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Govt to retable Environmental Tax Bill

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon said the Government will retable the Customs Amendment Bill, which will see both local and foreign companies paying taxes on non-returnable containers of alcoholic or non-alcoholic items.

Previously, the tax only applied to imported items, but this was found to be discriminatory by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) when Surinamese Firm Rudisa Beverages, manufacturer of Thrill soft drink, initiated court action against Guyana for levying the tax on them. The tax was a breach of Guyana’s obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC). The CCJ has since ordered Guyana to refund US$6 million ($1.2 billion) to the Surinamese company.

Dr Luncheon told a news conference on Thursday that the Opposition’s rejection of responsibility for the situation will be tested as Cabinet has decided, with the leave of the Speaker of the National Assembly, to have the legislation return to the 10th Parliament for reconsideration. He said that the Opposition this time around, fully aware of its denial of being responsible, can indeed continue in this reign of denial or act sensibly; however, belatedly towards having the legislation approved.

The Cabinet Secretary told media operatives that Government had proposed and presented for the Opposition’s approval in the 10th Parliament, legislation

to remedy the offending provision in the Guyanese tax legislation, which was inconsistent with Guyana’s treaty obligation under RTC, but these proposed amendments were rejected by the Opposition.

Sad

“Sadly, today, Guyana has to face a CCJ ruling on this matter,”

Dr Luncheon said.

“Now we have to deal with the tendency of the Opposition parties, both APNU and AFC to decline to accept responsibility for this situation. They would have us believe, (one) do not blame us and even more absurdly, blame the Government,” Dr Luncheon contended. The Government spokesperson noted that the CCJ and Rudisa Beverages were support-

ive of the Government of Guyana’s effort to comply with its treaty obligation, and in so doing, would have given time to Government to rectify the tax in Parliament by way of the Environmental Bill.

“The material factors were known, were brought to the attention of the 10th Parliament specifically to the members of the Opposition, and they still elected to vote against the Bill.”

Back in 2013, when the Bill was debated in Parliament, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) took a hard-line position after it failed to persuade the Government to defer the second presentation and reading of the Customs Amendment Bill. The Alliance For Change (AFC) threw its weight behind the APNU to seal the deal.

Minister within the Finance

Ministry Juan Edghill, who had piloted the second reading of the Bill, had told Parliament that Government had deferred the presentation of the Bill at the request of the Opposition to allow for more consultations on its content and the possible implications.

This newspaper understands that on February 15, 1995, Guyana introduced an Environmental Tax on imported beverages in specified containers through an amendment of Section Seven of the Customs Act in 1995.

The new Section Seven (a) stipulated that an Environmental Tax shall be levied at a rate of $10 on every unit of non-returnable metal, plastic, glass or cardboard containers of any alcoholic or non-alcoholic item imported into Guyana. Importers are required to pay these taxes when customs duties are paid.

Rationale

The tax was introduced, according to Minister Edghill, largely because non-returnable beverage containers negatively impact Guyana’s environment, owing to their non-biodegradable nature and improper disposal. He said then that it was deemed reasonable to expect that a clean-up cost be borne by the businesses concerned.

“The issues, however, here is that the Environmental Tax as currently applied here by Guyana has been determined by the Council for Trade and Economic Development of Caricom to be discriminatory on the grounds that it applies to imports only and not on domestical-

ly-produced goods,” the Minister within the Finance Ministry articulated.

“The new amendment is seeking to amend the first schedule of the Customs Act by the deletion of Section Seven (a) and to implement the new legislation for the administration of the Environmental Tax. It is intended to bring Guyana in compliance with its obligations under the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the World Trade Organisation Convention…,” the Minister contended.

The new amendment also seeks to apply a tax on both imported and local non-returnable alcoholic containers. Government is also proposing to reduce the rate of the tax from $10 to $5 in an effort to allow the tax to remain revenue neutral and to render the legislation non-applicable on beverages being exported from Guyana.

This provision, although it imposes an additional tax on domestic manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, encourages the said manufacturers to retrieve and re-export the said goods, he noted. Edghill had admitted that while some local companies may have concerns about this particular amendment, consultations were held. He stressed that the bottom line is that the delays cannot continue. APNU’s Chief Financial Spokesperson, Carl Greenidge had disagreed with Government’s position, arguing that it was not coming clean about the real reasons Guyana was moving toward implementing the tax measure.

NOC to be reformed – Dr Anthony

Amid damning allegations of sexual assault on students and staff at the New Opportunity Corps, the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry on Thursday announced moves to reform its policies to bring much needed regulation at the state’s juvenile detention centre. It also announced plans to build separate campuses to avoid both boys and girls sharing the same living quarters and other facilities. Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony disclosed that the old rules of the correctional facility

will have to be changed, so that the incidents, whether true or not, would not recur. He was at the time speaking with journalists at a special media briefing to address the allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse at the facility.

And while the Human Services and Social Security Ministry has launched an independent investigation into the allegations, Minister Anthony said his Ministry is awaiting the outcome of that inquiry before any action is taken.

Minister Anthony dis-

closed that his ministry will be taking immediate measures at the institution. The first step will be to enhance security. Anthony explained that the institution does not have a fence. And according to him, it is because of the way in which it is located. He said a fence to the back will have to be constructed.

He further said the Ministry will be seeking more regular visits from the visiting committee to speak with students, and see that they make recommendations to the Ministry. It will also be making recommen-

dations to international volunteer organisations, to allow their staff to live in at the NOC so that they would be made aware of the day to day functioning of the facility. “We’ve had that in the past, we have two right now, and I think that will help validate what goes on at NOC”

Disappointed

The Minister said he was somewhat disappointed by the actions of some parents who seem unconcerned about their children’s wellbeing.

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

Opportunities in agriculture

Population growth and dramatic diet changes will, over the next several decades, place great stress on agriculture worldwide. A recent report by the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has stated that Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) can help feed a global population of nine billion people in 2050 providing that key policy actions to bolster agricultural productivity are implemented.

The “Next Global Breadbasket: How Latin America Can Feed the World” outlines challenges, recommendations and action items for policymakers, the donor community, farmers, agribusiness, and civil society. The report describes the role of Latin America and the Caribbean region in addressing this challenge, as well as its opportunity to increase development, reduce poverty, and support social progress across the region.

Executive Director of the Global Harvest Initiative, Dr Margaret M Zeigler has reminded us that this region has immense potential to help meet our planet’s growing demand for food, feed, fibre and fuel in a sustainable, productive way. By putting in place a comprehensive agenda of pro-agriculture policies, the region can attract the investments and innovations to become the 21st century global breadbasket.

Key areas listed in the report for policy action and investment in which the public and private sectors can and must move forward together include: agriculture science, research, and development; knowledge and extension services for farmers; transport and logistics infrastructure; irrigation, water management and mechanisation technology; regional and global trade; farmers’ access to financial services, cooperatives and producer associations; and reduction of post-harvest losses.

The potential is great for agriculture development in the region, and governments and policymakers must capitalise on the opportunities presented. For example, the LAC region contributes 11 per cent of the value of current world food production and represents 24 per cent of the world’s arable land. The region has about 28 per cent of the world’s land that has been identified as having medium to high potential for sustainable expansion of cultivated area, and a 36 per cent share of land that is within six hours travel time to a market.

After participating in the Third-Caricom Mexico Summit and meeting of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), in Mexico, President Donald Ramotar was reported as saying that there is consensus that agriculture development must be expanded as food security remains in sharp focus. He reported that there is also agreement that overall production has to be increased; hence there is need for the region to start thinking of some sort of specialisation for countries with the aim of increasing production.

The region’s agriculture needs to be re-positioned through innovation and best business know-how and be re-directed to give results as required. Additionally, using resources efficiently and adapting to the effects of climatic change and other shocks will be the hallmarks of smart farming in the coming decades.

Guyana is regarded as a leader on climate change issues in the region and is perhaps one of the best models to follow as the country is now in the process of implementing the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). This country is known to be one of the few in the region that have been proactive in ensuring sound agricultural policies are implemented, taking into consideration the challenges with respect to rising food prices on the international market.

Agriculture is not given the kind of attention it deserves at the level of the heads of Government in some of the other countries in the LAC region, in particular Caricom. Agriculture plays a crucial role in economic development, through employment creation, poverty reduction, income generation, food and nutrition security, and ultimately, growth.

Governments need to go beyond the rhetoric and get down to serious business since it is important that we not only provide enough food to meet our own needs, but must take full advantage of the many opportunities available in terms of meeting the nutritional needs of the global population.

The true version of the events will withstand all scrutiny

Dear Sir,

City Magistrate Ann McClennan recently freed two policemen accused of the shooting to death of Dameon Belgrave at the White Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. This decision by the Magistrate was an expected end to an otherwise simple case.

I say simple case because the tell-tale facts of the events went contrary to that given by those who blindly oppose the actions of law enforcement when apprehending criminals. Theirs is the highly tainted view that policemen have no right and I say absolutely no right going after, far less apprehending persons.

In this regard, testimony coming from those quarters is bound to be peppered with opinions and flat out hearsay allegations. The long and short of it is that their version of the events will be a political account. This concept is ever so pervasive in Region Four, Georgetown in particular, that most if not all of these cases of Police brutality will meet a similar fate.

Right now, two cases are

engaging the attention of the Police Complaints Authority – one involving Colwyn Harding and the other involving Alex Griffith. I’m afraid these two will meet a similar end – that is, if it gets to the courts. Because I guarantee you the version that is so hyped up by a certain crowd out there is so far removed from reality that one has to stop and ponder. So the brutality music plays on.

I would not dwell much into the Dameon Belgrave story, because that has already been dealt with in detail by the Magistrate, but suffice to say, the true facts of the case runs contrary to the hocus-pocus given by the so called eyewitnesses.

Their testimony suggests an out of control Police who descended on the scene firing indiscriminately at “innocent” civilians. Well, the facts reveal a totally different story, it tells of the Police turning up at the scene and were engaged in a shootout with criminals there and unfortunately, Dameon Belgrave got the worst of it.

That version of the events was concretised with

the ballistics record which shows that warheads found at the scene did not match those coming from the Police; a story reminiscent of the Linden attack.

So, in the face of mounting evidence against them, the Magistrate had no choice but to free the accused. This prompted Cathy Hughes to cry foul at Magistrate McClennan’s ruling, thinking that this is another Linden.

You see, Hughes still has the Linden fiasco riveted in her mind, where the rebels were rewarded for their outrageous behaviour. But I will caution Cathy that this is not Linden, neither is it a commission of inquiry, so there will be no blood money compensation.

And even if we are to entertain that thought, Linden’s ruling by the commission could have been quashed in a court of law if the Government had persisted because the foreign expert they brought gave the same results as was the findings of the local expert.

The fact is Government was hungry for peace, hence their acceptance of the

Linden CoI’s ruling without question. In fact, as Cathy Hughes is touting a cover up by the Police in that ballistics report, then she is free to call in foreign advice on the matter. Like the Linden case, she can proceed with the advice of a foreign expert. I doubt whether that would happen because they would not want to be further embarrassed. The point I am making is, these cases of Police brutality are turning out to be a public relations stunt by the Opposition fraternity and it is turning out to be a costly one at that. I believe the authorities should take keen scrutiny at these alleged claims of brutality with a view to separate fact from fiction before proceeding with these spurious matters.

Because the way things are going, if this is not done, Government might very well go bankrupt. I am making a renewed call for the DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack to be more vigilant, be on the alert and put a stop to this masquerade.

Sincerely, Neil Adams

Potaro Road not within GT&T’s current 2014 plan for fixed service

Dear Editor, We refer to your previously published letter in the Guyana Times of May 12 by Mr Micah Williams headlined, “Petition to GT&T for landline along Potaro Road”.

GT&T, in an effort to verify the allegations of payments made, contacted Mr Williams to provide the receipts as evidence of the

$5000 payments as stated in his letter.

Strangely, Mr Williams indicated that he is “not sure the persons would want to produce the evidence that they paid”.

We find it unfortunate that someone would document such a scandalous allegation, accusatory in nature and then not willingly supply

substantiating evidence in pursuit of a position. One can only conclude that at best, this was designed to mislead.

We also wish to advise that any response to residents from the company reportedly 10 years ago can only be an acknowledgement correspondence.

While we continue to review Mr Williams’ general

request for potential inclusion in our planning and design cycle, we can confirm substantively that the area identified is not within current 2014 service rollout plan for fixed service.

Allison Parker, Public Relations Officer GT&T

The GLU will continue to monitor the City Hall situation

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Labour Union (GLU) is gravely concerned with the reckless endangerment of the livelihood of workers at the Georgetown Municipality.

The GLU’s concern has been re-awakened by a recent decision by the City Council, in which someone ventured to invite all of the municipality’s staff to a meeting with Royston King, under the assumption that King had succeeded Carol Sooba as Town Clerk.

The GLU has no interest in embroiling in the tug-of-war politics surrounding who serves in the capacity of Town Clerk of the Georgetown Municipality.

The GLU represents municipal workers of varying political views and affiliations and wishes to caution them about the real possibility of negative outcomes should they allow themselves to be persuaded into making premature judgments.

The GLU is of the view, based on the ruling of the Chief Justice, in the matter in which King contested the appointment of Sooba as Town Clerk (acting), that in handing down his decision, the Chief Justice did not preclude Sooba from functioning in the capacity of Town Clerk (acting).

The GLU is also aware that in the absence of a Local Government Service Commission, the Local Government Minister has the authority to appoint an individual to a position in the municipality and the Minister has unambiguously explained that Ms Sooba is still the Chief Executive at City Hall.

It is absolutely clear in the Order made by Chief Justice

“… until the coming into operation of section 95 the powers conferred under the provision of section 116 shall be exercised by the Minister”.

In the circumstances, it appears to be a reasonable conclusion that the municipality acted prejudicially and unprofessionally when they attempted to foist Royston King’s appointment as Town Clerk on the staff of the municipality. Clearly, they had no authority to invite staff to a meeting with King.

It is instructive to note that the professionalism of King came under scrutiny in the ruling of the Chief Justice. The ruling recalled several instances in which Royston King was upbraided by former Town Clerk Beulah Williams as far back as 1997 for what she felt was his “substandard performance” in his duties as the City Council’s Public Relations Officer.

Accusations of “gross dereliction of duty” had also been officially levelled against King on several occasions by the late Deputy Mayor Robert Williams and the current Mayor Hamilton Green.

Furthermore, former Town Clerk Yonette Pluckcort and the Principal Municipal Services Officer in the Local Government Ministry, Mahindra Ishi, had both recorded. Pluck-cort had officially pointed out in 2011 that Royston King’s performance had been “the cause of much stress and makes it difficult to project a favourable image of the Mayor and City Council”.

On the other hand, the City Council’s Personnel Officer had also been once interdicted from duty for an alleged infraction but was reinstated for lack of evidence. It

certainly is not a strange development that Braithwaite and King could be working such impeccable harmony.

