Dear Readers, From
Abrams Zuil Secondary a shining light of progress – Rohee
Sharma “doesn’t mind” rejoining APNU for next elections
Webster was a patriot – CIOG
Former employee held for Mabura businessman’s murder
Unengaged youths can explode anytime – Leo Club President
tuesday, april 29, 2014| guyanatimesgy.com
he Abrams Zuil
TSecondary School on the Essequibo Coast was highly praised by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for its outstanding performance during the recently concluded 2014 National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair. The secondary school emerged the winner in both the Oral Presentation and Best Project categories after it captivated the judges’ attention with its project “Husk particle board factory,” in the Industrial Category.
Speaking at the PPP/C weekly press conference, the General Secretary Clement Rohee applauded the Education Ministry for the successful staging of the event held at the Anna Regina Secondary School on Friday under the theme “Science, Mathematics and
Technology: Providing solutions for the 21st century”. However, the party was keen on singling out the Abrams Zuil Secondary School, saying the school continues to shine in the academic arena.
“This is the most laudable performance given the fact that the school until recently was not considered as one of the high achievers both by national and regional standards. The fact that the school was successful in producing the overall best CXC student in Guyana and the Caribbean and has now excel at the 2014 Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair, speaks to the enormous strides the school has made,” Rohee said while addressing the press at Freedom House on Monday.
Deserving commendation
He said the school’s administration, students and parents ought to be proud of themselves and be given full credit. Other winners in the secondary level were Queen’s College and
Primary Category. Turning to the overall performance of Region Two, Rohee said the PPP/C is particularly happy with its growing success in the field of education. The region, he added must continue to strive for excellence in quality education delivery.
“The fact that the Anna Regina Multilateral School venue of the competition has produced top CXC students in the Caribbean is indicative of the strides made in education delivery in the region and the country as a whole,” he said.
He said too that the Education Ministry ought to be applauded in this regard, explaining that the trend of only having top students from the central locations is a thing of the past.
Dividends
“The interventions made by the Education Ministry over the years are yielding dividends, gone are the days when only a few city schools shone at national and regional examinations.
that the future of Guyana is linked to the advances made in the areas of Science and Technology.
“Our capacity to apply the latest advances in science and technology would determine the pace of our growth and development,” he added.
According to Rohee, the implementation of the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Programme brought about by former President
the Mackenzie High School. The Taymonth Manor Primary School also of Region Two also received the PPP/C’s recognition. The school copped the first place for Best Oral Presentation in the
Today, there is a much better spread of student performance throughout the country, including coastal and regional schools,” the PPP/C General Secretary further explained.
PPP/C strongly believes
Bharrat Jagdeo is a clear indication of the PPP/C Government's desire to bring the people of Guyana on par with the rest of the world in the areas of Science, Mathematics and particularly Information Technology.
Caribbean Community (Caricom) Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan, will lead a Caricom Secretariat delegation on Tuesday to talks with a team from Germany headed by Stefan Schlueter, Ambassador of Germany to Caricom.
The visiting side will include representatives from the German Economic Cooperation Ministry, the Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the German Development Bank, the Caricom Secretariat said in a release.
The discussion will
be held at the Caricom Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, and will review ongoing cooperation between Caricom and Germany, and look to longer term areas of collaboration in keeping with the priorities of the community. The meeting will explore cooperation on climate change, the environment and sustainable energy.
The Government of Germany, through the GIZ has supported regional initiatives in the energy sector for the past 10 years. The most recent intervention is the GIZ/REETA (Renewable Energy and
Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance) Project which aims to fulfil the needs of the Caricom Secretariat to further develop coordinated renewable and energy efficient policies.
REETA will support Caricom in implementing the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) which Caricom Energy Ministers approved in 2013.
In the area of health, Germany has been an important partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/ AIDS (PANCAP).
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, April 29 from 05:00h-06:30h
The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, April 29 from 16:50h-18:20h
COUNTRYWIDE: Thunder showers can be expected during the day with clear skies and partly cloudy conditions in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East north-easterly between 3.12 and 3.57 metres per second.
High Tide: 16:44h reaching a maximum height of 2.70 metres.
Low Tide: 10:18h and 22:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.40 and 0.54 metre respectively.
april 29,
Towards the fulfilment of its mandate to provide the best health care for the citizens of Guyana, the procurement process for pharmaceuticals and medicines by the Government of Guyana through the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) and the Health Ministry is being revisited for the third time in the past decade.
In Guyana, medicines and medical supplies are procured through two mechanisms: open bidding and via bidding by prequalified suppliers. The latter was recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank for comprehensive country purchases so as to address the complexities and scale of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The last change in procurement was at the end of 2010, when, following the recommendation of the Auditor General, medicines and certain medical supplies began to be procured through a system of competitive bidding to produce the list of pre-qualified suppliers.
This list would be compiled after an open tender process, using public tendering modelled after a WHO model. It was stated quite clearly that the list would be valid between 2011-2013.
A “Pre-qualification Questionnaire” by the National Procurement Administration and Tender Board spelled out the criteria necessary for compliance, even as it noted that the traditional international suppliers PAHO/WHO, the UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP and IDA were automatically qualified.
Suppliers also had to be legally registered in Guyana and the Caribbean; be “principally” involved in the distribution of drugs, and be in a position to supply at least 75 per cent of the number of line items on each list. The questionnaire also requested business, man-
ufacturing, quality and product information.
There were several local and Caribbean suppliers that applied, including the International Pharmaceutical Agency, but only two local companies were able to be added to the five international suppliers. These were the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation and MediPharm.
Even though there were strident criticisms of the results of the Pre-Qualification process, no one has been able to dispute then Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s contention that “Guyana has successfully procured items through pre-qualification and other methods at 20 to 30 per cent less than the International Average Reference prices”. These average prices are established on publicly available WHO Guidelines on “Country Pharmaceutical Pricing Policies”.
2014-2016 Criteria
This feature of the process that compares prices to the International Average Reference yardstick is strenuously ignored by local critics. Some of these critics harp on the need for “cheap” or “cheaper” drugs, not understanding that if prices are significantly at variance from the WHO prices, something is amiss. More than likely, these drugs are expired or made from inferior formulations or are not packaged properly.
In line with the expiration of the 2011-2013 Pre-qualified List, towards the end of 2013, there was an advertisement soliciting suppliers for 20142016, from Guyana and members of Caricom to be pre-qual-
ified and be added to the list of international suppliers that once again were defined as being compliant. What this meant was that the NEW GPC would have to once again stand in line and be evaluated along with other local and Caricom companies. The other bidders are Trinidadian companies ANSA McAL and Western Scientific Company as well as locally-based Telcom Solutions (Guyana) Inc, Meditron Scientific Sales, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) and Global Healthcare Supplies Inc.
Local companies
This year, the Application for Pre-Qualification explicitly spelled out the point system that was utilised in the 20112013 criteria, which will be used once again. There are 200 maximum points that could be allocated to bidders according to how they score on a number of questions in the categories of General Information, Financial Capacity, Infrastructure, Previous Experience, Established Linkages, Manufacturer/ Distributor Information, Quality Information and Product Information.
Additionally, in the in-
terest of the integrity of the process, three unnamed experts were selected by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to select local prequalified suppliers, based on their ability to satisfy the publicly stated criteria. In some press reports, it was stated that international suppliers were being locked out of the process. This is not factually correct since the traditional international firms were rolled over and bids are being solicited from all Caricom nations. In terms of giving priority to local companies that have satisfied other criteria, this is a standard procurement practice the world over, once their prices are in line with those from the abovementioned multilateral agencies.
Additionally, local companies pay the blanket two per cent Stamp Tax, hire locals and pay local salaries, from which Pay as You Earn (PAYE) is deducted in addition to paying the 35 per cent Corporate Tax on profits. There are, of course, the externalities in fostering upstream and downstream linkages, both with the local scientific community as well as other manufacturers.
Editor: Nigel Williams
Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134
Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com
The Trinidad and Tobago Government, led by its Prime Minister (PM) Kamla Persad-Bissessara few days ago launched what it referred to as the ‘National Conversation’ -- a countrywide series that will offer citizens a variety of fora to bring concerns and ideas to the State for attention.
The idea is to engage citizens and gather their input and hear about their priorities, both for the short and long term periods. The TT Government will be looking to have direct conversations with groups through in-person town hall meetings, through a website, and many other forums.
This is alaudable initiative that will hopefully result in a more democratic and prosperous country. Very often, citizens feel left out of the democratic processes. They feel that they are not being consulted on matters that affect their own welfare. Citizens want Government ministers and policy makers to listen to them and to give priority to their concerns.
A Government that shows that it is serious about tackling corruption and weeding out lawlessness among its ranks will certainly achieve high approval ratings. Similarly, a Government that involves the widest cross-section of stakeholders in the community in decision-making and shows that it values the input or views of ordinary people,will certainly win the hearts of many.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar is rated as a popular leader in her country. This is largely due to her leadership style. She has shown over the years that she has zero tolerance for corruption and bad behaviour by Government members. She is also seen as a leader who listens to people’s concerns and cares for them. At the launch of the national conversation, she was quoted as saying: “My leadership style has always been to listen first and then lead.”
The TT PM has boasted that her Government has been able to make strides in national development through consultations and attributed the “success” of the Government to listening to citizens and learning what mattered most to them. Hence, in her view, the National Conversation is based on the Government’s understanding that for it to succeed, the citizens must be able to speak their minds, share their thoughts on policies and day-to-day governance, and feel confident that their views are being heard.
The National Conversation focuses on three questions: What makes Trinidad and Tobago such a great nation, what problems or issues do you think the Government should focus most on to improve people’s lives today and what problems or issues do you think the Government should focus most on to help develop and improve the nation over the next 10 years?
In Guyana, the PPP/C Government has a history of engaging various segments of the population on a variety of national issues. These consultations have proven to be very useful in helping to inform Government policies and actions, and must continue. There should be more engagements between the Government and the ‘ordinary’ citizen. This must be done in a more meaningful and structured manner so as to get the desired results.
The ‘ordinary’ citizen, such as the market vendor, the rice farmer, the barber, the student at the technical institute, etc, may have their own stories to tell. They want to feel and be close to those who govern them, and more importantly, they want to feel that they are an active part of the governance process.
Frank, periodic conversations between the people and their Government are welcome and invaluable for breathing life into democracy.This is what democracy is all about. Such initiatives must be meaningful, formalised and structured as an integral aspect of systemic governance reform; anything less risks adding to already high levels of frustration in the society.
The effectiveness of ‘National Conversations’ very much depends on their preparation and organisation. Success is more likely if they emerge as the culmination of a series of more decentralised, well-publicised consultations attracting a wide participation. Guyana could take a cue from TT.
Dear Editor,
I read a story in another section of the press headlined, “PS says threats to Amerindian leaders taken out of context”, and wish to state the following.
The Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry (MOAA), Mr Nigel Dharmlall is totally correct when he said that the comments he made to Amerindian leaders and Community Support Officers (CSOs) at the International Convention Centre were taken “out of context” and more so the so-called “Threats”.
The hundreds of Amerindians gathered at the Convention Centre will definitely agree that the PS’s comments are taken out of “context” as a result of the “leaked” audio recording by an Opposition slave.
The Amerindian communities are currently being misled that their Community Development Plans (CDPs) are projects
of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The PS of the MOAA simply informed the Amerindian leaders and CSOs that this is not so.
And that while the CDPs are Amerindian Community Development projects designed by themselves, they are Government projects through the MOAA, funded by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) of Guyana’s Low-carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
The UNDP is the partner entity of the CDPs, working in collaboration and harmony with the MOAA for project implementation, ensuring that its safe guards are upheld. As a member of the MultiStakeholder Steering Committee(MSSC) of Guyana’s LCDS, I fully support the PS that the CDPs are not UNDP’s projects.
The PS reported to have said that “The Amerindian Peoples
Association (APA) was misleading people with its statements that the Ministry was manipulating the Amerindians” and that the APA was “in bed with the Opposition”.
I fully agree with the PS and to add that the APA, like the Opposition, currently holds an AntiAmerindian Development agenda which was condemned by the massive Amerindian picketing demonstration outside Parliament Buildings.
But if the APA was not in bed with the Opposition, why was it not a part of the Amerindian picketing demonstration outside Parliament buildings protesting the unjustified cut of the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) by the Opposition which will severely affect the livelihood of Amerindian communities?
Neither was a statement issued including a statement on voting against the LCDS initiatives allocation of $18.5 billion which will
also severely affect the Amerindian communities of Guyana by the Opposition.
The PS of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry is a public official firmly committed to the development of the Amerindian communities of Guyana and welcomes all Amerindians at his office seeking his assistance.
In fact, all the staff members of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, including the Honourable Minister are very busy people on a daily basis dealing with the matters of our first peoples of over 180 Amerindian communities.
Anyone can challenge me on this, including the APA which has absolutely nothing constructive to say about the Amerindian Affairs Ministry but to spew hogwash to antiGovernment sections of the media.
Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud
Dear Editor, Relative to a letter to the Editor under the heading, “Beaten at Police Station”, in another section of the press on April 25, the Guyana
Police Force is in receipt of a report made by the complainant, along with his statement and medical report.
The Acting Commissioner Seelall
Persaud has since instructed the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to conduct investigations into the allegations made.
Respectfully,
Ivelaw Whittaker Public Relations and Press Officer Guyana
Police Force
Dear Editor,
I read Dr Suresh Narine’s letter dated April 23 in which he expressed his frustrations with the outcomes of the budget deliberations. He expressed his disappointment with the Opposition for cutting out the allocation to IAST and rightly so.
His critics argue that the Government is to be blamed for this and one of them, namely Mr Alfred Bhulai, even suggested that he apologises to the Opposition. I disagree because I believe that the Opposition, in the interest of the country and its people, should have offered some explanation on the way forward for this agency, instead of callously dismissing the affected agency as “collateral damage”.
Given that the work of this institution is to promote the development of renewable energy technology or green technology, which has the capacity of expanding the economic prospects of Guyana, I know that the
Opposition will not hold on to its position that this is just collateral damage.
It would be very unpatriotic to do so. I am also certain that the Opposition, like me, would not want to see Professor Narine leave, as I do believe that we are lucky to have such an accomplished and internationally renowned Guyanese directing this institution.
Some of the critics of his letter also suggested that he is caught up in political propaganda. Again you are wrong because if you truly knew Professor Narine, you would know that he really does not have to do that. His “plate is full”. His main concern is to see Guyana develop economically and to see its people prosper.
I must say that I was heartened to read in Guyana Times dated April 27 that the Opposition will consider reinstating funding for UG because I was also concerned about all the students who would be affected by the cuts in the Student
Loan Subvention.
The majority of students depend on student loans to attend UG, so you can well imagine how heartless it would be if they are to be deprived of this. In any case, given the shortage of human resources in Guyana, Guyana can ill afford not to have its young people trained at this institution because they cannot finance their studies.
I know without a doubt that both Mr David Granger and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine care about the University of Guyana and the students’ welfare so I am appealing to them to put aside politics and do what is right for this institution.
I cannot believe that they could dismiss this as collateral damage. It reminds me of the innocent victims of war who are described as collateral damage. I do not believe that we have become so indifferent.
Yours faithfully, Bibi Ali
Dear Editor,
I have been a customer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) for a number of years now, and recently, I started encountering problems with my monthly internet service on my cellphone.
For almost a week now, I have not had any internet service and so I thought GT&T had suspended my account. I came to this conclusion because about a month ago, they had told me they suspended it because I had used up a certain amount of megabytes. I indicated that I had downloaded information during the previous month, but I hardly used the Internet this month.
To my surprise, on Good Friday, April 18, I received a text message from GT&T that my Internet service will be off at 14:12h. So this drew my attention to the fact that my service was never up and I decided to call customer care service on 0488.
I spoke to an operator who was very helpful and was able to determine
Editor’s note:
the course necessary to assist me with my problem. She guided me step by step through the process of resetting my phone settings and then instructed me to turn my phone off and turn it back on after 10 minutes had passed.
