Final

Inmates set fire to Camp Street prison

Ramotar updates Commonwealth heads about Iwokrama’s work

Removing Cabinet’s noobjection to contracts is bad in principle – Nandlall

Public servants likely to get another five per cent wage hike

Man dies in accident at Number 19 Village

Albouystown man stabbed to death during confrontation

Youth battered to death outside night club

Monday, noveMber 18, 2013

Ramotar updates Commonwealth heads about Iwokrama’s work

President Donald Ramotar updated heads of government on the work of the Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) during the just concluded Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka.

The IIC is an international not-for-profit organisation, governed by an international board of trustees and managed by a professional team of around 70 permanent staff in Georgetown and at the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre at Kurupukari, Region Eight.

The IIC’s patron is the Prince of Wales.

The centre was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest, “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general”.

Dedicated site

The Iwokrama forest and its research centre are unique, providing a dedicated site in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest – where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing. Drawing on its earlier work in sustainable forest management, the IIC is now, in close collaboration with the government of Guyana, the Commonwealth and other international partners, including UK company Canopy Capital, developing a new approach to enable countries with rainforests to earn significant income from ecosystem services and creative

conservation practice.

Heads at the summit, according to a Foreign Affairs Ministry statement, acknowledged the valuable role that the Iwokrama Rainforest Programme continues to play in promoting research on the impact of climate change as well as in the development of models for sustainable forest management in transition to low carbon development. They therefore supported the intensification of efforts to find a long-term solution to develop sustained financing for the programme.

Meanwhile, during his interaction with heads at the summit, President Ramotar noted that their meeting afforded the opportunity for them as leaders of the Commonwealth to recommit to the values and principles of the organisation.

In particular, he highlighted the enormous contribution which the Commonwealth had made over the years in the

strengthening of democracy.

Acknowledging that the countries of the Commonwealth were at varying levels of development, President Ramotar said it was important as they sought to strengthen the organisation, that the diversity of the Commonwealth be cherished and respected. He noted that in a world facing many political, socio-economic and environmental problems, the Commonwealth remained a relevant institution as countries worked together to find common solutions.

Appreciation

President Ramotar also joined his colleagues in expressing his sincere appreciation to the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as to the people of Sri Lanka for the excellent arrangements put in place for the hosting of the meeting and the warm and gracious welcome accorded to all of the delegations which set the tone for serious and substantive dialogue and a successful outcome of the meeting.

President Ramotar was accompanied by First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar and his delegation comprised Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the ministry’s Director General, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper and Guyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Laleshwar Singh.

Removing Cabinet’s no-objection to contracts is bad in principle – Nandlall

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has described the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) opposition to Cabinet’s role in the awarding of public contracts as “incongruous and wrong both in principle and constitutionality”.

The political opposition, in particular the AFC, has been calling for the establishment of a Public Procurement Commission (PPC), which will see the removal of Cabinet’s role in the procurement process. “This is heresy both administratively and constitutionally, and we are saying that this incongruous position cannot obtain,” he said.

Procurement commission

Minister Nandlall explained that the PPP/C administration always signalled its commitment to the establishment of the said body, and reminded that it was the administration which amended the Constitution, and those changes resulted in a provision for the creation of the procurement commission.

“However, the commission cannot be established unless a flaw in the current Procurement Act is corrected.” Nandlall explained that the Constitution of the country resides the executive government with the financial responsibility and management of the state of Guyana. More than 98 per cent of the financial expenditure of the

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

state is done via the procurement process.

As it stands, Cabinet’s only role in the procurement process is offering a simple no-objection to contracts that have been awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). “When the decision is made to award a contract, it is brought to Cabinet and Cabinet cannot overturn that decision; we can only grant a ‘no-objection’. That is the only input that we have,” Minister Nandlall said.

He added that, “If this role is taken away from the president and the Cabinet, then the administration will be answerable to the country and the Parliament for the financial affairs of the state, and for expenditure of public funds without having any role to play with regards to the expenditure of a single cent of that money. That is an incongruous position to

be in, it is wrong in principle. You cannot give a power without a responsibility and you cannot give a responsibility without a role.”

Flawed provision

The flawed provision was inserted into the extant Procurement Act (then a bill) when it was being debated on the floor some years ago. As such, it never received the approval of the Cabinet before it was effected into the law. “The procurement commission is an oversight body. When a Constitution sets up an oversight body, it is to oversee the executive but when the executive has no role in the procurement process, what will the procurement commission oversee? Obviously, the Constitution presumes and assumes a role of Cabinet in the process,” Nandlall said.

In Guyana, the government has a very limited role in the procurement process, when compared to other jurisdictions in the Caribbean.

“We do not award contracts and if you examine the legal statutory provisions of all the procurement processes in the Caribbean, you will see the hand of governments heavily in it, we have minimised that in Guyana. If our procedures are examined in terms of transparency and accountability, we stand superior to most of the infrastructure; legal and constitutional, which exist in the Commonwealth Caribbean in respect of procurement,” the attorney general affirmed.

NICIL submits 2011 annual report to National Assembly

The management of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments limited (NICIL) on November 7, through Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, submitted its 2011 annual report to the National Assembly.

According to a release, the submission of the report is in keeping with the process and procedure prescribed under the Companies Act.

“The annual report for the year ending 2012 is being finalised and will be submitted to the minister for his approval and consideration for submission to the National Assembly, shortly. In addition, NICIL continues to work with the Office of the Auditor General to have the annual reports of its subsidiaries completed and tabled in the National Assembly,” the report said. To date, the finance minister has tabled over 138 sets of accounts relating to NICIL and its subsidiaries for the period 2002-2012.

UG must become credible, economically viable – Dr Griffith

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Fort Valley State University President, Dr Ivelaw Griffith said if the University of Guyana (UG) is to progress, it must work towards delivering a more credible programme while ensuring its economic viability.

Griffith made the comments while addressing the university’s 47th convocation exercise at the Turkeyen Campus on Saturday. “For the University of Guyana to have a salutary ‘tomorrow’ that goes beyond crisis management survival and that avoids its leaders being practitioners of the science of muddling through, I see the necessity for the following three maturation imperatives: an economic viability imperative, an academic credibility imperative and a diaspora engagement imperative,” Dr Griffith said.

Dr Griffith, himself a UG graduate, explained that the economic viability imperative should focus primarily on the university’s business model, referencing to the generation of rev-

enues. “No state university can afford to rely solely on the state; not the one I have been honoured to lead, not the University of Guyana. But the state must match platitudes with practise; it must put its money where its mouth is,” he said.

He opined that relevant powerbrokers may request a redefinition of the relationship between the university and society, noting

that while it is a legitimate pursuit, it must be done in transparent manner.

“Yes, even if the government’s coffers were overflowing, the economic viability imperative requires the university to seek and access a deeper and wider income platform, and not just from foreign governments and international agencies; but also from individuals and businesses here and

abroad.” This move will create avenues for endowments for professorships and scholarships, Dr Griffith stated, adding that it would not only enhance the prospects of the tertiary institution economically, but attach academic credibility.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship and resource mobilisation are key factors that should be incorporated in the new business model, Dr Griffith suggested. It was pointed out that effective utilisation of resources will optimise all possible savings, reduces waste and enhance cost and time efficiency. But for this to be a success, business practises must be reviewed and modified. “The economic viability imperative requires attention to having salaries that attract and retain quality academic and non-academic staff, to the physical plant, equipment and supplies and to placing a premium on competence without pandering to race or political affiliation.”

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

Teenage pregnancy

With the recent revelation by an international report which lists Guyana among the six countries of the Caribbean with the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancies, stakeholders here are weighing in on the issue and are offering various suggestions as to what could be possible solutions to the problem.

The report, which focuses on adolescent pregnancy, highlights its challenges and consequences on the health, education, employment and rights of millions of girls around the world. It also offers a new perspective on adolescent pregnancy, looking not only at the girls’ behaviour as a cause of early pregnancy, but also at the actions of their families, communities and governments.

More than seven million girls in poor countries give birth before the age of 18 every year, with two million of them being 14 years old or younger. Every day in developing countries, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth. Girls under 15 account for two million of the annual total of 7.3 million new adolescent mothers; if current trends continue, the number of births to girls under 15 could rise to three million a year in 2030.

Having babies during adolescence has serious consequences for the health of the girl and her infant, especially in areas with weak health systems. About 70,000 adolescents in developing countries die annually of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The report also places particular emphasis on girls 14 years and younger who are at double the risk of maternal death and obstetric fistula – a medical condition in which a hole develops between either the rectum and the vagina or between the bladder and the vagina after severe failed childbirth when adequate medical care is not provided.

In many cases, especially in girls under the age of 15, such pregnancies are not the result of a deliberate choice but rather an absence of choices, and of circumstances beyond a girl’s control. The report reminds us that early pregnancies reflect powerlessness, poverty and pressures – from partners, peers, families and communities.

Hence, it makes a strong call for a shift away from interventions targeted at girls towards broad-based approaches that build girls’ human capital, help them make decisions about their lives, including matters of sexual and reproductive health, and offer them real opportunities so that motherhood is not seen as their only destiny.

It says that this new approach must target the circumstances, conditions, norms, values and structural forces that perpetuate adolescent pregnancies on the one hand and that isolate and marginalise pregnant girls on the other.

Girls need to have access to both sexual and reproductive health services and to the right kind of information so that they can make informed choices about their own lives. They need to be released from the economic and social pressures that too often translate into pregnancy, as well as the poverty, poor health and unrealised human potential that come with it.

We are well aware that in many societies, girls may be under pressure to marry and bear children early, or they may have limited educational and employment prospects. There can be no doubt that education is a major preventive factor for early pregnancy, meaning the more years of schooling, the fewer early pregnancies.

A global survey related to sex education estimates that only 36 per cent of young men and 24 per cent of young women aged 15-24 in low-and-middle income countries have comprehensive and correct knowledge of how to prevent HIV. Challenges such as these would certainly need to be addressed.

In May 2011, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution urging member states to accelerate actions to improve the health of young people. It included these specific measures: reviewing and revising policies to protect young people from early child-bearing; providing access to contraception and reproductive health-care services; and promoting access to accurate information on sexual and reproductive health.

From all indications, Guyana has already started working aggressively in some of these areas, but it is time stakeholders redouble their efforts in dealing with the issue of teenage pregnancy and its accompanying social and economic problems, taking into consideration the findings of the recent report referred to earlier.

There have been many Sachin Tendulkar photographic memories over the last two-and-a-half decades. On Saturday, amid all the outpouring of emotions, the most memorable image was that of Tendulkar, all alone, in his whites, walking towards the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. As the crowd cried "Sachin, Sachin", Tendulkar observed the 22 yards from close, bowed down, rubbed the red soil with his palm and applied it to his heart and head as a mark of worship and gratitude. He revealed that those 22 yards were the "temple" where his “life started”, and the stature he had reached in life and cricket was possible only due to the cricket pitch. The curtain eventually came down on Tendulkar's storied Test career with one of India's most comprehensive victories, as a hapless West Indies crumbled on the third morning. Tendulkar walked off the field with a tear in his eye and to a fluid guard of honour from his teammates, soaking in the cheers of the crowd one last time. Here he takes time for a photo with (right to left) Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who played his 150th Test, Brian Lara and Chris Gayle

Diabetes awareness in Guyana

Dear Editor, World Diabetes Day was observed on November 13 under the theme, “Diabetes Education and Prevention”. The Campbellville Health Centre and the Diabetic Foot Centre were two of the only institutions in Guyana that observed World Diabetes Day.

Diabetes is topical and therefore calls for long-term

awareness and more involvement by Guyanese. Persons suffering from diabetes often encounter numerous medical issues including vascular and non-vascular diseases, renal diseases, and amputations among many others which all require some form of hospitalisation and treatment.

