Guyana Times, October 29, 2014

Glenn Lall breaches wiretapping

Man guilty of “rum with pension money” killing Nandlall to sue Glenn Lall, Kaieteur News following wiretapping breach

Bandits rob Corentyne couple of cash, gun

Million-dollar projects for discussion at CARIFORUM meeting

Value-added production key to expansion of pork industry

october 29, 2014

Duty-free scam fallout: Glenn Lall breaches wiretapping law

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ttorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall has signalled his intention to test the strength of the 2008 Interception of Communications Act as he moves against Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall, who allegedly illegally recorded a private conversation he had with one of the newsman’s reporters.

The gist of the conversation was evidently related to the $100 million duty-free scam in which Lall is presently enmeshed before the courts.

The Interception of Communications Act of 2008 prohibits the interception of communication unless a warrant is issued by a judge based on an application.

The law is also clear that

court’s ability to prosecute

fibre-optic cable or any other form of wire line, by wireless telegraphy, Voice Over Internet Protocol, Internet satellite and all other forms of electromagnetic or electrochemical communication.

Telecommunication service providers will be dutybound to provide assistance on interception warrants.

Jail time

According to the law, anyone found guilty of illegal wiretapping would be liable to a fine of $5 million and a jail term not exceeding three years.

A judge, before granting the warrant, the law states, must be satisfied that the information obtained would likely assist investigations.

There is also a provi-

any recording or tapping of citizens’ private communication must be authorised by the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

However, these officers would first have to apply to a judge for a 90-day warrant to intercept communication.

Only under these conditions does the Act allow the monitoring and recording of transmissions conveyed by

so vesting authority in the Minister of Home Affairs in the case of national emergency.

Additionally, personnel acting in good faith under the ambit of the law would be immune from liability for their actions.

None of these conditions existed with the recording the AG's conversation with the reporter, which appeared to be friendly banter via cell phone.

Speaking with Guyana

Times on Tuesday, Nandlall

indicated that he was in discussion with his lawyer and will soon be making a complaint to the Police. He is confident that given the provision in the law, Lall was in serious breach.

Lall was accompanied by Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, when he filed a complaint with the Guyana Police Force against Nandlall for alleged threats contained in the taped conversation.

Government has already slammed the newspaper owner for attempting to taint the integrity and image of the AG by distributing a “manipulated” audio recording.

“Today, to our utter consternation, the public listened to a voice recording and was shocked at what the nation heard.

"Broadcast on social media, the recording contains a distorted, manipulated conversation between a Minister and Leonard Gildarie, a reporter from the Kaieteur News.

"It is abhorrent that someone would be so indecent and immoral to manipulate a loose private conversation, in such a dastardly way,” the Government said in a release.

It declared that it would not condone “this privilege being manipulated to distort and manipulate public opinion” about the Government Minister.

“There are many ways for a keen listener to discern the said manipulation. For example, a listener to the manipulated conversation would easily recognise that in many instances the person’s voice at the other end of the conversation was inaudible.

Negativity

“The Government of Guyana cherishes freedom of the press, but when private media operatives use the power of the mass media to manipulate public opinion, our nation suffers from the negativity.

"The Kaieteur News has sustained an intensive, vicious attack on members of the Government of Guyana, using its media power to distort even private conversations that it illegally records,” the release further stated.

The Bill was passed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) majority Government in response to the widespread use of mobile phones in the planning and commission of major crimes.

Government members had also argued that the absence of the law was one of the reasons why it was difficult to do anything about the tapping of phones.

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Unregulated sale of pesticides

In spite of the significant number of persons committing suicide by consuming poisonous substances, little or no attention seems to be placed on regulating the sale of these dangerous chemicals.

As it stands now, anyone can walk into a shop and purchase pesticides, with practically no enquiry made of the reason for the purchase.

Of course, if someone is buying the chemical to commit suicide, the real intent of the purchase will not be disclosed, but this is not a dead end to addressing the problem of suicide.

In fact, the scourge can be addressed in a pointed manner by Government moving to enact laws to control the sale of harmful substances, and monitoring the use of them.

While some measures, such as the use of pesticide cabinets and suicide awareness programmes, have been tried to deter persons from committing the act, the scourge has not been halted.

Coupled with this, only recently Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran has reported that the suicide hotline that was set up a few years ago to tackle the problem has been a “miserable” failure.

But even before the Minister’s pronouncement, there seemed to be a penchant to preach about the factors causing suicide, rather than taking a diagnostic approach to address it.

It is a travesty that in all these years of persons committing suicide, the vast majority of them by drinking poison, the talk has still not shifted much from depression and lack of education.

It is no surprise that while the gaff and flowery academic presentations on the cause of suicide continue, the number of persons committing the illegal act has not abated.

Today, Guyana has been labelled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) the suicide capital of the world, and even though the tag was disputed by Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, it does not in any way take away attention from the seriousness of the problem.

By now, policymakers and advocates should know that public awareness is not enough to address the scourge, which is more or less an institutionalised way for some persons to escape their miseries.

Given the large number of persons who have been ending their lives by downing doses of poisonous substances, it would be wise for greater attention to be placed on the sale of harmful substances, especially to small farmers.

It is wrong for small farmers to willy-nilly purchase small amounts of pesticides when a large number of them have been using the chemicals to terminate themselves.

It is wrong when persons can purchase pesticides at unlicensed shops in their villages in the manner they purchase groceries for their homes.

It is highly unacceptable when even minors can make these purchases, without any protestation by the shop owners.

It is no wonder that only recently, a 16-year-old from a West Coast Demerara private school, who felt deeply hurt by several issues stemming from his expulsion from school, had no difficulty in obtaining the substance needed to end his life.

This incident was the latest reminder of the need for laws to be enacted governing the sale of pesticides and other harmful substances, and the need for strong advocacy for it not only to come into fruition, but be rigorously implemented.

While not excluding the Government, the political Opposition, the numerous Non-Governmental Organisations and experts who have been talking and tackling the problem have thus far failed to address it in a meaningful way.

They can make some headway by making the sale of harmful substances by unlicensed vendors a criminal offence with heavy fines.

And instead of selling small portions to farmers and allowing them to administer such, the purchase should cover the cost for the administering of the chemicals by the vendor, who should be competent enough to do so.

These simple solutions might not take some people to heaven, but might be good enough to save some from hell.

Who authorised WPA arms stockpiling when they were all coequals?

Dear Editor,

“I am proposing a political culture in which political figures or former political figures of great age do not write with hostility about younger activists in an attempt, not to examine their supposed ideas, but to discredit them before they carve out a space in the political exchange. It will be rather stuffy, with us, only exhaling from our laden tissues into that space,” wrote Eusi Kwayana recently in another section of the press.

His letter was in defence of Dr David Hinds and Freddie Kissoon who were both in a verbal duel – two younger, very healthy and able-bodied men against an elderly graphene white lady – former President Janet Jagan.

When the great white was about to devour her two daring Afrocentric attackers, Mr Kwayana sprang to their rescue, waving his calabash for a truce. The black icon could be commended for rescuing his “defenceless” duo.

Still alive, would he be entitled to more than the usual quota of virgins should he further excel by any itty bitty compassion for a troubled young black man – “of no social pedigree, no big family”, which he so described the duo – who alleges he was sodomised by a prominent lawyer?

Doing the right thing like his previous laudable rescue of the healthy duo?

Ennoble

What can best ennoble our faded glory are not impositions on our democratic rights or actively ignoring the problems which trouble us most. Those same “political figures or former political figures of great age do not write” when it matters most.

Convicted of bringing concealed weapons at the airport (under appeal), Dr David Hinds will continue to write nevertheless, in glowing terms about his political guru and fellow Buxtonian. How is Mr Kwayana, therefore, not motivated by his own self-interests towards his partisan political objectives?

In comparison, Mr Kissoon is his usual razzmatazz self and spares few. A known admirer of the ageing US -based Buxtonian, he still enjoys dishing it out and generously shares whatever he knows about everyone, including Mr Kwayana.

So no surprise when he wrote: “I have heard untold numbers say that he is an eccentric man. Despite the large numbers out there that perceive Kwayana as an odd human being, I have never accepted that evaluation.”

But after analysing and criticising him for media favouritism, the columnist concluded that “maybe after all, Mr Kwayana is indeed eccentric, and life is mysterious”.

Four years later, the same Mr Kwayana, still around, still continues to give advice, again by another letter titled, “Temptation at Rodney (Commission of) Inquiry” (RCoI). With Rodney’s old WPA on coalition life support within their once nemesis PNC, and both awash in the RCoI revelations, Mr Kwayana is naturally most concerned about the damaging repercussions.

In his advocacy for restraint, because, he says “political organisations and individuals can by their words and actions outside the sittings affect the way members of the public see the RCoI”, he is obviously most concerned about WPA self-preservation

and not least, to enhance how he is recorded for history.

But who can realistically expect Guyanese to remain silent especially about a famous murder because a shrill voice says so?

Professionals

No one can seriously believe that all the RCoI professionals in diligent pursuit to discover the complete truth about Dr Rodney’s brutal assassination will be compromised by public chatter. What’s the big fuss?

When Mr Kwayana can use free speech and press freedom to openly propose restraints on the public’s rights to free speech and press freedom, is he doing Guyanese any big favours?

What actually precludes the WPA, PNC and even the PPP/C from any searing scrutiny or from public censure in a democracy? Mr Kwayana only stokes more doubts and suspicion by what he camouflages and misdirects Guyanese to do. Has he become any less eccentric or disingenuous over time?

One reporter prominently highlighted Mr Kwayana’s outstanding political repertoire of verbal acrobatics and scintillating cunning when the RCoI asked him to describe the political atmosphere at the time of Rodney’s assassination.

Manna came on a silver platter by what was reported, that is, “the US-based Guyanese had a (sic) unique way of testifying. Ninety per cent of the time he did not give a straight answer. Instead the veteran political activist gave what some would refer to as “history lessons” and left the Commissioners (and public) to make their own assess-

ments”.

Charismatic

How much is he hiding by his usual evasive answers?

The popular chatter had previously revealed – now growing – that Mr Kwayana and his acolytes in the WPA had found themselves overshadowed by the charismatic and immensely popular Dr Rodney. This was tantamount to making the veteran Mr Kwayana and his militant tribesmen obsolete.

Since under Dr Rodney’s leadership the WPA directed its attacks on the PNC Government, the PPP/C became the automatic beneficiary. This was most unacceptable to Mr Kwayana and company. The WPA was not yet a political party.

After the 1980 assassination they recalibrated and became pitiful electoral failures, and still remain so. Dr Rodney’s increasing popularity had made himself a huge threat to both internal and external adversaries. Both wanted to get rid of him, but for different reasons.

Intercede

It may now become very clear why Mr Kwayana, despite all his political experiences, never interceded to prevent Dr Rodney’s radical pursuit.

But isn’t Dr Rodney’s strategy to keep all options open which made him the successful hero – just like Mr Kwayana’s ASCRIA conjoining with Mr Burnham’s PNC to violently get rid of the PPP in 1964? Those whom Dr Rodney totally eclipsed were quite content, indeed better off with him not being around.

No place for attacks on anyone, biased reporting

Dear Editor,

David Hinds chastised the Guyana Times (no evidence cited) for what he claims are biased reporting and negative commentaries about Africans in letters published in the two other papers.

Readers I spoke with find Hinds’ letter offensive, biased and racist in nature. They say he is focusing on his own race and does not pay attention to the feelings of members of other ethnic groups who are attacked by the other publications.

There are daily attacks against Indians in other papers, but those attacks don’t concern the Afro-nationalist Hinds. Hinds did not provide examples (of negative comments or biased reports) to buttress his assertions. Hinds used the term “vile racist attacks”, but others I spoke with said they did not find any.

Guyana Times did not attack anyone because of their race. What Dr Hinds interprets as attacks are sarcastic responses at the inarticulate comments of the names (public figures) he mentioned. The comments are not racist or even attacked the individuals.

Rather, they expose the bias of the comments rendered by those individuals. By Hinds’ own admission, Guyana Times critiqued both Indians and Africans – so where is the racial bias in the commentaries?

Hinds ought to differentiate between satirical/sarcastic (picong) and negative (racist) comments (attacks). Another paper uses the same method (in one of its daily columns) and Hinds has no issue with the paper – where is the balance and fairness in his critique?

Is it because the column attacks Indians and Government officials and favour the Opposition parties?

Satires are a great method of political commentaries and I encourage more of them. I urge Guyana Times to please provide readers with more of them as they enlighten readers about the bias of Opposition figures.

Public figures are fair game and these individuals whose names were mentioned by Hinds are known to harshly critique (in fact, blisteringly attack) others with the worst gutter comments that don’t belong in the media. A tit for

tat is to be expected. You can’t want to play Phagwah and don’t want abeer on your clothes.

Nevertheless, there is no place for attacks on anyone or for biased reporting and the anti-Government press is as guilty as others in this practice. In fact, the so-called independent papers are more outrageous in their biased commentaries and reporting than the pro-Government media, if one truly wishes to give a fair assessment.

In recent trips to Guyana, people complained about the biased reports and commentaries in the so-called two anti-Government papers (Hinds also described them as such). President Ramotar and former President Jagdeo called out these papers for their racist agenda in meetings with the diaspora in New York.

In journalism classes, and in graduate school regardless of subject matter, one is taught that all reports must be factual reflecting all sides and commentaries must be fair, balanced and objective.

Can Professor Hinds tell us how many commentaries or reports in the anti-Government media meet those criteria? No paper should be used to attack anyone. Some of the papers don’t allow responses and when they do, they severely edit comments that are not even defamatory.

What is troubling about Professor Hinds’ complaint against Guyana Times is that he did not call out the other papers for their biased reporting and publishing of their vile racist attacks against Indians and those who make an effort to defend the hapless Indian population.

By focusing only on Guyana Times, Hinds exposes his own bias. Is it not racist when Hinds does not condemn the other papers for their negative comments on prominent Indians? It is noted that Hinds did not critique a buddy columnist for his daily (unsubstantiated, unprovoked) ranting against eminent Indians and for the publication to allow it.

Freddie Kissoon routinely attacks Indo-Guyanese in Canada and America – Hinds is not offended by those gutter comments. Hinds did not criticise a newspaper or filed a complaint when the paper published an unveri-

fied attack against Mahatma Gandhi.

But he would have condemned the paper if it had published attacks on Mandela and Martin Luther King. Also, Hinds did not criticise those commentators of his ethnic group who routinely sully the good reputation of prominent Indians – because the Indians have been exposing biased commentaries – the same complaint Hinds now make.

One of Hind’s buddies in ACDA attacked Indians principally based on their origin from India and the caste system. Hinds is silent on those attacks.

Nothing is wrong with Hinds or anyone else taking up Afro-centric causes (I applaud David for his Afrocentricity), advocating only an African agenda. But he must be fair in his comments and make an effort to view issues from the perspective of someone not from his ethnic group.

And Hinds should not be upset with others who respond in kind or take an opposing view or those who are nationalists defending their ethnic groups. I prefer a multiracial agenda in which all of us are co-equals and I prefer a publication that does not allow attacks on one another.

Hinds, like me, is an educator and those of us who are instructors (and even those who went to college) know that we teach students to be fair and objective and to examine and give views to all sides of an issue. Clearly, Hinds has failed in that instructional goal.

For Hinds, it seems it is okay for media houses and commentators to attack Indian leaders, but not okay to attack (critique) individuals (leaders) from his ethnic group. For him, it is okay to criticise one media house but not the others who engage in the same practices that he complains about. Hinds, your slip is showing.

Commentaries from an academic and from any ethnonationalist, especially one who fought against the destructive policies of Burnhamism, should be objective and balanced and we should all strive for ethnic fairness and equity in our polarised society.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

GRA appreciates positive views expressed amid negative publicity

Dear Editor, Reference is made to a letter to the editor published in the local media, “GRA has unenviable task of ensuring Govt gets fair share of taxes”, written by Neil Adams.

