Guyana Times Daily

Jagdeo, UN secretary general discuss urgent need for climate action

398 city residents receive laptops Driver in Marias Delight accident was speeding GuyaneseCanadian granted privilege to bestow Diamond Jubilee Medal Gun licence applicants must be thoroughly scrutinised – Gouveia

SUNday, November 24, 2013 | gUyaNatimeSgy.com

Driver in Marias Delight accident was speeding

Police have confirmed that young minibus driver, Safraz Rahim of Dunkel Village on the Essequibo Coast, was speeding when he met his death on Friday.

The accident occurred about 22:00h on the Marias Delight Public Road. According to information, the bus BRR 7926 was heading north when Rahim allegedly lost control and slammed into a dunks tree. The vehicle flipped several times before ending up in a trench.

He was reportedly unlicensed and inexperienced.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, Rahim, after cleaning his fa-

ther’s bus, received a call from his uncle to collect him at Charity. His uncle, who usually works in the interior, was

returning to his family on the coast.

He was accompanied by two friends, whom he asked

to go with him. The friends assisted him in cleaning the bus.

While family members refused to speak to the media, information revealed that Rahim, who is a conductor, was consuming alcohol earlier in the day.

Still in shock, injured passenger Gobin Balkisen, 26, also from Dunkel Village, said he is still trying to cope with what had happened. Relating the unfortunate ordeal, Balkisen said he was at the backseat of the bus when the incident occurred.

He recalled that his friend was speeding and all of a sudden, he heard a huge impact, and before he could react, he was flung through the bus

window, receiving bruises to the ears, abdomen and legs.

Huge bang

Another survivor, Ricardo Fitzcow from Charity, related that he was sitting behind the driver when he heard a huge bang before the bus reached a bridge there.

Fitzcow said the bus flipped several times, ending up in a nearby trench. He was pinned down in the vehicle but was rescued by a publicspirited citizen, who rushed to the accident scene.

Fitzcow, who is also a conductor, said when he was revived, he saw Rahim lying in the trench, bleeding from the neck and abdomen. Fitzcow said persons from around the community were very helpful and immediately rushed them to the Charity Oscar Joseph

Hospital.

Both Balkisen and Fitzcow said they are lucky to have survived the tragic mishap and are thankful to the Almighty for saving their lives.

They described Rahim as a loyal friend, who will be deeply missed.

Meanwhile, Essequibians have voiced their concerns over the number of road fatalities in Region Two, all by speeding.

Residents are calling on the Police Traffic Department to step up and monitor the roadways. They are of the view that young people must be thoroughly vetted before being issued a driver’s licence, as many of them are reckless.

Residents are calling on drivers to be careful on the roadways and value people’s lives.

398 city residents receive laptops

Three hundred and ninety-eight happy recipients on Wednesday walked away with their laptops as the government continues its drive to make citizens literate in Information Communication Technology (ICT) through the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme.

Present at the distribution exercise at the World Vision New Testament Church of God, David Street, Kitty, was Member of Parliament, Dr Vindhya Persaud. She was impressed with the fact that the recipients are of varying ages.

Dr Persaud expressed confidence that the government will achieve its goal of making every household ICT literate.

Beneficiaries of this programme shared their feelings of joy and expressed their gratitude to the government for the initiative. One female recipient said she was

very happy to see the government was introducing ICT to every household, especially the older folks who may not have any, or very little, knowledge of it.

Another recipient highlighted that he was very thankful for this initiative, which will benefit him and aid his two children with their studies.

The distribution process will be followed by a training session on Monday, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. The OLPF programme was launched in 2011, and was pioneered by former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The original aim of this programme was to equip 90,000 families with laptops and to expand the use of ICT across the country.

Thousands of laptops have already been distributed to numerous families in various communities countrywide.

CFATF blacklisting of Guyana most unfortunate – finance minister

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said the decision by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to encourage its member countries to consider implementing counter measures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana is most unfortunate.

The minister in a release said as a result of this warning, Guyana’s credibility in the international community will be severely damaged.

“International business relations with Guyana will be subjected to intense scrutiny, which, inevitably will become bureaucratic and costly for investors. Such environments will undoubtedly detour investor interests and ultimately limit Guyana’s marketability.

“Countries which have been blacklisted and received similar warnings have responded differently based on their unique econ-

omies. How Guyana’s economy responds will only be determined in time. What is known is, regardless of Guyana’s current economic state, the consequences of the warning issued by CFATF are far reaching,” Dr Singh said.

With the blacklisting, persons who receive remittances/cash via money transfer systems may experience delays in receiving the transfer.

There may also be an increased processing fee resulting from additional paperwork; proof of income and identification of the sender of such remittances will be enhanced. Persons most likely to be affected by this are undocumented aliens who reside abroad; the transfer of money from local to external banks will be delayed as international banks begin to severe ties locally; this delay in bank transfers or severing of financial ties with local banks can affect fuel prices and ultimately the cost for travel and commodities; local businesses may experience delays in the shipment of goods as additional paperwork will be required to prove that a business is legitimate and not a shell company laundering monies or financing terrorism; enhanced scrutiny will be implemented to verify the source and destination of all monies; persons who shop online and use debit and credit cards to con-

duct such transactions may find their transactions are denied or delayed; and insurance services (fire, life, mortgage etcetera), most of which depend on reinsurance from abroad, are also expected to experience delays, additional filing of paperwork and possibly increased fees.

The minister said despite numerous warnings, multiple engagements, calls from the private sector, manufacturing industry, banking and insurance sectors and the diplomatic community, it is most unfortunate that Guyana’s development has received such a striking blow due to non-cooperation at the parliamentary level.

“The implications of Guyana not complying with the CFATF requirements will undoubtedly affect our social and economic development. As more information becomes available, government will keep the public informed,” Dr Singh said.

Sunday Times Editor: Tajeram Mohabir

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

New elections now

At the very best, it could have been said that the standoff between the opposition and the government, since the last elections of November 2011, was not doing the country any good. We would have ignored the damage wrought by the opposition’s intemperate response in Linden to the government’s proposal to equalise the electricity tariffs to that of the rest of the country.

But after the ruling by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), in the wake of the opposition’s refusal to approve the required legislation for compliance, its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCTF) recommendations, the standoff is actually now doing harm to the country in ways that can prove fatal.

Our financial system just does not have the resilience to withstand the level of scrutiny to which it will now be subjected. But it is the posture of the opposition in executing its agenda that signals that the crisis will worsen rather than recede.

The legislation in question concerned an issue that the opposition itself had long complained about – money laundering. In fact, an executive of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a member of the larger member of the opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), had for years been writing on it and the attendant dangers it posed to our state.

Secondly, Guyana was not the first Caribbean state to have been asked by CFATF to modify its legislative regime to deal with the new contingencies in this area. Trinidad, for one, had actually been cited and then forced to comply. The legislation, then, had the imprimatur of CFATF, which was working on behalf of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and which had examined the Guyanese efforts since 2009 before making its recommendations.

The process was an ongoing one, with FATF issuing reports three times annually to alert member states on its latest assessment of compliance of countries. APNU, therefore, was being disingenuous, when it callously stated it needed more time to “check with its stakeholders” even as the deadline was breached and sanctions imposed.

Whatever additional measures its “stakeholders” might have decided were necessary could have been tabled subsequently and be enacted using the parliamentary majority it commands, courtesy of the Alliance For Change (AFC). The refusal of its members on the Special Select Committee reviewing the legislation to attend meetings confirms that APNU was essentially filibustering, to ensure the legislation would remain in limbo and Guyana receive sanctions.

The position of the minor opposition party, AFC, was just as callous to the country’s need of the hour. This party did not even deign to pretend that it had any substantive problems with the legislation: it simply demanded a quid pro quo.

If the government would drop its demand for a Cabinet “no-objection” role to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), it would support the legislation. It was as coldly calculating as that. The two issues were totally unrelated, save by the opportunism of the AFC.

At the first sitting of Parliament the day after the CFATF’s sanctions on the country were announced, the combined opposition uttered not a word of remorse for the predicament into which they had catapulted the country.

Instead they proceeded blithely to propose an action which is expressly forbidden them by the Constitution – to initiate legislation that would lay charges on the Consolidated Fund. They passed a motion to establish a “Veterans’ Commission” that would do just that.

It is obvious that the opposition has become increasingly emboldened by the one-seat majority it has in the National Assembly and will definitely, through acts of omission (as on AMLCFT) or commission (Veterans’ Commission) not only try to usurp the prerogative of the executive, but actually harm the country.

The government of the day must not permit this state of affairs to continue a day longer. It must announce forthwith a date for new general elections.

A travesty of justice

Dear Editor, I am outraged by the recent examples of a blatant disregard for criminal justice, lack of accountability by the police, and a growing sense of personal insecurity in our communities. I have been approached by many friends, family and even strangers that feel the need to vent their outrage about the country’s failing judicial system and moral decline.

The judicial system failed the citizens of Guyana on November 19 when a murderer, whose crime was recorded on indisputable video surveillance, was set free. All of Guyana has seen the video broadcast of this

gruesome murder. However, the judicial system failed and the police, who are hired to protect the citizens, did not present the video evidence to the court. Therefore, the court of public opinion must now judge their actions.

I am also very disappointed in the lack of media coverage of this travesty in justice. In a free society where the citizens are afraid to walk the streets without fear of violence, the independent media has a responsibility to provide the people with a platform to express their fears and desires.

Regrettably, another

red flag that must be raised is the suspicion that justice is for sale. Why do some people seem to be above the law while the majority of the citizens are scared and suffering? Do power, privilege and connections provide some immunity? We seem to be drifting towards a way of life where every facet of our existence appears to have an established market value, including the supposedly invaluable gift of life itself.

Whatever the causes may be, one thing is clear – the recent judicial ruling is a travesty of justice that crossed the line, and warrants a greater backlash

than has taken place. Basic good sense dictates we must make certain critical contributions to the upkeep of our society, so that we in return are protected by the institutions of that society – a contract that is essential for us to honour if we are to prevent a descent into anarchy. Our predictably passive response in light of this incident is unwise. If ever there was a time that our usual silence and neutrality should be overruled by justice, morality and a sense of collective responsibility, now is the time.

Yours truly,

Selwin Asafa George

Keep the duck curry competition going

Dear Editor,

The King’s Jewellery World Clash of the Past Champions Duck Curry Competition was long anticipated by many. It is unfortunate that the event was not broadcast live, but nevertheless I must commend the organisers and sponsors for ensuring a successful event.

The competition comprised participants from many countries including Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Patrons came out in large numbers to support and witness the competition.

Additionally, I must congratulate the Surinamese team for claiming this year’s title. Praise must also be given to the other teams who managed to perform exceedingly well at the competition.

The curry cuisine is a universal dish that often comprises spiced meat. Aside from the different spices, curry powder is the key ingredient that is used to flavour the dish. This Asian oriented meal can be eaten with rice, roti, bread and even biscuits.

Many people have different ways of making curry

meals and it is for this reason that a competition was thought of. The competition allowed for a variety of curry dishes to be prepared. The actual spiciness and gravy content of the curry can be altered depending on how individuals prefer it.

Some people prefer their curry spicy, while others like it mild. “Surwah”, is a Creolese term that refers to the gravy content of the dish and some people indeed prefer a watery curry dish, while others prefer it dry, primarily if it’s being accompanied with dhal. Curry is a fantastic dish that sometimes requires a special touch in preparing it. Many say that the art behind a good tasting curry is the way in which one would “chunkay” the ingredients before actually adding the meat to the pot. Curry has always been and will continue to be a favourite dish for many worldwide.

Congratulations to King’s Jewellery World and all the supporting sponsors. Keep this duck curry competition going.

Sincerely, Azeema Zabeeda Haniff

Prime minister’s statement in the National Assembly on November 21

At the XXXVIII Plenary Meeting of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), held from November 20-21 in Freeport, Bahamas, it was resolved and decided that a public statement will be issued in respect of Guyana, identifying Guyana as a jurisdiction with strategic Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) deficiencies that have not made sufficient progress in addressing the deficiencies or have not complied with its action plan developed with CFATF to address these deficiencies.