Though treatment for diabetic patients may be com-

paratively free in Guyana, someone or some company somewhere is still bearing the cost for the services being offered.

Exercise contributes overall to a healthy lifestyle, but people who are diabetic need to remain active primarily because it monitors diabetes and the further development of other ailments. Health officials must contin-

ue to promote healthy living and eating lifestyles. People who eat right, exercise daily and stay fit tend to be more alert, more efficient, more energised and more confident. People who live healthy lifestyles are more likely to live longer.

Yours truly, Delroy Morris

The value of drama must not be lost

Dear Editor,

This year, Guyana managed to secure five of eight regional Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) awards. Though this was an outstanding achievement for both the students and Guyana as a country, it is time to place to emphasis on performing arts.

Just recently, Guyana took a step further by conferring several diplomas in theatre arts and drama. Drama is a specific mode of fiction that can be showcased by way of performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning “action”. Drama has been considered as the oldest and the earliest

term of imitative arts.

In 2012, the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama was established in Guyana, but was only recently launched. In February, the school opened its doors to students who longed to pursue a career in performing arts and drama.

Performing arts is no stranger to Guyana, and actually for quite some time, the Theatre Guild of Guyana was considered as the breeding and training ground for those involved in theatre. Additionally, the National Culture Centre is also well utilised by talented groups of performers for training and on stage productions.

In Guyana, drama has been used by many to express talent and emotions. Several entertainment groups have even made their productions into lucrative businesses. Many talented individuals have over the years become well known choreographers and performers involved in exquisite productions countrywide.

Including drama in every school’s curriculum enables students to cultivate skills in creativity, public speaking and other areas such as confidence and teamwork. It is also used as a medium of teaching, entertaining and communicating.

While many parents fear participation in drama will affect their child’s academic progress, studies have shown that students involved in arts tend to have a high academic performance. They improve significantly in many personal areas, including public speaking, self-confidence, self-discipline, time management, and better social and interactive skills.

I urge parents to encourage their children and further support those who are already interested in pursuing studies in drama.

Name withheld by request

The Enterprise community and sports involvement

Dear Editor,

The involvement in sport has always been a major part of some people’s lives and, over the years, many have anticipated weekends that were filled with sporting activities.

Recently, the Enterprise Busta Sports Club and an

international team competed in two events – a cricket competition and a domino contest – which both took place at the Enterprise Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara.

Both the cricket match and the domino competition saw fierce and intense

challenges since both teams comprised excellent players.

The Enterprise cricket team consisted of members of the community who have been playing together for almost a year. The village has been known for its involvement and achievements in sport and plans on reclaiming its reputation. It is hoped that more of these activities will come to Enterprise.

Resident of Enterprise Name withheld by request

The functions of a prison

Dear Editor,

Due to several incidents of domestic violence, a man was issued with a restraining order concerning his wife. He was recently arrested for violating his court order and was subsequently detained.

Believed to have taken his own life, he was later found hanging in his prison cell.

A prison is meant to be a safe keeping place for people

of unsound mind and serves as punishment for those who have committed unlawful acts.

Citizens are often able to live carefree and peaceful lives when people who can cause harm to them are removed from society.

Prisoners are barred from the luxuries of everyday life and further prevented from endangering the lives of others.

Too often detainees have had access to objects and materials in prison that can cause harm to themselves and those around them.

Many prisoners are deranged and are least likely to think twice before taking their own lives and other people’s lives.

Prison authorities need to boost their overall security and safe keeping of prisoners. They need to closely monitor

prison activities and ensure that prisoners receive the correctional attention that they need.

Additionally, it is time for us to offer counselling sessions to those who have erred. We stand a better chance of minimising crime and corruption.

Respectfully,

Ramon Cesar

Corporal punishment revisited

Dear Editor,

Corporal punishment has been used in schools for many years to maintain some form of discipline when children become wayward. It is not meant to denote brutality, but instead instil discipline and a positive change in the upbringing of our young children.

Children need to be taught that for every action, there is an opposite reaction. When rules are broken, there will be consequences. Discipline in this case is meant to be positive, corrective and nurturing.

Children should be made aware of their wrongdoing and the consequences they will face for their actions. If discipline is instilled in the

right way, it could prevent a reccurrence of a similar incident.

Parents and teachers should desist from scolding children when they are upset and angry because it often comes over as vengeance. There is no doubt that the moderate application of corporal punishment maintains discipline in a child.

Many people who have passed through school can vouch that they were positively guided by such punishment. It made some of them into better students and encouraged better grades and made them into the well mannered adults that they are today.

It is noted that children whose behaviour become

out of hand need to be disciplined. Corporal punishment is not wrong. It is the manner in which it is done, that is wrong. Sociologists believe that the lack or lessening of corporal punishment in schools is a contributory factor for violence.

Corporal punishment is currently being frowned upon by the National Assembly, but I challenge the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) to investigate this matter in schools. It is not corporal punishment that is affecting children. It is the indiscriminating labelling of students with words like stupid, among other unseen forms of self-damaging discipline that is affecting them.

Several rebellious adults in today’s society stated that their wayward behaviour didn’t come from being punished when they were young, but instead from psychological, mental, family and social problems.

Enforcing corporal punishment in Guyana’s school system does not make us barbaric. However, it is essential that we redefine for teachers and parents what corporal punishment really is, in addition to the correct methods of application in order to ensure the proper and efficient use of this method of discipline.

Yours respectfully, Amanda Jeffers

Drivers

must be ticketed when they straddle lanes

Dear Editor,

The recent accident involving two vehicles, one of which was carrying a senior police officer raises concern for me. The accident took place as the two drivers of the respective vehicles proceeded in opposite directions in their respective lanes.

In order for the accident to have occurred it would have meant that at some point, one of these two cars shifted out of lane. This habit has become too common in society.

Some drivers overtake

long lines of vehicles, while others approach sharp turns too fast, both of which cause them to shift lanes and further end up in the path of oncoming traffic. Accidents are, therefore, bound to take place.

I urge the police to take the necessary precautions, particularly at junctions and turns where drivers are tempted to take risks and break laws and where mayhem can easily take place.

Sincerely yours,

Carlyle Jacobs

People should not buy stolen goods

Dear Editor,

The purchasing of stolen property is a serious offence and I am pleased to know that the government is addressing and chastising those who are guilty and involved in such activities.

Just recently, a man, who had knowledge that a ram was stolen, proceeded to purchase the animal. He was subsequently scheduled to appear in court where he was then convicted on account of receiving stolen property.

Too many people have made a business out of stealing for a living. Citizens who buy stolen goods only support these thieves and further contribute to promoting criminal

activities. People fail to realise that only an owner can sell what is his, any other act without the consent or knowledge of the owner is considered a felony.

Many individuals can be seen around town with collections of miscellaneous items such as car mirrors being sold at surprisingly cheap prices. I urge the police to confront these individuals and have them account for the items in their possession and any individual suspected of wrongfully acquiring goods should be investigated.

Yours sincerely, Simone Jardine

Parenting For Success

Children and delinquent behaviour

Children can develop delinquent behaviours for any number of reasons. According to social learning theory, children learn behaviours through observing models in their environment. Social learning theorists believe that individual differences in antisocial behaviours are the result of daily experiences of children with people in their environment (Reid, Patterson and Snyder, 2002). For example, by observing stealing behaviour by family members, a child may learn that it is acceptable to steal. The child has simply never been taught anything different, and will continue to carry out these socially unacceptable behaviours until corrected. The story below provides a clear insight on one of the possible reasons why some children might resort to stealing.

Case study – names and places have been changed to protect persons’ privacy.

Curtis and Jason are seven-year-old twins currently dealing with challenges far beyond their understanding. From a young age, they were forced to believe all the world has to offer them is abandonment and cruelty. They were left feeling unwanted, unloved, and uneducated with distorted views on how the world works. Their world changed when they were three years old after their

parents separated, here is their story.

Curtis and Jason lived with their step-mother and father in a small two-bedroom apartment in an urban environment. The boys were three years old, when their parents were divorced due to constant domestic vi-

thieves and liars. They were severely beaten by their father and step-mother on numerous occasions because of their stealing behaviour.

On their fifth birthday, they overheard their stepmother saying that she was tired of them and telling their father to put them out.

and she later enrolled them into a primary school.

Their grandmother, Sylvie, was faced with many challenges (financial, divorce and an older son who had just committed suicide) and so she found it difficult to provide for the boys. Curtis and Jason did not

olence. The boys were left in the care of their father who soon remarried. Their stepmother and father were involved in criminal activities, and were too busy stealing and hustling to care for the two young children. On many occasions, Curtis and Jason were left unattended at home without food and water. In addition, neither of the boys were attending school; instead of learning to read and write like many children their age, Curtis and Jason learnt how to steal and lie in order to survive. By the age of five, Curtis and Jason were habitual

So one day, Curtis’s and Jason’s father packed their clothing in a small black plastic bag telling them that they were going on a trip to see their grandmother. Little did they know that that would be the last day they would be part of that family. They were left on the street in front of their grandmother’s house, feeling scared and confused. The feeling of abandonment began to invade them when they realised that their father was not returning like he had promised. They were eventually taken in by their grandmother, who discovered them out on the street,

only come with their possessions, but also with the unaccepted behaviour that they had learnt while living with their step-mother and father. Sylvie began physically abusing them in order to punish their unaccepted behaviours. The physical abuse became evident when they attended school with marks of violence on their bodies.

The boys’ class teacher reported it to a ChildLinK counsellor who was working at the school; he mentioned that Curtis came to class with a bleeding ear. When the counsellor investigated, it was discov -

ered that Curtis had been beaten by his grandmother with a pot spoon because he stole some milk power.

During a conversation with the grandmother, it was revealed that Curtis and Jason would regularly steal money and food from her home, and she admitted that the only way she knows to deal with this behaviour is beating them. The grandmother also admitted that because she is stressed with her personal challenges – when she hits them, one lash would be like 10 lashes.

The counsellor supported Sylvie in exploring other methods that can be used to help the children change their behaviours. The counsellor helped Sylvie to see the need to get support for her personal challenges by attending the parenting skills education session; however, she indicated she would be busy but was willing to make an effort to attend. Since this was a case of physical abuse, it was reported to the relevant authority. Sylvie also requested that Curtis and Jason be helped to change their behaviour.

Intervention

In the first session, the boys were introduced to the counsellor and told why they were there. They were asked to set goals for themselves for the next six months. Both Curtis and Jason said they want -

ed to learn to stop stealing and lying. During this session, both boys shared that they did not feel loved by their father, step-mother, or grandmother because of the beatings they received. In another session, the boys were asked to draw a family portrait and write about the picture. Curtis drew a picture that included his father, mother, brother and a female monster which had long black hair wrapped around his father. The counsellor noticed that Curtis appeared sad in the drawing and when asked about this, the child shared that the monster is his step-mother who caused his mother to leave the home and that is why he is sad. The counsellor explained that it was ok to feel sad.

In Jason’s family portrait, he drew his father chasing him with a piece of wood. He said all he remembers is the beatings he received from his father. In yet another session, the boys talked about their feelings about their parents. Jason shared how hurt he felt because of the way his father treated him, and Curtis just kept crying, saying that he missed his father and wanted to return to him. However, all efforts to find the children’s father proved futile. Subsequently, Curtis was absent from school for three days. When the counsellor made contact with the grandmother, she said that child had not been well. Curtis came to school the following week with swollen eyes that were black and blue. The counsellor spoke with the child and it was discovered he was beaten by his grandmother with a knife because he stole some food. Sylvie was confronted about the incident and her reason was the boys were eating far too much and she cannot afford to feed their large appetites. It was also discovered that Sylvie would lock them out of the house whenever she went to the market. The information on the abuse of the children was shared with the authorities and they intervened.

