Guyana Times Daily

SAG buoyed by move to dredge Demerara channel

– says project could cost up to US$10M

After years of lobby-

ing by the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) and the local private sector, Government is finally making moves to dredge the silted-up Demerara River channel, which stakeholders say is costing the country billions in much-needed revenue, as larger ships cannot dock here.

The state of the river channel has also been a turnoff for a number of cruise liners –many being forced to anchor miles out and have smaller vessels shuttle in passengers.

enhance and modernise the existing port infrastructure was critical.

In delivering his $220 billion budget on Monday, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said there was urgent need for the dredging of the mouth of the Demerara River.

He said this has been the subject of considerable attention from Government, and from the private sector affected by its implications for shipping access to the river channel. He noted that the depth of the channel basin has been reduced to an unsatisfactory level, which has resulted in limitations in the draft of vessels able to utilise the river.

quired technical and other assessments.

In an immediate reaction to the announcement, SAG Chairman Desmond Sears said he is “pretty much happy that there is some movement. We have been told for quite some time dredging will be done. Well, now that some provisions have been made, what we want to see now is actual activity taking place.”

Right direction

Government and the private sector.

Sears said too that the association has not ruled out approaching multinational lending agencies, noting that the Caribbean Development Bank is one such entity prepared to lend to such ventures.

In the past, the association has said that reduced opportunities for a more significant growth pattern in the industry are inextricably linked to the delay in the dredging of the Demerara Navigational Channel to an acceptable depth.

“The consequence has been reductions of the volume of cargo per vessel being moved and increased freight costs.”

Other factors listed were the replacement of navigational aids and all accompanying infrastructure and the institution of effective port security measures. With the Demerara harbour currently the main hub of all import and export trade, the SAG had held the view that a workable solution to

The Minister said Government will establish a special purpose entity to address this matter this year, and will work closely with the private sector during 2014 to attract the necessary financing for this endeavour to commence and be successfully executed. To support the preparatory work, Budget 2014 makes an allocation of $100 million to advance the re-

Sears said this was a step in the right direction, noting that large ships do not dock here owing to the low draft of the Demerara channel. He said too that the low draft also restricts the quantity of goods being imported and exported.

Speaking to Guyana Times, Sears said that the association had done a concept study on how the river could be dredged using the publicprivate partnership model. He said from the study, it was recommended that the special purpose entity be set up.

Sears explained that this company will be looking into financing, noting that so far they have received a proposal from local firm GAICO Construction Inc, which is being studied both by the

At the moment, he said, to undertake capital dredging of the channel will cost somewhere in the vicinity of US$10 million and an additional US$1.5 million to do dredge maintenance. He said this expenditure could be easily recouped from the US$2 levy on each tonne of cargo shipped in and out of the channel, part of which will also go towards maintaining the channel.

Regarding the kinds of preparatory works to be conducted before the actual dredging is done, Sears said if they are to source the money through international lenders they would be required to conduct a hydrographic survey.

However, he said if they use GAICO, this could be avoided. The association is looking at dredging the channel to a minimum of 7.2 metres draft.

Sears said with the tide this could go up to as much as 9.4 metres, which meets

Linden Town Week to be much improved

The Linden Town Week (LTW) Committee is promising Lindeners as well as persons in the diaspora who look forward to visiting the mining town for the event every year that they expect an improved cultural and entertaining week of activity. This is according to LTW 2014 Entertainment Coordinator Tasmine Pellew. The week of activities will officially commence with an opening ceremony on April 27 at the Linden-Georgetown

minibus park, Mackenzie.

The events will be observed through to May 4. Major events include a mega gospel concert on April 28, followed by a senior citizen’s luncheon on April 29 at the Egbert Benjamin Hall and Conference Centre, Mackenzie.

Also included in the activities for that day are students’ debating, spelling bee and scrabble competi-

tions to be held inside the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) building. Additionally, flagship events include the Wismar creole night which will be held along Burnham Drive and Poker Street, on Friday, May 2. Areas in Linden such as Block 22, One Mile and Canvas City will be on show.

Pellew said the LTW Committee is working along with the Police Traffic Department to have transportation arrangements and route diversions sorted out for the Poker Street lime. Having a smooth flow of traffic during that event is a major priority, according to the

global standards and can easily accommodate large vessels with increased tonnage.

In addition, to the dredging of the channel, Sears said the association also plans to build a container terminal, to ease the congestion at the many city wharves and bring some level of order and uniformity to the shipping sector.

“If you look at it, many of the wharves are pretty close to the road and this creates major congestion when container trucks have to be moved.” He said a central wharf would reduce this significantly.

– Committee

Entertainment Coordinator.

On May 3, an art exhibition will be held at the Egbert Benjamin Hall and Conference Centre. This will be followed by the farmers’ exhibition and the job fair.

“That will be executed all week. The Linden museum will be up and running as well. We’re trying to have some of Linden’s monuments highlighted. We are having tours to the aluminium plant and the water wheel. We’re trying to bring that back into the town week (activities) this time around,” Pellew noted.

Another change in events this year will be the earlier-

than-usual hosting of the annual Miss Linden Town Week Pageant.

“What we did is we’ve switched it up a little. Instead of having the pageant on the Saturday. It will be on the 26th(April), because we want to have our queen involved in the activities this time around which is why we pushed it back,” Pellew explained. Apart from these events, there will be lots of fun activities for children. The Linden Town Week showcases the history, culture, and achievements of Lindeners and attracts persons from all walks of society each year.

GAWU wants public account for EU sugar money

By Svetlana MarShall

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

President Komal Chand said he was pleased with the $6 billion Government has allocated to the sugar industry, but it should make public its spending of the 110.1 million euros provided by the European Union for the industry.

In reacting to the allocation for the sector listed in the 2014 Budget presented by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, Chand said: “It is more pleasing to hear that the Ministry has approved another grant of $6 billion. We hope that the full sum will be released, because the industry is in need of great investment, especially in capital works for it to overcome the setback it has been witnessing over the past few years.”

Ailing sugar industry

The GAWU President said the union understands the Government’s commitment to the ailing sugar industry because of the vital role it plays in Guyana’s economy, noting that thousands of workers would reap the benefits.

Chand said this was another opportunity for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at the level of management to effectively utilise the funds. But this must start with the appointment of a new Board of Directors with an able Chairman, he stressed. He reiterated GAWU’s position that professional leadership is crucial for the industry.

“It is a long time from now, but I think the new board should be placed as early as possible.”

With regard to the EU funds, GAWU is contending that the disbursement of the funds to help the industry adjust to the cut in preferential prices as the EU sugar protocol ended commenced in 2007.

However, the Finance Minister had disclosed, during the budget presentation, that the EU funds were provided during the period 20052013.

“Given the public debate on this issue, it is useful to indicate that Government transferred a total of US$195 million to GuySuCo over the period from 2005-2013 in support of its various restricting and turnaround initiatives. This exceeds the total of €110.1 million, equivalent to US$145.9 million, received from the EU under the accompanying measures programme since its introduction,” Dr Singh said.

However, Chand said records show that EU funding, started in 2007, with Guyana receiving €91.5 million, or G$21.5 billion, from 2007 to 2011. For the years 2012 and 2013, the disbursements are said to have been about €45

million or G$10 billion.

GAWU is also of the opinion that only a portion of the total disbursements has been given to the sugar industry, for the financing of the Enmore Packaging Plant and via budgetary support.

The union is, therefore, demanding that the sugar industry receives all of the EU funds.

Chand said the union would like the Government, through the Agriculture Ministry, to clear the air by releasing critical information on the release or expenditure of the EU funds.

“We would like to sit with them and go through those numbers,” Chand posited. He further added that GAWU stands ready to sit and engage in meaningful dialogue that would include the revision of EU expenditure and investments made. “We don’t have to share incorrect information to the people of Guyana … so we would like to have the facts.”

A people’s budget

Giving his overall assessment of the 2014 National Budget presented under the theme “A Better Guyana for All Guyanese”, Chand said it was indeed a people’s budget, citing the increase given to pensioners. “Though we recognise that they fall short of our expectations, we are somewhat pleased.”

GAWU, under its umbrella union the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), was pushing for pensions to be increased to $15,000 per month to facilitate inflation and higher costs of living. Government increased the Old Age Pension from $12,500 to $13,125 per month.

Chand also applauded the move by Government to boost the Old Age Pension Electricity Assistance Programme.

The annual subsidy provided to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc for each consumer that is a pensioner will increase from $20,000 to $30,000. FITUG had proposed an increase to $25,000.

“We are very satisfied that the cash incentive to parents whose children are attending public school… [is] $10,000 per year per child. This, indeed, is very encouraging to parents to ensure their children attend school,” he added.

He noted that financial support to GPL to the tune of $3.7 billion and Linden and Kwakwani to the tune of $3.2 billion will help maintain electricity tariffs at their current level.

However, Chand expressed disappointment that FITUG’s proposal to increase the personal income tax threshold from the current $50,000 to $60,000 was not implemented. (svetlanam@ guyanatimesgy.com)

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

Port Kaituma tragedy

Afew days ago, the nation learnt through media reports, of one of the most horrific events to have taken place in recent weeks. This newspaper was one of the first to break the story about a Port Kaituma, Region One man who set his home on fire, and in the process burning his wife and four children alive.

To say that this was a gruesome tragedy considering the manner in which the woman and her young children met their demise is an understatement. It goes deeper than that, and society must pause and do some serious introspection about what is happening and what sort of action each of us can take to address the various ills our citizens are faced with.

The fact that a fellow citizen goes berserk and intentionally burns his house with his family trapped inside is enough to warrant an investigation by the relevant agencies. What were the warning signs, and why was no one intervened before the situation got out of hand? It is believed that the man was a habitual abuser to his family.

This was not the first time he behaved in such an erratic manner. Relatives alleged that he would frequently consume alcohol and use cocaine and whenever he does this, he would strip off his clothes and break anything in his way and would beat his wife and children.

The neighbours and relatives, and law enforcement authorities should have done more to arrest the situation before it got to that point. While the woman never made any report against her partner in relation to the constant abuse and threats she and her children were facing, this did not prevent others who were aware of his violent actions to alert the law enforcement authorities about what was taking place and what could likely be the outcome. It ended up with the deaths of five persons.

Hours prior to the incident, the now dead woman telephoned her mother and tearfully complained about her husband’s behaviour. The mother recalled that she visited her daughter last year and from all indications, she was not too happy.

Perhaps the woman was afraid to go to the police or she didn’t have the courage to do so. Maybe she needed some form of moral support or someone to accompany her to the police station. In this case, her neighbours, friends and relatives failed her. Society must show more concern and do what is necessary in instances like these.

This tragedy also raises questions once more in relation to the level of intelligence police have about what is really taking place in the communities under their watch. The man who carried out this attack on his family is alleged to have a history of being violent. This causes us to believe that there was some inaction on the part of the police.

Just recently, a forum organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with the Judiciary of Guyana, zoned in on some of these same issues, stressing the point that every stakeholder involved in the fight against domestic violence, must take their roles seriously. The seminar provided members of the justice sector in Guyana with the opportunity to discuss major issues confronting them in the dispensation of justice in cases of domestic abuse.

Trinidadian Clinical Psychologist, Dr Diane Douglas says the issue of domestic abuse remains an ongoing hitch in the Caribbean. She said that Guyana stands among the Caricom member states that have the worst examples of domestic violence and stands higher than the global average in violence against women and rape of children.

The tragedy is yet another example of something gone wrong in the society as five persons lost their lives in the most horrific manner, which certainly could have been avoided. The onus is on every stakeholder to take our roles seriously to end domestic abuse within our communities.

Back in time

Clean Up Campaign budget allocation will transform communities

Dear Editor,

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and its regulatory agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), joins with stakeholders and the citizens of Guyana in welcoming the announcement by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh of an allocation of $1 billion as part of a nationwide Clean Up Campaign.

The Ministry sees this move as an investment to ensure a clean and healthy surrounding, and one that will deal with the problem of improper garbage disposal across our country, particularly the Capital City of Georgetown. Minister Singh in his Budget 2014 presentation stated:

“There can be no doubt in the minds of any observer that the city of Georgetown, and indeed many other places in Guyana, have a serious sanitation problem. Piles of garbage and litter abound. The national public health hazard that this

presents, especially in the face of emerging diseases, can no longer be ignored.

“Notwithstanding the statutory responsibility of the local government bodies for maintaining the environment in our communities and neighbourhoods it is visibly evident that they have failed in the discharge of this basic duty. Government can no longer stand by in hope, waiting in vain for comatose local government bodies to address this problem.

“In an attempt to address this problem, Government will spearhead an effort that will result in the capital city, all other towns, and rural villages implementing a ‘Clean Up My Community’ action plan that will address the collection and removal of garbage as well as the reporting of residents who irresponsibly dispose of their garbage. Citizens, businesses and institutions will be tasked with ensuring that their garbage is properly discarded in appropriate re-

ceptacles.

“Efforts will be made to enlist the support of the private sector and other institutions to assume greater involvement in helping to maintain the environment in which they operate. While the support and involvement of businesses and households alike will be required to ensure the success of this initiative, Government will allocate the sum of $1 billion to this ‘Clean Up My Country’ initiative, of which the sum of $500 million will be dedicated to immediate efforts to clean the capital city.”

This initiative will build on the ongoing Pick it up Guyana Campaign and other recent efforts, such as the recently passed Litter Enforcement Regulations to tackle the problem of garbage and littering. The Ministry via the EPA will enforce the Litter Regulations, through the hiring of Litter Prevention Wardens, and an aggressive ongoing public education campaign. These in-

itiatives are being rolled out in collaboration with local government bodies, including the Mayor and City Council.

The Ministry finds it very disturbing and baffling that the Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green is reported to have said that there was no need for the money and that it is unnecessary.

The Ministry recalls that its recently held Environmental Stakeholders Consultation on March 7 with representatives from environmental, tourism, youth, businesses and other social groups, voiced their concerns about the garbage situation and urged for a nationwide, sustained effort to deal with this problem afflicting our communities.

Sincerely, Parmanand Persaud Stakeholders’ Support Officer Natural Resources and Environment Ministry

GL&SC Board reviewing report on alleged breaches

Dear Editor, The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) has noted the reports in the media in relation to its customers and the execution of a Cadastral Survey in

Lethem, Region Nine.

The GL&SC wishes to advise that arrangements are being made for the execution of the Survey by the Commission.

Regarding (alleged)

Breaches of Procedures of the Commission, we wish to advise that a review of the issue was done and the report has since been submitted to the Board of Directors of GL&SC, who are exclusively reviewing the matter.

Sincerely, GL&SC, Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana

or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

GTUC now a political forum, no longer a workers organisation

Dear Editor,

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is saddened that the good name which the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) once enjoyed has again been sullied as a result of Lincoln Lewis’ outbursts.

A few weeks ago, the PPP/C expressed the view that the GTUC is no longer a voice of the workers; in fact it has been hijacked by a selfish few who regrettably have transformed that body into a political forum for grandstanding.

