Guyana Times Daily

Poor turnout flops Linden shutdown

Core homes at Parfaite Harmonie formally handed over

Guyana, Venezuela to meet soon on maritime issue

Several soldiers receive onthe-spot promotions

Policeman in triangular love affair gunned down Granger says Region Seven being neglected PPP/C Linden branch opens

Policeman in triangular love affair gunned down

Apolice constable attached to the Mounted Branch of the force was on Friday evening shot dead in Guyhoc Park during a confrontation with another man as they both turned up at a woman’s house at the same time.

The incident occurred about 23:00h.

Dead is Dexter Wright, also known as Quincy Wright, 28, of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. He was stationed at the Guyana Police Force headquarters. The suspect whose name was given as “Richard” has since fled the scene.

According to information received, the policeman was already at the woman’s house when the other man arrived and attempted to contact her via telephone.

After she did not answer, he decided to glance into the house and saw the police constable and the woman canoodling on a chair.

The suspect reportedly

confronted the couple and inquired what was happening and the constable reportedly responded, “Like you blind… you ain’t see wah happening?” This quip sent the man in a fit of rage and a heated argument started between the two.

The policeman was still in the house while exchanging words with his rival, but for some reason, decided to step out to carry on the verbal tussle.

Argument

During the argument, the woman tried to mediate, but was flatly ignored.

As they came closer to each other, the woman stepped between them, but was pushed aside and a scuffle started.

She managed to again get between them and as she was parting them, the suspect reportedly pulled a gun from his waist and discharged a round, hitting the constable in the chest.

After realising that the man was shot, the suspect fled the scene, leaving the woman screaming for help.

With blood oozing from his body, the policeman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. The woman was taken into police custody and is assisting with investigations.

A neighbour of the woman told Guyana Times that she was at home when she heard the commotion, but did not budge as it was nothing strange.

“She would get people coming in and out all the time, so when I hear the argument, I seh oh lawd, here we go again,” said the neighbour.

However, the neighbour said when she heard the sound of a gunshot, she got frightened and realised the situation was serious one.

As she looked out, she saw the injured man on the ground panting for breath,

but those who were around took a long time to call a vehicle to get him to the hospital.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect.

Meanwhile, police in a release confirmed that about 22:30h on Friday evening, Special Constable Quincy Wrights of Zeskendren, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara was involved in an argument with a man at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, during which he was shot to his chest.

“His assailant, who escaped, is also a suspect in a matter that occurred on January 23, 2014 at North Sophia, where a firearm was taken away from a security guard attached to a private security service,” said teh release.

The police are continuing investigations, and up to late Saturday evening, the suspect has not been arrested.

GEA promoting biogas as alternative energy source

Biogas is produced by the breakdown or decomposition of organic waste in the absence of oxygen and comprises a mixture of gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane. Biogas can be used as an alternative energy source instead of firewood and fossil fuels.

There are many raw materials (organic materials) from which biogas can be extracted, for example, animal manure, leaves, twigs, grasses and garbage among others. Biogas production from animal waste provides a unique opportunity to mitigate the effects of waste produced on farms while providing a cheap and sustainable source of energy.

To facilitate the production of biogas, a structure referred to as a bio-digester unit (BDU) is used. A bio-digester aids in the decomposition of organic materials, such as those listed above, to produce methane gas (biogas) that can be used for cooking, heating, lighting (using gas lamps), electricity generation, operation of farm machinery and other energy needs.

A bio-digester unit is a clean, healthy and economic alternative since it not only provides fuel for domestic household use but also pro-

vides liquid and solid fertilisers that can be used in farming. This in turn aids in reducing the amount of chemical contaminants (in organic fertiliser) that affects human health and the environment.

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has been monitoring and supporting the installation of bio-digesters. At present there are approximately 30 bio-digesters installed in Guyana that use organic materials to produce biogas. The GEA is encouraging livestock farmers (cattle, pig, etc) to take advantage of this technology and cash in on potential savings. The production of methane gas will help to conserve on imported energy sources (fossil fuels), thereby allowing for savings on energy bills and a positive contribution to the environment.

The GEA will offer free technical advice and support to interested farmers once contacted. To learn more about biogas, persons can download the Bio-digester Information and Construction Manual for Small Farmers from GEA’s website at http:// www.gea.gov.gy/downloads/ Biodigester-Manual.pdf or call telephone number 226 0394.

Weather: Heavy rain showers are expected during the day with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Wind: East north easterly at 2.22 metres per second and 2.77 metres per second north easterly

High Tide: 12:25h reaching a maximum height of 2.37 metres

Low Tide: 05:50h and 18:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.96 metre and 0.81 metre respectively.

Guyana, Venezuela to meet soon on maritime issue

By Michael younge

Technical teams appointed by the governments of Guyana and Venezuela are expected to meet shortly to discuss matters surrounding the recent maritime issue between the two nations.

The issue arose after Venezuelan naval authorities had trailed and seized a ship that was conducting seismic work in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in October last year.

The ship at the centre of the controversy was the MV Teknik Perdana, which along with its crew members, was released.

Speaking with Guyana Times during a recent interview, Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett disclosed that the two countries are in contact and are making all of the necessary arrangements to ensure that the work of the technical teams flow smoothly once talks commence.

She confirmed that no date has been set as yet for

official dialogue to begin, but expressed hope that work would begin shortly.

Rodrigues-Birkett said that she also remains optimistic that the discussions are going to be cordial and held in good faith considering the importance of the issue at hand.

Deadline

The minister said the timeline of four months set for the meetings between the technical teams will expire sometime around the third week of February.

“We have made it clear that we are ready and available to meet at any time. We understand the importance of resolving whatever differences we may have on this matter”, the minister said.

Asked whether Guyana’s position has changed from the time it raised objections to the reaction of Venezuela, she responded in the negative.

Minister Birkett said that Guyana’s position is based on principle and

grounded in international law.

“We are standing on firm legal footing and we have done a thorough analysis of this matter,” she stated.

“Guyana remains committed to the process,” she reiterated, praising the good relations the two nations have enjoyed over the past few years.

Technical team

The technical team will be meeting to examine the way forward on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries between Guyana and Venezuela.

A joint statement from the two countries following a meeting between Rodrigues-Birkett and her Venezuelan counterpart Elías Jaua last year indicated that they ratified all the points of the Joint Declaration of September 30, 2011, in Port of Spain.

It was recognised that the delimitation of the maritime boundaries between the two countries

remains an outstanding issue and the foreign ministers agreed that such delimitation will require negotiations.

Venezuela has for decades claimed two-thirds of Guyana’s territory as its own, arguing that the gold-rich region west of the Essequibo River was stolen from it by an 1899 agreement with Britain and its then colony.

The area is a fixture of 19th century maps of Gran Colombia, the short-lived republic revered by the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

Ties between the two countries had improved recently. Chavez’s successor Nicolas Maduro made his first visit as president to Georgetown in August to discuss joint oil projects with his Guyanese counterpart, Donald Ramotar.

During the visit, Maduro described the dispute as a relic of the colonial era and vowed to peacefully resolve the matter.

Sunday Times Editor: Tajeram Mohabir

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

Mailing address:

238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Disciplined Forces Report

One week ago, on January 18, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee met with senior officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), including Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell and divisional and branch commanders, to review the 71 recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC) in 2004 for the improved working of the force.

It was reported that the GPF is now “compiling a working document, inclusive of all the applicable recommendations made during the one-day session, in keeping with its thrust to ensure that the DFC’s recommendations are implemented.”

Some might say that after a decade, “it’s about time”, but we would prefer to say “better late than never”. The ministry has always insisted that the GPF was implementing the recommendations as part and parcel of their ongoing reforms over the last decade.

For instance, it might be claimed that the present effort to institute a civilian input into the oversight of the force is geared towards that end. But it is important that the DFC’s recommendations must now be considered in a holistic fashion. Critics would not now be in a position to claim that the administrators of the force are “cherry-picking” the recommendations.

It would therefore be very important for all Guyanese, including the members of the GPF who are charged with coming up with the “working document, inclusive of all the applicable recommendations”, to be on the same page.

We are somewhat concerned about the adjective “applicable” in front of “recommendations”, and wonder what criteria were used to winnow out “non-applicable” recommendations from the overall 71. It might therefore be necessary to return to first principles as far as the DFC’s Report is concerned.

In some of the recent reports in the media about the GPF’s conclave, it was suggested that the DFC was formed as a result of discussions between then President Bharat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin. While the timing of the actual convening might have issued from such negotiations, the actual genesis of the body lies in the constitutional reform process during which concerns about the Disciplined Forces had been articulated for a wide cross section of the populace.

Harking to these concerns, Article 197A (5) stated quite succinctly the mandate to address such concerns: “Disciplined forces commissions may be constituted by the National Assembly from time to time, as may be necessary, with power to examine the structure and composition of the disciplined forces and make recommendations generally with a view to promoting their greater efficiency, and giving effect to the need in the public interest that the composition of the disciplined forces take account of the ethnic constituents of the population.”

We must remember that Article 197, among others, was approved unanimously by all parties in the National Assembly in 2000. These included both the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the People’s National Congress (PNC).

During the last decade, while the need for the “greater efficiency” of the GPF has been emphasised, there was very little discussion, much less action on taking “account of the ethnic constituents of the population.”

This is somewhat ironic, since the DFC examined this aspect of its mandate rather comprehensively and recommended: “(38) It should be an aim to achieve a force representative of the ethnic diversity of the nation without employing a quota system, which would be constitutionally offensive.” The report then went on to outline seven concrete actions that should be undertaken to give effect to its recommendations.

We do not believe that the issue of “efficiency”, or the latest buzzword, “professionalisation” can be disjunctured from the overall thrust of the Art 197’s constitutional imperative or the DFC’s recommendation on the issue of “ethnic representativeness”. Recommendation 40 might be a good place to start: Conduct a “forensic audit...of current trends of recruitment... (which) should be placed in the public domain”.

The agenda of the opposition affiliated media

Dear Editor,

The media in any society has a very important role in disseminating information and educating people on critical issues and must at all times display responsibility and professionalism in discharging its role.

The media’s role is to report, inform, instruct, and educate readers, not to mislead and distort news or to present views as news or make conclusions when investigations on incidents are on going.

There should not be partisan reporting as appeared in the Guyana media opposed to the government. The media should not have an agenda but be fair, objective and balanced, especially that Guyanese tend to believe everything in the news (especially newspapers).

However, in Guyana, sections of the media (opposition affiliated, in particular) engage in bias reporting contravening standards of journalism. They don’t provide all the facts of an event and selectively report on a story, often not coherently, misleading readers and viewers.

The state of journalism in Guyana is such today that people write or broadcast prejudiced news reports and present jaundiced opinions masqueraded as news.

The opposition controlled media is agenda-driven frequently treating allegations as facts and it is also guilty of countless mis-reporting –a gross violation of journalist ethics. The gullible in society have a tendency to believe everything in the news and as such the media has a responsibility to be accurate, fair and objective in their reportage and in commentaries.

Very often, at least two newspapers have been accused of being “pro-government”. Far from it, these two publications (at least one,

in particular) seem to report the news professionally without any hidden agenda.

The same cannot be said of other publications which clearly demonstrate an antigovernment bias in their reportage and commentaries (op eds, letters) and which have a hidden agenda to undermine the government.

These two publications are often chastised when allowing certain types of harsh comments in letters, but the other two dailies permit worse and don’t always allow a right to a response.

Take for example, M Maxwell, in the letter column of another section of the press, calling people intellectual fraudsters, racists, etc, but when branded with the same labels with supporting evidence, Kaieteur News exorcised the comments. That is tendentious editing which is partisan, biased and skewed when taken as a whole. It does not conform to neutrality and balance, and fails to do justice to the person who was previously attacked.

The opposition affiliated media engage in name calling, biased editing and maligning opponents. They allow references to people with name calling that are unpalatable. Name calling terminologies do not come from people of intellect or respected publications.