The CFATF calls on its members to consider implementing counter measures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana. The statement was posted officially on the conclusion of the plenary meeting on November 20 and posted on the CFATF website. The statement reads as follows:

“In November 2011, the CFATF brought to the attention of its members certain jurisdictions, including Guyana, with significant strategic deficiencies in their AMLCFT regime. With a view to encouraging expeditious rectification of the identified strategic deficiencies, Guyana and the CFATF developed an action plan with identified target dates to address the strategic deficiencies that exist in Guyana’s national architecture to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

“As a result of not meeting the agreed timelines in its action plan, the CFATF issued a public statement in May 2013 recommending that Guyana take steps

to ensure that it addressed its AMLCFT deficiencies.

Guyana has made efforts to address its deficiencies, however, it has not taken sufficient steps towards improving its AMLCFT compliance regime by failing to approve and implement required legislative reforms

“Guyana must therefore pass the relevant legislation and implement all the outstanding issues within its action plan, including:

(1) Fully criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing offences; (2) Addressing all the requirements on beneficial ownership; (3) Strengthening the requirements for suspicious transaction reporting, international cooperation, and the freezing and confiscation of terrorist assets; and (4) Fully implementing the United Nations (UN) conventions.

“Members are therefore called upon to consider implementing counter measures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana.”

It was further resolved and decided that a formal letter be sent to Guyana advising that should the identified deficiencies be not satisfactorily rectified, namely, the approval and implementation of the required legislative reforms, by the next plenary meeting, that is, by May 2014, then Guyana will be referred by CFATF to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) International Corporation Review Group (ICRG).

However, it must be emphasised that the FATF will have its next plenary meeting in February 2014, and at that meeting, on its own accord and independent of CFATF, FATF can select

Guyana for its own review.

It is important to explain to the members of this House and the public that the CFATF decision blacklists Guyana. The resolution of the CFATF plenary has today provided all CFATF and FATF members with the treaty basis to blacklist Guyana. The experience of other jurisdictions so blacklisted by CFATF or by their geographic FATFs leaves no doubt that, like them, Guyana will be severely affected.

This will place Guyana’s financial, banking and insurance sectors under severe scrutiny with serious consequences for financial transactions for consumers, business community and the government’s provision of goods and services.

We are reminding this House that the CFATF assessor stated that 98 per cent of Guyana’s deficiencies relate to the legislative reforms already encompassed in the amendments brought by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on the AMLCFT (Amendment) Bill, which was defeated on November 7. Worse is yet to come!

Were Guyana not to put its house in order according to the CFATF’s recommendations before February 2014, FATF will be unavoidably called in by the ICRG. FATF blacklisting structures can only be avoided by Guyana achieving 100 per cent compliance with its recommendations.

The experience of those countries so affected has shown the years taken under blacklisting for the 100 per cent compliance to be met and the blacklisting to be lifted.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

Appreciation, gratitude lead to happy relationships

Dear Editor,

To understand what makes for happy relationships, and it applies to all interpersonal relationships, we need to understand why we form them. What do we expect to get out of our relationship? These expectations are typically at the foundation, and if they cannot be fulfilled, the relationship will end or turn destructive.

What we usually refer to as love is a depth of appreciation for the other, and while love can take on many powerful forms, this valuing appreciation remains at the core of all of them. It sounds very noble and romantic to talk about unconditional love, but chances are this is only hinted at in parent/child relationships, and perhaps in the first blush of new love.

Our happy relationships are likely very conditional and dependent upon an ongoing appreciation of our relationship partner, and if we are to have a happy relationship, these expectations need to be met on an ongoing basis.

Generally speaking, we value and appreciate in others those qualities that we value in ourselves, and wish to experience more of. In practical terms, this translates into a partner who seems to possess qualities that we recognise, because they are in fact present within us, but which we have not been able to adequately express or experience. For example, an extrovert may be drawn to an introvert, or an intellectual type may be drawn to a feeling type, and so on.

So, in the appreciation of, say, an emotionally expressive person for a partner who is more grounded or logical, there is in the expression and experiencing of those qualities, and whether we want to admit it or not, the expecta-

tion that we will experience this. There is also the subtle and often unrealised expectation that we will become more of those qualities that the partner seems to express.

One of the reasons a partner may fail to fulfil our expectations is if our image of that person is not accurate. In our desire to find happy relationships, we sometimes form fantasy images, which are often reinforced by the partner as he/she begins to understand what it is you are looking for.

At some point, this fantasy is bound to collapse and then there is an unhealthy relationship.

Another reason authentic happiness may be compromised is when it is realised that experiencing these valued qualities in the partner is not at all the same as being able to experience and express them within ourselves, as they are not our dominant mode of being in the world,

and are in fact in opposition, resulting in a degree of internal conflict.

Attempting to integrate more latent qualities into our expression can be a very difficult process, and if this fails, then what was originally appreciated in the partner may actually become a source of resentment.

Last but not least, happy relationships can be compromised by the expectations themselves, which both partners are going to feel the pressure of living up to. The ideal relationship, in fact, requires nothing at all of the other, and when this becomes the foundation, then there is genuine love, harmony, appreciation, gratitude and enjoyment of all that is expressed.

Sincerely,

Pandit Suresh Sugrim

Humanitarian Mission

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

Imust confess that I love the rain. Not to walk in the rain or anything like that...even though libraries are filled with poetry about that experience. I just love the rain when I’m in bed. Really!

Some of the most pleasurable moments of my life have been waking up when the rain’s just started to fall and then burrowing down into the sheets for a little more of that sweet slumber. This is how I imagine heaven to be.

The downside of that is the rain starts just when my mom decides to rouse me from bed for school or some such mundane reason. The iniquities of life! It’s cruel and inhuman punishment, I think.

I mean, lying in bed, sometimes in that in-between reality connecting the dream world and this harsh one here: isn’t this when you have your most creative ideas?

The only problem is that we don’t remember anything when we’re roused. But we do retain that feeling of thinking “deep thoughts”.

I was very pleased to read later (in a chemistry text, of

The

rains are here

all places) that one of the greatest of discoveries in organic chemistry (which was the bane of my life in the sixth form) occurred to the scientist Kekule while he was dozing. I won’t bore you with the details save that it had to do with a snake seizing its own tail. My parents sadly were never convinced that they were preventing me from possibly making a similar scientific breakthrough. The Nobel Prize lost! The rains have arrived over here in Trinidad... just as I am informed it has in Guyana. But I discovered I’m not having the exact reaction. And I’m not referring to the scary fact that even though I have no one to rouse me...I roll out of bed on my own volition. Is this the beginning of “turning into your mother”

Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life. − John Updike

different. It took me a while to figure that out. In Guyana, I’d gotten used to listening to the

patter of the raindrops on our galvanised roof. Even through the wooden ceiling, it makes a very distinctive sound...one that I now know is connected to all my memories of sleeping in the rain. We all know of Pavlov’s contentions on conditioning...and I can now attest (fervently) to its veracity. I guess if I’m over here long enough I’ll get used to it.

But thinking about the rains in Guyana also brought back some unpleasant memories: having to pass through Georgetown on the way to Queen’s and being assaulted visually and olfactorily.

Ok...the sights and smells of garbage floating in the canals and on the streets, since the least bit of rain makes Georgetown flood.

I do hope somebody, somehow will fix this. I read on the Internet that the three political parties promised to get together and do this.

Maybe now that the season of goodwill is nigh upon us, we’ll witness this miracle. Even though I haven’t glimpsed any star in the East yet.

Many children “slower runners than their parents were”

By Michelle RoBeRts

Many children cannot run as fast as their parents could when they were young, a study of global fitness says. Experts say the work – being presented at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting – suggests children’s fitness levels may be declining. Researchers analysed data spanning 46 years and involving more than 25 million children in 28 countries. On average, children today run a mile 90 seconds slower than did their counterparts 30 years ago, they said.

Obesity

Across nations, cardiovascular endurance –gauged by how far children can run in a set time – has dwindled consistently by about five per cent eve ry decade, according to the findings.

The de cline is seen in boys and girls and across all ages from nine to 17 years, and is linked to obesity, with some countries faring worse than others. Lead researcher Dr Grant Tomkinson of the University of South Australia’s School of Health Sciences said: “In fact, about 30 per cent to 60 per cent of the declines in endurance running performance can be explained by increases in fat mass.”

public health consequences could be dire.

Huff and puff

“If a young person is generally unfit now, then they are more likely to develop conditions like heart disease later in life,” said Dr Tomkinson.

To stay healthy, children and young people need to do at least an hour of physical activity – such as walking or cycling to school and running in the playground – every day. It can be done in small chunks rather than one session. Professor Michael Gwitz of the American Heart Association said: “The type of exercise is really important.”

He says exercise must be something that “makes you sweat” and is “sustained and dynamic” to promote cardiovascular

Simply going to the gym or belonging to a school sports team might not be enough, unless you are moving around a lot. Christopher Allen of the British Heart Foundation, said: “It’s well established that being physically inactive in childhood can have serious health implications later in life.

The problem is largely one of Western countries, but some parts of Asia like South Korea, mainland China and Hong Kong are also seeing this phenomenon.

Dr Tomkinson said children needed to be inspired and encouraged to do more vigorous exercise. If not, the

“Keeping active can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and the sooner kids start, the better.

“By encouraging children to get active, we can help protect their hearts as they grow up. Parents, schools and community groups can all help kids on their way to 60 minutes exercise a day.” (BBC Health)

Police praised for reducing crime at Gangaram Village T

Not often the police come in for praise, but their work did find favour with residents of Gangaram Village, East Canje, Region Six, who commended the police in B Division for reducing the crime rate in their community.

During a community outreach meeting on Friday, residents said constant patrol by the lawmen has kept criminals at bay.

“You would see them coming in the village and driving around, and sometimes late at night the patrol is in the village,” businessman Madan Ramador said.

Deputy B Division Commander, Superintendent Steven Mansell and other senior police officials met with residents in an attempt to improve relations between the community and the police.

The meeting was one of a series of outreaches the police have held with various communities.

While larceny and robberies have been significantly reduced in the community, residents are calling on the police to address noise nuisance and speeding.

Residents say speeding motorists is the new problem which has made their community unsafe, noting that they are forced to accompa-

ny their children to and from school.

Some residents also complained about the high level of school dropouts, and noted that domestic violence remains an issue. They said professional counsellors should be employed to handle this problem.

The interactive session saw the community committing itself to be more vigilant and to work closely the police to address matters of concern. Mansell said the police will be patrolling during the day to address issues of noise nuisance, speeding and other matters within their purview.

“The police will continue to do whatever we can to ensure that this community remains peaceful, but you have to ensure that the policing group remains active,” he said.

Mansell noted that the police will beef up security during the Christmas season and will provide tips to residents on how they can protect themselves when shopping.

He also said the Police B Division will adopt the cricket club in the village as it seeks to get youth to participate in constructive activities.

Mansell said the police also intend to introduce youth in the community to scouting and is hoping to form a scout group by next year-end.

BBCI donates trophy to Rosignol Secondary

he Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) has donated a trophy towards the Rosignol Secondary School annual Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony on Friday.

The company in a release said it is privileged to have the opportunity to donate a trophy to the school and will continue to donate and sponsor other events that would benefit the school and its students.

“It should be noted that the BBCI has supported the Ministry of Education extensively over the years by donating trophies to a number of schools and technical institutions, waiving toll charges for school’s tour buses transiting the bridge, sponsored the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports

Club’s annual tribute to retired teachers, donated 80 medals to the students being honoured at the tribute to teachers and students pro-

gramme and also sponsored various school activities,” the bridge company said.

The BBCI does not only play the role of collecting

tolls and facilitating vehicles crossing the Berbice bridge and vessels transiting through the retractor span and under the high span, but also discharges its corporate responsibilities.