In the last few weeks we have witnessed the morphing of the GTUC into a puppet in pursuit of a political and personal agenda following statements emanating from Lewis, purportedly on behalf of the GTUC.

Lewis, in his recent avowals, condemned the National

Assembly because of the motion on the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) it adopted unanimously; embarked on a confrontational rather than a negotiated course with the bauxite company RUSAL; and intruded into the privacy of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

It is to be noted that none of what Lewis said has anything to do with workers’ representation; rather they are solely matters that advances Lewis’ political agenda. It is sad to note that sections of the media make it their business to paint a rosy picture of Lewis under the guise of facilitating the GTUC and sometime, gives wide publicity to his attacks against the Government and the ruling PPP/C.

The PPP/C notes that as regards the workers at RUSAL and their issue over

the collective agreement with the company, this matter has been engaging the attention of Labour Ministry.

The Ministry has sought for a number of years to bring the parties together with a view to arriving at a consensual conclusion. While engaging in negotiations, Lewis would regularly and publicly accuse Government officials of being racial.

He went as far as to lodge an official complaint with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC). The complaint was investigated and the allegations found to be without merit. After exercising considerable patience, arbitration was imposed by the Labour Ministry.

RUSAL went to the courts and challenged the decision. Resort to the courts is a redress open to anyone. Lewis’ agenda is not reflective of workers’ interests otherwise

he would have awaited the ruling of the court, instead lashing out at the company and attacking all and sundry. Lewis’ swift condemnation and failure to accept the unanimously agreed motion by the National Assembly is another indication of the personal agenda rather than workers interests. One would have thought that the GTUC would have brought its executives together, consult with whatever membership it has and engage its allies (APNU and AFC) as a minimum before going public with a position.

The PPP/C wishes to remind Guyanese that while Lewis boasts that he speaks on behalf of organised labour, and is famous for citing Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana regarding “meaningful consultation” and hypocritically chanting the man-

tra of “good governance”, he is not prepared to walk the walk.

This is but a far cry from how a trade unionist should be working in the interest of the workers, rather in pursuance of personal egos bigger than life.

Quite recently, Lewis rudely invaded the privacy of former President Jagdeo. The PPP/C is of the view that former President Jagdeo is not only entitled to his privacy, but also to his benefits of a former President. These benefits include medical expenses.

The PPP/C upholds the rights, benefits and entitlements of all the workers in our country and is vehemently opposed to any attempt to diminish the entitlements of workers.

Lincoln Lewis’ attack on President Jagdeo’s medical

treatment entitlement has nothing to do with representation of workers rather it is nothing but a vain attempt to grab the news headlines and advance his personal, political agenda. Some newspapers have served Lewis well.

As regards the PPP/C’s position on Lewis’ political agenda, we wish to alert Guyanese to the threats which Lewis has been making should the CFATF compliant AML/CFT Bill be passed in the National Assembly.

This is clearly another manifestation of Lewis’ political extremism – a serious danger to the maintenance of the peace and good order in Guyana.

Respectfully,

Vickram Bharrat PPP/C Freedom House

Constant battle between police and citizens on human rights violations

Dear Editor,

On March 24, the world observed International Day for the Right to the Truth Surrounding Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. On this day, we honour the memory of victims of gross and systemic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice.

The Colwyn Harding Support Group, human rights groups, and other public-spirited supporters picketed outside of the Providence Magistrate’s Court, East Bank Demerara demanding justice for Harding.

Call it irony or fate that his court date coincided with such an important day for those involved in the struggle for human rights. Whatever it is, human rights groups are determined to continue the fight until Harding receives justice.

Since the incident, Harding was hospitalised for more than 33 days and has had to undergo surgery to repair his damaged intestines. He has accused the police of abusing, brutalising and raping him with a condomcovered baton.

In fact, the state in its most recent response, has said that Colwyn is not entitled to compensation despite the evidence of two medical examinations –one conducted at a private hospital in Guyana and another by a doctor in Jamaica – both indi-

cating that there was trauma to the upper rectum, and that this was consistent with Harding’s account of what had happened.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been accused of abusing their power and using sexual violence against citizens, which amount to gross human rights violations. The GPF is the state agency charged with security and protection of the citizenry, but instead has been responsible for multiple assaults on the human rights of the citizens it should be serving.

These crimes by the police, ostensibly called “interrogation”, have increasingly used sexual violence as a means of torture. Torture is a gross human rights violation for which the State’s connivance, tacit or active complicity should not be ignored.

Gross human rights violations refer too to the continuous failure to address systematic issues of discrimination and harsh treatment, whether by individuals or persons in authority.

In cases of human trafficking, the police have been accused by some of the victims of negotiating with their captors for sexual favours in return for allowing them (the captor and the trafficked) to pass through the road blocks set up to monitor persons entering the interior without proper identification.

There is a constant battle between the police and citizens when these allegations are made and oftentimes, victims do not receive justice and their voices are silenced by those in authority.

In Guyana, incidents of sexual violence are occurring on a daily basis. Women, girls, men and boys are all falling victims to this heinous crime. Just recently, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) reported that they received more than 570 cases of childhood sexual abuse for 2013.

Most recently, a 16-yearold girl ingested a poisonous substance because of continued unwanted sexual advancements by a teacher. When she refused his advances, he targeted her and treated her unfairly at school.

On February 23, a 19-yearold girl was found raped and murdered in an East Coast village. On February 17, a woman was also found raped and murdered along the Timehri backlands.

Most horrifying of all recent reports, was that of the threeyear-old child who died as a result of injuries sustained after being anally raped by a relative last year. Of dire concern too are the multitudes of rape victims who continue to suffer in silence because of this culture we have in Guyana of victim blaming.

While we have a very com-

prehensive Sexual Offences Act, it is not being fully implemented, making it even more difficult for justice to be served to survivors. In incidents where the crime is reported, few ever make it to trial and even fewer offenders are actually prosecuted. This has caused many victims not to report crimes and has resulted in a rape culture where sexual predators dwell without fear and practise their depravity with impunity.

Many organisations in Guyana have taken note of how sexual violence is destroying our society and have resolved to work harder to highlight the issue and work towards securing justice for victims.

Organisations such as Red Thread, the Society Against Sexual Orientation

Discrimination (SASOD) and Help and Shelter have been working for years to end the assault on the human rights and dignity of people. These organisations have been collaborating on these issues and on March 30 will be hosting a public forum on the use of sexual violence in gross human rights violations.

Our intention is to discuss and develop an action plan for collectively addressing these issues. The forum will be held at the auditorium of Saint Stanislaus College from 14:00h17:00h and is open to the public. We encourage all concerned citizens to come out and participate.

Finally, as we commemorate International Day for the Right to the Truth Surrounding Gross Human Rights Violations

and for the Dignity of Victims, let us remember Guyanese who have fallen victim to gross human rights violations in our country.

We very much look forward to your readers’ participation at the public forum on Sunday as we work together to end this scourge.

Yours faithfully, Wintress White, Red Thread; Danuta Radzik, Help and Shelter; Norwell Hinds, Colwyn Harding Support Group; Tiffany Barry, Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Page Foundation

How does multitasking change the way children learn?

BY ANNIE MURPHY PAUL

Living rooms, kitchens, even bedrooms: Investigators followed students into the spaces where homework gets done. Pens poised over their “study observation forms,” the observers watched intently as the students – in middle school, high school, and college, 263 in all – opened their books and turned on their computers.

For a quarter of an hour, the investigators from the laboratory of Larry Rosen, a psychology professor at California State UniversityDominguez Hills, marked down once a minute what the students were doing as they studied. A checklist on the form included: reading a book, writing on paper, typing on the computer – and also using email, looking at Facebook, engaging in instant messaging, texting, talking on the phone, watching television, listening to music, surfing the web. Sitting unobtrusively at the back of the room, the observers counted the number of windows open on the students’ screens and noted whether the students were wearing ear-buds.

Although the students had been told at the outset that they should “study something important, including homework, an upcoming examination or project, or reading a book for a course,” it wasn’t long be-

fore their attention drifted: Students’ “on-task behaviour” started declining around the two-minute mark as they began responding to arriving texts or checking their Facebook feeds. By the time the 15 minutes were up, they had spent only about 65 per cent of the observation period actually doing their schoolwork.

“We were amazed at how frequently they multitasked, even though they knew someone was watching,” Rosen says. “It really seems that they could not go for 15 minutes without engaging their devices,” adding, “It was kind of scary, actually.”

common that many of them rarely write a paper or complete a problem set any other way.

But evidence from psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience suggests that when students multitask while doing schoolwork, their learning is far spottier and shallower than if the work had their full attention. They understand and remember less, and they have greater difficulty transferring their learning to new contexts. So det-

“Parents can draw a line when it comes to homework and studying – telling their children, ‘This is a time when you will concentrate on just one thing.’”

Concern about young people’s use of technology is nothing new, of course. But Rosen’s study, published in the May issue of Computers in Human Behaviour, is part of a growing body of research focused on a very particular use of technology: media multitasking while learning. Attending to multiple streams of information and entertainment while studying, doing homework, or even sitting in class has become common behaviour among young people – so

rimental is this practice that some researchers are proposing that a new prerequisite for academic and even professional success – the new marshmallow test of self-discipline – is the ability to resist a blinking inbox or a buzzing phone.

The media multitasking habit starts early. In “Generation M2: Media in the lives of eight to 18-yearolds,” a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and published in 2010, almost a third of those surveyed said that when they were doing homework, “most of the time” they were also watching TV, texting, listening to music, or

Age of distraction: Why it’s crucial for students to learn to focus Part one

using some other medium. The lead author of the study was Victoria Rideout, then a Vice President at Kaiser and now an independent research and policy consultant. Although the study looked at all aspects of children’s media use, Rideout told me she was particularly troubled by its findings regarding media multitasking while doing schoolwork.

“This is a concern we should have distinct from worrying about how much children are online or how much children are media multitasking overall. It’s multitasking while learning that has the biggest potential downside,” she says. “I don’t care if a child wants to tweet while she’s watching American Idol, or have music on while he plays a video game. But when students are doing serious work with their minds, they have to have focus.”

For older students, the media multitasking habit extends into the classroom. While most middle and high school students don’t have the opportunity to text, email, and surf the Internet during class, studies show the practice is nearly universal among students in college and professional school. One large survey found that 80 per cent of college students admit to texting during class; 15 per cent say they send 11 or more texts in a single class period. (blogs.kqed.org)

BY KATRINA SCHWARTZ

Digital classroom tools like computers, tablets and smartphones offer exciting opportunities to deepen learning through creativity, collaboration and connection, but those very devices can also be distracting to students. Similarly, parents complain that when students are required to complete homework assignments online, it’s a challenge for students to remain on task. The ubiquity of digital technology in all realms of life isn’t going away, but if students don’t learn how to concentrate and shut out distractions, research shows they’ll have a much harder time succeeding in almost every area.

“The real message is because attention is under siege more than it has ever been in human history, we have more distractions than ever before, we

have to be more focused on cultivating the skills of attention,” said Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and author of Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence and other books about social and emotional learning.

“Children I’m particularly worried about because the brain is the last organ of the body to become anatomically mature. It keeps growing until the mid-20s,” Goleman said. If young students don’t build up the neural circuitry that focused attention requires, they could have problems controlling their emotions and being empathetic.

“The circuitry for paying attention is identical for the circuits for managing distressing emotion,” Goleman said. The area of the brain that governs focus and executive functioning is known as the prefrontal cortex. This is also the part of the brain that allows people to control themselves, to keep emotions in check and to feel empathy for other people.

“The attentional circuitry needs to have the experience of sustained episodes of concentration – reading the text, understanding and listening to what the teacher is saying – in order to build the mental models that create someone who is well educated,” Goleman said. “The pulls away from that mean that we have to become more intentional about teaching children.” He advocates for a “digital sabbath” everyday, some time when children aren’t being distracted by devices at all. He’d also like to see schools building exercises that strengthen attention, like mindfulness practices, into the curriculum.

The ability to focus is a secret element to success that often gets ignored. “The more you can concentrate the better you’ll do on anything, because whatever talent you have, you can’t apply it if you are distracted,” Goleman said. He pointed to research on athletes showing that when given a concentration test, the results accurately predicted how well each would perform in a game the next day.

(blogs.kqed.org)

PPP/C roasts Granger for criticism of public infrastructure

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) says it finds amusing the recent statements by Opposition Leader David Granger concerning the current state of the country’s infrastructure.

At a recent news conference by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Granger referred to “poor infrastructure” and how “roads, bridges, stellings, canals, and other amenities have degenerated” under the ruling party.

However, in a sharp response, the PPP/C said it cannot help but insist that Granger continues to be a stranger to the truth and can only wonder which

country he is really living. “This soldier/historian turned politician has obviously contracted amnesia resulting in his inability to recall the state of the country’s infrastructure which his PNC regime bequeathed to the people of Guyana,” the ruling party said in a statement.

According to the PPP/C, Granger needs to be reminded about the trail of destruction and degradation which occurred during “the years of PNC dictatorship”. The party said it found it necessary to jolt Granger’s memory, especially concerning the PNC’s track record and to remind him about how far we have come as a nation as regards

physical and social infrastructural development.

“The PPP finds it necessary to remind Mr Granger about the dilapidated physical infrastructure and social amenities which his party presided over during its 28 years in government. It is to be recalled that the 38 and a quarter miles of the Essequibo Coast road took a traveller over three and a half hours to traverse, while having to navigate ponds, mini hills and valleys, dead sand stretches, broken bridges and even vegetation in the middle of the road. This is what residents of and visitors to Essequibo had to endure for years.”

Insult to injury

Moreover, the PPP/C says the half-mile road stretching from the Bank of Guyana to the Pegasus Hotel was in such a deplorable state that it took half an hour to traverse that relatively short distance.

“And to add insult to injury, the GeorgetownTimehri road was another pain to endure and navigate,” the ruling party said, adding that potable water through taps at floor level was a dream for the majority of Guyanese.

“From the city to the towns and villages, the sewage and water supply sys-

Chinese national shot, robbed

AChinese national is now fearful for his life after he was robbed and shot early Tuesday morning while entering his home.

The incident occurred around 04:30h. The injured man has been identified as Jing Xong Cao of Lot 69 Hadfield Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown.

Guyana Times understands that Cao was returning home when he was attacked. Luckily, the bullet only grazed his head and did not cause much damage.

However, the incident has left the man very fear-

ful for his safety. He is currently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Speaking with this publication from the medical institution, Cao, who was struggling with his English, recalled that he was entering his home when he was attacked by an armed man. He said the man shot him and then grabbed his bag with his laptop.

He added that after he was shot, he called for help, but no one came to his rescue, so he waited until his uncle came a while after and took him to seek medi-

cal attention.

The Chinese national, who works at a restaurant, confided that he will not be able to return to his Hadfield Street home, but will be staying with a friend after he is discharged.

The man vented angrily that he had worked very hard, long hours, only for his belongings to be taken away by a thief.

When this newspaper visited the scene on Hadfield Street, neighbours said they heard the gunshots; however, they were too scared to come out and enquire.

tem were all destroyed and never rehabilitated. Village dams, feeders roads, farmto-farm-to-market roads and kokers were never maintained. Many fell into a state of total neglect.”

