Arecent attack on a Senior Teacher of the Wisburg Secondary School by a female student has left the school official suffering from blurred vision in one eye.

Roxanne Bacchus was attacked inside the school a week ago after she intervened in an incident involving a student who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

A school official, who witnessed the incident, disclosed that on the said day, teachers on the top floor of the building were alerted by the sound of loud screams from students on the bottomfloor corridor.

Assuming that it was a fight involving students, they went downstairs to investigate the commotion.

It was further revealed that Bacchus, who was among several teachers, upon getting to the scene, observed that a male student was consuming alcohol and appeared to be drunk. According to school officials, the student was heard shouting obscenities.

The source said teachers tried to restrain him and in the process, two male teachers were kicked.

The student then asked his sister, who was nearby, to pass him his bag so that he can get his “juker”.

It was then that Bacchus intervened and told his sister not to do so. The official said the Senior Teacher was then pushed by the student. Bacchus in turn served her two lashes with a whip, but the student took away the whip and dealt her “two lashes in her head”.

Meanwhile, according to the official, the student’s brother was trying to attack the Senior Teacher, but was restrained by teachers who then managed to get the student under control.

The victim’s daughter noted that she is surprised and saddened by the incident, noting that her mother, who has been a teacher at the school for a number of years, has been traumatised bythe incident.

“My mom, who is a dedicated teacher for the past 34 years was just trying to

Teen allegedly burnt while in Police custody

Ateenager has been severely burnt on his hands allegedly by ranks of the Sparendaam Police Station late last month, Police have confirmed.

In a statement, Police said that their Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating a report that Junior Thorrington, 19, of Eastville Housing Scheme, Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was allegedly burnt on his hands by the Police while he was in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station between May 25 and May 27, during investigations into a criminal offence.

Up to press time, the teen was nursing second degree burns to both of his hands. Guyana Times was told that Thorrington was arrested for loitering, but was later accused of carrying out a string of robberies. Thorrington is

said to have a mental condition and sometimes would wander on the streets. He was picked up on May 25 by Police and taken to the Sparendaam Police Station. There, ranks allegedly burnt the young man during interrogation over robbery allegations. He was subsequently released after relatives complained about his condition. The young man’s hands were reportedly doused with Methylated Spirit and then set alight. Police are under pressure regarding a number of assault cases against citizens. Following the alleged baton-rape of Colwyn Harding while in custody at the Timehri Police Station, a young man, Alex Griffith, 15, was shot to his mouth by a Cadet Officer in the La Penitence area. Both cases are still being investigated.

Former BK Senior Engineer collapses,

dies on seawall

Aformer senior engineer attached to BK International Construction Company collapsed and died while jogging along the Felicity Seawall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday morning.

prevent a female student... However, the female student got upset with my mom and lashed her several times in her head, causing my mom to have blurred vision.”

She added: “She had to see the eye doctor because she is seeing blur in one eye. It took a serious toll on her because she is on medical leave at the moment, and her age too, she is totally affected mentally.”

An official at the school related to this publication that the indiscipline level at Wisburg Secondary is relatively high. The school has reported similar physical attacks on teachers in recent years. Only last year, one of its teachers, Michelle Richards suffered a fractured skull. Richards, who was 25 at the time, was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) after a table landed on her head as she entered a classroom to teach fourth formers.

The incident was reportedly orchestrated by some students of the class. Eight students were later expelled from the school in relation to the incident.

Basdeo Singh Roopnauth, 55, of Lot 100 De Souza Street, Better Hope, ECD was discovered dead by his youngest daughter, Hemantini Roopnauth who went in search of her father after he did not return home.

The grieving daughter told Guyana Times that her father left his home about 07:30h as he would customarily do for his morning exercise. She said after time elapsed and he did not return home, she went in search of him and found his body.

At that point in time, she knew he was dead and immediately telephoned the Police who soon after arrived and took Roopnauth to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Initially, they suspected foul play, but a post-mortem performed on the dead man proved that he suffered cardiac arrest.

Roopnauth studied civil engineering at the University of Guyana after which he worked with a number of companies, including BK International, as a senior engineer. After leaving that company, he worked as a private contractor. He leaves to mourn his wife, three children, four sisters, and his mother. Funeral arrangements for Roopchand are being finalised, but his wake is to be kept at his home at Better Hope, ECD.

NICIL vs GSL Court Battle Yassin claims Govt owes GSL money

Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Yassin told the court on Monday that he does not owe the Government any money; in fact, it is the Government who owes him for the sale of GSL.

Yassin was at the time finishing off his testimonyin-chief at the High Court as the court action brought by Government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) continues.

In June 2004, the Government holding company initiated legal action against Royal Investments Inc (RII) to recover US$2 million plus interest that was outstanding from the sale of the GSL.

Yassin returned to the stand on Monday morning where he testified that based upon calculations of

the figures from the Sales Agreement, some $24 million is owed to him by Government. He noted that this figure was determined based upon the difference in calculations done by him and Head of NICIL, Winston Brassington.

According to the GSL CEO, then Auditor General Anand Goolsarran audited the company’s report and had asked for a response to any matters of concerns. This had to be done within a stipulated 10-day period so that a meeting could be held to discuss arising matters.

Yassin said he responded, highlighting the areas that were of concern to him and requested that the changes be made; however, no meeting was held to facilitate this.

