Guyana Times October 21, 2014

tuesdAY, october 21, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, October 21 from 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, October 21 from 15:05h-16:35h

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery showers can be expected in the morning with heavy rain showers prevailing during the rest of the day, with sunny weather expected in the later afternoon. Clear skies are expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North easterly between zero and 2.68 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:42h and 15:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.45 metres and 2.54 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:34h and 20:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.73 metre and 0.65 metre respectively.

Rodney CoI: Widow says husband “never wanted reins of power”

By Alexis Rodney

he Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry swung into its sixth session on Monday with Dr Patricia Rodney, wife of the slain historian informing the three-member tribunal that her husband was never interested in taking the reins of power during the period leading up to his death.

In fact, though known to be one of the founders of the now political party Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr Rodney was a “grass roots” individual who was more concerned about the working class in and out of Guyana.

Led into evidence by the family’s attorney, Queens Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, the sixth round of the investigation was opened with the mother of three, recounting the life she had with a man who was bent on changing the world, one day at a time.

Her testimony came in light of allegations made by an earlier witness, that the WPA had crafted a plan to overthrow the 1980 People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, whose leadership is believed to have assassinated Dr Rodney.

Former Police Constable Alan Robert Gates had told the commission in April thatDr Walter Rodney and the current leader of the WPA, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine were at the forefront seeking to topple the Government of Forbes Burnham and were acquiring arms and ammunition to achieve their objective.

But the widow said her husband, whom she was married to for some 15 years at the time of his death, was a “kind and thoughtful person” who was able to relate to a wide cross section of people, and was not carried away by his level of education.

“He was interested in the youth and working people. Walter always saw the working class as the vibrant class, the production class and so his focus was on the working people. Whether they were in a community, a church or anywhere”, Mrs Rodney told the Commission.

Asked about his political ambitions and interest in governance, Dr Rodney related that her husband had remained the humblest person she had ever known. She reiterated that as far as she knew, he was not interested in the political ambit, but was rather focused on reaching out to,

back together.

But there came a time when the family had made a decision to leave the shores of Guyana and go to Zimbabwe where he accepted a job offer there. However, that plan was short lived as her husband was killed not too long after.

Dr Rodney said while her husband had an innate interest in the social and economical landscape of Guyana and had a drive to see change happen, he was equally concerned about the welfare of his family and had made the decision to leave, based on that growing concern.

She told the Commission that the situation had become very scary after their return from Tanzania, when Dr Walter Rodney was offered a teaching position at the University of Guyana (UG).

The historian, Dr Rodney recalled, had received a confirmation letter from the institution, informing him that he was accepted.

However she noted that she had an indication, since she returned before him, that her husband “would not be getting the job”.

However, that did not deter him from coming back. He had maintained that even if he had to “drive a taxi” to support

in July 1979 and worsened after the death of WPA member Ohene Koama.

Dr Rodney said her husband was somewhat conscious of the threatening atmosphere around him. She recalled that he had even hinted to friends in Barbados that should anything happen to him, they should make sure that his family was safe.

She said that was one of the reasons the family was able to leave Guyana some 17 days after her husband’s death. The widow spoke too about the events on June 13, 1980, the day of the historian’s death and the difficulties her family endured in trying to gain possession of his body from the Police.

According to her, it took 10 days after his death before his body was released. Dr Rodney noted the interest shown by the United States Ambassador, who visited her home the morning after her husband’s death, offering his condolences and an opportunity to enter the United States. She said he also, on behalf of the Embassy, had offered to assist with funeral arrangements. She said she refused all the offers. When questioned by the Commission, Dr Rodney said she could not draw an in-

educating, and mobilising the masses.

She recalled her husband was, however, very concerned about the political division which existed during the time of their return to Guyana in 1974, pointing out that the “inclusive” Guyana she knew when she left was not the same one she and her family had returned to.

The divisions in race and political parties were obvious, she related, and her husband was centrally interested in weaving the social strands

his family, he would be returning to Guyana.

Patricia Rodney said there was harassment for the family, which she explained started out in a “subtle” way, as persons were warned to stay away from the “Rodney family”.

She said it became less “subtle” when her home was constantly searched and her husband was frequently arrested, though for a few hours.

It became even “scarier”, Patricia said, after the murder of Father Bernard Darke

ference from the visit from an official she had never seen or known before.

Dr Walter Anthony Rodney was killed on June 13, 1980 when a bomb exploded on his lap. His younger brother, Donald, who was with him at the time of his death, was also injured in the explosion.

Donald had reported that a former army sergeant and electronics expert William Gregory Smith had handed over the bomb, hidden in a communication device that killed his brother.

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

AFC and Hong Kong

In a move that surprised most observers of the Hong Kong scene, there have been sustained demonstrations since September 28 against authorities in a city that is frequently cited as a “poster child” of stability and prosperity.

The demonstrators are all young people – mostly university students – who are using the tactics of the “Occupy Movement”. This was launched in the US when students protested the growing inequalities in their country precipitated by the top one per cent of the populace owning most of the wealth.

In Hong Kong, what are the students protesting? After all, they are living in one of the most affluent locales in the world, where obtaining a good job would not be a problem after they graduate, as it would be for their protesting peers in the US. To appreciate their cause, one has to have a grasp of the island’s history.

Founded by the British and Chine after the Opium War of 1839-1842, Hong Kong was governed along British Westminster lines, by a Governor and a legislature, just as Guyana was, during the colonial era.

The British rule voluntarily ended in 1997 and Hong Kong reverted to China under a “dual governance” structure. Democratic rule and governance structures would be maintained in the city even though “mainland China” would have its Communist Party, selecting its political leaders, which would oversee the economy that was run along capitalist lines.

More specifically, 20 years after 1997, that is 2017, there would be elections to choose the leaders of Hong Kong. And this is what the protests are all about.

The rulers in Beijing are insisting that candidates for the elections must be vetted by a Committee that is dominated by individuals who, though from Hong Kong, have shown themselves loyal to Beijing.

The students, inspired by the tenets of liberal democracy imbibed by the traditions of their city, insist that the candidates must be chosen by a method that is much more open in this inaugural democratic election. It would be a farce, they insist, if all the seven million citizens of Hong Kong were to rubber stamp the candidates chosen by Beijing.

Where would be the “democratic” content of such a process? It would be a “selection” rather than an election. The students would have none of this.

And this is where the Alliance For Change (AFC) should come into the picture, to Guyanese following the protests of the students in Hong Kong. The AFC has consistently boasted about its “liberal democratic” credentials – but when it comes to putting their words into action, they fail ignominiously.

Let us take the selection of their presidential candidate who will lead them into the next elections. If the party were actually democratic, the members should reject, like the students of Hong Kong that the leaders present a preselected slate for them to choose from.

But this is precisely what has happened in the AFC. When first asked, two of their younger members, Patterson and Williams, opined that they would be proud to be able to compete to be selected as their party’s Presidential Candidate. However, even before the ink was dry on their opinion being quoted in the press, the now solitary leader Khemraj Ramjattan (upon the departure of Raphael Trotman) announced that his choice was his old “friend” from his PPP days, Moses Nagamootoo.

Nagamootoo, the Vice Chairman, was immediately endorsed by the lame-duck Chairman Nigel Hughes, who willingly accepted Ramjattan reneging on the AFC's foundational ethnic alternation of candidates. What this did is exactly what the students in Hong Kong are protesting –making a farce of the essence of democracy by presenting a fait accompli to the voters to “choose” who would be their leaders.

The AFC is fond of encouraging Guyanese to protest for their “democratic rights”. We wonder whether AFC members would show the courage of the Hong Kong students.

Interpretation of Standing Order No 8(2)

Dear Editor,

On October 14, I was asked by Speaker Trotman whether he has the power, in accordance with the Standing Orders, to convene the next sitting of the National Assembly.

I advised the Speaker that, in my opinion, the answer is no and that he can only fix a date for a sitting when the Assembly is adjourned to a specified date. Standing Order No 8(2) is clear.

If a date was fixed at the last sitting before the Parliamentary recess, only then Mr Trotman could have fixed a date for the next sitting.

When matters are not provided for in our rules, we refer to practice and precedents. The practice is that sittings are requested by the Government.

In the Parliament of Guyana we have two precedents, one involving Frank A Narain, former Clerk of the National Assembly, and the other involving Elwyn Viapree, former Clerk of the Legislature.

In Mr Viapree’s case, on June 8, 1963, he was given the following instructions by Speaker Rahman B Gajraj:

“Mr Clerk, the business of the Legislative Assembly must proceed. It was because I was of the impression that several matters were ripe for putting before the Assembly that I wrote you on June 5 asking for the list.

“This reached me by my

own messenger only at about 16:00h yesterday – too late for these instructions to be prepared before today, which is a Public Holiday. As a result, this will be sent to you on Monday morning, June 10.

“In accordance with SO 6(6), please give notice to Members in good standing (NOT those under suspension) that there will be a meeting of the Assembly on June 12, 1963. Prepare Notice Paper and let it be delivered to Members (at least those in the urban area) by Monday afternoon.”

Rahman B Gajraj

Speaker

Mr Viapree referred the instruction of the Speaker to the then Attorney General Mr Fenton Ramsahoye for advice as follows:

“Hon AG, I shall be grateful for your advice with reference to 1 and 3.

“I do not share His Honour’s view that notice can be given to Members ‘that there will be a meeting of the Assembly on June 12’.

“I am of the opinion that this is a matter for the Government to decide, that is, the date and time of the next sitting.”

E V Viapree Clerk of

the Legislature

Mr Fenton Ramsahoye, then Attorney General, gave the following advice to the Clerk of the Legislature:

“Clerk of the Legislature,

under SO 1(9) (to which however, there was no reference in the Assembly), the Speaker could suspend the sitting for a time to be named by him. Alternatively, he could adjourn the Assembly without question put, but in the latter case the adjournment, unlike the suspension, is an adjournment simplicitor and not for a time to be named by the Speaker.

“Even, therefore, if it was competent for the Speaker to adjourn to a date to be notified’ (as he did), this formula did not vest him with the competence to notify the date, and the Clerk of the Legislature is under no duty to comply with the Speaker’s direction in that behalf.

“The competence in this matter resides where it normally rests, namely, with the Government of British Guiana.”

Fenton Ramsahoye

Attorney General

The second precedent occurred in 1972. On May 12, 1972, Dr Cheddi Jagan, Opposition Leader, wrote the Deputy Speaker, Derek Jagan, who was Acting Speaker in the absence of Speaker Frank Narine, who was out of the jurisdiction.

The following is a copy of Dr Jagan’s letter dated May 12, 1972 to the acting Speaker:

“Sir, there is widespread and growing concern in Guyana about the flood situation, so much as that many knowledgeable people ex-

pect that there may be a food shortage as a result.

“There is little doubt that the flooding has already assumed the proportions of a national disaster, with many thousands of acres of crops of every kind completely lost, and irreplaceable for many months. There will be a further rise in prices when shortages begin to be felt.

“In the circumstances, I feel that there should be a national effort towards overcoming the difficulties that have arisen, and that it would be in the best interest of the people for the National Assembly to discuss the situation.

“In view of the fact that the Speaker is out of the country, I am requesting that you take steps to convene Parliament as early as possible.”

Yours sincerely, Cheddi Jagan

The Deputy Speaker (Acting Speaker), thereafter, wrote the Clerk the following letter on May 16, 1972:

“Dear Mr Narain, further to our conversation yesterday on the telephone, enclosed please find the letter which was sent to me by Dr Jagan, Leader of the Opposition, calling for a meeting of Parliament to discuss the flood situation. Since the receipt of this letter I have given this matter very serious consideration.

So what if log exports double in 2014?

Dear Editor,

Once again I noticed the embattled Kaieteur News is in its usual ‘rumour mill’ mode to cast aspersions and paint a picture of rampant corruption and malpractice as was attempted in its October 19 edition with a prominent front page headline, “Log export doubles in 2014”.

As if this is the end of the world. I have been engaged in the forestry sector for a number of years and have heard numerous calls from the Guyana Forestry Commission encouraging companies to increase their production as several companies are harvesting far below the allowable cut which is the threshold to ensure the sustainable exploitation of Guyana’s forest resources.

With this in mind, I am confident that if not all, some companies are still harvesting way below the allowable cut. Most naturally, if there is an increase in the production of logs, there will be an increase in log exports and other value added production as well, which I am sure will be reflected in the Forest Product Development and Marketing Council’s year-end report.

While Kaieteur News failed to highlight any significant malpractices or breaches resulting from the increase in log exports, those in the sector have welcomed this bit of news which will only serve to further in-

crease the demand and prices for Guyana’s logs. This will continue to produce further export earnings contributing to foreign exchange and development of Guyana as a whole.

Further, over the past few years, there has been much public debate over the exports of logs. However, the outcomes from those stakeholders’ meetings have remained unchanged, as the export of logs will continue but with a phased increase in royalties and taxes on exported logs. Stakeholders are against the ban on the log trade. Additionally, the relevant agencies have main-

tained that deforestation is kept within the allowed margin. In fact, only recently it was announced that deforestation rates have dropped from 0.079 per cent as the annual rate for 2012, to 0.068 per cent as the reported rate for 2013.

Meanwhile, it is evident that Kaieteur News needs to distract the public from its own misdemeanour by once again misrepresenting the forest sector and efforts accrued to strengthen its sustainable exploitation and management.

Sincerely, Samuel Singh

Justice is still far from us

Dear Editor,

We, the members of the Guyana Trans United (GTU), wish to publicly condemn the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for their continued discrimination against our community.

We have been attending court since June 3, trying to get justice for several of our members who were shot at from a vehicle as they stood peacefully on the streets of Georgetown in April.

From the beginning, the Police discriminated against us – calling us names when we attempted to report the matter at the Police station, and refusing to take a statement.

Additionally, even though we provided the Police with the licence plate of the vehicle involved, it took over a month, and us picketing in front of the Brickdam Police Station before one of the perpetrators of this violent attack was charged.

However, even though the matter is now before the court, it appears that justice is still far from us. Every time the matter is raised in court, we have heard the

Police Prosecutor say that the file has been sent somewhere for additional information to be added, corrected, or for review.

At the last hearing, the Police said that they were unable to locate the file and the Magistrate declared that unless the file is produced, the case will be dismissed by October 27.

It has been seven months since we were shot at for no reason. We demand that the GPF do their job and help bring the perpetrators of this violent act to justice. There is no reason for the case file to still be incomplete at this point in time.

It is also unacceptable for the Force to have lost or misplaced the file. We believe that this shows further discriminatory behaviour against our community and is an attempt to simply make the matter go away and to allow the perpetrators to walk free without any punishment.

The GTU is calling on the Police Force to take violence against transgender individuals seriously and to properly investigate and respond to all attacks reported against

Develop our own scenarios; come up with our own solutions

Dear Editor,

The current, apparently intractable wrangling in Guyana’s body politic presents a most disturbing hopelessness for us ordinary folks, regular citizens who are anxious to see our dear land of Guyana progress to its optimal level.

Where does one turn? Where do we look for the ‘promised land’? Perhaps our leaders can draw lessons from other societies, communities, countries that faced similar dead ends.

For example, Peter Senge, renowned MIT Professor, writing in the book titled Presence, described how the whole history of change in South Africa was a remarkable example of people creating a different future together by using scenario-building exercises,

which involved people from all racial, ethnic, cultural, political and similar subgroups thinking and talking about alternative futures.

They eventually came up with four scenarios:

* “Ostrich” was the one in which the then white South African Government put its head in the sand to avoid facing problems.

* “Lame Duck” was the other where the powers of the new black Government were so strictly limited by constitutional instruments that its power to act was crippled.