The PPP/C added that the country’s drainage and irrigation had completely collapsed and agriculture production was at its nadir when the people of Guyana booted out the PNC from government in free elections of 1992.

Rebuilt after 1992

“If we are to lend the proverbial ear to Granger’s claim, then we must conclude that it was the PNC dictatorship that was the cause of the destruction of our country’s social and physical infrastructure,” the party said.

According to the PPP/C, “Time to Rebuild” was the theme under which it started to rebuild Guyana’s social and physical infrastructure, noting that it is proud of the work that successive Administrations have done without boasting about it.

Listing some of its accomplishments, the PPP/C said since its term in office: 1200 schools have been built or rebuilt; hundreds of miles of roads have been built in villages all around the country; bridges

that will stand for the long term have been built from Supenaam to Charity, from Rosignol to Georgetown, and from Georgetown to Timehri.

Conversely, it said under the PNC less than 20,000 vehicles used the roadways, today there are more than 150,000 vehicles utilising the roadways. It said the Ogle International Airport and the Berbice River Bridge are testimony to what public/private partnerships can accomplish in infrastructure development under the PPP/C Administration.

“The PPP acknowledg-

es that as a nation we must look to the future and plan to ensure that what we build is maintained and that we continue with our expansion programmes. Faced with challenges such as APNU/AFC budget cuts resulting in the denial of funds for airstrips, the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the Amalia Falls Road and Hydro Project as well as the expansion of electricity and Internet connectivity, the PPP/C urges the Government to press ahead with the nation’s interest for the benefit of all Guyanese.”

Homeless man gets 30 hours’ community service for littering

Ahomeless man was sentenced to 30 hours of community service after pleading guilty to littering on Monday.

Sookram Ramnarine, of no fixed place of abode, was arraigned before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond at the

Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Ramnarine admitted that on March 20 at the Merriman Mall in Georgetown, he deposited one large orange plastic bag containing a quantity of corn skins on the road along the mall.

City Constabulary

Police Prosecutor James Garnett told the court that on the day in question, the defendant deposited the waste in the said area.

He noted that a City Constable saw Ramnarine and arrested him. The defendant was taken to the City Constabulary

Headquarters, told of the offence, and later charged.

The defendant was then sentenced by Magistrate ChandanEdmond. Ramnarine was also informed by the Magistrate that if he fails to do his community service, it would result in 20 days’ imprisonment.

Duo charged for robbery

Two men accused of armed robbery were placed on bail after they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Godfrey Perreira, 19, and Dwayne Wallace pleaded not guilty to the charge. It is alleged that on March 20 in the vicinity of

Georgetown, they robbed Deodat Singh of one bicycle valued $15,000 and $6240 in cash.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant had no objections to bail. Grant told the court that on the day in question, both defendants approached the virtual complainant (VC) on foot, and Wallace choked him before taking the money men-

tioned from his pocket. The duo then took the VC's pedal cycle and made good their escape.

Just last month, Perreira was placed on probation by the Chief Magistrate, narrowly escaping a three-year sentence for the offence of simple larceny.

He was accused of stealing one Samsung Galaxy smartphone, val-

ued $120,000, on February 6, from the car of Rodney Cooper.

Perreira was told by the Chief Magistrate that if he was found guilty of the current offence, he would be sentenced.

Bail was granted in the sum of $100,000 for each defendant. The duo is expected to make another court appearance on April 7.

Eyew tness Bludgeoning the Budget...

...in Parliament

In Guyana, budgets are special things. First of all, there must be very few countries in the world where they’re reported on in such luxurious detail. There has to be some history to this. And there is...a PNC history. There are those who carry on about the PNC being out of office for over two decades so no one “remembers” their depravities. But budgets were one of their depravities –and look how everyone’s still transfixed.

The egg-heads have a name for it – it’s called “structural transmission”. In simpler terms, the PNC budgets left so much damage on the nation that it’s become part of our folklore. We speak of damage to the “national psyche”. Back in the (PNC) day, budgets meant “punishment for all” – excepting the PNC brass who flew in their stuff from NY via Guyana Airways.

Everybody waited for budgets to see which new items would be banned. And it wasn’t just a matter of not getting the particular item – more to the point, having the said item meant you were now a criminal. The police could now enter your house, ransack your possessions and then throw you into the slammer. Parents don’t forget these things...so on rainy days they tell their stories to their children. And the fear of budgets lives on.

And this is so even though the bans are off, no new taxes have been imposed for quite a few years now, seniors are getting more money, debt has been written off, inflation is down, the schools and hospitals are fixed and... – you get the idea, don’t you? The country’s doing much better, thank you. But some fear has now returned in the minds of the people over the last two years.

Even though the PNC’s out of office, with the connivance of the AFC – with which they share the same bed and covers – they’ve taken to chopping off huge chunks of the Budget even though the courts say it’s illegal. The courts probably don’t realise that the PNC types have this THING about budgets: they should drive fear into the populace. So now that the Finance Minister has proposed a $220 billion Budget (just over US$1 billion!!!) the country’s all agog as to what’s going to be lopped off.

Last year, it was several development projects for Amerindians in the interior. The year before they’d slashed support for GPL.

So this year, are they going to demand that flour be banned? Just for old times' sake?

...by walking?

The AFC’s fighting for their survival. They just can’t deal with the body blows they’ve suffered in the last two years. How do we count the ways in which those blows landed? The Linden incitement when they shot themselves in the foot? Their Chairman Nigel Hughes meltdown and resignation in front of the subsequent Commission of Inquiry? The walkout by their NY financiers and support group? The disappearance of their local supporters like Ramsaroop! The revelations by their Councillor Haseef Yusuf? Hughes’ Sithe Saga? ....Ahhh...there are only so many fingers on one’s hands!

But it looks like Ramjattan and his rum-shop cabinet (with other people it's “kitchen cabinet”) have decided that desperate times call for desperate measures. The first one they’ve taken recently has been their decision to enter into a coalition with APNU/PNC after playing it coy for the past two years. Their cover was blown in the joint poll they took to float a trial balloon on the popularity of Donald Ramotar. They were stunned!!

But their flounce-out from Parliament, sans APNU, suggests a lovers’ spat. So soon?

...with axes?

We won’t comment substantively on the Budget in detail right now. But we do want to say that Dr Ashni Singh and team seem to have hit all the right notes. We can tell from the stunned silence of the Opposition.

Guyana, UNDP sign US$1.9M waste management pact

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry on Tuesday signed an agreement with the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Trust Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the implementation of a Solid Waste Management Project.

Guyana had acquired the funding through an open bidding process, which was held by the organisation for developing countries to submit their proposals on projects which they believe would foster growth and development while solving social issues.

A new Guyana Speaking at the event, UNDP Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa told the gathering that the United Nations board had chosen to finance Guyana’s proposal as it had reflected the strategic goals of the organisation.

She noted that in the implementation of the programme, the alleviation of poverty, health issues and improper sanitation will be accomplished while promoting tourism development.

“Where poverty exists, there is a lack of waste management and this poses health issues. And so this initiative assists in the overall plan of the Government to transform Guyana through the management of its solid waste,” she expressed.

Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana, Luiz Gilberto

Seixas De Andrade remarked that the three countries are more than happy to be able to assist Guyana in its development. Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker told media operatives that the Ministry is tediously working to ensure that Guyana becomes not only clean but healthy as well. He expressed similar sentiments as Musa and Ambassador De Andrade. “The project has been launched to strengthen the fight against solid waste and to ensure an efficient management in it. It will seek to alleviate poverty, health issues, promote tourism de-

velopments, and reform the collection of solid waste,” he related.

The Minister pointed out that the issue of waste management arose some years ago, during the period roadside vending began. Whittaker added that despite the fact that solid waste management has been a challenge for a number of years, the initiative will seek to reduce the challenges and shape a new Guyana.

The project will be done in three phases, according to the Minister. The first phase involves the procurement of two compactors and two mini-excavators for the pickup, transport, and dis-

Govt welcomes Patil Group’s set-up of medical college

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said the Government of Guyana has no reservations about the DY Patil Group, and welcomes the organisation’s move to establish a medical college here, as long as the body follows the rules.

In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Dr Ramsaran said the institution will offer quality education to Guyanese students who have to travel overseas to further their studies. He assured that upon its completion, the private institution will go through the accreditation process of the National Accreditation Council, and will fall under the purview of the Education Ministry.

posal of the garbage to the Haags Bosch dumpsite.

The second phase will include the expansion of market tarmacs, construction of receptacles on the tarmacs and washroom facilities, and the rehabilitation of existing markets, while the third phase will seek to raise public awareness through sensitisation programmes which will include edutainment, flyers, and brochures.

The project has been valued at a cost of US$1.9 million, of which US$1.5 million has been provided through the fund. The additional US$400,000 is expected to be raised in kind donations.

Last week, the DY Patil Group, one of the largest private educators in India, announced through a media release that it will soon begin construction of the medical college at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

Efforts made by this publication to find out from the organisation the total sum of money to be invested in the project proved futile. When questioned about this, Minister Ramsaran said he was unaware of the figure, since it is a private institution. Guyana Times also sought to ascertain the number of students that would be accommodated at the institution; when construction will begin and

the duration of the construction period; whether the lecturers would be Guyanese; whether there will be any collaboration with the University of Guyana or other Caribbean universities; whether the Patil Group is in receipt of any grants, tax waivers or any other assistance in setting up the college; if there has been an advertisement for tender for the construction of the project, and whether there are other partners locally that will be working along with the Group. The organisation is yet to respond.

The Group had said that other colleges in a later phase will include one for Engineering, Allied Health, and a Masters in Business Administration.

The DY Patil Group was established in 1983 and its activities span the fields of Education, Healthcare, Agriculture and Sports.

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Backer was a serious woman – Granger

APartnership For National Unity (APNU) Leader

David Granger said contrary to popular belief, the late Debra Backer was a very serious woman. “She was serious, she was very serious about her work,” Granger said, as he ad-

dressed a gathering on Tuesday evening at the West Demerara Secondary School in Region Three.

“I think people on the other side have tried to treat her as a comic figure in the National Assembly. Debbie was very serious, she was deadly serious of the role of Parliament, about the role of the National Assembly,” said the Leader of the Opposition.

While delivering an emotional address, Granger maintained that despite her being a very jovial person, the political stalwart was extremely serious in the undertaking of her work. He said that one of the greatest influences on her life was the fact that she was a direct descendant of the Osman Clan. “She was very conscious of her mixed heritage,” said Granger. He noted that not only was the former Deputy Speaker a woman of the law but she was also a strong

advocate for the countering of interpersonal violence. “It is something that she felt had to be overcome.”

The Opposition Leader said through Backer many persons would have directly benefited from legal assistance since she did a lot of pro bono work for women and children, while working as a lawyer and as a politi-

cian.

“Her political service was just a continuation of her own world view, in that she saw it not as a platform or staircase to achieve higher office, but to serve, to serve women, to serve children, and to make sure we reduce the level of interpersonal violence, by using political clout, legislation, motions, bills to ensure, the women are protected,” Granger reflected.

Tuesday night marked the first of several events being held across the country to honour the life and work of the late former Deputy Speaker. Another reflection is scheduled for Wednesday

Books of Condolences have been opened at the Parliament Building; Congress Place, Sophia; and at several strategic locations across the country by her fellow APNU and PNCR members in order for the public to record their sympathies on the passing of the Iron Lady of the Opposition.

Backer, who was hailed as a champion for the rights of women by the Guyana Women Miners Association, will be laid to rest on Friday in Georgetown. Her body will be available for viewing at the Full Court of the Parliament Building at 14:00h before being moved to the St Andrew’s Kirk for a church service.

ADHD

Satiricus knew that Guyanese could be soooo insensitive. Sometimes it could amount to cruelty. Take the case of Rum Jhaat and his band of merry men and women from the KFC sneaking out from Parliament during the Budget speech. There was no need to get on their case the way some in the media did – that they were showing disrespect and all of that. “Truth is,” Satiricus fumed, “the Jhaat always suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – and it’s clear that he’s infected his Parliamentary Posse.”

But Satiricus knew the two fellas from the village of Whim – the Naga Man and the Bush Doctor from Berbice – didn’t need much “infection”. Along with Rum Jhaat, they’d suffered from the problem ever since they were boys catching crabs in the Courida Bushes behind Whim. When covering the last elections in Berbice, Satiricus had been regaled by the story of how the three of them used to be pushing their hands into the crab holes, forget what they were doing, and end up screaming to high heavens as the crabs feasted on their fingers.

“So how you’d expect these fellas to sit for hours and listen to a speech.” Especially one that mentioned numbers every other sentence. The Jhaat had a particularly severe case of ADHD. Whenever he was in company, people found it quite disconcerting for his eyes to be darting all over the place. “Well, that’s what folks with ADHD do!!!” Exclaimed Satiricus to himself, “They can’t focus.”

As a lawyer, this problem had caused the Jhaat a number of embarrassing situations. There was that time when Satiricus had been assigned to cover the courts as a punishment by his editor. One of the most senior female judges had cause to order that Rum Jhaat zip up his fly. Obviously, he’d lost attention after pulling his pants on. Trouble was he’d also forgot to put on his briefs. “And,” Satiricus remembered, “what is a lawyer without his briefs? It wasn’t a pretty sight. Gruesome if the truth be told.”

But Satiricus knew that these ADHD people didn’t just lose attention very quickly – they were also hyperactive. And with the Jhaat and the Naga Man, Satiricus remembered as to what form that activity took, he got cold sweat. How could he forget the riling up of the folks at Linden by the two of them to burn down the town? Then the Jhaat couldn’t sit still to attend the President’s tripartite talks.

So Satiricus wasn’t surprised when the Essequibo organiser of the KFC – playing the role of a disgruntled rice farmer – was waiting for the ADHD posse when they sidled out of Parliament.

Satiricus breathed a sigh of relief when the Jhaat didn’t push them to burn anything down. People should thank them for holding back...which wasn’t easy for ADHD people.

The healing power of the mind: story of a cancer survivor

Guinness World record holder and inventor of Psycho Neurobic Science Indian, Dr B K Chandra Shekar is on a quest to spread the message of “mind exercise”, a technique he used to cure himself from illnesses.

The first psycho neurobic doctor in the world, Shekar came to Guyana to share his story of surviving cancer and hepatitis C, by simply meditating and thinking positive thoughts.

Testimony

Dr Shekar said that his experience is a testimony of surviving the two life threatening diseases by increasing the healing power of the mind and boosting healthy memories. In his many experiential workshops around the world, Dr Shekhar empowers participants with techniques to increase the usage percentage of the mind, much like that of Einstein, he said. Participants also learn to develop healing powers and cure life style diseases through the infamous psycho neurobics.

“Today, people are suffering from many diseases and they keep on depending on treatment. But treatment is a temporary thing, but the healing is perma-

nent,” he told this publication in an exclusive interview. Dr Shekar explained that healing is a process by which one focuses his attention on the root causes of the disease, whereby treatment is balancing the chemical in the body. He further explained that a person suffering from diabetes would depend solely on his insulin, either in the capsule or injections. He said the process out sources the insulin, therefore balancing the chemicals in the body. But he asked “How long can you do it?”