Changes

He continued that Brassington had also made a similar request and his changes were made by the Auditor General without any meeting to discuss them. “There was no meeting to consider Mr Brassington’s request, they just made the changes…they did not consider my request,” Yassin told the court.

He noted that based upon the Sales Agreement, the Net Current Asset was supposed to be $200 million while inventory was $400 million and this was reflected in the initial Audited Report; however, after the changes as requested by Brassington, the figures were different.

Yassin noted that he was in disagreement with the figures arrived at based upon

Brassington’s calculations, disclosing that he had also done his own calculations using the same formula as Brassington, but with the figures from the initial Audit Report.

In comparing the figures, Yassin pointed out that the new figures based upon Brassington’s calculations put the amount for inventory at $272.3 million, which is a shortfall of $127.6 million from the $400 million stated in the Sales Agreement.

The Net Current Assets figure was recorded at $10.8 million, leaving a shortfall of $189.1 million from the original $200 million.

The GSL CEO pointed out that when the amount of $292.7 million was deducted from the total of the Net Current Assets of $316.7 million, there was a difference of $24 million which reveals that NICIL actually owes GSL/RII $24 million.

According to Yassin, he had paid some $297 million in dividends to the Privatisation Unit Department. He told the court, closing off his testimony, that he wants the claims by NICIL to be dismissed and his counter-claim granted.

The case has been adjourned until September 26.

Under the terms of the privatisation agreement, the US$2 million balance of the US$6 million purchase price was due by September 2002; however, RII, which acquired 70 per cent of the company’s shares in the sale, failed to make this payment. The trial started in late 2010.

Board of Inquiry set up following NA Prison violence

Following a violent episode at the New Amsterdam Prison whereby four inmates were critically wounded, allegedly by a fellow prisoner, the Home Affairs Ministry is putting together a Board of Inquiry into the incident.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, speaking at a press conference at Freedom House on Monday, said while he is not committing to the notion that the incident was gang-related, a Board of Inquiry is being put together in keeping with the Prisons Act, to get to the bottom of the incident.

He further said a number of civilians have been identified as well as a Senior Police Officer to form the Board of Inquiry that will make recommendations based on its findings.

The prisoners were injured when another inmate reportedly attacked them with a cutlass over a week ago. The wounded men were transferred from the New Amsterdam Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

There were reports that the four men attacked were

part of a notorious gang in the facility; however, Rohee said he was not yet subscribing to that belief and would rather wait on the findings of the Board of Inquiry.

Reform

Meanwhile, Rohee said Government is continuing to execute its strategic plan for the Guyana Prison Service. He noted that it unsuccessfully went to Parliament to have the name of the service changed to the Guyana Prison and Correctional Service to coincide with the institutional changes.

“And even though we didn’t get the jury, the permission to change [the name of the Guyana Prison Service], de facto changes are already taking place within the Prison Service. A number of bodies have already been set up internally in keeping with the strategic plan. These are administrative changes that have been made to ensure that a greater balance has been brought to custodial [arrangements] as well as correction.”

The PPP General Secretary and Home Affairs

Minister said a modern prison system must have a balance between custodial and correctional responsibilities.

“While inmates are in prison at the wishes of the court to deprive them of their freedom, it is up to the State to ensure that while they are held captive behind the prison walls that they initiate plans that will help, especially first-time offenders, reform.”

First-time offenders

Further speaking on its strategic plans to develop the prison system and offer reform programmes for especially first-time offenders, Rohee said the Lusignan Prison will become a model prison where only firsttime offenders will be housed.

“Only those persons found with small amounts of ganja will be held there, far away from the hardened criminals.”

According to Rohee, changes will be made to the Timehri Prison and the Mazaruni Prison, which will become the hub of the agricultural drive of the Guyana Prison Service.

World Environment Day (WED), celebrated annually on June 5, was established in 1972, as the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. This year, WED will be celebrated under the theme “Raise your voice, not the sea level”. The year 2014 has been designated by the UN as the International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). As, such, WED this year, will highlight SIDS in the broader context of climate change as its theme.

Over the years, World Environment Day has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. It also serves as the ‘people’s day for doing something positive for the environment, combining individual actions into a collective power to generate wide and positive impacts on the planet.

This year, WED has as two main objectives, namely, to help build momentum towards the third International Conference on SIDS and to encourage a greater understanding of the importance of SIDS and the urgency to help protect islands in the face of growing risks and vulnerabilities, particularly as a result of climate change.

It is important to recognise that our country has much in common with islands regarding the threats of climate change. Our low-lying coast is home to most of our population and the centre of our agricultural and commercial activities. Imminent sea-level rise will also have dire consequences for us. Like islands, we continue to face the challenges of high economic costs for constant mitigation measures and disaster preparedness.

The international WED celebration is being hosted this year in Barbados. It provides an excellent opportunity to raise a call for global unity with islands and to highlight their unique developmental challenges and successes. Climate change is foremost among these challenges as global warming is causing ocean levels to rise. Coastal communities in every country are then threatened with floods and storm surges as a result of location.

WED is also celebrating the contributions that the SIDS group of countries has made to the world. They are home to vibrant and distinct cultures, diversity and heritage. People of SIDS are also at the forefront of efforts to address pressing global issues, through innovation and use of traditional knowledge.

Humans today are consuming far more resources than our planet can provide or sustain.

We are polluting our air with carbon emissions, destroying our forests and species, and filling our seas with plastic and waste.

The time is now to go greener by making choices that are good for people and the planet.

