Guyana Times Daily

French Guiana looks to partner with Guyana to police sea

Businesses urged to be security-conscious

Gunmen blitz

Motor Spares, customer Conference

tackle violence against teachers

Grade two student drowns in Corentyne River

Traffic situation terrible, says Brumell

Duo gets life for murdering Guyanese butcher

Berbice burglars strike at NATI lecturer’s house

TIP team conducts workshop at Imbaimadai

State administrators being trained in strategic planning

thursday, july 18, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

Businesses urged to be security-conscious

– Brumell says police adopting aggressive posture

By Bhisham mohamed

Police chief Leroy

Brumell said the force has put in place various strategies to respond and prevent crime, as it grapples to maintain law and order amid a spike in gun robberies and murders.

Brumell, who was at the time addressing the media at a news conference at his office on Wednesday, stated that while the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is deeply concerned over the spate of recent robberies perpetrated on the business community, it is also confident that the overall crime situation is not as bad as perceived. He said a number of strategies have been implemented to tackle crime and called on the business community to be more focused.

“Only this morning, I met with the divisional com-

manders, and we have revisited and made adjustments to our strategies to effec-

tively police the divisions. While we in the police force will be doing our utmost to

deal with the situation with the support of community policing groups and other

stakeholders I want to use the opportunity to urge the business community to pay greater focus on their security arrangements, including the movements of cash,” he stated.

The acting police commissioner said businesses must understand the risks associated with the use of cash, particularly transporting large sums. He said businesses need to utilise more ‘plastic’ (cashless) options such as debit and credit cards to reduce their vulnerability to robberies.

Invasion of premises

In a statement on Tuesday, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) urged all businesses to take precautionary measures to ensure that they have adequate security infrastructure and procedures in place to reduce the likelihood of robberies and invasion of their premises. The chamber said it will be releasing security advisories aimed at raising awareness and educating the business community on the dangers in the forthcoming weeks.

The business community has expressed alarm over the frequency with which businesses have come under attack from bandits in recent times. On Monday, several business owners were robbed, including a dentist, an auto dealer, a grocer, and a fuel service station proprietor. The chamber said it was unsettled by the number of robberies being perpetrated on city businesses and businesspersons, and the lack of proper preventative measures to curb this growing trend.

Daunting threat

“There is a spike in armed and violent criminal acts that is directed towards the business community in the past few months and which has intensified as of late,” the GCCI said in a statement.

The business grouping called on the police force to mount a vigorous and effective response to the daunting threat by implementing measures to apprehend those perpetrating heinous crimes.

It added that even more important was the need for the police to dedicate additional security resources towards businesses to prevent robberies and to respond promptly when crimes are reported to the various police stations. The GCCI stated that failure on the part of the police to put these systems in place would only result in criminal thugs being emboldened to intensify their assaults on business-

es. “Also, we encourage businesses to consider the use of private security services when transporting huge sums of cash and also for advisory services on the design and implementation of an effective security system and strategy,” the body said.

The chamber is also expected to host a security seminar on August 13 to sensitise the private sector on strategies and best practices on securing and protecting their businesses.

The GCCI has since extended an invitation to the police to participate in the seminar so as to share its strategy for addressing the recent upsurge in violent crime.

Doing its best

Brumell highlighted that the police force has been doing its best with limited resources. “The statistics reveal that up to July 15 this year, there has been a decrease of three per cent in murders, an increase of one per cent in armed robberies where firearms were used by the perpetrators and a decrease of nine per cent in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used.”

He also noted that for the year thus far, the police have recovered 49 firearms – 19 revolvers, 18 shotguns, 10 pistols, one submachine gun, and one rifle. “There has been a total of 14 persons who were killed during armed robberies which are of great concern to us”, the acting police commissioner added.

He also divulged that within the past two weeks, there have been six murders, five a direct result of armed robberies.

However, with respect to traffic, he revealed that, up to Tuesday, 56 fatal accidents have been recorded which resulted in 59 deaths compared to 43 accidents with 45 deaths at this time last year.

These figures suggested a 31 per cent increase in road accidents. “This is also a concern to us, and we have increased our traffic presence on the roads, as well as enhancing our traffic education via the media, schools, and other initiative,” Brumell said.

He added that the police force has recently launched “Operation Road Order”, which focuses specifically on speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol which are the mains causes of fatal accidents.

Brumell noted that the force remains committed to the fight against crime, and continues to work tirelessly to ensure that citizens feel safe. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly at 3.57 metres per second.

High Tide: 12:29h reaching a maximum height of 2.32 metres.

Low Tide: 05:55h and 18:22h reaching minimum heights of 0.80 metre and 0.89 metre respectively.

Police seek direct link with CCTV cameras

The Guyana Police Force is close to having a direct link with the state’s Close Circuit Television Camera network throughout the country, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said on Wednesday at a press conference.

While he could not say how many of the security cameras have been installed or comment on their working condition, Persaud stressed that the Guyana Police Force has to request footage from a monitoring body at the Office of the President when needed. “Feed is going to an organisation other than the Guyana Police Force, but there are measures in place to obtain the feed… It falls under the Office of the President by an organisation in the making… We only have access to the footage when we request…” Persaud said.

The deputy police commissioner added that some expansion is needed in that field, while reiterating that countries around the world

rely heavily on surveillance footage from CCTVs in helping them to solve major crimes. “It is used in many places around the world; part of what they describe as environmental protection which includes cameras, traffic lights and others.”

He believes that the CCTV monitoring around the city has to be expanded, noting that it helped solve incidents of crime. “It has helped a

whole lot in traffic investigations… with the link, we can independently research and use what evidence is collected,” the crime chief posited.

Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell also disclosed that the cameras have been of assistance in gathering evidence in some instances. “I cannot say if all are working, but from my knowledge, I know that there was a robbery sometime in Georgetown and one of the media had a photo on their front page showing the perpetrator riding his motorcycle with the pillion rider at the back.”

He said such a photo proved that the cameras are working, but asserted the system needs to be improved. He too believes that with the direct CCTV link the police force will be on top of things. “With the direct link, the police force will be in a better position to monitor and in some cases, apprehend the perpetrators,” Brumell told the media.

The commissioner related that the force is presently go-

ing through a modernisation process with heavy emphasis being placed on its five-year Strategic Plan (2013-2017), with focus on operational priorities, developing ranks, partnership, performance, and infrastructure. The strategic management team, which comprises a number of qualified civilians, is already in place and has commenced work. “Baseline surveys at all levels of ranks have been conducted, along with a SWOT (Strengths, Weakness; Opportunities, Threats) analysis,” Brumell said. He also stated that surveys have been conducted in various departments, which will lead to efficient and effective performance in various areas. The acting commissioner further highlighted that he also expected improvement in capability and capacity building with the government’s support, which includes motor vehicles, water transport, radar guns, breathalyser and forensic equipment, and facilities.

Grade two student drowns in Corentyne River

Aswimming expedition turned tragic on Tuesday after a second grade student of the Number 78 Primary School, Corentyne, Berbice met his demise after taking a plunge into the rough waters in the Corentyne River.

Desperate attempts to save the life of Simian Estry McIntosh, seven, of 383 Number 77 Village, Corentyne, Berbice proved futile.

According to information, McIntosh went to the Number 78 Market to assist his mother who is a fish vendor, but after he was finished, he reportedly left to assist another vendor. An eyewitness told investigators that he was standing on the Orealla boat landing when he saw the lad,

along with another boy of his age take off his clothing and jump into the river and began swimming.

Instead of McIntosh staying in shallow waters, he reportedly swam towards the outer bank of the river where he started to sink. Upon seeing this, the eyewitness explained that he jumped into the water, grabbed the lad and brought him to the shore. He was rushed to the medial facility in the area, but was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was examined, but no marks of violence were detected.

Contrary to the eyewitness account, Suneeka McIntosh, the mother of the dead child related that her son went to the assistance of another child who was drowning, but

instead of saving the child, he went down. She explained that since school is closed, she would normally take her children to the market with her.

The aggrieved mother stated that she reached the market about 06:30h, but about 09:00h, her son left to assist a woman (Reshma) to pack rice after which he was seen with two friends playing “marble”. The three boys then left and later she got news that her son had drowned.

“When I reach the water side, I see meh son lying on the ground and everybody looking… they nah try to take he to the hospital or even do a CPR… a rural constable who bin at the scene tell people not to touch meh son until the police come… If they de roll he over and press he stomach,

meh son might a live,” the woman cried. Upon enquiring what occurred, the woman explained that she leant that her son was sitting on the wharf watching two boys play in the water and suddenly one of them started to go under, thus him jumping overboard to offer assistance, but instead he ended up under the water for more than an hour.

A group of men reportedly went to his rescue after hearing the screams, but he was nowhere to be found. After an hour search, he was pulled from the water, but was already dead. The lad is survived by his parents and eight other siblings. His body is at the Skeldon Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Mischief afoot

The call by the Alliance For Change (AFC) for street protests to “oust” the government has surprisingly not been challenged by forces in the society that support the Constitution and the democratic order it delineates. Silence can be taken for acquiescence or even approval of this proposed traducing of the rule of law in our country. Our Constitution outlines a clear path for those that desire to change the government. Ironically, that path, through force of circumstances, is within the control of the opposition, of which the AFC is a member, and which certainly needs no recourse to the streets that can lead to a descent into anarchy and mayhem.

The last general elections gave the opposition control of the National Assembly. All it needs to remove the government from office is to move an explicit vote of “no confidence” in the entire government. They have the numbers to carry such a motion. Through the operation of the Constitution, the government will then be forced to call new elections within three months. It is as simple as that. Our tragedy is that the AFC is perfectly aware of this constitutionally mandated power of the opposition, but its unwillingness to deploy it against a government the AFC labelled, “the “most poisonous, cancerous government” in Guyana’s history proves that there is more in the mortar than the pestle.

The AFC explicitly linked its call for street protests to those in Egypt that saw its army stage a coup against the democratically elected government and kill dozens of progovernment supporters. The AFC offered a clue as to the real motive behind its call for street protests, when it railed against those that advised against such a move. Repeating its earlier criticisms of the stance of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which had also been echoed by elements of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the AFC expressed contempt over fears that such protests could quickly get out of control. Yet, this is precisely what has happened so many times in our recent history after the People’s National Congress (PNC)-sponsored street protests. Ignoring the constitutionally legitimate means available in Parliament to bring down the government, the AFC insisted that the “strongest weapon” available to those opposed to the government was “mass protests”. It is very clear that, once again, the AFC is attempting to outflank the APNU, as it did at Linden last July, on an issue it feels resonates in that latter party’s Georgetown mass base. What the AFC is demonstrating, therefore, is that it is willing to have Georgetown go up in flames, as has happened subsequent to street protests, just so it can appear to be more “radical” than the APNU.

Even though it describes itself as the “kingmaker”, the AFC is desperate to move from being on the fringes of the political equation. But its strategy of “outflanking” on different occasions both the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the APNU can have only one effect in local politics: polarising it along the present fault lines that are demarcated along ethnicity. In its appeal, apart from the direct appeal to APNU’s urban elements, the AFC appealed directly to race when it incredibly claimed the government was discriminating against some students so that they could not attend the premier secondary schools in Georgetown.

What was most politically pernicious about the explication of the AFC’s position on governance was its trivialisation of the role of Parliament, which it derided as only voting down bills. This is tantamount to burning down the house in which one is living because of a perceived problem in one of the rooms. The AFC also was very scathing about the business community. Calling them a “community of bribe-payers (and) bribe takers”, the AFC lumped them with the police and judiciary, which it described as “corrupt”.

It would appear that the AFC is embarking on a no-win scorched-earth policy against all other forces in Guyana.

Swimming with the fishes

We seem to have a growing teenage problem

Dear Editor,

We have a teenage problem in our country, and the earlier we address it, the better it will be for all of us.

Many teen boys are on the streets at some very strange hours. Right atop Sheriff Street and the Railway Embankment, Georgetown, a few of them are riding around with bicycles, purporting to be selling items enclosed in baskets. The operation of itself is a traffic hazard and that alone should have gotten the attention of the police. The practice is well established.

I am following now this situation where a 15- and a 16-year-old were among

four persons arrested and charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. These two boys were held when the police were on patrol and observed them sitting on a street corner and acting in a suspicious manner. The patrol stopped and enquired of them what they were doing there, but they had offered no plausible answer. They were searched, and leaves, seeds, and stems of what was suspected to be the marijuana plant were found.

We need to ask ourselves if this is a one-off incident. These two must say where they got the stuff and for whom it was destined.

Many people keep talking about these peddlers. They act at the bottom end, just passing the stuff to the users and collecting money for the sellers. They do this for a little raise and it is something that must be stopped.

The teenagers were arrested and taken to the police station, where they were subsequently charged, placed on bail, and given court dates. They were then handed over to their parents. This could have gone a step further, where the parents could have been interrogated.

This habit of liming on the roads must be confronted. Four young men were re-

cently apprehended by the police who found them with a gun and matching ammunition. Here, another two were liming, and they are now seriously implicated with drugs. I never see good and welltrained children just liming around. Parents have a role to play. If it is a case where the children are rebellious, then there are organisations that can help. Social groups, the church and parents put together can help remove young people from the streets. It is time for that collective effort.

Yours respectfully, Hannah D’Oliviera

The value of steel pan music

Dear Editor,

A five-day steel-pan workshop, sponsored by Republic Bank, in collaboration with the Tina Insanally Foundation, is now ongoing. The workshop is being attended by 14 youths from the Lovely Lass, St John’s Bosco Orphanage, the Ruimveldt Children’s Centre, the St Ann’s Orphanage and the main branch at Guyenterprise, Georgetown.

This foundation is indeed doing a good thing. Basically, in Guyana, we are quite short on musicians. I need to point out that learning to play a song is not the same as studying music, whether theoretically or practically. Also, the actual study of mu-

sic lends itself to many other benefits.

Many studies have been conducted on the effects of music on the brain. Scientists have long found that children who are exposed to music, or those who play an instrument, do better in school than those who do not. I used to think that it was the other way around, meaning that only bright people actually take up music.

Music is all about discipline too, almost tantamount to learning to speak another language and it is very challenging at times. That is where the discipline really comes it. I add here things like relieving stress, a sense of achievement and

having fun are also a part of the package. If I take the last three alone, these children will be in for the time of their lives.

The idea is also that of resuscitating steel pan in Guyana. I find it quite strange that more people do not take to the steel pan. It is such a fabulous thing and the ensemble is like a miniature orchestra. For those with even a bit of musical appreciation, all I ask is for them to listen to “Guava Jelly” by Barbara Streisand – it’s the steel pan really made the song work.

The pan sessions are under the tutelage of a gifted and qualified London based facilitator, Aubrey Bryan,

who encouraged them to remain motivated in learning the art form. That is what it is – studying and learning and the notion of the art form.

The workshop will teach the participants the history of pan (not just the origin), how to select suitable pans, to sink drums, the smoothing and marking out of drums, the grooving, cutting, heating and tuning of drums. Imagine all of this at the manual level! That is how authentic steel pan really comes about. Many musical doyens loathe the factory finished ones.

Respectfully, Pamela Compton

The con game at the seawall lime

Dear Editor,

A con game has started at the sea wall lime. The Sunday Lime at the Kitty Seawall is not in operation anymore. I think that the move to the Kingston Band Stand is great. The patrons are not in anyone’s way, and if the music is too loud, that can be addressed.