It was indeed quite refreshing to see someone highlight the work of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and its Head,

Khurshid Sattaur in such a positive light.

In recent months, it had appeared that hardly anything positive was reported about the agency. This can have a very de-motivating effect on the general morale of management and staff.

However, knowing that there are hardworking Guyanese who appreciate the dedication of GRA’s

Public engagement on death penalty

Dear Editor, Social change NGO Blue CAPS will be hosting the first of its occasional series of public engagement events dubbed, “Let’s Talk”, on October 30 from 17:00h at its 9 Mundy Street headquarters (next to German’s Restaurant) with short films and discussion on the death penalty, with Melinda Janki, Executive Director of the Justice Institute Guyana, as guest speaker.

Blue CAPS’ “Let’s Talk” series aims to provide a platform for dialogue and civic en-

gagement between important Guyanese stakeholders and young leaders on pertinent policy issues in the country.

The overall goal of the “Let’s Talk” series is to bridge the gaps between young people and key stakeholders, both local and international, through discussion and exchange of ideas related to politics, public policy and development issues in Guyana, and around the world.

The death penalty was chosen as the first topic for the “Let’s Talk” series as it is a current public policy issue with strong views on both sides of the divide, for its retention and abolition, in Guyana. The public is invited to the discussion to share their views, regardless of which side of the debate they stand. Blue CAPS believes that civic engagement and informed debate on key public policy issues, like the death penalty, is crucial for Guyana’s holistic development.

Kind regards, Marissa Lowden Secretary Blue CAPS

Who authorised WPA arms stockpiling...

Trust

The exchange at the RCoI between Attorney-at-Law Selwyn Pieters who cross-examined Mr Kwayana speaks for itself.

Pieters: Well, let me put it to you differently, Mr Kwayana. I am going to suggest to you that Dr Rodney did not trust you.

Kwayana: Oh! [laughter] I am willing to accept that if you say so, but I think there is evidence to the contrary.

Pieters: Well, we know that he never told you about Gregory Smith, correct?

Kwayana: No.

At the RCoI, both Tacuma Ogunseye and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s bodyguard Allan Robert Gates publicly supported Dr Roopnaraine on the arms issue. Consider that the WPA’s security committee was composed of only Dr Rodney, Dr Roopnaraine and Mr Ogunseye – who were tight – what does it say who

were trusted? Dr Rodney being dead cannot vouch for Dr Roopnaraine.

But the late lawyer Vic Adyta Pooran has publicly vouched that Mr Kwayana did not belong to the “armed wing” of the WPA.

How can anyone not belong to something within the WPA which allegedly did not exist? Glaring inconsistencies by any demented insistent who swears the WPA was a party of peaceful coequals are most laughable.

Mr Kwayana, in fact – 34 years later (1980-2014) – totally sidestepped any knowledge of WPA’s arms stockpiling. Why? To actually throw his WPA Indian “coequal” Dr Roopnaraine under the bus, because he may have revealed the WPA’s arms build-up was despicable.

It implicated Mr Kwayana and the entire WPA lot in future violence, which, of course, they are not with coequal knowledge. Obviously the

venerated Dr Rodney did not privately view Mr Kwayana as his coequal or trusted him.

Contrast Both black leaders are a study in striking contrasts. While the Buxtonian has been a racially polarising magnet ever since the 1950s, the murdered historian has left a treasured and unparalleled legacy of uniting Guyanese across the spectrum. Those who remain convinced that the WPA still operates by any lofty collective leadership are welcome to their democratic beliefs. But neither freedom of speech and free and fair elections nor freedom of the press should be curtailed by any censorship in our fledgling democracy. In Guyana only God knows all for sure, and the WPA is not God, for sure, as all fully well know.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

staff in spite of the negativity is reason enough for us to continue executing our mandate of safeguarding the country’s revenue.

We thank Mr Adams for his kind words and look forward to such encouragement.

Submitted by

GRA Public Relations Department

Risk factors for exposure to Ebola Virus

Early recognition of Ebola is critical for infection control. Healthcare providers should be alert for and evaluate any patients suspected of having Ebola.

A person who has both consistent signs or symptoms and risk factors (as follows) should be investigated for Ebola.

Elevated body temperature or subjective fever or symptoms, including severe headache, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, or unexplained haemorrhage; AND

An epidemiologic risk factor within the 21 days before the onset of symptoms.

The following epidemiologic risk factors should be considered when evaluating a person for Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola), clas sifying contacts, or considering pub lic health actions such as monitoring and movement restrictions based on exposure.

High risk includes any of the fol lowing:

Percutaneous (eg, needle stick) or mucous membrane exposure to blood or body fluids of a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic;

Exposure to the blood or body flu ids (including but not limited to faeces, saliva, sweat, urine, vomit, and semen) of a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic without appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);

with widespread Ebola virus transmission;

Having lived in the immediate household and provided direct care to a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

Some risk includes any of the following:

In countries with widespread Ebola virus transmission: direct contact while using appropri

wearing appropriate PPE within approximately three feet (one metre) of a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

Low (but not zero) risk includes any of the following:

Having been in a country with widespread Ebola virus transmission within the past 21 days and having had no known exposures

Processing blood or body fluids of a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic without appropriate PPE or standard biosafety precautions;

Direct contact with a dead body without appropriate PPE in a country

person was symptomatic

Close contact in households, health-care facilities, or community settings with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

Close contact is defined as being for a prolonged period of time while not

Having brief direct contact (eg, shaking hands) while not wearing appropriate PPE, with a person with Ebola while the person was in the early stage of disease

Brief proximity, such as being in the same room for a brief period of time, with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

In countries without widespread Ebola virus transmission: direct contact while using appropriate PPE with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

Travelled on an aircraft with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic.

No identifiable risk includes:

Contact with an asymptomatic person who had contact with person with Ebola

Contact with a person with Ebola before the person developed symptoms

Having been more than 21 days previously in a country with widespread Ebola virus transmission

Having been in a country without widespread Ebola virus transmission and not having any other exposures as defined above (Excerpt from CDC)

Setting limits for difficult children: Are you too strict?

By Janet Lehman

Do your children make you feel like an ogre when you set limits?

Does the word “no” kick off whining, yelling, and protests? How many times have you heard your nineyear-old say something like: “That’s not fair! Brandon’s mom lets him watch Sons of Anarchy!” Or does this sound familiar: “Jessica’s dad lets her stay out ‘til 10

changes, here are some tips to make setting limits, and feeling confident about those limits, easier.

Start from your values. Be clear about the values you want to instil in your family. If eating dinner together at home is important, make that an expectation. If treating people fairly is essential, make sure your limits support that. Knowing that your limits are based on your values helps dur-

on school nights! Why can’t you?”

Children need limits, and count on parents to set them in order to keep them safe and help them grow. Setting limits is an act of love.

It can be hard to know sometimes if the limits you set are reasonable or not, especially when your children are howling that “everyone else is allowed to do it”! On top of that, how do you know that the limits you set even work? Whether you are just beginning to set limits, or are adjusting your limits to match your child’s unique needs and developmental

ing those times when your child pushes back and says you’re the worst parent in the world. You’ll find it easier to resist giving in to that argument.

Communicate the limits. Try saying to your child something like, “Things are going to change, and you can expect that Dad and I will deal with your behaviour differently.” Or, “Now that you’re older, we need to have some rules about going to parties.” Then let your child know the limits and the consequences for either following or not following the rules. Be clear and specific. This is not a onetime event, but rather a process that will likely take repeated refresher discussions along the way.

Monitor how your child responds. What did your child do? Not immediately, because change is a process and takes time, but over time. Are you able to observe some improvement in behaviour, even if it’s slight? For instance, you set curfew for your teen, and at first he didn’t seem to care. But when you started to take the car keys away, he began to come home closer and closer to the curfew. Now he is routinely coming in on time.

For younger children, it may be helpful to have a chart or calendar where behaviours are recorded. Children often like to participate in this activity, especially if they get to put the sticker on the chart for behaving correctly. For older children, charting behaviour helps them get a better perspective on their ability to change over time. Even if they had a terrible day yesterday, they can see that they’ve been doing so much better during the past few weeks, and so there’s hope for continued success. (Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

Nandlall to sue Glenn Lall, Kaieteur News following wiretapping breach

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has sued the Kaieteur News, its publisher and editor for what he termed libellous articles contained in their Tuesday’s edition alleging that he has revealed a plan to “hit” the owner and the publication’s staff.

In his statement of claim, Nandlall noted that in the October 28, 2014 edition of the Kaieteur News, Publisher, Glenn Lall and Editor, Adam Harris falsely and maliciously published, in unusually large fonts: “Attorney General Reveals Plan to ‘HIT’ Glenn Lall, Kaieteur News”.

He added that at page three in the said edition of the Kaieteur News, the said headline was repeated and in addition thereto, the Defendants falsely and maliciously made statements and printed and published or caused to be printed or published of and concerning the Plaintiff, the following,

inter alia: “Nandlall has revealed chilling plans for the execution of Kaieteur News publisher, Mr Glenn Lall; the Plaintiff advised a senior reporter of the newspaper to get out of the Saffon Street office, which he described as a “dangerous place”; the Plaintiff hinted at an intended hit on the said Lall and the establishment; the Plaintiff was spying on his Saffon Street establishment and that Nandlall would use other weapons against Lall in place of cameras, if he wanted to destroy him.”

According to the court documents, the said headline and article conveyed the clear impression that Nandlall was engaged in unlawful and criminal acts and that, he is unfit to hold the offices of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Member of Parliament.

“The said words in their natural and ordinary meaning meant and were understood to mean: that

Reconvening of Parliament:

the Plaintiff was engaged in criminal acts; that the Plaintiff was engaged in a plot to kill and/or cause serious harm to the Second Named Defendant; that the Plaintiff was engaged in

acts designed and intended to intimidate, scare and terrorise the Defendants and the staff at Kaieteur News; that the Plaintiff was engaged in acts designed and intended to interfere with

the Defendants’ constitutional right and freedom to publish their newspapers; that the Plaintiff is part of or has connections to a criminal gang that fire-bombed a printing press of Kaieteur News at Eccles in 2002 and killed five Kaieteur News pressmen in 2006; that the Plaintiff has committed several criminal offences and that the Plaintiff is unfit to hold the office of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and a seat as a Member of Parliament,” the court papers stated.

Ongoing campaign

Additionally, Nandlall contends that the words published are untrue and were done so maliciously and are a part of an ongoing campaign to tarnish his reputation. Nandlall, the court papers stated, will rely on several other disparaging and libellous publications of and concerning him by the Defendants.

According to the court papers, the aforesaid libel was calculated to cause and did cause Nandlall great public embarrassment, hold him up to odium and ridicule and to disparage him as the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Member of Parliament, both nationally and internationally. Damages in excess of $10 million are being sought from each defendant for libel contained in headline, “Attorney General Reveals Plan to ‘HIT’ Glenn Lall, Kaieteur News”, published by the Defendants on page three of the Kaieteur News October 28 edition. The same amount is being sought for libel contained in the article captioned, “Attorney General Reveals Plan to ‘HIT’ Glenn Lall, KNews”, published by the Defendants on pages six and seven of the same issue as well as aggravated or exemplary damages in excess of $10 million.

Clerk seeks advice on Speaker’s order

National Assembly Clerk, Sherlock Isaacs said he has sought advice from his Caricom colleagues on whether he should heed to a request by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman and fix a date for the sitting of the House on November 6.

Isaacs, however said that he remains resolute on his earlier position that the Speaker cannot reconvene Parliament but rath-

er this was a function of the Government. “However my position can change tomorrow (today) based on the advice I get,” Isaacs said. Trotman said on Monday the November 6 date, will provide for the normal notice period for Members of Parliament (MPs) to be notified and for arrangements to be made for all to be present. Isaacs had previously cited two previous attempts by former Speakers to have this done, which was strenuously objected to by the Clerks.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has been urging the swift reconvening of Parliament particularly to deal with the No-Confidence Motion it tabled last August against the Government. However, Trotman is proposing that the House should proceed with the matters that were on the agenda and if need be, add new ones. In a letter to leaders of the three sides in the House Trotman on Monday outlined his interpretation of the Standing Order that deals with the reconvening of Parliament and also his instructions to the Clerk to fix the next sitting. In his letter to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Leader of Government’s Business; Opposition Leader David Granger and AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Trotman recalled that at the last meeting of the Parliamentary Management Committee on Wednesday, October 15, the issue of the date for the resumption of sittings of the National Assembly came up, and it was unanimously agreed that the Government and Opposition Chief Whips would continue in their efforts to agree on a date.

Intractable

He said recent communication with the Whips, and pronouncements in the media attributed to both, clearly lend to the view that the positions are intractable and that the likelihood of a date been agreed upon soon is unlikely. “There is gridlock, and we are faced with the

untenable and unhealthy situation of the National Assembly not meeting since July 10, 2014. I am sure that you will agree with me that this cannot be allowed to continue any longer as

there is no state of national emergency or otherwise that prevents the Assembly from not meeting. In fact, on the contrary, I make bold to say that there are myriad issues of national import that require our immediate attention.”

Trotman said in his letter that notwithstanding the process in which the Whips were involved, “I chose to engage the Clerk and former Speakers of the National Assembly with a view to enquiring how best we can have the sittings resumed. I have received opinions from Mr Sherlock E Isaacs, and Messrs Sase Narine, OR, SC, and Ralph Ramkarran, SC. In the case of Isaacs, he is of the opinion that Standing Order 8 (2) does not authorise the Speaker to call a sitting

where there is no fixed date for the next sitting; recall that on July 10, 2014, the House was adjourned to “a date to be fixed”. Mr Isaacs’ opinion is in consonance with two previous opinions rendered on the very Standing Order, and I am, in fact, in complete agreement with him in so far as Standing Order 8 (2) is concerned.”

Automatic resumption

However, Trotman said that this cannot mean that the National Assembly cannot be convened unless by agreement; especially where such agreement appears elusive or even impossible.

“In this regard, I have found favour with the opinion rendered by the former Speakers of the National Assembly, which in effect

states that the National Assembly shall meet “day by day”; unless otherwise decided by the National Assembly, and that as the Assembly automatically went into recess on August 10, 2014, so too did it automatically come out of recess on October 10, 2014. Therefore, the House should have been convened forthwith on the first working day thereafter.

Man found guilty of “rum with pension money” killing

ACorentyne farm-

er who admitted to killing his friend after being accused of buying rum with his mother’s pension money will know his fate next month.

Dharampaul Gopaul pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter at the Berbice Assizes on Tuesday after Justice James BovellDrakes read the indictment to him. Gopaul, 53, is accused of killing Mukesh Nandkissore at Gopaul’s home in Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant on February 6, 2009.

Prosecutor Renita Singh told the court that on the day in question the accused, deceased and another friend were at the home of the accused when the accused sent the friend to buy some rum. She said the three later sat and consumed the alcohol. “Sometime later Dharampaul’s mother told Mukesh that Dharampaul spent her pension money to buy rum.”

The two men started to quarrel over the inci-

dent and Mukesh pushed Dharampaul who pushed him back. “About the same time, Judia Griffith who has a farm located at Portuguese Quarters was walking past and heard Dharampaul telling Mukesh, ‘Wha you want Ah gon give yo.’ Griffith heard him say this three times.” Singh told the court.

The Prosecutor, who had the keen attention of the jury, said the accused then told the now dead man, “Me go gie yow wah yo wan.” She said he then picked up a cutlass which was on the step nearby and chopped Nandkissore on the neck and he fell.

