Pressure mounts for holding of local govt polls
Police accused of 'roughing up' media workers
Labour Ministry refutes Kaieteur News Old Age Pension article
Nursery school entry age lowered to three
Canadian firms talk up mining prospects in Guyana Guyana, Norway to lead UN finance for development process
thursday, March 6, 2014|
The ABC countries, along with a number of civil society organisations here, have reiterated their call for the holding of local government elections this year.
The opposition recently approved a bill for local government elections to be held by August 1, 2014, but People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee said while his party was ready for Local Government Elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was not.
PPP-appointed commissioners of GECOM have advised the party that the commission has yet to establish boundaries and provide voter education about the new system, he revealed. “For instance, in Georgetown, there will be a mixture of first past the post and proportional representation. We get the distinct impression from our
commissioners that it doesn’t seem that they are ready for local government elections,” he said. The polls have not been held since 1994.
In a joint statement, the local embassies of United States of America, Britain and Canada said a year ago, political party leaders, civil society, private sector representatives, and members of the diplomatic community expressed their hope that 2013 would be the year that Guyana moved to ensure its citizens benefit from strong and effective local governance.
Significant progress
The statement noted that while 2013 passed without local government elections being held, significant progress was made to set the stage for these historic elections in 2014.
“Four bills establishing a reinvigorated framework for local governance were
approved by the National Assembly and three received presidential assent. Together with the 2010 Local Authorities Act establishing the electoral framework for local elections, the legislative path to elections has been cleared,” said the statement.
According to the organisations, in anticipation of local government elections, GECOM has intensified its preparations and expanded voter education outreach to familiarise people with the voting process.
The Local Government and Regional Development
Ministry has been hosting seminars and workshops with stakeholders to promote voter education.
Additionally, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally has stated that the Commission is fully equipped and ready to stage the elections. It has already demarcated the boundaries and constituencies in 69 of 71 districts, and each district has been targeted for voter education.
“Once a date for elections is announced, GECOM can begin the statutory steps required by law to hold local government elections. By all accounts, GECOM is well prepared and poised to ensure free, fair, and transparent local elections whenever called upon by the government to do so,” the groups asserted.
Throughout 2013, all political parties repeatedly expressed their eagerness for local government elections, their desire to make their case to the voters, and their interest in competing in localities throughout the country.
As President Donald Ramotar observed in July, the polls are “badly needed, because many of the problems we face are due to the fact that we did not have local government elections”. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have all begun campaigning in many regions in anticipation of these historic elections.
Guyana Times Editorial
All of this augurs well for 2014 as the year of local government elections. Indeed, as the Guyana Times observed last July, “there is a dire need for local government elections to give citizens the opportunity to choose whom they wish to represent them at the local level”.
As international development agencies have long recognised, the tangible benefits of local democracy go far beyond the act of casting a vote. Effective and efficient public administration coupled with healthy local governance can drive development efforts.
Local government institutions bring government
closer to the people, fostering greater inclusion, civic responsibility, empowerment and participation.
“We agree with the Times that ‘only when people have transparent and accountable institutions at all levels of government – national, regional, and local, will they have confidence in their future’,” the diplomatic release said.
The Constitution affirms that “local government is a vital aspect of democracy” that should allow as many people as possible to participate actively “in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live, and it mandates that local elections be held every three years”.
Democratic processes
The Commonwealth Charter to which Guyana subscribes refers to an individual’s “inalienable right to participate in democratic processes, in particular through free and fair elections in shaping the society in which he or she lives. Parliaments and representative local governments and other forms of local governance are essential elements in the exercise of democratic governance”.
“So now, the legislative foundation is in place for elections by August 1. The election machinery is ready. The political parties have reaffirmed their desire to hold local elections and are making campaign preparations. It is, therefore, our hope, as the PPP/C, APNU, and AFC pledged in their 2011 election manifestos, that local government elections will be held,” the statement continued.
The other organisations that signed the statement are: Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association, Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, Guyana Bar Association, Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association, Guyana Trades Union Congress, Justice Institute, Private Sector Commission and Transparency Institute Guyana Inc.
The impasse on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) (AML/CFT) Bill continued on Wednesday as parliamentarians yet again fail to reach a consensus on the vital legislation which would avoid the blackening of the country’s image internationally.
According to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (CPC) Cecil Dhurjon has failed to complete the draft for the proposed amendments from the opposition parties.
Dhurjon told the members that he was having some difficulty drafting the amendments for the bill because the amendments proposed are conflicting with the Principal Act of 2009.
According to Nandlall, the meeting on Wednesday came to an abrupt end after members of the AML/CFT Special Select Committee failed to reach consensus regarding the meeting’s agenda.
He said too that the committee was unable to consider seven sets of minutes from previous meetings, and pointed out that the amendment to increase the seizure of cash and jewellery in excess of $10 million suspected to be proceeds of money laundering may have to be revised to be compliant with the law and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) guidelines.
In an earlier statement, the Legal Affairs Minister
related that Dhurjon would have studied the recommendations and guidelines of the CFATF.
He added that Dhurjon is having difficulties with the proposed amendments because of the many contradictions.
“You have the APNU’s proposals are to delete certain parts of the Principal Act and simply insert the proposed amendments. You will have to look at the insertions to see the rippling effects it will have within the four concerns of the legislation.”
On Tuesday, the government said its offer with relation to the fight against money-laundering and the financing of terrorism is the most suitable possibility to avoid further sanctions being imposed on Guyana by CFATF or the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Hostage
According to the government, the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) proposed amendments to the AML/CFT Act of 2009 can be subsequently tabled in the National Assembly, passed and assented to by President Donald Ramotar once the green light is given by CFATF.
Teixeira, the chairperson of the select committee said the opposition is holding the bill “hostage.”
She related that APNU on February 26 presented to President Ramotar a maximum situation, affirming clearly that the AML/ CFT (Amendment) Bill will not revisit the House if its proposed amendments are
not included in the bill. She added that albeit the amendments are collectively presented in the National Assembly, the coalition said the President must assent to the non-assented bill that was passed in Parliament and currently awaits his signature
On February 10, President Ramotar had recommended to APNU that the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill 2013 which was agreed on by all parties sitting on the Special Select Committee be sent to the House. He had further proposed that a joint bi-partisan committee be set up to examine the Fiscal Transfers Bill that lays unasserted before him. This proposal was, however, flat out refused by the APNU.
The coalition’s amendments are opting to eliminate the powers of the Finance Minister to assign the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and give it to a committee of the National Assembly. Initially, APNU has also
proposed the seizure of cash over $2 million, as well as jewellery by the police or customs once there is reasonable suspicion of money laundering. But has since increased this amount to $10 million.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) led by Khemraj Ramjattan from the inception of the committee in 2013 made it clear that it will not support the AML Bill until the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) was established, operationalised and budgetary provision made available, but during the February 26th meeting, it backed the coalition saying the amendments to the Principal Act must also be included in the bills.
Meanwhile, Minister Singh reiterated, the AML/ CFT Amendment Bill which was agreed upon on February 9 is in compliance with CFATF’s recommendations. “The substance of clauses of this amendment bill can go back to the National Assembly and be passed because they were not the subject to any disagreement and will immediately upon passage and assent, bring Guyana in compliance.” He said there is no good reason why the National Assembly should not proceed with the bill. His comments were based on sentiments expressed by CFATF Financial Advisor Roger Hernandez who had said on his visit to Guyana that the proposed amendments to the principal act can put Guyana at risk of being non-compliant.
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
On December 20, 2013, the 68th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed March 3, 2014 as the first World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora. The day is now considered a perfect opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people.
The day reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, which has wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts. All over the world we are witnessing how persons are engaging in the trade of wildlife for their own financial gain to the detriment of present and future generations.
The most dramatically increasing threat now is poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife. One would be shocked to really understand the level of illicit trade in wildlife that is taking place on a global scale. Head of UN Environment Programme Achim Steiner was recently quoted as saying that around 1030 rhinos and some 38,000 elephants are now left in Kenya. The country’s wildlife authorities said it lost at least 59 rhinos last year alone.
Also, elephant population on the African continent is estimated at 500,000, compared with 1.2 million in 1980. Additionally, a recent INTERPOL report said they had made 18 seizures accounting for some 41.6 tonnes of ivory in 2013, an all-time global high. A similar situation exists in other parts of the world where certain species are becoming extinct. Certainly, the world cannot and must now allow the illicit trade in wildlife to continue on this scale.
According to the World Bank, the loss of iconic species is a tragedy with broad and deep impacts. Animal, plant and marine biodiversity keeps ecosystems functional. Healthy ecosystems allow us to survive, get enough food to eat and make a living. When species disappear or fall in number, ecosystems and people – especially the world’s poorest –suffer.
Biodiversity is especially important to the poor – 75 per cent of whom live in rural areas and depend on nature for their food and livelihoods. When we protect animals and plants, we also protect the ecosystems that underlie our economies and well-being. Considered a leading financier of biodiversity conservation, the World Bank has over US$1 billion actively invested in protecting nature and wildlife.
In terms of our own local situation here, Guyana must be commended for retaining much of its wild biological diversity in the face of climate change and other factors adversely affecting wildlife the world over. This country is regarded as a model in other parts of the world in terms of protection and preservation of biodiversity.
There are still some crucial steps to be taken in relation to establishing the legal and regulatory framework necessary to curb the illicit trade in wildlife. It is hoped that the enactment of the Wildlife Import and Export Bill, which deals specifically with the regulation of international wildlife trade (import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea) will become a reality very soon. This will lead to a comprehensive legislative and legal framework needed to address issues in relation to conservation, management and trade of our nation’s wildlife species.
We wish to press the need to raise the public’s environmental awareness as it relates to protecting and preserving our wild flora and fauna and to curb the illicit trade involving wild animals and their products. Many citizens here are still ignorant of the importance of wildlife to our own existence; and the time has come for the authorities to take corrective measures.
It is necessary to emphasise the point made by subject Minister Robert Persaud – we can only be successful in combating the illegal trade in wildlife if it is done in a holistic manner. We support the call for communities, nongovernmental organisations and various agencies of the State to enhance cooperation and collaboration in managing our wild fauna and flora.
Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) would like to once again express its profound disappointment at the continuous action of the combined opposition to place Guyana and Guyanese in the path of the impending dangerous consequences following the non-passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill.
Guyana missed another deadline, the latest being February 28. Given the position taken by the opposition, the PPP/C is compelled to ask again, why would these elected representatives who profess to have the welfare of Guyanese at heart, including their own supporters, wilfully and maliciously place all in harm’s way?
Over the many months the main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), failed to make known objections it may have regarding the bill and only a few days ago made a lastminute submission. This was clearly a deliberate attempt to not only delay debates to facilitate the passage of the bill, but to bring to bear unwarranted suffering to the hard-working people of this country.
More so, it was a deliberate attempt to embarrass and have Guyana sanctioned by the international community so as to derail the overwhelming progress achieved under the PPP/C-led administration. This is the latest of many attempts by the opposition to reverse the economic strides of our nation and return this now free, democratic and progressive country, to a state of bankruptcy and
backwardness.
While this is nothing new for the opposition, given their public position of professing to be working for a better Guyana, it would have been reasonable to expect a sense of nationalism and to act responsibly. Their actions have made it pellucid that such positions articulated were mere exercises in political rhetoric and deception, even for their own supporters.
The PPP/C would like to reiterate that the government it leads entered the discussions regarding the bill in good faith. The Alliance For Change (AFC) signalled its willingness to support the passage of the bill based on a resolution regarding the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). The AFC had been adamant that their support was hinged on the establishment of the PPC. Despite the AFC’s demand, it was clear that it had no contention with the actual bill but wanted what they insisted on as prerequisite for support.
It is therefore extremely mindboggling that the AFC, which vehemently professes to be responsible and independent, has reneged on the resolution reached regarding the PPC and has now adapted the position taken by APNU. This can only be viewed as a resort to treachery by the AFC and is further demonstrative of that party’s gross attempts to continue to mislead and misinform the nation and their supporters regarding its independency and its false claims of not working in cohorts with APNU.
Recently, Juan Hernandez, an official from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), reiterated what the govern-
ment has been saying all along: that the bill in its current form is compliant. He also was clear when he noted that amendments proposed by APNU would make the current bill non-compliant and would therefore place the country at risk.
This is clearly a vindication of what the government continues to articulate. Given this, the question becomes obvious, why would the AFC suddenly adapt APNU’s position and thereby collaborating to place the country and its people in jeopardy? This wholesale adaption of the positions taken by APNU will serve to continue the erosion of the AFC’s credibility.
The dogmatic approach which APNU continues to take is consistent with its position of not wanting any movement on the bill. The PPP/C reiterates that both APNU and the AFC have deliberately not taken into consideration the harsh consequences the non-passage of this bill would bring to bear on the people of this nation.
It must be asked, why would both parties continue to ignore the related challenges their own supporters can face? The effects of the non-passage of this bill are not confined to only members of the PPP/C and the actions of the opposition is further indicative of their wanton disregard for the welfare of our people.
It should also be noted that during the all-party talks pertaining to the passage of the bill, the PPP/Cled government exhausted all opportunities for a resolution and has taken an extremely reasonable position during those discussions. Unfortunately, the intransi-
gence of the opposition has led to Guyana missing the deadline.
Guyanese must remain cognisant of these actions by the Opposition which are intrinsically designed to wreck the economy, to bring hardships to all, including their supporters, as it continues to foster a political agenda which is counterproductive to the development of Guyana.
The party takes this opportunity to thank all those who have, and continue to express their support, for the position taken by the government for the passage of the bill. This expression of support was further demonstrated through the town-hall style meetings held recently in nontraditional PPP/C areas.