The GLU is of the view that municipal politics should be left to the politicians. If Royston King is pleased to be used as a political football, then so be it. King and Braithwaithe can play with fire at their own peril.

But the staff of the municipality, particularly those affiliated to the Guyana Labour Union, must acknowledge that the current situation at City Hall is fraught with danger and should not allow themselves to be engaged in the fray.

One of the positive things of the Sooba administration is that workers are paid on time, and any fracture in this situation would be of grave concern to the union. The GLU will continue to monitor the situation with a view to safeguarding the interests of our members.

Sincerely,

Carvil Duncan General Secretary GLU

Social issues and our youths today

Dear Editor, Youths today often find themselves in situations they don’t really want to be in, but somehow or the other they end up being there. A lot of youths today are victims of peer pressure, domestic violence, drug abuse, suicide, and teenage pregnancy, just to name a few.

A lot of these factors affect the lives of youths tremendously and cause a major breakdown in their life, both physically and mentally. Due to this, a lot of youths become school-dropouts and drug addicts, among other things.

Peer pressure is one of the leading factors affecting most youths of today which also leads to other issues including suicide, and drug abuse. When youths today involved with other youths get of their same age group and they want to be like every other member of the age group, they would do everything to get there.

For example, if there is a particular group that indulges in drug use and there is a newcomer, everyone else in the group would force their group activity unto the newcomer; this is where peer pressure comes

in play, changing the life of that one youth who’s new in the group.

Suicide is yet another issue that affects youths today. Suicide comes from various leading factors, for instance domestic violence, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, and drug abuse. The rate of suicide is very high in our society today and as we all know, suicide is very prevalent, particularly in our youths.

A close friend of mine was asking me one day, and I quote, “What’s up with the suicide rate in Berbice, why so much youths killing themselves?” My reply to that statement was why do you think it’s a Berbice thing, youths from many different areas in Guyana are killing themselves.

This goes to show that persons are only looking at the areas where suicide is at its highest, but I don’t think we should look at it as that. We should look at it as it’s our country and our youths and we should ask ourselves what we are doing to prevent all of this.

What are we doing for the youths of Guyana? Are we doing enough to help prevent these social issues from

affecting the youths? Well, in my perspective we aren’t doing enough and we should step up our game and do whatever we can.

The little we do today can benefit a lot of youths and even our country tomorrow. Let us all join hands and fight against these social issues affecting our youths and country as a whole.

Sincerely, S Somwar

Page Foundation

Gifted children: Are their gifts being identified, encouraged, or ignored? (Part one)

BY JULIA B OSBORN

Children who seem “precocious” and have skills, knowledge, or abilities beyond their age have fascinated adults. For nearly a century, educators, psychologists and others working with children, have studied the development of unusually able children in an effort to understand the conditions that facilitate or impede their growth into productive adults. The debate about the education and upbringing of these children continues, with the current state of discussion and research sometimes obscuring rather than illuminating appropriate practices. Furthermore, even if professionals do agree on certain recommendations, there is wide variability in their implementation both at school and at home.

The US Department of Education summed up the existing challenges faced by parents, educators, and the gifted children themselves in a report. “The United States is squandering one of its most precious resources – the gifts, talents, and high interests of many of its students. In a broad range

of intellectual and artistic endeavours, these youngsters are not challenged to do their best work. This problem is especially severe among economically disadvantaged and minority students, who have access to fewer advanced educational opportunities and whose talents often go unnoticed.” The gap is due in part to the common and mistaken belief that children endowed with remarkable intelligence and/or talents have no special educational needs. Although professionals have access to information about the special needs of mentally retarded and learningdisabled children, there is no similar set of guidelines, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – IV (DSM-IV) for the evaluation of and planning for gifted children.

Definitions – who is gifted?

There are a number of definitions of giftedness commonly in use: general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creative or productive thinking, leadership ability and ability in the visual or performing arts. The widely used defini-

tions stress the importance of factors like societal values, education, effort, motivation and chance. Still another definition stresses the emotional experiences of gifted children and the need for them to receive modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in order to facilitate optimal development.

Psychologists who work with these gifted children are aware of significant differences within the group; in any programme for gifted children there will be a wide variety of educational levels and talent areas. In an attempt to explore these differences more systematically, a number of psychologists have studied the education and emotional needs of gifted children as a function of their intellectual level. Although there is no set of universally accepted levels for categorising intellectual ability in early elementary school age children, several levels of ability have been proposed based on clinical evidence gathered from intelligence tests and academic tests. As different intelligence tests, given to the same gifted child, will yield different scores, the levels

can only be generally described.

While many group and individually administered intelligence tests can identify gifted children (for example, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III, Stanford Binet -IV, OtisLennon), most do not discriminate well between these different levels of intellectual ability and subsequent levels of academic achievement. Consequently, there has been the mistaken idea that all gifted children are similar in intellectual level and will be similar in academic level or in enrichment needs. In fact, when children take individual tests with very challenging items or participate in challenging talent search tests, the variability in their performance levels becomes quite evident. A similar kind of variability can be seen when children perform in recitals, exhibit art and or display writing. In school settings, experienced researchers and clinicians discriminate different levels of giftedness using other tests such as the Stanford-Binet: LM or the talent search tests. (aboutourkids.org)

Motivating learning in young children

Young children learn from everything they do. They are naturally curious; they want to explore and discover. If their explorations bring pleasure or success, they will want to learn more. During these early years, children form attitudes about learning that will last a lifetime. Children who receive the right sort of support and encouragement during these years will be creative, adventurous learners throughout their lives. Children who do not receive this sort of support and interaction are likely to have a much different attitude about learning later in life.

Characteristics of motivation in young children

Children do many things simply because they want to do them. Selecting a toy or a shirt to wear is the result of “intrinsic motivation.” The child makes her own choice and achieves satisfaction from both the act of choosing and from the opportunity to play

with the toy or wear the shirt. Since the activity is generating the motivation, it is mostly self-sustaining for as long as the child wants to continue the activity.

Children also engage in some activities because adults tell them to, or in an effort to please another party. These activities are “extrinsically motivated.” When a child is extrinsically motivated, the reward comes from outside the child – it has to be provided by someone else, and has to be continually given for the child to remain motivated enough to continue the activity. It is more difficult for a child to sustain extrinsically motivated activity because of this reliance upon some outside force. Since intrinsically motivated activity is more rewarding in and of itself, children learn more from this sort of activity, and they retain that learning better. Intrinsically motivated children are more involved in their own learning and development. In other words, a child is more likely to learn and retain information when he is intrinsically motivated –when he believes he is pleasing himself. Parents can build on this sense of confidence by guiding their child’s play and activities while still giving the child a range of options. This unstructured play is an essential element of the child’s motivation, learning, and development. A number of behavioural characteristics are indicators of high motivation. Here are some of the important factors and some ways to help your child develop these characteristics.

Persistence is the ability to stay with a task for a reasonably long period of time. While very young children cannot concentrate on one activity for an hour, there are still measurable differences in the length of time that young children will engage in an activity. A highly motivated child will stay involved for a long period of time, whereas an unmotivated child will give up very easily when not instantly successful. Children learn persistence when they are successful at a challenging task. The art in building persistence is in offering a task that is just challenging enough, but not overwhelming. (nasponline.org)

TO BE CONTINUED

Parliament launches website, live streaming of debates

Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman on Thursday launched Parliament’s website and the project for live streaming of the Assembly’s sittings.

The launch, which took place in the National Assembly’s chamber in the presence of Members of Parliament (MPs) and media operatives, was as a result of a collaborative effort and support among the Parliament Office of the National Assembly of Guyana, the Government of Canada, through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

It was disclosed that the project entailed the launching of the website which has portfolios for all of the MPs, details on all motions moved and passed, questions and answers by members of the National Assembly, among others; the launching of the live streaming site of the House’s sittings and the provision of Samsung SIII tablets for all members so that they are equipped with the tools needed to maintain an interaction with the users of the website.

This has been done to the tune of $16.6 million.

According to Trotman, the projects were initiated after the need was seen for the public to become even more involved in the activities of the House and for information to become accessible to

members of the general public.

He expressed thanks to the Government of Canada and the UNDP for their contributions in making the project a success.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Chisa Mikami in brief said the organisation had extended its support to the initiative since it was seen as a project which is beneficial for all of Guyana.

Interactive forum Mikami related that with the launch of the programme, citizens can now be made aware of every activity taking place in the National Assembly, and at the same time, will create an interactive forum between the lawmakers and the citizens through the provisions of the Samsung tablets for the members of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles told the gathering that the implementation of the project is indeed one which will benefit the population as the public will now be aware of what is taking place in the lawmaking organisation.

“The establishment of live streaming from the National Assembly of Guyana to a dedicated website that is accessible to all Guyanese makes a tangible contribution to Guyana’s ongoing efforts to deliver better Government, stronger communities, and more engaged citizens. It will

help to broaden and extend Guyana’s political discourse on national policies and encourage heightened political participation, including women,” Dr Giles said.

She further noted that “in any democracy, communication between a Parliament and its citizenry is a challenge. Citizens too often are disengaged, viewing parliamentary debates and happenings as a distant discussion that has no real impact on their lives. The reality is that nothing could be further from the truth and decisions taken in this chamber affect them profoundly. That parliamentary debates are traditionally accessed either through the filter of the media or digging through paper copies of the Hansard... makes them ever more distant and inaccessible”.

Dr Giles reasoned that by providing live and uninterrupted streaming of the proceedings of Guyana’s National Assembly, Guyanese throughout the country and in the diaspora will be given a ring-side seat to the debates on issues that affect them while giving them equal access to all Guyanese, regardless of their geographic location, gender or background.

It was said that the project makes clever use of Guyana’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) capabilities, and builds on the country’s ICT priorities.

New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Guyana accredited

Newly-appointed New Zealand High Commissioner Jan Henderson on Thursday presented her Letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar, and reaffirmed her country’s dedication to further deepen the bilateral and multi-lateral relationship that Guyana shares with the Commonwealth nation.

In accepting and welcoming the new Non-Resident High Commissioner, President Ramotar said there is much tangible evidence that both countries, have over the years shared meaningful relations at the multi-lateral and bilateral levels.

He noted that the desire expressed by New Zealand to strengthen relations, not only at the bilateral level, but also at the Caricom level, augurs well for the relations between the Pacific and Caribbean.

The move by New Zealand to have its Foreign Minister attend the upcoming regional Foreign Ministers Conference was also welcomed by the President. The High

Commissioner was also informed by President Ramotar that there was much to be explored, particularly in areas such as agriculture and expressed Government’s full support in assisting her to discharge her duties, during her tenure.

The new High Commissioner noted that Guyana and New Zealand share a warm, long-standing bilateral relationship in the areas of agriculture, sustainable development and in the efforts to foster “small state” development. She pointed out that both

countries also share a deep appreciation of indigenous cultures, recalling the visit by Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett to her country, in 2007, to participate in a culturally-based programme. She noted that there is also healthy competition such as in cricket with the pending visit from her country’s national team, which will play against the West Indies, in Guyana very soon.

Henderson previously served as her country’s official representative to Ankara, Turkey and New Delhi, India.

Cuba denounces ZunZuneo Programme at UN commission

Anayansi Rodríguez, Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the UN has emphasised on May 12 that the ZunZuneo programme created by the US, to incite subversion in Cuba, violates the agreements adopted at the Information Society World Summit.

Participating in the 2014 Science and Technology for Development Commission, Rodríguez explained the true purposes of this mobile phone network.

“To increase the number of users to later introduce politi-

cal content and promote a call for massive demonstrations and thus inciting internal subversion, destabilisation and the development of a political crisis.” The operation functioned from 2009 through 2012, violating Cuban and US laws, including the CAN-SPAM Act, approved by Congress in 2003, which prohibits the sending of unsolicited text messages.

Referring to the gathering of personal data for political reasons, “The subscribers [to Zunzuneo] never knew that the service was created by the United States Government, or that their private information was being compiled.”

Cuba again denounced the use of new technology for the purpose of destabilisation, and insisted that the US Government ends its illegal, subversive undercover operations. (Prensa Latina)

“These acts violate, additionally, the spirit of commitment adopted on line C5 during the Information Society World Summit, related to confidence and security in the use of information and communications technology,” she said during the Commission meeting.

Students complain of 'starvation' at ARMS Dorms

Students lodging at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School (ARMS) Dorm, Essequibo Coast have complained bitterly about not receiving lunch.

The students, who ap-

proached this newspaper on Wednesday, said they are "starving" and the relevant authorities seem not to care.

According to students, they were forced to enter their pockets to purchase snacks, and share to keep up themselves.

Tiger Bay man remanded for simple larceny

Fitzroy Holgan, 32, of Tiger Bay, Georgetown, was refused bail and remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry on Thursday, May 15 to answer to a charge of simple larceny.

The charge stated that on May 3 at Main Street, Georgetown, the complainant Navendra Ramotar approached the defendant and asked him to have sexual in-

tercourse, after which the defendant parked his car on Main Street to take a nap. It is alleged that it was at this point the defendant robbed him of two Samsung cellphones valued $135,000.

According to the defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, he refused to engage in sexual activities with the complainant and the man drove off and Police ranks showed up at his home the following day accusing him of stealing the cellphones.

“My mother usually give me allowance money and that money I does use for printing papers and so,” one student who requested anonymity said.

According to the students,

when they asked the dorm mother why they were not given lunch, they were told that the kitchen did not have ration. Another student said she had to depend on one of her friends for lunch.

The students also claimed that it was not the first time that they were made to starve.

When contacted, Region Two Education Officer Baramadai Seepersaud confirmed that there was a shortage of rice but students did receive lunch, but not on time.

Nevertheless, she said an investigation has been launched into the matter.

This newspaper was also informed that the dormitory is provided with a full supply of groceries, and it a norm for some to vanish.

The dormitory houses students mainly from Pomeroon, Region One, and the Essequibo Islands.

Labourer refused bail for robbery under arms

Twenty-one-year old Marlon Providence of 149 Company Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara was refused bail and remanded to prison until today when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Thursday, May 15, to answer to a charge of robbery under arms.

The charge alleged that on March 15, at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, the accused in the company of another, who was armed with an offensive weapon and a

hand gun approached the complainant Jumapelle Alfred, a minibus driver who was standing by his bus and held him at gun point. They robbed him of one gold ring valued $75,000, one band valued at $150,000 and one gold chain valued at $200,000; amounting to $425,000.

The man who was represented by Attorney Natasha Viera told the court that her client is a labourer employed with BK International and was in the interior at the said time the robbery was committed.

Miner charged for unlawful possession of arms and ammunition

Twenty-two-year-old Ewart George of 119 Bel Air Village was refused bail and is scheduled to make another court appearance today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Thursday to answer to a charge of unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.

The charge alleged that on May 13, ranks who were patrolling the Bel Air Village area stopped the defendant and searched his vehicle, where a firearm and live rounds of .38mm ammunition were found under the bottom of the front left side seat of the vehicle. The man then proceeded to offer a bribe to the Police and begged for a chance, however, the advances made by the man proved futile as he was told of his charges and arrested.