If the government had started to exact fees for patronising this shift from Kitty, then I am sure that the public would have been apprised of it. Since it was obvious that some kind of con game was going on, why did any one even start

to pay? People should have called in the authorities.

We must not allow people to bluff us. This is how many of us get conned. Then, if there are no police officers around, we can always summon them. I think it would be wise to always have patrols at these limes.

I know that many villages have these sessions and traffic is always heavily impeded. Something must be done quickly where this is concerned.

As for the noise factor, last week, a yagna was being held in Better Hope,

and on the last night, there was nothing but utter disrespect for the occasion. Music coming from the community centre was extremely loud.

The yagna was just three doors away from where I am living, yet I was being drowned out by what was going on from the community centre. I thought this was one of the things we were supposed to speak out against and that the laws would be enforced against such practices.

Yours sincerely,

Tanuja Singh

More street lights needed

Dear Editor,

Improved street lighting can contribute to significantly reducing crime. Improvements in street lighting are not always made with crime prevention in mind. The chief ideas are traffic and pedestrian safety. However, well-lit streets always deter lurking criminals.

A sense of safety begins to emerge with street

lights. Criminals never like to be seen. Statistics on street lighting interventions in the United Kingdom and United States, spanning four decades, show that crime decreased by 21 per cent in areas that experienced street lighting improvements compared with similar areas that did not.

I live in a street where three big time business -

men live. They park their vehicles all night on the road, and so for safety reasons, they have mounted a series of lamps from one end of the street to the other. I am not fearful walking, no matter what time in the night it is. No doubt, more street lights are needed in Guyana.

Yours,

Ingrid Lowe

Firefighting in Guyana must be reassessed

Dear Editor, The number is on the increase – 160 persons have been left homeless as a result of fires in Berbice alone. What makes it even more bothersome are the reasons for these fires –faulty electrical wiring, connections, carelessness, arson and accidents.

Accidents are a reality, as even the most careful will make blunders. I think that common knowledge and even house gossip suggests that no one must overload a point. Maybe, firefighters can get some electricians to dispense knowledge along these lines.

Contractors must be held accountable. It might take some doing, but the mere mention of confronting them whenever they fall short will drive them to do better and safer work.

Narrow streets, I notice, are the norm in many places. Many people have a way of concreting their entire parapets and using them for aesthetic or parking purposes. In the event of a fire, I cannot see how a fire engine will get by, especially when some of these streets have a vehicle or two parked on these parapets. It is in the best in -

terest, therefore, for the country to have systems in place. In many countries, there are fire escape routes and these are never allowed to be blocked. A severe financial penalty awaits those who dare to infringe.

Just a week or so ago, the local fire service got a boost with some vehicular help from China. It makes no sense if these vehicles, namely fire engines, find street accessing a thing of great difficulty. I think that we must think collectively.

Yours truly, Damien Glasgow

The police need to show up in traffic court

Dear Editor,

It is quite a big shame that, recently, a magistrate had to dismiss 54 traffic matters as the police witnesses were not present in court to give evidence. What should we make of this? Daily, I am reading and hearing about making our roads safer, and now when a good opportunity presented itself, whereby a strong message could have been sent, we have mass irresponsibility from the police – the very men who are tasked with salvaging our road situation.

Some 130 traffic matters were called for the first time after warrants were issued for the drivers to appear and answer to relevant charges. Only two of the officers

who instituted the charges were in court and made appearances to give evidence. So how many did not show up and why? Also, what will happen with those who were absent?

If Guyana will improve in the area of road safety, then the police must play a big part. If this no-show at court is not addressed, then it is another plus for bad drivers. If indeed they are getting away with bribes, and if it is true there are many colluding officers, then I can assume that there are many trumped up charges, hence the no-show of these officers.

If people do show up as required for a trial and the relevant officers do not, then the magistrate will most likely

dismiss the case. Sometimes the prosecutor can ask for a continuance, but magistrates usually do not allow them for traffic court.

Judges and magistrates are aware that people who show up for court are missing work and are probably not getting paid, so if the officer does not show up, they are reluctant to make the person come back for a new court date.

However, people get penalised harshly for missing court. So how about doing the same for police who do not show up? If we are serious, then we have to do better in this regard.

Sincerely,

Iqbal Bacchus

Page Foundation

BY JENNIFER HEISLER

Preparing infants and toddlers for surgery

At the infant and toddler stage of development preparing for surgery is mostly about preparing the parents for what is happening and what to expect after surgery. Toddlers will require very simple and straightforward explanations of what is happening with minimal information. For example, you may want to say “the doctor is going to make your leg better”, rather than a detailed explanation that will merely confuse your child.

Before surgery children may be tearful or fussy, as they will be required to go without food or drink before surgery as an adult would. The hospital, with different noises, faces and activities can be upsetting, and your child may require much more comforting and want to be held more than usual.

Like their older counterparts, children will often take on the attitudes of their parents, so if you appear to be upset and concerned, they will also be upset. Presenting a calm, happy attitude when around your child will help considerably when trying to keep them calm and comfortable.

After surgery, you can expect your child to be fussy, and in some cases, difficult to

How to prepare your child for surgery

console. The combination of pain from the procedure, an empty stomach, and feeling strange due to the anaesthesia typically results in a crying baby that will need to be held and comforted. Be sure to use pain medication as the doctor recommends, as small children are unable to verbalise their need for pain relief in some cases.

If the surgery is one that takes an extended recovery, you may need to enlist help from friends and family to take turns comforting your child, so that you are able to sleep while the baby has the care they need.

Preparing your preschooler for surgery

Children at the preschool level of devel opment are old enough to be scared by the thought of surgery. Preschool aged children tend to fear separation from their par ents, mutilation of their bod ies and fear pain from any source.

These typical fears can guide your conversa tion with your child, giving

you the opportunity to explain that you will be with them, that the surgery will make them better and not hurt their body, and that medication will be available if they have pain.

Keep in mind that your preschooler may be comforted by having familiar objects present with them, such as their favourite blanket and

After surgery, expect your preschooler to be irritable and much more difficult to deal with than is normal. As difficult as it may be, it is essential for you to exhibit patience with your child during this trying time. This should be a temporary phase, decreasing as your child’s pain level is relieved and life returns to normal. Do not hesitate to enlist help caring for your child from friends or family during this stressful time.

If your child enjoys colouring, you may want to use

Printable

Surgery

Colouring

Books to help explain surgery to children.

Preparing an elementary aged child for surgery

surgery. While they are old enough to have significant fears about surgery, they tend to keep their worries to themselves and will silently worry about concerns that may seem strange to an adult. Your preschool-aged child will require reassurances that they are not being punished, that they will survive the surgery and that their pain will be controlled.

Depending upon the age of your child, they may worry that they will be left alone and may repeatedly ask where you will be during the procedure. They may also fall into the “are we there yet” syndrome, so giving children more than a week’s notice may not be a good idea, based upon the maturity of the child.

CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY

at the same time. This age group will also be very receptive to having a tour of the hospital and operating rooms when they are available.

How to prepare an adolescent or teenager for surgery

Older children, such as those of junior high and high school age, share many of the same fears regarding surgery. As a whole, children in these age groups fear dying during surgery, being disfigured or obviously different from their peers after surgery and showing weakness or a loss of control.

Children of elementary age are old enough to require clear and concise information about

After surgery, children this age will want to be in touch with their friends, and visits should be encouraged when appropriate. At this point in recovery, your child may be caught between feeling like a child, and wanting to be mature at the same time. Hugs and reassurances are important for all age groups, but preschool-aged children may require more than other children but be unwilling to express the need.

If your child enjoys colouring, printable surgery colouring books may help to answer their questions and provide entertainment

Your child is old enough to understand what happens during surgery and will require a more detailed explanation than younger children. They should have an opportunity to ask questions of their surgeon and should be included in any discussions about the surgery if they so desire. Children of this age may feel information is being withheld from them if they are excluded from decisions and discussions about their health.

After surgery, this age group is more likely to deny having pain when they are indeed in pain, in an effort to maintain control of the situation. They are more likely to deny they have any symptoms of complications, especially if the complication is potentially embarrassing like constipation or the inability to urinate.

One way to help this age group deal with the stress of surgery both before and after the procedure is to allow them to bring their headphones, books or other personal items that provide a distraction with them.

Preparing yourself for your child’s surgery

Having a sick child who needs surgery can be extremely stressful. It is important to know that you are not alone and that many parents experience the stress of a child having surgery each day. Have a support system during this difficult time can be very helpful for both you and your child, as children are usually very aware of their parent’s state of mind. Some hospitals offer support groups for parents during the hospitalisation of their child, whether or not the child needs surgery.

You don’t need to do everything yourself, every minute of the day. If you have a support system of family and friends, seriously consider enlisting help before the procedure in preparation for the time following surgery, especially if your child is expected to be tearful and will need to be held and consoled after surgery. (www.surgery.about.com)

Traffic situation terrible, says Brumell

– warns police will be taking firm action

By: Whitney Persaud

Declaring that the traffic situation here is terrible, acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell said the force will be taking firm actions against reckless and drunk drivers.

He was at the time addressing the force’s annual awards ceremony at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square, Eve Leary, Georgetown. Brumell said there has been a 30 per cent increase in accidents and deaths this year. The annual awards ceremony for the Guyana Police Force began in 1990 and has trended until now. Officers would usually receive sizeable amount of cash incentives and commendations for their hard work all year round. A number of ranks and community policing groups were also awarded.

Last year, there were

some 43 fatal accidents and 45 deaths; this year for the same period, 56 accidents and 59 deaths have been recorded.

The commissioner said that the force will be taking strict actions against traffic offenders so as to lessen the number of road fatalities and accidents caused by reckless and drunk drivers.

“People won’t always be satisfied with what we are doing and there will always be encumbrances and people call it harassment when the ranks decide to do their jobs, but with this hike in accidents and deaths, I have already informed the traffic chief and ranks that we must be rigid,” Brumell said.

The commissioner warned that strict enforcement will be meted out to those persons who are engaged illegally or add to the increasing number of deaths and accidents.

“When you do this, you

hear harassment, if that’s the way then we will bring it, but we are not calling it harassment, we are calling it firm investigation and interrogation… the situation on the road is terrible,” the commissioner said.

Firm investigation

Meanwhile, turning his attention to the crime situation, Brumell acknowledged that crime is high, but in most of the gun-related robberies, there is the element of an inside link.

Speaking to the recent hike in gun-related robberies and specifically the Akbar Auto Sales incident, Brumell said investigations have most times proven that someone from within the organisation initiated the robbery. He said that a number of these criminals might have been in collusion with staff members, and urged business owners and managers to be more aware of

the happenings in the workplace.

“There were a couple of robberies on Monday and one particular one baffled me, the one with the auto sale… I want to give an advice to business owners, you need to look at the staff because many of the robberies involve inside collusion,” he said, adding that “You need to be conscious, if you go to the bank and see someone looking suspicious, mark that face and when you leave there you see the same person, it might be someone who is tracing you so that is why you have to be security

conscious in all that you do,” Brumell said.

Inclusive effort

He contended that crime is an issue around the world and it cannot be stopped, but the Guyana Police Force can implement strategies to suppress crimes. He said although the force is the leading crime fighting agency in the country, the citizenry and business community are expected to render their support as the force cannot do everything on its own.

“You might be doing your best to earn an honest living and then there

are those that are covetous and so you have to be security conscious, you have to be able to put systems in place to deal with these persons,” Brumell said.

Brumell urged the ranks to be professional at all times, noting that it is always wise not to use more force than necessary. The commissioner charged the officers to keep up the good work and stick to firm investigative work and interrogation techniques when carrying out their responsibilities. (whitneyp@guyanatimesgy.com)

thursday, july 18, 2013|

Duo gets life for murdering Guyanese butcher

Shrill shrieks echoed through the High Court building in Antigua yesterday as the mother of one of two men sentenced to life in prison broke down in tears.

Lasana Anthony “Tony” Riley, 28, of Hatton and 35-year-old Jevorny “Bundy” Richards of Bendals now join six other convicts serving life sentences at Her Majesty’s Prison.

When Justice Keith Thom delivered the judgment, Riley’s mother, who was in the courtroom throughout the hourlong sentencing hearing, rushed from the courtroom.

The woman wailed inconsolably in the waiting area, prompting a bailiff to demand “Order!”

Relatives later took her outside where she continued to sob uncontrollably.

Clearly stunned by the sentence, both men had to be prompted by po-

lice officers to step out of the defendant box. Richards, who appeared to be more dazed, stared blankly in the

judge’s direction before he was led to a waiting police bus to be transported to prison.

Riley and Richards were found guilty of murdering Guyanese butcher Rondel George in Bendals, over three years ago.

In delivering the sentence, Justice Thom said George’s killing was “well designed and executed”. During the two-week long trial in the High Court before a 12-panel jury, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Anthony Armstrong led evidence that George was lured to Bendals where he was gunned down on a dirt road on August 21, 2010.

A third man, Chester Joseph, who was charged in connection with George’s murder walked free after the DPP, having heard the evidence of several witnesses, discontinued the matter against him. (Antigua Observer)

Taxi driver to face trial for fireman’s murder

Ataxi driver will be facing trial for the 2009 murder of fireman Patrick Daly, at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

Murder accused Kurleigh Goodluck, 31, of Lot 144 Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, has been indicted with the murder of the 30-year-old

Daly, called “Ringo”, on September 15. The man pleaded not guilty to the indictment when it was read to him in the High Court before Justice Dawn

Gregory-Barnes.

The matter will be prosecuted by State Counsel Renita Singh, who has some seven witnesses to call while the accused is being represented by Attorney Peter Hugh. According to reports, on the day in question, Daly was in the outdoor toilet when his wife, Denise George, heard him calling for her.

When the woman went outside, she saw two neighbours, Errol Williams and Oswell Johnson outside the latrine. Williams had a cutlass in his hand, while Johnson had a bottle containing a substance.

Daly called out to his wife and told her to call the police and she did while standing nearby and then called out to neighbours for help. Goodluck then joined the two men with a piece of iron in his hand.

He then used the iron to open the door of the toilet and Daly ran out. Johnson threw the liquid on Daly and then Williams came from behind and started to chop the man on his neck, back, knee, legs, and hands.

The man succumbed to his injuries and a post-mortem examination conducted on Daly disclosed that he died as a result of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple chop wounds. Goodluck was arrested with several other persons; however, Williams and Johnson had managed to evade the police.

He was then charged and placed before the court. The trial is expected to commence on Monday.

Another nail...

...in GECOM’s coffin

After bobbing and weaving for months, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) proved the old truism from the boxing ring still held in the world of politics: you can run but you can’t hide. And believe you me, GECOM is all about politics – to the nth degree. GECOM, after independence, had been so compromised by the People’s National Congress (PNC) to facilitate its rigging that dog owners complained bitterly to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) when one chairman of the commission, Sir Harold Bollers, was called a “toothless poodle”.

The movers and shakers in GECOM had shown that they’re not even “toothless poodles” – just street mongrels with yellow streaks down their backs. When the Jimmy Carter formula was established to address the failures of the previous commissions, it was seen that the equal division between government and opposition commissioners might have resulted in stalemates. Yet they were exhorted to rise above their narrow divisions and do what’s best for Guyana. And this is where the chairman came in. He would have both an original and a casting vote that would decide the outcome in any issue over which the commissioners were divided. The chairman, then, for all intent and purposes was the individual who would look out for the interest of Guyana and not be bound to partisan interest in case the commissioners were subjected to too much party pressure. To assist in securing this impartiality, he was nominated by the opposition and confirmed by the government.

