Guyana Times Daily

CDB $7B loan to upgrade West

friday, March 21, 2014|

Mexican scholarships open to Guyanese

Mexican Ambassador Francisco Olguin on Thursday said his Government is offering scholarships to foreign nationals, including Guyanese in several areas.

The scholarships, which will be facilitated under the Excellence Scholarships International Students/ Special Programme, would see nationals from countries around the world applying for the opportunity to study in the North American country. According to Olguin, the scholarships will focus on six principal areas, including a Visiting Professor Programme, which would see persons visiting Mexico and conducting lectures on several areas of interest.

Another programme, similar in nature, also entails the holding of lectures in Mexico. This scholarship attracts a US$747 stipend and could last between one to 12 months.

One other area highlighted by the Mexican Ambassador was research grants for Mexican studies. This scholarship would require the successful applicants to be a specialist in Mexican studies. This scholarship can also last up to 12 months and would attract a stipend of US$744 monthly.

Another is an Artist Residency Programme, which deals with a Public Record of Artistic Creation in Mexico. Successful applicants to this programme will be given a monthly stipend of US$744.

Media operatives

There are also scholarships for media operatives, which would require successful applicants to spend at least four months in the Spanish-speaking nation. While in Mexico, he explained that the applicants would be working with Mexican media houses to get hands-on experience as

to how the media there operate.

The sixth programme entails improving the quality of Mexican institutions of higher or tertiary education and targets persons who would have spent a number of years in education administration. The said programme would require the successful applicants to spend approximately one

month in the country.

He explained that the scholarships are available for skilled persons, particularly those fluent in Spanish.

The ambassador maintained that no target has been set as to how many persons can apply, but stated that he does not expect it to be considerably high, given Guyana’s low population.

He noted too that the scholarships are aimed at persons who are more intellectually inclined and would have attained a high-level of education, at the PhD level.

The application process is currently opened to Guyana and countries the world over, and will close on August 29.

The scholarship programmes are scheduled to commence in April and in October.

Interested persons can visit the Mexican Embassy website for more information on the scholarships.

Man robbed, shot after leaving bank

Aman reportedly attached to Noble SeaFoods Inc was on Thursday shot and robbed of a quantity of cash, moments after leaving a bank at Providence, East Bank Demerara. The incident occurred around 13:00h.

Shane James, 33, of Bagotville, East Bank Demerara, was shot to his abdomen. He is receiving medical treatment at a private medical facility.

According to information received, the Noble SeaFoods employee had just left the bank with $537,000 in a bag and was

standing in the vicinity of the Princess Hotel awaiting transportation when he was attacked by two men on a motorcycle.

One of the men who was reportedly armed with a handgun grabbed the bag containing the money, but James held onto it. It was at this time that the man discharged a round hitting James to his abdomen.

The young man was picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to a private hospital where he was treated. The police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Buxton Mash organiser gives back to community

The promoter of the 11th Annual Buxton/ Foulis Mash Tramp Ian Havercone on Thursday handed over a quantity of football gear to several schools and a football team.

The institutions also received hampers, complements of Lucozade.

The donation was done at the ANSA McAL headquarters, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara following a commitment by the promoter to give back to the community.

The gesture is an annual affair after the hosting of the Mash Tramp and concert.

While the Buxton/Foulis Mash Tramp was poorly at-

tended, a portion of the proceeds was handed back to the community in the form of donations.

Those receiving the donations were the New Friendship Nursery, Friendship Primary School and the Buxton United Football team.

At the event, Havercone thanks all the schools that participated in last Sunday’s Costume and Float Parade, noting that without their involvement, the event would not have been an ultimate success.

He added that the cash incentives were aimed at assisting the academic institutions in further heightening their academic pro-

grammes, and to assist in fuelling constructive recreational opportunities for students at the institutions. With a keen eye on sports, the promoter also presented a sizeable cash donation to the Buxton United Football team to further assist in the developing of sport in the area.

One of the recipients Colis Nicholson expressed gratitude to the promoter for the kind gesture, noting that the money will be used wisely.

Representatives from the football team also showed their appreciation and encouraged the promoter to make the donations an annual exercise.

Justice system failing abused women – Gender Equality Commissioner

Commissioner of the Women and Gender Equality and Rights of the Child Commissions Nicole Cole is hoping that the recently concluded Colloquium on Domestic Abuse at the Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday, would fashion positive changes among all participants.

Cole, speaking with Guyana Times recently, expressed abhorrence over the issues relating to domestic abuse, especially the violence meted out to women and children.

She noted that the justice system is failing abused women since from the many cases reported to the police; a mere one per cent reaches the court and convictions made.

This information was garnered from a study carried out by the Guyana Human Rights Association last year, she said.

Cole said rapes and murder of women recently have been a subject of much concern, pointing to the incidents involving Savitri

Gangadeen, 33, a taxi driver, who was found in bushes along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and Patricia “Cathy” Young, 19, who was discovered in a cemetery.

Also, last year, a twoyear-old baby at Haslington Village was brutally sodomised.

“I just hope that we could point the way forward to having our criminal justice system work, especially for those persons who were raped and traumatised. Our

calls for reform

children who were raped, something needs to be done to significantly addressed that because rape is not normal, it is not legitimate, it is a serious human right violation and I remain very much concerned about the state of justice as it relates to sexual violence in Guyana,” she told this publication

Broad participation

The event was organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Judiciary of Guyana and drew participants from organisations across the countries which focus on the eradication of the social ill. Local police prosecutors, probation, welfare and childcare officers, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups benefited from the workshop which dealt with the proper courses of action that could be taken to address the rising incidence of domestic abuse in Guyana.

The programme also provided members of the justice sector in Guyana the op-

portunity to discuss major issues confronting them in the dispensation of justice in cases of domestic abuse.

The seminar was aimed at promoting judicial sensitisation of gender issues and the law; create awareness of the incidence of genderbased violence; foster an understanding of the psychology of the abuser and victim; strengthen knowledge of the role of the court in domestic violence cases within the framework of relevant laws; and to promote access to justice to victims of domestic abuse.

Commonwealth Secretariat Legal and Constitutional Consultant Mark Guthrie had told Guyana Times that the organisation works in partnership with member countries. He said that an invitation from the Chancellor of the Judiciary was sent to the Commonwealth Secretariat for the organisation to hold the informative programme. The two-day programme came to an end on Wednesday.

Police not exempt from tint campaign – Rohee

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on Thursday said police ranks are not exempted from the current tint campaign being conducted by the Guyana Police Force.

Rohee related that he is aware that some officers are not-compliant with the law, even though they are not in possession of a tint waiver.

“I have received those complaints too and I’m saying if it is that police ranks have heavily-tinted vehicles and don’t have the relevant waiver, then they must be subjected to the same treatment as a civilian,” Rohee declared.

The Minister further related that recently there have been a flood of applications to his Ministry for tint waivers, mainly due to the current campaign by the Police Force.

On the issue of the waiver, Rohee highlighted that some vehicles would come with tint pre-installed. He said this

tint cannot be removed by an officer but any extra applied to the vehicle is subject to removal.

“This is what the police are making them take off; they can’t take off the manufacturers’ tint,” said Rohee.

When questioned about Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Jones having his tint stripped from his vehicle, Rohee related that the MP was in breach of the law.

He maintained that at the scene of the incident, the MP had told the officers that he was in the process of getting his waiver.

Previously approached

Rohee further explained that Jones was approached by officers on a previous occasion and was instructed to show requisite documents to validate his tint, but could not do so.

Some days earlier, Jones was reportedly forced to remove the tint from his motor

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

vehicle windows after being stopped by Tactical Service Unit (TSU) ranks. Jones in a recent interview told Guyana Times that on the day of the incident, three armed TSU ranks approached his vehicle and instructed him to exit.

After a subsequent discussion with the ranks, Jones was told to take his car to Police Headquarters, Eve

Leary, Geogetown, where he was made to remove the tint. Jones indicated to the ranks that he was in the process of filing an application for a tint waiver and reportedly told the officers that the tint on his vehicle was the ‘manufacturers tint’. Jones had also claimed that he was made to pay a bail of $10,000 and told to appear in court at a later date without being informed that he was charged for an offence.

On a different note, Rohee said there will be no clamping down on the shops that provide the service of tinting vehicles since they are by no means breaking any law. He related that these persons were operating a business and were in no way conducting any illegal activities. He told Guyana Times that the persons who would go to these entities to have extra tint placed on their vehicles are in fact the ones who are breaking the law.

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

Training lawyers

In Shakespeare’s “King Henry VI”, one character is made to declare: “The first thing we must do is kill all the lawyers.” One law firm has argued the Bard was suggesting that “the surest way to chaos and tyranny even then was to remove the guardians of independent thinking”. But considering the line was put into the mouth of a comedic character, and intended to elicit laughter, a better explanation might be that the dubious reputation of lawyers is of ancient lineage.

Be that as it may and even if some see lawyers as a necessary evil that we have to live with in this ever-increasing litigious age, this is no excuse for the unfortunate situation that had appeared in our system of legal education. It appears that the institutional memory in this area has developed a lacuna.

Almost exactly one decade ago, then Attorney General, the late Doodnauth Singh, had reported to the nation that after discussions with the Council for Legal Education (CLE) in Barbados, of which he was an ex-officio member as were all AGs of Caricom, it was agreed by that body that a law school would be established here under their imprimatur.

This would have been in place in 2003, since the Government had been planning since the previous year for this eventuality. At that time, former President Bharrat Jagdeo had been Chairman of Caricom in 2002 and had raised with his peers the larger question of whether the overall legal needs of the region were being satisfied by the CLE arrangements. It is eerie to listen to the same arguments being regurgitated by the present crop of leaders. Where has been the Caricom Secretariat that should have been tasked with coming up with a proposal to solve the problem?

This law school in Guyana would eliminate the need for our lawyers-in-training to proceed to St Augustine, with which institution an agreement had been reached to accommodate the top 25 graduates from UG’s LLB programme. When the CLE had been established, Guyana had been one of the signatories and as such, had to subsidise the fees for its students at the St Augustine campus. Reimbursements had lapsed for a substantial period and after paying off a US$500,000 in 2002, the decision was made that having a local law school was a more feasible option. Matters had proceeded as far as identifying a building at Parade Street to house the law school.

There were going to be any number of benefits –lower fees than that charged by St Augustine, lower living expenses, the possibility of a larger student enrolment, etc. While some had questioned as to whether Guyana would be able to absorb so many lawyers, it was pointed out that not every graduate would necessarily be practising before the bar. In the developed countries such as the U.S.A and Britain, the analytical and research skills imparted from a rigorous law programme prepares individuals for careers in almost every field of endeavour.

But we cannot continue to look backward in anger and our intent in raising the old proposal is that our dilemma on legal training had been taken very far down the road. Issues such as pay scales to bring our school to attract teachers from the region had already been raised and addressed. Let us not reinvent the wheel nor our own law school. The solution, as has been proposed by some, is not to return to the old arrangement where Guyana subsidises the tuition expenses of our students. It has been made pellucid that the facilities in Trinidad are just not large enough to accommodate our students and Trinidad’s. But why pay to expand there?

The only way forward is for us to return to the old Jagdeo proposal and create a law school here that will cater for the development of our minds that wish to have legal training.

City lights

Manufacturing entities should enjoy electricity subsidies

Dear Editor, I write in support of the call by Clinton Urling of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) that manufacturing entities should enjoy electricity subsidies in the legitimate activities of their entities.

Guyana is currently a net consumer of imported goods. We have nothing to (try to) offset this undesirable situation except the gold and rice industries. Sugar and bauxite are way down the ladder of foreign exchange earners, the latter very near death, the former heading in the same direction.

I interpret Urling’s call as eyeing other sources of earning foreign exchange, mainly manufacturing/processing exports.

Food is, and will continue to be, next to the air we

breathe in the world list of human essentials. Can’t Guyana be among the top on the list of food-producers and related consumables?

With the huge expanse of arable land, the notion that Guyana can be the food basket of the Caribbean (and further afield) has currency. We can grow almost anything in commercial volumes in this country. But what do we do with it? It is here that Urling’s call has merit. We need cheap power to process and/or convert produce into export-acceptable forms. We also need cheap power so that we can open factories which will absorb skills coming out of our educational institutions.

With the nixing of Amaila Falls and the improbability of any other option in the foreseeable future, we have to examine our existing re-

ality for any possible avenue to reduce the cost of power to the consumer, including the manufacturing sector.

It is public knowledge that some communities enjoy electricity subsidies while some take it for free.

Thousands of electricity consumers, in some instances entire communities, steal electricity. GPL cannot go into those communities for fear of the safety of its employees. Some businesses also steal electricity and pay corrupt operatives to fiddle.

Those of us who pay our electricity bills are, in the melting pot, paying for those who are subsidised and those who steal.

This, to my mind, is an indictment on the entire country, but more so on interest groups which have influence, even control, over constituencies which steal

Greater level of care, competence

Suddie Public Hospital

Dear Editor,

On March 16 at about 10:00h, I decided to go for my monthly dressing and medical check-up at the Suddie Public Hospital, Essequibo Coast. On arrival I was courteously greeted by two porters, who knew me well before my accident. I booked my name and proceeded to the dressing room. The two porters helped me to get on the dressing bed, which I estimated to be about six feet in length and 18 inches in width. It would be very difficult for someone to balance and lie on such a bed, especially a disabled or aged per-

son. There was one trainee male nurse in the room and a trained female nurse, who seemed to think that she was doing me a favour, and was very unprofessional.

After I left the dressing room, I decided to take a check-up on my blood pressure. I met another female nurse sitting at her desk texting on her cellphone. I told her that I wanted to check my blood pressure. She told me to wait for five minutes.

After about 20 minutes, she was still texting as the line of patients grew longer. I told her that five minutes was long gone. Yet she continued her texting. I then

electricity and do nothing about it. In fact, many defend the stealing/subsidising of electricity.

If we are to be guided by the loss statistics provide by GPL, what it loses by way of electricity theft, if recovered, can reduce in a significant way the current electricity tariffs. Thus we do have a ready avenue to enjoy cheaper electricity for both the residential consumer and the manufacturing sector. Let us discharge our collective duty to stamp out electricity theft. Are we willing? Or will that make our constituencies angry?

Of course, that does not gainsay the need for hydropower or other form(s) of cheaper power generation.

Yours truly, Taajnauth Jadunauth

needed at

called the same trainee male nurse from the dressing room to give me a check-up, which he did.

The Government and the Health Ministry regularly conduct education programmes for creating awareness about efficiency at hospitals and care for patients.

The department is fully equipped with these testing equipment, but some nurses at this hospital are lackadaisical in performing their duties. This kind of burden on a sick patient, the family and the community at large is enormous. Whether the handicap be physical or men-

tal, it always ends up being an emotional and financial drain. Do some of these nurses and doctors ever think that this hospital should consistently provide safe, excellent, high quality care and the best possible medical treatment for patients? With all the billions of dollars spent on this hospital, it should offer a significant advantage in terms of quality of treatment, competence of nurses and doctors, and level of care and effectiveness.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

The people have spoken – pass the AML/CFT Bill Government has always discharged its obligations with respect to CFATF

Dear Editor, Government regards with some bewilderment, an unusually long but mostly irrelevant letter, written by the leader of the AFC to Yesu Persaud in relation to the AML/CFT Amendment Bill. The essence of Persaud’s letter was that our obligation to pass the said Bill stems from our international responsibilities and that such matters are of national importance and in the national interest, and therefore, should not be the subject of a political bargaining process with politicians using the same to extract political demands from each other. In short, that a CFATF compliant Bill be enacted forthwith.

This simple but fundamental message in Persaud’s letter was completely lost on Ramjattan.

Instead, he embarks upon a historical excursion commencing in 1998. A wholly irrelevant exercise and one of manufactured facts designed to convey the impression that the Government was guilty of delay in respect of Guyana’s international obligations to the CFATF. Assuming that his historical recitation was, what purpose it now serves to Guyana and its people will remain matters within Ramjattan’s peculiar knowledge.

The undisputed fact is, until the Opposition controlled the National Assembly of Guyana, Guyana was never blacklisted or threatened with blacklisting and the economy, and the people of Guyana, were never exposed to the perilous consequences associated with that delinquent status. Now that the Opposition controls a majority in the National Assembly, Ramjattan, his party and the APNU must take a bow for placing the nation and its people at this precarious precipice at which we are now perched. No amount of political or historical diatribe can discolour that reality.