We can do it by coming together as communities, businesses, organisations, schools and individuals, to connect our resources and skills to our passion for a more sustainable, resource efficient way of living.

We can do it by being more informed and by doing business with companies that have demonstrated their commitment to these issues.

We can plant more trees, grow more kitchen gardens and just think more carefully about how the decisions we make impact our one and only Planet Earth.”

For WED 2014, take the time to do something positive for the environment and help to secure your future. Find out about the activities in your area or be instrumental in spearheading an activity for the environment.

Happy World Environment Day 2014!

Source: http://www.unep.org/wed/

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com

SUDOKU

mArch

By Bernice Bede Osol

Don’t make a commitment or start a new partnership. Take time to rejuvenate before you attempt to finish your to-do list. Paying attention to personal matters should take top priority.

20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Do your best to display honesty in personal and professional relationships. Boasting will not help you win trust or allies. Stick to the facts in order to make a good impression.

20-March 20)

Look at a long-term investment that will help you build your assets safely. Don’t hold back when forceful pursuit is required. Balance and integrity will bring good results.

21-April 19)

Romance is on the rise. Make special plans with someone you care for, or get out and meet someone new. Personal happiness can help you perform better in all walks of life.

(April 20-May 20)

Fond memories will make you want to get in touch with an old friend. Getting together with people who share your interests or concerns will lead to a joint venture

(May 21June 20)

Don’t be tempted to change your plans. Someone pretending to be a friend could be trying to throw you off course. Use your innovative ideas to confuse the competition.

(June 21July 22)

An unexpected change could work to your advantage. You may not have been considering professional moves, but a positive result will unfold if you set your sights high.

(July 23Aug. 22)

Your entertaining attitude will attract people of influence. Your emotions will be difficult to control, but can be assets if you want to get your point across. Don’t neglect your home and family.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Avoid office politics and gossip. Any opinion you give will lead to a bad situation that could damage your reputation. Reserve judgment, be objective and remain neutral.

23Oct. 23)

Your chutzpah will gain you added respect if you speak up about issues that concern you. Your enthusiasm and knowledge will help you win valuable allies.

24Nov. 22)

It’s not healthy to compare yourself to others. There are bound to be a lot of factors that you know nothing about. Be content with your own lot in life and grateful for what you have.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Meeting with people from outside your circle will present you with interesting ways to move forward personally or professionally. If you share as much as you can, you will make new friends.

Guyanese outraged over WICB position on Cricket Bill

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Cricket administrators here are outraged at what they called the brazen attempt by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to dictate how a sovereign country should conduct its affairs, slamming the Board’s President for asking President Donald Ramotar to hold off on assenting to a Bill that was passed in the country’s Parliament, while demanding that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) force the Antigua-based body to issue an apology to this country.

Over the weekend, the WICB announced that it was pulling the Third Test between West Indies and New Zealand from the National Stadium, owing to the passage of the Cricket Administration Bill, which it said places the administration of the game here in the hands of politicians.

The Bill had received the vote of the Government and the main Opposition party, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU).

In its statement, the WICB said following engagement with the Government on matters pertaining to the Bill, the parties have not been able to find a mutually agreeable resolution.

The Board said it had sought an undertaking from President Ramotar that the Bill not be signed into law until these matters are resolved, noting that it gave its commitment that once Ramotar provided such an undertaking, all arrangements in Guyana will be kept in place.

Former Chief Executive Officer of Bauxite Company, Dunstan Barrow said all Guyanese and Caricom

should condemn WICB President for the statement issued on the situation.

“I think this statement shows full arrogance and it is completely out of line,” Barrow stated.

Barrow argued that Cameron also had the gall to give instructions to President Ramotar, telling him not to asset to a Bill that was passed by Parliament.

“Every Caricom nation should come out and condemn this, particularly coming from an institution that has failed to manage its resources over the years and has produced disappointment after disappointment,” he said.

"Eye pass"

“Here is a Board having done hardly anything for the good of the game over the many years telling a President of a sovereign country not to assent to a Bill, this is rank arrogance and eye pass,” Barrow asserted.

He saying that the Government should demand an apology from the WICB and if this is not forthcoming, then the matter should be raised at the level of Caricom.

“This thing is out of line and Caricom cannot sit by and allow this to happen,” said Barrow.

“I think the WICB is crazy. The WICB to my mind has never sought to assess the situation properly or analyse it in a logical way.

"The Bill comes out from a countrywide consultation and consensual position from the National Assembly, except for a particular group that is against this Bill, so I find it extremely strange that they (WICB) do not want to support it.

"Cricket is in a crisis in this country over the last four years and we cannot continue to promote illegality,” Claude Raphael, a former Chairman of Selectors of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)said.

Also weighing in on the issue was Former Vice President of the GCB Malcolm Peters, who said the WICB is promoting illegality in the system.

"They have an opportunity to solve this problem here with our cricket, but it clearly shows that they do not want to. The Cricket Bill is the only way forward, the only thing that will solve this problem,” Peters said.

“All the WICB is doing is that they are looking for votes at the next board elections, therefore it doesn’t

matter what happens to cricket administration in the region.

"The WICB is not interested in cricket administration, they are not interested in cricket development, all they are interested in is to retain their respective positions on the board,” he added.

Scapegoat

Government has since said that it does not discount that the WICB may be looking for a scapegoat in this matter, since their agents in Guyana were restrained by a Court Order from acting or holding themselves out as officers of the GCB and as agents of the WICB.

