Guyana Times Daily

Landslide victory in India

saturday, may 17, 2014| guyanatimesgy.com

Landslide victory in India

… Modi routs Neru/Gandhi dynasty

By IANS

Narendra Modi created history on Friday on his way to becoming India’s 14th Prime Minister, leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a spectacular victory in a Lok Sabha battle, crushing the Congress.

With most of the 550

tion officials will give it such a comfortable majority in the 545-member Lok Sabha even without the aid of its old and new allies.

Modi is expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister by President Pranab Mukherjee on May 21. A visibly jubilant Modi called on his ageing mother in Gandhinagar

million-plus votes counted, Modi’s BJP has far exceeded all predictions and will most likely capture some 281 seats, more than an outright majority of the 543 elected seats in India’s Lower House.

With its allies’ seats included, the BJP appeared set to hold more than 330. It will be the first time in 30 years that any single party has won a majority in Parliament on its own.

Even before the NDA had conclusively reached a majority in Parliament, investors took the India’s SENSEX Index to an all-time high, bringing the Indian Rupee to a 10-month high against the US dollar as well.

Modi and the BJP are widely perceived to be able to succeed economically where the Indian National Congress failed.

Although the BJP will not immediately reverse several of the Congress’ populist schemes that have driven the Indian Government into fiscal unease, it is expected to address broader economic issues such as inflation and development. Part of Modi’s popular appeal is also rooted in his image as a politician free of the taint of corruption.

During the UPA’s 10 years in power, several high-profile scams exposed corruption at the highest levels of Indian Government, jading voters and driving them to the BJP.

Even political pundits gasped at the sheer scale of the BJP’s sweep that elec-

to seek her blessings. He touched her feet and she gave him a sweet.

Muslim support

The Times of India has reported that quiet a churning took place inside central and north Kolkata. Muslims, who have been CPM or Trinamool supporters, threw their support behind the BJP and Modi, the publication noted.

Addressing in supporters from Vadodara, one of the two seats he won, Modi

ty of democracy. The strength of democracy lies in taking everyone together. Despite a clear mandate we want to keep everyone together,” he said.

Party colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “The results show the people of India love Modi.”

Tens of thousands of BJP

– likely its worst tally in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) where it had never fallen to two digits. The Congress won 206 seats in 2009. If it gets less than 10 per cent of the total number of Lok Sabha seats, its President may not be recognised as the leader of the Opposition, a Cabinet rank.

90-year-old Hiraben blesses her son and India’s next Prime Minister Narendra Modi at her home in Gandhinagar, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Friday, May 16. Modi and his party won national elections in a landslide on Friday

differentiated between running a Government and running a country. He said the National Democratic Alliance had the full majority to the Government, but to run a country they needed the support of all the parties.

“There are no enemies in politics and democracy, only competitors. That’s the beau-

supporters celebrated the party’s victory all over the country. In New Delhi, thousands gathered at the BJP headquarters dancing, bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets. The Congress, India’s oldest party that ruled the country for a decade since 2004, faced its worst humiliation. It won three seats and was leading only in 39 more

The Congress did not win a single seat in seven states and it was unlikely to win more than 10 seats in any state. A chastened Congress accepted defeat. Outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated Modi who is still the Gujarat Chief Minister. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh summed up the mood in the country’s oldest party by saying: “Our performance is worse than the worst case scenario.”

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who won easily from Rae Bareli unlike her son Rahul Gandhi, added: “The people’s verdict is against us.” Both took responsibility for the defeat, congratulated the BJP but did not name Modi.

Interestingly, three of the four regional parties that did well in their strongholds were not allied with Modi even if their leaders have had good equations with him. (Indian

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

The family

Thursday was the 20th commemoration of the UN’s International Year Of The Family. The UN has itself, summarised the importance of the family rather succinctly. “(As) basic and essential building blocks of societies, families have a crucial role in social development, bear the primary responsibility for the nurturing, protection, education and socialisation of children, as well as instilling values of citizenship and belonging in the society, and provide material and non-material care and support to its members, from children to older persons or those suffering from illness, sheltering them from hardship to the maximum possible extent.”

This summation is very relevant to Guyana and the Caribbean in highlighting what may be at the root of the crisis in the family that some have identified as the cause of the social upheavals and upsurge in domestic and youth violence. There is the premise that families are the “essential building blocks of society”. This was not the premise at the time when these societies were formed: in fact, during the 300 years of slavery, the building block of slave society was the individual slave who was defined as “property”.

The responsibility for “nurturing, protection, education and socialisation of children,” was actually in the hands of the aptly named “drivers”. They decided who would “mate” with whom to produce the best slave from a physical standpoint and to ensure the children were trained to perform the plantation tasks. But the behavioural repertoire inculcated during slavery, like all actions, cannot be altered with the wave of a wand or the signing of a proclamation. They stubbornly persist in the present because coherent programmes to eliminate those patterns that are dysfunctional within our contexts were not implemented.

Values cannot be transmitted only through words –actions speak particularly louder in this area. In Guyana, there is too much finger pointing going on when the consequences of poor parenting manifest themselves. Action must be taken to instil the act of good parenting into the present generation. This must be facilitated by the state in providing a macro environment, within which all the laudible goals of the family can be achieved.

The UN encourages “Member States to facilitate intergenerational solidarity, quality couple and family relationships, parenting programmes; high-quality childcare and other ancillary services which support families; promote and develop active measures to support the psychological well-being of children and youth with sensitivity to family situations; prevent violence, addictions and juvenile delinquency; and promote school-to-work transitions and young adults’ economic security to facilitate family formation and stability, particularly among those with insecure socio-economic resources; as well as to promote and develop public policies concerning the support to the elder members of the family, especially in situations of particular need such as cases of Alzheimer or similar diseases.”

This is an exhaustive Desiderata for the state. But we believe good parenting produces good families that are the responsibility, not only of the Government but of all other organisations in our society, particularly the Churches, Mandirs and Mosques. There is also social protection functions performed by families and guided by parents, especially in times of increased uncertainty and vulnerability, when families find it more and more difficult to fulfil these multiple roles and tackle all responsibilities entrusted to them.

While the actual form of the family may have fluctuated over the millennia, there is nothing to suggest that moving away from the family structure is viable. During the heady days of the behaviourism school of psychology, in the 1940’s, there were several organised attempts to create communal forms to replace the family unit. The novel Walden Two, illustrated this well. The Communist block also ventured into this direction, but like Kibbutz of Israel and the communes of the “flower-power” 60’s generation, they also failed.

The family is still the most viable unit of society. But it needs help.

Youareasoldasyoufeel

Substituting black state dependency on Indian dependency by power sharing is recipe for disaster

Dear Editor,

“Indians will never prosper in Guyana if Africans become impoverished and they will never live securely unless Africans are secure” is the threatening holocaust openly projected onto Indo Guyanese survival by a born again WPA Marxist agitator living in America. In pumping up the volume from afar, he endorses Indian acquiescence for their peace and survival.

Secretly befriended in the early 1960s by the PNC, the political renegade has confessed: “I was invited by the PNC/UF Government of Forbes Burnham to attend the London Independence Conference in 1965 and there to present my rather radical views.” At that time, the PPP was in boycott mode after losing the 1964 elections. The former PYO Chairman who was later cocooned from the early 1960s was to emerge a militant born again Indian rights butterfly in the early 1970s. His obscure Indian Political Revolutionary Associates (IPRA) resolved to validate the experienced ASCRIA’s agenda to equalise things. However, this objective was never achieved since most Indians supported the PPP and ignored IPRA.

Led by Eusi Kwayana, ASCRIA actively championed race to resolve black problems. Kwayana’s lifelong legacy aimed for partitioning Guyana between Indians and Africans as the best solution. By a strange symbiotic matrimony both groups sought to achieve

their final goals by temporary alliance in 1972 within the WPA.