But what has just occurred with the decision to fire the Chief Elections Officer Gocool Boodhoo proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the divisions proved too much for the Carter Formula and the chairman to handle gracefully. It is alleged that the reason for the dismissal is Boodhoo’s fumbling over numbers. We can forget about Vincent Alexander’s allegation that Boodhoo deliberately “changed” the requisite formula – that’s partisan posturing.

GECOM had already publicly attested that a simple “human error” had been committed. If Alexander believed otherwise, or if he had any other cause for doubting the ability of Boodhoo to carry out his tasks, as he now asserted in the press, he should’ve reviewed the matter with the chairman and the rest of the commissioners. Boodhoo should’ve been evaluated and the evaluations placed in his file. At no time during the decade that Boodhoo served the commission was he subjected to an evaluation.

What has happened to Boodhoo is that he’s been treated as if he can be fired at will. This goes against not only natural justice, but all modern notions of professional employment. Boodhoo should challenge the decision in court.

...in cricket’s honour

Cricket’s supposed to exemplify the ideal: “it’s how you play the game – not whether you win or lose”. We in the Caribbean take that adage seriously and the instances of our cricketers “walking” on their own are legion. Brian Lara was one of the notables in this regard and represented the true spirit of cricket.

Contrast this to what happened in the first Ashes test when Stuart Broad clearly nicked the ball to Michael Clark – but stood his ground when the umpire missed the call. The English are supposed to have invented the game and its “spirit”. But that spirit was surely lacking that day in England. But what makes the story even more dispiriting about where’s cricket headed in an era of spot-fixing and bribery is the double standards exhibited by those who are in charge of cricket and presumably its values.

Stuart Broad got away without even a slap on his wrist while Denesh Ramdin was suspended for two games when it was adjudged he had engaged in an act “against the spirit of the game”. Go figure.

...in Alexander’s credibility

Alexander insists that Boodhoo used the “wrong formula” in declaring the allocated seats in 2011, rather than using the wrong number of seats in the one formula there is.

No system in place to capture wild animals

B y S amuel S ukhnandan

Natural Resources and Environment

Minister Robert Persaud said because of Guyana’s vast terrain, large cats and other animals can indeed pose a threat to citizens. Persaud’s comments come in light of concerns raised by citizens of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown where a jaguar has been roaming.

Persaud told Guyana Times on Tuesday that people are usually encouraged to capture these animals, once they pose a threat to a community. When this newspaper contacted the National Parks Commission (NPC) to report the incident in North Ruimveldt on Tuesday, an official confirmed that there is no mechanism in place to deal with such situations, but volunteered to assist.

A senior NPC official said in such cases,

Home

Affairs

the Wildlife Department is usually called in to assist, although this is not one of its responsibilities. An official of the Wildlife Department later confirmed this to be true, but stated that at some point, a unit must be set up to deal with such matters, given the frequents reports of wild animals causing damage and posing a threat to many villages.

Do not kill animals

Minister Persaud said while citizens are encouraged to trap these animals, they are also warned not to kill them. According to him, once the animal is caught alive, it can be accommodated at the Zoological Park. Persaud said persons should not, however, allow themselves to be attacked or their property damaged.

“As a former minister of agriculture, I would recall that farmers themselves complaining about losing

Ministry alarmed by spike in crime

The Home Affairs Ministry has noted the recent spike in armed robberies with alarm.

The ministry in a release said it wishes to inform that at a recent presentation to a joint meeting with senior management of the Guyana Police Force, the Home Affairs Ministry, policy analysts as well the Crime and Social Observatory, it was emphasised that the police will win or lose the battle against crime in A Division particularly. Georgetown is part of A Division.

The presentation, which was evidence-based, pointed to certain “hot spots”, in the city, as well as other areas where crime can be anticipated and where, from an operational perspective, the police should deploy its ranks and moveable assets to effectively deal with those specific areas fraught with potential criminal threats.

At the end of the presentation, there could not have been a clearer message to the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force, particularly to the acting commissioner of police, deputy commissioner, law enforcement, assistant commissioner operations and the commanders.

The acting police commissioner has been requested by the Ministry of Home Affairs to adopt the appropriate operational posture to conform with the conclusions of the presentation with which all had agreed.

Further, the acting police commissioner with the support of the deputy commissioner of law enforcement, assistant commissioner operations and particularly the A Division commander has been advised to inform the general public about actions contemplated by police to bring the situation once again under control.

Assault case dismissed

Aman accused of unlawful assault was brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

It was alleged that on July 12, at Survival Supermarket on Sheriff Street, Davinand Kublall unlawfully assaulted Alan Carrington. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Both men work at Survival Supermarket; Kublall as a delivery clerk, and Carrington as a security guard.

When the virtual complainant was asked by the magistrate what he would like to come out of the matter, he responded that it was a misunderstanding.

He said the defendant came to him about a car that was parked in the parking lot and their exchange got a bit heated. He asked the magistrate to just warn the defendant.

The defendant then told his side of the story: he said they were indeed speaking about a car in the parking lot when the situation got heated.

He stated that the virtual complainant pushed his hand in his face and said he was being rude.

Kublall explained that he just pushed Carrington’s hand out of his face, and did not assault him.

The matter was dismissed, since no evidence was offered.

The jaguar is the third largest feline after the tiger and lion. While dense rainforest is its preferred habitat, the jaguar will range across a variety of forested and open terrains. It is strongly associated with the presence of water and is notable, along with the tiger, as a feline that enjoys swimming

large numbers of livestock, be it sheep, goat and even cows. So we are aware of it and certainly, we try to encourage people to do trap -

ping and work with the Zoological Park,” the minister added.

Persaud told this publication that Guyana has

started a relationship with an overseas non-governmental organisation to develop a strategy to protect jaguars, working with people in the mining, forestry and agriculture sectors. This is to prevent the animal from becoming an endangered species.

“But it’s one thing for us to sit and theorise... and people out there would tell you that camps were attacked, they saw traces of a jaguar or some other animal and that puts them at danger... but we try to work and give advice and certainly, we have a country, where 88 per cent of our land space is covered with tropical rainforest,” Persaud acknowledged.

The jaguar in North Ruimveldt was spotted this weekend at the back of the area; residents are fearful of using the backdam that links that community to Sophia. One resident, Collin Daniels said between Saturday and

Sunday, he spotted the animal while using the backdam and he informed his neighbours about it.

“They got a lot of little children that use the dam, but presently because school close it ain’t that busy.... but you never know if by the time school re-opens, if the animal will attack someone... but we have to be sceptical at least at nights,” Daniels said.

He estimates that the jaguar is about three feet in length and two and a half feet in height. This is not the first time that the animal was spotted by residents. Daniels told Guyana Times that residents use the canal to bathe, but many of them have since desisted from that practice. He also stated that over the past month, neighbours have been complaining about missing their pets and other animals. (samuelsukhnandan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Berbice burglars strike at NATI lecturer’s house

Police are investigating an alleged break enter and larceny committed on the house of Phadesh Mohabir, a lecturer at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), who resides at Number Eight Village, Corentyne, Berbice on Tuesday.

According to information received, Mohabir was at the said institution when burglars broke into his home and removed one laptop computer valued $220,000, one LG flatscreen television set valued $400,000, one gold band valued $80,000 and one gold chain valued $80,000.

Based on reports, Mohabir resides with his wife Bibi Mohabir and

their two children in a two-storey wooden and concrete structure in a well fenced yard. Mohabir claimed that on the day in question, he secured his home by means provided, leaving the articles mentioned intact and left with his family for the Sheet Anchor Masjid.

Upon their return about 20:45h, he observed three louvre panes missing from a window and a door open.

Upon observing this, Mohabir went into the house and made further checks and discovered that his bedroom and wardrobe were ransacked with the articles missing. He reportedly raised an alarm and summoned the police who visited the scene and dusted for fingerprints.

Several persons were contacted and questioned including the guard attached to the NATI, who was on duty at the time. Guyana Times understands that the guard hut is approximately 20 metres from the house that was burglarised.

Meanwhile, the police are also investigating another alleged break and enter and larceny committed on the house of Hemraj Sadeo of Lot 196 Section A Number 72 Village, Corentyne which occurred between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

The bandits reportedly carted off one Acer laptop comport valued $250,000, $54,000, and a quantity of artificial jewellery valued $3000.

According to information received, the victim secured his home and retired to bed, leaving his laptop computer in the lower flat of his house, and the said money in a wallet in his pants pocket, along with the other articles mentioned intact.

About 05:00h, the victim woke up and observed that one of the windows on the lower flat was opened. This prompted him to look for the articles only to discover that they were gone.

He immediately contacted the police who visited the scene.

Several persons in the area were contacted and questioned, but no one was arrested. The police are investigating both incidents.

Man, 50, accused of raping girl, 10

Aprison officer in Berbice was on Tuesday arrested for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old relative.

The 50-year-old officer was accused of molesting the child since she was seven years old, but the alleged molestation was only brought to light on July 10. Guyana Times understands that the victim was last molested on June 29.

According to information received, the child was staying with her aunt

who is the reputed wife of the suspect and while the aunt is asleep, the suspect would have sex with the victim during the night.

The victim reportedly complained to her aunt on several occasions but when confronted, he denied ever committing the act.

However, the victim's parents told investigators that their daughter would stay by the aunt in order to attend school, but would visit their home to

spend the holiday during the August vacation. While at her parents’ house, her mother reportedly overheard a conversation between the victim and her sister which prompted her to confront the child on the issue.

The child immediately opened up to her mother about the sexual molestation over the past three years and was taken to the Fort Wellington Police Station where a report was made.

Based on the serious -

ness of the allegation, the child was escorted to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital where she was medically examined and a certificate was obtained. The doctor reportedly confirmed the allegation made by the child.

On Tuesday, the suspect who was in hiding reported to the Albion Police Station and denied the allegation, but refused to give a written statement. He was arrested and remains in custody pending further investigation.

More bandits, more police, Vin Cents and wotless people

De more de police send out patrols, is more de bandits gettin bad fuh rob people. It lookin like is every day de bandits gettin more rich. Plenty police pun de road. Plenty people getting police wuk. De police force gettin bigger. And de crime gettin higher – all at de same time. Now de police hold press conference to talk bout crime. So every body waitin fuh de action and less talk.

Some of de media people dem like when plenty crime goin on. Is more front page photos. And is de more de society get lawless is more stories dem got to write. A lotta dem even got connections and does know beforehand when tings gon happen. One media ain’t got de connections so dem copy and paste.

But dem get ketch. So de media people and all gettin lawless. No wonder de bandits gettin more bare face. Is because some of de media people dem bare face too. Dem ain’t got no respect fuh copyright and fuh another’s man’s hard wuk.

And talk bout bare face and hard wuk, one of de GECOM people wait till de CEO contract was up fuh renewal before he stab de fella in he back wid de help of de Stabber paper. Vin Cents is known to be a penny cheap man, but no body had know he was also a back stabber. No respect he ain’t got fuh de CEO hard wuk. He claim he know sum ting all de time. But that lie was bigger than de Marriott. So it had to tek a long time. He shoulda be de one to get fire.

Some of de politicians don’t seem to want de crime to go down. Dem tellin people to go pun de streets and to protest. Is lawless these politicians lawless. Is de same way dem does behave in Parliament. Sheer lawlessness does go in de House. Dem does behave as if dem own it.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! So look out fuh dem today and see how dem gon behave. Wotless more than de bandits.

Woman charged with threatening language

Awoman was granted bail by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, after she appeared before him on a charge of abusive language.

The accused is 34-yearold Nicola Austin and it was alleged that on June 27 at Durban Street, Austin made use of abusive language to Laura

Gilious whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. She pleaded not guilty to the charge read against her.

The accused has two children and is a businesswoman, who runs a beer garden and snackette. There were no objections to bail and it was set at $20,000. The matter will be heard again on July 24 in Court Six.

Brazilians on gun, drug charge further remanded

The four Brazilians who were on Tuesday remanded made another court appearance on Wednesday.

The men appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and were further remanded until September 3 when they will appear at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.

On Tuesday, the men appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on two separate offences. Ishaque Roberio De Olevero and

Oziel Dos Santos Viera were charged with possession of a firearm without being the holder of a firearm licence. Both men were represented by Attorney Latchmi Rahamat and with the help of an interpreter, they pleaded not guilty to the charge read against them.

The second duo, Dasilva Dos and Dasilva Dasouza, were charged with possession of 468 grams of narcotics. They both pleaded not guilty to the charge read against them.

Youth leaders urged to stay away from politics

Ahead of the establishment of a National Youth Council in Guyana, an executive member of the Trinidad Youth Council, Ravi Lutchman admonished youth leaders and youth advocates to be independent of the politics of the day.

According to Lutchman, following the formalisation of a National Youth Council comes the battle to ensure that the youth organ remains independent of the “government and politics”.

“The government is an important stakeholder, but the role of a government in facilitating and contributing into the development of a youth council needs to be clearly defined and understood and we must ensure that the roles are not crossed,” he explained.

Crime and unemployment

Crime and unemployment continue to plague thousands of young people across the Caribbean and like Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana is not spared, he posited, hence tackling the two critical issues must be placed at the top of the agenda when the council becomes operational.

“They’ll need to work to develop projects and intervention to tackle social ills... ways and means to deal with young people who may be involved in criminal activities and who may have aggressive ways – non-violent, non-judgmental approaches to restore and help them,” Lutchman explained.

Additionally, the Trinidadian youth representative underscored the importance of implementing an effective financial system that will pave the way for issues affecting youths to be addressed through the length and breadth of Guyana. He said despite low budgets at times, the council must be able to effectively utilise its resources to meet the demands of the young generation.

Inclusive

Lutchman was among several regional leaders who made guest appearances during the staging of a youth consultation on Wednesday at the Umana Yana, Kingston Georgetown. The event, which saw participation from scores of youth leaders, advocates, and representatives from across Guyana, was strategically designed to introduce the concept of a National Youth Council and the pivotal role it has played in youth governance worldwide.

Caribbean Regional Representative and Grenadian member of the

Commonwealth Youth Council Working Group, Shireene McMillan, who was among the main presenters, told Guyana Times that a National Youth Council is fundamental for the promotion of youth empowerment and development.

Like Lutchman, McMillan offered advice ahead of the formalisation of the council. She posited that its formation must be inclusive and a true representation of the nation’s youths. “It has to be inclusive, it has to be diverse and I know Guyana is very unique in its diversity, so you must be able to pull all of the organisations, regardless of race, political affiliation, religion, or creed to work together to promote youth development.”

The organiser of the youth consultation, the National Youth Council of Guyana Steering Committee is majorly backed by the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry.

Platform

Acting Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre, Dwynette Eversley said the Commonwealth Secretariat continues to appeal for governments and young people to support the development of youth councils. “A youth council is an opportunity for young people everywhere to have a platform to share their passion, their commitment, and their national spirit as part of a national movement for development.”

According to Eversley, the development of a national youth council is an indication of a strong democratic country where young people can have their say and contribute to the development of their country.

“Every time, Commonwealth youth ministers meet, as part of our programme work to look at the strategies we need to adopt, they reiterate their support and their endorsement for national youth councils to be formed in all countries.”

National Youth Council of Guyana Steering Committee President Tiffany Daniels, in a brief interview with Guyana Times, said the steering committee will not stop until a council is established.

According to Daniels, the evolution of social media has given youths around the world a stronger voice, but there is still need for a stronger platform in Guyana through which youths can be represented on the national and in-

ternational arenas.

