Guyana Times Daily

Fourth International Building Expo opens

Business community begins meeting with political leaders Guyana mulls producing own textbooks

Budget cuts case adjourned until hearing of Granger’s appeal Lusignan massacre suspect to get bail if trial does not start soon Guyana ranks high in sustainable mining study Taxi driver shot during skirmish with Brazilians

saturday, july 6, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

Budget cuts case adjourned until hearing of Granger’s appeal

The 2012 budget cuts case was once again adjourned, this time to facilitate the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the legal team of the opposition leader, David Granger, challenging the ruling of the acting chief justice which exempted him from the matter.

Justice Ian Chang, on June 19, ruled that as members of Parliament the Constitution provides immunity for Granger and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh as it relates to lawsuits and excluded the two members of parliament from further proceedings in the trial, leaving the Speaker of the National Assembly the lone respondent.

Friday’s date was set to for the commencement of arguments between Attorney General Anil Nandlall, and Trotman’s lawyer, Attorney Khemraj Ramjattan.

However, Granger’s at-

torney, Basil Williams, subsequently filed an appeal to Chang’s ruling, calling the decision “unreasonable and arbitrary”. Then on Friday’s date, when the case was called up, Justice Chang informed the parties that he will not proceed with the hearing of the matter until the appeal is heard and determined.

Strange legal precedence

Nandlall, in a comment to the media, called Justice Chang’s decision a “strange legal precedence”, stating this is the first time that he is hearing of a situation whereby an appeal is being filed against a judge’s ruling which exempts a person from a case. “When a defendant is removed from a case, that defendant is normally not aggrieved… in this instance, we have a defendant who has been excluded from a case by the judge, appealing that exclusion when in fact that de-

fendant has essentially won and he is appealing the win,” Nandlall stated.

Nevertheless, the attorney general said he is hopeful that the appeal will be dealt with in a timely manner so that the budget case can be continued. Nandlall had informed the judge that he no longer intends to address the court, since he already has a 20-page written legal submission on record and it will be unnecessary to do so.

“From the beginning I have been working assiduously in trying to get a conclusion in the matter, but all my efforts are being frustrated by all kinds of legal manoeuvrings, which, I feel, was designed to dilate and delay these proceedings and that appeal in my view has no merit,” the attorney general stated.

In April 2012, the combined opposition used its one-seat majority to slash

$21.9 billion from the proposed $192.8 billion 2012 national budget, saying enough explanation was not provided about some expenditures. The government subsequently took to the court to block the National Assembly from cutting the budget, and Justice Chang in a preliminary ruling said the opposition can only approve or disapprove of the budget in its entirety.

However, this year, the opposition refused to abide by the preliminary ruling handed down by Justice Chang, arguing that it was not binding or final. As a result, the combined opposition, with the Speaker’s blessings, shaved more than $31.4 billion off the 2013 $208.8 billion budget presented by government. Chaos reigned when the Speaker also proclaimed that the court had no oversight responsibility or powers over the legislature.

Govt critical of delay in parliamentary affairs

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS)

Dr Roger Luncheon has lamented what he described as the slothful attitude being demonstrated by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) towards the business of the National Assembly.

Making specific reference to the Anti-money Laundering (Amendment)

Bill, Dr Luncheon told a news conference at the Office of the President on Friday that the joint parliamentary opposition is delaying the process of meeting the November 2013 deadline set by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

In May, 2013, Guyana was placed by the CFATF on a “public statement” for failing to meet and being non-compliant with all 16 requirements.

The CFATF, however, extended the deadline to November, 2013, granting the country the opportunity to make the necessary amendments to the Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Tourism Act to avoid blacklisting.

Dr Luncheon said despite being told of the importance of enacting the legislation, the APNU and the AFC continue to drag their feet on the issue.

“Their involvement at the parliamentary special select committee has been infrequently scheduled and the meetings have been with a minimum agenda,” he posited.

Dr Luncheon posited that the enactment of the legislation is an international challenge by the CFATF; a challenge which the opposition should have responded to

Dr Roger Luncheon

through a responsible course of action.

The HPS alluded to the Deeds and Commercial Registries Amendment Bill, noting that while the bill has been fully scrutinised, the report by the parliamentary special select committee is being deliberately delayed. The National Assembly in January passed the Deeds and Commercial Registries Amendment Bill aimed at modernising the operations of the agency.

The bill was tabled in July 2012 and was sent to a special select committee on August 2, 2012.

“At the level of the committee of appointment, more recently their rejection of a motion to extend the lives of two of the constitutional rights commissions; the Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission, they have withdrawn their support; they are now rejecting the motion to extend the lives of these two bodies,” he said. Dr Luncheon reiterated that the attitude of the opposition in Parliament is unacceptable.

Over 640 kg of ganja found at John Fernandes Wharf

The Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) within the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Friday found 640.642kg of compressed marijuana in a container at the John Fernandes Wharf, Water Street, Georgetown.

The marijuana, which was packed in several bags, is suspected to have come from Jamaica and was found in a container containing three motorcars and a Canter truck. The container arrived in Jamaica from Japan and was later shipped to Guyana.

Guyana Times understands that the container arrived in Guyana about a week ago and the recipients turned up at the John Fernandes Wharf on Friday to clear it. The discovery was made, after the officers opened the sealed container and the bags containing the illicit drug fell out and were subsequently checked.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) was then called in to assist in the investigations. A CANU official explained that the con-

tainer was sealed which leads them to believe that the drug was placed in the container after it arrived in Jamaica.

The business to which the container was registered is known for shipping motor vehicles to Guyana. The CANU official stated that the shippers were present when the marijuana was discovered. They were questioned by the police, but no one was arrested.

In June 2011, CANU, by way of a tip-off, discovered 394 kilograms of marijuana an unopened container, which had arrived in Guyana from Jamaica, aboard the MV Stadt Luneburg

The bust was made after by authorities who were present at John Fernandes Wharf during an inspection and observed that the seal of the container had been tampered with. This prompted a search by the officials, which led to the marijuana being unearthed in several bags. The GRA had later stated that the drug bust was a collaborative effort between drug enforcement agencies and itself.

Commonwealth Network on Environment and Climate Change launched

The Commonwealth Network on Environment and Climate Change was launched at Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, in London last week to provide further opportunity for dialogue with the Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance.

Winds:

High Tide: 02:57h and 15:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.42 metres and 2.34 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:00h and 21:12h reaching minimum heights of 0.92 metre and 0.78 metre respectively.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was appointed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma to chair the new Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance, was in attendance with members of his team.

The high-level team of nine experts, which also includes Dr Kenrick Leslie, executive director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, will identify solutions for unlocking resources to enable small, poor and climate-vulnerable Commonwealth countries

to combat climate change. Jagdeo, who has been recognised as a leading global advocate for climate change, will lead the charge to press the international community to help identify practical solutions for those countries most vulnerable to climate change.

In accepting the appointment, the former president had said: “Some of the most climate-vulnerable people in the world are in our

Commonwealth. Millions of people are in danger – the magnitude of the challenges they face is overwhelming and they cannot face those challenges solely from their own resources. Over the years, many pledges of assistance have been made – but we have not seen enough action. I hope that the expert group can identify ways, both to identify financing at a scale that matches the

problem, and also to enable Commonwealth heads of government to take specific actions to enable financing to be deployed in a way that rapidly gets to the people who need it.”

Commonwealth Secretary General Sharma says the group will present its report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November.

Fourth International Building Expo opens

Ensuring major construction projects are realised and challenges are confronted head on is critical to stimulating further growth in the construction sector, which is a main contributor to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

These were the sentiments expressed by Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, as he addressed the opening ceremony of the fourth International Building Expo on Friday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The event saw in attendance government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the public and private sectors, and the general public.

“We must ensure that major projects are done to stimulate demand, it is only when we stimulate demand that the private sector can grow… that the building and construction sector can continue to expand… that the economy itself can expand”, Ali said.

He continued, “It is for this reason that we cannot slow down, we have to build tomorrow’s infrastructure to-

day. Therefore, projects like the airport, the Marriott, the expansion of the East Bank and East Coast four-lane roads [and] the alternative link between the East Bank and East Coast must be accelerated… if we are to create the environment that would determine the progress, growth, and expansion of our economy.”

He said the flagship project of the expo – Silica City, highlights one way in which the ministry has sought to address upcoming challenges.

Silica City

Silica City is a new development that will be established along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway to provide housing and economic opportunities.

The housing minister disclosed also that authorities hope to identify all of the houselot applicants who will benefit from the ministry’s 1000 Homes Project, upon completion of the expo.

He commended the role of the financial institutions, contractors, and other investors that provide the requisite resources to ensure the work

of the housing sector is carried on.

In the feature address, Acting President Samuel Hinds said Guyana has managed to transform the housing and construction sector from the poor state it was in several years ago.

“As we came into office, there were many places where many of our people squatted as they had organised themselves to meet their needs the best way they could and there were many others who seemed to follow in their footsteps… we got down to work, regularising places where people had already squatted and surveying and assigning house lots at places that were being eyed for squatting,” Hinds pointed out.

He said there was criticism of these moves and accusations of favouritism, which must now be placed behind us.

He commended Ali on his work since assuming the post of housing minister in 2009 and introducing the sale of complete homes as opposed to house lots alone.

Private Sector

Commission Chairman Ronald Webster congratulated Ali on his leadership of the International Building Expo.

Ideal platform

He noted that it creates the ideal platform for local and international businesses to showcase their products and services that help to drive the construction industry.

Webster said the construction sector records the lowest level of imports and creates employment that cuts across a wide range of human resource skills.

This year’s building expo has in excess of 100 exhibitors on display. Aside from the local companies, foreign businesses from Brazil, Venezuela, Trinidad, Barbados, Canada and the USA, among others, are on show. Adding to the excitement at the opening ceremony was a musical rendition which saw an original building expo song called “Guyana will rise” being performed by local artistes, a fashion display by Sonia Noel and two cultural dances.

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

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Editorial

Local democracy

Guyana’s constitution states that “local government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organised so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live”. The international community in Guyana, just a few days ago, came out strongly with a statement calling for political parties here to work towards the holding of the long overdue local government elections before the end of the year. This most recent call came as a result of the parliamentary select committee successfully completing its work on the four bills critical to the process.

President Donald Ramotar had made government’s position on the issue clear. His administration is willing and ready to play its part in ensuring the holding of these elections. The government had tabled several bills in the National Assembly seeking reforms. These include the Fiscal Transfers Bill, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, and the Local Government Commission Bill.

While this may be considered quite an achievement, it is not clear as to whether the stakeholders will be able to run off these elections before year-end considering their history of politicking and blame game that have characterised modern day politics in this country. What is clear is that the pressure from all quarters including private sector, labour and even ordinary citizens is building.

In a joint statement, representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union noted that, at the start of 2013, political party leaders, civil society, private sector representatives, and members of the diplomatic community all expressed confidence that this would be the year in which Guyana would move forward to ensure that its citizens benefit from strong and effective local governance. We are now midway through the year and, with a concerted effort, local government elections – and the safer, more prosperous, and more democratic communities they can help build – are within reach.

We believe that effective and efficient public administration coupled with healthy local governance can drive development efforts. Local government institutions bring government closer to the people, fostering greater inclusion, civic responsibility, empowerment and participation. In fact, local government offers one of the most important avenues for women and other groups typically under-represented to participate in the development of their communities and influence decisionmaking processes that directly affect their lives.

Certainly, the present situation as it relates to the administration of the various Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDCs) and municipalities – Georgetown being a prime example with garbage piling up all over and general inefficient and incompetent management of the city – reminds us daily that there is a dire need for local government elections to give citizens the opportunity to choose whom they wish to represent them at the local level.

All over Guyana citizens are crying out for better services. They want to see drains dug and trenches and canals cleaned. They want safer and more prosperous communities, they want to have more facilities for sports in their communities and they want their views to be well represented at the national level so that central government would become more aware of the issues affecting citizens.

It can never be disputed that Guyana has made great strides in almost every aspect of national development and citizens are enjoying a higher quality of life. However, the continued absence of democratically elected and effective local government remains a crucial issue which must be addressed forthwith. We believe that it is only when people have transparent and accountable institutions at all levels of government – national, regional and local, will they have confidence in their future.

That being said, we are reminded by the donor partners that there is much work ahead to boost public knowledge of the local government election process, the role of local government organs, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens and elected officials. We therefore encourage all parties, with the support of civil society, to build on the constructive progress and goodwill thus far achieved to complete these vital pieces of legislation in the coming days so that technical preparations for local government elections can begin as soon as possible. Let’s get on with the task ahead.

Hidden treasures

Housing Ministry continues to conceptualise new initiatives

Dear Editor,

I was all to thrilled to hear about the plans for the development of a new housing area, Silica City, which will be showcased to the public at the Fourth International Building Expo this weekend.

The notion behind this latest initiative by the Housing Ministry is designed to offer a sustainable and viable solution for the country’s housing needs, building on the already booming housing sector in Guyana.

To say that the strides made in our housing sector is revolutionary will be an understatement, as every year the nation, and I dare say wider afield, waits expectantly to see what new ideas and initiatives will be unleashed at this now annual event, the Building Expo.

It is also comforting to note that the current administration is addressing the dangers and repercussions of the rising sea level, coupled with the challenges of continuing to provide

land for housing development.

There has obviously been a paradigm shift, with more focus being placed on a sustainable future for Guyana as well as a greater appreciation for the environment, while the administration continues to address the housing needs of the nation.

Land reclamation and a sea level rise are no longer

phrases out of a sci-fi movie, but real threats that are being addressed at every level and in every sector, and I want to take this opportunity to say how very lucky we are in Guyana to have a variety of forums, including the Building Expo, to show the rest of the Caribbean and wider afield that we possess the innovation and creativity to tackle the

ture head on.

Over the last few years, the Housing Ministry has focused on creating sustainable communities, and the development of a further 500 acres at Silica City will see more families benefitting and an even greater percentage of the population having access to affordable housing.

Yours sincerely, Moti Mattan

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Firefighting is a challenge

in

Georgetown

Dear Editor, Firefighting in Guyana will always be challenging. Many complaints were recently hurled at the Guyana Fire Service and I think that this body needs the support of all Guyanese. It makes no sense to show up empty, and I find this accusation to be quite funny. If I were a fireman, I would prefer to be criticised for showing up extra late, or feign some

kind other kind of excuse, instead of showing up with an empty tank. What the fire service needs to work on are the functionality of the hydrants and access to the possible places of fire. I have seen a few defunct hydrants, and this I cannot prove except that, by virtue of looks, they are just too rusty. Some kind of servicing is needed for all of the hydrants. Also, the way some vehicles

are left in streets means that a fire truck can never get to its destination. Some of these vehicles are discarded ones, and many are huge trailers parked for days. To move a trailer will take some doing. So the fire service can get the police force to move in this direction.

Then when it comes to fire hazards, the environment must be looked at. At Charlotte and Camp streets, there is a fire waiting to happen. There is a particular building that is so rotten, a mere flicker from a flame can set it alight. I thought that we were on a campaign to dismantle old buildings. The fire service has to take cognisance of this and get the relevant authorities to take action.

Yours truly,

Bibi Nazeema Ali

We must be careful when alerting the public to potholes

Dear Editor,

I address the issue of placing warning objects in, around or over potholes. One writer commends the good intentions of the ones doing these kinds of things, but at the same time warns against inadvertently setting a trap.

I was lucky enough, a few times, to dash safely from objects left on the road. I cannot say who did the dirty act. I remember once, just in front of the Sparendaam Police Station, I almost went over a short piece of wooden plank. In dashing, I could have caused an accident. If I had run over that piece of wood, I could have damaged my pickup. I call on drivers to stop, take the time, and remove anything dropped from their vehicles.

I also ask that when people notice this kind of thing, they should seek to get the number plates of the vehicles and pass them on to the police. Guyanese must learn responsibility.

When it comes to potholes, the first pre-emptive act is to cordon off the area, but I ask that this be done in a safe manner. Good citizens must use objects that are clearly visible by day and night, and it will be great if they can cover a good border around any hole.

I am thinking of bicycles – riders have a tendency to go right up then turn. The reality is that no one likes to hear and read about potholes, but they are the corollary of bad weather in Guyana. The first thing is

The benefits of the Hinterland Scholarship Programme

Dear Editor, The Hinterland Scholarship Programme is one to admire and I highlight another year of resounding success – this time some 50 students hailing from different hinterland regions have officially graduated. Congratulations are definitely in order for everyone – the students, all the way up to the government. For me, the best way to make investments in terms of nation building and human resource is to make inputs into children’s lives, including their education. This programme is my paragon par excellence to prove my point. I have no objections about the cur-

rent Youth Apprenticeship Programme. It has a big place in national development. However, in time to come, this ongoing awarding of scholarships to Amerindian children will bring rich dividends. I urge for government to keep plugging away at the school uniform and school feeding programmes, subsidies for examinations for students of vulnerable families, expanding education infrastructure and continuous training for educators, as these all have a tremendous impact on quality education delivery across the country.