Mind exercise

Psycho neurobics is the exercise of the mind. “We know of aerobics, which is the exercise of the body, in which you pump air to the lungs by doing physical activities, but it is the exercise of mental activity by which you pump energy to the neuro cells, the energy level increases and the organ recovers from the illness.

Dr Shekhar has collaborated with President of the recently established interfaith SIGFA Organisation Vishnu Bandhu, to share the experiences of self healing. Bandhu said the simple exercise will help families to save thousands of dollars on medical experiences.

Albouystown man on possession and trafficking charge gets bail

Aman on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a possession of cannabis charge against him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

It is alleged that on March 21 at Albouystown, the defendant Randolph James, 47, of Lot 55 Albouystown, Georgetown had in his possession 10 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

James told the court that he was unaware that the narcotic was in his possession. The accused claims that his boss owns a business in the interior.

He noted that he was asked to transport a bag of items to town containing perfumes, deodorants and other articles.

Additionally James said that it was upon apprehension by the police that he

found out the bag also contained cannabis.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant had no objection to bail. Defence council Paul Fung-A-Fat related to the court that his client was not aware of the offence and requested that the man be granted bail.

Bail was granted in the sum of $40,000. The accused is expected to make another court appearance on April 28.

Tapakuma lumber dealer charged with harming fellow villager

AHe noted too that the many incidences of suicide could be curbed if the exercise is thoroughly practised.

“We feel strongly that if Government should lend support, it will not only benefit one person, but the country as a whole, because people would be able think more positively, they would be able to do the right things in life; we would have better people living in harmony,” he told Guyana Times Bandhu revealed that much could be accomplished if human beings were to utilise the full potential of the brain. He said that it is humans who create computers, and should not be outsmarted by the technological device.

Dr Shekar is also a Rajyogi specialist and pioneer of SIGFA Healing Concept, an international mind and memory trainer, Guinness World Record holder in Speech category, in addition to authoring more than 15 books on mind, memory and healing power.

He has conducted more than 4000 workshops and seminars in India and abroad on memory techniques, mind power, stress management and psycho neurobic exercises.

He currently has training sessions in Guyana.

Man remanded on charges of burglary, robbery under arms

Anthony Lantazar of Lot 317 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

It is alleged that during the period of March 19-20, at West Ruimveldt, the accused broke and entered the residence of Rahlyn Morgan and stole one Jialing motorcycle valued $180,000 and one cellular phone valued $40,000; a total value of $220,000.

It is also alleged that on February 19 at Mandela Avenue, the defendant being armed with a cutlass robbed Zamid Baksh of one BMX pedal cycle valued $12,000, one cellular phone valued $24,000, one gold chain valued $6000 and $3000 in cash. Lantazar told the court that he is unaware of the offences alleged against him.

Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail being granted. Additionally, he said that on the day in question (February 19), the virtual complainant (VC) was proceeding along Mandela

Avenue when the defendant approached him, placed a cutlass at his neck and stole the said articles. Grant also noted facts for the second offence which stated that the second VC, Rahlyn Morgan, secured her premises and retire to bed. The following morning, the defendant woke and noticed the articles missing. A report was made and the defendant was subsequently arrested.

Bail was refused by the Chief Magistrate. The defendant is expected to make another court appearance on April 11.

lumber dealer from Tapakuma Amerindian Community was charged for inflicting grievous bodily harm on a fellow villager. Romeo Singh appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. He was required to plead to the charge after the

Administration of Justice Act was applied by Prosecutor Haimwant Ramsawack, and pleaded not guilty. According to the prosecution facts, on March 16, Singh inflicted grievous bodily harm upon Tyron Stephey at Tapakuma Village. On the day in question, Singh and Stephey was drinking at a

shop when an argument ensued and Singh broke the left ankle of Stephey. Singh was placed on $60,000 bail. Prosecutor Ramsawack did not object to bail. Singh, who was not represented by any attorney, is expected to return to court on April 23 for commencement of trial.

Driver in Dartmouth fatal accident slapped with two charges

Devaughn Fordyce, of Dartmouth Village on the Essequibo Coast, who was slapped with two charges in connection with the fatal accident in which a toddler, Javiel Peters, died on Sunday night, was arraigned on Tuesday.

Fordyce appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s

Court, charged with breach of vehicle insurance and being unlicensed driver. He was not charged with causing death by dangerous driving, since police indicated that they are still conducting investigations.

Fordyce pleaded guilty, stating that he took a chance and he was just driving out the street to get the driver. He also stated he is the conductor of the said bus. According to information on March 23, Fordyce drove motor bus BRR 7143 through Clarks Street without a driver’s licence.

The defendant was fined $40,000 for being unlicensed to drive and $40,000 for breach of insurance. He was not represented by an Attorney-at-Law.

UG to undertake major research for cancer cure

The anti-cancer properties of corilla, that bitter vegetable that was the subject of many a battle between Guyanese parent and child at the dining table, could hold the key to the search for a cancer drug.

At least this is the hope of University of Guyana Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi and a few of his staff. They are presently in the United Kingdom to initiate new research into the cancer-fighting properties of the vegetable.

The study, which is being led by Senior Lecturer in the UG School of Medicine, Dr Emmanuel Cummings, with Guyanese Pharmacist Kareshma Jeebo and UKbased Guyanese Jaipaul Singh as his team members, is being undertaken to extract a chemical the plant makes which can possibly eliminate cancerous cells in the body.

The research is currently being undertaken in the UK at the University of Central Lancashire where interactions between different cancer cells and the extracted corilla chemical will be tested, observed, and analysed.

Corilla chemical

Speaking with Guyana Times, Dr Cummings stated that the team had conducted a mini research in the past and it was found that the vegetable had great potential in becoming an anticancer fighter.

“However, we now need to isolate it, purify it, and test it”, he related.

Over the next two years, the three medical professionals will work on the project, which has been valued at a cost of US$49,000, spending much of their time between the UK and Guyana.

It was noted by the doctor that once the research is successful, the finished product will be patented and sold, putting the country on the cutting edge of the fight against cancer. As part of a wider promotional effort by the University, the team’s efforts would be marketed, the Vice Chancellor stressed.

In the case of a patent, the individuals and entities participating in the research will receive any royalties and/or benefits which will be derived.

If corilla is proven to be beneficial in fighting the deadly disease, the researchers will then turn their attention to other plants in the country and conduct tests to determine the extent of their medicinal purposes.

Dr Cummings is one of eight awardees under a World Bank-UG grant programme, who have been awarded a total of US$329,000 to use for projects to strengthen science and technology research contributing to the Low Carbon Development Strategy in Guyana. The projects were selected from 18 submissions that were peer reviewed.

Cancer is said to be the third leading cause of death in Guyana and the number one cause of death around the world, with more than 8.2 million deaths each year.

OAS, EU ink pact to bolster human rights in Caribbean

Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza last week signed a cooperation agreement with the European Union (EU).

The pack stipulates the contribution of one million euros to strengthen the Inter-American Human Rights System, the pillars of which are the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

According to a OAS release, the agreement, entitled “Support and Strengthening of the Work of the Inter-American Human Rights System through the promotion and protection of the rights of the most vulnerable and excluded communities and groups in the Americas,” was led by Secretary General Insulza as part of the commitment to give greater strength to the system and to contribute to efforts aimed at addressing social inequities and the need to ensure the full rights of people living in vulnerable conditions.

The OAS-EU agreement

seeks to respond to issues of great concern for the system, among which are impunity, inhumane treatment and conditions in prisons, and the security and protection of the rights of human rights defenders. Furthermore, the instrument reiterates the importance of combating discrimination against indigenous peoples, persons of African descent, and migrant workers, and of protecting and promoting freedom of expression, as well as the rights of women who suffer domestic violence and femicide.

Foster development

The contribution of the EU applies to Programme Four of the IACHR Strategic Plan (2011-2015) and will foster the development of case law and legal regulations, which support the creation of policies and legislation that ensure respect for human rights in the member states, awareness and knowledge of the system, access to it by victims of human rights violations, and the strengthening of the commission’s capacity to safeguard and protect their

100 senior citizens receive medical care

Some 100 senior citizens received various medical treatments when the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) on Sunday launched their Geriatric Care Programme in Region Six, at the Number 69 Village Mandir, Corentyne.

Addressing the elderly, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said team work can significantly improve the lives of residents, pointing out that the average lifespan of Guyanese has been steadily increasing in the past two decades. The average life span for a male her is 63, and female 71, according to CIA World Factbook 2013 data.

Praising the initiative, he said it is a timely outreach forthe elderly.

rights.

In this regard, the agreement also contributes to strengthening the work of nine rapporteurships and a thematic unit of the IACHR to promote the full enjoyment and respect of the rights of the most vulnerable communities and groups that live in extreme poverty.

With regard to the court, the agreement seeks to strengthen its capacities and to assist in the dissemination of the work, the role, the jurisprudence, and the contribution of the court to the defence of human rights, which is expected to result in greater compliance by the states with the decisions issued by that body, and, in turn, to further contribute to increasing the efficiency of the system.

The EU has been a Permanent Observer to the OAS since 1998 and has contributed nearly US$17 million to programmes of the organisation in the areas of promotion of democracy, cooperation and electoral observation, conflict resolution, human rights, public security, and sustainable development.

“This is a beautiful initiative and should be duplicated across Guyana, in the Caribbean and around the world,” he boasted.

According to the former Health Minister, Guyana is teaching the world many

new things, and the launching of the Geriatric Care Programme, is another to the list.

“We should not only advertise it, we should boast about it, now that it is launched, he said it should be made perfect because people like me will boast about it around the world and we want people like PAHO to visit Guyana and see how it works,” he stated.

The Minister said he is hopeful that one day when he is in a foreign country; he will find the programme, with the authorities saying they learnt it from Guyana.

“Today is a very important event and should be written down as a milestone event, this is a day that Number 69 Village, Region Six and the country should be proud of,” he said.

The event was the brainchild of BRHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Vishwa Mahadeo.

Dr Mahadeo said the programme will be an on-

going initiative, where persons 65 years and older will be receiving special care on a quarterly basis.

“We cannot do this alone, health cannot be delivered by nurses and doctors alone, it has to have community involvement, as this collaboration is very important,” he posited. He extended gratitude to all who made the exercise a success, especially Food For the Poor.

“Friends, parents, this event is for you, we are not doing you a favour… we are giving you what you deserve, because of you, we are able to be here and be able to say we have a Government that is caring as we are now able to assist you with the much needed medical services,” Dr Mahadeo said.

The patients benefited from diabetic screening, sugar and pressure testing, cholesterol and general physical examinations. They also received manicures and pedicures.

SOL treats corporate customers

SOL International, Shell’s line of gas stations, on Saturday held an evening of appreciation for customers and service dealers across the country.

The appreciation was held at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown, and was attended by specially invited customers and managers, with their families meeting and greeting as officials reflected on the company’s performance over the past year.

SOL General Manager Orlando Boxill said he was proud of the local performance and achievements over the past nine

years, with seven strategically located depots throughout the length and breadth of the country.

He further stated that SOL is the largest independent petroleum producer, marketing company in the Caribbean basin, managing a portfolio of 472 service stations, 14 aviation facilities, 24 marinas and 32 import terminals, spanning 21 countries and supported by approximately 700 employees.

During 2013, SOL did not undertake any notable projects as in previous years; however, it was a year of consolidation, cen -

tred on maintenance, reliability and reinforcing compliance with environmental standards.

Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who also attended the function, stated that SOL is a foremost company in Guyana.

The Prime Minister in his brief remarks commended the work of SOL, and wished them continued success.

SOL’s management said it will continue to uphold its corporate responsibility through unswerving commitment in supporting activities and projects that will positively impact the lives of Guyanese.

Biker with severed hand listed as stable

The biker who lost his right arm on Monday evening is said to be in stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Twenty-four-year-old Kevin “Kartel” Griffith, of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, crashed his CBR motorcycle around 23:00h on Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown. According to reports, Griffith was riding west along Norton Street when he lost control of his motorcycle between Victor and Chapel Streets and crashed into a parked motorcar.

Guyana Times understands that the impact of the crash was severe, and the man suffered several injuries about his body – his face and back were bruised, while his foot was likely broken. He underwent surgery around 04:00h Tuesday morning.

According to a friend, Debra Landesveldt, who also

lives in Norton Street, she was in her house when she heard the impact and after realising that it was an accident, she rushed out. “I didn’t know was he till I go out and see he covered in blood,” she stated.

Missing man

The woman told this newspaper that she noticed Griffith’s right arm was severed from his shoulder and was nowhere close to his body. Landesveldt continued that a resident of the area took the injured man in his car to the hospital and she went along with them.

She added that while at the medical institution, the staff brought out Griffith’s clothes and she found his cellular phone in his pants pocket.

The phone was badly damaged, so the woman took out the SIM card and inserted it into her phone, after

Govt welcomes...

There are more than 180 institutes of learning encompassed in three universities based out of the cities of Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Kolhapur in India. The Group runs three Medical Colleges and Hospitals and provides affordable healthcare and medical attention to scores of people.

The DY Patil International Cricket Stadium at Navi Mumbai is rated as one of the six best stadiums in the world and is the finest sporting facility in India; several International schools in India and abroad are also run by the Group.

The DY Patil Group is said to have already made several developmental contributions to Guyana. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the company and the Government last year for the

which, there was a call coming in immediately from his relatives who heard about the accident but were unsure of its gravity.

After they were informed, the man’s family and some friends rushed to the hospital where they confirmed that his hand was severed.

This newspaper understands that Griffith’s hand was severed upon collision with the car and his arm was reportedly found in the car. It was later taken to the medical institution by a police officer.

When Guyana Times visited the hospital on Tuesday, family and friends had flocked around the man’s bedside during the afternoon visiting hour.

This publication was told that Griffith is in and out of consciousness and he was barely talking. It was further reported that the man was constantly asking for his hand.

from page 9

cultivation of 50,000 hectares of land in the Region Six area.

The Dr DY Patil Educational Enterprises was established 12 years ago. It was set up with the aim of providing quality education to Indian students through collaboration with reputable universities in the United Kingdom, United States of America, and elsewhere in the world. In accordance with the above mission, the company entered into a partnership with the University of Central Lancashire, UK to run the undergraduate Bio-Medical Sciences Degree.

Recognising the need for a first-class medical college in the Caribbean, the Group decided to establish a university in Guyana because of its interest in building a strong link with the country and offer

Guyanese a medical education without the need to leave their home country if they so choose.

The Group will engage a Guyanese construction firm to build the facility and will employ citizens and a world-renowned faculty to ensure that it offers the best possible education to students.

The first batch of students will begin their courses in early 2015, the company said. In addition, it will utilise local faculty for some of the courses and will engage other Guyanese in gainful employment during construction and later at the university, which will be a net foreign exchange earner.

The Health Minister noted too that Government will welcome other organisations who are interested in investing in Guyana.