* “Icarus” was the third whereby the new government instituted economic reforms that were so radical that, like Icarus, it burned itself by flying too near to the sun.

* “Flamingo” which no

one particularly liked because Flamingos typically take off very slowly. But Flamingos also take off together.

So, as the groups thought through these different scenarios, they became convinced that the only viable way forward was the Flamingo way.

Senge concluded that while no one can be certain about how much these “scenarios” influenced the changes in South Africa, he firmly believed that they had a major impact in shaping the thinking that allowed the new Government to hold the country together. Can we develop our own scenarios and come up with our own solutions?

Respectfully,

Nowrang Persaud

Interpretation of Standing...

“There seems to be no doubt that as a result of the flooding a number of persons have been affected and thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed. The Government itself has regarded the situation very serious and committees have been appointed to collect money, etc and/or to distribute assistance to the affected persons.

“In my view, it is in the public interest that Parliament should meet to discuss the matter which I think is of urgent public importance.

“In the premises, please summon a meeting of Parliament on May 22, 1972, at 14.00h.”

us. We are Guyanese citizens just like everyone else, with the same human rights as all others and equally deserving of justice.

The Police have a responsibility to all Guyanese and should not be discriminating against anybody on any basis. Also, when other segments of the population see that we are not being served by the authorities who are supposed to protect us, it sends a message that abuse of transgendered persons is acceptable. It is not.

The discrimination and disrespect that we face on a regular basis simply for being ourselves must stop. We demand and deserve justice and accountability from all individuals and systems of Guyana in this and all instances.

We are also still calling for justice to be done regarding the role of staff of a private company (name of company given) in the murders of our friends and colleagues Jason John and Carlyle Sinclair.

Respectfully,

Quincy McEwan Guyana Trans United

Yours sincerely, D C Jagan

The Clerk of the National Assembly thereafter, wrote the Deputy Speaker (Acting Speaker) the following letter on May 18, 1972:

“Dear Mr Jagan, I hereby acknowledge receipt of you letter dated May 16, 1972, in which you requested me to summon a meeting of Parliament for May 22, 1972, at 14:00h.

“I wish most respectfully to advise you of the provisions of the Standing Orders which deal with Sittings of the National Assembly. Paragraph (2) of the Standing Order No 8 states as follows:”

‘If, during an adjournment of the Assembly, it is represented to the Speaker by the Government, or the Speaker is of the opinion that the public interest requires that the Assembly should meet on a day earlier than that to which it stands adjourned, the Speaker may give notice accordingly and the Assembly shall meet at the time stated in such notice. The Clerk shall as

soon as possible inform each Member in writing, or if necessary by telegram of any such earlier meeting.’

“From this Standing Order, it will be seen that the extent of the Speaker’s power in the summoning of the National Assembly is limited, and although: (i) It may be represented to the Speaker by the Government, or (ii) The Speaker may be of the opinion that the Assembly should meet.

“Nevertheless, the Speaker can give notice for the Assembly to meet only when the Assembly stands adjourned to a specified date, and not when it is adjourned sine die.

“The Law Officers had confirmed the above interpretation of the Standing Orders and this was some time ago conveyed to the Leader of the Opposition by His Honour the Speaker.

“When the Assembly last met on the April 13, 1972, it was, on completion of its business, on a motion by the Minister of Housing and Reconstruction (Leader of the House), adjourned sine die and not to a specified date.

“In view of the above, I respectfully advise that I am not of the opinion that you are empowered to give notice for the Assembly to meet on May 22, 1972.”

Yours sincerely, Frank Narain

It should be noted that there has been no significant changes to SO 8(2) over the years. In view of the foregoing, I stand by my interpretation of SO 8(2). Mr Frank Narain, former Clerk of the National Assembly, shares my opinion.

I also take this opportunity to state that Sir Michael Davies, Commonwealth

From page 4

Senior Parliamentary Staff Advisor to the National Assembly of Guyana, made the following statement in his February 18, 2005 Needs Assessment of the Guyana National Assembly: “Standing Orders are for Clerks, not for Members. One reason Clerks are employed is to provide advice to Members on the Standing Orders and on the procedure of an Assembly.”

In closing, I wish to quote from a report dated July 2013 by Mr Frank Narain on this matter:

“Did the National Assembly awake and take steps to simplify or clarify the procedures on this matter to avoid a further recurrence? I do not think that it did. A poor Clerk will continue to be involved.

“A Speaker will continue to feel that he has the power to call Parliament, if he wants the sitting.

“The present Opposition will feel that with its onemember majority, it has the power. Who really has the power under the Standing Orders? Who is the poor Clerk to take instructions from? Will members have to run to the Chief Justice for his opinion?

“MPs, please do not continue to involve and suffer my successor. Do something about this matter now. NOW! Something that will suit you if you become the Government and something that will also suit you if you become the Opposition.

“Is this not possible? Surely it is?”

F A Narain, CCH

Former Clerk of the National Assembly

Yours sincerely, S E Isaacs Clerk of the National Assembly

Page Foundation

What

does it mean

for an Ebola outbreak to end?

– and how does the World Health Organisation decide when that happens?

BY ALEXANDRA SIFFERLIN

Nigeria’s most recent outbreak of Ebola is over, the nation’s Government and World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Monday. But – with fear of Ebola continuing to grip the world – what does that even mean? How

does the WHO know that Nigeria is in the clear?

The answer, it turns out, is very specific: The WHO says a country can declare their outbreak to be over when it makes it through 42 days without a new case. That’s two incubation periods for the Ebola virus, so as long as 42 days have passed,

during which the country had in place active surveillance and diagnostics but discovered no new cases, the WHO says it’s enough time to confidently say an outbreak is over. For healthcare workers to be considered “in the clear” they have to be monitored for 21 days after their last possible ex-

posure to the virus, even if they were wearing full protective gear. Health-care workers’ date of last contact is considered the day when the final patient with Ebola tests negative for the disease.

“Recent studies conducted in West Africa have demonstrated that 95 per cent of

confirmed cases have an incubation period in the range of one to 21 days; 98 per cent have an incubation period that falls within the one to 42-day interval,” said WHO in a statement. “WHO is, therefore, confident that detection of no new cases, with active surveillance in place, throughout this 42-day period means that an Ebola outbreak is indeed over.”

This is not the first time WHO has declared Ebola outbreaks over using this particular standard –Senegal was declared Ebolafree on October 17, and the strategy has proven effective in prior, unrelated, outbreaks.

In an announcement made Monday morning, WHO called Nigeria a “spectacular success story”, citing proof that Ebola can be contained. “The story of how Nigeria ended what many believed to be potentially the most explosive Ebola outbreak imaginable is worth telling in detail,” WHO says in a statement.

In 1995, there was an Ebola outbreak in the country then called Zaire (today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo); it was declared clear on August 25 of that year. (time.com)

When talking to children about Ebola, stay calm and reassure

BY NANCY CHURNIN

Stay calm, particularly when you talk with children about Ebola, experts say. The deadly disease, caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains that originate in Africa, has been all over the news, but it’s extremely rare.

Among the helpful things parents can do are maintain normal routines, be alert to any sleep or behaviour changes and use it as a teachable moment to remind children of the power they have to protect themselves against illness, particularly colds and flu, which are very common at this time of the year: Cover your mouth when you sneeze; wash hands frequently and particularly before you eat; don’t share food or liquids with friends.

Here are tips from Dr Nicholas Westers, a Clinical Child Psychologist at Children’s Medical Centre Dallas, and Dr Donna Hamilton, a Pennsylvaniabased Paediatrician, who serves as Vice President of Communications for Fort Worth-based Artemis Medical Society for female physicians of colour.

1. Keep it simple. Find out what your child knows and correct and build on that information in an age and developmentally appropriate manner. Give younger children fewer details. For example:

* For preschoolers: This is very, very rare. It is very, very sad for the people who have Ebola, but you’re safe.

* For elementary school: You would have to be working in a hospital in direct contact with one of the very few patients with Ebola to be at risk.

* For adolescents: While cold and flu viruses can be passed through the air, the Ebola virus can only be caught through saliva and bodily fluids.

2. Tailor your talk to your child. You know your child’s temperament best. Consider talking with your children separately depending on their levels of curiosity and fear. Use this as an opportunity to help them build skills to cope with anxiety. Make yourself available for additional questions or concerns that may arise on this or other topics. (www.dallasnews.com)

Ramsammy calls for more spending on agriculture research

Minister of Agriculture, D Leslie Ramsammy has called on countries to spend more in sustainable agriculture research, saying that this is critical in the development of the sector.

Minister Ramsammy was at the time speaking at the Agriculture Ministry’s annual Research Conference at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) under the theme “Consolidating Food and Nutrition Security in the Region-Increasing Economic Opportunities and Entrepreneurship for Rice and other Agriculture.”

This three-day conference is aimed at highlighting the importance of research in the area of rice and other agriculture products.

Minister Ramsammy noted that this event starts yet another tradition in Guyana- research in ag-

ment agenda,” Minister Ramsammy said. Rice is the third most prevalent crop in the world, and because of research, this crop has developed to where it can be able to feed most of the people in the world.

Minister Ramsammy said that the Indian rice varieties cannot be ignored, noting that they have transformed the world’s production of the grain, and is a good example of how research can increase production and efficiency in agriculture.

The Agriculture Minister emphasised that even as there are talks about producing Guyana’s own food, the energy equation must be looked at so as to establish where the energy would come from, at what cost and how it would affect the environment. “These are answers that must come from research, and that is why

Speaking on climate and its effects on the sector, Minister Ramsammy noted that the agriculture sector is the most affected by this issue, and research can also be done in this regard. He

riculture, and underlines the Ministry’s commitment in this regard. Minister Ramsammy added that the productivity that is seen today would not have been achieved without research, and Guyana’s goal of feeding the world, creating a food secure and a nutrition secure world will not be achieved. “Any Government that neglects research does so at its own risk. The post-2015 sustainable development agenda will not serve our global interest unless we recognise that research is very much a part of that develop-

countries need to invest,” he added. For every one dollar spent on global research in agriculture; thousands of dollars are spent in other types of research. “We have not invested enough in agriculture, it is our collective failure… some one trillion dollars is spent in research overall and yet without agriculture there is not a world. There is no other way of feeding people and establishing the basis for nutritious food in the world, there is no life without agriculture,” Minister Ramsammy further explained.

said the production of greenhouse gases is another area that agriculture research can resolve. Agriculture has led Guyana to a sustainable development path, and it continues to be an important contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and rural development.

He added that in Guyana, five percent of the National Budget is dedicated to those areas of training and research. Building capacity at the University of Guyana and the Guyana

Six arrested in Kaneville with illegal gun, ammo

Six men were arrested by the police Monday afternoon in Kaneville, East Bank Demerara after they were found with an unlicensed pistol and six rounds of matching ammunition.

The six men were in a gold coloured AT CARINA 192 motor car when they were intercepted by the police during which an unlicensed .38 revolver and six rounds of matching am-

munition were found, police said in a statement.

The men were taken to the Grove Police Station where they were placed in custody and the car impounded.

According to police sources, from the way the men operated it seemed as though they were planning a “hit” in the area. The area, he noted has been plagued with robberies for the past months.

Police are also trying to determine if the men were in-

volved in other robberies on the East Bank of Demerara.

The official stated that two of the six men are known characters to the police but he could not confirm if they were event convicted of armed robberies. The remaining four are new faces. He also noted that there were no masks or any other items found in the car. The men are expected to be charged shortly.

School of Agriculture (GSA) and Technical Institutes, enhancing Agriculture Science in Secondary schools, engaging young people in the sector are just a few of the aspects Government has been investing in. This is not enough, he said, but for a developing country it is impressive.

Speaking of the role small farmers has been playing in the development of agriculture, Minister Ramsammy further called on the world to pay attention to that fact that farmers in countries like Guyana are disadvantaged by a global

Missing MFK boss

legal framework that keeps developed countries’ farmers on the top of its ladder and bind farmers from developing countries to stay at the bottom. Research however can change that dispensation, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Vyjayanthi Lopez, Plant Production and Protection Officer, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), congratulated the Government of Guyana for organising such an event. With a food import bill of over US$4 billion per annum and the rising level of obesity and Chronic Non-Communicable disease (NCDs) in the Caribbean, Dr. Lopez said the subject of food and nutrition security should be on the agenda of policy makers, producers and consumers. She urged the participants to take full advantage of the conference to improve their knowledge so as to increase productivity.

Autopsy on headless corpse undetermined

Days after the headless corpse found at Cumming Lodge Old Road was reportedly identified by elatives as that of missing MFK Trading boss, Mohamed Khan a post mortem conducted on the remains on Monday was undetermined.

The post mortem was performed by Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary who took samples to be sent for further analysis. Now that the results were not too clear, the other alternative is to send samples of the headless corpse to perform a DNA test to verify whether the remains are that of Khan. As of now the remains, are still with the police.

The headless corpse was discovered on September 22 at the Cummings Lodge Old Road, East Coast Demerara. Relative had identified the body as Khan, but police

have insisted that a DNA test must be done. The corpse was reportedly identified as that of Khan by the underwear and a belt that was discovered amongst the remains. The businessman, who was residing in Venezuela after selling off his Hadfield Street

business, left that country on August 21 to visit his Guyanese attorney here. He was expected to spend five days in Guyana. After his disappearance, his family members had contacted several of his friends, but, unfortunately, they claimed that they had not seen him. He was last seen by his close associates about a few months ago. The 54-yearold businessman was shot to his abdomen by a gunman at La Grange, West Bank Demerara in a failed execution attempt on July 9. It was reported that Khan may have entered a business deal that turned sour. At that time, he claimed that he had sold a property, but the buyer wanted to rob him of millions and thought that the execution attempt may have been orchestrated by him. The businessman left the business world about six years ago after he has received death threats.

WHO declares Nigeria Ebola-free

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Nigeria has been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation, Nigerian Association of Guyana Vice President Onoja Atta Onoja said.

Speaking with Guyana Times hours after the declaration was made, Onoja said: “We are thankful to God for this breakthrough.”

Despite being dubbed Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria has been successful in eradicating the disease after it was first detected in July in the city of Lagos where some 21 million people live.

Lagos, Africa’s largest city, is also characterised by a large population living in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

According to the WHO, the Ebola virus entered Lagos on July 20 when an infected Liberian entered the city. It was recalled that the Liberian was visibly ill during the flight and upon arrival was driven to a private hospital. He subsequently died five days af-

ter along with the Protocol Officer who escorted him.

But prior to his death, he denied having contact with an Ebola patient, claiming that he had malaria. Taking his word at face value, none of the medical staff at the hospital took protective action, resulting in nine doctors and nurses becoming infected. Four of them have since died.

“The virus entered the country’s oil hub, Port Harcourt, on August 1 when a close contact of the index case flew there seeking care from a private physician. That doctor developed symptoms on August 10 and died of Ebola on August 23,” the WHO recalled.

With support from the WHO, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others, Government health officials reached 100 per cent of known contacts in Lagos and 99.8 per cent at the second outbreak site in Port Harcourt.

Federal and state Governments in Nigeria merged their resources to provide ample financial and

material resources, in addition to well-trained and experienced national staff. Isolation wards were immediately constructed and were designated Ebola treatment facilities.

“Unlike the situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, all identified contacts were physically monitored on a daily basis for 21 days. The few contacts who attempted to escape the monitoring system were all diligently tracked, using special intervention teams, and returned to medical observation to complete the requisite monitoring period of 21 days,” the WHO said Monday marked 42 days after the country’s last infectious contact with a confirmed or probable case occurred, resulting in the chains of transmission being broken.