Eyew tness

Building latrine...

...when belly-wuk come

Tony Vieira’s one of the biggest losers around.

Bearing an illustrious family name, he never inherited the brains to move upwards from the family’s sugar-cane roots. He was left to work in the back dams while everyone else went into law and medicine and so on. Thrown out on his ear after sugar was nationalised, he was allowed to broadcast TV shows stolen from “foreign”.

Since only he and another Burnham confidante were allowed to run this “TV station” business, this was more than the classic “monopoly”: this was Governmentbacked monopoly. And as such, Vieira made a killing, charging ordinary folks for the black-box to decode his scrambled, stolen shows.

As soon as the PPP allowed competition after free and fair elections, Vieira was dead meat. Not because he was PNC – but because he was clueless when it came to business.

He never had the common sense to compete with even an unlettered fella like CN Sharma. Sharma ran circles around him and as CN’s fortunes rose, Vieira’s crumbled. And he was forced to sell his PNC bequeathed station to Bobby Ramroop – who, it was no secret, was a supporter of the same PPP Vieira hated.

Vieira took the money and ran to Miami. And to no one’s surprise pi55ed it away on ridiculous business ventures that he was suckered into. No Government in Miami to give him monopolies!

So, to no one’s surprise, like a bad penny (that’s all he was worth by then) he showed up in Guyana. Driven by envy when he saw what Ramroop had done to the dinky “station” he’d rigged up in his father’s yard (Ramroop had promptly dumped the said equipment and brought in state of the art stuff), Vieira went on a tear. Just couldn’t bear Ramroop’s success because it highlighted his own congenital failures.

Every other day it was a letter to the press: no matter what was the putative subject, Ramroop had to be dragged in. Like the last one. Complaining about the $2.5 million broadcasting fee (which Ramroop had to pay like everyone else!), he expressed surprise that Ramroop had acquired satellite transmission access in 2011. “I didn’t sell him that...and he didn’t need that in 2011!” Vieira screeched.

Well, Viera’s from the countryside and he’d know you don’t wait until you have belly wuk to build latrine. That can get pretty messy. Along with dumping the obsolete dishes and equipment Ramroop, the businessman Vieira could never be – had made strategic investments.

Wait till Vieira sees HDTV rolled out!!!

...still belly-wuk

Another fella bitten by the green-eyed monster and getting “belly-wuk” is the owner of the MuckrakerKN, Mook Lall. Every day in his rag, it’s Ramroop this and Ramroop that. If he thought of his best friend Tony as much, Tony wouldn’t always have such a permanent sour look on his face. He and his house slave confessed that they just can’t get Ramroop off their mind.

Mook Lall and Tony took over Guyana Stores the same time Ramroop bought GPC. Mook Lall just can’t stand it when he sees how GPC has been transformed while Guyana Stores collapsed. While people have a morbid fascination with sensationalism and will bump his rag, they won’t do the same with old stocks.

So seeing the inevitable because Ramroop has built NEW GPC into a world-class outfit that can compete on the world stage (check out his exports!) he’s conducting a running vendetta because no one on the horizon can match that class on Pharma supplies.

He’ll probably choke on his bile. Because it’ll be NEW GPC by whatever criteria they pick!!

...on the Tarmac

Poor Royston. King of the Tarmac just for a day, now that the CJ has put an end to his and Green’s runnings. Whatever will he now do with the latrine he constructed on the tarmac?

Local Govt polls critical to Guyana’s futureCanadian envoy

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles on Thursday urged the government to host the local Government elections noting that it is vital and critical in the development of the country.

Dr Giles who was speaking at the launch of the Parliament’s website and live streaming project at the Parliament Buildings, told the gathering which included the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and a majority of the Members of Parliament, that though the country was making strides in other areas such as technology and e-governance, there is still a need for bigger strides to be taken particularly in the direction of local government elections, citing the need for proper systems and structures to be put in place so that the country can be positively developed.

“As Guyana makes important strides in advancing e-governance and making itself increasingly accessible to its citizens, it is also critical that.... the citizens of Guyana have fully functional structures in place at all levels of government, including at the local level. It is equally important that the citizens of Guyana are able to exercise their voices and rights through their votes in selecting their own Government, including at the local level. Local elections at this stage of Guyana’s rapid development can only serve to build on progress already made and are critical for its future development”, Dr Giles said.

Dr Giles statements come on the heels of several other calls being made by various sections of the society for local government elections to be held given the current situation at some of the municipalities. Just last month several organisa-

Shot teen back in hospital

Alex Griffith, 15, of North East La Penitence, who was shot in the mouth, was on Thursday morning rushed to a private medical institution after the stitches reopened.

This was according to his mother, Marcel Griffith, who said that she was taking the necessary precautions to have her son treated since the opening could be detrimental.

She added that he was due to return to the Georgetown Public Hospital next Tuesday.

The woman stated that she had taken the injured teenager to a private medical facility after the intervention of the Mark Benchop Foundation.

While she awaits justice for her son, the mother claimed he is recuperating, but slowly.

Griffith confirmed that her son is still having difficulties speaking clearly and hopes that he gets back his voice soon.

Police Complaints

tions in the country including the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, the British High Commission, Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry, Embassy of the United States of America, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, Guyana Bar Association, Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association and the Guyana Trades Union Congress made calls on the Government and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to work together in the interest of holding the much needed local government elections.

They are of the view that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is equipped and ready to facilitate the elections should it be called; a view GECOM has not denied.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon also on Thursday underscored the need for local government elections, but again expressed the view that there were several considerations and steps that must be taken before these elections are called. Talks of local government election in the City of Georgetown were reportedly hinted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) recently. Luncheon said that while he was aware of the statement, it is part of stakeholders’ interest and is well within the province of the electoral administration.

“I could advise you, however, that a discussion on the “geographic restricted” local government election, has not occupied the attention of this administration”. He said that Government at its cabinet meetings has been examining local government elections overtime. “So local government and local government reform, I don’t believe it has ever ceased to be a recurrent matter of discussion”, Luncheon said.

Authority (PCA) Chairman, retired Justice Cecil Kennard said he has received Griffith’s file, but is in the process of wrapping up his review of the Colwyn Harding saga.

On completion, he said he will immediately peruse the Griffith matter.

Kennard, however, thought that after briefly perusing the file, it was a clear case whereby the officer involved acted in the most irresponsible manner.

He was also baffled as to why a Police rank, who was stationed in Mahaica, got involved in a matter in Georgetown.

Kennard further added that he is likely to recommend criminal charges against the Cadet Officer who pulled the trigger and departmental charges for those who were with the policeman at the time of the shooting.

He said the matter is a clear indication that the Police Officer had intentions to maim, disfigure or cause actual bodily harm to

the teenager. He is expected to send the file back to the Police by next weekend.

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Monday called for a speedy conclusion to the matter involving the 15-year-old, claiming that the investigations should have been wrapped up and some form of penalty meted out to whomever is found culpable.

Shadow Home Affairs

Minister Winston Felix added that “the incident is a clear-cut case”, noting that it happened in Guyana and the persons to be interviewed

have not left the jurisdiction. The doctor, the teen’s mother and the teen in this case have to be given priority in such an investigation. On the other hand, the Alliance For Change (AFC) on Wednesday said that in light of the recent acquittal of the officers who shot and killed Dameon Belgrave, it is hoping that the same does not happen in the Griffith matter.

AFC member Catherine Hughes said the Guyana Police Force has indeed sunk to the lowest of the low while opining that the Guyanese population has already lost confidence in the system.

Griffith, a resident of East La Penitence Squatting Area, was allegedly shot to the mouth by a Police rank, who had accused him of being a witness to a robbery in the area. The incident occurred during a response to a report of robbery with aggravation committed on a relative of the rank.

Fire destroys home at Cromarty

An early morn-

ing fire destroyed a small two-storey house at Cromarty Village, Corentyne, leaving a woman homeless.

At the time of the blaze, no one was at home. Eyewitnesses say the fire started around 12:30h Thursday and quickly consumed the building. The building was owned by Chanderdai Rajnauth.

The 57-year-old woman, who has a speech impairment and lives alone, was spending the evening with a neighbour who had recently returned to Guyana.

According to one neighbour, he was awoken by the shout of fire and as he opened his eyes, he saw a bright light coming through

his window. He said when he looked outside; he saw the building on fire.

He immediately alerted another neighbour whose house was in danger. A bucket brigade was formed and prevented the fire from spreading to the nearby building.

Latchme Ashadat told this publication that she was awoken by the heat coming through her bedroom wall. Moments later, she heard the shouts for “fire!”

“When I look through the window is fire coming right out the house.” She said the fire must have started on the upper flat of the house. Her house was being threatened as the plastic gutters around the roof had already started to melt.

scene.

“You see the distance from Rose Hall to here is far, so they couldn’t get here on time.”

The destroyed building was situated on the plot of land where Rajnauth and her 10 siblings grew up. She is the only one who remained in the village.

According to one resident, during the time of the fire and shortly after, Rajnauth who has no children and was never married, held on to the fence and wept bitterly.

About 20 neighbours came out with buckets and formed a brigade, firstly throwing water on Ashadat’s house.

Heat too much

“The heat was too much so they had to run on the roof and throw the water… If the fire station was nearer, they could have saved something.”

Ashadat said the Rose Hall Town Branch of the Guyana Fire Service responded about 20 minutes after being summoned to the

As the sun rose and persons were able to get a clear view of the damage, Rajnauth went through the rubble and found the padlock, which she had locked her door with, opened.

She also explained that she did not find any of the jewellery that she left at home, noting that a pants containing US$300 was discovered, but the money was not in it.

The Police are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, three years ago, a masked man entered the home of Rajnauth and attempted to rape her.

However, she fought with her attacker for a while until she was able to pull off his mask. At that point, he fled the house. Her inability to communicate properly made it difficult for her to relate who her attacker was.

Rajnauth is now staying with a neighbour and has hopes of rebuilding her home.

De pullice like a lotta probin

Pullice wuk is a lotta wuk and it ain’t no easy wuk.

But some body got to tell dem pullice officers that dem ain’t no gods and dem ain’t above the law. All pullice men supposed to obey de laws of de land, just like any body else.

Not like dem ones who does drive thru all de red lights and put on dem siren when it got traffic jam just to get a quick pass. Neither dem ones who don’t ever answer de 911 calls or don’t answer de police station phone.

One time yuh hearing that dem pullice in Timehri use a baton in a man behind. Next time yuh hearing that some other pullice in GT put gun in a teenager mouth. It musbe that dem pullice gotta serious weakness fuh mouth and behind. When dem can’t get to use mouth, dem does use behind and vice versa. Some does use both.

Dem prison officers stay de same way too. It look like de pullice farce does give dem trainin…or strainin, dependin on de situation. De other day a prison officer find cocaine in a man behind. And de man who find de cocaine ain’t had no human body scanner and he ain’t de prison doctor either.

According to he boss, he got good eyes to see how de man was walkin, and good hands that does follow he eyes. That is a perfect example of some body who got good hand-eye coordination from top to bottom. And talkin bout bottom, de main problem is that every time de pullice probe some body in dem top or in dem bottom, yuh does always have a probe into de police probin. That is when de pullice should getta proper probin just like how dem does probe other people.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De baton probe don tek months and it look like de mouth probe gon tek months too! But that gon lead to a lotta other problems too, because de pullice like to have long probin.

House clears Bill to introduce Demerit Points System

By Svetlana MarShall

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2014 Bill was unanimously passed in the National Assembly, paving the way for the implementation of the Demerit Points System.

With the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) signalling their noobjection, the Principal Act has been amended immediately after Section 33, whereas if a person is convicted under the Third Schedule, the court shall, in addition to any punishment for the offence, implement the Demerit Points System. This system seeks to reduce the occurrences of road accidents and road fatalities by disqualifying reckless drivers for specified periods.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2014 Bill was laid in the House by the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall. Before it was read for a second time, Nandlall said the Bill introduces for the first time in Guyana the “Demerit Points System” which would be used to sanction errant drivers. “I don’t think anyone can dispute that we have an unusually high inci-

dence of vehicular accidents, vehicular collision on our roadway. I don’t think anyone can dispute seriously, that we have an unusually high incidence of road fatality in our country,” Nandlall said as he made his case before Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman on Thursday.

Writing

The Attorney General explained that if a person accumulates 10 or more demerit points, but less than 16, the period of disqualification from holding a driver’s license is set at six months. If that person acquires 12 demerit points or more over a 12-month period, the period of disqualification then moves to one year. But if a person acquires

a total of six or more but less than 10 demerit points due to traffic offences committed, the Bill requires the Licensing Authority notify the driver in writing.

But the Legal Affairs Minister was keen on pointing out that the Demerit Points System will not be applied if the punishment imposed by the court includes an order, disqualifying the defaulter from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence.

He said too that once an appeal is filed, the Demerit Points System will not be employed until the final ruling. “A person who applies for or obtains a driver’s licence or drives a motor vehicle while he is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence under the

Demerit Points System is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for a period of 12 months together with the disqualification from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for a further period of six months,” the Bill states.

Another important aspect of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, Minister Nandlall said, was the expansion of the definition of owner found within the Principal Act. With the initial definition being substituted, an owner now means the person in whose name a motor vehicle or trailer is registered.

Additionally, once the registered owner in absent from Guyana, the person who is left in charge or in possession of the vehicle will now be considered the owner.

These are coupled with three other definitions which include the hire Purchase Agreement, Sales Agreement and or the Bill of Sales Agreement.

Nandlall contended that the definition in the Principal Act is a “fictional” one in the point of law, because it made the person whose name appears on the certificate of registration as the owner as well as the person who may have used or

been in possession of the vehicle under a hire purchase agreement. He pointed out that the act came into effect since 1940.

Necessary

Nandlall said this move is necessary to address “the difficulties which are invariably encountered in establishing criminal liability”. He explained that there have been several cases where a vehicle registered in the name of one person, is used by another in the commission of a criminal offence or engaged in a criminal enterprise.

On many occasions, he said the registered owners would have parted with their vehicles for a considerable period; hence, making it difficult for investigators to conclude their cases. But the Bill, he said, will give way for investigators to effectively execute their duties.

“It does not change the civil law with relation to who owns a vehicle. The Hire Purchase Law remains intact, the law in relation to Bills of Sale remains intact, the law in relation to the Power of Attorney remains intact, but for the purpose for the convenience and for the purpose of discharging liabilities or other imposing liabilities under the Road

Traffic Act of various pieces of legislation criminal liability, expand the concept of owner,” he explained.

“Where the application for transfer of registration of a motor vehicle has not been made within seven days... after the change of possession of the vehicle… the registered owner and the person into whose possession of the motor vehicle has passed each commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for three months.”