Mixed reactions from pensioners on five per cent increase

Government’s decision to increase the Old Age Pension by five per cent ($625) from $12,500 to $13,125 this year has evoked mixed reactions from senior citizens, with some calling the move inconsiderate.

Many fumed over the small increase, noting that with the current state of the economy, there is little that the increase can do.

Something better

“I think they could have done something better because when you go in the market, you still have to pay VAT on everything. The little things I buy for myself, I have to pay over $600 VAT,” one pensioner told this publication.

Another woman told Guyana Times that she has been selling long before she became a pensioner. But even with her earnings, the money has not been doing much. “With me selling now, nothing isn’t doing. I was really expecting more, ‘cause everything so expensive in the market. Then you have to buy bread and other things to eat.” She said she was hoping that the money would have been increased to at least $20,000.

But while some ex-

pressed grave frustration, there were others who said that they were thankful for the little “mercies”. “They didn’t have to give anything,” one pensioner posited. “So whatever they give, you got to be thankful.”

However, another elderly man said pensioners were being short changed. “It is unreasonable; this is no money to compare with the cost of living in these times.” He declared that the Old Age Pension should be the highest in Guyana, since it was the work of pensioners that helped to develop the country. “I am saying that Old Age Pension at this time suppose to at least reach between $30,00035,000 a month,” the pensioner argued.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh told the House in his 2014 Budget presentation on Monday that the 42,900 pensioners across Guyana will begin receiving the increased amount by May 1.

Hours before the budget of $220 billion was presented, Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford told Guyana Times on Sunday that great things could be expected in the budget. She had informed that citizens of the lower class could look

forward to great benefits from the national financial plan once it was approved by the House.

Last year, there was a 25 per cent increase in Old Age Pension, raising the amount from $10,000 to $12,500. Minutes after the more than two-and ahalf-hour budget presentation, Opposition members expressed their dissatisfaction over the minimal increase in the Old Age Pension.

Small increase

Opposition Leader David Granger told reporters that the small increase would do nothing for pensioners, especially those living in remote areas.

“What might be okay for people in Georgetown, will not be okay for people in Mabaruma. When you see people in Kamarang spending $3000 for a gallon of gasoline and $800 for a pound of chicken, it is a different reality. So giving people five per cent more is not going to change their lives.” He said the A Partnership for National Unity was hoping for at least a $2500 increase. That increase would have taken the monthly pension to $15,000.

Regional

Venezuela's Opposition congresswoman’s mandate revoked

Venezuela has stripped a leading Opposition congresswoman of her mandate after she spoke before the Organisation of American States (OAS) last week.

Maria Corina Machado had been invited by Panama to give her account of the recent wave of unrest in Venezuela. But Venezuela’s authorities say she “acted as a Panamanian official” by accepting the invitation.

The decision means Machado will lose her parliamentary immunity and could be prosecuted for “inciting violence”. More than 30 people have died since mid-February in demonstrations against high inflation, food shortages and violence levels.

The president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, said the congresswoman had contravened the constitution. He said she was in-

troduced at the OAS meeting in Washington, DC as an “alternate ambassador” for Panama.

“Maybe the Panamanian Government will now name her permanent ambassador,” he added.

Former congresswoman Arriving in Peru’s capital, Lima, for a seminar at an institution presided by the 2010 Nobel Prize winning author Mario Vargas Llosa, Machado accused Cabello of running a “dictatorship in the National Assembly”.

She wrote later on Twitter: “Mr Cabello: I am a Congresswoman at the National Assembly as long as the people of Venezuela want it.” She also said she was prepared to deal with the consequences of her actions.

“If the price that I must pay for having gone to the OAS so that the voice of the Venezuelan people could

be heard is that I’m being persecuted today, in what they’re doing to me now, I will pay for it one and a million times.”

On Saturday, President Nicolas Maduro had already referred to the Opposition politician as “former congresswoman”. Machado has been openly demanding the resignation of Maduro since the start of the recent pro-

tests.

The Government accuses “right-wing fascists” of inciting the unrest as part of a plot to overthrow the Government.

President Maduro says the United States is behind the demonstrations, but the U.S. says it is being used as a scapegoat for Venezuela’s internal problems. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Vindra held on for eight days after being shot on first day of

abduction

Eing address to a 12-member jury, with six alternates, at the start of the former supermarket Chief Executive’s murder trial in Port of Spain High Court on Monday.

One in five people with TB unaware of the disease – PAHO

The Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) says one in five people infected with tuberculosis in the Americas, including the Caribbean, remains unaware of the disease.

PAHO said this is due to “failure to access health services or because they are not properly diagnosed.” In 2012, PAHO said regional countries reported 220,000 cases of tuberculosis, and an estimated 19,000 people died from the disease.

But it said an additional 60,000 people are believed to have TB, who have not yet been diagnosed. “This situation not only endangers their lives, it also facilitates further transmission of TB, producing more disease and generating socioeconomic costs for individuals, families and communities,” PAHO warned.

It issued the statement in commemoration of World TB Day on Friday that sought to raise awareness on the tuberculosis burden in the world, as well as the efforts made for its prevention and control.

Throughout the years, PAHO said this commemoration has offered the opportunity to mobilise the political, economic and social commitment for the prevention and control of TB in the countries.

For the 2014 campaign, PAHO said it will follow the worldwide focus on TB diagnosis and case detection of those still not reached, “with emphasis in the Americas on vulnerable populations, social determinants and large cities.” (Antigua Observer)

Jamaican is Winnipeg’s top cop

He is the first black man, let alone Jamaican man, in the 147-year history of Canada, to head a police division in the North American country.

That kind of reality would put pressure on anybody, but not Superintendent Devon Clunis, Chief of the Winnipeg Police Service. He appears calm, relaxed, level-headed, humble and without the proverbial chip on the shoulder that lofty elevations have the potential to conjure.

The 50-year-old said that while he did not feel pressured by his new post and its historical significance, he was seized with the weight of the responsibility it brings. He admitted that he never consciously aspired to the top job. He always knew he wanted to be a policeman, and has done nothing else his entire professional life, but his desire to be a “good police-man” and an example to young boys propelled him beyond his dreams.

ven after being shot in her leg by her kidnappers, Central businesswoman Vindra NaipaulCoolman still managed to cling on to life for eight days in an abandoned house in La Puerta, Diego Martin, before she was eventually executed.

of dismembering her body.

As she collapsed from a bullet to the chest at point blank range, the group of men who were holding her captive immediately reached for their rubber gloves and a rotary saw, then began the process

Naipaul-Coolman’s body parts were then buried in a shallow grave under a cashew tree located in a forested area nearby. These were just some of the gruesome details in the State’s open-

The Bahamas to introduce new crime-fighting initiatives

The Bahamas Government plans to introduce two initiatives – violence breakers and a programme called shock treatment – to its Operation Ceasefire plan in a bid to lower crime, National Security Minister, Dr Bernard Nottage said.

During a recent interview with The Nassau Guardian, Nottage said Cabinet recently approved the measures.

Referring to violence breakers, Nottage said,

“These are persons who may have had brushes with the law or have been considered offenders who have reformed their lives and who are to assist in helping to work with young people to see if we can guide them in a different direction from which they are going.”

He also explained how the shock treatment programme will work. “We are taking young persons who are going astray and seeking to introduce them to both

sides of life – what happens when you offend the law and what happens when you obey the law,” Nottage said.

“So we expect those two programmes to have a significant impact.” In its charter for governance, the Progressive Liberal Party said that Operation Ceasefire will place an intense law enforcement focus on repeat offenders, violent criminals and saturation patrols in crime hot spots.

The State’s lead prosecutor, Israel Khan, SC, who delivered the opening address, noted that because NaipaulCoolman’s body was never recovered by police, the details of how she was killed were pieced together from the evidence its main witnesss, Keon Gloster, who was the neighbour of most of the accused, provided and the circumstantial and scientific evidence in the case. “The prosecution is unable to say with certainty whether she was dead or alive when she was dismembered,” Khan said. The jury and members of the public in the court seemed to cringe on hearing the vivid description of the events. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

In a recent conversation with the Jamaica Observer, the Harmony Vale, St Ann native said when he enlisted in the police force in Winnipeg 29 years ago, there were no other black people in the service. Things have changed dramatically over the years, with the force now having representation from all races and nationalities.

Fate might have had a hand in it too, as, when he contemplated retirement in the winter of 2011, the sitting commissioner at the time announced his own retirement.

“It was never my goal to reach so far, but just to serve the community and to be a good police officer and set an example as I reach each step,” said Clunis. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

UWI’s top diabetes expert gets WHO appointment

In the week of its groundbreaking annual conference that will throw the spotlight on “Diabetes and Sports”, the University Diabetes Outreach Programme (UDOP) is celebrating a major international appointment of one of its most outstanding experts.

Kingston-based Trinidadborn Professor Dalip Ragoobirsingh has just been invited to be a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines development expert group, a rec-

ognition of his high quality work in diabetes and nutrition in the Caribbean.

Ragoobirsingh is the man who was humorously called the ‘Grinch who stole Christmas’ in a Jamaica Observer article last December in which he warned against overeating, drunkness and smoking, as part of his relentless campaign to reduce or manage diabetes.

“This is, no doubt, a signal honour for the University of the West Indies (UWI),

of which he is a graduate, and is currently Professor of Medical Biochemistry and Diabetology, as well as Director of the UWI (Mona) Diabetes Education Programme. Dr Ragoobirsingh was identified from WHO’s search for international specialists to advise the United Nations agency on the choice of important outcomes for decision-making and in the interpretation of the evidence for making recommendations. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Egypt adjourns second mass Brotherhood trial

An Egyptian court has opened and adjourned a second mass trial of 683 alleged supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, including the Muslim Brotherhood’s top leader, on charges of murder, incitement of violence and sabotage.

lowed to present their case, drew wide public and international criticism.

Rights groups, the United States and the European Union expressed concern and questioned the fairness of proceedings against so many defendants lasting just two days.

Malaysia Airlines MH370: Relatives in Beijing clash with Police

Angry relatives of passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines plane have clashed with police outside Malaysia’s embassy in the Chinese capital, Beijing.

MH370 has been suspended because of bad weather.

The plane disappeared on March 8 as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, including 153 Chinese nationals.

leaving, so they got off and walked to the diplomatic mission.

It came after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said a new analysis of satellite data showed the plane had ended its journey in remote seas south-west of Australia.

China has asked to see the data on which Malaysia’s conclusion was based. The search for missing flight

In Beijing, relatives of the passengers released a statement accusing the Malaysian Government of trying to “delay, distort and hide the truth”. Dozens then left their Beijing hotel on a protest bound for the Malaysian embassy. Police stopped their buses from

Scuffles broke out as protesters threw water bottles and tried to storm the building, demanding to meet the ambassador. In a BBC interview, Malaysia Airlines Chief Executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya defended his company against criticism from the families.

“I think it’s unfair,” he said. “I think we’ve done all we can within our means to help them.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

The proceedings in Minya, south of Cairo, on Tuesday, which have been adjourned until April 28, came a day after the same court handed down death sentences to 529 suspected backers of Morsi over a deadly attack on a police station.

Amnesty International, the UK-based rights group, said it was the biggest mass sentence given in modern Egyptian history. The charges in Tuesday’s proceedings also stemmed from rioting last August sparked by the security forces’ storming of two Brotherhood sitins in Cairo that killed over 600 people.

A lawyer at the trial said sentencing would take place at the April 28 hearing, the AFP news agency reported. Monday’s verdict, in which defence lawyers were not al-

The dispersal of the protest camps came weeks after the military overthrew Morsi following days of massive protests in which millions demanded he step down for abusing power.

Only 68 of the 683 defendants were in the dock on Tuesday. The rest were being tried in absentia. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Air pollution now linked to one in eight deaths worldwide – UN health agency

Air pollution – both indoor and outdoor

– killed some seven million people across the globe in 2012, making it the world’s largest single environmental health risk, according to new figures released on Tuesday by the UN World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The risks from air pollution are now far greater

than previously thought or understood, particularly for heart disease and strokes,” said Maria Neira, Director of WHO’s Department for Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health.

“Few risks have a greater impact on global health today than air pollution; the evidence signals the need for concerted action to clean up

the air we all breathe,” Dr Neira added.

In particular, the new data, which cites air pollution as the cause of one in eight global deaths, reveals a stronger link between both indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure and cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and ischaemic heart disease, as well as between air pollution and cancer. This is in addition to pollution’s role in the development of respiratory diseases, including acute respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

“Cleaning up the air we breathe prevents non-communicable diseases as well as reduces disease risks among women and vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly,” Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General Family, Women and Children’s Health said. (Excerpt from UN News Centre)

Guinea Ebola outbreak: Bat-eating banned to curb virus

Guinea has banned the sale and consumption of bats to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, its Health Minister has said. Bats, a local delicacy, appeared to be the “main agents” for the Ebola outbreak in the south, Rene Lamah said.

Sixty-two people have now been killed by the virus in Guinea, with suspected cases reported in neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Ebola is spread by close contact. There is no known

cure or vaccine. It kills between 25 per cent and 90 per cent of victims, depending on the strain of the virus, according to the World Health Organisation.

Symptoms include internal and external bleeding, diarrhoea and vomiting.

It is the first time Ebola has struck Guinea, with recent outbreaks thousands of miles away, in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lamah announced the ban

on the sale and consumption of bats during a tour of Forest Region, the epicentre of the epidemic, reports the BBC’s Alhassan Sillah from the capital, Conakry.

People who eat the animals often boil them into a sort of spicy pepper soup, our correspondent says. The soup is sold in village stores where people gather to drink alcohol. Other ways of preparing the bats to eat include drying them over a fire. (Excerpt from BBC News)

India: Arvind Kejriwal to run against Narendra Modi

Indian anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal has announced he will fight the forthcoming general election from the holy city of Varanasi. Kejriwal addressed a rally attended by several thousand supporters of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the northern city.

The election pits him against Narendra Modi, who is the main opposition BJP’s candidate for prime minister. General elections are to be held in India from April 7 to May

12.

Uttar Pradesh, where Varanasi is located, is often described as India’s battleground state. Any party wishing to come to power in Delhi must conquer the state which sends the largest number of MPs – 80 – to parliament.

Voting in Varanasi is scheduled for May 12, during the ninth and final phase of polling.

Expectations that Kejriwal would run in Varanasi had generated huge excitement in the city with the issue being discussed ex-

tensively on the streets, the BBC’s Geeta Pandey reports from the city. The AAP is expected to have the support of the large local Muslim population, she says, but the party has a tough fight on its hand. BJP MPs have won the city in the past four elections and party workers in the state are working hard to ensure Modi will win this time. Modi’s reputation for developing the state of Gujarat is seen as a huge draw for many voters in India. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ukraine far-right leader Muzychko dies ‘in police raid’

AUkrainian ultranationalist leader has been shot dead in what officials describe as a special forces operation. Oleksandr Muzychko, better known as “Sashko Bily”, died in a shoot-out with police in a cafe in Rivne in western Ukraine, the Interior Ministry said.

He was a leader of Right Sector, a far-right group which was prominent in the recent an-

ti-government protests. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s parliament has voted to accept the resignation of Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh.