For the record, the Government wishes to assert that it has always discharged

its obligations in respect of CFATF within the requisite time frames. The current position that we find ourselves in, is purely the making of the Joint Opposition’s politicking, irresponsibility, blackmailing and horse trading.

The current Bill, which is already CFATF compliant, was tabled in the National Assembly in April of 2013. The fact that it was not passed shortly thereafter is not the fault of the Government but the Opposition. In fact the AFC’s consistent public position was that “they have no problems with the Bill”. Well if they have no problem with the Bill, why is it that they never supported its passage in the National Assembly. That simple question, Ramjattan can never answer honestly.

Rather than support the Bill, he preferred to engage in horse trading, demanding the Public Procurement Commission. This position has since become worse. He now demands Presidential assent of other Bills, the amendments of APNU, local government elections and the Integrity Commission. He may next demand a bridge across the Essequibo River and snow in Berbice. One can never tell.

The AFC along with the APNU transmitted the Bill to a Select Committee where it languished for six months without a single amendment made. Ramjattan rarely attended committee meetings. The APNU, on the other hand, although they claimed that they have amendments to make to the Bill, never proffered any. Instead they employed every dilatory strategy and procrastinating tactic available, to delay the work of the committee. At one point, they conjured an allegation that the President labelled them terrorists and used that as a basis to boycott the committee meetings.

It was during this boycott that the committee was able to conclude its work and return the Bill to the floor. Again,

rather than support the Bill that the AFC proclaimed” not to have problems with”, they joined with the APNU and defeated it.

The Opposition requested that the Bill be returned to the National Assembly. The Government did so in December 2013. Again, rather than support the Bill, the AFC and APNU sent it to a Special Select Committee where it has since been languishing. It was only at 21:00h on February 9, and in the usual absence of Ramjattan, that the APNU presented to the committee two pieces of paper, chronicling their proposals for amendments.

This came nearly one year after they said to the nation that they have amendments to make. These proposals were poorly written and they collided with each other, though emanating from the same political party. Significantly, they were not amendments to the Bill, as the APNU suggested but they were to the Principal Act. So after a year, no amendments really came forward in respect of the Bill.

These amendments had to be remodelled by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel into legislative language and examined against the Constitution, the Bill, the Principal Act, related legislation and CFATF’s recommendations. This proved to be a time consuming exercise. The reasons for the Government’s counter proposal have already been the subject of the President’s response to Yesu Persaud and warrants no repeat here.

The above recitation can easily be corroborated and verified by an examination of the parliamentary records. We hope that Ramjattan’s irrelevant utterances and distortions will not contaminate the facts on this matter.

Sincerely

Mohabir Anil Nandlall Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Dear Editor,

The PPP wishes to congratulate the Government of Guyana for conducting several successful public engagements throughout the country to inform our people of the unreasonable and unprincipled position of the Joint Opposition as they continue to withhold their support from the passage of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill laid by the Government in the National Assembly.

The PPP would also like to express its gratitude to the several thousand persons who attended and participated in these public engagements and who were courageous enough to express, in very clear and strong terms, their dissatisfaction with the Joint Opposition on this matter, as well as, expressing very emphatic demands that the Bill be passed quickly. These engagements demonstrated how well our people understand the issue at hand and are well aware of the dire consequences that the non passage of this Bill will bring to their lives and to the economy of our country. We saw our people speak directly to the Opposition, many of whom who would have voted for them, calling upon them to support this Bill; and informing them that they were placed in the Parliament upon the people’s vote to act in their best interest and not to play puerile political games and using the people’s vote to blackmail them. We heard of the citizens’ direct and consistent rejection of the Opposition’s amendments as well as the conditions which

they are demanding as a trade off for their support of this Bill.

Indeed, it was revealing to hear the problems and difficulties that the people themselves explained that they were already encountering and the sufferings they predict they will have to endure, if this Bill is not passed.

A woman from Anna Regina explained the delay she faced to bury her dead husband because her remittance for the funeral was delayed at the money transfer agency. A gentleman from Greenwich Park, who claimed he voted for APNU, asked David Granger directly on camera, why is it that he wants to punish his supporters. A resident of Bartica voiced the opinion that hundreds of Barticians will become criminals and their cash and gold seized, if the Opposition’s amendments are enacted.

The people of Linden expressed fear that the foreign investors in the Bauxite industry will close operations and Region 10 residents will return to a state of joblessness, if this Bill is not passed.

The residents of Lusignan and Mahaica demanded mass protests and fresh elections. Indeed, one comrade from Helena, Mahaica, said that under the PNC Government he walked the streets barefoot. Today he wears Nike sneakers which he displayed for the camera, vowing that he will never walk barefoot again. Yet still, the people of New Amsterdam, many of whom voted for the Opposition, called for the madness to end and the Bill to be passed. The young man from Albouystown artic-

ulated great consternation, at the International Convention Centre, with the constant obstructionist approach of the Opposition on matters of national interest.

The rice farmers questioned on camera, how do the Opposition parliamentarians expect them to acquire fertiliser, machinery and spares when all these can only be obtained from overseas and the non passage of this Bill will stifle international trade between Guyana and every other country in the hemisphere. It was a remarkable experience simply listening to the views of the people expressed on television or reading about them in the newspapers. We view this engagement as another step in the advancement of the democratic process in our nation. Recall after the return of democracy in 1992 our founder Dr Cheddi Jagan, in his first address as President of the Republic to the National Assembly, vowed to take the Parliament to the people so they could have a direct input in the parliamentary process. The nation witnessed perhaps the best demonstration of this concept. The people have spoken. Their message was loud, clear and simple. Pass the AML/CFT Bill tabled by the Government in the National Assembly NOW. They have put the ball squarely in the court of the Opposition.

Let us see if the Opposition will once again ignore the voices of people.

Public Relations Unit PPP Freedom House

Helping parents deal with the fact that their child has a disability

BY BILL HEALEY

Being told that your child has a disability can be as traumatising as learning of a family member’s sudden death. Many parents are stunned by such news. Receiving such a message can produce overwhelming emotions of shock, disbelief, anxiety, fear, and despair. Within that moment, research has shown that some parents cannot distinguish between the unconscious wish for an idealised normal child from an unthinkable, sudden reality of one who is not.

For some parents, just trying to comprehend the disparity between their desires for their child and the disability that exists compounds their emotional and intellectual efforts to adjust to the situation. They may feel grief, depression, or shame. Some may also ask questions of “why me” and conclude that they are being punished for sins or bad acts of the past. Depending on the severity of the disability and the magnitude of the demand for coping, a few parents may even contemplate death for the child or themselves, These thoughts represent an all-encompassing need to achieve inner peace.

Tips for helping parents accept their child’s disability

* Relay a diagnosis with compassion and an appropriate degree of hope for the child and parents. Research findings show that the manner in which a diagnosis is explained to parents can have a profound and prolonged effect on the parent’s attitudes toward their child and professionals.

available to assist the child and parents.

* Try to determine each time you communicate with the parents their level of adjustment and assess what they have been able to internalise and understand regarding what you have discussed.

being a normal process and support them. However, adjustment can speed the process of achieving acceptance. It can, in turn, provide educators and related personnel with a majority of knowledgeable and supportive parents to assist them in the demanding tasks of reasonably meet-

* Ask parents how much and what types of communication they find helpful and build rapport with honesty and caring.

* Encourage parents to ask questions and express their emotions.

* Know the resources

* Reinforce the practice of parent participation in helping their child learn and develop.

* Readily admit to unknowns and seek answers to parents’ inquiries.

* Understand and accept parental ascendance through the stages of adjustment as

ing all children’s needs.

The grieving process Teachers and personnel in related disciplines need to know about the stages through which parents often pass when coping with the fact that their child has a disability. These same pro-

fessionals also need to be available to help guide parents through the usual stages of adjustment toward reasonable acceptance of their child’s condition and their fate.

Until parents who are having difficulty accepting their child’s disability can cope with their own pain and frustrations, their full energies generally cannot be directed toward understanding the child’s disability, level of development, readiness for instruction, or participation in the intervention process.

Stages of adjustment

The first point of providing support for parents should be during a period of uncertain diagnosis, which can engender confusion or bewilderment. Following the rendering of a specific diagnosis, such as autism or a less definitive determination like pervasive developmental disorder, the parents’ typical stages of adjustment are as follows:

Stage one. The parent may be shocked, and he or she may cry or become dejected. Sometimes parents may express their feelings through physical outbursts or, occasionally, inappropriate laughter.

Stage two. This is an extension of stage one, and some parents may deny their child’s disability or try to avoid that reality in some

other way. Some parents will search for or try to propose various actions in an attempt to change the reality. Some may “shop for a cure” or try to bargain for a different reality.

Stage three. At this stage, parents may feel anger. They may demonstrate their anger outwardly, in the form of rage, or become withdrawn and passive from intense feelings of guilt. Verbally attacking anyone who might be blamed for their unfortunate circumstance, including displacement of responsibility onto the original diagnostician or any supportive professionals, is common. If the parents are feeling angry, guilty, or both, professionals must understand this stage is a very positive point to reach in the process of adjustment and not become defensive if attacked.

Stage four. Parents become resigned to the fact that their child has a disability. In some situations, one or more of the family may slip into depression. Feelings of shame, guilt, hopelessness, and anxiety stemming from a new overwhelming burden of responsibility can become intense. For a few parents, retreating, accompanied by an attempt to hide the child, especially from friends and persons during organised or routine social encounters may be the first sign that they have begun to accept the fact their child has a disability. However, any inclination toward or demonstration of behaviour that results in abnormal isolation of one or any family members must be prevented or eliminated.

Stage five. This is the stage of acceptance, meaning the parents have achieved an unconditional positive regard for the child. Specialists debate whether or not this stage of adjustment includes parents who show only acceptance of their child’s condition, commonly called neutrality, or a very important new stage of cognition when parents not only begin to understand and appreciate their child but strengthen their skills in coping with life’s trials as well as being able to help their child, themselves, and others. Reaching this stage is highly correlated with the school inviting parents to become team members in a programme with caring professionals, and often paraprofessionals, that is designed to meet all of the child’s needs.

Stage six. Parents are able to put their lives back together and enjoy living, imagine a future, and talk of their child free of undue emotion. They can discuss and participate in designing or providing instruction objectively. (ldonline.org) to be continued

CDB $7B loan to upgrade West Dem Road

Residents of communities along the Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop corridor can look forward to improvements in approximately 30.7 kilometres of roadway from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, as work will soon get underway.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the US$34.2 million project, which is aimed at increasing efficiency and safety of road transportation along the West Coast Demerara Road from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, was officially launched Thursday morning at the Pegasus Hotel in the presence of Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, Work Services Group, Coordinator Geoffrey Vaughn, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Division Chief Andrew Dupigny and other stakeholders.

This Fourth Road Project (West Coast Demerara Road Improvement) that is being implemented with finance from the CDB, has combined six components, each having its own estimated source of funds. The project has an estimated total financing cost of US$46.789 million and the total base cost is approximately US$36.301 million.

Development partner

Minister Benn noted that the CDB has long been a dependable development partner to the Government and people of Guyana with regards to road transport infrastructure. He said that the collaboration on the Fourth Road Project therefore represents a new phase in this dynamic relationship.

“CDB is indeed a regional development bank which garners the resources regionally and with support from other partners, to push development infrastructure which has massive economic implication for the development of the economies in the Caribbean, and certainly Guyana would be a signal case in point with respect to the impact of infrastructure development on the economy of our country,” he said.

The CDB has been involved in road works on the Linden Highway, done under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF.) It was also involved with road improvement on the East and West Bank of Demerara and in Bartica, Charity, Parika and Supenaam as well with the ongoing community road improvement project. The last Public Works Ministry project

funded by CDB was the Third Road Project, which has been completed and is the Profitt/ Foulis Sea Defence Project.

Government is particularly pleased with CDB’s continued support in the country’s infrastructure, since the Government sees infrastructure advancement as key to Guyana’s development, Minister Benn noted. He pointed out that the infrastructure development that the Government has embarked upon over the years has played a key role in all aspects of the country’s economic development. The infrastructure has assisted in synergising the movement of goods and services and people, “in having a significant multiplying effect on the task we have to do to continue to develop our country”, he said.

Minister Benn also called on his technicians, engineers and administrators to be engaged with the projects to ensure successful achievement.

“I am pleased to say overall we have had significant improvements with respect to your engagement with the work… but we still have to do continuous evaluation, continuous improvement, monitoring and assessment,” he said.

In addition to the road works which also include approximately 28.5km of footpaths for pedestrians and 20km of cycle lanes, the installation of traffic signs and road markings; provision of additional street lighting; replacement of Groenveldt Bridge and the repair of Uitvlugt Bridge, the other components of the projects include road safety awareness which is expected to result in behavioural changes such as the adoption of safe road usage and driving practices, Dupigny explained.

The activities under this component will include a School Road Safety Education Programme, and Community and Driver Road

Guyana sleuths get training to nab itinerant criminals

Nineteen lawmen including ranks attached to the Customs and Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Thursday graduated from a course which taught them how to detect criminals travelling in cars.

The Jetway Training was held at Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara. The training programme, which was a collaborative effort between the Home Affairs Ministry and the Canadian High Commission, saw officers attached to CANU and the Guyana Police Force being trained in various aspects of crime-fighting crime, particularly organised crime.

This included the ability to recognise travelling persons who may be in the process of conducting an illegal activity.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Canadian High Commissioner, Dr Nicole Giles noted that organised crime does not respect borders, and as such, there should be a global approach in combating it.

accordingly. She noted that the Jetway Training was established in 1994 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and has been adopted by several countries worldwide.

The diplomat further stated that the training received would have aided in the seizure of billions of dollars of contraband worldwide and is recognised as the best practice internationally, and further proven to be very effective in identifying travelling criminals.

She further maintained that the strategy set out in the training can be employed by almost any law enforcement agency.

Impressed

Safety and Public Relations and Community Education. Except for the school road safety education programme which will be implemented by the Education Ministry, the Public Works Ministry through the WSG will have the responsibility for implementing all other programmes, Dupigny said.

Planning and management

The other components of the project include improvement of WSG capacity in the areas of planning and management of the primary road network and decision-making on expenditure allocations for the road sector, consultancy service for the provision of engineering services for feasibility study and design and road works supervision. There are also the components of services to the project management team and another that looks at monitoring and evaluation.

Maintenance of the road will be a critical component, Dupigny said. He explained that on appraisal, one of the main operational risks that was identified by CDB staff relating to the project was the issue of maintenance.

He said that in an attempt to mitigate this risk, the conditions of the loan require that Government ensure adequate preservation of the road infrastructure including the roadside drains and culverts. To this end, Government will be required to submit to CDB annual reports of the condition of the project infrastructure.

Following the launch of the road project, there was a workshop with the stakeholders aimed at building and reinforcing relationships. Dupigny explained that this is because CDB is always mindful of the pace of implementation of projects. He said the workshop is one way, in which the bank is attempting to facilitate efficient implementation.

“Crime is an international business and therefore needs an international response. A response that must be based on collaboration and integration of national strategies,” Dr Giles said.

She further noted that organised crime poses a direct threat to tourists, investors and the diaspora as a whole, and needs to be dealt with

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in his address to the gathering related that he was impressed by the training. He said the programme employed not only theoretical training, but also practical tactics. While noting that the programme would require constant training by the enforcement officers, Rohee said the training would also boost the institutional capacity of the law enforcement agencies.

The Home Affairs Minister said an international approach to combating organised crime is a “phenomena that has to proceed, we have to work with international partners to achieving the objectives in fighting organised crime”.

This launch of this training project would come just a month after 70 persons were trained in the detection of fraudulent documents and received 200 fraudulent document detection kits which consisted of backlights and portable magnifiers.

The training for that programme started in October 2013, and concluded in February. It saw participation from officials from the Guyana Police Force, Customs and Immigration and the General Register Office.

Minister Rohee had maintained that the training programme must be seen on the perspective of the Government’s fight against international organised crime. He said while fraudulent documents are not a new threat, the techniques used to develop them have become more current and refined, noting too that the counter efforts that are used in the continuous fight against crime should produce results.

Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell, who opened the training in October 2013, had highlighted that the Guyana Police Force was appreciative of the prospect presented to them by the Canadian Fund For Local Initiatives, and assured that what was learnt would be implemented to the fullest extent in order to combat the use of fake documents.

Policeman accidentally shot by colleague

Apoliceman has been hospitalised after he was accidentally shot by a colleague on Thursday. The incident occurred around 07:45h.

The injured officer has been identified as Constable Samuel Elvis, who is attached to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Geogretown.