These meetings which were held to provide an opportunity for Guyanese to seek clarification and to freely express their views, were tremendously successful. The feedback from these meetings and the public at large have been overwhelming in its support and appreciation for the current bill to pass.
This show of unity and nationalistic pride holds good for the future of our country despite the Opposition’s continuous attempts to ignore the will of the Guyanese people. Once again, our party would like to express its gratitude to all who continue to show support for the government’s position regarding passage of this bill. It is therefore profoundly unfortunate that in this context, the Opposition would continue to exhibit a wanton disregard for nationhood.
Respectfully submitted, PPP/C
Freedom House
your
Dear Editor,
I have seen Ralph Ramkarran’s article in another section of the press. He has once again returned to his favourite theme of compromise. This man seems to have nothing that he is willing to stand up for. There seems to be no issue that he feels should not have a compromise.
He, like the two opposition parties in the National Assembly, appears to be taking the position that an issue with such grave national implications should be used to extract as much unreasonable concessions from government, such as signing unconstitutional bills. This issue is not one for “horse trading” as Ramkarran and the opposition are proposing. It is by far too important.
Did Dr Cheddi Jagan ask for anything to support the nationalisation of bauxite?
No. Is it not true that even though the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime rigged the election of 1973, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), seeing the dangers to national sovereignty, came out with critical support, knowing fully well that it would not be a popular decision?
This issue, in my view, is as important as any in the post-independence of Guyana. Why should any party ask for a compromise? This is not a bill that the PPP wrote up. It has come out of an international process.
Because of the international nature and implications, there are severe penalties if the bill is not passed.
If it is not passed, Guyana would be seen as a country that defends drug traffickers, money launderers and gun smugglers. In fact, the opposition to the bill could very well be seen as the opposition members in the National Assembly defending the illegal activities.
Ramkarran, instead of his usual wishy-washy compromise call, should show us that he stands for the national interest and demand that the opposition pass the bill that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFTAF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have pronounced as being compliant.
For once, Ramkarran, show some backbone.
Yours faithfully, Rebecca Constance
Dear Editor,
For the past 69 years the Swastika has come to symbolise hatred, intolerance and xenophobia. However, before World War II, and among the ancient IndoEuropeans cultures, the Swastika was a symbol of luck, good fortune and the never ending cycle of the Universe.
The symbol is as ancient as civilisation itself and seems to have it roots in the oldest of them all – Hinduism. Ironically, it is Hinduism and Hinduderived religions like Buddhism that continue to preserve and protect the sacredness and true meaning of this enigmatic sign.
With the current rate of globalisation, the world, and especially the West, needs to understand what the Swastika truly means – peace, harmony, luck, the Universe and enlightenment. Many religions claim
Make your employees feel that you are interested in their welfare
Dear Editor,
I would like to send a message to all employers who may be having problems with their employees, in that they (the employers) feel the employees are not contributing enough to their business.
I have seen a lot of business owners running their organisations with the sole objective of making a profit. This means that they treat employees in the same way, as they would deal with the tools of their trade – as simply units to exploit for the sole purpose of maximising financial returns.
This would ultimately make their workers feel that their employer is regarding them as inanimate objects without human dignity, without their special uniqueness and talents, and without the ability to contribute in a creative way.
When we believe that each individual is a unique human being with his/ her own special way of reacting to any situation, then we will treat that person with dignity and respect. I can assure you that, as long as that person is normal and not restrained by any illness or disturbing situation, he/she
will react and produce more than is expected so as to bring out his/her innate individuality and desire to be significant, which are the most powerful natural longings of any person.
Make your employees feel that you are interested in their welfare, and that they have something positive to contribute to the general business, and they will not disappoint you, but will even surprise you with their creativity and leadership.
Yours truly, Roy
Paul
that some within their communities have hijacked their religion and they go about educating the rest of society on what their beliefs truly mean.
Well, there's one hijacking that is never spoken of – that the Nazis took this ancient symbol of positive meaning and turned it into a force for evil. The symbol itself was flipped on its side and used by others, not even the Hindus themselves, for unthinkable acts of violence.
However, if the Swastika is to be rejected from society because others, besides the original owners, used it for their own cruel purposes and when the Hindus try to use it for their religious beliefs it is frowned upon, then shouldn't the same be applied to the Cross, or Moon and Star?
These religious symbols were also used in cruel ways and by people who called themselves followers of the religions, even when those respective religions also claim that their beliefs did not demand such excessive cruelty.
Yet the Swastika has never been used by any Hindu or Dharmic group for such purposes, but was a complete hijack of one civilisation's sacred symbol by a completely different group with no associations.
So then the questions remain, why pick on just the Swastika? Why can't we just educate society about the truth? Is it because Hindus are too passive? Are we again being punished for our belief in unwarranted aggression? Should the lesson to be learnt from this is
that we need to be more aggressive in gaining our respect?
Hindus in no way supported the Nazi use of it, why should we have to suffer for our beliefs and symbols to darkness when it is a Hindu majority India that sent the largest volunteer army in the world to stop the Nazis?
It is a shame the West cannot put aside their hatred for the Swastika when India put aside their rebellion against British occupation and securing their independence to help the West secure its own freedom by sending the largest volunteer army in the world to help the allies in World War II.
It remains to be said, however, that although the Swastika now lives in the realm of Dharmic religions, archaeology shows that like the story of the Great Flood in literature, the Swastika remains a physical piece of evidence that connects most cultures of the ancient world. It was once found from the Far East in China and India to the Isles of Greece and the Fjords of the Vikings.
Swastikas line many houses in Rome and can be found on an array of the earliest Greek pottery and as far away as Africa and the tribes of the native Americans like the Navajo. In fact, the oldest Swastika today does not even come from India but, from Vinca scripts of Neolithic Europe over 8000 years ago.
Thank you, Nisha Ramracha Vassan Ramracha
By DeBBie Pincus
Break it down
Decide together whether or not it will be helpful to your child for you to help him break down his assignments into small pieces and organise on a calendar what he should get done each day. You can get him a big wall calendar or a white board. You might also get extra help from his teacher or get a tutor for him if that’s in your budget.
Be kind but firm
Try your best to be a parent who is kind, helpful, consistent and firm versus punitive, over-functioning and controlling. For every negative interaction with your child, try to create 10 positive ones. Try to put the focus on supporting and encouraging him instead of worrying and nagging. When you start to believe his grades are a reflection of you or your parenting and that you are responsible for his outcome, you will be on his case – and it will be harmful and ineffective.
Lack of motivation or anxiety
Recognise that so much of your child’s lack of motivation (or what looks like irresponsibility) might be his own anxiety or shame about academics and schoolwork. Most people have anxiety about doing certain things and avoid them like the plague. Children may not be able to explain all of this to you because it’s not always on a conscious level for
(Continued from Wednesday)
them. Here’s a typical scenario. Let’s say your child tells you he doesn’t have homework when he actually does. This will stir up your anxiety. When you react to it by yelling or criticising, your child will manage his anxiety by distancing from it – and from you – more. While a little anxiety can motivate, too much blocks your child’s ability to think and to have access to the part of the brain that helps him with motivation. Keep your emotions in check by recognising that it’s your child’s anxiety at play rather than his laziness. Your job (and how you will be most helpful to him) is to not react to his anxiety or your own.
Recognise that sometimes your child’s feelings of shame, inferiority or anxiety can be misinterpreted as a lousy attitude, lack of motivation, and irresponsibility. Often the cover up for these vulnerable emotions can take the form of acting out, shutting down, avoidance, and de-
fiance. Remember that what is happening now may look very different as your child matures and develops. In the meantime, in a positive relationship, lend him your brain by helping him with the structure and habits he can’t pull off on his own. And calm yourself by understanding the bigger picture of what is going on now.
Teach life balance
Remember to always keep the big picture in mind. Rather than go crazy over your child’s grades, help her to balance her life with friendships, other activities, volunteer work and family activities. Get involved with her school affairs when you can and take an interest in her school projects.
Don’t futurise
When we see our child seeming to have no interest in his life, it’s easy to start fast forwarding into the future. When he acts like he
doesn’t care about anything except video games and his friends, we worry that he won’t be successful or even functional on his own. This ramps up our anxiety and our fear. But here’s the truth: none of us have a crystal ball or can really see into the future. Focusing on the negative things your child is doing will only bring the spotlight on them, and may set you both up for a power struggle. Instead, focus on your child’s positive traits and help him work on those in the present. Is he outgoing, helpful, or good with animals? Focus on all the things that go into a developed, successful person, not just academics and grades and help your child develop in social, creative, and emotional ways.
Parents are often so worried about their child falling behind that they end up in a power struggle with their children over it, but nothing gets better. They go round and round, just fighting about the grades and the work. But if you as the parent can calm down and understand that this is not just a bad attitude and an unmotivated child – and that you can’t force them to be motivated – then you can actually start meeting your child where he is and helping where he needs help. Remember, your goal is to stop the reactivity and solve the problem. (Empowering
By erin schlicher
Many parents wonder what the difference is between a bribe and a reward. After all, in both instances, your child is getting something for doing what you want him to do. But when is this helpful in teaching him better behaviour, and when is it harmful? Parental Support Line Advisor, Erin Schlicher explains.
“I’ll give you an Xbox if you’ll just clean your room!”
It’s important to understand that bribery can become an ongoing pattern that ultimately teaches your child to act out to get what they want.
This parental plea might sound like an exaggeration, but it’s actually not as far off-base as you might think. During my nearly two years as a Parental Support Line Advisor, I heard many parents describe interactions with their children in which they promised all manners of enticing treats and activities in exchange for behaving appropriately. Parents end up feeling as though
they are desperately bribing their children to comply. Children can come to expect something extra for simply executing their daily responsibilities, which can in turn lead to a false sense of entitlement.
It’s important to understand that bribery can become an ongoing pattern that ultimately teaches your child to act out to get what he wants. To make things even more confusing, attempting to curtail your child’s unruly actions by offering a bribe might actually seem like it’s working in the moment. Take the classic example of a parent who is dutifully trying to get her grocery shopping done while her children are running wild through the store. The parent is frustrated and embarrassed, so she proposes a deal: if the children will settle down and get through the shopping excursion, they will each be given a candy bar. Great, it seems to work! But wait…afterward, the parent is left feeling played, and she soon discovers that this tactic leaves her with a sense of powerlessness. This is because in this scenario, the acting-out child has learned another method of maintaining control. You can even think of this behaviour as blackmail – “you better give me a sweet payoff, or I’m going to make you suffer!” Children will likely continue to use this strategy as long as it is working for them.
Many understandably confused parents have asked me outright, “So what is the difference between giving a bribe for good behaviour versus rewarding it?” I’ll tell you what I’ve told them: Generally, bribery occurs under duress – right smack in the middle of a situation in which your child has seemingly sprouted horns and a tail. It happens quickly, when all you want is to change your child’s behaviour on the spot, so you offer him something that you had no previous intention of offering. It is a form of negotiating – and remember, over–negotiating puts the child in the driver’s seat. On the other hand, the effective use of rewards is quite different, because you are compensating your child for his good behaviour, rather than being manipulated and extorted.
(Empowering Parents)
Third year University of Guyana (UG) students are up in arms over several changes made to the Bachelor’s Degree in Education Programme, contending that they were made without their input
The students have expressed strong reservation to repetitive courses, increased tuition and lengthened courses in the degree programme.
University of Guyana Student Society President (UGSS) Richard Rambarran has described the changes as arbitrary.
On Monday evening, dozens of students taking the programme protested outside of the School of Education and Humanities, Turkeyen Campus.
They claimed that the two-year bachelor’s programme was increased by one year, which contains additional courses, including a summer course. In addition, the students claim that some of the new courses are repetitive courses, included in the Certificate of Education Programme.
The degree programme was initially a four-year programme; however, as a prerequisite, students had to undergo a two-year Certificate of Education Programme before commencing the degree programme.
With this certificate programme, students were given an exemption of two years from the degree programme.
In addition, the students are also protesting a $36,000 hike in tuition fee; this they say is causing them great inconvenience. The initial fee was $127,000 but was raised to $172,750.
Guyana Times was told that changes to the programme were made by the Education Ministry as part of a plan to reform the ed-
ucation system. The plan involved the Education Ministry, UG and the Cyril Potter College of Education.
The issue was brought to the attention of the UGSS on Monday last and a meeting was held subsequently between its President, Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi and four student representatives. However, another meeting has been scheduled for next Monday and will now include the Dean of the School of Education and Humanities.
Unacceptable Rambarran said it is unacceptable that the students were not consulted on the changes.
“The change was made more than likely in the last academic year (2013/2014). It will have to be between that academic year,” he said. Rambarran noted that while this is the first batch of students affected by the issues raised, it will be the last as the contentious matters will be addressed.
The UGSS president disclosed that in the meeting with Dr Opadeyi, the university’s failure to inform the students about the tuition increase was taken into consideration. He said the
UGSS will design a plan on how the payments can be made to ease the financial burden on the students.
With regards to the repetitive courses, he added that the UG administration has been asked to review these, and make adjustments wh ere necessary.
Rambarran explained that from the discussion with the UG administration, he does not believe that the current programme will be reverted to the previous programme.
However, he pointed out that he will try his best to see if the lengthened courses can be reduced by getting the extra courses placed within the regular semester.
Dean of the Education Faculty Alim Hosein told this newspaper that he along with the university’s vice chancellor and student representatives will be meeting on Monday coming to address the issues. He noted that the UG administration is focused on the students’ welfare.
Meanwhile, when contacted for a comment on the matter, the vice chancellor told this newspaper that it is being looked at, and would not say more on it.
BY SVETLANA MARSHALL
Government on Tuesday said public pressure caused A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to raise the stop and search limit regarding the seizure of money and jewellery suspected to be proceeds of money laundering from $2 million to $10 million.