“The net result being that WICB has no agents in Guyana to act on

their behalf in relation to hosting of the Third Test between West Indies and New Zealand.

"One cannot help but wonder, whose interests the WICB really represen. Is it that of cricket or some unknown vested agenda?”

Government said in a release that the Bill seeks to bring transparency, accountability, and good governance to the administration of cricket in Guyana and to address the plethora of allegations of rigged and fraudulent elections, financial irregularities and lack of accountability in respect of cricket administration, inter alia, because of the absence of legal personification in its structure.

“This Bill does not, in any way whatsoever, allow or permit, directly or indirectly Government’s involvement in the administration of cricket in Guyana, save and except a singular instance, where the Minister is ascribed a function when the Act comes into operation. After that initiating act, the Minister’s role disappears,” the release said.

The release stated that Government rejects all or any contention or insinuation that the Cricket Administration Bill presents an opportunity for Governmental intrusion into the administration of cricket in Guyana.

“It is recognised that these charges are emanating from a particular grouping and their sponsors who perceive this Bill as an end to their dominance over administration of cricket, and who many feel, are the architects of the chaos which the Bill is designed to arrest,” the release said.

Blades, Roberts lead Media XI to win over Enmore

In what was a clinical performance, the Media XI outplayed Enmore Over-40 by 27 runs to win their feature 20/20 clash at the Enmore Community Centre ground on Sunday afternoon.

The match was reduced to 16 overs a side due to a late start, and the Media XI, sent in to bat, posted a challenging 120-8 before routing the home team for 93 through a disciplined bowling effort.

The Media side was indebted to a fine all-round performance from Keon Blades and a fiery opening spell from skipper Calvin Roberts, who led the way in ensuring a maiden victory after the first game against the Georgetown Cricket Scorers and Umpires Association was washed out on Independence Day at Bourda.

Taking first strike on a wicket that had some amount of moisture due to overnight rain, the Media XI openers John Ramsingh and Rajiv Bisnauth started briskly, adding 20 before the left-handed Bisnauth fell for nine (1x4). Ravi Persaud was dismissed soon after for five, before Ramsingh and Daniel Singh added 25 for the third wicket.

Ramsingh followed up his topscore of 32 in the Independence Day

game with another solid knock of 28 (1x4).

Singh played sensibly for 16, and with the fall of Avenash Ramzan for seven, Blades proceeded to give the innings much needed impetus in the death overs.

The attacking right-hander hit a

six and four in a breezy 30 from 18 deliveries, before Esan Griffith provided a late flourish with 12 not out.

The other batsmen to be dismissed were Reuben Stoby (4) and Ishaka Jackman (1).

Bowling for Enmore, Vijai Dass picked up 3-18 and Eon Abel 2-13.

Faced with a tricky target on a pitch fully dry, the hosts were given a solid start of 26 by Abel and former national wicketkeeper/batsman Sheik Mohamed.

The right-handed Abel was the aggressor, hitting Jackman for three consecutive fours in the fourth over before Mohamed found the cover boundary in the fifth over off Roberts.

However, the very next delivery Mohamed (4) found his off stumps rocked back as Roberts found some late movement to spark jubilation in the Media camp.

Three deliveries later, Jagdesh Persaud (2) was dismissed in similar fashion at 28-2 as Roberts started with a double wicket over.

It soon became 32-3 in the seventh over when Roberts removed the dangerous Abel for 23 (4x4s), brilliantly caught by Ramzan, running in from the long-on boundary.

After that, it all went downhill for Enmore as Blades proceeded to rip through the middle and lower order, picking up 4-16 from 2.4 overs, despite a wayward first over in which he sent down six wides. Roberts finished with 3-15 from three overs.

Left-arm spinner Ravi Persaud and fast bowler Jermaine Neblett picked up one wicket each.

Ganeshram Dayaram chipped in with 12 (2x4s) towards the end of Enmore›s innings, which lasted 13.4 overs.

At the presentation ceremony which followed, Blades was duly named Man-of-the-Match, while Roberts and Ramsingh were adjudged best bowler and best batsman respectively.

All the trophies, including those for the winner and runner-up, were sponsored by Tiger Sports of Enmore Old Road.

Roberts lauded his players for the win and expressed appreciation for the hospitality provided by the Enmore team.

Enmore skipper Anil Persaud said being on the losing side is a rarity for his team, but he congratulated the Media boys for a good display and threw out an invitation for a rematch, one which was readily accepted.

Both sides thanked Tiger Sports, owned by Mohamed, for readily providing the trophies once the match was finalised.

Meanwhile, the Media XI is in discussion with several clubs across the country, and at least three matches are lined up for the next month.

Barbados will host third test instead of Guyana

Barbados will host the third Test between West Indies and New Zealand after it was moved from Guyana. The West Indies Cricket Board announced on Saturday that a new venue would be found for the Test after a disagreement on a new bill passed by the government of Guyana.

“The third Test was originally scheduled to be played at the Guyana National

Stadium but was relocated following the board and the government of Guyana not being able to find a mutually agreeable resolution relating to the Cricket Administration Bill,” the WICB said in a statement.

The dates for the Test - June 26 to 30 - have not changed. New Zealand begin their tour with Tests in Jamaica and Trinidad before moving on to Bridgetown for the final Test. (Cricinfo)

Lampard leaving Chelsea after 13 years

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has announced that he will leave the club after 13 years at Stamford Bridge.