Under de influence Gopaul made a brief statement before his Attorney, Kim Kyte-John, asked for the court to be lenient. Gopaul said, “Me an Mukesh bin a drink early morning, an Ah was under de influence of alcohol. Me an Mukesh had no problem.” He added that he could not remember what transpired since he was intoxicated.

Kyte-John said the prosecution in its case confirmed that the accused was under the influence of alcohol. She said several circumstances indicate that the accused never meant to kill or cause bodily harm to Nandkissore and now placed himself at the mercy of the court.

She asked the court to consider that the accused

Man charged with intent to

murder remanded

Lionel Klause was on Monday remanded to prison on a charge of intent to commit murder when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry.

The charge alleged that on October 25, at Kitty, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Salim Khan with intent to murder him.

According to Police Prosecutor Michael Grant, the men were consuming

alcohol along the Railway Embankment when an argument ensued.

During the argument, Khan dealt Klause a blow to the head with a bottle. In retaliation, Klause broke a bottle and proceeded to stab Khan several times about his body.

They were both rushed to the hospital to receive medical treatment. Subsequently, the defendant was arrested and charged.

Klause is to return to court on November 4.

Brazilian woman on gun charges refused bail

ABrazilian National was on Monday morning refused bail when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.

It is alleged that on October 24, at Karuni Backdam, Anna Annuchu had a .38 Tarus revolver and three live rounds of matching ammunition when she was not a licensed firearm holder.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that on the day in question, Police ranks and soldiers were on a joint pa-

trol at the Karuni Backdam when they received a tip.

Acting on the information, they went to the defendant’s shop where they carried out a search in her presence.

During the search, the firearm and ammunition were found wrapped up in a curtain that was hanging in the shop. Annuchu was subsequently arrested and charged.

Her attorney, Peter Hugh, made an application for bail, stating that his client owned a shop and a dredge, and her passport was already lodged at the Station although she was not a flight risk. He pointed out that

many persons had access to her business and anyone could have put the items there.

However, the Chief Magistrate re-read the statement from the Police which stated that the gun and ammunition were found in the defendant’s bedroom, to the Attorney.

Bail was successfully objected to by the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant who stated that the defendant was a Brazilian national and could be a possible flight risk.

Annuchu was remanded to prison until November 6. She will make her next appearance at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

acted under certain circumstances which are relevant and noted that only one chop was inflicted. “It was the deceased who started the argument and then shoved the accused. There was one chop which led to this court matter,” KyteJohn stressed.

The accused was, up until the time of his incarceration, the only breadwinner for his family, she noted, adding that “he has thrown himself at the mercy of the court and has not waited the court’s time.”

The accused has been in custody for 68 months which she said is equivalent to nine prison years. She added that the accused also assisted in taking Nandkissore to the hospital. As relates to sentencing, Kyte-John said, “The purpose of sentencing is not only to act as a deterrent but to rehabilitate.”

Justice Bovell-Drakes ordered a probation report on the accused and set November 19 for sentencing.

BK Int'l Barge sinks in Demerara River

Abarge belonging to the BK International Group of Companies on Monday night sank in the Demerara River, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) said in a statement.

According to MARAD, at approximately 22:30h on Monday, the loaded barge DAR ‘B’, while being towed by a tug called KYLE, sank at the mouth of the Demerara River. The barge was on one of its regular trips from Teperi Quarry in the Essequibo River towards its discharge berth in Kingston, Georgetown. DAR ‘B’ , which is owned by BK Marine, was reported to have 2000 tonnes of aggregate on board.

There were five crew members on board the tug. One of the crew members who may have fallen overboard when the vessel sank was wearing his life jacket. He was quickly rescued. Consequently, there were no casualties. Prior to the arrival of MARAD officials to secure the area, an outbound ship came into contact with the stones on the sunken barge. It remained stuck in that position for about one hour, but it refloated as the tide began flooding.

Navigation in the area was temporarily suspended as officers from MARAD sought to locate and mark the exact position of the wreck. Navigation has resumed with vessel traffic control measures being put in place. This will be enhanced as more buoys are placed during the day to aid mariners to safely navigate in the area. Salvage operations should commence shortly, and as with all such occurrences, MARAD has launched an investigation.

Eyew tness

Narrative fiction...

...by Granger on PNC

David Granger has a couple of degrees in history... paid for by the people of Guyana – since he went courtesy of the benevolence of the Government via the GDF. But based on the "history of the PNC" he presented to the party's General Council last Saturday, he definitely "skulked" from his history classes to spend all his time in the creative writing programme!! We know history took its own "narrative turn" some decades ago...but for an account to be called "history" surely it must have at least a passing acquaintance with the facts, no??

Granger, like the gal from “The Sound of Music”, tries to start from the very beginning. But right away he trips himself up. Claims that Burnham and Latchmansingh formed the PNC!!

Well, since these two worthies (along with Jai Narine Singh) were all from the PPP faction that'd failed to hijack the party, wouldn't it have been truer to say that this bunch (PPP-B...for "Burnham") merged with the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Sidney King – later Eusi Kwayana – to form the PNC?? The UDP, of course, was the party of the reactionary "Mixed" elements that constituted the League of Coloured Peoples (LCP). And Sidney King was a force unto himself after he decided Jagan was his greatest enemy.

Granger wants to convince Guyana the PNC was formed by "Africans and Indians"!! Please!!! But we can understand why he would want to do so. He's from that same LCP reactionary strata that sees ordinary Africans as cannon fodder to serve their ambitions. For instance, that's why he'd never accept a fella like Aubrey Norton as a leader of the PNC. Like Hoyte, he believes such folks are "low class" and "uncultured".

After the whopper about "origins", Granger then acrobatically leaps to 1964, when he says the PNC "entered government as part of a coalition administration". Really?? Entered?? Ha!! What about the pact Burnham signed on behalf with the PNC to become the foot soldiers to stage a CIA coup against the democratically elected PPP Government?? What about the PNC splitting the united nationalist movement?? What about burning down half of Georgetown?? What about the ethnically directed violence during the 80day strike??

Didn't Kwayana himself write a month ago about the British point man directing the PNC treachery –Duncan Sandys – acknowledging his role as the leader of Buxton – who led the ethnic cleansing of that village in 1964???

Who do you think you're fooling?? You elitist thing!!

...in diversionary tactics

The prospect of spending some quality time at 12 Camp Street really focuses the mind of some folks. Take Mook Lall, owner of the Muckraker. With at least five years in the offing with all those brothers behind bars for tax fraud, the thought has him coming up with all kinds of schemes to dodge that bullet!

Look at the latest scheme to get off the front pages about his scamming over $100 million in duty from the Government on two luxury SUVs. He gets one of his reporters to convince the AG he's willing to cross over from his "dark side". Fat chance!! But the AG evidently believes in the essential goodness of man and all that. Anyway, the AG allows that he's spoken earlier in the day to the Mook's house slave.

That if the Mook keeps up with the slandering of people's good names, since they don't have a newspaper like the Mook, they'll be forced to use "other means" to get even.

Relating this advice – that "hit got hit back" – the Mook breaks down like a girl and sobs that the AG's out to kill him!

The thought of Camp Street can do that to you!!

...on convening Parliament

Speaker Trotman is another one running scared. With the paedophile file with the DPP, 12 Camp Street looms! But he'll have company in the Mook!!

PPP/C stalwart Navin Chandarpal passes on

By Devina Samaroo

Adviser

Presidential

on Sustainable Development, Science and Technology, Navin Chandarpal passed away at his Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara home Tuesday morning after losing his battle with cancer.

His son, Robin Chandarpal told Guyana Times that his father passed away around 08:00h in the comfort of his own bed. The family said his death did not come as a surprise since he was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer two years ago. They described his passing as a “peaceful going”, as he did not express any signs of trauma or pain.

“Of course, we’re all very distraught about his passing, but we look at it in the perspective that two years ago when he was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer, he was told at that time that he had about three months to live so we consider every day since then a bonus,” his son said.

He explained that his father had lost a tremendous amount of weight, and earlier this week his father was struggling to eat and drink anything. His son noted that

he was not battling the disease, which had required him to receive medical treatment overseas, alone as he had many visitors and great doctors who kept him in their prayers.

Back in July this year, Chandarpal, a former Agriculture Minister, was taken overseas for treatment after his condition was said to be rapidly deteriorating. He, however, returned to Guyana and was being cared for at home.

Regarded highly by the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for his statistical skills, Chandarpal entered politics while a student at the Richard Ishmael Secondary School and quickly moved up through the ranks to lead the Progressive Youth Organisation.

Distinguished service

In a statement, the Parliament Office said: “It was with deep sadness that the National Assembly learnt of the passing of Mr Chandarpal, a former Minister of Agriculture and Member of the Seventh and Eighth Parliaments in the PPP/C Administration.”

“Navin Chandarpal served in the National

Assembly with distinction for five years, two months and four days, and was well-liked and respected across all political lines,” the Parliament Office said.

“He will be remembered for his principled positions, his wit, and fearless and very amiable character. He was a friend to all and fierce fighter against injustice and oppression. The Speaker and Members of Parliament and Clerk of the National Assembly extend deepest sympathy to his widow, Mrs Indranie Chandarpal, MP, and his children, relatives, friends and comrades. “

Condolences

Opposition Leader David Granger also expressed his condolences. He described Chandarpal as a devoted member to his party and told Guyana Times that it was a pity that his time in the political arena was cut short.

The Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States also joined in extending condolences to Chandarpal’s family.

The Chair of the Council, Ambassador La Celia Prince of St Vincent and the Grenadines described the passing of the longstanding PPP/C member as a

Ramotar leads tributes to Chandarpal

President Donald Ramotar has described the passing of former Agriculture Minister and long-serving executive of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Navin Chandarpal as a significant blow to Guyana.

President Ramotar, on behalf of the Government and his family, has extended sympathy to the family, relatives and friends of the late Presidential Adviser on Sustainable Development.

The Head of State said Chandarpal’s death is a significant loss to Guyana, noting that he served the country with distinction, first as a parliamentarian and then as a Government Minister.

The President stated that Chandarpal’s death is also a significant loss for the PPP/C, which he served as an executive member for many years, noting that he showed the fortitude of a true fighter in battling his illness to the end. The Head of State said Chandarpal, who died early Tuesday morning at his home after a one-year battle with cancer, had been a very close friend and will be deeply missed. Chandarpal served in the Seventh and Eighth Parliaments for over five years.

The PPP/C Central Committee and the Party’s entire membership said they were saddened by the death of Chandarpal. Chandarpal was, at the time of his passing, a member of the Central and Executive Committees of

the Party. He started out as a member of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), rising to the post of General Secretary. “He played an active role in student politics and at one time was elected President of the University of Guyana Students' Society (UGSS). Those were the days when the PNC regime sought to control all facets of national and student life, but Cde Navin succeeded in defeating the PNCsponsored candidates to take control of the student body at a time when all national and regional elections were massively and blatantly rigged by the PNC regime.”

Sorely missed

According to the party, Chandarpal represented the PPP/C and the PYO at several meetings and seminars, both locally and internationally. He played a key role in the struggle against imperialism and dictatorial rule in the country. “Following the restoration of democratic rule and the assumption of the PPP/C to office in October 1992, Chandarpal served in several capacities, including that of Minister of Agriculture and as Presidential Adviser, a position which he held until the time of his passing. He served in several other Committees such as the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre and the Cheddi Jagan Commemoration Committee both of which he was Chairman.

great loss. The Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, speaking for Caricom Member States, described Dr Chandarpal as a bright Caribbean star and expressed sympathies on behalf of the Region. The other delegations which also expressed condolences were EL Salvador, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.

Guyana's Ambassador to the OAS, Bayney Karran, thanked the Council for the sentiments expressed. He stated that Chandarpal was a prominent politician in Guyana where he had made important contributions to sustainable development.

He was the husband of Indra Chandarpal who, like him, also served at the leadership of the Party and as a former Government Minister and currently holds the post of Chairman of the Women's Progressive Organisation (WPO). “The PPP/C wishes to express its deepest condolences to his wife; his two children, Geeta and Robin; relatives; friends; and the entire Party membership on his passing. This is indeed a great loss to the Party, but his sterling contributions, his dedication, commitment and loyalty to the Party will no doubt serve to inspire others in the struggle for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana.”

The Alliance For Change (AFC) also joined in extending condolences to Chandarpal’s relatives. The party said it was saddened by the death of the former Government Minister and Presidential Adviser. “The late Chandarpal has served his country in several fields – as a teacher, youth and student leader and in the fields of trade unionism and politics.

“The AFC shares the loss of Chandarpal and expresses sympathy with his wife, Indra and his children; other members of the bereaved family.”

In paying tribute, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana has lost one of her best sons, with the death of Chandarpal.

Ambassador Karran pointed out that he was also wellknown to the Department of Sustainable Development at the OAS and that his widow, Indranie Chandarpal has served as Chairperson of the OAS' Inter-American Commission of Women.

People’s National

Congress (PNC) Youth Leader Bevon Curie wrote on his Facebook page, “I am saddened by the news of the loss of a dear friend, lecturer and colleague, former Presidential Adviser on Sustainable Development and former Government Minister, Navin Chandarpal who died this morning after losing the battle to cancer.”

Curie said Chandarpal served as the National Adviser during his tenure as National Coordinator for the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) Guyana.

“All our engagements were marked with an atmosphere of brotherhood; at no time he demonstrated partisanship or unprofessional conduct. He was a different calibre of politician. Guyana, the University community and the Environment and Sustainable Development community has lost a dedicated advocate.

To his wife, Indra Chandarpal and two children

and to the members of the PPP/C leadership, I extend my deepest condolences.”

Alliance For Change (AFC) Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo said Chandarpal was the last of a crop of committed “Jaganite leaders” and my associate and friend for some 50 years.

Nagamootoo, who cut ties with the PPP/C in 2011, said Chandarpal was a student and youth leader, and one of the few revolutionary intellectuals of our times. “He rose to the top of the PPP/ C’s leadership...” Guyana has lost a true son, Nagamootoo said. “We share the grief and loss of his wife, Indra; his son, Robin; and daughter, Geetanjali. Farewell, Comrade!”

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud described the veteran politician as a committed stalwart of the PPP/C. Persaud recalled some fond moments he shared with Chandarpal. He said while he was aware of Chandarpal’s illness, he never expected him to die. Joining Persaud was Minister within the Agriculture Ministry Alli Baksh, who said that ‘even at his age’, Chandarpal was still giving advice to party members.

Baksh said he spent days with Chandarpal doing party work and described him as a dedicated person. Another stalwart and former member of Parliament, Isahack Basir, also extended sympathy to Chandarpal’s family on his passing. Basir said he knew the politician for almost 54 years. He said during his time spent with “Comrade Navin Chandarpal, he recognised his straightforwardness”. Basir said Chandarpal had a passion for children and a good track record working with them.

Attorney David-Longe admitted to the Bar

Poet, writer, composer, tennis player and Shakespeare enthusiast Sonnel David-Longe was on Monday admitted to the bar by Justice Roxanne George.

The 24-year-old young lady was presented to Justice Roxanne George by Attorney Nigel Hughes, who spoke of her humility and great “intellect”.

The Attorney told Justice George that the young lady commenced her academic life at St Agnes Primary before proceeding to Queen’s College and the University of Guyana, where she studied Law.

Upon graduation, she enrolled at the Hugh Wooding Law School, University of the West Indies, graduating this year, copping the Principal’s and the Robert Matthiew Seller’s awards for Advocacy.

She was also on the Principal’s Honour Roll for up and coming lawyers.

Attorney Hughes said the young lady is a big plus to the legal fraternity, contending that she is a woman of integrity, a quality that is sometimes lacking in the legal fraternity.

David-Longe remarked that her indulgence in the arts has added much to

her chosen career as an Attorney, giving her the balance needed in life as have been advocated by her parents.