APNU front bencher Basil Williams signalled the coalition’s support for the Bill, noting that the Demerit Points System is one that ought to be complemented. He said statistical reports have chronicled the increase in road accidents and road fatalities. His party colleague, former Police Commissioner Winston Felix while applauding the move to implement the Demerit Points System, said remedial programmes should be implemented to train drivers. From the onset, Moses Nagamootoo made it clear that the Alliance For Change would have supported the Bill. The Bill was subsequently read for a second and third time before being passed by the National Assembly.

Police claim being 'scapegoated' in Belgrave’s case

Amid criticisms for its handling of the case involving Dameon Belgrave who was shot dead during a Police operation outside the White Castle Fish Shop in 2012, the Guyana Police Force on Thursday sought to shift blame the matter.

According to the Police, the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) should be answerable for the collapse of the case, saying that it depended on these two bodies for legal advice.

The two policemen, who were charged with the Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara man’s death, were freed last week Thursday after Magistrate Ann McLennan upheld nocase submissions by their lawyers.

and the DPP in the process of seeking legal advice.

The Force said that it acted on legal advice obtained from the competent authority and will continue to do so in the future. It added that the statement of the Police ballistics expert was in the file prior to legal advice being given.

The Prosecutor in the matter is part of the Early Case Assessment Programme (ECAP) and operates out of the Chambers of the DPP and not from any Police location.

Walter Rodney Foundation Essay Competition winners rewarded

The prize giving ceremony for the inaugural Walter Rodney Foundation Essay Competition was held on Wednesday at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) at the University of Guyana (UG).

The competition was spearheaded by the Walter Rodney Foundation located in Atlanta, Georgia, and Dr Mark Tumbridge who is attached to the Faculty of Humanities, UG.

The Walter Rodney Foundation is committed to promoting and propagating Walter Rodney’s ideas.

Upon realising the error, Police reportedly made checks for the rank, but he could not be located.

In a statement, Police said cognisant of media reports concerning the discharging of the charges against the two Police ranks, it must be reminded that the killing was given wide media coverage, inclusive of the fact that the file in the matter had been sent by the Police to the PCA Chairman

Reports are that the policeman who had actually fired the shot that killed Belgrave was not charged initially. Ballistic expert Detective Sergeant Eon Jackson during his testimony at the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) revealed that a warhead discovered at the scene of Belgrave’s body did not come from the guns of the two men, but rather another rank who was not charged.

“The Guyana Police Force wishes to advise that it accepts criticisms in good faith and is continuously making efforts to address excesses and deficiencies of its ranks. However, the Police Force also wishes to bring to the notice of the public the efforts of some sections of the media to continuously use the Police as a scapegoat for every negative in the justice system. The process forward in the Dameon Belgrave matter is for the DPP to examine the depositions and take a decision on how the Police or the court proceeds with the matter,” the statement concluded.

The preparation for the competition started in September 2013, and thereafter students from the university were asked to participate in either the poetry or short story categories. The students were not limited to any particular topic and this gave them the opportunity to explore the vast teachings of Walter Rodney.

The outstanding students in the competition were presented with certificates of participation and monetary prizes. The winners Sara Bharrat (poem – “Without You”) and Subjraj Singh (short story –“Rebelle”) were given the opportunity to recite their winning pieces. The competition was funded by the Walter Rodney Foundation.

In his remarks, Culture,

Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony thanked the university for readily accepting to organise and implement the competition.

He explained that the Walter Rodney Foundation hosts several activities aimed at sharing Dr Rodney’s teachings. This is done through the Foundation’s annual symposium, and other projects, such as the Oral History and Walter Rodney Memorial Project. Additionally, the Foundation is working towards recording conversations with elders who were close to Dr Rodney and they are also digitising audio tapes of speeches Dr Rodney made. In Guyana, the Ministry through the National Trust has partnered with the Rodney Foundation to enhance and maintain Walter Rodney’s gravesite and memorial park. Another project is the Walter Rodney and Youth Legacy Project which is an essay competition in primary and secondary schools.

Achievements

Minister Anthony spoke about Dr Rodney’s achievements which began with him receiving a scholarship to Queen’s College. Thereafter, he went on to the University of the West Indies and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London where at age 24, he was awarded a PhD with Honours. “Today students of our university will do well in emulating him, by striving relentlessly for academic excellence,” he emphasised.

Dr Rodney’s teaching career took him to the Darasalem University in Tanzania. After travelling to Jamaica in 1968, Rodney was expelled from that country for his activism. In 1974, he accepted a position of Professor of History at the University of Guyana; however, when he arrived,

his offer was rescinded by the PNC Government. Dr Rodney was not discouraged; instead, he used his knowledge and teaching skills to reach out to the working class around the country.

When Dr Rodney joined the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), he became one of the vocal critics of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and because of criticism, there were constant efforts to intimidate and harass their critics. On June 13, 1980, Dr Rodney was brutally murdered not far from Bent Street where he grew up. Today, many questions still linger; it is for this reason that a Commission of Inquiry has been established by President Donald Ramotar.

“I think that it is apt that the University of Guyana has chosen a writing competition to celebrate Dr Walter’s life… I do hope that this competition becomes an annual event,” he said. The Minister called for the reinstatement of the Dr Walter Rodney Chair.

UG Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi noted that when he first heard about the competition, he was challenged; nevertheless it was welcomed by the university. The competition was judged by overseas writers, in this regard, the Vice Chancellor emphasised that this builds confidence. Because of the quality of the pieces, Dr Opadeyi indicated that the University will post the first, second and third place winners’ works on their website. He also encouraged the students to continue writing since this can bring great fulfilment.

After the presentation ceremony, there was a short question and answer session where the writers were able to discuss aspects of their work and future plans.

Gold Board to advance interests of mining industry

... as it celebrates 32nd anniversary

The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) celebrated its 32nd anniversary on Thursday and has recommitted to continue working with the mining industry to maximise gold production to help sustain the country’s economic growth.

In a statement released from the Gold Board, it was mentioned that gold mining, apart from employment, livelihoods and the national economy, should not be underestimated since communities are often thriving on the sustainability and growth of the gold mining sector.

However, the GGB noted that long-term relationships of trust and respect must be established between stakeholders in order for a growing gold mining economy like Guyana to be sustained.

Over the years, GGB has expanded its mandate to transform the gold mining sector by issuing dealer’s licences to various private entities and opening new suboffices in the predominantly mining geographic areas.

GGB Chairman, Dr Gobind Ganga highlighted that the Board has focused during the last year on matters that sought to strengthen management, improving security and internal controls, improving staff working environment and compensation, and expanding and deepening the GGB intermediation functions.

He noted that with the unpredictable gold market and declining prices, efforts to improve the accountability was challenging.

In 2013 also, the gold industry declared a total of

481,087 ounces, a 9.7 per cent increase from the previous year. This, according to the GGB, was a historic performance that recorded the highest level of production, exceeding production levels even when Omai gold mines were at their peak.

The Gold Board noted that despite the challenges over the year, the prospects for large-scale mining for gold in Guyana are still very real. Notably, the Guyana Goldfields project at Aurora and Troy Resources (Pharsalus) in the Kaburi area is on stream for late 2014.

Going forward in 2014, gold prices are expected to remain unstable as the trends that were experienced in late 2013 continued in the first quarter of 2014. The Gold Board projected that the global demand for gold is unlikely to grow; however, it will not decrease.

Likely rise

“Mine production of gold seems likely to rise marginally in 2014 and it is expected that... recycling flows... increase, but it is also expected that the combined impact on gold supply... be only mildly bearish,” the Board stated.

GGB noted that gold miners are continuingly investing in technology to increase production and reduce costs in order to be profitable in light of the declining gold prices. Hence, gold declaration and exports are expected to continue to expand in 2014, which will positively influence areas such as growth, exports, employment and general development of the Guyanese economy.

“The Guyana Gold Board will continue to facilitate this thrust by intensifying its intermediation role by renewing licenses to qualified dealers, expanding its operations in Port Kaituma and engaging stakeholders in providing for a payment system that is more safe and efficient,” GGB stated.

It added too that during the first quarter of 2014, it had work to put various anti-money laundering policies in place to aid authorities.

In addition, GGB continues to provide functional services to other organisations such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

The Gold Board had gained strong support from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to ensure that the gold is channelled into the development of the country.

Subject Minister Robert Persaud had applauded small and medium-scale miners for creating history in Guyana by recognising their performance in 2013.

Minister Persaud had described the natural resources and the environment sector as, “an emerging sector that is very critical and central to the economic growth and also to fostering social stability. The contribution of the natural resources and environmental sectors to our economy we can see that it is growing and expanding”.

Meanwhile, the GGDMA also congratulated the Gold Board on its anniversary and its services to the local gold mining industry.

According to the GGDMA, the successes and the continued record-breaking declarations are mainly due to the symbiotic relationship established between itself and the GGB. It added that this partnership is a maximum effort to ensure, through the support and co-operation of the miners, that all minerals garnered are declared.

Nandlall’s views on “distasteful” ads not those of Govt – Dr Luncheon

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon on Thursday downplayed comments made by the Attorney General Anil Nandlall that the advertisements being run by the Government Information Agency (GINA) on the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) are “distasteful”.

Dr Luncheon, speaking at his post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, said the view expressed by Minister Nandlall with respect to advertisements by GINA is the Attorney General’s personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the position that the Government has taken on the issue of GINA coverage and placement of advertisements.

“I would say that he ain’t speaking for me,” the Cabinet Secretary told the new conference, adding: “It is his opinion, I don’t share it; we haven’t discussed it.”

When questioned on whether Nandlall being the Legal Affairs Minister does not have the authority to pronounce on the issue, Dr Luncheon responded in the negative, stating that the Minister’s opinion does not “deduce itself to legal advice”.

He went further to opine that the Minister’s pronouncements were out of his jurisdiction as Legal Affairs Minister since the matter would be one for the Communication Minister, saying, “I don’t know whether the AG has been appointed to voice his opinion on the issue.”

Dr Luncheon said GINA operates with some amount of independence and this is shown in its coverage of events; hence, the placement of the advertisements should be seen as a non-issue.

“There’s a very thin line between giving instructions and (telling) media practitioners instructions what to carry about events,” said Dr Luncheon.

He further explained that he was made to understand that the advertisements were indeed placed and paid for by GINA, but

stressed that it should not be an issue since the Walter Rodney CoI from which excerpts were taken to film the advertisement was being streamed live.

He pointed out that whether the said excerpts were made further available is in actuality a question for the media agency responsible for the advertisements. The ads in question are made up of excerpts from the testimonies of Lawrence Rodney, Reverend Reuben Gilbert, and Karen De Souza, all of whom gave testimonies implicating the PNC Government of that time for the killing of Dr Rodney.

GINA and KN

Meanwhile, GINA in response to a Kaieteur News’ frontpage headline, “GINA pays for ‘distasteful’ ad campaign to smear PNC”, in its May 15 edition, said it is another attempt by the newspaper to deliberately mislead and is demonstrative of its engrained proclivity to sensationalise.

“GINA is not unmindful of the overt intentions of the Kaieteur News in its quest to besmirch the agency.”

GINA stated that the placement of the advertisements was never intended for the purpose as articulated by the Kaieteur News and resolutely rejects the newspaper’s reckless assertions.

“GINA is cognisant of its ethical and constitutional responsibility on behalf of the Government and the State of Guyana to disseminate information in an objective, accurate and fair manner and to avoid at all cost the incitement of racial, ethnic and other hostilities.” The news agency added that the content of the advertisements was not fabricated but derived from what was said for public consumption during the hearings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of Dr Walter Rodney. “The media, including the Kaieteur News, weeks before the placement of the advertisements, reported many related and revealing stories.

“It is therefore mindboggling that the Kaieteur News, having reported previously on the revelations of the said CoI, would now sensationally state that GINA is trying to smear the PNC and promote racial violence based on the same information emanating from the hearings.”

GINA made reference to the newspaper’s Wednesday, April 30, edition where it carried a front-page headline, “PNC Govt killed Rodney –Karen De Souza”.

Regional

Venezuela sees protests down to hard core, over by July

Venezuela’s threemonth protest movement has dwindled to a hard core of a few hundred violent troublemakers and the unrest should be snuffed out by July, a top security official said.

Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez, who has been the public face of the

Government crackdown on demonstrators, told Reuters authorities were focused on about 100 radical opponents in Caracas and 100-200 elsewhere around the nation.

“They’re changing the tactics of subversion,” the 50-year-old army Major General said, pausing to take phone calls about the

Petrotrin offers help to baby’s family

Petrotrin on Wednesday offered counselling services to the relatives of baby Jadon Cudjoe and employees after the child was discovered dead in his grandfather’s car at its Penal facility. The state-run oil company, in a statement to the TT Guardian, also extended condolences to the family of the 17-month-old child and indicated that investigations were still ongoing.

The release stated that around 16:50h on Wednesday, Petrotrin Health Safety and Environment (HSE), fire and state Police were informed of the death of little Jadon. His grandfather, the release stated, is an employee of the Electrical Department at Petrotrin’s Clarke Road, Penal facility. It added that Petrotrin Employee Assistance Programme Services Limited (PEAPSL) had extended counselling services to the

Cudjoe family, as well as to the co-workers of the child’s grandfather.

When the TT Guardian visited the family’s Old Quinam Road, Aquat Village, Penal, home, female relatives were mum on the baby’s death. Relatives said they had nothing to say about what happened to the baby nor did they want to give media personnel a photo of the child. At the time, preparations were being made for wake and a white tent was set-up outside the home.

According to Police sources, the child’s grandfather remained in Police custody on Wednesday evening as he was still being interviewed. Officers said a file was being prepared to take to the Director of Public Prosecutions for instructions on whether charges of criminal negligence should be laid against him. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

latest arrests on the streets of Caracas.

“First it was massive (marches), then street barricades, then tents. Now’s it’s very focused – they burn a vehicle or a Ministry, they attack an official,” said Rodriguez, who last week participated in a 03:00h raid on protest camps.

The socialist Government has cast the protest movement as a US-supported coup plan, while foes say months of marches and clashes are the product of economic hardship and repression.

Numbers have dropped in recent weeks, but a rump of masked youth activists still take to the streets near-daily. Forty-two people have died in Venezuela’s worst unrest in a decade. Rodriguez, a friend of late leader Hugo Chávez, has become a hate figure for activists who view him as a ruthless enforcer. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Galapagos in ‘emergency’ over stranded petrol tanker

The ship’s cargo has been emptied, but it is feared that pollutants could spill over

Ecuador has declared an emergency in the Galapagos Islands, saying that a petrol tanker which ran aground last week still poses a threat to the archipelago’s fragile ecosystem.

The ship’s cargo has been emptied, but the authorities said pollutants, like motor oil, inside the vessel could spill and cause environmental damage. They were working

Violence, traffic injuries and death among top Caribbean teen challenges – WHO

Anew World Health Organisation (WHO) report says interpersonal violence, traffic injuries and suicide are the three leading causes of death among youths ages 10-19 in the Americas, including the Caribbean.

The report, “Health for the World’s Adolescents,” also says that depression is one of the three top causes of illness and disability among youths in the hemisphere.