In the past, the company has sponsored many events that benefited communities on both the eastern and western sides of the bridge, and many other regions such as Georgetown, Linden, Parika and the hinterland.

This year, the company has received some 84 public relation requests, 79 of which have been approved. These include sponsorships of Mashramani 2013 events, horse racing events and donations of trophies to various non-profit organisations and educational institutions.

Harris Paints opens branch at Rosignol

Harris Paints, the Caribbean Champions of Colour, has added even more colour to Rosignol, Berbice, with the opening of a new, modern retail outlet.

The new Harris Colourcentre was officially opened on Wednesday, and features a vast array of products, from primers to decorative paint, textured finishes and accessories in addition to the contemporary, customer-friendly systems and colour tools launched by Harris Paints.

This location brings the total to three full-service, industry-leading destinations, in Guyana, for colour advice, product recommendation and technical service opened by Harris Paints, one of

the leading paint manufacturers in the Caribbean.

Harris Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer Ian Kenyon said the new store was opened in response to the growing demand in the Berbice area for Harris Paints’ range of quality products.

“Our performance in this market has been quite remarkable, and as such, we took the decision to expand our operations. As Caribbean Champions of Colour, we wanted to ensure all of our services were made available to the people of Guyana, bringing on even more staff, and bringing our products and services to even more people.”

Harris Paints Guyana General Manager Neil Boucher said “we are truly impressed with the loyalty and support of the Berbice customers and we want to say ‘thank you’ by offering a 10 per cent store wide discount, at the Harris Paints Rosignol Colourcentre”. This offer ends on Saturday.

SUNday, November 24, 2013 | gUyaNatimeSgy.com

Thousands of insecticidal nets distributed in North, South Pakaraimas

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran on Thursday, through a written presentation, informed the National Assembly that seven vehicles, five all-terrain vehicles and two pickups, were supplied to villages in Regions Eight and Nine since December 2011.

The minister was at the time responding to questions posed by A Partnership

for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Ronald Bulkan. These vehicles are used to transport drugs, medical supplies, medical teams for outreaches and even patients in emergency cases and are benefiting residents in areas such as Paramakatoi, Kopinang, Monkey Mountain, Kurukubaru, Kanapang, Tuseneng, Waipa, Mahdia

and Kato.

With regards to longlasting insecticidal nets, a total of 229 were delivered to hinterland villages in 2011. In 2012 on the other hand, 148 were delivered to villages in the South Pakaraimas from January to June and 152 to the north. Additionally, during July to December, the north and south Pakaraimas received 40 nets each.

Driver on $750,000 bail for hit-and-run accident

Adriver who tried to flee an accident scene after killing a Berbice man has been placed on $750,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus on Friday.

Nallall Sewkarran of 100 Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, appeared in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, charged with causing the death of Anand Singh.

The Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) worker pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Police prosecutor, Corporal Phillip Sheriff told the court that on November 17 on the

Bath Settlement Public Road, Sewkarran drove motor jeep PHH 9161 in a manner dangerous, causing the death of the 45-year-old man.

In an application for the accused to be granted pretrial liberty, Attorney Joel Edmond argued that the 23-year-old father of two is not a flight risk. He told the court that the accused had been in custody for more than 72 hours, adding that the offence is bailable.

“With this accused, there is no risk of witness tampering,” Attorney Edmond said, pointing out that Sewkarran is diabetic and suffers from hypertension. “His health condition has deteriorated since he has been in custody,” he added.

However, in response, Sheriff said the accused failed to stop and render assistance after the accident.

“He did not go to the police station to report the accident.Police had to go in search of the accused that night and it was not until the following day about 09:00h that he was found.” He said if bail should be granted, it must be a substantial sum.

In accepting the application for pretrial liberty, the magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of $750,000. The matter was transferred to the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court and will come up again on November 26.

Thus far, this year, 3000 treated nets were distributed in the Pakaraimas. These nets provide better and effective protection by not only keeping away mosquitoes, but also killing them.

The insecticide is incorporated into the net’s fibre so that it is not removed by as many as 20 washes. It is cost effective and can be used for up to three to five years.

National Assembly expresses regret at deaths of two former MPs

The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved two motions to convey sympathy to the children and relatives of the late Margaret Ackman, CCH and Shiw Sahai Naraine, CCH, both former members of Parliament (MPs).

Opposition Chief Whip Amna Ally moved the motion with respect to Ackman and paid tribute to her service as an MP from 1969 to 1980. Ally outlined Ackman’s life and achievements as a member of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and her dedication to nation building.

Speaking on behalf of the government, MP Odinga Lumumba commended Ackman for maintaining her commitment to country over party politics.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP Carl Greenidge moved the motion with respect to Shiw Sahai Naraine, CCH, a former government minister and who was Guyana’s chief works officer under the British government. He outlined Naraine’s life and accomplishments for the House and commended the former MP’s dedication to duty.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in his presentation on Naraine, pointed out the tremendous contribution he made towards Guyana, noting that he was involved in projects such as the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway and the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The two motions were passed unanimously by the three parliamentary parties.

Rallying...

...the troops

Fresh from their “victory” on the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) (Amendment) Bill, the opposition parties are determined to press what they see to be their advantage. Never mind the country’s on the verge of an economic shutdown caused by their push for power. It must be they think the coming hardships on the average man-in-the-street will be blamed on the government...and they can milk the frustrations for their political gain.

Recent moves by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) support this contention. In the first sitting of Parliament after their courting of economic sanctions against Guyana, they passed a motion to form a commission to look into the state of Guyanese veterans. Now this is nothing but cheap politicking – designed to stir up ethnic hostilities.

It’s no secret that most of the members – past and present – of the disciplined forces are from APNU’s ethnic constituency.

In our ethnically fractured polity, this sort of action translates into the accusation that the government of the day, supported in the main by another ethic group, is neglecting APNU’s group. This is very incendiary...and is reminiscent of the tactics used to raise the temperature in Linden last year. We all know what damage was done to the country and, in the end, to the very people who were stirred up.

The government rightfully pointed out that in every area the opposition claimed neglect – education, pensions and employment, among others – the government has been very protective of the needs and rights of veterans. All programmes in all societies have to take into account, the needs of all members of the society – but APNU’s tactic insists veterans are uber alles. This will set Guyanese against Guyanese and can only bring the country down.

Hard on the heels of that move in Parliament, APNU then proceeded to lambast the government for offering a five per cent raise to public servants. This is higher than the projected rate of inflation of the country – and a full one per cent more than the offer to sugar workers. Yet APNU was mum on the latter. Here again the ethnic breakdown of these two groups fall along the political cleavage. And APNU’s championing of one and not the other is sure to exacerbate ethnic tensions – which is exactly what the party wants.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has already called the public servants out on strike... selectively at this time. The union has demanded a whopping 25 per cent increase. The whole scenario is eerily (and frighteningly) reminiscent of 1999 when strikes by the public servants were made coincident with street protests by the People’s National Congress (PNC) in a move to bring down the government.

It looks like a hard rain’s about to fall.

...insularism

Just like the flu, ever so often we in the Caribbean seem to get infected with bouts of insularism. You know...when we lash out at others and just refuse to have anything to do with them. Even though we may be all “one family”. Take the case of Bajan Industry and International Business Minister Donville Inniss, who cussed out the Jamaica Gleaner for daring to suggest that the arrest of the Editor-in-Chief of the Barbados Nation Roy Morris might have a political nexus. “Keep your nose out of Bajan affairs and look after the rot in Jamaica!!”

Now what could’ve brought this on? Maybe the utter humiliation of the West Indies team by India plunged the Bajan minister into a blue funk? We don’t think so. More likely it’s that Bajan conviction of superiority to its fellow Caribbean citizens – especially from Jamaica and Guyana.

Ditto for the Trinidad and Tobago immigration agents who turned back 16 Jamaicans on one flight from Jamaica.

All we’ll say to them is – “time longer than twine”.

...rice farmers

Now that we’ve surpassed the old production targets in rice and gone past 500,000 tonnes by far...it’s time for the mostly small rice farmers to take a bow. Maybe it points the way for the sugar industry... small is beautiful.

Community, religious institutions must be vanguards of child protection – ChildLink coordinator

Too often parents fail in their obligation to provide a safety net for their children, resulting in boys and girls being violated in ways that can only be described as horrendous and unthinkable and enduring the worst physical, emotional, psychological and sexual violence.

Daily headlines scream of a callous indifference towards children: “Two-weekold infant found beheaded”, “Friends ages five and eight found murdered in freezer”, “Siblings, four, and two, drowned by father who commits suicide”, “Nine-yearold bitten on private parts while fighting off attacker”, “Differently-abled girl raped by 59-year-old”, “Children burnt on privates for fibbing”, “Girl sexually molested by father suspiciously dies of food poisoning” and “Children hacked to death by mother’s lover”.

Such incidents force one to ask what might have made society so unsafe for children, what can be done to enhance a safe environment for children

and how to adequately equip parents for their roles as it relates to preventing such violence against children.

This is in particular reference to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, children in care or detention centres, children from indigenous groups, those living with disabilities, children living in poverty or affected by HIV, street children and those with special needs.

Taboo nature

ChildLink Coordinator

Omattie Madray is of the opinion that the preocupation of adults with earning a living has resulted in many children being left unattended and therefore exposed to harm and eventual exploitation.

Madray said the key concern surrounding children who are exposed to violence has always been those left without adequate supervision.

She explained that while an extended family environment often serves as a convenient caregiver, it can sometimes be unsafe and pose similar threats to those found outside the home.

In the case of sexual vio-

lence, Madray said, this happens over time, gradually moving from one stage of touching to the extremes of intrusiveness and often goes unreported, owing to its taboo nature and the absence of a strong parent/child rapport.

She blames irresponsible adults, misinformation about the body’s development and function, inadequate supervision and parental guidance as the main contributing factors to violence committed on children.

Madray strongly recommends that schools, communities and religious organisations take the lead role in becoming active child protectors.

Echoing Madray’s sentiments, Childcare and Protection Agency Director Ann Greene believes that in order to effectively address violence against children, child protection must become everyone’s business.

Greene emphasised that close associates, acquaintances, neighbours and relatives are often aware of abuses being perpetrated against children, but for various reasons, refuse to become involved.

She stressed that citizens have a civil duty and legal responsibility to report any situation involving the abuse of children.

“Society needs to go back to the days when people were neighbourly. We have to be our brother’s keeper; no more can we say it is not my business.’”

Greene made reference to the Child Care and Protection Act which compels persons with information to report child abuse matters, but also provides safeguards for the concealment of the person’s identity.

Report suspicions

She pointed out that a person does not need tangible evidence in order to report suspicions of child abuse, but emphasised that suspicion can save a child’s life.

“We prefer that you report and we find out that it’s not true, than you fail to report and then something serious happens to the child,” Greene said. Over the years, scientific evidence has mounted significantly on the long-term, psychological effects of violence on children; effects that society can ill-afford.

Family Life Counsellor Wil Campbell explained that children who are victims of violence are more likely than their peers to experience a wide range of difficulties.

These include but are not limited to anti-social behaviour, diminished cognitive and motor development, precocious sexualisation, low self-esteem and a predisposition for criminal activity.

According to Campbell, such children are either aggressive or unassertive and therefore predisposed to become victims or perpetrators of violence in adulthood.

Higher rates of depression and other psychological disorders have also been reported in children who are victims of violence.

“While it is true that many children who suffer violent abuse demonstrate enormous resilience, a significant proportion display alarming levels of maladaptive behaviour,” Campbell related. These consequences, he said, obviously have damaging effects on society as a whole. In addition to loss in productivity, valuable resources must be diverted to deal with this societal ill.

Effects

Studies have found that the longer a child is exposed to violence, the more irreparable and irreversible is the damage.

In fact, it is now widely acceptable that a child’s exposure and orientation to violence begin in the womb.