Tenyukh had been accused of indecision in the face of Russia’s military takeover of Crimea. The shooting of Muzychko happened just hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy

Deshchytsia – their first meeting since Russia’s move into Crimea triggered a diplomatic crisis.

Ukraine’s Deputy Interior Minister Vladimir Yevdokimov said Muzychko died after opening fire at police and Sokol Special Forces, who had raided a cafe to arrest him and fellow ultra-nationalists. The authorities described Muzychko as a criminal gang leader. (Excerpt from BBC News)

wednesday, march 26, 2014| guyanatimesgy.com

Housing Ministry gets $4.4B to ramp up house lots distribution

The Housing and Water Ministry has received a $1.3 billion increase in the 2014 Budget which will see more housing schemes being developed, along with the new initiatives being adopted to improve the quality of water.

Some $4.4 billion was given to the housing sector this year. This money will be directed towards the distribution of 5900 house lots and 4100 land titles to new landowners. Additionally, several housing scheme development projects will be ongoing at Eccles, East Bank Demerara; Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara; Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara; Bath, West Coast Berbice; Number 77 Village, Berbice and other villages. The public-private turnkey initiative will also see another 100 homes being constructed, while some 50 police officers, nurses, and teachers will be allocated land. In addition, more than 1200 persons will benefit from the distribution of another 176 core houses, disbursement of 134 coastal home improvement subsidies valued at $26.8 mil-

lion, and an additional disbursement of 54 hinterland subsidies valued $54 million.

In 2013, many strides were made in this sector with a $3.2 billion budget. Much of the allocations were directed towards the hosting of some eight One-Stop-Shop outreaches which resulted in 4417 house lots being allocated and 5326 land titles processed.

Housing subsidies

Then there were the development of several new housing schemes, which were consolidated with existing ones thereby benefiting more than 30,000 persons. The public-private turnkey housing initiative was also a success and saw more

than 90 single-flat concrete houses being constructed. While under the Young Professional Housing Programme, 55 homes were completed, exceeding the initial target of 48.

The Core House Pilot project resulted in 127 core houses completed, thus enabling some 580 persons to benefit from improved housing. At the same time, an additional 153 subsidies were disbursed under the coastal home improvement programme costing some $30.6 million; hence, resulting in improved living conditions for another 627 persons.

The hinterland home improvement project saw 130 subsidies totalling $107.2 million thereby allowing some of the most vulnerable communities access to affordable shelter.

The water sector was allocated $2.5 billion which will be spent on the drilling, construction and completion of water wells in Cotton Tree, Hope, Mon Repos, Sparendaam, and Sophia.

A portion of the monies will go towards the construction of a water clarifier and filter at Bartica and Eccles while upgrade works on service connections are expected to be

done in East Berbice communities and Linden.

The installation of transmission and distribution mains will be done in areas such as Vergenoegen, Victoria, Crabwood Creek, Angoy’s Avenue, and Bartica.

In addition, two water treatment plants at Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward should be completed and will benefit more than 30,000 residents in Region 10. Water supply improvement works are also expected to be done in hinterland communities such as Waikerabi, Santa Rosa, Arau, Taruka, Kanapang, Kathur, Aishalton and St Ignatius. This will see some

20,000 residents benefiting.

With the soaring electricity costs, the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) is to complete a comprehensive energy audit and is expected to start with the implementation of initiatives that will see the replacement and reengineering of the electromechanical features of its pumps and equipment, to be on par with modern energy-efficient technology.

Water treatment plants

Last year, with a budget of $2.4 billion, $649.1 million was expended on the construction of two new water treatment plants, the installation of more than 30 kilometres of transmission and distribution mains, and the upgrade of 1500 service connections which benefited residents of Linden. There were also works done on the drilling of several wells which included exploratory ones at Mabaruma.

The commencement of works on the installation of transmission and distribution mains in Regions Three, Five and Six was done, while an additional $160 million was spent on the Hinterland Water Supply Programme, which saw over 15,000 persons benefiting.

Caricom-Cuba solidify diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations between the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Republic of Cuba were further strengthened on Tuesday, with the accreditation of new Cuban Ambassador to the regional bloc, Julio César González Marchante.

In his remarks during the ceremony at the Caricom Secretariat in Greater Georgetown, Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque, described the decades-old relations as “a trailblazer in SouthSouth Cooperation”, spawning high level engagements between the two parties, including triennial summits of Caricom and Cuba Heads of State and Governments, and meetings of foreign ministers of the two parties.

Coupled with the opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest and cooperation extending to support in the hemispheric and international arenas, Secretary General LaRocque said the success of Cuba-Caricom relations has been seen in technical cooperation in areas such

as health, culture, language translation, natural disasters, and agriculture.

A significant area of cooperation, he pointed out, was human resources development in the Community, noting that Cuba is, “by far, the largest contributor” among the international partners of Caricom due to the number of scholarships

Value of unity

“As you help to build our capacity, your country, despite its constraints, has continued to supplement our human resource needs, particularly in the health sector, with the deployment of doctors and nurses in the Community. This invaluable and highly-appreciated assistance has also been extended in the fields of education, sports, agriculture, and culture.”

Commensurate with the support Cuba has demonstrated to the Community, the Secretary General noted the Community’s reciprocal consistent call for the removal of the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

“Excellency, Caricom knows well the value of unity on the international

front, given that coordination of foreign policy is one of the pillars of our integration movement. We have, as a bloc, joined with likeminded states to both advance and protect our interests and support causes and initiatives of priority concern to us. This is why we have consistently supported United Nations

resolutions aimed at ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba and will continue to do so,” Secretary General LaRocque stated.

As Cuba-Caricom relations evolve, he said other possible areas of collaboration and cooperation on the international front include the fight against non-communicable dis-

eases, climate change, and the implementation of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. These areas, the Secretary General noted, lend themselves to the two parties working together for the “best possible solutions”.

He lauded Cuba on its successful Pro-tempore Chairmanship of the

Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) which saw several issues of importance to Caricom being addressed at the Summit in Havana in January.

“These included recognising the special circumstances of small developing middle-income countries, Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery, the role of Information and Communication Technology in Development, climate change and disaster preparedness, to name a few. All of these are topics actively being pursued on the Community’s programme of work,” LaRocque stated. He affirmed the Community’s “full support” of Cuba’s call for inclusiveness in consideration of issues related to the UN Post2015 Development Agenda. “… it is my hope that we all take an active role in this global dialogue which will decide the future beyond the global development compact represented by the Millennium Development Goals. We must ensure that our region’s interests are adequately and effectively addressed,” he said.

Govt sets record straight on budget consultations

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said the $220 billion budget should be judged on its merits even as he set the record straight on the Government’s engagements with the Opposition on the estimates.

When Minister Singh began the 2014 budget presentation to the National Assembly on Monday, members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) left the chamber, claiming that there had been no meaningful consultation before the preparation of the budget.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) statement, in dismissing the party’s claim, Dr Singh stated: “It is a matter of public record, we invited the Opposition parties on several occasions, and they failed to turn up. So if there is a lack of consultation, it’s because they refused to make themselves available. There were repeated invitations made and they refused to avail themselves.”

Shortly after presenting the budget to the National Assembly, Minister Singh pointed out that it contains a number of policies, programmes, initiatives and interventions, all of which are in the interest of Guyana and its people. “That must be the ultimate consideration.”

Minister Singh expressed the hope that any national budget brought to the

National Assembly would be assessed on its merits. A statement from the AFC after its walkout said it was in protest against the violation of the Constitution and that the “2014 Budget is overshadowed by the ruling of the Chief Justice that the National Assembly may approve or not approve the estimates of the expenditure”.

The AFC also claimed that the budget was being presented by the Minister who disregarded decisions of the National Assembly, and restored funds that were not approved by the said Assembly.

But, the restoration of funds allocated to two state agencies, the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA)

in 2012 and 2013, was done based on the legal advice received regarding the “preliminary ruling” of acting Chief Justice Ian Chang issued in July 2012, the GINA release stated.

It added that on January 29, 2014, the CJ issued his final ruling on the matter, stating that the Opposition has no right to cut the country’s budget estimates and can only approve or disapprove the entire budget.

Stony silence

Minister Singh had previously stated, however, that a similar claim of no consultations made by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was a blatant lie and a cheap publicity stunt. This response was made to the claim by APNU Leader David Granger in the Kaieteur News of January 18, in the article titled “APNU says it’s being sidelined from Budget consultation – will force implementation of reforms if concerns not taken on board”.

The Minister explained that in his email, dated January 13, 2014, Government’s invitation to meet on Budget 2014 was indicated, and he requested that APNU Member Carl Greenidge suggest a date. The email was also copied to Granger, Lance Carberry, Khemraj Ramjattan, Dr Roger Luncheon, and Gail

Teixeira. The email also contained copies of documents to be discussed. The invitation was met with stony silence from Granger and Greenidge.

Further, in February 2014, there was still no response from the parliamentary Opposition parties to Government’s invitation to participate in pre-budget consultations; however, the Opposition parliamentarians did meet with the hierarchy of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and signal their support for the military’s budget allocation.

“Government’s policy is to engage with various stakeholders, particularly with regard to shaping policy and for input on key issues. Through this mechanism, the constant exchange of views is enabled, and suggestions, issues, challenges, and concerns are noted. We are able to learn what their priorities are; we are able to explain issues and challenges, so that they are better informed to formulate their own positions on issues,” the Finance Minister stated.

According to GINA, consultations were held with several stakeholders, including the Private Sector Commission (PSC); the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG); and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU). The engagements were all described as good.

LIAT Chairman launches new book to high praise

The launch of LIAT Chairman Jean S Holder’s book Caribbean Tourism at the Barbados Headquarters of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) drew regional dignitaries who lavished praise on the book.

CDB President, Dr Warren Smith, said of Holder: “Over time, (he) has become synonymous with many things – the Caribbean Trade Reference Centre (and) the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, where he was the founding father and where he honed his craft as the region’s premier tourism expert. Most recently, he has been lending his experience by serving as Chairman of LIAT”, helping the airline “chart its way forward through a very turbulent period”.

The CDB chief noted: “You gain insight into the historical relationships between slavery, sugar, and tourism as he traces the takeover of sugar by tourism as the main economic driver in several countries.”

He added the book was more than a chronicle of the region’s history and highlighted two major points made by Holder: “First, he argues that tourism and (its) related services will remain the best prospect for the economic development of the Caribbean… second, Dr

Holder makes a strong and compelling case for tourism education to begin at the primary schools and for expanding the tourism research output at the tertiary level.”

Former Caribbean diplomat Sir Ronald Sanders said the book “should be a required text for several disciplines of study at our regional universities. While the book’s central focus is tourism, its development, its contribution to the economies of the region and to the well-being of the majority of its peoples, it is more than that.”

Sir Ronald added: “Students of international relations, development, Caribbean economies and

Caribbean integration, and Caribbean history will all find Jean Holder’s book a vital reference for their research and for the theses they might produce on the Caribbean’s future in all these fields.”

He welcomed how the book “lifted the lid on the lingering resentment to the industry that originates in slavery and its pernicious order that compelled black people to life-long servitude to white owners. It is an important discussion to open. Not to cause festering wounds to erupt, but to heal them so that, as a civilisation, Caribbean people can move on. Tourism is about service, not servitude. There is dignity, honour and re-

GuyTrac fire might have started in its own backyard

–

Gentle says workers were drunk

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said the fire which damaged several heavyduty machines at GuyTrac, Mandela Avenue, might have started in the company’s compound and not from the nextdoor furnace as is claimed.

Gentle on Tuesday told Guyana Times that investigators returned from the scene late that day and from reports gathered, nothing was there to suggest that the fire emanated from the furnace of the building behind GuyTrac.

Different tale

Nevertheless, Gentle noted that his ranks will be continuing their investigations to determine what could have caused the fire. He pointed out that it appeared as though the workers present in the compound were consuming alcohol, since they were intoxicated when firefighters got there.

The Fire Chief disclosed that the workers had even interfered with the work of the firefighters as they were trying to put out the blaze; hence they had to summon the police to the scene.

However, the workers and owner had a different story to tell on the night of the fire. They claimed that the fire started from the furnace, which was located in the compound of what used to be the Bowling Alley. The building is

spect in service respectfully given, in a context of hospitality and welcome, for fair recompense.”

Vincentian Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves said: “Holder gets us to grasp the complexities… of tourism, the changing face of Caribbean tourism, the expansion of tourism to Europe and elsewhere, sustainable tourism, the nexus between tourism and regional integration, the ethnic and sociological tensions in Caribbean tourism... a strategic plan for tourism, the sub-sectors of tourism…the global context of modern tourism, and the burning query: Whither Caribbean tourism?”

The Prime Minister encouraged everyone with an interest in the political economy of the Caribbean and its tourism to read and study Holder’s Caribbean Tourism

“I agree with Sir Courtney Blackman in his foreword to the book that no one in our region is better qualified than Jean Holder to write on this subject. Holder has accomplished magnificently his task to tell in his own words ‘the story of why, when, how and where tourism, one of the world’s oldest industries, came to the Caribbean and why its journey has been so turbulent’.”

now being used to create pallets and beverage cases.

According to reports, the fire began some time around 22:00h at the back of the compound and was noticed by a neighbour. The workers noted that the Fire Service took a while to respond to the fire and when they did, they had no water.

Irate workers pointed out to this newspaper that they had to dig up dirt from the middle of the compound to throw on the blaze. They also revealed that in order to save some of the bigger machines, they had to drive them over some smaller ones to get them away from the inferno. More than five machines estimated to have cost more than $100 million were damaged, including a new boat. Two excavators, two combines, and one bulldozer were severely damaged in the inferno, while several others were scorched by the blaze. The owner of GuyTrac, Shamnarine Sugrim, told this publication that he received a call about 22:00h from a worker informing him of the fire. The businessman complained that for the past two years he has been having problems with the furnace, which is near his property. The man noted that several complaints were lodged, but nothing was done.

CPC to ‘reformulate’ third draft of APNU’s amendments

The Parliamentary Select Committee on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill, met again Tuesday evening, but failed to make any positive headway.

According to reports, the proposed amendments by A Partnership for National Unity continue to be problematic. According to Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill, the entire meeting was spent “looking at what can best be described as the reformulation of APNU’s amendments”.

Minister Edghill said the draft amendments were considered at the previous meeting, by the committee but APNU’s finance chief, Carl Greenidge asked for some time to reformulate the proposed amendment and to submit that to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (CPC). “The Chief Parliamentary Counsel having received those instructions and that formulation put out a new draft, and today we looked at that draft, but again there is still need for another reformulation of that second draft,” he said.

“There is still need for another reformulation, be-

cause he (Mr Greenidge) is still thinking and while he is thinking, it seems to be an unending open-ended process of trying to put some administrative structure in place that will satisfy the requirements of the international standard which we have not yet gotten right.”

This, the Minister said, will be the third reformulated draft of the APNU proposed amendments which will be brought before the Committee. In addition, the Minister said, interestingly, the tone of the Committee has changed, as there is more willingness on the part of the Opposition to listen.