The report, released on Wednesday, notes that while most adolescents are healthy, several have problems that require serious attention.

WHO said the region of the Americas ranks fourth among six regions in levels of adolescent mortality, with 77.5 deaths per 100,000 youths

ages 10-19 in 2012.

The report says this is below the global average of 110.7 deaths per 100,000 and below levels in Africa (282.5), the Eastern Mediterranean (118.3) and South East Asia (102.3). Only Europe (57.4) and the Western Pacific (43.6) have lower adolescent mortality than the Americas, WHO said.

It said the main causes of adolescent deaths in the Americas have changed very little since 2000. In both 2000 and 2012, the five leading causes of death among the region’s youths were interpersonal violence, traffic injuries, suicide, drowning and respiratory infections. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Five-year low for serious and violent crimes in Jamaica

Jamaica’s Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, says there has been a gradual decrease in serious and violent crimes in Jamaica over the past five years, due to the tireless work of the security forces to maintain law and order.

“We are actually maintaining a fiveyear downward trend in serious violent crimes, which means that Jamaica is getting safer year after year, based on the hard work being done by the security forces and the cooperation that we are getting from the citizens and the policy guidance that we are getting from the Ministry of National Security,” he said.

The commissioner was responding to questions from journalists at a post-Sectoral Debate presentation press conference on Wednesday by the National Security Minister Peter Bunting.

Declaring that the “outlook is good”, Ellington said that the fig-

ures for these crimes are “the lowest (they) have been in about 13 years.” Meanwhile, Bunting noted that the 33 per cent reduction in serious and violent crimes over the past five

years is significant. Providing a breakdown of the figures, the Minister said murders year to date, relative to last year, are down eight per cent.

to remove the tanker.

The Galapagos are home to unique animal species such as the giant tortoise, marine iguana and flightless cormorant. In 1978, the chain of volcanic islands were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The Ecuadorean petrol tanker, the Galapaface I, became stranded off the rocky

coast of the island of San Cristobal last Friday. It was carrying more than 70,000 litres (15,400 gallons) of diesel. The Governor of the Galapagos said that, despite having emptied all the fuel, some pollutants remained inside.

“The ship is stranded and continues to present an environmental risk for the Galapagos Marine Reserve and must leave the area,” Jorge Torres told the Efe news agency.

In a statement, the Ecuadorian Government said the emergency measure would free up resources to remove the tanker. “As a result of the emergency declaration the Risk Management Secretariat will be able to directly carry out the purchase of goods, the procurement of services and the work that are required to overcome this emergency.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Sunken body clue to American origins

The ancient remains of a teenage girl discovered deep underground in Mexico are providing additional insights on how the Americas came to be populated.

Divers found the juvenile’s bones by chance in a vast, flooded limestone chamber on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Aged 15 or 16 at death, the girl lived at least 12,000 years ago. Researchers have told Science Magazine her DNA backs the idea that the first Americans and modern Native American Indians share a common ancestry.

This theory argues that people from Siberia settled on the land bridge dubbed Beringia that linked Asia and the Americas some 20,000 years ago before sea levels rose. These people then

Give the hand-picked team of officers assigned to investigate the assassination of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal the TT$3.5 million reward being offered in the case and you are bound to get results. The proposal was made on Wednesday by Secretary of the Police Second Division Association, Inspector Micheal Seales, after a similar suggestion by the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA).

DOMA made the suggestion as it said it was tired of hearing excuses in dealing with the crime scourge, noting that any incentives given could not only help in solving Seetahal’s killing but the overall crime problem as well. But Seales had a caveat: If the team does not solve the crime

moved south to populate the American continents. The genetics of modern Native Americans would certainly appear to link them into this story. But their facial features set them apart from the oldest skeletons now being unearthed.

These ancient people had narrower, longer skulls. The differences have hinted that perhaps there were multiple immigrations from Siberia (or even Europe).

However, the remains of the Yucatan girl, dubbed Naia – which means “water nymph” in Greek – does not follow that line of thinking, because although she had the slender features associated with the earliest Americans, her DNA shares commonalities with modern Native Americans. (Excerpt from BBC News)

it would “be a failure on the part of the Police Service and its leadership. “Seetahal’s murder was not ‘ordinary’ but rather was an act to terrorism and a threat to the country’s democracy,” Seales said.

He added: “You have to treat the Police as professionals and we are saying give us the TT$3.5 million instead because it requires a certain level of knowledge and technology among other factors. It goes beyond the scope of ordinary policing. “The association wants this murder to be solved and we have to look at it through the eyes of the man in the street, who have already given the Police Service a big “F” and if they do not solve this murder then the Police Service deserves the big “F.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Cricket Administration Bill passed

The National Assembly on Thursday evening passed the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill, paving the way for new elections of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and bringing an end to a long-standing impasse between executives of the Cricket Board and the Guyana Government.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) did not support the Bill, while the other parliamentary party, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) voted in favour.

sons for administrative positions and at the same time, gives limited power to the Sport Minister.

“We created a unique innovation and we created the position of a Cricket Ombudsman; this person will be tasked with the responsibility of verifying and registering of clubs, he or she will have ample time to verify legitimacy of clubs.”

tion will be required to present timely audited financial reports to the National Assembly, as well as the National Sports Commission.

Greater scrutiny

“We feel that with greater scrutiny and oversight of financial records, that allegations of financial impropriety will be reduced.”

The role of the Minister under this legislation will only be to appoint the Ombudsman. “The Minister’s roles has been minimised in this Bill, the only role is that which is provided for, he can only appoint the Ombudsman, after that first election the role of the Minister ceases.”

A section of the Bill will address the issue of phantom voting for the election of per-

Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, who presented the Bill to the National Assembly, said it was drafted after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, and moreso, following recommendation in a ruling made by the High Court. Dr Anthony pointed out that the bill firstly makes it legal for the GCB to be established as a corporate body, comprising the Demerara, Essequibo and the Berbice Cricket Boards, all of which will also be made corporate entities.

The National Assembly was also told that the Bill provides for better financial accountability. As such, the GCB, under this new legisla-

The Subject Minister added that the recommendations from the acting Chief Justice in his rulings are included in the Bill. Issues raised during public consultations over a period of time were also taken into consideration. Minister Anthony added that he is confident that all the past issues which once hampered cricket in Guyana have been addressed in the bill.

Guyana now joins two other Caribbean nations, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados, which made the governing

Alfred King not implicated in NOC sex scandal

Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry

Permanent Secretary Alfred King has deemed it “sad” that the media would seek to sully his reputation by involving him in a sex scandal at the New Opportunity Corps.

The Permanent Secretary said he has been working with youths almost his entire life, formally through the school system as a trained teacher and as a Training Officer in the defunct Guyana National Service.

According to him, because of his high level of professionalism and the consciousness he embraces, no such allegation was ever brought before him.

“I worked with the President’s Youth Award, where there are over 2000 young people every year….

Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred King Alfred King clearing his name

There is no one young person there, whether staff, whether unit leader themselves who will tell you Mr King would get involved in something close to that. So to hear something close to that is ridiculous, especially now that I am so far away

from the environment,” King said.

He further stated that if he were so interested in making money, he would have sued whoever sought to smear his reputation.

The allegation suggests that an officer named King employed by the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry was sexually involved with female students of the New Opportunity Corps. However, the Permanent Secretary said that it is in fact another person with a similar surname that is implicated in the allegations.

“Apparently the first discussion of King, people heard Sir King and the only King they know at the Ministry is the Permanent Secretary... but that is serious reporting.”

Assistant Youth Director Davenand Ramdatt ex-

plained that the King that is fingered in the allegation was out of the country during the time the alleged act was committed, although journalists reminded that the allegations lie within ongoing incidences.

Minister Anthony also commented on the issue. “It is such a bizarre thing. Nobody wants to know that anybody has been raped or sexually molested, it is a despicable thing. But in our haste to find people guilty, we have to be careful because we could end up blaming the wrong people.”

Last week, rumours spread that an official of the New Opportunity Corps was having sex with young female students of the facility. The rumours had caused the Human Services Ministry to launch an investigation into the matter.

Molly Hassan tipped to be new NCN CEO

Former Marketing Director of Courts

Guyana Limited

Molly Hassan is likely to be appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Communications Network (NCN).

The 35-year-old Hassan is a graduate of the University of Guyana (UG), and is currently pursuing London-based business studies. Hassan is the former Marketing Director at Courts Guyana and has several years of practice in the marketing and business developmental fields.

She has reportedly been offered a multi-year contract and is expected to take up the appointment next week. Her appointment comes

just a few months after a decision by Government to transfer the NCN acting Chief Executive Michael Gordon to the State-owned Guyana Chronicle to function as its General Manager. The transfer of Gordon from NCN to Chronicle resulted in the appointment of NCN’s Marketing Manager Raymond Azeez to act in the capacity of CEO. Gordon would have also acted in the position for two years prior to his transferral.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, while refusing to confirm the appointment to the post, said it will be announced soon by way of the relevant authorities whom he pointed

out may be the President, Donald Ramotar.

Meanwhile, NCN Board of Directors Chairman, Dr Prem Misir when contacted by Guyana Times last evening, refused to confirm the information.

According to Dr Misir, he had been out of the country for quite some time and has not been abreast with the developments at NCN.

When questioned as to whether there were any talks between NCN and Hassan to take up the post, Dr Misir replied that he was unsure, stating: “I don’t even know the person.”

He pointed out that a meeting is set for today to discuss the appointment of a CEO, among other matters.

bodies for cricket legal entities. The Bill was tabled by Government in December 2011 in a bid to end the impasse over the national game. It provides Constitutions for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) and is divided into five parts with one schedule giving respective Boards the powers to effectively manage the affairs of local cricket.

The absence of a corporate structure for the County Boards had been exposed when Secretary of the BCB Angela Haniff challenged the validity of the GCB elections of June 10, 2011. Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang had thrown out the matter on the grounds that all of the associations embroiled in the matter were legal non-entities and had been so from their inception.

Therefore, they could not sue or be sued. The Bill was sent to a Special Select Committee after it was laid in the National Assembly by the Sport Minister. Several amendments have been made to the Bill, including changes to provisions that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had objected to. In the initial Bill, one of the provisions stated that the rules, regulations, bylaws and Constitutions of the former GCB are replaced by the Constitution of the GCB and further that “each and every office established under the rules, regulations, bylaws and Constitutions” of the former GCB shall cease to exist at the commencement of this Act. The passage of the Bill will also bring to an end the life of an Interim Management Committee which was established following a court battle and the acting Chief Justice’s ruling in 2011.

NOC to be...

He noted, however, that in spite of these challenges, the once per two-month visitation by parents will be relaxed. According to him, parents will now be allowed to visit as often as they see fit. He said he hopes parents will embrace this opportunity. “If they want to come every day, we are willing to have them every day. But at least once per week we would like to see our parents visit their children at NOC and we would be very pleased to see that”.

Anthony said there has been a long winded perception that the New Opportunity Corps is a closed, horrendous place. He said the Ministry wishes to change that view and will be opening its doors to the public. He said persons need to understand what really takes place at the NOC. Minister Anthony said the Ministry is also seeking to partner with all non-governmental organisations to provide mentorship to students at the facility.

Anthony said that the profile of incidents for which children are sent to the NOC have changed overtime. These may range from armed robbery to simply wandering the streets. According to him, the Ministry is now deciphering how it will separate the more benign offences from those that are considered very serious criminal acts.

He said that the offenders are all dwelling together and according to him, this will have continued consequences. Anthony has said officials have come to the conclusion that co-education for both male and female students at the institution will also have to be redressed since it may have contributed to some of the issues faced at the facility. He explained that almost all of the educational activities carried out at the institution are done with all students together. “We are hoping to build separate institutions to separate boys and

girls and they would not be on the same campus, it will be of some geographic distance from each other. Unless we separate them, we will continue to have these challenges”, Minister Anthony said.

Quiet room

Meanwhile, the Minister was obviously taken aback when he was informed by reporters who had spoken to a few former students about the conditions under which they were disciplined. Reports were made about students being sent to the “quiet room”, and according to the officials at the press conference, it is done for “reflection”. The Minister heard of students being placed in the quiet room for up to a month, when the law stipulates that they be there just for 24 hours. He heard too, that while in confinement, the students are only allowed to wear their undergarments. “The male students would be placed in their boxers. This is merely for security purposes, because they cannot be put there with full clothing”, Dover, an administrative officer at the institution said. Joining him in explanation was Medex Daniels, who has been serving the institution for over 14 years. “I know they are placed there in their tights and Brassiere, and sometimes the same brassiere, they use to tie around their neck”, the medex said, talking about female students being placed into the quiet room.

The New Opportunity Corps made headlines once again just over two months ago when news of an breakout surfaced. March 22, four female students reportedly absconded from NOC. Two female staff members made efforts to prevent the girls from leaving, but were unsuccessful. Sometime later, four males also escaped. Two days later they were all found and were placed before the magistrate’s court.

Govt pledges support to develop shipping industry

– says dredging of Demerara River just one of the big issues

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali said the time has come to develop an integrated maritime plan as the Government of Guyana has a major responsibility to ensure the facilities are there.

He made the remarks at the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) recent awards presentation held earlier this month.

The annual presentation took place at the Pegasus Hotel to recognise the immense contributions of outstanding maritime industry operatives.

“The dredging of port facilities and the dredging of the Demerara Bar (navigational channel) are just a few of the fundamental issues that must be addressed. It is becoming an important aspect of Government’s agenda,” the Minister reiterated, adding that it speaks directly to a noticeable increase in incoming and outgoing trade.

The Minister disclosed that he had recently attended a meeting of Heads of Government in Caricom and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) at which the movement of goods in the region was a key agenda item.

Competitiveness

Even before this meeting, he said, this issue had become part of a three-pronged competitiveness programme that involves developing a public/private (sector) partnership to develop Port Georgetown, facilitating foreign investment, and taking on board recommendations from maritime operators in Guyana.

“In the first quarter of 2014, the Government would have liked to complete a road map in relation to the development of Port Georgetown,” he stated, but noted that this will be done in the shortest possible time, especially the dredging of the channel and port.

He assured the Shipping Association and the guests who are all players in the local and regional maritime industry that shipping in all its permutations, remains a top agenda item in the na-

tion’s competitiveness strategy.

“We cannot improve the competitiveness of our manufactured products, or even bring down the prices for imported products if we do not address this issue,” he contended. It affects every stakeholder – consumers, importers, exporters of locally manufactured products, and operators across the shipping industry.

The Minister offered kudos to every person and organisation, particularly the SAG who have worked assiduously to “heighten the level of interest” in developing the port through increased collaboration with the Government. He gave the assurance that Government stands committed to developing the road map to chart the course forward for the shipping industry. The planned agenda, he said, is hinged on developing modern terminals along with the capacities of the related agencies.

Successes

Chairman of the Association, Desmond Sears said the past year was a relatively measured one with mixed successes. The Association’s planned and spontaneous activities were executed with the valued support of its members.