She said her extracurricular activities certainly add to being a lawyer.

“Everything that I am naturally gifted with, in terms of my love for the arts, whether its creative arts, visual arts, performing arts, my talents and my interests in terms of poetry, speaking, composition; they lean towards Law and I find myself not only admiring the

TV version of what a lawyer is presented to be but it’s something I believe that can challenge me and something that when I actually tried the subject, I enjoyed it.”

The young lady who had written 13 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, said when she did Law at the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE), she developed a love for the subject.

The new Attorney has not chosen a specific field in

Law to ply her trade, noting that she is leaving her options open, but is unlikely to venture into Corporate Law.

Justice George urged David-Longe to continue her love for the arts as it would enable balance a balance in life, but must strive to give of her best in the courts

The Justice also encouraged the new lawyer to be strong in standing her ground when clients sometimes are contradictory or situations arise to “test your integrity”.

Million-dollar projects for discussion at CSME, CARIFORUM meeting

The Steering Committees of the Caricom Single Market Economy (CSME) and CARIFORUM- European Union (EU) Economic

Partnership Agreement (EPA) Standby Facilities will consider a total of eight project proposals for funding when they meet at the Caribbean Development

Bank (CDB) headquarters Tuesday and today.

The EPA Steering Committee will consider four proposals totalling 546,575 euros and the CSME

Steering Committee will consider four proposals totalling 644,090 euros. These Standby Facilities were set up by the EU and are being funded through the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) with 3.45 million euros for the CSME Facility and 3.5 million euros for the EPA Facility. The Facilities, which are being administered by the CDB, are aimed at assisting Caribbean countries with furthering the implementation of the CSME and EPA at the national level.

Deepening integration

“Deepening integration among Caribbean countries and the integration of the Region into the global economy are critical to accelerating the pace of economic growth in the Caribbean.

As such, the EU, through the 10th EDF, is partnering with Caribbean countries to address competitiveness at the enterprise level along with the reforms needed to the legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks, which influence the cost of doing business in the Region, and the ease with which Caribbean countries can engage in economic activity with each other and with the rest of world,” said Head of the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Mikael Barfod.

Bugging

Satiricus was agog whenever he read about the exploits of the Mook. The crusader for peace, justice and the Guyanese way – not to mention duty-free cars – was not a man to be trifled with. But here it was he was sobbing like a baby into his dirty little face rag as he told his tale of being persecuted and threatened. Oh, who could have done this to this man of peace?? O more!! O tempora!! What has the world come to?

The sad truth was that the Mook had been betrayed by his own trusted man to his arch-enemy. Now Satiricus knew that all heroes must have archenemies and the Mook, in fact, had several. Like his bukta, the Mook changed his arch-enemy every month. This month the arch-enemy was the man the Mook had baptised as De Hana Rebel.

De Hana Rebel fought the Mook something fierce. Not just about peace, justice and the Guyanese way...but about the thing the Mook held dearest to his heart – duty-free cars. Satiricus gnashed his teeth violently, when he thought of how low de Hana Rebel could sink! Throughout his life, while the rest of the people had fought for things like “freedom” and “free and fair” elections, the Mook had fought singlehandedly for “duty-free cars”.

What was the matter with De Hanna Rebel?? He must be jealous that the old couple have spent their last cent to bring in duty-free cars and had given them to the Mook. De Hanna Rebel didn’t understand that he, the Mook, was like a God when it came to dutyfree cars. And people liked to make offerings to him.

But what exactly had De Hanna Rebel done to the Mook to make him cry so?! The Mook had it all down on a bugged tape. And when the tape was played... the tears just gushed down his chubby cheeks. Not like when the Mook’s Muckraker had shown Amaila Falls all dried up, but like the Kaieteur Falls in full flow. Who wouldn’t cry?? Satiricus discretely wiped away a tear from his own cheek.

The bugged tape revealed that De Hanna Rebel had been speaking to the Mook’s house slave all the time about the Mook – behind the Mook’s back!! No wonder the Mook was crying a river of tears. Here it was he had fed his house slave the scraps from his own table and given him all his old clothes –for years and years. And now the house slave was talking to his arch-enemy De Hanna Rebel??

It was too much for the Mook to bear. No more old clothes for the house slave.

Bandits Monday night robbed a Number 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice family of cash, jewellery and a shotgun.

In a release, Police said about 21:00h, rice farmer Jaiswah Boodnarine, 59, was in the yard of his residence with his wife and two friends when they were held up by five men, two of whom were armed with a firearm and a cutlass.

The perpetrators took away Boodnarine’s licensed

shotgun, along with $200,000, a quantity of jewellery and escaped. Investigations are in progress.

In a separate release, Police said about 22:30h, also on Monday, ranks at a roadblock on the Liliendaal Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara conducted a search on a motor vehicle in which an unlicensed .32 Taurus revolver with six rounds was found. A man and two women were arrested and are in Police custody assisting with investigations

Value-added production key to expansion of pork industry

Athree-day value-added pork products workshop on Monday kicked off with enhanced focused being placed on expanding the industry to better add value to locally produced pork, through the production of hams and other pork products.

The event, which is spearheaded by the Agriculture Ministry’s Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Development Project and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) brought together small swine producers to explore avenues to tap into value-added production.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy in delivering remarks at the workshop, charged the producers to take the challenge seriously as it can expand into one where Guyana will not need to import value-added pork products, but can rather supply adequate amount of port and pork products to meet its own demand.

“This workshop is necessary as it can position you to supply the ever growing demand for not only pork but also pork products. While there are a number of constraints facing swine producers such as high cost for pork production, we have seen a trend where pork production is higher than the demand for fresh pork,” he said.

Minister Ramsammy stated that while price movement for the commod-

ity will always occur, there needs to be stronger interventions to increase demand to meet the growing supply to boost the pork industry.

As such, the Agriculture Ministry with support from IICA will commence work on a business enterprise plan with swine producers to not only meet local demand for value-added products, but to position the industry to also tap into the export of pork and pork products to other countries.

“The fact that Guyana does not import pork on a regular basis shows that the country is self-sufficient in pork production, and, as such, farmers should now work ever harder to expand the sector through the production of value-added pork products,” Minister Ramsammy said.

Thus far, while farmers have been benefiting from the distribution of breeding animals, a series of training exercises are being conducted with associations/clusters of farmers in order for them to become certified and to promote proper animal husbandry.

One of the constraints which have been facing swine farmers is the high cost of feed. To ensure that this becomes a thing of the past, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) commenced demonstration plots of corn and soya to supply the stock feed industry.

“These were just demonstration plots to show farmers that we can successfully grow corn and soya right here in Guyana to be used in the stock feed industry… farmers and investors have since taken up the challenge and shortly we will be harvesting the first batch of 22 acres of corn and soya in Ebini,” he said

In addition, the Guyana Livestock Developmental Authority is experimenting with cassava to develop a low-cost feed for swine farmers.

The Agriculture Minister added that despite the limited resources and constraints which may affect farmers, the Ministry will continue to explore all possible measures to advance the industry, hence, the valueadded workshop.

The workshop which will run until Wednesday attracted scores of swine producers from across the country. It is addressing how to prepare certain pork products, such as pork sausages, pork patties, etc, good hygiene and sanitation practices and business management for swine rearers.

The workshop is being facilitated by Arnold Mendonca of IICA, and technical sessions are presented by Audrey Mendonca and Dr Aubrey Mendonca. Dr Aubrey Mendonca is a pork specialist from Lowa State University.

British judge tells Caribbean investors to seek remedy elsewhere

Investors in the financially-troubled Harlequin group, developers of vacation resorts in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and other Caribbean islands, appear to be no further forward in their attempts to recoup their money after a British High Court Judge said his was the wrong court to hear a winding up petition.

In London, on October14, a small group of 33 investors suffered a setback in their bid to recoup a £1.8 million (US$2.9 million) investment with Harlequin. They had all put money into a resort development at Buccament Bay in SVG, which they were sold through the UK sales arm of Harlequin Management Services (South East) Limited, trading as Harlequin Property.

According to a statement, Harlequin Property only acted in a “trustee” capacity, by sending clients’ money to overseas development companies in accordance with investor guidelines, minus a commission paid to advisers and used for promotion.

Neither Harlequin Management Services nor its alter ego Harlequin Property was regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.

According to Harlequin Property, Buccament Bay in SVG was hit by a series of delays. They argued that they could not repay the investors due to an ongoing legal dispute with its former auditors in which it is claiming £70 million.

On May 3, 2013, Harlequin Management Services was initially placed into administration in the UK but, as an administrator could not be found, the company went into liquidation on May 13, 2013, with a final winding up date of October 20.

The most recent case in the UK was brought before Deputy Judge Nicolas Strauss QC. The main thrust of the case before him was not that Harlequin owed the investors money; he seemed to say that was clear and undisputed. However, he decided it was being heard in the wrong jurisdiction.

He said his was the wrong court to hear a winding up petition. He said it should be heard in SVG, which he said was the correct jurisdiction to apply for a winding up petition.

While, in his opinion, the investments were sold through Essex-based Harlequin Management Services, which filed for administration in April 2013, Strauss ruled that Harlequin’s overseas ventures, including Buccament Bay in SVG were not run with “bird’s eye management from Essex”.

No

jurisdiction

The Judge said, “In this case, there is no justification at all for a winding up order here.”

Now the Judge has

in the news when its owner, British businessman Dave Ames was accused of bribing the Prime Minister of SVG in order to gain citizenship.

Ames, 60, rejected the accusations that he had offered Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves a “suitcase of money” in return for citizenship in SVG, where Harlequin was developing its luxury resort.

The BBC sent reporters to the Caribbean and later accused Dr Gonsalves of accepting cash from Ames in order to receive citizenship.

clarified which Harlequin company owes money to the investors and, therefore, who to sue, attention may now shift to the full list of Harlequin companies in the UK and the Caribbean.

Last year, Harlequin halted work on two multimillion dollar resorts in Barbados, owing employees two months’ salary, the Barbados National Insurance Scheme (NIS) about $80,000 (US$40,000) and several local businesses and contractors in excess of $3 million.

Harlequin moved out of its offices in Barbados, and the majority of its senior managers packed up and left.

The company was also

Ames, who was in fact granted St Vincent citizenship, continues to face accusations in the Caribbean and at home about the firm, which has sold 6,000 vacation homes and villas since 2005, but has only built 300.

Harlequin Property has taken an estimated £300 million (US$453 million) in deposits and investors are worried whether their homes will ever be built or if they will be able to get their money back.

Harlequin’s Buccament Bay resort was also the subject of controversy following torrential rains in SVG on Christmas Eve last year, which resulted in extensive flooding of the resort. According to local reports -- disputed by Harlequin management -the resort was built on a known flood plain without any environmental impact assessment being conducted. (Caribbean News Now)

Body at Suddie Funeral Parlour for six weeks

The body of an Amerindian man has been at the Suddie Funeral Home for approximately six weeks without anyone coming forward to claim him.

According to Suddie Funeral Palour officials, the man’s name on the hospital’s chart was given as Brian Miguel, a resident of Moruca, Region One.

Parlour officials are calling on residents from the Moruca District to come forward and help identify the body.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that the man is 42 years and was a patient of the Suddie Public Hospital. He was admitted and succumbed four days. The body was sent to the

Suddie Funeral Palour so that family members can uplift it.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud on a visit to the palour on Tuesday was told by a Supervisor that the man’s body has been in the palour for over six weeks. The Supervisor also told the Chairman that the Police have been informed.

Reflecting on 12 fruitful years – Georgetown Stabroek Lions Club

The Lions Club Association of Guyana (GeorgetownStabroek) Branch celebrated 12 years of making a huge impact in the lives of Guyanese on Friday.

The club recently marked their anniversary with a week of exciting activities.

The celebrations kicked off with a church service at the St George’s Cathedral where the Lions donated $5000 towards a PA system for the church.

Throughout the course of last week, the Lions implemented a “Clothes Drive” where they provided an assortment of apparels for persons at the Archer’s Home and the St Thomas Home for Men.

Additionally, they distributed a few garments and provided a hearty breakfast to street children at the Drop In Centre.

The activities lead to a grand brunch on Saturday in honour of all the organisations that supported the club throughout the year 2013-2014.

In 2002, the Lions Club Georgetown Stabroek Branch was formed with approximately 25 members. To date, the club has 30 active members consisting mostly of young adults.

Club President Odessay DeBarros explained that a Lion has to be committed and determined to help people. She stated that members normally ebb and flow.

“Persons die, persons migrate, so we keep bringing in members, so as persons go, we bring.”

Monthly activities

The Lions have a number of activities per annum which they usually embark on, covering areas such as improving eye health, promoting literacy and assisting needy children, among

others.

The Lions focus on helping persons throughout their ‘attachment area’ which covers from High Street to Vlissengen Road.

Odessay DeBarros stated that an activity is planned for every month of the year to help persons in the vicinity.

“In April, we distribute kites and on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we distribute hampers…”

In addition, the club visits primary schools to assess the needs of the National Grade Six students and provide them with bursaries. They also collaborate with the Education Ministry to observe World Literacy Day where they distribute books to schools and daycares.

As a part of their anniversary celebrations, the Lions distributed 100

Million-dollar projects for...

Vice President of Operations at CDB, Nigel Romano, explained that “the requests for funding are sent to CDB and the Bank assists States to elaborate these requests into sound project proposals. These proposals are then reviewed and approved by the respective Steering Committee.”

The CSME and EPA are key agreements and tools for promoting trade among Caribbean countries and between the Caribbean and the EU and, by extension, supporting the achievement of the Region’s development goals.

The Standby Facilities will directly contribute to building capacities, at the national level, to implement the CSME to its fullest extent and to position Caribbean countries, particularly the Private

Sector, to take advantage of the opportunities created by the EPA. “The objectives of these Facilities are very much aligned to the Bank’s mandate and ongoing programme to support the regional integration process and its strategic objective of supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and development in the Bank’s member countries,” said Valarie Pilgrim, Operations Officer at CDB.

The Steering Committees comprise representatives of the European Commission, the Caricom Secretariat and senior public servants. The Committees will be meeting frequently over the next few months to approve additional projects and oversee the administration of the Facilities.

books on the American system of democracy to St Stanislaus College and St Rose’s High.

“We thought it best to give it out to these two schools because we looked at their literacy system and we as the Lions Club want to boost it up some more,” Odessay DeBarros mentioned.

She explained that the books would be especially helpful to History students.

“Basically, you would hear the students talking about History and the students would want to know about other countries’ History and you know the USA is a large country.”

Additionally, October is World Vision Month and the Lions usually go all out to promote this initiative. Again, they would assess persons within their attachment areas to determine who can benefit from

free eye care. This year, three disabled students received free spectacles from this programme.

In November, they would liaise with the Health Ministry to observe Diabetes Month by providing for the general public free testing in various areas.

One of their grand events for the year is the Annual Children’s Christmas Party where they cater for 200-250 children.

“Each child gets a meal, ice cream, a party bag and a gift,” DeBarros said.

However, she mentioned that they are aiming to cater for more children this year.

If ambitious individuals are interested in joining the Lions Club Georgetown (Stabroek) Branch, they can make contact with Odessay DeBarros on 592629-8237.

Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduro announces Police purge

enezuelan President

VNicolas Maduro announced on Monday that he would conduct a thorough "purge" of the country's Police Force.

The President said Police officers had taken part in the murder of governing party lawmaker Robert Serra this month. Maduro said he would name a presidential commission to "revolutionise the Police" and "fix everything that's wrong" with it.

Serra was found stabbed to death at his home in Caracas on October 1. His partner, Maria Herrera, was also killed.

A rising star in the ruling PSUV party, Serra, 27, was known for delivering impassioned speeches in

favour of the Government.