If publications allow letter writers to unjustifiably attack people, then they should provide the same latitude in responses. They should not adopt a ‘holierthan-thou’ attitude when they are worse than others. In one opposition publication, anything goes. That is not journalism. In America, it is called “muckraking” as I learned from my studies on the media.

There is a columnist who accepts money not to write negative reports about cer-

tain businesses. He also blackmails businesses if they don’t give him money or free food and drink – he will malign their business.

He quotes Martin Carter’s “mouth is muzzled by the food it eats” – that is an apt description of himself for accepting fees not to criticize certain businessmen.

There are also broadcasting media outlets (television) that are egregiously unprofessional and anti-government in their reporting. Some simply don’t care about the facts distorting news and reporting lies and half truths – they are maliciously biased.

The opposition media houses also imparts much spin in news and allegations but offer few hard facts and evidence to support claims. Political outfits or individuals with an agenda are misusing the opposition media to promote their own interests and to build their political support. Balanced and objective reporting, foundation principles of journalism, are sacrificed to promote an agenda especially of toppling a democratically elected government.

Opposition media houses manipulate the minds of people to think in accordance with their agenda-political or otherwise. As a commentary noted, sections of the media are involved in political subversion and sabotage through misinformation, distortion of truth, and blatant lies under the direction of their political masters.

As journalism texts have pointed out, objective reporting and editing suggest that facts take precedence over everything else. Reporters and editors must not be influenced by personal feelings or biases. They must be fair in their work. They allow both sides of an issue and avoid value judgments.

There is a pattern of

poor editing and reporting of news. Bigoted journalists render the government guilty of unproven canards and baseless allegations just to satisfy the whims of political friends or their parties.

Thus, President Donald Ramotar and his predecessor Bharrat Jagdeo were right in flaying the media for its biased agenda-driven reportage. In analyzing the media, it is noted, for example, the Linden incident (2012) was misrepresented in opposition affiliated media and by self interested opposition politicians with an agenda.

At least one newspaper, on the other hand, reported the news as it was. The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Linden incident dispelled most of what was peddled by the opposition controlled media houses.

An incident that is now embroiling the media is the alleged abuse of Colywn Harding by police. A tsunami of emotions flooded the media.There should be righteous condemnations if the police are guilty.But the report in the opposition media already found the police guilty without a fair hearing, a violation of the bill of rights in the U.S. Constitution that states that no person shall be held to answer to a crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury based on evidence and without due process of law.

A canon of professional journalism since the field was invented over 100 years ago is the doctrine of objectivity. Reporters and editors need to return fully to it – separate views and value judgments from news. Otherwise, news reporting will descend into the gutter of opinionating.

Sincerely,

Vishnu Bisram

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Political grandstanding on the budget

Dear Editor, Guyana is truly blessed to have a man with perhaps the most brilliant brain in financial matters, serving its people as finance minister. Together, with former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Dr Ashni Singh can be proud of his role in helping to transform the economy from bankruptcy in 1992 to the thriving one that most Guyanese take for granted today.

To achieve eight consecutive years of economic growth at a time when economies throughout the region and the world are troubled requires brilliant planning and the management of a policy framework that is conducive to sustained economy growth.

In Dr Singh’s own words, “Looking at recent economic developments in the region and around the world, there can be no doubt that real growth of gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately five per cent per annum for the past eight years is an absolutely outstanding achievement… this achievement is by no stretch of the imagination an accidental one”.

In retrospect, the historical evidence of the (lack of) achievements of former People’s National Congress (PNC) finance minister Carl Greenidge from 1985 to 1992, is well documented. Perhaps he may argue that the state of the economy he inherited as finance minister under the PNC government (increasing from 17 per cent of recorded GDP in 1980 to 59 per cent in 1985) was so bad that there was very little he could have done to improve it, and perhaps he was right.

For with the exception of a short-lived relief during 1987 and 1988, the deficit jumped back to an estimated

55 per cent of GDP in 1989. Regardless, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) shadow finance minister must accept full responsibility for Guyana’s bankruptcy by 1992. He has no credibility to demand sound financial management from this administration, and must refrain from being the bully he has now become.

In an article in another section of the press on January 21, Greenidge firmly stated that he will not accept the proposal by Dr Singh to now have discussions on the 2014 budget. This statement could not have been made without the approval of party leader, David Granger, and proves definitively that the PNC/APNU’s only real interest is political grandstanding on the budget.

Considering that the debate on the budget is likely to commence late in March and there is still sufficient time for meaningful discussions, here is an interesting timeline that debunks all claims made by Greenidge that “the minister of finance has failed to honour his commitments in relation to not only discussing the 2014 budget, but also the process for discussions of future budgets”.

On January 13, Dr Singh sent an email to the opposition inviting them to meet on the 2014 budget and he specifically requested APNU’s shadow finance minister Greenidge to “suggest a date during the past or coming week” for them to meet. The email was copied to Granger, Lance Carberry, Khemraj Ramjattan, Dr Roger Luncheon, and Gail Teixeira.

The email contained copies of documents to be discussed. Both Granger and Greenidge refused to respond to the email invitation. A

few months earlier, according to Greenidge, the administration and opposition had agreed for him to meet with Dr Singh to discuss a process for discussions on future budgets to avoid the confusion and misrepresentation that surrounded the 2012 and 2013 budgets.

Then on September 9, 2013, he sent Dr Singh “a proposal” which was agreed on by APNU’s side to be appropriate. “Dr Singh did not send me a single note with his comments. Instead, he suggested a meeting be held the next day, but it was short notice and the members of the coalition were not able to meet with him. We suggested another date for a meeting, but nothing was done about it.”

If members of the opposition coalition were too busy or preoccupied to meet with the finance minister at his invitation “the next day”, why should he put off doing the nation’s work to meet with them at their convenience? Most people I know would put off everything else to meet with the minister on such an important topic, but not Ramjattan and Greenidge – they have no respect for authority and for the ministers of this administration. Yet they complain when the finance minister is not available to meet with them on their terms.

When they finally met, Greenidge explained as follows: “At that meeting he told us that he had little difficulty with the proposals sent to him but his comments by way of refinement were ready and we would receive it within a week, which was supposed to be by November 15, 2013, but we received nothing....

“I then indicated to him that I was unable to recommend any further discussions

with him and that the three leaders of the parties should now decide the way forward. The letter I received from Dr Singh suggesting that we should have a meeting now, in my view is rather out of place... We are no longer interested in having any discussion with him at this point.”

Then a few days ago, on January 17, signalling his intentions to cut the 2014 budget, Granger claimed that his party was being sidelined and has not been properly consulted on the budget. But by his own admission, “There had been some exchange between Greenidge and Dr Singh, but those were not consultations.”

Of course, this statement by Granger was highly misleading, and caused Dr Singh on January 20 to label this a “blatant lie and publicity stunt”. If Granger and Greenidge really have the nation’s best interest at heart, they would find the time to meet with the finance minister to unequivocally find common ground in reaching consensus on the 2014 budget.

Instead, I am convinced that they are deliberately using the excuse of not meeting with the minister to prepare the Guyanese people as part of an ill-conceived strategy to justify butchering the budget when it is presented in the National Assembly.

If this economic sabotage continues, President Donald Ramotar will be best advised to bite the bullet and call new election.

Sincerely,

Harry Gill

Bulkan and Palmer are not up-to-date with developments

Dear Editor, Kindly permit me to respond to part two of Janette Bulkan and John Palmer’s five-part series on “Why the National Assembly should hold public hearings on the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).”

It is good to hear from Bulkan and Palmer after not hearing from them for the longest while. I was worried, but am glad to know that they have emerged from their cave of neglect and doom. I am wishing them a happy 2014.

Bulkan and Palmer want to have a technical secretariat serving the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Natural Resources Sector established to analyse thoroughly the GFC’s reports recently tabled in the National Assembly.

This is good, but the technical secretariat must first thoroughly analyse the nonsubmission of reports to the Parliament by the illegal People’s National Congress (PNC) regime from 1964-1992.

At least over 28 reports ought to have been submitted, but none was. So Bulkan and Palmer can be on this technical committee to firstly analyse the performance of the forestry sector year by year from 1964-1992. They can then analyse the GFC’s recent reports.

But Bulkan and Palmer are politically biased against the government of Guyana and are selective in their criticisms against agencies and

companies in Guyana. While they wage public criticisms against the GFC, they are silent on two known private companies that are not being credible in their reports.

This is Bulkan and Palmer being totally unprofessional and one-sided, since these companies are known to be anti-government. Can Bulkan and Palmer publicly comment on these two companies, including the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown?

Bulkan and Palmer are giving Guyana and the world the false belief that they are technical experts when they are absolutely not. Why then did they fail miserably to provide their expertise to a furniture-making establishment they knew about which eventually collapsed?

Bulkan and Palmer are not living in Guyana and are not up-to-date with developments taking place currently in Guyana, and as a result their lack of knowledge is being published in other sections of the press. How shameful! What national and international experts also need to know is the massive corruption which occurred under the illegal PNC from the 19641992. And that Bulkan and Palmer are quiet over this because they are supporters of the PNC. I will in my other series point out Bulkan’s failure as a forest expert.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

Just before returning to Trinidad a little over a week ago, I caught a bug. It felt like the flu: you know –fever, cough, headache, aching muscles and tiredness. So I downed the usual over-thecounter medications and hunkered down to see it through. Lots of liquid and all that.

Most of the students hadn’t arrived from the other islands so I had the dorms practically to myself. I’d planned to move around a bit...spread my wings so to speak. The bug took care of that plan!

But for the next couple of days the symptoms just got worse and I became increasingly weaker and lethargic. The cough became hacking. Now you have to have an idea of the layout of the dorms of the Mount Hope Medical School to know where I’m going with this. It’s not on the main campus among the other faculties at St Augustine, but as part of the Mount Hope Medical complex (it’s actually the Eric Williams Medical Sciences complex but everyone refers to it as “Mount Hope”.) It’s one of the three tertiary hospitals in Trinidad.

So it’s like I’m living right

“KNOWING” “DOING”&

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do” – Leonardo da Vinci

smack in the middle of a hospital. And I knew I ought to get some kind of medical attention since I wasn’t feeling any better.

But I just couldn’t bring myself to walk over to the clinic or the emergency wings to get help. One of the senior lecturers of the medical school is a friend of my dad’s and he’d done my medicals when I entered the school. I knew the family well.

He’s part of a nearby private hospital...but I didn’t call him.

Eventually (well within a day) my mom flew over and dragged me around to the doctors and they did their tests and all the other diagnostics (in an amazingly fast time, I must say).

My blood count was very low...hence my tiredness and listlessness. They also thought I might have dengue. Well two days later, the latter was nixed and they decided I just had a rather nasty viral infection...much worse than the seasonal flu.

I’m still not fully recovered but the question I pose to myself is, why didn’t I do what I knew had to be done to take care of the crisis I was

going through? And the answer is that it’s most likely a form of procrastination, which I’d written about before. This is a very common habit with too many people... including myself. We know what is to be done in a situation and we still don’t do it – even when it’s as serious as an illness.

It’s so widespread that it has its own name...the “knowing-doing gap”. My mom is flying back to Guyana today, as I am writing this. And I’ve resolved to close this gap. My dad has always taught us that in Hindu epistemology (theory of knowledge) that “knowledge” is not just a cognitive (thinking) act...but become so only when it ends in action. “If you know by doing, there is no gap between what you know and what you do”.

So if you’re like me (and there’s a lot of us out there... in fact we’re the majority) let’s do what we know has to be done before it becomes a crisis.

So if you check up on me tomorrow, you’ll find me eating better to get my blood count up. And checking in with the doctors to see how I’m doing.

Soothing a crying baby

Simple soothing strategies

Not every strategy will work for every baby, and some techniques may only work at certain times, depending on your baby’s mood. The key is to experiment; over time, you’ll figure out what’s best for your baby, and when.

Use your hands

Touch stimulates receptors in the brain that calm your baby, and research shows that long, smooth strokes tend to work better than short, brisk ones. Try caressing your infant’s cheek, back, legs, or stomach. Or keep your baby close by wearing her in a front carrier. You don’t have to spend all day toting her around, but the more you touch her (giving her a minimassage during a diaper change, for instance), the happier she’ll be.