Child psychologist, Dr Faith Harding points out that even the common practice of spanking newborns to check their breathing can have dire consequences and fails to promote peace during the birthing process.

She explained that during the 1970s, gynaecologists began a peace movement to prevent newborns from being introduced to a harsh environment. “They started looking at how they can promote peace during the birth process and they introduced several non-violent methods so that there is no need to bring the child out in a harsh way.”

A number of countries have embraced this strategy with great success, but many healthcare professionals in the developing world are still to adopt it.

According to Dr Harding, with the emergence of the Lamaze and Leboyer methods, which focuses on peaceful births, there is no need to slap or pinch a child when he/she emerges from the womb.

The Leboyer childbirth method sometimes termed as “birth without violence” views birth as a stressful experience on the newborn.

The focus therefore is to improve the birthing process and ensure a perfect transition from the dark, fluidfilled, comfortable womb to the brightly-lit, noisy world outside. Rights of the Child Commission Chairperson Aleema Nasir, in a five-year

strategic plan targeting the overall development of children, stated that focus is being placed on the manner in which positive changes can be made in the lives of children.

Strides made

While lamenting the hindrances and obstacles to protecting children in Guyana, Nasir also acknowledged the many strides made in this regard.

Some of the limitations include a low-level of strong collaboration with critical institutions, limited understanding of laws/policies by duty bearers and rights holders which inhibits implementation, weak accountability mechanisms, geographical constraints and high transportation costs to effectively monitor outlying areas. “I am satisfied that the effective execution of the plan will certainly go a long way in our efforts to promote, establish and maintain the rights of children.”

Through financial support from key development partners, government has put in place a legal and policy framework geared toward child rights and protection.

These include the Childcare and Protection Act, the Custody, Care, Guardianship and Maintenance Act, the Persons with Disability Act, Combating Trafficking in Persons Act, Childcare and Development Services Act and the Sexual Offences Act.

The introduction of modern sexual offences legislation was in response to the increased spate of sexual violence on women and children.

Since the passage of the Sexual Offences Act in 2010, a National Action Taskforce was established to ensure that the requisite facilities and minimum standards are in place at support organisations.

The United Nations Children’s Fund in its 2013 State of the World’s Children report, recommended that countries move beyond minimum standards and that existing support and services should be continually assessed.

The report suggested that careful attention be placed on service to the individual child, and transforming entire systems and societies.

Enough of opposition obstruction – new generation gets a glimpse of 1980 failed politics

By Dr Peter r ramsarooP

After weeks of Guyana making international news on the blacklisting of our nation because of the failure of the opposition to support the anti-money laundering bill, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had the audacity to put out a press release on the Venezuelan border issue and refer to it as an “economic blockade”.

We have more pressing economic issues about to face our nation that have immediate effects. It seemed like the Leader of the Opposition, David Granger has just awakened to a 1960 issue when he is asleep on 2013 issues. Not that the border issue is not important, but our nation is now blacklisted.

The opposition politicians need to act in the interest of all Guyanese and to discontinue their petty political grandstanding against government’s efforts to improve the business climate with encouragements to small and medium size enterprises.

Irresponsible

Since the elections in 2011, APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC), both minority parties, have seemed bent on shutting down Guyana in some attempt to nullify the elections they both lost. Neither APNU nor the AFC came close to winning the 2011 elections, but they seem bent on pursuing a larger effort of irresponsible obstruction.

Their supporters are coming to grips with their incompetence and their failure to accomplish meaningful legislative work. The AFC has failed its supporters in being a balance of power and has consistently bowed to pressure from the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The new generation has gotten a very good glimpse of these same leaders of the 1980s attempting to implement their failed policies in 2013. Bringing our country to international shame does nothing for us the people.

The PNC of the 1980s is back and it keeps losing elections, thus its desperation. This is no excuse to put the people of Guyana through this. The reason there is no “Reform” component left in the PNC tells the story of its transition to old, failed politics.

The people must continue to support those that have made our nation a better place. In the 1980s, we were struggling with telecommunications. But most of the 21st century development in the Internet and television sector has come from young pioneers like Brian Yong and others.

When I first returned to Guyana in 2003, I was able to get Internet from a company then called BroadBand Inc, which he founded. I am thankful that our entrepreneurial spirit still exists and regardless of the criticism by obstructionists, we as a people must continue to support those who have pioneered new opportunities in our nation.

Fallout

Recent polling has shown that that both the PNC and AFC are at an all-time low. Their constituents have been impacted themselves with many of their policies and budget cuts. When political entities go down a path that affects their own voters, they are always put out in the pasture to graze some more.

The 1980s PNC leaders who have emerged to lead the party have given the new generation a taste of why they failed. The liberal Guyanese are much more attuned, as I have mentioned in the past, to what it takes to have a successful economy.

Voters in 2011 had given the AFC a chance to see where it would play in our country’s development and it has squandered that charge. Many had hoped that in areas of national interest, the AFC would have come together with the government to “make it happen”.

There is talk that overseas funding for the opposition parties is at an all-time low, as many Guyanese in the diaspora, especially in the U.S.A., the UK, and Canada, are disappointed with the current tactics employed by the opposition parties to stifle economic transformation, job creation, improved quality of life, and wealth creation.

No one in our country should be proud of what has happened in our 10th Parliament over the last year, from budget cuts, to programmes that were needed for our nation’s success – such as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion, for example.

Whether you like or dislike the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government, one realises that it has attempted to move Guyana to the next level with continuous tax cuts and improvements in our social sector, such as increased public salaries, pensioners pay and an economic plan.

No one wants to go back to 1980s politics of economic disaster or try to use those 1980 policies in 2013. Guyana is ours. The choice is simple, become an opposition obstructionist or join together to move our nation to the next level.

Gun licence applicants must be thoroughly scrutinised – Gouveia

In light of the recent middle street shooting which left four persons dead, Private Sector Commission Security and Governance Committee Chairman Gerry Gouveia said the police must thoroughly scrutinise applicants before issuing gun licences.

Speaking with Guyana Times in a recent interview, Gouveia said he would hope and expect that in the time the police would take to process an application, ample time would be given to do background checks on the applicant.

He said the police should not only assess the applicant’s credibility and integrity, but also the person’s sanity.

Making reference to Deryck Kanhai, the businessman who shot and killed four persons close to two weeks ago, Gouveia said a person’s sanity can be affected overnight due to peer pressure and family problems. Kanhai was suspected to be a victim of this problem.

“Even if this man didn’t have a licensed firearm, we operate in a society where people can just go to a particular place and purchase guns and unfortunately our own Parliament vote down the Fire (amendments) Arm Bill, which was meant to tightened the conditionalities surrounding firearm purchases,” he added.

On this note, Gouveia said the Parliament holds serious responsibilities

and should not hesitate to pass the firearm bill.

“We identified that the firearms legislations is deficient so we need to get that bill passed in Parliament. Parliament needs to stop playing politics with our safety and security of our country so that we can empower the police and empower the legislative system to deal with that issue head on.”

The bill was voted down by the A Partnership for

National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) in show of their non-support to Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Gouveia said based on reports he read about the shooting, a close relative made a police report about Kanhai’s behaviour, but the police paid no heed.

“I hope we learn from this, since if it was taken seriously, then people lives would have been saved.”

Gouveia also said that the police need to monitor persons who they issue firearms, noting that a firearm licence is a privilege, not a right as it can be taken away.

On November 12, Kanhai was shot and killed by police after he went berserk, killing innocent persons at his Middle and East streets home.

The 52-year-old businessman died in a hail of bullets during a two-anda-half-hour shootout with the police. The incident created pandemonium in the capital city.

The persons killed by Kanhai were Lance Corporal Michael Forde, Constable Sherwin Pantlitz, Crown Taxi Service dispatcher Vanessa Williams and Middle Street resident Bonny Paul, also known as “Paulie”.

T&T’s agri pre-nup

Satiricus smiled as he saw the two agri ministers sign off their pre-nup agreement. Progress. It used to be – people just rushed into marriage, thinking that love gon conquer all. Then after the first few months of waking up and seeing a face with no makeup or smelling a breath with no mouthwash... Baddam! ...Messy breakup and fighting over the property – and kids.

As in so many things, the Americans showed we how it should be done: they invent the “pre-nuptial agreement”.

The Americans don’t like “long story”, so they shorten it to “pre-nup”. The movie stars in Hollywood start it – they were always cutting edge when it came to marriage.

You learn a thing or two when everybody marry six or seven times – like the law of averages. If you know you’re gonna breakup almost for sure, you’d better prepare, no? Hence the “pre-nup”.

Some people think it took the charm out of marriage... But what the heck?

If three out of four marriages ended on the rocks among the stars...hey, it wasn’t the individuals’ fault... it was a social issue! Since there’s not a lot of Solomons nowadays, it saved having to cut babies in half. You can understand how messy that can be.

So we come back to our agri ministers and their prenup. Imagine that! We in the Caribbean are now cutting ahead – taking the pre-nup from between “people couples” (it used to be between man and woman, but America led the way there too – now same-sex couples are OK) to “country couples”. But why not? When it came to country “break ups” we in the Caribbean were no slouches – we were cutting edge.

After all, we broke up the granddaddy of all marriages between states – the West Indies Federation. Even the Americans couldn’t break up their federation – Abe Lincoln took care of that! Since then we’ve had breakups over airlines, sugar, cement, Guyanese travelling, rice, Jamaicans travelling – not to mention agri.

And here we can come to the pre-nup specifically over agri. Last time agri came up, the then Guyanese prezzie just shake hands when he offered land at giveaway prices to the Caribbean. And before you could say “Rum till I die”, the Trini prime minister started mega farms right in his country. Dissed us! They failed miserably, of course.

Trinis don’t know a fork from a hoe.

So now that they want marriage and land, its best we sign a pre-nup. When the breakup comes – and it will –they won’t get to take we land back to TT.

Conference on interpersonal violence opens on Monday

The Home Affairs Ministry will be holding a national conference on the prevention of interpersonal violence at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Monday.

The two day conference aims to examine and adopt current violence prevention methodologies, develop a national plan of action towards violence prevention and establish a body to coordinate violence prevention efforts in Guyana.

Workshops will be held to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to offer relevant recommendations.

The conference will open at 08:30h.

The initiative will consist of plenary sessions delivered by recognised experts specialising in interpersonal violence.

sunDAY, november 24, 2013 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Jagdeo, UN secretary general discuss urgent need for climate action

– former president says heads of govt engagement essential

Following last week’s presentation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, former President Bharrat Jagdeo has travelled to Warsaw, Poland –the location of this year’s United Nations (UN) climate meeting.

In Warsaw, the former president has joined with other world leaders to emphasise the urgency of global action on climate change.

On Wednesday morning, he met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to specifically focus on the needs of the smallest and most vulnerable states, including those in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). The former president supported Nauru’s delegation, who currently holds the chair of AOSIS, in their conversations with the secretary general about the threats to their members.

Jagdeo also briefed the secretary general on the discussions about climate finance that took place among Commonwealth Heads of Government – and they specifically addressed the report of the Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance, which the former president chaired.

Speaking after the meeting, Jagdeo echoed a theme he had stressed with the Commonwealth heads of government – the need for heads of government engagement if climate change is to be addressed.

Heads of govt issue

He said “The world has committed to finalising a legally binding climate agreement by 2015 − that is now just two years away. If we are to have a chance of averting catastrophic climate change, climate change has to become a heads of government issue between now and then.

"Leaving it to environment ministers or officials will be inadequate.

That is why I fully support Secretary General Ban Kimoon’s plans for a Climate Summit in New York next year,” said Jagdeo. At the same time, the former president emphasised that the international community could do much more between now and 2015 to make a practical difference for the world’s most vulnerable countries.

He said: “In my engagements with the leaders of AOSIS, they emphasised their practical needs today – not in 2015. There is a lot the world can do to help the world’s most vulnerable countries. Negotiations for a post-2015 agreement are an important part of that.