Jason and Curtis continue to live with their grandmother and work is still being done to support the family for the children to be in a safe environment.

Please contact us on telephone number 231-7174 or at programmes.childlink@networksgy.com for any support you may need on parenting and any other challenges that you may be experiencing with your children.

Public servants likely to get another five per cent wage hike

Government is currently considering a five per cent wage hike for public servants. This is according to a senior government official, who wishes to remain anonymous. The government official said discussions on this issue occurred at the level of Cabinet.

After serious talks, it was decided that government could only afford a five per cent increase at this point. However, while the government is considering a five per cent increase, it could move to increase salaries by no more than six percent. Government last year gave a five per cent increase to public servants. However, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is demanding a 25 per cent wage increase. At a recent press conference,

GPSU President Patrick Yarde said the current remuneration given to public

servants is an insult to their hard work.

Yarde noted that with respect to the 2013 budget, the GPSU submitted a proposal to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh for an increase of 25 per cent. The union has since called on the government to allocate the payment in increments. It was also pointed out that there are cases where workers who have been promoted to senior levels still collect minimum wage and are faced with a number of issues.

GPSU unhappy

Previously, the GPSU had given government a two-week ultimatum to respond to a letter, but there has been no response to date. The GPSU also wrote the Labour Ministry asking for conciliation, but has not been invited to talks. Yarde said recently that

the GPSU resorted to organising a nationwide petition containing thousands of signatures of workers from all across the country which was sent to President Donald Ramotar.

The GPSU had planned to start off with a call for the 25 per cent increase based

UG must become credible...

Turning his attention to the academic credibility imperative, the Fort Valley State University president said academic freedom must be practised. “To know what people really think, pay regard, pay regard to what

they do, rather than what they say,” he said as he quoted renowned philosopher George Santayana.

Political maturity

What is essential at this stage is political maturity,

he said, explaining that despite the political party in power, it must be able to resist political intrusion and micro-management.

Additionally, academic and non-academic staff must guard against abus-

on advice that the 2013 national budget had catered for a 15 per cent wage and salary hike. The union is also demanding an increase in several allowances including: leave passage, medical, travelling, and uniform. It has threatened industrial action, if it is not consulted and guaranteed a reasona-

ing academic freedom, Dr Griffith opined, noting that UG must take the relevant steps to institute sanctions if such occurs, but this, he emphasised must be consistent.

“What is true for universities that are relatively old, like mine, which dates to 1895, is even truer for young one like UG; the failure to balance freedom with responsibility can serve to spawn crisis where none needs to be and undermine confidence in and respect for the university by stakeholders within and outside the society.”

The onus is on UG’s leadership to avoid unevenness and simultaneously preach

ble increase in public servants’ salaries.

The GPSU has condemned government for what it said is its continued flouting of laws, in its refusal to meet with bargaining agents to negotiate salary increases for members. The union, the largest public servant representative body, has been battling with government over the issue for a number of years now. It has become the norm for government to announce increases in December for workers. This, the union has been complaining is arbitrary and not in keeping with labour laws.

GuySuCo

Meanwhile, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had initially announced a mere one per cent increase for sugar workers, which was met with many objections. This led to wide-

spread protest in different parts of the country, particularly in Berbice. Five engagements at the bilateral level and two at the conciliatory level beginning on June 4 took place between the management of GuySuCo and the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU). The union’s 40-member negotiation team comprising shop stewards from across the industry unanimously approved the new offer of four per cent pay hike. The negotiating team, in approving the agreement, took into account the interim audited statement of the corporation for 2012 and the management accounts as at August 31, which indicate that the corporation is in dire financial straits. The union was pushing for a higher increase, between 12 to 15 per cent, which it was told was not possible.

and practise excellence as a value. Quoting Aristotle, he said “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” It therefore means, excellence must be individualised as well as institutionalised through goals and established targets.

Students and lecturers of the university should be guardians of integrity and must continuously seek to root out academic corruption, whether plagiarism, illegal sale of services or property, or outright theft.

“The condition of our university as it celebrates its golden jubilee is such that it cannot realistically pursue the two imperatives described above without embracing alumni, both within Guyana and in the diaspora.”

However, he said the unfortunate reality is that graduates of the university who have excelled in various fields, many have migrated to greener pastures. Nevertheless, he opined that the institution must be international in reaching out, celebrating, and seeking time, talent and treasure of its alumni. Dr Griffith pointed out that the University of the West Indies now offers an exceptional model of fundraising and friend-raising, capitalising on its alumni in the diaspora as a key constituency.

Man dies in accident at Number 19 Village

One man is now dead and another hospitalised following an accident on the East Coast Berbice Public Road Saturday afternoon.

Dead is Brimchand Rampaul of Number 19 Village, East Coast Berbice. Reports say that Rampaul, a labourer attached to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), was hit by a speeding car. He died on the spot. The car was reportedly driven by Deodat Ramnarine of Number 7 Village, East Coast Berbice. According to reports, the vehicle, PNN 8167, is owned by his mother.

In a release, police said about 18:00h on Saturday, Rampaul was walking along the roadway when he was struck down by a car after its driver lost control of the vehicle. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The release added that the driver of the mo-

tor vehicle sustained injuries and is under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The driver was tested and found to have more than the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

Investigations revealed that Ramnarine was the lone occupant of the car at the time of the accident. While travelling at a fast rate at Number 19 Village in an area where a pipe lay-

ing project is being carried out on the road, Ramnarine was confronted by cones and warning signs and served north, colliding with a pedestrian on the parapet. The car ended up in a nearby trench, but he was hauled from it and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition.

Birthday plans

The dead man’s wife, Hemwatttie Kiso told Guyana Times that when he returned from work, he went to bed, but about 16:30h, he came downstairs and they discussed plans for his birthday on Sunday. “Ah tell he that ah gon get a cake fo he.” She said shortly after, he left home. “Next hour time, I see all body ah run, an wen me go, me see a car in the trench. Den people start fo tell me wha happen.”

Kiso said she looked into the car to see if the occupant was her husband.

“Ah ask people and they say ‘No, he ent dea in the car.’” It was moments later, the 33-year-old woman saw the motionless body of her husband. She said upon enquiry, she was told he was dead. “Ah start to holla,” she told this publication.

Car in air

Meanwhile, a close friend of the 45-year-old dead man said he was a mere three feet away from Rampaul when he was struck down. According to Raveeutt Kewal, the two had just exited a car and were on their way to his house after visiting another friend in the village. He said they had not reached his bridge when he heard the impact. “When I look around, I see a car flying in the air.” The car, Kewal said landed some distance away. “I didn’t see my friend.”

He said about one minute later, Rampaul was seen in the trench.

The death of Rampaul takes the road fatality figures in Berbice to 19 thus far in the year, compared to nine during the corresponding period last year.

According to B Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph, there are several factors which are responsible for the increase in road deaths in Berbice this year.

These, he said include speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, the use of cellular phones while driving and negligent use of the road. Rampaul leaves to mourn his wife and four children.

Eyew tness

Moving on...

...into retirement

Dr Yesu Persaud has retired and his long-time understudy, Komal Samaroo, is going to slide into the driver’s seat. At last. It’s like the Queen of England letting Prince Charles get a shot at signing proclamations and all that. But be that as it may, Yesu – as he’s referred to by all and sundry – has become an institution and has been much more than a titular monarch over at Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

He was the right man in the right place when he was made head of the smaller of the two “big ones” in the sugar industry – Jessels Lyd, in 1975. He was a financial man who was in an industry on the cusp of being nationalised by the People’s National Congress (PNC), who placed political credentials ahead of all other qualifications.

Unlike what happened at say, the sister company Sprostons, now Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), where the Chief Executive Office Oscar Charmichael refused to follow the dictates of Forbes Burnham and departed for Barbados, Yesu bent with the wind and survived the Burnhamite dictatorship.

DDL was never really privatised like the other state corporations – Yesu pulled a clever manoeuvre on the Desmond Hoyte regime to take control from the government. This is an aspect of Yesu’s accomplishments that needs to be fleshed.

But from then onwards, DDL was Yesu’s company through and through. While some might quibble about a faceless board of directors and all that, the company’s subsequent success proved it needed someone who could focus on the bottom line, like Yesu the accountant.

And he could do that while working on a strategic vision for placing the company’s products as a premium brand in the global liquor market. This couldn’t have been an easy task for a small country and producer as Guyana. The compensatory funds to the rum industry from the European Union (EU) for breaching the sugar protocol helped – but the effort was well on the way before that.

So what does Yesu’s departure mean for DDL? We’ll get to see what the comparatively young Samaroo can do with the company. No matter how creative Yesu was at the helm, one cannot but wonder how some younger minds would’ve handled the challenges in the last decade. For one, while DDL’s rum has done well for the conglomerate, the diversification into other product lines or even new businesses hasn’t been anything to write home about.

Your Eyewitness wishes Yesu the best in his retirement and hopes he’ll have enough to keep his still active mind busy. Outside of DDL.

...the Demerara Harbour Bridge

A letter writer made an interesting point that in the movement of traffic, it’s the slowest point along the entire corridor being traversed that determines the overall flow. He was talking about the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The need to come almost to a complete stop at its three-inch retractor span – on both ends – therefore brings traffic across the entire bridge to a snail’s pace on both the West and East Banks. And mile-long traffic jams during rush hours. And road rage.

He suggested eliminating the bumps which would speed up things immensely. The suggestion is eminently sensible. It’s the reason they have minimum speed limits on highways abroad. But there’s another bottleneck which can reduce the effect of a new bridge – the entry and exit ramps. If we leave them all in the same plane, then traffic at the intersections at both ends will have the same effect.

The answer is to introduce cloverleaf exit and entrance ramps. This must be integrated in the new bridge.

...beyond competency

level

Joseph Harmon represents the desk-bound pontificating approach of the PNC that destroyed Guyana. They have no experience with business in the real world, yet pretend to omniscience in this area. Take Harmon’s criticism of “pre-qualified suppliers” for pharmaceuticals. Since pharmacology would be beyond his ken, we’ll ask him to research how the U.S. procures fighter jets. And whether mechanic shops can bid.

Govt undertaking massive D&I project in Berbice

Junior Agriculture Minister Ali Baksh is calling on Region Six residents to stop the indiscriminate dumping of garbage in waterways.

Speaking at a recent project inspection tour in the region, Baksh said the dumping of solid waste has led to widespread flooding in the region, not only in agricultural communities, but also in residential areas.

Six mini excavators have been sent to Region Six to assist with the clearing of community drains. Currently, the machines are deployed at Tain, Bloomfield, Rose Hall Town and Albion and work has already been completed in the Fyrish/Kilcoy area.

At Tain, the minister met with some residents to explain the project and to get their feedback. One resident, Lillowtie Lackram said the project is a laudable one, but stressed the need for persons to have garbage bins in their yards to manage their waste. She noted that on a daily basis, residents dump garbage on the road shoulders in her community. This, she said results in the clogging of drains.

Minister Baksh noted that the current project will complement ongoing work. He said over the past four years, persons from each community were employed as drainage and irrigation (D&I) workers to assist the neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs). He added that there are about 2000 workers, and this costs government about $800 million annually.

“And that is to help to maintain all the drains in the housing area and surrounding areas.”

Internal drains

Region Six parliamentary representative Fizal Jafferally, who accompanied the minister on the visit, ex-

plained that the machines are only clearing the internal drains.