He said the main role of the Shipping Association is to act as the liaison between operatives in the shipping industry and the regulatory agencies such as the Transport Ministry, the Maritime Administration Department and the Guyana Revenue Authority.

The SAG is also mandated to actively represent the interests of its members at local, regional and international levels, ensuring the highest standards of maritime efficiency, and to facilitate speedy movement of imports and exports.

“We continue to strive to widen the scope of our focus to include related agencies since we believe in standing united in order to achieve the benefits for the good of our nation,” the Chairman stated.

The major activities undertaken by the SAG included advocacy for the mod-

ernisation of the Demerara Harbour in the short term. The Harbour and the Demerara Navigational Channel were singled out for special attention since it is the hub of commercial shipping in Guyana, and it is where the largest wharves and terminals are located.

“Arising from a 2012 directive issued by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, a Port Development Working Group was established and tasked with producing a proposal for upgrading the Georgetown Harbour,” the Association’s Chairman noted. After weeks of deliberations, a Concept Document was handed over to the Minister for consideration. It was agreed that capital dredging of the navigational channel was the most necessary element of the proposal and required urgent attention. “This has been placed at the top of our agenda going forward,” he reported.

Awards

At the event, four major awards were presented to outstanding maritime industry operators and administrators who, over the past year, have made significant contributions to the sector’s growth and sustenance. The most notable was Christopher Fernandes, retired Chief Executive Officer of John Fernandes Limited. Fernandes was described as one who devoted many years to advocating at the highest levels of the industry and Government for the modernisation of the Demerara Port.

GAICO Construction and General Services Inc General Manager Komal Singh also received an award for his company’s innovativeness and aggressive expansion of the range of services. Muneshwers Limited was recognised for consistently upgrading their cargo receiving and storage facilities and expanding the range of services to domestic and overseas clientele, while the Long Service Award was given to Ian D’Anjou, the deserving Secretary/Treasurer of the Shipping Association in gratitude for over a decade of dedicated service.

NOC a breeding ground for gangs – GHRA

bemoans lack of proper oversight, care

The New Opportunity Corps (NOC) is a breeding ground for cliques, gangs, bullying and abuse, both by staff and older inmates, the Guyana Human Rights Association said on Thursday.

It noted too that new revelations of alleged abuse constitute an ongoing indictment of the Government’s inability to deal professionally, compassionately and impartially with young people who find themselves in trouble with the law.

The Human Services Ministry has launched an investigation into allegations that some of the young girls at the institution located at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast have been raped and sexually molested.

In a statement on Thursday, the GHRA said the purpose of the institution is deeply confused – part reform institution, part remand centre – but mostly a human warehouse for storing children and young people who are products of disorderly families or dysfunctional parents or guardians.

The rights body said most of the inmates of the NOC are victims rather than offenders.

Need love

“What the majority of minors in the NOC need is a loving, stable, humane environment and normal interactions

with the community. What they encounter, however, is untrained staff, inadequate diet, in a militarised-type environment, remote from anyone and anywhere they are familiar with. Circumstances in other words that provide fertile opportunities for cliques, gangs, bullying and abuse both by staff and older inmates.”

According to the body, ministerial responsibility for the NOC is chaotic, with officers from the Human Services Ministry, which ought to be in charge of the institution, having to seek permission from the courts to intervene.

“The comment by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport that inmates were free to report abuse to the Police simply underlines how remote from reality and unsuited to administering the NOC this Ministry has become,” the GHRA said. Minister, Dr Frank Anthony was responding to allegations last month that several female inmates had escaped, claiming they were sexually molested by male staffers and older male inmates. Procedures and guidelines for mandatory reporting of all abuse and exploitation should be a priority within the institution itself.

The GHRA said none of the public agencies responsible for committals, monitoring, or administration of

either judicial or welfare matters should feel the least comfortable about the role they play with respect to the NOC.

“Charges unknown to law, such as ‘wandering’, are manufactured to justify remand.”

The body said at a meeting in Essequibo last November that women leaders expressed concern over the lack of involvement of community leadership with the NOC and the absence of any independent Board of Management for the institution.

Allegations of sexual assaults have surfaced with regularity in the NOC for years. However, careful control of reports and in-house investigations has ensured they were not substantiated, publicised nor addressed by the Ministry and the Child Rights Commission.

Collusion

“The fact that children and young people in difficult circumstances in Guyana can expect very little in terms of care, protection or rehabilitation is bad enough, what is worse is the extent to which the very agencies responsible for their protection are actively or passively colluding with abusers. This conclusion is regularly reinforced, whether in relation to trafficked girls; the brutality metered out by the Police to youngsters; inhumane committals to the NOC; and the perpetual ambivalence over corporal punishment in schools.”

The GHRA said the particular cases under investigation should not distract from the root-and-branch reforms embodied in a national policy for addressing young people in trouble with the law, as well as the involvement of a much wider range of competent agencies in the development, implementation and monitoring of that policy.

Empretec’s entrepreneur wins business women’s award

Tracy Antoinette Green Douglas has been accredited among the top 10 women entrepreneurs in the Empretec Network globally in this year’s United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Women in Business Award.

She follows in the footsteps of Irene Bacchus-Holder in 2008 and Lucia Desir in 2010.

At a meeting held on April 28, of the UNCTAD Investment, Enterprise and Development Commission, the 10 finalists for the fourth UNCTAD Empretec Women in Business Award (WBA) were announced.

The awards have been presented every two years since 2008. This year was even more competitive as more than 100 nominations were received from 35 National Empretec centres across the world.

The main aim of the award is to celebrate exceptional women entrepreneurs who have benefited from UNCTAD’s Empretec training programme. The finalists were

selected from a distinguished panel of 20 world experts who based her selection on innovation, leadership and impact in their community.

Empretec Guyana is once again excited about this announcement which validates the Empretec methodology as a tool for producing entrepreneurs with high growth potential.

Empretec’s Tracy Antoinette Green Douglas owns and manages Pandama Wines in Guyana. Her business focuses on producing fruit wines, fruit soaps and art products from local resources. It is a place of retreat where the local community and tourists can connect with nature.

Douglas participated in Empretec’s hallmark programme, the Entrepreneurship Training Workshop in 2009 and thereafter applied the core tenets of the programme to strengthen her personal entrepreneurial competencies, thereby increasing her busi-

ness competitiveness. The final three winners will be announced during UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum which will take place from October 13 to 16 in Geneva. To mark the theme of this year’s forum “Investing in Sustainable Development”, two additional candidates were announced, who will receive a special recognition for their work as social and green entrepreneurs. The other finalists in the WIB Award are from Argentina, Nigeria, Jordan, Mauritius, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Brazil.

Empretec is an integrated capacity-building programme of the United Nations that focuses primarily on building the capacities of small and medium size enterprises to increase their competitiveness internationally. For the past 11 years, Empretec Guyana has been working extensively with entrepreneurs in various sectors across Guyana.

Guyana finalising plan for aging coconut plantation industry

Guyana says it is finalising a plan that will incorporate a number of measures to address the country’s aging coconut plantation industry.

National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Oudho Homenauth said Guyana has an aging coconut planta-

tion and there is urgent need to replant with improved varieties.

He said the 2020 plan will look at addressing such issues, whether through improvement in varieties or through fertilisation, and management of pests and diseases. Maintenance of the estates will also be addressed in the plan.

Meanwhile, the authorities say they will focus on a number of areas to help further the industry, including improving the quality of virgin coconut oil, equipment for processing for small groups and examining the production of coconut powder.

They said focus will also be placed on managing pests and diseases that attack the coconut plant and Dr Homenauth said that NAREI is working to have stakeholders address the red palm mites that are now infecting the plants. (Caribbean360)

Upkeep of bus sheds in Linden problematic

The proper maintenance and upkeep of some bus sheds in the Linden community is currently a concern for some residents and community leaders.

Recently, Republic Bank indicated that it will no longer be maintaining a bus shed located at Lover’s Lane, Amelia’s Ward due to some of these issues. It was revealed that persons of unsound mind had been constantly destroying the facility.

According to the bank, repairs had recently been carried out to the bus shed, but it was soon damaged again. The bank stated its inability to continue the maintenance of the shed, and as such, removed the company sign and garbage receptacle which were placed at the site.

Speaking on the issue, Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon urged persons to desist from such activities and

said it was unfortunate that the community would lose out on one of its most important facilities.

“That was probably one of the best bus sheds we had in Linden and the Republic Bank would have had intentions of constructing more, but they are not going to do anymore because someone is vending in the bus shed. People of unsound mind were dwelling in it and nobody is doing anything. The company has decided that it is not going to put its image above anything that is not going to be given any sort of representation. So the community is going to lose out on a few bus sheds,” he noted.

Among other concerns raised is the prevalence of graffiti on the walls of some of the sheds, increased vending and untidiness. Solomon said that more responsibility should be taken and the sheds should be properly

kept.

“Let me say in all fairness, Republic Bank maintained that bus shed to the point where it was regularly painted and its perimeter maintained,” he said.

He added that the maintenance of the bus sheds fall under the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), and as such, responsibility should be taken. The municipality has since indicated that it is calling for the removal of individuals who vend in the bus sheds.

“It is the patrols of the municipality that normally go about looking at these issues. In essence, what is being said by Republic Bank representatives is that somebody must take responsibility for the bus shed. Anyone wanting to put up the sheds has to ask permission from somewhere so that somebody should take responsibility,” he said.

Latin America, Caribbean way behind in broadband penetration- IDB study

Latin America and the Caribbean lag far behind developed countries in broadband penetration, according to a new index launched on Wednesday by the Inter-American Development Bank.

It finds Chile, Barbados and Brazil in the best position to take advantage of this vital development tool. The 26 countries of the region included in the index posted a score of 4.37 on the Broadband Development Index. By comparison, the countries of the OECD rate an average of 6.14. Chile leads the regional ranking with a combined score of 5.57, followed by Barbados at 5.47 and Brazil with 5.32. The index brings together 37 indicators, each with a score ranging from one (least development) to 8 (most development), to come up with the overall index. The indicators are chosen on the basis of four pillars: public policy and strategic vision, strategic regulation, infrastructure, and applications and knowledge.

“In a modern society, broadband is the key ingredient of the public policy agenda for speeding up economic growth and reducing inequality,” said Antonio GarcíaZaballos, who is leading the

IDB’s broadband initiative. According to a recent IDB study, a 10 per cent increase in penetration of broadband services carries with it average rise of 3.2 per cent in Gross Domestic Product and 2.6 percentage points in productivity.

The ranking can be found on the IDB’s new DigiLAC web site, with data from all the countries of the region and more than 15,000 cities and towns. It was released as part of an IDB seminar on South Korea and the lessons that can be drawn from it for the development of Latin America and the Caribbean. South Korea has one of the world’s highest degrees of broadband development.

The Southern Cone subregion has the greatest broadband penetration with a score of 4.87. The Caribbean is the region lagging furthest behind, with an index of 3.72. However, Central America scored 4.26, slightly surpassing the Andean region at 4.13. DigiLAC also features maps with data on 13 infrastructure and socio-economic variables at the municipal and department level in the countries that were studied.

For people to benefit from broadband access to the

Internet, companies, lawmakers, regulators and other actors with influence must work together to tackle the digital divide that exists between the region and the world’s most dynamic economies, and between urban and rural areas in the countries measured by the index.

Broadband services have been rising in Latin America, with an annual increase of between 16 and 18 per cent. But the worst bottleneck for broadband is its high cost for users: nearly eight times what it is in the countries of the OECD. Added to this is a lack of coordination between the public and private sectors in developing a national digital agenda.

“It is essential to have the right regulatory frameworks so as to encourage competition, transparency and the legal security needed to stimulate the necessary investment,” García-Zaballos added. DigiLAC is part of the IDB’s Broadband Programme, the goal of which is to promote an institutional and regulatory environment that facilitates competition and investment to speed up access to, as well as adoption and use of, broadband services in the region.

friday, may 16, 2014

Caribbean has the wherewithal to ensure food security – study

A

new study suggests the design of policies and greater investment in eight priority areas will enable Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to raise agricultural productivity

Anew study suggests the design of policies and greater investment in eight priority areas will enable Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to raise agricultural productivity, meet its own food and nutrition needs, and help meet the burgeoning world demand for food, fibre and fuel.

The study released in the US on Tuesday, was published by the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI), a partnership of organisations that includes the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The study recommends that governments, the international donor community, the private sector and agricultural producers implement actions to tap the region’s competitive advantages, especially the wealth of its natural resources.

“One of the major challenges for the region is the need to transform family and smallholder farming into a competitive and sustainable form of agriculture, capable of achieving increased food production and a substantial improvement in the income and quality of life of producers,” IICA Director General Víctor M Villalobos said.

The study also proposes that the policies needed to attract more investment to agriculture in LAC and increase the region’s contribution to world food security should focus on efforts to boost the advance of agricultural science, research and development as well as improve the transfer of knowledge to producers and modernise agricultural extension systems and services. It also calls for the authorities to promote and create frameworks that offer legal security, to attract investment in infrastructure for the agricultural sector, support irrigation, water management and technology and promote, enhance and facilitate regional and global trade.

The need to improve farmers’ access to financial services: managing risk and the availability of credit were also outlined in the study.

GHI and the IDB also recommend that the LAC countries place agriculture at the centre of their development policies and invest in the creation of public goods through research, development and innovation, to stimulate higher productivity in the sector. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

NY man charged with death of nine-year-old Guyanese girl

Prosecutors in New York have charged a 62-year-old man in the vehicular death of a nineyear-old Guyanese girl in Brooklyn.

Kenneth Palache, 62, of Huntington, Long Island, was arraigned on Monday in the Brooklyn Supreme Court on several charges, including one count of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Rebecca Ramnarine in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn.

In addition to manslaughter, Palache was arraigned on charges of criminal endangerment, two counts of

leaving the scene of an accident and one count of driving with a suspended licence. He appeared in court on crutches after he was treated at Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn. He failed to post bail. Police charged Palache, who reportedly did not stop at an intersection and then slammed into the rear of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra in which Rebecca was in the backseat.

According to prosecutors, Palache told cops his minivan’s accelerator got stuck.

Rebecca’s Guyana-born parents, Richard and Abiola

Ramnarine, told reporters that their daughter had snapped a selfie smiling just before climbing into the car.

“It was like a gift, she was smiling, like always,” said Ramarine, 39, disclosing that he and his wife were in another car that was about two minutes behind and came upon the wreck. “She (his wife) hasn’t slept. Neither have I.” he said. Palache’s lawyer, Darren Fields, said: “This is just a tragic accident. He’s never been in trouble a day in his life.”(CMC)

AFC wants independent probe into rape, molestation allegations at NOC

Member of Parliament for the Alliance for Change (AFC) Trevor Williams on Wednesday called on the administration to set up an independent body to investigate claims of rape and sexual harassment of inmates at the New Opportunity Corps.