The 35-year-old England international, Chelsea’s alltime leading scorer with 211 goals, was out of contract.

Since joining from West Ham in 2001, Lampard has won 11 major trophies, including three Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2012.

“This club has become part of my life,” said Lampard, who is with the England squad in Miami ahead of the World Cup.

He has yet to decide if he will retire, but has had offers from 16 other clubshowever, none will be considered until after the tournament in Brazil finishes.

After signing for a fee of £11m, Lampard made 649 appearances for Chelsea, who also won four FA Cups, two League Cups and the Europa League in his time at the west London club.

He had signed a one-year contract extension in May 2013, and made 40 appearances this season under Jose Mourinho.

Murray into final eight

Andy Murray saw off a fired-up Fernando Verdasco in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open.

The Wimbledon champion came through 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3), and will next face Frenchman Gael Monfils on Wednesday.

There was drama in the third set as Murray conceded a point to a furious Verdasco, only for the Spaniard to break back in the next game.

Murray weathered the storm, however, and won the tie-break to seal victory after two hours and 54 minutes.

“I was trying to play more aggressive today because I knew I was going to be a bit tired in my legs,” said Murray, who was playing for the third day in a row.

“It’s good to win in three sets, and playing against Monfils, I guess on centre court - it’s going to be a great atmosphere and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Murray, 27, improved his record against Verdasco to 10-1 as he again had too much for the 24th seed.

The Briton had come back from two sets down in their last meeting on his way to Wimbledon victory last summer, and the 30-year-old Spaniard might have fancied his chances in their first meeting on clay.

It proved to be more one-sided encounter than on the grass, however, as Murray constantly threatened the Verdasco serve and became more comfortable on his own.

Murray made a slow start, seeing

off three break points in the first game before swapping breaks in games three and four, but from then on it was the Scot who was in charge.

He attacked the Spaniard’s weaker backhand side to break at 4-4, and pounced when his opportunity came at 5-5 in the second after a couple more loose efforts from his opponent.

The Briton chased down a lob on his way to converting set point, and the pressure only built on the increasingly frustrated Verdasco in the third.

He reached boiling point in game seven, heading to his chair after saving three break points - making it 10 for the set - only to find the umpire had a called a serve out.

A furious tirade followed and Murray conceded the point having

checked the mark, something he presumably regretted a few minutes later when a still-fuming Verdasco broke back for 4-4.

“It was a great serve and I mishit the ball,” he explained afterwards. “It didn’t go in. I gave him the point.”

The danger signs were flashing for the Briton but he calmly served his way to a tie-break, and then resumed his dominance.

A brilliant backhand cross-court pass gave him an early break and, after a 3-0 lead disappeared, he began looping balls and tempting Verdasco into errors.

A Verdasco forehand into the net duly gave Murray three match points, and the Scot smashed away a winner. (BBC Sport)

Rule change could make Olympics to Africa a posibbilty

African countries stand a higher chance of staging future Olympic Games if proposed changes to bidding procedures are adopted by the ruling body, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said.

Lampard, son of West Ham defender Frank Lampard senior, first played for England in October 1999. Flash Player to play this content.

He has scored 29 goals in 103 international appearances, and played at Euro 2004 as well as World Cups in 2006 and 2010.

Manchester City midfielder James Milner paid tribute to his England teammate and said: “He has been outstanding for club and country and never seems to have an off season.

“He is a top player, a top professional and the sort we need for the World Cup. I would have thought there will be plenty of Premier League clubs after him next season. He is certainly not finished.”

Lampard’s Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole, 33, is also out of contract and set to leave after eight years at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea FC’s official website said Lampard “helped change the way football views the modern central midfield player” and that he leaves with the club’s “enormous gratitude”. (BBC Sport)

Bach, who made a whistle-stop tour on Sunday of three African countriesSouth Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia - after attending the African Youth Games

in Gaberone, Botswana, said his wish was to see the continent stage the world’s most prestigious sports competition.

“Africa has produced excellent athletes and yet has not staged the Olympic games. We (at the IOC) would be happy to see a feasibly bid from the continent,” Bach told Reuters in Eldoret, a city famed for producing world class runners some 350 kilometres north west of Kenyan cap -

ital Nairobi where he visited fellow IOC member and Kenyan athletics great Kipchoge Keino.

“As you know, since my election as IOC president, we are already discussing changes to bidding procedure under the framework of Olympic Agenda 2020 where we want to open doors to more cities and more countries to bid to organise the Games,” Bach said.

He did not give specif -

ics of the changes to bidding and organisation of the games, but there have been murmurs of discontent, especially from the African countries, over the idea of staging some 28 disciplines in a single city as opposed to FIFA World Cup, which takes place across several cities of one country.

Sometimes, the world’s most watched football competition has been co-hosted by two countries. (Reuters)

Rudisha seventh upon return from injury

O800m champion

The Kenyan, who broke the world record at London 2012, missed last year’s World Championships with a knee injury and has had a calf problem this season.

His time of one minute 44.87 seconds was more than a second slower than that of winner Nijel Amos (1:43.63), with Briton Andrew Osagie eighth.

In the 100m, American Justin Gatlin ran 9.76 seconds to beat Michael Rodgers. Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut was

third, with Jamaica’s two-time Olympic gold-medallist Nesta Carter fourth.