Talk . The familiar tone of mom’s voice is one of the most effective soothers for babies, according to research. So keep the chatter going –but speak quietly so your baby isn’t overwhelmed.

(Part two)

Release your inner pop star . Singing can also be calming. Don’t worry if your voice doesn’t sound like Norah Jones’s.

To your baby, you’re the ultimate star. Sing calm, slow songs, such as lullabies – the body responds to music by adapting heart and respiratory rates to the tempo.

Take a drive . Driving around the block combines steady motion and white noise. If driving isn’t convenient, try a vibrating bouncy seat or swing, which also have the white-noise/movement combo.

Get wet . Many moms swear by baths to calm their babies. The sound of the running water and the warmth on the skin can do wonders for a crying baby. You can get into the tub, too, to add soothing skin-to-skin contact.

Distract him

Introduce a new toy or shift his attention to the family pet or a mirror (so he can gaze at himself). He may well forget all about his cranky mood.

Keep your cool . If you get frustrated, your infant will pick up on that tension and react, and this pattern can become a cycle that’s hard to break. Trying too hard

to calm your baby can also backfire – some simply don’t like to be handled as much as others. While you shouldn’t let infants under three months cry it out, it’s okay to let them fuss for five minutes. This will give yours the opportunity to start to figure out how to soothe himself (and it may give you a chance to regroup, too).

Keep doing what works . When you find a strategy that soothes your baby, stick to it. Trying something different every five minutes can be overstimulating. Limit yourself to two or three methods that seem to work – if one fails in one instance, try the other, instead of introducing several new techniques. You almost always get results after a day or two if you stick to a consistent pattern.

The best baby holds

Carrying your baby helps her feel safe and comforted. A few triedand-true methods: The cradle-carry : With both elbows bent about 45 degrees, rest your baby’s head in the crook of one arm, supporting her with both of your forearms along the length of her back. Rock or bounce her gently while patting her bottom. She may find this position especially soothing, since she can see your face. The sit-and-rock cradle : This is a great way to let your baby see her world and distract her when she’s fussy. While standing, hold her against your chest, facing away from you. Place one hand under her bottom to create a “seat” and wrap the other arm around her chest (and under her arms) for support. Sway from side to side or walk around to find a view she likes. (Parenting)

Several soldiers receive on-the-spot promotions

– for successful Trans Guyana aircraft recovery mission

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff (CoS), Brigadier Mark Phillips on Friday awarded on-the-spot promotions and special incentives to eight ranks of the highly professional 31 Special Forces Squadron, and another, from the force’s G2 Branch

According to a release, the ranks gained their promotions for exemplary performance and service with excellence.

The eight 31 Special Forces Squadron were members of the search and rescue team responsible for locating and recovering the remains of the Trans Guyana pilot and baggage handler who died when the company’s Cessna aircraft crashed in the dense jungle at Olive Creek in the Mazaruni.

In congratulatory remarks, CoS Phillips said the

Special Forces team showed all Guyana that the GDF and its Special Forces were ready.

“You have lived up to the Special Forces motto which was crafted some 30-odd years ago. But it was not the Special Forces alone who were ready; the Air Corps were, as always, ready and relevant in being of service to Guyana and her citizens. The GDF will always be ready to deal with national situations,” he said.

Appreciation

“In getting the job done, the GDF persevered. You persevered. We will continue to do the best, the very best we can, with the little we have!” he added. “Today, it is about showing you our appreciation for your collective hard work.”

The congratulations followed a brief outline by the

chief-of-staff, of the sequence of events leading to the GDF’s involvement in the search and rescue.

“I received a call from the president and commander-inchief indicating that I should communicate with the subject minister for transport and that we put our resources to work.

"However, before doing that, I communicated with my personnel in Air Corps and the Special Forces and as expected, our troops were ready to go into action. Armed with the relevant information, I then contacted the minister and indicated that the force was ready to serve the nation in the unfolding scenario. Today, we thank you and the nation thanks you,” he said.

Earlier, in introductory remarks, Deputy Chief-ofStaff Kemraj Persaud noted that “... it is not very of-

No more bumpy roads in Region Two

ten that we get a chance to do what we are trained to do, but when we do, we do it at the very best of our ability.”

Those promoted from the Special Forces are: Acting Sergeant Jason Khan, who has been confirmed in his rank; Corporal Roland Williams, who is now a substantive sergeant; acting Corporal Darwin Archer, who has been confirmed in his rank; lance corporals Rock Watson and Kleon Chase, who are now substantive corporals; privates Timeon McPherson, Ronald Corlette and Alex Williams, who have been elevated in rank to substantive lance corporals and Private Michael Hamer, who is now an acting lance corporal.

Substantive Corporal Robert Pyle of the G2 Branch was also elevated to the rank of acting sergeant.

Region Two residents will benefit from smooth paved streets as opposed to bumpy roller coasters, compliments of the Region Two administration.

The Works Department is currently busy trying to improve the quality of streets and roads in the region. The administration is constructing more paved, all weather streets on the Essequibo Coast to provide residents with better access ways.

Streets were upgraded at Anna Regina,

Friends,

asked a few residents what they thought about the upgrading and improvements and many said they are very thankful to the Region Two administration. Residents said the streets were filled with “potholes” and it was difficult for vehicles to traverse.

The streets upgraded will greatly assist rice and cash crop farmers to access their farmlands. Many roads in the region were also upgraded.

Privatisation of GuySuCo not on the cards – Ramotar

There have been suggestions that the sugar company, in light of its continued failure to meet its targets should be privatised, but government said it will not, anytime soon, be selling off the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

“We have not reached the stage... and hopefully we would not reach there,”

President Donald Ramotar told the media on Friday, at a press conference at the Office of the President.

The president said that he is, however, not closing his mind to anything. “The most important thing is saving our industry and getting it back to make a big contribution to the development of the country,” he said.

President Ramotar noted that the government has been

making several interventions to get the once successful industry back to its striving status.

He said the new 2013-2016 strategic plan supports the mechanisation and field conversion drive, and focus particularly on critical areas of the sugar company. In 2013, government advanced $3.1 billion to the company to achieve the implementation of critical recapitalisation aspects of this plan.

A new chief executive officer is soon to be installed as well as a new board. Government is also looking at correcting the deficiency at the Skeldon sugar factory, and is looking at bringing in more technical skills that will focus on both factory and field operations, President Ramotar said.

Instead of privatisation, government is also prepared

to lease more land to the farmers, an intervention it has employed with regards to the Uitvlugt estate.

President Donald Ramotar noted that at Skeldon, new land is designed to be machine-friendly, while a lot of mechanisation conversion is taking place at Enmore.

“The question of competition for labour dictates that is a direction we have to go more and more into,” President Ramotar said.

“We have been a labour intensive industry for a number of years, and this is a switch we have to make at this point in time to make the industry more efficient and to move it forward.”

Target

The sugar company fell short of its target for 2013, with both first and second crop production amounting to less than 200,000 tonnes.

The 2013-2016 strategic plan to turn around the sugar industry has been finalised and submitted to the parliamentary sectoral committee on economic services.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said the new strategic plan for the sugar sector has taken into consideration the new weather patterns, the way cane is transported from the field to the factory, and the way in which canes are fed to the factories.

City Hall can do more to cleanup Georgetown – Ramotar

While government is prepared to continue its investment into the city of Georgetown, it noted that if City Hall properly manages its resources, it would be able to do more, and be less dependent on government.

Addressing a news conference on Friday, President Donald Ramotar observed that City Hall has hundreds of workers and a huge wage bill of some $80 million, but still contract out many of its jobs. The council also has equipment that quickly go out of commission, the president noted.

President Ramotar has tasked the Public Works Ministry to very quickly come up with a plan that will solve, or at least reduce, many of the issues affecting the city.

The president said that government will continue to ‘pump’ resources into the city to ensure a city that all Guyanese could be proud of.

Mayor Hamilton Green’s inability to maintain the city continues to be evident, despite continuous interventions by the government.

Recently, $56 million was invested for a city cleanup exercise in December that was aimed at improving its aesthetics and sanitation.

Eyew tness

Preaching anarchy...

...when options remain

We’re still teed off at the forces in our society preaching anarchy. And that’s exactly where we’ll end up if we go down the road of “riot and rebellion”. Yesterday we addressed the sordid attempt by the Stabber News to justify this route by selectively and disingenuously silencing the powerful arguments that argued for the opposite route – that is to use available means of peacefully letting the rulers know that you aren’t satisfied with their performance. And it’s not like the primary mechanism for such peaceful regime change has been denied to the Guyanese people. For goodness sake, our last elections of just two years ago gave the combined opposition control of one of the arms of government – the Legislature or Parliament! The government is hanging on by the skin of their teeth – and the sagacity of the courts.

So the only outcome that’s acceptable to the opposition and its supporters in the media is seizure of the Executive? So what’s stopping the opposition from capturing that at the polls – peacefully? And the answer’s the strongest argument against the anarchist and nihilistic piffle that’s being touted: nothing but the votes of the people. And it’s not as if the opposition is denied this route – in fact because of their control of the Parliament, they can demand an election any time they want!

People seem to have forgotten this power of the opposition. If they feel the government’s so “tyrannical and outrageous”, all they have to do at the next sitting of Parliament is move a motion of “no confidence” against the entire government. Not like the one they moved against Rohee. The president will then be forced BY THE CONSTITUTION to call elections in three months. That’s right – three months?

What better recourse can you have against a “tyrannical” regime? Isn’t that a better way than “riot and rebellion”? We’ve had “riots and rebellions” just as recently as the last decade. Did it lead to any kind of utopia? So if the opposition wins the next elections, should the PPP/C resort to “riot and rebellion”? These provocateurs pretend to forget the implications of that route when you have an ethnically polarised society like we have.

We’re talking of going down a precipice that few societies have climbed out of. They’d better look at what happened in Yugoslavia.

What? That’s no longer a country?

…in Linden

The sick minds that only see “riot and rebellion” to change the government when there is the peaceful way of the ballot can be seen in action at Linden. At the time of writing, we don’t know whether the call for the “total shutdown of Linden” came to pass. But even if it didn’t, it would be for lack of trying by the folks who brought you the first episode of “riot and rebellion” back in July 2012.

Here’s a bunch of jokers who can’t even craft an application for permission to run a TV station and they’re griping that the government is going back on its agreement! Region 10 is badly served by these people who haven’t the foggiest notion of how a proper system runs. Not because the government tells you can have a TV station means that it’ll just pop up the next day. You still have to follow whatever procedure was established to regulate that sector.

To do otherwise would invite the same anarchy as “riots and rebellions” – save maybe with less bloodshed. Linden went through $2 billion from LEAP...but it’s still down. Thanks to its leadership, they can expect more of the same.

...in medicine

In the Colwyn Harding saga, there’s been strident outcries against the doctors for stating the facts as they saw them after they treated. Seems their Hippocratic Oath demands they tell it only as the opposition sees it.

Granger says Region Seven being neglected

Poor health services, deteriorating roads and an education system that leaves much to be desired are among key issues plaguing the CuyuniMazaruni region.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leader David Granger, APNU Member of Parliament (MP), Dr George Norton, APNU MP Dawn Hastings and Region Seven Chairman Gordon Bradford on Friday complained bitterly about the ills of the mining district.

Neglect

They are contending that government is neglecting the region that play’s a significant role in the economical welfare of the nation.

Although the region’s mining and logging resources have been exploited for over a century, enriching the national treasury, the opposition leader said, “The Cuyuni-Mazaruni region has become a zone of gross government neglect.”

In defence of his argument, Granger pointed out that the vital 180km-long Bartica Potaro trail which connect Bartica to Mahdia is in an appalling state.

In support of Ganger’s contentions, the Region Seven chairman explained that the rehabilitative works executed on the five-mile stretch of road cannot effectively facilitate the types

of heavy-duty machinery that traverse the facility. According to Bradford, what is needed is an asphaltic surface road that can withstand the pressure.