Williams who made the call at the party’s press conference at the Side Walk Café related that having the Government investigate a matter which allegedly involves Government officials would produce a report which is biased. “…those culpable must be held accountable and justice must be allowed to take its course,” Williams told the news conference. He stated too that the sit-

uation had brought great shame and embarrassment not only to the institution but also to the government and the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister by extension since they have not yet taken any drastic steps to address the matter. Williams told media operatives too that the situation has created insecurity in the minds of all citizens and parents as they are now afraid to send their children for reformation at the nation’s premier juvenile institution.

The MP cited the need for the matter to be addressed as soon as possible stating that it was not only affecting the lives of the girls but the public’s confidence in the institution also needs to be restored. “The

NOC is Guyana’s foremost juvenile correctional institution and it is imperative that the nation repose full confidence in its ability to carry out its mandate with integrity and unquestionable standards,” the AFC youth leader said. Williams also criticised the Government for not being able to release the report on the 2012 confrontation with residents and staff during which a fire was started and an attempted breakout by inmates foiled. The AFC MP is now calling on the Government to initiate a thorough review of the functioning of the New Opportunity Corps and pledged his party’s willingness to assist in any such exercise.

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75 riders to contest Independence Three-Stage

- Mohamed calls for cooperation to ensure smooth execution

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Approximately 75 rid-

ers will face the starting line on Sunday morning in Corriverton when the 32nd annual Independence Three-Stage cycling meet pedals off with high expectations and a call for cooperation from all involved by national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed.

Mohamed, the chief organiser of the activity ever since its inception in 1983, informed this publication on Thursday that he is impressed by the number of entries for the twoday race, noting that apart from local cyclists, riders

from Anguilla, Heat Wave of Trinidad and Tobago and Team Coco have confirmed participation.

“We have 75 registered riders at the moment, including 12 from overseas. I expect a very good race because I know the riders have been training hard for this event,” Mohamed said on Thursday afternoon.

That number is expected to increase, according to Mohamed, adding that the Suriname riders are expected to confirm their participation today. Up to press time on Thursday, no female cyclist had registered.

Speaking on the area of logistics, Mohamed said all the necessary arrangements have been put in place and it is now just a matter of execution.

“The Commander of B Division [Berbice] as well as the other Commanders in the various regions we’re touching have received copies of my letter. Everything is in place and we’re just raring to go. The plans are in place and I’m confident we will have a good race,” Mohamed reckoned.

Cooperation

Meanwhile, Mohamed, in issuing a call for cooperation from all involved, had a word of advise for those persons who usually follow the race, noting that they

should guard against getting too close to the riders.

“Only yesterday [Wednesday] I had a meeting with the Federation and there were some representatives from the clubs and I appealed to them [to cooperate]. That [getting too close to the riders] would interefere with the rider’s chance because there is a penalty for that,” Mohamed explained.

He continued, “If you want to feed your cyclists don’t go in between them. Let them signal by raise of hand and they would drop

back and collect. Normally it is supposed to be done on foot, but things have changed.”

The organiser also urged race officials to fully understand their roles and execute them effectively to ensure a smooth flow along the roadway.

“They should be on the side of the road, not on the left side with the riders. They should always be looking out for traffic because you have to remember the road is not closed to traffic, so you still have vehicles going both ways. I feel they

ought to know that by now because the kind of people we issue stickers are people who know the game and we expect better of them,” Mohamed asserted.

Race route

When action pedals off on Saturday, the riders will compete from the Corriverton Police Station to Alexander Street, New Amsterdam, covering a distance of 46.6 miles or 75 km. That leg is slated to start at 07:30 hours.

At 14:00 hours on the same day, the cyclists will

start at Rosignol and finish at Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, a total distance of 60.4 miles or 97.1 km.

The third and final stage, which will cover 64.5 miles or 103 km, will be held on Sunday with action starting at 08:00 hours in Kara Kara, Linden, and ending at Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

Altogether, the racers will cover 171.5 miles or 275.1 km of Guyana’s roadways.

Meanwhile, Mohamed reminded cyclists and officials that transportation to Berbice will leave the Sport Ministry headquarters on Main Street at 11:00 hours today. Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and Director of Sport Neil Kumar are expected to be among the officials sending the cyclists and officials off to the Ancient County.

At last year’s event, Barbados’ Jamal Eastman, riding for local club Carlton Wheelers, won the overall title in six hours, 58 minutes, 13 seconds (06h: 58m: 13s). Eastman was in sublime form, winning stages one and two, while Guyanese Robin Persaud won the final stage.

The event has been fully sponsored by the National Sports Commission since its inception.

Top teams from three zones to compete in national playoff

Atotal of eight teams drawn from three zones will compete in the national playoff to decide who will be Guyana’s representative at the Guinness Caribbean Street Challenge next month in Trinidad and Tobago.

This is according to officials close to the organising committee of the local zone competitions.

Troy Mendonca, one of the co-directors of the Petra Organisation, which is partnering with Banks DIH Limited to stage the local tournament, told this publication on Thursday that

the top four teams from the Georgetown zone held last year, the top three from the Linden leg earlier this month and the winner of the East Coast zone, which kicks off Saturday will vie for supremacy.

The national playoff is billed for early June with the Caribbean championship fixed for later that month.

The qualifiers for the national playoff from the Georgetown zone are reigning champions Queen Street- Tiger Bay, runner-up Stevedore Housing Scheme, third place finisher Hope Street- Tiger Bay and

fourth place Albouystown B.

The Linden teams are champions Eagles, runnerup Retrieve Unknowns and winner of the third place playoff, Scheme.

The East Coast leg is set to start on Saturday and the 16 teams in contention for the lone remaining spot are: 2013 winner Plaisance, Nabaclis, Buxton B, Beterverwagting B, Buxton A, Melanie B, Melanie A, Mahaica, Vryheid’s Lust, Victoria Church Yard United, Paradise, Ann’s Grove Punters, Ann’s Grove Young Warriors, Beterverwagting A, Golden Grove Superstars and Victoria Eagles.

East Coast games

The boys from Plaisance will start things off when they take on Nabaclis in the opening game, followed by Buxton B against Beterverwagting B from 18:30 hours. At 19:00 hours, Buxton A will trade skills with Melanie B, with Melanie A set to face Mahaica at 19:30 hours after which there will be break.

The action will resume at 20:00 hours with Vryheid’s Lust tackling Victoria Church Yard United, followed by Paradise against Ann’s Grove Punters half hour later.

Match seven of the night will involve Ann’s Grove Young Warriors and Beterverwagting A from 21:00 hours, while the final game will bring together Golden Grove Superstars and Victoria Eagles at 21:30 hours.

The winners from the opening night will progress to the quarter-finals on May 21. The semi-finals are also slated for the same night, while the final and third place playoff will take place on May 24. All the games will be staged at the Haslington Market Square Tarmac.

Digicel intensifies preparation for football tourney

- another coaches workshop staged in West Berbice

TMan Utd face £30m drop in income

Manchester United executive vicechairman Ed Woodward has revealed a failure to secure European football will cost the club more than £30m.

United’s seventhplaced finish was their worst since the 1989-90 season.

Speaking to investors, Woodward also touched on United’s managerial vacancy, saying: “We are focused on bringing in a manager. An announcement will be made in due course.”

He added the club was in “a healthy position to invest in the squad.”

United’s poor season costs David Moyes his job as manager.

BBC Sport understands Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has agreed a three-year contract to replace the Scot, who was sacked in April.

Van Gaal held talks with Ryan Giggs in the Netherlands on Wednesday and is thought to have offered the 40-year-old United player, who took charge of the team for the final few

games of the campaign, the role of assistant manager.

The appointment of Van Gaal, 62, is now likely to be at some point after the Dutch play a friendly against Ecuador in Amsterdam on Saturday.

In his conference call, Woodward confirmed the cost of a poor season under Moyes goes beyond the hit United will have to take in lost revenue from European competition.

As well as a pay-off in the “single-digit” millions of pounds to Moyes, who was appointed in May last year to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson, the club will also have to pay off his backroom staff of Steve Round and Jimmy Lumsden.

Woodward also said United had cut 15% off the price of their executive facilities.

However, Woodward also underlined the club’s intent to return United to their former status.

“We will be active in the transfer market,” he said.

“The window is upon us and deals are being

done but nothing has been announced and no committed funds.

“Everyone at the club is working hard to ensure the team is back challenging for the title and trophies next season.”

Woodward was answering questions on third quarter figures, which show substantial increases in both commercial and broadcasting revenues.

Overall revenue for the period to March 31 was £115.5m, a rise of 26%.

However, the club’s wage bill is also 18.9% higher. That figure includes the arrivals of Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini last season, plus new deals for Nani and Adnan Januzaj.

Interestingly, Wayne Rooney also signed his new contract during the period concerned, but it is not thought the striker’s deal resulted in any material wage rise.

Instead, United will provide commercial personnel and expertise to assist in maximising the revenue from his personal image rights. (BBC Sport)

tition will be held for a fourth time, and already there is heightened interest in what is to transpire during Guyana’s leading schools football event.

Digicel has been investing heavily in the development of the sport in Guyana and has once again demonstrated its commitment to raising the general standard of the tournament.

It is against this background that the company has embarked on a series of workshops for coaches, which are being conducted by officials of the Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA).

On Thursday, representatives from the GFCA, Ivan Persaud, and Andrew Hazel travelled all the way to the Seafield Community Centre at Number 42 Village, West Coast Berbice, where they commenced a two-day

workshop that will cover both theoretical and practical sessions for teachers attached to a number of schools registered to participate in this year’s tournament.

Persaud, who is also a Vice-president of the Technical Committee of the Guyana Football Federation, dealt with the theoretical aspects of coaching and coaches’ responsibility in guiding the careers of their charges, while Hazel spearheaded the practical sessions with assistance from Persaud.

Persaud, in his presentation to the 20-plus participants, spoke about the important role coaches play in the development of players, adding that their responsibility, apart from enhancing and developing the players’ skills, they were also tasked with nurturing and guiding their careers both on and off the field.

In addition to the role of the coaches, Persaud also touched on the subject of Hydration and Nutrition, stressing their importance in ensuring that a player is physically ready to take on the responsibility of playing a game for the entire duration if required.

Also present at the workshop was Tournament Coordinator, Lavern FraserThomas, who opened by thanking the participants on behalf of Digicel for participating in the sessions, while imploring on them to gather thoroughly what was being taught and return to their respective institutions with the understanding that they must pass on the information and techniques to the players. The company hopes to conduct more workshops in other regions before the scheduled start of competition.

Brazilian anti-World cup protests hit sao Paulo

Demonstrators protesting against the spending on the football World Cup have blocked a number of key roads in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.

They burned tyres and caused disruption during rush-hour traffic.

Activists have called a day of protests in 50 cities across Brazil.

The scale of the demonstrations is expected to give an indication of the security challenges the government may face during the football tournament, which kicks off on June 12.

The protesters say they want the government to spend billions of dollars on social projects, transport and housing, instead of the World Cup.

One of the biggest protests in Sao Paulo took place in the city’s Itaquera district near the Arena Corinthians stadium, which will host the tournament’s opening match.

Protesters there demanded housing, and not stadiums, be built in accordance with Fifa standards, in reference to world football’s governing body.

‘No panic’

“Our goal is symbolic,” said Guilherme Boulos, the head of Homeless Workers Movement.

“We don’t want to destroy or damage the stadium. What we want is more rights for workers to have access to housing and to show the effects the Cup has brought to the poor.”

BBC Brasil’s Gary Duffy, in Sao Paulo, reports that among the demonstrators are groups that have occupied land or buildings after being forced from their homes by high rents.

He adds that, with both the World Cup and a presidential election this year, many groups have spotted an opportunity to exert maximum pressure on the government.

The government has tried to downplay the scale of Thursday’s unrest, arguing it was not related to the World Cup.

“From what I’ve seen, these are specific claims by workers. I’ve seen nothing that is related to the (World) Cup,”

Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said.

“There’s no reason to panic ahead of receiving three million Brazilian tourists and 600,000 foreign tourists (for the tournament).”

The planned protests coincide with a range of strikes, including by the police force in the north-eastern state of Pernambuco.

The army has been deployed there to provide additional support after some robberies and looting, as the strike enters its third day.

Recife, the state capital, is

due to host five matches during the World Cup.

Much smaller Teachers, civil servants, transport workers and street cleaners are also taking industrial action.

Recent protests in Brazil have been much smaller than those which took place in June last year in various cities.

More than a million people took to the street then over poor public services, corruption and the high cost of hosting the World Cup.

The BBC’s Julia Carneiro in Rio de Janeiro - where protests are planned later in the day - says that, for now, there is no suggestion that they will happen in the scale they did last year.

The wave of protests prompted Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to propose a referendum on political reform.

She also pledged to invest 50 billion reais ($25bn, £16bn) in public transport, one of the protesters’ main grievances.

(BBC Sport)

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Junior squash tourney continues with thrilling action on night two

Thrilling action continued on Wednesday evening when the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) staged night two of the Woodpecker Products junior national squash championships at the Georgetown Club.

Nyron Joseph made his first appearance in the tournament and made light work of Matthew Phang, displaying speed and accuracy.

Joseph never let Phang get comfortable, winning the match in three straight sets, 11-2, 11-5, 11-1, to have an early night.

The Boys’ Under-17 had a bit more entertainment when Shemane Griffith and Alec Melville met in a fiveset encounter with Griffith prevailing 3-2.

It was clear that two were evenly matched as Griffith came out aggressively, taking the first set at 11-9, while Melville answered in the second set with an 11-9 win as well.

However, inconsistency was present in the game of Melville as he lost the third set badly to Griffith 0-11, before rebounding to win the fourth, 11-7.

The final set between the two was a thrilling ride as both traded blows before Griffith finally prevailed in the final returns to win the set 11-8.

Ben Mekdeci had an easy evening, defeating Alexander Cheeks 3-0 (111, 11-4, 11-3), while Jael Gaskin trumped Michael

Ramroop 3-0 as well in a tough contest that ended 1311, 11-8, 13-11.

Earlier in the evening, Griffith dominated Anthony Islam for an easy Boys’ Under-15 win that finished 3-0 (11-1, 11-3, 11-5).

However, before Islam’s defeat in the Under-15 category, he secured a win in the Boys’ Under-13 against John Phang 3-0 (11-4, 11-1, 11-8).

Daniel Islam in the Under-13 category was able to defeat Lucas Jonas in three straight sets 11-2, 11-5, 11-7, while Shomari Wiltshire dominated Gianni Carpenter in the same category, showing his aggression as the match ended in three straight sets 11-3, 11-

2, 11-2. The Boys’ Under-11 category saw Michael Alphonso pulling through to defeat Ethan Jonas two sets to one in an encounter where both youngsters showed their budding potential.

Also in the Under-11 category, Gianni Carpenter defeated Nechemiyah Levans 2-0 (11-3, 11-2), Rajiv Lee upstaged Nathan Rahaman in two straight sets (11-0, 110) in a very dominant showing, while Zachary Persaud downed Demetrius DeAbreu 2-1 (11-9, 5-11, 13-11).