I decided to give it some more time and to my dismay, after 20 minutes, there was still no Internet on my phone. When I called her back she said that it was showing on her system that my service was active.
I then asked what the problem was and she responded that she did not know and promised that they will get back to me. I waited for a while but got no call, so I called them back.
Another operator answered and I explained the problem and she asked me the same questions. I told her I went through the process with an operator already and she once again told me that my Internet was appearing active in their system. I asked if I would receive my Internet service back and I was told a blunt no.
I was transferred to the supervisor who told me
there was nothing she can do, except to forward my information to the technician.
I asked her how soon and she said she didn’t know because the problem was beyond her control.
I paid for a monthly service and I have not been able to benefit much from it and so I need GT&T to offer me a proper explanation as to what exactly happened to my service.
In addition to this problem, my iPhone was stolen over one year ago and I had reported the matter to the police and GT&T. The phone has since been located and is in the possession of the police. Though the officers have done their share of work, they are still awaiting a report from GT&T to see if my number ever worked with the IMEI number on the phone.
On that note, I am calling on the CEO of GT&T to look into providing better customer service and offering a more prompt response from the staff their at GT&T.
Yours faithfully,
Johonel Munroe
GT&T has explained that Ms Munroe’s problems were as a result of the settings on her device, which have since been resolved, and that she has promised to in the same way pen a letter to the newspapers. To date, we have not received such a letter.
Dear Editor,
I hope Mr Ian McDonald has recovered from the massive “patriotis” attack which he experienced in the Stabroek News column of April 27 titled, “A fateful and historic mistake”.
He wrote, “But what one can easily dare to do is perceive the eternal similarities – great scale and miniature –in what happens when short-sighted men make a much greater good subsidiary to a petty cause.
“And so it is not wrong to derive a lesson from what happened in the great Chinese empire to illustrate what can happen anywhere at any time – in this case in Guyana in the early 21st century.”
His generosity by which he can recommend the “cure” to our Guyanese politicians who are afflicted is not in doubt.
Finess and dignity
Mr McDonald, a man of much finesse and dignity, really surprised when he departed from serving the normal Sunday fare. Pardon me please, my image of Mr McDonald’s musings is fluctuations between the usual “tomatoes are more bountiful when you smile on them” or “poetry is needed in the prisons to calm sexual anxiety”.
He plays it safe understandably in a country where he could easily be “put in his place” because of his colour.
While other writers bore us on the marginal utility of ethanol in bricks or who is a man because he is a woman… back or front…PPP/C or PNC…, Mr McDonald has dared to step forward and remind Guyanese where we are headed. Is he correct?
It is common knowledge that all those politicians in charge of Guyana’s destiny always knows best. The people are just fools. By PPP wisdom, PR was imposed while attacking the USA living as we are in their backyard. “Lend me money please was doomed from the start.”
The PNC believed they were entitled to save Guyana by eagerly fomenting race riots, raping, looting and destroying Guyana’s economy. Emancipation of the Guyanese mind was nowhere in sight then, as it is today, to again repeat the cycle by which they hope to slingshot into political power. The successful past to power will be repeated again in future because it’s a tested formula.
Rodney inquiry
Today at the Rodney inquiry, the familiar ritual drumbeats of blame and finger pointing, denials and no remorse would flow like a river. “It not us, it’s them.”
Both parties are responsible for the mass exodus of Guyana’s population but both blame the other. What would
matter if China’s emperor found it wise to stop exploring the seas and burning ships? Didn’t the Emperor know best?
Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez burnt all his European ships so his men had no way back home to Spain. The conquistadores only had one other choice. They ravaged and destroyed the magnificent Aztec empire built by “pagans”. Fidel Castro did no worse by cutting off an entire island and told them either they swim together or they all sink. Before he leaves the presidency, it is a certainty that Barak Obama will visit Cuba.
President Richard Nixon first led the way to China as he did for the Soviet Union. Trade with Cuba will propel the US economy to their mutual benefit.
“Somehow our leaders must cast aside their doubts and suspicions, allay the fears of their more fanatic supporters, meet and meet again and reach at last a grand Guyana Amity Pact to take the nation forward.
“Or at the very least, history must be able to record that they really tried and if they fail tell posterity why exactly they did so”, Mr McDonald implored. What is the problem? It’s race. Solution?Still race.
Alternative?Partition or federalism.
Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed
Dear Editor,
Over the years, I observed that the Government has been bailing out rice millers,with large sums of money to pay rice farmers,although there is an EU Financial Facility fund which was set up for millers to access loans at Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry.
The finance under the EU-Financial Facility can be utilised for working capital for millers and exporters (G$420 million) and as revolving loans for input suppliers (G$300 million);purchase of machinery and equipment related to rice production (G$200 million) and rice milling (G$300 million).
For rice producers, (G$437.5 milion) rehabilitation and expansion of facilities related to rice production andmilling.In total G$1657.5 million or 6.5 million euros .
Farmers want to know if these loans are still active at GBTI and how much of this money was utilised by millers, exporters and rice farmers in achieving and sustaining production.
I have witnessed over the last decade billions invested by millers to upgrade their mills,wharehouse, laboratory, dryers and improved efficiency using new and modern technologies,while farmers have not being paid for years.
The Government, mindful of the industry, announced in the 2014 Budget that it would inject $G$500 million towards funding crucial research and subsidising fertilisers to assist farmers.
Although this is a good move, I’m very optimistic this fund will not filter down to the ordinary rice farmers,the goal should be
an investment fund offering loans at below market rates to small and medium – size farmers and to promote a well capitalised and efficient industry.
Training and education are important in helping farmers to adopt new technologies in rice production methods.
Projects and programmes to support extension services which disappeared over the years.
Indeed, the industry continues to play no small role in feeding the Guyanese population,its multifaceted role in the country’s economy touches every citizen.Through rice,the economy secures a sizeable part of the countrys’foreign exchange and should received more money than the failing sugar industry.
Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan
– a bit of TV
even-year-olds are happier when they are allowed some sweets, snacks and television time, rather than none at all, suggests a study of children’s well-being.
Children who enjoyed school PE “a lot” were more likely to feel positive than those who didn’t like it.
Nearly 13,000 children were surveyed as part of a study by NatCen Social Research. Researchers said a healthy lifestyle had a longer-term effect on well-being.
The study, funded by the Department of Health, looked at many different factors which have an impact on children’s happiness or how much they worry.
It found that seven-year-old children were happiest when they got on well with siblings, had fun with family members at weekends and had parents who did not shout or smack them. Children were more likely to feel unhappy and worried if they lived in a deprived area. There was no difference in how worried or happy they felt whether they had one parent or two.
Never say never
However, when researchers looked at how healthy eating and healthy behaviour affected happiness in children, they found an inconsistent picture. On the one hand, enjoyment of PE lessons was positively associated with child well-being, but a healthy diet was not.
For example, children who regularly ate snacks such as biscuits and cakes were just as likely to report being happy as children who did not report eating such snacks. Well-being was lower among children who never watched television and among those who watched it the most, while wellbeing was higher among those who watched television, but for less than an hour a day.
The study said: “Being happier and lacking worry does not mean never having sweets, snacks and television. In fact, there was some indication in the results that higher well-being was more likely when these were enjoyed in moderation.”
The influence of a healthy diet and plenty of exercise on well-being was “likely to be more complex and longer term”, it added. It said establishing positive health behaviours at an early age could lead to healthier outcomes in later life, such as a normal BMI – body mass index – and fewer chronic health conditions, which could contribute to higher well-being at that stage of life.
Teenagers and takeaways
The data for the study was gathered from the Millennium Cohort Study of 12,877 children and their parents, born in 2000 and surveyed in 2008. In a separate survey of 11- to 15-year-olds’ well-being, which forms part of the same study, researchers found a similar relationship between some aspects of healthy eating and happiness.
Young people who reported eating
fast food or takeaways at least once a week reported feeling happier on average, compared with those who ate fast food only occasionally or never. But it is possible that eating this type of food as a family or social activity can have a positive impact on children and young people’s well-being.
Jenny Chanfreau, senior researcher at NatCen Social Research, said there were still many strong arguments for promoting healthy behaviour among children.
“Not least that behaviours learnt early in life may continue into adulthood and, unlike among children, adults who eat more fruit and vegetables do have higher levels of well-being.” The study’s finding that children who said that they liked PE “a lot” had much higher odds of happiness than children who said that they like it “a little” or “not at all” could be important for primary schools, it said.
“Making PE lessons playful and fun is both good for child well-being and may contribute to establishing positive health behaviours for later in life,” the study said. (BBC News)
By Laura Schuerwegen
We all love it when our children are healthy. And there’s no better way for them to be healthy than by running around, taking part in activities and playing sports.
But let’s face it – sometimes our children can be a little too interested in sports for their own good. And this is never more apparent than when their love of being active starts to get in the way of their schoolwork.
Active children usually do better in school
If you have an active child, the good news is that they’re already being setup for academic success. Physical activity and academic performance have been conclusively linked in a study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine. But this
only applies to children who engage in ‘vigorous’ activity, rather than the ‘moderate’ activity encouraged by school mandated PE sessions.
Keeping your child focused What usually compels an active child to be less interested in school work is that they have more energy to burn off than other children. This may be natural, or it may be down to the great food you’ve been feeding them. Either way, it’s important that this energy gets burned off in a productive way before sitting down to work. If homework is an issue, make sure to enrol your active child in an after-school activity which they can take part in before studying. If concentration is a problem in school, it might help to provide them with certain tools to help them enjoy school a little more, such as sports-themed pencil cases and book bags.
Understand the role of food You’re probably already feeding your children a great diet, but you may not be aware that you can actually use food to help your children do better in school. Before school it’s all about consuming slow burning energy, so wholemeal toast, fresh fruit and high-fibre cereal should all be encouraged. If your child’s school doesn’t provide healthy lunches, packing a lunch is absolutely essential. Children’s concentrations tend to slack off in the afternoon, so giving them good food at lunchtime will help them to concentrate better.
Make it sports themed For some children, their passion for outdoor activities simply overwhelms their motivation for learning and study. So one of the best tricks to get them interested in school is to make their work sports-themed. If they have a maths problem which they’re struggling with, reword it so it has some relation to a sporting activity. If they’re falling behind on history, try relating a historical event to a strategic game such as football.
(Authenticparenting.info)
By Alexis Rodney
Crime Chief Leslie James told the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the death of Dr Walter Rodney that there was enough evidence to lay charges against the late Army Sergeant Gregory Smith, who had been accused of giving the politician a bomb that exploded in his lap.
It took the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration 16 years after the killing in 1996 on the anniversary of Rodney’s death to formally lay charges against Smith, who at the time had already fled to neighbouring French Guiana.
James made the disclosure while giving testimony at the inquiry which opened Monday morning at the Supreme Court Library. He is one of nine persons slated to testify during the four-day session. Shortly after taking the oath, James who was only recently appointed Crime Chief, described his role in the evidence gathering and dissemination to the Commission.
James told the Commission that since being appointed Crime Chief on April 8, he was entrusted with the responsibility of perusing “all pertinent files relating to the Walter Rodney inquiry”. These include files from the Special Branch, the intelligence gathering arm of the Guyana Police Force; files from the former Head of the Criminal Investigation Department; and files produced by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). According to James, the files were all gathered in 1980, the year Rodney was killed.
Meanwhile, Senior Counsel and Commissioner in the Walter Rodney CoI Seenath Jairam raised concerns about the level of police work carried out by officers regarding investigation and the laying of charges on the accused Gregory Smith after Rodney’s death.
Based on evidence presented by the Crime Chief, the warrant for Smith was issued 16 years after Rodney’s death. Jairam asked: “Can you say what may have contributed to that length of time before the Police finally fingered Gregory Smith.” James said he could not answer since he joined the Force some six years after Rodney was killed. He said too that based on the files he perused, there was sufficient
and reasonable evidence to lay a case against Gregory Smith.
Jairam also questioned if whether, in the instance of an unnatural death, an inquest is usually launched.
The Crime Chief said that it is a normal practice of the Police to recommend an inquest. However, in relation to the death of Dr Rodney, no inquest was neither held nor recommended. But Jairam submitted that an inquest into Rodney’s death was held in 1988. James then responded that it may have begun, but never completed.
Camp St Prison
Dr Rodney died in a car in the vicinity of the Georgetown Prison on June 13, 1980, after a walkie-talkie he was holding, which had been given to him by Smith, exploded. His brother Donald, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, escaped serious injury. In a subsequent statement, Donald Rodney said that Smith, at that time an acting Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force, had given his brother the walkie-talkie, and had instructed him to test it near the perimeter of the Georgetown Prison so he could observe whether the extensive metal wall would interfere with the transmission.
Guyana Times was told that Dr Rodney might have been in contact with Smith through his brother Donald Rodney, who was in the driver’s seat outside Camp Street jail when the bomb hidden in the walkie-talkie exploded.
According to reports on the fateful day, Donald had revealed that a brown paper bag was given to him by Smith to take to Dr Rodney and he was instructed that Dr Rodney should come out of the car and walk alongside the Camp Street Prison fence to test it. However, Dr Rodney did not do as was instructed and the bomb eventually exploded in his lap.
Gregory Smith disappeared from Guyana soon after Rodney’s death, reappearing in French Guiana. In 1987, he told reporters in an interview that Rodney’s death had been the result of an accident. He said then that he had joined the army as a Private in 1975, and that he had been sent to England by the GDF to study electronics. After building an important Surveillance Unit for the Army, he said, he had been promoted to acting Sergeant.
A charge of murder was laid against Smith when the PPP/C Government was in office on the anniversary of Rodney’s death in 1996. On October 30 of that same year, then Senior Counsel Doodnauth Singh was appointed Special Prosecutor to lead the case against him. However, according to media reports then, the Government never succeeded in extraditing Smith from French Guiana to stand trial in his homeland, since there is no extradition treaty between Guyana and France.
According to media reports, the French Government had indicated that it would be prepared to consider returning Smith here if it was satisfied that the information on which the charge of murder had been based met the criteria required by France’s judicial system.
However, there was another consideration, and that was the fact that French law prohibited the extradition of persons to countries where capital punishment was in force. France had also required, therefore, an assurance from the Guyana Government that Smith would not have been executed if found guilty.
The Justice For All Party led by Chandra Narine Sharma is open to rejoining the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to contest the General Election in 2016.
The Justice for All Party severed ties with the coalition in April with the resignation of its member Jaipaul Sharma from the National Assembly. Sharma tendered his resignation after Education Minister Priya Manickchand had refused to offer a direct apology to him following heckling in the House by Manickchand.
During an interview with Guyana Times on Monday, Sharma had said: “We don’t mind” rejoining the coalition in the future, but said key answers will be required.
“If Mr CN Sharma is still alive, and we are in dialogue with the coalition on any new partnership, they will have to say clearly what they will do when a Minister utters these words, what stance they will take,” he explained.
Disgust
After tendering his resignation as an MP, Sharma had expressed disgust over the coalition’s failure to represent him in the National Assembly, when he was heckled. It was pointed out that none of the frontbenchers on the Opposition’s side of the House defended Sharma at the time.
Asked to disclose the real reason the Justice for All Party has severed ties with the coalition, Sharma maintained that he simply wanted to safeguard the coalition from attacks by the Government.
In 2010, CN Sharma faced the courts over rape allegations involving a 13-yearold. In a sworn affidavit, the 13-year-old girl had alleged that Sharma had sexually molested her and her sisters, with the consent of their mother.
After conducting the act, the businessman reportedly offered the teen $2000 on a weekly basis. The teen had alleged that the series of
abuse came to an end when she refused to return to her mother’s Alexander Street residence. In May 2013, the matter was moved to the High Court. It is still gaining the attention of the court.
Based on the allegations against his father, Jaipaul Sharma is contending that the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) could use the matter to gain political mileage to defame APNU. “I don’t want that stigma that is attached to me and attached to CN Sharma, the leader of the Justice for All Party, to be attached to the APNU. The PPP would always utilise that advantage they have with that stigma created against the leader of the Justice For All Party…”
Nevertheless, to signal its independence, the JFPA on Monday officially declared opened its Constituency Office at Robb Street. Through its popular Voice for the People Programme, the party is hoping to muster up more party support.