“Being Indian in Guyana: The challenges: written by Moses Bhagwan in 9-10-2006 had recently resurfaced in the media with the Commission of Inquiry of Rodney’s death and after a controversial columnist whitewashed him as “the venerated freedom fighter Moses Bhagwan” in the Kaieteur News of 5-11-2014. Bhagwan analysed the dynamics of the two major race groups to live as good Guyanese neighbours. In contrast to Kwayana’s take it or leave it “partition” of Guyana, Bhagwan surpassed British Prime Minister Clement Atlee’s overflowing “balanced view” for peace and harmony with Adolph Hitler. Imagining himself a Biblical Moses he declared:

“Indians will never prosper in Guyana if Africans become impoverished and they will never live securely unless Africans are secure… Indians are the majority ethnic group. I am of the view that it is a fundamental obligation of a majority ethnic group in a multi-ethnic society to relieve other ethnic groups in the society of the fear of ethnic oppression and insecurity. Indians are not now culturally oppressed under a colonial power. They have become a power and are in a position now to reverse or reorder the ethnic hierarchical status in the spirit as a colonial power would.”

What is preventing blacks from prospering is

still not clear. Aren’t blacks the majority in the armed forces and the administrative bureaucracy with considerably more guaranteed physical and economic security than all others combined, including Indians? What Bhagwan promotes is Indian economic appeasement by payback because the PPP/C, painted as exclusively Indian (it is not), but nevertheless democratically elected by the prefixed rules should not govern because those with “more fire, slow fire” are still owed “reparations” which Indians should cough up in the interval before Europe pays up.

In the meantime, Africans constantly portrayed as automatic PNC supporters ought not to be shut out of the political directorate when they are perpetually so economically impoverished. What is not addressed is the dependency syndrome which outdated black leadership have always reinforced among blacks.

Constantly brandishing Rodney’s heroism and legacy as exclusive black owned assets, earned only by all black sacrifices, the demand for political power based on race alone, and nothing else, is touted as the conclusive resolution for Guyana, no questions asked. Hasn’t such beliefs always been vintage Kwayana at its very best since day one? Why any need for democratic elections when race has already predetermined the outcome?

Divergent apostles within the WPA who dance to this faded race echo by their

(part one)

behaviour must explain and justify if Rodney’s sacrifices were advanced in advocacy exclusively on race or class, and when they each swear by Rodney’s vision were each secretly still fighting the PNC for seven years between (1973 to 1980) on behalf of their own race group and certainly not the PPP despite their Indian based supporters?

Look, that would considerably devalue the deaths of all those Indo Guyanese like Vincent Teekah who was reportedly secretly aiding Dr Rodney, the torturing and murder of PPP activist Hardat Ramdass and the Corentyne Ballot Box duo of Bholanath Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar. Maiming UG’s Dr Josh Ramsammy and harassing UG’s Mohamed Insanally and Arnold Rampersaud cannot count for less because of their race.

Permanently numbed by the constant pro black clamour which projects the WPA’s Georgetown activities as reflecting the country’s entire nationwide black resentment against the PNC, contradicts the usual black massive support at all elections for the same PNC and nothing for the WPA.

So, imagining himself as the new Moses of Indian redemption, Bhagwan’s tight rope clinical “balanced view” acrobatics has somehow endowed him with licence to assume he is also their jury.

Sincerely, Vassan Ramracha

Sooba has displayed patience, commitment

Dear Editor,

Imagine this scenario for it is real, two antagonists; one understandable and the other fundamentally incapable, locked in a grim power struggle. One means good and the other has caused the entire city of Georgetown to be ruined – garbage and filth at every street corner, clogged drains, overflowing sewage, obnoxious scent, airborne disease’s on the increase within the entire municipality.

For me and many others, Carol Sooba is a superstar. One woman with guts and gall stands up to a bunch of eccentrics. For two decades of leadership, they have caused an entire city to become a slum; a city which was once titled the “Garden

City”. What a shame!

We have a good opportunity to regain some glory to the city of Georgetown by working with Carol Sooba, but these opportunists have chosen to ridicule her in the most antagonistic, demeaning and violent manner, what a disgrace!

Sooba has displayed great patience, commitment, integrity and above all forbearance beyond the normal human capacity. Many men would have called it a day, but this gem of a woman stays on to save an entire city.

Fight on, Carol Sooba; many are backing you.

Respectfully, Nazar Mohamed

Professor Suresh Narine, a world class role model for Guyanese

Dear Editor,

Further to the several accolades attributed recently to Professor Suresh Narine, I wish to add another dimension of which many Guyanese might not be aware: his world class status in the academic/scientific/research/innovation arenas have not gone to his head. He remains humble and approachable; he is a real joy to be with as a friend, colleague, fellow Hindu and a decent human being.

I recall with amazement being totally impressed by his active participation and

his inspirational discourses at the stirring ‘satsanghas’ which the late renowned Pandit Prakash Gossai Ji used to conduct all across Guyana.

In Professor Suresh Narine, we Guyanese are blessed with a true role model; please let us do whatever we can to retain him in the many capacities he has already demonstrated his unique combination of competences. Guyana needs more of his kind.

Yours sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

BJP landslide victory in India

Dear Editor,

The BJP has won a landslide victory in India. A BJP-led alliance victory was not surprising. But a BJP victory on its own is very shocking. It appears that the BJP has won a minimum 283 seats – more than a majority of 272 needed to form a Government on its own. But the party said it will honour an agreement to form a coalition Government with its alliance partners.

The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi could be sworn in as early as Wednesday, although reports say it will take place on Friday or Saturday. The President, Pranabk Mukherjee, has not invited Modi as yet to form a Government – the normal procedure. But that is likely to come by Tuesday, as President Pranabk Mukjerjee gets official word from the Elections Committee of the results.

Pre-election and post election polls did not forecast the magnitude of the BJP (National democratic Alliance) victory. All the pre-and post election opinion polls had the BJP in the lead but with lesser numbers.

Everywhere I went in India, pre-election and post-election, almost every voter, irrespective of cast and religion, said they were voting for Modi – not for the BJP or NDA but for Modi-ji.

Voters made it clear they wanted Modi as their Prime Minister. And I related such findings accordingly in published commentaries. But even I did not believe my own findings that there was such massive support for Modi. That is why I penned in commentaries that BJP

would win about 240 although party officials say they expect closer to 300 seats on their own. The latter appears to be right. Even party elders said they were shocked at the magnitude of the victory. The BJP (NDA) victory is attributed to the magic of Modi-ji. He is so charismatic that people fall over themselves trying to meet or see him. Whenever he held rallies, hundreds of thousands showed up to listen to him. He spoke unscripted.

I met him in New Jersey and in Delhi on several occasions; he is like a magnet drawing people. He is very articulate on his positions pertaining to economic matters and the Indian business community is hoping he will jumpstart the stalled economy.

Modi contested two seats and won both –Vadodra, his home constituency in Gujarat, and Varanasi, the temple city. He will have to resign one of them. His contesting a seat from Uttar Pradesh helped the party in the state as the BJP and its allies won 73 of 80 seats in the state. People of all ethnicities and castes voted for Modi, the man who they feel will give them peace, harmony and prosperity, the way he has governed Gujarat since he became Chief Minister.

In reaction to news that the BJP was head -

ing for a victory in early trends in the count of the votes, Modi tweeted on his phone, “India has won! Good days are ahead”. Modi-ji later met his mother to seek her blessings.