In a thrilling finish to the 400m, Grenada’s Kirani James pipped Lashawn Merritt with both men clocking 43.97 seconds, while Britain’s Martyn Rooney was sixth. (BBC Sport)

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Limacol CPL match times confirmed

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has unveiled the start times of the 37 games set to make up the Biggest Party in Sport.

A mixture of morning, afternoon and evening fixtures will cater for all audiences across the Caribbean, and ensure that an ever increasing fan base around the globe will be able to catch all of the action from what is set to be an exhilarating six weeks of high octane T20 action.

“We saw from last year’s tournament that whatever

time of day, the Caribbean people will come out to support the Limacol CPL and create the unique, energetic atmosphere that has made the competition famous," said Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer LCPL.

"A high percentage of last year’s fans were families, so it makes sense for us to ensure they are catered for with earlier starts, in addition to local and global television audi-

ences who are eager to follow the action ball-by-ball.

"The LCPL, which thrilled sell-out crowds in six countries across the Caribbean in 2013, is once again looking to excite fans with high intensity T20 cricket for the 2014 tournament.

"Grenada, known for its vibrant culture and hospitality, will serve as the opening venue to showcase the region’s most exciting domestic Twenty20 tournament. Global stars including Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kevin Pietersen and Muttiah Muralitharan will take part in the 'Biggest Party in Sport'," he added.

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Matthias slaps aggrieved GFF members with ban

By Treiston Joseph

President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Christopher Matthias on Monday banned aggrieved members of the GFF at a press conference held at the federation’s head office on Campbellville.

The members that are disallowed to conduct any business under the banner of the GFF are: Franklin Wilson, Wayne Francois, Ivan Persaud, Vanessa Dickenson, Vernon Burnett, Odinga Lumumba, Wayne Dover, Sampson Gilbert, Aubrey Hutson, Alfred King, Elson Kairattie, Aubrey Henry and Sharon Abrams.

The ban came after the aggrieved members held an ordinary congress on Saturday, successfully filing a no confidence motion against Matthias who deemed the congress as null and void since it is only the Executive Committee than can convene such a congress.

Further, Matthias firmly stated his position as GFF president since he was asked to demit office by the aggrieved members of the federation, “Until a congress is duly re-convened in accordance with the constitution and unless the congress decides otherwise, I shall remain the democratically and duly elected president of the Guyana Football Federation,” Matthias quipped.

In addition, President of the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Nigel Garraway distanced himself and his association from the actions of the aggrieved members.

“Our secretary Elson Kairattie went to this meeting unknowing to us and I would like to take this opportunity to disassociate myself and the association from the meeting,” Garraway stated.

Matthias also noted that persons against the structured system of football have come to forefront in the form of the members who are now restricting from doing work under the banner of the GFF and further highlighted that his federation will take a guide from the GFF constitution as well as FIFA and CONCACAF.

Matthias also noted that he is optimistic about the development of football also revealed that FIFA will make a statement when the time is right.

At the last Ordinary Congress on April 26 at the Regency Suites, there was a no-confidence motion against the incumbent, which led to the reconvening of the Congress within 45 days.

SportEditor Letter to the

Things that inspire the push for the development of basketball in Guyana

Dear Editor

The Congress, observed by CONCACAF’s Director of Legal Affairs Marco Leal, FIFA’s Developmental Officer Howard McIntosh and CONCACAF’s Legal Advisor Bruce Blake, was a heated one from the onset as the leading local football executives sat down to discuss the state of affairs with regard to the game’s administration.

The re-convening of the Congress was arrived at by Matthias, who sought to settle the differences between the discontented associations, following a walking out and subsequent returning of six associations during the Congress.

These associations were the Georgetown Football Association (GFA); Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA); East Coast Football Association (ECFA); National Women’s Football Association (NWFA); Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) and East Demerara Football Association (EDFA).

The associations withdrew after the no-confidence motion against Matthias, which was filed by the EBFA and seconded by the ECFA, was discarded following a 9-9 tie at the voting.

It is understood that the no-confidence motion did not follow the protocols required for the filing of such, as it did not state a reason for the motion, nor did it contain a letterhead or returning address.

Subsequently, at a meeting held in May, the members had highlighted just two concerns- that of voting rights and the re-convening of the Ordinary Congressbut later held a press conference highlighting a series of other concerns and lambasting Matthias’s leadership style.

This caused Matthias to challenge the members to air their concerns on a live paid programme to which he would have resigned if found guilty of wrong doings. However, the members declined.

Seeing Haslyn Graham, Vice-President of the Linden Basketball Association sweeping water off of the Mackenzie Sports Club Court after the Berbice vs Linden game was washed out – so that his counterparts from the ancient county of Berbice who had travelled over 100 miles could actually play some basketball in Linden.

The Georgetown and Linden female players turning up in full force for their game in Linden on May 31 when all weather forecasts suggested that rain would prevent the game from being played at the outdoor court in Linden.

Observing the courage of Dr Roger Luncheon at the Office of the President as he commenced a few Saturdays ago to assist Guyana basketball teams to obtain funding – that would allow Guyana’s participation in the Caribbean Basketball 2014 championships in Tortola, BVI.

Dr Luncheon’s obvious courage during this period of his life fits well with a quote from the recently deceased Maya Angelou “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”

Hearing that Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh expressed support for the funding of Guyana basketball teams for participation in the 2014 Caribbean Basketball Championships.