“We are hoping by the second week in December before the rains come in full force, we are hoping to have all the internal drains across Region Six desilted, and wherever the machines cannot go, it is understandable that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will use the NDCs workers to have the smaller drains desilted.”

He is hoping that upon completion, there will be better drainage in the communities across the region, especially in residential areas. Jafferally also noted that the entire region suffers from poor solid waste management. “This has been a constant problem in many communities. I think residents need to think and to take the responsibility to ensure that their solid

waste is properly disposed of.”

He urged residents to cooperate with the private garbage contractors who are replacing the NDCs and municipalities in solid waste management.

Meanwhile, NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lionel Wordsworth said the community drainage project has been introduced in the other regions of the country. Wordsworth said the project aims to restore the capacity of the community drainage system to adequately drain water to the primary system. “We have the programme of the community drainage and irrigation project, where we have manual labour being used to clean the internal drains, but while work is being done in weeding and cleaning, the drains themselves are heavily silted.”

Clogged community drains pose flood risk – Ramsammy

By Samuel Sukhnandan

As the Agriculture Ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), prepares for the upcoming rainy season, subject minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said community drains pose a flood risk.

The minister told Guyana Times in an interview that while the NDIA is working feverishly to ensure that all is in place for the upcoming rainy season, there is some chance that community drains could cause flooding if the situation is not fixed.

Dr Ramsammy said these difficulties could arise mainly out of the secondary and tertiary drains. Secondary drains are those that fall under the ambit of the regional democratic councils (RDCs), and tertiary drains are small internal community drains which are the responsibility of the various municipal councils. He explained that in terms of the secondary drains, the ministry is close to completing the cleaning of them.

The NDIA, he said, has

been instructed to work with the RDCs to assist as much as possible, by providing them with equipment and even awarding private contracts to help clean the drains.

Another area of concern during this period is outfall dredging. Minister Ramsammy told this newspaper that this was important although the internal canals are perfect. “If we do not have the outlet in the river and seas, it is not going to be able to drain,” he explained.

Pump troubles?

It was also noted that while there have been complaints that the Liliendaal and Kitty pumps are not functioning to capacity; this is not the case. However, Dr Ramsammy noted that the problem lies in water from the tertiary and primary drains actually reaching the pumps. He explained that the pumps are automatic and can only work when the water level reaches a certain height. While it is not the responsibility for the NDIA to look at all drains and canals, just the major ones,

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy

the team has been instructed to clean them and deploy equipment to assist.

The outfalls would have to be constantly dredged. The agriculture minister explained that dredging cannot be done in preparation for the upcoming rainy season, but during the season because it takes less than 48 hours for outfalls to return to their previous state. In addition to that, it takes approximately eight to 10 excavators at any one time to carry out the job. As it relates to the primary drains and canals, Minister Ramsammy

said approximately 90 per cent of the network is in optimal condition.

“I am not overly concerned that we would not be ready; I think we know exactly what we have to do,” Dr Ramsammy said in response to questions about whether the ministry was entirely prepared for the rainy season. Despite the ongoing challenges, the minister is confident that everything will be put into place in time for the rains. He noted that the Hydromet Office has already advised that the transition period into the rainy season has already started, with at least 17 rainy days expected.

It was further stated that while all pumps and pump stations are operational, some pumps require major rehabilitation. These include the Charity, Essequibo and Lusignan, East Coast Demerara pumps, which are currently being repaired. A second pump will be placed at Lusignan, which has the capacity to drain more water into the Atlantic Ocean –one of the 14 pumps that the government sourced from overseas.

A sucker gon always suck

Old habits does die hard. When a dog accustom to suck egg and eat yard fowl and yard duck, he does never stop. No matter whah yuh cook and give he to eat, he does always suck egg. He gon always be a egg sucker. He gon always eat out people fowl and duck in dem yard. And even when he belly full, he gon still want to eat more fowl and duck and suck more egg.

It got some people stay just like that. Dem got old habits hauntin dem fuh dem whole life. No matter how hard dem try, dem can’t break out de old habits. De mayor-fuh-life Green Ham is one of dem. De old habit of bein scraven fuh power can’t get outta he system. It reach so bad that he get drunk wid wantin power. It tek de actin town clerk Carol Sober to sober he up.

Is de same wid a soup drinker. He gon always be a soup drinker. A bamzee licker gon always lick bamzee. A sucker gon always be a sucker, no matter whah or who dem does suck. One of dem boys who seh dem is boys, but dem is not boys although dem does dress like boys to fool people, admit to de suckin habit among all dem boys.

No matter how much dem boys break, dem can’t break that habit. De suckin habit deh all de way up, or down dependin on who it is, to Mook Lall and de headitor-inbrief. That is why de Mook and de headitor-in-brief so vex and bitter nowadays. Dem accustom to suckin guvament, but dem can’t suck guvament no more.

De headitor-in-brief suck from Burnt Ham to Green Ham till one dead and de other dry. Now he suckin de Mook and de Mook suckin back. And Mook Lall suck a lotta poor Guyanese and tek dem money fuh backtrack till dem bank account dry. Dem two boys does suck so hard that dem even try to suck GEE-R-A and de EM & CC. Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But dem gon soon end up far in de Mazaruni. And dem might end up becomin suckers-fuh life right deh!

Guyana to serve on the reconstituted CMAG

Foreign Affairs

Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett attended the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group’s (CMAG) first meeting held on Sunday in Colombo, Sri Lanka. At that meeting, the CMAG welcomed the successful conclusion of the presidential election in the Maldives and congratulated the people of the Maldives for showing their firm commitment to democracy and for exercising their franchise in record numbers.

The CMAG agreed that the Maldives would no longer form part of the formal agenda of the group. The CMAG was established by Commonwealth heads of government in Auckland,

New Zealand, in 1995 and deals with serious or persistent violations of the Harare Declaration, which contains Commonwealth’s fundamental political values. CMAG’s task is to assess the nature of infringements and recommend measures for collective Commonwealth action aimed at speedy restoration of democracy and constitutional rule. Its membership is at the level of foreign ministers.

Guyana joins the other members of the group, Cyprus, India, New Zealand (vice chair), Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands and Tanzania (chair). This is the first time that Guyana will serve on this body.

Times Notebook

The buying and selling of kidneys

Illegal organ trafficking is a big global problem today and it can become a Guyanese problem soon. Times Notebook draws the attention of the Health Ministry to an emerging threat to the kidney transplant programme in Guyana. At least two persons who were recipients of kidneys reportedly bought them from persons who were willing to sell.

In India, Pakistan, Eastern Europe, the Philippines, Israel, several African and other countries, the buying and selling of kidneys nearly ended the transplant programmes in those countries. Fortunately, in several of these countries, concrete and urgent actions were taken to end the practice and preserve a high-quality kidney transplant programme.

No one wants the kidney transplant programme to come to an end. Too many lives are dependent on this programme. Guyana has a fledgling kidney transplant programme. In addition to the kidney transplant programme at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, the Georgetown Public Hospital is negotiating with a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) to restart free kidney transplant surgeries very soon.

There have been more than 20 kidney transplants done in Guyana at Georgetown Public Hospital and Dr Balwant Singh Hospital. Guyana started a kidney transplant programme five years ago when Dr

In all countries of the world, there are more people in need of kidneys for transplant than there are available kidneys

Rahul Jindal from the U.S., together with colleagues from New York, performed the first kidney transplant at the Georgetown Public Hospital on July 12, 2008 – the recipient was a young boy from the East Coast of Demerara. It was done through the support of an NGO out of New York, headed by George Subraj.

The kidney transplant programme was promoted by the then Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who faced a barrage of criticism when he announced in May

2008 that the Health Ministry would pursue a kidney transplant programme in Guyana.

Hundreds of open heart surgeries have been done at the Georgetown Public Hospital and Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, hundreds of dialysis sessions have been provided through the 5-G Dialysis Service in South Georgetown, the Doobay Dialysis Centre in Annandale on the East Coast of Demerara, the Balwant Singh Hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital and the Anamayah

Memorial Hospital in Albion on the Corentyne, Berbice. There are other high-end health services in Guyana that would have been unthinkable 20 years ago.

In all countries of the world, there are more people in need of kidneys for transplant than there are available kidneys. The majority of available kidneys come from persons who volunteer to give a functioning kidney to a family member or to a friend. But about one-third of kidneys for transplant come from fresh cadavers. Yet the combination of these available kidneys cannot meet the demand for kidneys. Persons have died waiting for an available kidney.

Shortage

There’s no denying that there is a shortage of organ donations everywhere in the world. In the U.S., government estimates show 18 people die each day waiting for a transplant and every 10 minutes someone is added to the transplant list. The need for kidneys is especially high. As of October 25, almost 100,000 persons were waiting for a kidney transplant in the U.S. Kidney transplant is by far the most performed organ transplant in the world.

Wherever a kidney transplant programme is started, buying and selling kidneys become a practice. However, the practice of getting paid for an organ is illegal everywhere except Iran. Iran has made it legal to

sell kidneys to other Iranians. It is illegal to sell kidneys in Iran to nonIranians.

The illegal sale of kidneys was rampant in India, before the Indian government clamped down on the practice. But the trade now still flourishes in countries like Pakistan, the Philippines, Israel, several African countries and in Eastern Europe.

The black market for kidneys exists even in the developed countries. In 2009, Levy Izhak Rosenblum pleaded guilty to the first ever proven case of organ trafficking in the U.S. Rosenblum’s lawyers argued that he was saving lives, and that both parties were fully aware of the risks and complications that came with transplants, donations and living with one kidney.

Times Notebook knows that this will become an interesting topic for debate. In the meantime, Guyana must not stand idly by and allow a black market for kidneys to develop in our country. We must not allow an organ trafficking practice to start in Guyana.

Hospitals must discourage the practice of buying and selling kidneys. The Health Ministry must urgently look into the possibility that buying and selling kidneys for kidney transplant in Guyana might be real.

Readers are invited to comment on this article via email (times.notebook@gmail.com) and on Facebook.

Kuru Kuru college graduates 36

Thirty-six students graduated from the Kuru Kuru Cooperative College during its 30th graduation exercise on Saturday.

It was also an occasion where the college announced its move to provide undergraduate degree courses. Of the graduates, 15 graduated with a diploma in secondary education, while five graduated with a diploma in digital photography. Eleven received certificates for completing studies in the area of leadership development skills, and the final five received their certificates after completing the cooperative board of director training.

Kuru Kuru Cooperative College has improved significantly over the years and this year was no exception.

It is due to this success that the college will be moving to offer undergraduate courses. Kuru Kuru Cooperative College Chairman John Seeram disclosed that this decision came after fruitful discussion with NCC Education’s UK head office. “This would be a partnership arrangement between NCC and the college and these courses are fully accredited.” He added that NCC is in partnership with higher education institutions in most

Caribbean countries including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Undergraduate courses

The courses offered are: NCC Education Level 4 Diploma in Business, NCC Education Level 5 Diploma in Business, and NCC Education Level 5 Diploma in Computing/Business IT.

Chairman Seeram also used the opportunity to offer congratulatory remarks. He encouraged the students to acknowledge the individuals who have made sterling contributions to their studies and development. “While some aided you by way of imparting knowledge and skills, others would have provided financial and other material and moral support in order to help create a conducive learning and teaching environment for you,” he told the graduates. He emphasised the importance of making the right decisions, noting that those who are not going to launch out in the world of work should further their studies at leading institutions in the country, pointing to the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

“Ponder carefully and make the right choice, whether it is in the world of

Kuru Kuru Cooperative College Chairman John Seeram

work or in the pursuance of higher education. Whatever you do, it is for your career development. Remember too that you are the leaders of tomorrow.”