According to a statement released by the police, Elvis was with a colleague, who was cleaning his firearm when the weapon accidentally discharged, hitting Elvis in his right foot.

Elvis was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he underwent surgery. The officer came out of the operating theatre around 16:30h and was listed by doctors as stable.

Efforts to contact the relatives of the injured man proved futile. An investigation into the matter has commenced.

In December, another police officer suffered the same fate when he was accidentally shot to his leg in the Enquiries Office of the Fort Wellington Police Station. Detective Constable Andel

Doris was on duty when his colleague was removing his .38 service revolver and accidentally discharged a round. Then in June, 20-yearold Constable Christopher Alert was accidentally shot in his lower abdomen by another rank who was loading his firearm at the Tactical Services Unit, Eve Leary. According to reports, Alert and another colleague were uplifting their firearms and as the other rank was loading his weapon, it discharged a round, hitting the Constable reportedly in the buttocks.

Randy Jagdeo freed of biker’s murder

Businessman Randy Jagdeo, 28, was freed from police custody on Thursday after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

All charges against Jagdeo, a Water Street businessman of Lot 159 Third Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, were dropped. It was alleged that on September 3, 2013, the accused gunned down his well known friend Kirk Davis outside of his Seventh Street, Eccles, East Bank Demerara home.

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that he will rely on the evidence before the court to prosecute the defendant. Additionally Prosecutor Mangru lamented that the two lone witnesses continue to remain absent for the proceedings, despite being called to testify before the court.

During the final stages of the preliminary inquiry (PI), Attorney Robert Yearwood

said that the prosecution has not been able to present the court with a prima facie case (sufficient evidence to prosecute Jagdeo). On these grounds the council requested that the case against Jagdeo be dismissed.

The Chief Magistrate then granted the council’s request to dismiss the case for lack of evidence on the prosecutor’s end.

An autopsy performed on Davis proved he was shot 16 times. Residents of the area

had recalled seeing a silvercoloured Premio car pull up in front of Davis’ house. Davis entered the vehicle to speak to the occupants. It was also reported that the suspect shot Davis until there were no bullets left in the gun. Davis, wounded and bleeding, was thrown out of the vehicle and the killer fled in the car. Davis was then picked up from his bridge and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died. Davis was reportedly killed because

the accused had reasons to believe the deceased and his wife were having an affair.

It was reported that prior to the execution of Davis, the businessman reportedly found out that more than $32 million was missing from a secured safe in the house to which his wife and his father have the secret code. Jagdeo believed his wife had given the money to Davis to open a business.

Jagdeo subsequently left the country after the Guyana Police Force alleged that he was the main suspect in the murder. Jagdeo returned home from Holland on October 23, 2013 and turned himself in at the Criminal Investigations Department just after lunch on October 28, 2013 in the company of his lawyers.

He also gave a written statement to the police in connection with the shooting and made contact with the relatives of the deceased, expressing remorse over what transpired.

Man slapped with 12 charges

Kieron Cummings who opened fire on ranks of the Guyana Police Force after he was caught trying to rob a Sophia female appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry. The defendant was slapped with 12 charges.

Cummings is being charged for five counts of rob-

bery under arms, two counts of attempt to commit a felony, breaking and entering and larceny, discharge of a weapon with intent, possession of ammunition, threatening behaviour and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

It is alleged that on March 10, the defendant stole one motor car valued $3,000,000, one wristwatch valued $80,000, one cellular phone

valued $25,000, US$50, EC$20; all property of Colin Williams. It was also alleged that Cummings stole one motor car valued $3,100,000, property of Lionel Seenarine.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that the man was charged at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court along with several other charges. Additionally, Grant objected to bail be-

Eyew tness Political terrorism...

...by Opposition on AML/CTF

Terrorism can take many forms...bombing, arson, assassinations, plunging planes into skyscrapers, etc. Modern terrorists are very resourceful. So let’s look again at what’s the essence of “terrorism”. It boils down to when a group is willing to use violence or other threats of harming innocent citizens to force the state to acquiesce in their demands. And this brings us to the actions of the Opposition to stop the AML/CTF Bill dead in its tracks.

It’s a form of terrorism, plain and simple. Let’s look at the facts. The APNU and AFC know the Government doesn’t want Guyana to be blacklisted. Everyone’s heard from the banks and business community about how their “financial transactions” with foreign institutions are going to “slow down” – and that’s practically all our transactions, since we export such a huge slice of our GDP. But in the end, it’s the ordinary citizen who’ll get it in their ends.

cause of the seriousness of the offence and the penalties attached.

Bail was refused for all the charges by the Chief Magistrate.

The defendant is expected to make another court appearance on April 14 at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and April 24 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Tucville man remanded for possession, trafficking charge

Christopher Jupiter of Tucville, Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was on Thursday remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to the charge against him in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

It is alleged that on March 16 at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown the defendant had in his possession 15 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question, ranks of the Guyana Police Force were on patrol of the said area when they came across the defendant walking along the same road.

He was stopped and a search was conducted on his person, during which the substance was found in a black plastic bag. The accused was then told of the offence and arrested.

Bail was refused by the Chief Magistrate. The defendant is expected to make another court appearance on April 7.

And the Opposition knows the Government will do anything in the world to prevent this last eventuality –hence their demand that the Government give in to their demands – or else!!! It’s terrorism through and through. Terrorists are generally of three types: criminals, crazies and crusaders – or, most frequently, combinations of all three. With the Opposition, as we wrote yesterday, that deployed the 2002 Mash Day breakout terrorists...the innocent weren’t only held to ransom, but every day, some of their lives were snuffed out.

These were the “criminals and crazies” species of terrorists. And their demand? That the Opposition be given Executive power. But the worse danger comes from the crusading hostage takers like the Guyanese Opposition. They want power and prestige – which brings out the worse in people. Especially when, like the Guyanese Opposition, they’ve convinced themselves they’re acting for a “cause”. These “ideological zealots” don’t give a damn about the people who’re their hostages. As leaders of the PNC and AFC have consistently asserted, these are just “collateral damage”. How else can you explain when every authority figure in and out of Guyana – Caribbean, Latin America, the ABC countries, Caricom, present and past business magnates have pleaded with the Opposition to sign the Bill – to no avail. It’s not a coincidence that the Bill they’ve chosen to thwart would’ve cracked down on the Financing of Terrorism. It is more than a guilty conscience playing out: it is the nature of the beasts they are.

But if the Americans have taught us one thing in the present century, it’s “Don’t negotiate with terrorists”. They must be hunted down and taken out.

...on Rodney Commission

We see the same psychology of political terrorism playing out in the just constituted Commission of Inquiry on the death of Walter Rodney. For years we’ve been hearing about the need for such a commission. But every time we moved one step forward, the Opposition took us two steps backward.

Suddenly we hear that the terms of reference “were drafted in secret” and so the Opposition wouldn’t participate. What arrant nonsense! When the commission was broached back in 2005 and a motion was actually passed, the WPA was tasked with drafting the TOR in consultation with the family of Rodney. Rupert Roopnaraine, the erstwhile comrade of Walter, dragged his feet on the matter for months – until the 2006 elections were scheduled.

Then he announced that it would be “prejudicial” on the PNC for the Inquiry to be held at that time. Imagine the level to which these people would sink!

Justice for the memory of Walter Rodney and for his family sacrificed on the altar of expediency!

...rejected

And now the WPA’s officially in bed with the PNC, they’re revisiting their terrorist act of holding the Government to hostage. But the Government and members of the commission won’t have any of it. Justice for Walter Rodney, at long last, will be delivered!!! Rodney Lives!!!

Wounded taxi driver back at Middle Street base

– says thankful for life, God

By Gomatie GanGadin

The death toll stood at four and at least two were injured after three intense hours of a gun battle between the police and businessman Deryck Kanhai who had gone berserk at his Middle Street home last year.

Those on the scene on that fateful day would have been forgiven for thinking that they were somewhere in the Middle East, as scores of battle-ready policemen armed with their high-powered weapons surrounded the 215 Middle Street house in which the businessman had barricaded himself and where he was eventually killed.

Reliving his experience for Guyana Times was 42-yearold Crown Taxi Driver Paul Raman who was Kanhai’s first victim. Raman was at the taxi service’s base located in the lower flat of the twostorey building which Kanhai owned. He told this publication that he still remembers the day with anxiety and chills running down his spine.

Raman, in recounting the fateful day, stated that he was sitting on a bench at the front of the building near the dispatcher’s room. He recalled

that another taxi driver was sitting on the bench conversing with him when he heard the sound of someone falling down the stairs. “I was sitting down talking with the guy and all I hear was “blam blam” like somebody falling down the steps, so I didn’t really pay attention to that. But when I look up, I see Kanhai kick open the door and standing in the doorway with two guns in his hand, a handgun and a shotgun sling across his shoulder. He didn’t have on any shirt or slipper; just his pants so I was wondering what he was doing,” the man recalled.

Scary Raman described Kanhai’s appearance as “scary”, saying “his eyes were red, red like when he just smoke up, because he is a cocaine user, so I say he probably been smoking and he get high. This man look demonised and real crazy.”

The taxi driver related that the man approached him, shouting ‘“I didn’t tell you leave this yard?”’He noted that despite the fact that Kanhai had never asked him to leave the yard at any point in time, he was in the process

Paul Raman

of vacating the seat and moving to the outside to avoid a confrontation when Kanhai pointed the handgun towards him and fired six shots. He was hit by four; two of which are still present in his body.

“I was still conscious, so I start hollering “’y’all run, run, this man tripping out”’’, but the dispatcher was in the room so she couldn’t make it out as fast as everybody else so he went to she next and just start shooting up just like that,” he related.

The father of two recalled that he managed to exit the base’s compound and made it as far as the Empire Shopping

CIOG condemns “war” comments made by Greenidge

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) has condemned A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Carl Greenidge’s comments about the likelihood of a “nasty or bloody war” over the budget, saying the remarks would only heighten ethnic tensions. In a statement on Thursday, the religious organisation expressed disgust over the comments made in an article captioned “Despite distractions, Opposition remains focused on 2014 National Budget”, published in the Monday edition of Kaieteur News.

The APNU Shadow Finance Minister was quoted as saying “… it may very well be a nasty or bloody war when it (the budget) is presented to the Parliament. This situation could have been prevented, if only the interest of the people were seen as paramount.” He was at the time disclosing that APNU would be making adjustments to the National Budget to benefit citizens while complying with the laws of the Constitution.

In expressing its concern, the CIOG said Greenidge’s choice of words can only further provoke and contribute to the already-sensitive

ethnic situation that currently plagues the nation. It denounced the “inflammatory” statement, which it said sought to create disunity in society, and distanced itself from any such comments.

“Irrespective of the political, social or economical differences that may exist, we appeal to all to exercise moderation in the tone of their remarks despite any short-term advantage that it achieves,” the body said.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Tuesday announced that the National Budget 2014 will be presented next Monday, March 24, to the National Assembly.

doctors that the bullets were best left alone, since if they were removed, major damage would be caused to his stomach’s walls and tissue.

Raman lamented the lack of interest by Kanhai’s relatives and the relevant authorities in providing some form of assistance or compensation to the families of the victims.

He stated that since the incident four months ago, no one from the family or the Government has even called or offered a word of sympathy.

The taxi driver has warned that despite his financial struggles, he will be seeking legal advice and consequently, legal actions if the family cannot fulfil its responsibilities.

“I am thankful for life and I thank God every day that he saved my life, but, at the end of the day, they should have, at least, taken some responsibility, show that you sorry and you care about people’s lives.

Plaza next door before he was rescued and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was immediately rushed into the operating theatre for surgery.

Scarred Raman disclosed that all he can remember after that is waking up in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the hospital with bandages about his body. He was informed that his left foot and his chest had been severely grazed by two of the bullets, while the other two were lodged in his stomach walls.

He was informed by the

As if this wasn’t enough, the man, in hopes of reaching an agreement, approached Kanhai’s family, including his mother, wife, children and brothers, and was told that, despite the assets owned by the man, they could not offer any assistance to any of the families as a result of the number of relatives who were claiming shares of the man’s estate.

Raman questioned the fairness of the situation, relating that he had spent two weeks in the hospital and one month recuperating at home and had during that time, borrowed money from friends and relatives to provide food and educational opportunities to his two children.

Legal advice

Tell me, is it fair? People are murdered coldly and yet the matter can go down so simply and nobody says anything. Vanessa [Williams] is now dead; she left three children behind and no husband. What will become of those children? I will seek legal advice and action if necessary, but who will fight for them?” Raman questioned. Those who died on November 12 at the hands of Kanhai were: 75-yearold Hugh Paul, a security guard; Vanessa Williams, the dispatcher; Police Lance Corporal 20293 Michael Forde and Constable 18053 Sherwayne Palitlz.

FITUG bats for pensioners

...wants hike in tax threshold

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is pushing for an increase in the personal income tax threshold from the current $50,000 to $60,000.

Executive Member, of the union Seepaul Narine on Wednesday told Guyana Times that this was one of the proposals FITUG made during its budget consultation with Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh.

Narine said FITUG met with Dr Singh in January and had discussions relating to Budget 2014. Coming out of that meeting, he related that several proposals were made by the body to the minister, including a proposal to raise the income tax threshold from its current level of $50,000 to $60,000 monthly.

He explained that there was also a proposal to properly regulate the income tax system. This proposal would see the income tax being increased gradually in tandem with the amount of money earned by a person. For example, persons making $60,000 per month would only be required to pay 20 per cent as income tax; however, as their income increases, so would the percentage of tax that is required.

This, he maintained, would bring about better standards of living, since some persons are not earning as much as other per-

sons, but are made to pay the same percentage of income tax. He noted that this proposal would open the doors towards the possibility of much needed income tax reform in Guyana.

In the same vein, he said there was a proposal to increase the salaries of public servants, but there was a twist to this proposal. He explained that, as of now, whenever there was an increase in salaries, the lower level staff would not benefit fully from the increases. The proposal would see any increases in payments to public servants being lessened as the person’s wages or position increased.

Narine also informed this publication that a proposal was made for there to be some sort of unemployment benefit for citizens. Another proposal, explained the Executive Member,

would see old age pensioners getting relief on their electricity bills increased to $25,000 from the current amount of $20,000. He related that many senior citizens are left in dire straits, since the current amount is insufficient.

Another proposal made on behalf of the senior citizens would see their pension being raised from $10,000 per month to $15,000 per month to facilitate inflation and higher costs of living.

With regard to Value Added Tax (VAT), Narine noted that no proposal was made to the Finance Minister to have the percentage decreased; however, he highlighted that there was a proposal by the union to have additional items such as cement, sand and other construction materials exempted from the 16 per cent VAT.

Social sector

The Executive Member also told this publication that the union representatives who met with Dr Singh had urged him to maintain the provisions made for the social sector. He said the fact that some 30 per cent of the last budget went to improvements in the social sector did not go unnoticed by the union, which commended the Minister for the well-received initiative.

The Executive Member’s remarks came just one day after the Finance Minister revealed that the 2014 Budget would be presented in Parliament on Monday, March 24. According to the Finance Minister, the multibillion-dollar budget has been planned to hasten fiscal growth and social development.

“It will emphasise macroeconomic stability through the continued creation of investment opportunities, expanding and upgrading physical infrastructure, improving the quality of social services, and strengthening institutional and regulatory environments,” Dr Singh said in a statement.

Discussions

He said the budget was compiled following discussions with a number of stakeholders, including the Private Sector, Labour Unions, and other interest groups. The process, he explained, commenced in June 2013. “However, despite repeated invitations to the APNU [A Partnership For National Unity] and the [Alliance For Change] AFC, they opted to boycott the consultations,” Dr Singh said.

He noted that this was done in accordance with the mandate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which had made several commitments to Guyana’s diaspora. When the current standoff between the Opposition and Government is taken into consideration, the Minister opined that the 2014 Budget would give the three major political parties – APNU, PPP/C and AFC – yet another opportunity to collaborate in the interest of bettering the lives of the citizens of Guyana.

Is not only G-Pee-Hell givin people Hell

De people in Ireland don’t get blackout. Neither de people in de United Arab Emirates. But dem two countries play a World Cup T20 cricket match in Bangladesh under floodlights and dem get blackout two time in one night.

Right away Din Dhaal start to smile. He seh at least is not only G-Pee-Hell keeping people in de dark and givin dem hell. Well, talkin bout hell, a couple a people going thru hell right hey in GT de garbage town even though dem ain’t dead yet.