“We think that a youth council is needed really to harness the energies of young people and provide a unified face and voice to all youth issues. So whether it has to do with education, employment, creativity, expression, all these things are very important to young people and it’s about time that a youth council is available,” Daniels said.

On Saturday, another consultation will be held before a progress report is com-

piled. According to Daniels, the National Youth Council of Guyana Steering Committee, youth leaders, and youth advocates will not give up until the council is in operation:

“We are not going to stop, we are not stopping, because one of the fallouts before is people always give up, but this time we are not going to give up, we have so much energy, we have so much support, and we have the backing of every single youth council within the Caribbean.”

Fire chief back from UK training

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle has returned from a visit to the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Seven Park Regional Training Centre in the United Kingdom.

Gentle’s trip, from June 29 to July 8, was at the invitation of the chief fire officer of the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service. He engaged in discussions and was privy to how the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service operates.

According to a Home Affairs Ministry release, these discussions centred on the renaming of the Guyana Fire Service to the Guyana Fire and Rescue Service and touched on specialised training for Guyana Fire Service ranks in the area of firefighting and rescue operations; fire prevention (including community fire prevention relations); airport fire and rescue activities; and fire investigations.

The ministry said the Guyana Fire Service has developed a good relationship with the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Seven Park Regional Training Centre of the United Kingdom, and has benefited immensely from this partnership through the skills, expertise and training, which the centre has provided through Senior Training Officer Kevin Adcock.

thursday, July 18, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

French Guiana looks to partner with Guyana to police sea

Army Chief-of-Staff,

Commodore Gary Best on Tuesday received a courtesy call by the supreme commander of the armed forces in French Guiana, Major General Bernard Metz.

Headlining discussions between the two commanders was an offer by the French Armed Forces of rental of a specialised boat, crewed by Guyanese and flying the Golden Arrowhead, to assist in enforcing the laws of the sea. This offer is being examined in detail by Commodore Best.

In the area of training, discussions centred on the resumption of the ex-

change Jungle Training Programme between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the French Armed Forces in French Guiana.

Also, the French has offered to send instructors to Guyana to train members of the GDF in river blockade and the two commanders also examined the possibility of having GDF paratroopers conduct exhibition jumps in French Guiana.

Commodore Best and Major General Bernard Metz also considered the likelihood of restarting the military games among the GDF, the Suriname

National Army and the French Armed Forces.

The two commanders have conceded that their intention is to reinforce the good relations existing between the GDF and the French Armed Forces.

Agreements to be arrived at are to be ratified by the chief-of-staff during a proposed visit to French Guiana.

Major General Bernard Metz was invited to the GDF Coast Guard ship where he was apprised of the operations of the Coast Guard by Commander Gary Beaton. Thereafter, he and Best boarded the French naval vessel La Capricieuse

GT&T hosting work study students

Thirty-five students from various secondary schools and technical institutions in Guyana were last Friday inducted into a six-week work study programme being hosted by Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).

During a simple ceremony, GT&T Senior Human Resources Manager Parasram

Ramnarain, Customer Services Director Pamela Briggs, District Education Officer (Secondary)

Doreen Roberts and Government Technical Institute Principal Carl Benn called on the students to make full use of the opportunity being afforded to them.

According to a release, GT&T has over the years been collaborating with

TIP team conducts workshop at Imbaimadai

Ateam of four representatives from the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (MTFTIP) recently visited Imbaimadai, Region Seven, as well as surrounding areas to conduct focused group discussions with residents on human trafficking and child labour.

The task force said that the aim of the visit was to conduct monitoring exercises, training and awareness activities, along with listening to and considering the concerns raised by villagers in relation to trafficking in persons and child labour.

According to a release, the team engaged shop own-

ers, convened meetings and conducted focus group discussions with residents from Imbaimadai, Kambaru Creek, Chai Chai Falls, Partang, Fort Knox and Jawalla.

In an attempt to the educate the participants and deter them from participating in or allowing themselves to be exposed to perpetrators, the team engaged them on the effects of trafficking in persons, sharing practical examples, and explaining the consequences and legal ramifications for perpetrating or supporting the crime.

The team also distributed flyers and other infor-

mative materials to participants and other persons living and working in the area. Focus was placed on the Combating Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005, with the aim of educating participants of the various provisions in the law.

Participants at the meeting listened attentively and displayed gratitude for the information received. They were also presented with tokens of appreciation for their cooperation.

Government said it stands committed to the fight against trafficking in persons in Guyana and calls upon all stakeholders to join the fight to end the scourge.

PANCAP to hold key meetings

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) will hold the 20th meeting of its executive board and the fifth meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) for Global Fund Projects on July 18 to 20 in Kingston, Jamaica.

Under the chairmanship of Jamaica Health Minister Fenton Ferguson, the executive board which has responsibility for providing policy guidance on the effective management and operation of the partnership, will review the issues and recommendations of importance to the partnership and its governance, a release by the Caricom Secretariat said.

In this context, outgoing PANCAP Director Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, will present a report to the meeting on matters related to the functioning of the partnership during her tenure.

The meeting will focus on the strategic and programmatic direction of the partnership over the next years, through a consultative process to develop a

new Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework. The last framework agreement came to an end in 2012. A summary presentation of the evaluation of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (20082012) and the performance of the partnership, in this context, will also be delivered.

The fifth meeting of the RCM for Global Fund Projects will receive several reports, including a review of Phase One of the Global

Fund Grant and an update on the implementation of the programme of work for Phase Two of the grant.

PANCAP is a regional partnership which was established in February 2001 to respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean. Its vision is to substantially reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean through sustainable systems of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

GWI says Kaneville water woes fixed

Tthe Education Ministry on its work study programme.

GT&T reaffirms each year its commitment to the programme as it forms an important part in the development of young people as they strive for success, the release added.

It should be noted that some students have been retained as employees from previous work study programmes.

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Wednesday said contrary to a report in the Kaieteur News on Monday, the first, second and third fields of Kaneville are receiving water service sourced from the Diamond Housing Scheme Well Station.

This was confirmed by GWI’s East Bank team which regularly monitors the community, GWI said in a release. However, due to the consistent expansion of the Kaneville community, the fourth field was not receiving adequate service

during the period the article was published. GWI commenced a programme in June to provide relief to customers of the fourth field; however, due to voltage fluctuations affecting the Diamond Well Station, the utility was unable to complete all the works.

Following the return of normal electrical power on Tuesday, June 16, the company executed adjustments to the distribution system which serves the Kaneville community in order to provide service to the fourth field.

The company can confirm that customers of the fourth field are currently receiving water service following the intervention.

“GWI apologises to all affected customers and wishes to assure Kaneville residents that the utility will continue to monitor the community with the aim of making improvements in order to provide improved levels of water service.

For updates, Kaneville customers can call GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701,” the release said.

State administrators being trained in strategic planning

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the Donald Ramotar-led administration has placed increased emphasis on strengthening public administration with a focus on key results.

Dr Singh made the statement at the opening of a training and discussion workshop on strategic planning, targeting permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries, and regional executive officers and their deputies. The sessions also included the director of public prosecution (DPP), director general of foreign affairs and secretary of the Public Service Commission.

The finance minister said every sector has legitimate needs for expanded services and investment requiring budgetary allocations. “You would never get everything you requested since the reality is resources must be allocated across a competitively demanding scale of worthy needs,” Dr Singh remarked.

He noted that most permanent secretaries manage more than one programmes and several sub-programmes and are forced to identify the most effective

use of resources and ensure these are managed as efficiently as possible. Dr Singh stressed that allocations must be aligned along priority areas even where there is no indication as to which priority is more pressing in order to achieve objectives of the sector as a whole.

“Every day, you confront questions like these and must find answers. Given this reality at the macro and the agency level, it is absolutely imperative that we manage within a strategic framework which identifies what key objectives

are and indications of target and what it would costs in a medium-term expenditure framework,” the minister said.

He stated that only then can state administrators provide a coherent roadmap that can be use to navigate their daily decision. “Given the realities of current environment, this need is not one that can be ignored.

Technology

Today, more than ever people are better informed. Technology allows access to information and instant debate on issues. So you exist in an environment where your sectors are subject to close examination of public and parliamentary scrutiny,” Dr Singh pointed out.

He emphasised that government is high on capacitybuilding as an indispensible requirement to strengthen management in each budgetary agency. However, this is not done in isolation. “Government for years has embarked on an ambitious, comprehensive plan to strengthen public financial management.”

Dr Singh explained that the 2001 amendment to the

Constitution used as a principle reference point, the establishment of standing sectoral committee that were given oversight in areas of social services, foreign relations, natural resources, economic services and security. The amendment included an enhanced independence of the auditor general, expanded mandate for the Public Accounts Committee and established the basis for the next wave of reforms.

These included statutory and legislative interventions such as enactment of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003 accompanied by the Procurement Act of 2003 and the Audit Act 2004, which formed the principle pillars of the legislative framework for the public financial management.

“Having been established, we then put in place other institutional development and capacity-building initiatives including the introduction of technology in public financial management, the introduction of an integrated financial, management accounting system (IFMAS) which is widely used following legislative

enactment,” Dr Singh said.

He revealed that programme budgeting was also introduced across agencies and various elements of the statutory framework were implemented, including the introduction of performance links to budgetary allocation.

Programme budgeting

The 2003 Fiscal Management and Accountability Act stipulated that the budget of the agency must be accompanied by programme performance statements which will go to Parliament along with the budget request for approval. Dr Singh disclosed that over the years, there has been improvement to the framework for the identification of performance indicators, establishment of systems to capture data and to measures performance against indicators and define targets.

Budget Director Sonya Roopnauth said the session was intended to be a capacity-building exercise since the ministry sees training events as critical to empowering the senior leadership cadre of the public service.

Facilitator Dr Frederic Martin said that the concept of strategic planning is the starting point in any exercise in results-based management, including budgeting and programming issues.

“There must be a midterm to long-term vision to know where we are going as a country, ministry, sector, region and institution. It is an important moment because we realise that all sectors need to have strategic planning as a reference point and a document to be used which is necessary to guide daily action,” Dr Martin related.

He said it is important for managers and leaders of public sector to be champions of this process. “You are supported by technicians, professional but you as leaders have a key responsibility in leading the process within the institution,” he told the participants.

The seminar was intended to address the key challenges, best practices in keeping with international standards and the development of an action plan to further the cause of strategic planning in Guyana.

Conference to tackle violence against teachers

The upcoming 36th biennial Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) conference slated to take place here from August 4-9 will address several burning issues confronting teachers, not only in Guyana but across the Caribbean region.

According to Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) President Colin Bynoe, plans are apace for the hosting of the conference, which will address issues such as violence against teachers, increased wages, marking of school based assessments, among other issues.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Bynoe said violence against teachers, which remains a major issue, will be raised during the conference, with the aim of finding solutions to the problem.

CUT President Marvin Andall, a Grenadian by birth, will be delivering the keynote address, while President Donald Ramotar, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster will also address the occasion.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand is expected to address the award ceremony and banquet to be held on the last day of the weeklong event.

Delegates are expected to arrive in Guyana on August 3 and the following day there will be a church

service to commence activities. On Monday, August 5, there will be a women’s session followed by the formal opening in the afternoon. Delegates will go into the business sessions the following day, which will continue until the conference ends.

An estimated 500 per-

sons are expected to visit Guyana during the conference.

Those also attending include CUT General Secretary Adolph Cameron, the first, second and third vice presidents, trustees and the assistant secretary of the regional teachers’ body, along with teachers from across all the Caribbean territories.

Focus will also be paid on promoting destination Guyana, as several activities are planned to take place during the course of the conference. A massive Guyana Night is also on the programme, where various aspects of Guyana’s culture, food, dances and songs will be showcased. Several other cultural performances and events are planned for the conference.

A number of companies have already joined the GTU and the Education Ministry in a bid to make the conference a success. The GTU so far is pleased with the support it has been getting from the private sector and the Education Ministry as the time moves closer to the date of the highly anticipated event.

The conference will be observed under the theme “Improving the professional status of teachers in the Caribbean”. It will provide an opportunity for representatives of all CUT members to meet and strengthen their bonds of solidarity.

Delegates to the conference will also have an opportunity to select an executive to run the affairs of the CUT for the next biennium conference.

Jamaica leads with zero-energy buildings

Buildings which generate as much or more power than they consume.

That is the future for Jamaica — one which a collaboration among the University of the West Indies (UWI), The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking to make possible.

They are called zero-energy/energy-plus buildings (ZEB/EB) and work by combining energy-efficient designs with efficient sources

of energy so that they produce their own energy, and then some.

Under the Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings project, recently launched at the UWI by Vice Chancellor Professor E Nigel Harris, Jamaica is to lead the way in the Caribbean in the development of these buildings.

Led by Professor Anthony Clayton and Professor Tara Dasgupta from the UWI’s Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD), the project will deliver an ad-

vanced prototype of a zeroenergy/energy-plus building in Jamaica – the first for the island and the region. The model will be sited at the UWI, Mona.

Speaking at the launch event, Edu Hassing, representative of the GEF/ UNEP said “a unique feature of the project is that it aims to increase energy efficiency in the buildings and at the same time make use of renewable energy in buildings, thereby reducing the emission of greenhouse gases which lead to global warming”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

TT Integrity Commission chairman

asked to recuse himself from investigation

The lawyer for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has written to Integrity Commission Chairman Ken Gordon, calling on him to stay out of any commission probe of email allegations raised in Parliament back in May by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.

USVI ties knot with bridal market

The U.S. Virgin Islands made major strides by strengthening the territory’s position as a premier wedding destination in the Caribbean.

Following its successful hosting of a four-day Bridal Symposium in St Thomas this week, the Department of Tourism reported renewed interest in the destination from travel sellers who used destination updates and promotions to drive weddings business to St Croix, St John and St Thomas.

“The weddings and honeymoon market is big business for us and has great growth potential,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty. The symposium showcased the diverse product of the islands while providing the opportunity for industry influencers to network with their local counterparts, she added. The symposium, held July 9-12, attracted more than 60 attendees, including visiting journalists, wedding experts, travel agents specialising in destination weddings as well as local wedding industry professionals.

Sessions were moderated by celebrity television host Mar Jennings with discussions focused on business trends, wedding planning secrets, the benefits of bridal shows, post-wedding etiquette, and how to make a destination wedding a seamless event. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Cuban arms seized on N Korean ship

ship was

Khan further cited Gordon’s apparently unilateral decision to seek legal advice on the email matter prior to the formal appointment of a full commission by President Anthony Carmona on July 2.

Cuba has admitted being behind a stash of weapons found on board a North Korean ship seized in the Panama Canal.

tions prohibit the supply of arms to North Korea in the dispute over its nuclear programme.

parts and spares, two MiG21bis fighter planes and 15 MiG engines.

In the letter, copied to the commission’s new deputy chairman Justice Sebastian Ventour and newly-appointed commissioners Seunarine Jokhoo, Deonarine Jaggernauth and Dr Shelly-Anne Lalchan, Khan noted Rowley’s private meeting with Gordon.

In a six-page letter addressed to Gordon dated July 12, Israel Khan SC called on Gordon to recuse himself from any probe, citing the risk of, “the appearance of insidious political bias” were Gordon to preside over the probe, given the fact that Gordon hosted a secret meeting with Rowley at Gordon’s home, days before Rowley called on Gordon’s commission to investigate the emails.