The ruling administration is also urging that the same effort must be applied to get the coalition to pass the anti-money laundering bill.
APNU Executive Member Joseph Harmon on Tuesday disclosed that the coalition has tabled an additional amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Act of 2009. At the time, Harmon was addressing the press at the Leader of the Opposition Office on Hadfield Street, Georgetown on Tuesday.
It was explained that the new amendment will pave the way for the police, customs and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to seize in excess of $10 million if there are reasonable suspicions that the proceeds are linked to money laundering or terrorism.
Initially, the coalition at the level of the
tion custom seizure”.
Parliamentary Special Select Committee proposed the seizure of cash over $2 million (US$10,000) and jewellery by the police or customs once there are reasonable suspicions.
Asked what would have spurred the change, Harmon said the select committee engages in “dynamic” processes, hence changes are made periodically.
AML/CFT Special Select Committee Chairperson Gail Teixeira explained that on February 9, APNU through its member Basil Williams tabled a written amendment to the AML/CFT Act of 2009, which sought to amend section 37 of the principal act, thereby removing the section which dealt “exclusively with transborder immigra-
She added: “They were amending that section totally and inserting, so it would no longer be a transborder issue, but anywhere in Guyana.”
However, she explained that on February 26, Harmon verbally presented a change in the amendment.
According to the chairperson, this new addition provides for in excess of $10 million to be seized anywhere in the country once there are reasonable suspicions by the relevant authorities.
“We are very clear on the government side that this shift in their amendment… to move from $2 million to $10 million is because of the pressure that came from the populace.”
Alana Taylor, Peter McKenzie and Amunike Rogers on Wednesday appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with robbery under arms.
Twenty-three-year-old McKenzie, of Lot 298 Meadow Brook Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara; 35-yearold Taylor, of Lot 212 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown; and 19-year-old Amunike Rogers, of Lot 195 Meadow Brook Gardens, Greater Georgetown, were all remanded to prison. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge.
It is alleged that on March 2, while in the vicinity of Light Street,
Alberttown, the trio, armed with guns, relieved Elizabeth Hendricks, a dredge operator, of one BLU cellular phone valued $120,000; one gold ring valued $40,000; one hand bag valued $15,000; one lap top valued $160,000; and three BlackBerry chargers valued $6000.
McKenzie and Rogers were represented by Attorney Paul Fung-AFat, while Taylor was represented by Attorney Mark Waldron. The lawyers requested reasonable bail for their clients, stating that none of them had any prior convictions.
In regard to Taylor, Prosecutor Vishu Hunt did not object to bail. He stated that she has been a friend
of the virtual complainant for some years and the state wished to use her as a key witness in the matter.
According to the Prosecutor, the woman, who is the mother of three and a domestic caregiver, was mistakenly charged by the police and while efforts were made to retract this, the matter was transferred to the court. Despite this mistake, the woman was still remanded to prison.
Prosecutor Hunt objected to bail for the two males, citing the seriousness of the offence and the penalties attached.
The defendants are expected to make another court appearance on March 7 at 10:30h.
Aman was Wednesday fined $3000 and sentenced to six months’ community service for possession of marijuana when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Julian Johnson was convicted of having in his possession two grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking on March 1. The 29-year-old man, a water ven-
dor who resides at 125 Laing Avenue, Ruimveldt, is scheduled to report to the Magistrates’ Courts on Monday at 09:00h to commence his six months of community service.
Joel Nelson, 30, of Henrietta Village on the Essequibo Coast, was granted bail for unlawful wounding when he appeared on Wednesday before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.
Police said on February 12, Nelson unlawfully wounded Daveanand Atkins by lashing him with a piece of wood about the body. Prosecutor Krishna Datt Ramana applied the Administration of Justice Act whereby Nelson was required to plead to the indictable charge. The labourer then pleaded not guilty. Nelson was represented by Legal Aid
Attorney Valensia Yansen. In her application for bail, she stated that her client was not a flight risk and was a family man.
The Prosecutor did not object to bail, and it was granted in the sum of $60,000. Nelson will make his next court appearance on March 25 for the commencement of his trial.
...the (power) back door
And here your Eyewitness thought Trinis were the very exemplars of the term “vulgar”. So you could’ve knocked him over with a feather when he read that the Mayor of Port of Spain, railed against the vulgarity exhibited by some of the revellers in their just consummated Carnival. Seems they’d most graphically put into practice the soca lyrics “wine down low and jam on a bumper”.
Your Eyewitness wonders what he would’ve said if he heard the tune our Opposition politicians were putting into action over here during our lame imitation of Carnival: “kick in she back door”! Well at least that’s how AG Nandlall saw the moves they’ve been making on using their one-seat majority in the National Assembly to usurp the functions of the Executive.
It’s obvious Nandlall’s convinced the Opposition is fully au fait with all that “kicking in she back door” implies. The Opposition wants to assert power and domination forcefully, just to show the government “who’s man”. This has been evident long before the last elections when they got that one-seat boost. Back in the 1960s, aided and abetted by the CIA and their labour fronts, the Opposition had “kicked in the back door” and gotten power handed over to them on a platter.
Unable to adjust to the changing world, they still want to get in through the back door...and kicking their way in, is all they know. But hold it! Maybe they have inside info that the world hasn’t changed so much since the 1960s. Your Eyewitness sees governments being threatened and overthrown by opposition forces in both hemispheres and it’s the same usual suspects behind the scenes.
While the CIA is not as active as it used to be (most of the spying is done by machines rather than people – humint) the proxies are still working overtime. Keeping the world safe for democracy is a dirty job...but somebody’s got to do it. So the AG shouldn’t think because its Mash time...the Opposition’s singing “bruk in she back door”. Remember everyone thought (and some still trumpet) that Hoyte was the second coming of Thomas Jefferson – where democracy was concerned.
But Hoyte launched “slow fyaah; mo’ fyaah” didn’t he? That’s as “back door” as you can get. And he almost “bruk in” all the way through...after the funeral of Blackie London and the Mash Day Breakout.
Let’s see how the tune will play out this time around.
...the ideological barriers
This time around, kicking in the back door to get Executive power is getting a bit more sophisticated. It’s not just brute force and ignorance. They even have some apologists offering theoretical justification for their nefarious agenda. And it’s not just from the usual suspects that call themselves “NGOs” even though they’re totally funded by foreign governments.
Weighing in from far off California to offer intellectual justification for the Opposition’s power grab, was Eusi Kwayana, who seems to go on and on like Old Man River. And we’re even not talking about his age. We’re talking about the length and convolutedness of his letters. Your Eyewitness gets paid to read these things, but he confesses it ain’t easy.
Anyhow, he quotes Article 103 of the Constitution to justify the assertion that because the Opposition has a oneseat majority in Parliament, the President should include them in his Cabinet!!! But of course, he didn’t say what Art 103 says – which is, that the President has to select Ministers from individuals elected to Parliament.
Our riposte is – “So?”
...an old mystery
Looks like “boat gone a waata” on the Rodney Inquiry. Commission members’ been sworn in and now a call for information’s been published in the dailies. Not surprisingly, some have started to question whether such an Inquiry is even necessary. Your Eyewitness won’t even dignify such a ridiculous question with an answer.
Save to say that it’s obvious there’s a look of people quaking in their boots already.
–
Afew days after a Guyana Times/TVG/ RGI reporter was manhandled by police ranks for taking a photograph of them during an operation, men believed to be police ranks on Tuesday meted out similar treatment to a group of media workers at Peter Rose Street, Georgetown.
According to information received, heavily armed men in plain clothes who said they were members of the Guyana Police Force, although they refused to produce identification, on Tuesday roughed up several staff members of a television station, as they were carrying out on assignment in Queenstown.
The police ranks may have taken offence to the team videotaping them as they searched for a man on Church Street, Queenstown.
As one of the media workers was attempting to get a comment from the young man who had been released by the men, the armed men in a heavy tinted Nissan pickup, with registration number PNN 8926, followed the car which was transporting the media group and demanded that the occupants step out of the vehicle.
The men, attired in jeans, T-shirts, sneakers and caps refused to give a reason for the search, but zeroed in on cameraman Sydel Thomas, stating that he will be the first one to be searched.
One of the men went reportedly threatened Thomas.
The men eventually jumped into their vehicle and left. Thomas has reportedly lodged a formal complaint with the police.
When contacted, Crime
Chief Seelall Persaud said the police have a right to stop and search any vehicle that they believe looks suspicious and the men were carrying out their lawful duty.
He added that he was not sure what transpired but advised that the team make a formal complaint to a police station if they were not pleased with the way they were treated.
In an invited comment, head of the television station's news team Travis Chase, said that immediately after he received the call from his staff relating their ordeal, he telephoned A Division Commander George Vyphius on the matter.
According to him, during that conversation, the commander expressed his apologies, while noting that such behaviour will not be tolerated and an investigation into the matter will be launched.
This latest alleged incident comes two days after Guyana Times/TVG/RGI reporter Bhisham Mohamed
was assaulted by ranks of the Grove Police Station, for taking a picture of ranks who were said to be hiding behind a clump of bushes on the East Bank Demerara Highway. Mohamed was told that taking photos of ranks is an offence.
General Manager of Guyana Times/TVG/RGI, Daniel Singh has since written the Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell on the issue.
In his letter to Brumell, which was also copied to the Police Complaints Authority, the Guyana Press Association and other media houses, Singh said given the serious nature of the allegations made by Mohamed, as they go against several freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution, “we are kindly requesting that you urgently: (a) Cause an investigation be launched into this incident; (b) Provide the relevant law which prohibits the media from taking photographs of traffic officers conducting an operation, and (c) Update Guyana Times/ TVG/RGI on the findings of your investigation.”
He also told the police chief that the media house intends to highlight in every possible way “this grave threat against the free media in Guyana.”
Singh said the media have a legitimate role to play in informing the public and they will visit the scene of incidents.
Further, an attornery has advised Guyana Times/ TVG/RGI that the presence of a photographer or reporter at an incident does not constitute any unlawful obstruction or interference of police work.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director General José Graziano da Silva on Wednesday appealed to governments to boost support to the world’s small-scale family farmers in order to win the fight against hunger.
Ban said the International Year of Family Farming being celebrated in 2014 called “for commitments” in a message relayed by Graziano da Silva to the Global Forum and Expo on Family Farming in Budapest, Hungary. “Governments can empower family farmers, especially women and youth, by creating policies conducive to equitable and sustainable rural development,” Ban said. “This includes better infrastructure to reduce the amount of food lost after harvest when small-scale producers are unable to store, process, and transport their goods.”
The UN Secretary General also encouraged public and private lenders to provide vital financial services such as credit and insurance. Ban warned that small-scale family farmers are particularly vulnerable to climate change events such as extreme weather, droughts, and floods.
In his address to the forum, Graziano da Silva echoed the UN Secretary General in urging governments to adopt explicitly pro-family farming policies. He underlined that family farmers, fisherfolk, forestdependent people, pastoralists, and traditional and indigenous communities are key for food security in
Family farms account for more than 90 per cent of all farm holdings in a recent study of 93 countries
most countries, but, at the same time, they are among the world’s most vulnerable populations. A recent study of 93 countries shows that family farms account for more than 90 per cent of all farm holdings, he told the forum.
Source of employment
Family farmers also manage most of the world’s farm land, including 63 per cent in Europe, he said. “Apart from producing a high proportion of the food we eat, family farmers are, by far, the biggest source of employment in the world,” the Director General stressed, adding that they are also the guardians of the world’s agro-biodiversity and natural resources.
Graziano da Silva underlined the importance of protecting family farmers from rising threats to their traditional access to land posed by insecurity and land grabbing. The Committee on World Food Security’s approved Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure as well as its Principles on Responsible Agricultural Investments
currently being negotiated are of great importance to keep these threats in check, he said.
“Large private sector investments in agriculture exist and will continue, whether we like it or not,” he explained. “So it is paramount that there is a common understanding on how to invest in ways that are sustainable and protect the rights of family farmers and poor communities.”
Secretary General of Asian Farmers Association, Esther Penunia; President of the southern area of the artisanal section of the National Federation of Fisheries of Mauritania, Mohammed Ould Saleck; and President of the European Farmers Association, Gerd Sonnleitner were formally appointed as FAO Special Ambassadors on Family Farming at the forum. They join the other special ambassadors already nominated for the year: Ibrahima Coulibaly, President of the National Coordination of Peasant Organisations of Mali; and Mirna Cunningham, former Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
The Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry has refuted several inaccuracies in an article published in the Monday edition of the Kaieteur News headlined “Parliamentary body urges tighter measures to protect integrity of $2B Old Age Pension scheme”.
The Ministry in a release said it views the article as a misconstrued representation of the discussion that ensued during the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) review of the Auditor General’s Report of 2011.
Several officials from the Ministry appeared before the PAC on March 3, where clarifications were sought on key issues highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report of 2011, based upon audit queries made in the report.
These were clarified by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Lorene Baird. However, the answers and explanations provided by Baird were not reflected in the Kaieteur News’ article.
“Indeed, there were queries about the contract for the printing of the pension books and the sequential numbering of these books. This particular issue was rectified in 2012.
"Specifically, as it related to the sequential numbering, the Ministry indicat-
ed at the PAC meeting that while the books are sequentially numbered, and entered into the database, the system is not designed to allow the Ministry to enter each of the 12 coupons into the database. However, each pension book could be easily traced in the system,” the Ministry said
Inaccurate
The newspaper article also stated that under the law, a pensioner forfeits the right to collect pension once out of Guyana for more than three months. This is inaccurate, the Ministry noted. There were discussions about the length of time a pensioner has to encash his/ her monthly coupon, and
receive retroactive payment within a fiscal financial year. The Ministry officials indicated that a pensioner can only be paid pension for three preceding months that he/she has missed.