It was also pointed out that the Parika-Bartica boat service cannot cope with the current demands of the two populous riverine townships.

Overcrowding

Meanwhile, in the area of public service, the opposition leader said there are only three secondary schools serving the entire region. “The Waramadong Secondary School is overcrowded and the staff is insufficient for the estimated 600 students,” he complained.

Due to the reported shortage of trained teachers and lack of practical instrument, coupled with social problems, large numbers of students continue to drop out from the primary and secondary schools.

“The main hospital – the Bartica Regional Hospital is underequipped and understaffed. A river ambulance is needed to service the riverine areas. Hospitals further inland occasionally run out of drugs to treat prevalent complaints,” Granger said as he turned his attention to health services within the region.

MP Hastings, a resident of the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, alleged that the govern-

ment is expending millions of dollars to facilitate medevac in the case of emergencies, simply because there is lack of critical equipment and instruments at the Kamarang Hospital. Among equipment needed is a portable x-ray.

“So these little accidents that could have been tended to right there, victims have to be flown out to Georgetown… before they return home, they are sent to the Amerindian Hostel for long periods until the Amerindian Affairs Ministry can have a fullflight load which I think is very unfair to the patients.”

In addition to the poor health and education services, Granger told reporters that the frequency of fatal aircraft accidents and boat collisions is disturbing.

This trend of accidents is compounded by “the prevalence of trafficking in persons and the incidence of armed robberies and everyday banditry are notorious”.

It was also contended that ranks operating within the mining district are most times unable to effectively execute their duties because the Guyana Police Force’s sub-divisional headquarters located at Bartica is “ill-equipped to respond promptly to violent crimes, especially in the region’s gold and diamond mining district”.

Reckless mining Granger and his supporters also bemoaned reckless mining practices within the region that continue to create health hazards. Making reference to studies funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Guyana Environmental Capacity Development Project (GENCAPD), he pointed out that 89 to 96 per cent of the population surveyed in Isseneru had almost double the reference level for humans for mercury contamination. The survey was done in October 2013.

Motorcyclist killed by speeding motorist

“High waters in the rivers and other waterways occasionally lead to flooding in parts of the region. Owing to the floods, cassava and other staples rot in the ground and create food crises,” he added in his quest to prove that the region is indeed neglected.

School leavers

And though, the mining district is often touted as being a hub for employment, the APNU leader opined that opportunity for the large number of school leavers are few, adding that qualified young people in the absence of new investments seek lowlevel jobs in the mining district and logging industries or migrate to neighbouring Venezuela in search of work.

The opposition leader is calling on government to implement a comprehensive plan to develop the resources in the region to improve the quality of life of residents.

“The Cuyuni-Mazaruni region should not be allowed to degenerate into a Cinderella province. A Partnership for National Unity calls for the promulgation of a plan to meet the social, economic and political needs of this important part of Guyana’s territory. There should be established now a new development authority to harness the region’s economic potential and encourage investors,” Granger said.

Amotorcyclist was in the wee hours of Saturday morning killed at the intersection of Regent and Albert streets after a motor car allegedly driven by a drunk driver slammed into his motorcycle. His pillion rider also suffered serious injuries.

The dead man was identified as Sherwin Fraser, 26, of Lot 502, E Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown. The identity of his female partner is unknown.

According to information received, about 02:00h, Fraser and his female friend were travelling along the roadway on motorcycle bearing registration number CG 6446 when a speeding car with number plate PGG 8790 jumped the intersection and slammed into them before crashing into a utility pole.

As persons around rendered assistance to the injured man, a minibus appeared on the scene and ran over both the motorcycle and Fraser.

The man’s body was left on Regent Street for close to an hour as persons attempted to contact an ambulance. Despite several attempts to

call the emergency number 911, there was no answer. Persons also telephoned the Guyana Fire Service for help and in turn asked the operator to call 911, but this also proved futile.

The man reportedly died on the spot but was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead by doctors. Persons at the scene believed that Fraser could have been saved only if the ambulance had arrived on the scene on time.

It is also baffling why none of the vehicles at the scene took Fraser and the woman to the hospital.

The pillion rider was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing injuries to the foot and head.

Eyewitnesses say the three men in the car involved in the accident were highly intoxicated. They were reportedly staggering on the road when they disembarked the vehicle. Both the driver and the occupants were taken to private hospitals. The men were interrogated by the police and the minibus driver was detained for questioning.

Security guard killed in Rose Hall robbery

Shock waves ripped across the town of Rose Hall as yet another robbery occurred there within two days, resulting in the death of a security guard and a popular business counting its losses.

The robbery reportedly occurred in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Dead is Chandraban Persaud, 55, of 135 Whim Village, Corentyne, a guard in the employ of RK's Security Services. He was bound and gagged and his body was discovered behind the building of Lucky Dollar Store, Rose Hall.

According to reports, bandits entered the yard through the back gate of the compound and pounced on the unsuspecting security guard. They bound and gagged him, and he reportedly died of suffocation. The robbers then gained entry to the building by breaking the concrete ventilator at the side of the structure.

Widow of the deceased,

Satiwattee Persaud, 60, told this publication how she became aware of her husband’s demise.

“Me neighbour call me and tell me dem hear somebody from RK Security get beat up in Rose Hall, so me start cry and when me meet deh, dem police bin already put me husband in wan

said as she wept.

The woman said her husband left to go to work on Friday afternoon about 17:30h and told her, “Me gone” and she said to him that God will protect him.

“Me neva know me na go see him back,” she said. Satiwattee explained that she implored the security

hearse,” she recalled. The now widow disclosed that after begging to see his body, she was allowed the opportunity.

She related that his mouth was bound and it appears that something was stuffed into it.

Inconsolable

Satiwattee was inconsolable, lamenting that her husband was a good man.

“He na drink and smoke, he always try to make me happy, he work hard and because we need money, he had to go work there,” she

“Me beg dem but wan girl always handle me like dog, me husband dead, no body care, when me call she, she tell me, me should ah give me husband a phone, abbie poor, how me go buy phone,” the woman stated.

She alleged that a female officer of RK's Security in New Amsterdam is always hostile and speaks harshly to both her and her husband.

The widow said she has no one to take care of her, as she has no children, and her husband worked.

Uncertainly

“Me ah live on people house, abbie na get nothing, wha me ah go do now,” she lamented, hoping that somehow God will see her through this dark phase in her life.

“All me can do now is ask God to help, wan neighba give me some money and Dr Ramaya gimme some too and he say he go help me

firm to employ at least two persons at the location since it is a huge building, but her appeal was not heeded.

bury him.”

A police source disclosed that about 03:30h on Saturday morning, they received a call informing them about a robbery in Rose Hall and since the patrol was in the vicinity, they responded immediately.

However, upon arrival on the scene, the alleged bandits had already fled due to the noise of the alarm system, which apparently was accidently triggered by one of them.

The police source said that it is suspected that the deceased died of strangulation or cardiac arrest as no mark of violence has been found on his body. The source said the triggered alarm system must have caused the robbers to leave in a hurry.

An undisclosed amount of cash from the safe and several tablets were stolen from the business. The body of Persaud is at the Ramoo’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, on Thursday about 11:30h, three unmasked bandits armed with a pistol entered a pawn shop, which is two buildings away from the Lucky Dollar Store.

The robbers gun-butted the owner and gagged him and his assistant, before making good their escape with over $2 million in cash and jewellery. No one has been arrested for either of the robberies, but investigations are ongoing to bring the perpetrators to justice, the police said.

Satiricus was worried. Here it was that the whole of Linden was being shut down. “Completely”! And the men who’d started the whole shebang wasn’t even being mentioned. But Satiricus was like an elephant when it came to these sort of things. He never forgot. And he chewed peanuts when he stewed over such oversights.

Why! Satiricus remembered it like it was only yesterday when Rum Jhaat and the Naga Man had braved the Soesdyke-Linden trail and rode into Linden to tell of the perfidy that had been committed against them in Garbage City. “They sold you out! They sold you out!” they cried at the top of their reedy voices. Asked as to who had done the selling out, they announced it was the “racist PPEE and the turncoat APANU. Tell all the people in Linden and coomaca too!!”

Imagine the two of them wanted to treat Linden equally with the rest of the country!! The KFC, Satiricus knew, didn’t hold any truck with that kind of nonsense. Linden could never be treated like folks in Georgetown and Berbice. Naga Man had thundered (he frequently thundered from several of his orifices): “When they promised power to the people!” You know they meant free electricity to the people of Linden!” Not to be outdone, the Jhaat had squeaked shakily, (he was too inebriated to thunder). “We gonna burn with you, comrades! Especially de PPEE office!”

And Satiricus remembered well how their promises were kept. Buildings were burnt (including the nasty PPEE headquarters) and the bridge was blocked. “So what if three people were killed or the interior was starved for a week?” said the Jhaat.”You cyaan drink rum if you doan break de seal!”

“What a leader,” thought Satiricus “What a man!” But the “riot and rebellion” had ended up making heroes of some local Linden leaders.

And it was these local warlords who were now flexing their muscle and sidelining the great Jhaat. “Imagine these hicks think they can stir up a riot and rebellion without me,” fumed the Jhaat. “Especially when the PPEE opening up dey new office.”

Satiricus had thought the KFC could’ve sent their Chairman NoGel Huge to stir up things if the Lindeners couldn’t take more of the Jhaat (he did tend to whine and get on your nerves). But Satiricus had been told by his newspaper’s crime reporter that NoGel had taken on a new case. He was testing whether a stick with a diameter of one-and-a-halfinches could be inserted up his behind with no gel or Vaseline.

“The things a lawyer had to do for a client!” marvelled Satiricus. “Maybe the Jhaat could do the same for Linden and he’d be invited back?”

British high commissioner, CoS discuss training

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff (CoS), Brigadier Mark Phillips and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre recent held discussions on a number of areas, including training, during a recent courtesy call paid by the latter.

According to a release, at the meeting, Brigadier Phillips proposed making the GDF’s training facilities available to the armed forces of Britain, particularly for jungle training. Further, the two are to examine the possibility of a coast guard officer visiting the United

Kingdom to look at that country’s capability. Other issues including the force’s training priorities and the contribution of the United Kingdom to strengthening the force’s training efforts were also discussed. The United Kingdom played a large role in the formation of the GDF, and the two sides have enjoyed fruitful relations over the years. The courtesy call from the British high commissioner is testimony to continued interactions in this regard, the release said.

Bar supervisor shot during attempted robbery

Asupervisor attached to the Mexican Grille and Bar, Water Street, Georgetown is nursing a single gunshot wound to the lower abdomen received during a scuffle with an armed bandit in an attempted robbery on Saturday.

Jason Fraser, 29, of 56 Robb Street, Georgetown, up to late Saturday afternoon was undergoing emergency surgery at Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to information received, the father of two was in his office when he was confronted by the lone gunman who demanded money. It is not a norm for the business to keep money overnight; thus, he informed the bandit that there was no money. Not too pleased with the response, the gunman walked closer to the man and threatened that if he did not hand over any money, he would be shot.

Fraser reportedly attempted to take away the gun during a scuffle and was shot to his abdomen. The gunman made good his escape on foot.

Police in statement said that they are investigating the matter which occurred about 10:15h. Investigation so far revealed that the suspect was armed with a handgun and attempted to commit a robbery at the Water Street business but Fraser thwarted the attempt.

A relative of the injured man told Guyana Times that he learnt of the incident through a group chat on Whatsapp and alleged that the owner or management of the business place did not inform Fraser’s family of the incident.

The relative said after the man’s wife found out that he was shot, she immediately telephoned the manager, who confirmed the incident.

The woman added that the man’s wife panicked and rushed to the hospital where she saw him covered in blood and in an unconscious state. Fraser at the time was being prepared for an emergency surgery. The police have launched an investigation into the matter.