“I have been instructed to formally request that you recuse yourself from any investigation by the Integrity Commission into the authenticity of the ‘emails’ submitted by Dr Keith Rowley in this matter,” Khan wrote in the letter, obtained by Newsday. (Excerpt from Trinidad and Tobago News)

Former Barbados PM warns The Bahamas that VAT may erode tax base

Aformer prime minister of Barbados has urged The Bahamas to conduct in-depth studies to determine the likely impact of value Added Tax (VAT) on “prices, revenues and the productive sector” since any erosion of the tax base could cause it to fail to generate sufficient revenue.

In a speech to the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce on Monday night, Owen Arthur said that the features of the

VAT system proposed by The Bahamas government “meet best standards and practices” found in VAT taxation in countries in which it is the primary form of tax.

However, the former prime minister, who implemented VAT in Barbados during his tenure, warned that tax base erosion via VAT’s implementation, or failure to secure broadbased compliance, would hinder the tax’s effectiveness.

He called upon the Bahamian government to undertake significant public outreach and consultation on the legislation, to encourage “strong stakeholder sense of ownership of the new tax”.

His comments in this regard should strike a chord with many in the Bahamian private sector, who have complained about a lack of information and consultation in relation to VAT implementation plans. (Excerpt from

The Cuban Foreign Ministry said the ship was carrying obsolete Soviet-era arms from Cuba for repair in North Korea.

The ship was seized by Panama last week after “undeclared military cargo” was found hidden in a shipment of sugar.

United Nations sanc-

A Cuban Foreign Ministry statement said Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to “peace, disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and respect for international law”.

It said the vessel was carrying 240 tonnes of obsolete defensive weapons – two anti-aircraft missile complexes, nine missiles in

The Cuban statement said they were all made in the mid-20th Century and were to be repaired and returned to Cuba.

“The agreements subscribed by Cuba in this field are supported by the need to maintain our defensive capacity in order to preserve national sovereignty,” the statement said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazil, Cuba to foster tourism cooperation

Cuba’s Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero and his Brazilian counterpart Gastao Diaz Vieira are scheduled to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Brasilia to foster bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.

The document will express the parties’ willingness to work jointly and look for ways to boost collaboration.

This is the second time,

the two ministers have held a working meeting after the first one that took place in the Cuban tourist centre of Varadero last May, during the visit to the island by the Brazilian official. On that occasion, Diaz Vieira headed his country’s delegation to the Cuban International Tourism Fair FitCuba 2013.

The Cuban minister will also meet with the president of the Brazilian Tourism Institute Flavio Dino, who is in charge of the implementa-

tion of the national tourism policy in terms of promotion, marketing and support to the commercialisation of tourist destinations and products at the international market.

Since July 11, when Marrero arrived in Brazil, he has visited the cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, where he presented the Cuban tourism offerings to travel agencies, tour operators and the business sector.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Senior Pakistani Taliban leader shocked by Malala attack

APakistani Taliban leader has sent a letter to schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, expressing shock that she was shot by Taliban gunmen last year.

The Taliban was universally condemned after gunmen shot Malala in the head.

In his letter to Malala, Adnan Rasheed stops short of apologising but said he wished the attack “had never happened”.

He also claims the shooting was not in response to Malala’s campaign for girls’ education, but because she ran an anti-Taliban “smear campaign”.

Malala – who is considered a contender for the

Nobel Peace Prize – is credited with bringing the education issue to global attention.

Speaking at UN head-

quarters in New York last Friday, she said that books and pens scared extremists. She also urged education for all, including “for

U.S. suggests Egyptian military averted civil war

Egypt avoided a possible civil war this month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday, making it hard for Washington to conclude that the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was a military coup.

The armed forces deposed the elected leader on July 3 after huge street protests against his rule, clearing the way for the installment this week of a new interim cabinet charged

with restoring civilian government and reviving the troubled economy.

Thousands of Morsi’s supporters demonstrated outside the prime minister’s office and marched through Cairo on Wednesday to protest against the militarybacked administration and show that they had no intention of bowing to army dictates.

Crisis in Egypt, which straddles the vital Suez Canal, has alarmed allies

Pro-Assad Syrian official killed in Lebanon

Asenior Syrian official, Mohammed Darrar Jamo, has been shot dead in the southern Lebanese town of Sarafand.

Jamo, a supporter of Syrian President Bashar alAssad, was attacked early on Wednesday morning as he entered his house.

Lebanese sources say gunmen opened fire on him but left his wife, who was with him at the time, unharmed.

The attack is being seen as the latest sign of how the conflict in Syria is threatening to destabilise Lebanon.

The Syrian state news agency, Sana, said Mohammed Darrar Jamo was head of the political and international relations division of the International Organisation for Arab Immigrants.

He had also frequently appeared as a political expert on Arabic-language television channels, defending President Assad.

Clashes between groups backing different sides in Syria’s civil war have be-

come increasingly common in Lebanon.

On Tuesday, a convoy carrying members of the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah was hit by a roadside bomb near the Syrian border.

The blast hit a vehicle not far from the Masnaa border crossing, on a key route between Beirut and Damascus, killing one person and wounding two others. Officials were unable to confirm whether the dead man was a member of Hezbollah. (Excerpt from BBC News)

in the West. Washington would be forced to cut off aid to Cairo, including some US$1.3 billion that goes to the military, if it determined Morsi had been removed by a coup.

“On the issue of a coup, this is obviously an extremely complex and very difficult situation,” Kerry told reporters during a visit to Jordan, where he held talks with Arab officials, adding that Washington would not “rush to judgment”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists”.

Correspondents say Rasheed’s letter was an apparent attempt to attract media attention with a view to counter the impact of Malala’s speech at the UN.

A copy of the letter was obtained by Channel 4 News and other news organisations.

Writing in his “personal capacity”, Rasheed said he felt “brotherly” emotions towards Malala because they belong to the “same Yousufzai tribe”.

However, he refuses to condemn the attack, saying the judgement on whether it was correct or not should be left to God. (Excerpt from

Queen okays UK samesex marriage bill

Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval on Wednesday to a bill, passed the previous day by British lawmakers, legalising samesex marriage in England and Wales and paving the way for the first gay weddings in 2014.

Members of parliament decided not to oppose a number of minor amendments to the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill proposed by the upper House of Lords.

Britain has seen none of the mass protests over gay marriage held across the channel in France, which last weekend became the 14th country in the world to legalise it.

Some 54 per cent of Britons are in favour of al-

lowing same-sex couples to marry, according to a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times.

Controversy over the issue among the Conservative Party has heaped pressure on prime minister and party leader David Cameron, who is already facing bitter opposition from many Tories over his leadership style and a promised referendum on Britain’s EU membership. The prime minister was forced to send a mass email to Conservative activists after an unnamed ally was reported to have called them “mad, swivel-eyed loons”.

“I am proud of what you do. And I would never have around me those who sneered or thought otherwise,” he wrote. (Excerpt from France24)

Russia’s Putin puts U.S. ties above Snowden

President Vladimir Putin signalled clearly on Wednesday that he did not want a dispute over the fate of former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden to derail Russia’s relations with the United States.

Russia has ruled out extraditing Snowden, wanted by Washington for leaking details of U.S. surveillance programmes, and the U.S. citizen is currently stuck in the transit area of Moscow’s

Sheremetyevo airport.

Allowing him to stay in Russia even temporarily would upset Washington. Putin does not want to jeopardise a planned Moscow summit with President Barack Obama in September, their first in Russia since he started a new term last year, or cloud the atmosphere at a subsequent G20 summit in St Petersburg.

But a refusal would open Putin to criticism at home

that he gave into Moscow’s former Cold War enemy, even though he has refused to extradite Snowden to the U.S. to face espionage charges. Asked during a visit to the eastern Siberian town of Chita whether the affair would cast a shadow over a U.S.-Russia summit due in September in Moscow, Putin told reporters: “Bilateral relations, in my opinion, are far more important than squabbles about the activities of the secret services.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trial begins for captain in Costa Concordia cruise disaster

The ship captain accused of causing the deaths of 32 people in last year’s Costa Concordia cruise disaster asked for a plea bargain Wednesday as his trial got under way in Italy.

Francesco Schettino faces three criminal charges: involuntary manslaughter for the deaths; causing a maritime disaster; and causing personal injury to 150 people who were badly hurt in the accident.

The trial, being held in Grosseto, begins a year

and a half after the luxury cruise liner ran aground off the west coast of Italy. If convicted on all charges, Schettino could face a sentence of about 25 years in total. But his lawyers may argue that he serve his sentence under a form of house arrest, since there is virtually no danger of him repeating the offence. His lawyers asked for a plea bargain in exchange for a sentence of three years and five months in prison. (Excerpt from CNN)

Kerry urges Israel to "look hard" at peace initiative

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel on Wednesday to “look hard” at the 2002 Arab League peace initiative that it rejected in the past, adding that Israelis and Palestinians are getting closer to resuming peace talks.

“Israel needs to look hard at this initiative,

which promises Israel peace with 22 Arab nations and 35 Muslim nations – a total of 57 nations that are standing and waiting for the possibility of making peace with Israel,” he said in Amman, Jordan, where he met officials from Arab League member countries.

The plan, put forward

According to the AFP, Kerry told reporters that peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were getting closer to resuming.

“Through hard and deliberate work, we have been able to narrow those gaps very significantly,” he said.

by Saudi Arabia at an Arab League summit in Beirut in 2002, offered full recognition of Israel but only if it gave up all land seized in the 1967 Middle East war and agreed to a “just solution” for Palestinian refugees. Softening the plan three months ago, a top Qatari official raised the possibility of land swaps in setting future Israeli-Palestinian borders.

(Excerpt from France24)

Caribbean

The Caribbean region is embarking on a new technological experience and the latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report reveals that mobile-data traffic will continue to grow significantly in the coming years. Overall data traffic is expected to grow 12-fold by the end of 2018. Increasing usage is driven by continual growth in the amount of content available as well as the improved network speeds that come with HSPA and

North America

LTE development. In the Caribbean, the total number of mobile subscriptions is expected to grow from 34 million (Q1 2013) to 44 million by 2018. Mobile broadband will grow from a current four per cent of total subscriptions to 40 per cent, with mobile penetration reaching 100 per cent by 2018. Addressing operator challenges and concerns in order to achieve superior network performance will be key in this scenario.

Ericsson’s theme at this year’s edition of CANTO Trade Exhibition and Conference held July 14-17, 2013, in Aruba, is how the Networked Society is coming to life, and the company will highlight how it is working to develop it, in order to meet increasing user demands and encourage business growth by addressing specific challenges and opportunities, while focusing on innovation and business efficiencies. (Caribbean News Now)

Mattel profit slumps as Barbie’s appeal continues to fade

Mattel, the world’s largest toymaker, reported a 23 per cent drop in profit as sales of its doll Barbie decreased for the fourth quarter in a row. Toy sales in mature markets such as the U.S. and Europe have been weak so far this year, but Mattel had previously fared better than its competitors helped by the growing sales of its American Girl and Monster High dolls.

Europe

The firm, which also makes Hot Wheels cars and Fisher-Price baby toys, said second-quarter net income fell to US$73.3 million (£48 million), or 21 cents a share, from US$96.2 a year earlier. Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 32 cents a share, according to the Thomson Reuters database. Worldwide Barbie sales shrank by 12 per cent. The firm does not break down

Barbie sales by market as it is part of the Mattel Girls and Boys Brands unit. Sales at the unit rose one per cent to US$792.4 million during the quarter. Sales of American Girl dolls, which Mattel sells through its own stores, catalogue and websites, rose 14 per cent to US$78.2 million. Sales of the company’s Other Girls brands were up 23 per cent, mainly driven by Monster High dolls. (The Guardian)

Formula 1 boss Ecclestone indicted on bribery charge

German prosecutors have indicted Formula 1 motor racing boss Bernie Ecclestone on a bribery charge. The charge relates to a US$44 million (£29 million) payment to German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky of Bayern Landesbank, linked to the sale of a stake in F1.

Ecclestone denies bribing Gribkowsky, and says the money was intended to

stop the banker from exposing him to a UK tax inquiry. Gribkowsky was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail in Munich. Speaking to the Financial Times on Wednesday, Ecclestone said: “I have just spoken to my lawyers and they have received an indictment. It’s being translated into English.”

Asked how he responded to the indictment, he said: “We

are defending it properly. It will be an interesting case. It’s a pity it’s happened.”

The charges are related to the 2006 sale of a 47 per cent stake in Formula 1 by Bayern Landesbank, which had acquired it from the bankrupt Kirch media group. Gribkowsky had been in charge of managing the sale to private equity group CVC Capital Partners. (BBC News)

Africa

Mt Kenya University to open Meru campus

Mt Kenya University is set to open its Meru campus in August with the first classes scheduled to start in September. Speaking to the Star over the phone, the Nairobi Campus principal Prof Kimathi Kigatiira said the institution bought a building in Makutano shopping centre which is being

Asia

partitioned.

“The university is currently branding the building which is opposite the Royal Prince restaurant in Makutano. Once the partitioning is complete, we will admit new students,” said Kimathi.

He said the university is likely to transfer most of its courses that have been

undertaken at the Nkubu Campus to the new Meru Campus and more students will transfer from Nkubu to Meru.

The university is also expected to start training medical doctors next year once its curriculum is approved and key laboratories and equipment for the course are set up. (allAfrica)

India eases foreign investment rules to boost growth

India has further eased rules on foreign direct investment in a range of industries in an attempt to support the sliding currency and boost growth. Senior cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the plans at a meeting late on Tuesday.

The move will allow 100 per cent foreign ownership in the telecommunications industry, up from 74 per

Middle East

cent at the moment. The reforms still need clearance from the full cabinet.

In September last year, the government announced the opening up of India’s huge retail sector to foreign supermarkets, which led to protests in the streets from small shop owners.

Tuesday’s move would allow companies such as Britain’s Vodafone Group and Norway’s Telenor ASA

to operate in the country without the need to partner with an Indian company.

Restrictions in a dozen other industries including insurance and tea plantations would be relaxed or abolished, said Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. “We expect more foreign direct investment to flow in with these decisions,” Sharma said at a press conference. (BBC News)

Palm Jumeirah prices rocket 51 per cent in 12 months

Prices on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah development may have risen by over 50 per cent in the past year, according to research by Arabian Business. Figures seen by the magazine show that average prices for apartments on the Shoreline are now around AED1200 per square foot – compared with a low of just AED795 per square foot a year ago. The biggest jump is in prices for two and three bed -

room apartments. Even the Shoreline’s left side, normally considered cheaper because it does not overlook the beach, is commanding over AED1200 per square foot.

“You would do well to find a three bedroom for AED2.6 million right now. A year ago you could find one for AED1.8 million and negotiate downwards,” one estate agent told Arabian Business.

The average sale price in

the iconic development rose by as much as 11 per cent for three-bed apartments (AED3.9 million) and fivebed villas (AED20 million) during April-June, according to an analysis by property website dubizzle. One-bed apartments (AED2.15 million) also shot up eight per cent, while twobed apartments (AED3 million) rose five per cent and four-bed villas (AED12 million) were up four per cent. (Arabianbusiness)

How to find a new employee

Trying to find a new employee can be a challenge, especially if you are replacing another employee that performed well.

Even if you were hiring an employee for a new position, matching a prospective employee’s qualifications to the activities they are expected to perform could take some time.

The first course of action in finding a new employee is through personal references. Letting others know about the available position and doing a fair amount of networking locally can yield results rather quickly. In addition, you would be working with people from your own community.