The election results give the BJP its best ever tally in the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) elections. With its allies, made up the pre-election alliances going into the election, the NDA has won 334 seats. The earlier best by BJP was 182 seats in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls when the party formed its Government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee. The party also governed briefly in 1996 for 13 days and 1998 for one year. The BJP won big in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where most IndoCaribbeans trace their roots.

Its partner from Tamil Nadu, where Madrassi Indo-Caribbeans trace their roots, also swept the elections. The UP victory was scripted by political strategist Amit Shah, Modi’s right hand man. It was a completely anti-Congress and pro-Modi vote.

The BJP also appeared to have swept Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra and it won big in several other states in the Hindi speaking belt.

Party members celebrated at the headquarters, dancing and distrib -

uting sweets. Tarapiti and tassa like drumming, similar to those in New York and Guyana, is common in India at election time or for celebration.

Senior leader LK Advani, one of the founders of the BJP, and who is well known in the IndoCaribbean communities in New York, having met them on several occasions, congratulated Modi on the victory. Advani, who I met several times in NY and in Delhi, visited the party headquarters to be part of the celebrations and told reporters that the country had never witnessed such an election in its history.

Sushma Swaraj, the BJP’s leader in the Lok Sabha, described the win as “purely a BJP victory as it got a majority of its own”. Analysts say the election could mark the end of the Gandhi-Nehru political dynasty, the families that have dominated political life in the country since independence in 1947.

Here are some facts on the election. Some 537 million votes were cast over a five-week election cycle. Voter turnout was 130 million more than in the previous election of 2009. It was also a record high percentage turnout of 66.38 per cent of the population.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Page Foundation

Gifted children:

Are their gifts being identified,

encouraged, or ignored?

Unique needs of gifted children

Gifted children, like other children, need appropriate education, satisfying friendships and supportive parenting. However, they have some unique needs in these areas.

Appropriate education

One of the main tasks for educators is to match the level of the curriculum to the child’s ability to learn. For the gifted child, one of the earliest challenges to development comes when the child is placed into group learning situations where the child’s ability level is clearly quite discrepant from the ability level of the other members of the group. For example, the child who enters kindergarten with strong reading skills, a love of math puzzles and many ideas for creative writing, requires a more challenging curriculum than other kindergarten children could tolerate.

Gifted children can begin to have adjustment difficulties at the point of entrance to group learning (nursery school, kindergarten, elementary school).

However, these difficul-

ties can be significantly reduced when educational placement is appropriate for the intellectual level. Studies of children with exceptional intellectual ability, or with exceptional math ability, have documented the tendency of gifted children to learn more rapidly and with greater complexity. However, current educational practice has not kept pace with the research. The Department of Education reports that “Gifted and talented elementary school students have mastered from 35 to 50 per cent of the curriculum to be offered in five basic subjects before they begin the school year”. The extensive research conducted by the National Research Centre on the Gifted and Talented substantiates the need for modifications in the curriculum as well as the frequent lack of these modifications.

One of the most common areas of educational mismatch for gifted students, especially for highly and exceptionally gifted students, has been in the area of math education. Schools typically take differenc-

By Julia B OsBOrn

es in reading achievement into account by using flexible instructional groups and can, thereby, make adjustments in the language arts curriculum. However, math instruction is most often provided to the entire classroom simultaneously and is based upon the learning ability of the average students in the group. This can be an unnecessary impediment for mathematically able students. Middle class and affluent parents have been able to obtain better educational matches for their children by using Internet math programs, by finding weekend or summer enrichment programmes or by placing their children in suburban schools or in independent schools. However, rural and low-income families with mathematically gifted children have faced exceptionally difficult obstacles to obtaining quality education.

Strong friendships

One of the main tasks of childhood is to establish friendships with other children, both in one-toone relationships and in-

group situations. This can sometimes be difficult for gifted children who are limited in their choice of peers, either because of their exceptional abilities or because of geographic or cultural isolation. For example, the five-yearold with an eight-year-old mind who can play chess, build complex architectural constructions and play games with rules may have difficulty finding another five-year-old who can be a building partner, a chess companion and a willing participant in complex games. While gifted children benefit from having the social skills to interact with a wide variety of children, their more complex and creative play experiences often take place with intellectual peers. Most programmes for gifted children are organised around the provision of an enriched or accelerated curriculum, yet one of the main benefits of such programmes is the opportunity for varied and satisfying friendships to emerge as similarly able children are

grouped together. The gifted child’s social development is enhanced when an appropriate peer group is found. In clinical interviews and interest surveys, gifted children and adolescents speak openly of their need to be with other students who share their interests and abilities; they speak frankly of the strain of minimising or hiding their talents in order to protect the feelings of others. Many students who participate in the talent search summer programmes experience, especially at Grades Five and above, the pleasure of being accepted for themselves and finding other students with similar interests. It is often the desire for friendships, rather than the curriculum per se, that motivates the students to return year after year to these selective programmes. However, for gifted students whose parents cannot afford the tuition, locating satisfying friendships is dependent upon the structures of local, free or low-fee public institutions. In isolated geographic areas or

impoverished urban areas, it can be difficult for parents to find peer groups for their children in which both friendships and academic achievement are simultaneously sustained.

Supportive parenting

One of the main tasks of parents is to provide an emotionally secure base from which the child can venture forth into the world. The essential challenge for parents of gifted children is to support the children’s unusual development and to advocate effectively for appropriate programmes. At the same time, they must do so in a way that allows the children to take increasing responsibility for and satisfaction from their own development. Gifted children can have difficulties when their families have been unable to achieve an optimal balance between supportive nurturing and high expectation. In these situations, parents can benefit from help in learning how to modify the home environment.

Researchers have demonstrated that parents are quite good at identifying exceptional development in toddlers, preschool children and school age children. In addition parents play a vital role in the overall development of gifted children and in the development of their particular gifts. Parents of gifted children have an opportunity to influence their children by providing exposure to complex language, by offering stimulating experiences inside and outside the home, and by providing unusual support for talent development. What is less obvious is the degree to which the children themselves propel their parents into the provision of exceptional opportunities. In one remarkable longitudinal study, the gifted children themselves were observed to make more requests of their parents and to respond with greater enthusiasm to their increased opportunities.

The researchers discussed in detail the ways in which gifted children themselves play a major role in their own development. (aboutourkids.org)

saturDay, may 17, 2014|

guyanatimesgy.com

Culture Ministry to soon receive 2012 CoI report – Justice Moore

Chairman of the 2012 New Opportunity Corps (NOC) Commission of Inquiry (CoI), retired Justice Winston Moore said Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony will in a matter of days receive the final report on the investigations into the alleged arson at the institution.

And while he could not state the reason for the delay, Guyana Times understands that the final report will reveal that there was a legal gap during the transition process for students from the Belgreave Girl School and the Essequibo Boy School, to the New Opportunity Corps.

Justice Moore said that at the end of the investigations, he took the liberty to carry out a personal investigation into the legal aspect of the transfer, before arriving at the findings.

The retired judge, when contacted on Friday, explained that upon completion of the report, matters which required ur-

gent attention were brought to the attention of the Ministry’s Assistant Youth Director Davenand Ramdatt and the NOC Director at the time, Jagnarine Somwar.

He said he was made to understand that those issues were addressed by the Ministry.

At a press conference on Thursday, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, when questioned, had told reporters that he had not received the final report from the committee’s Chairman, although the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Alfred King had written him several times.

“The timeframe was for the committee to submit the final report by September 30, 2012 and since then we have written on no less than four occasions to find out about the final report…. Up to now we can’t get it, and I don’t know what else to do.”

In September 2012, a fiveman Commission was installed

US Ambassador urges journalists to report

fairly

– as Embassy hosts journalism workshop

US Ambassador D Brent Hardt on Friday urged local journalists to be fair and unbiased in their reporting as the Embassy hosts a two-day “Media Professionalisation and Development Workshop”.