East Coast Demerara accident victim succumbs

An East Coast Demerara (ECD) man who was involved in an accident about two weeks ago on Saturday succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Truth Simply the

Teaching and learning English

Professor John Russell Rickford, one of my mentors, taught me linguistics at the University of Guyana (UG). He now teaches and researches as Distinguished Professor at Stanford University. In early 1981, he wrote to me about some slight adjustment I had made to a manuscript he had sent me. I was in New Brunswick, Canada. I corrected my mentor!

John’s response to my correction came in a hand-written letter. He wrote: “When your student teaches you, you know that the future is assured.” Now THAT is a teacher in the deepest sense of the word.

Teaching, if done as it should be done, is one of the most demanding professions. It is not an 8:30 to 4:30 job. It is with you all the time, even in dreams. The job of the teacher is to make himself/herself irrelevant; it is to help students to do without you. Each child that enters your classroom should leave a different and evolved person.

This does not happen if you push information down their throats until they gag. It happens when they know a little bit more about themselves as human beings. And they should know a little bit more about themselves after each and every session. This must be so at all levels, but especially at the

university or college level. By these standards, there are only a handful of teachers around. Only few who stand (or sit) in front of a classroom of students can be called teachers.

The teaching of English is particularly difficult in our national and regional contexts. This is so since language is tied into culture, history, class, and all manner of things. Then language is broken into oral and written – different things requiring different kinds of discipline. And English is the most difficult language extant.

It gets worse when we realise that we boast of being “English-speaking nations”, but the language we speak has its own diction, grammar, syntax, style and rhythm. Therefore, we are fighting against a kind of selfdelusion when it comes to the teaching and learning of English. It is much less difficult for native Mandarin or Malay or Hakka or Japanese speakers to learn to read and write English. No selfdelusions.

Our teaching “methodology” makes a very difficult situation even worse! At UG, I have received some letters and memos that are shameful. Three lines, 15 mistakes. Some of them teach English to teachers who teach English to our secondary and primary school children. A few of

these lecturers have PhDs. How do we “teach”? We are teacher-centred. The teacher is the boss and the rest must obey. Teaching is not bullying. That does not work anywhere. I have seen “English” lecturers set exams. Horrible stuff. They give orders like this: write an essay. The essay must have a thesis statement. The thesis statement must contain five points. Each of the five points must have a paragraph. Huh? Then this: “I don’t want no analysis of the topic! I want you to agree or disagree!” Huh? Then this: “You must use BIG words!” Ouch!

In places where I was honoured to have taught, I used music and painting to teach English. I took students out and asked them to observe their surrounds. Then write about it all. If that genius V S Naipaul is right when he said, ‘”Writing is about ways of seeing”, then let them see. Why do you see what you see? How do you see it? Why did you not see what you did not see? In this way, students learned to think critically. And they learned something about themselves. Learning becomes fun, and teaching becomes effective. After all of this, we looked at the rules by showing them why the rules made sense. Look at this sentence: “When Mohamed fainted, Ali called an ambulance.” See where the comma is? It is after the word “fainted”. Two people are involved. Now move the comma one word backward for the sentence to read: “When Mohamed Ali fainted....” One person involved. The meaning changes completely with this tiny adjustment. Students will see the sense of this.

When we make the (still fourwalled) classroom an oppressive place, we suffocate learning. It is much more than about poor performance at CXC or CAPE or CPCE or IDCE or UG.

The circumstances surrounding the accident are not immediately known. Police are continuing their investigations.

The dead man was identified as Vejai Narine Ragandan, 55, of Mon Repos, ECD. The driver in the accident is expected to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

PPP/C Linden branch opens

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Region 10 Freedom House branch was on Saturday declared opened by President Donald Ramotar under intense security.

At Five-Corner situated at Mackenzie, Linden, a short distance away from the grand opening ceremony, scores of Lindeners equipped with placards peacefully picketed the president’s and his entourage’s visit to the mining community.

“President how long more the people of Linden have to wait before they receive their television station,”; “You can’t get blood out of stone, Sam”; and “Beware of the PPP creeping in, remember the three that were killed”, were among the citations on the placards.

Dedication

Meanwhile at the opening ceremony, President Ramotar told the gathering that the PPP/C has always been fighting for the people of Guyana, as he pledged his party’s dedication to the nation.

“This region has huge potential for tourism but we need to have the infrastructure in place,” he said.

He said the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project designed to reduce electricity costs across the country, with Region 10 Linden also standing to reap the benefits, was killed by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for

Change (AFC).

“The Amaila Falls Project would have created an enormous amount of jobs in our country and great stimulus for our economy, but they are not interested in that kind of development.”

He added that when the Amaila Falls Project would have been completed, it would have removed the annual subsidy of $2.5 billion given to Region 10 for the payment of electricity. He said the cost of electricity with the operation of the hydro plant, would have been gradually reduced.

Financial resources

It was noted that following the removal of the subsidy, the government would have channelled the financial resources toward other developmental projects across the region.

“We would have saved $9 billion a year on subsidy for electricity for the whole country; with that $9 billion, we would have solved many of the problems on the streets, of the drainage, of the garbage. We could have solved all of that.”

He said too that Linden stands to benefit significantly with the enhancement of the Lethem/Linden Road, with increased traffic from nationals from neighbouring Brazil.

However, he warned the region against the likely impacts of shutting down the town.

“I want to warn those who claim to have the interest of people at heart of some of the damage they are doing… people are reluctant because what happened here in blocking roads and bridges… don’t think that the Brazilians don’t have alternatives.”

Turning his attention to the One Mile Primary School which was reduced to ashes during the 2012 Linden unrest, President Ramotar said the government remains committed to the rebuilding of the school. “We don’t burn schools, we build them, we don’t destroy infrastructures, we put them in place… it might be delayed but it will be built by this government.”

sented a supplementary budget for 2013 in which more than $300 million was used to give additional financial support to the Linden Electricity Company Incorporated (LECI) and Kwakwani Utilities Inc.

“We were caught a bit flat-footed, the opposition, Greenidge started to question very much why we needed this money, couldn’t it be seen that this money would have been needed, that so much electricity would have been used. But I told him if I had raised those questions, they would have shouted discrimination,” he explained.

Mutual agreement

Reflecting on April 2012 when

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds made it clear that the government has not peddled backwards on its promise to the people of Linden. It was explained that the Ramotar administration and the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council in the August 21, 2012 agreement, agreed not to increase electricity tariffs until the work of the technical and economical committees have been completed. “One big overriding agreement is that there would be no change in the cost of electricity until the Technical Committee would have reported...”

Reflecting on the last sitting of the National Assembly, the prime minister said the government pre-

he proposed to increase electricity tariffs in Linden, Hinds said it was a mutual agreement which APNU subsequently rescinded.

“We sat down with the APNU in the 2012 discussion, outside of Parliament and they called for some things in which we agreed to including the increasing... Old Age Pension… but one of the things we also agreed to with them was that we would have start a phase programme over about five years to slowly transform and merge our electricity provision in Linden, all together in a national grid,” he explained.

He added: “They agreed with it but somebody phoned up and told the people in Linden that APNU, Granger, Roopnarine sell out to the government and that put great fear in them.”

Nevertheless, he called on Lindeners to conserve on electricity and adjust to changes. Also in attendance were the Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill, Sport Director Neil Kumar and other top PPP/C officials.

As the event came to a closure and the ribbon was cut, police officers lined the front of the building to prevent any disruption of the proceedings due to the planned protest action by some residents.

However, there were only a few scattered picketers who stood a short distance away to mark their dissatisfaction with the president's visit.

Poor turnout flops Linden shutdown

Poor turnout marred the planned Linden shutdown on Saturday but nevertheless some demonstrators took to the streets to make known over what they describe as the slow implementation of the August 21, 2012 agreement.

The agreement which was signed between government and Region 10, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) came after a month-long protest in Linden, over a proposed government increase in electricity tariffs, which was eventually put on hold.

The demonstration, which was organised by Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon, took place at the Five Corner

area, within proximity of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) office at Industrial Area, which has being commissioned at the time.

The few demonstrators held placards outside the building, expressing their dissatisfaction over the presidential visit for the commissioning of the office.

Many wanted President Donald Ramotar and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who were present at the commissioning, to visit the community for dialogue with the people.

Only a handful of businesses within the Central Mackenzie and Wismar areas were opened as the atmosphere remained calm throughout the rest of the

day.

Most businesses opted to remain close on the Mackenzie Arcade, which forms part of the main area for the central business community.

Solomon had indicated that the planned shutdown was not in defiance of the launch of the governing party’s office, but an opportunity for residents to confront the president.

Claim

“Let me make it quite clear, the shutdown is not is opposition of the PPP/C establishment of an office in Region 10... the region is not against the establishment of the party office. What the region and the people of Region 10 should under-

stand... after 17 months of an agreement being signed ... the community would have demonstrated that it is in need of these elements in the agreement so that it will better the lives of its citizens,” he claimed.

The shutdown was planned for one day at the time the PPP/C was opening its branch in Linden.

Solomon said the government should be prepared to honour the agreement, noting that so far, none of its elements has been honoured to the satisfaction of the people of the region.

Agreement

The regional chairman said that the agreement is a collective one which has not been honoured in its entirety so far.

When asked by this newspaper what aspects of the agreement were not honoured, Solomon contended that all aspects of it goes hand-in-hand and should be honoured in its entirety.

“The people have a right to stand in demonstration and protest to things that they know is their constitutional obligation. We are not acting on self-interest or personal agenda... the holder of the highest office in this country have every right to be confronted by citizens,” he said.

Solomon said that because the people of the region stood up for their rights, the agreement was born. He noted that he thinks the government is unaware that the community is slowly growing frustrated over the issue and as the frustration grows, the government will be held accountable.

The Region 10 chairman also noted that following discussions after the protests in 2012, the region returned to a state of normalcy with the agreement in mind.

Younge’s take Budget consultations

January is soon coming to an end and there appears to be no fruitful or beneficial engagements between the government and the opposition political parties, as far as consulting on the 2014 national budget is concerned.

One would have thought that after two years of stalemate, theatrics and rhetoric at the level of the legislature, that these mature political parties would have recognised the importance of having meaningful dialogue on such a critical document as the budget.

The fact is that this state of affairs is inexcusable and must not be accepted by any right-thinking and progressive citizen of this country. What benefits can be derived from stalling the consultations and launching political innuendos that could undermine the spirit of the consultations and a consensus outcome?

Are our politicians really prepared, yet another year, to use what used to be the auspicious occasion of presenting the budget, to engage in grandstanding and cause political gridlock?

The onus is more on the part of the David Granger-led opposition to make themselves available at every opportunity to meet and make proposals to the government that could result in a better budget. The opposition must understand that after axing billions from the budget, they do not emerge as victors to the average citizens of this country, even if they are under the impression that their actions are rational and welcomed by the majority that they proclaim to represent.

While the opposition must understand that simple fact, the government that has rushed to the courts to safeguard the Constitution, which it says is being breached when cuts are made, must understand the need to publicise every invitation, date and time that it has proposed to meet the opposition on Budget 2014. It must also release as a matter of public record how many times the invitations have been declined or amended on the part of the opposition.

This status quo cannot continue in the 10th Parliament. The House for too long has been made a venue for political charades and citizens are growing impatient. Citizens are concerned about a budget that caters to their needs and deals in great depth with issues that are hurdles to their socio-economic development. There must be talks between the two most important stakeholders that will have the future of this country in their hands when they meet to debate, discuss and considerate the national estimates this year.

As the saying goes, “It’s better late than never”, and maybe there could be overtures on both sides to discuss if not the total budget, potential areas of conflict and disagreement. If these issues and differences are not addressed, then 2014 will be another year when a cloud of uncertainty will hover over the country. Citizens will have nothing but resentment and ridicule for the work of the National Assembly. Sadly, as an entity, it is already being heavily criticised in the corridors of public opinion.

Additionally, the media must position itself to report fairly and independently on all of the proceedings. These entities must not allow themselves to become enmeshed in the controversy that could occur in the Parliament if these consultations do not happen. They must desist from reporting and publicising the scandalous political sound bytes of parliamentarians who become desperate for media time around this period.