The former APNU MP explained that the party would be taking up the concerns expressed by citizens and making representation as a party on behalf of the people.
“So we want to extend that opportunity as a political party to further support them and extend our membership.”
The party is hoping to increase its presence in Regions Three and Four to win at least one seat each at the regional level when elections are held again in Guyana. The next General Election is due in 2016.
The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) has expressed regret at the passing of Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ronald Webster, whom it described as a patriot.
“On behalf of the President and Executives of CIOG, we express our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and friends,” the CIOG said in a release.
It said Webster has made a significant contribution to the development of Guyana and played a vital role in highlighting many reforms that were required in society.
According to the CIOG, his entrepreneurship in his business, and more recently his Chairmanship of the Private Sector Commission, invigorated and encouraged development and progress in the private sector.
A23-year-old boxing trainer on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged with possession of cannabis.
The charge alleged that on April 26, in Albouystown, Janelle Hope was found in possession of 16 grams of cannabis.
The woman, who gave her address as 116 Barr Street, Independence Boulevard, was unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The facts in the matter state that on the day in question, about 11:30h, Police were conducting a
narcotic exercise in and around Georgetown. Acting on information received, the ranks went to a boxing centre in Albouystown where they saw Hope sitting with a haversack on her back.
The ranks then carried out a search on the haversack and found several white paper parcels. An arrest was made and Hope was taken to the Albouystown Police Station.
Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail and Hope was remanded until May 29. She will make her next court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Faith McGusty.
Many of Guyana’s private, public commissions and boards benefited from his dedication and expertise which resulted in many significant development and achievement to the benefit of the people.
“The CIOG joins with the Guyanese people in mourning the passing of Mr Ronald Webster, and pray for patience and perseverance for his family,” the release said.
Webster passed away in the wee hours of Sunday morning at the Balwant Singh Hospital while recovering from a recent cancer related medical operation which he underwent in Trinidad and Tobago.
Two men, O’Neil Wayne and Ralph Peters on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to a charge for unlawfully assaulting each other on April 21, at 78 Robb Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
Wayne told the court that on the day in question, he received complaints from a customer that Peters had harassed him.
Wayne then armed himself with a piece of wood and went out to Peters. He claims that he did not hit Peters at any point, but pushed him and he fell.
Peters then held onto the wood and Wayne tried to take it away from him in fear that he (Peters) might
hit him. However, Peters began to kick Wayne and it was at this point a Police officer who was close by, came to the scene and intervened.
Wayne further informed the court that it has been two years since Peters has been harassing customers that frequent his business place.
Wayne was fined $20,000, which he has seven days to pay or be thrown into prison for two weeks while Peters was placed on $10,000 bail.
They were both unrepresented and will make another court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
Man granted bail for assault, larceny charges
AJohn Fernandes Limited employee on Monday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry slapped with two charges.
The first charge read that on April 24, Mickey Andrews unlawfully assaulted Nicholas Kissoon while the second read that on the same day, Andrews stole a cellphone worth $37,000 belonging to Kissoon.
The defendant, who was unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to both charges against him, told the court that he was previously charged for robbery under arms. Andrews was placed on $10,000 and $40,000 bail for the alleged assault and larceny committed on Kissoon.
He will make another court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond on May 7.
...and tests
President Ramotar shook up the Police Force when he declared that henceforth “integrity tests” would be given to them. But it seems to have shaken up the leader of the PNC even more. Here it is, the former army head’d been jumping up and down like a fowlcock in heat about polygraph tests and now he outrightly rejects integrity tests?
Why! This in itself is rather conclusive of Granger hiding something, no?
You see, dear readers, in the US where most of these human resource innovations originate, polygraph tests were rejected since the 1980s. Without rehearsing all the reasons why, the issue of their reliability was much ventilated. And in their place integrity tests were introduced. With pen and paper, the individual answers questions designed to assess honesty, dependability, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, and reliability.
We wonder which of these qualities Granger believes are unnecessary in Senior Police Officers? Integrity tests are of two types – one backwards –looking that susses out past behaviour and attitudes about theft and other negative activities.
And the other gauges proclivity to such behaviour based on personality traits. And as for reliability, there you haven’t heard much of an outcry from the Americans, have you? And you know they would’ve yelled bloody murder if their “rights” were violated. So when Granger rejects integrity tests without even discussing them, you know he doesn’t have the foggiest notion about what he’s talking about.
Now at first glance it would seem that Granger thought that integrity testing and polygraph testing were the same thing since he carried on about the need for introducing “integrity legislation” rather than “integrity testing”. And also that the Government should appoint people with integrity in the first place.
Now isn’t that what the testing is all about? You can introduce all the legislation in the world but if you test before appointing at least you have an idea as to the fella’s inclination in the area you’re sceptical about and can head off transgressions before the fact.
But we’ll tell you what Granger’s really afraid of: that the tests will reveal all the moles and sleepers his “security adviser” Winston Felix would’ve left in the GPF to maintain the Burnhamite legacy of using the organisation to do the bidding of the PNC
No one could’ve forgotten Felix’s secretly recorded conversation on the Agricola massacre with the now Chairman of the PNC Basil Williams, right, Bannuh? “I head them off,” the man said. “Them”, of course, being the PPP.
...and Granger?
But while on the subject of integrity tests and Granger’s reflexive rejection of them, it would be interesting to analyse the former Brigadier in light of those tests. Past behaviour and actions? Well we know from his outright rejection of giving testimony before the CoI on Rodney’s assassination, he has a lot to hide there.
As we’ve pointed out time and again, Burnham’s elevation of him to head the army just before the dastardly act couldn’t be coincidental.
Especially when the man that committed the murder most foul, Gregory Smith, was from the army itself. And the army official, reporting directly to Granger, denied that Smith was even a member. A lie soon exposed.
Personality traits? Well we’re talking about a real dictator in the making here: authoritarian personality. This was the man, who as a junior officer was responsible for SPIC – the unit that was to ensure that everyone in the Disciplined Forces toed Burnham’s line.
How’d you think Collins and Felix are part of the “old boys’ network” that now runs the PNC?? And not so coincidentally even Corbin of the YSM has to pass through his hands.
...and rules
Granger lauds “the group”, as the backbone of the PNC. He’s now the leader of the PNC. Was he a member of any party group??? Like, say, Norton, who he’s locked out? Integrity and Granger in the same sentence? Snort!!!!
Nrityageet this year will be featurng a fusion of dances with Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Folk and Popular, Chutney, Soca and Guyanese roots-based influences as part of its repertoire to celebrate Arrival Day.
“New dancers are joining all the time, learning and exploring the world of dance, learning from the greatest while adding their flair for the modern and different,” said the
Director of the troupe, Dr Seeta Shah-Roath.
“Nadira Shah-Berry, Suzanne Shah-Nilsson, and Rewattie Datt-DaCosta are also currently training new dancers in traditional and modern even as they explore new trends and create new experiences. We are exploring futuristic dance theatre with ballet and modern dancers, blending with influences of traditional styles with the best dancers
in Guyana exploring new frontiers in the art form.”
Thirty-five years ago, the Nadira and Indranie Shah Dance Troupe first started celebrating the arrival of the first batch of East Indians to the then British Guiana, with Nrityageet. This year Nrityageet 35 is being held on May 3 and 4 at the National Cultural Centre at 20:0h . A children’s matinee show is scheduled for May 2 at 13:00h.
Nrityageet’s presentations showcase multiple dance styles reflecting the diversity of Guyanese roots and contemporary lifestyles. Although with an Indian classical, semi-classical and folk dance base, Nrityageet dance theatre explores modern ballet, Caribbean and fusion pieces with spectacular costuming, sets and multimedia settings that set the standards for dance and indeed theatre arts presentations in Guyana.
As the month of May approaches, many cultural organisations are in the throes of preparing for marking the month that carries that special day that is significant for remembering their ancestral heritage – Arrival Day observed on May 5 every year.
Nrityageet presentations have been recognised internationally for its high standards in dance theatre in Europe and the US, with the prestigious Madame Iffel Award of Barbados for the “Best Traditional Dance”.
The Guyana Theatre Arts Awards recognised this troupe for its “Exceptional Diligence in the Pursuit of Excellence” and for “Best Dance Production” in 2004, 2003, 2000, 1999 and 1998, ; “Best Costumes” in 2003, 2002, 2000, and 1997; “Best Sets” in 2003 and 2004. Most significantly, the Nadira and Indranie Shah Dance Troupe, received a national award – the Medal of Service –for “Sustained and Outstanding Contribution to the Cultural Mosaic of Guyana” and the New York Folk Festival Award for “Long and Sustained Dance Productions of Excellence”.
The troupe has performed for national and international programmes such as the InterGuiana Cultural Festival, CARIFESTA, World Expo and many other programmes around the world.
De US is a country that believe in democracy. At least so dem seh. Obomber seh so and all dem other US presidents used to seh de same ting one after de other. But de US does play a smart game when it come to de principles whah it does tell other countries to follow.
Well, smart supposed to be a nice way to describe some body if dem do some ting good. But in this case, it really mean sly. When people seh a man or woman sly, it mean that dem got some ting to hide, or dem got some ting up dem sleeve, as old people does seh.
De US is a country that like to tell other countries whah to do, how to do and when to do, and even what not to do. And if yuh don’t do whah de US tink yuh must do, and stop doin whah de US seh yuh must stop, then all hell does break loose.
Haiti, Cuba and Egypt is only a few examples. De same ting is whah happenin right now in Guyana next door neighbour Venezuela and even as far as Ukraine. When de U.S. don’t want a guvament to stay in office, dem does do all kinda secret stuff to knock dem out…in de name of intelligence.
One a dem Bush Man kill people in Iraq, but he never get arrest and charge before de I-See-See. That is wheh all de poltician criminals does go, and any politician who kill so much a people musbe a big time criminal. But accordin to de US, that was fightin against weapons of mass destruction. Up to now, dem can’t tell de world wheh de a** de weapons of mass destruction deh. That is whah de US call democracy.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But democracy is when yuh leff people to decide fuh dem selves whah dem wanna do. Yet in de name of democracy, de US demandin to LEAD Guyana somewhere, and de Pee-P-P seh dem aint goin!
Agriculture and disaster risk reduction will take centre stage as President Donald Ramotar and Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and Mexico gather in Merida, Mexico for their third summit on Tuesday, April 29.
The summit will be preceded earlier in the day by a meeting of the foreign ministers.
According to a release from the regional grouping, Mexico has indicated its interest in extending its Mesoamerica Project to allow Caricom members to benefit from its Infrastructure Fund, established in 2011 to promote investments in the areas of human development, sustainable development, energy, telecommunications, trade facilitation, natural disaster prevention and transportation.
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
serves as the fund’s manager for the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) and the Mexican subventions for the programme are deposited to the bank’s Special Development Fund.
The TCP, over the period was characterised by the building of collaborative relations between Caricom technical institutions and their
counterparts in Mexico. Relations have been developed, for example, between the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and CENAPRED, the Mexican disaster preparedness and management agency, and between the Caribbean Meteorological Institute (CMI) and the INTA, the Mexican institute for water technology In 1974 Mexico became the first country to establish a Joint Commission with Caricom to work on areas of co-operation. Formal technical co-operation arrangements have been in place since 1990 and three phases have already been completed in the areas of transportation, language training, agriculture and agro-industrial development, maritime education, disaster preparedness and management, and agro-meteorology and climatology.
Several key witnesses who allegedly faced the wrath of the 1980 Forbes Burnham regime are slated to testify today as the international inquiry into the death of historian, Dr Walter Rodney opened on Monday at the Supreme Court Library.
Among those to testify today is Father Malcolm Rodrigues, who according
Present at the opening were two top officials of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Basil Williams and Joseph Harmon. Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee represented the Government.
The Chairman, before introducing the remaining members of the
Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul on Monday called on employers and employees to report any accident that occurs on the work site, as mandated by the Occupational Health and Safety laws. He said very often accidents occur on the worksite and the relevant authorities are not notified.
Gopaul was at the time delivering the feature address at a symposium, at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, in observance of World Day for Occupational Safety and Health, observed under the theme “Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work”. The event saw representatives from the private sector, Government agencies and students participating.
of evidence of practices and procedures. Anything that is relevant to the Terms of Reference will be taken into account in seeking to arrive at the truth. That includes opinion as well as hearsay,” Cheltenham said.
He pointed out that the door of the Secretariat remains opened for anyone who may wish to bring further evidence or witness
to the Commission will lead testimony on the prevailing political atmosphere leading up to and after the death of Rodney. He will also talk about his experiences, having also witnessed the autopsy of Rodney.
Social Activist and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) member Karen Desouza will also testify about her experience on the day of Rodney’s death. In addition to De Souza, several top leaders of the WPA, including A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) Co-Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Eusi Kwayana will testify during the course of the inquiry.
Additionally, Lawrence Edward Rodney will testify about the Historian’s family while Guyana Trades Union Congress, General Secretary Lincoln Lewis will speak about the labour movement during the late 1970s.
Meanwhile, the inquiry got underway around 09:30h with Chairman, Sir Richard Cheltenham introducing members of the Commission to the audience.
Commission, outlined the task entrusted to the body, pointing out the methodology proposed to employ in the inquiry. Cheltenham reminded the audience of the position held by Rodney’s family, that no one guilty will be held accountable for the death of Dr Rodney
He pointed out that the Terms of Reference (ToR) requires five distinct areas of work on the part of the Commission. Those include determining the atmosphere existing in the country immediately prior to, at the time of and immediately after his death; to focus on the crime situation, the state of the economy and the political activities, among other considerations.
During his presentation, Cheltenham pointed out that the inquiry is not a courtroom trial, noting that the Commission will go to the extreme to arrive at the truth.
“I consider it to say that this is not a courtroom trial, with its predetermined rules
statements, reiterating that provisions have already been made for persons to be exonerated, should they be found culpable.
“We remind that those wishing to testify need to provide a written statement to the Secretariat as a precondition of doing so…. The President, has, in his Terms of Reference sought to encourage all persons having knowledge may in some way implicate them either directly or indirectly. Simply put, you have nothing to fear from testifying.”
The Secretariat said last Friday that it was heartened at the recent responses by citizens and organisations to the inquiry. According to Attorney for the Commission, Glenn Hanoman, several notable personalities have confirmed their willingness to assist the Commission to the best of their ability. Such persons have signalled their intention to give oral evidence and have submitted detailed statements in various forms of their proposed evidence, Hanoman said.
World Day for Occupational Safety and Health was launched in 2003 to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases worldwide. It is an awareness campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health, and on the magnitude of work related injuries, diseases and fatalities.
“While many of the accidents are not being reported, they are happening, and we should be concerned. It is mandatory that all accidents that occur on the work site be reported to the ministry,” Minister Gopaul explained.
The Labour Minister stressed that Guyana is significantly advancing, with the construction of larger buildings that require elevators. However, he said that as the country advances, it is important that emphasis is paid on the construction sector. “For too long we take things for granted, for too long we just think we could put on slippers and go on the
construction site or to go in the sugar fields without observing the necessary rules and regulations,” Minister Gopaul noted.
To the employers, the Minister charged them to put the necessary safety equipment in place to prevent accidents, and ensure that they are covered by insurance. He also insisted that both employers and employees be educated about safety rules, and chemicals that are banned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The Labour Ministry is working with all stakeholders to ensure emphasis is placed on labour and human resources issues in a meaningful way in order to prevent accidents and deaths at the work places and observe the safe use of chemicals.
Representative of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Seepaul Narine said that safety is everybody’s business, and even housewives using chemicals must be educated on health and occupational safety. In Guyana, he said, some employers continue to take
chances and cause harm to people and even death, while noting that employers must ensure that all chemicals used at workplaces are well labelled, and there must be records of those chemicals.