"Let's dig deep to build the kind of Police Force that our fatherland really deserves. We need a revolution of the Police Force

here in Venezuela, and I will carry it out without delay, without excuses," he said during a news conference on Monday. Maduro said on Tuesday

he would announce the members of a presidential commission aimed at transforming the Police Force.

The socialist leader said that, as part of the investigation into Serra's murder, it had come to light that "small groups of officers" were in the pay of criminals.

He said that one group from the Caracas force had been detained which "had put itself at the service of Colombian paramilitary mafias to kill this leader of the Venezuelan youth".

He accused the officers of "betraying their oath".

On Friday, President Maduro said that the people behind Serra's murder had been identified. (Excerpt

For 23rd time, UN nations urge end to US embargo on Cuba St Vincent, Brazil sign visa-free travel agreement

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly for the 23rd time to condemn the decades-long US economic embargo against Cuba, with many nations praising the island state for its response in fighting the deadly Ebola virus that is ravaging West Africa.

In the 193-nation assembly, 188 countries voted for the nonbinding resolution, titled "Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba".

As in previous years, the only countries that voted against the declaration were the United States and an ally, Israel.

The Pacific island nations Palau, Marshall Islands

and Micronesia abstained. The voting result was identical to last year's.

In a speech on the UN podium, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez appealed to the United States to change course on an embargo he said has caused great harm to the people of Cuba and caused cumulative economic damage amounting to more than US$1 trillion.

"We invite th e Government of the United States to establish mutually respectful relations," Rodriguez said. "We can try to find a solution to our differences through respectful dialogue.

"We can live and deal with each other in a civilised way despite our differences," he said. "Cuba will never relinquish our sovereignty." (Excerpt from Reuters)

St Vincent and the Grenadines and Brazil have signed a visa-free travel agreement allowing for free movement of their nationals from mid-November.

Foreign Affairs Minister Camillo Gonsalves told legislators that nationals of both countries will from November 15 be able to visit each other, visa-free, for up to 90 days in the first instance, renewable for up to 180 days.

“Of course, this is for tourism purposes. If you are going as a student, or if you are going to work, there are still requirements that you will have to fulfil,” Gonsalves said.

He said that Brazil is a footballing mecca and is also regarded as a carnival capital.

“But, in addition to soc-

cer and samba, there is quite a bit more to Brazil that is of interest to St Vincent and the Grenadines and of interest to the world,” Gonsalves said, noting that Brazil is the world’s fifth largest country, both in terms of size and population.

He also noted that over half of Brazil’s 200 million citizens are of African descent, making it one of the largest countries of people of African descent in the world.

“It is a top 10 economy; Brazil is ranked seventh in the world — its economy, and has a GDP of two and a half trillion US dollars and it is one of what they calls the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — the largest and most influential emerging economies,” Gonsalves said. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Barbados not seeking IMF assistance for economic turnaround – Sinckler

The Barbados Government Monday said it would not seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help turn around an ailing economy, insisting that the fiscal programme it has embarked upon is working, despite having laid off thousands of public workers.

“What we have to do is to do the things that would help us achieve the (economic) growth,” Finance and Economic Minister Chris Sinckler told a news conference.

“Based on what we are seeing, we know growth will return,” he said, telling reporters that the Government was working

Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Christopher Sinckler giving an update on the state of the local economy at Government Headquarters. He was joined by acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Avonda Carrington and acting Director of Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr Louis Woodroffe. (C Pitt/BGIS)

to achieve the two per cent economic growth as predicted by the Central Bank of Barbados.

Sinckler said that in relation to the discussion

pushed by the Private Sector for the Freundel Stuart Government to contemplate a programme with the IMF, “we have said what our position is”.

“We are not contemplating any IMF programme at this stage; we do not think it is necessary, we believe that Barbadians can achieve the objectives of the programme that we have set ourselves.

“It is not going to be easy or painless, but I know the alternatives which some people are clamouring for will be far worse than they may suspect,” he told reporters.

“We are measuring the situation and we feel at this stage that (IMF programme) is not required at this stage,” he added.

Last year, the Government announced the plan to cut public service jobs in a bid to save Bds$143 million). (Excerpt from Caribbean360.com)

Missing Mexican students: New mass grave probed

Mexican authorities searching for 43 students who disappeared after clashing with Police last month are investigating a suspected mass grave.

Mexico's Attorney General said the testimony of two arrested members of a drug gang had led them to the site. He said Police officers had confessed to handing the students over to the drug gang in southern Guerrero state.

The disappearance has shocked Mexico and has sparked nationwide demonstrations. Earlier this month, another mass grave was found, but DNA tests suggest the bodies were not those of the students.

So far, 56 people have been arrested in connection with the disappearance, among them Police officers, local officials and alleged

members of the drug gang.

The State Governor has also resigned over the case. Arrest warrants have been issued for the Mayor of the town of Iguala, where the abductions took place, his wife and the Police Chief, all of whom are on the run from the authorities.

The Mayor, Jose Luis Abarca, allegedly ordered Police to intercept the students to prevent them from interrupting a speech his wife was giving in Iguala.

Eyewitnesses say they saw the students being bundled into Police cars after the Police shot at buses carrying the students, killing three of them and three other people in nearby vehicles.

The latest gravesite is in the town of Cocula, about 17 kilometres (10 miles) from where the students last were seen. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Cuban experts to assist Jamaica in Ebola preparedness

Two experts are to arrive in the island from Cuba next week, to assist with the training of health-care workers and other designated Ebola frontline responders.

This will form part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise Cuba’s commitment to provide technical assistance to strengthen Jamaica’s Ebola preparedness and response, which is to be established between the Governments of both countries.

These were the key outcomes of a four-day visit to Cuba, from October 23 to 26, by an 11-man Jamaican delegation, led by Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson, for discussions with his counterpart, Dr Roberto Morales Ojeda, to lobby that country’s assistance in boosting the local response to the Ebola threat.

This came after Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller sought assistance from Cuban President Raul

Castro, with whom she had dialogue several weeks ago.

The Minister outlined details of the visit during a media briefing at the Ministry’s downtown Kingston offices, on Tuesday.

Dr Ferguson said the MoU will facilitate consultations between Cuba’s Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), the state agency through which all Ebola-related activities in that country are managed, and several local institutions.

The Minister said following discussions with Dr Ojeda, the delegation visited the IPK, adding that his counterpart agreed to establish the MoU “on my request”.

Dr Ferguson explained that under the agreement, the IPK will have consultations with broad-based technical institutions of the Jamaican Government, including the National Commission on Science and Technology, which is chaired by Simpson Miller.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Around the world

Iraqi Peshmerga set to join Kobane battle

Dozens of Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers are leaving Iraq for the besieged Syrian town of Kobane to help fellow Kurds in their battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

An Al Jazeera reporter saw a convoy of 50-60 vehicles, including buses carrying soldiers and some vehicles towing canons, leaving the Iraqi city of Erbil on Tuesday afternoon.

An Iraqi Kurdistan official in the city earlier told Al Jazeera that more than 150 Peshmerga soldiers were ready to depart and that a plane was being loaded with light weapons.

Supplies of heavy weapons were expected to be transported by road to Turkey, the officials said.

Syrian Kurds have battled fighters of the ISIL group in and around Kobane since mid-September. Despite US-led air strikes supporting the Kurds, ISIL has kept up its assault.

Last week, the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) authorised about 150 Peshmerga soldiers to go to Syria to fight.

Turkey has been reluctant to join the US-led coalition against ISIL. But after pressure from its Western allies,

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last Wednesday that some Peshmerga soldiers from Iraq would be allowed to transit through Turkey to Kobane.

Halgord Hekmat, spokesman for the KRG’s Ministry for Peshmerga Affairs, has said the soldiers are “support forces” and will be armed with automatic

weapons, mortars and rocket launchers. They are not expected to fight on the frontline.

The deployment is open-ended, with Mustafa Sayid Qadir, the Peshmerga Affairs Minister, saying: “They will remain there until they are no longer needed.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China warns India about taking up Vietnam’s offer for oil exploration

China on Tuesday warned India against meddling in its dispute with Vietnam over islands in the South China Sea. It also opposed the latest move by the Vietnamese Government inviting India to carry out oil exploration in South China Sea.

“With regard to the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s call for India to support the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea, I want to point out that the dispute should be resolved through dialogue and consultations by countries directly involved on the basis of respecting historical

facts and international law,” Hong Lei, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said.

He was reacting to an offer by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asking India to launch exploration in two oil fields in the South China Sea.

Dung’s offer made in New Delhi has surprised China because its state councillor Yang Jeichi has just returned from Hanoi after discussing measures to improve China-Vietnam relations.

Hong said India should also respect the efforts being made by China and Vietnam to resolve their dispute in-

stead of trying to play a role in it.

“Countries directly involved in the South China Sea dispute strive to resolve disputes through negotiation and consultation, and maintain regional peace and stability. Their efforts should be respected by relevant countries,” Hong said.

“This is in line with international laws and common practices,” Hong said, “... and is also the consensus reached by China and ASEAN countries in the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea).” (Excerpt from Times of India)

Ebola outbreak: Australia visa ban condemned

Sierra Leone has condemned Australia’s decision to suspend entry visas for people from Ebolaaffected countries in West Africa as “counterproductive” and “discriminatory”.

The move has also been criticised by Amnesty International. And United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said travel restrictions will severely curtail efforts to beat Ebola.

Nearly 5000 people have died from the virus, the vast majority of them in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

In other developments:

Eighty-two people who had contact with a toddler who died in Mali are now being monitored

A Dallas nurse who contracted Ebola in the US from a Liberian patient but is now free of the virus has been discharged from hospital

New US federal guidelines say medics returning from treating Ebola patients in West Africa should

be monitored but not placed in quarantine – but some states say they will continue with their quarantine polices President Barack Obama has said policy for returning medics should be based on science and not fear Separately, the US Army has imposed a 21-day monitoring period for all soldiers returning from the region The Australian Government announced on Monday that it was cancelling non-permanent or temporary visas held by people from the affected countries who were not yet travelling, and that new visa applications would not be processed. Permanent visa holders yet to arrive in Australia must undergo a 21-day quarantine process before departure.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament: “The Government’s systems and processes are working to protect Australians.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Thousands mark one month of Hong Kong protests

Thousands of people in Hong Kong have turned up for a rally outside the city’s Government headquarters to mark one month of protests.

Clutching umbrellas, adopted as a protest symbol, they observed 87 seconds of silence – a reference to the 87 times Police fired tear gas on protesters.

The rally will see key protest leaders address the crowd later. Activists are calling for full democracy in Hong Kong.

On Sunday, protest leaders abandoned plans to hold a ballot over whether to accept several Government

Thousands mourn at funeral of Canadian soldier slain in Ottawa

Thousands of mourners packed a church and lined the streets outside it in industrial Hamilton, Ontario, on Tuesday for the funeral of

the soldier shot dead in last week’s attack on the nation’s seat of government.

Corporal Nathan Cirillo, 24, was one of two soldiers killed in a pair of attacks

last week that Police said were carried out independently by radical recent converts to Islam. The assaults took place as Canada’s military was stepping up its involvement in air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told mourners at the church that Cirillo had inspired and united Canadians. He choked back tears in a rare public display of emotion when addressing Cirillo’s five-year-old son.

“May time ease the searing pain of today. And may his son, young Marcus Daniel Cirillo, some day find comfort in the fact that our entire country looks up to his dad with pride, with

gratitude with deep abiding respect,” Harper said.

Major the Reverend Canon Rob Fead opened the ceremony calling Cirillo “Canada’s son”. Cirillo’s cousin, Jenny Holland, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence Hatfield, who had been his commanding officer, also spoke.

Dressed in ceremonial kilts, white boots and garters, members of Cirillo’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders unit took a prominent place in the ceremony, having marched alongside his flag-draped casket through the streets of Hamilton, and then carrying it into the 138-yearold gothic Christ’s Church Anglican Cathedral. (Excerpt from Reuters)

concessions. Protest leaders said they decided to “adjourn” the vote after disagreements over its format and apologised for a “lack of discussion” with protesters.

Last week, student protest leaders and Government officials held talks for the first time, but made little progress towards ending the impasse. (Reuters)

UN Council to meet on latest Israel-Palestine tensions

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting this week on recent tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in East Jerusalem due to Israel’s plans to build more settlements, Council diplomats said on Tuesday.

The meeting, scheduled for this afternoon, is being convened in response to a request made by Jordan to Argentina’s UN Ambassador Maria Cristina Perceval, President of the 15-nation Security Council this month.

Jordan, the sole Arab nation on the Council, cited Palestinian complaints about “the dangerously escalating tensions in Occupied East Jerusalem” in seeking a meeting. The emailed request was seen by Reuters.

Diplomats said it was unclear if the Council would

issue a joint statement, though they said it was doubtful anything significant could be agreed as the United States is wary of supporting declarations it deems critical of its ally Israel.

An Israeli Government official said on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will expedite planning for some 1000 settler homes in East Jerusalem in a bid to placate a restive coalition ally without further aggravating a dispute with Washington. Palestinian officials have voiced alarm – echoed in the international community –over settlement building, viewing it a key obstacle to the creation of the independent state they seek in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Rodney CoI…

In-camera hearing for Crime Chief on Special Branch operations

Commissioners investigating the death of Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Co-founder, Dr Walter Rodney are scheduled to hold an in- camera session with Crime Chief Leslie James to hear evidence on the operations of the Police Special Branch Unit during the 1980 era.

The three-member tribunal came to the decision after the Crime Chief, under cross-examination disclosed that he once again could not divulge pertinent information requested by the Commission.

Sworn secrecy

Monday was the second time the Crime Chief has refused to reveal information to the investigating team, since as a former member of the Intelligence Unit, he said he had sworn secrecy to the operations of the Special Branch and could not break that oath.

James, reappearing before the Commission in August earlier this year had refused to answer questions on whether he thought that the Police back in June of 1980 had carried out a thorough investigation into Dr Rodney’s death and whether he could comment on the various theses which surround the founding WPA leader’s assassination.

James informed the Commission, while being led into further evidence by Commission’s Counsel Latchmi Rahamat, that some of the information he has “borders on national security

issues”.

He said he thought the Commission would be reminded that several aspects of what was done at Special Branch are secret and “I thought the Commission by itself would be aware of such”.

James, who was a member of the Special Branch Unit, was under cross-examination by WPA Attorney Christopher Ram, who was seeking to ascertain the reason for the Special Branch carrying out surveillance activities on WPA members who were involved in seemingly small and insignificant activities.

Pressed by the WPA Attorney, James explained that while the activities would appear insignificant to members of the Commission and Counsel, it surely was not for the Police Force back then, which was and still is tasked with carrying out surveillance and intelligence activities.

James returned to the stand on Monday where the WPA Attorney pressed him on the activities carried out by the Police Special Branch Unit.

Though the now Crime Chief was not a member of the unit during that time, he has been tasked with perusing the Police files obtained from all the investigations carried out during that period in relation to the death of Dr Walter Rodney, who was killed on June 13, 1980 when a bomb planted in a walkie-talkie device exploded on his lap while

he sat in his younger brother’s car some distance away from the Georgetown Camp Street Prison.

The WPA, according to evidence emanating from the inquiry, was reportedly the main target of the then ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) Government.

Witnesses, including the party’s Executive Members

viewing the Police Special Branch files with James came across several incidence documented by the Police where they reported the surveillance of activities of several individuals said to be associated with the WPA.

Ram identified in the report a couple who had held a dinner party in April 1980, the surveillance of a woman visit-

Eusi Kwyana and Tacuma Ogunseye among others have already testified that the Government had regarded the party, which started out as a mere organisation seeking social and economic change, as a thorn in its side. Evidence also suggests that Dr Walter Rodney, who had returned to Guyana in May 1974, was a “force to be reckoned with”.