Hopefully when the politicians debate Budget 2014, they will have the populace at heart and value compromise above silly controversies.

Citizens on the whole have begun to view the Parliament as a threatre for actors and actresses competing for the media spotlight and fame, and a place where rationality is thrown to the wind. This perception does not need a rocket scientist to change it.

If these discussions do not materialise now to avert a possible parliamentary and national crisis, Budget 2014 should be presented under the theme: “No consultations, no compromise: The new dispensation staying its course”.

Ukrainian president Yanukovych meets opposition in Kiev

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych is meeting opposition leaders in a new effort to end worsening unrest that is spreading across the country.

Several leaders of parliamentary groups were at the talks, the presidency said.

Protesters briefly occupied the energy ministry in Kiev earlier. The interior minister said efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully were “futile”.

Four protesters and a policeman have died in clashes since November when the government rejected closer EU ties. The crisis escalated this week when two activists were killed, and another was found dead with torture marks in a forest near the capital.

A 45-year-old protester is said to have died in a Kiev hospital on Saturday, after sustaining injuries in earlier violence. President Viktor Yanukovych earlier prom-

water which quickly freezes their clothing, reports say

ised to make concessions to try to end the country’s crisis, pledging to amend anti-protest laws and reshuffle the cabinet. But Vitaly Klitschko – one of the opposition leaders invited to the Yanukovych talks – said the protesters now wanted the president to resign.

Earlier, Ukraine’s interior minister said talks with protesters had failed. Vitaliy Zakharchenko – in charge of the police and one of the figures most despised by the protesters – blamed “radical groups” for the unrest, adding that protesters had arms. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Protests turn deadly as Egypt marks anniversary of 2011 revolution

At least eight demonstrators were killed when police moved in to break up rallies across the country on Saturday as Egypt marks the third anniversary of the revolt that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak.

Police fired live rounds into the air along with teargas and bird shot to disperse the thousands of people who had rallied in support of the military authorities and General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the man who led the July 2013 coup against

Mohammed Morsi.

Al-Sisi and Egypt’s military deposed Morsi, the country’s first freely elected president and Mubarak’s successor, following weeks of protest against his Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government.

Security forces also cracked down on rival demonstrations by Islamist supporters of the ousted president and by secular activists critical of both camps.

The public show of support for al-Sisi highlights the desire in Egypt for a decisive

military leader to end the political crisis and economic turmoil that has gripped the country since the 2011 Arab Spring revolution that led to Mubarak’s downfall. Al-Sisi is widely seen as a strongman who can restore order and combat the militancy that has flourished amid the chaos.

The general is soon expected to announce his run for the presidency and will likely win by a landslide, with elections expected within the next six months.

(Excerpt from France24)

Syrian civil war foes meet for first time, focus on aid

Syria’s civil war foes held their first faceto-face meeting on Saturday at the start of talks to end nearly three years of conflict which has killed 130,000 people and destabilised the wider Middle East. After a day of delay and fierce recrimination, government and opposition delegates faced each other across a negotiating table at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva in the presence of international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi.

The two parties entered and left the room through separate doors, sitting in silence for half an hour while Brahimi set out his plans –an immediate focus on humanitarian aid which diplomats have described as a confidence-building measure, followed by political talks to resolve the conflict.

“He told us this is a political conference... based on

Peru closes forced sterilisation probe and clears ex-President Alberto Fujimori

Peru has cleared the government of exPresident Alberto Fujimori of carrying out a campaign of forced sterilisations in the 1990s. Prosecutors say they found no evidence to support claims that hundreds of mostly poor and indigenous women and men were sterilised against their will.

The Fujimori government has always maintained all operations were consensual. But human rights groups have reacted angrily, saying they will appeal. An independent congressional commission established in 2002 that the government of Alberto Fujimori had sterilised 346,219 women and 24,535 men during his terms in office between 1990 and 2000.

It was part of a voluntary programme to reduce the country’s birth rate and, it was argued, help parents lift their families out of poverty. The campaign

Hundreds of mostly poor and indigenous women and men allege they were sterilised against their will

Geneva 1,” opposition delegate Anas al-Abdah said, referring to a June 2012 declaration calling for the establishment in Syria of a transitional governing body by mutual agreement.

President Bashar al-Assad’s government delegation said it broadly accepted Geneva 1, but reiterated its longstanding opposition to idea

of a transitional body, saying it was inappropriate and unnecessary.

“We have complete reservations regarding it,”

Information Minister Omran Zoabi said, comparing the proposal to the transitional government set up in Iraq by U.S. occupation forces after they toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Former Cayman Islands governor, Stuart Jack, has denied allegations that he, along with two other senior officials, committed misconduct in public office, attempted to pervert the course of justice and lied to police.

Jack’s denial comes on the heels of a new criminal complaint filed with the Cayman Islands police by Martin Bridger, a former senior detective with London’s Metropolitan Police, who led a high-level corruption investigation in the Cayman Islands between 2007 and

had the backing of international donors including the United Nations Population Fund, Japan and the United States, as well as anti-abortion and feminist organisations alike. But hundreds of people, some of them illiterate, said they were forced to undergo operations and not told they could have refused.

After interviewing many of the alleged victims, Public prosecutor Marco Guzman, however, concluded that no crimes had been committed, and decided to close the case. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Former Cayman governor denies allegations of criminal misconduct

2009. This follows a similar complaint made by Bridger last year to the Metropolitan Police against the territory’s current attorney general Samuel Bulgin, former governor Jack and the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) adviser Larry Covington. Following a review of Bridger’s initial complaint, Commander Allan Gibson of London’s Scotland Yard said that the allegations against Bulgin, Jack and Covington amounted to possible “misconduct in public office, attempting to per-

vert the course of justice and possibly wasting police time.” Gibson wrote to then Cayman Islands governor, Duncan Taylor, “It is my view the allegations are serious and contain sufficient detail to warrant a criminal investigation.”

Taylor subsequently ducked the issue by referring the matter to the Cayman Islands police, who apparently did little or nothing in that regard, no doubt prompting Bridger’s most recent complaint made directly to the local police. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Bahamian telecoms company returns to state

Prime Minister Perry Christie has described as “historic” an agreement under which the majority economic interest in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC) has been returned to the state. Christie said the agreement with the British telecommunications giant, Cable and Wireless (CWC) would not cost the country “one single cent.

“On the contrary, the government has been able to amicably secure the return of the majority economic interest in BTC without having to pay anything for it, and I should add, without having to make any deals to get it done either. “In particular, there will be no extension of BTC’s monopoly and no postponement of the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector,” Christie said, reiterating “we have not paid,

Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie

and will not have to pay, for the re-acquired shares in any form or fashion.

“So, in financial terms, this is a win-win for the government and people of the Bahamas.” Prime Minister Christie recalled that up until 2011, BTC was 100 per cent owned by the Bahamian people. But he said in 2011, the then gov-

ernment sold a 51 per cent majority interest in BTC to CWC and that following many months of discussion “we have arrived at an agreement which will, as I have said, return the majority economic interest in BTC to the Bahamian people and on terms that will not cost the Bahamian taxpayer anything. (Excerpt from Nation News)

Core homes at Parfaite Harmonie formally handed over

The government in keeping with its propoor agenda, designed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, on Saturday handed over several core homes in Westminster Phase One, La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Development, West Bank Demerara.

During the ceremoni-

al cutting of the ribbon, President Donald Ramotar said the Housing Ministry initiative will be expanded this year.

“We will be expanding this year on this initiative as it is one of the most important social facilities that we are doing because it gives a sense of security to the family and the chil-

dren to do their studies. It helps that there is no landlord calling for rent. They can plan their lives better. We want to expand on this initiative in all the regions

opportunity to restructure their lifestyle,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali explained that the core house pilot seeks to address occupancy and issues of affordability, through the construction of 400 cores homes across the country.

“This is what the government wants to encourage, beneficiaries of core homes to maximise their savings as a result of this investment on your behalf, which in time will enable you to expand the home.”

Investment

He said too that the government has invested more than $800,000 per household in the development of lots in the Parfaite Harmonie Housing Development area.

Ali emphasised too that

tion of their homes. Some 423 persons will be housed in the 103 homes.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Sheldon Murray

of the country and in the interior.”

While interacting with the beneficiaries, the president expounded on the benefits of these and other programmes, noting that they all aim to enable families to enjoy a better standard of living and have more disposable income at their disposal.

“The core homes offer households an excellent

the expansion of the housing programme is in keeping with the vision of the president as outlined in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 2011 manifesto.

The 103 core homes were completed at an average cost of $2,912,621 each, with individual beneficiaries contributing $100,000 for the construc-

and his family took the time to thank the government and the Housing Ministry for the opportunity to own their own home and to improve their standard of living.

“This is a great day for me and my family. We were able to own our home and eventually expand and make it a better living space. We want to thank the government for this

chance and hope that this programme can continue,” Murray said. His family consists of his wife and six children.

The Second Low Income Settlement Programme, which is funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and which is currently being implemented by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), has as one of its components the implementation of pilot projects to address issues of affordability and sustainability in housing.

Through this pilot programme, the government provides an alternative to affordable housing for low income earners. The core unit, designed by the CHPA, is a modest 330 square foot timber and concrete structure with no internal partition walls, except for the enclosed sanitary block comprising a toilet and shower.

The unit, is elevated three feet from ground level and lends itself to easy expansion as the occupant is able to afford. It is outfitted with a basic kitchen sink and electrical wiring and plumbing.

West Coast Berbice man severely chopped by relatives

AWest Coast Berbice man is now a patient in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after he was brutally chopped about the body by relatives of his reputed wife.

The incident reportedly occurred less than two weeks ago.

Oudit Persaud Thom, 34, of Number Four Village, West Coast Berbice was attacked two Thursdays ago when he visited the mother of his children at her home after he suspected she was cheating on him.

While in Georgetown, the man reportedly received a telephone call from his relatives, informing him that the woman was locked in her room with one of his friends.

He is said to have contacted the woman only to

be told that his friend was making a pass at her and they only “kissed”.

In a rage, Thom decided to travel up to Berbice to address the issue. His intention was to inform the woman’s father about her behaviour, but instead, he was attacked by his mother-in-law’s boyfriend with a cutlass.

He was chopped to his

Broomes laments hurdles in mining sector

Ahead, hands, face and his throat slit.

Lanna Thom, an aunt of the injured man, told Guyana Times that her nephew was invited up to the ancient county by the woman with whom he shared a relationship for the past eight years. They started to live together since she was 15 years-old.

“My nephew told me that upon arriving at the house, he was lured into the verandah where he was confronted by a male individual, who wielded a cutlass at him.”

Thom reportedly told his aunt that everyone in the house had dealt him chops. He alleged that his mother-in-law chopped him on his neck, a male chopped him on the head, and the other lacerations were reportedly inflicted by his sisters-in-law.

The ordeal was witnessed by his two younger cousins. The woman related that every month when her nephew receives his salary, the young lady would travel to the city and they sometimes spend the night together at her home.

The injured man is currently under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital, as his reputed wife’s relatives claimed that he had broken into their home with the intentions of harming them.

The police said they are waiting for the man to recover before any statements are taken.

Professional Guard Services awards 19 employees

The 19 Professional Guard

employees who were awarded on Saturday with Chief Executive Officer Dougal Kirkpatrick

The Professional Guard Services on Saturday awarded 19 employees at its fourth quarterly presentation and annual award ceremony for 2013 held recently.

The employees were presented with the awards by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dougal Kirkpatrick. Among those awarded were two baton ranks, nine armed ranks and eight special awardees.

Lieutenants Sylvina

Cornelius and Tulsidai Sukhdeo were given $10,000 and $20,000 respectively. Cornelius’ award was quarterly and Sukhdeo’s yearly.

Armed Sergeant Derick Layne, Lieutenant Harold Beresford, B&FSC Clifton Porter and shift commander and driver Sherwin Richards, all received quarterly awards of $10,000.