Best places to find a new employee

After looking locally, you can attempt to fill the position by advertising in local newspapers, the Internet or in trade magazines depending on the type of business you are involved in. If you manage a larger business, seeking the services of a professional head hunter or staffing agency might fill your needs.

Tapping local colleges and universities for a new employee can also yield results. Many higher education schools have career centres or other types of assistance for graduating students to place them in jobs. Registering your company with these institutions could get you the right em-

ployee for the job. If the job you are seeking to fill is of a more specialised nature, placing an ad in a trade magazine that covers your industry will help you find someone professional that is familiar with the business. Advertising in the right places will generally get you the right person with qualifications for the job.

What really matters In today’s hectic world, matching qualifications and technical knowledge in a trade or profession has become the priority for many people hiring. Sadly, many of a person’s most important characteristics are overlooked in the search for a perfect candidate. (Business Dictionary)

ASL praises emergency response to Matthews Ridge plane crash Gunmen blitz Fullworks Motor Spares, customer

Air Services Limited on Wednesday lauded the coordinated emergency response to the accident involving one of its planes at Matthews Ridge, North West District on Wednesday.

In a release, ASL said that a flight chartered by North West Air Services and flown by Air Services Limited (ASL) departed Ogle International Airport at 07:09h for Matthews Ridge airstrip. At approximately 08:15h, the Cessna Caravan aircraft registration 8R-AMS was involved in an accident within a mile from the landing strip.

ASL immediately dispatched emergency responders to the scene to assist passengers and crew with efforts focused on getting the best medical care for those involved and this was achieved, the airline said. According to ASL, all 13 persons on board were given initial medical treat-

ment at a triage centre at the Matthews Ridge Hospital; 12 were later transferred to other medical facilities in Georgetown.

“ASL cannot overstate the quality of the responses from all of the agencies who answered the call for immediate assistance. From the initial response on the ground by the police at Matthew’s Ridge to the eventual care in the hospitals in Georgetown, and everything in between, we have been given the highest support and service at every stage and are deeply appreciative.”

According to ASL, although injured, Captain Feriel Ally, who has over 20 years of experience ensured that all the passengers disembarked and were accounted for.

It said within minutes of the incident, the Matthews Ridge Police Force cordoned off the area, and all involved were taken to the triage centre of the Matthews Ridge

Hospital where prompt medical treatment was delivered by Dr Roger Welch and his nurses. Soon after ASL Ogle was updated by Dr Welch on the condition of each patient and based on this information, the patients were then categorised and air transported for further treatment at Georgetown Public Hospital, Balwant Singh, Woodlands and St Joseph Mercy hospitals, ASL said.

Medical needs

This approach, according to the airline, was essential in ensuring no one hospital would be overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients, thereby averting any delay in response to the medical needs of each person.

Additionally, ASL said Captain Prem Ramdhani of Trans Guyana Airways, who was on the ground at Matthews Ridge, contacted Captain Ally and flew her and some of the passengers

out to Ogle. Two aircraft were then dispatched from ASL with representatives from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as well as the ASL safety, quality and operations managers. One of these aircraft subsequently brought out the remaining passengers. Chief Medex Michael Gouveia, from the Health Ministry, and the administrator of Woodlands Hospital ensured the prompt arrival of the ambulances at Ogle, 40 minutes before the aircraft touched down.

“With this arrangement, all were offloaded from the aircraft into the waiting ambulances. Captain Ally and all the passengers involved received seamless medical attention throughout and to date, with the exception of Captain Ally and three passengers, all have been discharged.” The airline said the Civil Aviation Authority’s investigation is proceeding with its full cooperation.

Linden today marks one year after protests

Today marks one year after three Lindeners were killed during a clash between protesters and ranks of the Guyana Police Force at the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge over a proposed hike in electricity tariffs.

In honour of the trio –Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis – hundreds of residents, as well as regional and political leaders, are expected to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony this morning at the Bamia Burial Ground.

Today is also one year since the Guyana Police Force launched an investigation into the death of the three Lindeners

and though the Linden Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has advised that the force takes responsibility for the deaths.

In a 267-paragraph report containing the testimony of 71 witnesses, CoI Chairman Justice Lensley Wolfe and his colleagues, Justice Keith D Knight, Claudette Singh and Cecil Kennard ruled that the Guyana Police Force must take responsibility for the deaths of Somerset, Bouyea and Lewis.

"Nonetheless, the discharge of ammunition itself by the police in the circumstances was justified having regard to the fact that the police were confronted by a very hostile

crowd and there was no clear intention on the part of the police to kill or cause injury to anyone.

"The apparent intention was to scare the protesters into removing from the bridge,” the report said.

Approximately five months after the recommendations were revealed, acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell said investigations into the death of the trio are still ongoing.

“What I know is that the recommendations were looked at by both the Guyana Police Force and the Home Affairs Ministry and.... It was submitted for discussions and other recommendations,” he said.

Brumell said he recently attended a meeting during which the Linden protest surfaced. “Very shortly, we will know the results or what is forthcoming,” said the acting police commissioner.

In keeping with the recommendations of the CoI, government compensated the family of the trio along with persons who suffered injuries and those whose property was damaged.

The relatives of Lewis and Bouyea received $3 million each, the family of Somerset was given $2 million, since he was not the solebreadwinner but rather a student of the Linden Technical Institute.

– A Division seen as key crime battleground

Less than two hours after acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell announced that the Guyana Police Force was concerned with the spate of robberies and have implemented strategies to curb the issue, another business was robbed, this time on the East Coast Demerara.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that two gunmen carried out a brazen attack on Fullworks Motor Spares at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday, carting off an undisclosed sum of money. The robbery occurred about 14:00h.

Gun point

A top police official told this publication that the men went to the business under the pretext of purchasing some spare parts, and in doing so, they held the cashier at gun point and relieved her of about $400,000 in cash belonging to the company, and $15,000 from her hand bag.

They then shifted their focus on a customer who was on the premises and took away a gold chain worth $250,000, a cellular phone and a quantity of cash.

The two men then made good their escape in a waiting beige-coloured car that was parked some 300 feet away from the scene.

The official stated that upon receiving the report of the robbery, the police established road blocks where they intercepted a blue car suspected to have also been involved in the robbery, but after enquiries, the occupants were released.

He said the police ranks have visited the scene and took statements.

However, the manager of the business told media operatives that he left for home, but shortly after he received a call from a staff member informing him that the business was robbed.

He immediately alerted the police and hurried back to his business, but highlighted that despite a quick response by the police, the gunmen had already escaped.

Pretending to be customers Investigation revealed that two men walked into the large auto spares warehouse requesting specific car parts and was attended to by a staff who accompanied one of the men through the warehouse in search of the car part that he requested. The injured staff told police that the man suddenly turned around and gunbutted him to his face.

As a result of the hit, he reportedly fell to the ground and saw the other gunman walking towards the cashier area

and demanded money from the female to whom he held at gunpoint. The ordeal lasted a few minutes, after which they made good their escape in a waiting car. During the robbery, another employee was struck to his face and was rushed to the hospital. The police are continuing their investigations.

Meanwhile, the home affairs minister said in a statement that it has noted the recent spike in armed robberies and is deeply concerned over this development.

“The ministry wishes to inform that at a recent presentation to a joint meeting with senior management of the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs, policy analysts and the Guyana Police Force as well the Crime and Social Observatory, it was emphasised that the police will win or lose the battle against crime in A Division, particularly Georgetown.”

Hot spots

The ministry said the presentation, which was evidencebased, pointed to certain “hot spots” in the city as well as other areas where crime can be anticipated and where, from an operational perspective, the police should deploy its ranks and moveable assets to effectively deal with those specific areas fraught with potential criminal threats.

At the end of the presentation, there could not have been a clearer message to the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force, particularly to the acting police commissioner, the deputy commissioner (law enforcement), the assistant commissioner (operations) and the commanders of all A divisions, the statement said.

Further, the acting commissioner with the support of the deputy commissioner (law enforcement), assistant commissioner (operations) and particularly the commander of A Division, has been advised to inform the general public about actions contemplated by the police to bring the situation once again under control.

On Monday, gunmen invaded Dr Sen Gupta’s Dental Clinic carting off millions in cash. This was followed by another robbery committed on Akbar Auto Sales where gunmen stole $3 million after they posed as customers about to make a payment.

Later on Monday evening, Heron Denis, 37, was shot and killed after gunmen invaded Fuzzy’s Grocery Store at Guyhoc Park. In another attempted robbery at Agricola, one man was shot after he allegedly attacked a businessman, who was a licensed firearm holder.

SUDOKU

If a friend does something worthy of praise, be sure to compliment him or her. However, don’t use false flattery or be insincere just to give this person an ego boost.

By Bernice Bede Osol

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

You’re a generous and giving person, and these are admirable traits. However, don’t allow an unworthy manipulator to use flattery on you and abuse your good nature.

When doing work that requires an eye for detail, you had better keep your mind on the task at hand. A lack of attention could quickly ruin your endeavour.

Be content with what you’re doing and with whom you are sharing your time. Once you start wishing you were elsewhere, you’ll lose what the moment has to offer.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)

If your objectives aren’t clearly and realistically defined, you could go off on an unproductive tangent and end up having little or nothing to show for your effort.

(March 21-April 19)

Don’t expect to be too convincing if you try to sell others on some ideas or concepts that you don’t truly believe in. It takes sincerity to generate support.

(April 20-May 20)

If you ask someone for an opinion on an important matter, make sure it is a person who will tell you the truth. That’s the only way you’ll get the advice you need.

(May 21June 20)

Companions will get miffed at you if they fail to understand why you say one thing and do another. It is important for you to clearly define your motives and actions.

It’s marvelous when we can take others at their word, but unfortunately several persons might promise you things today that they have no intention of fulfilling.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Usually, you’re pretty good at clarifying your objectives, especially if it involves something that could enhance your know-how. Today, however, your system might go awry.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

If you plan to visit some shops that offer tantalising merchandise that you know you can’t afford, it would be best to leave your credit cards at home. Now’s not the time to be a spendthrift.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Any project or endeavour that doesn’t have your wholehearted support shouldn’t be pursued today. It would be best to temporarily shelve such matters until you’re in a more favourable mood.

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On the second day of the Lusignan Massacre trial, the defence attorneys made several submissions in the absence of the jury.

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The attorneys, Nigel Hughes and Roger Yearwood, are representing murder accused James “Smallie” Hyles and Mark “Sally” Williams respectively. Williams and Hyles are indicted jointly with the murder of the 11 persons, including five children, who were killed in the wee hours of January 26, 2008 in the East Coast Demerara village.

When the matter was called on Wednesday, Attorney Hughes informed the court that he wanted to make some applications in the absence of the jury, hence the panel was escorted out of the courtroom and did not return for the rest of the day.

Hughes made his submissions followed by Attorney

On Monday, a 12-member mixed jury was selected after hours of the defence vetting the jury pool. Then on Tuesday’s date, the trial into the gruesome and horrific slayings commenced with the prosecution calling its first four witnesses, three of whom were survivors of the incident. They recounted to the court what transpired that night.

The other witness was Durwin Wright, who claimed that he and Hyles used to hang out with Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins at Friendship Backdam and that on the morning of January 26, 2008, the accused had told him that he was there in Lusignan when the incident happened.

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Abbas convenes key Palestinians to moot new talks with Israel

President Mahmoud Abbas will confer with key Palestinian leaders on Thursday about a possible resumption of peace negotiations with Israel after an almost three-year freeze, officials said.

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They gave no details on what Abbas’s terms might be, should he announce a breakthrough after meeting in Jordan with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has pursued six months of intensive and deliberately discreet diplomacy.

Gaps between the sides had “very significantly” narrowed, Kerry said on Wednesday. His proposals to resume negotiations, which were not spelled out, won the endorsement of an Arab League committee, which said they “provide the ground and a suitable environment to start negotiations”.

Abbas, whose peace strategy is routinely censured by the Palestinian Islamist rivals ruling the Gaza Strip, has in the past sought Arab League support to engage the Jewish state, but it was not clear whether Wednesday’s endorsement would give him enough political cover to resume direct peace talks.

Abbas was due to convene senior members of the umbrella Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and his Fatah party at 03:00h. (08:00h EDT) in Ramallah, hub city of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and seat of his U.S.-backed administration.

“We are expecting to hear from the president the ideas presented by Kerry,” top PLO member Wasel Abu

Negotiations, which have ebbed and flowed for two decades, last broke down in late 2010 over Israel’s West Bank settlements and other sticking points. Since then, Abbas at times has insisted that Israel renew and extend a halt on settlement construction for new talks to be held. Israel ruled that out.

Palestinians familiar with Abbas’s thinking speculated that he might forgo the demand for a construction halt given a recent slowdown in housing starts issued by the Israeli government – though it may still be painful to roll back his previous demand.

If Abbas yields on the issue, it may have been in exchange for a goodwill gesture from Israel – such as amnesty for veteran PLO fighters held in its jails for decades. Israel gave no signs that such prisoner releases were in the offing, let alone any gestures on settlements.

Precedence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is ready to resume peacemaking immediately and “without preconditions” – though his country has long insisted it would keep swathes of West Bank settlements under any eventual peace accord.

Most world powers deem the settlements illegal, and the European Union announced a plan on Tuesday to bar financial assistance to

An Israeli official said Netanyahu “attacked” the plan on Wednesday in conversations with European leaders where he argued that other “burning issues” like the Syrian civil war and disputed Iranian nuclear programme should take precedence.

Netanyahu told Kerry the EU’s anti-settlements move “hurt efforts to renew the diplomatic process” with the Palestinians, an Israeli official said. Israel granted initial approval for new homes in Modiin Ilit, a West Bank settlement near Jerusalem and part of the territorial blocs it wants to annex eventually.

Kerry, on his sixth Middle East mission, was upbeat.

“We have been able to narrow these gaps very significantly,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “And so we continue to get closer and I continue to remain hopeful that the sides can soon be able to come and sit at the same table.”

Kerry held out the prospect of the rewards Israel could reap in a deal leading to the creation of a Palestinian state on land seized in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestine was seen as the springboard for a broader regional peace mooted by the Arab League in 2002 – but Israel rejected the notion at the time.

The Arab League plan offered full recognition of Israel if it gave up all land it had occupied since 1967, and agreed to a “just solution” for Palestinian refugees.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Cook ready for tough England decisions

Alastair Cook has said England are not afraid of making any “tough decisions” ahead of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s which begins today.

Speculation surrounds paceman Steven Finn’s starting spot after he struggled with the ball in the thrilling 14-run opening triumph against Australia.

“You pick a side you think can win and you have to make tough decisions,” the 28-year-old captain said.

James Anderson will play despite his exertions in Nottingham.

The seam bowler took 10 wickets, including all four on a tense final day, as England clung on for victory .

“James Anderson was sore the day after the game, but he seems OK now,” Cook told BBC Radio 5 live.

“We have a great medical team, and he will be fine come Thursday (today).”

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior has also dismissed fears he could miss out because of a niggling Achilles injury.

At Trent Bridge - the first of five Tests - Finn took two wickets in 25 overs at a cost of 117 runs during the two innings.

The 6ft 7ins fast bowler proved particularly expensive during the final day, as

Australia smashed him for 24 runs in two overs near the death.

Tim Bresnan or Graham Onions are his potential replacements, after England chose to name an unchanged 13-man squad.

But Middlesex man Finn has enjoyed a fine record on his home ground of Lord’s, taking 29 wickets at 20.65 in five Tests.