“The virus is gone for now. The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated.”

It is said that the country’s strong leadership and effective coordination of response is responsible for its current success.

“The Nigerian response to the outbreak was greatly aided by the rapid utilisation of a national public institution and the prompt establishment of an emergency operations centre, supported by the Disease Prevention and Control Cluster within the WHO Country Office,” the WHO said.

Another key asset was the country’s first-rated virology lab affiliated with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. It was explained that the lab was staffed and equipped to quickly and reliably diagnose a case of the Ebola virus, and ensure that containment measures could begin with the shortest possible delay.

Onoja told Guyana Times that Guyana should take a page of Nigeria’s book. He explained that the Government through the Health Ministry should put the requisite systems in place to prevent an outbreak if the virus reaches the shores of Guyana.

“Preparation is key, the country should be prepared,” he urged.

Alleged partners in crime remanded for narcotics charge

Two prisoners who were committed to stand trial at the High Court on separate charges of murder were on Monday remanded on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Trevor Abrams and Brian Heywood appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya

Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The charge was read separately to them.

Abrams pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on October 15 at Camp Street Prison, Georgetown, he had in his possession 83 grams of marijuana for the purpose of traffick-

ing. His trial will commence on October 28.

Heywood also pleaded not guilty. The court heard that on the same day at the Camp Street Prison, he had in his possession three grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. The trial for this offence will commence on November 6.

AFC postpones National Conference due to stalled No confidence motion

The Alliance For Change on Monday announced that it had deferred its National Conference which was slated for this month due to the stalling of its No Confidence Motion against the Government.

In a statement the AFC said as was mentioned during its recent National Executive Meeting meeting it was anticipated that the no confidence motion would have commenced being debated either this week or at latest next week. “Due to circumstances beyond our control it appears quite likely that this motion will only be debated either in the last week in October or sometime in November,” the AFC said. According to the party several of the agenda items at the scheduled National Conference were

linked to a successful passage of the No Confidence vote. “With this in mind please be informed that our conference has been deferred, and will be rescheduled for a time NOT LATER than the first week in December, 2014,” the party said.

Works on Peters Hall Koker almost complete

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has completed repairs to the Peters Hall Koker that broke in early October causing massive flooding in that community and nearby Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Two Wednesdays ago, on October 8, the koker at Peters Hall caved in, leaving residents in the area in a state of shock and disbelief as millions of dollars in household appliances and livestock were destroyed by the flooding that followed. When Guyana Times visited the area on Monday, contractors were carrying out maintenance works. They told media operatives that the koker was completed but for the installation of the door. While residents

are satisfied with the work that is being done, they are still concerned about their losses and compensation.

Early last week, Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker held a meeting in the area to discuss residents’ losses and to see what support could be given by the Ministry. He then came to a decision that persons who were affected should submit a list of the things they lost along with photographs to the overseer of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). He said that way he will be able to get a fixed budget to take to the Cabinet to be discussed. While many persons disagreed with this process and thought more could have been done, others said they would wait and

see what happens.

At the meeting, several persons shared their lists of damaged items with this publication. One woman said that her entire car engine was destroyed, as were her bed, fridge, freezer, chair and even her children textbooks, all valued at $1.8 million. Another resident said that if not compensated, she would take to the streets in protest since she had major damage. “I was in my bed when I hear this noise outside; when I come off my bed to see what was happening, I was standing in a pool of water,” she noted. She said that when she realised what was happening, she ran outside to see what she could have saved, but her efforts proved futile.

Eyew tness

Sterculinius...

...of Guyana

This Eyewitness is an avid reader of the “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” feature in this paper. He learns something every day. Yesterday he learnt that the Romans, like most ancient peoples, had a god of animal sh*t. Really!! His name was Sterculinius.

Actually, he was the god of “manure” but since those ancient folks didn’t have ammonium sulphate and such like – he was really in charge of animal sh*t. If you wanted more horse manure, for instance, you just invoked Sterculinius!

And if you think about it, Sterculinius is alive and well in Guyana – just think of the person who spews more sh*t in Guyana than anyone else – the Muckraker” owner Mohan “Glenn” Lall, aka the Mook. He proved that people like to hear sh*t...why else do you think they pick up the Muckraker??

And the thing is, Lall, knows he’s full of sh*t. Look at the last PeepMan column – which he concocted with his house slave Adam Harris. The real PeepMan has more sense than to spout the sh*t there.

Can you imagine defending the Muckraker by invoking the standards of “professionalism”?? This isn’t just “bare faced” but because of the volume of sh*t spewed, it’s also “bare assed”. The Muckraker is about as unprofessional as you could possibly get. There isn’t a week that goes by that the Muckraker isn’t offering an apology for some faux pas or the other. Professionals give a sh*t about what they’re doing. The Muckraker dumps sh*t on what everyone else’s doing.

And one thing about sh*t – once it starts running, it’s hell no hell to stop the flow. When it flows from Sterculinius, it’s impossible to stop. The fella’s the GOD of the nasty stuff, isn’t he?? So listen to this sh*t as the Mook explains his massive wealth in his “dem boys seh”:

“I born in business and grow up in Stabroek Market”!!! Born in “business”?? Is this what they called Wakenaam then?? “Business”? This is a fella who couldn’t rub two cents together when he came barefoot to town?? Business??

The question is how’d he move from selling bora and shallots to owning billions?? The US Embassy’s political officer, in the ‘WikiLeaks’ cables on Guyana a few years ago, identified the Mook as a “backtracker, having links to the criminal underworld”. He also revealed that Lall regularly snitched on his “friends” in the business community.

The spewer of sh*t knew what he was talking about when he confessed, that “how he get he money is no secret!!”

...in Parliament

It could be that like Chickungunya and Ebola, this Sterculinius thing is catching. And it depends on how close contacts you maintain with the infected persons. Sh*t, after all, can only be spurted so far!!

Ever since Ralph Ramkarran quit the PPP/C because he couldn’t live up to the party’s strict policy on “criticism and self-criticism”, he’s been courting the Opposition. Of which, of course, Mook Lall’s a card carrying member. And lo and behold, Ramkarran began spouting a whole lotta sh*t!

He started to do it on his blog...called Conversation Tree. But the sh*t was so much, the poor tree promptly died? True story, check it out! Anyhow, not to worry when you have the Stabber and the Muckraker on the Dark Side. They BOTH began carrying Ramkarran’s sh*t.

Most recently, the crap that the Speaker can summon Parliament any time he pleases!! And prorogue it too??

Ramkarran might as well bring back Burnham as Trotman. Didn’t Rodney say everything Burnham, touched turned to sh*t??

...and the masses

Mook “Sterculinius” Lall, really needs to get his sh*t together. Here he’s trying to convince folks that he only evaded taxes because he wants to “save democracy”!! Jeez!!! There’s only so much sh*t people can take.

WTO reviewing Guyana’s trade policy

Atwo-member technical team of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are currently here to conduct the third trade policy review of Guyana.

These reviews are carried out once every six years with the first two being conducted in 2003 and 2009. The function of the review mechanism is to examine the impact of a member’s trade policies and practices on the multilateral trading system. The WTO team is made up of Hayafuji Masahiro and Xinyi Li.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release a formal opening ceremony was held on Monday at the Foreign Service Institute which saw the attendance of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn RodriguesBirkett and heads of a number of Government agencies.

In her remarks, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that Guyana’s approach has been consistent in demonstrating genuine efforts aimed at strengthening the liberalisation framework while securing, as far as possible, the requisite policy space for small economies.

The Minister noted that small trading economies such as those within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) are faced with tremendous challenges in an increasingly globalised world, characterised by rapid economic integration and trade liberalisation. These challenges are further compounded by a narrow production base and limited supply capacity.

“Unlike large economies, small developing economies as ours have little room for mistakes and scarce financial and other resources. Yet, how we match up to these re-

alities is what will determine our place in the world…our private sector has no choice but to make the necessary adjustments in order to flourish in this highly technological and more competitive environment,” she said.

For this reason, capacity building to prepare citizens for a modern economy is vital. As Guyana continues to adjust to the globalised world, its membership in the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) becomes even more important.

Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that the CSME represents a critical and pragmatic step which a group of small vulnerable economies found it necessary to take, to respond to the changes in the global trading environment.

“Our national interests

are increasingly global interests and our economic security increasingly hinges on the strength of others… we continue to argue that the liberalisation and globalisation processes must ensure sustainability and stability in the development of the smaller economies,” she said.

She used the forum to call on the WTO to ensure that future special and differential treatment be based on specific development criteria instead of arbitrarily defined transition periods. She also noted that these arrangements should be part of a special programme in the WTO that focuses on the trade development needs of smaller economies.

The Minister also registered her disappointment with the current impasse at the WTO whereby pub-

of 60 per cent. On the export side, however, services account for less than 12 per centof GDP.

lic stock holding and the adoption of the protocol of amendment on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) are yet to be concluded. This matter has resulted in the stymieing of

the work programme that was decided on at the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali in December last year.

Notwithstanding the proliferation of regional trade agreements, the multilateral arena remains the refuge for small developing economies.

“We hope this situation will change shortly since the WTO rules must be applicable to all, large and small, developing and developed,” she said. Emphasis was also placed on the importance and potential of the services sector. In order for Guyana to increase services exports, the capacity of services providers to access international markets will have to be further developed. Services account for approximately one-fifth of recorded world trade, as well as over 50 per cent of domestic activities in most economies.

Based on existing official data for Guyana, in 2005 distribution, transportation and communication, engineering and construction, rent of dwelling, financial services, and other services accounted for 32.8 per cent of GDP.

In 1995, these same services represented only 22 per cent of GDP. Today, it is in excess

“The potential for the development of the services sector and the expansion of services trade export is immense… services present the best prospects for economic diversification and global repositioning,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said. She said that the private sector is the ultimate beneficiary of trade policies, and as such it is incumbent on Governments to ensure that the sector is involved in the development and execution of such policies. However, in like manner, it is also obligatory for the private sector to be pro-active in their approach with respect to trade policy matters.

Meanwhile, Hayafuji who is a councillor at WTO’s Trade Policies Review Division explained that the purpose of this three-day forum is to garner information and look at developments that have taken place since the last review in 2009.

“We are not here to check your compliance with your WTO obligations…we are here to assist you to raise the transparency and understanding of the trade policies and practices of Guyana… it will not be a basis for enforcing obligations under WTO agreements…,” he said.

The two WTO officials will be looking at the economic rationale for decisions taken over the past six years such as the elimination of certain subsidies, introduction of higher tariffs, and/or the imposition of licencing restrictions on certain products. Guyana will be undergoing another review which is scheduled for September 2015.

Caribbean fire fighters discussing Ebola threats

The Caribbean Fire Fighters Association (CFFA) on Monday convened a two-day seminar at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street where servicemen from sister Caribbean nations began discussing a range of issues including the possibility of the deadly Ebola virus entering the region.

According to President of the Association,

Grantley Greene, training and capacity building is high on the agenda as new and emerging threats continue to arise every day. The two-day seminar will be a lead up to a larger discussion which will be held in Barbados next year.

In the meantime Greene noted that, at this meeting emphasis will be placed on being prepared for the eventuality of Ebola meet-

ing any Caribbean state, as well as chikungunya. Responding as to why emphasis is being placed on these two diseases, Greene said as Caribbean nations all should be prepared and what affects one ultimately affects the others.

“We want to be able to contain it, make it not threatening to us, as fire fighters we have to respond to a number of emer-

gencies, and there is no guarantee, so we have to put ourselves on guard.” Greene added that another burning issue which will be high on the agenda is the careful handling of chemicals entering the Caribbean from Europe and the United Kingdom. Greene said it is his belief that more should be done in the area as he noted that the immigration sector should play a greater role in supplying Fire Services with information on chemical import.

“We are mostly focusing on handling of hazardous chemical outbursts… these are chemicals that come into our territories for commercial and manufacturing uses, and we need to know when, the right sort of equipment to use to protect ourselves and the incubation period for these chemicals.”

Fire Chief Marlon

Gentle lauded the CFFA for the works it has done over the years as he noted that the Guyana Fire Service has benefited tremendously since joining the association. Gentle pointed out that over the years, local fire fighters have benefited from training from other sister Caribbean states. The local Fire Chief also lauded

These musbe de last days

Desperate people does do desperate tings in life to survive. Soon dem does don’t know wheh to turn, and when desperate people don’t know wheh to turn, dem does start to lash out at every ting whah dem see or whah dem can touch. It does even be wuss than when a woman find she man wid another man.

Dem does even lash out at tings whah dem ain’t even know bout and dem imagination does start to run wild. So in dem sleep, dem does start to dream and tink is reality. And in dem wake, dem does mek up tings and then convince dem self that whah ever dem mek up is tru tru story.

And that is how some people behavin these days in this great land of de Mazaruni and Lot 12 Camp Street, which does come right after de GT Magistrates’ Courts, even if yuh turn up wid eight old lawyers, wanna be lawyers or half lawyers, all of whom are liars.

A preacher was preachin in a chuch de other day and he tell de people loud and clear that these are de last days. Well, that preacher deserve a lotta blessins. So he should fuhget he tithe fuh this month and next month, and buy some ting fuh he self, because he right on de ball bout de last days.

That is, assumin he does give tithes because yuh never know de truth wid dem chuch people nowadays. After all, Uncle Rafeel and Bencock is chuch men and yuh never know if tithe money does turn hush money.

So just like how dem evil people who does hide in de chuch system friken de last days, it got people outside de chuch system who friken de last days more than de chuch people. And is simply because if de chuch people gon get fire and brimstone fuh de evil whah dem do, guess whah de people outside de chuch gon get.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! If yuh ain’t sure, just keep checkin Mazaruni and Lot 12!

CFFA, as he noted the outstanding work it has done in the region. “I believe we have indeed staked our place in the Caribbean. As one of the premiere public service groupings we have to be cognisant, our strength can only be in the collectiveness of us all. We have to build on it.”

Gentle added that the work of CFFA is recognised, through the Caribbean and it is important. Further, the fire chief pledged that the Guyana Fire Service will be offering its training facility to the association for training and other purposes which will ultimately aim to develop the fire fighting and rescue capabilities of the

region. Meanwhile the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Chief, Nayar Rampersaud also committed to sponsoring two dozen local fire fighters for training in that country as he too cited the importance of continuous capacity building. The conference has attracted participation from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Island, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago and is being held under the theme “Strengthening unity amongst the Caribbean Fire fighting Fraternity”. Also later in the week, the participating countries will be competing in the area of athletics.

Lions Club donates books to city schools

As part of its 12th anniversary celebrations, the Lions Club of Georgetown donated a number of textbooks to St Roses High School and St Stanislaus College’s library on Monday.

Making the presentation was Lions Club President Odessa De Barros, who explained that the initiative was an annual venture by the club to distribute books to schools around the city. St Roses High School Principal

Paula Hamilton expressed her gratitude to the Lions Club and said it was a timely gesture.

Speaking to this publication was the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of the Club, Roxanne Luckie who said the distribution of books was part of the club’s anniversary week of activities. She said too that the two schools that were selected were always targeted by the club.

Meanwhile, a staff mem-

ber of the St Stanislaus College told Guyana Times that the Lions Club in the past has distributed a number of books to the school. She said too that the activity was timely and will aid in assisting the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) students with their History examination. She also expressed her gratitude to the club, while assuring them that the books will be put to good use.

Guyanese topping entire Caribbean simply unbelievable! – students

BY TAJERAM MOHABIR

Being among the top students in Guyana was their aim but ending up as the top students in the Caribbean was a wild dream come true, one which their families, teachers and all Guyanese are proud of.