If pensioners are unable to personally uplift their pension because of health reasons, or if they are out of the jurisdiction for a short period of time, they are advised to authorise someone to uplift their pension.
In addition, the Ministry would like to express concerns about the content contained in the article about the use of the pension database to grant electricity and water tariff subsidies. This was not the subject of any discussion at the Public Accounts Committee meeting.
“Nevertheless, the Ministry wishes to reiterate that its database is not used as the criterion to determine who benefits from the subsidy as is reflected in the Kaieteur News’ article. Rather, pensioners apply directly to the Guyana Power and Light and the Guyana Water Inc.
There is in place established criteria to determine the eligibility of pensioners. With respect to the electricity and water subsidies, ownership of meter is the criterion used to determine eligibility,” the Ministry said.
The article also incorrectly reported that the Ministry would await death certificates of pensioners from their relatives before deleting them from the system.
At present, the Ministry said it receives ‘death returns’ from the General Registrar’s Office’s and inputs this information and updates the database on a regular basis.
Family members of the deceased, the Local Board of Guardian and Probation and social security officers who are assigned throughout the regions also submit data in this regard.
Dismay
The Ministry also views with dismay the statement that it had to provide answers in relation to a query of $75 million spent to assist persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Based on the discussions, officials of the Ministry indicated that the matter was engaging the attention of the authorities, the Health Sector Development Unit, which was responsible for funding the project, had conducted an independent audit.
The PAC then instructed the Auditor General to write the Health Ministry Permanent Secretary to obtain a copy of that audit report.
In light of the numerous inaccuracies highlighted in the newspaper article, the Ministry is urging Kaieteur News’ Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris to ensure that reports are verified, and properly reflect the facts.
Some people just like to be in every ting. Dem is pot salt, accordin to old people. Dem love to be in de eyes of de public. Dem like deh in newspaper and deh pun t-vee and radio. De Cee-Hen-S man used to like put he face pun he own t-vee station. People get fed up seein he in real life. Then dem get fed up seein he pun t-vee too.
Now Son-Son tek over, although if was radio alone yuh woulda never know is a son-son. But that is nutten new nowadays. Just listen to some a dem boys who does dress like boys and who seh dem is boys talk and yuh gon know right away whah goin. Nutten ain’t wrong wid whah goin on, is just that some tings does happen in de dark, like de man who does pick pumpkins night time.
Good ting de good book seh whah ever is done in dark does come to light. And de good book mean that no matter how it dark, it gon still come to light – even if is moon light – just like how de pumpkin man get ketch. De secret whah every body know is who he get ketch wid.
Well, de pumpkin man also happen to be a mud paper man. And that mud paper man does instruct de headitor fuh write and talk good tings bout he. Plus publish he photos. Even Sleeping Tom does deh under instructions, and sometimes under de instructor.
It got another man who like to protest all alone so that he alone gon be in the photos in de mud paper. If ever it had a man who like to be on t-vee, believe it or leave it, Ben Cup is de man. De Kiss Man used to join up wid he a lotta times, because he also want de same ting whah Ben Cup want.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! That is why dem end up fightin wid one another. And it wasn’t fuh publicity and kissin alone!
Despite media reports that Crime Chief Seelall Persaud is tipped to replace Leroy Brumell as Police Commissioner, President Donald Ramotar has yet to consult with Opposition Leader David Granger as is constitutionally mandated.
However, unlike the Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary appointments, the President is not required to agree with the Opposition Leader’s choice.
Former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin had opposed the appointment of Henry Greene as the police chief, but then President Bharrat Jagdeo confirmed him as Commissioner, albeit two years after he was appointed to act.
Speaking to Guyana Times on Tuesday, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Vice Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said he and other coalition members are being guided by what was published in the press.
He said the head of state has not yet met with the leader of the opposition coalition to discuss the new appointment. He was also unable to say when the two leaders
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud is tipped to replace Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell
would meet.
Last week, President Ramotar had promised that he would make an official announcement regarding the post of Police Commissioner. Until now, nothing has been said.
However, sources close to this publication have revealed that Deputy Commissioner Seelall is expected to replace Commissioner Brumell, who will retire shortly.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee was also unsure when the official announcement will be made. He had said the extension of Commissioner Brumell’s ten-
ure will last until the appropriate system is in place to appoint the new Commissioner. Those systems include meeting with the opposition leader. Brumell, whose term of office expired on February 8, remains on the job to facilitate a smooth transition for his successor. He is expected to leave by mid-March. He took up the substantive post of Police Commissioner in October last year, after acting in the position since December 19, 2011. Brumell has served the force for more than 36 years. Granger has been on record as saying that Brumell should leave the office when the time comes. The 50-year-old Persaud holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management and a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Studies from the University of Guyana (UG).
He also holds a Certificate Course for Senior Executives in National and International Security from Harvard University. He completed the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Standard Officers Course and investigating courses at the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
– prices ranging from $3000 to $3500
Region Two rice farmers are immensely dissatisfied with the prices millers are offering them for their paddy, which they began harvesting in early February. Millers are currently paying $3000$3500 for a bag of Grade A paddy, down from the $4000 offered last year.
The decrease in prices is said to be as a result of the low prices for rice on the European and Caribbean markets.
One farmer from Affiance Village on the Essequibo
Coast, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was an expensive crop for him. He outlined that the prices offered for paddy cannot compensate farmers for all they have invested. The farmer explained that the prices being offered would only cover their main expenses and left them without a profit.
Millers are reportedly also demanding more weight per bag of paddy. One farmer said he had to package 166 pounds of paddy per bag and was just offered $3000 for each bag.
Assistant Police Commissioner and Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said further investigations into the Colwyn Harding baton-rape allegations are ongoing.
Persaud told the Guyana Times on Tuesday that he cannot say how long the investigations will last, as investigators conduct further probes into the matter based upon the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.
Ali-Hack had returned the file to the police for additional investigations to be conducted about a week ago. The crime chief told the media last Friday that the DPP had requested that statements from the witnesses be redone, and more importantly, the medical certificate from the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital doctor who had examined Harding reviewed . It is still unclear if the medical certificate from Jamaica was presented to the DPP for review.
Accused officer
Persaud also disclosed that the officer implicated in the matter, who was placed under close arrest, returned to regular duty but at a different location. However, he did not give details as to which station the rank was reassigned. He pointed out that the constitutional 72-hour detention period was up, and so the rank had to be released from close arrest.
Harding, 23, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, accused the police constable who was stationed at the Timehri Police Station of using a baton to rape him in the presence of two other senior officers while he was in custody between November 15 and 18 last.
The police, however, alleged that during his detention, Harding assaulted a peace officer and behaved disorderly and this resulted in him being charged for the of-
fences. He made a court appearance on November 18, and was placed on $50,000 bail.
When the allegation was brought to light early in January, the Office of Professional Responsibilities was tasked with investigating the matter. A final report was then handed over to Police Complaints Authority Chairman, Justice Cecil Kennard who found that there was no conclusive evidence of Harding being raped.
However, Justice Kennard did recommend criminal charges of assault against two officers and disciplinary charges against several others.
About two weeks ago, Harding’s attorney, Nigel Hughes had disclosed that his client had been examined by a medical expert, Dr Dalgleish Joseph at St Joseph Mercy Hospital in Guyana and doctors in Jamaica. He noted that the Guyanese doctor pointed to “active rectal mucosal bleeding on Mr Harding in the upper rectum”.
The Jamaican doctors, who subsequently examined Harding, noted that his injuries were consistent with the findings of the local Guyanese expert.
Harding spent 33 days at the Georgetown Public Hospital where doctors said he suffered a strangulated hernia and was discharged on January 20 after undergoing several surgeries.
With harvesting in full swing and approximately 1500 acres already reaped,
farmers are thankful that millers are accepting the paddy at their factories;
however, they believe the prices offered are unreasonable and cannot sustain
their livelihood and families.
Approximately 37,200 acres of rice are expected to be harvested and production is expected to surpass the set target of one million bags of paddy. The average yield per acre was 36.3 bags, a slight increase over 35 bags produced last year.
The Region Two administration is working on shaping the dams in an effort to help farmers easily transport their paddy from the fields to the mills. Workers are presently involved in chipping, grading, and levelling the access dams in the major rice-growing areas.
Meanwhile, to date, there has been no report of paddy bug infestation; however, officers from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) continue to conduct field visits.
By Gomatie GanGadin
Despite government spending millions to upgrade health facilities across the country, the Plaisance Health Centre has been in a state of disrepair for the longest while and residents have begun to believe that they are being punished for political reasons.
Deeming the situation “disgusting”, residents expressed their frustration over the condition of the health centre and the apparent lack of interest by the local health authorities to ensure the health facility is utilised for its intended purpose.
During a tour of the health centre recently, Guyana Times was told that no one had thus far answered residents' pleas for better health-care services and infrastructure. One resident, who declined to be named for personal reasons, complained of having to return home after visiting the health centre to dress wounds which required daily medical attention.
The resident explained that there were no sterile bandages, cotton wool or clean water to clean and dress her wounds at the centre. She is left with no alternative but to seek this ser-
vice elsewhere, a service that is basic in most health centres. The woman questioned the reason behind the facility’s continued existence if it cannot be beneficial to any of the residents in the area.
Another resident, senior citizen Shawn James revealed that he has diabetes and hypertension which require monthly, sometimes weekly visits to the health centre for treatment. The elderly man lamented the condition of the facility, noting that the centre had no clean washrooms, potable water, or a proper garbage disposal system.
"This begs the question,
how healthy is our health centre?” the man asked. James also bemoaned the fact that he still has to purchase his medication, despite the presence of a pharmacy at the health centre.
Pharmacy
The pharmacy was a sore point for many residents and health centre staff, including the pharmacist, as they criticised the poor conditions under which medical supplies are stored, citing a lack of air conditioning and proper ventilation.
The health centre seemed to scream neglect as tall grass
and an incinerator of overflowing garbage were observed from the entrance. The medical staff expressed dissatisfaction as they also have to burn garbage on a regular basis, since garbage collection stopped last year.
“Not only is it unhealthy, but it adds to pollution in the community. This should not be the practice of a health care facility,” one staff lamented.
Medical supplies
Inside the building, this reporter was met with the sight of used medical supplies such as gloves and syringes, among items which were stored in a corner awaiting disposal since last year.
One staff member added that since there is no running water in the building, whichever individual is on duty at the time has the task of obtaining water to clean the medical instruments and tend to patients.
“Unless workers utilise their own personal resources to acquire any, there is no water present at the facility for consumption,” the staff members further stated.
When contacted by this publication, a source from the Regional Health Services Office indicated that they were
indeed aware of the problem at the centre. When asked what was being done to address the complaints, the source stated that the issues are expected to be addressed shortly.
Contacted on the issue, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran stated that the rehabilitation of these centres fall predominantly under the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry.
Dr Ramsaran said the Health Ministry, along with the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, has indeed enhanced many of its health centres across the country in terms of services and infrastructure.
While the minister could not divulge just how many of the centres have been rehabilitated, he did mention that more than 80 per cent of the Ministry’s 70 health centres and health huts have undergone some kind of improvement. He noted that while
some had undergone minor changes, others were significantly rehabilitated.
It is expected that the Ministry will also be providing improved health-care services at these centres. Dr Ramsaran said the Ministry is consistently working to ensure that the health sector is progressive, not only in the city but across the regions.
As part of the enhancement effort, doctors returning from studies in Cuba will be posted at the health centres to improve the services. “The Ministry will continue to optimise the use of the existing infrastructure capacity of health centres, health huts and district hospitals to fulfil its commitment to bring more services to more people at more locations at more times with more personnel,” Dr Ramsaran declared.
The National Assembly last year approved some $2 billion for the upgrade of health centres.
The new age eligibility criteria for entry to nursery schools will become effective from the academic year 2014/2015, the Education Ministry announced on Wednesday. In a release, the Ministry said it has made significant strides in making the necessary enhancements that will allow parents to give their children an earlier start to a sound education.
Children born on or before June 30 are now eligible for placement at a nursery school in the year they turn three. Registration for the new school term in September has commenced “and we are encouraging parents and guardians to get their children placed at a school closest to their home. We have placed the registration form on our website www.education.gov.gy to facilitate a quicker registration process,” the Education Ministry said in a statement. It added that as is the norm, parents or guardians are asked to provide the child’s birth certificate and clinic card at the time of registration. “We are also requesting that you have your National Identification Card and proof of address on your person.” Each Guyanese child is entitled to a place in a nurs-
ery or primary school closest to his or her home.
However, in the case of a working parent who does not have anyone to take care of the child/children after school dismisses, consideration may be given for the child /children to be admitted to the school closest to the workplace of said parent, but placement at that school is dependent on the spaces available. In such cases, parents are asked to supply a letter from their employer (job letter).
Meanwhile, a parent who is employed or works at a school ( for example, teachers, vendors, cleaners, gardeners, handymen, etc) will be given priority among the parents who appeal a placement, for the placement of his/her children at that school where the said parent is employed/ works. Their child/children will be treated as though they live closest to the said school at which said parent is employed/works.
“So if a child was born on or before June 30, 2011 that child can and should be attending school in September 2014. Parents are asked to register those children now, so that the Ministry of Education can make the necessary arrangements to accommodate those children in school in September.”
Two major Canadian mining firms operating here have spoken glowingly about doing business in Guyana, emphasising that the economics of exploration and development remains robust, with highquality accessible ore and favourable production costs.