This workshop is the third of its kind held by the Embassy to mark World Press Freedom Day over the past three years, under the leadership of Ambassador Hardt. The workshop at the Georgetown Club will focus on issues such as challenges in journalism, women in media, journalistic integrity, new media, and sustainability of journalism.

At the opening of the workshop, the US Ambassador noted that of recent, there have been much talks on media freedom and responsibility in Guyana.

The Ambassador pointed out that the media should not be a “cheerleader” for Government or its opponent nor should be it “pro or antidevelopment”.

“Rather, the media’s information and analysis of developmental proposals and projects should assist citizens in understanding and assessing the merits or shortcomings of projects that will affect their futures,” he stated.

Hardt added that journal-

to investigate the circumstances surrounding the outbreak and alleged arson by NOC inmates, at the national juvenile correctional facility at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast.

Recommendations

According to the Minister, several recommendations were made by the committee in a preliminary report, a fact that was

alluded to by Chairman Moore.

Those recommendations included the recruitment of highlevel staff, including psychologists.

He said the recommendations were taken onboard immediately; however, the Ministry has found it difficult to recruit persons to join the staff at the NOC.

There were also recommendations for training to be offered in several areas.

The preliminary investigation, which was provided to members of the committee sometime back, revealed plans by students of the institution to commit serious crimes. This was shared by Culture Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred King, who also served as a member of the Board of Inquiry.

He said the Commission found that there were gangs formed, fighting for space and authority.

There were allegedly plans to seriously arm and kill a night supervisor. According to him, this

information was leaked to authorities by fellow students, who were in turn severely beaten.

The plans, he said, were horrendous. “The plan was a threephase operation. You would have heard of the BBM, the breakout, they planned to burn out and of course the M, the serious one, it never got to that, the last phase of the plan was to murder.”

The perpetrators were placed before the court.

In September 2012, the NOC inmates allegedly set fires to a dormitory and other buildings in the compound. This was after more than 10 students absconded the day before.

Reports were that the inmates had first set fire to the female dorm, and managed to keep public-spirited persons at bay. There were reports too of students overpowering guards at the detention centre, breaking down doors and smashing windows in their frantic bid to flee the facility.

ists are not supposed to report news based on whether it is good or bad but to bring to light the truth, even as he acknowledged the challenges they face on a daily basis in trying to get the information needed.

Ambassador Hardt acknowledged the hard work that journalists do. He said: “Whether you are challenged to understand the last trend on your beat, how to comb through an obscure public record, or how to employ a classic narrative-writing technique, you are learning something new every day.”

Hardt encouraged the participants to always be alert to what is happening around them. He further advised them to create a place for themselves by finding their comfort zone in the media fraternity so that they may be able to more accurately report on the matter.

“Find a subject, area or region that you are particularly interested in and become an expert on it, while, of course, honing your writing and reporting skills. That is the best way to stand out in an already crowded field and in an industry that’s constantly evolving and changing. You must have the urge to find untold stories that are important to your audience, to report on those stories until you’ve broken the news and to tell it more reliably and compellingly than your competitors,” the Ambassador stated.

Meanwhile, head of the University of Guyana Centre for Communication Studies, Carolyn Walcott, acknowledged that around the world, journalists do a lot of good work that goes unrecognised. According to Walcott, journalism is more than just telling a story.

Labourer allegedly killed by speeding policeman

The life of a labourer was on Friday morning snuffed out after he was struck down by a policeman attached to the Mahaica Police Station along the Bee Hive Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Sixty-two-year-old Sookdai Chandropaul, also called “Baba”, of Lot 25 Bee Hive took his last breath at the Georgetown Public Hospital about 08:00h Friday.

According to information received, the elderly man was on his way to work when he was reportedly struck down by a gold-coloured Toyota Alex motor car bearing registration number PPP 7920,

driven by a Police Corporal in uniform. The officer is under close arrest assisting with the investigation.

Chandropaul sustained severe injuries, and was picked up by a Police vehicle and taken to the medical facility where he succumbed.

At the home of the dead man, his wife, who was being consoled by neighbours and relatives, told Guyana Times that her husband left home about 06:00h for work on his pedal cycle after she prepared his meals.

She said as she sat to have her breakfast, her nephew visited her home and informed her that her husband

met with an accident. “Meh ask he if meh husband dead and he tell me he nah know, so meh call meh daughter, but, by de time I left to go to the public road, meh get one message that he dead.”

She explained that her husband would usually leave home around the same time to go to work, but on Friday morning, he did not meet up with his colleagues, so he decided to return home. It was as he was turning around on his bicycle that he was struck by the speeding car.

Not breathing

The dead man’s nephew, Mohan Ramlagan, recounted that after he received the news that his uncle was struck down, he rushed to the scene where he saw him lying on the roadway. His leg, he said, was broken, his head had a gash, and he sustained several other injuries about his body.

Ramlagan explained that the people who had gathered were advising him to pick up his injured uncle and take him to the hospital, but, by this time, a Police vehicle arrived on the scene and took him to the hospital, accompanied by a few relatives.

“When they reach at the

hospital, they call back to say that he dead when he went in the room… but from what I see and know, he dead on the spot… I didn’t see he de breathing,” the distraught nephew said. He added that the Police rank who was driving the car at the time of the accident said: “I couldn’t do anything else.”

In a statement, Police said they are investigating the fatal accident.

Investigations thus far revealed that the now dead man was riding a bicycle along the roadway when he was struck down by a private motor car driven by a Police rank, the Police said. The man leaves to mourn his wife and eight children, along with 19 grandchildren. His body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

French Guiana man fined for illegally entering Guyana

AFrench Guiana citizen appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry where he was fined $30,000 for illegally entering Guyana.

Eric Asanti pleaded guilty to entering Guyana illegally at Corentyne by sea on May 14, when he disembarked without consulting immigration officers. The accused, who was aided by a translator, told the court that he was sorry for the offence he committed and he was on his way to visit his girlfriend in Suriname and it was not his fault since he thought that he was still in Suriname when he arrived in Guyana.

Eyew tness

Wrong smoke signals...

...to Indigenous Peoples

We recently read of the sacrifice made by two US Embassy staffers who trekked over 1500 kilometres in the wilds of our interior just to check how the aid (from USAID) they’d passed on to the Amerindian communities, had fared. A tear rolled down your Eyewitness’ cheek by the time he got to the end of the story.

Hey! These were fellas, who’d left their comfy homes in the US and accepted a posting to Guyana – widely described as the “armpit” of South America by most diplomats. And now were roughing it in Conan Doyle’s Lost World! THAT was above and beyond the call of duty!!! But it was worth it, wasn’t it? Bringing democracy and a glimpse of the good life to these “Indigenous Peoples”.

But just then, your Eyewitness stumbled over a piece on the Indigenous Peoples of the US. They’re called “Native Americans” there. From the solicitousness shown by the Americans for our “natives”, your Eyewitness assumed they’d be living high off the hog. He was in for a shock. Now since some think this column occasionally embellishes stuff, we’re going to present unexpurgated excerpts from the article, “America’s brutality toward Native Americans continues today”.

“For natives, political aspirations aren’t focused on accessing the mythologies of a multicultural America, but on the practices of sovereignty and self-determination, consecrated in treaty agreements – wampum – (and, of course, in their actual histories). Treaties aren’t guidelines or suggestions; they’re nation-to-nation agreements whose stipulations exist in perpetuity. That the Federal Government still ignores so many of those agreements indicates that colonisation is not simply an American memory.

One of the most famous violations is the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851, 1868), which guaranteed the Lakota possession of the Black Hills. The American Government seized the Black Hills nine years after signing the treaty, in 1877, having discovered sizeable deposits of gold and other precious minerals.