While armed Sergeant Evelyn Edwards, Lieutenant Clyde Jordan,

B&FSC Oswald Lashley and radio operator Glynis Fraser were all given yearly awards of $20,000 each.

The special awardees were Armed Sergeant Michael Miguel, Deputy B&FSC Alvin Edmonds, Lieutenant Lionel Leitch, Armed Sergeant Stephen Gariba, Baton Sergeant Harrett Welch, Lieutenant Harold Beresford and armed sergeants Debbie Lewis and Odetta Archer. They all received awards of $5000 each.

mid a hive of praises for the outstanding work done by the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) for shedding light on human trafficking, the agency’s President Semona Broomes in delivering an emotional speech during the organisation’s second anniversary, said there are hurdles within the mining sector and human trafficking is just one.

In launching GWMO’s 2013 report under the theme “Lifting the veil of modern day slavery”, Broomes said while the U.S. embassy and British High Commission continue to offer their support, greater support is needed from the Human Services Ministry, the Guyana Police Force, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and other local organs to combat human trafficking.

Rescued

In 2013, GWMO rescued 29 women and girls from the “sex slave trade” within mining communities, including one Trinidadian. Of those rescued, the statistical report shows that 16 of the victims were below the age of 15.

In the presence of the U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt, British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre and United

Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud and GWMO members, Broomes said that greater provision with regard to housing is required for rescued trafficked victims.

Difficulties

She said in 2013, the organisation encountered difficulties in establishing suitable homes for the victims. Additionally, she condemned the actions of some ranks at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Police Headquarters, who treated trafficking in person victims in a hostile manner as though they were criminals. Broomes made it clear that this type of treatment will not be condoned. Besides rescuing victims of human trafficking, the GWMO has been very active in promoting women's right to work in the mining sector. However, Broomes complained bitterly that women miners often experienced hardship within the interior as she alluded to poor health services.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Be careful not to allow others to spend your money. Use your intellect to dazzle anyone of interest. A romantic opportunity will develop.

(Feb.20March 20)

Now is not the time to have a personal confrontation. If you have flaked on your responsibilities, you will meet with opposition. Focus on your own problems – not someone else’s.

(March 21-April 19)

Travel will result in a better understanding of yourself and others. Your ability to see the optics of a situation will give you leverage when discussing your plans.

(April 20May 20)

This is a perfect day to open your home to friends and family. You may be asked to help a family member. Talking to all parties involved in this person’s issues will lead to a solution. Dealing with a medical facility could be required.

(May 21June 20)

You can make or break a relationship based on how you handle yourself today. Think about the larger picture, and be honest and direct at all times.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22)

Overly indulgent choices will be a problem for you today. Discipline is required to put a stop to the formation of unhealthy habits. Adjust your diet and exercise regimens to improve your future.

(July 23Aug. 22)

Now is not the time to allow yourself to lie idle. Accept an invitation to get out and do something unusual, and you will discover some new possibilities.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t make changes that make you feel uneasy. Confusion will lead to making regrettable choices today. Get your personal space organised to better meet your needs. Not everything you hear is likely to be accurate.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You have a special ability to strike a balance, and today that trait will help you mediate for someone who is not clearheaded. Your selfless contribution will be rewarded in an unexpected fashion.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Involvement in a risky venture will not be to your benefit. Consider how to adjust your plans in order to meet your goals. Don’t allow others to mislead you in any way.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You are likely to overreact if you don’t make plans to keep yourself on the move. Pushiness will lead to problems with your partner or other family members.

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Brooms laments hurdles...

According to her, “women are still vulnerable; pressure, pregnancy, malaria, HIV and we are tired of going to empty little health post and in some case none at all”.

On this point, an emotionally riled up Broomes rates the health service at negative zero. But despite bashing the Health Ministry, she expressed gratitude for the long-lasting insecticide treated nets that were given to the organisation by the ministry.

Turning her attention to the issue of security, Broomes contended that it was a “frightening” situation. “We invest even more in the mining sector, and yet we are so vulnerable. We have in some cases, where you have miners of themselves coming and build outposts and they are empty; lack of manpower to fill these positions,” she explained.

Act now

mine in an environmentallyfriendly manner.

the international community and the government.

The U.S. ambassador, who has also established close ties with GWMO, said amid a series of challenges, the organisation continues to work to rescue underage girls, boys and women who are victims of human trafficking in mining communities.

It is time the Home Affairs Ministry ensures that the Guyana Police Force fulfil its mandate within the mining sector, Broomes said, noting that the time to act is now. It was reported that criminal elements often jump from mining community to mining community after executing their unjustly deeds, while the police fails to take action.

In condemning human trafficking, both the British high commissioner and the UN resident coordinator applauded the GWMO for the leading role taken to combat modern day slavery. Ambassador Ayre, in praising the GWMO, said its officers often work at their risk to rescue trafficking in persons victims.

He urged the force and the criminal justice system to ensure that justice is served. Meanwhile, Musa emphasised the importance of education within the mining sector as she called on miners to

Last year, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recognised Broomes as one of the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Heroes.

Ambassador Hardt said all Guyanese should buy into the initiative and raise social consciousness. He too called for traffickers to be charged and placed before the court.

Good work

Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud also congratulated the hardworking members of the organisation. “For many years, we have stereotype women in mining… and what the women miners’ organisation has been able to do is remove that stigma and bring out commitment and hard work and to show the true characteristic of Guyanese women.”

Additionally, the organisation has placed in the spotlight the issue of trafficking in persons with assistance from

“It has been an issue that the government has decided we will confront and deal with openly and put all the agencies, in particular the law enforcement agencies, to address and bring under control and prosecute,” Persaud said.

Support

He promised that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry through Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and other arms will continue to support the work of the organisation.

Persaud said it was with the assistance of women in the sector, Guyana recorded the largest amount of gold accumulated. On December 16, 2013, Guyana recorded the highest gold declaration of 458,105 ounces.

But with development comes challenges, and Persaud called on the GWMO to join the ministry in confronting the challenges faced in the sector. He said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will continue to tackle the issue of illegal shops, illegal mining activities and criminal activities.

Lucrative KMTC horse race meet on today

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Over $7 million in cash and trophies will be at stake when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) stages the rescheduled Boxing Day horse race meet today at the club’s track, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice. The A and Lower class will be the marque event of the day with the winner pocketing $1 million. Competitors will go head-tohead over a distance of one mile.

With entries confirmed with 66 of the country’s top horses, the organisers have put together an impressive seven-race programme for the meet.

Big names

All the big names are set

to be on show for what is expected to be a competitive day of racing.

Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, told Guyana Times Sport on Saturday confirmed that all systems are in place for the race meet.

“We have put all systems in place and, apart from that, the weather has been excellent for the past days, resulting in the track being in tip top shape,” he said.

He further indicated that all the big names are set to be on show, adding that a competitive day of racing is definitely in the making.

Other events billed for the day are the G3 and Lower for a $300,000 winner’s purse over six fur-

longs. The H and Lower and the Three-year-old race for

Guyana bred horses will run over seven and six furlongs respectively. Both races carry a winning tag of $250,000. Rounding out the roster is the J3 and Lower and J1 and Lower over six furlongs. The winners will be collecting $150,000 and $200,000 respectively. The race is being conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and those rules would be rigidly enforced. Those horses not properly registered will not be allowed to participate in the day’s proceedings.

Admission to the venue is $1000 for adults and $500 for children. Race time is 12:30 hours.

RHTY&SC on massive membership drive

Touted as Guyana’s leading youth and sport club, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) has opened its membership to junior and female cricketers for the year 2014.

The Cricket Development Committee headed by Office Manager Moonish Singh and cricket coach Winston Smith is inviting youths to join the club’s Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams, while females can apply to join the Metro female team.

The cut off date of birth for the Under-15 team is September 1, 1999; Under-17 September 1, 1997; and Under-19 September 1, 1995. Females between the age of 12 and 30 are also encouraged to sign up.

According to a press release from the club, “The RHTY&SC requires all its members to be discipline, have a strong faith in the god they serve, must be prepared to work hard, be drug free and be committed to obtaining an educational background.”

Members of the RHTY&SC cricket teams would have access to club gear and would be trained

by a qualified coach. They would also be provided with educational materials and be part of the club’s multimillion incentive scheme for its members at the annual award ceremony.

They would also be in a position to obtain personal cricket gear under the Basil Butcher and Western Union Cricket Ambassadors Programmes.

The press release added, “It must be noted that all cricketers of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club must be part of a self development programme where over 80 projects are undertaken every year to make positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.”

Meanwhile, Secretary/ CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster, has disclosed that the club would shortly be unveiling its largest ever incentive scheme for its cricketers.

Since 1991, the RHTY&SC has organised an annual awards ceremony and in 2013 handed over $2.5 million worth of trophies, medals and prizes to 40 members.

The 2014 award sheme would include a Cricketerof-the-Year award of over $500,000 worth of cash and prizes, while special awards would also be shared out to the runner-up Cricketerof-the-Year, Female Cricketer-of-the-Year, Youth Cricketer-of-theYear, Bowler-of-the-Year, Batsman-of-the-Year and Most Disciplined Player-ofthe-Year. A press conference would be hosted shortly where the full incentive package would be unveiled along with the sponsors.

The main aim of the expanded incentive package is to inspire all the cricketers to fulfill their potential, while at the same time propel the club to greater success.

GBTI onboard with RHTY&SC’s U-15 and female cricket

While most cricket administrators continue to pay lip service to the development of cricket in Guyana, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) continues to unveil new programmes to further develop the game.

The club on Thursday launched two new cricket tournaments for secondary schools in the Lower and Central Corentyne area. An Under-15 tournament for players born on or after September 1, 1999 and a female tournament would be held with sponsorship from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

Development

Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster, at the launching ceremony at the bank’s Port Mourant branch stated that the RHTY&SC was dedicated to the development of Berbice cricket at all levels and the two tournaments’ main objective was to identify new cricket talents for the Ancient County.

The schools to be involved are Lower Corentyne Secondary, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School, Port Mourant Secondary, Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary, Manchester High School, Winifred Gaskin Secondary and Central Corentyne Secondary School.

The male Under-15 tournament would be 30 overs per side on a knockout format, while the females would be a

tapeball 12 overs per side tournament.

The tournament will start on January 30 with a march pass of the seven teams. The female teams of Corentyne Comprehensive and J C Chandisingh Secondary Schools would bowl the tournaments off at 10:00 hours, while their male counterparts would clash at 12:30 hours.

Lower Corentyne Secondary’s two teams would clash with their Port Mourant counterparts on Friday at 10:00 hours and 12.30 hours respectively, while on the same day Central Corentyne Secondary and Manchester High School would clash at the Kennard’s Memorial Cricket ground.

Winifred Gaskin Secondary School has drawn the bye for the first round. The

semi-finals are scheduled for the February 6-7 at the Area “H” ground, while the finals would be played on February 13 at the same venue. The march pass of the teams would involve each of the teams carrying placards promoting the “Say Yes to Education and No to Drugs and Suicide Messages.”

Educational package

Ten less fortunate students from each of the schools would receive educational package during the finals of the tournament, while the top two teams would receive trophies and medals. Foster stated that the RHTY&SC was confident that the tournaments would achieve their objectives and would lift the game to a higher level in the Corentyne area. He expressed gratitude to

BBCI donates coaching kits to Berbice Cricket Board

the management and staff of GBTI for their sponsorship of the two tournaments at the cost of $100,000 at such short notice and pledged that they would be well organised and successful.

Branch Manager, Ghoeblall Mahadeo, in handing over the sponsorship stated that GBTI was pleased to be associated with the RHTY&SC, an organisation with an unmatched list of activities and achievements.

He expressed confidence that the tournaments would be well organised and that new and exciting talents would emerged. GBTI is fully conscious of its corporate responsibility and would continue to invest in sports and education, Mahadeo stated while wishing the schools success in the tournament.

The massive coaching programme that would be undertaken by the Special Events Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board in 2014 received a major boost on Friday when the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) donated $100,000 worth of coaching kits.