“I am appealing to employers to make the workplace safe because no amount of compensation can replace a life,” Narine stressed.
Meanwhile, Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress congratulated the ministry for organising such an event, which he said will assist in bringing some level of awareness to employers and employees on occupational health and safety.
In 2012 Guyana ratified the ILO convention 155 Occupational Safety and Health, while the Occupational Health and Safety Act was enacted since 1997 and came into force in 1999. There was an essay and poster competition for this day in which several schools participated and received prizes and certificate of participation at today’s event.
President of the newly-installed Leo Club of Stabroek, Georgetown, Delisa Small said enough is not being done to engage youths in Guyana and if something is not done soon, an “explosion” might occur.
Speaking to Guyana Times shortly after the installation of the club and the inductions of its 33 founding members, Small related that she assiduously pursued the idea of forming the club as she recognised that in her and other communities, there are a lot of youths with idle time on their hands.
“They have so much time and nothing to do, I just thought this club might help change that,” said Small.
When questioned on how the club will address this issue that is worrisome to society, Small pointed out that club members will out reach to communities across the country.
This, she explained will not only deduct from their idle time, but engage them in a meaningful and positive manner.
She contended that youths who are part of the club will be able to see firsthand, how to render assistance to someone who is less fortunate.
Consultation
Small underscored the need for the Government to take a more active role in youth involvement, but praised theCommunity Support
Officers Project. The Leo Club President explained that work on the club started sometime last year when she attended a Health Ministry/Lions Club fair. It was there she met Lions Club of Georgetown President Odessa Debarres and made enquiries on how to establish the Leo Club.
After several consultations with Debarres, she explained that work finally begun in January of this year to have the club formed.
Delivering the feature address, a very emotional Small related that the Leo Club of Stabroek will be a club with a difference.
Also speaking at the installation and induction ceremony was District Governor of the Lions Club Patrick Taylor.
He highlighted that the opening of the club marks another milestone for youths in Guyana looking to positively engage themselves.
Taylor charged the newly-inducted Leos to ensure that they have financial stability in every project that they undertake. The newly-inducted Board of Directors include Delisa Small (President), Dachelle Watson (Secretary), Aretha Legall (Treasurer) and Cuthbert Melville, Lawrence Jeffers, and Gordon Marshall (Vice Presidents), Althea Knights, Jewel Todd and Shafena Williams (Directors), Maria Clay (Tail-Twister) and Shelvin Nurse (Club Tamer).
There were also 22 other members inducted in the newly-formed Leo Club.
The Police have taken into custody a former employee of Mabura businessman, Colin “Archibald” Mc Lean, who was stabbed to death in his bed Saturday night.
Guyana Times understands that the suspect used to work with Mc Lean; however, he was fired for being dishonest, but would still go around the area from time to time.
According to Mc Lean’s sister, Mavis, her brother had told her that he could not trust the man since he was dishonest.
“My brother had a big business and does deal with a lot of money and gold too, so like this boy use to steal from him or something cause my brother didn’t trust him, that’s why he fire him,” she noted. The woman added that despite being fired, the man would sometimes go to her brother, who would give him money and food.
Mavis disclosed that on Saturday, the suspect was spotted in 58 Miles, loitering and reportedly he could not afford to buy a bottle of soft drink. She said the residents there did not want him wondering around the area so he hitched a ride on a truck to Mabura, where his father also lives. He was then observed riding up and down the street all afternoon, Mavis noted, while adding that he was still without money at the time.
The grieving sister noted that Mc Lean usually closes his shop around 20:30h; however, that night someone’s vehicle broke down and had asked for his assistance.
The woman believes that it was while her brother was helping out, that
The sudden passing of Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ronald Webster has created a void in the business sector, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said in a statement.
“The Board of Directors and members of the GMSA are deeply saddened and we extend our condolences to his grieving family, and particularly to the members of the PSC,” the Association said.
According to the GMSA, Webster could be credited for singularly strengthening the vital relationship between Government and the private sector, advocating for Tax Reform and the revision of import/export mechanisms.
“He was also at the forefront of the private sec-
tor’s outreaches to both Government and the Opposition, mediating and appealing for passage of the Anti Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill which remains at the top of the national agenda.”
Poignant reminders
According to the body, the two terms which Webster served as head of the leading business support organisation, the PSC, will be described as successful and fruitful.
“He will be better remembered by the business community for his relentless advocacy in the legislative and executive arms of Government.”
At the GMSA, the
Association said he has left behind poignant reminders of his quiet determination which enabled the PSC, the GMSA and other business support organisations (BSOs) to improve the capacities of local manufacturers, services providers and operators in the commercial, shipping and other sectors, to expand, provide more jobs and contribute to social and educational development.
“His company, Caribbean Containers Inc, the only paper/pulp-based manufacturer in the Caribbean, was an active member of the GMSA. Mr Webster served as our President in 1992. He was a vocal proponent for greener production methods with care for the environment, and ensured that CCI led this initiative from produc-
tion to export. His company’s participation in the just concluded IDB-sponsored GMSA Energy Efficiency Project stands as ample evidence of this.”
Gracious man
The Association said Webster was a gracious man, respectful of others and was always careful to honour his invitations. “GMSA deeply regrets his loss and we take this opportunity to also extend our condolences to his staff at CCI.”
Adding its voice, the Education Ministry said: “Guyana has lost one of its most progressive business minds. Ron’s contribution to public service and the business sector was highly regarded. He played a significant role in developing
networks within our community that sought to seek a better life for all Guyanese, through his assiduous work within the organisations he served.
He will always be remembered as a strong advocate of mutual respect in his quest to build a cohesive and equal society in Guyana.”
The Ministry said Webster’s family has suffered a great loss, noting that the Ministry’s thoughts and prayers are with them at this time of bereavement.
Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission has advised that a Book of Condolences will be opened for Webster from 10:00h to 16:00h today and Wednesday in the boardroom of the PSC Secretariat, 157 Waterloo Street, Georgetown.
the suspect snuck into the house, and waited to attack her brother. She disclosed that Mc Lean sustained several stab wounds to the back of his head and the murder weapon seemed to be a screw driver or an ice pick.
Reportedly confessed Meanwhile, Mc Lean’s brother, Tracey Johnson, told this newspaper that the suspect had reportedly confessed to committing the crime. He said that based on information gathered, Police approached the suspect’s father who then led them to the man’s Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, home. He was then taken into custody.
Johnson said the only missing money that could have been traced was $20,000 which the suspect reportedly used.
Colin Mc Lean, 52, of Mabura Hill, Region 10, was found on his bed lying in a pool of blood with wounds to the back of his head. Information gathered revealed that neighbours heard him screaming in the wee hours of Sunday morning and later informed one of his close friends. When the friend went to check on him, they discovered him dead.
This publication understands that the suspect and Mc Lean were reportedly engaged in an argument on Saturday over money owed to the businessman by his former employee. Mc Lean had threatened to lodge a report at the Police station the following day; however, the suspect then threatened to kill the businessman. The safe in Mc Lean’s house was broken into and large sums of money, along with a quantity of gold were missing. The man’s body was taken to the Wismar mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem examination. He leaves to mourn his daughter, wife (both of whom resides in the US) and six siblings.
The Guyana Police Force will release files of surveillance activities carried out on the Working People’ Alliance (WPA) and a former Special Branch member will speak about his role in assassination plots as part of the international inquiry into the death of Dr Walter Rodney which opened on Monday.
Addressing the opening of the inquiry on Monday, lead Attorney for the Commission, Glen Hanoman said contrary to previous belief, the Special Branch has in its possession original files with detailed accounts of surveillance activities leading up to the death of Dr Rodney.
The information will be handed over by Senior Superintendent Leslie James. James, who was recently appointed Crime Chief, was head of the Special Branch. Hanoman said, that the files from the Special branch entail accounts of the surveillance activities of the branch between 1978 to 1980. The files, Hanoman said was compiled with the aim of prosecuting accused the Smith. They also contained copies of two post-mortem reports.
Hanoman said too that a former officer is also expected to testify about surveillance activities of WPA meetings at the time and his
involvement in activities.
“That ex-policeman is expected to speak about his personal involvement to engage in assassination. He will speak of his personal assignment to infiltrate the WPA and to carry out acts of subterfuge and assassination,” Hanoman said. “He will also speak of him having to report to Former Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis, Cecil “Skip” Roberts and Norman McLean and taking directions from them as the intellectual authors.” The ex-policeman will also reveal, according to Hanoman, his connections with Dr Rodney, Gregory Smith, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and persons only known as “Brezhnev” and “Chico”. He will also speak about his arrest and detention at Special Branch headquarters and subsequent alleged interventions
by Hamilton Green.
Besides, another officer of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is expected to tender records about the movement of arms and ammunition out of the Army as well as the movement of aircraft.
Meanwhile, Hanoman said that all previous attempts to investigate the death of Dr Rodney seemed to have been marred in some way; however, he hopes that this attempt will realise the objectives and bring absolute closure.
He pointed to the many attempts including the Coroner’s inquest of 1988, the International Commission of Jurists in 1995 and the murder charge filed against accused Gregory Smith in 1996. Hanoman said the investigations have all failed to resolve pertinent issues because of the ill support and participation of witnesses. He said he believes that things will work out this time around.
“I would like to think that this particular Commission of Inquiry has substantial evidence, with more witnesses coming forward and we will achieve what other investigations have failed to deliver,” Hanoman said.
The lawyer said that he was pleased that the procedural rules to the inquiry are flexible. According to him, the Commission is dealing with an event which
occurred over 30 years ago. According to him, many of the persons who could have given valuable information are probably dead. He noted that the Commission has in its possession “very old” documents, and if the strict procedures were admitted as in the Court of Law, many of the documents would have been admissible. “It is that flexibility that we will have to take advantage of to get the material in.”
The purpose of the hearings before the Commission is to receive testimony and evidence from interested parties to enable it to examine the facts and circumstances immediately prior, at the time of, and subsequent to the death of Dr Walter Rodney in order to determine, as far as possible, who or what was responsible for the explosion resulting in the death of Dr Rodney.
It will also inquire into who may have facilitated the departure of Gregory Smith from Guyana after Dr Rodney’s death, and report on the actions and activities of the State, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana National Service, the Guyana People’s Militia and those in command of these agencies, and actions against the political Opposition, for the period January 1, 1978 to December 31, 1980.
Aclothes vendor was killed when a car slammed into his bike along the Goedverwagting Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Monday morning.
The incident occurred around 09:30h. Dead is Wayne Giddings, 29, of Sparendaam Squatting Area, ECD. According to the Police, Giddings was struck down by a motor vehicle while riding his bicycle.
ing which ranks found Giddings lying on a street in Goedverwatging. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
ed that they have a brother living in Sophia and suggested that he might have been going there.
tuesday, april 29, 2014
The Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on Monday launched the First Annual Workshop on Maritime Safety in order to strengthen the institutional capacities of the countries of the region in the area, emphasising high quality training and the presentation of best practices, and the importance of this sector for the economic and social development of the Hemisphere.
The three-day workshop is organised in collaboration with the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation of the United States (MARAD) and the U.S. State Department through the country’s Permanent Mission to the OAS. The event features the participation of representatives of port authorities from 18 member states, and is being held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC.
During the inauguration, the Executive Secretary for Integral Development (SEDI) of the OAS, Sherry Tross, stressed the importance of maritime safety, stating that the majority of world trade is conducted through ports and their logistics networks. “The fact that the maritime industry and ports are the main nodes in the global physical network of shipping that manages more than 80 per cent of goods worldwide, should be enough to warrant close attention to this most important issue,” she said.
petitive maritime and ports sectors in the Americas has an impact on trade and the socio-economic development of OAS member states,” said Secretary Tross, and adding that they “promote social welfare and contribute to the strengthening of democracy.”
For his part, Paul Jaenichen, Acting Administrator of the Maritime Authority of the United States (MARAD), emphasised the importance of standards and regulations in the area of maritime safety. “Our community is not immune to accidents or tragedies,” said Jaenichen and, as an example, recalled the sinking in 2002 of the Prestige oil tanker off the coast of north-west Spain; the Costa Concordia cruise ship accident near the coast of Italy in 2012 which killed more than 30 people; and the recent sinking of the Sewol ferry in South Korea which led to the loss of some 300 victims.
Jaenichen noted that these accidents were caused by different causes including increased hazard by rising seas, poor mechanical maintenance, or human error. “But they all had something in common: each of them was preventable,” said the Acting Administrator of MARAD, who advocated for a standard set of safety rules in the maritime community.
“Investigations have revealed that Wayne Giddings allegedly rode out from behind a minibus and into the path of the oncoming motor vehicle and was struck down,” the Police said in a statement. The Police further claimed that after being struck, Giddings got up and ran away from the scene.
Natasha Boucher, the sister of the dead man, told Guyana Times that they were informed about the accident just after 10:00h, and rushed to the scene, where they saw the injured man lying on the road. The woman said that the Police found a pulse on her brother’s hand and as they were taking him to the hospital, he died.
The driver of the motor vehicle subsequently reported the incident to the Sparendaam Police Station and an investigation was launched dur-
Boucher said that they heard the accident occurred since around 08:30h. The woman explained that she did not know where the man was heading, but not-
She said that the mother of his three children was also unaware of where Giddings was going, but said that he had left home after having breakfast.
According to Boucher, her brother sustained a deep cut under his chin. Giddings was described by his siblings and other relatives gathered at his mother’s house as a quiet and simple person.
The 29-year-old man leaves to mourn his three minor children, reputed wife, mother and several siblings. The driver of the motor vehicle has been taken into custody and is assisting with investigations.
Tross stressed the importance of strengthening institutional capacity through high quality training and the sharing of best practices in the area of port safety among OAS member states.
In addition, the SEDI leader said “ports and the maritime industry contribute significantly to sustainable economic development and social equity and welfare.”
“Together with a network of efficient transport,” she added, “ships and ports are prerequisites for social inclusion in the main economic activities and in access to services”.
“The development of safe, sustainable, and com-
For his part, the Secretary of the CIP, Jorge Durán, coincided with Jaenichen in saying “the issue of safety is important to all sectors of maritime and port activities.” In this regard, he noted that “the Secretariat of the InterAmerican Committee on Ports is committed to contributing to a better development of the port sector in the Americas and one of the ways to do this is to strengthen institutional capacities.” Secretary Duran also said “the protection of ports and their safety” is one of the six priority areas contained in the Declaration and Plan of Action of Cartagena approved by the CIP at its eighth meeting held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, in September 2013.
Alabourer, who was due to make a court appearance today to answer charges of assault, decided to take the law into his own hands on Sunday by killing his wife and then hanging himself.
Dead are Nandanie Mohan, 24, and Vickram Ramdin, 34, of Lot 155, Section D/B Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara.
According to information received, the woman was constantly being abused by her husband and would have made several reports to the Police.
The man was eventually charged for assault and was due to make a court appearance at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, but instead, he strangled the woman with a bed sheet and
then committed suicide.
The bodies were discovered by Ramdin’s sister after she did not see or hear from them during Sunday.
She reportedly went the couple’s home, and as she entered, she found her brother hanging from the rafters of the living room. Upon further checks, she found her sister-in-law motionless body on the bed. It is
believed that the man might have committed the act in the wee hours of Sunday morning, but the discovery was made about 21:00h.
However, when Guyana Times visited the scene of the gruesome murder, a neighbour, who opted to remain anonymous, related that on Sunday evening, she heard screams coming from the couple’s home, but
ignored it, since the couple is constantly having domestic disputes. According to the neighbour, a few months ago, the couple had an ugly dispute.
“Just the other day they had a thing and she had to jump the verandah and jump over the fence to get away from he,” the neighbour explained. The neighbour further
related a previous incident of a similar nature where neighbours had to intervene. The couple had been married for five years and their union brought forth two children. The couple’s children, who are seven and 11 years old, are in the custody of Ramdin’s mother. The Police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Opposition Antigua Labour Party has lost the re-registration case before the court of appeal but won its challenge to proposed boundaries changes. The decisions were handed down in the Court of Appeal this morning.