Yours truly, Lloyd William

Possession of guns calls for maturity

Dear Editor, It appears as though it is guns galore in Guyana! It seems as if at the drop of a hat, it is a gun someone is pulling. It is almost laughable now, especially with this little incident over the week-

end. The police detailed that various ranks responded to a report of the discharging of a loaded firearm. This took place at a function, in a yard. It left one person, the owner of the firearm, with injuries

to his face.

I am left to wonder if this was a licensed gun. Also, what are the criteria governing the issuance of guns to citizens? Some of the people in Guyana should not have guns, based on the fact that they are so infantile and even prone to drinking and getting into fights.

Anger is something that can kill judgement, and foolish pride is no different. Only mature people should be given guns.

Yours faithfully, Camille Drifield

Women need to take greater responsibility for their safety

that Guyana must seek to build better roads. If other countries can survive an entire winter, why can’t we overcome a few days of rain?

It is time that road builders be held accountable. However, when potholes are noticed, I suggest that the Public Works Ministry be quickly told, as there are mobile teams to deal with these things. This is the least that Guyanese can do.

Yours sincerely, Tracy Clarke

Dear Editor, These days I am hearing a lot about abuse of women. I join in the fight against such abuse, but I ask for the simple things to be done. Vulnerable women must seek to maintain closeness with neighbours and the police. This will speed up any kind of reporting when they are in danger. It will also force these types of men to be

most careful. Most, if not all, abusers of women are cowards. The imminence of exposure and of being reported may prove a big deterrent to those who abuse women.

However, in general women need to take greater responsibility for their well-being.

Yours truly, Colin Kato

Page Foundation

Making child-focused parenting time decisions

Unless special circumstances exist, children generally fare best when they have the emotional support and ongoing involvement of both parents.

Ongoing parental involvement fosters positive parent-child relationships and healthy emotional and social development. It is also beneficial to parents because it makes it more likely that the parents will have positive relationships with their children when the children become adults.

For parents who do not live together, it is important to cooperate with each other for the benefit of the children. Children adjust more easily to crisis and loss if their parents work together to develop healthy ways of communicating, resolving problems, and reducing conflict. It is important for parents to remember that formation of a positive parent-child relationship is a lifelong process. The key to a successful parent-child relationship is the quality of time, rather than the quantity of time, spent together.

When a parent has been absent

When a parent, for whatever reason, has never been a part of the child’s life or has not had any contact with the child for an extended period of time either in person, by phone, or in writing, both parents should consider the pos-

sible problems the child may have if lengthy or overnight parenting time were to start right away. Instead, the parenting time schedule should gradually re-introduce parent and child, taking into consideration the child’s stage of development and the child’s ability to transition well to parenting time with the parent.

What parents can

Keep children out of the middle

• Parents can keep their children out of the middle of adult issues by not using the children as messengers. Sometimes the message is something as innocent as a reminder that the child must take her medica tion before bed time. Other times, the message may be that the child sup port payment will be late. Unfortunately, we all know what happens to the bearer of bad news. If the message was difficult for one parent to say directly to the other parent, just imagine how difficult it will be for the child to relay that message. Instead of using their children as messengers, parents should either

deal directly with each other or through a mutually agreed upon adult.

• Parents can keep their children out of the middle of adult issues by not asking them to report about what is going on in the life of the other parent. Any time children are asked to divide their loyalty, or to betray one parent to another, the children feel

• Parents can keep their children out of the middle of adult issues by not attacking

or putting down the other parent. Some parents find themselves so angry with the other parent that they vent their anger in front of their children. Other parents may say things to try to make themselves look good and the other parent look bad. Children identify with both parents. If one parent puts down the other parent, in the eyes of the child it is as if that parent is also putting down the child.

workable means of communication

Parents can help their children by establishing a workable means of communicating with each other about their children. At first, some parents may find it difficult to separate their feelings about the relationship or the other parent from their need to give and receive information about the children. Parents can overcome this problem by communicating with each other about their children in a “business-like” manner. This may include agreeing about the time, place, and manner of their communication. It may also include establishing a list of topics and sticking to

it. Parents who are unable to talk to each other because of ongoing conflict, hostility, or issues of domestic violence, may find it easier to communicate by putting the information in writing or by communicating through a mutually-agreed upon adult.

Except in cases where there is an Order For Protection or other court order prohibiting contact, parents should keep each other or a mutually agreed-upon third person advised of their home and work addresses and telephone numbers. In cases where there is an Order for Protection or other court order prohibiting contact, the parent must follow the order or ask the court to modify the order to permit communication regarding the children.

Resolve conflict quickly

Parents can help their children by cooperating with each other and by quickly resolving their conflict. Children whose parents are involved in ongoing conflict over parenting time, child support, or other issues may experience anger, anxiety, depression, or developmental delays.

Parents may resolve conflict in a variety of ways, including consulting family members, religious leaders, mediators, parenting time expeditors, county child support officers, attorneys, or others.

(Excerpts from www.mncourts.gov)

Parent guide to careers:

Steps to help your child prepare for a career

Step six: Set your priorities

Once your child has explored career options, he needs to be able to evaluate them, that is, rank them in terms of their importance to him. Is money the main motivation behind a career choice? A high salary doesn’t always translate into job satisfaction, but a low salary can be a real disappointment! This step will help your child evaluate his career choices based on his own personal criteria.

Step seven: Choosing a career

To make good career choices, your child should understand what is important to him about a career. Specifically, how does it meet his needs? This step will show you and your child how to match the career information you have gathered with your child’s personal needs, personality, and expectations.

Step eight: Develop a strong work ethic

There are specific traits, attitudes, and values that your child should acquire in order to be successful in the world of work. These work values are not dissimilar to the values that help students succeed in school. This step will show you ways to help your child learn about and acquire these values.

Step nine: Build career tools

It would be nice if all a student required for employment was a college transcript, but getting a good job is not so easy. Resumes, portfolios, cover letters, interviewing, and all the other phases of “tool building” will be covered here. This step tells you how your child can build the career tools he will need to get a job right after college.

Step 10: Construct a career plan

This step shows you how to construct a career plan that is both flexible and practical. A flexible career plan is one that keeps your child’s options open. For example, a student who wants to be a doctor may also want to keep the nursing or medical technology options open as well. We want our children to shoot for the moon, but also alternate plans they decide that their first choice is not right for them. These are the 10 steps of career development that you can take to help your child prepare for a career. We hope you and your child use them to make good career decisions and a realistic career plan. The best way to get started is to start talking with your child about his dreams for the future. (Excerpts from takestockinchildren.org)

Lusignan massacre suspect to get bail if trial does not start Caricom heads laud visionaries, recommit to integration

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled that if Lusignan massacre suspect, James Hyles’ trial is not heard in this assizes or the following one, he would be granted bail.

Chang made this decision on Friday on a motion filed by Hyles’ attorney Nigel Hughes, challenging the committal of his client and asking the court to squash the charges against his client or set them aside and grant him bail pending the determination of the motion.

Hyles is also seeking damages in excess of $100,000 for several things, including the breach of his fundamental right to a fair hearing.

Hyles was charged with the January 2008 Lusignan massacre, which took the lives of 11 persons, including five children. He was slapped with 11 murder charges along with two others, Mark Rodney and Dwane Williams, in July of that same year. After undergoing a preliminary inquiry at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, in April 2010, the three men were committed to stand trial at the High Court in the following session, the June 2010 Criminal Assizes.

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack direct-

ed the presiding magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, to reopen the PI to rule on the voluntariness of the caution statements of Rodney and Williams. The DPP then wrote another letter to the magistrate further directing her to reopen the case to take the testimonies of an additional 11 witnesses. However, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus responded to the DPP stating that the testimonies of those witnesses were already taken and that she had also ruled on the admissibility of the caution statement in February 2011.

Twist In a further twist of things, in December 2011, the DPP withdrew the magistrate’s letter on the grounds that the names of the witnesses were unintentionally typed wrong and that the magistrate had not complied with the DPP’s directions.

In the affidavit to support the motion filed earlier this year, the 22-year-old stated that he was denied a fair hearing within a reasonable time and the breach of this right was due to the DPP’s failure to complete the PI. He said that, upon the advice to his attorney, he believes that he is enti-

tled to an immediate relief if he does not get a fair trial within 56 months.

Meanwhile, in response to the affidavit, Ali-Hack explained that Hyles, along with his co-accused, was committed once again in June 2012 to stand trial at the High Court. She continued that Hyles was indicted on January 7, of this year to stand trial with 11 counts of murder; however, the indictment was filed three days after.

Hyles’ indictment was listed number 18 for hearing in the April Demerara Assizes before Justice Navindra Singh.

The Lusignan massacre resulted in fear and anger throughout Guyana and beyond. On that faithful night of January 26, gunmen carrying AK-47s invaded several houses in Lusignan and carried out a 20-minute long attack, killing 11 persons in their homes.

Those killed were Seecharran Rooplall, 56, his wife Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, and their 11-year-old daughter, Raywattie Ramsingh; Mohandai Gourdat, 32, and her two sons, Seegobind, four, and Seegopaul Harrilall, 10; Clarence Thomas,48, his daughter Vanessa Thomas,12, and his son Ron Thomas; Shaleem Baksh,55, and Shazam Mohamed, 22.

Forty years to the date after the founding treaty of the integration movement was signed, heads of government journeyed to Chaguaramas, to commemorate and celebrate at the cradle of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

They travelled by sea and road from Port of Spain Thursday morning, to the north-western peninsula area of Chaguaramas, to the same building where, four decades ago, the community’s founding fathers – Barbados Prime Minister Errol Barrow, Jamaica Prime Minister Michael Manley, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Eric Williams and Guyana Prime Minister Forbes Burnham – signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas, bringing into being the Caribbean Community and Common Market.

Historic occasion

Drum rolls and fanfares befitting such an historic occasion, heralded the arrival of the heads of government of Caricom at the beautifully decorated Chaguaramas Convention Centre to celebrate the community. There, Freundel Stuart, Portia Simpson-Miller, Donald Ramotar, and Kamla PersadBissessar, heads of government of Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively, made

brief remarks and recommitted to the integration movement and to fulfilling the vision of the founding fathers. They later joined the other heads of government attending the 34th meeting of the conference of heads of government in affixing their signatures to a commemorative document.

Prime Minister Stuart, who led the quartet in brief remarks, retraced the steps to the establishment of the community, and acknowledged that Chaguaramas was indelibly imprinted on Caricom’s history. The community, he said, was positioned between hope and history. “While history could not be reversed, it was the duty of current torchbearers

to give flesh to the hope, to work closely together to consolidate our independence.” Progress, he underlined, was not going to happen by accident, but by a conscious decision.

Punctuating her remarks with quotations from the founding fathers, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller cautioned the community to reacquaint itself with the context that informed the creation of Caricom which she said was more than an organisation. It represented, she said, the vision and aspiration of the founding fathers for a strong integrated region to provide the best prospects for social and economic development.

U.S. citizen jailed for cocaine trafficking

AU.S. citizen was jailed for four years for trafficking cocaine by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Brianna Rodney, 25, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on June 3 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, she had in her possession for the purpose of trafficking 4.130 kilograms of cocaine.

The defendant, who was unrepresented in court, is a social worker who arrived in March 12 this year for her second visit to Guyana.

According to reports, she stayed at a hotel on Sheriff Street and made a number of new acquaintances. It was through one of her newfound acquaintances, Andre Gustov, 24, that the arrangement materialised for her to take the illegal substance to the U.S. for a fee that she would receive upon arrival.

While Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) of-

ficers at the airport were scanning the luggage during the process of Rodney checking in for departure, she was observed acting strangely.

As a result, she was summoned and made to claim her suitcase for which she was asked to supply the key.

The luggage was searched and the illegal substance was discovered concealed in six packets in the false bottom. Rodney was then told of the offence and arrested.

CANU Prosecutor Oswald Massiah told the

court that the defendant voluntarily gave details of what transpired along with a signed witness statement.

Rodney stood before the magistrate and told a rapt courtroom that she was fully aware of the situation. She explained that an opportunity was presented to her and she decided to ‘go with it’. She then apologised to the court for her actions.

Rodney explained that she lives with her mom, grandmother, great grandmother, two brothers, and her sisters who are in college, and she and her moth-

er are the only breadwinners for the family. She then reiterated her remorse.

The chief magistrate –taking into consideration the aggravated circumstances, the seriousness of the offence, the defendant’s remorse and the fact that she took responsibility for her actions– sentenced her to four years imprisonment and a fine of $30,000.

The second defendant, Gustov, who is reportedly a Guyana Defence Force soldier who is Absent without Leave (AWOL), was charged separately for possession of the 4.130 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking when he appeared before the chief magistrate.

Gustov, of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read.

Prosecutor Massiah stated that the defendant admitted to the offence in a statement. He was remanded to prison and his next court date is scheduled for July 15.

Threatening language case dismissed against security guard –

parties placed on bond to keep peace

Forty-three-year-old

Gavin Scott had a charge of threatening language dismissed on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrate’ Courts after the virtual complainant (VC) accepted his apology.

On June 24, Scott made use of threatening language to Yvette Fraser at Anira

Street, Queenstown, causing a breach of the peace. Scott works as a security guard at Comenius Primary School and according to Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, the VC also works at the school as a guard. On the day in question, the defendant came to relieve Fraser when a misunderstanding

occurred over a cardboard that was moved. Scott then told the VC that he would hit her in the head. The scared VC reported the matter to the Alberttown Police Station. An investigation was made, and the defendant was subsequently arrested.

Scott, who was unrep-

Caricom heads laud visionaries...

She said that the community needed to be serious in its introspection in the ever-changing, dynamic international community, and had to have continuous evaluation and renewal.

“Integration is a process and not an event,” she underscored, and added that the current generation and the next had to bring the vision of the founders to life for the benefit of all Caribbean people.

What occurred 40 years ago, she said, was a “bold and historic step” and it was her honour to participate in the symbolic signing, signifying Jamaica’s recommitment to the letter and principles entrenched in the revised treaty governing “this important family of nations”. For President Ramotar, the needs of the people of the Caribbean were paramount.

“As leaders, we must ask ourselves whether the peo-

ple of the region have benefited fully from this process,” he said. In praising the courage and foresight of the four founding prime ministers, President Ramotar pointed out that the need for integration was perhaps greater now than when the treaty was signed 40 years ago. He addressed the need for reflection and self-evaluation and urged the community to steer clear of what he termed a “commitment deficit”.

resented, said after the incident, he apologised. The VC confirmed said he apologised twice to her, saying that he was wrong and accepted the defendant’s apology. The case was dismissed and both parties were placed on a bond to keep the peace for 12 months by Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan.

from page 7

In her remarks, the Trinidad and Tobago prime minister lauded the vision of the founding fathers and called for a positive reflection, and incarnation of the spirit and intention of their vision.

Integration

The integration movement was at an important juncture of the evolution of the community, where “we either give up” or pursue the path of unity. The challenge, she told the Chaguaramas gathering, was not to be indecisive; not to turn around, not to delay, but to persist towards the redirection of our destiny.

The programme was interspersed with cultural presentations from Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, following the remarks by the respective heads of government.

In word, song, dance, drama and art, the culture of the community was showcased for the appreciative gathering at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre. The 40th anniversary is being observed under the theme “40 Years of Integration: Celebration and Renewal”.

Eyew tness

Exceptions...

...in the air

Juan Evo Morales is the president of Bolivia. So he went on a trip to Russia in his official plane – sort of the Bolivian version of the U.S.’s “Air Force One” that Barack Obama uses. As one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world, he was there for a conference on the fuel.

He’s all done with his conference and is flying home when France, Portugal and Spain refused permission to pass through their airspace. The plane had to turn back and being low on fuel was allowed to land in Austria where the plane was searched. Now you have to understand the background to this outrage to appreciate its importance. When a plane takes off, it has a flight plan that’s filed and approved by the countries in its path.

This means that the countries that refused the “fly over” made their decision after the plane took off. The question is why did they rescind their previous approval –and in unison. The answer is Edward Snowden – the fellow who blew the cover on the National Security Agency (NSA) snooping outrage. He’s holed up at an airport in Moscow seeking asylum from any country that’ll have him. Somebody must’ve figured that Morales, a fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy, was spiriting him away.

But by international law, the Bolivian president’s plane is diplomatically protected: its sovereign territory, so to speak. You just can’t, in effect, force it out of the sky and search it. Since the Europeans don’t have any reason to worry about Snowden, it’s pretty obvious that the U.S. must’ve twisted some arms or called in some chips. But not surprisingly no one’s taking the credit. Morales did allow the Austrians to search his plane – but, along with several fellow members of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), protested vigorously.