The work of sports reporters: Rawle Toney of Guyana Chronicle, Treiston Joseph of Guyana Times, Donald Duff and Duncan Saul of Stabroek News and Edison Jeffers, Frankie Wilson and Sean Devers of Kaieteur News to keep the basketball community informed on the achievements of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) whenever they occur.

Joseph Harmon reaching out to potential corporate sponsors and encouraging them to assist the GABF in

sourcing funds for the Guyana male and female basketball teams’ participation in the 2014 Caribbean Basketball championships.

The trip taken by the Berbice Basketball senior and under 19 teams to Linden amidst the stormy weather that was their constant companion on their historic trip to Linden to play on a dry weather court – the rain stopped any basketball games from being played, but the presence in Linden of the Berbicians represented how ideas can be bulletproof on an overcast and rain filled night in Linden on May 31.

The National Club Basketball Championships promoted as The Road to Mecca by GABF Vice President Michael Singh finished with the final game between Raiders of Linden and Ravens of Georgetown playing to a packed house at National Sports Hall on March 23. Michael Singh’s unselfish and generous conduct was in no small way responsible for the success of the Guyana Basketball Club Championships.

The live performance of Candace Fields singing the National Anthem at the National Sports Hall on the above mentioned date to a Guyanese crowd that responded to her stunning rendition by showering her with fulsome applause.

Akeem Kanhai playing for Georgetown Elite executed a tomahawk style alley-oop after soaring to unimaginable heights and capturing the ball with one hand slightly above the square on the basketball backboard then arced his arm back and finished by slamming the ball through the nets in an awesome display of athleticism and control.

The contribution by overseas based Guyanese of basketball gear and equipment led by Karl Moore, Patrick and Paul Haynes and Zolile Hunte, among others - who have donated game clocks, shot clocks, basketballs, sneakers and other basketball gear to the Guyanese Basketball Community.

Meeting with Neil Kumar, Director of

Youth and Sports, in his office without a scheduled appointment and discussing basketball needs and development for over an hour – this occurred during the month of May 2014.

Seeing the former President of GABF David Patterson: support and stand with the players as they awaited access to the Sports Hall for basketball training sessions on May 15.

The assistance and contributions provided by Rex McKay, Jocelyn Dow, Odinga Lumumba, Troy Cadogan of ANSA McAL and the Guyana Olympic Association to support the efforts of the GABF.

To see the transformation and development of our East Coast Demerara basketball clubs; Melanie Patriots and Plaisance Guardians into competitive first division basketball teams in Georgetown and the passion and commitment with which they play the game.

Having Sherwin Henry successfully complete the FIBA Referee exams during April 2014 in the Cayman Islands and allow Guyana to be once again counted among the countries with a FIBA referee.

Listening to the counsel of my former arch rivals from Pacesetters: Mark Agard, Dennis Clarke and Eon Andrews on the way forward for the development of basketball in Guyana; though their oncourt actions have been forgiven but not forgotten.

The generous and dedicated nature of the Berbice Basketball Community, as with little means they act with independence and reliability that is inspiring.

The foregoing anecdotes are perhaps captured best by a quote from the master Basketball Coach of University of California, Los Angeles – John Wooden: “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

Yours Faithfully, Nigel Hinds GABF President

David Mohamad elected President of Lusignan Golf Club

David Mohamad was elected President as several new faces were named to the Management Committee of the Lusignan Golf Club at its Annual General Meeting held Saturday at the Club House.

Dr. Philbert London is the new Vice President with Denise Best being elected Secretary and Haresh Tiwari, Treasurer.

Ravi Presaud , was elected Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, while Chatterpaul Deo will remain as Club Captain as well as Mike Gayadin

Ground Superintendent.

The returning officer was Soloman and Associate Accounting firm, David Mohamad who previous served as Vice President last year and Secretary in 2012 and took over from Jerome Kahn who did not seek reelection.

Outgoing President Khan in his Report said that Club was in a good financial position and he thanked corporate Guyana for supporting the development of the Club.

“The Executive committee with the help of our valued sponsors and mem-

bers hosted 30 tournaments, this represented an improvement over the previous year,” Khan declared.

President David Mohamad, said he was delighted to be elected President of the LGC and look forward to keep improving the club in all areas.

Mohamad announced that there are Tournaments already slated in the coming weeks. Crown Mining Supplies on Sunday 8th of June 2014, Scotia Bank Annual Tournament on the 14 of June and Wartsila Guyana on the 21st of June.

BCB to file contempt of court action against GCB today

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Members of the defunct Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) may face contempt of court proceedings as the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) plans to initiate these actions today.

Guyana Times received a document from one of its sources that outlined that the members will have these motions filed against them, especially since the source contended that the current body continues to flout an earlier court order

that debarred them from functioning in their respective capacities.

Meanwhile, based on the document seen by this publication, the applicants will be seeking to have the respondents committed to the Georgetown Prison for contempt of court for holding themselves out to be and/or acting as members of the GCB or authorizing and instructing the same

to be done, in complete disrespect, disobedience and disregard of an injunction granted by the Honourable Justice Sandra Kurtzious (in Chambers) on April 14.

The Judge had also restrained the executives from representing the

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

That injunction was granted to plaintiffs Keith Foster, Anil Beharry, Hubern Evans, Julian Cambridge, Angela Haniff, Romash Munna and Shabeer Baksh of the Berbice Cricket Board and the defendants named in that court document were Drubahadur, Fizul Bacchus, Alfred Mentore, Anand Sanasie, Virendra Chintamanie, Anand Kalladeen, Rajesh Singh,

Rajendra Singh, Colin Europe, Andy Ramnarine, Lalta Digamber, Ramdeo Kumar, Rayon Griffith, Nazimul Drepaul and Savitri Persaud.