This was the general view of the Guyanese students who brought home four of the eight annual awards offered at CSEC by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). Speaking to Guyana Times, Guyana's and the region’s top student at the 2014 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Elisa Hamilton said she was elated on receiving the news from her mom.

Elisa’s mom, Paula Hamilton, who is the Headteacher of St Rose’s High, received the good news from one of her daughter’s teachers. The joy, the Headteacher said was overwhelming but she was always confident that Elisa would have done well as she was always a high-flyer.

Elisa, who enjoys listening to music and going to church, said when she was writing the examinations, her goal was to score distinctions in every one of the 20 subjects she was sitting.

However, she managed to gain 19 Grade Ones, including 16 distinctions and a Grade Two. The soft spoken Queen’s College student said topping the Caribbean was a big plus for her as from early she had her eyes set on acquiring a scholarship to further her studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The young lady is now pursuing studies at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) at Queen’s College, which is a requirement for her to gain admission into UWI. Elisa, who wants to become a doctor, but has not yet decided on what area she wants to specialise in, said though she was excited

about her performance, and was flooded with congratulatory messages from her colleges, teachers and friends, an occurrence made her feel a bit slighted.

She noted that not a single Education Ministry official called her to recognise her performance. The young lady said it was not something she was really looking forward to, but feels odd at the abandonment of the customary tradition.

The Ministry congratulated the top students in a release to the media, but the

students said this was not enough, as a simply phone call would have been highly appreciated.

Love Guyana

Nevertheless, Elisa, like her other colleagues, said they love their country, and no matter which part of the planet they study, they will return to Guyana to aid in its development.

Ryhan Chand, also of Queen’s College, said she was getting ready for school at Nations University when Aliyyah Abdul Kadir, her classmate and the top student for Humanities in the Caribbean texted her saying “congratulations!”

Within a few minutes, Chand said several of her other friends began texting her saying the same thing, and this left her to wonder, congratulations for what. And when she enquired, she was told for topping the Caribbean in Business.

This, Chand said, made her laugh out loud, as she believed that the usual prank was being taken to a higher level. But when the congratulations began to pour in from other persons, she said she began to take the messages seriously and when she called her school, it was confirmed.

This, she said, made her feel as though she wanted to jump through the roof and in her loud celebration, she began to cry.

The aspiring Economist/ Financial Expert, who is pursing Cambridge A Levels at Nations University, said she did not expect to top the Caribbean at Business, but wrote the examinations with high expectations of obtaining excellent grades. Chand wrote 13 subjects and secured 11 Grade Ones, including nine distinctions and Two Grade Twos.

She was offered a scholarship from CXC to pursue studies at UWI, but declined after she was told that she would have to have CAPE to matriculate. The young lady, who is Canada-born, said on completion of studies at Nations University, she will migrate to the land of her birth to further her studies there, in keeping with family tradition.

Chand is urging students sitting the upcoming examinations to focus on their studies, and love their country.

She too said she was not contacted by the Education Ministry, not even to say congratulations for the achievement, but said it does not matter. The scholar said her achievement triumphs, and wherever she goes, Guyana and service to her country will always remain in her heart.

Chand’s colleague Kadir said the news of being the leading student in Humanities in the Caribbean was somewhat of a shocker. “I was overwhelmed and extremely excited. It’s not that I didn’t expect to do well, but I didn’t expect to top the Caribbean,” she said.

Kadir, who wants to become a Lawyer, is currently doing CAPE at Bishops’ High, and on completion of her studies there, she will be heading to UWI to further her studies on the scholarship she was awarded by CXC. She too felt a bit strange that the Ministry did not call to congratulate her, but said, perhaps it will be done at a subsequent time.

“Wow, I never imagined

Motorcade ushers in Diwali festivities in Berbice

this would happen!” was the reaction of Kishan Critchlow, who did New Amsterdam Multilateral, Berbice and Guyana as a whole proud. He was voted Most Outstanding Student in the Caribbean at Technical and Vocational Studies at CSEC 2014.Critchlow is currently studying at the Mahaicony Technical Institute, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), pursuing a course in Motor Vehicle Repairs.

From there, he said he intends to attend the Government Technical

Institute (GTI) and the University of Guyana (UG). Critchlow told this publication that he wants to become a Mechanical Engineer and to one day own his own business. But he expressed some disquiet, contending that not enough is being done to promote Technical and Vocational Education in school and to change the perception of the area of study.

“I think it’s a very important and it should be offered at every school; it’s totally wrong that even to now some people still see the area as a dunce stream. I mean, those persons in science, they will have to use equipment that students in the tech stream will build, so I think more can be done to promote this field,” he said.

In fact, he said Technical and Vocational Education should be used as a means to keep male students in school.

“We boys, when we see engine and those stuff, we get excited and I think more of them will stay in school if we get more practical courses. I think we need to do more practical because you learn better and faster,” he said.

In recognition of the achievements of the top students, CXC will present them with awards at a ceremony to be held at the UWI Regional Headquarters, Mona Campus, Jamaica on December 4.

The New Amsterdam/ Canje District came alive Sunday evening when the East Berbice Praant of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha staged another successful motorcade.

In what could be described as an evening of colourful display of artwork, dedication, love and creativity to depict the Hindu Gods and Goddesses, the Palmyra Mandir emerged winner with some 271 points.

In at second was Golden Om Dharmic Youths with 263 points while last year’s winner Betsy Ground Mandir came in third with 261 points, picking up the prize for Best Float in 2014.

The judges were looking for the display of lights, concept originality and the type of music used.

The others that participated were the Cumberland, Canefield, Number 19 Village and Seawell mandirs.

The procession rolled off from in front of the Church View Hotel and continued through New Street in New Amsterdam, ending at the Rose Hall, Canje Welfare Ground.

At the ground, there was an action packed cultural programme to usher in the “Festival of Lights”.

The large gathering was entertained to dancing, tassa drumming and singing.

The cultural performances were punctuated by presentations of regional officials and greetings from the Hindu community.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)) Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Vindhiya Vasini Persaud, who is also the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, in her address to the gathering, encouraged one and all to celebrate the festival with sincerity and take note of the lessons of the occasion.

“Diwali is the occasion where families celebrate together and that celebration is extended to communities, mandirs and the country as a whole. I wish you and your

family well, as we celebrate another Diwali and, that Maha Laxmi showers her blessings on each and every one of you.”

Persaud lauded the support of the public for the events and challenged those gathered to take note of the true meaning of the festival.

“I urge you, at this point in time, to find the light within your hearts, light that lamp of knowledge, spiritual enlightenment and find the divinity within yourselves and extend it to those who you come into contact with,” she appealed.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan also took the opportunity to extend greetings on behalf of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), to the Hindu community and emphasised that mankind was born with the nature to do good.

“I believe that human beings are intrinsically good, every person wants to be good and do good things but, sometimes in our lives, we allow the forces of evil to enter into us and when that happens, we begin to do bad things. The philosophy behind Diwali is that we must always welcome Maha Laxmi which will enable us to triumph over the vices of evil that sometimes overcome us,” he stated.

Meanwhile, all of the participating mandirs were presented with a fan as a gift from the organisers. The New Forest Mandir was presented with a monetary donation from the Canefield Mandir to assist in its construction work.

President of the East Berbice Praant of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Pandit Narine Datt Dhanraj noted that their motto “Action thy duty, reward not thy concern” is being put into practice by his group as they continue to portray the concept of Hinduism.

Among the sponsors of the event were Banks DIH Limited and Digicel, each of which contributed $200,000.

crisis...

Seniors honoured in face-saving event

Head of the People’s National Congress Reform Human Resources Department

Volda Lawrence on Saturday led a team to Linden, where they distributed hampers to senior citizens – a move observers say was aimed at mending fences after the fallout with ordinary party members and the leadership.

Lawrence was accompanied by Assistant General Secretary Amna Ally and other officials. The gesture was to “celebrate with our senior citizens of the mining town in observance of Senior Citizens Month,” the PNCR said in a release. Lawrence, the release added, delivered a message of hope for the Lindeners, thanking them for their sterling contribution to the party over the years and urged them to help impart some of the ideals of the party to the younger folk.

As part of the programme, hampers and hot meals were distributed to over 100 senior citizens. This programme was organised by the Upper DemeraraBerbice (Region 10) PNCR Regional Coordinator

Sandra Adams who worked assiduously to make the event a successful one.

In recent months, there have been bitter divisions in the PNCR camp in Linden, with Adams warning that the ongoing divisions can hurt the party during the next elections. Observers say that the party’s support has been rapidly moving from active to passive due to the ongoing rift between the Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon and the leadership of the party.

Solomon, who is often backed by Member of Parliament (MP) Vanessa Kissoon and Trade Unionist Leslie Gonsalves, is forming an “army” of his own, even as Adams attempts to take control. Only last week, Party Leader David Granger had a bitter send-off when an-

gry PNCR supporters voiced their dissatisfaction over his leadership style. At the time, Granger was addressing a select group of supporters at the Mackenzie High School when a decision was taken by Adams to lock out the angry supporters who were at the venue.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday, Adams admitted that the ongoing rivalry within the region can negatively impact the PNCR during the next elec-

titude of Lindeners towards the party since the rift began. Having served two terms in the National Assembly since 1998 as a PNCR Member of Parliament, Adams was forced to migrate in 2007 after being diagnosed with a thyroid disorder in 2002. However by January 2014, she had undergone surgery and treatment, resulting in her full recovery.

Her doctor had granted permission for her to return home and so she did in

tions. According to her, the Central Executive has returned to the drawing board to devise a plan that would mitigate the impacts of such a fallout. Based on her observation and analysis, Adams said only a handful of persons are backing the Solomon faction.

“Every day more and more people are getting clarity on the issue,” she said in response to the general at-

February. Adams said being full of energy and experience in the political realm, she offered her support to the Region 10 Chairman, recognising that there was no PNCR party structure in the region.

But this offer, she said, was rejected from the onset. “He blatantly refused. He told me he was not interested,” she recalled.

Police blank on Prashad Nagar murder

Crime Chief Leslie James on Monday disclosed that no arrest has been made so far in the murder of Saleem Abdool who was shot and killed in the wee hours of Sunday morning at Delphi Street, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown.

Nevertheless, James stated that the Police are working with several leads as they continue their investigations into the shooting.

Several statements were taken from persons in the area while the retrieved spent shells were sent to the ballistic centre for them to be analysed.

The 24-year-old Electrical Engineer attached to the Edward B Beharry and Company Limited was shot and killed during a robbery at his Lot 33 Delphi Street, Prashad Nagar home about 04:00h.

The young man was formerly of Lot 32 Arberdeen Village, Essequibo Coast.

According to information received, he lived alone and it was while he was attempting to open his gate, he was confronted by three men on bicycles.

Guyana Times was told that the men demanded that Abdool hands over his valuables, but instead, he put up a fight.

It was during the scuffle, he was shot to the abdomen.

He then ran some distance and hid behind a minibus, but the men reportedly followed him and pumped at least three more bullets into his body.

Upon hearing the gunshots, persons in the neighbourhood rushed to his rescue and summoned the Police. Abdool was picked up, placed in an ambulance and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The three men reportedly managed to relieve him of his mobile phone, his wallet and the jewellery he was wearing at the time. The young man left his hometown a few years ago so that he could have completed his studies at the University of Guyana.

From all indications, he went out with friends but parked his car at home and used a taxi. Moments after disembarking the taxi, he was confronted by the three men.

Miner killed after ‘gun trap’ goes off

Aminer met his demise in the most unfortunate way on Sunday morning after an alleged ‘gun trap’ went off at Toroparo Backdam, Cuyuni River.

Amsey Evans, 22, of Iquaime, Pomeroon River, Region Two was shot several times about the body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bartica Regional Hospital.

According to information received, the young man was conducting a survey in the vicinity of Toroparo Backdam, Cuyuni River when he reportedly tripped

on the ‘gun trap’. He was reportedly in the company of others, but they could not have done much due to the extent of the injuries he sustained. He died a few minutes later.

Guyana Times understands that the incident occurred about 09:00h, but the body arrived at the Bartica Hospital until 18:00h.

The body was escorted to the mortuary by Police ranks.

A Police source confirmed that investigators are trying to ascertain who might have installed the trap while noting that it is an illegal prac-

tice. He also claimed that most times, traps as those are set in marijuana fields and in areas where illegal activities are conducted.

A hospital official told Guyana Times that the man’s body was riddled with gunshot wounds.

His body was subsequently transferred to the Lyken’s Funeral Home where a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed.

Police have launched an investigation into the matter.

TIP Task Force holds workshops in Region 9

In keeping with the 20142015 Action Plan of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (MTFTIP), a team recently conducted sensitisation activities among residents and school children.

The awareness exercises were held from September 16-20.

According to a release, sessions were held at Karasabai, Aishalton, Sand Creek, Annai, Lethem, Long Creek and St Ignatius, where team members delivered presentations on trafficking in persons, paying particular attention to areas such as the causes of trafficking in persons (TIP); detection of TIP; consequences to victims; and techniques

used by traffickers.

The release said discussions were subsequently carried out and participants were able to voice their concerns. The concerns were documented by the team for follow-up action.

At Karasabai, the team spoke with community health workers and Toshaos from Tiger Pond, Tipuru, Rukumutla, Yurongparn, Karasabai, Pai Pang and Taushida on trafficking-inpersons.

The team also took advantage of Heritage Day celebrations in Tiger Pond to speak to some 50 residents.

With regard to the visits to the secondary schools, presentations on traffickingin-persons were delivered to

325 students of Forms Three to Five.

This included 70 students from Sand Creek Secondary, 165 students from Annai Secondary and 90 students from Aishalton Secondary.

In each of the schools, brochures and posters were handed to students.

Materials were also given to the Headteacher of St Ignatius Secondary for distribution to students.

“The Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking-inPersons stands committed in implementing its comprehensive action plan to combat trafficking in persons in Guyana and calls upon all stakeholders to join in the fight against trafficking-in-persons.”

PPP/C calls on developed countries to step up Ebola fight

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is calling on developed countries to step up their fight against the deadly Ebola virus, which has been wreaking havoc in some West African countries.

The virus up to last week had killed over 4500 persons since the latest outbreak started in December 2013 in West Africa. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee said the developed nations should not create history by failing to act. According to him, the disease could have been easily brought under control had the international community responded appropriately when the virus was discovered in 1976 in the Sudan. “The world’s failure to respond appropriately and immediately then has resulted in a catastrophe. It is only now that the international community is moving to respond to the virus and this response is slow and inadequate,” the General Secretary opined.

The ongoing spread of the disease, Rohee said, is a threat to national security and can result in a breakdown in law and order, negatively impacting trade and investment especially in poor and developing states. To prevent the disease from spiralling out of control, Rohee said, there was an urgent need for the developed world to decisively provide the necessary assistance not only to the affected countries but to medical experts who seek to develop a cure for the disease.

“We also wish to caution that while individually we seek to protect ourselves from the virus infiltrating our population, there must be a well-coordinated global response. This is the only way in which we can realistically bring this under con-

Ramotar hopes Diwali light shines on all

President Donald Ramotar has described the lessons and message of the Hindu festival of Diwali, as ones that can be applied the world over.

Delivering the feature address at the Uitvlugt Diwali Motorcade at the community’s ground, Saturday evening, the President said that the story of light over darkness or good over evil is one that can be equated with what is happening locally.

The fact that Guyana’s economy has had eight years of consecutive growth, and major investments in education and agriculture, were highlighted by President Ramotar. The efforts of the political Opposition to thwart these and other gains made in Guyana, particularly over the last three years, were described by the President as a real reflection of ignorance.

He said that Guyanese must enable “the light to

trol,” he posited.