Could anyone imagine what would’ve happened if, say, China had “persuaded” some African countries that owed it some favours to refuse overflight permission to Obama’s Air Force One, as it jetted from South Africa to Tanzania? And because of the refusal it would run out of fuel and had to land in the Congo? And wait for 14 hours? We’re talking setting off World War III!!

We’re setting a very dangerous precedent here. Not because it’s a small country, its president should be humiliated with impunity. The governments of UNASUR must raise the matter in the United Nations (UN). And whichever countries requested and facilitated this breach of diplomatic protocols must be censured.

....rescinded

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has reversed the policy on “automatic” promotion in secondary schools. Exception had been made for students who didn’t obtain the cut-off marks because of fear if they were held back they would “drop out”. It really was a non-starter from the word go. It was just another one of those bright ideas that sounded good because it worked elsewhere.

As Manickchand conceded, those conditions just didn’t exist in Guyana and she couldn’t replicate their introduction. Teachers refused to put in more time, for one. We should note that when they get paid – as with lessons – they have no problem with the extra hours. Maybe the teachers could’ve been given a stipend to sweeten the offer? Also, lagging students didn’t show any enthusiasm for the extra swotting.

Then again, we have to accept that not every student will be as academically oriented as the present curriculum demands. Those students that fail might have to be placed in different streams – which recognise and reward different skills. Another report showing that primary schools students at National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) were still poor at English, suggest earlier interventions are even more vital.

....on land lease

We’re not surprised that Khemraj Ramjattan has decided that “ocean front” property is more valuable than others. He thinks we’re in Montego Bay? Our ocean front is threatened mangrove territory. Maybe he should lease all the “ocean front” land lying vacant along the East Coast Demerara.

Hoppie, Khan crowned GT&T song champs

By Bhisham mohamed

After months of intense competition in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company (GT&T) eight edition of the Jingle and Song Competition, Ryan Hoppie and Bibi Khan were on Friday announced the winners of the English and Bollywood segments respectively at the company’s BlackBerry headquarters, Brickdam, Georgetown.

This is the first year there was an absence of a grand finale which would normally pull the curtains on highly anticipated competition. Just before the results were revealed, anxious contestants streamed into the venue with high expectations, and more so, they were optimistic of winning the title.

Patch of surprise

However, at the end, it was Hoppie and Khan who both won $1million in cash and brand new Toyota Raum motor cars to the tune of over $2 million each. They were in all smiles with a little patch of surprise on their faces when they were announced the winners.

Also in the winner’s row for the English segment were Michael Small, Diana Chapman, Dorian Obbermuller and Natasha Yap, who were awarded with $750,000, $500,000, $250,000 and $150,000 respectively. In the Bollywood segment, Andy Rambarack, Reshma Persaud, Bounty Singh and Devchandra Ramrattan also received $750,000, $500,000, $250,000 and $150,000 respectively.

The other contestants

received $50,000 each. Apart from the monetary prizes, each contestant received a BlackBerry Z10 handset.

Speaking at the historic occasion, Chief Financial Officer Justin Ned told the gathering that from the birth of the competition in 2005, the event has amassed quite a following

with a record-breaking voting and attendance at the finale.

He reiterated that GT&T is proud to give back to Guyanese through talent development. “We all have fond recollection of memorable performances by talented Guyanese including Tameka Marshall, Shawn English, Cleon

Cadogan, Malika Boyd, Brandon Harding, Celeste David, Rene Chester, Rene Winter, Dallas Forte, Poonam Singh, Esther Osborne, Calais Peterkin, Carlvin Burnette, Nia Allen and Gail Ann Singh,” he added. These were all competitors during the eight years of the competition’s existence.

He added that this year’s competition had more than 1400 auditions across all three counties in Guyana and had segments for Bollywood and English. “The June 14 finale was quite simply a hit and the success was culminated by a voting frenzy right up to the closing at 23:59h on June 29. The voters had certainly their say, amassing more than 200,000 SMS votes over less than seven days – more than 1300 votes per hour,” he explained.

Cannot believe

On that note, he thanked the customers, contestants, colleagues and judges for their support during the competition.

Immediately after the announcement, an elated Hoppie told Guyana Times that he cannot believe that he won, recalling that there were some excellent singers and performers in the competition. He explained that the best moment in the competition for him was being able to make new friends with various personalities. He recalled that when the group round started, it was really a lot of pushing and dedication but more so, hard work.

Hoppie further stated that every round had its highs and lows, but things got more heated as the competition intensified. About his appearance at the finals, he told Guyana Times that he was pleased with his performance and was sure that his fans were also pleased. “After my final performance, it was time to campaign and I must say that Guyana has supported me tremen-

dously and ultimately led to my success here today,” he added.

Now that the competition is over, he looks forward to working with GT&T to continuously promote the company and music in general. “It will now be a team effort, as we develop young talent,” Hoppie stated.

On the other hand, Khan who was in all smile, said Friday was the happiest day of her life. “I have never been so happy…” She explained she knew she would have won the competition, nothing that after her final performance, she was extremely confident. She described her performance at the finals as solid, one that was the highlight of her musical career.

Determined to win “I was determined to win the competition… this is my second time in the competition and I knew I had to win it,” Khan disclosed. For the next year, she will be carrying the title as Guyana Star and intends to represent and showcase Guyana 100 per cent.

Meanwhile, the competition has seen some excellent performances by the contestants with the backing of the Shakti Stings Orchestra and the Heatwaves Band. The contestants and the GT&T official thanked the bands for their dedication and service provided throughout the competition. The judges were also commended for their professionalism and services. Hits and Jams and the production team were also acknowledged. (bhisham@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Business community begins meeting with political leaders

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said the time has come for Guyana to move from a place where government has to be the sole investor in every infrastructural project.

The GCCI stated that the country must begin to put systems in place to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at a faster rate.

GCCI executives began the first in a series of meetings with the leaders of the major political parties. The chamber met with leaders of the Alliance for Change

(AFC) on Thursday and discussed several burning issues.

Among the matters raised were the chamber’s advocacy positions as contained in the “Top 20 Barriers to Competitiveness” document. The chamber was also appraised of the views of the party on intellectual property protection, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated, security legislation, the Public Procurement Commission, and the anti-money laundering legislation.

The GCCI also detailed that FDI is important for

a small emerging economy where the capital market is small and the private sector is still young when considered in the global context.

The chamber suggested greater aggressiveness on the part of the foreign service as one of the easier and effective strategies to market the country.

The GCCI explained that Guyana can utilise the foreign ministry and begin an aggressive promotional campaign by utilising its foreign service officials to sell the country.

The chamber said such a strategy would require much

training, opening new missions in various countries, and ensuring Guyana’s economic diplomacy is better administered. The chamber also reiterated a call for the construction of a globally competitive manufacturing sector, which is a critical pillar in redirecting the economy away from traditional exports.

Pointing to the falling gold price on the global market, GCCI pointed out that the current gold situation has demonstrated how vulnerable the economy is to external factors in a short space of time.

Guyana Music Network set for September launch

On the heels of its concept introduction held at the Umana Yana recently, Kross Kolor Records is set to officially launch the Guyana Music Network, in September.

The following weeks will see outreach teams holding concept introduction events in Linden, Essequibo and Bartica with the aim of not only selling the concept to stakeholders, but adding to the now growing amounts of persons registering to be a part of the network.

The network is designed to improve knowledge of the business of music and skills as entrepreneurs; elevate self-promotion and skills; standardise recorded material from studio to studio; have more prominent presence on the worldwide web; have a

united approach to music industry development; encourage the exchange of services; maximising earning power from skills; equipment and projects; gather information for music industry data base;

reduce cost of production to members where possible; create a base market of buyers for products produced by musicians and producers; and build partnerships with other entities. The Guyana Music Network will be an entity that will promote the sustainable development of the music industry by first empowering its members through economic, educational and social activities supported by the network itself, built on the concept of “Han Wash Han Mek Han Clean”. The concept was birthed out of the lack of strategic development plan and extremely slow rate of growth.

The types of membership include full membership which opened to musicians, producers, songwriters, dub poets, studio owners, music

teachers, schools, steel bands and bands. Associate membership will cater for DJs, VJs, fashion designers, promoters, journalists, radio stations, television stations and the final category friends of the network and these include small businesses, corporate Guyana and fans. Each category comes with its own benefits.

Persons can register online at gmn.krosskolor.com. Additional information can also be found and questions asked via facebook.com/guyanamusicnetwork or email guyanamusic@gmail.com.

Those who have already registered are being encouraged to get at least three other persons to register since the success of the network will depend on the total membership.

Opposition seems divided on support for hydro project – Dr Luncheon

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said government was receiving mixed signals from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) on their support for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

Speaking during his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President on Friday, Dr Luncheon said Opposition

Leader David Granger and other senior officials within the joint parliamentary opposition have publically pledged to endorse the mega project, which is set to transform the country’s economy and the lives of all Guyanese. He said the Donald Ramotar administration is depending on the opposition mainly for legislative support.

Dr Luncheon noted, however, that other political leaders on the part of the oppo-

sition through the media continue to create a sense of negativism towards the project. The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is a flagship initiative under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which is designed to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy simultaneously reducing the cost of electricity by removing the country’s dependency on fossil fuel. It is expected to meet 90 per cent of Guyana’s

domestic energy needs. It will be a 165 megawatt hydropower generation facility that will be located in west-central Guyana, approximately 250km south-west of Georgetown.

In September 2012, the project achieved a significant milestone with the signing of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Agreement in China between Sithe Global and China Railway First Group.

Every body leavin de children behind

Whenever mommy and daddy does want to go out together and have dem own fun alone by demselves, dem does leave de children behind at home. Most of de times, a family member or a friend does have to do the baby sittin. Or de people who got plenty money does get a paid babysitter and leave de children behind.

Is de same ting whah does happen when friends and family meet up and hold a big party. Dem does start drinkin, playin loud music and behavin bad. And de children does have to tek second place and play by demselves, and not a soul does get any time to look after dem.

Worse yet, some of dem does just lock up de children at home and leave dem. That is when people house does end up gettin burn down, or thief man does bruk into dem house and thief out every ting whah dem can find. That is just like how a newspaper man thief out a GPL transformer pun Regent Street when no body was around, but he still ain’t end up in jail yet. Yet de poor people dem who thiefin lil current does get disconnected right away when dem get ketch.

Well, de biggest blow to de children now is that de guvament ketch on de bad habit of de mommies and daddies. A minister who is also a mommy announce that de schools gon start leavin de children behind. One minister try not to leave de children behind and another come and change up de whole ting.

De parents and plenty other people try to convince dem not change a good ting, but like no body listenin. Is every body getting hard of hearin these days…even de guvament.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Well every body gon have to look out now because is plenty more people gon start thiefin like de newspaper man, because he was one of dem that get leff behind a long time ago…and he still behind!

Guyana hosting U.S. military cadets for cultural understanding programme

Florida Adjutant

General Major General Emmett Titshaw, U.S. Army Cadet Command, and the local U.S. embassy’s Military Liaison Office have selected Guyana to host the Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) Programme in July 2013.

The programme in Guyana is planned for 37 personnel (34 cadets and three instructors), comprising soon-to-be-commissioned Florida National Guard cadets, between July 5 and 27, a release from the U.S. embassy here said.

The U.S. Army said it recognises the need for young leaders to develop cultural awareness and foreign language proficiency skills. Through the CULP Programme, hundreds of U.S. military cadets have the opportunity to spend up to three weeks immersed in foreign cultures, learning more about how others around the world view the U.S. and, in the process, learning to operate more effective in international environments. “The CULP programme gives cadets an opportunity to help develop the skills required to support global operations. In 2012, over 1200 cadets conducted a CULP in over 40 countries worldwide,” the release said. This is the first time the programme will take place in Guyana.

Activities under the CULP Programme typically include humanitarian service with the host population, military-to-military training, and education on the social, cultural, and historical aspects of the community. During the programme in Guyana, U.S. cadets will live, work, and have cultural exchanges with Guyana Defence Force cadets, as well as other elements of the GDF. CULP seeks to build a foundation to support understanding, cohesion, and meaningful partnership between the next generation of U.S. and Guyanese military officers. While in Guyana, U.S. cadets will also engage the local community through humanitarian programmes and service projects.

saturday, july 6, 2013 |

Guyana mulls producing own textbooks Ministry sets graduation fees at $3000

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Wednesday announced that efforts are being made by her ministry for the country to produce its own textbooks.

At a press conference held at the National Centre for Educational Resources Development (NCERD) on Thursday, the minister said the government believes the time is “here now” where it should make bigger and better efforts for the country to write its own textbooks, noting that the ministry will be embarking on this aggressively. She said this is to ensure more schools are equipped with the necessary materials and resources they need to enable them to do better at their examinations.

Expensive enterprise

“We are now purchasing books, directly from publishers; it is a very expensive enterprise… we’ve gotten fair discounts in the foreign countries but even with the good discounts, we are only able to buy very limited numbers of textbooks.”

For instance, this year for the secondary level, the Education Ministry will only be purchasing merely five textbooks that were published by overseas publishers since the five amounts to $50 million in the quantities they are being bought. The education minister underscored that this is one of the main

reasons the government was forced to procure the books the way it previously procured them.

She added that if the Education Ministry is able to acquire a better price, it would not waste resources or expend resources writing its own books since it would be able to do better things with those teachers who would sit around the table to write the books. “I think when you check the balance; it might make more sense to write our own books given that we would be able to provide more to our students.”

Manickchand posited that the country has the ability, knowledge and technical expertise to write these books.

Discussions

Currently, the ministry is engaged in discussions surrounding the production of textbooks and is identifying the relevant persons who will script them. “We are in the process of mapping out our resources and who we might want to do that,” the minister said. She added that there is a process which the ministry has to follow and it will take a while; hence, she posited that for the next two years, it continue to purchase textbooks. “In that time we will be writing ours and maybe three years from now using our own textbooks.”

Government came under heavy criticism last year when it resorted to buy-

ing photocopied text books.

Following a court action, the books were removed from the shelves of a number of stores across the country.

Meanwhile, the education minister disclosed that the ministry has begun distributing exercise books in the various regions across the country, and is assuring students at nursery, primary and secondary schools that they will receive their books by the first week of the new school term.

She said the ministry has already issued books to Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Nine and 10. Regions Six, Seven and Eight are slated to uplift theirs on Thursday.

Distribution

Nursery school pupils in years one and two receive three plain books while those in grades one and two receive nine single line exercise books, three double line exercise books and three plain exercise books, amounting to 15 exercise books.

Each student in grades three and four receives 12 single line exercise books, three double line exercise books, three checkered line exercise books and three plain exercise books, amounting to a total of 18 exercise books.

Each student in grades five and six receives 15 single lined books, three checkered lines exercise books and three plain exercise books, amounting to a total of 21 exercise books. While students in grades six to 12 each receives 15 single lined exercise books and three checkered lined exercise books, amounting to a total of 18 exercise books.

Teachers at the various levels also receive books as well. Teachers who teach at the nursery level receive six single line exercise books, primary schoolteachers receive nine single line exercise books while teachers who teach at the secondary level receive 12 single line exercise books. This initiative is part of government’s commitment to ensuring every student has the necessary tool to acquire a sound education.

In light of complaints lodged by parents concerning the excessive amount of money some schools are demanding as graduation fee, the Education Ministry has warned that parents should not pay more than $3000.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand made the announcement at a press briefing held at the National Centre for Educational Resources Development (NCERD) on Thursday.

“$3000 is the limit you can ask for when you add up pictures, cup, certificates, snacks and everything… schools are encouraged to charge less than $3000 as a contribution.”

She stated that the ministry has done a sampling across the country, and has found one school which has charged $5300. The administration of this school she said will be condignly dealt, since it is in receipt of a circular on the matter, and was present at a meeting where the Region Four education officer explained the circular

to them.

“I spoke to the headteacher and deputy myself yesterday (Wednesday), they broke it down so photographs amounted to $2000 or $3000 and the gown $1000 and the $2000… it came up to $5300; however, our circular was very clear that when you add everything up, it should not be more than $3000.”

The education minister highlighted that the school’s headteacher will be placed before the Disciplinary Committee of the Teaching Service Commission. She said the graduation fee was set at $3000 after her ministry spoke to many parents.

“We have said the children should wear uniforms, not be forced to dress up then compete and then not partake in something as rewarding as a graduation ceremony because you don’t have to wear it all or parents don’t feel they have the means to dress up their children.”

Additionally, Manickchand said no children should be asked to con-

tribute money for test papers, disclosing that the Education Ministry will ensure this does not happen.

“We will deal very, very seriously with any teacher, headteacher, education officer that breaches this policy.”

The minister also encouraged parents and community members to call any of the ministry’s hotline numbers, which are 223-7891, 623-0550 or 6234010, if they are required to pay more for anything recommended by the ministry.