“They are listening after they would have discovered that their amendments as proposed are in the original format… they are proving to be extremely troublesome and the practical working out of it has not been properly visualised and contextualised and reformulated.”

In February, the APNU submitted two amendments to the AML/CFT Amendment Bill which have been very problematic. Apart from posing a problem with being drafted, the proposed amendments have been rejected strongly by a wide cross-section of Guyanese.

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South Africa failed to get any partnerships going after winning the toss. The 31-run stand for the second wicket between Dane van Niekerk

Australia stumbled early in their chase, with their top three falling inside eight overs. They were in some trouble when Alex

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South Africa Women 115 for 9 (Chetty 30,

Manchester City ease past Man Utd 3-0

Manchester City increased the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea by disposing of Manchester United with almost embarrassing ease at Old Trafford.

Edin Dzeko scored early in each half - the first inside a minute – and Yaya Toure added a third in stoppage time as City moved into second place and within three points of Chelsea with two games in hand.

Moyes says players not lacking confidence It was another sobering and thoroughly miserable night for United manager David Moyes as, for the second home league game in succession, the current gap in quality and strength between the reigning champions and their rivals was emphasised as City followed Liverpool by winning 3-0

and with plenty to spare.

City’s hugely impressive display cut short Moyes’s hopes of sparking a late run in this disappointing season and now they face a fight to even finish in the top six and claim a place in the Europa League.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side

have no such problems as they cruised to victory to complete an emphatic double over their arch-rivals after a 4-1 win at Etihad Stadium earlier this season and now move towards this weekend’s game at Arsenal in ominously confident mood. (BBC Sport)

Andy Murray beats Tsonga to set up Djokovic match in Miami

Andy Murray will face Novak Djokovic for the first time since the Wimbledon final after the Briton beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Sony Open in Miami.

Defending champion Murray saw off the Frenchman 6-4 6-1 to set up a quarter-final against second seed Djokovic.

Despite an impressive performance, Murray requested pain relief tablets for his back during the first set.

He went on to claim his first win against a top-20 player since undergoing back surgery in September.

“I need to see my physio, get some treatment and see what the issue is,” said Murray.

“I was moving fine towards the end of the match, which is a good sign. I need to get myself checked out

Andy Murray

and get in good shape for tomorrow.”

Djokovic beat Spain’s Tommy Robredo 6-3 7-5 and Roger Federer defeated Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-2, with Rafael Nadal to play Fabio Fognini later on Tuesday.

“All the top guys are still in play,” said Djokovic.

“There are no more clear

favourites really on the court, so I’m going to get ready for that and hopefully perform my best.”

Murray faces a tough task to retain his title and avoid slipping from sixth to eighth in the world rankings, but he looked sharp from the outset against Tsonga, breaking as early as the third game. (BBC Sport)

Manager David Moyes says Man Utd relishing Manchester derby

Fiji may boycott 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Fiji may boycott the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer after being told its rugby sevens side cannot take part.

The south Pacific nation was given the go-ahead to compete 11 days ago, after a full suspension from the Commonwealth was lifted over a 2006 military coup.

The return was approved after the draw for games’ team events was completed.

Reg Sanday, head of Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, said the exclusion of its rugby sevens and netball teams may prompt a boycott.

David Moyes says Manchester United are heading into Tuesday’s derby with Manchester City at Old Trafford full of confidence after back-to-back wins.

United, out of the title race after a poor domestic season, followed up their Champions League victory over Olympiakos with a 2-0 win at West Ham.

City, who will move three points behind leaders Chelsea with a win, beat United 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium in September.

“We’ll go into our next game confident and ready to get a result,” said Moyes.

United trail neighbours City, who are third in the Premier League table, by 12 points, with Moyes’s side having played two games

more.

The derby is United’s first league game back at Old Trafford since they were soundly beaten 3-0 by Liverpool on 16 March.

But United bounced back from that setback to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals after overturning a 2-0 first leg deficit against Greek champions Olympiakos before winning comfortably at West Ham.

Wayne Rooney scored both goals at Upton Park, his first a spectacular lob from just inside the Hammers’ half which had shades of David Beckham’s memorable finish from the halfway line for United against Wimbledon in 1996.

“For Wayne to notice the goalkeeper was out of his box when the ball was played up

to him, it was just a great piece of skill, great ability and the execution was fantastic,” added Moyes.

“I think everybody flashed back to Beckham’s goal. There are similarities.

Man Utd’s all-time goalscorers

249 - Sir Bobby Charlton

237 - Denis Law

212 - Wayne Rooney

211 - Jack Rowley

179 - Dennis Viollet, George Best

“We were excellent against West Ham and the only disappointment was we didn’t score more.”

Rooney’s second goal lifted the 28-year-old to third in United’s all-time top scorers list on 212, behind Sir Bobby Charlton (249) and Denis Law (237). (BBC Sport)

WICB Directors approve 19 historic changes

The Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board approved a menu of 19 changes for the development of West Indies cricket with a goal of establishing the West Indies team as the number one performing team in world cricket. The decisions were taken at a meeting in Port of Spain held on Friday March 21 and Saturday March 22. At a media conference on Saturday, following the meeting, President Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron announced that the Board of Directors approved 19 of the 20 recommendations which formed part of a comprehensive report on the West Indies Cricket System prepared and presented by Director of Cricket Richard Pybus. The Pybus Report holds ‘West Indies First’ as its guiding principle. The 33

page Pybus Report follows a comprehensive three month, region-wide study which he conducted between November 2013 and January 2014.

Additional notable changes are:

1. The West Indies Head Coach to be added to the Selection Panel and will have full voting rights

2. The West Indies Captain(s) to be added to the Selection Panel as nonvoting members

3. Structured year round cricket programme for all West Indies and all First Class contracted players

4. 15 full time annually contracted players to each Territorial Board

5. Double round matches (home and away) for minimum of ten matches a season for regional First Class teams

6. Professional admin-

istrative and coaching staff for each First Class team

7. West Indies High Performance Programme to cater to the ‘next in line’ West Indies players (effectively the West Indies A Team)

8. WICB to appoint Coaching Manager to implement and oversee coaching programme throughout the region

9. Implement ‘Elite Coaches Pathway’ programme which will identify current and former players for accelerated coaching training

10. Establish West Indies Cricket Captains Council to utilise the cricket knowledge and experience of some of the world’s greatest cricketers, tapping into the cricket wisdom of the former great West Indies Captains to inform cricket policy and implementation.

(WICB Media Release)

Fiji is one of the biggest names in world rugby sevens and won Commonwealth silver in 1998 and 2002 and bronze in Melbourne in 2006, the last time they competed in the event.

“Our sevens rugby team has proven to the world by winning the World Cup twice that we can win medals at the Commonwealth Games,” Fiji Association of

Sports and National Olympic Committee (Fasanoc) president Mr Sanday said.

“Imagine Brazil going to the Olympics without its soccer team or Jamaica running at the games without world champion Usain Bolt?

“Fasanoc will have a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) to discuss a the boycott. We are upset by the decision by the games com-

mittee to exclude our rugby sevens and netball teams.”

In a letter to Fasanoc, Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Michael Hooper said the Fiji rugby and netball teams could not be accepted because of “operational difficulties” in redoing the draws.

The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow run from 23 July to 3 August.(BBC Sport)

Bates, Mackay set up big NZ win

Aggressive half-centuries from Suzie Bates and Frances Mackay, the New Zealand Women openers, set up the platform for their team’s dominating performance in a Group A match against Ireland Women in Sylhet. The two added 116 in 15.1 overs for the first wicket before an onslaught from Sarah McGlashan boosted the total to 171.

New Zealand ransacked 55 runs from the last five overs with McGlashan clearing the boundary three times in her unbeaten 13-ball 34 but it was the century opening stand that set the tone for New Zealand. Bates and Mackay started the innings in a steady fashion, scoring 28 in the first five overs but a hat-trick of boundaries in the last over of the Powerplay added impetus to the innings. Bates reached her half-century in 37 balls with a boundary too - her eighth.

Mackay, who had been the quieter of the two, picked up her scoring after the dismissal of Bates in the 16th over but was out soon after reaching her half-century. McGlashan, though, used the strong start as a spring board for a dominating finish. She smashed two of her three sixes in the last over of the innings.

Ireland, despite losing their first wicket early, made a steady start, reaching 50 in the eighth over, but once Clare Shillington was caught and bowled by Mackay, their innings nev-

SCOREBOARD

Pietersen was being ‘honest’ – Tremlett

Kevin Pietersen was just being “honest” during the heated team meeting in Melbourne, which appeared to play a significant part in his being sacked after the tour of Australia, according to team-mate Chris Tremlett.

After losing the Ashes in Perth, the England players held a meeting among themselves, without the presence of team management, to try and map out a way forward. It has since emerged that Pietersen was among the most forthright at the meeting and the comments made their way back to Andy Flower.

Few confirmed facts are known about the reasons behind Pietersen’s sacking due to confidentiality clauses on both sides which will expire in October. It is believed that there was not one single incident that led Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket, into the decision to end Pietersen’s international career, but instead a number of smaller issues that built up to make the ECB decide that England’s future was better off without him.

Tremlett, who remains a team-mate of Pietersen’s at Surrey, said it was a “shame” that the batsman would no longer appear in England colours and hoped he would prove the decision wrong.

“I don’t think he did anything wrong apart from voice his opinion,” Tremlett said. “We had some honest chats and Kevin is a pretty honest character.

“When times are tough

and you’re in a squad like that, sometimes people find it hard to express themselves but Kevin isn’t one of those people. He’s not afraid to say what’s going on or to tell it how it is.

“I don’t know whether that is why Kevin has been shot down but it is a shame that he isn’t able to play for England anymore… hopefully he goes out, scores lots of runs and proves England wrong.” (Cricinfo)

Fitness Express, Industrial Supplies support HRC 2014

Corporate support continues to stream in ahead of this weekend’s Hugh Ross Classic (HRC) with Fitness Express and Industrial Supplies being the latest companies to come on board. On Tuesday morning, the entities presented their sponsorship packages to officials of the championships at Sheriff Street.

Fitness Express of Sheriff Street presented a cheque for an undisclosed amount to Chairman of the HRC, Hugh Arlington Ross, and international bodybuilder IBFF Pro athlete Jeff “Classic” Beckham, who will be the guest poser at Saturday’s show at the National Cultural Centre.

Ross expressed elation at receiving the sponsorship, noting that Fitness Express has always been an avid supporter of the HRC. He lauded managing director of the company, Jamie McDonald, for his insight in helping to pro-

mote the sport, through his business and sponsorship.

Speaking on behalf of the establishment, McDonald said his entity has always been supportive of events that promote healthy lifestyles. He wished Ross, Beckham and the participating athletes the very best on Saturday, even as he encouraged Guyanese to witness the show.

Also offering support was Industrial Supplies, whose representative, Thelisha Case, said the company was very enthused to partner with the HRC for the first time.

Meanwhile, IBFF pro athlete Beckham will be at Fitness Express on Thursday from 14:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs to mingle with fans, take photographs and share tips on being a healthy person.

The 32-year-old American is open to a few fun activities, including challenging him at arm wrestling.

Come Saturday, there will be three female categories:

Stag Beer/EBFA Division One League…

Agricola arrest Soesdyke; Diamond needle Mocha

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in the village of Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, Agricola Red Triangle maintained their excellent form in a performance that ensured that they took back the lead in the Stag Beer/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Division One League with a solid 5-0 win over Soesdyke Falcons in feature play of a double-header at the Grove Playfield.

The day’s curtain raiser saw Diamond Football Club recording their first win of the league when they needled Mocha Champs.

Agricola, a very offensive-minded side, maintained that billing with another compact performance. They opened the scoring in the 15th minute after being awarded a corner which was taken by Travis Welch.

Welch’s shot sailed across the goal and the entire Soesdyke side to find a lurking Gordon Grant at the last post. Grant’s first time volley quickly settled at the back of the nest, goal-

bodybuilding (females who are of a more muscular body type); Miss Figure (athletes who are symmetrical and toned) and the Miss Bikini (for the softer and more feminine eye-pleasing type of figure).

The male categories are: Bantamweight- up to 65kgs (143lbs), Lightweightup to 70kgs (144-154lbs), Welterweight- up to 75kgs (155-165lbs), Light Middleweight- up to 80kgs (166-176lbs), Heavyweight (176 and over).

The respective category winners will then face off in the Overall battle to decide Mr. HRC 2014.

Mr. Hugh Ross Classic 2012, Kerwyn Clarke, will be defending his title and will face stiff challenges from a number of seasoned and notso-seasoned athletes. Tickets are on sale at the National Cultural Centre at $1500 each. (Avenash Ramzan)

keeper Javier Greene had no chance to avert the goal; it was the first of three for Grant.

Constant pressure by the Agricola side resulted in a penalty being awarded 35 minutes on, Grant was entrusted with the shot and did not disappoint as he buried the shot past Greene.

Welch’s hard work paid off for him with a goal of his own five minutes into the second half to increase the lead, 3-0. Soesdyke have only themselves to blame, they were just not able to get it right in the attacking third whilst their opponents ensured that they were clinical in that department.

Such was the pressure on the Soesdyke lads that they gave away an own goal in the 77th minute, compliments of Collin Holder. The Agricola lads were just not satisfied with a 4-0 win and continued to take the attack to Soesdyke.

Grant was unstoppable again with 10 minutes to full time with another well taken shot that sailed into

the back of the nets across the flat footed Greene. The win took Agricola to nine points, the same as Timehri Panthers, but the former has a better goal difference of +14 to the latter’s +6.

The Diamond/Mocha Champs clash was a keen tussle between two sides that were chasing their first win of the league. The exchanges were even for the most part as neither side allowed each other any leverage in the final third.

But it was Diamond that shone bright when it mattered and took the opportunity when it came their way to score. Lenardo Cottam, who was a constant bother to the Mocha defenders, nailed his opportunity in the 58th minute to give his side the lead.

As it turned out, that was the golden goal of the match that brought Diamond their first points and second goal of the season. As the completion heats up, more action is slated for Sunday at the same venue.

Supreme Court recommends BCCI president step down

The Supreme Court of India has asked BCCI president N Srinivasan to step down as the first move towards a fair investigation of the IPL corruption saga. A two-judge bench of India’s top court, which made the observation, gave Srinivasan two days to take a decision before it resumes hearing the case on March 27.

While the recommendation is not a direct order, Justice AK Patnaik was unambiguous: “Mr Srinivasan should step down or else we’ll be forced to pass an order.”

He questioned Srinivasan’s position as BCCI president asking, “How did he stay on despite all the allegations? His staying on is nauseating for cricket.” The other judge on the bench, Justice

N Srinivasan

Ibrahim Kalifulla, told the counsel: “If there has to be a fair and dispassionate enquiry, Mr. Srinivasan must step down.”