In 1980, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Government had unjustly appropriated the Black Hills (the ruling doesn’t use the word “stolen,” but it’s an accurate descriptor of what occurred). The court awarded the Lakota [US]$15.5 million (now well over [US]$100 million with inflation) for the adjusted value of the appropriated land, but the tribe has consistently refused the monetary settlement, preferring instead to retain entitlement to its historic territory.

But the American Government refuses to return that land. Let’s therefore drop the quaint notion that the colonisation of natives is a tragedy limited to the days of yore.”

Maybe after their stint in Guyana, the two Embassy fellas might take a drive through the Black Hills of the Dakotas?

...to new India?

Smoke signals, which are pretty transitory to begin with, mightn’t be enough for the US to mend relations with another set of natives across the oceans: Indians. Or more specifically, their new leader Narendra Modi. They might need the more substantial “wampums” that the Native Americans used to seal their treaties with the US Government. But then again, from the evidence above, even that mightn’t be enough.

The US, of course, had denied a visa to Modi a couple of years back to speak at a University function. Grounds? Well there’s a visa question that asks, “as a Government official, were you responsible for particularly severe violations of religious freedom”? Well Modi declared he hadn’t. But the US, acting from their Olympian certitude, decided Modi was lying through his teeth. The fact that the most respectable Indian Supreme Court had given Modi a clean chit, didn’t cut any ice with the US. No smoke signals? No wampums? Maybe just a “We’re sorry?”

...from Police

We know we shouldn’t be like the US and jump to conclusions. But this Eyewitness does believe that the Police Blue Wall, has to be lowered a bit when it comes to investigating/disciplining their own.

Agriculture Ministry issues El Niño Watch

The Agriculture Ministry on Friday issued an El Niño Watch following consultation with the Hydrometeorological Office, taking into consideration predictions from various regional and international forecasting and weather agencies.

The Ministry in a release said Guyana’s rainfall for the period of March, April and so far May (2014) has been below the average amount expected for the same period from long-term rainfall averages.

The below normal amount of rainfall experienced along Guyana’s coast for this period is reflected in the levels of water in Guyana’s various water conservancies.

According to the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diagnostic discussion issued by National

Centres for Environment Pediction (NCEP) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society on May 8, there is now more than a 65 per cent chance that the Northern Hemisphere will experience El Nino conditions by the Season June-July-August (JJA). Because of this new data, the ENSO Alert System Status is no “El Nino Watch”.

The Ministry has established a Special El Nino Working group to monitor and plan actions to reduce any adverse impact of a possible El Nino on agriculture production.

El Nino is a band of anomalously warm ocean water temperatures that periodically develops off the Pacific coast of South America. Extreme climate change pattern oscillations fluctuate weather across the Pacific

Ocean which results in fluctuating droughts, floods, and crop yields in varying regions of the world.

There is a phase of ‘El Niño–Southern Oscillation’ (ENSO), which refers to variations in the temperature of the surface of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean (El Niño and La Niña) and in air surface pressure in the tropical western Pacific.

The two variations are coupled: the warm oceanic phase, El Niño, accompanies high air surface pressure in the western Pacific, while the cold phase, La Niña, accompanies low air surface pressure in the western Pacific. Mechanisms that cause the oscillation remain under study.

Developing countries dependent upon agriculture and fishing, particularly those bordering the Pacific Ocean, are the most affected.

Driver crashes into tractor, escapes with minor injuries

Fcar slammed into a tractor and trailer.

The accident occurred on the Jibb Public Road on the Essequibo Coast late Thursday night. Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that the driver was heading in the northern direc-

tion when he lost control of his vehicle HC 1262 and crashed into a tractor with a trailer that was proceeding in the opposite direction.

The tractor and trailer were carrying a load of seed paddy.

The driver, who is thanking the Almighty for being alive, came out of his vehicle with blood dripping from his face and body. He was rushed to the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital where he was treated for the injuries sustained.

Many persons converged on the scene following the accident.

The Police were summoned and are presently investigating the accident. The tractor driver was unhurt.

Toolsie Persaud employee charged for stealing over $1M in cement

TInsects a potential environmentally-friendly option for animal feed – FAO

Insects can provide a sustainable and environmentally-friendly option for animal feed, in addition to already being a mainstay of human diets for two billion people worldwide, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Assistant Director General Eduardo RojasBriales told an international gathering of researchers in The Netherlands.

Rojas spoke during the opening session of the conference, “Insects to Feed the World”, jointly organised by Wageningen University and the UN agency. More than 400 participants from 45 countries have gathered for the May 14-17 event to examine the current status and future potential of insects as food and feed.

“The time is ripe to think about alternative sources of food in view of a growing world population, climate change threats and persisting hunger in many parts of the world,” said Rojas, who oversees FAO’s work in forestry and related food systems and livelihoods.

Wild foods

Wild foods contribute to the food security of millions of people living in and around forests and most of the insects consumed by one-third of the world’s people are collected from the wild.

“Certainly insects alone will not solve the world’s food security challenges but it would be absurd not to mobilise their full potential in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

“Raising insects for feed is an environmentallyfriendly and efficient way of producing animal feed,” said Rojas.

“Insects can be fed on bio-waste, compost and animal slurry, and can transform these into high-quality protein for animal feed.

Recognising the global potential of insects for food in this conference is not to advocate a change in the food patterns of the other twothirds of the global population that is not used to eating insects, but to ensure that those who consume insects can continue to do so in the future in a sustainable way, and to highlight the different potential contributions insects can make to food security in the future,” Rojas said.

He added that the challenges of feeding a projected nine billion people in a sustainable way by the year 2050 will “never be achieved based on one single measure, but is only possible by a convergence of perseverant measures that complement each other”.

Tiny champions Rojas mentioned bees as a prime example of the variety of ways in which insects contribute to food security.

provide honey but they are also the predominant and most economically important group of pollinators in most geographical regions of the globe, supporting pollination of 71 of the 100 crop species that provide 90 per cent of the world’s food. Also, bees are among the most commonly consumed insects in some parts of the world.

In addition to raising awareness of the potential of insects in sustainable diets and food production, conference participants plan to discuss a variety of related issues, including data-gathering, nutritional analysis, and regulatory and research considerations, among others.

Rojas said the international scientific community could make “important contributions by generating the right momentum to overcome the still-existing bottlenecks and to unlock the full potential of insects for food and feed”.

oolsie Persaud employee Chetram Ramnarine was granted bail in the sum of 250,000 when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to a charge of robbery on Friday.

The charge stated that on April 9, the defendant, of 24 Parkon Street, Providence, East Bank Demerara, stole cement valued more than $1 million from Toolsie Persaud Ltd.

The accused who told the court he is a banker for the company pleaded not guilty to the said charge and stated that it is his first offence.

The defendant is set to reappear at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on June 06, 2014 for statements.

Opposition aims to nationalise Berbice Bridge – Govt

– motion passed to reduce toll an infringement of private/public partnership

Amotion which was crafted to reduce the tolls at the Berbice River Bridge was passed in the National Assembly by the Opposition on Thursday despite Government’s objection.

Through the motion, the National Assembly is calling on the Government to instruct its representative on the Board of Directors of the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) to demand immediate reduction in tolls charged.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon in his motion pointed out that the

Government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) is a preferential shareholder and a member of BBCI Board of Directors.

Since its commissioning in December 2008, the bridge has facilitated the crossing of more than 650, 000 vehicles, resulting in annual revenue of approximately $1.5 billion. Harmon in making his case to the House said the tolls established at the BBCI are exceedingly high when compared to the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Pointing to South and North American nations, he argued that

crossings are free in some cases and where toll booths are established, the fees are low.