The ruling in the registration case means the upcoming general elections would be conducted on the voters list emerging from the September 30 to November 4, 2013 re-registration exercise.
The ALP had challenged the process saying some commonwealth citizens who voted in the last election would be disenfranchised due to new residency requirements to register.
The party said the new
rules ought not to have been retroactively applied. The court, however, said those new rules established by an Act of Parliament were lawful.
And as such, those who do not fall within the new residency requirements cannot not be registered. Meanwhile, in the boundaries case, the Court of Appeal dismissed the boundaries report saying the ALP was right that consultations were inadequate. It was already made clear last week there would be no changes to the boundaries ahead of general elections due by July. The decisions were handed down in the Court of Appeal Monday morning during its sitting in Tortola.
(Antigua Observer)
Afemale Police officer who is facing over 100 charges of fraud and who is due to appear before a Port of Spain magistrate on Monday spent four days in police custody giving key information to Fraud Squad officers which could lead to several police officers from the Police Finance Branch being charged for fraudulent offences.
Some civilians also employed at the Police Finance Branch could also face prosecution. Newsday understands that the female officer who had been on the run after learning that warrants were issued for her arrest for allegedly defrauding the Police Service of over TT$400,000 between late 2012 and early 2014, returned to the coun-
try on Thursday morning on a Caribbean Airlines flight and was taken to the Fraud Squad office in Portof-Spain.
Between Thursday and Sunday, the policewoman assisted investigators, pointing them in the direction of persons who allegedly assisted her in the criminal acts for which she has been charged.
Newsday also understands that some fraudulent offences which were never detected prior to the probe into the fraud involving the female officer, were revealed. Now investigators expect to conduct a thorough audit at the Police Finance Branch based at the Police Administration Building, Sackville Street, Port of Spain. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)
Opposition Spokesman on Finance and Planning Audley Shaw says the Government should, by Wednesday, announce a withdrawal of the financial transactions tax which it
has proposed to take effect on June 1.
“I am calling on this Minister of Finance on Wednesday to announce the withdrawal of the tax on bank transactions,” he said, making reference to Dr
Illegal adoption has become a “big business” between Dominica and the neighbouring French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Francis Joseph, advocate for the protection and welfare of children, youth, women and the family touched on the issue at a film viewing and discussion on “Voices of Abused Children,” held last Thursday at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus. He related to the gathering his first encounter with the situation.
Joseph said he pursued the case and, after a long struggle that gained much attention from the press, the baby was found in Martinique by the French Embassy in Saint Lucia and
returned to its birth mother. According to Joseph, the true core of the problem is not the adoption but the illegality of how the children enter the foreign countries.
Joseph said that Dominican cases of illegal adoption are most dominant among the country’s indigenous people. However, it is not an issue that is confined solely to Dominica, but he has witnessed it in many other countries of the world.
According to Joseph, there are many more unresolved cases of illegal adoption in the country. However, he is not authorised to hand over any names and thus has left the investigations in the hands of the French embassy.
(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)
Peter Phillips’ scheduled address in the House of Representatives this week to close the budget debate.
Shaw’s comments came while addressing delegates at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Area Council One (Corporate Area) monthly meeting at Dunoon Park Technical High School in East Kingston, Sunday.
As part of new tax measures to plug a J$6.7-billion gap in the 2014/15 budget, the Government announced on April 17 that withdrawals from deposittaking institutions and security dealers will attract a graduated transaction tax rate, to earn some J$2.25 billion in revenue. However, there has been massive resistance to tax from the Opposition, civil society and financial institutions. Consequently, Dr Phillips said last week that he would review the proposals.
Shaw said that Phillips must ensure that the matter is discussed at today’s meeting of the Cabinet, and that a decision be taken to withdraw the proposal.
(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
An indigenous activist who led a campaign to halt two hydroelectric projects that would have flooded 35 square miles of Amazon river basin, forcibly displacing some 24,000 fellow Ashaninka, is among six environmental advocates awarded this year’s prestigious Goldman Prize.
In addition to Ruth Buendia, the other winners include Ramesh Agrawal of India, who helped villagers fight a large coal mine; Russian zoologist Suren Gazaryan, who defended protected areas around Sochi from illegal land seizures for Olympic construction projects; and American lawyer Helen Slottje, who helped communities fight fracking in New York State
by discovering a legal loophole that allows individual towns to ban the oil extraction method under zoning laws.
The San Francisco-based Goldman Environmental Foundation’s other 2014 winners were South Africa’s Desmond D’Sa won for helping to close down one of his country’s largest toxic waste dumps and Indonesian biologist Rudi Putra, who helped shutter 26 illegal palm oil plantations that were causing deforestation in northern Sumatra.
The winners were to each receive US$175,000 at a ceremony Monday evening at the San Francisco Opera House — an increase from the US$150,000 given to previous recipients. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)
According to US federal court records, Caymanian businessman Bryce Merren had plans to acquire thousands of kilograms of cocaine prior to his arrest by undercover American agents in March. Whether amounts of 1000, 2000 and 3000 kilograms of cocaine referred to in the court records actually existed, or were just fictional amounts proffered by US agents inves-
tigating the case, may be determined at Merren’s upcoming trial. However, according to the most recent US Navy and Coast Guard drug removal statistics, getting cocaine in such large amounts
is quite possible in the Caribbean.
According to US Coast Guard stats, more than 42,500 kilograms of cocaine were removed from the waters of the central and eastern Caribbean shipping routes between October 2011 and this April. Such an amount could have an estimate “street” value of US$1.5 billion. Removal statistics include amounts of cocaine that are tossed overboard by suspects fleeing patrol boats or which otherwise end up in the water, by drugs transport boats sinking, for example.
The numbers do not include any drug interdiction by foreign authorities, including British naval ships or any Caribbean country’s marine patrols.
(Excerpt from cayCompass)
The St Kitts-Nevis Government says while it has not been officially informed by the United States of an investigation into how three Iranians had in their possessions passports of the twin island Federation, it is not worried over the probe.
“We haven’t been informed officially that this is happening and we don’t see anything unusual about this. Several persons, several citizens from several countries across the world occasionally are the subjects of investigations. So there is nothing unusual here,” Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas said.
Opposition politicians claim that the investigations are threatening the St Kitts Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), but Prime
Minister Douglas said “it does not damage our programme at all.
“If that person or those persons were already on a watch list and they were able to obtain our citizenship then that is something you question…or if they are subject to an investigation without necessarily an offence being committed then we consider that to be quite normal and that in anyway should not hurt our citizenship by investment programme,” he said.
Dr Douglas said he wanted to emphasise that the CIP is “one of the oldest in the world, it is the most credible to date in the world, it is the leading programme globally and we could not have attracted these accolades if there wasn’t something that we were doing that wasn’t right. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)
The US has imposed sanctions on seven Russian individuals and 17 companies it says are linked to President Vladimir Putin’s “inner circle”.
The White House said
the move was a response to “Russia’s continued illegal intervention in Ukraine”.
Those targeted include Igor Sechin, head of oil giant Rosneft, and Sergei Chemezov of the hi-tech firm Rostec.
Ethiopia charges nine bloggers, journalists with inciting violence
Ethiopia has charged six bloggers and three journalists with attempting to incite violence, their supporters said on Monday, prompting accusations from rights groups that the Government is cracking down on its critics. All nine defendants, including freelance journalists Tesfalem Waldyes and Edom Kassaye, appeared in court on Sunday after they were rounded up by police on April 25 and April 26, their colleagues told Reuters.
On Monday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on US Secretary of State John Kerry, who visits Ethiopia on Tuesday, to press the Government to “unconditionally release” all
the defendants, but Addis Ababa dismissed the criticism of the case.
“The nine arrests signal, once again, that anyone who criticiSes the Ethiopian Government will be silenced,” said Leslie Lefkow, HRW’s Deputy Africa Director.
“The timing of the arrests – just days before the US Secretary of State’s visit – speaks volumes about Ethiopia’s disregard for free speech,” she said in a statement. In 2012, Addis Ababa sentenced a prominent blogger and five other exiled journalists to between eight years to life on charges of conspiring with rebels to topple the Government.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Egyptian court sentences
683 people to death
An Egyptian judge has sentenced 683 alleged Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death, including the group’s supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, and confirmed the death sentences of 37 of 529 alleged supporters previously condemned.
Outside the courtroom on Monday, when news of the sentences broke, families of the accused began to scream and several women fainted, falling to the ground.
Mohamed Elmessiry, an Amnesty International researcher monitoring the cases, said they “lacked basic fair trial guarantees”. The defendants from the first case whose death sentences were not upheld were each sentenced to 25 years in prison. Many of the lawyers
for the accused boycotted the hearing, demanding that the judge be recused and calling him a “butcher”.
Lawyer Mohamed Abdel Waheb, who represents 25 of the defendants, said the verdict was handed down in a court session lasting less than five minutes. Previously, he said, the single session in the trial lasted just four hours, during which the judge refused to listen to any arguments from the defence.
Abdel Nasser Hassanien, standing outside the courtroom, said five of his relatives were among those sentenced to die, including his brother, Ahmed Hassenein Abdelatty, 22. “Of the five only one is related to the Muslim Brotherhood, and he didn’t do anything,” he said.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
The announcement comes after the mayor of Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine, was shot and critically wounded.
Hennadiy Kernes was recovering after an operation to repair damage to the chest and abdomen, but his life remained in danger, his office said. Monday also saw pro-Russian separatists seize a local government building in Kostyantynivka, a town in the eastern Donetsk region.
In Donetsk itself, proRussian activists armed with clubs and chains attacked a pro-unity rally, correspondents and eyewitnesses said. A number of people were injured in the clash.
Separatists were also continuing to detain about 40 people in the town of Sloviansk, including journalists, proKiev activists and seven military observers linked to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as well as three members of Ukraine’s security service, officials in Kiev said. At a special OSCE meeting in Vienna, Russian ambassador Andrei Kelin said Moscow was taking “steps” to secure the observers’ release. But the area around Sloviansk was very tense and it had been “extremely irresponsible” to send them there, he added. (BBC News)
With the snows melting in the Himalayas, India and China have scheduled a crucial meeting of the border management group on Monday to reinforce patrolling protocols on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
An Indian team from Foreign and Defence Ministries will be in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday to hold the sixth meeting of the working mechanism on border affairs. Although the previous meeting was held just a couple of months ago in February, the Indian Government wanted another meeting. The Chinese team will be led by Ouyang Yujing, Director General, Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs, while
the Indian team will be led by Gautam Bambawale. It was in April 2013 that Chinese troops walked into Depsang in Ladakh to pitch tents sparking one of the most serious national security crises to hit IndiaChina ties. Nobody in the Government wants to see a repeat of that kind of misadventure again.
With the advent of summer, and the opening of Himalayan passes, both Indian and Chinese sides are getting ready to intensify patrols on the LAC. With India in the middle of general elections, the current Government does not want to take any chances with potential misadventures on the LAC. (Times of India)
50 killed in bomb attack on rally, Police and troops voting in Iraq
Fifty people were killed on Monday as suicide bombers attacked a political rally and Iraqi Police and soldiers cast their votes early for a national election in two days’ time, authorities and witnesses said.
A suicide attacker killed at least 30 people and wounded 50 others at a Kurdish political gathering in the town of Khanaqin, 140 km (100 miles) northeast of Baghdad, security sources said. The Kurds were celebrating the television appearance of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd incapacitated since
Alate 2012, who cast his vote in Germany where he was undergoing medical treatment.
“The attacker snuck among the crowds near the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s headquarters and blew himself up, causing a tragic massacre,” one Police Officer said, sobbing after he discovered his brother was among those killed.
Meanwhile, Sunni Muslim militants, mostly disguised in army and Police uniforms, struck at polling centres around Baghdad and northern Iraq as militants tried to disrupt Iraq’s fourth national elec-
encircling the capital. (Excerpt from Reuters)
sweep across southern US, leaving at least 17 dead
t least 17 people were killed when a powerful storm system wreaked havoc through the southern and central US on Sunday night.
The tornado touched down Sunday about 10 miles west of Little Rock, Arkansas, at around 19:00h, then carved an 80-mile path of destruction as it passed through or near several suburbs north of the state capital, including Vilonia. Local television station THV 11 said the local sheriff in Faulkner county had confirmed that six people died in Vilonia.
“It’s just devastating,” Sheriff Andy Shock told THV 11. Shock said the town was facing a “mass casualty situation” and that nearby interstate 40 had been closed in both directions after cars and trucks were overturned.
US Secretary of State
John Kerry has reportedly warned that Israel risks becoming “an apartheid state” if there’s no two-state solu-
tion to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“A two-state solution will be clearly underscored as the only real alternative,” Kerry said. “Because
Emergency workers and volunteers went door-to-door to look for victims. “It turned pitch black,” said Mark Ausbrooks, who was at his parents’ home when the storm arrived. “I ran and got pillows to put over our heads and... all hell broke loose.”
“My parents’ home, it’s gone completely,” he said. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
a unitary state winds up either being an apartheid state with second-class citizens – or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state.”
He was speaking with senior officials from the US, Western Europe, Russia and Japan in a closed-door meeting Friday.
In his comments, Kerry also criticised the Israeli Government’s settlements policy, which he said had halted the peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
“There is a fundamental confrontation and it is over settlements – 14,000 new settlement units announced since we began negotiations. It’s very diffi -
cult for any leader to deal under that cloud,” Kerry said.
However, he added that both Israel and Palestine share the blame for the current impasse in the peace talks. Along with Israel, he also denounced the Palestinian authorities, who do not recognise the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state.
“There’s a period here where there needs to be some regrouping. I don’t think it’s unhealthy for both of them to have to stare over the abyss and understand where the real tensions are and what the real critical decisions are that have to be made,” Kerry said. (Excerpt
tuesday, april 29, 2014
The Commission of Inquiry into the death of historian, Dr Walter Rodney on Monday granted the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) full participation in the proceedings as party Chairman Basil Williams announced that he is representing the party at the proceedings.
Williams and Joseph Harmon were present at the commencement of the inquiry and shortly before Crime Chief Leslie James took the stand as the first witness, the PNCR Chairman stood up announcing that he was representing his party.
He, however, said that his party remains firm on its objections to Commissioner, Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam being part of the inquiry and also some of the Terms of Reference.
Protection of interest
“We must protect our interest as a party, participating in the conduct of the inquiry to represent the interest of the Peoples National Congress Reform,” said Williams. He said the PNCR had taken a decision not to cooperate with the three-member Commission because of concerns about the impartiality of Jairam and one of the
Terms of Reference that mandates the inquiry to determine whether any of the state security agencies had engaged in systematic surveillance of Dr Rodney and other Working People’s Alliance (WPA) activists. Williams said he hopes that lawyers representing the interests of organisations would be allowed to examine witnesses.
The PNCR had announced recently that it will not be participating in the inquiry; a move Attorney General Anil Nandlall said is an abandonment of a golden opportunity
to exonerate itself from allegations that it played a role in the death of the historian.
The party said it made the decision not to participate in the inquiry at a recent Central Executive Committee.
However, Nandlall had pointed out that the Commission is long overdue, and the unease surrounding Rodney’s death needs to be put to rest, once and for all. Given the widespread assumption that it was the PNCR Government, un-
der the stewardship of then President Forbes Burnham, that assassinated Rodney, Nandlall posited that the inquiry would have given the PNCR an opportunity to vindicate itself.“One would think that were they unconnected to Rodney’s death, this would have given them an opportunity to vindicate themselves,” said Minister Nandlall.
The PNCR had expressed reservation on the appointment of Jairam as a Commissioner on the three-man panel, a position that was supported by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the party founded by Dr Rodney.
“As you must be aware, Mr Jairam was the lead counsel representing the Government of Guyana in the recent budget cut case before the Chief Justice Ian Chang. While Mr Jairam is indisputably a highly placed and respected member of the Trinidad and Tobago Bar whose professionalism is not in question, we are of the view that, in these highly charged political issues, his past representations may not free him from the appearance of bias,” the PNCR had said.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds over the weekend visited the Guyana Gold Fields project, the Aurora Gold Mines located in the north-west of the country in CuyuniMazaruni, Region Seven where he was given an update on the progress of work for the soon to be established open pit and underground mining operation.