She disclosed that since the lines became operational on May 20, the ministry has recorded 32 complaints, of which 21 have been resolved. The records indicate that calls came from Regions Three, Four, Five and Six. The complaints include gradation fees, school registration, student transfer, distribution of certificates at one of the technical vocational and education training centres and the reopening of school.

City Council warns against cut fruits in plates

The Mayor and City Council is advising the general public that they should be very careful when purchasing cut fruits, in plates wrapped with plastic from vendors. These might not be wholesome and fit for human consumption, City Hall said in a release. The Meat and Food Hygiene Section of the Council’s Public Health Department carried out an inspection of some of these cut fruits in Styrofoam trays. It was discovered that, in some cases, the fruits were not prepared under the approved hygienic standard. Further, the fruits are not stored or sold under the right temperature. This could alter the nutritional value of the fruits.

Therefore, the council wishes to advise citizens to be careful when purchasing

these fruits. These should be prepared on approved premises, under strict hygienic conditions. Cut fruits should be stored and sold at four degrees Celsius. Vendors who are offering these fruits for sale must do so in designated areas.

Also, the council has received reports that, notwithstanding an early agreement, some coconut vendors are still bottling coconut water for sale. The Public Health Department could not vouch for the sterilisation process used by these vendors. The council is appealing to those vendors who are involved to desist from pouring coconut water in bottles and offering it for sale.

Meanwhile, the council said it continues to enforce the by-laws relating to littering in the city. During the month of June 2013, 22

persons were charged and placed before the court for littering in different sections.

Some main areas in central Georgetown have been targeted by litterbugs, including Independence Boulevard, King Street, Camp Street, Stabroek Market and sections of Bourda Market. However, the City Constabulary Department and Solid Waste Management Department will continue to work to ensure those sites are kept in a clean and tidy manner and that all litter bugs are caught and prosecuted. The council is advising citizens to dispose of their litter in an appropriate receptacle and to refrain from disposing of garbage in drains, canals, and other such facilities. The fine for littering is $10,000.

saturday, july 6, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

National EPA implementation plans a key milestone

Gains have been made regarding Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), since the signing of the landmark trade and development accord by 14 CARIFORUM states in October 2008 and by the 15 state, Haiti, in December 2009.

With validation meetings now having been held in most of the eight CARIFORUM states that sought to develop National EPA implementation plans, regional states are at a critical turning point toward adding to those gains, the Caricom Secretariat said in a statement.

Implementation Plan

St Vincent and the Grenadines is the latest CARIFORUM state to mount a validation meeting. Authorities did so in Kingstown, on July 3. The purpose of the engagement was to bring together representatives from government, the private sector and civil society, to consider the draft National EPA Implementation Plan. According to Caricom, the well-attended meeting enabled these stakeholders to be briefed on the document, while availing them the opportunity to provide input as part of efforts to ready it for finalisation.

As has been the practice in the other states in which the validation exercise has been mounted staff of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat-based EPA Implementation Unit, and the consultant retained to spearhead development of the implementation plan, will be at the meeting. The unit has been integrally involved in lending technical support to the initiative in St Vincent and the Grenadines and the seven other CARIFORUM states involved, as have national counterparts in these states.

The validation meeting exercise was a crucial step in the finalisation of that plan, which is expected to position St Vincent and the Grenadines to better coordinate its approach to implementing the provisions

of the EPA, in terms of obligations and benefits. This is also the case for the other CARIFORUM states, for which validation meetings would have been convened.

The deliberations during validation meetings, led by the consultant, are to centre on the specific actions to be taken to achieve compliance, in addition to resources required for implementation and strategies for meeting resource gaps.

Inclusive process

In the lead up to these meetings at which the consultant would present the draft EPA Implementation Plan, the consultant would have been part of a consultative process with relevant stakeholders that lends itself to gleaning this kind of information.

At the outset of the consultancies for each of the regional states developing national EPA implementation plans, there has been a launching activity, which, as an introductory exercise, has attracted a wide crosssection of stakeholders. In most cases, the launch has been headlined by the minister with responsibility for the EPA. In a few cases, the minister has also participated in respective validation meetings.

Grenada was the first CARIFORUM state to benefit from the consultancy to develop national EPA implementation plans, an initiative which the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has a hand in backing and one which has been funded under the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund). Antigua and Barbuda was the next country in which the consultancy was rolled out, followed by Belize, St Kitts and Nevis, The Bahamas, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia. This sequence reflects the staging of launching exercises, each of which is meant to publicly call attention to the development of respective national EPA implementation plans.

This is also the case for validation exercises, with the exception of two states. In those two cases, validation meetings have yet to be confirmed. Authorities

in Saint Lucia mounted the validation exercise for that country on July 5 in Castries. The Regional EPA Implementation Unit was represented by its Trade in Services and Investment Specialist S H Allyson Francis.

Following the validation meeting in Saint Lucia and the finalisation of the plan thereafter, EPA focal points – with whom responsibility lies for ensuring the plan is realised – take possession of the document. The expectation is that individual plans would be submitted to the government for approval, and then given effect. The Regional EPA Implementation Unit has registered its commitment to continue to extend technical guidance and assistance to EPA focal points, as they proceed to give effect to the national EPA implementation plans.

Capacity building

The development of national EPA implementation plans is expected to bode well for regional states preparing to access the recently launched EPA Standby Facility for Capacity Building, a €3.5 million fund administered by the CDB, with support from national authoring officers (NAOs) in respective states. The standby facility is in place for three years (December 2012 to December 2015), and is intended to assist CARIFORUM states by underpinning national institutional capacities.

The draft EPA Regional Implementation Road Map document had been drawn up for CARIFORUM states, following the conclusion of negotiations, in order to identify the broad actions (chronologically) to be taken regarding EPA implementation at the national and regional levels.

Drawing on this high level document, a number of National EPA implementation units and like entities sought to develop national EPA implementation plans. Consultants were retained to aid in this effort, leveraging CARTFund resources. The 15 signatory CARIFORUM states to the EPA are the independent Caricom member states and The Dominican Republic.

Taxi driver shot during skirmish with Brazilians

Ataxi driver is clinging to life at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was shot twice on Cummings Street, Alberttown, Georgetown on Friday about 04:00h.

Leslie Wood, 26, of 54 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown is nursing at least two gunshot wounds to his forehead and chest. According to hospital officials, Wood

is in a critical state and is being monitored by doctors.

Wood had reportedly just dropped off a group of Brazilian dancers at a Cummings Street property when he got into a heated argument with them. The reason for the argument is unknown.

The women allegedly summoned someone on the phone and within minutes,

a green car arrived on the scene and stopped alongside Wood’s car. The occupants then opened fire on him.

Police after receiving the report visited the scene and retrieved a number of spent shells.

No arrest was made, but the police force is continueing to investigate. Attempts to make contact with the family of the injured man proved futile.

Workshop brainstorms bringing down energy costs, usage

The concept of energy management is changing around the world and business owners are beginning to understand that their energy has to remain a key agenda item in day-to-day deliberations.

“Energy has to be managed in the same way as finance, production and other aspects of business.” This was the main thrust of the workshop titled “Measuring for efficient energy management”, which was conducted by Dr Carl Duncan, a highly qualified energy specialist. He is a fellow of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and is highly trained in the United Kingdom (UK) government power station operation, maintenance, and non-conventional electricity generation.

The workshop was held on Thursday at Red House, Kingston. Dr Duncan is one of two international consultants retained by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) to execute a landmark Energy Efficiency Awareness and Implementation Project in Guyana.

Funding This project is being funded jointly by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the IDB (70 per cent) and the GMSA (30 per cent). He believes that across the Caribbean region, there is still a dearth of available information for entrepreneurs about the many easy ways to measure, monitor and reduce energy usage, and to harmonise conventional systems with renewable sources.

The good news, he said, is that the momentum is picking up in Caricom countries. Jamaica, Barbados and some countries in the Eastern Caribbean have already developed policy frameworks that are to be ratified by their heads of state. “What seems to be lacking is the commitment from leaders in the public and private sectors to embrace conservation, employ renewable sources, and implement wide-ranging education programmes that highlight the real monetary benefits,” he stated. It is extremely important that business leaders buy into the concept of energy management, the specialist added.

In his opening remarks to the participants of the workshop, Duncan gave kudos to the GMSA for spearheading Guyana’s push towards effective, efficient energy management in business places. He contended that with the application of energy measuring equipment, the auditing of information via online systems and constant monitoring, businesses would begin to really manage their consumption, and develop

patterns aimed at conservation. Production priorities, he said, have traditionally taken precedence over most other aspects of business, but the positive effects on the bottom line of any company that takes its energy management seriously would be worth it.

During this current 20day intervention, the specialist consultant visited the project’s pilot companies and conducted on-thejob training sessions at each location for engineering and finance operatives. He was also able to make significant recommendations for changes in equipment and fuel usage among other things after surveying the facilities and reviewing the data gathered by the measuring instruments. His initial calculations indicate that these companies would soon be able to save at least five per cent of their annual energy expenditures which, in some companies, amount to as much as US$5 million.

Energy ratings

The pilot companies had been advised to procure these instruments at the beginning of the energy ratings survey, the first phase of the project which ended last May. This phase was executed by Jamaican Eaton Haughton, another high ranking energy specialist renowned in the Caribbean and Central America.

Dr Duncan's areas of expertise also include 1811-WA auditing and review of regulated utilities, tariff setting and regulating electric and water utilities. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in industrial and electrical engineering and a doctor of philosophy in business administration.

His work experience in Guyana included stints in the bauxite, sugar and timber industries and the electricity company. From 2003, he has been executing projects in the utilities and corrugated box industries in St Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados, and plays a major role in the regulatory commissions in the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica where he resides.

The energy efficiency project is critical to the development of enterprises in Guyana. It directly addresses the often contentious issue of high energy costs, and is aimed at sensitising companies to the best means of measuring and managing their energy distribution equipment/components and consumption. It was designed specifically to assist local companies, especially in the manufacturing and services sectors to make the most efficient use of their energy applications and simultaneously, employ the most effective methods of energy conservation. This applies to companies powered from the national grid and those that self-generate.

The project was designed to address three distinct but interrelated components of energy management: energy conservation, energy consumption and alternative energy sources. The ultimate objective is to help companies significantly reduce energy expenditures generated from electrical/ electronic assets such as lighting equipment and accessories, heating and cooling appliances/equipment and motorised drives.

Components

The project was divided into two major components: (a) an energy efficiency rating study designed to establish a data baseline showing consumption, utilisation and cost patterns and (b) an energy audit and study which would involve live inplant measurements and monitoring of electrical assets.

The data should be able to derive variance analyses between actual and rated consumption levels that would inform corrective actions, whether technological, structural or procedural. According to the project designer and administrator, Clement Duncan, the data derived from the two studies and workshops will be morphed into a national business model that will be applicable to the wide spectrum of enterprises in the Guyanese business community.

Guyana ranks high in sustainable mining study

Ateam of technical experts from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has conducted an evaluation on the three Guianas in relation to forestry and mining and has rated Guyana high in the area of forest degradation pollution.

While Guyana has the largest extractive sector in relation to production and people when compared to Suriname and French Guiana, it had the least impact on forest degradation and potential for pollution.

In response to the findings, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud stated that government’s commitment to forestry and mining does not translate to compromising a sustainable environment.

Environmental management

Persaud said Guyana intends to balance the engagement in sustainable extractive activity with the preservation and management of the environment.

He noted that government has started to work on the process of regulation and innovation in terms of introducing new technology to ensure activities related to the traditional extractive industries are done in a sustainable manner.

The minister added that work is also being done in the agricultural sector to

re-examine the types of techniques used in cultivation in keeping with its green growth trajectory.

The natural resources minister explained that once Guyana deals with the issue of clean, reliable and cheap power, it would be in a better position to become a contributor to the manufacturing and production of green goods and services.

“This is the type of thinking we need to embrace and commit to and ensure it presents new opportunities that can add to economic benefit as a nation and lead to prosperity.”

The minister added that this is an opportunity for Guyana, given its international standing, political commitment and genuine demonstration of will, to become a producer of green services and jobs to further a green agenda.

Green economy

However, Persaud said in order to move to a green economy from one based on traditional sectors, Guyana must first address several key factors including its infrastructure, the development of a science and technology platform and innovation not only on the part of the education sector, but also the private sector and other stakeholders.

He noted that government is working through a multistakeholder committee, the Office of the Climate Change and other entities responsible for the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), to find ways to reinvent the strategy and ensure it is consistent with global realities and responsive to national needs.

“The underlying fact, however, is ensuring there is development along a green, low-carbon pathway and contrary to any perception; it is not to hinder development or retard growth but to create more opportunity and search for new sectors that are low impact on the environment,” Persaud remarked.

He noted that even in traditional sectors, other forms of energy can be ex-

plored in order to transition into industries that produce goods and services which contribute to a green economy and activities that minimise the impact on the environment.

“One of the approaches, which have been given currency, is to examine how we can green the economy and Guyana has been able to move this from a theoretical standpoint to one which was presented to the international community in a practical model that has been gaining much traction and a national embrace,” Persaud detailed.

He noted that the debate has moved from a speculation of whether there is a climate crisis and if humankind is responsible, to now an acceptance of the fact that something must be done to reverse and even forestall any further negative impact.

Low-carbon path

“One of the solutions, is how Guyana can pursue development along a low-carbon path and this became an interesting debate because the traditional paradigm of talking about the environment and economic growth is seen within a framework of it was either one or the other.”

A body of academic research, which has become mainstream and is now being incorporated into multilateral policies, has shown that it is possible to have sustained and enhanced economic growth as well as address environmental issues to take positive measures to reduce the impact of the climate crisis.

Persaud said all is now aware of the international crisis that is taking its toll on the global economy; not only seasonal rainfall in Guyana, but other parts of the world, where there are catastrophic natural disasters.

He further pointed out that storms that once occurred every 100 years are now increasing in frequency and intensity, hindering human progress and resulting in tremendous economic loss.

Guyanese teens to be buried together after U.S. car wreck

Two Guyanese nationals, who were killed in a vehicular accident over the weekend, will be buried side-by-side, relatives said on Monday.

Meera Dukharan, 17, and Anil Persaud, 18, the parents of a 14-monthold toddler, were buried on Wednesday. Police said they were killed early last Saturday when they were

thrown from the back seat of a car in which they were travelling.

“We would never separate them in life, and we will never separate them in death,” said Dukharan’s grandmother Jina Mangru, 54, who promised to take care of the daughter, Meya.

Police have charged Guyanese Madosh Hansraj, 20, the driver of the vehicle,

alleging that he had been drinking alcohol at a bar in the Richmond Hill section of Queens before losing control of the vehicle on the Grand Central Parkway.

There were five people in the vehicle and Hansraj wept as he was being arraigned on charges of manslaughter, assault, criminally negligent homicide and driving while under the influence.

(Caribbean360)

saturday, july 6, 2013 |

NAMILCO helping sponsor Bishops’ student’s attendance at cience programme

The National Milling Company of Guyana Inc (NAMILCO) has recently committed to part sponsor Deowattie Vanessa Narine of Bishops’ High School to attend the Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE).

The initiative is an intensive four-week enrichment residential summer programme run by the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) for Caribbean high school students who are gifted in science and engineering, and interested in studying and exploring careers in these fields, NAMILCO said in a release.

The goal is to help address the low numbers of Caribbean students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering. This programme, along with the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge (SVC), is one of CSF’s initiatives with the long-term goal of helping to diversify the economies of the region and raise the standard of living of the people by stimulating more technology-based entrepreneurship within the region.

According to NAMILCO, SPISE is modelled after the

well-known and highly successful MITES programme at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This programme is of total immersion (24/7) in university-level calculus, physics, biochemistry, entrepreneurship, mandarin, oneCaribbean studies, and hands-on projects in robotics and electronics and computer programming. It will run from July 20 to August 17 at the UWI Cave Hill Campus in Barbados.

Unique distinction

Narine, a 17-year-old female student, has the unique distinction in the Caribbean region of receiving the award for the Best Caribbean Secondary School Examination (CSEC) Science Performance for 2012. She was the top performer in CSEC exams among more than 20,000 Caribbean students who took these exams! Her teachers wrote in letters of recommendation that we “will not find a more worthy recipient” and that she is a “combination of academic achievement, charisma and thoughtfulness”. She has also demonstrated leadership in her extracurricular activities. She is not only the

top student applying from Guyana, but also one of the top two candidates among the group of 20 Caribbean students hoping to become accepted this year.

According to NAMILCO Managing Director Bert Sukhai, the company is committed to assist in the development of Guyana’s youths in science and technology. Science, technology and engineering are fields that will propel Guyana’s national development. He added that science and technology and engineering play a critical role in the quality of the products produced by any food company.

NAMILCO is ISO 9001 certify and has maintained very high standards within the local food manufacturing sector. Sukhai attributes this success to his team of highly skilled scientists and engineers. He encourages other companies and private sector institutions to join NAMILCO in this noble initiative.