Aware of the Government’s position on the motion, the APNU Shadow Public Works Minister referenced to the Companies Act Number 29 of 1991 under which BBCI was incorporated and sections three and four of the Berbice River Bridge Act 2006. Under the latter, provisions have been made for the Public Works Minister to make “Toll Orders”.

Has the power

“Mr Speaker, the Minister has allot of pow-

ers, he can exempt emergency services of and civilians and military law enforcement agencies from the payment of tolls when in pursuit of their duties. He has that power and we are asking him to use it.... He can make provision for penalties of any breach of a provision of this order and he can provide for other matters as the Minister sees it fit,” Harmon told the House.

Harmon’s points were reinforced by APNU Shadow Education Minister Amna Ally.

But from the onset, the Government made it clear that it will not support the motion, contending that the APNU supported by Alliance For Change (AFC) is using it to garner political mileage. Government will not buckle under pressure from the Opposition, its sitting members told the House.

Will ignore

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn emphasised that the Donald Ramotar Administration will not heed the demands made by the Opposition. “I will not reduce the toll. I will not reduce the toll to any person in Guyana until by economic modelling and defining we can determine that it would be of benefit to the bridge company and the shareholders and the people of Guyana,” Minister Benn told the House.

He argued that BBCI is privately own and any attempt to demand a reduction would be an infringement on its rights as private entity. “This is a shot fired across the bowels of all those persons who want to continue to invest in our country. This is an attempt to make a de facto expropriation on nationalisation of a private investment. This is what the motion is!”

He added the House would not be nationalising a private entity. “This time we will be nationalising and taking away from our

King does handle a green old man

Kings and queens supposed to be respectable people. De problem is that some people does tink and play like dem is king and queen and that is whah does mek dem pompous. In Guyana, it got some a dem who does play kings right hey in GT de garbage town.

One a dem is a king near to a market. De people who does wuk wid he must call he boss man…or else! And this boss man who does play king even gotta old house slave. Just that it got certain places and certain people wheh de boss man is not de boss man.

Dem is de times he does got to content he self wid bein de second man. And nowadays second man is just like bein last man. And talkin bout last man, that does mek de boss man remember he school days, or de lil bit that he had of it.

Another one named Roy always tink he got enough Stone to behave like a king. It happen to be de same king who does deh pun Regent Street at de S*ity Council who tink he is King Kong. But de only ting close to King Kong wheh this king concern is he looks. He ain’t got whah de real King Kong got.

This king pun Regent Street can’t even handle a woman. Some body seh he can’t handle no woman. Another somebody seh he don’t handle woman. Whether or not that mean he does only handle man is another question. But people hear how he does handle a green old man.

It so happen that de same green old man also tink he is a king. He wanna appoint people and fire people. Is a good ting de C-Jay who, even though he don’t play a king, still had to put de green old man in he place fuh playin a king.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Well wid two man playin king in one place, it is left to any body to guess who does be on top!

own people.”

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, who appeared to be very passionate about the matter, said despite the picture painted by the Opposition, the Government has undoubtedly transform the landscapes of Region Six with improved living conditions, education and healthcare systems.

Promise fulfilled

Since Guyana gained Independence in 1966, a promise was made for the construction of a bridge across the Berbice River, but Ali said it was only under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP) Administration it was built. This, he said signals the ruling party’s commitment to the people of Guyana. He said too that while the bridge was being constructed, other infrastructural projects were unfolding not only in Region Six, but across the country.

Ali like Benn rubbished arguments put forward by the Opposition that the Government partially owns the company. He argued that if there is an invention

on the part of the administration, it would be a breach of contract; such an infraction would cripple the possibility of future investments by private investments.

According to the Housing and Water Minister, the Opposition had made the bridge a contentious issue from the time the project was initiated. “In the Ninth Parliament, a motion was brought to the National Assembly which sought to stop the construction of the bridge because of its location and when it was completed, they said the bridge was ugly. The problem is not fare, the problem is a political problem, they cannot deal with the fact that the PPP would have delivered,” he told the House.

The Berbice River Bridge which was constructed under a public/private agreement is 1.5 kilometres long, stretching from D’Edward Village on the western bank of the Berbice River to Crab Island on the eastern side. It is currently owned by BBCI but following a concessionary period of 21 years, it will be transferred to the Government of Guyana.

Local law enforcement officers on overseas training

The local law enforcement community was further strengthened when several officers attached to agencies under the umbrella of the Home Affairs Ministry returned from overseas training. This is part of ongoing efforts to boost the capacity of these agencies, which included the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU); the Guyana Police Force (GPF); Guyana Prison Service and the Ministry itself.

Head of CANU, James Singh, along with a Technical Officer, Sanjay Shew, attended overseas forums in the first week of March. Singh attended a conference in St Lucia on March 4 to 6 that focused on promoting closer regional cooperation and building regional knowledge of trafficking. During the forum, participants shared experiences and discussed future targeting.

Shew went to the 20th Annual Regional Drug Commanders Conference on March 3, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This forum was used to identify strategies to combat illegal drug trafficking and develop cooperation among managers. In addition, focus was placed on conducting criminal investigations and collecting intelligence on major trafficking organisations operating within the Caribbean.

Anti-drug trafficking

The Police Force saw six officers travelling overseas for training exercises. Detective Sergeant Sherlock Houston of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) attended a training course on Drug Trafficking for Police Officers in Italy from March 3 to 14, during which the development of contrasting techniques against drug trafficking was examined.

Detective Corporal Mahendra Thuknauth of the CID had attended the “Precursor Chemicals Course” from March 10 to 21, in Jamaica. The course provided a full understanding of precursor chemicals, how they are diverted into illegal markets, and the manufacturing process of illegal drugs. Participants were also educated on the regional and international laws and regulations governing the movement and enforcement controls of precursor chemicals and the implications for money laundering and asset forfeiture. Superintendent of Police Errol Watts went to an international conference during the period March 17 and 20 in Kerala, India, which shared enforcement experiences and research findings, while Detective Corporal Quanza Bagot par-

ticipated in an “Advanced Narcotics Investigation Course” from April 28 to May 9 in Jamaica. The course is designed to provide a full understanding of the techniques used in drug law enforcement thereby enhancing drug enforcement officers’ ability to conduct thorough professional investigations.

In the area of armoury management, Corporal Handel Moses attended the Second Regional Armoury Management Training Course (AMC) for Caribbean States from April 28 to May 9 in Trinidad and Tobago. The course aimed to bolster the capacities of Government armourers in the specific technical skills and management processes necessary for the safe, effective and efficient accounting, inspection, repair, maintenance, storage, security, and destruction of firearms and ammunition.

The Police top brass also strengthened their capacity, with acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud attending the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police’s 29th Annual General Meeting and Conference in Trinidad and Tobago from April 28 to May 1. The Conference saw policy-makers, technocrats, and practitioners gathered to discuss a more collaborative and cooperative approach to law enforcement-related issues while sharing experiences and initiatives undertaken.

Prison Service ranks also attended overseas training: Chief Officer Gornall George, acting Chief Officer Christine George, and Cadet Officer Deoraj Guyandat. They participated in a Corrections Institutional Management Course that was held in March 23 to 29, in Nebraska, USA, which centred on increasing capacity to operate juvenile detention facilities that are safe, secure, humane and transparent.

From the Home Affairs

Ministry, two persons were sent on overseas training. Coordinator of the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband, Floyd Mc Donald, went to a Preparatory Conference for the 11th Conference of Defence Ministries of the Americas in Peru from March 6 to 7.

Research Officer Tabitha Barnwell then attended the Regional Conference for the Americas on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development from April 28 to 30, in La Antigua, Guatemala. During this Conference, participants discussed the integration of armed violence reduction and prevention into national, regional and international development processes.