“The activities have moved from prospecting 10 years ago, and now they are moving into the construction of a plant, and if all goes as planned about 14 months from today they should have their first bar of gold,” the Prime Minister stated, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release.
The Aurora Gold Project is designed to produce 3.29 million ounces of gold, averaging 194,000 ounces yearly.
Development of the mining area, was known for 100 years before its develop-
ment, the Prime Minister stated, and “when I visited 10 years ago they were prospecting, and we saw some equipment from some activities from way back.”
The Prime Minister added that the operation would start with open pit and then continue into an underground operation and they will soon look at the possibility of extending the life of the plant or make way for a bigger one. The Aurora Gold Mines has a project life of 17 years.
Meanwhile the company’s General Manager Vic Rozon, said the company started construction in January of this year and has a completion date of May 2015. Thus far, the company has seen investments from companies, in Australia and Peru, and provides employment for hundreds of Guyanese.
“Construction of a road project has begun and we were working on other infrastructure area such as
dams and bridges and airport strip and also getting the mine areas ready for production. There is a lot of work ahead of us, so far we are committed,” Rozon said. Also, Rozon, stated that he was pleased with the Government’s commitment towards the company in terms of providing the necessary duty- free concession and other support.
Guyana Goldfields is one of South America’s largest gold mines and Guyana’s second largest gold extracting operation since the de-
will be local employees. From its initial launch in 1996 to 2013, about US$192 million has been invested. The sum of US$249 million will be invested from 2013 to 2014, with US$153 million to be spent from 2015 to 2017. The mine is projected to be in operation until 2031. Guyana Gold Fields has undertaken a comprehensive ESI and the necessary permits to ensure compliance with local laws and international best practices. The company’s management team took
parture of OMAI in 2005.
It has been operating in Guyana since 1996, conducting explorations and surveys. Up to 900 staff will be employed, the majority of them Guyanese, during the period of 2013 to 2014 for the construction phase. Routine operations will see as many as 500 staff being employed, and according to company officials, up to 95 per cent of the workforce
Why bother? Creating links, building rapport, connecting dots is what networking is all about. This includes meeting and interacting with people to build a relationship that will prove useful sometime in the future. Be relentless in getting to know people who might be useful, take advantage of them in the way you need to. The most value from people is derived from people you meet or know informally, not your friends or family.
Networks Be active in professional networks, both virtually and locally. This includes organisations and groups related to your work, your age or your education. Alumni organisations are great ways to connect with people who have a defined commonality. Job type or designation organisations are rallied around certain job professions and will be the most in tune when a new job or opportunity in your relevant field opens up.
Prepare a pitch Have a short pitch, 30 seconds or less, about yourself. A brief overview of what you have
done and what you hope to do. This should also be easily converted into text format for messaging or emails. Rehearse this pitch and reiterate it as needed. You should have a pitch for particular audiences. Be visible. Networking is not complete without social networking. Have your social networking sites in order, including Twitter, LinkedIn, and in some respects Facebook. Mainly, have your LinkedIn profile filled out. You are more likely to get a return email or follow up call if people can find out who you are, and can get to “know” beforehand. This is why it is important to both have complete and high level profiles.
Using social media; use wisely. Have separate connections and acquaintances depending on your social media service. For example, you will have uniquely different friends and connections across Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. As a result, be mindful of what you post and share across these sites. (Business Dictionary)
The order in which authority and power in an organisation is wielded and delegated from top management to every employee at every level of the organisation.
Instructions flow downward along the chain of command and accountability flows upward.
According to its propo-
nent Henri Fayol (18411925), the more clear cut the chain of command, the more effective the decision-making process and greater the efficiency.
Military forces are an example of straight chain of command that extends in unbroken line from the top brass to ranks. Also called line of command.
Jamaica’s Government has officially received a new “Roadmap to Seismic Safety” that is a major step on the country’s road to seismic resilience.
The Caribbean is a seismically active region, a fact underscored by a spate of relatively strong earthquakes in recent months.
a decision to reduce the “carbon footprint” of the site’s mining plant from 2000 hectares to 1200 hectares. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s Environmental Division will be upgrading their monitoring capability and enforcement capacity to manage and ensure compliance.
The roadmap, which outlines short, medium and long-term seismic priorities for the Government, was developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management after a seismic risk forum at the beginning of 2014.
“Critical to the success of the programmes that will emanate, will be the buy-in from policy makers,
not only at the central government level, but at the local government level,” said Noel Arscott, Jamaica’s Local Government and Community Development Minister . Horace Glaze, acting deputy director general at ODPEM, said the roadmap would help place a spotlight on an issue that is often overlooked, “partly because we don’t have as many frequent events, although the Earthquake Unit reports that we have over 300 earthquakes a year, with most not felt by the public,” he said. More crucially, Arscott said the country would soon enact a “long-awaited” new building code dealing with seismic resilience (Excerpt from Caribbean Journal)
Some seven files containing evidence relating to the death of Dr Walter Rodney have gone missing and according to Crime Chief Leslie James, he was unable to locate them.
The Crime Chief made the disclosure while giving testimony at the Walter Rodney Commission
of Inquiry. He told the Commission that upon checking, he could not locate the files.
The Files numbered Working People's Alliance (WPA)1-10, according to James may have been compiled during the same year the remaining three (WPA 8-9) were put together.
Senior Counsel
Seenath Jairam questioned whether the WPA files numbered 8-10 were ever disclosed to any body, organisation or public authority charged with investigating the death of Dr Rodney, such as the International Commission of Jurists and or the coroner. James said that he was unaware.
The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) IntraAfrican Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Programme is holding its second regional technical meeting (RTM) on May 5, 6 and 7 in Brussels at ACP House.
The second RTM will build on the momentum generated by a successful first RTM held in Belize in July 2013. It will seek to explore ways to improve the exchange of information, synergies, improve cooperation and coordination among the regions and between the regions and the ACP Secretariat.
“ACP countries are experiencing the critical adverse effects of climate change which are already negatively impacting resources including land, water and also food production. It is therefore imperative that
immediate actions are taken to protect livelihoods,” stated Achille Bassilekin III, Assistant Secretary General, Sustainable Economic Development and Trade Department of the ACP Secretariat.
He added that “the GCCA Intra-ACP Programme provides targeted technical assistance, contributing significantly to tackle climate change both at the national and regional level”.
The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report on March 2014 highlighted that “insufficient responses to emerging impacts are already eroding the basis for sustainable development”.
Dr Pendo Maro, technical adviser to the ACP Secretariat, stressed that “the three-day meeting will
bring together practitioners and policymakers from across the ACP regions and beyond, to identify synergies and areas for common action which will complement and strengthen the existing efforts to tackle climate change in ACP countries and regions. The outcomes will also contribute to preparations for the next UNFCCC International Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Lima, Peru”.
Participants to the second RTM will include high profile representatives of the regional components’ organisations, ACP embassies and missions in Brussels, climate change related programmes being implemented by the ACP Secretariat, the European Union, ACP partner organisations in Brussels, representatives from civil society and the private sector.
The Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, on Monday attended the canonisation ceremony for John Paul II and John XXIII in Saint Peter´s Square in Vatican City, on an invitation from Pope Francis.
Secretary General Insulza called today´s double canonization an historical event of our time. “They are, without doubt, the two principal Popes of the twentieth century who each put the Catholic Church in the centre of the events of his era,” he said.
The Secretary General added: “John XXIII carried out the deepest liturgical and doctrinal reform in centuries and thereby promoted the Church’s encounter with the poor, the persecuted and the excluded, pointing the way to a profound social and political change. His message was picked up by many, especially young people, to
believe in the possibility of a more just world and thus give meaning to their life.”
On John Paul II, Insulza recalled “He took over the leadership of the Church in times of crisis and gave a new vigour and identity to Catholicism worldwide. He led the Church through the turbulent years of the end of the Cold War, opening a wide space of hope for all the peoples of the earth with his example and leadership, who knew of his tireless pilgrimage.”
These two saints, said Insulza, “united forever in history, by the decision of Pope Francis, represent the best of the doctrine and action of the Catholic Church in our times.” In the framework of the visit, in the moments before the ceremony, the Secretary General had the opportunity to speak with the Presidents of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes; Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández; and Ecuador, Rafael Correa; the President elect
As the debate continues to rage over the decriminalisation of marijuana and its use for medicinal purposes, the naysayers have received a boost from the findings of a study reported in the latest edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
How can
According to the study, smoking marijuana can cause potentially lethal damage to the hearts and arteries of young and middle-aged adults.
Researchers in France looked at data from the French Addictovigilance Network between 2006 and 2010. They identified 35
out of nearly 2000 marijuana-users with known medical conditions linked to the heart and arteries in the brain or limbs.
Twenty heart attacks were recorded, as well as 10 cases involving problems with arteries in the limbs, and three affecting blood vessels in the brain.
– call for proposals 2014 for urban innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean
Tof El Salvador, Salvador Sánchez Cerén; as well as the Vice President of Guatemala, Roxana Baldetti, and the Foreign Ministers of Panama, Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Following the ceremony, Secretary General Insulza greeted Pope Francis, who presided over the act in which the Vatican, for the first time in its history, canonised two Popes on the same day. 23 heads of state attended the ceremony, as did ministers from several countries of the Americas and the world, and representatives of different international organisations.
On the day he arrived, the OAS leader met with the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his offices in the Holy See. During the meeting, Secretary General Insulza and Cardinal Parolin discussed the current political context in Latin America and the Caribbean.
he Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation, China’s premiere institute in the field of urban development strategies, launched the call for proposals 2014 for urban innovation. The Fiscal and Municipal Management Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will work together with the Guangzhou Institute to bring innovation and improve the social, economic and environmental sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and to promote the Guangzhou International Award for Urban innovation.
By taking an active role in disseminating the award, the IDB will engage with the Institute on promoting sustainable urban development strategies, encouraging creative solutions in LAC and build up global peer-to-peer learning.
The Guangzhou Award, co-hosted by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis) and the City
of Guangzhou, is an opportunity for sharing and exchange lessons learned from successful innovation. By engaging the LAC region, China will be able to further understand the development challenges facing LAC, and the IDB will acquire resources from experiences across the world in order to address the region’s challenges.
The Guangzhou Award aims at recognising and fostering pioneering policies, strategies, projects and practices in urban development. It presents a unique opportunity for the bank to share and disseminate key achievements in urban development throughout the LAC region.
The Guangzhou Award will be granted to up to five cities for each award cycle. Each of the winning cities will receive a US$20,000 cash prize, a trophy and a commemorative certificate designed for the award.
The winners of the Guangzhou Award are also invited to attend special events including the Guangzhou International Conference on Urban Innovation, an exhibition
and the award ceremony. The Guangzhou Award is open to all cities and regions worldwide. Cities and local authorities are encouraged to submit several initiatives that support a given policy including those that are implemented in collaboration with private and civil society partners.
Submitters are encouraged to complete the registration form in English and send it to the Guangzhou Award Secretariat before May 31, so that the Secretariat can follow up and provide assistance where necessary. Submissions should be made in accordance with the application form on the official website of the Guangzhou Award.
The final applications should be made in accordance with the application form at www.guangzhouaward.org and be submitted by email or mail to the Guangzhou Award Secretariat before June 30 at info@guangzhouaward. org, or by mail to 3901, Pearl River International Building, 112 Yuehua Lu, Guangzhou, PR China (510030)
Let your colleagues in on your latest venture. They will propose interesting ideas. Some constructive criticism will help you move ahead with your plans and reach your destination.
By Bernice Bede Osol
(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
Others may decide to pass their workload on to you. Your responsibilities will take your full attention, so don’t sign up for any additional tasks.
You aren’t guaranteed positive returns on every investment. Consider putting your determination to good use by presenting and promoting your skills and talents instead of someone else’s.
Make a point to learn something new. Don’t limit your possibilities. If you are uncertain or unhappy about your current path, look into other options. Make positive changes.
(Aug. 23Sept. 22)
(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)
Your empathetic nature will be put to good use. Take time to help a worthy organisation and share your insight with those who need it the most.
(March 21-April 19)
Be brave and take on a new challenge. If you seem to be in a stalemate, explore ways to diversify your skills. Pursue a direction that interests you.
(April 20-May 20)
You will be easily upset and drawn into tense situations if you aren’t careful. Take a step back and be an observer until you see a path that is safe to take.
(May 21June 20)
A lighthearted attitude will help you win favors. Don’t speak out until others have had their say. Avoid confrontations and approach things with an open mind. Take the safe route.
It’s time to pick up the pace and stop delaying the inevitable. Your original plan may need to be adjusted. Take the initiative and get busy.
(Sept. 23Oct. 23)
Minor health issues will escalate if you don’t deal with them right away. Ask for assistance if you need it. Your health should be your Number one priority.
(Oct. 24Nov. 22)
Be careful not to overreact or take on too much. You will have to make a difficult decision regarding a personal matter. You must act fast before the situation escalates.
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
Don’t mix business with pleasure. You should keep your personal thoughts a secret. Someone could use information you divulge against you. Protect your reputation and your assets.
Asearing left-footer
almost from midfield off the boot of Mark Miller rocked the nets to hand Alpha United a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the final of the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) One Love Classic football tournament on Sunday evening.
Playing in front of the largest crowd to attend the competition this year at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda, overtime was required to separate the eventual champions and the Guyana Defence Force after both
teams failed to score during the 90 minutes regulation time.
In the third-place playoff, host club Fruta Conquerors outplayed Riddim Squad 4-2.
As Alpha United and GDF battled for the elusive goal, there were several missed opportunities as both teams came agonisingly close to scoring.
However, it was Alpha United who found success through Miller, who ended as the game’s only scorer; his strike in the 121st minute handed the Georgetown-based side the $1.2 million top prize.
The victory solidified
Regal, Floodlight and Trophy Stall Angels emerged champions of the various categories of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) softball competition sponsored by the Trophy Stall.
Playing at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown, Regal defeated West Coast side Wolf’s Warriors by 47 runs in the Open category, Floodlight prevailed by three wickets over Success in the Masters division, while Trophy Stall Angels outplayed Mike’s Wellwoman by eight wickets in the female competition.
In the Open final, Regal batted first and posted a commanding 226-4 from the allotted 20 overs with openers Ricardo Adams and Richard Latiff leading the scoring with 69 not out and 62 respectively.
Adams counted six fours and four sixes in his knock, while Latiff cleared the boundary six times and hit two fours. Safraz Esau chipped in with 35 (1x4, 3x6s). Vishnu Tammichandra claimed 2-32 for Wolf’s Warriors, who responded with 179 in 18.2 overs. Tammichandra scored 46 (5x6s), Riaz Karim made 36 (4x6s) and Azad Azeez 20 (2x6s). Roopesh Motilall snared 3-22 and Latiff 2-20.
In the Masters games, Floodlight got the better of Success by three wickets. Success took first strike and managed 124 all out in 20
overs. Dharmendra Mohabir topscored with 33; Clyde Canterbury captured 2-9 and Wayne Jones 2-25. Floodlight replied with 125-7 in 19.5 overs with Richard Persaud cracking 38, while Rickey Deonarine blasted 34 and Jones 24 not out. Mohabir picked up 3-20. On the distaff side, Trophy Stall Angels outplayed Mike’s Wellwoman by eight wickets.
Mike’s Wellwoman scored 73-7 in 10 overs taking first strike with Latoya Smith making 24. Trophy Stall responded with 74-2 in 9.2 overs. West Indies opener June Ogle scored 48 not out and Heema Singh an unbeaten 18. Latiff was given the Man-of-the-Match and Most Valuable Player for his 256 runs and eight wickets in the Open category, while Wolf’s Warriors received a trophy and $50,000 and Regal a trophy and $100,000.
In the Masters division, Mohabir received the Man-of-the-Match prize and Jones the Most Valuable Player accolade. Success collected a trophy and $50,000 and Floodlight a trophy and $100,000.