Cook revealed any selection decision could be influenced by a player’s prior performance at a ground in mind.

“Your record at a certain place can play a part,” he said. “You always try to find the balance of the attack for the conditions you find; past form and past bowling [at a venue] is very important.”

Opponents Australia

come into the Test on the back of media reports there is a rift in their camp.

This followed the leak of confidential legal documents tendered to court by former coach Mickey Arthur, which Australia’s Seven Network claimed contain accusations that captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson are at loggerheads.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Clarke insisted his squad would not be distracted by the story.

“There is nothing to address, we are moving forward as a team,” he said. “The feeling around the group is outstanding.

“Our eyes are focused on this Test match, and that is what we care about. We are not getting involved in the past.” (BBC Sport)

Blatter plans to move 2022 World Cup

The boss of world football’s governing body is determined to switch the 2022 World Cup to the winter because of the intense Qatar summer heat.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter plans discussions over the change, which would cause major disruption to various domestic leagues, with his executive committee in October.

He said: “We still have enough time.

“The executive committee will certainly follow my proposal. Then we will have dealt with the topic for good.”

Temperatures can hit 50C in Qatar, with games scheduled to be played in air-conditioned stadiums.

But Blatter said: “The World Cup must be a festival of the people. But for it to be such a festival, you can’t play football in the summer.

“You can cool down the stadiums but you can’t cool down the whole country and you can’t simply cool down the ambience of a World Cup. The players must be able to play in the best conditions to play a good World Cup.”

Speaking via video link, the head of Qatar’s organising committee, Hassan

Al-Thawadi, told the conference in Austria: “If it’s a wish of the football community to have the World Cup in winter, then we are open to that.”

Blatter said his change of heart had followed medical information about the effects of the heat on players.

“There has been a fresh medical investigation into what it would be like to play football there in the summer and we have to take into account the health, not of the spectators, but of the players,” he told Sky Germany.

Moving the World Cup to the winter would significantly impact on the European leagues. Many leagues outside Britain have a winter break but they would need a hiatus of at least six weeks to accommodate national teams preparing for, and playing at, the World Cup finals.

“We have to have the courage - that is FIFA’s executive committee - to play this World Cup in the winter and to start to work out now what impact this will have on the international calendar,” Blatter added.

“It would only be for one year, afterwards you’d be back to the normal routine. But I will advocate that.”

Froome wins time trial to extend Tour de France lead

Britain’s Chris Froome won Wednesday’s Tour de France time trial by nine seconds from Alberto Contador to tighten his grip on the yellow jersey.

Contador is now Froome’s closest rival in the overall standings, but trails the Team Sky rider by four minutes 34 seconds with four stages left.

A mid-stage switch from a road bike to a time-trial model proved crucial as Froome triumphed over the 32km run.

Joaquim Rodriguez was third while Bauke Mollema lost more than two minutes.

Dutch Belkin rider Mollema started the day as the nearest rider to Froome in the general classification, but is now fourth, more than six minutes adrift.

“Visiting the podium three times was just incredible,” said Froome, who has also won stages on Mont Ventoux and in the Pyreenes.

“I’m really happy with the result from today (Wednesday). I wanted to hold back a little bit for the days ahead and I was actually prepared to lose a little bit of time, so I’m quite surprised I won the stage.”

After beating the other contenders for the yellow jersey by about two minutes in the Tour’s other time trial at Mont St Michel, Froome had been expected to extend his lead on stage 17, between Embrun and Chorges.

egy.

With two category-two climbs on a twisting, technical route, most riders opted to stay on their usual road bicycles rather than swap to the time-trial specific machines that help their aerodynamics on straighter, flatter stretches.

Race rules, however, allow riders to change bikes at any point and Froome’s decision to take a time-trial model from his team’s support car for the final 12km descent proved wise.

Despite contending with drizzle on the upper slopes, he was able to make up 20 seconds on Contador, who remained on his normal bike. Contador’s Saxo-Tinkoff team-mate Roman Kreuziger climbed into third in the overall standings, four minutes 51 adrift of Froome, by finishing the stage in fourth.

after fracturing a collarbone on a morning reconnaissance ride and then falling on the same joint as he struggled in the afternoon.

Froome’s bid to succeed compatriot Sir Bradley Wiggins as overall champion will be tested again today as the field climb Alpe d’Huez twice in the centrepiece stage on the 100th edition of the Tour. But he believes that race organisers should shorten the stage if the thunderstorms, which are forecast, strike.

“I think it would be sad not to do the planned parcours and the two ascents of Alpe d’Huez as it’s something special to go along with the 100th Tour de France,” he said.

Qatar defeated bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States to win a ballot of FIFA’s 22 executive members for the right to host the 2022 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Blatter said Brazil might have been the wrong choice to host the 2014 World Cup if the tournament is affected by the wave of protests seen at the Confederations Cup last month.

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets expressing their anger over the costs to stage the World Cup and demanding better public services.

“If this happens again we have to question whether we made the wrong decision awarding the hosting rights,” Blatter said.

“We didn’t do a political debriefing, but we did emphasise the fact of this social unrest being there for the entire duration of the Confederations Cup.

“The government is now aware that next year the World Cup shouldn’t be disturbed.”

He added: “It’s not we who have to learn lessons from the protests in Brazil; politics in Brazil have to do that.” (BBC Sport)

But his rivals may be content that the 28-yearold Briton is still just about within range with the traditional last-day procession to Paris leaving them only three competitive stages to attack the leader.

Froome’s third stage win of this year’s Tour came courtesy of a combination of powerful riding and canny strat-

Colombian Nairo Quintana reinforced his position as the race’s best young rider by taking sixth place, while 2010 winner Andy Schleck returned to form, descending well to finish 15th in his unfavoured discipline.

However JeanChristophe Peraud, the highest ranked Frenchman in the general classification coming into the day’s stage, was forced to abandon the race

“But having said that, safety definitely comes first. It’s a dangerous descent but if it starts raining I would hope the race organisers make the decision to make it just one climb. The safety of riders has to come first.

“I completely understand that at the end of the day all the riders will be in the same conditions.

“If we have to do the dangerous descent in the wet we’ll be up for it. Everyone is in the same boat as us in that regard. I just hope that it is not going to come to that.” (BBC Sport)

Powell trainer refuses to be ‘scapegoat’ over dope test

Asafa Powell’s trainer Chris Xuereb says he should not be a “scapegoat” for the former 100m world record holder’s positive drugs test.

Powell and fellow sprinter Sherone Simpson tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine at the Jamaican National Championships in June. Xuereb rejected claims from Paul Doyle, Powell’s agent, that the results were due to supplements he had provided.

“I did not provide any banned or illegal substances,” insisted Xuereb.

“I am extremely disappointed that these athletes have chosen to blame me for their own violations.”

Canadian Xuereb, who said his main role was “to provide soft tissue massage therapy as well as nutritional help” to Powell and Campbell, only began work-

ing with the pair in May.

On Tuesday, Doyle indicated that the supplements provided to the athletes by Xuereb lay behind Powell and Simpson both testing positive.

“We were trying to figure out what went wrong and it was pretty obvious to us where we needed to look,” Doyle told the New York Times.

“There are many different things he was giving them and we still don’t know which one caused the positive test. Most of the supplements he gave were for recovery or energy during workouts.”

The last man to hold the individual 100m world record before compatriot Usain Bolt broke it in 2008, 30-year-old Powell has denied he knowingly took any banned supplements or substances.

“While I did recommend vitamins, all vitamins recommended by me were all purchased over the counter at reputable nutritional stores and were major brands.

“These athletes did not inform me that they were taking any additional supplementation other than what I recommended.”

He added that he believed the athletes had in fact been taking more supplements without his knowledge. American Tyson Gay, the joint-second fastest man ever over 100m, was told on Friday that his A sample from an out-of-competition test in May was positive. Both he and Powell are awaiting the results of their B tests.

“It is time the athletes took responsibility for their doping instead of looking around for a scapegoat, whether that person is their therapist, bartender or anyone else,” said Xuereb.

SIS Limited signs as second sponsor of T&T Red Steel

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – Super Industrial Services Limited (SIS) has signed on as the second sponsor of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel team for the upcoming Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 tournament.

The official announcement was made yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval by Darren Debideen, SIS Marketing Manager. Also in attendance at the press briefing were Colin Borde, Manager of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel team, Kyle Lequay, LCPL Sponsorship Coordinator for Trinidad, Jamie Stewart, Commercial Director and Consultant to the Limacol CPLT20 and Red Steel team member Justin Guillen.

“This partnership with the LCPL is simply a reflection of SIS’s on-going commitment to the development of youth and communities through

sports and culture,” said Debideen.

“We have been engaging communities, NGO’s, individuals and organisations for many years in an effort to leave our mark on the

lives of the citizens of our country and the communities we represent as a company. Most recently, we have just successfully concluded our fifth annual SIS Industrial Cricket League,

an initiative that we conceptualised and introduced to the tenants of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate and which has grown significantly since its inception in 2009 due to its ap-

Tiger Woods favourite at Muirfield

The 142nd Open Championship gets under way at Muirfield today with the game’s best golfers vying to lift the famous Claret Jug.

In what promises to be one of the most open tournaments in recent years, 156 players will aim to add their names to an illustrious list of champions at the East Lothian course.

Muirfield’s roll call of winners reads like a who’s who of golf with Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo (twice) and Els among those to have claimed the title over the iconic Scottish links.

World number one Tiger Woods is favourite with bookmakers, while Ernie Els of South Africa is the defending champion and the last man to win the Open at Muirfield in 2002.

England’s Justin Rose leads the British charge after clinching the US Open in June, while Australia’s Masters champion Adam Scott is keen to make up for his collapse over the last four holes at Royal Lytham 12 months ago.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the world number two, is seeking a first Open title to add to his US Open and US PGA wins, but a poor season following a switch to a new equipment supplier has dampened expectations.

American Woods has not won a major for five years following scandal, injury and a loss of form, but he has won four times this season to get back to the top of the rankings and is expected to mount a strong challenge on the banks of the Firth of Forth.

Woods, 37, won the last of his three Opens at Hoylake near Liverpool in 2006 but is stranded on 14 major titles as he chases Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18.

Woods’s victory on the Wirral was built on a strategy of irons off the tee for position on a fastrunning, sun-baked course, and the recent hot weather and good

forecast for the rest of the week should ensure similar conditions at Muirfield.

“This is a fantastic championship on one of the best venues,” said Woods, whose bid to win a third major in a row was blown severely off track in a fierce storm on the Saturday of the 2002 Open at Muirfield.

Woods tees off with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa at 14:45 BST on Thursday.

Rose won his maiden major at Merion last month to climb to world number three, but only four players since the war - Woods (2000), Tom Watson (1982), Lee Trevino (1971) and Ben Hogan (1953) - have won the US Open and Open in the same season.

“The challenge for me is going to be staying in this tournament, not being dragged back to Merion every five minutes,” said Rose, who gets his campaign under way with Els and American Brandt Snedeker at 09:11 BST.

Rose, who finished fourth in the Open as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, became the first

Englishman to lift the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

And the 32-year-old is among those striving to become the first English player to win the Claret Jug since Faldo, coincidentally at Muirfield, in 1992. Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke won the Open two years ago, while Paul Lawrie was the last Scot to triumph when he won at Carnoustie in 1999.

The build-up to the tournament has not been without controversy, given Muirfield’s staunch male-only membership policy.

Open organisers the R&A have been criticised for taking the event to the club, run by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, while conducting a global campaign to grow the game.

R&A chief Peter Dawson defended the club’s right to make its own membership decisions and rejected the view that staging the open at single-sex clubs harms participation.

The first group to tee off at 06:32 BST today will be England’s Oliver Fisher, Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman and Australian Peter Senior. (BBC Sport)

partnership, Jamie Stewart said, “SIS is a company that provides services that are vital to the growth and future prosperity of the country. They are building legacy projects for the future and their support of the Red Steel in the inaugural LCPL season is another welcome addition as it links to the future of sport in the country and across the broader region.”

peal and uniqueness to the Estate. Plipdeco emerged winners of that competition this year and walked away with the $10,000 first place prize.”

Commenting on the

The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premiere League begins on Tuesday July 30 with 24 matches to be played across six Caribbean countries: Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel’s first match takes place on July 31 in Guyana against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and the first match at Queen’s Park Oval will take place on August 7 when the Red Steel take on the Jamaica Tallawahs. (CPL)

Sri Lanka Premier League 2013 called off

Sri Lanka Cricket has cancelled the Sri Lanka Premier League for 2013, after all eight franchises failed to pay the tournament fee and the bank guarantees for player payments, an official release confirmed.

The franchises had breached two payment deadlines and forced the postponement of the player draft, and will now have their contracts terminated by SLC. The tournament was due to take place between August 10 and September 7.

“We want to maintain the integrity of the board and the integrity of the tournament, so we had to take a stand,” SLPL director Ajit Jayasekara said. “We can’t have a situation where the franchises say, ‘We will pay if the other franchises pay’.

“Player payments are a major factor in this. We are the only league in the world not to have defaulted on our player payments, and the franchises failed to provide those bank guarantees. We have given them enough chances and we can’t stand this nonsense.”

Jayasekara said the franchises had not made it clear to SLC that they did not wish to be a part of the tournament, and instead continued to promise to make the payments, before ultimately failing to deliver. In March, the franchises had successfully sought to increase the lease period for the teams from seven years to 15, amid fears seven years would not be sufficient to recoup their costs, but they have now seemingly opted to cut their losses after one season. ?

All eight franchises and SLC’s marketing partner Somerset Entertainment Ventures are understood to have made a loss from the inaugural tournament, but SLC had a profit of 289 million rupees (approx. USD $2.3 million). The franchises were due to pay USD $4.3 million a year on average, in order to participate in the tournament, but would have had to sustain operational costs in addition to that.

Jayasekara said SLC “haven’t invested a cent” in this year’s tournament as they were simply making preparations, and had relatively little to lose from cancelling the tournament. The board will, however, consider playing the tournament in 2014, but not before arriving at a new business approach.

”SLPL is suspended for this year, so now we have to sit with our partners, Somerset, and decide on a new model,” Jayasekara said. “We have to decide on how and if and when we are going to call for bids for the franchises and get committed organisations.”

The tournament had been scheduled to begin in 2011, but was cancelled that year, after the BCCI refused to allow its players to participate in the tournament. The inaugural season, the following year, was then largely plagued by poor crowds and a lack of interest at home. There were also allegations of spot-fixing in the tournament, though the tape which was provided as evidence was later found to be a fraud, according to Jayasekara. In addition, the Uva Next franchise that won the tournament, left several operational expenses unpaid, including refusing to foot costs to send the team to the Champions League. ??

The three Tests, from South Africa’s ongoing tour of Sri Lanka were also postponed, partly in order to allow the SLPL to be played. The Future Tours Programme had set aside most parts of the months of July and August for the tour, and despite SLC’s official reason that it was the recently completed tri-series in West Indies that made the Tests against South Africa impossible, the dates originally allocated for the tour almost certainly clash with the SLPL schedule.

SLC has not yet sought a reinstatement of those Tests, in light of Sri Lanka’s now clear schedule, but it is unlikely that if such a request is made, that CSA will agree to a Test series at such short notice. (Cricinfo)

Bravo salutes Guyanese cricket fans

By Avenash Ramzan

West Indies OneDay International (ODI) captain Dwayne Bravo heaped praise on Guyanese fans following the conclusion of the first two ODIs against Pakistan on Tuesday, noting that “Guyanese love their cricket.”