One Headitor and he Boss Man like plenty mail, but not de kinda mail whah dem get de other day. Right away de mail mek de Headitor start sweatin. And he start sweatin long before he meet de real heat.

This was not no GT heat that got he sweatin. This was de heat from knowin whah he gon be facing when he face de judge. And that time comin very soon. So de heat gettin hotter and is not often a man wid he colour does turn red.

This Headitor does be sweatin when he face de judge in de cold weather up North. So imagine how he gon be sweatin when he face de judge in de hot Guyana weather wheh dem court ain’t got no AC. People gon tink he pee he skin, although he might very well end up peein he skin.

This Headitor like tell people that is he Boss Man mek he write whah ever he write. But he must try and tell de judge that. Is more heat he gon feel. That is when slow fyah gon turn to more fyah. And de Boss Man ain’t gon go to court wid he and put on a fan. But is de Boss Man self who does cut he pay and threaten to tek back he house and land.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Well, at least that Headitor and he Boss Man ain’t gon be alone. Soon another Headitor and Lalloo gon be sweatin too!

U.S. agents arrest Guyanese ‘imposter’

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency says its agents have arrested an alleged Guyanese imposter with a criminal record who presented fraudulent documents to authorities.

On Wednesday, the CBP said the unidentified Guyanese man had served time in a county jail in Pennsylvania on an outstanding warrant and had “convictions of multiple crimes”. CBP said agents from the Erie Station were contacted by the Pennsylvania State Police on Monday to assist

in identifying the suspect in their custody.

After initial database verifications, the document came back to a different subject and the suspect was arrested by Border Patrol agents following his release from Mercer County Jail from charges by the Pennsylvania State Police. “Further processing revealed the suspect illegally entered the United States in 1995 with a fraudulent U.S. Virgin Islands Identification Card and presented himself as a U.S. citizen to immigration inspectors,” said a statement from the police.

Record checks also discovered the suspect’s multiple criminal convictions ranged from misdemeanours to felonies and include charges such as narcotics violations, grand larceny, carrying a concealed weapon, and shoplifting.

“The suspect is currently in custody and will appear before an immigration judge to determine his eligibility to remain in the United States,” it said. Due to his criminal convictions, the suspect could face removal and a permanent bar from entering the U.S. in the future. (CMC)

Rotaract Club of Georgetown hosting diabetes awareness programme

The Rotaract Club of Georgetown will be hosting its Diabetes Awareness Day on Saturday at the Republic Bank’s Parking Lot, Water Street.

The Club’s Community Service Director, Cecil Cox, told Guyana Times that the organisation is focused on reducing the large number of diabetic cases which are reported on a yearly basis and those which go unreported.

“The Club has always… (been) involved in activities that would benefit the society in key areas that are not neces sarily given enough atten tion on a daily basis. As such, the Rotaract Club of Georgetown has planned an entire activity to increase the awareness of diabetes and what can be done to prevent it…,” he remarked.

Investigations continue into Medex Building fire – Fire Chief

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle has said that the Guyana Fire Service is still conducting investigations into the cause of the Medex Building fire.

03:27h and when it got there, the fire had already spread throughout the middle flat. Firefighters reportedly had to drag the sleeping security guard out of the guard hut.

He noted that in the edu-

cation and knowledge-sharing activity, persons will be able to identify the contributing factors to the chronic disease, what they can do to prevent the development of the dis- ease and what can be done to ensure control is taken over it. In making this possible, the Club will be offering diabetes testing, dental check-up, eye testing and the presence of doctors

on site to advise and provide guidance to visitors.

In addition, the Carnegie School of Home Economics will be on board in the aim of offering diabetes and health-conscious meal recipes to participants. The Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central is a non-governmental organisation for individuals between the ages of 18 to 30 with a mandate to provide service to the community through volunteer initiatives.

The youth arm of the Club particularly has been designed to foster leadership, responsible citizenship, high ethical standards in business and ultimately a better life for youths and those around their influence circles. The activity is expected to commence at 09:00h and conclude at 15:00h.

When contacted on Thursday, Gentle told Guyana Times that he cannot give a timeline on how long the investigations will take to determine the cause of the fire. “Investigations follow evidence and we can’t say how long this will take,” the Fire Chief said.

Asked whether investigators were able to determine the origin of the fire, Gentle declined to comment, saying he “can’t disclose that information at the moment”.

The Health Ministry’s Medex Building at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, was completely destroyed early Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in the middle flat of the building while the security guard was sleeping.

The Guyana Fire Service received the call around

Heavy winds from the ocean fed the flames and prevented firemen from getting water onto the blaze. Given the fact that the building was old and wooden, it was quickly engulfed.

Meanwhile, the 50 staff members who were stationed at the Medex Building were temporarily placed at various Health Ministry buildings.

According to Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, the staff members were allocated to the locations, according to their units. There were four units housed at the Medex Building: the Division of Health Sciences Education, Environmental Health Unit, National Food Policy Unit, and Veterinary Health Unit.

Minister Ramsaran said while quick action was tak-

en to find accommodation for the stranded staff, the new accommodations are not as comfortable as the old, so he has approached the Government for funding to upgrade the new locations. “The Ministry will be seeking to fast track the allocation of funds for renovations to make the workforce comfortable,” Ramsaran noted.

Guyana Times understands that the Health Sciences Education Division was placed at a Ministry building in Kingston, while the other three units were relocated to different available spaces at the Ministry’s office on Brickdam. Further, Ramsaran revealed that with limited space available at these new locations, the Ministry was forced to send some of the staff home on leave which they have accumulated. The Minister noted that decades of paperwork went up in flames and millions were lost as a result of equipment being damaged.

U.S.-based Guyanese donates wheelchairs to GPHC

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Thursday received 12 wheelchairs from a United States-based Guyanese woman.

In a simple ceremony at the GPHC, donor Jacqueline Yhap handed over the chairs to the hospital’s Assistant Director of Nursing Services, Owen John.

According to Yhap, this donation was done in memory of her late brother, Lennox Roy Lyken, who died of a heart attack almost three years ago. Yhap said her brother was full of life and was always generous. “…always willing to help those in need; in fact, his last act was doing exactly that, so it would be fitting to make this gesture in his remembrance,” she stated.

Yhap said the funds used to buy the wheelchairs, which are of sturdy quality, were gained after the family hosted a takeaway lunch in New York. She expressed her appreciation to all the persons who supported the event, thereby making it possible for her and her family to make the contribution.

“It is our hope that this donation will be fully utilised by this organisation in its effort in providing the patients with these chairs,” Yhap noted.

She also added that she was hoping to continue such donations every year, providing the hospital with muchneeded supplies. On behalf of the GPHC, John expressed his gratitude to Yhap, while assuring her that the chairs will go towards improving health care services

for patients at the hospital. He said the wheelchairs are much needed at the hospital, since several departments are without any. He further encouraged the family to continue their generosity, which will go a far way in patient care improvements.

Essequibo Technical Institute turns 13

The Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI), which has been training young people of that region for excellence in the technical and vocational fields, is celebrating 13 years of existence.

The institute, located behind the Anna Regina Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast, hosted a two-day try-a-skill activity, which concluded on Thursday, in celebration of its anniversary. The activity was specially crafted for fifth form students, exposing them to technical and prac-

tical skills. Students from various secondary schools were given the opportunity to visit the various departments of the institution to get a firsthand glimpse of the practical skills taught at the ETI.

According to ETI Principal Michael Turner, the institution, over the years, has grown into a more accountable and reputable one, providing technical and vocational training to many students, especially school drop-outs. Speaking to students, teachers, and other attendees in the institute’s auditorium on Wednesday, at the launch of the try-askill activity, Turner said anniversaries are a time to note progress made and examine achievements. He said as the institution celebrates 13 years of existence, its achievements must be noted.

ETI was established on March 12, 2001 under the stewardship of then Education Minister, Dr Dale Bisnauth. Turner lauded

the efforts made by Minister Bisnauth to develop ETI.

Under the stewardship of four principals and two deputy principals, over the years, the school has grown from a population of 200 students to 780 students. The Principal outlined that one of the biggest challenges for the institute is the increase in school drop-outs, which has taxed the resources of

Computer Science and Data Operation.

Turner said in 2012, Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed with the Barama Group of Companies and the Caricom Rice Mills Ltd to facilitate students gaining work experience as well as sponsorship.

In brief remarks at the launch, Region Two Vice

the school. However, in an effort to retain and accommodate students, the facility was extended, a dormitory was constructed, and a new bus was purchased. An annexe is presently under construction.

Skills programme

The institute has about six workshops and is presently offering several skills programmes including: furniture making, masonry, plumbing, electrical installation, small appliance repairs, Technician Certificate in Electrical Engineering Part 1, metal work engineering, Technician Certificate in Mechanical Engineering Part 1, welding and fabrication, general office administration, Ordinary Diploma in Commerce, and Diploma in

Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said ETI has managed to record many positive achievements throughout the years. He explained that before the establishment of ETI, its present site used to accommodate the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Regional Workshop.

He said the RDC was forced to relocate the workshop and decided to utilise the empty building for educational purposes, since Region Two was in need of a technical institution to give children a second opportunity to excel in the field of education.

Samaroo noted that the institution has enabled many youngsters to make themselves marketable, by providing them with the skills to become entrepreneurs.

Solomon remains sceptical about Linden pact

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon said he was never confident that Lindeners would have gotten anything tangible from the agreement it signed with Government in the aftermath of the 2011 unrest. He said outside of “maybe the electricity issue being put on hold... the simplest thing like a transmitter, which is a physical piece of item cannot be delivered.”

Solomon made the comments as he continued to express his frustrations over the lack of progress regarding the implementation of several of the agreements reached with Government, which for its part has also blamed the Region 10 Administration for some of the hold up. The Regional Chairman said he will continue to explore various avenues and aggressively seek movement on the August 21, 2012 agreement.

Key aspects

He said the Region 10 Democratic Council (RDC) will also continue to seek economic development within the community, since he has no confidence that Government will follow through in honouring key aspects of the agreement.

The Region 10 Chairman continues to accuse the Government of not advancing and honouring major aspects of the agreement, which came as a result of protest action in Linden over a Governmentproposed increase in electricity tariffs in 2012.

Referring to the aspect of the agreement which provides for the establishment of a television station in Region 10, Solomon stated that he did not receive the transmitter which was to be handed over to the RDC, along with the satellite dish to aid in the process, as was stated by Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira in a recent letter.

“... as Chairman, I was never confident that we were going to get anything tangible outside of maybe the electricity issue being put on hold... the simplest thing like a transmitter, which is a physical piece of item, Miss Teixeira said that they have given it to the Region, that is not true. That is in a letter that she sent to Ministers, EU Representatives, because we had started to nationalise this matter. Now we are saying to her if that is so, then say to us where it is,” he noted.

The Regional Chairman added: “The point I am making is that if something as insignificant in this whole context of the agreement as a transmitter, we’re find-

ing it so difficult to happen. Think about all the other elements of the agreement... they (Government) have put themselves in a position where it is difficult to find compromise...”

Fundamental rights Solomon added that the agreement should not be taken lightly, since three lives were lost during the electricity protests in Linden. He said he is of the opinion that the Government should constantly be reminded of the “outstanding” agreement signed by the two parties.

In justifying this, he said the responsibility of the RDC as a local government body is to maintain and preserve the fundamental rights of citizens.

“The Region will always have to fulfil and execute its mandate, which is to advance the cause of the people... the point of the matter is, whether legal, based on the constitutional obligations of the court, there are certain fundamental practices that the Government must participate in. This is where the people come in, in holding them accountable in ensuring this is so,” he said. He added that persons need to become more actively involved and engaged in ensuring that fundamental policies are adhered to. Solomon further stated that there is need for citizens to be properly informed on matters such as the agreement.

Additionally, the Regional Chairman stated that Government appears to be more inclined to pay attention to minor matters within Region 10, rather than honouring key elements of the agreement. Speaking on the issue, RDC Councillor Audwin Rutherford said he believes that the Region should look at ways of becoming less dependent on Government, so as to become more self-reliant. “In finding a way forward, we must understand that they (Government) cannot solve all of our problems. We have got to find real ways in trying and solving some of these problems ourselves,” he said.

Do not allow industry to scale down – Dr Ramsammy urges rice farmers

By IndrawattIe natram

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has called on Region Two rice farmers to co-operate with the major rice stakeholders to move the industry forward, and avoid a scaling down of business.

Dr Ramsammy repeated these sentiments while addressing farmers at separate meetings held at Anna Regina, Better Success and Aurora.

He explained to hundreds of farmers that he has scheduled various meetings with farmers throughout Guyana so as to develop a workable solution that will benefit all players in the industry.

The Minister reminded the farmers that the industry is important for Guyana to have a brighter future.

He said the industry must not be allowed to fall, but rather efforts should be made to strengthen its competitiveness.

According to him, despite the vary prices offered on the global markets; Guyana has managed to increase production.

He said the low prices paid by millers are as a result of the low prices being

ers pay out farmers, then millers will keep taking advantage,” Dr Ramsammy said.

He explained that sometimes the situation is not a straight forward one; however, the best solution must be sought, pointing out that the one arrived at by the Ministry is workable.

Technical team

Minister Ramsammy said too that a technical team comprising of farmers will be formed to address their problems. He said each region will be responsible to send six knowledgeable farmers who will meet periodically to look into the rice industry.

The Agriculture Minister

offered at the world market. He said Venezuela is offering Guyana a fair amount of cash for its rice, urging farmers to ensure the deal remains.

“The industry has come a far way, we have achieved a lot and it is not the time to downscale the industry due to low prices, we need to be stronger than this, we are able as an industry and we will continue to strive,” Dr Ramsammy said.

Payment

Dr Ramsammy said farmers who were owed by millers for their paddy last crop will soon receive full payments. He credited the step to the prudent intervention made by the Agriculture Ministry and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

Some $270 million were owed to farmers for paddy sold to millers.

The Minister added that a loan was given to two millers in Region Two, to settle outstanding debts owed to farmers.

“I am challenge by the fact if we keep helping mill-

said that favourable prices are important for the industry to prosper, outlining that the GRDB is working assiduously to tap into new markets to keep the industry competitive.

He said apart from the Venezuela markets, Guyana has secured deals in Europe, Jamaica, Panama, Trinadad and Tobago, Belize and Brazil.

“We have 470,000 tonnes of rice for Brazil,” he disclosed.

Dr Ramsammy said with much negotiation by the Agriculture Ministry, millers have revised their prices. He said two millers moved their prices from $3200 to $3500 and $3700 per bag respectively.

The Minister believes that there should be more drying and storage facilities for farmers, and mentioned that plans are in the pipelines to get this done.

Dr Ramsammy added that since December, he has been lobbying with millers, to reconsider the prices offered to farmers. The Minister said he has in-

30 farmers trained to improve their operations

structed the GRDB to con-

duct a general audit of all the millers in terms of grading.

Alliance For Change Councillor and Essequibo Farmers Association

President Naith Ram is again calling for a co-operative mill in Region Two.

Ram also asked the Agriculture Ministry to establish a fund through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), whereby millers would be able to access finance to make timely payments to farmers.

Protest

Some farmers last Friday staged a protest, requesting an audience with Minister Ramsammy, to air their plight and have them addressed.

The farmers were protesting low paddy prices, monies owed to them by millers and poor drainage and irrigation.

The decrease in rice prices is said to be as a result of the low prices for the commodity in Europe and the Caribbean markets.

The meetings were attended by Minister within the Agriculture Ministry Alli Baksh, GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud, Regional Vice Chairman Samaroo, GRDB Deputy General Manager Ricky Ramraj and other officers from the Agriculture Ministry.

Some 30 farmers recently benefited from a five-day training programme geared to improve their operations.

The meeting was organised by the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED) in collaboration with the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry and the Mara Farmers’ Association (MFA).

The workshop was held on March 10 to 14 at the Mara Community Centre, Ma Retriate Scheme, East Bank Berbice.

The initiative forms one aspect of the Mara Agricultural Enhancement Project (MAEP), which seeks to increase the productive capacity and diversify the portfolio of farmers in the Mara (California to Germania) area.

The workshop was facilitated by two Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) specialists, namely Arnold De Mendonza, a Sustainable Rural Development Specialist and Jermaine Joseph, an Agriculture Field Specialist.

They were assisted by National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) District Officer Yashma Subhai.

The workshop focused extensively on small farm management, use of simple farm management tools for effective and efficient management of farms; low cost production techniques; good

agricultural practices, preventing and controlling of contamination of fresh farm produce; post-harvest handling of crops-prevention of post-harvest crop losses and development of marketing operations; and new production techniques.