"But so are practical interventions today, to help build hurricane-proof hospitals and schools; to make agriculture and other economic activities more resilient to climate events; to create new financial mechanisms that make clean energy more attractive.

"These are practical solutions that can be delivered today. Not only do they make moral and economic sense – but they are indispensable to building trust within the international community that the world is serious about addressing

climate change,” he said.

In parallel with his advocacy for the more vulnerable countries, the former president continued to highlight the important role that forests can play in future climate solutions. On several occasions, he emphasised the power of partnerships between developed countries and forest countries on deforestation.

Ambitious partnership

He joined an announcement by the governments of Colombia, Norway, the UK and Germany, which will be working together through an ambitious partnership to provide performance-based payments across Colombia’s Amazon region.

This partnership − potentially covering 40 million hectares of the Amazon − will join with Brazil’s Amazon Fund and Guyana’s national forest mechanism to significantly expand the proportion of the Amazon that is generating payments for climate services.

At the same meeting, the governments of the U.S., UK, Germany and Norway announced their commitment of US$280 million to a new World Bank Bio-Carbon Fund to support more sustainable ag-

riculture in countries like Colombia and Indonesia.

Jagdeo praised both Colombia’s vision and the new donor programme, and highlighted the importance of continuing to spread the good examples of partnership that are starting to emerge.

The meeting was addressed via video by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who emphasised the importance of tackling deforestation as part of a global climate agreement – points which were also picked up the UK secretary of state for the environment, Ed Davies, Chief U.S. Negotiator Todd Stern, Indonesian Presidential Advisor Pak Heru and the Norwegian and German environment ministers.

High-level event

On Thursday night, the former president attended a high-level event hosted by the Indonesian government; whose US$1 billion forest programme is one of the three largest in the world (the other two being in Brazil and Guyana).

The former president joined the Indonesian and Norwegian environment ministers, as well as the head of the United Nations

Environment Programme Achim Steiner as the Indonesian government provided a detailed overview of their work to date.

The former president spoke again of the importance of leadership from forested countries such as Indonesia and spoke of how Guyana was starting to see the fruits of several years of hard work as funds from the Guyana-Norway partnership start to flow into Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

(LCDS).

However, he highlighted that partnerships should not be limited to countries like Indonesia, Guyana, Brazil and Colombia, but should include countries in Africa which were left out.

He also re-iterated the importance of a functional REDD+ mechanism in a global climate agreement, noting that negotiations to achieve this were ongoing in Warsaw and must be completed there.

Miss India Worldwide

2013 to grace Apsara "Evening of Dance"

Apsara on Saturday will present “An Evening of Dance” with Miss India Worldwide 2013 Miss Nehal Bhogaita from UK, the first deaf contestant to win the title in pageant history, as a special guest of honour.

Those who would have missed Apsara shows held at the National Cultural Centre in the past will have a treat and chance to experience an Apsara dance show.

Apsara is known for its fusions and worldwide dances, and a spectacular show is expected. The event will also be graced by Miss India Guyana and Miss Guyana Universe 2013 Miss Katherina Roshana. The show is billed for the Monument Gardens (Bourda, Georgetown) and will begin at 20:00h.

Tickets cost only $1000 and $2500 and are available at N&S Mattai, Bhagwans and Feedshop (Kitty).

Digital Jam goes regional

– linking Caribbean youth to global digital opportunities

Digital Jam

3.0

“Caribbean Edition”, which builds on the success of last year’s Digital Jam 2.0, has announced the opening of its new app competition and a series of hands-on training and workshops to link Caribbean youth with digital work opportunities around the globe.

This multipartite coalition fostered by the Jamaican government seeks to address the crippling problem of high youth unemployment, a challenge that affects the entire Caribbean region.

Digital Jam 3.0

Caribbean Edition leverages the creativity and talents of Caribbean youths and looks to establish the next global hub of information technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

Corporate entities

The coalition behind this initiative includes beyond the government of Jamaica, the World Bank Group, the government of Canada and key partners such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Development Bank of Jamaica, Microsoft Jamaica, LIME, JAMPRO and other leading corporate entities.

For Jamaica’s Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Julian Robinson, Digital Jam 3.0 Caribbean Edition, “represents a continuation of our efforts to build and facilitate an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among our young people. It’s a platform to unleash the enormous creativity and talent that exists across the region to facilitate opportunities for eco-

nomic empowerment”.

Digital Jam 3.0

Caribbean Edition also aims to stimulate the collaboration of youth across the region and create the critical mass required to make a significant impact.

“For many of CDB’s borrowing member countries, faced with myriad vulnerabilities, leveraging ICT in the creative industries appears to be an important transformational vehicle for economic growth and sustainable development as well as entrepreneurial development in the region, in particular among young persons, many deemed to be at-risk and vulnerable,” said Lisa Harding of the CDB Private Sector Development Unit.

Regional initiative

This regional initiative will step up current efforts to create an increasing number of opportunities for Caribbean youth to connect with world class information technology industry leaders and top drawer training by global experts.

“We want to support the economies of the region by actively encouraging a culture of entrepreneurship, wired to international networks and centres of excel-

lence,” said Caribbean in the World Bank Group, Country Director Sophie Sirtaine.

“Digital Jam 3.0 takes an innovative approach to provide Caribbean youth with a stage to showcase their creative talent and innovation in the information technology sector.

"This will be supported by further guidance, men-

torship, and access to resources after the closing of the competition,” she added.

After the official launch at King’s House by Jamaica’s Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen, a series of activities was focused around three thematic areas – a mobile apps development competition;

hands-on workshops to explore job opportunities in the global virtual economy and a “Get up, Started up” conference in March 2014 to ignite the fire of young talents who want to make the bold step of becoming tech entrepreneurs.

The role of the private sector in Digital Jam 3.0 will energise the part-

nership not only through the provision of prizes, but also through the stimulation of employment and entrepreneurship. The positive impact is expected to last long after the lights have faded on the main stage of the conference next year.

“Microsoft Jamaica is proud to be associated with Digital Jam 3.0 and we look forward to helping the local entrepreneurial community to understand how they can leverage mobile apps to drive the success of their organisations,” said Microsoft Jamaica Country Manager Marcelle Smart.

The central idea is to ensure that technology meets talent in an enabling environment. This is one way to collectively contribute to poverty reduction and shared prosperity in the Caribbean.

Truth

The Youth: Talent must be ICED

By Professor Daizal samaD

One of our habits in Guyana is to bemoan the idea that all the finest Guyanese minds have left for other places. We really mean the U.S.A., the UK, and Canada. I do not know too much about the brain drain, as we call it.

While we moan and groan about that, we pay little attention to the talent right in front of our eyes. Talented people in all kinds of areas: mechanics, plumbers, farmers, business people, cooks, nurses, teachers, sportsmen and women, policemen and women, students, the children. We cry about loss and forget what we have. And we really have no idea of what to do with talent when we do see it. And so the youth feel abandoned, set adrift on a wide, wide ocean.

Hopelessness in the young leads to horrible consequences for any nation. So we need to show them that which they most long to see: their own possibilities!

Talent must be ICED. That is, it must be identified, cultivated, employed and deployed. If we look carefully outside of ourselves for a second, we would see talent everywhere. A boxer in a ring, an athlete striding, a young woman with grace, a student bright with promise,

a honeybee keeper coaxing honey, a young person with a talent for science or a gift with language, and so on.

It is easy to identify talent if we remove ourselves from our own self-concerns. Yet, it is not easy to spot precisely where the talent may be; too many parents vaunt their children for the most ordinary things. Pride blinkers us.

Once talent is identified, it must be cultivated. Without being properly cultivated or nurtured, talent withers and dies. The cultivation of talent necessitates proper attention by all involved. Parents, teachers, elders, community leaders, coaches, trainers, religious leaders, sports and educational bodies.

And all ministries must be front and centre! Especially the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry

of Health. Cultivation does not mean dragging children away from normalcy. It means creating academies of all sorts that would look to the welfare of talented children, irrespective of what area in which that talent might be. Sports managers and academic leaders must be on board, as well as psychologists and time management specialists. Of course, we have to nurture those people as well.

I have seen too many of our academic, policing and sports people being thrown by the wayside. Two enormously talented cricketers with all kinds of knowledge are now driving hire cars! One of our national amateur boxing champions is now cutting cane. One of the best police trainers is just sitting at home. Employ them as mentors, coaches, trainers. A nation that honours not its heroes is a nation that remains in darkness. I know of one great contributor to the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), and to education in Berbice, who was simply cast aside – with no ceremony. Just used like a piece of tissue and thrown on the roadside.

Age does not make us crippled to give. The developed nations that have all kinds of resources and talent do not do this. We do! Would their nations throw away people like

Ricky Ponting, Michael Jordan, Sachin Tendulkar, Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Donovan Bailey, Alexis Argüello, just to name a few sportsmen?

So let us identify talent, then cultivate talent. Then we employ that talent. We pay them and cherish them for doing us proud as a nation. Let us establish job creation programmes that place people in places where they can give.

Most of the time, these people do not want much. They simply want to give what they have. It is up to us to accept with grace and gratitude. Our youth will gain. If our youth gain, Guyana’s future is assured. If we do not, this nation is condemned to the mediocrity we see parading itself shamelessly each and every day. Identified, cultivated, employed. Then we deploy that talent. We send those talented people to every corner of this nation. Our nurses, doctors, teachers, coaches, trainers, academics, farmers, fishermen and businessmen and women. We do this in order that more talent could be identified, cultivated, employed, and deployed again.

Even if they teach us about discipline and self-discipline, our nation is better off. Blessings and all good things shall rain upon this land.

Region Six administration withholds payments to security firm

Strategic Security Service has been ordered to pay $787,000 to the Region Six administration as compensation for losses at the National Psychiatric Hospital.

Over the past month, there have been two robberies at the National Psychiatric Hospital's, Fort Canje bond with some $787,000 worth in items missing. According to Regional Chairman David Armogan, the administration is holding the security firm responsibilites for the items lost in the theft. He said the administration has since withheld the exact sum from the security firm in payments for services rendered to the region.

Guyanese-Canadian granted privilege to bestow Diamond Jubilee Medal

Narine Dat Sookram, who received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, came of no surprise to many, because of his love and passion to serve people.

However, instead of celebrating that prestigious moment, he did something very unique and a little different. Sookram actually advocated for the privilege to bestow the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to other deserving recipients.

When Sookram was asked as to why he did what he did, he said, “I did not like the fact that certain officials received the medal automatically, because I feel as if the medal is deceiving its purpose. I have known of so many deserving recipients and if I do not give a voice to them, I’ll feel as I am depriving the people, especially the ones who have worked so hard behind the scene and have never been recognised for their work.”

Sookram was granted the privilege to present 33 medals, more than anyone in the country (Canada) and has presented the medals to deserving recipients from a variety of backgrounds, such as Guyanese Indians, Africans, Portuguese, cohesion, transgender, the homeless, the young and the old. Sookram said he took this approach because he believes in diversity and inclusion, but besides, it also fits with the Canadian values.

He said he was also looking for recipients who have some connection with ACTION VISION Charity Association, an organisation he founded two decades ago to help schoolchildren

in Guyana and to promote the rich cultural heritage in Canada.

The approach Sookram took in presenting the Diamond Jubilee Medal was a little different compared to the normal formal awards presentation. Instead, he went directly in a community college, a community church, at work and even in the recipient’s home to present the medal.

Lifetime opportunity

Sookram said he wanted to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity, but also he wanted to motivate others to contribute to the community by utilising their resources and skills to maximise their potential.

Though Sookram received the prestigious medal himself, he said he was more excited to present the medal to the recipients.

“I was able to notice how empowered the recipients were. One of the recipients said to me that ‘I have never thought that I was worthy of such of an award’,” Sookram said.

It is stories like these that makes Sookram contiune doing what he loves best, which is to bring out the best of every individual he meets.