Fight against Ebola

The Party also used the opportunity to applaud the Government of Guyana on the steps taken to combat the disease. According to him, steps taken by the Health Ministry to increase surveillance at ports of entry and the establishment of quarantine facilities at the main ports and hospital ought not to go unnoticed. The party has pledged its support in the fight, saying that it stands willing to work closely with the Health Ministry in the case of an outbreak.

The Government has placed restrictions on the issuance of visas to nationals of Ebola-hit West African countries as this country takes steps to stave off the virus. Since September 9, 2014, Guyana’s consulates in West African states were instructed to stop issuing visas to those nationals.

However, the Government has not taken a decision to stop persons from coming to Guyana from those countries.

Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea are the three West African nations to have reported the highest number of Ebola cases.

Dr Isabelle Nuttall, Director of the World Health Organisation’s global capacities, alert and response, said new numbers show the outbreak is still hitting health workers hard despite precautions.

Thus far, 2700 medical workers have been infected and 236 have died, mainly because Ebola victims are most contagious around the time they die.

Dr Nuttall said the focus of the world’s efforts should remain on the countries where the outbreak has been spreading out of control: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

shine on that ignorance to move them from that position. The Opposition has been talking about increasing jobs, fighting the drug trade and corruption yet has not supported the hydropower project and the AntiMoney Laundering Bill,” the President stressed.

The Head of State expressed his gratitude to the people of the community and asked for their continued support to ensure that Guyana’s progress is never held back again and the developmental thrust could continue.

As Guyana and other countries with Hindu communities celebrate the Festival of Lights, motorcades have become a part of the traditional celebrations.

Several such events which see mandirs and businesses constructing vehicular floats depicting various scenes from Hindu mythology, and competing in various categories will be held across Guyana. (GINA)

Caribbean doctors want to create cancer treatment network

Doctors in the Caribbean are taking steps to create a Region wide network of cancer specialists, a local physician reports.

Urologist Dwayne “Baba” Thwaites was a presenter at the recently concluded American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) conference held in Puerto Rico.

Dr Thwaites says the intention is to create an online network where patients can find specialist doctors for their specific treatment needs.

“So that you can just go in and plug a name in so that all the information is available to you… it will tell you were you can go, who is available, what doctors and the prices.”

Thwaites says in instances where no one is available regionally to handle a case, patients can be transported

Doctors in the Caribbean are taking steps to create a Region wide network of cancer specialists

to the US or South America for treatment. Instead of having the patients go to the US we can have them go to South America, what we have found out is that there

is an availability of good and not expensive care if we do transfer the patients to South America” Dr Thwaites says insurers and medical transporta-

Man jailed in Suriname for fathering children with Guyanese teen daughter

Acourt has sentenced a man to eight years in jail after he admitted having sex with his child and fathering her two children. Joshua L, admitted that he had sex with his daughter, who was 13 years at the time, after he got aroused from catching her watching a pornographic movie.

The court heard he also fathered her two children in 2011 and 2013.

The man, whose full name was not disclosed, was arrested and prosecuted after his daughter identified him to a neighbour as the father of her children.

Before she moved to Suriname to live with her father, the girl, who’s identity has also been withheld, lived in Guyana. She told investigators that when she arrived here, her father forbid her to have any social contact. Being in a strange country, she was totally dependent upon him.

Joshua L. insisted that he had not raped the girl, but that it had been her who seduced him. The prosecutor demanded 12 years in jail, but Judge Maytrie Kuldipsingh took into consideration that the man had never been in trouble with the law before.

Judge Kuldipsingh scolded him for taking advantage of his daughter and ruining her young life. She said because of him, the daughter is now a teenage mother of two children. One child has been sent to live with relatives in Guyana and the other has been given up for adoption. (Caribbean360)

The Bahamas on ‘high alert’ as Ebola fears rise

he Bahamas is on

T“high alert” due to the Ebola crisis that has prompted several Caribbean nations to implement bans on travel from West Africa, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said.

In recent days, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia have restricted travel from West Africa, where the Ebola virus has killed over 4000 people. Mitchell said the

Government has taken note of the measures that those nations have taken, but has not decided to take similar action as yet.

“The matter is a live issue with the Government and an announcement will come in due course as more measures are required,” Mitchell said.

“There is no ban on travellers to The Bahamas in place at the moment... If, at the end of the day, the Ministry of Health in concert with the international

protocol says that’s something that should happen, then it is possible for it to happen, but I can’t say it is going to happen.”

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Delon Brennen recently said it would be “nearly impossible” to prevent at least one case of the deadly Ebola virus from entering The Bahamas. However, Brennen said the Health Ministry has developed a plan it hopes would prevent local spread of the disease.

tion companies will also be part of the network. And he says special efforts are being made to keep costs down to make the service more accessible. (Caribbean360)

Second Muslim leader banned from Jamaica

The Portia Simpson Miller-led Administration has been threatened with a lawsuit after Gerald Perreira, a Guyanese Muslim leader, was barred from entering the country to attend the 19th anniversary celebration of the Million-Man March. Perreira said while on his way to Jamaica on Friday to participate in the celebration, headed by Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan, he was ordered off a flight in Antigua and Barbuda and told that Jamaican authorities had refused him permission to land.

Perreira, who is the chairman of the Black Consciousness Movement Guyana (BCMG) says he plans to lodge a complaint with the Guyanese Government and will seek redress in the form of legal action against the Jamaican

Government. He added that being barred from entering Jamaica is a breach of his right to freedom of movement as a Caribbean Community (Caricom) national. Perreira has also accused the United States of pressuring Jamaica to prevent certain persons from entering for the 19th anniversary celebration of the Million Man March. He is the second Caribbean national to have been denied entry to Jamaica for the event. Last week, Yasin Abu Bakr, leader of Jamaat al Muslimeen was also denied entry into Jamaica and deported back to Trindad. Bakr was refused leave to enter Jamaica due to national security concerns. At a press conference on Friday, Bakr said he intended to take legal action and called on local authorities to investigate his case. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaican singing legend John Holt is dead

Veteran reggae singer John Holt died in a London hospital on Monday. He was 69.

Copeland Forbes, Holt’s Manager since 2006, confirmed the entertainer’s passing.

“John died at 2:40 am English time. His [John’s] nephew informed of his death,” Forbes told the Jamaica Observer.

The cause of death is yet to be confirmed. Forbes said Holt did an operation at the University Hospital of West Indies in June and went to England the following month for a series of shows. Holt is one of reggae’s most influential singers.

He had a remarkable career with the Paragons during the rock steady era of the late-1960s. His solo career is just as impressive. He recorded hits for produc-

ers Clement Dodd, Bunny Lee and Joseph Hoo Kim in the 1970s, as well as the classic album 1000 Volts of Holt, a big seller in the United Kingdom. His hits include Stick by Me and

Uruguay’s roll-out of marijuana experiment faces election risk

Uruguay is struggling to roll out the commercial production and sale of marijuana and its ground-breaking experiment could be dropped or watered down if an Opposition candidate wins this month’s presidential election.

The South American country is the world’s first to permit the cultivation, distribution and use of marijuana, aiming to wrest control of the trade from drug gangs while at the same regulating and even taxing its consumption.

The reform is being followed closely across Latin America where the legalisation or decriminalisation of some narcotics is increasingly viewed as a better way to end the violence spawned by drug trafficking than the US-led “war on drugs”.

But first Uruguay needs to work out how

to ensure criminal gangs do not finance producers, how to regulate the supply and quality of locally produced marijuana, and how to satisfy neighbouring states that legally grown dope will not be sold illegally on their streets. The Government has missed its own deadlines in implementing the changes that were passed into law last December. “We’ve been working on this since the very beginning, since the first day. But I just don’t know if we’ll manage it “ said one Government source familiar with the legalisation programme.

Sebastian Sabini, a lawmaker of the ruling coalition who put forward the law, said its implementation required the creation of institutions that existed nowhere else. (Excerpt from Reuters)

India’s BJP set to rule Maharashtra and Haryana

India’s BJP is set to form Governments in Maharashtra and Haryana, after the party won the elections in both states. Last week’s elections were PM Narendra Modi’s first major test of popularity five months after he led his BJP to a landslide general election win.

The BJP won a majority in Haryana and took most seats in Maharashtra, home to India’s financial capital of Mumbai. In September, the BJP suffered a setback in a string of by-elections.

However, unlike September, Modi campaigned personally this time, seeking votes for his party in the two states. The BJP won 122 of the 288 seats in Maharashtra, stopping 23 seats of a majority.

The regional right-wing Shiv Sena party, a former BJP ally, came second there

with 63 seats. Reports say the BJP is likely to form the Government with support from either the Shiv Sena or the regional Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which won 41 seats.

The BJP won 47 of the 90 seats in Haryana, putting the party in a position to rule the northern state for the first time.

Both states were previously ruled by the Congress party, which lost the general elections in May.

“The results have proved that, like a tsunami, the Modi-wave is demolishing all Opposition,” BJP leader Amit Shah told reporters on Sunday after the results were announced. (Excerpt from BBC)

Hong Kong protests: CY Leung ‘foreign link’ claim denied

Pro-democracy activists have strongly denied Hong Kong leader CY Leung’s claim that “external forces” are involved in protests in the territory.

Student activist Alex Chow said the leader’s comments were “irresponsible”, and said Leung had not provided any evidence to support his claim. Prodemocracy demonstrations have paralysed parts of Hong Kong for the past three weeks.

The protesters are call-

Turkey to

ing for fully democratic elections in Hong Kong.

They are angered by the Chinese Government’s decision to vet candidates for the leadership polls in 2017.

In an interview with local broadcaster ATV, Leung said the protests were “not entirely a domestic movement, as external forces are involved” – although he declined to give details or name the countries he thought were involved.

Chow, from the Hong Kong Federation of

allow

Kurdish

Students, said: “To make a statement that there are foreign powers infiltrating this movement right before the discussions, is evidence that CY [Leung] is hoping to crack down on the entire movement.”

One protester, Jeffrey Hui, told the BBC: “This is something which is purely by citizens, purely by those who live in Hong Kong, those who care about Hong Kong, who stand up and go against the regime.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

peshmerga across its territory to fight

in Kobani

Around the world

Ebola crisis: Worst-hit African nations get key supplies

Vital supplies and resources to tackle Ebola are beginning to arrive in the three worsthit West African countries, Ghana’s President John Mahama has said.

Mahama, who heads the regional bloc Ecowas, also told the BBC that treatment centres were being set up in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. But he called for proper co-ordination between agencies to avoid duplication.

The outbreak has killed more than 4500 people, al-

South

Turkey will allow Kurdish peshmerga forces from northern Iraq across its territory to defend Kurds in the besieged Syrian border town of Kobani, in a move that fighters say could tip a month-long battle against Islamic State (Isis) insurgents in their favour.

The announcement marked an abrupt shift from Ankara’s position of refusing to militarily help the Kurds of Kobani and came hours after the US military dropped 24 tonnes of weapons and medicines in the first supply run it had made to the besieged town in nearly five weeks of fighting.

Both developments followed a substantial increase in the number of air strikes against Isis forces, which Kurdish militia members inside Syria and exiled residents of Kobani say are steadily turning the

tide of the battle. Guided in by special forces and by Kurdish spotters operating deep inside the war-ravaged town just south of the Turkish border, the air strikes are believed to have decimated the Isis command in recent days, forcing it to use an increasing number of untest-

ed cadres who are struggling to hold ground.

The jihadi group has paid an increasingly heavy price in the fight for Kobani, losing an estimated 400 men and many of the heavy weapons it had brought to the battle from a stockpile it had looted in northern Iraq. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

most all of them in those three countries. An estimated 70 per cent of those infected have died. Meanwhile, Nigeria was declared free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.

“But there’s no need for us to duplicate each other and have more treatment centres when we do not have volunteers and health workers to treat the people in the treatment centres.

“It must be a balance of things, closing all the gaps that exist and make sure that optimally the resources are going towards containing the disease,” the Ghanaian President added.

Last week, Senegal was declared virus-free. Mahama told the BBC that the World Food Programme was airlifting humanitarian aid to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. “Vehicles, motorcycles and other means of transport are going in there. There’s more protective clothing being provided,” he said.

Sudan sexual violence ‘rampant,’ two-year-old raped – UN

Rape and other forms of sexual violence by all sides in South Sudan’s civil war have become so widespread that a two-year-old child was among the victims, the UN special representative on sexual violence in armed conflict said on Monday.

“In my 30 years of experience, I’ve never witnessed anything like what I saw in Bentiu,” Zainab Hawa Bangura told reporters about a recent trip to the northern town, one of South Sudan’s regions worst hit by the conflict.

“The IDPs (internally displaced persons) seeking refuge there face a combination of... insecurity, unimaginable living conditions, acute day-to-day protection concerns and rampant sexual violence,” she told reporters. Fighting erupted in December in South Sudan – which declared independence from Sudan in 2011 – after months of political tension between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy and political rival, Riek Machar. Peace talks brokered by African regional

bloc IGAD have yet to bring an end to the bloodshed.

“Survivors and health care workers told me heartbreaking stories of rape, gang rape, abduction, sexual slavery and forced marriage,” Bangura said. “Those who try to fight back against their attackers are often raped with objects instead. Some victims have even been raped to death.”

She said the victims included women, men, girls and boys, with 74 percent of them below the age of 18, according to South Sudanese hospital officials. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Sweden on alert amid hunt for mystery ‘foreign’ submarine

The Swedish navy stepped up its hunt on Monday for a suspected foreign submarine in its waters with fingers pointing at Moscow in a throwback to the Cold War.

Swedish soldiers and sailors were scouring the sea South-east of the capital Stockholm in the biggest operation of its kind for years, while the public was warned for the first time to keep a distance and airspace restrictions were enforced.

The mystery around the alleged incursion thickened Monday, with Russia and the Netherlands denying that the vessel was theirs as tensions in Baltic rise over the crisis in Ukraine.

“There’s an increase in military exercises from both the Russian and the NATO side,” Prime Minister Stefan Loefven said, speaking at a press conference in Helsinki.

In one of two airspace violations in September,

two Russian SU-24 fighterbombers allegedly entered Swedish airspace in what Foreign Minister Carl Bildt at the time called “the most serious aerial incursion by the Russians” in almost a decade.

The Baltic Sea, an area of immense strategic importance, saw intense naval manoeuvring throughout the Cold War years, with the Soviet Navy paying particular attention to neutral Sweden’s long, rugged coastline. (Excerpt from France24)

Rodney’s wife breaks down during testimony

By Alexis Rodney

Thirty four years after his death, Patricia Rodney wife of slain Historian and Working People’s Alliance founding member Dr Walter Rodney is still shaken by the events which claimed the life of her husband and said that the family is grateful that the investigation into his the death has finally begun.

The first session of the sixth round of the investigation was shortened on Monday, after Dr. Rodney’s Widow broke down for the second time. Chairman of the Commission, Sir Richard Cheltenham, after consultation with the family’s lawyer Andrew Pilgrim, adjourned the hearing for today. Standing in the witness dock at the Supreme Court Library building, Dr Rodney recounted the struggles she endured as “both mother and father” to her children Shaka, Asha and Kanini, who she explained were all affected by the passing of their father.

Dr Rodney related that her eldest child Shaka was severely affected, since it was at that point that he was beginning to bond with his father. Her younger daughter Asha, she recalled had since become very protective of her “as she did not want to lose another parent”. Her youngest daughter Kanini was probably the most affected since there was a closer bond with her father.

Dr Rodney revealed that her young family at that time and that her husband’s sudden death had left an indelible mark on each family member.

Dr Rodney said her family had made a collective decision to have the inquiry held, since it affected each member, especially their youngest child Kanini, who was very close to her father.