The Region Six Chairman David Armogan and Vice Chairman Bhupaul Jhagroo attended and closed the workshop on the final day, declaring it a success.

Continuous training

They both commended the participants for recognising the importance of continuous training, and urged all to see agriculture as a business and not just a subsistence way of life.

They also remind farmers that the forces of globalisation and international competition are real and the adoption of new technologies and modern agriculture practices is the way forward for successful agriculture business.

CARILED Guyana

National Country Coordinator Dhanraj Singh commended the farmers for their commitment and exemplary participation throughout the workshop.

Singh stated that the workshop demonstrated that communities have not

lost the sense of togetherness and that learning and continuous training for increasing capacity is an essential ingredient for growth and development.

He urged farmers to work and adopt the new practices that were taught with their local context and continue to seek new information that can improve their livelihood in a green and sustainable way. Singh also indicated that CARILED will continue to work with the farmers to increase access to new markets domestically, regionally and internationally.

Mara Farmers’ Association Chairman Ovid Phillips expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the members for the training received.

He expressed thanks to the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, CARILED, the Regional Democratic Council, IICA, NARI and the participants for making the workshop a success.

CARILED is funded by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). It is a six-year programme launched in May 2012, with headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago, and sub-offices in Saint Lucia (OECS) and Ottawa, Canada.

Regional Opposition Mayor arrested in Venezuela

Venezuelan intelligence agents have arrested the Opposition Mayor of San Cristobal for “civil rebellion”, accusing him of stoking violence in the city hit harder than anywhere by more than a month of unrest.

Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres, who also heads the national intelligence service Sebin, told state TV that Sebin agents detained Daniel Ceballos

while acting on an order from a court in western Tachira state.

“This is an act of justice for a Mayor who not only failed to meet his obligations under the law, but also facilitated and supported all the irrational violence in this city,” he said.

“In the coming hours, he will be presented before the corresponding tribunals to begin the judgment process.”

A man identifying himself as an aide to the Mayor said via his Twitter account, @Daniel_Ceballos, that he was arrested in Caracas.

According to a post on his Facebook page earlier, Ceballos was in the capital for a meeting of Opposition mayors.

San Cristobal, home to some 250,000 people in Tachira near the Colombian border, has been the focus of the most sustained fights between demonstrators barricading roads, pro-government radicals, and the security forces, Reuters news agency reported.

Daily rallies

Torres said a member of the National Guard was shot dead in the city on Wednesday during what he called “vandalistic acts” by protesters targeting a national armed forces university.

Earlier, prosecutors said

Barbadians told to “make

Barbados needs a population of 325,000 people, and if Education Minister Ronald Jones gets his way, it will become a reality in 10 years.

Jones, who was speaking in the House of Assembly on the Appropriation Bill 2014-

2015 Wednesday, made a case for a larger population so that local businesses could have access to a more diverse consumer base.

“Barbados needs a slightly bigger population. The land size of 166 square miles must not be a hindrance . . . .

Jamaica: More than 40,000 pupils sit secondary entrance exams

More than 40,000 primary school students are writing the first papers of the two-day Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) for placement in secondary schools come September.

According to the Education Ministry, a total of 40,676 students have been confirmed to sit the tests, starting today, with the majority of the candidates (21,120) being female.

Additionally, the Ministry has confirmed that 4457 registered and eligible students have deferred sitting the tests.

The GSAT tests children in five areas — mathematics, social studies, language arts, science, and communication tasks.

The students wrote the papers for mathematics and social studies Thursday, with the remaining three papers for today.

As is customary,

schools that have been deemed examination centres will be closed to all other students for the two days “to minimise distractions to those students sitting the test”.

Over the years, the tests have caused anxiety among students and parents alike over the possibility that the students might not be placed at their schools of choice — mostly traditional institutions. As part of the registration process, students are normally asked to indicate their five preferred schools. However, there have been many cases where students are not placed in their schools of choice.

Last week, the Education Ministry encouraged the students to remain focused and follow the instructions given, while advising parents to remain calm and “support, rather than pressure the students”. (Jamaica Observer)

a Caracas municipal worker was killed by multiple gunshots late on Tuesday as he and others took down a street barrier set up by Opposition demonstrators.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered the Opposition mayors of four municipalities, including San Cristobal, to remove street barricades rigged up by protesters.

At least 31 people have died since February 12 when three people were shot dead in clashes after an Opposition rally in Caracas.

The protesters are demanding socialist President Nicolas Maduro resign, while he says his foes want to create chaos and a coup.

Students said they planned to march in the capital on Thursday to call for Ceballos’ release, in what will be the latest of daily rallies by both sides around the politically polarised country. (Al Jazeera)

babies!”

If it can’t be reproduced in Barbados – because the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) has overdone its job – then we must open our doors and [invite] a careful selection of those who can deliver children and within a certain age range.”

He said an increase in population would “make sense of the programmes we are looking to develop in Barbados: more people paying taxes, more people eating our agricultural produce and utilising our manufactured goods and services”. (Excerpt from nationnews)

Former Prime Minister, relatives resign from Belize state agencies

Former Prime Minister

Sir Manuel Esquivel has resigned as senior adviser to Prime Minister Dean Barrow.

But Sir Manuel, who along with his wife Kathy, and eldest daughter, Laura, quit their appointments to state agencies, said the resignations were for personal reasons.

However, media reports said that the resignations come less than a week after Laura Esquivel quit her job as Director of Tourism in the aftermath of a realignment of the executive at the Belize Tourism Board (BTB).

The resignations are seen as a “serious blow to the UDP (United Democratic Party) because the Esquivels are considered a powerful family within the echelons of the party,” one television station reported on Monday night.

Sir Manuel, who served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989 and from 1993 to 1998, had served on numerous boards, while his wife was chair of the board of the National AIDS Commission for several years.

The Government has not yet responded to the resignations. (CMC)

Chile to review biggest energy project plan

Chile’s new Government has said it will review plans for its biggest energy project amid environmental concerns.

It said it would decide on the future of the HidroAysen Project within 60 days. Environmentalists say the huge project, which would dam rivers in a remote region of Patagonia in Chile’s far south, would ruin an area known for its wild beauty.

President Michelle Bachelet previously said the project was “not viable”.

Chile is short of energy but correspondents say most Chileans oppose the hydropower project, a joint venture by Spanish-owned energy company Endesa and Chile’s Colbun.

Its future has been uncertain for months, with environmentalists staging protests against the project and businesses looking to it as a fix for the country’s power needs.

The Government said it will allow all parties involved, including the local communities, to make their arguments in favour or against the plans before issuing a final decision.

“Within the legal period of 60 days, the Cabinet of Ministers will decide on the merits of the matters that have been challenged, in a comprehensive way and in accordance with the law,” Environment Minister Pablo Badenier told a news conference in the Chilean capital, Santiago.

In January, a ministerial committee requested additional studies on how the project could affect the volume of water in the rivers and a nearby glacier.

It involves flooding about 6000 hectares (15,000 acres) of land by building five dams on two fast-flowing rivers that run into the Pacific –two on the River Baker, and three on the River Pascua.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Vybz juror who attempted to bribe colleagues to return to court

A50-year-old man will return to court next week Friday when the case against him for attempting to bribe fellow jurors in the just-concluded trial of popular entertainer Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer) is expected to continue.

The court was told Tuesday that Livingston Cain, the only person in the 11-member jury to have voted against a guilty verdict in the trial, had offered his fellow jurors as much as half a million dollars to have Kartel acquitted of the crime.

The singer and three other co-accused were last Thursday found guilty of the 2001 murder of Clive Lizard Williams.

Cain made his first appearance in court on Tuesday to answer five counts of attempting to

pervert the course of justice and one count of conspiring with people unknown to pervert the course of justice. Cain, who was arrested after the Kartel case was finished, has denied the allegations.

He was offered bail in the sum of J$750,000 and warned not to make any efforts to contact any member of the Kartel jury. He is also to report to the police daily and a stop order has been placed on him at the ports.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn told the court that after failing to convince other jurors to find Kartel and his co-accused not guilty during the course of the trial, Cain approached the foreman last Thursday and told her he wanted to speak to her privately. (Excerpt from CMC)

U.S. and Russia in tit-fortat Crimea sanctions

U.S. President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against prominent Russians, including close allies of President Vladimir Putin, as Moscow raced to complete its annexation of Crimea.

Moscow on Thursday responded by announcing its own sanctions against senior U.S. politicians in retaliation against visa bans and asset freezes imposed by Washington on its citizens.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said U.S . action against Moscow would “hit the United States like a boomerang” and warned it would respond to “every hostile thrust”.

With Obama also clearing the way

for possible sanctions on vital sectors of the Russian economy, Putin told Russian company bosses to bring their assets home to help the nation survive the sanctions and an economic downturn.

Obama said the action would also target a Russian bank, named by a senior administration official as Bank Rossiya, which is partly owned by Yuri Kovalchuk, a St Petersburg banker whose association with Putin dates back to the early 1990s.

Speaking at the White House, Obama said Russia’s threats to southern and eastern areas of Ukraine –which like Crimea have large Russianspeaking populations – posed a serious risk of escalating the crisis in the region.

“We’re imposing sanctions on more senior officials of the Russian Government,” he said. “In addition, we are today sanctioning a number of other individuals with substantial resources and influence who provide material support to the Russian leadership, as well as a bank that provides material support to these individuals.”

The President’s remarks came after the Russian Parliament’s lower house gave its near-unanimous approval to the country’s annexation of Crimea, ignoring threats of more sanctions. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Around the world

Possible debris off Australia a “credible lead” for missing Malaysian jet

Aircraft and ships ploughed through dire weather on Thursday in search of objects floating in remote seas off Australia that Malaysia’s Government called a “credible lead” in the trans-continental hunt for a jetliner missing for nearly two weeks.

The large objects, which Australian officials said were spotted by satellite four days ago in one of the remotest parts of the globe, are the most promising find in days as searchers scour a vast area for the plane lost with 239 people on board.

A Norwegian merchant ship arrived in the area on Thursday, but officials cautioned it could take days to confirm if the objects were part of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. Malaysia’s Government said the search would continue elsewhere despite the sighting in the southern Indian Ocean.

The area where the objects were spotted is around 2500 km (1500 miles) southwest of Perth, roughly corresponding to the far end of a southern track that investigators calculated the aircraft could have taken after it was diverted.

“Yesterday I said that we wanted to reduce the area of the search. We now have a credible lead,” Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

A search for the plane that began in the tropical waters off Malaysia’s east coast has now

Jerusalem holy site visit sparks riots SA Opposition lays charges against Zuma

Aright-wing Israeli politician who called for Israel to take over the Haram al-Sharif in occupied East Jerusalem has visited the holy compound, causing a backlash from stone-throwing Palestinians protesting against the visit.

Moshe Feiglin, a nationalist member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, visited the compound on Thursday, after calling on the Israeli Knesset last week to strengthen Israel’s control over the holy site and usurp sovereignty.

The Haram al-Sharif, which includes the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, is Islam’s third holiest site and is known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Israel captured the area from Jordan in the 1967

war.

Hundreds of Palestinians were protesting in the area after Feiglin’s visit. The politician was not injured in the incident.

Palestinian religious and political leaders were outraged on Monday when the Knesset’s Interior Affairs Committee set up a Jewish commission to supervise daily Jewish incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque’s courtyard to perform worshipping rituals.

During the Knesset’s meeting – the first of its kind since the occupation of East Jerusalem – it was also suggested the courtyard’s gates be opened for all Israelis.

Israeli Police Spokeswoman Luba Samri said officers dispersed the protesters and arrested two after the protest. (Al Jazeera)

South Africa’s main Opposition party has laid corruption charges against the President over the use of state money to improve his private rural residence.

The move follows a report by South Africa’s top corruption fighter accusing President Jacob Zuma of unethical conduct over the upgrade.

The changes to Zuma’s private home, including a pool and cattle enclosure, cost taxpayers about US$23 million (£13.8 million).

Police are now obliged to investigate the Democratic Alliance’s complaint.

It will then be passed on to the National Prosecuting Authority which will decide whether there is a formal case to answer.

The refurbishment of the residence in Nkandla,

India Mumbai gang rape: Four convicted

Acourt in the Indian city of Mumbai has convicted four men of the gang rape of a photojournalist last year.

The men have been found guilty of five offences, including gang rape, unnatural sex and destruction of evidence. Sentencing is set for Friday.

The 22-year-old woman was attacked by five men while on assignment in a deserted mill in August. The fifth accused, believed to be under 18 at the time of the incident, is being tried in a juvenile court.

In India, where a rape is recorded every 22 minutes, scrutiny of

sexual violence has grown since the gang rape and murder of a student on a bus in Delhi in December 2012.

The attack on the Mumbai photojournalist had renewed public outrage over sexual violence in the country.

Maharashtra State Home Minister RR Patil, who was in court for Thursday’s verdict, said justice had been done.

“The verdict has come in a very short time and justice has been delivered quickly,” Patil said. “The verdict will send a strong message to other criminals. It will deter such crimes in future,” he added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, has turned into a major political controversy in South Africa as the country approaches elections in May.

A Government probe in December cleared President Zuma, who came to office in 2009, of any wrongdoing, saying the improvements were needed for security reasons.

“We are laying charges because we want the President to be held personally liable,” said Mmusi Maimane, the national spokesman for the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The report released by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Wednesday said Zuma should repay costs for some of the unnecessary renovations from which he had “benefited unduly”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

switched to the vast, icy southern oceans between Australia, southern Africa, and Antarctica.

Two Royal Australia Air Force AP-3C Orions, a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion were involved in Thursday’s search which was called off late in the evening and will resume today. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Michelle Obama arrives in China on hotly-anticipated trip

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Beijing on Thursday evening, the official Xinhua news agency said, beginning a hotly-anticipated week-long trip during which she will promote education and cultural ties.

Obama, a Harvardeducated lawyer, is expected to spend Friday with China’s charismatic First Lady, Peng Liyuan, who is admired at home as both a glamorous songstress and fashion icon.

Besides Beijing, Obama will visit the western historic city of Xi’an and the southern city of Chengdu, where she will visit a panda preserve.

Obama’s two daughters are accompanying her, as well as her mother.

She also plans to visit

American and Chinese students to promote education and cultural exchanges, and visit historical landmarks like the Great Wall of China.

A Xinhua commentary said the trip was “especially meaningful” given tensions in the U.S.-China relationship, including President Barack Obama’s recent meeting with the Dalai Lama, whom China sees as a violent separatist. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said the visit would help deepen ties between the world’s two largest economies.

“We believe that this visit will play an important role in increasing mutual understanding between the two countries and expanding friendship,” Hong told reporters ahead of Obama’s arrival. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Gunmen attack hotel in Afghan capital; police kill four attackers

Taliban gunmen attacked a luxury hotel on Thursday in the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul, police said, and four of the assailants were killed in a shootout with the Afghan security forces.

Interior Ministry Spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told Reuters that all of the gunmen were dead and security forces were in control of the hotel. He said he was not aware of any fatalities among the staff or guests, but checks were ongoing and Afghan special forces were on the scene.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility

for the attack and said the attackers had fired at foreign and Afghan guests celebrating the Afghan new year.

“Suicide bombers have entered the Serena Hotel, heavy battle is underway, enemies suffered heavy casualties,” he said in a text message.

His information could not be immediately verified and no one Reuters spoke to reported hearing any explosions.

Security sources told Reuters that gunmen armed with pistols entered the Serena Hotel by a back door. Two people had been wound-

ed, they said. There were no details on the nationality of those hurt.

One person who was taken to safety along with other guests said that the shooting appeared to begin in the hotel restaurant.

The hotel was attacked in 2008 by a suicide bomber and six people were killed.

Since then, it has beefed up its protection and is considered the safest place to stay in Kabul, protected by multiple layers of security including metal detectors and armed guards. It is home to many United Nations staff and foreign delegations. (Excerpt from Reuters)

friday, march 21, 2014|

Two years on

No report from Tax Review Committee

By Svetlana MarShall

Close to three years since it was established, there has been no report from the Tax Reform Committee set-up to overhaul Guyana’s tax laws.

Shortly after his inauguration, President Donald Ramotar initiated the three-man committee comprising former Guyana Power and Light Chairman Ronald Ali, Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis and Economist, Dr Cyril Solomon as the members. It is the mandate of the committee to complete a comprehensive tax review, but a report which has the powers to transform the country’s economic landscape is still pending.