A sold out crowd at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday witnessed the West Indies go down to Pakistan by a massive margin of 126 runs, but an almost-capacity stadium cheered on the Caribbean lads on Tuesday as they rebounded to level the five-match series 1-1 with a 37-run win.

Speaking at a postmatch press conference on Tuesday afternoon, allrounder Bravo acknowledged the support of the Guyanese cricket enthusiasts, who got a taste of international cricket for the first time in two years.

Biggest fan base

“I think throughout the Caribbean Guyana will be West Indies biggest fan base, and obviously after the first game they were very disappointed because we had a large turnout and we lost the game. When we were driving out [after the game on Sunday] there were some boos and some disrespectful words were said, but I think the fans really, really felt it and we as players understand the reason why they did that,” Bravo related.

The skipper pointed out that his players were well aware that it would take nothing less than a victory to reconnect with the fans after Sunday’s debacle, and they were determined to make amends in game two.

He said, “Now we came out today [Tuesday] and win this game, all the love is back with us again. We understand and we take all the criticisms when we lose and we don’t do well,

but we know we’re just one win away to get back all the love again. Thanks to the Guyanese fans for coming out for both games. It was a full house and I think we couldn’t have done it without their support.”

A majestic all-round performance from Shahid Afridi, who blasted 76 off 55 balls and later bagged the second best ODI figures of all times, 7-12, powered Pakistan to victory in the opening game on Sunday; West Indies were then bundled out for an embarrassing 98 in pursuit of 225.

However, the roles were reversed on Tuesday as West Indies, led by Sunil Narine’s 4-26, levelled the series after posting 232-8 before restricting Pakistan to 195.

Bravo said they were happy to bat first on Tuesday, as that was their plan upfront, regardless of the weather conditions.

They got their wish when Pakistan’s captain Misbahul-Haq opted to bowl first upon winning the toss, probably with the aim of exploiting whatever moisture there was from an early morning shower.

“I wanted a change. I wanted to bat first so the batsmen can go in there and free themselves and bat without any scoreboard

Confident Guyana U-19 team depart for regional tourney, hunt 13th title

By Rajiv Bisnauth

pressure, and I think the change of momentum actually worked for us,” Bravo pointed out.

“We loss Chris [Gayle] early but that innings that my younger brother [Darren Bravo] played with Johnson Charles I think laid the foundation for us. We know we bat very deep, we have a good lower-order batting line-up, but it was not a 260 wicket. Our aim was to try and get around 235, and we knew we have the bowling attack to shift the Pakistan team, and we knew the wicket would have played slower and lower as the game progressed. It was a total team effort; it took a lot of character and a lot of heart to bounce back after losing three games on the trot.”

Grounded

Despite the victory, Bravo is keeping his feet grounded, adding that a tough three matches await them in St Lucia, the first of which bowls off on Friday.

“I think that first game in St Lucia is going to decide which team will win the series, and I think it is important for us to start well over there,” the Windies number 47 highlighted.

He added, “We know the conditions there very well, but I think the conditions will suit both teams. Both teams are similar, so I guess whichever team plays better on the day will win. Pakistan is a very good team, we have a very good team too; both teams have a balanced attack so it all boils down to which team wants it more, and which team plays better on the day. So I would encourage my guys to stay focus; this victory would do our confidence well so I’m looking forward to the last three games.”

After the remaining three ODIs in St Lucia, the two teams will meet on July 27 and 28 in St Vincent for two T20 Internationals to conclude the series.

The last time Guyana won the Regional Under-19 Championship was 2007 when the tournament was held in Basseterre, the St Kitts capital.

On that occasion the national team was led by Malteenoes all-rounder Steven Jacobs. Now, six years later, the tournament returns to a familiar hunting ground where the Guyanese also celebrated championship honours in 1993 and 2007.

The 14-man squad is led by Shawn Perreira, along with manager David Black and coach Adrian Amsterdam, departed Guyana on Wednesday, confident of doing well at the upcoming tournament which is in its 46th edition.

In an invited comment before the team departed the Windjammer Hotel for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Amsterdam said that despite the inadequate preparation, the team is confident of doing well, adding that the team would be going all out to win the title.

“We are upbeat, despite the lack of preparation,” said Amsterdam.

“The advantage we have this year is that the team has ten players who played in last year’s tournament, so the experience at this level is there and add to

that we have Chanderpaul (Tagnarine) who has played for Guyana at the highest level, so we have a team that is capable of winning”.

The West Indies Cricket Board’s premier regional youth tournament will commence on Friday. The threeday format consists of five rounds of matches.

The six traditional regional teams: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands will be joined by the ICC Americas Under-20 team for the 50-over leg which commences on August 10 until August 20.

The full tournament will consist of 36 matches (15 three-day and 21 50-over) played over 12 rounds.

The regional youth tournament dates back to 1968 when it was contested under the British American Tobacco Series. It has been the main scouting ground for the region’s finest talent that go on to grace the international stage in West Indies senior colours.

Most of the current Windies players found their footing in the regional under-19 tournament before going on to represent the Caribbean in Test, One-Day and Twenty20 International cricket.

Guyana have been dominant in the three-day format, winning the title on 12 occasions, while Barbados and

Trinidad and Tobago have won nine each. Jamaica are next with eight titles.

Leewards have won three times; the now disbanded Combined Islands held it twice and Windwards once.

The 50-over tournament is in its 16th year, having been inaugurated in 1998.

Trinidad and Tobago have won this title on five occasions (2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010), Jamaica, four (1998, 1999, 2007, 2009) and Barbados have done so thrice (2001, 2004, 2011).

Defending 50-over champions Windwards have won once (2012), while Guyana and Leewards have not yet held this title.

Guyana gets into action against defending threeday champions Barbados at Verchilds, while hosts Leeward Islands will do battle against their arch-rivals Windward Islands at Conaree.

The third match for round one will see Jamaica matching skills with Trinidad and Tobago at EGSC Molyneaux.

The squad reads: Shawn Pereira (Captain), Brian Sattaur, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetemyer, Kamesh Yadram (Vice Captain), Ricardo Adams, Akshay Homraj, Denesh Mangal, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Vishal Narayan, Steven Sankar, Herry Green, Dexter George and Romario Shepherd-De Jonge.

Enmore Masters, Speed XI clash on Friday

Floodlight softball action will return to the Everest Cricket Club ground on Friday evening when Enmore Masters take on Speed XI in a feature 20over game.

Action bowls off at 19:00h and admission to the venue is free.

Enmore Masters would be looking to continue their winning ways after recent-

ly making a clean sweep of a two-match series against Superstar XI of Mahaica.

In the home encounter last month, Enmore Masters prevailed over Superstar XI by four wickets, and then won by six wickets in the away game.

In Friday’s encounter, Enmore Masters will again look to Jacob Persaud, Anil Persaud, G. Dayaram and

R. Malone, who all turned in useful performances in the two games against Superstar XI. Speed XI will hinge their hopes of victory on the shoulders of star players Derick Ramotar and Faizal Kayum among others. The winning team and outstanding individual performers will be rewarded with trophies.

Santa Rosa through to Digicel quarterfinals after disposing of Mahdia

Santa Rosa Secondary made it through to the quarter-final stage of the Digicel Schools football championships when they destroyed arch-rivals Mahdia Secondary 4-1 on home soil in their playoff match of the competition on Wednesday at the Mabaruma Community Centre.

Playing in front of a large, vocal home crowd, Santa Rosa were off to a brisk start but Mahdia goalkeeper Daniel Marks was equal to the challenge. He made three saves before the ball touched the Mahdia half of the field.

However, once Madia got a feel of things they quickly got to their plan and striker Aloin Daniels found that there was a hole in the Santa Rosa defense. In the 41st minute the striker found the back of the net after he had missed earlier.

on by the crowd, the home

did not let that goal go unanswered. A Joseph Milington pass to Brandon Phillips equalised score line in the 44th

BCB/Scotiabank cricket academy starts Monday

The sixth annual Berbice Cricket Board/Scotia Bank Academy is set to commence on Monday at the Area H ground, Rose Hall.

Seventy-one promising junior players will participate in the one-week academy under the watchful eyes of coaches Michael Hyles Franco, Winston Smith, Renwick Batson and Albert Smith.

The academy will place emphasis on batting, fielding and physical fitness. Lectures will also be done on the importance like history of cricket, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, captaincy, Importance of Discipline, Laws of Cricket and the Role of a Sport Ambassador.

The full list of cricketers for the academy: Kassim Khan, Jaleel Jafar, Richard Henry, Kelston Luke, Leon Andrews, Clifton Lindie, Kevin Sinclair, Asif Khan, Balchand Baldeo, Sharaz Ramcharran, David Latchaya, Ritesh Omrow, Adrian Sukhwah, Suraj Dookhna, Kevendra Persaud, Joshua Harrichand, Matthew Hardial, Narendra Permaul, Nick Ramsaroop, Aviskar Sewkarran, Derek Narine, Parmanand Ramdhan, Mohan Deodat, Rameshwar Somwaru, Sayeed Khan, Sachin Veerasammy, Kevin Arjune, Akeem Miller, Nicholas Cameron, Arif Chan, Brandon Persaud, Daniel Lewis, Jason Anderson, Javid Seecharran, Veramootoo Senwansane, Joshua Gobin, Junior Sinclair,

Kevon Anderson, Hakeem Hinds, Nial Smith, Keirre Henry, Steve Deonarine, Enoch Carmichael, Shumor Jack, Kyle Michael, Daniel Thuesday, Grisean Grant, Randy Wade, Jason Johashen, Titus Webster, Travis Carmichael, Trivette Carmichael, Joseph Nicholson, Deon Esau, Rabindranauth Roopchand, Totaram Rajaram, Jaleel Jackman, Karran Singh, Haresh Jaipaul, Daniel Samaroo, Jerome Andrews, Joel Seetaram, Joseph Giddings, Mohamed Deochand, Nicholas Seenarine, Bramdat Singh, Kris Ramnarine, Dillon Joseph, Sylus Tyndall, Yeshpaul Shewtahal, Hemchand Singh andViendra Gooniah.

Players selected by the BCB Junior Selection Committee, headed by Leslie Solomon, and are asked to report to the Area H ground with their cricket gear and to be properly uniformed at 08:30h on Monday.

After the academy the participants will be involved in practice matches.

minute. One minute later he was given a free kick from outside of the box and sent the shot high and to the left of the goalkeeper to give his team the lead.

In the second half Santa Rosa seemed more assured and registered goal in the 57th minute off the boot of Keith DaSilva from a freekick. In the 63rd minute Shane LaRose took a free kick from just outside the box and sent the shot high and to the left of the goalkeeper, who could only watch it sail into the net to make it 4-1.

Santa Rosa will now meet regional champions Waramadong in a quarterfinal match on Sunday. That match will be played on Sunday in Georgetown.

The regional champions earned their quarter final

spot when they disposed of the Region Two champions 13-0 in a playoff also held on Wednesday. Meanwhile host Hash Educational Trust (HET) of Region Five disposed of their Region Nine counterparts in their playoff on Wednesday at the Number Five ground. HET will now travel to Linden to take on Linder Foundation Secondary in their quarter-final on Sunday while New Amsterdam Technical Institute of Region Six will host St George’s Secondary of Georgetown at the Burnham Park.

Coven Garden Secondary of Region Four will take on Leonara Secondary of Region Three at Grove on Sunday in quarter-final action. (Andrew Carmichael)

The folly of omitting Shivnarine Chanderpaul

“Chanderpaul in one-day cricket? He’s too old, man! Brethren, he doesn’t score fast enough, he needs 150 overs! He’s been in so many losses man! Brotha, we’ve got to move on from him!”

In the above few lines lies a modern-day cricket mystery that I struggle to comprehend.

The West Indies’ one-day international cricket team of 2013 is the personification of the phrase ‘all flash and little substance’. Blessed with a galaxy of stars of the Twenty20 arena, it’s a group that would command an IPL owner’s highest bids with ease and, given 20 overs of operation, would most likely deliver breathtaking results. Sadly for them, T20s and ODIs are entirely different endeavours.

On the spectrum of cricket formats, ODIs are thought to be in the middle while T20s and Tests lie at their respective extremes. A closer consideration, though, gives a better idea of things as ODI cricket is closer to Test cricket in nature than T20. Batsmen are required to build innings in ODIs, hence the format necessitates patience, soundness of technique, deep consideration, concentration, and conditional awareness.

In T20s, a ‘wham-bamthank-you-ma’am’ 50 in no time at all is a gamechanger, but in ODIs, its effect is not quite as prolific – a steady and calculated approach bears greater fruit in a 50-over war of attrition, as the value of an innings lies not just in the shots and runs, but also in the negotiation of bowlers, spells, fielding restrictions and playing conditions.

In the West Indies’ set-up, the vast majority of batsmen either completely lack or in-

explicably suppress the rare talent of building an innings. It is a talent that Shivnarine Chanderpaul, an evergreen batsman of close to 300 ODIs who has been producing runs across formats despite approaching the age of 40, has bursting forth from his antiglare eye patches. It is a gift that the powers that be in West Indies team selection are willfully blind to and, as collapses continue to litter modern-day West Indies cricket history, it is a boon that has been simply deserted.

Recent history bears testament to the need for a Chanderpaul-like presence. Throughout the course of the Champions Trophy, when Chris Gayle or Marlon Samuels failed to provide a platform for an innings, the team’s batting would generally be lost at sea. In the just concluded tri-series with India and Sri Lanka, fireworks in Jamaica only temporarily hid the batting unit’s frailties, as the team eventually failed to make their own home series final. Fast forward to Sunday, when Pakistan surgically dismantled the West Indies batting approach on a minefield in Providence, Guyana, and you could see the tumour just grow.

After pinpointing the ineptitude of the West Indies batsmen against pressure, and recognising the gaping need for an anchor man, Pakistan simply did what their team has the ability to do – they bowled a consistent and threatening line and length to allow the mentally fragile batsmen to whither in the South American heat. If only there were a stabiliser, a thorn in opposition’s side, a Trott-like gnat to hover annoyingly despite the predator’s fiercest swipes. If only substance had not

been jettisoned for style and if only conditional awareness had come into play when the squad was being picked to select a player, any player, who could dig deep and tackle the demons of the pitch and the opposition. Chanderpaul is renowned for prizing his wicket like no other – more often than not, he would have found a way to tough things out.

Those who support Chanderpaul completely understand the argument against his inclusion. Quite frankly, though, it doesn’t hold when compared with the need that exists. Across the cricketing world, ODI nations have their best Test batsmen in their line-ups because they recognise that the format requires a chutzpah that great Test batsmen possess.

From Amla to Trott to Misbah, there is the knowledge that you need a backbone in an ODI batting lineup, regardless of the lack of

glamour. Unless another batsman in the current lineup steps up to do the dirty work, the selectors have to plug the enormous hole in their order.

Chanderpaul never retired from ODI cricket – he was a victim of a post-World Cup 2011 purge that placed the blame at his feet for the team’s unsuccessful campaign. He was a scapegoat, and he was thrown away in ODIs for the wrong reasons.

Chanderpaul is often described as a ‘crab’ at the crease. Crabs don’t make great entertainers. They don’t drive with elegance or pull with panache. They claw. They scratch. They exist in perpetual commotion with themselves, lacking suave but forever battling against all challenges. For the West Indies, there needs to be a survivor among the showmen; not only to see out the difficulties, but to help them develop strong shells of their own. (Cricinfo)