Brazilian Ambassador completes tour of duty

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett on Friday hosted a farewell reception to honour Ambassador Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrade, who has completed his tour of duty as Ambassador of Brazil to Guyana.

Ambassador Seixas de Andrade was accredited on September 9, 2009.

The Minister in her remarks thanked the Ambassador for the significant role he played during his tenure in further advancing the Guyana/Brazil bilateral cooperation programme.

These, the Minister said, included several high-level exchange visits; the establishment of the Joint Commission for the Development of

Infrastructure Projects in Guyana; the establishment of a Guyana/Brazil Frontier Committee; and collaboration in key areas such as health, agriculture development, security and consular matters.

She extended best wishes to him and his wife in their new posting to Barbados. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1968, Guyana and Brazil have enjoyed very friendly relations not only at the bilateral level, but also within the framework of several regional and sub-regional mechanisms such as the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation and the Union of South American Nations where they share common membership. Guyana and Brazil also work closely on issues of mutual interest on the international agenda.

Ramotar congratulates South African President on re-election

President Donald Ramotar has extended congratulations to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on his recent re-election to office.

Ramotar in a message said, “I wish to extend to you and on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana and in my own name congratulations on your successful re-election as President of the Republic of South Africa. Your re-election demonstrates the confidence the people in South Africa have in your ability to lead their nation and in the African National Congress (ANC). I wish you and your Government every success

as you proceed with your renewed mandate.”

The President noted that he looks forward for the continued collaboration in the years ahead for the further strengthening of the relations between the two countries.

Zuma had said his party was “humbled” that the majority of South African voters have returned the party to power.

Zuma called the ANC victory a “reaffirmation that South Africa indeed has a good story to tell”.

The ANC won 62.15 per cent (11,436, 921 votes) of the 18 million votes cast.

Though the party remains the majority in the

National Assembly and eight provinces, it lost 15 seats in Parliament and was reduced to 249 seats.

Zuma was however not fazed by the decline over the past two elections.

“They [voters] have approved of the good work we have done over the last 20 years in general and in the past five years in particular,” he said.

The ANC dedicated this election victory “to Madiba’s memory and vow to take forward his legacy and that of his peers,” Zuma said.

Nelson Mandela, the first democratically-elected President of South Africa, died last December and the ANC urged voters during its campaigns to elect it back into power to honour him.

In the next five-year term, the ANC would “use our majority to implement policies and programmes that improve the lives of the people, especially the poor,” Zuma said.

“This new mandate is a licence to continue building on infrastructure programmes and it gives us the green light to implement the national development plan,” he said.

Unsubstantiated allegations demoralising NOC staff – Dr Anthony

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said the unsubstantiated allegations that have surfaced at the New Opportunity Corp (NOC) are demoralising to staff at the facility.

Briefing the media, at his office, the Minister said however that he was pleased that the parents who have concerns made a formal report to the Child Protection Agency (CPA) on May 6.

He said that it was in keeping with the law, that the CPA applied to the courts for the removal of the girls from NOC and was granted this order on May 9.

“On the 10th of May, 2014, four female students were released in the custody of the Child Protection Agency. On the 12th of May, 2014, an investigative team visited NOC and interviewed staff and students pertaining to the allegations made. The staff of NOC was instructed to cooperate fully with the investigative team.”

The Ministry, the Minister emphasised, would like to once again reiterate that it treats allegations of sexual misconduct seriously. He noted the Sexual Offences Act clearly stipulates the various offences and those who indulge in such practices must feel the full force of

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

the law.

“On the other hand, the same act stipulates, where persons make false complaints, give false statements, depositions and evidence, they can be charged with making a false complaint or for perjury.”

Minister Anthony decried the fact that some have sought to use the recent allegations for apparent political mileage.

Cheap politicking

“Main Opposition MPs Christopher Jones and Trevor Williams have been quite vocal on the matter and instead of working in the genuine interest of the students at NOC and their families, they have sought to politicise the matter. This is quite unfortunate that they would exploit people’s vulnerabilities for cheap politicking.”

Even Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred King was accused of impropriety.

King on Thursday said it is “sad” that the media would seek to sully his reputation by involving him in a sex scandal at the NOC.

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 embrace, 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…. 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.

Rice farmer found dead at Affiance backdam

Arice farmer, who left home in high spirit early Wednesday morning, was discovered lifeless in a trench at Affiance Backdam, Essequibo Coast.

Dead is Boodram Dindyal, 39, of Affiance. The father of two was last seen at 07:30h.

His saddened wife Reshma Dindyal related that she was shocked to have received a message

at her work place that her husband had died.

The woman said her husband had no illness and was baffled as to how he died.

His body was discovered by a villager around 10:00h. Boodram was described as a loving and respectful father. His body was taken out of the trench by Police and is at the Suddie Funeral Home. Police are investigating the matter.

Guyanese, others released on terrorism charge in Venezuela

Healthy, safe and free, but not yet home free.

This is the state of the three Imams who have finally been released from the Venezuelan prison in which they were held for weeks.

Salam Abdul, Hamza Mohammad and Sheikh Hamid Hassan walked through the gates of the Sebin prison in Caracas about 20:45h on Tuesday after they were examined by a medical doctor.

Also tasting freedom was a Guyanese national who lives in Venezuela, Imran Bacchus. Bacchus had been acting as the Imams’ chauffeur at the time of their arrest.

In a release from the Islamic Missionaries Guilds of the Caribbean and South America, President Imtiaz Mohammed stated that the doctors found the men to be healthy and not

physically or mentally abused.

The men were arrested in March along with 19 others, including Muslim women and children, and charged with terrorism and criminal conspiracy. The women and children were held for approximately two weeks before they were released and returned to Trinidad.

Despite their freedom, it does not seem that the Imams would be able to return to Trinidad within the next few days. Their security while in Venezuela; however, has been made top priority for the lawyers of the law firm of TamayoTamayo.

“When the Imams were freed none of their belongings, including 66 passports and money (US$6000) seized from them, were given back to them. Today (yesterday) our lawyers

and the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission will be dealing with the issue. The Imams’ return to Trinidad will be determined by the outcome of this issue,” said Mohammed.

He added that the families, congregations and friends of the Imams were “overwhelmed with feelings of joy and happiness” at the news of the men’s release, and are excited as they await their return.

Mohammed also thanked the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Security for the role they played in the release, the media, and all those in the Muslim community who contributed to the legal fees which amounted to US$17,000. He added that it was anticipated that the total cost of the matter would amount to approximately $120,000. (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)

Second high-level forum on statistics set for Grenada

The quest to place statistics frontally before the Caribbean Community (Caricom) continues later this month with a high-level engagement of stakeholders in St George’s, Grenada.

The High-level Advocacy Forum on Statistics, planned for May 26, is the second such event to be coordinated by the Caricom Secretariat with support from its international development partners.

The first forum was held in 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago. That engagement focused on constructing a highly effective statistical base to monitor and inform policies to mitigate the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on the region.

One of the outcomes of that engagement was the establishment of the Caribbean Association of Professional Statisticians (CAPS) last year in St Kitts and Nevis. It is anticipated that the establishment of the CAPS will positively impact the harmonisation process within the region and that its membership directory could be a catalyst for the construction of a database of regional experts.

This year, the organisers are seeking high-level commitment by Caricom governments to strengthen national statistical systems so that timely, high-quality and relevant statistics could be developed and made available for decision-making and citizen empowerment.

The thrust is being made against the acknowledge-

Region Two Nurses celebrate International Nurses’ Week

The quest to place statistics frontally before Caricom continues later this month with a high-level engagement of stakeholders in St

ment that the availability of statistics will lead to good governance, accountability and improved standards of living of the peoples of the community.