The development - and the strong language used by the court - is believed to have caught the BCCI by surprise and thrown it into some dis-

array. While Srinivasan has refused to comment, three vice-presidents of the board have said there was no option but for him to comply with the court’s orders. A board meeting is likely to be convened on Wednesday, at which the BCCI’s response will be formalised. (Cricinfo)

Star Party Rental takes ride into cycling

After providing sponsorship to several disciplines ever since it opened for business a few years ago, Star Party Rental has now ventured in cycling, joining a long list of corporate entities that have supported the 11-race cycling programme in the National Park.

On Tuesday, national coach and organiser of this Saturday’s event, Hassan Mohamed, told this publication that the company, which is headed by former national cricketer Lennox Cush, has agreed to sponsor the activity, which will pedal off at 09:00 hours.

“And I’m hoping that

this will be the beginning of a long relationship the company will share with the cycling fraternity. I want to thank Mr. Lennox Cush for his support and I wish his company well in the future,” Mohamed remarked.

As usual, Saturday’s programme will be highlighted by the feature 35-lap School

Boys and Invitational race, which normally attracts the country’s leading riders and those now seeking to make a mark at the senior level.

A band of leading cyclists, including Alanzo Greaves, Raynauth Jeffrey, Robin Persaud, Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, Michael Anthony, Marlon Williams and others, are expected to face the starter’s order when action pedals off in the final race of the day.

Other races carded for the day are the BMX Open, 6-9, 9-12, 12-14 and BMX Boys and Girls 1214, Juveniles, Mountain Bikes, Veterans Over and Under-50 and the Veterans Over-60.

According to Mohamed, top officials of Star Party Rental, including Cush, are expected to witness the day’s activities and assist in the presentation of trophies at the conclusion.

Milo football quarter-finals set for GFC today

Eight remaining schools are left in the Milo under-20 schools football tournament as the quarter-final round are set to begin today at the Georgetown Football Club ground from 16:00h.

The quarter-final round will run over two days -today and Thursday-with the final game on each day being played under floodlights.

Today, from 16:00h will see Dolphin Secondary fac-

ing a talented Charlestown squad in a game that is expected to be high paced and full of counter attacks.

Queen’s College will then face Lodge Secondary in a match-up that is set to be one of the best of the tournament, as both teams have shown a superior understanding of the game. The team that scores first might come out on top as the midfield should dominate and control the play and pace of

the game by both teams.

Meanwhile on Thursday, defending champions St George’s will face an improving Bishops Highs School squad.

However, St. George’s ability to control the game with their passing and ability to orchestrate goals will prove the determining factor in the game. Bishops will have to push the tempo in order to upset the strategy of the defending champions.

In the final quarter-fi-

nal game Christ Church Secondary will go up against Queenstown Secondary in a game that may be decided by one goal or penalties, as both teams are on the same level in terms of ability which might create a thrilling finish to the end.

Further, an intense two days of quarter-final action is expected as teams look to take the next step in being crowned as the Milo champions.

Scotia/Pepsi kicks off football Berbice leg

Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) notched their first win as the Scotia Bank/Pepsi Schools Football Academy continued with their first game in the Berbice leg on Saturday at the All Saints ground in New Amsterdam.

BEI won the event in simple fashion, recording a 2-0 victory over Berbice High School.

Glenroy Henry opened the scoring for BEI with a goal in the 49th minute that left the Berbice High team a bit stunned.

However, Berbice High then made matters worse by giving away a penalty as Dwayne Allen capitalized on the golden opportunity, scoring the penalty in the 59th minute.

On Sunday in Georgetown, Lodge Secondary School and Charlestown Secondary School played to a lacklustre 0-0 draw.

Meanwhile, at the launching of the Berbice leg on Saturday, Secretary of the Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF), Victor Wright, noted the importance

of the programme

“This is a programme that believes in excellence, education, and believes that your physicality… mixing sports with studies is going to present and promote the best students, athletes and citizens that this nation can have.

“One of the reasons we call this an academy is that we believe in learning. You work hard and you play hard; you definitely going to be better citizens for this country,” Wright noted.

Secretary of the Berbice Football Association (BFA), Joseph Simon, was appreciative of the sponsors for putting on such a tournament.

“We at the Berbice Football Association support all forms of sponsorship as long as it has to do with the development of the sport, not only [in] Berbice, but the country as a whole. I must also thank the organizers,the Sports Development Foundation for their continued support.

“ For the sponsors, I know that this tournament is going to grow bigger and better and the athletes are going to become better,” Simon said.

Six cricketers...

From page 24

“We are proud of the RHTY&SC for the work they have been doing and you the young cricketers we know that our investment is not in vain. We have seen the benefits of investing in you over the years and we are very happy that we can assist in your development. We are here to help you guys and we are proud that we can help you to grow and do well in your cricketing endeavours,” Mendonca told the young recipients.

While the initiative targets players from the RHTY&SC, this year the club has included a player (Simar Flats) from the Blairmont Cricket Club.

Each year, Western Union injects hundreds of thousands of dollars into the programme, which is being used by the RHTY&SC to mould the next generation of cricketers with the aim of having them represent Berbice, Guyana and ultimately, the West Indies.

Karate grandmasters grade over 100 students

Over 100 local karatekas of the Association Do-Shotokan Karate of Guyana (ASK-Guyana) were graded by three international grandmasters, Ninth Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai, Eighth Dan Shihan Maureen Woon-ATai and Eighth Dan Shihan Keith Da Costa at the YMCA building, Thomas Lands. They were assisted by Sixth Dan Sensei Amir Khouri; Fourth Dan Sensei Nathalie Gibson and Third Dan Sensei Roger Peroune. ASK- Guyana students from Wowetta Dojo in Annai, Linden, New Amsterdam,

Albion, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, East Bank Demerara and Anna Regina participated in the one-day grading. There were three First Dan promotions, namely Jordan King of YMCA and the Albion pair Chablall Tilacknauth and Melissa Rayappen.

Those with outstanding Kyu grades were Shahid Shared, Kailanny Wade, Jared Mohabir, Rick Seedharie, Zane Rooplall and Fabiola Wade (10 to eight Kyu), Roshawn Cummins, Maqsood Mansoor, Horace Autar and Gracelyn O’Brien

(10 to seven Kyu).

Making the jump from nine to seven Kyu were Rayniah Bridgewater, Raynise Bridgewater, Mark Singh, Aaron Persaud, Zoloni Case, Gabriella Roberts, Andrew Bownauth, Isia Boodie, Nathaniel Rachpaul, Chris Perez, Shaquille Dowlin, Renaldo Grenville, Zanele Chase, Tyra Headley, Bryan DaSilva, Akeinde Atherley, Marcelly Lopes, Jessica Callender, Eton Whyte, Lilian DaSilva, Oronde Chase, Akily Venture, Craig Harlequin, Shailendra Seedharie and Mareo Dhanraj.

West Indies thrash Bangladesh

Defending champions

West Indies captured their first win of the 2014 World Twenty20 with a comfortable 73-run victory over Bangladesh in Mirpur.

Dwayne Smith fired 10 fours and three sixes in 72 off 43 balls after the Windies were put in, but four bats-

men were out for nought in their 171-7.

Bangladesh, in their first match of the Super 10 phase, lost three wickets for two runs in six deliveries.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 22 but they were all out for 98. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

West Indies

D Smith c Al-Amin Hossain b Mahmudullah 72

C Gayle c Tamim Iqbal b Ziaur Rahman 48

L Simmons st Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 0

M Samuels c Sohag Gazi b AlAmin Hossain 18

D Sammy* not out 14

A Russell c Shakib Al Hasan b AlAmin Hossain 0

Dwayne Bravo c Tamim Iqbal b Al-Amin Hossain 0

D Ramdin+ run out (Mushfiqur Rahim/Ziaur Rahman) 0

Extras: (b 10, lb 1, w 7, nb 1) 19

Total: (7 wickets; 20 Overs) 171

Did not Bat: S Narine, S Badree, K Santokie. Fall of Wickets: 1-97 (Smith, 11.5 ov), 2-98 (Simmons, 12.0 ov), 3-151 (Gayle, 18.1 ov), 4-167 (Samuels, 19.1 ov), 5-167 (Russell, 19.2 ov), 6-168 (Bravo, 19.4 ov), 7-171 (Ramdin, 19.6 ov).

Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 4-025-0, Al-Amin Hossain 4-0-213, Sohag Gazi 4-0-38-0, Sabbir Rahman 1-0-12-0, Mahmudullah 3-0-27-1, Shakib Al Hasan 3-021-1, Ziaur Rahman 1-0-16-1

Austin, Dewar send Guyana plummeting

Spinners Ryan Austin and Akeem Dewar worked in tandem to cripple Guyana and send the visitors plummeting to their third defeat in the Regional 4-Day this season.

Guyana were in a pretty solid position overnight at 82/1, however, they had a first innings deficit of 128 runs. By the time they knocked off that deficit, they were already four wickets down.

Only two runs were added in the day before Leon Johnson was caught at batpad off Dewar for 36. He only added two runs to his overnight total.

One run later and Narsingh Deonarine fetched at a short ball outside offstump and edged Kesrick Williams through to wicketkeeper, Chadwick Walton. Guyana were now 85/3.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Chanderpaul Hemraj tried rebuilding the Guyana innings, though slowly. They put on 31 runs together, taking the score to 116 before Tagenarine Chanderpaul fell in almost carbon copy dismissal to that of Leon Johnson, being caught at bat-pad off Dewar.

Enter Ryan Austin and he started a little show

of his own. Shivnarine Chanderpaul provided some resistance, also linking up with Hemraj. Both batsmen put on 34 runs, taking the score to 150 before Hemraj was caught at leg-slip by Corbin, this time off Austin.

Three runs later, Austin would get the big wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul as the West Indies batsman inside-edged onto his pad, only for the ball to ricochet to the wicket-keeper. Guyana rolled over from there.

Twenty runs later and they were all out for 173.

Having a first innings deficit of 128 runs didn’t help their cause. They had set the College Students just 46 runs to win. Dewar and Austin both finished with

four wickets each. The Combined Campuses & Colleges lost three wickets on their way to victory, but first innings centurion and Man of the Match, Shacaya Thomas, finished unbeaten on 18. CCC won by seven wickets, climbing to fifth on the table.

Guyana sank to the bottom. Perhaps a bye in Round 5 will provide some time for them to get their troubled season on track.

Bangladesh (Target; 172) Tamim Iqbal c Dwayne Bravo b Badree 5 Anamul Haque st Ramdin b Santokie 10

Mominul Haque c Santokie b Narine 16

Shakib Al Hasan b Santokie 0 Mushfiqur Rahim c Dwayne Bravo b Badree 22

Sabbir Rahman c Sammy b Badree 1

Mahmudullah c Simmons b Badree 1

Ziaur Rahman b Russell 9

Sohag Gazi b Russell 11

Mashrafe Mortaza c Dwayne Bravo b Russell 19

Al-Amin Hossain not out 0

Extras: (lb 1, w 3) 4

Total: (19.1 Overs) 98

Fall of Wickets: 1-14 (Tamim Iqbal, 2.3 ov), 2-16 (Anamul Haque, 3.1 ov), 3-16 (Shakib Al Hasan, 3.2 ov), 4-51 (Mominul Haque, 9.1 ov), 5-57 (Sabbir Rahman, 10.1 ov), 6-58 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 10.3 ov), 7-59 (Mahmudullah, 10.6 ov), 8-73 (Ziaur Rahman, 14.3 ov), 9-97 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 18.5 ov) Bowling: S Badree 4-0-15-4, K Santokie 4-0-17-3, M Samuels

1-0-9-0, D Sammy 1-0-6-0, S Narine 4-0-17-1, Dwayne Bravo 3-0-23-0, A Russell 2.1-0-10-2

S Jacobs 7-3-14-0, R Austin 26.513-22-4, A Dewar 26-8-61-4

Combined Campuses & Colleges 2nd Innings (Target; 46) A Alleyne not out 18 S Thomas LBW Permaul 2 K Corbin

Official Points Standings after Round 4

ollowing are the Official Points Standings after the fourth round of matches in the Regional 4-Day Tournament ended on Monday.

Abbreviations: Ptstotal points, M-matches, W-won, L-lost, D-drawn, Bat-batting points, Bowlbowling points (WICB Media)

West Indies offspinner Shane Shillingford has been cleared to resume bowling in international cricket.

He was reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in November for a suspected illegal bowling action.

Shillingford’s arm was found to extend more than the permitted 15 degrees for his off-breaks and doosras, and he was suspended from bowling in December.

After re-testing, the 31-year-old’s off-breaks and arm balls were deemed legal, but his doosra remains banned.

Having modified his action and confirmed that he will no longer bowl the doosra in international cricket, the Dominican is now free to resume playing for West Indies, although he will continue to be scrutinised by match officials.

He returned to firstclass cricket earlier this week, taking 4-61 and 7-116 for the Windward Islands against Jamaica.

Shillingford and Windies team-mate Marlon Samuels were both reported during India legend Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test in Mumbai and sent for independent analysis.

All-rounder Samuels,

currently with the Windies squad at the World Twenty20, was permitted to continue bowling, but specifically banned from bowling his quicker deliveries.

Shillingford had previously been suspended from bowling in internationals because of an illegal action, but was permitted to resume after undergoing remedial work and further testing.

He was reported after his international debut in November 2010 and banned a month later when his average elbow extension was found to be 17 degrees. He was cleared to return in June 2011. (BBC Sport)

Six cricketers benefit from Western Union, RHTY&SC junior ambassador programme

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Six young cricketers from the Ancient County have benefited from Western Union’s Junior Cricketer Ambassador Programme, which was renewed on Tuesday.

At a presentation ceremony at Western Union’s office on Water Street, the six cricketers: Daniel Lewis, Akshay Homraj Shimar Flats, Kevelon Anderson, Plafinna Millington and Shebika Gabjani were presented with a quantity of equipment to aid their development.

According to Secretary/ CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster, the company has been supporting the initiative since 2009. This year the company has injected in excess of $500,000 worth of cricket gear into the programme.

Each player will receive a bat, batting pads and

gloves, a helmet, a cricket equipment bag and a set of uniforms.

Foster said, “We at the management level of the club strongly believe in the development of youths, and as such, great effort is made to develop our cricketers at all levels, be it educational, personal or on the cricket field. We want our cricketers to be positive role models to every youth they meet and also to be perfect ambassadors for every team they are given the opportunity to represent.”

Foster added that all the beneficaries of this year’s programme have all excelled in their sporting endeavours over the past years.

“Your contribution has enabled Motie to represent the West Indies Under-19 [team] while it has also played a major role in ensuring that Pereira, Loyden Lewis, Daniel Lewis,

Millington and Linden Austin played for Guyana. Motie and Pereira have also played for the senior Berbiec team.

“This year’s investment is extra special because of the involvement of two young, promising female cricketers who are following in the footsteps of our national sportswoman of the year 2013, Shemaine Campbell,” Foster related.

Foster said the young cricketers of the county have benefited tremendously under the programme, noting that the RHTY&SC is grateful for Western Union’s continued involvement.

Speaking on behalf of the company was Marketing Manager, Natheeah Mendonca, who said Western Union is proud to have aided the young cricketers’ development over the past years.

Fitness Express, Industrial Supplies support HRC 2014

West Indies thrash Bangladesh