Sookram himself is the recipient of over 100 awards/ recognitions, including his most recent, the Who’s Who in the World, TIAW World of Difference 100 Award 2013, Canada’s Top 25 Immigrant, 2013 and many more and he continues to be a role model both locally and internationally, setting high standards for others to follow.

Around the world

Egypt expels Turkey’s ambassador

Egypt says it has asked Turkey’s ambassador to leave and accused the country of backing unnamed organisations bent on spreading instability.

Saturday’s decision to expel Huseyin Avni Botsali, the Turkish ambassador, apparently follows remarks made by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister, that Egypt’s government regards as “provocative”.

Turkey has emerged as one of the fiercest international critics of the overthrow of Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July, calling it an “unacceptable coup”. Since Morsi’s election to the president’s office in June 2012, his Muslim Brotherhood organisation has forged close ties with the governing AK Party of Erdogan.

Turkey was “attempting to influence public opinion against Egyptian inter-

ests, supported meetings of organisations that seek to create instability in the country”, Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said on Saturday. Shortly after the Egyptian announcement, Turkey pledged to retaliate.

“We will take steps in reciprocity after comprehensive consultations with the Turkish ambassador,” Levent Gumrukcu, Foreign Ministry spokesman, told AFP news agency.

Abdelatty said the Egyptian government took three decisions on Saturday concerning its diplomatic ties with Turkey.

“First to expel the Turkish ambassador and downgrade our ties to the level of charge d’affaires, second to declare the Turkish ambassador persona non grata and third we will not send our ambassador to Turkey,” Abdelatty told AFP news agency. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Latvian president calls supermarket collapse "murder"

The Latvian president has described the collapse of a supermarket in the capital Riga as “murder”. Andris Berzins said many defenceless people had been killed in “our own made disaster”, and called for foreign experts to investigate what happened.

At least 54 people have died since part of the roof collapsed on Thursday, but it is feared the toll could rise. Late on Saturday, the last remaining section of the roof caved in, causing panic in the surrounding area.

Officials have said soil from a garden being built on the roof of the shop may have caused Thursday’s collapse. Latvia has begun three days of national mourning for the deadliest disaster since the former Soviet republic gained independence in 1991. “These three days of mourning are very necessary to go from the mindset of helplessness to rethinking what each of us has done so that we can act in practical manner, because this is an event where we

must clearly say that this is a large scale murder of many defenceless people and act accordingly,”

President Berzins told public LTV broadcaster. He said an investigation should be held at “maximum speed”.

And he went on to say: “While not undermining the professionalism of our builders, I believe that we should call upon international expertise which is in no way connected with our construction business. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Stunning claim of TT prisons boss: Five per cent of service corrupt

Five per cent of the country’s prisons officers have been labelled as “crooked” by their head, Commissioner of Prisons Martin Martinez. Speaking to members of the media Friday at the Noor Hassanali room in the Parliament chamber, Waterfront Complex, Port of Spain, Martinez said the majority of his staff were honest. He said the issues recently raised in the prisons arise from the hard work of his honest officers who seek to rid the system of contraband which makes its way into the prison via relatives and friends.

Martinez was speaking after the official handing over of the eight-page report on the current crisis at Golden Grove, Arouca, by a nine-member committee headed by Professor Ramesh Deosaran, who was mandated by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Monday to look into the conditions within the prisons system.

The committee submitted the report, which included two appendices – one a report from Deosaran completed in 2006, and the other, Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan’s 2012 report. Khan is also a member of the committee.

The committee was set up after the shooting death of off-duty prisons officer Andy Rogers in Malabar on November 7 started a chain of events which led, among other things, to prisons officers being injured during rioting by the prisoners. Rogers’ colleagues subsequently staged a protest which led to prisoners rioting at the Arouca prison, leading Persad-Bissessar to name the committee to resolve the problems.

Answering a question on the issue of contraband in the prisons Friday, Martinez said one in every 20 of his officers was helping prisoners acquire cigarettes, cellphones and both cocaine and marijuana. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

SUNday, November 24, 2013 | gUyaNatimeSgy.com

Campbellville businessman kills wife, commits suicide

Afrustrated Garnett Street, Campbellville businessman, who apparently could not handle more that was given to him, killed his wife on Saturday morning, before turning the gun on himself.

The incident occurred about 04:00h at the couple’s home.

The dead man has been identified as Ramdat Lokhnauth, 48, called “Moses” while his wife was identified as Saramani Lokhnauth, 42, also known as “Nadia”.

They resided in the upper flat of their three-storey property.

According to information received, the couple had a rocky relationship lately, which resulted in the woman migrating to Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S., but she recently returned after the businessman begged her to reconcile.

At the home of the couple, the guard explained that the businessman went down to the guard hut about 03:00h and handed him a key to the gates and ordered him to give it to his son when he arrives. From all indications, the murder was a premeditated one

since the guard claimed that it was unusual act.

He went on to say that after the man’s son, Rajin came home about 04:15h, he handed over the key and when he entered the house, he (Rajin) made the grue-

some discovery.

The guard said he could not recall hearing any gunshot since the couple’s bedroom is at the extreme end of the building from where he is stationed. The house was locked and the air con-

ditioning was running.

Joseph Lewis, a close friend of the businessman, told media operatives that they grew up together in Berbice and lived like brothers.

He added that once something was bothering Ramdat, he would reach at his home to discuss the matter, but he never saw this coming.

Divorce settlement

Lewis added that the couple was in the middle of a divorce settlement and had agreed on a financial settlement, but there was one major problem.

“He did not have the money to pay his wife so he applied to one of the local banks for a loan to offset the agreement, but on Friday, his loan request was denied.”

According to reports, for him to obtain the loan, he

would have had to sell his property which he started from scratch, something he did not want to do. “He thought that if he had gotten the loan, everything would have been okay.”

Guyana Times understands that the settlement was $50million. Lewis further explained that Ramdat attempted to contact him early Saturday morning, but he did not see the missed call until he received another call from the now dead man’s son, who indicated that he had received a disturbing call from his father and was worried.

“His son collected me and went to the house where the guard gave us the key that he left earlier… We went up and we found her lying as if she was sleeping and he was lying next to her,” he said.

The police were immediately summoned. When

this publication visited the scene, the business was tightly locked and relatives refused to speak to the media.

One of the dead woman’s daughters in a Facebook post said, “So people believed my mom and my step dad had an argument and that led to her death, but it gives no man the right to take her life… I hate that bastard that left us motherless because he is a coward and a cheat... I hope he rots in hell”.

Attempts to make contact with the young woman proved futile.

Saramani is survived by her four children from a previous marriage while Ramdat leaves to mourn three children, also from a previous relationship.

The murder weapon was discovered near the couple in their master bedroom.

Berbice businessman shot during robbery

ACorriverton businessman was on Friday evening shot and injured after two gun men invaded his home and carted off $7000, his car key, a mobile phone and his hearing aid.

Kumar Dudnauth, 68, of Corriverton, owner of Dudnauth’s Hardware and Argi Centre, was shot to his hand and right foot. He is being treated at a private medical facility.

According to information received, about 20:25h on Friday evening, the businessman had just returned home from a meeting with officials from the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce.

Upon his arrival home,

he reportedly forgot the keys for the gate; thus, he called for his wife to open it for him to drive in. As requested, the woman opened the gate and returned to the upper flat of the house while her husband parked the car.

Speaking with media operatives on Saturday, the visibly shaken woman heard her husband screaming “go into the house and lock up the door, bandits in the yard”.

The woman recalled that she followed the instructions issued by her husband, leaving him in the lower flat of the house. Soon after, she heard gunshots and thought that her husband had been killed by

the rogues.

The woman explained that she raised an alarm and residents in the neighbourhood ran to their aid, but not before the bandits made good their escape by scaling a fence.

Upon checking, she realised that the robbers may have been in the yard for some time since there were a few concrete blocks at the side of the fence.

The woman explained that she did not recognise any of the men, but disclosed that they looked like they were in their 20s. This is the first time that the family has been robbed. The police in a statement said they are investigating the matter.

Venezuela’s national air carrier begins operations here

CONVIAS, Venezuela’s national air carrier has begun operations between Caracas and Georgetown, landing its first flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Saturday.

The inaugural flight was welcomed by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir, Guyana Tourism Authority Director Indranauth Haralsingh and dignitaries from the Venezuelan embassy here.

Minister Benn hailed the flight as a historic oc-

casion, noting that it was made possible through negotiations between President Donald Ramotar and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro.

The two presidents signed a Memorandum of Understanding in August 2013, paving the way for the Venezuelan air carrier to operate here.

Minister Benn noted that the realisation of the partnership was achieved in a short time, which is testimony of what can be done if partnership and cooperation remain paramount in

all relations between the two countries.

More importantly, Minister Benn contended that CONVIASA’s entrance into the local market is a “leap forward” for Guyana as it opens up new routes and access to South America.

“What will spring up from this is a strengthening of economic ties, business, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries that will benefit all,” Minister Benn explained.

He assured that every effort will be made to ensure

the partnership is sustainable and visitors experience a lasting positive impression.

Haralsingh, who spoke on behalf of acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, noted that through the airline, more visitors will come to Guyana.

“This is an indication of the confidence in the market as our arrivals continue to increase; this will also add to the growing figure,” he said.

Haralsingh said the timing was perfect as it comes during Tourism Awareness

Month and coincides with National Geographic Traveler magazine ranking Guyana among the top 21 destinations to visit in 2014.

“We look forward to closer collaboration as we foster healthy air traffic between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, CJIA CEO Ramesh Ghir welcomed the Venezuelan airline, pointing out that it aids the airport’s strategy of becoming a next generation hub, attracting new services.

“This is a great achievement for bilateral relations and improving transport

and enriching ties between the two countries,” Ghir stated.

CONVIASA President Luis Carabello thanked the representatives from the two countries, particularly President Maduro and President Ramotar for making the deal possible.

The airline will begin operations with one flight weekly, and according to Carabello, this will be expanded to twice weekly.

“We are ready to give our best service on behalf of Venezuela and CONVIASA,” he said.

President discusses procurement with Transparency International official

Procurement, which has become a hot topic for the political opposition, was discussed on Friday when Transparency International member, Professor Trevor Munroe met President Donald Ramotar.

Professor Munroe, a Jamaican native who was appointed to the civil society organisation in 2012, met President Ramotar at his office in the company of a team that included former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, who is head of the local chapter of Transparency International.

In a brief interview with the Government

Information Agency (GINA), Professor Munroe disclosed that a few issues were discussed at the “informal” engagement with the Guyanese head of state.

Among them was the procurement system, which Professor Munroe said Jamaica has in place to probe the award of contracts, and which, once implemented in Guyana and other parts of the region, must come with robust regulations such as penalties.

“We are not satisfied in Jamaica, we have a procurement system that is very robust except for the penalties, so people breach the system and there is not enough punishment,”

Professor Munroe explained.

His remarks are in keeping with some of the views President Ramotar had articulated at a procurement symposium in August this year, where he frankly told contractors and suppliers of goods and services to tighten their belts or be prepared to face new penalties.

The act gives the Cabinet minimal power of a no-objection; a role which President Ramotar said must be maintained if the government is to be answerable to the taxpayers.

The political opposition on the other hand wants the involvement of Cabinet to be eliminated and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) established.

During the forum which attracted a large representation of contractors, President Ramotar spoke of the plethora of misdemeanours discovered in contract works, among which are immeasurable delays, overruns and variations in contract tardiness and inexcusable reasons for works way behind schedule. With the introduction of the Procurement Act in 2003, the way was paved for the establishment of a National Procurement and Tender Administration Board where bids for contracts are reviewed and recommendations made.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Send out your resume or set up a plan that will help you earn more money. An investment must not be allowed to limit your cash flow. Protect your interests and your possessions.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Keep a close watch over what transpires around you. Someone will try to limit your chance to follow your dream. Let your heart lead the way and impulses take over.