The WPA Attorney re-

ing her boyfriend in March 1980 and the reporting on the sale of the WPA publication “Day clean” by a member in March 1980. Another activity was the presence and reportage by the Special Branch Unit on a WPA meeting held on the Corentyne during that period. Ram sought to find out what was so important about those activities to warrant the surveillance of the

Intelligence Unit, especially the selling of the party’s newspaper.

While James refused to go into details at that point, he said the document sold by the party was not unlawful. The Commissioner had therefore set a tentative date to meet with the Crime Chief to hold the session.

Meanwhile, the Crime Chief under further cross-examination said as far as he knows, the Dr Rodney’s assassination case has been closed.

The Crime Chief was being probed by the WPA Attorney on the investigation carried out by the Police and whether as head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Police Force has hung up the case.

Questioned

He was also questioned on whether the Force had seen it necessary to carry out a continuous probe on the circumstances surrounding Dr Rodney’s death.

In response, James related that it had become known that the case was put to rest, especially after the death of the alleged assassin William Gregory Smith. Smith reportedly died in neighbouring French Guiana in 2002. Ram questioned the Crime Chief whether as head of that department he thought it was necessary to continue investigation into the case, which had rocked the world in June 1980. James said as far as he knew, no effort was made to

carry out any further investigation into the murder.

It was reported that the alleged assassain Gregory Smith was tried in absentia. The Commissioners sought to ascertain too, if the Police had before then pursued Smith and place him on their radar. But examining the report, the Crime Chief said he was not aware if the Police, having received the evidence of Donald Rodney, had placed the alleged assassin under close watch.

Both Commissioners Seenath Jairam and Chairman, Sir Richard Cheltenham questioned if it would be prudent of the Police Force back then, knowing that Smith was working for the security forces, not to place him under the radar. James said that theory could not be ignored, implying that it was indeed possible. In fact, he did not rule out that Smith, a known Army Sergeant, could have been an agent of the security forces. William Gregory Smith, until now has been accused of handing a bomb planted in the walkie-talkie device to Donald Rodney, who then handed it to his brother Walter Rodney on June 13, 1980. Upon examining the device, as allegedly instructed by Smith, near the Georgetown Prison fence, it exploded causing Rodney’s death.

Smith, until his death in 2002, had been denying the accusation, writing a book in his defense.

Experts meet to strengthen region’s response to AIDS

Caricom experts have recently met to strengthen the region’s response to HIV/ AIDS, using a variety of measurers to achieve their goals.

The second annual meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers, senior health officials and HIV and AIDS regional partners, was held in PortSpain, Trinidad and Tobago from October 23-24.

The meeting Cochaired by Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) Coordinating Unit Director Dereck Springer; UNAIDS Regional Support Team Coordinator, Dr Ernest Massiah; National AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dominica Julie Frampton; and St and Kitts and Nevis Chief Medical Officer, Dr Patrick Martin.

They presided over a programme of information sharing, peer learning and cross-country collabo-

ration for a strengthened Caribbean HIV response.

The meeting noted the achievements in the response to the Caribbean epidemic, including the progress made towards elimination of mother-tochild-transmission of HIV, significant reduction in the number of deaths due to AIDS, and substantial returns on investment.

Several concerns were expressed in relation to a number of ongoing challenges. The meeting noted the gaps in the response to the human rights agenda, gender and gender-based violence and the existence of punitive laws that negatively impact universal access.

The region’s dependency on diminishing external funding was recognised, along with the need for country investment cases and more cost effective and efficient programming.

The meeting expressed concern regarding the ade-

quacy of investments in laboratories and the impact of this on service provision. In this context, it recom-

and urgent policy dialogue to address the dissonance between the age of consent and the age of access to sex-

mended a comprehensive assessment and analysis of the status of laboratories be commissioned for advocacy and for moving the issue to the political level.

The meeting called for an assessment of the health vulnerability of unprotected sex and teenage pregnancy among young people,

ual and reproductive services for adolescents.

The meeting finalised and endorsed the indicator framework for the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework 20142018. The meeting also endorsed the thrust of the PANCAP grant activities which are focused on pro-

moting human rights and addressing barriers to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for key populations.

The concept note will be submitted to the Global Fund in January 2015. The meeting noted the progress made by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Regional Coordinating Mechanism in developing its concept note.

The meeting also noted the achievements of the PANCAP Global Fund Round Nine Grant Phase II and lauded the principal recipient and sub-recipients for consistently achieving an A-1 rating.

The meeting further noted the gaps to achieving national and regional goals which require attention; including adequate provision of rapid testing and access to point of care, counselling and testing and increasing male counselling and testing.

Country representa-

tives identified several areas requiring support from PANCAP. These are regional advocacy for pooled procurement of medicines and laboratory commodities, definition of a minimum package of services for delivery at the primary healthcare level; advocacy for policy and legislation to remove barriers to access to services; and technical and financial assistance to undertake research to address data gaps.

The meeting underscored the importance of leadership and governance for achieving optimal health goals at national and regional levels and for ensuring the effectiveness of the partnership at both levels.

The meeting committed to addressing the challenges of inadequate access to services for those most in need; and inadequate access to financial resources to maintain the national and regional gains.

Rodney CoI:

PNC Govt undoubtedly killed Rodney – Dr Omawale

Former Organising Secretary of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr Omawale on Tuesday appeared before the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, with further evidence that the then ruling Government, the People’s National Congress (PNC), had plotted against and killed Dr Walter Rodney.

Omawale’s evidence was grounded in the oppressive political, economic and social atmosphere which he said existed at the time of the PNC’s rule.

The Social Worker, who was tasked with organising party meetings during that time, said he has always been saddened and devastated by the way Dr Rodney met his demise, maintaining that nothing could convince him that the WPA cofounder was not killed by the State.

Omawale listed the many incidents which have informed his position. These include the sequence of events involving Dr Rodney’s alleged assassin Gregory Smith, particularly the fact that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) had publicly denied that he was a serving member and the swift effort of the Government to whisk him out of Guyana mere hours after the explosion on June 13, 1980.

Omawale told the Commission that the WPA, particularly Dr Rodney, was among the hard- pressed Opposition of the ruling

Government. And while Dr Rodney had no desire in taking the reins of power, he was genuinely interested in teaching the common man about self-emancipation.

The Linden Forbes Burnham regime was threatened by this emerging bolt of self-determination, which was aimed at stealthily phasing out dictatorial rule.

There were many other occurrences during that period which formulated his stance that the dictatorial PNC had its hand in the death of Dr Rodney and other members of the WPA.

Totalitarian Omawale crafted a section of his testimony under the caption “Burnham the bully”. That type of behaviour, he said, went as far back as 1969 when he was invited to the then Prime Minister’s Office for a talk.

Omawale said he was at that point actively involved in organising a simple protest in honour of Dr Clive Thomas who was recently ousted from both the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and the Mona Campus in Jamaica.

He mentioned that he was escorted to the Prime Minister’s Office by the then General Secretary of the PNC, Hamilton Green who was also his cousin. Omawale said he was ordered by the Prime Minister to either drop one of his speakers, Dr Cheddi Jagan from the activity or cancel it

altogether. He recalled that he had already received approval for the holding of that protest and boldly told Burnham that he would not be changing his plans.

He went on to report that on the day of the protest, as he got up to speak, someone pulled the microphone away from Dr Jagan, hitting him in his stomach.

Omawale pointed to another incident where Government had banned certain items from the country. These included a ban on newsprint, which he said was an expression of oppression of the free press.

He admitted that there may have been an economic strain on the country, but noted that Government had even made it difficult for persons to accept free news-

print from overseas.

The WPA executive continued to paint the dictatorial picture as he related his ordeal seeking to leave the country to return to Rome in 1979. He said he went to the airport, and without any explanation his passport was seized, and he was kept in a room. He said his passport was only returned to him after the plane left the airport.

His family was also prevented from entering the country when they travelled from Jamaica in 1981. At that time, he recalled, his wife, a Jamaican, was travelling with their two young children. But upon landing here, they were prevented from leaving the plane.

Omawale testified that him being prevented from leaving the country was a “punishment by a dictatorship rulership” which was bent on intimidating anyone who sought a radical change.

Targeted

He spoke too of the assassination rampage that the Police Force through the “death squad” was involved in, especially against the WPA members. He recalled the death of young Keith Caesar, a resident of Tiger Bay who was shot and killed by the “death squad” in the early 1970s. His testimony also included the incident involving another WPA member who was also around the same time killed by the Police, and WPA member Ohene Koama who

was also shot and killed.

And although an inquest was held into Koama’s death, nothing significant emerged.

The WPA executive revealed that although he received numerous personal threats on his life, he was never physically harassed by the Police or any agent of the state, including the Government-affiliated House of Israel.

He said he was always fortunate to be informed by sympathisers about any looming threat on his life, pointing out on several occasions he had received telephone calls warning him to be careful. He said he went into safety mode as he was always careful and suspicious of being followed.

He said as Organising Secretary of the party, he was forced on many occasions to hold his meetings in “the dead of night”, in canefields just to ensure safety.

Dr Omawale continued that the oppression was so grave, he has now formed the opinion that the only answer citizens had then was to be engaged in public uprising and protest. He skilfully painted the picture of a government that had taken every bit of freedom, both economical and social from the people and had transformed itself into their worst enemy.

But even though those situations had informed his thoughts and even though the political temperature was rising, Rodney was nev-

er given to violence. In fact, at his many meetings he had advised against going in that direction.

Commissioners brought before Omawale the statements made by Dr Rodney at a WPA meeting where he had engaged participants in the idea that the PNC must go and must go by any means necessary. And further his nicknaming PNC Leader Burnham “King Kong”.

Omawale quickly explained that the leader could not have been speaking in practical terms but figuratively, maintaining that Dr Rodney was not such a person.

He said too that Dr Rodney was of the view that both major political parties at the time, the PNC and the PPP had embraced the wrong approach as it related to them seeking out supporters. To him, it was strictly based on race, and Dr Omawale posited, the WPA leader could not wrap his mind around such concepts.

Although blamed for the June 13, 1980 explosion which killed the historian, the PNC has continued to deny that it was ever involved.

The notion too that the former Army Sergeant William Gregory Smith was used as the medium to carry out the execution plan has been disputed. The blame has been placed squarely at the feet of the historian himself.

Washington Post discovers Indo-Caribbean people exist

B y S uzanne P er S ard

As Americans prepared to commemorate Columbus discovering the New World this October, a travel writer from the Washington Post fell asleep on the A train and accidentally discovered Indo-Caribbean people in Queens, New York.

The author, rustled from sleep with the notification of landing in Richmond Hill (colloquially known as “Little Guyana”), arrives spellbound by cheap island treats, the presence of machete-wielding locals, and our “wild” music.

“Nobody told me about Little Guyana, a mileplus-long stretch in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens where the residents are Indian but sound like Bob Marley when they speak.”

Shortsightedness

Fortunately for the author, the audacity to express not knowing an entire race of people exists is not confined to shortsightedness of poorly written and insulting travel pieces “discovering” marginalised communities.

“Actually, (before I met you/moved to New York

City), I didn’t know IndoCaribbean people existed,” is more common than you might think.

I have lost count of the number of times individuals — white people and peo-

America that seem to not visibly fit into race categories assigned to Census boxes, the frustration accompanying this question is common.

Yet, unlike other ele-

The project of white supremacy and the historical distancing of India from the violence of indentureship allows individuals to say they never knew an entire race of people “existed”

ple of colour alike, including South Asians —say they never knew Indo-Caribbean people “existed”. Growing up as IndoCaribbean in America, the question of, “What are you?” unfailingly warrants an unsolicited lesson in the history of Western colonialism.

For people of colour in

mentary school-aged children who do not learn about residual systems of slavery and colonialism until middle-school, many of us have an idea about the system of indentureship that brought our ancestors from India to the Caribbean and recite from memory the history lesson our parents inculcated to other children at

recess with blank looks on their faces.

When people say they do not know we “existed”, essentially what they mean is we must be variegated ethnic unicorns appearing as glorious exceptions to dominant American narratives where other cultures and people inevitably are allowed to exist (no history lesson required).

If the individual is feeling particularly apologetic about not knowing about the existence of Indo-Caribbean communities, they will assume the quiet tone of confession, a revelation made in atonement for their lack of knowledge due to intentional historical omissions from sub-continental and American textbooks alike, privileging majority vs minority politics, and perpetuating our ancestral struggles to footnotes within the domination of British and Western imperialism.

Jaundiced view

If they are oblivious to the project of white supremacy and the historical distancing of India from the violence of indentureship that allows individuals to say they never knew an entire race of people “existed”, they will write articles like

the one published in the Washington Post.

The author, who never knew Indo-Caribbean people “existed”, also assumes: It’s probably safe to say that many, if not most, Americans know little or nothing about Guyana — Is that safe to say? Why would that be safe to say? Are there also no GuyaneseAmericans who do not know their own race exists? Do Guyanese-Americans not exist, or is the assumption that Guyanese-Americans are not “many” or “most” Americans?

Strolling down the community hub of Liberty Avenue, the author states, “Urban grit is rife, but there’s no real danger”.

I’m not sure whether the author believes our little Chutney-blasting, carnival enclave must be a microcosm of island paradise, but as a founding member of Jahajee Sisters, I know that our organisation was created following the violent deaths of two young Indo-Caribbean women, and as a direct response to the devastating rates of domestic and gender-based violence impacting the IndoCaribbean community.

The author’s exoticising account of Indo-Caribbean

people stops short as the machete-wielding coconut man requested by the author for a photograph declines the request. But this does not deter the author from observing us National Geographic-style, commenting on local women outfitted in “Western garb”.

The idea that Guyanese communities do not exist invites many, many more assumptions, least of which is the fact that Caribbean communities are not an integral part of the fabric of American identity. America is here, Guyana is over there, and clearly you cannot be Guyanese and American (since clearly “American” identity is a code-word for “white”).

The issue is not simply the lack of knowledge about the existence of IndoCaribbean people, but the audacity to inherently otherize communities that cannot easily be filed away into dominant race boxes.

The issue is approaching this lack of knowledge with humility, rather than from a vantage point of dominant “American” narratives which continue to otherize already marginalised populations whose histories continue to be excised from the chapters of history.(The Aerogram)

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Find a quiet corner where you can reflect on your personal life and explore your emotions. Soul-searching will give you a better understanding of your motivations, needs and wants.

Let your charm lead the way. New friendships will develop if you mingle. Attend events that bring you into contact with those who share your favourite pastimes.

Read the fine print. Make sure you understand what’s included and what isn’t. It’s up to you to be diligent and to ask questions before you sign on the dotted line.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

You may be feeling anxious or temperamental. You won’t be helping anyone if you fly off the handle. Keep your opinions to yourself for now.

Things will improve if you work alone. You will accomplish more without distractions or interruptions and if you eliminate jobs that have been put on hold for too long.

Take advantage of your high energy and clear thinking so you will be able to accomplish your goals and open up time to do things you enjoy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You will face ups and downs regarding family matters. Listen to complaints and work to rectify the problems that exist before they have a chance to escalate. It’s essential to cooperate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Friends and relatives will question what you are trying to accomplish. Your impulsive nature and effervescent disposition will attract attention and bring about a personal challenge.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

It’s vital that you keep meticulous records of your personal expenditures and assets. You work hard, but money has a way of slipping through your fingers if you become too complacent.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

You will have to decide whether a romantic relationship has become too one-sided. If you do not share the same depth of feeling, a serious discussion is in order.

Trust your intuition if something doesn’t feel right, and make the necessary alterations. Use discretion, and refrain from being too forthcoming with your opinions to avoid being put in a vulnerable position.