Plot future

While it was an occasion of much fanfare, a celebration after hard work, Partners of the Americas Shadehouse Project Financial Manager and Consultant Terrence McKenzie admonished the students to plot their future. There are many deci-

sions to be taken, he told the graduates. “In life, you have to make choices. The choices that you make will decide in most cases your final destination; you have done a good job at your CSEC examinations. What next?” he asked while proposing three available paths: “You can work, own your own business, or continue to study. That is a very important choice you have to make.”

He encouraged the graduates who will be pursuing higher education to first

identify their goals before selecting a discipline, noting that this can save time and money. In the area of employment, McKenzie said, the right attitude must be developed if one is to secure his job. “Have an attitude of pleasantness. Don’t be someone that persons would be happy when you are not at work. Do not be too large to do small things around the office.” Adapting to the environment is also critical, he posited, noting that change is inevitable.

Drama fest enters final lap

“The Professor”, “Planned to Perfection” and “Mother Island” are the three plays scheduled for today as the National Drama Festival enters its final week.

All three shows are slated for the evening with the first – “The Professor” commencing at 18:00h at the National Cultural Centre. The play will be directed by Randolph Critchlow

The second play “Planned to Perfection” was written by Mark Luke Edwards and will be directed by Ayanna Waddell; the stage manager is Lisa Adams.

“The Professor”

Actor Character

Mark Kazim Phillip Williams

Colleen Humphrey Mrs Humphrey

Leslyn Fraser Secretary

Olivia Rodrigues Asha

Max Massiah Detective 1

Keon Heywood Detective 2

Nathaya Whaul Monica

Leon Cummings Warden

“Mother Island”

The final play for the evening will be performed by the Buxton Arts Theatre “Mother Island” was written by Uso Telford and will be directed by Chrisandrea Limburgh-Fernandes

The stage managers are Zola Telford and Trevon Graham.

Actor Character

Renautha Sampson Brenda Woodroof

Jermaine Walton Damion Woodroof

Chrisandrea LimburghFernandes Mother Island

Donelle Phillips Patsy

Jamecia Bryan Isuke

Jason Fortune Faithful companion

Ano Abrams Drummer

Timmeker Porter Disciple

Tia Telford Disciple

Alistair Cozier Disciple

Paul Abrams Disciple

Uso Telford Disciple

The Buxton Arts Theatre is a group of young talented Buxtonians, the majority of whom have been acting together for more than five years, with some having been members for more than 10 years. In 2012, the group was restructured and renamed (Buxton Arts Theatre). The troupe is well-known for its thrilling and comedic performances throughout the community and wherever it goes.

“Mother Island” is a very intriguing play. It is about a woman, Brenda, whose husband abuses her and treats her as if she is worthless. Being constantly abused causes her to seek help. Her friend, Patsy, advises her to go to Mother Island (the village helper). Her visit to Mother Island brings about drastic changes in her husband’s behaviour, which stun Brenda. In the end, all Brenda could do is run.

National Drama Festival 2013 highlights

Cadets display skills in thrilling show

Fifteen officer cadets, three of whom are Belizean nationals, on Sunday demonstrated aspects of military training they are undergoing at the Camp Stephenson Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School. The 15 stayed the course after 10 opted out, and are well on their way to be commissioned second lieutenants at the end of the programme otherwise known as the Standard Officers’ Course (SOC) # 46. The SOC was developed to provide training for new army officers and other services’ officers. Its broad objective is to provide a solid foundation for the subsequent professional development of all cadets entering the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Army, police, prison and fire service officers have all had their training there as well as army officers who serve in sister Caricom nations.

The Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School prides itself on being the institution where all the serving heads of the Joint Services were taught. The training provided is relevant to the development of the individual and the security concerns and needs of the nation.

Family members turned out to witness the officer cadets in action. They were joined by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who is currently performing the duties of president; GDF Chiefof-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips; as well as other senior officers of the army, police, fire and prison services.

The course includes an intensive programme of military skills and tactics, rigorous physical fitness, team activities designed to promote stamina and group spirit, leadership and command methods, management techniques, military

Officer cadets rappelling from the Bell 412 helicopter

law, and national policy. The first item on the agenda was jungle survival techniques which a soldier must adopt when lost, either through detachment from a platoon or after escape from an en-

Albouystown man stabbed to death during confrontation A

A24-year-old Albouystown man was stabbed to death on Sunday morning during a confrontation with another man.

The incident occurred around 10:00h. The dead man has been identified as Lloyd Benjamin of Lot 130 King Edward Street, Albouystown. According to a police release, Benjamin was involved in an argument earlier which led to his demise.

“Investigations have revealed that Lloyd Benjamin and another man had an altercation, after which the man’s brother confronted Lloyd Benjamin and stabbed him about the body,” the release stated. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police have since launched a hunt for the perpetrator who is said to be from the said village.

A neighbour who requested anonymity said she was on the road earlier in the morning and saw Benjamin standing outside his yard.

“I left and I go inside, then me lil’ niece come and said that somebody just jook Lloyd and when I go outside, I ain’t see no body, all I see is a crowd on Punt Trench,” she stated.

The woman explained that she did not follow the crowd and sat in her house, waiting for the man to return from the hospital; however, she was later told that he died.

The neighbour said she had known Benjamin for several years and disclosed that he was living alone in the rented lower-flat apartment of a two-storey house. She noted that Benjamin was a Muslim and used to attend mosque regularly. Persons in the area were tight-lipped about the incident.

emy in an alien territory.

Skill demonstrations

Officer Cadet Lawrence King took the enthused onlookers through tips on tying knots and setting traps,

while his colleagues Obitre Hytmiah, Shaheed Zaiboon and Lawrence King illustrated how to light fires, as well as prepare resting spots and food safe to consume. Among them was the coconut worm which King bravely consumed much to the horror of the onlookers.

Officer Cadet Austin Flores from the Belize Defence Force (BDF) was part of a three- man team illustrating the types and use of teaching aids common in the army, while, at a another section, the different categories of weapons were on display. As part of this demonstration, the officer cadet skilfully disassembled and reassembled the weapons within seconds while blindfolded.

At another section of the base, there was endurance training and falling plate shoot which officer cadets were given 20 seconds to complete. A few minutes

later, a team rappelled from the Bell 412 helicopter.

At the end of what can be described as an exciting and enlightening day, Prime Minister Hinds addressed the gathering, saying how thrilling the exercise was and how proud he was of the men and women dedicating their services to the nation.

“All over the world and at all times, there’s a certain pride in serving the people, in serving one’s nation and it’s good to see that that spirit is alive and well. Our disciplined forces, we look to them to promote and maintain order and discipline in our country, and to do that, our disciplined forces need also to be good examples,” Prime Minister Hinds said. The Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School was named in 1980 in honour of then GDF Commander, Colonel Ulric Pilgrim who provided yeoman service to the force.

Crown cabs duo die in accident

taxi driver and a trainee dispatcher attached to the Crown Cabs Taxi Service were last night killed during an accident on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Dead are driver Percival Chester and trainee dispatcher Tiana Holder. Guyana Times was unable to get details on the circumstances surrounding the accident.

However, reports are that the duo was on their way to the wake of Vanessa Vyphuis, a dispatcher of the said taxi service who was gunned down last week, when gold miner Deryck Kanhai went on a shooting rampage at his Middle Street business.

Two policemen and another taxi driver were also killed in that incident.

Man shot during confrontation with police

Police Sunday night shot and injured a man and were pursuing three others following a confrontation on George Street,

Georgetown Sunday night. Reports are that police had trailed the men from Bent Street and when they were about to effect an ar-

rest on George Street, gunshots rang out. During the incident, one of the men, Devon McLean, was shot while three oth-

ers escaped and ran into a house. Police for several minutes searched the area, but the men apparently disappeared.

Inmates set fire to Camp Street prison

Ranks of the Tactical Services Unity (TSU) rushed to the Camp Street Prison Sunday afternoon to quell what was developing into a riot when inmates set fire to their mattresses, causing panic in the jailhouse and surrounding communities over poor living conditions.

Up to late Sunday night, authorities had beefed up security in and around the penitentiary as investiga-

tions commenced into the prisoners’ behaviour. It is not the first time prisoners at the overcrowded Camp Street facility have set their mattresses alight to call attention to administrative and other accommodation issues at the jail.

The TSU ranks later cordoned off the area shortly before firefighters had put out the blaze. From outside, the jailhouse inmates were heard shouting that

their lives are being threatened and that prison officers allegedly molested some of them. Sources say the unrest began about 18:00h when prison wardens began searching for an object that was thrown over the Camp Street fence.

The inmates reacted angrily and began banging the building, prompting the deployment of riot squad police to quell the unrest.

Youth battered to death outside night club

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

Ayoung man was beaten to death in the wee hours of Sunday morning outside a popular night spot at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is 18-year-old Dhanraj Budhan called “Troy” of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Reports reaching this newspaper revealed that the young man was at the “Fantasy Night Club” in Lusignan with friends when he left to go outside sometime around 01:30h. Further reports stated that Budhan got into an argument with some other young men, resulting in them attacking him, using a broken bottle and pieces of wood.

According to a police release, “The young man was reportedly involved in a bitter argument with three other young men and the argument became violent leading to a bloody altercation. During the altercation, the

18-year-old was beaten with pieces of wood and lashed to the face and parts of his body with bottles and other articles.”

The man, who was found hitting Budhan outside of the club, was admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital under police guard. He is nursing several injuries about his body. The police are also looking for two other men believed to have had a hand in the death of Budhan.

Broke down

The dead man’s aunt, Denny Singh broke down in tears when Guyana Times visited her home. Budhan had moved in with her after his mother died over a year ago. The woman disclosed that her husband went on the road on Sunday morning and returned shortly after telling her that her nephew was beaten and taken to the hospital.

“Me and my husband and my sister went to de hospital and they ask for the close relative, so I go in, but they didn’t tell me he died.”

She disclosed that when she went into the emergency ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital, she saw a young man on a bed, but did not see her nephew and left.

But her husband went in and was given Budhan’s belongings and she was subsequently told that the young man died. She said the police told her that the young man she had seen at the hospital was the person who

Two killed, one injured in West Dem crash

told this newspaper that she heard the driver, who has been taken into to custody, was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the accident. Ally broke down in tears, saying that her husband of 26 years was a kind person and loved his family. “He loved his three daughters and two granddaughters. He is not a rowdy person, he come home, look at the TV then he gone go take his granddaughter out on the road to walk and come home and be with us all the time,” she related.

murdered Budhan.

The woman recalled that her nephew left Saturday night around 19:00h with some friends to go drop something off at his father’s place in La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara. She said that was the last time she saw or heard from him.

Friend’s account

Meanwhile, a friend, Akash, who was with Budhan at the night spot, told this newspaper that while they were at the night spot, the young man left, saying he will be back in a few minutes. “I thought he gone at de bar and then we hear it get fight so when we go out now, we see a man deh over me friend lashing he with a bottle and a wood,” he recalled.

Akash said persons around pulled the man away and held onto him until the police came. He said they then took Budhan to the hospital where he died. Budhan’s friend identified the alleged killer as a man from Good Hope called “Tarzan”.

The young man was described as a good person who always had a smile on his face, no matter the situation. “He always used to smile even when you quarrel on he, he don’t say anything, he does just stay there and don’t hold malice over no one,” the aunt said.

Budhan leaves to mourn his brother and sister who live at La Bonne Intention with their father.

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

Two men are dead and a third is critically injured after an early morning accident at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Cost Demerara on Sunday.

The accident occurred sometime around 06:00h.

Dead are Juman Ally, 56, a conductor of Lot 27 De Willem Village and Hasid Mohammed Bulla, 52, of Lot 150, East Meten-Meer-Zorg.