(Feb.20March 20)

Get together with old friends or colleagues. The discussions that unfold will help you make choices that will improve your financial and personal situation. Romance is favoured.

(March 21-April 19)

Restlessness will take over if you aren’t busy. Get out of the house and do whatever makes you feel good or adds to your skills or confidence. Mingle and have fun.

(April 20May 20)

Participate, take action and do the things that enhance your relationships with key people in your life. Refuse to let an emotional situation ruin your day. Live, love and laugh.

(May 21June 20)

A change in the way you do things or the people you hang out with will give you an idea of what can be accomplished. Home improvements will be a good place to start.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22)

With a little extra effort and physical force, you will receive recognition and good fortune. There are profits to be made, and unique contributions will boost your reputation.

(July 23Aug. 22)

Walk away from trouble. You will benefit far more from doing what works for you and letting others fend for themselves. An opportunity will develop through a secret connection.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Attend an event that is geared toward a personal interest. Discuss plans that include travel or positive lifestyle changes. Unique offers will capture your attention.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Nurture and improve personal relationships. Offer help or compromise in a situation that requires keeping the peace to avoid a costly casualty. Put love first.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Travel plans or taking part in a challenge or physical activity will add to your pleasure. Endorse an unusual, but clever, plan that will improve your current living arrangements.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Money matters may limit what you can and cannot do. You are best to take care of your debts before you take on more responsibility. Don’t let emotions influence negotiations.

SAT/AP/CXC/IGCSE English classes, personalized tutoring. Phone: 6124821 after 4pm, 274-0437 after 7pm.

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GPSU knocks govt on five per cent increase

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) said it views governments imposition of a five per cent increase in salaries and wages for public sector workers as insensitive and disrespectful.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said the impending five per cent increase, “comes just in time to supplement the Christmas shopping”, indicating that he too “was looking forward to receiving the retroactive increase”.

The union in a release said, certainly, those are paid significantly more, would be enjoying more, and might not have to touch their savings.

“The rest of the labour force, whose five per cent realises the bare minimum, finds this payout as a meagre aid towards defraying some of the outstanding debt that had piled on their shoulders over more than a year of neglect by an uncaring employer. Christmas then is but a name to many,” the GPSU said.

President Donald Ramotar at a meeting with the GPSU in January 2013, asked for a multi-year proposal for wages and salaries, while giving assurances that the annual impositions would cease.

The GPSU said, in full compliance with the president’s request, it submitted its multi-year proposals for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“To date, after several reminders on the matter, the Office of the President has not furnished any official response.”

The Appropriation Act reflected an allocation of G$29130 billion to meet expenditure for wages and salaries and a further amount of $4.404 billion for the revision of wages and salaries

“A basic arithmetical calculation represents the provision for the revision of wages and salaries as 15.12 per cent of the provision for wages and salaries. While it is noteworthy that Dr Luncheon has acknowledged that this amount was passed in the 2013 National Budget in April, 2013, it is incongruous that a declaration of only five per cent could be realistically made to public sector workers,” the union said.

The GPSU said it will begin engaging in a series of activities to heighten awareness about the plight of the public servants.

1st Ashes Test, Brisbane...

England in disarray against Australia

154 balls - his first ton in Ashes cricket - and Clarke’s 113 off 130 allowed the home side to declare after tea on 4017 and set England a monstrous 561 to win.

Given an hour to survive, England lost Michael Carberry for a duck and Jonathan Trott for a tortured nine as they slumped to 24-2 by the close.

No side in history have scored more than 418 in the fourth innings to win a Test, and with the forecast good for the remaining two days Alastair Cook’s men will have to bat out a nearimpossible 183 overs to save the match.

Blistering centuries from captain Michael Clarke and opener David Warner punished England’s wea -

ry bowlers on day three as Australia moved to within touching distance of winning the first Test. Warner’s 124 off

And the manner in which they batted against Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris on Saturday evening sug -

gested they will be fortunate to take it into a fifth day.

Carberry was a little unlucky to play on to Harris. But Trott looked utterly hapless against the predictable barrage of deliveries aimed at his body, his dismissal pulling Johnson straight to deep square leg as humiliating as it was inevitable.

Warner and Clarke had earlier put on 158 runs for the third wicket, with Graeme Swann (2135) coming in for particularly chastening punishment.

Clarke’s century was his 25th in Test cricket and his 11th as captain, and means that he now averages more than Sir Don Bradman at this ground. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings` 295 England 1st innings 136 Australia 2nd Innings

Rogers c Carberry b Broad 16

Warner c Prior b Broad 124

Watson c Broad b Tremlett 6 Clarke b Swann 113

Smith c Prior b Tremlett 0

Bailey b Swann 34

Haddin c Anderson b Tremlett 53

Johnson not out 39

Siddle not out 4

Extras (4-b, 8-lb) 12

Total (for 7 wickets; 94 overs) 401

Bowling: Anderson 19-2-730, Broad 16-4-55-2, Tremlett

17-2-69-3, Swann 27-2135-2, Root 15-2-57-0

Fall of wickets: 67 (Rogers), 75 (Watson), 233 (Warner), 242 (Smith), 294 (Clarke), 305 (Bailey), 395 (Haddin) England 2nd innings

Cook not out 11

Carberry b Harris 0 Trott c Lyon b Johnson 9 Pietersen not out 3

Extras (1-lb) 1

Total (for 2 wickets; 15 overs)24

Bowling: Harris 5-2-71, Johnson 4-2-7-1, Siddle 3-1-6-0, Lyon 3-1-3-0 Fall of wickets: 1 (Carberry), 10 (Trott)

Berbice cricket coaches honoured by RHTY&SC, BCB

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) and the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) have joined hands in another major programme to honour nine outstanding cricket coaches in the Ancient County. The RHTY&SC over the years has cosponsored numerous programmes with the BCB and the Tribute to Coaches Programme was held to honour the coaches whose contributions to the development of cricketing talents in Berbice were vital to the county’s successes.

The nine coaches honoured were presented with special hampers donated by Managing Director of Ansa McAl Trading and Patron of the RHTY&SC, Beverley Harper. The honourees were Albert Smith, Tremayne Smartt, Andre Percival, Winston Smith, Renwick Batson, Michael Franco Hyles, Floyd Benjamin, Julian Moore and Hubern Evans.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC and former Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee, Hilbert Foster, hailed the coaches as pillars of Berbice cricket and noted that they worked hard to develop cricketing talents in the county. He noted that the RHTY&SC was the first club to retain a paid coach in Berbice cricket and several clubs in the county are now following in its footsteps.

He urged the coaches to not only work harder, but continue to maintain

their remarkable personal standard. The long serving Secretary/CEO hailed the support of Ansa McAl Trading, describing it as extraordinary, and noted the cooperation of BCB Secretary Angela Haniff in making the programme successful.

Foster also disclosed that the RHTY&SC and the BCB will shortly be making donations to eight cricket clubs in Berbice. Items will include water pitchers, dustbins and score books, while a massive coaching programme will soon be launched to assist youth cricketers in Berbice. The coaching programme would involve four three-day coaching clinics for fast bowlers, spinners, batsmen and wicketkeepers.

A release from the RHTY&SC read, “The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club is committed to the development of cricket in Berbice and not itself and would continue to support the Berbice Cricket Board in all of its programmes.”

Malta Supreme cycling in Berbice today

Cyclist countrywide will for the first time have an opportunity to challenge for Banks Malta Supreme bragging rights when the second annual the Banks Malta Supreme road race is staged today in the Ancient County of Berbice.

The 50-mile event will start in front of Banks DIH Limited’s office at Main and Peter D’Aguiar Streets in New Amsterdam, proceed to Nand Persaud Rice Mills at Number 37 Village, Corentyne, before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

The inaugural Banks Malta Supreme race in 2012 was over a distance of 40 miles and was only open to cyclist in Berbice. However, this year the event gives all cyclists the opportunity to challenge for the tittle. Defending champion Ray Millington will be hard pressed to retain his title as some of the country’s top wheelers have signalled

Among the races carded for the day are Group 1, Group 2A and 2B, Group 3, Group 4, Go-Karts, 125cc Bikes and Superbikes A and B. A total of 24 events are listed for the day.

The sponsors of the CMRC are: Seaboard Marine, Banks DIH Limited, GT&T, Rent-A-Tent, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, CCS, Prem’s Electrical, King’s Jewellery World, Valvoline, Nabi, Marsha Mining, John Fernandes, E.C.Vieira

their intention to be part of the event.

On Thursday last, Banks DIH Limited confirmed its comment to the event when Sales Manager of Berbice, Joshua Terrezao, handed over the sponsorship cheque to coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), Randolph Roberts. During a simple presentation cer-

FROM BACK PAGE FROM BACK PAGE gore in pole for today’s...

Gibson says...

Though keen observers believe the shorter formats of the game favour West Indies because of the flambuoyant batting available to them, the visitors have won just seven of their 21 ODIs this year which have also included two tied contests.

Responsibility

On team’s record in ODIs this year, Gibson said: “It’s hard to pin-point the reason, but we have not batted 50 overs consistently, and I have been stressing this to the players. We have 300 balls available to us and that’s a lot of balls – and the top four to six batsmen have to take responsibility for the bulk of those balls. We have done it previously, but it’s something

emony, Terrezao noted that sponsoring the race is part of the company’s continued commitment to give back to society. He noted that ever since the company launched

Investments, Mohamed Roshandin, NTN, New Thriving, Versus Auto Sales, TVG, Bounty Farm, Castrol, Hilton Quan, Trophy Stall, Readymix Concrete Limited, Extreme Motorsports, GTM, Ricks and Sari, Friendship Oxygen Limited, Automative Arts, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Beharry Group of Companies, Kaylees Service Station and Jiffi Lubes among others.

Admission to the venue is $2,000 (adults) and $1,000 (children).

we haven’t done against the stronger sides.

“It’s something we are looking to improve, as we continuously look to see how we can improve as a side and our decision-making under pressure. We simulate putting the players under pressure when we practice, but it really matters when you get into the middle of a game.

“During the Pakistan series at home earlier this year, we did not have big totals to defend and the bowlers fought in our conditions, but the conditions in India are very different and we either have to put bigger totals on the board if we bat first, or restrict them to a total which we know is manageable for our batting.” (www.windiescricket.com)

its Malta Supreme product, Berbicians have supported it well.

Today’s event will pedal off at 09:00 hours with the first eight finishers, along

with the first three juniors, first three females and first three veterans set to receive prizes.

The female category is expected to be highly com-

club members to cross the finish line. (Andrew

Fly Jamaica supports NYbased driver for CMRC

Fly Jamaica has thrown its support behind New York-based Guyanese driver, Nikyta Ramsaran ahead of today’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) at the South Dakota Circuit.

Ramsaran said that he was pleased to be given the opportunity to return home, courtesy of Fly Jamaica to compete in the championship.

“I am indeed honoured to have the logos of all my sponsors on my car, including Fly-Jamaica, Andrew Arts, Atlantic Car Care, Isra Properties (Guyana and New York), Sleep Inn International Hotel and Jailing Motorcycles…and come Sunday [today], I will put out my best to ensure my sponsors are all represented in the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship,” Ramsaran said.

the championships.

“Guyana is now more than ever ready and prepared for these types of sport…I must say Guyana has transformed and with Fly Jamaica now serving Guyana, Guyanese living abroad should take hold of the opportunity to come home…come home for races, just come home and enjoy Guyana at its best,” Ramsaran urged.

Fly Jamaica’s representative Susan Razack said the airline was honoured to sponsor Ramsaran. The carrier, she said, is committed to working with the local authorities in promoting destination Guyana, and as such, will continue to look at ways to meet the needs of their passengers.

Ronaldo limps off after scoring for Real

Humble but yet excited, Ramsaran said he feels privileged to compete with cream of the crop in Guyana, the Caribbean and North America.