Wiltshire also played in the Under-11 category, defeating Dominic Collins in two straight sets (11-2, 112).

Meanwhile, on the dis-

Royals v Daredevils, IPL 2014, Ahmedabad…

taff side, Makeda Harding fought hard to defeat Savannah Mendes 3-1 (114, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10). Sarah Lewis was also in action, defeating Maya Collins in three straight sets (11-6, 118, 11-2).

In the Girls’ Under-11 category, Madison Fernandes defeated Aliyah Persaud 2-0, Kirsten Gomes won against Beau Fernandes 2-0, while Haley Carpenter defeated Paige Fernandes 2-0 as well to end the night’s proceedings. Action in the tournament will continue throughout the remainder of the week with the respective category finals set for Sunday at the Georgetown Club.

Batsmen set up big win for Royals

Rprogressed, a decision Kevin Pietersen later conceded was wrong.

Ajinkya Rahane provided the base with a steady 64, Kevon Cooper and Sanju Samson the momentum in the middle, and James Faulkner the finishing flourish as Royals racked up 2016. Pietersen had backed his batsmen to chase whatever Royals scored, but Daredevils crumbled without much fight, most of it coming from Manoj Tiwary, who was unbeaten on 61.

KP Pietersen* b Bhatia 13

MA Agarwal c Smith b Faulkner 17

KD Karthik† c Cutting b Kulkarni 3

JP Duminy c Nair b Tambe 8

MK Tiwary not out 61

LRPL Taylor c & b Bhatia 4

(lb-3, w-6) 9 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs)

17.3 ov), 5-169 (Samson, 17.6 ov), 6-201 (Cutting, 19.6 ov) Bowling: JP Duminy 3-0-25-1 (2-w), R Shukla 4-0-44-0 (1-nb), S Kaul 3-0-34-0, S Nadeem 4-035-2 (2-w), Imran Tahir 4-0-252, MK Tiwary 2-0-28-0

Delhi T20 innings (target: 202 runs from 20 overs)

Ramdin’s appointment creates a balance – Inderjeet Persaud

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Renowned cricket commentator, Interjeet Persaud, feels Denesh Ramdin’s appointment as West Indies’ Test captain will definitely create a balance in the playing XI.

Ramdin has been chosen to replace former captain Darren Sammy, who was axed after a very poor showing during his four-year captaincy. Sammy has since retired from Test cricket.

“West Indies cricket team needs a new image and this is the first step with the appointment of a new leader. Ramdin’s appointment will definitely create a balance in the playing XI,” Persaud suggested.

A teacher by profession, Persaud is of the opinion that the wicketkeeper/batsman’s task will not be an easy one, taking into consideration the current state of West Indies cricket and the current crop of players at his disposal.

“The question is, can Ramdin’s leadership qualities turn around our future? Yes, he has leadership qualities. Yes, he is very experienced, but I am afraid, they are the very men who failed as a team under Darren Sammy,” Persaud pointed out.

Ramdin’s first assignment will be the home series against New Zealand, which begins on June 8. He has led the West Indies in three T20s and an ODI. His experience with

Trinidad and Tobago is more extensive with 37 matches at the helm across formats. He has 21 wins under his belt and took Trinidad and Tobago to the semi-final of the Regional Four-day competition this season.

Meanwhile, this is the second time in as many years that Sammy has had to relinquish captaincy. Last May he had to make way for Dwayne Bravo to become One-Day International captain after criticism regarding his batting too low and his ability as a strike bowl-

er.

Sammy’s tenure as Test captain began in November 2010 when West Indies drew a three-match series against the hosts Sri Lanka. His best accomplishment as captain was when West Indies won six consecutive matches in 2012-13 which lifted the side to No. 5 in the rankings. But an overall record of eight wins to 12 lossesincluding a spell of five defeats in their last six matches - has hurt his cause.

Sammy’s stint was marred by debate over his reliability as a player. He usually occupies No.8 in the batting order and has hit his only Test century and all five fifties in that position. But an average of 22.43 cites his lack of consistency and his straightforward medium pace, that fetched him 29 wickets in 10 matches, prompted several critics to question his impact as an all-rounder.

GCA/Carib Beer T20 final fixed for Saturday

The final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ Carib Beer T20 first division cricket competition is scheduled to be played on Saturday between Police Sports Club and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).

The match will be played at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, from 13:00 hours.

Police, who defeated the highly touted Demerara

Cricket Club in one of the semi-finals last Saturday, will enter the final brimming with confidence, but the youthful GCC team cannot be taken lightly, even though they may be without their inspirational captain, Leon Johnson, who is expected to be away on West Indies High Performance Centre duties.

The lawmen, who will be appearing in their first final for a number of years, will

expect all-rounder Ricardo Adams to continue his fine form from the semi-final and lead them to victory, but GCC with Guyana Amazon Warriors’ latest recruit, Robin Bacchus, in their rank would have other ideas.

The umpires for the match are Shannon Crawford and Yosef Yisrael with Zaheer Mohamed being the reserve. A keen and exciting tussle is expected.

Vincent gives information on ‘widespread fixing’: reports

Lou Vincent has reportedly provided ICC”s anti-corruption and security unit with information on matches targeted for spot-fixing and the names of players involved

Lou Vincent, the former New Zealand batsman, has reportedly given information to the ICC’s anti-corruption unit detailing attempted spot-fixing in several competitions around the world - including county cricket in England and the Champions League.

New Zealand Cricket said on Thursday that some of Auckland Aces’ 2012 Champions League games were being reviewed but reiterated its statement that no matches played in the country or involving the national team were part of the investigation.

According to the Telegraph, Vincent has provided information on approaches made during his time with Sussex and Lancashire. Sussex have previously confirmed that a 40-over game against Kent, in which Vincent played, was subject to investigation by the anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU).

The reports comes at a time when the role of the ACSU, which acts as an independent watchdog, has been under discussion. Proposals during the April round of ICC meetings suggested that the ACSU may be reviewed by the game’s big three nations, with the body potentially being asked to report directly to the chairman of the board rather than the chief executive of the ICC. The proposals could see the watchdog effectively controlled by three countries: Australia,

EBFA mourns the loss of Delon Barton

The executive and members of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) is mourning the loss of Grove Hi Tech player, Delon Barton, who passed away as a result of a vehicular accident on the Craig Public Road on May 4.

The former midfield player was a prominent member of the Grove Hi Tech club and was an integral part of the side that is currently at the helm of the Stag Beer Division One League.

EBFA president, Wayne Francios, said that Barton’s death came as a shocker to the football fraternity, not-

ing that his last hours were spent at the Grove Playfield before he joined his friends in the car that was involved in the accident.

“We at the EBFA would like to extend our sincere condolences to Barton’s family and the Grove Hi Tech Football Club, which honed his skills through the years. He was maturing into a fine player and making his contribution, was always disciplined and dedicated,” Francios commented.

President of the Grove Hi Tech Club, Kevin Anthony, said that Barton, who was born on March 26, 1981, grew up next to the Grove Playfield and was a foundation member of the club.

“Barton played with us at every junior level up to the senior team and will always be remembered as one whose efforts helped to shape the club into what it has become today, the leading club on the Eats Bank,” Anthony said.

Barton will be laid to rest on Sunday at the Diamond/ Grove cemetery following a funeral service at the Grove Seven Day Adventist Church, Tank Street. The service will begin at 13:00 hours.

BCB announces Independence T20 squads

England and India.

Responding to reports of Vincent’s statements to anti-corruption police, David White, NZC’s CEO, stated that none of the current international New Zealand players were being investigated by the ACSU. The Telegraph had reported Vincent has provided information on what it called “widespread fixing across cricket”, involving matches in at least five countries.

“Firstly I want to make it clear that this is an ICC investigation and New Zealand Cricket is very limited in what it can say, but we can confirm the following. No games played in New Zealand are being investigated by the ICC. No current Black Caps are being investigated. No matches involving New Zealand national teams are being investigated,” White said. (Cricinfo)

The Senior Selection Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday announced the Berbice A and B teams for the upcoming Independence T20 Cup, slated for May 25 at the Albion Sport Complex ground.

Berbice A team reads: Sewnarine Chattergoon (captain), Shimron Hetymer, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Jonathan Foo, Devon Clements, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Rajiv Ivan, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Nial Smith, Krishendat Ramoo,

Vishal Mohabir, Vedesh Singh and Eugene LaFleur. Berbice ‘B’ team reads: Anthony D’Andrade, Devindra Thakurdeen, Balchan Baldeo, Dominique Rikhi, Rafael Estriado, Sharaz Ramcharran, Keith Fraser, Eon Hooper, Kevin Ramdeen, Suresh Dhanai, Jason Sinclair, Clinton Pestano, Shaun Perriera, Romario Shepherd, Yugendra Harrinarine, Steven Latcha, Joemal LaFleur and Seon Hetmyer. The standby players are: Zaheer Hussain, Joshua Ramsammy, David Latchaya, Akshay Homraj and Verendra Gooniah.

BBCI supports KMTC’s preIndependence horse race meet

By Rajiv Bisnauth

The Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) has thrown its support behind the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) pre-Independence horse-race meet, slated for Sunday at the club’s track at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne.

Organiser of the event and president of the KMTC, Cecil Kennard, received a cheque valued $150,000, which will go towards the winner of the J3 and Lower event.

The presentation took place on Thursday in the company’s head office at Main Street, Georgetown.

The sponsorship was well appreciated by Kennard, who stated that the race meet will feature some of Guyana’s finest-bred horses.

“It’s important that we express our gratitude to Berbice Bridge Company for coming on board again, because as we all know, no sporting activity can be successfully promoted without sponsors,” he declared.

“I wish to thank Berbice Bridge Company once again and we are looking forward to their continued support in the future.”

He disclosed that the weather on the Corentyne is “excellent”, adding that the

race meet is expected to be an entertaining one. Further, Kennard said that over 70 of the country’s top horses have already entered.

Chief Executive Officer of the BBCI, Omadat Samaroo, said as part of the company’s corporate responsibility, it is pleased to once again support the KMTC.

He said, “The sport creates great attractions not only to Berbicians, but those fans who come from as far as Linden and at times the West Coast of Demerara and even Suriname and other foreign countries to witness the events.”

Six races are slated for the day, and as usual, there will be lots of excitement for turfites and lucrative prize packages for top horse owners.

The feature attraction is for horses D1 and Lower over a distance of one mile. The winner will cart off $500,000, while the runner-up will win half that amount. The third and fourth place finishers will receive $125,000 and $63,000 respectively.

Several other events are slated for the day, starting with the G1 and Lower Class over a distance of six furlongs with the winning tag set at $300,000, while the second place finisher will collect half that amount. The

third and fourth place finishers will receive $75,000 and $38,000 respectively.

Then there is the J3 and Lower over a distance of five furlongs with the winner carting off $150,000, and the second place finisher getting $75,000. The third and fourth place finishers will receive $38,000 and $19, 000 respectively.

The Three and Fouryear-old West Indies Maiden and Guyana Open will see the animals running over a distance of six furlongs. The winner will receive $300,000 while the second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $150,000, $75,000 and $38,000, respectively.

Other races include the J1 and Lower and the I and Lower. The two races will be run over six and seven furlongs with the winning tag set at $200,000 and $250,000 respectively.

Further, the organisers wish to remind horse owners that the event is being conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and all the rules of the local governing body will be in effect.

Horse owners are asked to have their animals examined by the vet by 11:00 hours on race day. Race time is 12:30 hours.

GABA names female team for Inter-association tourney

The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) has named a 12-member female team for the upcoming Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Interassociation tournament, scheduled to begin on Saturday in Linden.

While the Interassociation tournament will be searching for the top association in the nation, the tournament will also be used as the yardstick to select the female national team for the Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC), scheduled for July in the British Virgin Islands.

The Georgetown side will be led by forward Natasha

Natasha Alder

Alder, who has been named as the team captain.

Alder’s teammates will include Timike JosephDeRouche, Kean Andrews, Natasha Andrews, Ameena

Alphonso, Ginelle Ifill, Latoya Rodney, Lowquantor Gibson, Kristy Roberts, Sharon Jerome, Kadian Rowe and Rhonda Charles. Brian Carter will be patrolling the sidelines as coach of the team.

The Georgetown side will be looking to silence their critics as they will go up against their Mining Town counterparts on Saturday at the Mackenize Sports Club hard court in Linden before having another encounter on May 31 in Linden as well.

Further, the game between the two long time rivals is expected to be highly competitive as both teams will be looking to be the top association in the nation when action tips off on Saturday evening.

Independence tourney is important, GTTA head

The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is set to host the 2014 edition of the Independence tournament from today in conjunction with the National Sports Commission (NSC) at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The tournament is set to attract some of the top students in the nation, including Kaysan Ninvalle, Selenas Jackman, Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill. However, while these budding stars will be competing for top honours in their respective age groups, the GTTA has bigger plans for the athletes who play to their best, according to president of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe.

Godfrey Munroe

“In the junior realm there’s lots of competition and we are looking to get these youngsters their world ranking and we are targeting the Latin America area. So we will definitely

use it to select our teams earlier in order to get funding for games, especially the World Junior circuit, which will be in Guatemala and El Salvador,” Munore told this publication.

Further, Munroe said he expects the competition to be intense when it serves off this evening, “I expect keen rivalry, especially from the Under-11 up, maybe not in the Girls’ Under-18 as much because we don’t have a very strong pool there, but I think the talent gap in all the age groups is very competitive,” Munroe stated. The tournament will officially be declared open on Saturday by Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and Director of Sport, Neil Kumar.

independence softball set for number five ground

Softball teams across Guyana will have the chance to do battle against each other on May 25 when the newly formed Star Sports Entertainment stages a grand day/night Independence 10/10 softball cricket festival at the Number Five Community Centre ground, West Berbice.

According to the coordinators of the event, the competition will see over $200,000

up for grabs and is open to teams across Guyana. The one-day tournament will be played on a knockout format with the quarter-finals, semis and final being played under floodlights.

It was also disclosed that spectators can expect lots of side attractions, including cheer leaders, one-manband, dancers, tassa and African drumming, steel pan music and much more. There will be cash and trophies for the winning team, runnerup, third place and the manof-the-series. The man-ofthe-match in the final, best bowler and best batsman will also receive trophies. Interested teams can contact the coordinators on telephone numbers: 625-1534, 693-8217 or 684-3293 or via email, starsentertainment@ gmail.com. The closing date for registration is May 20. Teams are asked to register early.

75 riders to contest Independence Three-Stage

Ramdin’s appointment

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Renowned cricket commentator, Interjeet Persaud, feels Denesh Ramdin’s appointment as West Indies’ Test captain will definitely create a balance in the playing XI.

Ramdin has been chosen to replace former captain Darren Sammy, who was axed after a very poor showing during his four-year captaincy. Sammy has since retired from Test cricket.

Inderjeet Persaud

“West Indies cricket team needs a new image and this is the first step with the appointment of a new leader. Ramdin’s appointment will definitely create a balance in the playing XI,” Persaud suggested.....