In the female segment, Ogle pocketed the Playerof-the-Match prize, Kavita Yadram the best batter trophy and Smith the most outstanding bowler award.
Mike’s Wellwoman received a trophy and $25,000 and Trophy Stall Angels a trophy and $50,000.
Alpha United’s status as the competition’s most successful team with four titles under their belt.
While the final produced just a solitary goal, the third- place playoff counted six with Fruta Conquerors being the successful team.
Dwayne Lawrence was the star for Fruta Conquerors, scoring a double in the 18th and 60th minutes. Delon Williams and Jahall Greaves added one apiece in the 51st and 63rd minutes respectively. Scoring for Riddim Squad were Seon Hope in the 13th minute and Amos Ramsey in the 48th minute.
At the conclusion of
the competition, Chief Executive Officer of NAMILCO, Bert Sukhai, declared that the final was one of the best in the tournament’s history. He also pointed out that the event was an overall success in 2014.
Sukhai also promised to continue sponsoring the knockout tournament, which is usually used by the Fruta Conquerors club as an avenue to raise funds for development works at its Tucville ground.
President of the Fruta Conquerors club, Wayne Forde, pointed out that they will be working along with NAMILCO to make
the tournament the number one club competition in Guyana.
Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill and Director of Sport Neil Kumar, who witnessed the final and later assisted in the presentation of prizes, congratulated the organisers on a well-run tournament, while they lauded NAMILCO for its investment in football.
NAMILCO injected $5 million into this year’s competition, a sponsorship package that has steadily increased since the first year when the company had invested $1.6 million.
(Avenash Ramzan)
Dwayne Bravo believes the West Indies selectors have “got it wrong” by excluding him from the Test side over the past few years. The all-rounder’s last Test appear
ance came in December 2010 in Sri Lanka and he said that it had been “disheartening” and “disappointing” watching from the outside.
“To be honest I was very disappointed that I was not able to make the Test squad within that time [since 2010],” Bravo told Line and Length. “In the little time I’ve played Test cricket, I think I’ve done good enough to still at least be part of West Indies’ Test attack.
“From the selectors down to the coach as well, every day I see them, I abuse them,” Bravo joked. “I keep asking what it is I have to do again to be selected. Obviously, they can’t really give a proper answer so it always finishes off with a small laugh. Nothing really serious comes out of it.”
Bravo, the West Indies ODI captain, is currently in London undergoing rehab following a shoulder injury in Chennai Super Kings’ first IPL match that ruled him out of the ongoing T20 league. He said that the “hunger is always there” and that he had always showed a desire to continue playing Test cricket despite his many T20 obligations globally in the past couple of years. Bravo said he was optimistic he could be recalled for the three-Test home series against New Zealand starting June 8 given his recent form. In his 40 Tests, Bravo has made 2200 runs at an average of 31.42 and taken 86 wickets at 39.83.
With the Pybus report under scrutiny to help revamp West Indies’ Test status by ensuring the firstchoice players are present in the domestic cricket season, attention has been drawn as to how dedicated some Caribbean players are to Tests and
Dwayne Bravo
how receptive they would be to Pybus’ recommendation. Chris Gayle undertook a Test hiatus in 2012 after a dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board that lasted 18 months. Following West Indies’ semi-final exit at the World T20, Gayle, who was nursing a glute injury, Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine and Bravo all failed to play a single match in the Regional Four Day tournament. Kieron Pollard played two round-rob -
in games before leaving to link up with Mumbai Indians as Trinidad & Tobago went on to lose in the semifinal. Marlon Samuels, Andre Russell and Denesh Ramdin have played only one match each in the domestic season. Sammy, the Test captain, had bemoaned the team’s away performances against India and New Zealand late last year and said “we cannot continue like this”. Bravo said it was tough coping with West Indies’ recent Test performances but added that the last time New Zealand visited the Caribbean, the West Indies topped them. “Losing Test matches within three days is something no Test nation would really like to see,” Bravo said. “As a West Indian player to see that happening and know that I’m not able to actually contribute or be a part of it is really disheartening. But I think we will be a very difficult team to beat at home if we get the right combination and right players selected.”
Given the nature of the Caribbean pitches, “quality spin” would be West Indies’ trump card against New Zealand, Bravo said, and added that using Sulieman Benn or Shane Shillingford to partner Sunil Narine would be most effective.
Bravo also said that he hoped to see younger brother Darren recouping his international form. Darren Bravo had left the New Zealand tour during the ODIs due to personal reasons but was part of T&T’s regional campaign. “We all know that he’s one of our more talented batsmen,” Dwayne Bravo said. “He’s been going through a tough time mentally and had some family and personal issue to take care of. He just needs positivity, encouragement and support. We all go through this as players.” (ESPNcricinfo)
With a passionate crowd behind them, a savvy coach and a settled team enjoying a sparkling run of form Brazil are hot favorites to lift a record sixth World Cup this July.
After their quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands four years ago, coach Dunga was replaced by Mano Menezes who re-shaped the team and gave debuts to young, agile players such as Neymar, Oscar, Fernandinho and Paulinho.
In turn Menezes made way for old favorite Luiz Felipe Scolari in December 2012 and the man who guided Brazil to their fifth World Cup triumph in 2002 has since added both steel and guile to the undoubted flair in the squad.
Crucially he rallied fans behind the team and, in just six months, turned Menezes’s callow group of youngsters into one capable of great things.
The way they waltzed through the Confederations Cup last year, defeating Uruguay and Italy on the road to a 3-0 final drubbing of world champions Spain, was unforgettable and instilled a belief in the side missing for the best part of a decade.
Brazil have won seven games in a row and 13 of their last 14, and fans no longer wonder whether they can win the competition, they
are expecting it.
The worry, however, is whether they have peaked too early.
No team have won the World Cup after lifting the Confederations Cup a year previously. Brazil won the dress rehearsal tournament in 2005 and 2009 but a year later suffered crushing disappointment.
Another pertinent question is how will they respond to the pressure of playing the World Cup at home in front of passionate fans desperate for success.
While every member of the 23-man squad has European experience few will have encountered the expectation about to be heaped on their shoulders.
“It’s different,” said Juninho, the former Vasco da Gama, Atletico Madrid and Middlesbrough midfielder who took home a World Cup winner’s medal in 2002. “There’s much more pressure. Representing your country is more important.”
The only other time Brazil hosted the World Cup was in 1950 when the home side lost out in the final match to Uruguay.
ENORMOUS PRESSURE
That defeat scarred the nation and the enormous pressure to finally lift the trophy at the Maracana could be an issue if the team start slowly in their opener against Croatia and anxious supporters get
Pthe tournament, Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said on Sunday.
Hundreds of thousands
on their backs.
So far, at least, the players do not appear overawed.
The good run has left them brimming with confidence and with good reason - they scored 25 goals in the last seven games, conceding only two. Five of the seven teams they faced had qualified for the World Cup.
“We’ve ended this preparation phase perfectly,” Thiago Silva said after the team’s last friendly, a 5-0 drubbing of South Africa in March.
“We were unbeaten in winning the Confederations Cup, we did what Felipao asked of us in this match and I am certain we’ll do a great job in the World Cup.”
That confidence is not misplaced, but it must be accompanied by humility if there is to be no repeat of 2006 when, delirious with the form of the Four Rs (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos), Brazil thought the tournament would be a walk in the park.
Instead they crashed out in the quarter-finals to France.
Scolari has repeatedly and boldly declared Brazil will win the World Cup and seven of the UK and Ireland’s biggest bookmakers make them the favorites.
The feeling at home is the tournament is theirs to lose.
of Brazilians took to the streets during last year’s Confederations Cup to protest World Cup spending and a lack of infrastructure investment.
Smaller scale protests are still occurring in the country, which will host the June 12-July 13 tournament for the first time since 1950.
Scolari said he was not against demonstrations but the World Cup was not the best time for his players to be confronted with any outside issues.
“I think protests can happen,” Scolari said in an interview on Fantastico, a popular television show. “If they are normal, without smashing things up, then that is democracy.
“But I don’t know if it’s the right time.
M“They are Brazil players and they have one mission. They can think, they can express themselves, they can say ‘I want a better Brazil, too’, but I don’t want it to be something that causes problems in our environment.”
When asked if protests could affect the players, Scolari replied: “It could, big time.” There is concern that protestors will try to disrupt some of the 64 World Cup matches after they marched towards the stadia used in last year’s Confederations Cup. They were often held back by riot police using dogs, percussion grenades and tear gas and police have undergone further training to make sure there is no repeat. (Reuters)
ichael Jordan said he’s both disgusted and outraged by the racist comments allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
Jordan, now the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, released a statement Sunday addressing the matter. He said that as an owner, “I’m completely disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views.”
As a former player, Jordan says “I’m completely outraged.”
An audio recording obtained by TMZ alleges that Sterling made racist comments to a girlfriend, including urging her not to bring black friends to
Clippers games. The NBA and the Clippers are investigating, including whether the male voice on the recording is in fact Sterling’s.
Jordan said he is confident that NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver will investigate the matter fully and “take appropriate action quickly.”
“There is no room in the NBA - or anywhere else - for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed,” Jordan said. “I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level.”
Jordan’s Bobcats trail the Miami Heat 3-0 in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series that resumes in Charlotte on tonight.
Word could be coming soon as to the fate of American sprinter Tyson Gay. Gay failed an out-of-competition test in May last year, and again at the American national championships, as he attempted to gain selection to the US team to the 14th IAAF World Athletic Championships in Moscow, Russia.
News of Gay’s positive test surfaced on July 14, 2013, the same day news broke that five Jamaican athletes, including Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, had returned adverse findings following drug tests conducted at the Jamaican national championships in June that year. All but one of the Jamaican athletes have had their matters resolved, with Powell and Simpson receiving 18-month suspensions. They had tested positive for
the stimulant Oxilofrine. LONG PROCESS
In that 10-month span, Gay’s situation is yet to be resolved, but that could change sometime soon.
“It has been a long process, so I think it is nearing a con-clusion,” Gay’s agent, Mark Wetmore, said on Nationwide radio recently. “Let’s hope that in the coming days or weeks, we will all know where this one stands.”
Media reports had linked Gay with Dr Clayton Gibson III from an anti-aging clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. Those reports said Gay had been receiving treatments from the doctor, and that the American 100-metre record holder and the second-fastest man in history was using a cream containing testosterone, DHEA and growth hormones, all banned substances.
After news of the failed
tests emerged, Gay said: “I don’t have a sabotage story. I don’t have any lies. I don’t have anything to say to make this seem like it was a mistake or it was on USADA’s hands, someone playing games. I don’t have any of those stories. I basically put my trust in someone, and I was let down.”
(Jamaica Gleaner)
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Sandeep Sharma picked up his second consecutive Man-of-the-Match award © BCCI
In a game crippled by poor batting, Royal Challengers Bangalore limped to 124 and Kings XI Punjab were in danger of failing to chase that middling total, before they hung on to win by five wickets and leave the UAE with their fifth win in as many games. Chris Gayle, playing his first game of the season, and the rest of his team-mates failed to show up for the second game in a row and Royal Challengers lost seven wickets inside 15 overs. Kings XI also had their moments of anxiety at 88 for 5, but Rishi Dhawan and George Bailey completed the chase with seven balls to spare.
Royal Challengers showed poor game sense from the beginning, starting from Gayle’s unusual approach of going ballistic from ball one. Gayle was forced to sit out the first four games due to injury and in the urge to make up for lost time, hammered 20 off the opening over by Glenn Maxwell, though not in the most convincing manner. But when attempting to dish out the same treatment to Sandeep Sharma the following over, he played one impetuous stroke too many and that started a slide Royal Challengers never recovered from.
Sandeep, the right-arm seamer, gets prodigious inswing and that helped in trapping Gayle and Virat Kohli, though he was lucky to get the latter. The swing took the ball past leg stump when the ball struck Kohli’s pads but Billy Bowden was convinced it was hitting the stumps. A horrified Kohli trudged back after a pause, and the scowl hardly left his face through the game.
The top order fell to some inspired seam bowling from Sandeep and Mitchell Johnson who pitched the ball up and induced edges. AB de Villiers failed to take charge of the in-
nings as he tamely lobbed the ball to backward point off Dhawan. The responsibility fell on the inconsistent Yuvraj Singh, and though he showed glimpses of his old self with his on-side flicks, he too fell to a poor shot. He pulled a short ball and found David Miller at deep midwicket with pin-point precision. It was a questionable shot, given the circumstances. Yuvraj was the last recognised batsman and Royal Challengers were three short of 100 with more than five overs to play.
The loss of wickets dried up the boundaries. Incredibly, Royal Challengers failed to score a boundary off the last seven overs, with only two instances of the ball crossing the ropes, via leg byes.
With a paltry 124 to defend, Royal Challengers needed quick wickets. Two brilliant catches at fine leg by Mitchell Starc gave them hope. A pick up shot by Wriddhiman Saha nearly cleared the rope but Starc hung on despite covering several yards near the
edge of the rope. Maxwell tried the same shot but Starc this time hung on, diving forward. Maxwell’s wicket gave Royal Challengers hope but for the second time in as many games, Kings XI managed without him.
Miller and Virender Sehwag kept Kings XI on track with a stand of 45. However, a double-strike by the legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal added a twist. Miller edged a googly, Sehwag was adjudged caught behind as well but replays showed he hadn’t nicked it. It left Kings XI at a edgy 88 for 5, but they still held the edge thanks to a comfortable required rate of 5.28 and depth in batting.
Dhawan eased the nerves with a square cut for four off Dinda and a dab to third man off Yuvraj. The captain Bailey played second fiddle and the pair sealed the win in the 19th over. Royal Challengers succumbed to their third loss, and will need a quick turnaround once the tournament returns to India. (ESPNcricinfo)
McCullum enjoying batting with ‘intelligent’ smith
Chennai Super Kings went into the IPL season with a fresh opening pair in Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith. So far, the two have responded with starts of 123, 23, 35, 11 and 85. McCullum said he was enjoying batting with Smith, and added that despite their aggressive styles, they were complementing each other, which MS Dhoni had pointed out earlier.
“It is great to bat with him because he is so powerful and has a lot of options in his batting,” McCullum told the tournament website. “He is a very intelligent cricketer as well. I enjoy how wise a head he has about his game. He has certainly shown his experience in this format of the game. We seem to have a good rapport and get a good partnership going. We are pretty lucky that both of us hit the ball and hit it in different areas. I saw a comment from our captain earlier in the week when he said
that Smith and I don’t compete against each other but we complement each other, which is nice to have in an opening partnership.”
McCullum said that the team management also had a role to play in the pair’s success. “The captain and the coach have complemented our abilities to play our games. They don’t want us to be too aggressive, but just play the style
of cricket which has got us to where we are in world cricket at the moment. It is always nice to get a leadership team like that to give the confidence to go out and play. What we have seen are reasonably aggressive starts from us, which are in character with how we are as players. We are not trying to be what we are not; we are just trying to play our natural game.”
(ESPNcricinfo)
Aslew of brilliant individual performances shook the Headley/Weekes Trophy
Final to life on Monday here but a career-best spell from leg-spinner Damion Jacobs and Jermaine Blackwood’s second half-century of the match put Jamaica firmly in charge against Windward Islands.
Blackwood followed up his 94 in the first innings with an unbeaten 88 and defied a hat-trick from Kenroy Peters, as Jamaica reached 147 for seven in their second innings at the close on the third day of the finale to the Regional Four-Day Championship for an overall lead of 322.
Peters spiced up the contest, when he removed John Campbell (14), Andre McCarthy and Dave Bernard Jr with the third, fourth and fifth balls of his first over to etch his name in tournament history.
He became 16th bowler and the second from the Windwards, following compatriot and current coach Ian Allen, to take a hat-trick. He ended the day with four for 44 from 10 overs, adding the scalp
captain Tamar
for 20 in a second
later in the day.