“Not only am I privi-

Today’s event, he said, promises to be a day of thrills, and as such Guyanese are being encouraged to take time off from their busy schedule, to enjoy a much deserved break and converge at South Dakota to witness some of the best names in the racing world battle for supremacy.

leged to compete among the top names, but even more so right at home, a place that will always remain close to my heart,” Ramsaran explained .

Confident about a win today, Ramsaran predicts Guyana will dominate at

With the airline now serving the Guyana-New York route via Kingston, Jamaica more Guyanese are being encouraged to travel home more frequently due to its price structure, Razack said.

She also pointed out that fans at today’s race will be given an opportunity to win two return tickets to New York and Jamaica.

K&S teams receive playing kits

The 24 secondary schools set to compete in next month’s Kashif and Shanghai inaugural secondary school football tournament on Saturday received playing kits, consisting of hoses, trunks, jerseys and other paraphernalia.

They were then briefed on the rules and other matters relevant to their participation and the smooth running of the tournament.

The schools, drawn from across Guyana, will battle in a knockout” format, with action set to kick off on December 8 and conclude on January 1, 2014 at the Guyana National Stadium.

The schools were selected based on the outcome of the annual Digicel Schools’ football tournament earlier this year.

Co-director Kashif Muhammad stated the winning school will receive $1.2M, 75% of which must go towards a sports oriented project identified by the school.

Second through fourth are confirmed to be the recipients of $750,000, $500,000 and $250,000 respectively, and 25% of it must go to a project of the school’s choice.

The Most Valuable Player, apart from receiving a laptop, will also get

the opportunity to have a one month stint with a team in the Trinidad and Tobago Professional League.

Admission to the games will be $500 and the partipating schools are Wismar/ Christianburg, Wisburg, New Silver City and McKenzie High School of Linden; St George’s, Lodge, East Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Queen’s College, Dolphin Secondary, Christ Church and Queenstown of Georgetown; Waramadong Secondary of Region Seven; Leonora, Stewartville, Uitvlugt and Patentia of West Demerara; Bladen Hall, President’s

College, Ann’s Grove and Annandale of East Coast Demerara; Ash Education Trust of Berbice; and Covent Garden and Friendship of East Bank Demerara.

The Kashif and Shanghai organisation is partnering with several other entities- including Ansa McAl Trading, Beharry Group of Companies, Pepsi and Mohamed’s Enterpriseto stage the tournament, which will be played at the Mackenzie Sports Club, Georgetown Cricket Club, Georgetown Football Club, Den Amstel ground, Number Five ground in Berbice and Buxton Community Centre.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in Real Madrid’s thumping La Liga victory over hosts Almeria before limping off with what he described as “a knock”.

Ronaldo touched in from Isco’s cross in the third minute, but hobbled off at the start of the second half.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “I don’t think it’s important. He wasn’t in pain. I think he will recover soon.”

Karim Benzema scored Real’s second before Gareth Bale, Isco and Alvaro

Morata wrapped up a comfortable win.

The victory leaves Real six points behind leaders Barcelona, who beat Granada 4-0.

Ronaldo, 28, will have further tests on his injury on Sunday ahead of Real’s Champions League game against Galatasaray on Wednesday.

The Portugal forward made the most of poor Almeria defending to guide in from Isco’s ball from the right and score his 35th goal in 25 appearances. (BBC Sport)

Vettel takes pole position in heavy rain

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel beat Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to pole position at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Vettel dominated in soaking conditions that delayed the start of the final session by nearly an hour.

The world champion was 0.623 seconds quicker than Rosberg, with Alonso a further 0.437secs adrift.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber starts his final F1 race fourth ahead of Mercedes’

Lewis Hamilton and Lotus’s Romain Grosjean. Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne qualified seventh and eighth with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa ninth ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg. Qualifying was wet throughout but a heavy downpour just after the second knock-out session forced organisers to delay the start of the top 10 shoot-out because of standing water on the track. (BBC Sport)

India v West Indies, 2nd ODI, Visakhapatnam…

Weather the main focus in Vizag

Rain extended a foreboding welcome to both teams in Visakhapatman as their flight - delayed by 45 minutes - touched down amid a downpour.

Cyclone Helen, the second storm to hit India’s east coast in as many months, meant the outfield at the Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium was too soggy for either team to go through with their scheduled training sessions on the eve of the game. But officials at the ground were still confident of a full match on Sunday, provided there was no further rain.

West Indies have an abysmal pattern of batting collapses on this tour, which continued despite the more “familiar” environments of a limited-overs encounter. Darren Bravo was the only source of resolve in the first ODI, playing as close to his body as possible and consciously rotating the strike, while his peers including his brother and captain, Dwayne, perished to needless shots born from poor game sense.

In the spotlight

Their quest for betterment will be impaired by Chris Gayle returning home to tend to a hamstring injury. Also, Ottis Gibson, the coach, was worried about his side’s ability to execute plans.

“At every stage, we are way ahead of our targets or on-par with where we want to be [but] we have lost one or two wickets too many,” he said on the eve of the game.

India’s list of concerns is rather thin, though Yuvraj Singh’s reintegration to the one-day unit is still a work in progress.

Starved of match-practice, he looked as woeful as he could be majestic when in form during his brief stay at the crease before India’s victory in the last match. Suresh Raina faces a similar challenge, lacking in runs and pushed down from his position at No. 4 to allow Yuvraj some time in the middle.

Johnson Charles was

Elizabeth Styles U-19, 50-over cricket…

Surujnarine, Permaul guide Albion to semi-final spot

Athe only West Indian batsmen to defy the upand-down Kochi pitch and score at over a run-aball. He has the capability to diminish the effect of Gayle’s absence, with his proclivity to stay balanced and strike straight down the ground. The challenge, however, is whether he can remain at the crease long enough to provide a solid base, instead of just a handy cameo.

India’s plans to groom Suresh Raina as a No. 4 batsman seem a fickle endeavour, as he was pushed down the order in Kochi and then bagged a duck. But he still made his presence felt in the game, with three top-order wickets. Will he have any impact in Visakhapatnam?

Team news

MS Dhoni is rather noted for sticking to a winning combination but seamer Jaydev Unadkat could not summon enough consistency in his six-over spell and might have to fend off stiff competition from the usually bankable Mohit Sharma.

India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jaydev Unadkat/Mohit Sharma, 11 Mohammed Shami.

Chris Gayle’s search for a quick single forced a rupture of his left hamstring and he had to be stretchered off the field. Kieran Powell, who opened for them in Tests, seems set to perform the role in the remaining ODIs. Gayle being ruled out could also be the lifeline Narsingh Deonarine needs to present himself in better light.

West Indies (probable) 1 Kieran Powell, 2 Johnson Charles (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Narsingh Deonarine, 6 Lendl Simmons, 7 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Jason Holder. (Cricinfo)

lbion Community Centre became the fourth team to reach the semi-finals of the Elizabeth Styles Under-19, 50-Over cricket competition after an easy victory over Big Star in the last quarter-final game. By virtue of the win, the Albion lads have joined Young Warriors, Blairmont Community Centre and Rose Hall Town Pepsi in the semi-finals.

Playing at the Albion Community Centre ground, the home team won the toss, batted first and posted 161 all out from 29 overs.

Former Guyana Under-19 batsman Kandasammy Surujnarine led the way with 53 (6x4s), while Berbice Under-17 allrounder Balchan Baldeo supported with 33. Bowling for Big Star, Mark Tyndall took 3-31.

When Big Star relied they ran up against an all spin attack and crumbled for 70 all out in 27.4 overs with David Connelly making 25. Bowling for Albion, former Berbice Under-19 off-spinner Veerapen Permaul took 5-18 from 9.4 overs, Berbice Under-15 off-spinner David Latchaya 3-11 from four overs and legspinner Avinash Wajib 2-19 from five overs.

Continental Group supports LABA’s school tourney

The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Sunburst Secondary School Under-17 basketball tournament will bounce off on Monday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court. Under its Sunburst or-

ange juice brand, Continental Group of Companies has assented to sponsoring the compeition. The sponsorship was sealed after Corporate Secretary of the company, Percival Boyce Jnr., was presented with plans for the event.

Seven secondary schoolsLinden Technical Institute, Mackenzie High, Wisburg Secondary, Christianburg Wismar Secondary, New Silvercity Secondary, Linden Foundation Secondary and Harmony Secondary- will vie for the top spot over a period of ten days. Meanwhile, after a march pass at 15:00 hours on Monday, an opening game will be followed by Chritianburg Wismar playing Wisburg Secondary 16:00 hours, while a double-header will be played on Tuesday.

India

West Indies, 2nd ODI, Visakhapatnam…

Weather the main focus in Vizag

Gore in pole for today’s CMRC showdown

Jamaican Doug “Hollywood” Gore has set the stage for an enthralling day of racing today in the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) when he took pole position on Saturday for the highly anticipated Group Four showdown at the South Dakota Circuit.

Gore, powering what is touted as the fastest car in the Caribbean- an Audi TT, clocked the fastest lap time of 33.5 seconds, but the Guyanese pair Mark Vieira and Kevin Jeffrey were not

far off, with 33.9 and 34.0 seconds respetively.

With Vieira and Jeffrey keeping Gore at such a close range, and with the experienced Andrew King and the promising Danny Persaud- both of Guyanaset to start in Group Four, a thrilling encounter is anticipated.

When action revs off at 08:00 hours, Guyanese drivers, riders and go-karters will throw down the gauntlet to their counterparts from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands, United States of America, Canada and Suriname in what is anticipated to be an electri-

fying day of daredevilry. Other high profile drivers and riders slated to compete are Doug Maloney and Mark Maloney of Barbados, along with the Guyanese brigade Raj Singh, Ryan Rahaman, Irfaan Kalamadeen and Joel Neblett.

Gibson says “execution” is missing

West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson said his side needed to execute better if they are to turnaround their recent form in One-day Internationals.

Gibson was speaking on the eve of the second ODI between the Windies and hosts India today at the Reddy Stadium in this south-eastern coastal city.

The Caribbean side trail 0-1 in the three-match series, following a six-wicket defeat in the first ODI on Thursday at the Nehru Stadium in the south-western city of Kochi.

A half-century from left-hander Darren Bravo propped up the West Indies batting, as they were dismissed for 211 in 48.5 overs, after they chose to bat, before the Indians comfortably chased the target to win with 88 balls remaining.

“It’s frustrating because we sit as a team and we have targets about where we want to be at 10 overs, 20 overs, 30 overs, 40 overs,

not only in terms of runs, but also wickets lost,” said Gibson. “At every stage, we are way ahead of our targets or on-par with where we want to be and we have lost one or two wickets too many.

“In the last 10 overs, it’s then left to the bowlers to negotiate and this has been something that has been happening for the last few series we have played and it makes it tough on the team.”

He added: “Judging from the series that India recently played at home against Australia, we know that 211 is not really going to be a competitive total. We had a platform to put 280 on the board. We do not know if that would have been enough, but at least it would have been a decent total, that didn’t happen.

Creating pressure

“When we bowled, we were able to create some pressure, but we could not sustain for a long enough period and the total we had was not enough. It’s frustrat-

ing because the guys are working hard and we have what I consider to be solid plans, but we are not executing those plans well enough.”

The threat of rain interrupting

the second ODI has receded, but the wet weather stemming from the passage of Cyclone Helen dumped enough water on the match venue to force both teams to cancel their planned training

sessions on Saturday.

On this setback, Gibson said: “It’s same for both sides. Neither of us could get out and get the practice we need. Obviously, it may look like we need the practice more than they do, but sometimes in situation like this, it gives us an opportunity to sit and have more meaningful discussions about our execution.

“I have been going around having one-on-one discussions with certain players about certain situations in which they find themselves during matches and discuss how perhaps they can do things better when they find themselves in those situations.

“We have to keep believing in ourselves and our ability. At times, it seems we don’t back ourselves often enough, or on the flipside, we back ourselves too much, and we don’t assess the situations and we need to be more aware of things – and try to capitalise on good starts", he said.