The “Ramotar Committee” is not the first attempt by the Government to overhaul the tax system. Back in 2009, the Government through the Guyana Threshold Implementation

Caribbean

Project undertook a comprehensive tax review covering almost all tax areas. The review examined the implementation of the tax system and suggested recommendations for improvements. It was in keeping with this project that the Tax Reform Committee was established with the task of examining the reports and recommendations on behalf of the Government.

The principal aim of the review was to identify and recommend for consideration measures to bring Guyana’s tax rates in line with other countries and simultaneously support growth by attracting investment while substantially broadening the tax base so as to reduce the burden, especially on low income and vulnerable groups.

Up to date

When Guyana Times contacted Ali for a progress report on the committee,

he said a statement will be issued shortly, bringing the public up to date with the work done. The perceived lack of progress by the committee continues to worry private sector members.

“It is a major disappointment,” Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Clinton Urling said during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times GCCI has long called for Guyana’s tax regime to be overhauled.

“We were excited and we were elated when the Government made the announcement that this committee would have investigated the taxes, but our disappointment comes when two years later, we don’t have direct information or reports emanating from that committee,” Urling said.

Nevertheless, the GCCI remains optimistic that a comprehensive holistic tax code review will be

In its second highest bond sale, Digicel is returning to market to borrow US$865 million in senior notes, a statement from the company’s Jamaica head office said on Wednesday. In immediate reaction, both Fitch Ratings and Moody’s, two of the world’s top three credit rating agencies, rated the bonds below non-investment grade or “junk.” Fitch justified the rating by saying that the bond issue is to repurchase and pay for a previous

bond issue.

Digicel posted a net loss of US$198.4 million in its 2013 fiscal year, down from a profitable position of US$47.2 million in fiscal year 2012. A statement from Digicel Group Ltd said it planned to use the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase any and all of its 10.50 per cent senior notes due 2018, pay any related fees and expenses, and redeem the senior notes, if any, that remain outstanding after the completion of the tender offer.

Market statistics

The company said it would use any remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, investments, acquisitions or debt repayment. The brief statement added: “The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the U.S., absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.”

(Trinidad Guardian)

submitted, benefiting all tiers of society. Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh in presenting the 2013 National Budget, had proposed a reduction in the rate of Income Tax from 33 1/3 per cent to 30 per cent; a request which was approved by the National Assembly under Section 36 of the Income Tax Act. But Urling argued that this is not enough, contending that no longer can the matter be dealt with in a piecemeal, fragmented and sporadic manner.

Reduction of VAT

Over the years, some stakeholders including Opposition political parties have been calling for the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT), which stands at 16 per cent, but according to the GCCI President, such a move would have serious implications.

“If we just reduce VAT without considering the other taxes, there will a major short fall in reve-

North America

nues. How would the country recoup the losses?”

As against reducing VAT, Urling believes that there should be a further hike in the Income Tax threshold, in addition to corporation taxes. “Reduce income taxes and corporate taxes… could result in consumers having a higher disposable income… if we could drop income taxes from the current 30 per cent to 15-10 per cent, it means the average worker would take home more money.”

He said with more money in circulation, Guyanese would increase their spending, resulting in the expansion of businesses and the likely creation of jobs. “There will be a huge ripple effect with both direct and indirect consequences.”

With regards to corporation taxes, Urling cited an example involving the importation of meats. He opined that if the high taxes attached to the importation of chicken, beef, pork

and cow heel are reduced, the cost of these items on the local market would be significantly reduced as well. Despite the lowering of corporation taxes in 2011, Guyana was still able to record a three per cent increase in corporation taxes, amounting to $17.5 billion.

Government has repeatedly said over the years, it has carried out fundamental tax reforms including repealing of six tax areas, the introduction of VAT and the reduction in the marginal tax rates for companies. Additionally, zero-rated items were streamlined and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was restructured.

The Finance Ministry has also committed to a continuous review of the tax regime. Since 2006, the economy has registered growth rates averaging about five per cent per annum and tax revenues over the last four years have shown upward movement.

Energy-intensive manufacturing employment will increase by more than one per cent a year in the United States through 2020, with 72 per cent of those jobs going to metropolitan areas, according to a report released on Thursday.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors report on the economic impact of the domestic oil and natural gas boom said manufacturing employment in metropolitan areas has expanded by 1.7 per cent per year on average over the past three years. It said ener-

gy-intensive industries such as fabricated metals and machinery were crucial parts of that growth.

Energy-intensive manufacturing sectors added more than 196,000 jobs in metro areas from 2010 to 2012, according to the report, which was prepared by IHS Global Insight.

“We’re all aware of the incredible impact the energy revolution is having on our national economy,” Virg Bernero, mayor of Lansing, Michigan, and chair of the conference’s advanced manu-

Investors' guide

Setting

If you deduct the expenses from your cash flow and the number is positive, then your budget has been balanced.

But how can we optimise the budget? For starters, check it monthly and review it at meetings. Point out unusual discrepancies from month to month to help you identify wasteful expenditures. For example, many offices have now gone paperless, after realising the cost of regular A4 paper had been weighing down on their bottom line. It’s sometimes just that simple.

Studying the budget

monthly can also help you catch dishonest employees who have been stealing from the company. This is particular noticeable in the restaurant industry, where theft of food products is increasingly common. Other solutions aren’t as obvious at first. You can outsource employees or entire departments – such as accounting, human resources or administration, to save utility and supply costs. Allow employees to telecommute on certain days to cut down on electric bills.

After examining your

Business concept – Data

facturing task force, told reporters on a conference call.

“The growing competitiveness and increase in employment from these manufacturing sectors are important to our cities and metro economies.”

Manufacturing industries including steel, iron, fabricated metals and machinery have benefited from the natural gas boom, the report said. In U.S. metropolitan areas, employment in those industries all increased by nine or 10 per cent between 2010 and 2012, according to the report. (Reuters)

budget with a fine-tooth comb, you can concentrate on increasing your product margins. Once your company is past the awkward early years of low cash flow, you will be ready to optimise your supply line with distributors, so they can move larger amounts of inventory at a lower cost. All of these will help make your annual budget cleaner and more cost-effective. Revise your budget regularly, but not too often. Once every three months should be more than enough. You can overhaul the entire budget annually. (Business Dictionary)

Information: in raw or unorganised form (such as alphabets, numbers, or symbols) that refer to, or represent, conditions, ideas, or objects. Data is limitless and present everywhere in the universe. See also information and knowledge.

Computers: Symbols or signals that are input, stored, and processed by a computer, for output as usable information.

Guyana’s HIV/AIDS country report up for discussion

The Millennium Development Goal for HIV/AIDS is clear: to halt and begin to reverse the epidemic by 2015 and in November 2012, Guyana declared its intention to report the elimination of mother to child transmission in 2015.

On March 24, the Health Ministry’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) will conduct the final discussion meeting on the 2013 Guyana Country Progress Report on HIV/AIDS.

The meeting to be held at the Regency Suites Hotel is the final in the series of stakeholders’ meetings held to finalise Guyana’s document for submission to the global UNAIDS Secretariat for the monitoring of progress towards the targets set in the 2011 political declaration on HIV/AIDS. This submission will contribute towards the basis of the UN Secretary General’s report to the General Assembly as well as the 2013 end-of-year report on the global AIDS epidemic.

The 2011 political declaration on HIV/AIDS committed countries to by 2015 halve sexual transmission of HIV and transmission on intravenous drug users, eliminate mother-tochild transmission, significantly reduce AIDS-related maternal deaths, halve tuberculosis deaths in people living with HIV, and put 15 million people with the disease on antiretroviral drug therapy. In addition, member states

committed to accelerate research and development for a safe, affordable, effective, accessible vaccine and for a cure for HIV, as well as to deploy new biomedical interventions – such as microbicides, HIV treatment prophylaxis and early treatment as prevention as soon as they are validated.

Guyana observed World AIDS Day in 2012, under the theme “Getting to Zero”, when it was explained that this meant “Zero new infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS related deaths”.

Areas of focus

The country’s HIV fight began in the late 1980s as a daunting task, but quick mobilisation of the international partners, health services and non-governmental organisations saw the recognition for immediate action.

The answer to this call to action showed results, leaving several areas of focus for Guyana. Firstly, Guyana

intends to report the elimination of mother to child transmission in 2015. The tireless work and drive in this area by health personnel and others will ensure that no babies are born HIV infected.

Secondly, persons living with HIV continue to access high quality services and high quality anti-retroviral medication, which has resulted in persons living longer and healthier lives, and fewer deaths related to AIDS. Thirdly, new infections have continued to be reduced among the population as efforts are intensified in targeting the population at higher risk for HIV.

The fourth point was that stigma to HIV is less than before. Dr Shanti Singh, Programme Manager of NAPS in 2012, called for an intensification of efforts towards moving Guyana to an AIDS free destination of zero AIDS infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths. She expressed confidence that the benchmark of zero could be achieved.

This sentiment was supported by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, who urged member states to intensify their efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission, and to work to ensure all HIV-positive mothers can survive and thrive, something that is already being done in Guyana. He stated that “Zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDSrelated deaths by 2015 are achievable”.

FAO initiative brings global land cover data under one roof for the first time

Anew Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) database released on Wednesday collects previously scattered and unharmonised land cover information from around the globe into one centralised system, marking a major improvement in information regarding the physical characteristics of the Earth’s surface.

Up to now, one of the major challenges to getting a good global overview of land cover – for example, how much land is covered by croplands, trees, or forests, bare soils, etc – has been the fact that different countries and organisations go about identifying, measuring, and recording such data in diverse ways.

But for FAO’s new Global Land Cover SHARE database (GLC-SHARE), data pulled from multiple sources and partners was quality-controlled and harmonised using internationally accepted definitions and standards, bringing a wealth of country-level information into one consolidated dataset spanning the entire planet. Applications of the new GLC-SHARE da-

tabase include monitoring of global land cover trends, evaluating the suitability of land for various uses, assessing the impact of climate change on food production, and landuse planning.

Sustainable land resources management

“A strong understanding of our planet’s land cover is essential to promoting sustainable land resources management – including agricultural production to feed a growing population – that makes efficient use of increasingly scarce natural resources yet safeguards the environment,” said John Latham, of FAO’s Land and Water Division.

“This update to our understanding of the Earth’s land cover comes at a crucial time,” he added. “It will be a valuable tool in assessing the sustainability of agriculture, and for supporting evidencebased sustainable rural development and land use policy contributing to reducing poverty, enabling of inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems and increasing resilience of livelihoods. GLCSHARE will also help us un-

OAS anti-corruption body gets good reviews

Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza has highlighted the contributions that the Committee of Experts of the Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC) makes throughout the region to fight against the scourge of corruption.

He mentioned the positive response from member states to on-site visits as he addressed the 23rd Meeting of the Committee, which is currently in session at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC.

Secretary General Insulza said the MESICIC

countries to combat corruption and they also give accountability and transparency to public management.”

Insulza recalled that the Committee of Experts has already presented two progress reports on the implementation of the InterAmerican Convention against Corruption (First Report and Second Report) that “reflect a significant amount of concrete actions carried out by the countries, which were also included in the hemispheric reports recorded for each of the three rounds of evaluation, successfully carried out by this Committee”.

In this regard, Secretary General Insulza indicated that at the last OAS General

General Insulza, who also quoted the Inter-American Democratic Charter that establishes “transparency and probity as central pillars of our action”.

The head of the OAS also recalled that the Declaration on Security in the Americas, adopted in Mexico in 2003, establishes the commitment of the states of the Hemisphere “to the fight against both passive and active corruption, which constitutes a threat to the security of our states and undermines public and private institutions, because corruption severely damages collective interests, the interests of a democratic society, blatantly violates the rule of law, and most of all,

derstand how climate change and climate variability are impacting key natural resources, as well as food production.”

A surging global population and growing demand for food pose major challenges for agriculture, which, in the years to come, will need to produce more food using fewer natural resources, while coping with a changing climate.

FAO estimates that world food production will need to increase by 60 per cent by 2050, for the most part on lands that are already being cultivated.

FAO’s new database includes 11 global land cover layers: artificial surfaces (which cover 0.6 per cent of the Earth’s surface); bare soils (15.2 per cent); croplands (12.6 per cent) ; grasslands (13.0 per cent); herbaceous vegetation (1.3 per cent); inland water bodies (2.6 per cent); mangroves (0.1 per cent); shrub-covered areas (9.5 per cent); snow and glaciers (9.7 per cent); sparse vegetation (7.7 per cent) and tree-covered areas (27.7 per cent).

is progressing successfully in the evaluations planned for the Fourth Round, and in particular, he emphasised that the review process on the implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption “is now more thorough than before, since it has incorporated onsite visits to states, which are part of the mechanism”.

He stressed that “in-situ visits, which take place with the approval of the host country, are requested more often by member countries, which at first didn’t happen easily”. Of the 34 active member states of the OAS, 31 make up the MESICIC.

The head of the hemispheric institution opened the second day of the 23rd Meeting of the Committee of Experts of the MESICIC, which will conclude today.

During the meeting, the Technical Secretariat of the MESICIC will present the preliminary reports on the on-site visits to Canada, Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua, and The Dominican Republic conducted within the framework of the Fourth Round of evaluations of the mechanism.

In his address, the OAS Secretary General commended: “The analyses and recommendations made by the Committee of Experts, because they are the most useful tool to strengthen the instruments available in our

Assembly held last year in La Antigua, Guatemala, the countries of the Americas recognised “the quality of model laws in the fight against corruption that resulted from a participatory development process, which was the work of this Committee of Experts and its Technical Secretariat”.

Role

In addition, he highlighted the role given to civil society organisations in the MESICIC. “We have received repeated recognitions of the MESICIC for its high level of openness to civil society organisations,” he said. He then recalled that the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre published a comparative analysis indicating that MESICIC is “the mechanism that contains the stronger formal requirements for the participation of civil society”.

The OAS Secretary General noted his particular interest in meetings of groups of experts in topics related to the priority objectives of the OAS, such as democratic governance and citizen security.

In this regard, he recalled that the Charter of the OAS states that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for stability, peace, and development in the region. “That is the foundation for our work,” added Secretary

erodes the trust that citizens must have in democratic institutions”.

“We, therefore, believe that it is legitimate for citizens to verify this directly and for our action to become thus more open and more transparent,” added Secretary General Insulza, who commended the Committee of Experts on its progress in implementing the MESICIC. He then added that the OAS General Secretariat will continue acting as Technical Secretariat of the Committee of Experts “because we are convinced that its work is a priority within our Organisation”.

The MESICIC is a cooperation mechanism between states, with wide participation of civil society organisations, established within the framework of the OAS, in which the legal/institutional framework of each country is reviewed for suitability with the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, as well as the objective results achieved therein.

The incorporation of onsite visits as a stage and integral part of the review process represents an innovative and pioneering initiative in the context of the OAS, which, with the support of its Technical Secretariat, has further strengthened this reciprocal review mechanism among states.

SUDOKU

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A love connection is possible. You need to add some vitality to your life. Find a subject you are enthusiastic about, then get out and mingle with likeminded people.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

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You may be thrown off balance by a troubling situation at home. Stick to your original objectives. It’s not the right time to make a commitment to a new venture.

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Pakistan brimming with all-round spin strength

Pakistan have a reputation for unpredictability and for unleashing young talent onto the world stage, but their squad at this World T20 reflects a safety-first approach. This might have something to do with a makeshift selection committee at the helm amid all the administrative uncertainty and legal tussles that have swirled around Pakistan cricket over the last year or so.

Led by Mohammad Hafeez, the world’s leading allrounder in the shorter formats, Pakistan’s 15-man squad offers a lot of flexibility while being centered around senior campaigners including surprise inclusions such as Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik. Pakistan have four allrounders, three of whom are spinners - a factor that might prove instrumental given the slow pitches.

It remains to be seen where Kamran - if he takes the wicketkeeping gloves from his brother Umarwill bat, whether he will split the opening combination of Ahmed Shehzad and Sharjeel Khan or come in lower down. Hafeez is likely to bat at No. 3 while the middle order, containing Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, looks potent.

Bowling has usually been Pakistan’s strength but their attack, particularly the seamers, has struggled for wickets in recent times. As recently as the Asia Cup, they took all ten wickets only once, against Afghanistan. Pakistan were dented by the absence of Mohammad Irfan, and they have gambled on Umar Gul to bear the strike bowler’s

burden.

Pakistan’s T20 squads, over the years, have had no exposure to the IPL. Hafeez suggested it was a missed opportunity for the players, but it hasn’t been a handicap in terms of their World T20 performances. This time around, they are part of the so-called group of death, alongside India, Australia and West Indies, with Bangladesh looking likely to join them.