Jacobs had held centre stage in the first half of another compelling day at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, when he triggered a dramatic Windwards batting collapse and upstaged Devon Smith’s 23rd first-class hundred, as the home team crumbled for 217 to concede a first innings lead of 175.
The 29-year-old Jacobs, delivering with a runup and action similar to Australian legend Shane Warne, finished with eight for 47 from 22 overs.
It was the fifth-best figures by a Jamaican in the history of the modern West Indies first-class championship (from 1966 onwards).
Jamaica 1st Innings
N Bonner c Ambris b Mathew 88 John Campbell c Charles b Johnson 0
J Blackwood LBW Peters 94
A McCarthy c & b Sebastien 62
T Lambert* c Charles b Peters 18
C Baugh+ c Smith b Matthew 8
D Bernard c Charles Matthew 0
N Miller not out 64
D Jacobs c Matthew b Peters 30
J Taylor c Ambris b Shillingford 5
S Cottrell c Lesporis b Shillingford 13
Total: 392 All Out (147.4 Overs)
Extras: (lb3, w1, nb4) 8
Fall of Wickets: 1-7, 2-186, 3-194, 4-237, 5-266, 6-266, 7-304, 8-361, 9-366, 10-392.
Windward Islands 1st
Innings
Bowling:
Bowling: D Johnson 18-3-80-1, M Matthew 31-8-68-3, K Peters
27-7-59-3, S Shillingford 16.1-055-2, L Sebastien 47.3-7-103-1, D Smith 4-0-11-0, J Charles 4-113-0.
Windward Islands 1st Innings
D Smith st Baugh b Jacobs 111
T Theophile c John Campbell b Jacobs 57
S Ambris c Bonner b Jacobs 5
J Charles+ c Bonner b Jacobs 0
K Lesporis c Baugh b Jacobs 1
R Currency LBW Jacobs 0
L Sebastien* not out 11
M Matthew c Lambert b Miller 7
K Peters c John Campbell b Jacobs 6
D Johnson c Miller b Jacobs 2
Total: 217 All Out (79 Overs)
Extras: (lb9, w1, nb2) 12
Did not Bat: S Shillingford (Injured)
Fall of Wickets: 1-155, 2-162, 3-166, 4-176, 5-180, 6-193, 7-204, 8-215, 9-217.
Jamaica 1st Innings Bowling: J Taylor 12-1-41-0, S Cottrell 7-1-39-0, D Bernard 6-0-21-0, N Miller 27-11-48-1, T Lambert 5-1-12-0, D Jacobs 22-6-47-8.
Jamaica 2nd Innings (Lead; 175)
N Bonner LBW Matthew 2 John Campbell LBW Peters 14
J Blackwood not out 88
A McCarthy c Charles b Peters 0
D Bernard c Ambris b Peters 0
C Baugh+ c Smith b Matthew 14
T Lambert* c Ambris b Peters 20
N Miller c Lesporis b Sebastien 0
D Jacobs not out 7
Total: 147/7 (43 Overs)
Extras: (lb1, nb1) 2
Fall of Wickets: 1-2, 2-51, 3-51, 4-51, 5-96, 6-136, 7-137. Windward Islands 1st Innings Bowling: M Matthew 11-0-352, S Shillingford 11-1-33-0, D Johnson 1-0-18-0, K Peters 102-44-4, L Sebastien 10-4-16-1.
three points behind leaders Liverpool and one off second-placed Chelsea.
Pellegrini’s men have a game in hand on their title rivals, as well as a superior goal difference.
But the Chilean said: “There is no advantage now, no. It depends what we can do in the future.”
He added: “This league will be decided by a narrow margin, maybe one point, maybe even goal difference.”
Controversy reigned as three of the four Guyanese boxers who participated in the Wray and Nephew Boxing Series Eliminator in Jamaica lost their opening fights.
Gordon Garraway and Derrick Richmond have both returned to Guyana while Revlon Lake has returned to Barbados after representing Guyana in his lost opening fight.
However, Guyana still has hope as Howard “The Battersea Bomber” Eastman is scheduled to go into action on Wednesday.
Guyana’s welterweight champion Richmond lost his fight to Jamaican Tsetsi “Lights Out” Davis at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium last Wednesday.
Two of the judges scored the fight in favour of Davis 54-60, 58-56 and 69-55. The decision by the judges was booed by some sections of the crowd, especially by Team Caribbean.
Richmond, who fought out of his weight class and played the waiting game which Davis never fell for, said he was “not disappointed” with the result. “Tsetsi is a good fighter and probably I will catch him next time in my weight division.”
Tsetsi admitted that Richmond had hurt him during the fight. “…One time he caught me and took my foot away, but I did not show it. So ‘nuff’ respect I have to come to Guyana to beat him
one more time.” He said at the end of the fight.
Meanwhile, the most controversial decision came when the lights went out on a wobbling Richard Holms. The Jamaican was at the time being punished by Gordon Garraway of Guyana in their six- round encounter.
With 25 seconds left in the third round and the Jamaican looking as though he was not going to make it to the end of the round on his feet, the lights over the ring went out leaving the rest of the auditorium with
lights.
It took about 30 minutes for the lights to be put back on by which time Holms had fully recovered and Garraway became frustrated. The judges scored the fight 54-56, 58-60 and 55-53 to give Holms victory. Meanwhile, Revlon Lake, who fights out of Barbados, lost to Saketa Mullings in their six- rounder.
Eastman will take on Derrick “The Guts” Spencer at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium on Wednesday evening. (Andrew Carmichael)
High- profile Jamaican athletes, dogged by accusations and convictions on doping charges, have found a sympathetic ear from one of their fiercest rivals in track and field.
American Justin Gatlin, who in 2006 tested positive for a banned substance and served a four-year exile from the sport, is rallying to support athletes who, he claims, are often unfairly maligned and left dangling with stained reputations.
the consequences, including humiliation, loss of career opportunities and earnings, when they violate substance-abuse standards.
“A lot of athletes take the fall for that, because we do trust physios, we do trust, you know, companies that make these products to make us better,” said Gatlin, who is scheduled to compete at this weekend’s Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston.
Manuel Pellegrini.
Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace put City
City’s game at Selhurst Park kicked-off immediately after Liverpool’s defeat by Chelsea and Pellegrini praised his team for retain-
ing their focus.
“The players knew the score, but it was a very professional performance,” said the 60-year-old. “It could have been difficult for us to manage the game but we did it very well.
“For the moment we’ll continue in third position, so we have to play and win our three games but the good thing is that the destiny is in our own hands.”
Pellegrini’s men travel to fifth-placed Everton next weekend before finishing their campaign with home games against Aston Villa and West Ham.
He doesn’t believe Jamaicans should be singled out for criticism or suspicion, even after a rash of positive test results sent big names like Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson out of competition via suspensions, although both have appealed their punishment.
In the quest for excellence, Gatlin explained, some athletes get trapped by ignorance and trust, unwittingly becoming villains of the sport.
“It is not just a Jamaican thing or an American thing or a European thing, you know,” Gatlin explained Friday.
“It’s athletes all together ... . We’re trying to push the envelope to be better athletes, break more records.”
The former Olympic
gold medallist and world record holder in the 100 metres, who snatched silver behind Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in the event at last year’s World Championships in Athletics, accepted that all athletes are responsible for what they ingest. However, he also blamed some manufacturers which fail to properly list banned substances in their haste to become the product of choice.
“In the mix you have a lot of companies and products who are jumping on the bandwagon with excitement to make better vitamins, better products, you know, to make athletes get better,” said Gatlin. “Sometimes they disregard what’s in their supplements.”
Athletes then take the products and are left to bear
Ironically, Gatlin believes the recent rash of positive doping tests, coupled with the athletes’ claiming innocence could shift the spotlight from competitors to those companies.
“A lot of governments are now looking at it,” he said. “ ... Athletes do become victims of their own situation ... . It can be a simple mistake.
“You don’t want somebody who has made a simple mistake to sit out years and lose out on the opportunity to flourish and be one of the best athletes in the world, breaking records, making history and bring excitement to their country and to the world, and basically marring their name and putting a black mark on their name when they do come back.
(Jamaica Gleaner)
Recently crowned Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association/Trophy Stall champions Regal XI, Trophy Stall Angels and Floodlights XI are some of the teams registered in their respective categories to compete in this weekend’s Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) inaugural Independence Cup.
The tournament, which will see teams battle in three categories, namely Masters, Open and Female, is set for May 3, 4 and 5, at various venues in the city, culminating with the finals at the Everest Cricket Club next Monday.
This was disclosed on Monday by Assistant Secretary/Treasurer of the GSCL Inc., Russell Jadbeer, who said only eight male teams will be doing battle for supremacy in the Open category, while six strong female teams will be battling for supremacy.
“We were targeting 12 teams in the Male Open category, but unfortunately only eight of the country’s softball teams responded to the call. The show must go on so we accepted the eight teams, even though it forced us to reduce the initial prize money that was up for grabs” Jadbeer said.
In the Open category, Regal XI, who defeated Wolf Warriors by 47 runs to take the GFSCA crown last Saturday night, will compete against the same opponents along with Trophy Stall, Speed Boat, Smith’s
XI, Memorex, Farm and Karibee Boys for the top prize of $500,000 and trophy, with the second-placed team pocketing $100,000.
Trophy Stall Angels will go up against Mike’s Wellwoman, Karibee Girls, 4R Lioness, Regal and Lady Jags for the female category prize of $50,000 and trophy with the runner-up pocketing $25,000.
Floodlights Masters were forced to work overtime in the GFSCA/Trophy Stall final against Success Masters, before they came out victorious by three wickets with one ball to spare and with teams such as Regal Masters, Parika Defenders, Industry Super Kings, Frontline Rangers and Superior Woodmasters entering this competition, another interesting battle
can be anticipated as well.
The top prize in this category is $400,000 and trophy, with the losing finalists pocketing $100,000 and trophy, making it more exciting, since several players will be looking to bring their talent to the fore in order to be selected as a guest player for teams in this year’s GFSCA’s Guyana Cup 4.
Teams are asked to note carefully, that the GSCL Inc. will provide the Supreme balls to be used in the Open and Female categories, while for the Masters category the big ball will be used, as ‘round-hand’ and ‘wrist-bowling’ will be allowed.
Additional information will be provided at the team briefing, which will take place on Wednesday along with the launching of the tournament, at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) pavilion from 1700h, when Director of Sport Neil Kumar will deliver the feature address.
Some of the grounds identified for this tournament, which promises to be an annual affair, are: GNIC, Demerara Cricket Club, Ministry of Education, Carifesta Sports Complex, Muslim Youth Organisation, St Stanislaus and Everest.
Some sponsors who have thrown their support behind the tournament are GuyTrac and Agri Parts, Trophy Stall, Puran Brothers Topmix, Jialing, Digimax and Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says his side “have no chance” of winning the Premier League title despite them beating leaders Liverpool to move within two points of top spot.
The Blues sit second in the table - one point ahead of Manchester City who have one game in hand - af-
ter goals from Demba Ba and Willian completed a 2-0 victory at Anfield.
“I’m a bit confused with what the media thinks about defensive displays”
Jose Mourinho
“We are not in it,” said Mourinho, whose side have two games remaining. “The champions will be Liverpool or City. We have nothing to
celebrate.”
The Portuguese added: “Today was an important three points and we need one more to finish third.”
Third place ensures the Champions League semifinalists, who finish their league campaign with a home game against Norwich and a visit to Cardiff, would not have to play any qualifying matches in Europe’s elite club competition next season.
The Blues, who face Atletico Madrid in the second-leg of their last-four Champions League tie on Wednesday, arrived at Anfield amid speculation Mourinho would rest players and play a weakened team, despite the magnitude of the fixture.
Defeat would have ended Chelsea’s hopes of winning the title they last claimed in 2010, but late goals in each half ensured they are still contenders, despite Mourinho’s reluctance to admit so. (BBC Sport)
Three-day cricket. An eight-team Premier Division. Transfer fees. These are the main changes proposed by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Competition Restructuring Committee during the second quarterly meeting of the Board at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva last Thursday.
Chairman of the committee Arjune Ramlal said the draft proposals deal with the issues of reorganising of the National League competition to make it more competitive, increasing the duration of matches and addressing the perennial problem of the movement of players from club to club.
He also noted that the changes were part of the TTCB’s response to some of the problems and issues raised by clubs and stakeholders during the TTCB symposium in January.
TTCB president Azim Bassarath also alluded to the fact that the clubs have been clamouring for a change. “In 2014, we are just past the halfway stage of our Premiership League, and as the action heats up on the field, with the return of our national cricketers, there is also a major murmur among our clubs for a leaner, meaner Premiership,” said Bassarath during his speech at a press conference at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, on Friday.
“Let me assure the clubs today, that we are listen-
ing to you and intend to act quickly and decisively on this matter...if you so desire. Let me toss the ball back to you,” he added. He called on the clubs to “Communicate with us ASAP, as early as today on what you see as the best structure for our National League and how we can achieve it.
“With your knowledge, you are in the best position to advise. Only yesterday (Thursday) at our quarterly board meeting, two papers were presented. Let’s have your thoughts, your ideas and your support, if you truly want a leaner, meaner Premiership in 2015. The time to act is now,” stated the TTCB president.
Ramlal also pointed out that the draft proposals will now be shared with all the major stakeholders to get their feedback on it before any decision is taken.
In terms of the structure of the club competition, the Committee, which also includes Clint Pamphille, Daren Ganga, Andre Lawrence, Tarrandath Sammy, Allan Sammy, Patrick Rampersad, Keshwar Chaitoo and Joseph Sam Phillip, proposed that instead of having one 12-team Premier Division, there should be two Premier Divisions of eight teams each.
The current structure of the League features a 12team Premier Division and three – East North-East, North-Central, and South – ten-team Championship
Divisions. The rationale for the change according to the Committee’s proposal is to “enhance the quality of the competition among clubs at the Premier and Championship levels.”
To achieve this, top eight teams in the Premier Division after the 2015 season will make up Premier One and the last four teams will be demoted to Premier Two.
The winners of the three Championship Divisions and the best second-place team will be promoted to Premier Two to make up the eight teams.
They also proposed that the Championship Division be reduced from three tenteam divisions to just two ten-team divisions (North and South). The second proposal deals with lengthening the duration of the National League matches from two days of 105 overs per day to three days with 90 overs per day.
Ramlal also pointed out that a key problem facing clubs was the movement of players from one club to the next and to address that issue, they came up with the proposal that the player’s new club pay a “transfer allowance” to the player’s old club.
The Committee suggested a “transfer allowance” of $12,000 for clubs in Premier One, $10,000 in Premier Two, $8,000 in the Championship Clubs and $4,000 in the Zonal competition.
Rio Ferdinand wants to be part of Manchester United’s plans next year regardless of who is manager.
The defender, 35, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been tipped to leave the club.
Ferdinand made nine league starts under sacked manager David Moyes but interim boss Ryan Giggs gave him a first start in a month in the 4-0 win over Norwich.
“I’m going to continue
playing,” he said. “Whether it’s here, I don’t know. But I hope so.”
Ferdinand, who moved to Old Trafford from Leeds 12 years ago, has also recently admitted he is “embarrassed” by United’s league position this year.
“I’ve not looked at the table for ages because you don’t want to. It’s embarrassing”
Rio Ferdinand United lie seventh, six points behind sixth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand, after the weekend.
“I’ve not looked at the table for ages because you don’t want to,” said Ferdinand.
“It’s embarrassing. You don’t want to look and see where we are.”
Despite having rarely featured this season, Ferdinand accepts the whole squad share the blame for their disappointing season.
“That’s down to us as players,” said the former England captain. “We take responsibility for that as much as anyone else.
“We are where we are. We are not shirkers and we are not people who don’t take responsibility.”
Ferdinand admitted being frustrated by his lack of opportunities under Moyes, but conceded: “That’s part and parcel of the game and you have to accept decisions that are made.
“Some managers play you, some don’t. Managers have their personal preferences, but just as a whole and looking from a team perspective, we are not where we want to be and that’s disappointing.” (BBC Sport)