The Education Ministry has increased its efforts in the promotion of STEM education through the use of the inquiry-based science education and the re-introduction of the use of the micro-science kits.

Guyana, Brazil conclude fourth working group meeting

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon has announced that the Guyana-Brazil Working Group recently concluded its fourth meeting in Boa Vista, Brazil and a report will soon be presented to the presidents of both countries at the upcoming Mercosur heads of government summit.

Dr Luncheon was at the time addressing the media at his weekly post-Cabinet briefing, at the Office of the President on Friday. He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will also be signed to plot the way forward on the implementation on the identified projects agreed upon by the technical teams that constituted the working groups for

Guyana and Brazil.

Some of the projects Guyana is interested in and which are being discussed are the Linden-Lethem road, hydropower development and export of energy, and the deepwater port facility in the Berbice River. Subsequent to the report and the adoption of the MoU, Dr Luncheon stated that it is expected that the document will be made available to the public by the two governments. The previous three meetings were held in Guyana; the first meeting, which lasted for two days, took place in February at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC). Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

and Brazilian External Relations Minister Antonio Patriota signed an MoU in December 2012, establishing the Working Group on Infrastructure. The working group meeting provides the opportunity for the two countries to be innovative in their approach to meeting some of the infrastructure gaps that exist in both nations, particularly the growing demand for energy in Brazil and the demand for infrastructure in Guyana. The collaboration is a signal of the commitment by both countries’ leaders towards advancing bilateral cooperation which will ultimately lead to improvement in the lives of the citizens of each country.

Jamaica looks to growing Chinese travel market

Jamaica is seeking to tap into China’s burgeoning travel market to increase arrivals to the island and boost tourism earnings.

China is currently regarded as the biggest and fastest growing source market for tourism, with the country’s travellers spending a record US$102 billion on international tourism in 2012.

Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Dr Wykeham McNeill, in his 2013/14 sectoral debate presentation in the Parliament on Tuesday, said China’s expenditure on travel last year represented 10 per cent of total global expenditure, and has seen China surpassing the United

States as the biggest global tourism source market.

Stating that “we have to pursue” this “critical market”, he said that the

government is looking at relaxing visa entry requirements for nationals from the Asian country.

While noting that Jamaica already enjoys approved destination status with China, McNeill explained that visas to the island are available only in the country’s capital, Beijing, which he said, is an “inconvenience for citizens of such a large country”.

“We have to make it easier for them to enter Jamaica. We have already started discussions with the minister of national security and the minister of foreign affairs, to explore ways in which we can streamline group travel to Jamaica,” he said. (Excerpt from Caribbean

Human remains under Trinidad parliament building could date back to 430 AD

The Trinidad and Tobago parliament says the human bones unearthed under the “Red House” building during initial excavation work undertaken as part of the restoration of the building date back to between 430AD and 1390 AD.

In a statement, the parliament said that a full-time archaeological team has been assigned to the dig site for six months to look for further material.

It said that the cabinet had also established a Red House Cultural Heritage Team, chaired by Speaker Wade Mark, to manage all aspects of the historical find and to ensure conformity with best practices and international standards.

The human remains were first unearthed on March 26, and since then the par-

Spain told Edward Snowden was on Bolivian president’s plane

Spain and oth-

er European countries were told that U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden was on board the Bolivian president’s plane earlier this week, the Spanish foreign minister has said.

Jose Manuel GarciaMargallo refused to say who gave out the information.

The plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales from Moscow back to La Paz was grounded for 13 hours in Austria earlier this week after it was banned from European airspace.

Edward Snowden was not found on board.

The incident has been widely condemned by President Morales and several other South American nations, who have demand-

Trinidad Muslim leader says he will only testify if paid to do so

The leader of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen, Yasin Abu Bakr, said he will only appear before a commission of inquiry probing the events of the 1990 unsuccessful coup against the Trinidad and Tobago government if he is paid to provide evidence. Bakr, 71, appearing on a local radio programme on Sunday, said the authorities must make payment to him in just the same manner as payment is being made to members of the commission which is chaired by prominent Barbadian jurist Sir David Simmons.

“If you want to take my time, you paying Simmons and the other people for their time and if you want to take my time you have to pay me equally for my time because with me they would not exist.

“Had I not been the author of this book they would have anything to read,” he said, insisting “yes, I have

to be paid equally with Mr Simmons otherwise Mr Simmons would not exist without me.

“He exists because of me and so are the others and if you are paying them why you don’t want to pay me. That is slavery. You are saying my time is worth nothing but Mr Simmons and Dianna Mahabir West, their time is worth something and you paying them for their time,” he said on the “Showdown” programme. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

ed an apology from the countries involved.

“They told us they were sure... that he was on board,” Garcia-Margallo told Spanish television, without indicating who “they” are.

“And so the reaction of all the European countries that took measures – whether right or wrong – was because of the information that had been passed on. I couldn’t check if it was true or not at that moment because it was necessary to act straight away.”

Garcia-Margallo denied reports that Spain – along with France, Portugal and Italy – had closed its airspace to the plane.

He said the delay in Austria meant the flight permit had expired and had to be renewed, so there was “no need to apologise”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Volcano causes Mexico flight chaos

U.S. airlines have cancelled dozens of flights into Mexico City over fears that ash from a rumbling volcano would affect their planes.

Delta and American were among the airlines cancelling more than 40 flights into the capital on Thursday.

Popocatepetl volcano has been rumbling all year, and began spewing ash and steam earlier in the week. Airport authorities insisted there was no danger, and the U.S. airlines said they had resumed flights on Friday.

An unnamed airport

spokesman told AFP news agency: “There is a very thin presence of ash, which does not harm operations or affect equipment.”

U.S. Airways, Delta, United, American and Alaska Airlines cancelled flights on Thursday before returning to their normal schedules on Friday. The routes affected by the cancellations were flights to Houston, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago and Los Angeles.

American said in a statement that it had taken the action as a precaution. (Excerpt from

liament said a number of skeletal remains, cultural and historical artifacts were found and that an archaeological excavation team, headed by the late archaeologist Peter Harris, along with other qualified officials from the University of the West Indies, was established to oversee the removal of all

human skeletal remains and artifacts discovered at the test pits.

In the statement, the parliament paid special tribute to Harris, who died on May 18, saying, “his expertise and knowledge provided the requisite leadership needed during the early stages of the excavation process”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Court challenge withdrawn; second no-confidence motion filed in St Kitts-Nevis

The opposition in St Kitts and Nevis has withdrawn a court challenge to the delay in the tabling of a motion of no-confidence, and People’s Action Movement (PAM) leader Shawn Richards has announced that he filed a second motion of no-confidence in the government on Wednesday.

Six of the 11 elected members of parliament eligible to vote on the motion had filed a case with the court arguing that the delay in its ta-

bling violated their constitutional rights. The speaker of the house and government had been maintaining that as long as a matter related to the motion was before the court, it could not be tabled. The opposition is now contending that the government has absolutely no reason not to table the motion.

Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas is currently off island and the next session of parliament is slated for Monday. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Jamaica: J$28M and counting, yet East Harbour Craft Village still to open

The partially completed building on prime lands overlooking the sea in the resort town of Port Antonio, Portland, was originally intended to house the East Harbour Craft Village.

However, the multimillion-dollar beachfront property, which has over the years been allowed to rot while scores of craft vendors compete for space in the crammed food market, is now getting some attention. But craft vendors doubt they

will ever get an opportunity to use the facility. Construction work started in 1998, under then Tourism Minister Francis Tulloch, at a cost of J$28 million. The state-of-the-art craft village was originally planned to house approximately 90 craft vendors who were operating at the rear of the Musgrave Market in the congested town. Work was halted in 2002 and sections of the building later vandalised. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Violence erupts in Egypt

Violence erupted Friday as supporters of Mohamed Morsi turned out en masse, calling for his restoration to the presidency two days after his ouster in a military coup.

Five Morsi supporters were shot dead by the army in front of the headquarters of the Republican Guard headquarters, where the ousted president was reported to be detained, the Muslim Brotherhood’s politi-

cal wing – the Freedom and Justice Party – said Friday night.

The Health Ministry reported that at least two people were killed and 65 others injured in clashes there.

The casualties occurred when Morsi supporters tried to storm the building, state broadcaster Nile TV said.

State broadcaster Nile TV, citing a security source, said live ammunition had not been used against dem-

Morsi ousting galvanises radical Islamists

Though the ousting of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, on July 3 was welcomed by millions of Egyptians who took to Tahrir Square to celebrate, not everyone in the North African country was happy. In certain neighbourhoods in the capital of Cairo, as well as in other Egyptian cities, Islamists voiced frustration and anger at what they saw as the army robbing them of their president, who belonged to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement.

On Thursday, the arrest of several high-ranking members of the Brotherhood only intensified the anger of the movement’s partisans.

On Friday, the National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy, which unites the main Islamist movements of Egypt, called for mass protests marking a “day of rejection” against the “military coup d’état”.

On Thursday, the Muslim Brotherhood indicated that it was “unlikely” that they would take up arms after Morsi’s ousting, but the tone has gotten more virulent among Islamists. “It was our last experience with democracy – forget democracy,” was the status posted on a Salafist Facebook page under the name of Assalafi Assahabi, which counts more than 200,000 followers and regularly communicates messages from religious extremists. (Excerpt from France24)

onstrators and that was hurt or killed there.

CNN’s Reza Sayah, reporting from outside the building, said he had seen one body around which scores of Morsi supporters were huddled, some of them crying. A few feet away, thousands of demonstrators faced off across a barbed-wire barricade against a line of soldiers, who then detonated flash grenades and fired tear gas in an apparent attempt to get the demonstrators to move away.

Many of them did just that, though thousands of others remained in defiance. Demonstrators could be seen carrying away a wounded man. Some demonstrators waved flags and held pictures of Morsi and vowed not to leave until the military returns Morsi to office.

“We are here to ask them to return back with our president,” one man told CNN. “Because he is the real president of Egypt”. (Excerpt from CNN)

Around the World

Fierce fighting batters Syria’s strategic city of Homs

Syrian state forces backed by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah hammered the central city of Homs on Friday, activists said, sparking concern from United Nations officials over thousands of civilians trapped in the city.

President Bashar alAssad’s forces have been using heavy air raids and artillery strikes to push their offensive around the capital and the strategically located Homs, which spans central Syria’s eastern and western international borders.

Near Damascus, a wellknown activist known as Mohammed Moaz died of injuries from shelling in a rebel-held suburb on Friday.

Moaz, whose real name was Fedaa al-Baali, was one of the first activists to let himself be filmed and recorded to try to give more credibility to his reports. He had suffered previous inju-

Family feud is almost like spitting in Mandela’s face, Tutu says

South African

Archbishop Desmond

Tutu has a few choice words for the feuding family of Nelson Mandela: Resolve your differences, and stop tainting the former president’s name.

Tutu intervened after a bitter dispute among relatives over the burial of Mandela’s three deceased children. His grandson exhumed them from Qunu two years ago, then reburied them in Mvezo.

The rest of the family sued the grandson, and a court ordered him to return the remains to Qunu, where

Pakistan brings back death penalty, to anger of rights groups

Pakistan’s new government, trying to appear determined to rein in escalating crime and militancy, has ended a ban on the death penalty, in a move condemned by international organisations as inhuman and retrograde.

Up to 8000 people languish on death row in dozens of Pakistan’s notoriously overcrowded and violent jails.

Once a moratorium is in place, reinstatement of capital punishment is rare, with more than 150 countries having already either abolished the death penalty or stopped administering it. A 2008 moratorium imposed by Pakistan’s previous government, praised at the time by global rights groups, expired on June 30.

ries while filming rebel operations around the capital.

He was eventually identified by security forces and they tried to blackmail him into silence by kidnapping his father. His father was let go though he did not back down, but his brother was killed last year.

Syria’s war has killed more than 100,000 people, the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. The two-year revolt began as peaceful protests but, under a fierce security force crackdown, it degenerated into civil war.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

French PM spokesman says spy programme claims inexact

the former president spent his childhood. They were reburied there this week.

The drama has played out in public, with the grandson, Mandla Mandela, lashing out at his relatives during a news conference.

Mandela’s family dispute comes at a precarious time.

The statesman is hospitalised and on life support for a recurring lung infection.

Though he has been getting kidney dialysis, he is not in a vegetative state and opens his eyes when people talk to him, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told CNN on Friday.

(Excerpt from CNN)

French officials have rejected reports its intelligence agencies are running a vast spying operation on its citizens.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the claims in the French daily Le Monde were “inexact”.

Le Monde reported that computer and telephone data were being stored on a supercomputer at the offices of the DGSE foreign intelligence service.

The programme operated “outside the law” and could be accessed by all domestic agencies, the paper said.

“Several services conduct monitoring operations for security reasons,” an official from Prime Minister Ayrault’s office was quoted as saying by Agence France Presse.

The official said the information could only be accessed “if the prime minister so decided after advice from the CNCIS,” the National Commission of Security Interceptions Control.

Le Monde stood by its story on Friday with an editorial in which it said: “Bin Laden has nourished Big Brother”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Delhi rape: Trial of 17-yearold suspect concludes

The trial of a 17-year-old, accused in last December’s fatal gang rape of a woman on a bus in Delhi, has concluded.

Pakistan’s president must approve all executions. The government puts the number of people on death row at about 400. The method of execution is usually hanging.

“Pakistan is part of a dwindling minority of states who continue to retain the death penalty and carry out executions,” the International Crisis Group said.

“The prospect of lifting the moratorium is all the more alarming given the extraordinarily high number of people on death row.”

Khan said the new policy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government was to execute all death row prisoners, except those pardoned on humanitarian grounds. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“The present government does not plan to extend it,” said Omar Hamid Khan, an interior ministry spokesman.

The Juvenile Justice Board will give its verdict on July 11. The boy was charged with rape, murder and other crimes, including kidnapping. If convicted, he faces a maximum of three years in a reform facility.

He has denied the charges –as have four other suspects on trial at a specially convened fasttrack court. They face the death penalty.

A sixth suspect was found dead in jail. Prison officials said they believed he hanged himself. Defence lawyers and his family allege he was murdered.

The brutal assault shocked

India and sparked a debate over the treatment of women in the country. The victim, a physiotherapy student who cannot be named in India for legal reasons, and a male friend were attacked on a

bus on December 16.

Police said the assailants beat both of them, and then raped the woman. She suffered massive internal injuries and died nearly two weeks later.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Pan-American relocates agency

Pan-American Life Insurance Company of TT, a member of the Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG), has relocated the Carol Ann Pierre agency to new office space in the EF Telly Paul building in downtown Port of Spain. The agency, which won its third consecutive Agency of the Year award in March, moved into the new office last month and Carol Ann Pierre, the agency manager, is delighted.

“This is something that I have been looking forward to,” Pierre said. “I am extremely pleased to see it come to fruition and I know that this new environment will inspire my agents to perform better than ever.”

Kenwyne James, the company’s two-time Unit Manager of the Year, agreed.

“Moving to this new space is certainly something exciting for all the agents,” James said. “It has created a positive energy around the agen-

cy and the unit. The new office will also make a good impression on new clients.”

The relocation is one of several such planned moves as PALIG continues to work on improving the infrastructure available to its sales force.

“We want all of our producers to work in an environment that will keep their motivation and enthusiasm at the highest levels possible,” said Jacinto Martinez, vice president and regional director of agencies. (Trinidad Guardian)

Positive U.S. jobs numbers add to rate rise speculation

The U.S. economy added a net 195,000 new jobs in June, official figures show. The figure was well above economists’ expectations of 165,000. Revisions to data for April and May added a further 70,000 jobs to previous estimates. The jobless rate remained steady at 7.6 per cent of the workforce, according to the data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics. The dollar and U.S. bond

yields jumped as markets expectations rose that interest rates will start rising in a year. The euro fell three quarters of a cent against the dollar to US$1.282, while gold fell almost three per cent to US$1214.36 an ounce. The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds rose from 2.5 per cent to 2.68 per cent to their highest level in almost two years. Treasury bonds –the U.S. government’s cost

of borrowing – provide an indication of when markets expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to begin raising interest rates, with many analysts now predicting that a move could come as soon as the end of 2014. The news was initially welcomed on Wall Street, where the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all opened higher. They turned negative mid-morning but regained the higher ground by afternoon trading. (BBC News)

Rolls-Royce denies claims it concealed engine defects

Rolls-Royce has denied claims made by two former employees in a U.S. lawsuit that it “cut corners on quality control requirements” and “lied to” customers. The pair also alleged that the firm “routinely used defective parts designated as ‘scrap only’”. The two are challenging a court order that prevents them from releasing information which they claim reveals details of what the firm concealed.