Key players

Given the conditions in Bangladesh you can’t think beyond Saeed Ajmal but T20 is all about big runs and hard-hitting batsmen.

Sharjeel Khan is the key

man in the top order. He is relatively new to international cricket and only has a handful of T20s under his belt but his strike rate of 141.66 suggests he could buy Pakistan a few muscular starts.

Kamran Akmal, who has played all the previous World T20s, is back in the team after a year in the wilderness. He last played for Pakistan in last year’s Champions Trophy and last played a T20 international in South Africa in March 2013. His inclusion in the squad is a surprise but it provides him possibly one last chance to re-energise a fading international career.

(Cricinfo)

Fifa steps up investigation into Russia and Qatar World Cup bids

Fifa’s chief investigator is to interview the 12 remaining members of the world governing body’s executive committee who were involved in the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

Michael Garcia is examining claims of wrongdoing in the process. Fifa’s executive committee is in Zurich for a two-day meeting.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Uefa counterpart Michel Platini are among those expected to be seen by Garcia.

Some of those involved in the vote, which took place in December 2010, have retired, while others have either been banned or forced to resign after being found guilty of breaching Fifa’s new ethics code.

The development is not thought to be connected to the Daily Telegraph’s investigation into former Fifa

executives Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, who were among the people who decided to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

This week, the newspaper revealed that the FBI is looking into payments made by a company owned by former Qatari official Bin Hammam to Warner and members of his family shortly after voting had taken place.

Bin Hammam was

banned from football for life in 2011 while Warner resigned in the same year. They are no longer subject to Fifa’s ethics code and cannot be disciplined by Garcia.

Having spent much of the last few months meeting officials from the 2018 and 2022 bidding nations, Garcia’s decision to speak to members of Fifa’s executive committee in Switzerland is seen by some as a significant turning point in his investigation.

It is not yet clear when the American lawyer’s report, which will look into claims of corruption and collusion in the bidding process, will be published. Some insiders say it is unlikely to be before this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising committee said its bid committee strictly adhered to Fifa’s bidding regulations. (BBC Sport)

Milo U-20 Schools football competition…

Round of 16 action starts this weekend

There have been some spectacular goals during this year’s competition

After several weekends of riveting action, the Milo Under-20 Schools football competition will enter its Round of 16 action this weekend with a total of eight games at the Education Ministry ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Four games each are billed for Saturday and Sunday with the top teams from the preliminary rounds set to do battle.

When action kicks off at 11:00 hrs on Saturday, Dolphin Secondary will engage St Mary’s High, fol-

lowed by South Ruimveldt against Lodge Secondary at 12:30 hrs.

Queen’s College and North Georgetown will swing into action at 14:00 hrs, with the Charlestown Secondary versus Kingston High game closing off the action from 15:30 hrs.

On Sunday, the players from Bishop’s High and North Ruimveldt Secondary will take to the field in the first match from 11:00 hrs, with Christ Church and Chase Academy set to do battle

from 12:30 hrs.

From 14:00 hrs, Carmel Secondary will clash with Queenstown Secondary, while at 15:30 hrs, St George’s High and Tucville will square off in the final game of the weekend.

According to one of the organisers of the tournament, Troy Mendonca, eight highly competitive games are billed for this weekend with all the schools set to bring their A game.

He noted that the competition has produced some

outstanding football by the students, and the remaining playing days should be no different.

The winners from this weekend’s games will advance to the quarter-finals on March 26 and 27. The semi-finals, third place playoff and final are fixed for March 29. All matches will be played at the Education Ministry ground.

The tournament is a collaborative effort of Beepat’s Trading, the distributor of Milo, and the Petra Organisation.

Shillingford back for Windwards

Shane Shillingford will play in the Regional 4-Day Tournament this weekend, after undergoing remedial work on his bowling action.

The 31-year-old offspinner is set to appear for third-placed Windward Islands, when they face leaders Jamaica in their fourth round match, starting today at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

“Obviously, I am extremely happy that I will be playing this weekend,” said Shillingford. “I have put in a lot of hard work over the past few months.

“It was a bit tough at first, but once the coaches told me what I had to do, I went straight to work. I just had to be really patient and I worked really hard.”

Shillingford underwent remedial work in Barbados under the guidance of former Barbados and West Indies fast bowler Vasbert Drakes with input from West Indies Head Coach Ottis Gibson.

“I am happy for the advice that I have received from the coaches, especially Vasbert, and I must also thank everyone for the support they have given me during this period,” he said.

Shillingford also underwent a biomechanical

bowling analysis conducted by a research team at the University of Western Australia on March 4 in Perth.

“It’s great to have Shane playing first-class cricket again and I’m sure Windwards are delighted to have him back,” said WICB Director of Cricket Richard Pybus. “We look forward to getting the results of his re-test in Perth, so that he can re-start his international career.”

Shillingford had been reported for a suspect action after the second Test last November in India. The International Cricket Council, the sport’s World governing body, then confirmed the illegality of the action after independent tests last December in Perth.

Shillingford has played 14 Tests for West Indies, grabbing 65 wickets at 32.32 apiece. He has never appeared in a One-day or Twenty20 International for the regional side. He has played 66 R4D matches for the Windwards since his debut 13 years ago, capturing 289 wickets at 21.54 apiece.

Shillingford requires 11 more wickets to become only the second bowler to take 300 in the history of the modern R4D, which dates back to 1966. (WICB Media Release)

What to expect from Carifta Trials this weekend

By Treiston Joseph

All of Guyana’s juniors will take to the track this weekend with hopes of representing the Golden Arrowhead at the 44th edition of the Junior CARIFTA Games slated for The Bahamas from April 4.

One thing is for certain at the trials which is expected to be a two-day event: Guyana’s next crop of talented stars will be competing at the trials slated for the Police Sports Club ground in the under-18 category.

While this is not a knock on the current crop of under-20 athletes, the standard between the two age groups is practically on the same level with some of the under-18 athletes in past events, outshining their under-20 counterparts.

With the likes of Jason Yaw, Jevina Sampson, Natrica Hooper, Tirana Mitchell, Cassie George, Avon Samuels, Onasha Rogers and Quincy Blair all a part of the star-studded under-18 cast, the dwindling under-20 athletes such as Natrena Hooper, Kevin Abbensetts, Ornesto Thomas, Deja Smart and Tevin Garraway, who might not compete because of injury, will leave much wanting

in terms of the level of competition.

All eyes will be on Carifta gold and silver medallist Cassey George out of Linden, who is expected to compete in both the 800 and 1500 metres girls’ under-18 events.

George, who suffered a hip injury mid last year, has not looked in the type of form she was in for last year’s CARIFTA, but has been competing at a good enough level to keep her in the spotlight. Further, George is expected to face no big challenge in both her events possibly only from Cassie Kirton, but once the athlete

can come out and produce a time around 4:44s in her 1500 metres at this year’s CARIFTA trials, there is no doubt that she might successfully defend her 1500 metres title at the CARIFTA Games.

Meanwhile, Jevina Sampson will be in the thick of things as the shortlegged explosive sprinter will headline some of the weekend’s most competitive events.

Sampson will first take to the track in the under-18 girls’ 100 metres, where she will meet the talented Tirana Mitchell who is coming off a serious hamstring injury, while Sampson looks

to be rounding into form for the event and at this point can be said to have the edge over Mitchell.

There is also the factor of Onasha Rogers, who over the past months has shown great improvement and can therefore challenge for the title of fastest under-18 female in the country.

Sampson will then have to face the lanky Natricia Hooper over the 200 metres distance and both girls have shown their strengths, with Hooper being excellent on the turn while Sampson’s finishing speed and strength are beyond compare to her counterparts.

Further, Sampson might

also be tackling the 400 metres and will have a showdown both with Hooper and Avon Samuels, all three girls coming from the same club in Running Brave Athletics Club.

At a recent development meet, Sampson was beaten by both Samuels and Hooper over 300 metres, but knowing Sampson she has perfected the art of finishing well; therefore an extra 100 metres can prove to be the difference along with how much Sampson has left in the tank due to the amount of events she will be participating in.

Looking at the male side of things, Jason Yaw is ex-

pected to dominate whichever event he chooses to be a part of in the under-18 category. The 6’2” quarter miler will more than likely take the cake in both the 400 metres for which he won bronze at last year’s CARIFTA and the 200 metres.

However, it will be interesting to see if he steps on the line for the 100 metres, an event he has shown great interest in despite being gifted for the 400 metres.

The most intriguing match-up in the under-20 category would be that of a Tevin Garraway versus Kevin Abbensetts over the 100 and 200 metres distances. This head to head is still not yet known, due to Garraway being on the injured list for sometime.

However, according to sources, Garraway is looking to return to the track after a six -month layoff which would make things interesting with Abbensetts who has been ruling the sprints in his absence.

The meet is expected to provide an insight into how well the athletes will perform at the CARIFTA Games for those that make it there.

ICC World Twenty20, Group A

Bangladesh qualify despite loss to Hong Kong

Bangladesh qualified for the Super 10 phase at the World Twenty20 despite a surprise loss to Hong Kong.

The hosts had to avoid a heavy defeat in Chittagong to progress, and Hong Kong’s two-wicket victory was not enough to eliminate them. Nepal earlier captured their second Group A win with a nine-run victory over Afghanistan.

Ireland will attempt to

take the final place available in the latter stages when they face Netherlands on Friday.

Bangladesh join West Indies, India, Pakistan and Australia in Group Two of the Super 10 phase, but they managed just 108 in 16.3 overs against Hong Kong.

The visitors posted 114-8 to claim their first win over Bangladesh, but the run rate was not sufficient to help Nepal past the hosts in

their qualifying group.

Subash Khakurel (56) had earlier hit five fours and a six and Sharad Vesawkar struck 37 as Nepal made

141-5 after being asked to bat in Chittagong.

Asghar Stanikzai made 49 in reply as Afghanistan closed on 132-8. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh innings (20 overs maximum)

Tamim Iqbal b Tanwir Afzal 0

Anamul Haque b Nadeem Ahmed 26

Sabbir Rahman lbw b Tanwir Afzal 2

Shakib Al Hasan c Nizakat Khan b Irfan Ahmed 34

Mushfiqur Rahim*† c Munir Dar

b Nizakat Khan 23

Nasir Hossain not out 14

Mahmudullah b Nadeem Ahmed 2

Farhad Reza c †Atkinson

b Nizakat Khan 0

Abdur Razzak c †Atkinson

b Nizakat Khan 0

Rubel Hossain b Nadeem Ahmed 0

Al-Amin Hossain c Babar Hayat

b Nadeem Ahmed 1

Extras: (lb 1, w 5) 6

Total: (all out; 16.3 overs) 108

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Tamim Iqbal, 0.2 ov), 2-3 (Sabbir Rahman, 0.6 ov), 3-51 (Anamul Haque, 5.6 ov), 4-85 (Shakib Al Hasan, 10.4 ov), 5-89 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 11.4 ov), 6-96 (Mahmudullah, 12.6 ov), 7-101 (Farhad Reza, 13.4 ov), 8-101 (Abdur Razzak, 13.5 ov), 9-102 (Rubel Hossain, 14.4 ov), 10-108 (AlAmin Hossain, 16.3 ov)

Bowling: Tanwir Afzal 4-0-24-2, Haseeb Amjad 2-0-16-0, Nadeem Ahmed 3.3-0-21-4, Irfan Ahmed 2-0-17-1, Ehsan Nawaz 1-010-0, Nizakat Khan 4-0-19-3

India v Pakistan, World T20, Group 2, Dhaka

Hong Kong innings (target: 109 runs from 20 overs)

Waqas Barkat st †Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 0 Irfan Ahmed lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 34 JJ Atkinson*† lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 7 MS Chapman b Mahmudullah 5 Babar Hayat c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Al-Amin Hossain 1 Nizakat Khan c sub (Mominul Haque) b Mahmudullah 12 Munir Dar lbw b Abdur Razzak 36 Tanwir Afzal b Sabbir Rahman 0 Haseeb Amjad not out 12 Nadeem Ahmed not out 2

Extras: (lb 2, w 3) 5

Total: (8 wickets; 19.4 overs) 114

Did not bat: Ehsan Nawaz Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Waqas Barkat, 1.2 ov), 2-44 (Irfan Ahmed, 7.1 ov), 3-47 (Atkinson, 7.6 ov), 4-50 (Babar Hayat, 8.6 ov), 5-50 (Chapman, 9.1 ov), 6-83 (Nizakat Khan, 15.6 ov), 7-100 (Munir Dar, 17.5 ov), 8-100 (Tanwir Afzal, 18.3 ov)

Bowling: Al-Amin Hossain 4-026-1, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-93, Abdur Razzak 3.4-1-31-1, Mahmudullah 4-0-13-2, Farhad Reza 2-0-23-0, Rubel Hossain 1-0-7-0, Sabbir Rahman 1-0-3-1

Afridi’s form a boost, says Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez has said that Shahid Afridi’s blows that won Pakistan an Asia Cup thriller against India earlier this month in Mirpur have boosted the side’s morale ahead of their World T20 opener against their archrivals. Afridi is expected to play a significant role in the tournament despite not being fully fit, as Hafeez admitted. Afridi joined the squad late, taking time to recover from a hip strain.

“He is in good form and we have seen that in the Asia Cup,” Hafeez said of Afridi. “It is a good sign for us because we always wanted him to bat lower down the order and finish the game well for Pakistan, and it is always great to know that he is in form, and in a good frame of mind. It is always great when your senior players are looking forward to challenges. The way the momentum has shifted, it is a boost for our morale. I hope he repeats his heroics and pleases Pakistani fans again.

“Afridi’s fitness has improved quite a bit. He has made himself available for everything. This is a good sign. He’s not 100% still but

he’s ready and fit to play this tournament. He is eager to put in a good performance.”

Hafeez was also pleased with Umar Gul’s returns in

Raina and Yuvraj major boosts – Dhoni

Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh’s performances in the practice matches were major boosts for India ahead of the World T20, MS Dhoni has said. Yuvraj was left out for the tour of New Zealand while Raina was dropped midway through that series. Both players were also ignored for the Asia Cup. While Dhoni pointed out bowling as the familiar area of concern, he said he was happy with what India had taken out of the warm-ups.

“Overall we have achieved a lot, especially through the practice games we wanted to give the guys who were not part of the Asia Cup a fair time in the middle and I was quite happy with the way Yuvraj and Raina performed,” Dhoni said. “They batted well. Raina has also contributed with his bowling. Whatever we wanted to achieve from the practice games we have achieved that. It looks set but still there are quite a few areas where we will have to improve when it comes to a proper game because you won’t really have the luxury

the practice game against New Zealand, where the fast bowler took 3 for 16 from four overs.

“Umar Gul is working very hard. After the Asia Cup, where he did not do too well, he has picked up and performed well in the practice matches. That is all you want from your players. All they can do is work hard. Form can go up and down, but if they are willing to work hard it sends the right signal to the team. That is exactly what Gul has done.”

Pakistan also have the services of a few allrounders, including Hafeez, and MS Dhoni said sides that could call upon such multi-skilled players were “blessed”. Hafeez seconded the sentiment.

“As far as the all-rounder edge is concerned, yes, we do believe we have a good allrounders in the group. We have Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, myself, Kamran Akmal as wicketkeeperbatsman, so we are blessed to have players like that in the team and hopefully that will help us.”

(Cricinfo)

of playing 15 players.

“The bowling department is still an area of concern if you compare it to our batting. Getting off to a good start, that is something that is really important for us. If we have wickets in hand we have seen in the past that we can score maybe 10-15 runs more than what can be a par score. In a short format like this, 10-15 runs really matter. Apart from that, the fielding has been good. Overall if we do well in the death bowling and bat well throughout we have a very good chance.”

Three of the four fast bowlers in the India squad have never played a T20 international while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has featured in only three. Dhoni thought their exposure in the IPL would be of assistance, and said he wanted them to strike with the new ball. “If you talk about international T20s, our fast bowlers have not played much. But they have spent a lot of time in the IPL where the conditions are a bit similar so I think to some extent that will help. (Cricinfo)

David Moyes hopes Man Utd win can be turning point

Manchester United boss David Moyes hopes his side’s Champions League win over Olympiakos can be a turning point in their disappointing season.

Robin van Persie’s hattrick overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg to send United into the quarter-finals.

“There are only certain players in the world who are capable of it and Robin van Persie is one of them” Moyes on Van Persie’s hat-trick

“I don’t want to come out and say: ‘This is the moment’,” said Moyes. “But I hope it is.”