The interim injunction had restrained the defendants “by themselves, their servants and/or agents and each and every one of them from holding out themselves as officers or representatives of the GCB or in any manner whatsoever acting on behalf of, or for, or as the GCB or performing any functions in relation thereto.”

The order also states: “A declaration that the purported meeting held by the defendants on January 27, 2013 at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion pur-

Guinness Greatest of the Streets football...

Queen Street-Tiger Bay win national playoff

porting to be the Annual General Meeting of the GCB is null, void and of no legal [effect], inasmuch as the said meeting and elections were held in breach of the constitution of the GCB.

More so, the order issued indicated that, “A declaration that the purported meeting and election of the office holders held by the defendants on January 27, 2013, at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion purporting to be the Annual General Meeting of the GCB is null, void and of no legal[effect]”.

The elections were held with only Essequibo’s nine delegates participating. The BCB did not participate, while the Demerara Cricket Board was restrained from operating.

According to the GCB constitution, officials had mulled no less than two boards can conduct the elections and 14 of the 27 delegates were needed to convene a meeting and elections.

The matter was put before the court after many cricket officials had deemed the January 27 elections of the GCB unconstitutional and fraught with controversy.

Meanwhile, a visit by this newspaper to the GCB’s office had revealed that the GCB continues to function, regardless. The main door of the office was open and staff members were seen carrying out the day-to-day affairs of the now defunct body.

The ballweavers of Queen Street-Tiger Bay have earned the right to represent Guyana at the upcoming Guinness Caribbean Street Challenge after winning the national playoff of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets football competition on Sunday night.

Playing at the Banks DIH Parking Lot, the Georgetown zone champions defeated East Coast winners Melanie A 3-0 in the final.

James Meredith opened the scoring for the champion in the fifth minute, before Alpha Fletchman doubled the advantage 19 minutes later.

Deon Alfred capped off the victory with the final goal in the 30th minute.

In the third place playoff, a Georgetown/Linden clash, Albouystown B edged Eagles 2-1.

Malvern Ross and Roy Cassou netted for Albouystown Bin the 11th and 20th minutes respectively, while Rene Allicock pulled one back for Eagles in the 21st minute.

In the three exhibition games, Giant Killers defeated Underdogs 3-1 and drew

with Clippers Barbershop 1-1, while the Media went down to Guinness Bar 0-1.

The skills competition was won by Mikel Stout of Melanie A.

For their top place finish in the national finals, Queen Street- Tiger Bay have not only earned themselves one year bragging rights as Georgetown and national champions, but also walked away with $400,000, while their trip to Trinidad and Tobago would see them competing for US$4,000 and a certified FIFA Training Course in the sport.

Melanie A, Albouystown B and Eagles pocketed $200,000, $100,000 and $75,000, for their second to fourth place finish respectively.

Meanwhile, in their respective semi-final matches which was contested the previous night, Melanie A defeated Albouystown B 5-4 on sudden death penalty kicks taken from the halfway mark, following a 1-1 stalemate, with William Europe scoring for Melanie A in the 19th minute and Marlon Nedd responding for Albouystown B five minutes later.

In the second semi-final,

Queen Street- Tiger Bay on the back of Alfred’s brace which was scored in the second and 18th minutes of play, defeated Eagles 2-0 to advance to the final.

Prior to the playing of the semi-finals, the final round of preliminary matches was contested and saw Eagles defeating Stevedore Housing Scheme 4-0, with Delon Charter (5th), Delon McAllister (18th), Deon Charter (20th) and Allicock (21st) scoring.

In the second match, Hope Street-Tiger Bay and Melanie ‘A’ played to a nilall stalemate, but the latter went on to win 2-0 on penalty kicks, followed by Albouystown B’s 3-1 penalty kicks win over Wismar Housing Scheme, after regulation time ended 1-1, with Ross scoring for Albouystown B in the 21st which negated Andrew Charles’ 15th minute strike for Wismar Housing Scheme.

The final preliminary round match was contested between Queen Street- Tiger Bay and Linden’s Retrieve Unknown, which Queen Street- Tiger Bay won 2-0 on penalty kicks, after they played to a nil-all stalemate.

Inniss to represent GFRC at World Cup

FThe Guyana Football Federation (GFF) presented Innis with the ticket on Monday at the federation’s headquarters

Campbellville. Inniss was pleased to at-

his hard work and dedication to the sport especially in the area of refereeing.

Guyanese outraged over WICB position on Cricket Bill

Despite reports to the contrary, the organisers of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has advised that the matches scheduled to take place in Guyana will take place in Guyana as planned.

To be clear, plans for the staging of the Limacol CPL are in no way affected by the passage of Cricket Administration Bill in Guyana.

The Guyana matches are as follows:

Thursday 17th July at 7:30pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v The Red Steel – Providence Stadium, Guyana

Saturday 19th July at 4:00pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v St. Lucia Zouks – Providence Stadium, Guyana

Sunday 20th July at 4:00pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v Jamaica Tallawahs – Providence Stadium, Guyana

"We are looking forward to a second successful staging of the Biggest Party in Sport and urge the fans to come out and support their teams." a release said.

Limacol CPL is a fran-

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

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

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