Rolls-Royce has defended itself and said the lawsuit is “without merit”. According to reports in the Financial Times and the Daily Telegraph, the lawsuit filed by former employees Thomas McArtor and Keith Ramsey alleges that the engine maker concealed internal records of defects in engines sold to clients.

The employees claims that the company collated those alleged defects into a “secret set of books”. Rolls-Royce has

denied these allegations saying that a U.S. district Judge, William T Lawrence, had already thrown out two of the four claims before the “discovery” phase of the litigation had been entered. “Judge Lawrence did not find that Rolls-Royce engaged in any wrongdoing, failed to follow its quality system, concealed anything from the U.S. government or even that a jury is entitled to hear the allegations,” the firm said. (BBC News)

Africa

Oil extends gains on Egypt concerns, U.S. data supports

Brent crude oil extended gains on Friday afternoon after the leader of a group backing the ousted Egyptian president called for his reinstatement, fuelling fears of escalating conflict in the nation and spill over to elsewhere in the Middle East.

Brent crude oil for August delivery was trading US$1.92 per barrel higher at US$107.46 at 13:32h EDT after hitting a three-month high of US$107.74 a barrel. The leader of Egypt’s

Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, told a protest rally that ousted president Mohamed Mursi must be reinstated following his removal by the army - “otherwise its our lives”.

China and the European Union are moving towards a deal to defuse a conflict over alleged dumping of solar panels in Europe, officials from both sides said on Friday, aiming to head off a damaging trade war in goods from steel to wine. The European Commission, the EU’s executive, accuses China of flooding Europe with billions of euros of cheap solar panels

The comments, seen in headlines around the world, fuelled bullish market speculators to buy oil. “There’s enough bullish interest in owning oil that these kinds of headlines will continue to draw fresh bullish positions,” said Addison Armstrong, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

U.S. crude oil prices maintained a 14-month high, supported by data showing U.S. employers added more jobs than expected in June, as other commodity prices sank. Frontmonth U.S. crude oil futures were up US$1.77 per barrel to US$103.01 a barrel after hitting a high of US$103.18. Both Brent and WTI were set for their largest weekly percentage gain in more than a year. (Reuters)

China, EU close in on solar panel deal

sold at below the cost of production, and has imposed duties that will jump up to punitive levels in August.

Beijing and Brussels have until then to find a solution in their biggest ever trade dispute. Europe’s free trade-advocates Britain and Germany want to avoid angering China and risk business with Europe’s second largest trading partner.

However, the impact

of overcapacity and plunging prices on European solar firms was underscored on Friday as German group Conergy filed for insolvency. Officials from China and Europe said more than two weeks of negotiations in Beijing were going well and they aimed to agree a minimum price for Chinese importers above their production costs, although numbers are still fluid. (Reuters)

Dutch fine dining concept to open in Dubai

Supperclub, the worldfamous address for fine dining and artistic entertainment, will officially open its doors in Dubai on Friday. Supperclub Dubai is opening at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, the Ottoman inspired luxury resort located on Palm Jumeirah.

Dubai now joins the league of global cities including Amsterdam, Istanbul, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London, in hosting a Supperclub venue.

Yassin Matbouly, found-

er and partner of Supperclub MENA, said: “When we decided to bring the globallyrenowned Supperclub brand to Dubai, our goal was to reinvent the landscape and concept of the luxury gastronomy scene in the city.

“Supperclub Dubai raises the benchmarks of the hospitality sector and provides the ultimate dining and entertainment experience the city has ever seen.” Bert Van der Leden, the brain behind the Supperclub franchise, and

partner at owning company IQ Creative, added: “When Supperclub was launched 20 years ago in the creative capital of Amsterdam, we wanted to create a meeting ground that met the needs of prolific musicians, writers, and artists.

“Supperclub Dubai will become the benchmark in iconic music, bringing the best of art, music, and the gracious hospitality synonymous with the city of Dubai, to one stunning destination.” (Arabianbusiness)

Five ways to become a multinational company

Congratulations, your small business has grown out of its tiny office block and now has enough cash to go multinational! It’s time to expand into other countries and make your brand known worldwide. What are the basic options for a fledgling multinational corporation to spread its wings? If your company meets any of the following five criteria, then your company can be considered a multinational company (MNC).

Branches are the more straightforward way to expand to another country. Simply take some cash, get the pertinent business li-

censes, hire a localisation team, and set up a branch in a foreign country. You obviously want to set up your branch in a busy, international area – for example, if you company is attempting to expand into China, you should set up in cosmopolitan Shanghai, and not the nether regions of Urumqi. You’ll obviously pay more rent and taxes in Shanghai, but you have to make sure your company is highly exposed to other businesses that matter, paving the way to future local partnerships. If you company is cash rich, then acquisitions may be a better strategy than establishing branches. Acquiring a local company for the purpose of vertical or horizontal integration is fast and comparatively easy, provided that you plan to leave the original business (branch management, infrastructure) intact. By making the acquired company your subsidiary, you have the advantages of instant localisation, name recognition and an experienced team at the helm. However, do your homework before acquiring a subsidiary, lest your company experience acquisition indigestion. (Business Dictionary)

Miner accused of punching wife

Aminer was granted bail on an assault charge on Thursday when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Norris Softly, 42, of Lot 169 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 1 at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni River, he unlawfully assaulted his wife, Uvani Jonas so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

According to reports, the virtual complainant (VC) was dealt several cuffs to her face, which caused swelling.

Attorney Paul Fung-AFat, appearing on the defendant’s behalf, stated that this is not the first time the defendant has had a misunderstanding with his wife. Prior to the incident, she busted his head and cut his hand, and he even had evidence of the abuse about his body.

The prosecution objected to bail, stating that the defendant gave a wrong address and that under his own admission, he shares a rocky relationship with the virtual complainant (VC) so there is a likelihood that he may tamper with the VC if granted bail. The prosecu-

tion added that the matter has to return to a hinterland court and the defendant may not show up for the matter.

Fung-A-Fat responded in his bail application that his client has a home in Imbaimadai, so it is very unlikely that he would not show up for court. The lawyer asked that a bond be instituted between the defendant and VC, and stated his client’s willingness to lodge his passport if necessary.

Bail was granted in the sum of $80,000 and the matter will be heard again on September 16 at the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.

Drug possession suspect denies allegation

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry denied an ex-convict bail on charges of drug possession when he appeared before her on Friday in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Ronald Satamby, 54, of Lot 32 Callender Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 26 at Albouystown he had in his possession for the purpose of trafficking 6.860 kilograms of cannabis.

The father of two has a previous conviction on a similar charge for which he served a three-year sentence. According to police reports, on the day in question, ranks from the narcotics branch acting on a tip proceeded to a James Street,

Albouystown building which they searched. During the search, they located several personal items belonging to the defendant, such as his birth certificate and some photos, as well as the drug.

The chief magistrate stated that although the personal documents were found on the premises, it does not mean that the accused resides there. The prosecution responded that the ranks also located receipts which showed that the defendant had been paying rent there.

Defence lawyer Attorney Peter Hugh stated that the cannabis was found at Lot 90 James Street, a shop from where his client purchases liquor. Hugh added that the drug was discovered in the room above the premises and the defendant does not live there.

Man placed on $10,000 bail for abusive language

A38-year-old man was brought before Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was charged with abusive language on Thursday.

It is alleged that on July 2, Jermaine Herbanstine made use of abusive language to Alexis Arthur at the Brickdam Police Station whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. The defendant pleaded

guilty to the charge read against him.

According to the facts, the defendant and the virtual complainant share a child but are not on speaking terms. There was no objection to bail.

Bail was set at $10,000 and the defendant was placed on a bond to be on good behaviour.

Herbanstine is to return to court on July 15 at Court 10.

Simple larceny suspect remanded

A22-year-old man was brought before Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge of simple larceny on Thursday. It is alleged that on Wednesday, July 3, Joel Jack stole one BlackBerry Curve 9220 and one USB cable valued $38,000, property of Zulfikar Kallel. The articles were reportedly found

on his person. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the crime and the defendant may not return to court for his hearing.

The accused was remanded to prison and is set to return to Court 10 on July 15.

16 graduate from forestry training programme

The Board of Industrial Training in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has completed yet another programme for young men and women from across the country.

Attorney Hugh stated that the defendant was not there at the time of the raid in the wee hours of the morning. He related to the court that Satamby turned himself in to authorities and when the allegation was put to him, he denied it.

Reports state that the landlord of the premises claimed that the accused pays rent for the room. However, the defendant’s lawyer in his bail application contended that his client did not sign the rent receipt and again denied all allegations made against his client.

Prosecutor Vernetté Pindar objected to bail, citing that no special reasons were submitted by counsel.

The chief magistrate refused Satamby his pre-trial liberty. He will return to court on July 16.

Labourer granted bail for drug charge

Alabourer was granted bail on a possession of narcotics charge when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday

Nicoli Michael Kissoon, 20, of Lot 60 Durban Street, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 4 at Durban Street, he had in his possession six grams of cannabis.

According to reports, the drug was found in the bedroom of the defendant and he admitted that the item was his. The defendant was represented by Attorney George Thomas who stated that his client lives in a place occupied by numerous persons, and as such, anyone could place anything anywhere.

The prosecuted objected to bail stating that no special reasons were submitted by the defence.

The magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of $75,000 and he will return to court on July 21.

The ceremony held at the GFC Multiplex Building in Kingston, was not only for the graduation of this batch but also for the launch of another programme with a new batch of young Guyanese men and women.

BIT/GFC Board of Directors Chairman Clinton Williams said it is vital for young persons who drop out of school to be given the opportunities to contribute to the national development. “Guyana’s economic development and growth is linked to its productivity, which in turn is dependent on the country’s capacity to build and sustain a competent and efficient workforce,” he stated.

Needs Williams noted that there is a gap between labour needs and present capabilities and this “mismatch” needs to be addressed. He acknowledged that the forestry sector is in dire need of skilled labour because of competition from other sectors, while disclosing that 300 persons are being training annually through this programme in various skilled areas.

The BIT/GFC director pointed out that the programme provides competency-

based training to address the needs of the manufacturing and industrial sectors. “There is a dire need to increase the range of reputable and competent companies and agencies,” he stated, adding that young people should utilise the training opportunities available and equip themselves with the necessary skills to thrive in this sector.

Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul said he was pleased with the collaboration of the two entities to provide training in various sectors, particularly in areas which are suffering because of the lack of skilled labour.

Training programme

The minister pointed out that this training programme was the initiative of former President Bharat Jagdeo, and the government has since pledged its commitment to the programme by making budgetary allocations every year. “The whole idea behind this is that we do not want school drop-outs to be left without a skill and to be left in an area where they cannot gain employment,” the minister said.

Gopaul challenged the graduands to take full advantage of the programme, noting that Guyana has the capacity to provide employment for all the youths in the country. He noted that construction is another blooming sector, which needs skilled labour.

Delivering the feature

26-year-old gets community service, fined for cannabis possession

Aman appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday charged with possession of narcotics.

It was alleged that on July 2 at West Ruimveldt, 26-year-old Lenard Stephens was found with one gram of cannabis in his possession.

According to the facts read by Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, around 20:00h police ranks were on patrol when the defendant was seen by a constable, acting in a suspicious manner. He was stopped and searched,

during which a transparent bag containing leaves, seeds, and stems was found. The articles in the bag were tested and weighed, and were proven to be one gram of cannabis. An investigation was conducted, and Stephens was subsequently arrested.

When asked if he had anything to say, the defendant replied that the cannabis was given to him.

The court sentenced Stephens to a $15,000 fine and two months of community service twice a week at the Brickdam Police Station.

address, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud pointed out that if the forestry sector does not have the requisite skills and adequately trained individuals, then the mismatch will always be there, as such the government has implemented the training programme. “So at the end of the day, we have a workforce that is skilled and can satisfy our domestic, as well as our external requirements.”

The minister disclosed that the government invests in excess of $40 million every year in the training programme, which is a display of their commitment to support the sector. “When you have an expanding and growing economy and new sectors, there will always be the need for different skills and what we have do to is train and provide the opportunities so that we can be able to man and to put staff in different sectors of the economy,” he stated.

Marketable

Persaud urged the graduands to make full use of the programme, noting that the forestry sector is exciting and would also enable them to be marketable to other areas. “I do hope through this initiative we will be able to satisfy the growing needs of the forestry sector and also wider, the natural resources and environment sector,” said the minister, while urging them to take up other training programmes available.

Assault accused granted bail

Aman accused of unlawful assault appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It was alleged that on June 29, Marcel Fitzalbert unlawfully assaulted Adrian Reese at Festival City, South Ruimveldt. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge read against him.

According to the prosecution, the defendant and the virtual complainant do not know each other. There was no objection to bail, and as such, it was set at $10,000. Fitzalbert is set to return to Court Six on July 16.

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If you’ve been seeking greater participation in a current project, don’t wait around to be asked. Make your move today.

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It should be a good day in general, but your greatest benefits are likely to come about when you go out of your way to help others. Do good things when and where you can.

(April 20-May 20)

There is a good chance you will have some fun today. Recent acquaintances whom you liked a lot will likely invite you to join them in a get-together.

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Something could occur that would have an effect on your work or career. Be alert for opportunities for gain and advancement.

Today’s events could awaken much hope in you. There are strong indications that a significant cycle is starting to develop.

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If you haven’t been pushing yourself lately, you’re not living up to your potential. Start setting some lofty goals and/ or objectives for yourself.

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Take advantage of any opportunity you get to acquire some new, practical knowledge. What you discover could be exactly what you need to get ahead.

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Someone with whom you have close, emotional ties is involved in a project that could turn out to be very profitable. Try to get yourself in the picture.

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leven maritime ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are undergoing training to equip them with basic skills that are important for their survival while at sea and in riverine areas, as they carry out their functions of effective maritime policing, and strengthen the force’s capacity to combat piracy and other maritime breaches. The training programme, which was launched Friday, will be conducted under the theme, “Advancing institutional modernisation to secure our communities through enhanced professionalism, partnership, strategic management and effective leadership”.

c ompetence

This is the first of a series of courses which will be conducted by the Home Affairs Ministry in an effort to improve the GPF’s crimefighting competence, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, which was held at the Officers’ Training Centre, Camp and Young streets, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee endorsed the initiative and commended the leaders of the force for recognising the need for such training.

However, he said what is important is that at the end of the course the maritime wing of the force becomes much more effective, and that Guyana will have at its disposal officers who have the capacity and ability to carry out their duties on the sea and in the riverine areas.

Minister Rohee, in emphasising the need for efficiency in the marine

wing said, “If our country has so many rivers, waterways, neighbours and the vast expansion of territorial water… it means that the force must carry it its duty at sea as it does on land.”

He also spoke of persons who often times take advantage of the waterways to carry out various illegal activities such as piracy, drug trafficking and trafficking in parsons, and contraband without being detected.

“If the state recognises

a person is found guilty, GINA said.

“We had the legal framework in place, we have the stakeholders and the joint forces, and what we did not have was the capacity to complement the act,” he said. This course will address these deficiencies.

Minister Rohee said the ministry will also be providing the equipment for the ranks to perform their duties, and urged that they fully utilise the opportunity given to them.

that these are indeed challenging, then it beholds us to take the necessary measures to develop and build the capacity to confront and address these challenges… were we to fail to do so then we will be failing our responsibility to the state and the citizens,” Minister Rohee said.

The marine wing of the force has been neglected over the years, and the minister said government will have to take up its responsibility and change that.

One of the first things the government implemented to address piracy is to pass the National Piracy Act in 2008, which has a number of positive aspects and caters for very stiff penalties by the court once

Captain Adams, who will be spearheading the programme, said it is specifically designed to train police officers in basic seaman activity.

He noted that it is never wise to send anyone onto the sea without basic training; hence, the course is timely. He said police officers must understand the rules and regulations surrounding use of the rivers, and should also know what sort of equipment should be used while sailing.

The officers will also learn about safety measures they should take, engine maintenance and basic communication knowledge. At the end of the course, successful participants will be issued with certificates.

Murray beats Jerzy Janowicz in Wimbledon semi-final

Andy Murray reached the Wimbledon final for the second year running with a dramatic win over Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz under the Centre Court roof on Friday.

The Briton, 26, was furious when play was stopped after the third set because of fading light, but he returned to complete a 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-4 6-3 victory.

Murray will play Novak Djokovic for the title on Sunday, when he will hope to make up for last year’s final defeat by Roger Federer and end Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion.

Djokovic took nearly five hours to beat Juan Martin del Potro in the first semifinal, meaning Murray had to wait until 18:19h BST to fire down the first serve of his match.

The late start would prove significant a little over two hours later, after Murray raced through five straight games to win the third set and take control of a match that had been slipping away.

With the time now past 20:30h, tournament referee Andrew Jarrett arrived on court to announce the roof would be brought across because of fading light.