The comments were made at the 2014 Annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention, which concluded on Wednesday in Toronto, Canada. The meeting was held from March 2-5 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The well-attended “Guyana Day” seminar, held on the first day of the convention, heard briefings by Guyana Goldfields Inc and Sandspring Resources Limited on the in-country on-the-ground operating environment in Guyana. Guyanese government officials and Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles also made presentations prior to the break into a reception and networking segment.
The event was organised by the Canadian High Commissioner’s office and coordinated by Canadian Trade Commissioner Nicole Johnson.
The Guyana delegation was headed by Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul, accompanied by officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, which share jurisdiction of the mining sector.
Seminar participants heard that even with the pull back in gold prices from its highs in 2012 and uncertain fluctuations in commodity prices, the economics of exploration and development in Guyana remains robust, with high-quality accessible ore and favourable production costs.
Guyana Goldfields reported average operating costs in
the lower quartile range at US$527 per ounce, including royalties.
The company, which employs some 800 people directly, says it will spend about US$238 million over the next 15 months to bring its Aurora plant to full commercial production. This will result in it becoming the largest goldmine in Guyana.
Sandspring Resources also spoke of previous infrastructure development for its Toroparu gold mining project.
Miners in the area now benefit from Sandspring’s expansion of a local trail into a service road.
The company foresees the proposed 60 megawatt (MW) hydropower plant on the Kurupung River, 50 kilometres from its property, as a major potential benefit to Region Seven and a catalyst for further mining in the area.
Rapid growth
A mixed blessing of the rapid growth of the mining sector is that it has been drawing workers from other industries, said Minister Gopaul.
The Labour Ministry has had to step up its training programmes for heavy-equipment operators as operators trained for the agricultural sector are siphoned off by the mining industry as quickly as they can be trained.
In addition, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has established the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre, Dr Gopaul told the audience. With the assistance of Canada’s College of the North Atlantic and the Canadian Institute of Mining, work is underway to create an accredited curriculum for the training of Guyanese in the skills needed for both small-scale and large-scale mining operations.
Minister Gopaul said work was also ongoing to improve transparency and
Some four months after it was first scheduled, the operationalisation of the Family Court has been delayed yet again, as the furnishing of the building has not yet been completed.
This is according to Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
In a telephone interview with Guyana Times Monday, Nandlall stated that he was hopeful that the court would become operational before year-end. The court was scheduled to open since November 2013.
The Minister explained that the court was still being furnished and some of the furniture was still being built, but everything else was in place to facilitate its operation.
He stated that he knows that persons are growing impatient over the delay, but asked that they remain patient with the officials.
High Court judges are competent to adjudicate in the Family Court,” Nandlall said.
He noted that the rules governing the operation of the court were finalised and passed in the National Assembly during the latter part of 2012.
reduce corruption. Key portions of the law were translated into Portuguese and Chinese for the benefit of international business partners and if the need arose, they would be provided in both English and French, the official languages of Canada.
Moreover, the minister indicated that Guyana is a democracy with an executive, legislative and judicial branch. Regardless of which party forms the government, the rule of law will prevail. Also vigilant are strong private sector organisations that play an active role.
He assured newcomers that Guyana has a strong banking sector, and invited investors to take advantage of GO-Invest’s services.
Investment opportunities
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles noted that the number of Canadian firms capitalising on opportunities to invest in mining in Guyana is a reflection of the fact Guyana is a country that welcomes foreign investment.
“We are proud to support Canadian companies that are concretely bringing the Canada Brand to life in Guyana by walking their talk on responsible business practices and are implementing impressive CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategies and programmes,” said High Commissioner Giles.
“Canada boasts a worldclass mining sector, including some of the most effective environmental regulations and transparent monitoring programmes in the world. We are one of the best and safest countries in which to do business and “economic diplomacy” is a key foreign policy objective,” she added.
Mining in general accounted for more than 20 per cent of Guyana’s GDP in 2013, more than double its percentage in 2006, with the contribution from gold mining itself more than tripling.
He said systems are in place to ensure that highlytrained personnel guide the functioning of the court.
On that note, he disclosed that a judge has been identified to take charge of the court.
He declined to provide a name, saying the identity of the person selected “will emerge in due time”.
Additionally, High Court judges are being trained to adjudicate there. “All of our
It is expected that the services of the court would be mostly sought by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, through the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA).
In an invited comment, Red Thread head Karen De Souza said the court is longawaited and time is running out.
She highlighted that some cases are growing cold, because they can only be
heard and tried in the Family Court.
De SouzaShe, therefore, pleaded with the relevant officials to speed up the process so that the court can start functioning effectively.
Back in 2010, former Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand said the establishment of a Family Court was prompted by observation that Guyanese family units are affected by societal demoralisation.
When opened, the Family Court will address issues related to divorce, division of property, adoption, guardianship, and custody to name a few.
The court, located in the Supreme Court compound, was constructed following a decision by Cabinet in 2009 to have it established.
Followers of Venezuela’s late socialist leader Hugo Chávez flooded the streets on Wednesday for the anniversary of his death, an emotional but welcome distraction for his successor from violent protests that have been raging for a month.
A year after Chavez succumbed to cancer, his selfproclaimed ‘son’, President Nicolas Maduro, faces the biggest challenge to his rule from an explosion of antigovernment demonstrations that have led to 18 deaths since February.
Wednesday’s military parade and other events to honour “El Comandante” were a chance for Maduro, 51, to reclaim the streets and show opponents that he too can mobilise his supporters.
“This anniversary is enormously sad. There’s not a single day I don’t remember Hugo,” Chávez’s cousin, Guillermo Frias, 60, said
from Los Rastrojos village in rural Barinas state, where the pair used to play baseball as kids.
“He changed Venezuela forever, and we cannot go back. Maduro also is a poor man, like us. He’s handling things fine. Perhaps he just needs a stronger hand,” he told Reuters.
Rallies
Tens of thousands of redclad Chavistas gathered for rallies in Caracas and elsewhere in honour of Chávez, whose 14-year rule won him the adoration of many of Venezuela’s poorest, while alienating the middle and upper classes.
Hundreds of protesting students, though, set up barricades in various streets of Caracas and other cities nationwide from before dawn. Police fired teargas at stonethrowing demonstrators in one upscale district of the capital.
One 26-year-old man died in western Tachira state when he crashed his car swerving at a roadblock set up by protesters.
Maduro presided over a parade in the capital before
into history as the redeemer of the poor,” Maduro said, comparing his mentor to both Jesus and South American independence hero Simon Bolivar.
Change unlikely
The President hosted prominent leftist allies, including Cuba’s President Raul Castro during the lavish ceremonies.
Chavez’s humble roots, anti-U.S. rhetoric, network of grassroots political organisations and lavish spending on slum projects made him a hero for many.
going to the hilltop military museum where Chávez led a 1992 coup attempt that launched his political career, and where his remains have been laid to rest in a marble sarcophagus.
“Hugo Chávez passed
Yet his tough line against opponents, sweeping nationalisations, and rigid economic policies such as price and currency controls angered many others.
One year after his death, though, debate in Venezuela is no longer about Chávez, but his would-be heir.
Maduro, a former bus driver and union activist, lacks Chávez’s charisma and
grip on the ruling Socialist Party, and has been unable to fix Venezuela’s many problems, ranging from soaring prices to deteriorating services and runaway crime.
Yet Chavistas largely remain loyal to their hero’s dying wish that they support Maduro. So far, the protests have not spread far from a middle-class core and the military seems loyal, making a Ukraine-style change of government unlikely.
Oil shipments from South America’s biggest exporter have not been affected, though the unrest has hit small businesses.
Some opposition leaders called for a day without protests on Wednesday to show respect for Chávez’s memory.
But students refused to stop and firebrand legislator Maria Corina Machado led a march in the western city of San Cristobal where protests began and which has seen the worst of the unrest. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Ajudge in the United States has ruled that lawyers representing Amazonian villagers used bribes to secure compensation worth billions of dollars from oil company Chevron in Ecuador.
The latest ruling means that the Amazonian villagers cannot use U.S. courts to enforce the ruling against the American oil company.
Chevron had been found guilty in Ecuador of causing environmental damage to the Lago Agrio region. The legal team says they will appeal.
In 2011, an Ecuadorean judge ordered Chevron to pay US$18.2 billion for “ex-
tensively polluting” the Lago Agrio region. Ecuador’s highest court last year upheld the verdict against Chevron, but reduced the amount of compensation to US$9.5 billion.
The alleged environmental damage was done by Texaco between 1964 and 1990. Texaco was later acquired by Chevron. The American oil firm has always maintained that it cleaned up the area before handing over the oil field to the Ecuadorean government.
It argued that it only lost the case because the legal team representing the villagers paid nearly US$300,000 in bribes in
Ecuador. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in New York has now ruled that Steven Donziger’s legal team used “corrupt means” to win the 2011 case. Kaplan described the evidence against Donziger’s team as “voluminous”.
“Justice is not served by inflicting injustice,” he wrote in the ruling. “The ends do not justify the means. There is no ‘Robin Hood’ defence to illegal and wrongful conduct.”
Chevron’s chief executive, John Watson, hailed the ruling as “a resounding victory for Chevron and its shareholders”. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Trinidad and Tobago National Security Minister Gary Griffith said Tuesday that 2014 was one of the safest Carnivals ever and if the trend continued, he would be the happiest minister alive. Griffith spoke with reporters as he toured the downtown Carnival areas and was accompanied by Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, Chief of Defence Staff Kenrick Maharaj, and other security officers.
He said: “The success speaks for itself. What I have seen here is a first whereby, the forces have worked together; there has been proper collaboration, in no small part because of the National Operations Centre and you have seen the success. That is why I continue to ask all law-abiding citizens to continue to work with the law enforcement officials, pro-
vide them with that information and the success will follow.”
He said the success did not just have to do with Carnival Monday and Tuesday but rather throughout the entire season. He said every day law enforcement officials put their heads together, there was a plan done based on the threat assessment of the events, all-inclusives and Carnival functions included. “We will continue along that line and it shows that we are in the right direction,” he said.
“Some people have actually complained. Some people were like they were hearing too many sirens and encountered too many road blocks but you can’t win,” he said. Griffith said there were plans to increase this. “This has been the safest Carnival in a very long time….” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
The top diplomats of Russia and the United States have met for the first time over the crisis in Ukraine, a meeting that coincided with a U.S. announcement it was increasing military support for Eastern European allies.
U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday in Paris, as diplomatic efforts intensified to end the standoff in the Crimea region of Ukraine, where pro-Russian troops are in effective control.
However, U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told senators in Washington, DC that he was preparing to bolster military cooperation with Poland and Baltic states to show “support” for its allies after Russia’s intervention.
“The Defence Department is pursuing measures to support our allies,” Hagel told the Senate Armed Services Committee,
He added that the measures included expanded aviation training in Poland and increasing the U.S. role in NATO’s air policing mission
over Baltic countries.
“This is a time for wise, steady, and firm leadership.”
“It is a time for all of us to stand with the Ukrainian people in support of their territorial integrity and sovereignty, and their right to have a government that fulfils the aspirations of its people.”
Lavrov and Kerry met on the sidelines of a meeting of the five perma-
nent members of the UN Security Council, who were in France to discuss the civil war in Syria.
Lavrov earlier reiterated Russian statements that soldiers deployed to Crimea were not Russian, and that he could not order the “selfdefence” forces back to their bases because they did not answer to Moscow.
However, he stated: “We will not allow bloodshed.”
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
China announced a growth target of 7.5 per cent and revealed plans to raise its defence budget by 12.2 per cent, as it opened its annual Parliament session in Beijing.
Premier Li Keqiang said economic development was the central task of the government, but “painful structural adjustments” were needed. Japan voiced concern at the defence move, citing a “lack of transparency”.
Li also pledged to “declare war” on pollution, fight corruption “without mercy”, and “crack down” on terrorism. The congress marks one
year since Xi Jinping was confirmed as President.
The 10-day meeting of around 3000 legislators from delegations across China began on Wednesday.
China describes the National People’s Congress (NPC) as the country’s “supreme organ of state power”. It has the power to enact and amend legislation. In practice, it is generally considered a rubber stamp for the ruling Communist Party.
As Parliament opened, Premier Li Keqiang presented a work report highlighting targets for China’s economy this year.
He said the government’s
“work got off to a good start”, but admitted that “there are still many problems that people are unhappy about”.
“Painful structural adjustments need to be made” in China’s development, he said, though economic growth would remain stable.
According to the speech, the government will aim to keep inflation around 3.5 per cent, while boosting domestic growth and carrying out “people-centred urbanisation”.
The growth and inflation targets were widely expected. The growth rate target in 2013 was also 7.5 per cent.
All sides in Syria’s civil war are using shelling and siege tactics to punish and starve civilians and big powers bear responsibility for allowing such war crimes to persist, United Nations human rights investigators said on Wednesday.
The independent investigators, presenting their latest report documenting atrocities in Syria, called again on the UN Security Council to refer grave violations of the rules of war to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution.
“The Security Council bears responsibility for not
addressing accountability and allowing the warring parties to violate these rules with total impunity,” Paulo Pinheiro, who leads the UN Commission of Inquiry, told a news conference.
“One of most stark trends we have documented is the use of siege warfare, the denial of humanitarian aid, food and basic necessities such as medical care and clean water have forced people to choose between surrender and starvation.”
More than 140,000 persons have been killed in the conflict, which enters its fourth year next week; 2.5 million refugees have fled
abroad and 6.5 million people are uprooted within Syria.
Divided world powers have backed both sides in the conflict and a diplomatic deadlock has exacerbated the bloodshed.
Fighters and their commanders may be held accountable, but also states which transfer weapons to Syria, the report said.
Syrian government forces under President Bashar alAssad have besieged towns, including the Old City of Homs, shelling relentlessly and depriving them of food as part of a “starvation until submission” campaign, the report said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
The Israeli navy seized a ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday that was carrying dozens of advanced Iranian-supplied rockets made in Syria and intended for Palestinian guerrillas in the Gaza Strip, the military said.