An unusual creative project will get you heading in a new direction. Not only will you make new acquaintances, but you will also discover abilities and skills you didn’t know you had.

Third “test” ends in a draw as Windies A lose series to Sri Lanka A

West Indies A lost their three-match unofficial test series against Sri Lanka A after their third and final fourday match petered out into a draw on the fourth day on Tuesday.

Bad light stopped play as the Sri Lankans were chasing a 218-run target set by West Indies in a match in which the pendulum swung back and forth at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium.

An unbeaten half-century from Lahiru Thirimanne pulled the homeside out of a slump on the chase after West Indies, slipped, recovered and then suffered another spectacular batting collapse to be all out for 234 in their second innings.

Pacer Shannon Gabriel removed openers Upul Tharanga and Kusal Perera

cheaply sending the homeside reeling at 48 for three.

But a 61 run partnership for the 4th wicket between Ashan Priyanjan and Lahiru Thirimanne repaired the damage and revived efforts for outright victory.

Priyanjan was run out for 36 after hitting six fours while Thirimanne, who struck five fours, was undefeated on 57 when bad light stopped play.

Gabriel finished with two for 36 while Devendra Bishoo picked up two for 71.

Earlier, a fourth wicket century stand between Jonathan Carter and Andre Fletcher consolidated the innings after the visitors were in a spot of bother on 97 for three.

Carter added nine runs to his overnight score of 69 before he was stumped; bring-

ing to an end a partnership that produced 120 runs.

Fletcher built on his overnight score of 36, smashing six fours in a knock of 66 before losing his stumps to Chaturanga de Silva who grabbed four for 57.

Fletcher’s demise signaled a familiar batting collapse, undermined once again by the spin off emerging Sri Lankan bowling sensation, Tharindu Kaushal who grabbed five for 78 to finish the match with ten wickets.

The 21-one-year-old Kaushal picked up wickets at the top and middle orders as the last six West Indian wickets tumbled for the addition of only 17 runs.

Sri Lanka A have secured the series three games to nil.

Gymkhana on Sunday at Anjue and Hamlet track

With the aim of garnering funds to aid in the resuscitation of the Anjue and Hamlet horse race track at Branch Road, Mahaicony, head of the once glorious facility, Amernauth Kiritpaul, will stage a grand fund-raising gymkhana on Sunday.

According to Kiritpaul,

the action will commence at 13:00 hours with mainly horse racing, complimented by several side attractions. The track has been dormant for the past four years, and Kiritpaul is now looking to return to glory day when numerous epic races were staged.

“This event on Sunday

is basically to raise fund to have the track back up and running, and we’re hoping for the support of the public to help with the return of competitive horse racing to the Anjue and Hamlet track,” Kiritpaul said. Admission to the gymkhana is $800 per person.

Flex Night meeting set for Saturday

Athletes, Coaches, Gym Managers and Media representative will meet on Saturday from 15:00h at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters in Kingston for a special briefing to mark the five-week countdown to Flex Night International.

The event will be held on December 7 at the National Cultural Centre. This year’s Flex Night event was officially launched on September 30 when gym owners, sponsors and the media were hosted at the Herdmanston Lodge.

According to Flex Night’s Managing Director, Donald Sinclair, at Saturday’s briefing, athletes and gym managers will receive their Flex Night registration forms

and other relevant information relating to their participation in the upcoming event. They will also be able to make enquiries regarding pre-judging procedures, prizes and the format and appropriate attire for both male and female bodybuilding events.

Flex Night international 2014 climaxes the year of bodybuilding activities in Guyana and will bring together male and female athletes from gyms in Georgetown, East and West Demerara, Linden and Berbice, as well as foreign participation from three countries.

Khan hits 65 in losing cause

Supervisor of the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall, Bashur Khan, making a return to softball cricket after several years in the wilderness, hit a solid halfcentury, but could not inspire victory for Tiger Sports against Shakir XI last weekend.

Playing under floodlights at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Queenstown, Shakir XI made a challenging 220 from the allotted 20

overs, before they restricted Tiger Sports to 197-5 when the overs ran out.

Shakir XI’s top scorers were Jawahir with 76 and Narine with 43, as B. Persaud claimed 3-16. During Tiger Sports innings, Khan was one of two batsmen to score half-centuries. Apart from his 65, S. Mohamed scored 52.

Bowling for Shakir XI, I. Evans claimed 2-13.

Fifa Club World Cup… Plans continue despite Ebola concerns

Preparations for the Club World Cup in Morocco are continuing "as planned" despite concerns over the Ebola epidemic, Fifa has said.

The 10-day tournament, which features Champions League winners Real Madrid, is due to start on December 10.

Fifa said it was in contact with the Moroccan authorities and taking advice from the World Health Organization to "constantly update its position."

Morocco is also due to host the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2015.

"The health of players, officials and football fans remains the highest priority, just as it would for any Fifa competition," the world governing body said in a statement.

"According to the World

Plans for the Club World Cup are continuing despite concerns over the Ebola epidemic

Health Organisation, there are currently no cases of Ebola reported from Morocco and therefore all preparations continue as planned."

The Club World Cup brings together the champions of each of Fifa's six confedera-

tions and the national league champion from the host country. Matches will be played in Rabat and Marrakesh.

The current Ebola outbreak has infected more than 10,000 people and killed almost 5,000. (BBC Sport)

Marlon Samuels sticks to his stand

All is not well between West Indies ODI captain Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels with the middle order batsman yet again insisting that he was not a part of the decision to abandon the tour of India, and said he was in favour of solving the problem after finishing the series.

Samuels disagreed with Bravo’s statement that he had given consent to standing by “any decision taken by the team”.

“No, I didn’t say ‘I am going to stand by any decision’,” Samuels was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“Because nobody asked me questions like that. It is up to the individual to say okay I am with you. You had people in the room that didn’t even open their mouth or say anything. At the end of the day, I went there and asked my questions and I wasn’t satisfied (by the response). If I was satisfied then I will be the first person to come out because I am an outspoken person. Then I will be the first person to come out and defend everything with (Bravo),” he said.

Samuels said he was against pulling out of the India tour midway.

“This has nothing to do with India. This is our problem. So finish the tour and then go back to the Caribbean and sort out the

problem. India is the most important team that West Indies play against. India is the greatest team that West Indies play against in every way possible. The relationship with India is too great. It is a wonderful relationship,” the Jamaican said.

“You would never see an Indian player and a West Indian player having words against each other or cursing the other. It is not like against Australia or South

He was critical of Wavell Hinds and said that the WIPA president and CEO was to be blamed for the entire fiasco.

“If you look at the situation, the real, real person here to be blamed is WIPA. Wavell Hinds, the (WIPA) president, basically messed up everything. If you look at the situation you can’t really blame the board for accepting what Wavell has done. Wavell is the main problem

Africa. There are a lot of Indians in the Caribbean. It is like a family.”

Samuels said all three parties — the players, WICB and West Indies Players Association — messed up the situation.

here. But remember I am not part of WIPA,” he said.

As a matter of fact, this is the second time in less than a week that Samuels has expressed a difference of opinion against Bravo over the issue.

Samuels said that he had only asked certain questions to Bravo in the two team meetings he had attended in India.

The Jamaican said he decided to stay away from the episode after failing to get a convincing reply from the West Indies skipper.

“One of the questions I asked was the public don’t really know what is happening,” Samuels said.

“The public are being misled. They need to know the truth behind this (pull out). They need to go out there and explain what is really happening. He (Bravo) wasn’t willing to go and do that. That is why I say that if you are not up to doing what I want to go there and do, which is the right thing, then you are not going to get my full support.

“You cannot expect (me) to go and fight a war if you are not willing to go out and speak,” Samuels said.

Asked why he was not accredited to the players’ body, Samuels said: “Since I got the two-year ban I was left in the cold, on my own. I have to get my own lawyer. I have to do everything on my own. WIPA wasn’t there for me. So I come back into cricket and choose not to be a part of WIPA because WIPA did not help me. So I do not feel like I should do anything for WIPA.” (PTI)

Trott in England Lions squad for South Africa

Jonathan Trott has received his first international call-up since the batsman left England's Ashes tour with a "stress-related illness" in November.

Warwickshire's Trott was named in a 14-man England Lions party for their January tour of South Africa.

The 33-year-old came back to cricket at the start of the season, ending the summer with 628 firstclass runs.

"I am like everyone else playing county cricket in that I have aspirations to play for England," he told BBC Sport.

"I remember going on previous Lions trips in 2007 and 2008 and having to do my time on those and prove myself. That is something that I need to do again."

Trott scored 3,763 runs in 49 Tests before leaving Australia after the first Test in Brisbane.

Having started the season with Warwickshire, his county campaign was interrupted when he took another break from the game in April.

But he returned to the Bears side in May, and believes that he has benefit -

ted from sessions with psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, who has worked with the Great Britain cycling team, Liverpool Football Club and snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan.

you question why you do it. I have found myself in a situation where I am enjoying it again."

The tour sees the Lions - formerly the England A team - play two four-day

"He said I had a 'situational anxiety'. It is pretty common with regard to everyday life, but when played out in front of the world media and press it is quite a big thing," added Trott.

"It was an eye-opener working with Steve. It has been a huge change for me, a great understanding of where I was and where I need to get to.

"Cricket is cruel and kind to you at the same time. It is a game you definitely love, but sometimes

games and five one-dayers against South Africa A, with Trott only included in the 14-man party for the first-class matches.

"Jonathan Trott's exceptional form and run scoring exploits for Warwickshire at the end of the summer has resulted in his selection for the first-class fixtures at the beginning of the tour," said national selector James Whitaker.

"Congratulations to him and to all of the players selected."

Bale on Fifa world player shortlist

Wales forward Gareth Bale is the only player from the home nations on the 23man shortlist for the Fifa 2014 men's world footballer of the year award.

Bale, 25, scored 22 goals for Real Madrid last season, as the La Liga side won the Champions League.

Five Premier League players in Thibaut Courtois, Diego Costa, Angel Di Maria, Eden Hazard and Yaya Toure have also been nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to retain the award.

tion.

Carlo Ancelotti, who guided Real Madrid to the Champions League, Super Cup and Copa del Rey last season, has been nominated for the coach of the year award.

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho, Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, who guided Netherlands to the third place in the World Cup, are also on the 10-man list for the coach award, alongside World Cup winning coach Joachim Low.

Fifa world men's player of the year shortlist: Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid),

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who has won the award three times in the last four years, is also on the shortlist, alongside team-mate Neymar.

The 23 shortlist will be reduced to three in December before the winners are announced on 12 January, 2015 in Zurich.

South Africa-born Trott initially spent four months out of cricket after his exit from Australia, during which time he clarified that his departure was down to being "emotionally and mentally spent".

On returning, the righthander was part of the Warwickshire squad for less a month before a recurrence of his anxiety issues forced him to take another month-long break.

However, his second comeback has been sustained, with Trott scoring three hundreds in nine first-class matches. He particularly impressed in 50-over cricket, averaging 54.22 as Warwickshire reached the final of the One-Day Cup.

Provisional England Lions first-class squad: Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Sam Billings, Jack Brooks, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Craig Overton, Liam Plunkett, Boyd Rankin, Adil Rashid, Adam Riley, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, James Vince.

Riley, Robson and Trott replaced by Stephen Parry, Samit Patel and Jason Roy in the provisional one-day squad. (BBC Sport)

There is no place for Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who played a crucial role in helping Uruguay qualify for the last 16 in Brazil but was suspended from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez's suspension meant that under Fifa rules, the 27-year-old, who was the Premier League's top scorer with 31 goals in 33 matches for Liverpool last year, was not eligible for the shortlist.

In terms of Premier League clubs, Chelsea have the most players on the list with three - Courtois, Costa and Hazard, with Manchester United (Di Maria) and Manchester City (Toure) each supplying one.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich players dominate the list, with each club supplying six players.

World Cup winners Germany have the most players nominated with six, with Spain and Argentina three apiece and France and Belgium two each.

Wales, Portugal, Sweden, Brazil, Netherlands, Colombia and Ivory Coast each have one of their players in conten-

Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Diego Costa (Spain, Chelsea), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Argentina, Manchester United), Mario Gotze (Germany, Bayern Munich), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris St-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France, Juventus), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Colombia, Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City).

Fifa coach of the year shortlist: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid), Antonio Conte (Juventus/Italy national team), Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klinsmann (USA national team), Joachim Low (Germany national team), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City), Alejandro Sabella (Argentina national team), Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Louis van Gaal (Netherlands national team/Manchester United).

(BBC Sport)

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Players' player Hinds need to win back trust

– the lack of clarity from the WIPA president is at odds with his reputation for being a sounding board for his team-mates while he was a player

By Garth Wattley

March 2005, Guyana. Talk of a rebellion was in the air - a strike among West Indian Test cricketers preparing to take on Graeme Smith's South Africans in the first Test at Bourda.

Seven members - regular captain Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul - had been caught in a sponsorship impasse involving former major sponsors of West Indies cricket, Cable and Wireless (C&W), and rivals Digicel, who had just signed a deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to replace them. The seven players had personal deals with C&W, which created a contractual wrangle between their representative, the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA), and the WICB. Involved in cementing the Digicel sponsorship was one Whycliffe Dave Cameron.

Chanderpaul himself, in his first game as captain, showed a sense of occasion by compiling an unbeaten 203, and added 284 for the fourth wicket with Hinds, as West Indies made enough runs over the first two days to have the better of a drawn game that lifted the morale across the region.

Hinds' sense of timing was significant. This was his best effort in first-class cricket. And it also turned out to be his last Test hundred, as he only played six more Tests. But he produced his most supreme effort when West Indies cricket as a whole required its players to show commitment to the cause. To have done so at a time when

him. Even as an opponent, Hinds did not get personal with his banter. So here is a person who, as he came to the end of his playing career, had earned the confidence of his fellow players. Hinds, the holder of a university degree, also ensured that he was ready for a career off the cricket ground. His elevation to president of WIPA following Dinanath Ramnarine's departure in 2012 seemed a natural progression. He had been on the WIPA executive for some time and had been alongside Ramnarine through many of his battles with the WICB. What has happened over the last couple of weeks, therefore, is all the more dif-

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On the eve of the opening match, Gayle and Sarwan cut ties with C&W. But all seven missed the first Test. Local hero Shivnarine Chanderpaul was named the new captain. But at the launch of the series at the Pegasus Hotel, and at the team's last training session before the match, rumours abounded that the game would not be played, that WIPA was pushing for a player pullout.

One of the persons caught in the middle in Guyana recalls the situation facing members of the team: "There was a certain amount of pressure but it was an individual decision."

Hinds’ impact

The team leaders, however, could have had a significant influence on what the others did. And in the side for this first Test was the WIPA vice-president Wavell Hinds.

he was vice-president of the players' body that was in dispute with the board, suggested that here was someone with clarity of thought; an independent thinker; a man who was mindful that the game was bigger than the man.

"Nobody expected us to go and do what we did today," Chanderpaul recalled at the time. "But I must say well done to Wavell. He really stuck it out out there."

ficult to comprehend. Never before has the players' body been at odds with its members, at least not in so public a way. It is an ironic twist, since the split comes at a time when the relationship between WIPA and the board had seemed to have changed for the better.

On March 31, the first day of the Test, the selected West Indies squad showed up. And Hinds took the lead. On a track as placid as the Demerara River to the west of town, Chanderpaul called right at the toss and Hinds opened the innings. More than usual, all eyes were on the left-hand opener from Jamaica. He kept them riveted for six hours. Playing in his 39th Test match, Hinds made a Test-best 188 that day, which he eventually converted to 213. He made those runs in the uncompromising manner of a man with a point to prove.

Crisis

Hinds' handling of those events in Guyana does not appear to be atypical of the man now at the centre of another player-board crisis. Among his team-mates over the years, Hinds has been known to be a man who makes clear where he stands on things.