According to reports, the two men were on the road awaiting transportation to go to work when a motorcyclist known as “Davo”, also from Meten-Meer-Zorg, stopped. The men were talking when a car heading to Parika ploughed into them, hitting the motorcyclist before picking up the two other men, dragging them about 40 yards away. Ally and Bulla, both of whom sustained severe injuries, were rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where they both succumbed to their injuries while the motorcyclist was admitted at the West Demerara Regional Hospital in a critical condition.

Guyana Times was told that the driver of the motor car is a soldier and was believed to be intoxicated at the time of the accident. An eyewitness suggested that he might have fallen asleep

behind the wheel since he swerved at the corner of the road, where the men were.

“Lil bit more he woulda end up in the trench because he swerve till ah corner pon de road and is best like he de go in de trench because then them man na woulda dead,” said the eyewitness known as “Buckman”.

Shock When this newspaper visited the home of the two men, their grieving families were still in shock over their sudden death.

At the home of Bulla, relatives and close friends gathered to extend their condolences to his family. The man lived with his wife, Nafeeza Ally and his 73-year-old mother. He has three daughters, all of whom are married. Ally said her husband left home around 05:55h for work at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate; however, at 06:30h, she was informed by someone that he was involved in an accident.

“When I go, I didn’t see him on the road, then I went to cottage hospital and saw my husband lie down on a bed. He was unconscious and the nurse them tell me he can’t make it, he died,” she recalled.

The woman disclosed that Bulla sustained injuries to his head and stomach. She

Meanwhile, at the home of 56-year-old Juman Ally, his sister Shairol Rajkishun expressed her disbelief at the fact that her brother, who she watched leave the house hours earlier, was gone.

Sad news

She said that her brother, who stays in a downstairs apartment of her home, got up around 05:30h and got ready for work. The woman said she got up around 06:00h and was at the wash stand in her yard when a man came and told her that Ally was in an accident.

Rajkishun said she left to go on the road where she confirmed the news. She then went to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. “When I reach there, they de done wrap up he body already and I just get a glimpse of he and they carry he away to de parlour. I didn’t even get to see what kind injuries he get,” the woman stated.

She said Ally has been staying with her for the past seven years and was good company for her and her son. “He was a ok boy, he never trouble anybody. The only thing is that he does tek he lil drink but he don’t behave bad.” Another sister, Bibi Mekchand described her brother as a quite person. “He was loving and bright in his face. My children had a lovely time with him,” she said.

Women miners rescue four victims of TIP

A14-year-old girl is among four victims who were rescued by the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) in Mahdia over the weekend.

According to four girls, ages 14, 16 (two of them) and 17, they were freed from modern-day slavery when GWMO President Simona Broomes and her team moved into Mahdia, Region Eight.

According to News Source, the youngest of the four complained bitterly about her experience as a trafficked victim. The teenager reportedly ventured into the interior in search of a job, but was badly beaten by a shop owner who subsequently forced her into prostitution. The three other victims were also reportedly forced to have sexual intercourse in exchange for money,

with the proceeds channelled to the shopkeepers.

It was also reported that GWMO hired special transportation to transport the victims to Georgetown to be handed over to the Human Services Ministry. Less than a month ago, regional officials indicated that there were human trafficking ongoing in Mahdia, but said persons were reluctant to share information, hence there was no record of it in the legal books.

In an interview with News Source, Broomes advocated for the government of Guyana, in particular, the Human Services Ministry and the Guyana Police Force to play more integral roles in the fight against human trafficking.

It is alleged that one of the trafficked victims had solicit-

ed the help of a rank from the Mahdia Police Station but to no avail. The GWMO has rescued more than 10 females for 2013 who were reportedly trafficked to Guyana’s interior locations.

In June, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry honoured Broomes as one of the 2013’s nine Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Heroes. “At the June 19 TIP Report rollout event, Secretary Kerry paid special tribute to the 2013 TIP Report in the global fight against modern slavery... In 2013, nine people were chosen as TIP Report Heroes in the fight against Modern-Day Slavery. Broomes was selected from among the many impressive nominees from around the world,” the U.S. embassy stated in a release as it broke the news.

New partnership to raise financial awareness

The Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (Lok Jack GSB) and the Caribbean Financial Planning Association (CFPA) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in hosting joint seminars, workshops and tutorials in financial planning, financial literacy and related topics for professional advisers, business owners, students and the general public.

This strategic partner-

ship, between a leading business school and an upcoming professional association, is expected to raise the bar in financial awareness and competence over time for consumers in the region, empowering them towards becoming financially self-reliant.

CFPA president Lloyd Ince explained: “Often, financial planning is used merely as a sales lever to market products, not always to the best advantage of the individ-

ual or business consumer. The problem occurs because many consumers are not as financially literate as they ought to be and many financial advisers are commission-dependent to live.

Lok Jack GSB and the non-profit CFPA are committed to addressing this imbalance by providing much-needed education and training to financial advisers and planners to help them deliver higher quality service. (Trinidad Guardian)

Apple buys Israel’s PrimeSense for US$345M

Apple has bought PrimeSense, an Israeli maker of chips that enable three-dimensional (3D) machine vision, for US$345 million, the Calcalist financial newspaper reported on Sunday without citing sources. PrimeSense has raised US$85 million from Israeli and U.S. venture capital funds such as Canaan Partners Global, Gemini

Europe

Israel and Genesis Partners, Calcalist said.

“We are focused on building a prosperous company while bringing 3D sensing and natural interaction to the mass market in a variety of markets such as interactive living room and mobile devices,” a spokeswoman for PrimeSense said. “We do not comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing and

we do not relate to rumours or recycled rumours.”

PrimeSense’s sensing technology, which gives digital devices the ability to observe a scene in three dimensions, was used to help power Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect.

The acquisition of PrimeSense would be Apple’s second purchase of an Israeli company. It bought flash storage chip maker Anobit in January 2012. (Reuters)

British nuclear energy industry could attract South Korean investment

South Korea could become the next nation to take a stake in the British nuclear industry as the financing deal with France and China for a new reactor at Hinkley Point in Somerset creates a wave of wider interest.

The move could trigger controversy because the Korean atomic industry has been hit by a scandal over fake safety certificates but

the UK and South Korea have vowed to help restore credibility and build closer links in this sector. Lloyd’s Register, which provides risk management services, has been hired by Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company to help give the country’s reactors a clean bill of health.

But senior executives for the London-based Lloyd’s say the relationship is a two-way process with the Koreans also

looking at the best route to enter the British market in the aftermath of the Chinese investment in Hinkley Point.

“Discussions are ongoing and I would not be surprised to see, in a year or so’s time, the Koreans taking an equity investment in the UK market,” said Richard Clegg, a managing director at Lloyd’s Register and a former chief scientist at the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment. (The Guardian)

Zimbabwe: Platinum refinery now a matter of urgency

The latest report by UKbased platinum refiner Johnson and Matthey projecting an increase in platinum supplies probably amplifies the calls for the establishment of a platinum refinery for beneficiation of the precious metal in Zimbabwe.

There is a strong feeling in most government quarters that Zimbabwe is losing substantial amounts of potential revenue by exporting raw or semi-processed metal.

There is no doubt in eve-

ryone’s mind that setting up a refinery in Zimbabwe to give platinum more value would have massive direct and indirect benefits through increased export inflows, new jobs and downstream linkages.

It becomes justifiably worrisome when reports indicate that the very resource the country has in limitless abundance is actually in short supply on the international market yet the country is unable to maximise returns from the

mineral.

Talk about establishment of a platinum refinery in Zimbabwe has been on the table for a long time, but very little in terms of practical action has happened since. While miners have unequivocally expressed willingness to set up a local refinery the process is painstakingly slow, raising aspersions on the operators and their foreign shareholders’ sincerity and commitment to implementing the initiative. (allAfrica)

Asia shares edge ahead, Tokyo climbs six-month peak

Asian share markets crept cautiously higher today, encouraged both by the prospect of extended stimulus in the United States and real economic reform in China.

A weaker yen helped Tokyo’s Nikkei add another 0.2 per cent to reach a six-month peak. The index amassed its biggest weekly rise in four years last week.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.5 per cent, having gained 1.3 per cent on

Middle East

Friday for its best daily rise in almost two months.

Singapore shares gained 0.3 per cent as data showed exports beat forecasts in October.

It is another important week for U.S. monetary policy as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks on “Communication and Monetary Policy” on Tuesday.

The day after the central bank releases minutes from its October policy meeting, which will get trawled for hints on when it might start

winding back its asset buying programme.

Last week, presumptive Fed chief Janet Yellen sounded in no rush to taper, reinforcing market speculation that any move was more likely in March than December. “If Fed officials think a December tapering is a realistic possibility, some hints to that effect would presumably make their way into the minutes this week,” said Michelle Girard, chief U.S. economist at RBS. (Reuters)

UAE’s First Gulf Bank to expand into new foreign markets

First Gulf Bank will expand into three or four new foreign markets in 2014, seeking to push the percentage of its profit contributed by international operations into double digits, its chief executive said.

The second-largest lender in the United Arab Emirates by market value, majorityowned by Abu Dhabi’s royal family, expects to obtain banking licences in China and South Korea. It is also considering expanding into

Indonesia and London.

The bank’s overseas business, in Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Libya, currently contributes about seven per cent of profits. “We love Asia, there is trade flow and business, a large number of flights between Asia and the UAE,” Andre Sayegh said in an interview.

“We expect our profit from international (business) to grow to the early teens” in the short-term, he said. FGB posted third-quarter net prof-

it of Dhs1.19 billion (US$324 million), up 13 per cent from a year earlier and in line with analyst forecasts. Double-digit profit growth is sustainable on a quarterly basis and will be driven by the bank’s strong balance sheet, Sayegh said. “The bank has Dhs180 billion in assets – you can command a certain level of profitability by managing the balance sheet line by line.” (Gulf Business)

How do you decide on multiple job offers?

If you find yourself in the fortunate position of being able to decide between multiple job offers, then you will probably want to take some time to consider your options in order to choose the employment prospect that best suits you and your family.

Chances are, you have only applied to companies that you would be willing to work for. Nevertheless, if you initially applied to some less attractive prospective employers, then you can easily eliminate offers

from those companies first.

The following sections provide additional tips on how to decide on multiple job offers.

Know your priorities

Make sure you know what your work related priorities are and then assess how each company offering a job to you will help you achieve those employment goals.

Also, if remaining in your current location is important to you or your family, then make sure that you can con-

veniently commute to your prospective employer’s place of business.

Consider each offer deeply

For many people, one of the most important things to compare to help them decide on multiple job offers will be the amount of work they need to perform for the pay they will be receiving, and how convenient it will be for them to do this consistently. (Business Dictionary)

TO BE CONTINUED

Team Suriname wins duck curry competition

Cheers erupted from the crowd late Sunday evening as Team Suriname was announced the winner of the King’s Jewellery World’s “Clash of Past Champions” Duck Curry Competition.

It was not all about the curried duck at the

cured the best dressed/largest group prize.

The competition commenced at 14:00h and the

The competition saw 20 groups from Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago competing for the grand prize of $1.5 million, along with the fame that comes with being a duck curry champion.

competitors were given two hours to perfect their curries before a panel of 10 ‘erudite’ judges from across the region. The teams were judged based on presentation, aroma, texture and taste. In at second place was

G&P Jaigobin and Son Supermarket. Jaikarran Duck Curry Crew came in third, Jamal’s Ultimate Curry Crew, fourth and Mike’s Haslington Crew, fifth. Apart from those prizes, teams were also awarded for the best presentation and the best dressed/largest group. Team Suriname captured the best presentation prize while G&P Jaigobin and Son Supermarket se-

Patrons poured into the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara and were greeted by the sweet melodies from the tassa drums and from the artistes performing live onstage.