Defender Patrice Evra added: “Everyone thought we were out, but we showed Manchester United are still alive.”

Moyes, who has been un-

der growing pressure following Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool, said he still needed time to make his mark on the club.

“This is a work in progress and it will take time to get it as we really want it,” said the Scot, whose team lie seventh in the Premier League table.

“It is a big job. I have got a lot of things I want to do, but the players gave the crowd something after we lost to Liverpool and we are delighted to see Manchester United in the last eight of the Champions League.” Moyes also insisted he was not feeling any pressure from inside the club, claiming it was all coming from the media.

“There are stories of this player falling out, or that one falling out, but it is rubbish,” he said.

QC sports pavilion five years overdue despite $8M investment

More than four years has passed since the country’s premier secondary institution, Queen’s College received more than five million dollars for the construction of a sports pavilion on the school’s ground for the benefit of the students and sports enthusiasts.

To this day however, frustrated students, parents and other stakeholders are still awaiting a sign of the pavilion’s construction.

the pavilion but to this day nothing has been said to the students concerning the position of the pavilion’s construction.

Another noted that at least two school fairs were held and approximately three million dollars were raised in that initiative. In addition, monies were received from several private entities in Guyana including the popular De Sinco’s Trading.

He remarked that he has

scratch all over again to construct the pavilion.

With the college due to celebrate its 170th anniversary this year, Hollingsworth disclosed that the plan is in place and come October of this year, persons will be seeing the construction of the structure in full swing.

When questioned on the whereabouts of the money, she remarked that contrary to reports by students and parents, the money was not utilized for matters of oth-

During a simple presentation ceremony, which was made before the start of the school’s annual Inter-House competition in 2011, Desinco Trading presented a cheque valued $1.5m to assist with expense to build the facility.

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Sport, pledged $3m, while the Queen’s College Old StudentsWorldwide injected $2m into the project. The Parent Teachers Association of the school and the New York Chapter of its Old Students Association has also donated $1m each.

Guyana Times spoke to several of the students of the institution who stated that they have given up hopes of seeing the plan come to life.

One student, who for fear of victimization withheld his name, stated that he has been at the school for six years and five of those years were spent expecting the sight of construction of the pavilion.

He noted that in excess of five million dollars were raised and donated to the school for the construction of

given up on expecting a pavilion to materialize but questioned where the money has gone.

This publication spoke to Deputy Head Mistress of the institution, Mrs. Nadia Hollingsworth who divulged that while she understands the frustration of the students and stakeholders, the college is doing the best that it can at the moment to ensure the plans for the pavilion come to life.

She explained that the project was in the care of the Managing Director of De Sinco’s Trading Mr. Frank De Abreu who is also on the Board of Governors for the college.

She recalled that De Abreu however, was involved in an accident which resulted in the man suffering a memory loss.

She noted due to such an unfortunate circumstance, the man could not recall where he had stored the plans, whom he had involved and other information relating to the project. She divulged that due to Mr. De Abreu’s circumstances, plans had to be drawn from

DCB U-15 practice match slated for this weekend

...to prepare team for Limacol Inter-County

To prepare its team for the Limacol Under-15 Inter-County Competition, the Demerara Cricket Board will host a two-day practice match from March 22 – 23, 2014 at the Demerara Cricket Club ground from 10:00 hrs each day.

Twenty-six players who participated in the DCB U-15 Inter-Zone Competition will form the two teams for this match.

Players: Paul Thomas, Alphius Bookie,

Bhaskar Yadram, Joshua Persaud, Kurt Lovell, Ganesh Jitlall, Ramdeo Basdeo, Ashmead Nedd, Sagar Hithiramani, Bhojnarine Singh, Colin Barlow, Anthony Antonio, Pradesh Balkishun, Mark Baptise, Mark Ramsammy, Ricky Dass, Ganeshwar Kowlessar, Reaz Ally, Anil Singh, Junior Phillips, Robin Williams, Christopher Campbelle, Joshua Rahaman, Ajitya Persaud, Aftab Basdeo.

No medals for South American team

The Guyanese contingent that participated in the recently concluded South American Games in Chile had a rough outing, failing to collect any hardware from the championships.

Guyana sent athletes in two disciplines, Boxing and Track and Field and while boxers Dennis Thomas, Eon Bancroft and Theresa London all failed to make it past the first round, hope was still with the track and field team.

However, such hope did not materialize as Winston George who was the favourite to win a medal missed the podium in the men’s 400 metres with a fourth-place finish.

Things did not get easier for the track team as George finished fifth in the 200 metres, while Wayne Harlequin did not make it to the final of the 400 metres and finished ninth in his 800 metres.

Distance King Cleveland

Forde, another favourite tipped to medal, placed eighth in his 1500 metres while finishing ninth in the 500 metres; his distance team-mate Cleveland Thomas was ninth in the 800 metres event and ninth in the 1500 metres as well.

Veteran sprinter Alisha Fortune might have to abandon her athletics career as the explosive sprinter fin-

ished last in her 100 metres semi-final, while failing to finish in the 200 metres semi-final.

Meanwhile, the performances must be counted as sub-par as all of the athletes from previous years are capable of performing better and will have to hit the ground running again to make up for a missed opportunity at the meet.

Kraft Junior Skill Level Tournament…

er nature but the money is present in a pavilion fund in one of the notable commercial banks in Guyana.

Chairman of the Board of Governors of Queen’s College, Conrad Plummer, at the time had stated that the pavilion is part of a structured sport programme that the school has in the pipeline.

He added, “Hopefully by the time the pavilion reaches phase two [of construction] we can have enough accommodation so that if we want to invite teams to compete against Queen’s College, we would have accommodation within that building to accommodate them comfortably.”

The Deputy Headmistress coaxed that while she understands the impatience of the students and stakeholders, they should not give up on the school and the pavilion just yet, but give the school up until October to prove its commitment to the construction and completion of the sports pavilion for the benefit of the students, the school and the sports fraternity as a whole.

Cheeks overcomes Islam in latest action

Alex Cheeks made a statement in his first category ‘B’ match on Wednesday night with a convincing win against Daniel Islam during the Kraft Junior Skill Level tournament at the Georgetown Club.

During the second night of the tournament organised by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its reliable corporate sponsor Digicel Guyana, Cheeks asserted himself as one of the players to watch in his group.

Cheeks completed a stunning straight-game win (112, 11-8, 11-6) against Islam. Cheeks’s quickness and lethal shot selection separated him from the usually poised Islam twin who struggled to find his rhythm in his first match of the tournament.

In the first game, Cheeks raced out to a 10-0 lead before Islam was able steal two consolation points. Cheeks maintained control of the other two games, setting the

Alex Cheeks

tempo and working the ball around the court well to complete his emphatic win.

Apart from Cheeks and Islam, this year’s category ‘B’ also features 10-year-old squash maestro, Shomari Wiltshire. Wiltshire has been winning his category for the past two years in this tournament.

Although the classification of the category has changed, Wiltshire has been grouped along with a few of

the same players each year. Wiltshire has dominated the group, while Mahendra Khusial and Matthew Phang usually battle for second place each year.

In his first match out, Wiltshire had his way with Khusial in straight games 11-9, 11-4, 11-4.

In category ‘C’, Anthony Islam completed an impressive win against the hardhitting Michael Ramroop 111, 11-8, 11-6. A. Islam is now the leader in category ‘C’, sitting atop the standings with two wins from two games. Jael Gaskin rebounded from his opening-night loss to Ramroop, to sweep Maya Collins 11-7, 11-1, 12-10. Sarah Lewis also shook off the remnants of her nightone loss to Makeda Harding and looked confident in her three-game win against Savannah Mendes11-9, 11-9, 11-8. The Kraft Junior Skill Level tournament continues every night this week, beginning at 18:00 hrs.It will conclude on Sunday.

Struggling Guyana desperate to rebound against CCC

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Struggling Guyana will seek a drastic turnaround in fortunes when they face the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) from today at the Cave Hill Campus’ 3Ws Oval and a lot will depend on their toporder batsmen if they hope to add any respectability to their points tally in this year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day tournament.

Both teams have played ordinary cricket this season. Guyana, through several pathetic performances, saw them suffering defeats against Jamaica and Barbados before they earned a tame draw against the Windward Islands, are on 13 points.

With their performances seemingly becoming increas-

ingly worse, Guyana will be anxious to halt the slide which has taken them to the brink of embarrassment.

Their main concern still lies with the top and middle-order batsmen, who have failed to contribute with any major innings.

It was argued that the majority of Guyanese batsmen spent too little time at the crease and the lack of concentration also caused them their demise.

The Guyanese will try desperately for an improved performance, but that will depend largely on how quickly their batsmen could improve, since the bowling department looks of less concern.

The batsmen have all struggled for consistency in the three matches played with only opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, middle-order

batsman Vishaul Singh and Assad Fudadin registering half-centuries.

However, Chattergoon, a former Test opener and Singh were given the boot. The duo have been replaced by fel-

Trophy Stall on board again

Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, Hadi’s City Mall and 241 South Road and Bourda Street, has joined forces with the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC), by donating the Champion Jockey, Stable and Trainer trophies for the club’s post-Phagwah horse-race meet.

Managing Director of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, on Thursday presented to honorary president of KMTC and Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, the trophies for this year’s meeting which will be held on Sunday at the club’s Bush Lot, Corentyne track.

Prior to handing over the trophies, Sunich said he was delighted to be associated with the KMTC for another meeting. He said this sponsorship marks the oldest partnership for his business and he looks forward every year to this event.

In accepting the trophies, Kennard thanked Sunich for his timely donation once again, adding that Sunday’s meet will be an exciting one since over 70 horses have been entered to compete.

Eight races are billed for the day with over $6 million in prizes to be distributed.

The feature attraction will be the ‘A’ and Lower

Class over a distance of six furlongs. The top prize is $1 million, while the secondplaced finisher will receive $500,000. Horses that place third and fourth will receive $250,000 and $125,000 respectively.

The other six-furlong races are the D3and Lower, ‘I’ and Lower, ‘J1’ and Lower and Three-yearold for Guyana-bred horses. The winners of those four races will pocket $400,000, $250,000, $200,000 and $250,000 respectively.

The ‘G’ and Lower race offers a first prize of $300,000, while the Three-year-old event for Guyana and West

Indies- bred horses has a top prize of $400,000. Both races will last a distance of seven furlongs.

The final race of the day is for J3 and Lower horses for a top prize of $150,000 over five furlongs.

The race is being conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and, according to Kennard, those rules would be rigidly enforced.

Admission to the venue is $1200 for adults, $600 for children, while parking ticket and programme cost $300 each. Race time is 12:20hrs.

low left-handed pair, Leon Johnson and Chanderpaul Hemraj.

Meanwhile, team manager Alvin Johnson told this publication prior to the team’s departure on Tuesday

morning for Barbados, that the team must look to play positive cricket.

“CCC is no walkover, they always played better cricket than they are given credit for,” said Johnson, Leon Johnson will assume the reins of the national side, taking over from prolific batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who led the side during the third-round game against the Windward Islands.

Johnson was initially named Guyana’s captain prior to the start of the competition, but had to sit out the first three games owing to a recurring knee injury.

The Guyana squad reads: Leon Johnson (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Raun Johnson, Keon Joseph, Amir Khan, Veerasammy Permaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj.

CCC squad reads: Steven Jacobs (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Ryan Austin, Kyle Corbin, Akeem Dewar, Kavem Hodge, Kevin McClean, Floyd Reifer, Raymon Reifer, Shacaya Thomas, Chadwick Walton, Jomel Warrican, Kesrick Williams

On the other hand, the CCC have played two games against the Leeward Islands and Barbados, losing to the former and drawing with the latter. They are at the bottom of the points table on 10 points. The game is a day/night contest, commencing at 15:00hrs daily.

UCCA sponsors

Berbice

Player Of The Year awards for Under 15,17 levels

The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) is on board with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) in sponsoring two trophies for the Berbice Player-of-the-Year award for 2013 at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels.

At a simple presentation ceremony held on Sunday, Treasurer of the UCCA

Vicky Bharosay, handed over the two trophies to vice president of the BCB Hubern Evans.

In brief remarks, Bharosay wished the board well in its endeavours to promote the sport in Berbice.

Evans, in thanking the UCCA, noted the contribution that the association has been making in assisting the

BCB to fulfil its mandate. He said without support from partners such as the UCCA, the board would not be able to stretch its arms as it is currently doing.

The BCB Annual Award ceremony will be held this Saturday at the St. Francis Building, Rose Hall Town. (Andrew Carmichael)

Guyanese karate icon...

Top class training

Like her husband, she has trained with almost every famous Japanese and non-Japanese karate instructors the JKA has produced since the 1950s. As a Deputy Chief Instructor, Maureen sits on the IKD Shihan-kai with IKD AAA credentials, some of which she obtained from the JKA and ISKF.

In October 2013, Maureen and Frank visited India on a teaching tour, where she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Sports Development Council.

She was also inducted in the Japan Karate Association World Federation of Canada Hall of Honour in 2006. With Guyana just celebrating Guyanese women who have excelled in their respective fields, it is fitting for recognition to be given to Shihan Maureen Woon-A-Tai, who has worldwide acclaim for her extraordinary work over the years in Martial Art.

According to a release from the Guyana Karate College, “Maureen stands as an example with her legacy of courage, innovation and resilience in this male dominated sport and serves as a beacon to young women and girls giving them encouragement to strive to be their best even when circumstances are challenging.”

It added, “Achieving her goals was never easy. Being the only female amongst her male compatriots during the early days of karate saw her becoming a trailblazer for all the ladies of Martial Arts in Guyana, the Caribbean and North America through long hours of rigorous training. A shining example of our Guyanese women, this year and this trip coincides with her celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary.”

Fernandes receives 2013 WSA Sportsmanship Award

Guyana’s world class squash player

Nicolette Fernandes added another international accolade to her collection after receiving the Women’s Squash Association’s (WSA) 2013 Sportsmanship Award earlier this week in Malaysia.

Fernandes, who was ranked 20th in the world up to last month’s ranking, advanced to the last 16 at the Women’s World Championship in Penang, Malaysia.

Fernandes completed one of the biggest upsets of the competition when she came from two games down to topple 2007 World Champion and former world number one, Rachael Grinham.

While her excellence on court has been phenomenal, the world body WSA, recognised and rewarded her for her general decorum. According to the WSA website, the Sportsmanship Award is given to “a player who shows great fairness, respect and ethics on and off the court.”

The winners were chosen by an independent expert panel made up of journalists, former players and squash experts. The presentation ceremony was held during the World Championship in Penang.

England’s number one

and world number two player Laura Massaro won the 2013 Heather McKay Player-of-the-year award, while Australia’s Lisa Camilleri won the ‘Vicki Cardwell’ Comeback Playerof-the-Year.

Seven-time world champion Nicol David of Malaysia was not left out and she took home the Platinum Service Award, while Sarah Jane Perry of England was

adjudged Breakthrough Player-of-the-Year.

Fernandes and the other awardees had the privilege of receiving their awards from five-time World Champion and WSA legend, Sarah Fitzgerald. In 2006, Fernandes was named Most Improved Player-of-the-Year by the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA).

Guyanese karate icon visits homeland

Guyana-born martial arts legend, Maureen WoonA-Tai, who is an eighth Degree Black Belt karateka, is currently on an official visit to Guyana to officiate at the inaugural IKD South American Cup to be held on March 29-30 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Woon-A-Tai is also the Deputy Chief Instructor of the world karate organization, the International Karate Daigaku, and is also first female traditional karate master in the world to hold such a position.

In February 1974, she received her first Degree Black Belt, becoming the first woman in the Caribbean to achieve the international rank.

A quiet and unassuming woman, Master Maureen has a long and distinguished tournament career. She placed sixth in the world at the first International Amateur Karate Federation (IAKF) World Championships in Los Angeles in 1975 and second in kata at the 1982 Canadian Nationals.

She persevered and finally became a world champion, capturing gold and silver medals at the 2008 ISKF World Shoto Cup. Maureen followed up in 2010 by winning another gold medal at the 11th ISKF Pan Am Championships held in Guyana.

Shihan Woon-A-Tai has been married to Frank

Woon-A-Tai since 1974 and has four grandchildren. She recently retired as a Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) officer after 30 years’ service. During her tenure at RBC, she successfully completed several bank management courses.

She also completed a course at the University of Toronto in Japanese language and has visited Japan on many occasions for training and tournaments. Maureen has brought to the IKD a wealth of experience.