"I came to Guyana with all intentions of playing and I intend to continue this game in a very positive manner. I have my people, I have my country and the maroon flag to represent and I'll try to do that with distinction," Hinds said after that first day.

"What you see is what you get," said a former team-mate. But besides that Guyana situation in 2005, Hinds has also showed himself to be a players' player. The highly competitive nature of professional sport encourages selfishness. But even when Hinds was suffering a bad patch and fighting to cement his place in the side, he could still be depended on to listen and offer words of encouragement to his team-mates; to seek the best interests of those around

Composed in disposition, Hinds seemed to possess quiet strength, as opposed to the more feisty Ramnarine. The tone of the relationship between WIPA and the board changed significantly once Hinds was at the helm and St Lucian Ernest Hilaire quit as WICB CEO to take up a diplomatic posting, to be replaced by Jamaican Michael Muirhead. That Cameron, now the board president, is also Jamaican, seemed to be an advantage in a region where island insularity is always hovering below the surface.

However, in one of the letters sent by one-day captain Dwayne Bravo on behalf of the players on tour in India that made public the brewing controversy, Bravo drew reference to the fact that Hinds and Cameron are both members of the Kensington Cricket Club in Jamaica. He claimed a conflict of interest since Hinds is also a member of the Jamaica Cricket Association, a branch of the WICB. (Cricinfo)

Nedd optimistic about male volleyball future

– following exploits at IGG second leg

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Guyana’s male volleyball team left an indelible mark on last weekend’s second leg of the Inter-Guiana Games, defeating both hosts Suriname and French Guiana to reclaim the title they last won in 2007 when Guyana hosted the Games.

The Guyanese were the toast of a packed Ismay Van Wilgen Sporthal in Paramaribo on the two nights of action, breezing past the French 25-19, 2513, 25-15 in the three-bestin-five format on the opening night, before outplaying the home town boys 25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 25-17 on the final night.

The fact that Guyana dropped just one set was indicative of the level of dominance they portrayed, something the experienced Coach Levi Nedd is now highly enthused about, expressing great optimism about the future of male volleyball.

During an exclusive interview with this publication at the conclusion of the Games, Nedd reflected on

Guyana’s performance and way forward.

“We have had a lot of well-wishers. I think persons were a bit negative before we started because we were losing all the time, but with good preparation and dedication by the players we managed to pull it off,” Nedd commented.

The volleyball fanatic had led the team through a vigorous encampment period at the National Gymnasium prior to travelling to Suriname, and his early assessment of the players had given him the confidence that they could release the shackles and reclaim the top podium spot.

He continued, “I had a feeling they would do well because everyone was equally skilled. Previously, we had one or two talents that stood out, but this time we had one of the better teams in a long while.”

The 53-year-old Nedd, who has over 38 years experience as a national player and coach, said unlike previous years, Guyana was able to outperform their Suriname and French

Guiana counterparts in all facets of the game.

“We were better than them,” he said emphatically. “Our tactics won it for us, while psychologically we

were also above them.”

This year’s squad included three players who returned from the 2013 competition, namely two setters and a midfield attacker.

Dant, OSCL gearing up for Guyana Softball Cup 4

By RAvendRA mAdholAll in ToRonTo

With days to go for the commencement of the 2014 annual Guyana Softball Cup 4, Dant/OSCL have intensified their preparations ahead of the tournament, which is slated to begin Friday and end on Sunday.

Skipper Yadram Bogh is full of confidence his side will make a good representation as one of the two Canadian teams that are ready to compete in the much-touted ‘World Cup’ softball showdown.

He is ruling out any degree of complacency, and is positive the group of boys will focus on their game.

Bogh is of the view that cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, and they are taking things steps by steps.

“We have a good team and I [am] confident we can do well down there; we just have to focus and play hard cricket; obviously with the amount of teams taking part, the competition will be stiff,” Bogh declared.

Dant created a massive impact in this year’s Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) tournament having lifted all four trophies at stake by winning the 10, 15, 20 and West End Division, a remarkable effort by the side that also made its debut after dominating proceedings previously in the

Canadian Softball Cricket Association competition over the years.

“We can’t underrate any team; everybody wants to win and we have the same intention too, but [it’s] just a matter of going out there and play good cricket; this is a great opportunity for our team to prove ourselves and I think we have the side to do it,” stated the left-hander. They had begun preparations several weeks ago and so far things have looked well for them. He also feels

the team is naturally talented and should have the capability too to churn out excellent performances on the South American soil.

Apart from his wealth of experience, players like Aftab Shamsudeen, Bholonauth Sukhu, Damodar Daesrath, Muniram Karran, Shaun Deonandan, Ricardo Adams, Surujpaul and Krishna Deosaran (unrelated) should bring greater versatility to the unit.

Meanwhile, Dant will be playing under the banner

of OSCL since the League was unable to field a team for this trip in Guyana. The other team that will be visiting Guyana is the Ontario International Softball Masters, but they will contest in the Masters division. The tournament is once again being run under the auspices of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Association. Competitors are also expected from New York, Florida and the host nation as they will be vying for trophies and handsome cash incentives.

According to Nedd, who is attached to the GuySuCo Training Centre- Port Mourant (GTCPM) where most of the players come from, majority of the current squad will be eligible for participation at the next two IGGs, something he will be looking to capitalise on ahead of the 2015 edition of the Games.

“We will be looking to have overseas exposure for these guys so that they play stronger teams and also have exposure to top facilities around the region. There is also an all-weather court at the Port Mourant Community Centre and we will also look to tap into that facility. We will also look to have more people coming into the sport so that we have a wider pool of players to choose from,” the long-serving Coach explained.

Nedd pointed out that since 90 percent of the players reside in the Berbice, an indoor facility in the Ancient County would be very much welcomed since it would allow for more training and playing time, as the weath-

er would not be a hindrance.

The articulate Nedd said while the players did the job on the court and won gold for Guyana, it would not have been possible without the support of several parties. He singled out the National Sports Commission and the Guyana Volleyball Federation for praise, noting that both bodies would have played their part in ensuring adequate preparation of the champion unit. The IGG champion squad reads: Devendra Latchman, Samuel Anthony Fraser, Madan Kumar Budhram, Yoganand Dhoray, Steven Anthony Veerapen, Muaaz Inshan, Rolwyn Heywood, Ryon Mangrau, Rick Daniel Ritchie, Klondyke Rodney, Joshua Jagmohan, Ravi Rampartab and Xavier Lambert. Nedd and Rashaad Razak were the officials.

Ten of the players were from GTCPM, while there was one each from New Amsterdam Technical Institute, Lower Corentyne Secondary and Professional Learning Institute.

Braithwaite defies elements to win Recorded Shoot

Lennox Braithwaite defied inclement weather and poor lighting conditions to win last Sunday’s Recorded Shoot at the Timehri Rifle and Pistol ranges.

The competitors found the going tough against adverse weather, but the reigning Caribbean individual champion dropped just two points to win the match with an overall score of 148 points with 12 V-bulls to win the X Class Grand Aggregate from a grand aggregate of 150 points with 30 Vs.

Braithwaite shot a possible 50 points with 6 V-bulls at 600 yards and recorded scores of 49.3 at 300 yards and 49.3 at 900 yards on his way to victory. National Vice Captain Dylan Fields also recorded 148 points but he had 11 Vs with scores of 49.2 at 300 yards, 50.4 at 600 and 49.5 at 900 yards.

The current national champion Ransford Goodluck, who was the winner of the previous competition, finished in the third spot with 146 points and 10 Vs with scores of 47.2 at 300 yards, 49.4 at 600 yards and 30.4 at 900 yards.

Leo Romalho placed fourth with 144.11 (49.6, 49.5 and 40.0). Peter Persaud topped the competition in ‘O’ Class with 127 points and 9 Vs. He shot 45.3 at 300

Lennox Braithwaite

yards, 50.5 at 600 yards and 32.1 at 900 yards. In second position was Sherwin Felicien, who ended with 122.10 (45.6, 46.3 and 31.1), while Chaflin Velloza shot 107.2 with scores of 42.1, 39.1 and 26.0.

Inspector Dane Blair and Colin Loncke were also in action as they fine tune preparations for the National Senior and Junior Championships, which will fire off on Saturday at Timehri starting at 10:00 hours.

GT&T Indoor Hockey Championships...

Hiker’s Men sink defending champs GCC 6-2

The Hikers Men’s first division hockey team drew first blood last evening with an impressive 6-2 victory over defending cham-

pions GCC on the opening night of the GT&T National Indoor Championships at the National Gymnasium, Mandel Avenue.

National stars Jamarj

Assanah and Aroydy Branford both put in stellar performances for the victors and were unstoppable in the dying minutes when the opposition began to tire and fade.

The Hikers first goal in the second minute of play came through a bit of luck as a defensive clearance went straight to the stick of lurk-

ing forward Robert France, who effortlessly guided the ball into the open GCC net.

GCC’s Mark Sargeant managed to equalise two minutes later as the pace of the game heightened with both teams threatening to take the prize. Kevin Spencer pushed GCC ahead with a field goal in the 13th minute, which was neutralised almost immediately by defender Andrew Stewart, scoring one of several penalty corners earned by the Hikers. Aroydy Branford stuck in one more just before half time to give the Hikers their second lead of the match at 3-2.

The second half was all Hikers as they seemed to improve with each pass, leaving a tiring GCC short of answers. The Hikers drilled in three more unanswered goals in the second half through Branford, France and Colonel “Scooby Doo” Heywood to cruise to an easy

Inquiry into infringement of horse

opening victory.

Earlier in the evening, the Mini Ladies, comprising the national Under-19 squad, easily outplayed newcomers Old Fort five goals to one. Macaela Harding and Aliyah Gordon both scored doubles for the Minis with Rebecca Xavier adding a single. Old Fort’s lone goal came through Bushani Kaladeen.

The other ladies clash of the evening saw defending champions Spice come from behind to defeat the determined Hikers 4-2. Former nationals Sonia Jardine and Vanessa Pires scored two goals each for Spice, while national right back Maria Munroe netted a double for the Hikers.

Matches will run from Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday with the four finals set for Sunday from 17:00 hours at the same venue.

racing rules and

animal cruelty put off – doubts over existence of the special probe committee

By Rajiv Bisnauth

The “inquiry” into infringement of horse racing rules and animal cruelty, which was slated for Monday at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, has been postponed. However, a new date is yet to be announced.

The owner of the Shariff Racing Stables and the jockey who rode Princess She’s Not, Trinidadian Keran Razack were set to appear in front a five-member special investigation committee, which was set up to probe infringement of horse racing rules and animal cruelty during the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) horse race meet held on October 12 at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club.

It is alleged that in the A and Lower one mile event, the champion jockey for the day, allegedly used probes to shock Princess She’s Not at different intervals of the race in order to win the event.

The five-man committee

is headed by Ryan Crawford. The other committee members are Francis Chichester, Quacy Henry, Patrick Davis and Zenzie Goring. However, the existence of the special committee seems to be in doubt. Based on an article posted on GHRA’s Facebook page recently, at least three of the five committee members have denied knowledge of the committee and the inquiry. They also questioned the motives of the inquiry.

Francis Chichester one

of the committee members was quoted on the GHRA’s Facebook page as saying “meeting what meeting, no one told me anything about any meeting. All I know is someone told me about my name in the papers about some committee, but to date no one has called me or advised me of a meeting”.

Quacy Henry and Patrick Davis were also quoted on the GHRA’s Facebook page. Henry indicated that he had not seen any communication regarding the committee

and thus, wouldn’t be able to comment on his participation.

Davis quickly disavowed any intent on participating in the committee. He also indicated that no one has made contact with him regarding the formation of a committee.

Crawford was not accessible for a comment.

A number of photographs have surfaced with Razack allegedly using the electric shock device. They were posted on the GHRA’s Facebook page recently.

At least one of the photographs appears to indicate that Razack was removing the device from his left index finger just after the race.

The Shariff Racing Stables created a major upset when Razack piloted Princess She’s Not to victory ahead of Guyana’s only A Class animal, Score’s Even in the feature A and Lower event.

However, immediately after the race it was brought to the official judges’ attention that Razack was allegedly riding with the device, which he used to shock the

horse at different intervals of the race.

Upon learning of the allegation, owner of Score’s Even, Dennis DeRoop, immediately lodge a complaint to the official judges’, requesting an investigation.

In an invited comment recently, President of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Vic Oditt, said that while the GHRA does not support any illegality in horse rac-

ing, the authority does not have the jurisdiction to conduct an investigation into an alleged encroachment of the rules and animal cruelty that occurred during that race meet.

To this end, Oditt indicated that the race meet was not sanctioned by the GHRA, and as such it doesn’t give the GHRA such authority to intervene.

GT&T reinforces commitment to “Guyana Cup 4”

– all systems in place, say organisers

By Rajiv Bisnauth

One of the main sponsors of the fourth edition of the Guyana Softball Cup, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), reinforced its commitment to partnering with the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFCA) for an impressive 2014 tournament.

The fourth edition bowls off on Friday at various venues across the capital city.

The company presented a cheque worth $500,000 to the GFSCA in its canteen and GT&T Marketing Officer, Nicola Duggan, disclosed that the entity is proud to be part of the development of softball cricket in Guyana.

“We at GT&T for the past two years had an out-

standing relationship with the GFSCA and we are pleased to continue that relationship,” Duggan said.

She also encouraged all Guyanese to come out and support the three-day event.

President of the GFSCA, Ramchand Ragbeer, expressed gratitude to GT&T for coming onboard for the second year, noting that sponsorship is critical to

the success of a tournament of the magnitude of the Guyana Softball Cup.

On stream

Meanwhile, Vicepresident of the GFSCA, Ricky Deonarain said all plans are falling into place for the country’s premier softball tournament.

Executive member of the GFSCA, Dharam Persaud, outlined that the foreign teams will arrive today and

tomorrow.

He also indicated that a meeting for all the teams will be held on Thursday from 17:00 hours at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion.

Teams are asked to assemble at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground on Friday by 08:00 hours for the formal opening.

Twenty-six games preliminary games will be played on Friday, while the other thirteen will be played on Saturday morning before the four semi-finals in the afternoon.

The two finals are set for Sunday with the open final played under lights at the Demerara Cricket Club ground. Admission to the various venues on Friday and Saturday is free, while patrons will pay $500 on Sunday.

Format

As was the case in previous editions of the tournament, there will be two categories – one for teams contesting the Men’s Open and the other for the Masters players, aged 45 and over.

The champion team in the Men’s Open is guaranteed a whopping $800,000 first prize and a huge trophy, while the losing finalist will have to settle for $200,000 and a trophy.

In the Masters’ division, the winning team will pocket $600,000 with the runner-up assured of $150,000.

The Man-of-the-Match in both finals will receive a

trophy.

Two 14-karat gold bracelets, accentuated with diamond studs, have been put up as the prizes for the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) of the Open and Masters categories, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery.

On the day of the final, there will be lots of hampers and giveaways for spectators. Additionally, two spectators can win return tickets from Survival Travel Agency to the beautiful island of Aruba.

All the spectators need to do is retain their half tickets and listen for their numbers to be called over the Public Address system during the final.

Two dozen teams will compete in this year’s event, with 12 from Guyana, seven from New York, three from Florida and two from Canada. During the threeday championship, there will be a total of 36 preliminary games, followed by four semi-finals and two finals.

Trophy Stall and New York Better are the defending champions of the Open and Masters categories respectively, while the previous champions were NYSCL New York (Open) and Savage Masters in 2012 and Cotton Field Wild Oats (Open) and Regal Seniors (Masters) in 2011.

According to information emanating from the GFSCA, this year’s tournament has an estimated budget of around $10 million.