“Since Walter’s death, we’ve been calling for an inquiry. So all these years we have insisted that we needed to have the truth. I needed to heal, my children needed to heal and I think it will be better for Guyana. She related that she had first called for an inquiry when she returned to Guyana in 2005, the first time since her husband’s death

some 25 years earlier.

According to her she had met with former President Bharat Jagdeo who promised that her request would have been granted. Supporters around the world were also affected by Dr. Rodney’s death. The inquiry was owed to them as well. She cited Grenada, a country that she had worked in where she said persons have not had a chance to heal. Sponsor of the Commission President Donald Ramotar, at the setting up of the Commission earlier this year said that he was honouring a request made by the Dr Rodney’s wife Patricia. He said too that it would be a good thing to bring the much needed closure to an event which shook the world.

GAWU hosts WFTU Latin America and Caribbean Head

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is currently hosting Ramon Cardona, head of the Cuban-based World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office.

Cardona’s visit to Guyana from October 20 to 21 precedes similar visits to the Caribbean territories of Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados and Jamaica, GAWU said in a release. During the two-day visit Cardona will meet with the members of the leadership of GAWU and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG). Already, he has met with Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul. The WFTU was established in the wake of the Second World War, after the defeat of Hitlerite fascism and the founding of the United Nations in June 1945. It was formed to bring together trade unions across the world in a single international trade union organisation. Many delegations of trade unions from different countries, including Guyana, attended the first Congress of the WFTU held in Paris from October 3 to 8, 1945. However, there was a split in this body with the

creation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) in 1949 – one of the consequences of the advent of the Cold War.

Solidarity

The WFTU has a membership of 129 million persons and affiliates in 130 countries. GAWU President Komal Chand is currently a member of the Presidential Council of this Organisation.

GAWU has been an affiliate of this body for decades, and has received much support and solidarity in its struggles during this time. Notably, assistance was received when the Union was briefly derecognised by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) in 1987. And also when the Union was engaged in protests against the implementation of the harsh and stringent measures of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, facilitated by the then Government around this period. For WFTU solidarity has always been one of its pillars ever since it was founded. GAWU said it was pleased to host the WFTU representative and was “certain that his visit and his discussions with several labour leaders and activists will be fruitful and prove to be mutually beneficial in the near future.”

Breast cancer: No 2 cancer killer of Guyanese women

In Guyana, General Surgeons, both private and public, are reporting the same thing – women are not being diagnosed early enough to save themselves from breast cancer.

“In this day and age, it is utter nonsense, but women are usually found at the hospital being diagnosed as a cancer victim when they’re in the fourth or fifth stage and absolutely nothing can be done,” a surgeon told this newspaper during a recent interview. October is known around the world as Breast Cancer Awareness month which is used to highlight the effects of the disease and enlighten women on how to seek treatment.

Dr Surrendra Persaud, Director and General Surgeon of Caribbean Surgery Incorporated, told Guyana Times that most of his patients are unaware of their bodies and what is happening. He states that they are, usually, in “denial” as they refuse to believe that a huge lump or unusual breast secretions or even a terrible smell from their breast signals any fatal ailment.

He says that breast cancer is the number two cancer in Guyana that women are dying from, with cervical cancer being the first. Thus, women should find themselves at a hospital to be screened every year to ensure that they are safe from this disease.

The doctor shared that men with the disease are fortunate in the fact that their “breasts” is flat so they’re able to tell something is not normal right off and thus have it checked out. Then again there is that sense of denial persons do tend to fool themselves with the notion that everything is fine and will be fine.

Twice-a-year clinician examinations

Dr Persaud states that there are “three basic modalities” that women should practise: self-examination, twice-a-year clinician examinations and x-rays after every menstruation.

The General Surgeon posits that self-examinations make you aware of your body and also with continuous checks, aware of any irregularities. Then there are the checks that should be done by the clinicians and nurses within village health centres twice a year to ensure that persons have not missed anything.

A breast ultrasound can be used to detect what kind of lump self-examination may have unearthed. These may be “solid lumps or lumps filled with fluid.” A lump that has no fluid or that has fluid with floating particles may need more tests.

This does not reduce the need for a mammogram, but

it helps narrow the findings when a mammogram test may be unclear, particularly in the breast of young women whose breast are dense and thus may not be clear in a mammogram test.

Dr Persaud indicates that the X-rays or mammograms are what can be done in Guyana to check for abnormalities in the breast and these should be done after one’s menstruation.

Having children decreases risk

This is very important, he states, as reports have indicated that a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is raised every year she is not been able to deliver a child. The doctor in -

greater risk for developing the disease.

Self-examination

Thus, doctors always emphasise the importance of mammograms for menopausal women, as cancer is usually found around those ages, 40 years up when pregnancy is less likely.

Oncologists’ Nurse Colleen Braithwaite told Guyana Times that breast cancer starts in the ducts of the breast where the cells start to multiply out of control more than they break down, “so the more you nurse (it’s) less possible to have” breast cancer.

Thus breast cancer can develop from the first stage to the fifth stage within an estimated 10 years. It takes two to five to even feel a cancerous lump through self-examination.

Nurse Braithwaite stated that self-examinations should be done while one is bathing as the soap makes it possible to slide your hands over the breast to detect lumps.

She demonstrated that one hand should be all the way up while the other examines the opposite breast and vice versa.

Ranette Dhary, a breast cancer patient, shared with Guyana Times that she practised self-examinations as it was advised; however, she was not consistent. During a self-examination, she found a lump and had

forms that not only the conception of a child but the delivery is very important as within that nine-month window a woman’s body and her breasts, particularly, undergo changes, in terms of hormones and the production of milk which decrease breast cancer risk.

Dr Persaud said that there is no clear reason why this is but there are theories that suggest that by not producing milk within a certain amount of time, hormones or fluids that enable milk production stagnate and become malignant or fatal.

Therefore, women with children have a reduced risk of developing cancer; women who have children before 18 years of age are less likely to develop breast cancer, and every year a woman’s menstrual flow continues uninterrupted by birth, she is at

made a mental note to have it looked at but kept putting it off.

She did not have it looked at until nearly two years had passed, with her putting it off and putting it off until her left breast had become swollen and red and throbbed horribly.

Dhary remarked that she was fortunate to only be in the third stage, so the doctors were able to work on her; right now she is having radiation treatment weekly to ensure that is the end of cancer in her body.

Nonetheless, she posited that it is very important that persons do checkups. She remembers one young lady, 21 years, that had breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy the same time she did and that in itself was a “terrible” experience.

tuesday, october 21, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

OAS discusses new development agenda for 2015

The Organisation of American States (OAS) last week hosted a Policy Roundtable on “Beyond 2015: A New Development Agenda for Cooperation” at its headquarters in Washington DC.

The event featured the participation of representatives of nine regional organisations from around the world.

It was co-organised by the OAS and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), was part of the Fourth HighLevel Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy, which brought together key regional organisations to discuss democracy and development in the context of the Post-2015 Agenda.

The event’s welcoming remarks were offered by the OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, who said the High-Level Meeting of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy “is now a constant among us” which has been organised for four consecutive years and today seeks to take advantage of the contribution made by international organisations to the debates on the Post-

2015 Agenda.

“This year’s meeting addresses a special topic, as we know the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals is 2015, today we will have a discussion of how to go beyond the goals considering other important pillars such as human rights and democracy,” he said.

Secretary General Insulza highlighted the significant progress achieved in the Western Hemisphere in recent decades in terms of economic growth and democracy.

“Democracy is thriving,” he said, and recalled that the last four summits of the

Americas have been characterised by the participation of democratic Governments.

“We have had a virtuous circle of 10 years of growth, declining poverty and tremendous improvement in the generation of democracy,” said the Secretary General, while warning that the future of the region will have different perspectives due to the high dependence of economic growth of Latin America to the United States, European and Chinese markets.

“The development of Latin America was clearly export-led and facilitated by the amount of capital that

was coming to the region, something that is not happening anymore,” Insulza said, predicting a deceleration in the region’s growth in the coming years.

On the issue of poverty, the leader of the hemispheric organisation noted the challenges faced by people living in the low middle income class “who are struggling to stay above the poverty line” and said this situation is directly related to highly important topics such as education, health, social security, and the environment.

Furthermore, in relation to the development challenges facing the region in the face of Post-2015 Agenda, he said that it is necessary to evaluate the role of democracy and its ability to respond to the current needs of its citizens.

Big question

“The big question we need to address in this forum, which is the main forum of the Americas, is: Are democracies going to be able to respond to these challenges?; Will they be able to make our economies more dynamic with greater competitiveness, better income

distribution and education?, or we will suffer the same cycle that unfortunately, Latin America has suffered many times in its history which is going up and down according to the ups and downs of the world economy?”

For her part, the executive head of the Democracy Fund of the United Nations, Annika Savill, noted that the only institution in the global organisation which has the word “democracy” in its name is the one she leads, since this definition is a complex issue to address.

“Democracy is not just elections, but having accountable Governments every day,” said Savill, who said she considered it important for the Post-2015 Agenda to set goals in issues of democracy, implement them, and track them to account for their results.

However, despite considering that the current generation of young people is the largest in the history of mankind, and the most connected, the representative of the UN Democracy Fund said that civil society, whose role is critical to the monitoring of democratic commitments, is more threatened now than in the past.

“Regional organisations can be both an important actor and stage in this. They can convene and they can provide a forum for civil society to come together with Governments in the Post2015 Agenda context and in many others, Savill said.

Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, François Rivasseau, remarked on the major challenges for development and mentioned Ebola in the first place, “because I think it is a good example of a kind of global challenge we face and illustrates the fact that we live on the same planet and we have to act in solidarity”.

Secondly, he talked about the relationship with the “neighbourhood” and individual problems that the countries of a sub-region, such as Eastern Europe, are experiencing that threaten democracy, but also involve development issues.

“We cannot solve these problems if you just look at the aspects of development, or whether only serve aspects of democracy. We must build on these two pillars, and that’s what we’re trying to do in the European Union,” he said.

Flooding – an imminent threat to low-lying coast

Natural disasters can happen anywhere, at any time. Every region of the Earth is faced with the possibility of being affected by such disasters which often cause significant damage to the environment and loss of life.

Though Guyana is not prone to many or frequent natural disasters, its low-lying coast faces the imminent threat of flooding. As a consequence of climate change and the associated increase in frequency and intensity of rainfall, there is a very real threat of flooding. The predicted rise in sea level linked to climate change also increases the risk of flooding.

The majority of our population residing on the Low Coastal Plain is vulnerable

to flooding. So too are our agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors which are located on this narrow low-lying coastal strip.

In recent years, flooding has occurred in the capital city Georgetown, along the East Coast of Demerara, along the banks of the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Rivers, and along the West Coast of Demerara and Pomeroon River. Though not on the coastal belt, hinterland communities have also been affected by floods due to heavy rainfall, for example, Rupununi in 2011 and North and South Pakaraimas in 2010.

The main causes of flooding in Guyana are heavy rainfall, overflowing of rivers, and breaches in sea de-

fence structures. Flooding is often exacerbated by the blockage of drains with garbage.

Impacts of flooding

Flooding can occur quickly with little warning

and has various impacts. Flooding causes damage to bridges, cars, buildings, roadways, houses, and other types of structure.

Flooding also increases the risk of waterborne diseases, causing loss of life.

Persons may also lose their lives by drowning.

Water is often contami-

damage to crops.

The country’s economy also takes a hit, since money has to be spent to cater for health care, food and repairing the damage caused by flooding.

Be prepared! Since flooding is an ever-present threat, it is important that we be prepared for any oc-

stilts instead of flat houses, especially along the coast. Do not litter, as this leads to the blocking of drains, increasing the risk of flooding. Keep valuables and important documents in a safe place. Learn about your community’s emergency plans, warning signals, evacua-

nated during flooding making it difficult to get potable water.

The agricultural sector is also affected since there is

currence of flooding. Here are a few tips:

To reduce the possibility of being severely affected by flooding, build houses on

tion routes, and locations of emergency shelters.

Pack an emergency kit including; a three-five day supply of non-perishable food and clean water; personal hygiene supplies, such as soap and toothpaste; a first-aid kit including necessary medicine for special needs; a battery-powered radio; flashlights; and extra batteries.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

If asked to defend a friend, make sure that you have your facts in order so that you can help his or her case without damaging your own status or reputation.

Keep your professional reputation intact. Someone is trying to lead you astray. You must keep your cool if you want to come out ahead.

Do something nice for a friend, a relative yourself. Favourable solutions that will alleviate your current worries will develop. Expand your horizons by studying a fascinating subject.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Steer away from troubles at home. Taking sides or getting caught in someone else’s argument will lead to an intense no-win situation. Spend some time with an objective friend.

Make the most of your helpful nature. You can always be counted on to give a little extra help where and when it is needed. Your compassion will be appreciated.

Better opportunities are available to you, so don’t settle for less when you can have more. Your talents are more valuable than you realise. Give your all, and you will get the results you are after.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You can make positive strides if you are not fearful and are willing to face challenges head-on. Hesitation will cause you to miss opportunities, so act quickly.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Organisation and attention to detail will enable you to attain a lucrative position. Your ability to make valuable contributions to the workplace will be recognised and rewarded.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You are viewing the world around you unrealistically. Listen to the advice of those who know the score and are not afraid to tell the truth.

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

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Proceed with caution when dealing with money, health or legal matters. Don’t get involved in other people’s investment strategies. You will be the one held responsible if something goes wrong.

Invest in the projects you believe in. Positive changes can be made if you are honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Finalise deals that you’ve been pondering.

Compromise will be necessary if you are to get a partnership back on track. A quick response to negative issues will soon put things right. Don’t hold back; you need to tell it like it is.

‘Boxing Day’ horse race meet will go ahead, says Kennard

By Rajiv Bisnauth

President of the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC), Cecil Kennard said on Monday that the Guyana Cup re-match will not hinder the club’s traditional ‘Boxing Day’ horse race meet, since preparations have already on stream for the one-day event.

Organised by business conglomerate Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables, the Guyana Cup re-match is billed for December 21, at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

However, Kennard indicated that the traditional ‘Boxing Day’ horse rare meet will go ahead as scheduled.

“We are here since the 1930’s and I will not move from that date,” Kennard pointed out.

He added “The Guyana Cup re-match is not listed on the GHRA calendar of events for this year, in fact the PMTC final race meet for the year is scheduled for December 14, so why they decided to push it back just days before mine, Kennard questioned.

“Nobody will scare me, I am here and I will go ahead

with the race meet,” he said.

Factions

The horse racing fraternity June has slips into limbo, resulting in the authority been divided into two factions, headed by incumbent President Vic Oditt and Fazal Habibula.

Aggrieved members of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) passed a vote of no-confidence against Oditt at a special meeting held at the Bush Lot United Turf Club in June.

However, Oditt in an invited comment after contended that the decision is null

and void since the special meeting held was unconstitutional.

The aggrieved members alleged that Oditt has been micro-managing the authority and that they have lost faith, trust and confidence in him as a result.

Oditt replaced retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard when the body held its annual general meeting in February. He was elected President when the sport was resuscitated but did not seek re-election at the 2011 elections after he expressed outrage with the attitude of some members of

the GHRA. However, he got the biggest thumbs-up from members at the last AGM with 11 votes, as against seven for Kennard.

Re-match

Nine races are carded for the day with the feature being the D1 and Lower race. The winning prize is a whopping $1.5 million and the Guyana Cup re-match trophy. The race will be contested over a distance of one mile.