“It’s unfair, it’s an outdoor tournament,” Murray complained. “You’re only doing it because he’s been complaining about it for 45 minutes.”

He would return to finish the job in impressive style, but the Briton had struggled to contain 22-year-old Janowicz in the early stages.

“It was a very tough match and completely different to any other match I’ve had here this year,” Murray told BBC Sport.

“He’s talented and unpredictable, he has huge serves, which give you very little rhythm to come back at him.

“It’s a tough situation, there was about 45 minutes of daylight left [when the decision to close the roof was made].

“It’s an outdoor event

and we should play as much outdoors as we can. And I’d won five games in a row. But I took a shower, spoke to the guys and got to back work.”

The 6ft 8in Pole was playing in his first Grand Slam semi-final, but showed no sign of nerves early on as he saved one break point and two set points with huge second serves.

There was little Murray could do to avoid the lottery of a tie-break, and Janowicz hammered his way to four set points with his forehand before the under-pressure Briton conceded the first with a double fault.

If Janowicz had looked remarkably composed in the opening 50 minutes, the occasion appeared to finally take some toll at the start of the second when two double faults helped give Murray the perfect start.

It was far from plain sailing for the Scot as he teetered on the brink of handing back his advantage several times, but he held on to level after one hour and 33 minutes.

With the time approaching 20:00h BST and the prospect of the light becoming an issue, Janowicz demanded umpire Jake Garner “tell me exactly the time” of when the roof might be closed.

Despite his annoyance, it was the Pole who pressed hard early in the third set and, after Murray saved two break points with aces, Janowicz finally converted

at the seventh time of asking with a deadly drop shot.

Murray needed help from somewhere at 4-1 down in the third, and it came via a net cord that offered up a break point he grabbed with a flashing winner.

Belief coursed through the player and the crowd of 15,000 on Centre Court, along with thousands watching the nearby big screen, and Murray reeled off five games to take a two sets to one lead.

It was at that point the players headed for the locker room as the roof came across, and both must have been well aware that Janowicz won their last meeting at the Paris Masters in November, where the indoor conditions made the Pole’s serve even more dangerous.

If Murray was also spooked by memories of last year’s final, when his fortunes faded under the roof, there was no sign of it on the resumption.

Far from it, the Scot played superbly on the restart, curling a forehand winner down the line on his way to break in game three and backing it up with some dominant serving.

Janowicz was a beaten man by the time two double faults in a row brought up match point for Murray, and the world number two cracked a forehand return winner to keep his Wimbledon title hopes alive. (BBC Sport)

Usain Bolt admits he is not invincible

Usain Bolt says he is not invincible as he prepares to face his biggest rivals over 200m in the latest Diamond League meeting in Paris today.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist will go up against his fellow Jamaican Warren Weir and the fastest man in the world this year, American Tyson Gay.

“I never said I was invincible,” admitted 26-year-old Bolt.

He went on to say that a win in Paris would give him a boost ahead of next month’s World Championships in Moscow.

“When I’m in great shape and I’m at the top of my game, I’m very confident

Sabine Lisicki to face Marion Bartoli in final

Wimbledon will have a new women's champion today as Germany's Sabine Lisicki takes on Marion Bartoli of France in a surprise final line-up.

The pair will meet on Centre Court at 14:00h BST, with the prize of a first Grand Slam title on offer for both players.

Lisicki, the 23rd seed, is through to her first major final after upsetting five-time champion Serena Williams in the fourth round, and beating fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in a dramatic semi-final.

Number 15 seed Bartoli hopes to go one step further than in 2007, when she reached the final only to come up short against Venus Williams.

Lisicki, 23, has won three of their four previous matches, with a victory apiece at Wimbledon, and is the first German to reach the final since seven-time champion Steffi Graf in 1999.

"I don't remember it, unfortunately, but it's just an amazing feeling," said Lisicki. "She wished me luck before the [semi-final]. She told me to go for it, and I'm just so happy."

Playing on grass suits Lisicki's powerful game and Wimbledon has been by far the German's happiest hunting ground among the four Grand Slams, with two quarter-finals and one semifinal before this year.

She described the prospect of winning the title as "a dream coming true", adding: "I've been dreaming about that since I was a lit-

tle girl.

"That's why I said it's the best place to play my first Grand Slam final. I couldn't imagine any better place. I just can't wait to play on Saturday (today)."

Bartoli has come through the bottom half of the draw in the absence of second and third seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, who succumbed to injury and defeat, and feels better prepared than in 2007.

"The last time I was so young," the 28-year-old said. "I was always the underdog coming out on the court and this time it was totally the opposite.

"I think I've been able to deal with the pressure really well and keep improving throughout the championships and keep playing better."

The Frenchwoman's father, Walter, will be on Centre Court for the final, having been absent for the rest of the tournament as he

no longer coaches his daughter.

Bartoli's game suffered amid the upheaval away from the court, and she came into Wimbledon with no form to speak of and having struggled with an ankle injury and a virus in recent weeks.

"I've been having some tough moments more out of the court than on the court, to be honest with you," she said.

And spectators will again see the eccentric routine that Bartoli goes through between points that involves aggressive practice swings, jumps and split steps while facing away from the court.

"I've been doing that forever," she said. "I have some tapes of myself when I was seven years old or six years old, and I was still doing the same. It's just part of me.

"It's not like I want to annoy my opponent. It's really me trying to be ready for the point that is coming up." (BBC Sport)

Peter Sagan wins stage seven in Albi

Green jersey holder

Peter Sagan extended his lead in the Tour de France points competition as he outsprinted John Degenkolb to win stage seven on Friday.

Britain’s Mark Cavendish saw his chances of winning the green jersey suffer a blow as he was part of a group dropped on the second climb of the day.

Slovak Sagan, last year’s points winner, won by a bike length in Albi to take his first stage of the 2013 Tour.

Chris Froome finished in the peloton as Daryl Impey retained the yellow jersey.

that no-one can beat me because I know what I’m capable of,” said Bolt.

“But you can be beaten. There’s times when you get injuries, there’s times when you’re off your game. There’s so many different scenarios that can happen.”

The men’s 400m sees a clash between the last two Olympic champions, LaShawn Merritt of the United States, and Grenada’s Kirani James.

In the women’s 100m, American double Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce faces Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste, who has been the fastest woman in the world this year.

With no real change in the overall race standings, Friday’s 205.5km race from Montpellier was all about the points jersey.

Sagan picked up 45 points for the stage win, to add to the maximum 20 he collected for winning the intermediate sprint, to move onto 224 points, a lead of 94 over Germany’s Andre Greipel, while Cavendish is third on 119.

A two-man break, instigated by the oldest man in the peloton, 41-year-old German Jens Voigt and featuring local favourite Blel Kadri, led the race over two of the day’s four climbs before succumbing to the pace

of Cannondale. Sagan’s Cannondale team-mates pushed hard on the toughest climb of the day, the category two Col de la Croix de Mounis 90km into the stage, in an effort to distance sprinters Cavendish and Greipel, who have both won on this year’s Tour.

The tactic worked handsomely, with Greipel losing two minutes on the climb and Cavendish three.

The duo’s respective Lotto Belisol and Omega Pharma-Quickstep teams came together to try to chase down the Cannondale-led peloton but eventually called a truce with around 40km of the stage remaining.

Cavendish, who won the green jersey in 2011, tweeted: “Well, one of the “maybe a sprint” days definitely wasn’t! Finished with about 80 riders after @opqscyclingteam did some gutsy chasing.”

Sagan still had to finish off the sprint in Albi and he almost ruined the good work of his team-mates when he ran wide at a roundabout in the closing kilometres.

However, he regained his composure and emerged from Degenkolb’s slipstream in the final metres to take the win, with German rider Degenkolb holding off the

challenge of Italy’s Daniele Benatti.

“I benefited from a 160km lead-out train,” said the 23-year-old.

“The original idea was to win the intermediate sprint but my team-mates came up to me and said we should persist because the sprinters were dropped.

“I told them: If you can, why not?

“I have got more points than I thought but the tour has only just started – there are still 14 stages left.” The race now heads into the Pyrenees and race leader Impey is already resigned to losing the race leader’s yellow jersey on Saturday.

“I’d be overambitious to say that I thought I’d keep this jersey,” said the South African, who is not known as a climber. “Guys like Froome, I can see them really putting the pressure on.

“It’s the first day in the mountains and I can’t see why they wouldn’t want to test each other. They’ve been waiting seven days to see how everyone is going so I think it’ll be pretty hard to keep the yellow.”

British rider Froome, who finished second behind Team Sky team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins last year, is in seventh place. (BBC Sport)

Champs honoured with special rings

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The members of the World T20 Champion West Indies Team were given special honours on Thursday night at a gala function hosted by the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association.

The 15 players and eight members of the team management all received commemorative gold rings in recognition of their outstanding performance to win the ICC World T20 Trophy in Sri Lanka last year. The presentations were made by Dave Cameron, President of the WICB and Anil Roberts, Sports Minister in Trinidad and Tobago, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the capital city of Port of Spain.

Under the captaincy of Darren Sammy, West Indies won the title last October when they beat Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

“This is a truly special honour – one that all of us will cherish. This is a remarkable gift. On behalf of the team I want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who came up with this idea and all those who made it possible. We played an amazing brand of cricket to win over in Sri Lanka to win the trophy for our people. Now it feels really great to be honoured, in this way, here at home,” Sammy said.

Vettori turns down NZC contract

Several other awards were presented during the night. West Indies offspinner Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels, two stars of the World T20 triumph, both won two awards. Narine, the 2012 ICC Emerging Player of the Year, was voted Regional Limited-Overs Player of the Year and West Indies T20 Player-of-the-Year. Samuels, who earlier this year was named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year, copped the prize for West Indies ODI Player of the Year and the prestigious award of overall West Indies Player of the Year.

former Jamaica and West Indies wicket-keeper played 20 Test matches between 1962 and 1969. After retirement he was president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, a long-standing director of the WICB and manager of the West Indies team.

The WIPA Lifetime Achievement Award went

to Winston Reid. The former Barbados left-arm spinner played 53 first-class matches and 47 List A matches for his island between 1985 and 2000. He took 205 firstclass wickets and also had over 1500 wickets in club cricket in Barbados in a career which spanned over three decades. (WICB)

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

Test Player of the Year: Shiv Chanderpaul

Emerging Player of the Year: Kieran Powell

Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Stafanie Taylor

Caribbean T20 Player of the year: Krishmar Santokie

First-class Player of the Year: Nikita Miller

First-class Team of the Year: Jamaica

Under-19 Player of the Year: Jeremy Solozano

The inaugural WICB Lifetime Achievement Award went to Jackie Hendriks. The

Under-19 Team of the Year: Barbados

Whatmore expects better Pakistan show

LAHORE, Pakistan

– Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore on Friday assured fans his team will put the woeful performance in the Champions Trophy behind them and will look for better results on their tour of the Caribbean.

Pakistan crashed out of Champions Trophy in England last month after losing all three matches due to sloppy batting.

“Obviously we need to do better, the results in England were very painful for everyone and that episode is done to death. We now look forward for (a) better job in the West Indies,” Whatmore told reporters.

“We can never guarantee to win 5-0 but we will fight very hard for (a) win,” said Whatmore whose team will play five one-day and two Twenty20 matches in the Caribbean.

The first one-day will be played in Guyana on July 14. The 59-year-old former Australian batsman, who took over as Pakistan coach in March last year, said his tenure had both good and bad times.

“I rate my performance as one that is very difficult to judge in win-loss ratio,” said Whatmore, under whose coaching Pakistan have won 12 one-day match-

es but lost 13. Pakistan have also lost four of the six Tests under his guidance, with two draws.

“I think that sometimes it is very easy to just look at win-loss ratio,” he said.

Recalling the JanuaryMarch tour of South Africa where Pakistan were routed 3-0 in Tests and 3-2 in one-days, he added: “I would be very surprised if you say that we would win in South Africa. They are ranked world number one and had beaten Australia and England in away series, so I think its unfair to see at the win loss ratio.”

“I think you need to look at series in isolation, from

time to time, and make an accurate and subjective opinion, so it’s been some good times and some not very good times.”

Whatmore denied he had differences with chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who stepped down from his post on Thursday.

“I want to say thanks to Qasim for the services he has rendered. I appreciate that because of the difficulties that exists with the position and I had no problems with him.”

Whatmore said he was comfortable with his coaching tenure despite it ending a year before the 2015 World Cup.

“Usually coaches go tour

by tour. South Africa have a coach for two years until the World Cup but I am pretty okay with mine having worked for 16 months and there is more time to discuss for extension.”

Whatmore added that he hopes all-rounder Shahid Afridi will raise his form after being recalled to the oneday team.

“Afridi is a great servant for Pakistan cricket and if he raises his form like he did in Johannesburg then he will be useful with both bat and ball,” said Whatmore of Afridi’s 88 in South Africa in March this year. Pakistan’s team will fly to the Caribbean on Saturday night.(First

Daniel Vettori’s playing future is unclear after he decided not to take up a New Zealand Cricket contract this year due to uncertainty over his recovery from injury.

Vettori said he intended to work hard to return to playing over the next six months, following surgery on his Achilles tendon, but the doubt about when he would regain full fitness led him to take himself out of the mix for either an NZC contract or a deal with Northern Districts.

Vettori, 34, had surgery following the recent Champions Trophy, at which he made his comeback to one-day internationals for the first time in nearly two and a half years. He has not played Test cricket for nearly a year, since the series in the West Indies last July, and although he hopes to add to his 112 Test appearances and 360 wickets, his playing future will only be determined after his recovery from surgery is complete.

“I am very focused on my recovery from my recent surgery and will be working hard to get back onto the playing field over the next six-month period,” Vettori said. “Given the time I’ll need to spend out of the game with my recovery, and the level of uncertainty about when I may play again, it doesn’t feel right that I take up a retainer contract this year. I will now focus on my rehabilitation in the coming months, with the overall goal of making a return to

the cricket field during the summer months. Hopefully it goes well.

“I’m really hopeful the surgery is the final effort to get it right, and speaking to the surgeon, he’s pretty confident he could get it right,” Vettori said. “He’s dealt with similar sorts of injury in the past and had guys come back to full sporting activity, so let’s just hope it works.

“I suppose it’s been a real grind the last 18 months with the injury and in a lot of ways it has probably diminished some of the appetite to do a lot of things but I think that’s purely down to the injury so... if I can get this injury right, who knows. This has been unlike anything else I’ve had to deal with in the past. I just want to get it right then the future will crystallise after that.”

David White, the NZC chief executive, said: “In the ICC Champions Trophy Dan showed the immense value that he still brings to the Black Caps side. Unfortunately Dan has indicated he’s in a position where he feels uncomfortable taking a contract this season, as he builds towards making a return to the cricket field.

“As always, Dan has made his decision in the best interests of New Zealand Cricket and we appreciate his honesty and up-front approach. There’s no doubting Dan’s hunger to continue competing, and we hope to see him back playing for the Black Caps again when the time is right.” (Cricinfo)

Khan, Drayton maintain lead in Trophy Stall chess

Reigning national chess champions, Taffin Khan and Anthony Drayton, are still leading the Trophy Stall chess tournament in the senior and junior categories respectively at the end of round five on Thursday afternoon at the Carifesta Sports Complex.

The competition will wrap up tomorrow and the

two leaders are likely to clash in the final stages. Khan is so far unbeaten.

Khan defeated top female player Maria Thomas, while Drayton got the better of veteran Errol Tiwari during the fifth round on Thursday.

Drayton has already lost a match to senior player Alexander Duncan earlier in the tournament. Duncan

was matched with junior player Haifeng Su in round five, with the experienced Duncan emerging with the victory.

The finale on Sunday will determine the absolute winners of the sponsor’s trophy when the crucial rounds six and seven would be contested. Each player has 90 minutes on the clock during each round to score a victory.

Regal Stationery supports Under-15 trio

are Mario Allicock

and Orin

who are both employees of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre

Regal Stationery and Computer Centre director Mahendra Hardyal, along with Seewchan, Samuel Kingston and Ian John recently formed the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Incorporated to organise several softball competitions for teams within Georgetown and its outlying areas.

Hardyal displayed his love for the sport on Friday morning by supporting three players from the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC): Under-15 skipper Bhaskar Yadram and standby player Andrew Clifford, and their club mate Stephan Campbell.

Yadram and Clifford asked for a timeout from the preparatory encampment period the national Under-15 team is presently undergoing at the Anna

Regina Hostel to be present for yesterday’s presentation, while Campbell was absent, due to academic reasons.

Both Campbell and Yadram received a bat while Clifford was the recipient of a pair of bowling boots, and their Coach Clive Grimmond a copy of Harold Eastman/ Guardian General’s 2013 International and Annual Regional and West Indian Cricket Records.

Speaking on behalf of his teammates, Yadram, who led Demerara to the Guyana Cricket Board Under-15 Inter-County title, expressed heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Hardyal for his kind gesture, saying it will enable them to go forward in the sport.