Families came out in their numbers to support the 13th annual duck curry competition and many of the

participants thanked King’s Jewellery World’s proprietor Looknauth Persaud and his wife for organising the event and bringing different cultures together. The competition was sponsored by Radio Guyana Inc, Television Guyana, Guyana Times, Guyana Lottery, Sujata Curry Powder, Digicel, Banks DIH and Queen’s Atlantic International Inc.

SUDOKU

Get in the groove and make things happen. Your enthusiasm will spark interest and allow you to stay in control of whatever situation you face. Advancement can be yours.

By Bernice Bede Osol

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

Listen and respond carefully. Giving in to demands will not help you take care of your responsibilities. A change in the way you handle pushy people will be necessary.

Sit tight and do what suits you, not what others suggest. You have more control than you realise, so you must shy away from making an impulsive move for someone else’s benefit.

Gauge what’s going on around you before making a move. You must take care of business first to ensure no one gets in your way when it’s time to play.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

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

Emotional matters may disrupt your plans. Make allowances for individuals who are facing uncertainty, but don’t take a back seat. Be brave and bold and move forward with your plans.

(March 21-April 19)

A last-minute change of plans will work in your favor. Avoid anyone trying to push you in a direction you don’t want to go. Stick to basics and control excess.

(April 20-May 20)

Take responsibility for your actions. Be ready to call the shots and make the changes that suit you best. Partnerships will be held together through courage.

(May 21June 20)

Your sudden leap to action in defence of a situation or individual will capture attention and bring you good fortune. Be true to your beliefs and carry on.

Take your place in the spotlight and call the shots. Promote your beliefs and drum up support. Your strength of character will attract both personal and professional interest.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

A personal relationship or domestic situation must not be allowed to dictate what you do. A change may be in order, but it has to be what works for you.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Follow the path of least resistance. Head in whatever direction will bring you joy. Take the time to grasp each moment and get the most out of whatever comes your way.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Put more thought behind your actions. You may feel the restless need to make a change, but you must only do so for the right reason and without introducing force.

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Bandits blitz Bladen Hall family

– victims say police haven’t done anything 24hours after

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

An East Coast Demerara (ECD) family is traumatised after gunmen held them at gunpoint during a robbery Saturday evening as they entered their yard.

Business couple Richard and Sharon Basdeo of Lot 221 Bladen Hall, ECD, returned home from selling at their stall in Stabroek Market when three men armed with handguns held them up as they drove into their yard. The men managed to get hold of the woman’s bag containing all the money from the day’s sales, along with several important documents including cheques.

The couple is calling on the authorities to look into the attitude of ranks at the Vigilance Police Station, who they said have not conducted any investigations into a reported robbery committed on them on Saturday evening.

According to Basdeo, she and her husband returned from the market around 18:30h and her son who was at home sitting outside with his sister and other relatives, went to open the gate and they drove in.

“When my husband drive in the car, me na know where three man appear from. The only thing me see is a gun pon me head; one on me, one on my husband head and one on the worker head. They said give me de bag, give me de bag with the money and they start cussing for the money,” she recalled.

Gun to chest

The woman said she was dragged out of the car and her bag was scrambled from her hand, but she managed to grabbed it away from the gunman, who snatched it away again from her and pointed his gun at her chest.

After getting possession of the bag, the three men ran out of the yard into an awaiting dark grey Allion bearing

number plate PPP 6748, and drove off. The family raised an alarm and neighbours began rushing out. The community policing group was summoned and escorted the family to the Vigilance Police Station where Basdeo made lodged a complaint and was told by ranks there that they would come the following morning to investigate.

No police visit

However, up to Sunday evening when the couple spoke to Guyana Times, there was no visit from the police. “Nothing, nothing them ain’t do up to now. When we go to the station today (Sunday), the police man was over by the shop drinking rum, yes rum! And they never come do nothing or call and say anything,” she lamented.

The woman said the incident happened so quickly, “it was like a movie”. She broke down in tears, saying “me never see nothing like this… me never face nothing like this so much years I live”.

Basdeo disclosed that the robbers also took away the car keys from her husband and went away with it. The woman’s husband, Richard, said when he drove in the yard, the three men scampered in. “After I come in the yard, I now opening the door to come out and all I hear is ‘don’t move, don’t move, pass the bag with all de money’, so I thought is somebody making jokes or something but when I watch, I see three man with three guns. I say no something wrong here so I open the door to come out and they push me back in then one of them tek de gun and put it to my chest and hunching me and tell me he gone kill me,” the businessman said.

The couple noted that the unmask robbers were youths, but one of them had a kerchief stuffed in his mouth. They related that two of the gunmen were tall and slim while the other was a short man.

Overseas-based Guyanese gives back to cycling

In a kind gesture on Sunday, overseas-based Guyanese cyclist Scott Savory presented a quantity of cycling outfits to local riders who competed in the seventh annual “Ride for Life” five-stage cycling meet.

Savory, who is based in New York as licensed real estate salesperson, handed out over 200 pieces of branded clothing to the riders at the conclusion of the fivestage presentation ceremony at the National Cultural Centre.

Gordon wants to play for Guyana again

By Ravendra Madholall in Toronto

His confidence is very high as he aspires to play for his native country Guyana once again at the 2014 West Indies Cricket Board’s regional limitedover and four-day tournaments.

Right-arm quickie

Jeremy Gordon is passionate about the move and has begun assiduous preparation to make it a reality.

Savory said he was pleased to give back to the Guyanese riders, and thanked local company Queensway for handling the duty and shipping associated with getting the outfits here.

Young cycling programme, the oldest nursery in the Caribbean.

National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed was delighted at the initiative by Savory. He said the young man started his cycling career at annual Teach Them

“It’s commendable what he has done here today [Sunday], and I want to thank him very much on behalf of the cyclists and the cycling fraternity,” Mohamed said.

Vettel takes record eighth win in row at U.S. GP

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel set a new record for consecutive wins in a single season with victory in the United States Grand Prix.

Vettel has won eight races in a row, breaking the mark held by Michael Schumacher and Alberto Ascari.

Lotus’s Romain Grosjean held off Red Bull’s Mark Webber for second.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was fourth, fending off Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.

The Spaniard’s fifth place secured him second place in the world championship to Vettel, who tied up the title in India three races ago.

Vettel has been unbeatable since Formula 1 returned from its mid-summer break at the Belgian Grand Prix, winning all the races and taking five pole positions, and three second places on the grid.

His win in Texas, the 38th of his career, followed the manner of so many others. (BBC Sport)

“We’ve been taught a lesson,” says Sammy

Darren Sammy has admitted that West Indies were exposed completely by the 2-0 defeat against India after threeday defeats in both Kolkata and Mumbai. Sammy admitted West Indies learned a “lesson” but said that his team was better than the result would indicate.

“Yes, it’s very disappointing. We never turned up in the series,” Sammy said.

“We left the Caribbean at the back of six Test victories, against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Coming here really taught us a lesson, exposed us, taught us how far we are behind the top four teams in the world. We’ve just not turned up.”

Sammy said West Indies were aware about how cricket would be secondary in the series that was Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell to

cricket. But in the end they ended being too benevolent to India, Sammy felt.

“I was speaking to a good friend of mine and he summed it up very well. He said we knew you were coming here to a celebration, and (hope) you got a lot of gifts. That’s what we did. Rohit making his debut Test series, gifts - two hundreds. Mohammed Shami making his debut, gifts - lots of wickets. We just didn’t turn up.

“And I personally have been very disappointed, not just for me but for the team as well. It’s a good lesson for us, as we head down to New Zealand, for our next Test series, we’ve got to bounce back and come back strongly,” he said.

However much honest Sammy can be, West Indies have a lot of areas to improve on. The maximum West Indies lasted across

their four innings was 78 overs; In their second innings in Mumbai they failed to last even 50 overs. Only Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin managed to hit half-centuries.

Kemar Roach’s shoulder injury at the outset of the series exposed the bowling completely as Tino Best, despite his honest toil, remained inconsistent and Rohit Sharma extracted maximum advantage of the Barbadian’s wayward bowling by picking easy runs.

The only bright spark was offspinner Shane Shillingford, who finished as joint second-highest wicket-taker (11) in the series. Unfortunately for him, he did not have any partner who could multiply the pressure he was trying to create and that allowed India an easy escape route many

times.

“We won six Test matches against teams we were ranked higher than,” Sammy said. “Now we play against team that are ranked higher than us, it was an opportunity to showcase what we have. What we displayed over the last two Test matches, or over six days, we’re much better than that. If you look at the way we played, every time we’ve been under pressure, we’ve not responded well.”

In his post-mortem of the defeat in Kolkata, Sammy had pointed West Indies were defeated in the mind. Today he once again cited the same reason. “I guess it’s is a mental thing. Myself as captain has not led from the front at all in this series. We deserve all the criticism that and the comments that have been thrown at us,” Sammy said. (Cricinfo)

Currently representing Canada at the 2013 ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Dubai, the Berbician stated just before his departure that as soon as he returns to North America early December, he will be heading down to Guyana to vie for a spot on the national team.

The selection of the Guyana squad will be based on player’s intercounty participation and the 26-year-old Gordon is fully aware of prerequisite; he is ready to link up with Guyana National Industrial Corporation’s first-division team in Georgetown.

Gordon played four first-class matches for Guyana before his migration in 2006 to Canada, while he represented the country at the Under-19 level and was also a reserve player for West Indies youth side in late 2006.

Notably, he said he has the desire to represent both countries simultaneously and is very enthusiastic to be an asset for them with his bowling prowess. He further emphasised the importance of consistency, and is cognisant of the fact that wickets will be the key to his successful endeavours.

Since his arrival in Canada, Gordon began playing professionally. He was a member of Vikings Cricket Club before he switched across to Brampton Masters Cricket Club, the 2012 Elite champion.

His recent success for Canada in the fourday version immediately prompted the lively bowler to contemplate on the opportunity, and according to him, he spoke to executives of the club and county board back home about his profound interest.

“I want to play back for Guyana at the senior level next year; I have given up my job and started to focus on my game; I [am]

heading to Dubai to represent Canada in the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers and I am indeed confident we will be advancing to the World Cup next year to take part in the huge event,” Gordon indicated. He picked up an eightwicket haul against the visiting Netherlands at King City, while he has been a consistent performer for Canada since he made his debut in 2011, ironically in the Caribbean at the T20 tournament.

The young talented bowler always feels that hard work and commitment are two essential ingredients in becoming a successful athlete. He has developed a good work ethic and wants to remain physically and mentally fit for these high-level competitions.

“I think I can do it for both Canada and Guyana; I am always willing to learn more and more about bowling and once you stay fit I think you can give 100 percent on the field; I had success for Guyana and now Canada and that has given me the confidence to make an impression in North America and the Caribbean,” he explained.

At the moment, Gordon also harbours a Test claim since he will be having an ample opportunity to break into the West Indies side once he is given the chance to play for Guyana at the first-class level.

Before he moved across to Canada permanently, Gordon played first-division cricket for Bermine Sports Club in Berbice with tremendous success and it was there his talent was spotted.

Meanwhile, some of the Guyanese who played regional youth and firstclass cricket and then represented Canada on the international scene are Fazil Sattaur, Sunil Dhaniram, Eon Katchay, Nicholas DeGroot, Hemnarine Chattergoon and Damodar Daesrath among others.

“Five-stage here to stay,” says Sport Minister

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony has given the assurance that the annual “Ride for Life” five-stage cycling event will continue, even if the ministry does not find able and willing partners to collaborate with.

The seventh annual event concluded on Sunday afternoon with a gala presentation ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, where Dr. Anthony made the commitment during his feature address.