The disclosure came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in the United States to press his case for tougher international action against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme and support for Islamist guerrilla groups.
The Panamanianflagged cargo vessel Klos C was boarded in international waters without resistance from its 17-member crew in a “complex, covert operation”, military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner told reporters. Lerner said dozens of M302 rockets were found aboard the Klos C –weapons which could have struck deep into Israel from Gaza and would have significantly enhanced the firepower of the Palestinian enclave’s Hamas rulers and other armed factions.
“The M302 in its most advanced model can strike over 100 miles, and if they would have reached Gaza, ultimately that would have meant millions of Israelis under threat,” he said. Hamas dismissed the Israeli announcement as a “silly joke”.
“This is a new Israeli lie aimed to justify and prolong the blockade of Gaza,” said Taher Al-Nono, an adviser of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. There was no immediate comment from Iran or Syria. (Excerpt from Reuters)
At least five soldiers have died after heavy fighting broke out in the main military barracks in South Sudan’s capital Juba over a pay dispute.
On Wednesday morning, gunfire lasting two hours was heard coming from the barracks of the presidential guards and other elite troops, near Juba University.
The government played down reports that the violence was over a “misunderstanding” about pay.
The army spokesman, Malak Ayuen, told the AFP news agency that five soldiers had been killed and that those found responsible
would face a court martial.
“It’s unfortunate that this morning, fighting ensued among the commandos themselves over salary,” he said. “What happened was a misunderstanding among the commandos and it ended in their unit.”
According to independent Tamazuj radio, the fighting started after soldiers argued with a military pay committee, which refused to hand over salaries to those not on a list. The station reported that dozens had been killed.
Other local media carried unconfirmed reports that the fighting broke out between guards loyal to
Sagicor Asset Management (SAMI)
has reported a return of 8.48 per cent for its Sagicor Select Growth Fund making it the best performing growth fund for the period January to December 2013. This return compared favourably with the local industry’s average return of 5.25 per cent for growth funds.
The Sagicor Select Growth Fund is invested primarily in a diversified portfolio of other mutual funds with growth strategies and other select securities. The fund offers investors the opportunity to easily invest in a broad portfolio of funds by making a single investment.
Dexter Moe, Vice President, Investment
Management Services, Sagicor Asset Management Inc. gave his thoughts on the driving forces behind the fund’s performance.
“In the present volatile investment climate, it is important to derive competitive returns for our investors while adequately managing potential downside risk. The Sagicor Select Growth Fund is a welldiversified portfolio, which allows clients to participate in domestic, regional and international financial markets and to spread their investment risk through exposure to various market segments.”
The fund is suited to individuals with a relatively longtime horizon and is expected to achieve long-term capital appreciation. (Caribbean360)
President Salva Kiir and a commando unit commanded by top General Gatwech Gai, who had been placed under arrest.
The U.S. embassy in Juba issued a statement advising people to stay indoors as hundreds of terrified residents flooded the main church in Juba, fearing a major outbreak of violence.
“When the fighting started we immediately ran to the church for protection,” said Annet Sitima, a local woman.
The conflict in South Sudan started in the capital Juba under similar circumstances nearly three months ago. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
The Bank of Canada continued to express concerns about weak inflation on Wednesday, even after consumer prices picked up markedly in January, and repeated that its next move on interest rates could be either up or down.
The central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.0 per cent, as expected, extending a freeze that has lasted more than three years. Analysts do not expect the bank to move on rates until the third quarter of next year.
But the bank’s views on inflation and the economy led to a firming of the Canadian dollar, although analysts said there was no significant shift in the bank’s stance.
Even though the January inflation reading of 1.5 per cent
Street clashes erupted in India after an announcement on Wednesday that parliamentary elections will start on April 7 in a race that pits Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi against the unpopular Nehru-Gandhi family’s ruling party.
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath said 814 million people had registered to vote, a number exceeding the population of Europe and a world record. Results are due on May 16.
In Delhi and a regional city, supporters of a young anti-corruption party battled members of Modi’s
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The clashes with stones and clubs bloodied several people on both sides.
Police used water cannons on protesters.
The violence broke out after police detained the leader of the anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party (AAP) during a campaign in Modi’s state of Gujarat. Small groups of supporters gathered outside BJP offices to protest his detention.
was higher than expected, the bank maintained its view, outlined in a report in January, that overall and core inflation would remain well below its two per cent target throughout 2014, and rise to two per cent in about two years.
“With inflation expected to be well below target for some time, the downside risks to inflation remain important,” the bank said in a statement.
“The timing and direction of the next change to the policy rate will depend on how new information influences this balance of risks,” it said, using language identical to its last rate announcement on January 22. (Reuters)
Prior to the launch of any new product, companies engage in exhaustively thorough market research in order to gauge its probability of success. If your subjects are properly selected, you can gain valuable information that may allow you to better temper your product for the intended target audience. What are your considerations prior to starting market research?
* Demographics of your target geographical area –are you targeting the right region?
* Price range and profit margin – will you make enough money from each sale?
* Intended production vol-
The election campaign coincides with growing anger among urban Indians over corruption, as well as a sense that the centreleft government led by the Congress party has frittered away opportunities for rapid growth.
Modi has emerged in opinion polls as the favourite to head the next government, buoyed by his strong economic track record as Chief Minister of Gujarat, a west coast state. (Excerpt from Reuters)
“We came in a peaceful manner, we stood outside, they shut the gates. We shouted slogans: ‘Have shame, Narendra Modi’,” said AAP activist Shazia Ilmi. “They started throwing stones from inside.” The BJP blamed the AAP protesters for the fighting.
Central Africa’s extractive industry must create jobs and wealth – Chadian Minister
Central Africa is a mineral-rich sub-region, but the contribution of extractive industries to the development of other economic sectors is limited. This is one major finding at a meeting of experts in N’Djamena – Chad, to scrutinise a document drafted by ECA to serve as a reference framework for national extractive industry policies in the sub-region.
According to the document, in spite of the huge contribution of hydrocarbon resources to GDP and to the budget of a good number of
Central African countries, there is still a very weak link with other sectors of the economy such as agriculture, and the social impact of the sector falls short of expectation. To cope with this challenge, countries of the subregion need to diversify mining production to minimise the industry’s vulnerability to external shocks as well as strengthen the nexus between the mining sector and the other sectors through greater investment of mining revenues in the latter sectors. (allAfrica)
ume – if you intend to take a higher volume approach, do you have the facilities to back it up?
* Age range, marital status, family – do you have a detailed sketch of your ideal customer in mind?
* Income and lifestyle range – how much money will your average customer make?
* Males, females or both –which sex are you focused on?
* Seasonal, cyclical nature of your product – is your product marketable year-round or only on certain occasions?
These may be bewildering questions at first. However, a well-run company should have a marketing manager to coordinate appropriate market research with a market-
ing researcher. The researcher and the manager define the objectives to be attained through the research.
A well known acronym in the world of marketing research is “DECIDE”, which is a quick way to remember the steps of research.
* Define the marketing problem
* Enumerate the decision factors
* Collect relevant information
* Identify the best alternatives
* Develop and implement a marketing plan
* Evaluate the final decision (Business Dictionary) TO BE CONTINUED
The permanent representatives of Guyana and Norway have been appointed by the President of the United Nations General Assembly to lead a UN process on financing for development.
Ambassador George Talbot of Guyana and his Norwegian counterpart, Ambassador Geir Pedersen, have been mandated to conduct inclusive and transparent inter-governmental consultations, with the participation of major institutional stakeholders, on all issues related to the forthcoming third international conference on financing for development, including the date, format, organisation and scope of the conference. The conference will likely be held in 2015.
With the United Nations currently embarked on the elaboration of a post-2015 development agenda as a successor to the Millennium Development Goals framework that has anchored the organisation’s work in development since 2000, an agreement on the means of implementation, including on financing, will be critical to the efficacy and successful implementation of the new agenda.
The financing for development conference is expected to provide a holistic framework for mobilising resources from a variety of sources and for the effective use of fi-
nancing for the achievement of the sustainable development goals that will be at the core of the post-2015 development agenda.
Public financing, including ODA, will remain a key component of global financing for development. The leveraging of financing from other sources, including new private sector investments, unlocking domestic resources, harnessing trade flows, and curbing illicit outflows will be among the important questions that the conference will address.
The forthcoming conference will follow up and build on the Monterrey Consensus adopted at the International Conference on Financing for Development held in 2002 in Monterrey, Mexico, and the Doha Declaration which em-
anated from the 2008 Doha conference on the subject.
Guyana’s appointment is a reflection of the respect that the country enjoys at the United Nations, in particular on issues of sustainable development. It affords a special opportunity to contribute to the effort to update and strengthen the multilateral financing framework that could help to translate the post-2015 development agenda into meaningful outcomes for member countries.
This latest GuyanaNorway collaboration at the multilateral level follows on the already established bilateral cooperation arrangement between the two countries in the promotion of sustainable development and the combat of climate change.
The U.S. Embassy on Monday brought together leaders of the World Wildlife Fund Guianas and the Guyana Wildlife Division along with faculty members and students from the University of Guyana to celebrate World Wildlife Day.
World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually in March throughout the world to raise awareness of issues relating to the protection of plants and animals.
The two hour engagement was held at the U.S. Embassy, Duke Street, Kingston. Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt welcomed the group and encouraged a spirited and fruitful discussion on the issue of wildlife trafficking, which “threatens our security, the environment,
human health, and sustainable economic development”.
WWF Guyana Country Manager Patrick Williams spoke about the importance of collaboration among members of the public and private sectors to protect not only animals, but plants as well. He referred to Guyana’s plants and animals as “national treasures” that should be protected from poachers and traders.
The U.S. Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Officer Jeff Barrus shared President Obama’s National Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Trafficking. The strategy aims to strengthen global enforcement, reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife in the U.S. and abroad, and to strengthen partnerships with local communities, non-governmen-
By Bhisham mohamed
The body of a 14-yearold boy was found on Wednesday morning in a pool of blood along 20th Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara, suspected to have been run over by a vehicle.
The teenager, who has never been registered at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), has been identified as Andre or “Andy”, formerly of 726 Foulis. He had been living on the streets since earlier in the year.
The teenager, who lost his mother when he was just two years old, lived with an aunt in 19th Street Foulis, but left after he was scolded about his behaviour. The lad was found in front of a house where a Bobcat was parked overnight.
It is suspected that the teenager might have been sleeping under the vehicle when it drove off, crushing his head in the process. The homeowner’s spouse
has since been interrogated by the police following the gruesome discovery.
Andre’s aunt, Ramrattie Ronie, explained that she was at home when she received the news of his death and in a panic she ran in the direction of a Rural Constable (RC) to lodge a complaint. When she approached him, the RC said he had already been informed of the incident and asked her to identify the body.
Gruesome
She went on to say that when she arrived on the scene, she saw “Andy” lying in the corner of the road. His brain, she added, was protruding out of his skull and into the cap he was wearing at the time. As she recounted the experience, she burst into tears, saying that she left after the body was removed from the scene.
The distressed woman said the last time she saw the young man was on Tuesday evening about 17:00h when he visited her home for the first time in a long time. “When he come, I ask he if he wanted anything to eat or so, but he tell me no and he went back through the back gate.”
Ronie said after the death of Andre’s mother some 12 years ago, she took care of him, but as he grew older, he started to get “own way”. She explained that after she found a job, the lad would normally be left at home, and he started to indulge in smoking and drinking.
“He use to feel that he get big and I does argue with
he… one day I went to work and when I come home, the neighbours tell me that he pack and left the house.”The woman added that she subsequently went to the police station and made a report. She later learnt that he was staying with his sister in Beterverwagting, ECD and duly informed the police.
The woman added that a few weeks later, a relative passed away and she attended the funeral where she saw the young man at the cemetery. She enquired about where he was residing and asked him to return home, but he paid her no mind.
In tears, the distraught aunt said her husband later saw the teen and had a chat with him, encouraging him to return home but to no avail.
The devastated aunt is in a state of shock. She has since contacted one of his sisters who resides in Beterverwagting who will in turn inform his other two siblings in the United States of America.
However, persons in the neighbourhood alleged that the lad was mistreated by his aunt. “She ah cry crocodile tears… is she put de boy out of the house… and now she ah cry,” one woman stated. Guyana Times will further investigate.
She added that the teen would normally frequent the area asking residents for meals, but he never troubled anyone, explaining that if he wanted something, he asked for it. The body of the teenager was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.
Ctal organisations, private industry, and others to combat wildlife poaching and trade.
Barrus also referred to Guyana’s abundant, unique, and spectacular wildlife that sets it apart from much of the world, including the magnificent jaguar, giant anteaters, river otters, and special birds like the Scarlet Macaw and the Toco Toucan.
UG third and fourth year students from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Natural Sciences Department raised interested issues such as trying to balance the need for sustenance in some regions with wildlife protection.
Other students encouraged greater coordination of activities between the WWF, government, academia, and private sector entities.
rime Chief Seelall Persaud on Wednesday disclosed that the Guyana Police Force will soon be issuing wanted bulletins for two men in relation to the murder of Bibi Shaneeza Bhola, who was found dead in her shop at Rock Creek, Cuyuni River.
Persaud stated that the police were able to get surveillance footage of the two men, but he did not release the content of the footage collected.
He reiterated that the suspects are the two men who were staying at the woman’s business place at the time of the gruesome murder.
Police are working on the theory that the woman was robbed then stabbed to death by the two men.
Bhola, 35, of Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara was on Thursday last found dead in her shop at Rock Creek, Cuyuni
Bibi Shaneeza Bhola
River, Region Seven.