An elated Grimmond, who initiated the gesture said it was one that came at a timely moment for the players, adding that he

knows they will utilise the gear to the fullest and best of their ability, even as they themselves are aware of the cost for same.

The national Under-15 team is presently preparing for this year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional tournament which began in 1996 in Trinidad and Tobago and will be held in Jamaica from July 12, with Guyana taking on Leeward Islands at Alpart.

The Guyana Under-15 team reads: Bhaskar Yadram (captain), Adrian Sukhwah (wicketkeeper), Raymond Perez, Darshan Persaud, Richie Lucknauth, Ronaldo Mohamed (vice-captain), Timothy McAlmont, Mark Williams, Sagar Hetheramani, Ashmead Nedd, Matthew Hardial, Vickram Talmakund, Christopher Latchman and Sylus Tyndall.

Hope Football League starts today in Berbice

The Hope Football Club Inter-Club U-20 football league starts today with three games to be played on two grounds.

Action will be in Regions Five and Six as the hosts take on Cougars at the All Saints Ground in New Amsterdam while in Region Five’s Paradise will take on Rosignol United at the Rosignol ground. The Number Five ground will be the venue for the match be-

tween Hope A and Number Five. The competition will be played in three groups; Corentyne, New Amsterdam, and West Berbice. Round one will be played on a round robin basis with teams playing each other twice. Two teams from the Corentyne group and three each from New Amsterdam and West Berbice will advance to the knock out round. The winner will receive

$80,000 worth of football equipment and the winner’s trophy, second place – a trophy and $60,000 worth of equipment, third place – a trophy and $40,000 worth of equipment while the forth place finisher will receive $20,000 worth of equipment. There will also be individual trophies for the MVP, Best goalkeeper, best defender, best midfielder, best striker and highest goal scorer. (Andrew Carmichael)

Malta Supreme cycling meet at National Park today

Leading riders from across the country will assemble at the inner circuit of the National Park today for the second annual Malta Supreme 11-race programme, set to pedal off at 09:00h.

Among the events slated for the day are the 12-14 Boys and Girls (three laps), Veterans Under-50 (five laps), Over-50 (five laps) and Over-60 (five laps), Juveniles (10 laps), Mountain Bikes (five laps), BMX 6-9 (two laps), 9-12 (three laps), 1214 (three laps) and Open (three laps) and the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational.

The experienced Robin Persaud is the defending champion of the feature race. He won last year’s event in a time of one hour, 20 minutes, 05.97 seconds (01h: 20m: 05.97s).

Alonzo Ambrose (Juveniles) and Virgil Jones (Veterans Under-50) also won their respective categories.

At the conclusion of the races, Malta Supreme Brand Manager, Clayton McKenzie, and Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer Stewart, will assist in the presentation of prizes to the top performers.

With the young members of Team Coco (Guyana) over in Anguilla for the John T Memorial race on Sunday, the leading riders expected to turn out for the main race are Persaud, the inform Alonzo Greaves, Junior Niles, Marlon Williams and Warren McKay among others.

Road race

Meanwhile, the cyclists will switch their focus to the West Demerara roadways tomorrow for the staging of the fourth annual Seven Seas Multivitamins and Dr Chase Nerve Food 50-mile race.

The race will commence from the Wales Police Station at 08:00h; proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

The Veteran, Mountain Bike and female riders will turn at the Uitvlugt Community Centre on the upwards journey and finish at the Harbour Bridge.

The first six finishers in the Open race will receive prizes, while the first three Juniors, Veterans, Mountain Bikers and fe-

males will also be rewarded. The top Veteran Over-60 participants will also collect a prize. Eight prime prizes will be at stake during the race.

The defending champion of the Open race is Geron Williams, who won the 2012 edition in a time of one hour, 53 minutes, 16.95 seconds (01h: 53m: 16.95s), while Talim Shaw (Veteran), Michael DeRoche (Mountain Bikes) and Naomi Singh (Females) won their respective categories last year.

A new champion will be crowned in the Open race, since Williams is currently campaigning overseas.

Representatives of the sponsor, including Products Specialists Karen Connell and Mahesh Itwaru, are expected to be on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of the race.

RCMTC&SF horse race meet confirmed for July 21

The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities (RCMTC&SF) horse race meet has been confirmed for July 21, according to President of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Cecil Kennard.

The race meet is scheduled for the Port Mourant Turf Club. Nine races are carded for the day with lucrative prize packages for top horse owners.

Most of the country’s top horses are expected to be on show with the feature attraction being the B and Lower running over a distance of 1200 metres. The winner will cart off $700,000 out of a total purse of over $1.5 million.

The co-feature is for animals classified E and Lower over 1300 metres where the winning tag is set at $400,000.

Then there is the Threeyear-old Guyana and West Indies bred animals over a distance of 1300 metres with the winner carting off $350,000.

In the Two-year-old

Cecil Kennard

Guyana and West Indies bred race, the animals will be competing for a first prize of $300,000 and will be run over a distance of 1000 metres.

The G1 and Lower race is a 1300 metres event with the animals competing for $300,000. The G3 and Lower event will also see the animals racing for a $300,000 winner’s money over 1200 metres.

The Two-year-old Guyana Bred horses will be competing for a $220,000 first prize over 1000 metres.

The ‘I’ and Lower race

will be a 1200 metres affair with a first prize set at $200,000 while the J and K class event will fetch a winning prize of $150,000 over 1200 metres.

Registration for the race meet closes on July 16, and no late entries will be allowed.

Outstanding individual performers including top Jockey, trainer and stable will be presented with accolades compliments of the Trophy Stall Bourda Market and the organisers. The race will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).

Interested persons can contact the club’s office at Number 13 Hermitage East Coast Berbice (19 Road). Bobby Vaughn can be contacted on telephone number 624-6788 or Loresa Mohabir on numbers 3330290 or 333-0301. Francis Chichester on telephone numbers 233-2984 or 6901943 or Rajendra Jagdoo 618-7278, or 322-0369 or any member of the PMTC. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

Coaches confident in Yaw and Mitchell ahead of World Youth Championship

By TreisTon Joseph

Athree-member

Guyanese contin-

gent will be winging out on Sunday to participate at the eighth edition of the World Youth Championship from July 14 in Donetsk, Ukraine.

The team, which will feature Carfita under-17 bronze medalist at 400 metres Jason Yaw, will also see Carifta 200 metres under-17 bronze medalist Tirana Mitchell on the team the other member will be national coach Rhonda Richmond.

Both members are expected to perform well at the event despite the elevated level of competition at the World Youth Championship.

Yaw’s coach Sham Johnny, who also works with coach Julian Edmonds and in getting the best out of the athletes in the Running Brave Athletics Club (RBAC), believes that Yaw is physically able to reach the final of the 400m but might have to overcome some mental roadblocks in order to pull of the feat.

“Jason is ready he just has to get a little mental strength, the potential is there for him to reach the finals because he knows there will be three rounds he just

Island Mist Water cycle road race in Berbice today

Dwight Holder will be hard pressed to defend his Island Mist Water Cycle Road Race when he takes to the starting line today.

The defending champion is expected to get stiff opposition from national champion Raynauth Jeffrey and other seasoned riders who are expected to be at the starting line for the 60mile race. The race rolls off from outside of the Guyana Beverage Company Berbice branch at Palmyra Village and proceeds to Number 51 Police Station before returning to the starting point.

The event is organised by the Flying Ace Cycling Club and will get on the way from 14:00h. Eight sprint point prizes will be up for grabs while prizes will be awarded to the top six finishers. (Andrew Carmichael)

Tirana Mitchell Jason Yaw

has to believe in himself but the finals is achievable,” Johnny told Guyana Times Sport.

Johnny also revealed that despite the poor state of the National Park inner circuit Yaw has been exceptional in his preparation leading up to the event.

“In terms of preparation I think we (Johnny and Edmonds) have done our best to get him ready, we have been doing some speed work with him and he has been doing some 16.03s 150m which is good…physically he is ready it’s just the mental aspect now,” Johnny noted.

Meanwhile Christopher

Gaskin, who coaches Mitchell, believes that because of Mitchell’s preparation she will be medaling in both the 100 and 200 metres event.

“She has been doing some morning and afternoon workouts, she is focused right now in terms of going out there and doing what’s best…we worked on her starts, on her arm action and her endurance so at this present time she is prepared to go out there and deliver and I have the confidence in her that she will medal in both events,” Gaskin stated confidently when contacted by this publication.

Windies made to wait...

From back page

Kohli’s hundred came off 81 balls and included 13 fours and two sixes. He was out off the last ball of the innings, after also steering the team to 60 runs off their last five overs.

India came into the

match desperately needing a win to keep their hopes alive and the total, in excess of 300, seemingly gave their bowlers a lift of confidence which helped them to whip the hometeam before a capacity crowd. (CMC/WICB)

India Innings:

RG Sharma c wkp Ramdin b Best 46

S Dhawan c DM Bravo b Roach 69

V Kohli* c Sammy b DJ Bravo 102

SK Raina c Sammy b Samuels 10

KD Karthik† c wkp Ramdin b Best 6

M Vijay c Charles b Pollard 27

RA Jadeja run out (sub [DS Smith]/DJ Bravo) 2

R Ashwin not out 25

Extras (b 4, lb 7, w 13) 24

Total (7 wkts off 50 overs) 311

Fall of wkts: 1-123 (Dhawan, 23.1 ov), 2-141 (RG Sharma, 29.1 ov), 3-156 (Raina, 32.4 ov), 4-168 (Karthik, 35.1 ov), 5-210 (Vijay, 39.5 ov), 6-221 (Jadeja, 41.4 ov), 7-311 (Kohli, 49.6 ov)

Bowling: D . Sammy 8-1-280 (1w), K. Roach 10-2-69-1 (2w), T. Best 10-0-51-2 (5w), DJ Bravo 7-0-57-1 (4w), SP Narine 5-1-35-0, M. Samuels 8-0-391 K. Pollard 2-0-21-1 (1w)

West Indies Innings C. Gayle c wkp Karthik b Kumar 10

J Charles c Raina b I Sharma 45

DM Bravo c Ashwin b Kumar 1

Smith comes through in the clutch to lift Plaisance Academy in close win

– Marian Academy’s under-17 squad fall to NA Multilateral

By TreisTon Joseph

Nikkoloi Smith is becoming the National School Basketball Festival’s best closer when the dynamic guard once again pulled Plaisance Academy ahead in the final two minutes to top Wismar Christianburg Secondary School (WCSS) 51-47 on Thursday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

WCSS up by one with 1:15 to play, Smith called for the ball at the top of the arc and instead of shoot-

Academy’s under-17 team could not buy a bucket as the team shot themselves out of the game losing to New Amsterdam Multilateral (NAM) 11-30.

Marian was atrocious especially in the first half as they ended that with just two points in 20 minutes.

While NAM played defence Marian simply were cold from the field as they even missed wide open fast break layup and never recovered from the poor start.

Weil Wills was a force inside the paint racking up a double-double with 17

Roses played stellar defence to pull out the win.

Nathan Howell ended with 11 points for St Roses while Marvin Durant contributed a game high 12 point for Bishops’ in the losing cause.

Plaisace Academy’s under-17 squad will now watch the rest of the tournament from the bleachers as President’s College (PC) ended their campaign with a 21-54 win.

Jaleel Duke dropped a game high 16 points while Eli Innis netted 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds

M . Samuels c wkp Karthik b I Sharma 6

K . Pollard c Ashwin b Kumar 0

DJ Bravo* lbw b Yadav 14

D Ramdin c Kumar b Yadav 9

D . Sammy lbw b Yadav 12

K . Roach b Jadeja 34

SP Narine c I Sharma b Jadeja 21

T . Best not out 0

Extras (b 1, lb 10, w 8) 19

Total (all out in 34 overs) 171

Fall of wkts: 1-14 (Gayle, 2.2 ov), 2-25 (DM Bravo, 4.6 ov), 3-64 (Samuels, 11.6 ov), 4-65 (Pollard, 12.4 ov), 5-69 (Charles, 13.3 ov), 6-91 (Ramdin, 20.1 ov), 7-108 (DJ Bravo, 22.3 ov), 8-113 (Sammy, 24.3 ov), 9-171 (Narine, 33.5 ov), 10-171 (Roach, 33.6 ov)

Bowling: B Kumar 8 -1- 293 (1w), U. Yadav 8-1-32- 3 (4w), I. Sharma 7-1-30- 2 (3w), RA .Jadeja 7- 1- 442, R. Ashwin 4-0- 25- 0

Points: India 5 (4 + 1 bonus point); West Indies 0 Umpires: Nigel Long (England) and Peter Nero (WI)

ing drove to the hoop to put Plaisance up 47-46.

Smith on the next defensive possession ran full court only to be fouled on his drive with 35.4s left on the clock, knocking down both clutch free throws to carry Plaisance’s lead to 49-46.

Travin Dryden then responded with a drive of his own only to be fouled. Dryden went one of two from the line but WCSS recover the ball after a Plaisance turnover only to give it up for a fast break bucket that ended the game 51-47.

Smith ended the night with 23 points and seven rebounds and had some scoring help from Kelvin Yorrick who dropped 10 points.

Dryden recorded a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds while Anferny Diolly dropped 14 points as well in the close lose for the Region 10 school.

Meanwhile Marian

points and 14 rebounds as NAM out rebounded Marian 37-20.

Brickdam Secondary then lost their third consecutive game in blow out fashion as Kwakwani Secondary did the annihilation with a 56-15 win. Kwakwani simply took apart the Georgetown based team in the low post scoring most of the points in the paint.

Kerron Phillips, Domir Gladstone and Troy David had 12, 11 and 10 points respectively to lead the Region Ten based school to their third consecutive win as their record in the current NSBF stands at 3-0.

St Roses High sent Bishops’ High School packing with a 32-29 win in the under-17 aspect of the tournament. After scoring a tournament team high 82 points the night before, Bishops’ were unable to generate any type of offense as

to lead PC to the win. Meanwhile in the final under-20 game of the evening Marian Academy held off a testing senior PC team to win 37-31 for some retribution for their under-17 squad.

Tequain Vieira regained his smooth stroke scoring eight of his 13 points from the mid-range area as she found his shooting touch. Teammate Dominic Vincente had an all-round game with eight points, five assists, three rebounds and six steals.

Nyambekerie Bacchus has a game high 16 points and 14 rebound to lead PC in the tough and physical loss. Meanwhile the tournament, which is sponsored by Digicel, Beharry Group of Companies and Banks DIH, will continue tonight as the tournament moves to the knockout stages.

Windies made to wait as India win

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – A commanding century from captain Virat Kohli and incisive seam-bowling propelled India to a convincing 102-run victory over West Indies in the fourth match of the Celkon Mobile Cup trination ODI series at Queen’s Park Oval on Friday.

Set a revised target of 274 off 39 overs, in a rainaffected match, West Indies crumbled for 171 in 34 overs, in response to India’s 311 for seven off 50 overs, as pacemen Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3 for 29), Ishant Sharma (2 for 30) and Umesh Yadav (3 for 32) ripped apart the innings with testing line and length bowling in the late afternoon.

The win allowed India to register their first points of the series, after they were previously defeated by West Indies and Sri Lanka in matches in Jamaica. India took four points for the win and a bonus point as they restricted West Indies to under 200.

West Indies still lead the series with nine points from two wins, while Sri Lanka are on four.

Chasing the target, after Kohli had given the Indian

innings great momentum with 102, off 83 balls, West Indies seemed capable of making a match of the contest, when they were 56 for

two after 10 overs and with opener Johnson Charles scoring freely.

However, after a 90-minute break for rain,

the Indian bowlers took control as the opposing batsmen seemed out of sorts. Only an entertaining rearguard effort between pace-

Kemar Roach (34 off 49 balls) and spinner Sunil Narine (21 off 33 balls), where they put on 50 for the ninth wicket, delayed the

Indian victory.

Marlon Samuels (6), Keiron Pollard (0) and Charles (45) were all dismissed in the space of 21 balls, soon after the resumption, as West Indies added just 13 runs and were reduced to 69 for five.

Charles, who put on 39 for the third wicket with Samuels, top-scored for the hometeam but fell to a soft dismisal as he attempted to pull a rising ball from Sharma and was caught by Raina at square-leg. His 45 came off 39 balls and included six fours and two sixes.

Once Narine was ninth out, caught attempting a boundary off Jadeja, the end came quickly as Roach was bowled two balls later, giving Jadeja his second wicket in the game.

India’s challenging total of over 300 in their innings was built on a crucial opening stand of 123 between Shikhar Dhawan (69) and Rohit Sharma (46). They played positively to raise the 100 off 22 overs and from that solid platform, Kohli then launched an assault on the West Indian bowlers and registered his 14th ODI century.