Officials of the company late last year was approached by Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports club and Special Events Committee Chairman Hilbert Foster and they readily agreed to assist.

Foster stated that the coaching kits would be shared

out to 14 clubs across Berbice and would be used to coach young cricketers between the ages eight and 12. This, he stated, would assist to identify promising talents for the future and thus continue the rich tradition of Berbice producing outstanding players. He expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the BBCI for their assistance and investment in Berbice cricket.

Administrative Assistant of the company, Bibi Alli, in handing over the kits stated that the BBCI was pleased to be associated with the Berbice Cricket Board and pledged continued cooperation in the future.

Ricks

and

Sari Agro

Industries’ 21st 11-race programme… Williams out-hustles

field in feature event

By Rajiv Bisnauth

indener

LWilliams opened the 2014 season in fine style when he pedalled to victory in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational event at the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday.

The event formed part of the 21st annual Ricks and Sari Agro Industries 11-race programme organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed.

The Roraima Bikers Club’s rider clocked one hour, 17 minutes, 09 seconds (01h: 17m: 09s), crossing the finish line unchallenged. For his efforts, he later collected a trophy, a hamper consisting of products of Ricks and Sari Agro Industries, as well as one prime prize.

Orville Hinds (one prime), Michael Anthony (one prime), Raynauth Jeffery (three primes), Robin Persaud and Junior Niles rounded off the top six finishers in that order.

Andre Abdool and Walter Grant-Stuart won the final two primes on offer. In the other races, Rawle Small won the BMX Boys 12-14 years race ahead of Deeraj Garbaran and Taleel Jackson respectively.

Sherwin Sampson won the Boys 9-12 years, threelap race ahead of Taran Garbaran in second and Alexander Leung third.

Before the feature event, the experienced Niles rode off with the Veterans Under-50 first place trophy, while Linden Blackman won the five-lap Veterans Over-50 race.

Maurice Fagundes won the Veterans Over-60 years race ahead of Anthony Fariah. Fagundes and Fariah were the only two riders in that category.

Rawle Small took top honours in the threelap BMX Boys Open race ahead of Deeraj Garbaran

and Ammo Gomes.

In the 12-14 Boys and Girls, three-lap race, Romolo Crawford and Raphael Leung were the top two finishers in that order. The lone prime prize also went to Crawford.

Michael Anthony won the Juniors and Juveniles 10-lap race ahead of Akeem Arthur and Stephano Husband.

The race for Upright cyclists was won by Clyde Jacobs, while the two-lap BMX Boys 6-9 race was

won by Sherwin Sampson. Mohamed, speaking at the presentation ceremony, said riders can look forward to a busy year, as a number of events are planned for 2014. Mohamed also announced that the National Sports Commission will sponsor an 11-race programme next Saturday, as well as a 40-mile road race the following day from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Bushy Park, Parika, and back.

BCB pays tribute to retired cricketers

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will host the fourth annual Tribute to Retired Cricketers Programme at the head office of the St. Francis Community Developers from 13:00 hours today. Those to be honoured include George Paddy, Desmond Frazer, Jude Ramkisson, Jaikarran Balchand and Mahadeo Latchman. The programme is being sponsored by the NEW GPC INC.

The BCB and the Rose

Town Youth and Sports Club will also be making numerous donations to several cricket clubs in the

Cross country race in New Amsterdam today

Thomas

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will kick off its 2014 season with a six-mile cross country race around the perimeters of the town of New Amsterdam today. The event is being held in Berbice in an effort to spread athletics as far and wide in Guyana as possible.

The event will move off from the Esplanade Park at 15:00 hours and will take athletes into Garrison Road between The New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and the New Amsterdam Hospital, through to the back of Tucber Park into High Dam Smithfield then turn right on Vryheid public road.

Athletes will then have to

turn left onto Republic Road if they want to continue on course and make their way to Marks Bridge where they will proceed onto Strand and race their way back to the starting point to complete the five-mile distance.

Officials from the AAG were up to late Friday afternoon in New Amsterdam finalising logistics and making other arrangements for the event.

The New Amsterdam United Conquerors Athletics Club is the local organisers in Berbice. On Saturday morning final arrangements were being made and the course was being marked. The race will be contested in four categories- junior males, junior females, senior males and senior females.

The juniors will however, not run the full course, they will not make the left turn into Republic Road and will proceed straight, jumping from Vryheid Public Road into Philadelphia Street and run the next 400 meters to get to Strand where they will make a right turn and run along Strand until they return to the starting point.

Cleveland Thomas is the defending champion. The Cross Country race is usually the qualifying race for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Cross Country race that is usually held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Fierce encounter expected in final leg of SPR three-way domino

Afierce encounter is anticipated today when the final leg of the SPR Enterprise sponsored three-way aggregate domino tournament climaxes at Zeelugt.

At the end of the second round, played at Ernest Shop, Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, last Wednesday, International Six were leading with 150 games with Canal Six trailing on 145 and Zeelugt 143.

The lead represented a significant comeback by International Six after they trailed Canal Six by nine games following the end of the first leg, played last Friday at the Everest Cricket Club pavilion.

and Ron Callender (13) were the top markers. Skipper Boodnarine Persaud and Balram Sammy topped for Zeelugt with 13 games each. The lone lovebird was Navin Samaroo of International Six. In the second leg, International Six bounced back to score 76 games with Zeelugt just behind on 76 and Canal lagging on a mere 62 games. Intikab “Corbie” Ali led the way for the winners with the maximum 18 games, while Callender supported with 13.

be at the St. Francis Club office for 13:00 hoursBush Lot, Blairmont, West Berbice, Police, Bermine, Edinburg, Rose Hall Canje, Young Warriors, Chesney, Albion, Port

and Upper Corentyne.

Led by the maximum 18 games from Ramroop Sukhai in the first leg, Canal Six romped to a commanding 83 games with International Six on 74 and Zeelugt 69. Sukhai received admirable support from Chibar Seopaul with 14 games and Scotty Ramroop who made 29 out of a possible 36, playing through.

For International Six, Edmund Sammy (15 games), Hilbert “Bumpy” Ali (14)

Zeelugt’s top markers were Daniel Juman with 16 games and Robin Persaud 13. P. Ramdial and Scotty Ramroop made 15 and 14 games respectively for Canal. Four players went down lover’s lane- skipper Manniram Shew and Hilbert Ali of International Six and Canal’s Ramroop Sukhai and Kedar Seopaul.

The teams are competing for a winner’s and runner-up trophy, three trophies for the top three players in the winning team, the best two players in the second team and the best in the third placed team.

National XI win final warm-up game

– coach Crandon satisfied with overall preparations

By Rajiv Bisnauth

The National XI were five runs ahead when rain brought a premature end to the final day/ night warm-up game against the Rest combination at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday evening.

Chasing 195 for victory, the National X1 reached 1545 from 42.1 overs before the rain intervened, winning by the Duckworth/Lewis method after needing to be at 149 in 42.1 overs.

The game formed part of preparations for the national cricketers ahead of participation in the NAGICO Super50 tournament, set for January 30 to February 15 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The National XI went about the chase with a matchwinning 74-run unbroken partnership from West Indies middle-order batsman Narsingh Deonarine and Royston Crandon.

The pair batted with perfection after the National XI slumped to 80-5. Deonarine struck a composed 56 off 87 balls with four boundaries.

He was supported by Trevon Griffith (28), Crandon (22) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (16), who kept the National X1 in the hunt.

Impressive

Fast bowler Raun Johnson was impressive in picking up 3-30 from his 10 overs, while Keon Joseph (126) and Zaheer Mohamed (1-17) were also among the wickets.

For the Rest combination, openers’ skipper Sewnarine Chattergoon and Assad Fudadin provided a solid start, adding 117 for the first wicket.

Chattergoon returned to form with a fluent 74, while fellow left-hander Fudadin made 46. However, after both openers departed in quick succession, the scoring rate reduced significantly together with the fall of wickets on a regular basis. The

Rest combination eventually reached 194-8 from their 50 overs.

Rajendra Chandrika (29) and Vishal Singh (26) were the other two batsmen with any significant scores.

Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton grabbed 3-30 and skipper Christopher Barnwell chipped in with 2-29.

Satisfied

Meanwhile, coach Esaun Crandon said he is delighted with his team’s preparations for the upcoming tournament.

“We hit the ground running from day one of our encampment. Our preparations have been spot on,”

“We focussed immensely on our strength and conditioning as well as the different aspects of the game, so overall I am satisfied with the preparations,” Crandon said.

Given all the positives over the last few weeks, Crandon remains confident about the team’s chances in the tournament.

“We have a good batting unit, as well as some excellent bowlers and once we play as a unit and play the type of cricket we normally play and work to our game plan there is doubt that we can’t come out successful. The team is ready and excit-

Li na wins australian...

The pair had shared 30 unforced errors in that time, and it was a question of who could string together something approaching their normal game to take charge.

Cibulkova opened the door once again at 5-5 with a double fault but Li could not serve it out, struggling with her ball toss as a set point slipped by.

It was the Chinese player’s aggressive start to the tie-break that eventually got her over the line, her backhand doing much of the damage as she moved into a 5-1 lead and sealed the set after a largely unconvincing 70 minutes.

With the tension lifted and now swinging more

freely, Li found her range at the start of the second and swept a winner into the corner on her way to an immediate break.

The forehand that had offered up 16 unforced errors in the first set produced just three in the second, and a barrage from that side took her to 5-0 within 20 minutes.

“Come on, Li, bagel her!” cried one voice from the crowd, keen for a love set, and she delivered. A rasping backhand winner helped her to two match points and, when Cibulkova fired over the baseline on the second, Li raised her arms in delight at finally prevailing in a Melbourne final at the third attempt.

ed,” Crandon concluded.

The national squad, which has been encamped for almost a month, has officially broken camp. The squad along with the team management departs Tuesday for next week’s commencement of the 2014 NAGICO Super 50 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

The tournament will feature hosts Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands, the Combined Campuses and Colleges and ICC affiliate side Ireland.

Guyana will open its quest for honours against Ireland in a Zone A match on January 31.

The other two teams in Zone A are Jamaica and defending champions the Windward Islands. The Guyanese will then play Jamaica on February 4, before taking on the defending

champions on February 8.

Guyana’s 14-man squad reads: Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Shivnarine

Deonarine,

Royston Crandon, Assad

Ricks and Sari Agro Industries’ 21st 11-race programme…

Williams out-hustles field in feature event

National XI win final warmup game

The National XI were five runs ahead when rain brought a premature end to the final day/ night warm-up game against the Rest combination at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday evening.

Chasing 195 for victory, the National X1 reached 154-5 from 42.1 overs before the rain intervened, winning by the Duckworth/ Lewis method after needing to be at 149 in 42.1 overs.

Li Na wins Australian Open final

China’s Li Na won her second Grand Slam title with victory over Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova at the Australian Open.

Li, seeded fourth, came through an edgy first set from both women to dominate the second and win 7-6 (7-3) 6-0.

It was the 31-year-old’s third Australian Open final and brings her a second major title after the 2011 French Open.

Already a popular figure at Melbourne Park thanks to her previous success - and entertaining on-court interviews - Li was urged on by a large contingent of Chinese supporters on Rod Laver Arena.

“Finally I got her [the Australian Open trophy],” said Li. “The last two finals were very close.

“Now I have to thank my team. Thanks to my agent for making me rich, thanks a lot.”

And speaking to her husband, who was courtside: “Thanks a lot, you are a nice guy. Also you are so lucky.”

Cibulkova said: “It was my first Grand Slam final and I’m just proud with the way I handled it.

“I wanted to play my best tennis but it wasn’t easy against her because she was playing extremely well, so I’m quite happy.”

Seven years older, with a 4-0 head-to-head record and facing a player making her Grand Slam final debut, Li had been a strong favourite against 20th seed Cibulkova.

In the event, it was a difficult call as to who was the more nervous in the early stages of the match.

Cibulkova double-faulted twice to give up her serve in the opening game, but Li handed it back in similar fashion at 3-2 after a dreadful start that saw her make just two first serves in the first six games.