Based on reports, Bhola operates a shop in the area, and about 02:30h on Thursday morning, a relative left the premises after the woman closed the business place. Investigations revealed that the relative went back to the woman’s shop later in the morning where he recognised that
the door was locked from the outside and thought that something was amiss. The relative upon gaining entry into the house; saw the woman’s motionless body. Her abdomen bore a stab wound. When checks were made for the two tenants, there were no signs of them and their belongings.
According to a source, one of the suspects is referred to as “Kishan” while the other is commonly called “Nathan”. Kishan is said to be from Mahaica while Nathan is reportedly from Corentyne. It is believed that the men carted off cash, jewellery and other valuable items.
It was reported that the woman operated the shop while her husband worked in a mining camp. Her husband was not around at the time of the incident, but was later contacted. The woman leaves to mourn her husband and two children.
Career and family commitments will be detrimental to your mental health. Take in some lighthearted entertainment, play a game or share laughs with a friend to help ease your stress.
By Bernice Bede Osol
(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
There is no good reason to get involved in someone else’s argument. Regardless of the circumstances, you can simply refuse to take sides. Meddling will lead to isolation and irreversible trouble.
A partnership will flourish if given the chance. If you share your intentions, you will get the response you need to move forward in a timely manner. This could prove to be a memorable day.
Someone may be jealous of your achievements. Don’t be influenced by the negative comments of others. You will get rewarding results if you continue on the path you have chosen.
(Aug. 23Sept. 22)
(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)
Opportunity is within reach. A partnership could prove to be beneficial. Be aware of your colleagues’ ideas and intentions. A promising business prospect could result from a collaborative effort.
(March 21-April 19)
Be on the alert for valuable financial information. There is a possibility of advancement, or perhaps a new job, if you are able to utilise a choice tip.
(April 20-May 20)
You will face opposition if you are outspoken. There is nothing to be gained by antagonising everyone around you. Be diplomatic and polite, and let others have their say.
(May 21June 20)
Your plans for advancement will be given a big boost from people you have helped in the past. The generosity you’ve shown will be proof enough that you deserve greater rewards and responsibilities.
There is much to be gained through travel or educational pursuits. As your knowledge increases, more opportunities will become available. Someone you meet along the way will offer you a business proposition.
(Sept. 23Oct. 23)
You’ll be overwhelmed with responsibilities. Don’t allow self-doubt to prevent you from improving your prospects. Take the initiative and perform whatever task you are given to the best of your ability.
(Oct. 24Nov. 22)
It’s a good day for you to deal with a disagreeable personal situation. You cannot protect someone’s feelings. Honesty will be in your best interest. Delaying the inevitable will only compound the problem.
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
A promotion is within your reach. Your hard work and dedication will open the door to new job possibilities. Be prepared to jump at any opportunity that comes your way.
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Residents at Grant 1651, Lot 65 Crabwood Creek are still agitated about the late response of the Guyana Fire Service in responding to the fire there on Monday which destroyed two homes.
Guyana Times understands Dropadi Baichu, 81, of the U.S. and her sister Chandrawattie Ramlakhan, 71, lost all their possessions in the blaze which occurred about 17:30h.
The blaze is suspected to be electrical in origin.
Residents recalled that at the time of the fire, there was a series of high voltage in the area.
Satesh Lilman, 32, a U.S.-based Guyanese, who returned home to be a farmer and was residing at the home of Ramlakhan, along
with his wife and two children, are still contemplating their next move. They have been rescued by concerned family members.
According to information received, the fire reportedly began in a room in the upper flat of the house situ-
ated at Grant 1651, Lot 65 Crabwood Creek that was occupied by the Lilman family.
Lilman became aware of the inferno when a neighbour who saw smoke billowing from the upper flat of the building raised an alarm.
According to reports, the man could not save anything although he tried, as the heat was too intense.
All clothing, important documents, photographs and other valuables, which included farming equipment, were destroyed.
The house located at Lot 66 Grant was occupied by Baichu’s son Rajkumar Lokahi, 56.
Lokahi is also a U.S. citizen, currently residing in Guyana. Like Satesh, he is also a farmer. He was not at home when the fire started.
According to a relative living overseas, the losses cannot be quantified. Meanwhile, the Guyana Fire Service was heavily criticised by residents, who related that by the time the fire tenders arrived, two of the buildings were already gutted. Victims of the fire are currently staying at relatives, friends and neighbours.
Efforts to contact an official from the region’s fire department for a comment on their late response to Monday’s fire proved futile.
The Government of Japan has again shown its support to Guyana, this time through a grant assistance to the Guyana Red Cross Society; a non-governmental organisation geared at alleviating human suffering.
The Guyana Red Cross Society’s mission statement is to “Improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power to humanity”.
Against this backdrop, the Japanese Government, through its ambassador to Guyana Yoshimasa Tezuka donated funds toward the procurement of a fully-equipped ambulance to the organisation.
The grant was signed by Japanese ambassador Tezuka and Guyana Red Cross Society General Secretary Dorothy Fraser before a small gathering.
The organisation’s First Aid Coordinator Devaugn Lewis said having a personal ambulance to help injured persons is a timely boost to the organisation. He said the project proposal for the ambulance was sent to the Japanese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, after receiving the go ahead from Fraser. The move, he said will go a far way in realising their dream.
He pointed out that one of the organisation’s main activities is providing first aid training. “In this area, we train approximately 1000 persons annually,” he said, not-
ing that training is provided on an ongoing basis to residents throughout the country.
Fraser was in high praise to the government and people of Japan for the much needed ambulance. She said the assistance exemplifies the true nature of Japanese friendship.
Ambassador Tezuka explained that the grant valued US$61,478 will be funded by the Japan Grant Assistance for Grassroot Human Security Project (GGP). This project, he explained has always been working towards assisting organisations like the Red Cross Society.
“I have no doubt that this project is one which truly meets basic human needs and we are very pleased we can assist through the GGP.”
The signing was attended by Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran and other senior health officials and featured a number of cultural performances.
“The GGP is designed to promote human security in the world by promoting nonprofit organisations. The scheme mainly targets areas that are aimed at improving basic human needs.” He added that the project will undoubtedly help to improve the quality of the First Aid services provided by the Guyana Red Cross Society.
Afghanistan’s batting, apart from a matchwinning partnership against Bangladesh, has been ordinary, particularly against spin. In a dead rubber against India, and in what was also their last chance to make an impression on this trip, Afghanistan’s batsmen collapsed at the first sighting of turn. Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets in his first over, and then added two more to run through a middle order that was clueless against India’s spin trio.
The three of themJadeja, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin - bowled unchanged from the 12th over until the 36th with combined figures of 25-3-73-7 during that period. Was it not for another Samiullah Shenwari riposte, Afghanistan could have folded well inside 50 overs.
Batting at No. 8, Shenwari brought up his second half-century of the tournament and added 64 runs with the last three batsmen to avoid a capitulation. He farmed the strike, took vi-
tal runs off India’s seamers during the Powerplay and despite appearing in trouble against the spinners, he was prepared to attack the loose deliveries. On a day when boundaries were hard to come by, he hit six fours and a six to take Afghanistan past 150.
The Indian team management had decided not to tinker with their playing XI, which meant there was still no place for Cheteshwar Pujara or Ishwar Pandey, the only two in the touring party not to get a game. Kohli, at the toss, mentioned it was important to be patient with the team. But contrary to that logic, they asked Ajinkya Rahane to open the innings with Shikhar Dhawan, instead of Rohit Sharma. The captain, though, couldn’t have asked for more as the openers added 121 runs to set up the chase that India completed in the 33rd over. On a slow pitch that required extra application from the batsmen, Rahane
and Dhawan adopted the ideal game: there was no attempt to play fancy shots and the two relied primarily on maneuvering the ball in the gaps. In the nine overs before the 45-minute break, the openers added 34 runs, hitting only two boundaries. They continued in the same vein after the break, nudging
singles to lift the total to 76 in 18 overs. Again, only two boundaries came in that period.
The tempo changed from the first ball of the 19th as Rahane hit consecutive boundaries off Shenwari. He stepped out first ball and clipped the full delivery over extra cover, a shot to which he can now lay claim as his own just because of the ease with which he pulls it off - he takes it low on the bat and punches it without any follow-through. The second one, a wristy flick against the spin beating mid-on, was even better. Dhawan caught the urgency bug too, hitting
consecutive boundaries off Rahmat in the next over, the second bringing the century of the stand, India’s first in 14 ODIs. It was also the first time Afghanistan allowed such an opening partnership, highlighting the strength of their attack.
India’s smooth glide mo-
mentarily hit turbulence as they lost both openers in quick succession - Rahane played across the line to be lbw and Dhawan was bowled by Nabi. Rohit Sharma, who walked in at No. 3, and Dinesh Karthik added the remaining 37 runs to complete the formality. (Cricinfo)
Afghanistan innings (50 overs maximum)
Noor Ali Zadran c Kohli
b Jadeja 31
Nawroz Mangal
b Mohammed Shami 5
Rahmat Shah lbw b Jadeja 9
Asghar Stanikzai c Mishra
b Jadeja 5
Najibullah Zadran c sub (STR Binny) b Ashwin 5
Mohammad Nabi* c †Karthik
b Jadeja 6
Mohammad Shahzad† lbw
b Ashwin 22
Samiullah Shenwari lbw
b Mohammed Shami 50
Mirwais Ashraf c Kohli
b Mishra 9
Shapoor Zadran lbw b Ashwin 1
Dawlat Zadran not out 2
Extras: (lb-2, w-12) 14
Total: (all out; 45.2 overs) 159
Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Nawroz Mangal, 5.1 ov), 2-54 (Rahmat Shah, 12.1 ov), 3-55 (Noor Ali Zadran, 12.3 ov), 4-60 (Asghar Stanikzai, 14.3 ov), 5-64 (Najibullah Zadran, 17.1 ov),
6-83 (Mohammad Nabi, 20.6 ov), 7-95 (Mohammad Shahzad, 25.4 ov), 8-111 (Mirwais Ashraf, 32.1 ov), 9-137 (Shapoor Zadran, 37.6 ov), 10-159 (Samiullah Shenwari, 45.2 ov) Bowling: B Kumar 8-1-25-0 (1-w), Mohammed Shami 7.20-50-2 (4-w), A Mishra 10-121-1 (1-w), RA Jadeja 10-1-304, R Ashwin 10-3-31-3 (2-w) India innings (target: 160 runs from 50 overs) AM Rahane lbw b Mirwais Ashraf 56 S Dhawan b Mohammad Nabi 60 RG Sharma not out 18 KD Karthik† not out 21 Extras: (lb-1, w-3, nb-1)
(2 wickets; 32.2 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-121 (Rahane, 23.3 ov), 2-123 (Dhawan, 24.3 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Nabi 100-30-1, Shapoor Zadran 6-0-250, Dawlat Zadran 5-0-25-0 (1nb, 2-w), Samiullah Shenwari 4.2-0-32-0 (1-w), Mirwais Ashraf 5-0-26-1,
By Treiston Joseph
The Petra Organisation, in conjunction with the Health Ministry, on Wednesday launched a workshop on gender violence at the Health Ministry boardroom on Brickdam, Georgetown.
Petra Organisation
Director Marlan Cole said he was pleased to be teaming up with the Health Ministry to tackle the issue, noting its seriousness.
“We are happy we could merge today with the awareness of something that is affecting our society.
"We hope that you would benefit from it and
take it back to the kids.
“In addition we will be giving away some scholarships after the tournament is concluded,” Cole stated at the launching.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) representative Nicolette Henry was optimistic about the venture, highlighting the effect it could have on society’s young men.
Address behaviour
“This Milo football competition that was launched last year with the support of PEPFAR and CDC is an opportunity to engage men and boys to address behaviour.
"We can all think of a
million examples, where if we provide men with a little more information, a few more skills, and a bit of encouragement, they can be far more supportive, communicative and caring for their family and partners,” Henry said.
Dr Ertenisia Hamilton of the Ministry of Health welcomed the idea of working with the youth noting that the tournament can be impactful on youths because “teenagers are attracted to sport”. The workshop will last for two days.
Meanwhile competition in the tournament will resume on Saturday at the Education Ministry ground.
Ryan Harris goes under the knife for knee surgery after this series - he does not know what the future holds. He may play Test cricket again, but at 34 there are no guarantees. Whatever happens, he has delivered one of the great triumphs in Australia’s recent Test history, bowling the team to a series victory over South Africa, the world’s No.1-ranked side, when it seemed almost inevitable that Graeme Smith would be farewelled by his men with a fighting, fitting draw.
Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn batted together for 75 minutes as Australia sought the two remaining wickets they needed for victory and as the shadows grew longer, the looks on the faces of Michael Clarke and his men became more desperate. With five overs left, Clarke asked Harris for one last effort and he delivered, yorking Steyn first ball and then slipping one past Morne Morkel’s bat two balls later to clatter the off stump and deliver a 245-run win, and a 2-1 series suc-
cess.
Harris finished with 4-32 from 24.3 overs, a remarkable achievement for a man who looked spent. At times throughout the day he was hobbling and he pulled up in his delivery stride once late in the day, stretching and checking on his knee as he walked back to his mark again. Mitchell Johnson picked up three wickets but Harris was the man who delivered when it mattered most, including by getting rid of the stonewalling AB de Villiers after lunch. For much of the day it seemed that South Africa might just pull off one last draw for Smith. Under his
leadership they won a lot but just as notable has been their ability not to lose. Their last series defeat before this was against Australia five years ago. Smith will leave the game having lost only two of his last 27 Test series as captain. That is some sort of record. In the end, his men were unable to keep the Australians out for long enough.