Other races billed for the day are the Three-yearold West Indies bred horses, Two-year-old for Guyana bred horses, E1 and Lowe, G1 and Lower, Two-year-old Guyana bred horses, H1 and Lower, I3 and Lower and J3 and Lower.

Horse owners are required to pay fifth per cent of a non-refundable deposit on or by December 13.

Interested persons can contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 232-0633), Kris Jagdeo (624-6123; 322-0369), Rajendra (Jim – Jo) 6187278, Ramnauth 337-5311, Romel Jagroop (624-1798) and Sancho 690-0569.

MCY&S, NSC complete successful cricket session at Unity/Lancaster

With the aim of providing better recreational activities and exposing youngsters to a healthier lifestyle, the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry (MCY&S), in collaboration with the National Sport Commission (NSC), on Monday hosted a cricket session for school children between the Unity/Lancaster areas.

The three-hour session was held at the Lancaster Play ground, East Coast Demerara.

Facilitators of the MCYS cricket development programme, Daniel Richmond and Latchman Yadram, conducted the session which attracted close to 40 youngsters.

In an invited comment after the session, Richmond said the fundamental aim of the session was to edu-

cate the students on the rudiments of cricket and to aid their development in the game. Meanwhile, similar ses-

sions are lined up for next month throughout Region Four. The cricket session is part of the Ministry’s and NSC’s mandate to pro-

mote the game by giving the youngsters a better understanding of an outlook on the sport. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

Hopkinson Mining boosts Slingerz FC

Slingerz Football Club received a number of balls and other training gear from Hopkinson Mining in preparation for upcoming year end tournaments.

With the club being one of the best in the country in spite of being in existence for just two years, the club has made significant strides

in producing quality players. Javed Ali who is the president of the club expressed his delight of receiving support from corporate Guyana. Ali also envisions his team’s becoming Guyana’s top football club which makes the support from the corporate community important.

Retired tennis great baffled with ITF silence over Tarpischev comments

Martina Navratilova has criticised the "silence" of the International Tennis Federation after comments from one of its members about the Williams sisters.

Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev described world number one Serena Williams and older sister Venus as "brothers".

The Women's Tennis Association banned him for a year and fined him £15,500 but Navratilova wants ITF action.

"The silence from the ITF has been pretty deafening," Navratilova said.

"They are the ones who actually have the possibility of doing something as Tarpischev is head of the Russian Tennis Federation, which falls under the ITF and is also Fed Cup captain which falls under the ITF.

"This kind of bullying comment cannot be tolerated from anyone, but particularly from a high-up official in the tennis

world."

Tarpischev, also an International Olympic Committee member, offered an apology on Saturday at the behest of the WTA, whose Chief Executive Stacy Allaster said the comments were "insulting, demeaning and have absolutely no place on our sport".

Serena Williams, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, has also won 13 Grand Slam doubles events with her sister and described the comments by Tarpischev as "very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist".

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: "Although Mr Tarpischev assured us that his comment was meant as a joke, we made it clear to him that what he said is inappropriate in any context.

"We hope that his acceptance of fault in this matter, which includes the penalty assessed by the WTA Tour, will allow all of us to move forward." (BBC Sport)

Samuels moving up ODI rankings

Just as he did in the recent one-day series against India, strokemaker Marlon Samuels has again provided the only bright spark for West Indies in the latest International Cricket Council’s rankings released Monday.

The elegant right-hander has jumped 20 places to 41st in the One-Day International batting rankings, to be the biggest mover overall while his West Indies counterparts experienced movement in the other direction.

Samuels smashed 254 runs in the controversy-riddled series which was abandoned by West Indies players after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala, over a pay and contracts dispute with their union, the West Indies Players Association.

He hit centuries in two of the three matches – 126 in the first ODI in Kochi and an equally superb 112 in the fourth ODI in Dharamsala.

Disappointingly, there is

no West Indies batsman in the top 20, with left-hander Darren Bravo the highestranked player at 37th.

Meanwhile, Kieron Pollard has slipped five spots to 52nd after managing just 48 runs from his three innings on tour, including two single digit scores.

Captain Dwayne Bravo also slid five places to be 62nd alongside former skipper Darren Sammy who lost three spots.

Bravo scored 27 runs from his three innings.

There was some good news in the bowling for West Indies as fast bowler Jerome Taylor returned to the rankings at 143rd, after picking up five wickets in the series.

Seamer Andre Russell also jumped seven places to 63rd.

South Africa’s AB de Villiers tops the batting rankings while Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal leads the bowling rankings. (CMC)

BCCI holding off on damages claim against WICB

The BCCI is unlikely to claim damages from the WICB right away, for West Indies having pulled out of the tour to India midway, but it could hit them with a series embargo.

The BCCI's working committee, which will discuss the consequences of the pullout in Hyderabad on Tuesday, is also unlikely to suspend West Indies players from the IPL.

The BCCI's financial losses due to the cancellation of a major portion of the scheduled series could touch Rs 400 crore (US$65 million approximately), but instead

WICB to decide fate of players today

Engage with the BCCI as soon as possible to rebuild the relationship. And hand out stiff action, including possible bans, against the core group of players who engineered the pullout from the India tour. Those are the two main courses of action the 18 directors of the WICB will deliberate on at the emergency board meeting in Barbados on Tuesday morning.

The WICB realises it has burned bridges with the BCCI, but it has been a loyal supporter of the Indian board in the recent past and hopes to leverage this to its advantage.

Even though no agenda has been set for the meeting, directors who interacted with ESPNcricinfo felt the players had "embarrassed" the Caribbean and brought "collective shame" by deciding to leave the India tour mid-way.

The WICB was forced to convene the meeting after West Indies ODI captain Dwayne Bravo along with the rest of the squad informed the team management last Friday that the players would not take any further part in the tour after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala.

The WICB issued two media releases immediately: initially it absolved itself of any blame, but the second release stated the board was left with no other option but to call off the tour.

Although the WICB put the blame on Bravo and his team-mates, the BCCI saw the matter differently. Sanjay Patel, the BCCI secretary, categorically pulled up the WICB for jeopardising the tour and said the BCCI would take appropriate action.

With the BCCI holding its working committee meeting in Hyderabad tomorrow, the WICB Directors do not want to waste any further time in extending the hand of peace. "The only thing that will solve this problem will be dialogue," a senior WICB Director said. "We need to discuss mainly [how] to try and build the relationship back with the BCCI.

of claiming damages at this point, the working committee could decide to issue the WICB a legal notice, asking it why it shouldn't be penalised right away for the breach of bilateral agreements signed between the two boards. Given that the WICB has been struggling financially, the BCCI is unlikely to claim huge damages right now. However, the BCCI hierarchy is of the opinion that the WICB's breach is severe enough to sever ties with the board and amend the draft FTP accordingly. At the moment, India are set to

tive but to do what it did. It was the players, really, to be blamed."

A second director agreed, saying reaching out to the BCCI was an "early step" which had become mandatory. "We have shamed our hosts. We have shamed ourselves. That must be on the agenda of the WICB." According to him the people of the West Indies were "shocked, overwhelmed and

ing into the pockets of the WICB bosses," the first director said.

He said he would ask the board to seriously consider some disciplinary action. "Some just measures should be taken against the players. I would especially like the players who were part of the core group to call off this tour to be completely banned from participating in the IPL in future." He

afraid to lay down severe financial claims from the WICB. Some of its members want to have a rethink over India's tours to the Caribbean in 2016 and '17. "Definitely there will be long-term damage to West Indies cricket, to the reputation of the Caribbean people. How we could mitigate such damages would be the decision of the board, a decision we will have to be ad-

disappointed" at the action of the players. "It has brought collective shame to the Caribbean people. It was not the wish of the WICB for something like that to happen."

The directors insisted that the WICB "did all what they could have done" in ensuring the tour would continue. They felt that the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) was the rightful place for Bravo and his men to engage in negotiations instead of seeking WICB intervention – only because the board would not bypass the player representative.

said no such request from the WICB had been sent to the BCCI but that point was bound to be raised at the board meeting on Tuesday.

But his fellow board member felt it would be prudent to exercise patience and caution for now.

"At this stage it is difficult to apportion blame to anybody. The fact is that they [the players] aborted the tour. No matter what difficulties were faced, this action is unprecedented. None of the tours aborted in the past were due to player conflicts. I wonder if the people involved understood the implications of such a decision."

vised upon as well. Because it could have far-reaching consequences beyond cricket as well," the second director said.

We know that the BCCI will have no confidence in the WICB supplying a team again, and no guarantee can be given in the present circumstances. The BCCI and the WICB have shared a good relationship. The BCCI officials should understand the situation and that the WICB had no other alterna-

tour the West Indies four times in the next eight years. But BCCI officials are all but sure that the team will not tour in 2016 (four Tests), and possibly in 2017 (five ODIs and a T20).

The working committee might also approve the draft of a formal request to the ICC to step in and ensure that teams do

"We feel that WIPA, the legitimate representatives of players in the Caribbean, did what they may feel was right. They thought despite a lot of our players playing around the world [in different Twenty20 leagues] the standard of West Indies cricket was not raised. It continued to linger at the bottom edge of world cricket. And hence WIPA in association with the WICB decided to have 90 contracted players across the Caribbean to improve West Indies cricket.

That is where the money, the players say they are losing, is going. It is not go-

not return home mid-way through a tour for reasons other than natural calamities and security issues.

Some BCCI members are of the opinion that the players themselves –who had forced the pullout due to a payments-structure dispute with the board and their players' association – should be directly penalised by suspending

The WICB finds itself in a tight corner with no ally, including the ICC. Even if the West Indies tour is part of the current FTP, the ICC has no direct role to play with respect to the dispute. Any claims and damages would need to be addressed according to the MoU signed by the BCCI and WICB. Under the new reforms, unveiled after the last ICC AGM, all matters relating to the FTP are dealt with directly by the members.

The BCCI's hard posturing so far suggests it is not

them from the IPL for a period, but that is unlikely to happen. The BCCI top brass is convinced that the West Indies players were not really at fault in the dispute with the board. Moreover, even if the members demand action against the players, they are likely to be told that it will be virtually impossible to do so

But he was equally confident about working out a solution with both the BCCI and the players. Despite its aggressive stance, the BCCI is also likely to consider its progressive relationship with the WICB. Dave Cameron, the WICB President, has been a key supporter of India at the ICC board meetings. Last year West Indies players had to cut short their holidays as the WICB assembled quickly a team to play the two-Test series in India which where the farewell to Sachin Tendulkar.

"I am confident the administrators will look all around and not put punitive measures on people and territorial and regional boards. We have to look at the collective good of the sport, what is the best decision for the sport, what are the implications of the actions of doing one thing as against another thing. Good and mature sense will prevail in the end. I am confident of that," the second director said. (Cricinfo)

considering the IPL players enter into a tri-partite agreement with the BCCI and their franchise.

Also, since the franchises are backing the West Indies players and the team owners now have a greater say in the running of the league, West Indies cricketers are set to continue playing the IPL. (Cricinfo)

PAGES

Shalom Enterprise Driving School, Lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Obtain an International Driver’s Permit that covers 123 countries. Call 227-3869 or Like us on Facebook.

Healthworld Holistic Centre offers clinical psychotherapy for suicid

al thoughts, attempted suicides, de

pression, stress, mood disorders, psy

chotic disorders, homicidal thoughts, hallucinations, loneliness, conflicts, anger management, relationship & sexual problems, paranoia and much more. Call +592-621-0552 and make that appointment now before it’s too late. 12:00-6:00PM. Mondays-Fridays. Email: healthworldhc@gmail.com

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

One house with 5 bedrooms, (2 large, 1 small, 1 master and 1 guest), Laundry room with half bath, kitchen with island, living room, dining area, gym, storage/freezer room, generator room with exhaust, two storage rooms, one small front office, 3 car-parking area. House is sold with a running document center with all equipment and supplies. Property (2900+sq) is located on a corner lot close to the public road. Contact Hans/Andrew: 6455596/638-8599

Eccles: two flat executive concrete house; three bedrooms upper, two bedrooms lower (separate flats). Price negotiable. Tel: 602-2135 Windsor Forest 2 storey, concrete building $27M. Phoenix Park (90ft x 47ft) land $3.5M. Call: 675-7292, 218-5591

balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

32 Acres of transported land located at Lot 5 Plantation Content, Mahaicony, ECD; from the public road to sea shore. This property is ideal for residence, business, aquaculture, agriculture, etc. Price: $175,000(USD) or best offer. For more information or to make an offer please call Pooran at 813319-4219 (Florida, USA) or email rpooran@tampabay.rr.com

Parfaite Harmonie( 100ft x 50ft) $2.6M, Eccles(100ft x 50ft) $4.5M, Providence $4M & Herstelling $4M. Call 675-7292, 218-5591.

HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES. 24hrs miracle line 322-5081/337-4510/3374259/337-4021/337-3070/3375103 For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues. Call now. Jesus cares. Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 679-4672

JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRACAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER;

3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

4x4 Nissan Titan fully powered Immaculate condition $3.5M. No reasonable offer refused. 622-7740

One PPP series Mazda Axela in excellent condition and one white 2007 unregistered BMW, Price negotiable. Call 679-5842.

We buy all low income land in Parfaite Harmonie, Schoonord, Eccles, Herstelling & Providence. Call 675-7292, 218-5591.

Indian athlete beaten in witch hunt

An Indian athlete has described how she was tied up and severely beaten after being branded a witch in her village in the North-eastern state of Assam.

Debjani Bora, a javelin thrower who has won several gold medals, fears her injuries may prevent her representing India in a forthcoming Asian contest.

One woman has been arrested for inciting a crowd to attack Bora.

Witch hunts targeting women are common in parts of India and a number of those accused are killed every year.

Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks, but there are occasions when people – especially widows – are targeted for their land and property.

The latest incident took place earlier this week in Bora's home village in the remote hill district of Karbi Anglong, where she also makes a living as a farm worker and lives with her husband and three children.

'Targeted'

She was blamed in the wake of the the deaths of four people in the village, including one man who took his

own life.

Police said villagers dragged her to a community prayer hall to face a "public trial on charges of being a witch".

Ms Bora recounted her experience to journalists on Wednesday.

"Instead of finding out why all the deaths occurred, some village elders suspected a witch was driving the people to death and organised a prayer. As the villagers were chanting hymns, one elderly woman identified me as the witch and shouted that I should be punished," she said.

"I was blamed for all these deaths in the village, wrapped up in fishing nets and beaten up severely."

She was taken to a local clinic, where she regained consciousness on Wednesday. Karbi Anglong police chief Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta said one woman was arrested on Thursday after Bora's family filed a complaint with the Police.

"We suspect that she may have targeted Ms Bora for personal reasons," Mahanta said.

Branding women as witches is particularly prevalent among tribal communities and tea plantation workers in Assam.

Nearly 90 people, mostly women, have been beheaded, burnt alive or stabbed to death after such accusations over the last five years, Police say. (BBC Sport)

Williams looks strong in WTA opener

SOne house at Parfaite Harmonie. Call 643-4740

For specialised repairs and servicing to all types of BMW vehicles, Lexus, Mercedes, Sedan etc. Diagnostic testing available. All job backed by three months warranty. Call 6869995 for more information and location. Mobile emergency service available.

A-Z Building construction, Plan drafting, foundation, masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation, surveillance cameras, landscaping, insurance, roofing. Contact us for all your building needs. Chromium Investments: 225-8061 / 672-4090

spiritual healing in removing evil spirit; bad luck; evil sickness; spells; re- uniting lovers and pros-

per word

erena Williams shook off the rust and a feisty challenge from Serbia's Ana Ivanovic to open the defence of her WTA Finals title with a 6-4 6-4 victory in the opening match of the elite eightplayer tournament on Monday.