The “Ride for Life” was first held in 2007 with the Health Ministry providing the finances and partnering with the Sport Ministry, National Sports Commission and the Guyana Cycling Federation

A slice of history for Deonarine

John Agard. Rohan Kanhai. Clive Lloyd. Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Leona Lewis. Guyana’s population is less than a million but those five names are universally acclaimed.

Now, there’s Narsingh Deonarine - a name that will echo in this part of the world for a few decades, at least Deonarine, no more than a handy spinner, will go down as the last man to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar.

Even if Deonarine were to finish with 5,000 runs and 200 wickets in Test cricket, his profile will highlight his biggest claim to fame, above anything else.

For analysts of the sport though, the worst fear had come true. Tendulkar, like

many past batting greats, fell to a lesser bowler. Don Bradman to Eric Hollies. Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards were removed by Lauri Mayne (19 career wickets). Vivian Richards was dismissed by David Lawrence (18 career wickets).

Unlucky nick

And now Tendulkar too, after facing just nine balls from Deonarine, fell to a short and wide delivery that he’d have dispatched for a boundary otherwise. Cricket and its idiosyncrasies!

Deonarine represents the largest ethnic group in Guyana, the Indo-Guyanese – descendants of indentured labourers from India, who make up close to half of the

nation’s population.

Guyana and Mumbai share an interesting connection. Sunil Gavaskar scored his maiden Test century in Guyana.

Johannes Gerrit de Krujif wrote in “Guyana Junction”: “Ever since Hindi movies were released in Guyana, mythical India has not only accommodated Hindu heroes and heroines but housed Bombay’s movie stars as well. Their appearance and manners intrigue many East Indians.”

Clearly, Deonarine didn’t take kindly to all that hero worship. And Bollywood stars at the ground are sure to dismiss any prospect of his acting in a movie, unless it’s in a villain’s role. (www.windiescricket.com)

to stage the gruelling 266mile race, which covers all three counties of the country.

According to Dr Anthony however, the Sport Ministry was forced to finance the race this year, since their counterparts from the Health Ministry did not receive the requisite funding from an international donor body to offset the expenses.

He assured the gathering of riders, race officials and executives of the cycling fraternity that the Sport Ministry in collaboration with the National Sports Commission will ensure the race continues way into the future.

Dr Anthony revealed that a meeting with key

stakeholders of the sport will be called shortly to discuss the way forward.

“We will be looking to partner with corporate bodies, but I want to assure you that should all options fail, the Sport Ministry will continue to fund this race,” Dr Anthony promised to rapturous applause.

The main objectives of the “Ride for Life” fivestage are to increase awareness and knowledge about HIV/Aids among participants and the general public; increase HIV/ Aids activism and volunteerism among the participants and inspire them to become ambassadors in the fight against HIV/Aids.

(Avenash Ramzan)

Haye advised to retire after major shoulder surgery

Former world heavyweight champion

David Haye has been advised to retire after major shoulder surgery.

The 33-year-old Briton had a five-hour reconstruction operation on his right shoulder in Germany on Thursday.

“The boxing gods keep hinting that maybe enough is enough,” said Haye, who has cancelled his February 8 bout with Tyson Fury.

“It’s a crushing blow for me. This wasn’t how I wanted to end 2013. Perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Haye announced his retirement in October 2011, three months after losing his WBA belt to Ukrainian Wladimir Klitscho in Germany, but he returned to the ring the following year.

“The surgery and subsequent results are a bitter pill to swallow because I truly felt I had a lot more to offer,” Haye said.

“But I’ve been boxing for 23 years now, amateur and pro, and this has clearly taken its toll on my body.

“I genuinely believed the shoulder injury wasn’t that bad. But the doctor sent me for a detailed MRI

scan and within 24 hours I was told the full extent of the damage. Twenty-four hours after that I was in the operating theatre.

“I had big plans for next year and the ultimate goal was to win back the world heavyweight title.

“What I didn’t anticipate was that this year would be the unluckiest of my career and that a number of injuries would disrupt my plans so much.

Earlier in his career, Haye became European cruiserweight champion and went on to win the WBC, WBO and WBA world titles before stepping up to heavyweight.

He beat WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev in Germany in November 2009 to become the first Briton to hold a world heavyweight crown since Lennox Lewis.

Haye’s most recent fight was a knockout win over Dereck Chisora at London’s Upton Park in July 2012, one of only two fights he has had since 2010.

His scheduled June fight with German Manuel Charr was cancelled when Haye sustained a hand injury.

He was originally due to fight Fury in Manchester in September but the bout was rearranged for February after Haye suffered a cut above his left eye in training.

Fury’s uncle and trainer, Peter Fury, said he was not surprised by the news that February’s fight had been cancelled.

“From the moment Haye postponed in September, it was obvious this fight wasn’t going to happen,” he told BBC Sport.

“The public have been duped. Tyson will fight someone else in February. We’ll get the show back on the road and we’re glad we don’t have to do business with these people ever again.”

Haye added: “If I’m now destined to have won the European Championship, the unified world cruiserweight championship and the WBA heavyweight championship of the world - with a record of 28 fights, 26 wins, 24 victories coming via knockout and only two defeats - then so be it.

“I’m proud of these achievements and consider my boxing career a huge success.”

Jeffrey wins “Ride for Life 7”

– Hinds takes

By Avenash Ramzan

Linden’s Orville Hinds rode brilliantly to win the final leg from Linden to Georgetown, but could not prevent Raynauth Jeffrey of Team Coco from emerging with overall top honours when the seventh annual “Ride for Life” five-stage cycling meeting concluded on Sunday on Homestretch Avenue.

The final stage, which attracted 32 starters, was won by Hinds of the newly formed United Bikers Club in a time of two hours, 37 minutes, 58 seconds (02h: 37m: 58s).

It was a remarkable performance from Hinds, who suffered a fall at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, but splendid riding by his teammates brought him back into the contention and eventually allowed him to win the stage.

Team Coco’s Darren Matthews of Barbados and Geron Williams, who won the event in 2009, finished second and third respectively.

Jeffrey, who won the opening stage from Corriverton to New Amsterdam on Thursday last and extended his dominance with victory on the penultimate stage in Essequibo on Saturday, emerged with an overall winning time of 10 hours, 05 minutes, 33 seconds (10h: 05m: 33s).

Jeffrey’s time was far slower than last year’s winning time of nine hours, 46 minutes, 51 seconds (09h: 46m: 51s) by fellow teammate Jaime Ramirez. Ramirez’s time is incidentally the record for the five-

stage.

final leg from Linden to Georgetown

Roraima Bikers Club’s Alanzo Greaves, who won the inaugural event in 2007, finished second in a time of 10 hours, 06 minutes, 25 seconds (10h: 06m: 25s), followed by Darren Matthews (10h: 06m: 50s), Geron Williams (10h: 07m: 16s), Godfrey Pollydore (10h: 07m: 08s), Orville Hinds (10h: 08m: 25s), Paul DeNobrega (10h: 08m: 56s), Robin Persaud (10h: 09m: 34s), Jaime Ramirez (10h: 09m: 42s) and Hamzah Eastman (10h: 09m: 56s) in that order.

Linden’s Eastman, who

rides for United Bikers Club, copped the Junior category, ahead of Shaquille Agard and Akeem Arthur, while the evergreen Raymond Newton won the Veteran’s division, leaving Junior Niles, who won the overall five-stage title in 2008, and Ralph Williams to settle for second and third positions respectively.

Naomi Singh was the lone female who competed in the gruelling 266mile road race, and she was duly recognised by Sport Ministry Dr Frank Anthony, who presented three special prizes on his personal behalf. The other two went to up and coming rider Kravitz Jeffrey of

Linden for promise he has shown and United Bikers Club for their exceptional teamwork during the fivestage.

Stage two from Rosignol to Georgetown was won by Darren Matthews, while stage three from Wales to Parika was won by Robin Persaud of Guyana.

Successful race

Delivering feature remarks at the closing ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, Dr Anthony lauded all the stakeholders for putting together yet another successful race.

The race was sponsored by the Sport Ministry with support from the Health Ministry, the Guyana Cycling Federation and the National Sports Commission. The minister also highlighted the crucial role members of the Guyana Police Force played in maintaining order on the roadways, noting that they did a fine job.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar echoed similar sentiments, adding that the race will be held again next year, and preparations will begin in earnest. President of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Cheryl Thompson, commended the cyclists for their bravery during the last four days, adding that the federation is hoping to host the event much earlier next year, probably in October.

North Georgetown ready to defend title at “Nationals” Director of Sport meets powerlifters

By Treiston Joseph

The battle lines have been drawn and weapons set as 15 districts prepare to unleash a barrage of attacks to march towards that one goal, that one trophy and that one title that North Georgetown (District 11) so sacredly protects heading into the 53rd edition of the National School’s Athletics, Swimming and Cycling Championships on Tuesday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

District 11’s recent run of success- they have won four out of the last six titles- has them on level pegging as the most successful district in championship history alongside Upper Demerara River (Linden) and Kwakwani (District 10) with 13 overall titles to their name.

With a win this year, North Georgetown, like District 10, has the opportunity to solely boast of being the most successful district in the championships’ history, an accolade both archrivals would want to achieve, further intensifying the meaning of the endless battles at the championships.

However, being the defending champions District 11 has the right to be called the favourites to win it again, especially since they have been the most successful in recent memory.

Confidence high

Just how confident the purple and white [team colours] district is of retaining the coveted title? Sports representative Mariska Williams is optimistic and positive about the outcome.

“There is much more competition this year; most of the districts have been bragging and that will push us. So with the increased competition I think we will perform better, so we are very confident,” Williams told the Guyana Times Sport in a telephone interview.

North Georgetown boasts a strong swimming team; the fact that they have not lost a swimming title in the last five years

is solid enough justification of their prowess in the water.

The track and field team more times than not finishes in the top five, as it boasts some of Guyana’s best juniors, while the cycling and teacher’s teams are good enough to place in the top ten.

Knowing their weaknesses, Williams explained that preparations for the championships went great and it is now up to the athletes to perform.

“The preparation was great and everything is set and it is just left for us to participate; we are confident in the swimming as usual, the track takes care of itself, but we will have some competition in the teachers and hopefully our cycling team improves this year. I especially hope the male cyclist gets better so we are able to place better,” Williams told this publication.

With North Georgetown set to break the deadlock between themselves and district 10 for the most overall titles at the event, Williams knows what such a feat would mean to not just North Georgetown, but to Georgetown as a whole.

“It would be a great achievement for us and the main fact that we always try to set precedence it would be a great boost for us as an exec, for our athletes and for the district,” Williams noted.

Kitchen area

Meanwhile, Williams was quick to outline that she was not pleased with the kitchen area at the North Georgetown Primary School.

“The sleeping arrangement is okay; the cooking is alright but the kitchen area is not adequate because there is no place to store the goods and the cooking utensils; there is a lot of sand around the area,” Williams revealed.

As all 16 of the districts settle in their camps today on the eve of the championships, preparing to launch their attacks in hope of winning, North Georgetown is set to retaliate with weapons of their own.

The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation on Sunday hosted its national senior open powerlifting championship at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue. Over two dozen lifters from all parts of the country took part in the activity, which was hosted by the federation with the aim of selecting the best group of lifters to represent Guyana at regional and international tournaments in 2014. Prior to the start of the competition, Director of Sport Neil Kumar greeted the lifters, while he reminded them of their roles as not just ambassadors of the sport, but the country as a whole. He urged the lifters to continue working hard and win more medals whenever they represent their country. In this Avenash Ramzan photo, Kumar is seen meeting the lifters. Full details of the championship in a subsequent publication.