That a day on which only 194 runs were scored in 93.3 overs could be so gripping is encouraging for Test cricket. This day was never going to be about the runs; South Africa could have batted until day seven and not reached their target of 511. It was simply a question of wickets - could Australia claim the six they needed throughout the day. South Africa’s ability to bat out a draw in similar circumstances in Adelaide a year and a half ago suggested that it would be tough work. (Cricinfo)
Australia 1st innings
494-7 declared South Africa 287
Australia 2nd innings 303-5 declared South Africa 2nd innings (target: 511 runs)
AN Petersen lbw b Harris 9
GC Smith* c Doolan
b Johnson 3
D Elgar b Johnson 0
HM Amla lbw b Pattinson 41
AB de Villiers† c †Haddin
b Harris 43 KJ Abbott b Pattinson 7
F du Plessis lbw b Smith 47
JP Duminy c Lyon b Johnson 43
VD Philander not out 51
DW Steyn b Harris 1
By Avenash Ramzan
Guyana’s top squash player Nicolette Fernandes has slipped one place down the latest rankings issued by the World International Squash Players Association (WISPA).
In the March 2014 release, the 30-year-old Fernandes was ranked 20, dropping one spot from the career-best 19 she attained in February.
In January however, she slipped to 21 from the 19 she reached in October 2013 and maintained through to December.
Since the start of October, Fernandes has competed in eight tournaments, and though her performance has not been spectacular by any stretch of imagination, she has done enough to maintain a presence among the top flight players.
The England-based Guyanese participated in the Carol Weymuller Open in the USA, the US Open and the China Open all in October; the Monte Carlo Classic in Monaco in November and the Hong Kong Open earlier this month.
Fernandes failed to get pass the first round in the Carol Weymuller Open and the US Open; made it to the qualifying final of the China Open, the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Classic and was knocked out at the second round of the Hong Kong Open.
In 2014, she has so far competed in the three tournaments: the Greenwich Open, the Winnipeg Winter Club Open and the Windy
City Open.
She made it to the quarter-finals of the Greenwich Open in January, the semi-finals of the Winnipeg Winter Club Open in February and the qualifying finals of the Windy City Open earlier this month.
Her next assignment is the World Chammpionship later this month in Malaysia. Fernandes’ first match will be against Rachael Grinham of Australia on March 15.
Remarkable turnaround
Her rise up the ranking is a remarkable turnaround for Fernandes, who only at the start of 2009 was rated a lowly 249 after a recurring knee injury had keep her out of competition for a protracted period of time.
Since returning from injury however, Guyana’s most decorated squash player has been on the rise, significantly moving up the ranking with each passing competition.
Such was her outstand-
ing performance that at the end of 2009, Fernandes, who is based in England and is under the expert guidance of award-winning coach Carl Ince, had taken her ranking below 100, ending the year at 88.
Ever since then, it has been a steady climb up the ladder for the multiple Sportswoman-of-the-Year, consistently racking up points and making her way up the WISPA leaderboard.
In 2013, Fernandes played in 13 WSA World Tour/Series in seven countries, namely the United States of America, Malaysia, Ireland, England, China, Monaco and Hong Kong. In August last year, Fernandes returned home to claim her fifth Caribbean senior title, taking less than 30 minutes to dispose of Barbados’ Karen Meakins 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 in the final of the Caribbean Area Squash Association Senior Championships at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street.
M Morkel b Harris 0
Extras: (b-8, lb-5, w-2, nb-5) 20
Total: (all out; 134.3 overs; 591 mins) 265 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Petersen, 2.1 ov), 2-12 (Smith, 3.1 ov), 3-15 (Elgar, 5.6 ov), 4-68 (Amla, 36.4 ov), 5-95 (Abbott, 66.1 ov), 6-136 (de Villiers, 84.2 ov), 7-173 (du Plessis, 102.1 ov), 8-246 (Duminy, 119.1 ov), 9-265 (Steyn, 134.1 ov), 10-265 (Morkel, 134.3 ov) Bowling: RJ Harris 24.3-1532-4, MG Johnson 34-11-923, JL Pattinson 27-10-62-2 (3-nb, 2-w), NM Lyon 22-1710-0, SR Watson 9-6-6-0 (1nb), SPD Smith 13-3-43-1 (1-nb), MJ Clarke 5-2-7-0
Six years after declaring independence, Kosovo’s footballers have played their first match at international level, drawing 0-0 with Haiti in a friendly.
The match, approved by football’s world governing body Fifa, took place in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica.
Kosovo is not recognised by Serbia or Russia and is not a member of Fifa.
But Serbia’s football association has agreed that Kosovo can play friendly in-
ternationals provided no flags are displayed and no anthems played.
The Caribbean state of Haiti, 79th in the Fifa rankings, may be a surprise choice of opposition for Kosovo’s international debut, but the game fulfils a major ambition for the Balkan territory.
Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj tweeted as the match got under way: “The first friendly international game between #Kosovo and #Haiti has just started. Great day for Kosovo’s sport.”
Selecting the 22-man squad has been difficult. All but one of them plays football abroad.
Three of the country’s best players now represent Switzerland, while Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj, whose heritage makes him eligible for Kosovo, declined an invitation to take part.
Fifteen years after Nato bombed Serbian positions to halt ethnic cleansing, Kosovo does not have a seat at the UN but does have the recognition of more than 100 countries.
It has also secured the backing of Fifa president Sepp Blatter to take part in non-competitive matches, although Tuesday’s game was not mentioned on the Fifa website.
The 17,000 tickets for the match at Mitrovica’s renovated Adem Jashari stadium sold out within hours.
The town, divided between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs, has been a frequent flashpoint since the conflict ended in 1999. (BBC Sport)
By Treiston Joseph
The Queen’s Baton ended its two-day tour of Guyana in the Amerindian settlement of Aishalton on Tuesday which is located in Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo, Region Nine.
The Queen’s Baton, which has the Queen’s message encased inside for the Commonwealth Games set to begin in July, arrived to a brilliant reception and was greeted by the Toshoa of the village, along with lines of school children.
The Queen’s Baton, in the form of a relay, made its way around the community, stopping at various check points. Along the way, those who
participated in the relay were given the opportunity to view cultural activities, such as the hammock, cassava bread and drink making.
They were also exposed to some learning of the native language, the making of other cassava products and wines, and saw the small zoo before ending the relay at the school.
At the school, a well organised programme was held for the visiting Commonwealth Games team and President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K A Juman Yassin. The community hopes to have representatives at the Commonwealth Games in the future.
Yassin noted the quali-
ty of the programme and the grand welcome to the village, and urged the villagers to get more involved in sport, while also committing to help the community in this regard.
Yassin told the gathering to focus more on long distance running, as they have done well in this area recently. He said he hopes to get coaches to do workshops in the future.
The Queen’s Baton, which is on a tour to all 70 countries in the Commonwealth. A reception was held on Monday evening, with British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre, Yassin and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in attendance.
The baton will now be moving to the Caribbean islands.
By Avenash Ramzan
nternational crick-
Iet is set to return to Guyana later this year when West Indies and New Zealand square off in three limited-over games at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Anand Sanasie, on Wednesday confirmed that the matches will be hosted at Providence, with two T20 Internationals set for June 28 and 29, while the first One-Day International will be played on July 2.
“Yes, these games are confirmed for those dates and have been approved by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB),” Sanasie told this publication.
Sanasie also highlighted that GCB will be doing its part to ensure the hosting of the games is successful.
The three matches will be a precursor to the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) games, which will be hosted during the July 10 to August 16 period.
The National Stadium has hosted six T20I games, all during the 2010 World Cup, which was hosted at venues across the Caribbean.
Both West Indies and New Zealand have an unbeaten record in T20Is at the venue, having won both their games at the World Cup. West Indies have defeated Ireland by 70 runs and England by eight wickets at the venue, while New Zealand have prevailed over Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe,
by two wickets and seven runs respectively.
In the 13 ODIs hosted at the venue, West Indies have featured in eight, winning four and losing a similar number of games. New Zealand would have pleasant memories of the venue, having thrashed Ireland by 129 runs in their lone game here during the 2007 50over World Cup.
Incidentally, the upcoming series will provide the first opportunity that West Indies and New Zealand will clash in any format at the venue.
According to Sanasie, the series is part of a packed schedule the GCB has planned for the remainder of the year.
The Limacol Under-15 two-day competition will take place from March 2330 featuring Demerara, Berbice, Essequibo and the GCB President’s XI, while GTM Under-19 Intercounty, three-day and 50over tournaments will be hosted from April 23 to May 9.
The Inter-county
The Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) will be a hive of activity on Saturday afternoon when an Under-15 coaching session is conducted from noon.
The session, which is expected to last for about four
Under-17 50-over competition will be held from May 14-18, while the junior female 50-over tourney will come off from May 21-25.
The National T20 League is set to take place in May/June, with a junior female goodwill tour slated for July 4-8.
The Inter-county senior female 50-over competition is billed for July 9-12, while the Inter-county senior male 50-over tournament is fixed
for September 17-28 and the GT&T/Hand-in-Hand Intercounty senior male four-day will be hosted from October 24 to November 9.
hours, will be conducted by coaches Latchman Yadram and Orin Bailey and former West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart. Under-15 cricketers from schools and clubs along the East Coast of Demerara are invited to be part of the activity.
Joe Root scored his first one-day international hundred as England beat West Indies by 25 runs in a gripping contest to win the series 2-1.
Root (107) defied the pain from an early blow on his thumb to put on 175 with Jos Buttler, who fell in the final over for 99 as England piled up 303-6.
Root then struck with his third ball as the Windies slumped to 43-4.
Denesh Ramdin kept the match alive with a superb 128 before Tim Bresnan bowled him to leave the hosts 278 all out. Wicketkeeper Ramdin had plundered 14 runs off the previous three balls to raise the prospect of
a Windies win, but Bresnan found the ideal yorker length to clatter into leg stump to seal the victory.
England's first limitedovers series triumph since February 2013 brought some much-needed cheer to their supporters after the disastrous Ashes tour of Australia.
Root, who endured a particularly torrid time down under, looked overcome with joy and relief when he reached three figures off his 112th delivery.
Early in his innings, he had required lengthy treatment to his right thumb after being struck by a Ravi Rampaul lifter.
But he ignored the obvi-
ous discomfort to work the ball into the gaps for a highclass hundred.
Buttler, who successfully overturned a caught-behind decision on 22 off Marlon Samuels, was characteristically explosive, bludgeoning four sixes and seven fours in his 84-ball knock.
But he fell agonisingly short of a maiden England century when a leading edge gifted Rampaul the easiest of catches off his own bowling.
By then, England had surpassed 300, a total that was always likely to be difficult to chase on a turning pitch, even before West Indies lost two wickets in their first seven balls.
Root's dream day continued as he bowled Kieran Powell with his third ball, the batsman guilty of an ugly slog across the line.
His opening partner Dwayne Smith fell to an equally poor shot as he pulled Stuart Broad straight to deep backward square leg.
Ravi Bopara took off from short midwicket to claim a fine catch to remove Darren Bravo for 16 off Moeen Ali, then Lendl Simmons chopped Broad onto his stumps to leave the hosts in disarray on 43-4.
Gradually though, they hauled themselves back into contention as first Marlon Samuels (23) and then Darren Sammy (27) offered
support to the excellent Ramdin.
Running out of partners, Ramdin took matters into his own hands, taking on the England spinners and bringing up his first one-day hundred during a run of three sixes in four balls.
Sunil Narine kept up the excitement when he pulled Stuart Broad into the stands, but the England cap-
tain gained revenge with a sharp piece of fielding to run out Narine.
Needing 40 off the last 18 balls, Ramdin blasted Bresnan for a six and two fours to reduce the equation to 26 off 15.
But after consulting Broad and vice-captain Eoin Morgan, Bresnan came up with the ball to end the match.
Sport)
England M Lumb c Narine b Dwayne Bravo 20 M Ali c & b Miller 55 B Stokes c Rampaul b Dwayne Bravo 0 J Root c DM Bravo b Dwayne Bravo 107 E Morgan b Narine 1 J Buttler+ c & b Rampaul 99 R Bopara not out 5 T Bresnan not out 1
Total: for 6 wickets 303
Extras: (lb 5, w 8, nb 2) 15
Did not Bat: S Broad*, J Tredwell, S Parry Fall of Wickets: 1-37 (Lumb, 6.4 ov), 2-37 (Stokes, 6.5 ov), 3-115 (Ali, 22.3 ov), 4-116 (Morgan, 23.1 ov), 5-291 (Root, 48.3 ov), 6-300 (Buttler, 49.3 ov) West Indies Bowling: Dwayne Bravo 10-0-60-3, R Rampaul 8-0-55-1, D Sammy 5-0-350, D Smith 1-0-6-0, S Narine 10-1-52-1, N Miller 10-048-1, M Samuels 5-0-290, L Simmons 1-0-13-0.
West Indies (Target; 304) K Powell b Root 1
Extras: (b 3, lb 6, w 5)
Fall of Wickets: 1-10 (Powell, 0.6 ov), 2-10 (Smith, 1.1 ov), 3-42 (DM Bravo, 6.6 ov), 4-43 (Simmons, 7.6 ov), 5-80 (Samuels, 19.5 ov), 6-131 (DJ Bravo, 29.2 ov), 7-202 (Sammy, 39.6 ov), 8-246 (Miller, 45.1 ov), 9-263 (Narine, 46.5 ov), 10-278 (Ramdin, 47.4 ov)
Bowling: J Root 3-024-1, S Broad 9-0-58-2, M Ali 1-0-5-1, S Parry 9-1-601, T Bresnan 4.4-0-45-3, J Tredwell 10-1-38-0, B Stokes 4-0-21-0, R Bopara 3-0-18-1