In the second match, Romania's Simona Halep joined Williams at the top of the Red Group standings after the world number four brushed aside Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 6-3 on the purple hardcourt at Singapore's Indoor Stadium.

Illness and a knee problem forced the American world number one to withdraw from her last two tournaments since winning a third straight US Open title last month and Williams struggled early in an arena hosting the event for a first time.

Pre-match pyrotechnics left the Indoor Stadium looking as hazy as the citystate's streets on a polluted day but once the smoke had cleared, Williams was forced to dig deep in her first service game, staving off two break points before holding.

Ivanovic, making her first appearance in the season-ending event since 2008 when it was held in Qatar, had no such prob-

lems on her own serve in the early skirmishes but once Williams found her range the American broke and held to love to move 4-1 ahead.

The Serb overcame two double faults in her next service game to hold and then started to mix up her strategy, refusing to go toeto-toe with her powerful opponent with her drop shots causing Williams all sorts of problems.

A lucky net cord brought up three break points for Ivanovic in the seventh game and she only needed one of them as Williams double-faulted to hand back her early break.

With the crowd cheering her on, Ivanovic suddenly had the momentum and she began to make Williams scurry all over the court and even had a break

point to move 5-4 ahead before her opponent dug deep to stave off the scare.

Williams saved the break point and welcomed a big forehand and a service winner with shouts of "come on!" to edge 5-4 ahead and put the pressure back on Ivanovic, who surrendered the set as her service fell apart under pressure.

The pair traded breaks to open the second set and then raced through their service games until Williams made the vital breakthrough in the 10th game with a series of thunderous forehands before an Ivanovic error handed the contest to her opponent on her first match point.

"I am really excited with how I played tonight. I have been working hard all my life for nights like this and I love it. So thank you for coming tonight," Williams at a courtside.

"I was fighting as hard as I could and I think I am losing my voice from all of those 'come ons' I was shouting."

The victory was Williams' 16th in a row at the tournament as the 33-year-old American remains on course for a hattrick of titles as she attempts to retain a number one ranking under threat from Maria Sharapova this week. (Reuters)

Letter to the sport editor

Clubs within ECCB suffering due to poor management

Dear Editor,

I wish not to castigate the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB), but the ECCB continues to make evident its incompetence and absence of leadership.

Some time ago, I highlighted the deprived management capacity within the ECCB and the negative effects experienced by clubs participating in the ECCB organized competitions and yet it continue to exist.

This can be deemed as reluctance or the lack of capacity by the ECCB to manage its affairs diligently and effectively.

For too long, clubs have been suffering the effects of poor management and unprofessionalism within the ECCB. It’s time for stocktaking if this board is really interested in lifting the level and quality of cricket being played within the East Coast Demerara.

It is an appalling situation to witness teams turning up for matches only to have the matches postponed because of umpires failing

Guyana Softball Cup 4…

NYSCL promises exciting and competitive softball

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

to be present. On October 19, a fixture for Better Hope vs Lusignan in a semi final encounter to be played at Better Hope was called off due to a no-show by umpires.

At any level, this is unacceptable.

It’s noted that the ECCB is a separate entity from the East Coast Cricket Umpires Association (ECCUA), and it must be noted also, that the head of the ECCUA is also part of the ECCB. With this in mind, what will be the excuse this time?

Our only assumption is that a lack of collaborative efforts caused this fixture to elude the Association conveniently to allow favourites (Lusignan) with some of its players unavailable to be better strengthen for the next date.

It is our hope that measures will be put in place to rectify/eradicate this unwanted situation.

Sincerely, M Azimullah

Haifeng su to lead igg chess team

Reigning National Junior champion

Haifeng Su will lead a four-member Guyana chess team to the second leg of the Inter-Guiana Games in neighbouring Suriname later this week.

Su is one of two male players, the other being Roberto Neto, while the two females who have been selected are Sheriffa Ali and Jessica Clementson. National player Wendell Meusa will serve as Coach of the team.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), Irshad Mohamed, said while Su was an automatic pick as

the national junior champion, the other players were selected based on their strengths. According to Mohamed, Neto is the next best male player behind Su, while Ali and Clementson are the top female players.

Commenting on the team’s chances, Mohamed said he is confident the youngsters will do well, noting that he is expecting a solid performance.

The GCF head also acknowledged that the exposure will do well for their individual development, as they would be exposed to different styles of play and a higher level of competition.

During the Inter-Guiana Games from Friday to Sunday, Chess will be one of five disciplines to be contested among Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The others are Football, Volleyball, Cycling, Badminton and Table-Tennis.

The travelling contingent will leave Guyana on Thursday morning.

(Avenash Ramzan)

The country’s most high-profile softball tournament – Guyana Softball Cup 4 – is set for bowl off in just over a week, and one team has promised to deliver “exciting and competitive softball cricket” when the three-day event is hosted from October 31 to November 2.

2012 Open champion New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) is coming to Guyana, bubbling with confidence and optimistic of once again returning to the top podium spot.

In a letter to the organisers – the Guyana Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) – President of the NYSCL, Eric Ferrier, expressed pleasure at being invited to once again participate in the competition.

“To the President of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association and the executive board, the organisers, fans, supporters and sponsors of Guyana Softball Cup 4, we the New York Softball Cricket League salute and extend our heartfelt thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate once again in such a wonderful, colourful and competitive competition,” Ferrier said.

He added that the experience since competing in the Guyana Cup Softball in 2011 has been a mixed one.

“We have seen highs and lows over the past three Guyana Cups. Yes, we experience the ultimate high when our All Stars team was crowned the 2012 champions, and lows when we did

not make the playoffs in the other years,” Ferrier explained.

He added, “We would like to extend good luck to all the participating teams and make no mistake, the NYSCL has high expectations for both of our teams to return to New York as All Stars and Masters Guyana Cup 4 champions. We are coming to Guyana to play exciting and competitive softball cricket, and at the same time, rekindle old acquaintances and to enjoy the great hospitality of our Guyanese brothers and sisters.”

Tournament format

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

$200,000 and a trophy. In the Masters’ division, the winning team will pocket $600,000 with the runnerup assured of $150,000. The Man-of-the-Match in both finals will receive a trophy.

As has been the case in the past, the Most Valuable Player of each category will become the proud owner of a softball bracelet, made of gold and diamond studs, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery. On the day of the final, apart from the trip to Aruba, there will be lots of hampers and giveaways for spectators.

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

semi-finals and two finals. In an effort to expand the reach of the competition and ensure maximum participation from spectators, the organisers have increased the number of venues this year. Grounds earmarked to host games are Police Sports Club, Everest Cricket Club, Georgetown Cricket Club, Demerara Cricket Club, Ghandi Youth Organisation, Muslim Youth Organisation, Enmore Community Centre and Enterprise Busta Sports Club.

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

GSSF receives donation form Trophy Stall

Trophy Stall donated a number of trophies to the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) for their upcoming Inaugural Practical Pistol Match to be held on Saturday, October 25 at Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Yarrowcabra Ranges, Timehri.

At the simple handing over ceremony on Monday at the proprietor of the store Ramesh Sunich was pleased to be affiliated with such as initiative by the federation.

Vidushi Persaud, President of the GSSF thanked Sunich for his unhesitating support and encouragement towards the GSSF which is dedicated towards encouraging and promoting practical shooting amongst all Guyanese.

Vice President of the GSSF and Match Director, Michael Blake indicated that the Match will be open to all established Practical Shooters of Guyana with prizes for the top three finishers.

Guyana Jaguars commence preparation for 2014/2015 regional tourney

B y R ajiv B isnauth

With the inaugural Professional Cricket League’s (PCL), Regional four-day tournament set to commence on November 14, the Guyana Jaguars on Monday commenced preparation for the much anticipated tournament.

Ten of the retained players along with players who were identified for the “Pay for Play” option and West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul underwent their first day of fitness training at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

The session was were conducted under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Esaun Crandon and assisted by a technical team consisting of Albert Smith, Rayon Griffith, Michael Hyles and Colin Stuart.

Monday’s sessions focused mainly on the physical aspect of the players’ training. The squad, minus Assad Fudadin and Devendra Bishoo (West Indies A team duty), Barbadian Raymond Reifer, who is expected to arrive here by month-end, Leon Johnson, who is yet to return from India and Veerasammy Permaul, absent due to personal reason, began the session by testing their stamina and oxygen uptake by virtue of a beep test.

After the beep trails were concluded, the players then sought to impress the GCB officials by completing a series of drills and simulations included the cardiovascular aspect of fitness.

In an invited comment at the conclusion of the first day, Griffith told Guyana Times Sport that he’s impressed with the players’ fitness level.

“A lot of the players have shown that high level of fitness, which is very en -

couraging.

“A better standard was set today because the scores we have gotten were far better than what we got last time”. Results from the test showed majority of the players running 10 and over with a few besting 13,” he said.

Griffith, who is also the Chairman of the senior selectors, added that some players “still have a little way to go, but some of them are at a level where they

Uefa fines Wales for pitch invasion

Uefa has fined the Football Association of Wales (FAW) £3,960 (5,000 euros) for the pitch invasion following Gareth Bale's late winner against Andorra last month.

The Andorran Football Federation has also been fined £7,920 (10,000 euros) for insufficient organisation inside the Estadi Nacional on September 9.

Chris Coleman's side won 2-1 and are top of Group B after three games.

Wales' next game is away to Belgium on Sunday, November 16.

The FAW has accepted the decision by Uefa, European football's governing body, after it was charged with a breach of article 16.2 (field invasion by supporters).

Under article six of Uefa's disciplinary regulations, there are a wide-range of possible punishments for a pitch invasion, including a warning, a fine and a points deduction.

Andorra were charged for breaches of articles 15.4 (im-

proper conduct of the team) and 16.1 (organisation) of its disciplinary regulations.

Crowd problems broke out after the 81st-minute strike from Bale completed a Welsh turnaround.

The visitors went behind when Ildefons Lima converted a sixth minute penaltyAndorra's first goal in a competitive fixture since 2010.

A first-half header from Bale brought Chris Coleman's side level before he completed his brace after substitute George Williams was fouled

25 yards from goal.

The match was played on a 3G pitch, which Bale described as "the worst I have ever played on".

The artificial surface at Andorra's new national stadium had only been deemed suitable to stage the opening match of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign six days earlier.

Wales have since beaten Cyprus 2-1 and drawn 0-0 with Bosnia-Hercegovina at the Cardiff City Stadium. (BBC Sport)

just need to maintain it.”

The Physical Fitness assessment of players continues today. Thereafter players will enjoy two days of rest before engaging in practice activities from October 24-26, 09:00h to 13:30h prior to two four-day practice matches, October 27-30 and November 4-7, respectively.

The Regional four-day will be played on a home and away basis over ten rounds from November 14

to March 23, 2015.

The league format tournament will commence with three matches in the opening round from November 14 to 17 in Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana. Each round will consist of three matches.

Each team will play ten matches, five at home and five away.

The WICB Professional Cricket League comprises the Regional four-day tournament and the NAGICO

Drone operator

Super50 Tournament which will be played in January 2015. Guyana Jaguars will play their first three games at home, Leeward Islands Franchise from November 14-17, Windward Islands Volcanoes from November 21-24 and Barbados Franchise from November 28. All three matches will be played at the National Stadium.

The retained players are: Veerasammy Permaul, Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Ronsford Beaton, Narsingh Deonarine, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin and Devendra Bishoo. The five the drafted players are: Keon Joseph, Rajendra Chandrika, Paul Wintz, Vishaul Singh and Raymod Reifer. Other players eligible for selection under “Pay for Play” are: Zaheer Mohamed, Raun Johnson, Anthony Adams, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Amir Khan, Shimron Hetmyer, Steven Jacobs, Kemo Paul, Kevon Boodie, Gudakesh Motie, Ricardo Adams, Jason Sinclair, Kemol Savory, Jonathan Foo, Royston Crandon, Raj Nanan, Kandasammy Surujnarine, and Rajiv Ivan.

WICB contracted player Shivnarine Chanderpaul is an automatic pick to the squad.

AGreater Manchester Police said the 41-year-old man, from Nottingham, was arrested in the nearby Asda car park.

The drone was spotted flying over the East stand of the Etihad Stadium during City's 4-1 victory on Saturday.

A GMP spokesman said the man was arrested on sus-

picion of breaching the Air Navigation Order and released on Police bail for eight weeks.

Ch Insp Chris Hill, said: "The drones could pose a threat to crowd safety and potentially cause alarm in crowded areas.

"Even small drones can weigh up to seven or eight kilograms and could cause damage or injury if they fall from height. Thankfully, noone was hurt."

He added: "People may

see this as a minor offence but it is a breach of the Air Navigation Order, which is prosecuted by the Civil Aviation Authority." On October 14, a European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned after a drone flew over the stadium carrying a flag emblazoned with a black eagle, the symbol for Greater Albania. It prompted scuffles among players and fans on the Partizan Stadium. (BBC Sport)

Guyana Jaguars commence preparation for 2014/2015 regional tourney

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Off-spinner

Balram

Bactowar called on all his experience on Sunday, snatching six wickets, but his efforts was in vain as Tiger Sports lost to Cotton Tree Die Hard by 113 runs in a feature 30over match at the Cotton Tree ground, West Berbice.

In perfect conditions for cricket and a small crowd cheering on the action, Cotton Tree Die Hard, inserted to take first strike, piled up an imposing 2149, before their bowlers responded by dismissing Tiger Sports for 101 in 18.4 overs. With the some preparation moisture on the pitch, Tiger Sports skipper Sheik Mohamed decided to have a bowl first and his decision was immediately rewarded as left-arm seamer Gavin Moriah extracted deceptive movement off the turf.

Moriah claimed the first three wickets, all bowled, in a sustained spell of quality bowling, as the hosts were left reeling at 33-3 in eight overs at the first water break.

Upon resumption, open-

er Nick Ramsaroop and skipper Roshan Gafoor, who survived a clear stumping chance by Mohamed when on two, repaired the damage with a fighting partnership. Gafoor played the aggressive role, bringing up his fifty with a four, while

Ramsaroop was content on playing second fiddle.

With pair growing in confidence, Mohamed called on Bactowar, and the veteran and brother of former Guyana spinner Ramphal Bactowar, responded by bowling Gafoor with his first

delivery. The right-hander made 59 (8x4s, 2x6s).

Bactowar then followed up with the wicket of Ramsaroop in the next over, as Tiger Sports crawled back into contention. The right-arm off-spinner would go on to pick up the four other wickets to fall in a magical six-over spell, but the home team batsmen took advantage of some loose bowling at the other end, including 26 off the final over.

Romesh Boodram, who led the onslaught in the second half of the innings, slammed seven sixes and a four in his unbeaten 60, while Subhan Abdool chipped in with a breezy 19, including two fours and a six. Bactowar finished with 6-28, while Moriah claimed 3-16.

In reply, Tiger Sports never recovered from the loss of early wickets, and despite fighting knocks of

21 (2x4s) from Mohamed and 20 (2x4s, 1x6) from Moriah, the task proved a monumental one in the face of some good bowling. Tiger Sports’ cause was not helped by the run out of three batsmen, two via direct hits.

Bowling for Cotton Tree, Abdool picked up 4-14 from six overs, while Nashad Gafoor picked up 3-20, also from six overs. At the presentation ceremony which followed, Boodram was named Manof-the-Match, Bactowar best bowler and R. Gafoor best batsman. The winning and losing teams also received trophies, all of which were sponsored by Tiger Sports.

Tiger Sports, which is operated by Mohamed, also presented a plaque to Cotton Tree Die Hard in appreciation of the hospitality provided by the club.