Specifically, the forum will look towards the strengthening of the region’s statistical bases to provide early warning signals on economic, social and environmental challenges; encourage member states to invest in statistics and make use of the data produced; and enable the production of a Caricom Strategy for the Development of Statistics (CSDS) that can promote implementation of the common Regional Statistical Work Programme (RSWP) at the country level.

The forum will attract top level Government representatives of Caricom Member States and Associate Members, Directors of Statistics, and Chief

There will be panel discussions at the day-long event that will focus on topics such as setting policy context and Government investment in statistics; the status of statistics, challenges, achievements and best practices; how the data revolution is impacting on the development of statistics in Caricom; and charting the way forward for the region.

The high-level forum is among several other statistics-related events occurring in Grenada during the last week in May. The others are a Caribbean Population and Housing Census Symposium on May 27, a Regional Statistics Seminar on May 28, the first meeting of the CAPS the following day, and a meeting of the Advisory Group on Statistics which will be convened on May 30.

An Information Technology Fair focusing on Statistics will be held May 26-28.

EU High Representative urges non-discrimination against LGBTI

community

European Union (EU)

High Representative Catherine Ashton has reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to equality and nondiscrimination as certain countries the world over celebrate International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).

Ashton in a release said the EU is committed to the principle of the universality of human rights and reaffirms that cultural, traditional or religious values cannot be invoked to justify any form of discrimination, including discrimination against LGBTI persons.

Homophobia, biphobia

and transphobia are an unacceptable infringement of human rights.

“Notwithstanding positive examples of strengthened non-discrimination measures, sexual orientation and gender identity continue to be used to justify serious human rights violations around the world. In some countries, sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex are criminalised and are liable to be punished with imprisonment or even with the death penalty. In other countries, governments actively seek to limit freedom of assembly, association and

B y I ndrawatt I e n atram

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud lauded nurses for their efforts in moulding the health sector and urged them to remain focused, calm and courteous when attending to patients, as the region celebrated International Nurses Week, which was observed May 6-12, under the theme “A force for change, A vital resource for health”.

At the special Nurses Luncheon host -

expression of LGBTI persons. This is a source of concern for the EU,” the release said.

The EU’s Foreign Ministers adopted the LGBTI Guidelines on June 24, 2013 and campaign tirelessly for the respect of human rights, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“We raise the issue of equal rights for LGBTI persons whenever necessary in our contacts with third countries and in international fora, we speak out through public statements, and we work with our delegations to argue the case for justice and human rights. Through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the EU supports LGBTI human rights defenders across the world.”

Head of the EU Delegation in Guyana Ambassador Robert Kopecký had called on Government ‛‛to decriminalise same sex intimacy’’, during his remarks at the annual Europe Day reception on May 7, which was attended by President Donald Ramotar and other dignitaries.

The Chairman took the opportunity to distribute tokens of appreciation to the nurses. At the end of the ceremony, he interacted with the nurses and had lunch with them. Also attending the luncheon were Regional Executive Officer Sunil Singh, Regional Health Officer Allison Brown, People’s Progressive Party Regional Democratic Councillor Shanta Springer, Medical Superintendent Ramcharran Darmalingam and Cuban representatives.

International Nurses Week recognises the role nurses play in providing treatment, care and support to patients. During the week in Region Two, nurses and other medical professionals carried out vaccination campaigns, health walks, and health talks at clinic sessions at various health centres.

ed by the Region Two Administration and the Health Management Committee in the boardroom of the Suddie Public Hospital on Wednesday, Persaud told the more than 50 nurses and other health professionals that it was important to recognise the sterling contributions made by those who wear the “white” grown. He said nurses have admirable qualities and should be saluted at all times for the work they have been doing over the years. He spoke at length about nurses’ approach to patients, caring for mothers, health education and medical outreaches. Persaud said the Government of Guyana, through the Health Ministry, has invested heavily in the health sector to ensure that persons in far-flung areas received sufficient medical services.

Regional

Moderate Venezuelan Opposition announces suspension of talks

The grim gauges of Venezuela’s protests, now in their fourth month, steadily rise. The official death toll has reached 44. Around 3000 demonstrators have been arrested, over 1600 face criminal charges and about 160 are in pre-trial detention. Allegations that detainees have been tortured have brought condemnation from human-rights groups. And the prospect of a negotiated end to the crisis is receding.

In April, the moderate wing of the Opposition Democratic Unity (MUD) alliance and the Government of President Nicolás Maduro agreed to talks facilitated by the Vatican and Foreign Ministers of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). The student movement and the more radical wing of the MUD, led from a prison cell by

Leopoldo López of the Popular Will Party, stuck to street protests. They said their participation depended on tough conditions, including the release of political prisoners and an end to repression.

On May 13, the coordinator of the MUD alliance, Ramón Guillermo Aveledo, said the negotiations were going nowhere and announced a suspension of talks. “We discuss the issues, we reach agreements, and there’s no movement,” he said. General Miguel Rodríguez Torres, the Interior Minister, ripostes that talks are just a façade for what the Government regards as a slow-motion coup attempt. “One group plays the violent role, the other the democratic role,” he said this week. “Whoever starts winning the game, the other joins in.”

In fact, the Opposition is genuinely divided. “Collaborators” and “traitors” are some of the milder epithets hurled at moderates by radicals who believe the talks were designed merely to buy time and a better image for the Maduro regime.

The final straw for the die-hards was a comment

Brazilian anti-World Cup protests hit Sao Paulo and Rio

Riot police in Brazil have fired tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro who marched against the cost of hosting the football World Cup.

Some demonstrators hurled stones while other burned tyres and blocked roads.

but it has cost a lot of money − US$15 billion – and most of that has been public money.

In Rio, aerial images showed hundreds of people marching in rush-hour traffic on a main thoroughfare. The city will host the final match of the World Cup on July 13.

Protesters there and in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s biggest city, clashed with police before beginning to disperse.

The number of people on the streets was much lower than during similar protests last year.

by Roberta Jacobson, an American diplomat, who told a Senate foreign relations committee hearing on May 8 that some in the Opposition had asked the United States to refrain from targeted sanctions against Government figures as long as the talks lasted. Aveledo was forced into some rather defensiv e denials. (Excerpt from The Economist)

Antigua: June 12 is Election Day

After a roller-coaster of events which included court battles and street protests, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, late Thursday last night, announced June 12 as the day voters will go to the polls, urging them to return his United Progressive Party (UPP) for a third consecutive term as the government of Antigua and Barbuda. He also revealed that the Writ will be issued today.

Nomination day will be on May 21, the UPP leader told a crowd of energised supporters, which police estimated to be between 4000 and 5000.

There are around 48,000 people registered to vote.

Spencer described the 2014 poll as a “crucial” decision voters will have to make, telling supporters “you are doing this for your country”.

“I believe we have made

the case, the case is overwhelming for the United Progressive Party to return to office,” he said. In immediate response, the man who wants to be Prime Minister, Antigua Labour Party (ALP) leader Gaston Browne, described the announcement as “long overdue” crediting pressure from the Opposition as the reason for the announcement.

Browne said, “I think his (Spencer) performance was pathetic and bordering on a pappy show. The 12th of June, 2014, will be judgment day for Baldwin Spencer and the UPP. It will be deliverance day for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and victory day for the ALP.”

But Spencer told those gathered in Potters Village last night that his Government deserves a third term in office. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Colombian FARC, Government reach deal on drugs; rebels call ceasefire

Colombia’s Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on Friday reached an agreement to eliminate the illegal drugs trade, the third item on a five-point agenda in peace talks to end a half-century of war, hours after the Marxist group called a week-long ceasefire.

Protests also took place in many other cities, including the capital Brasilia. Teachers and civil servants, among others, were also on strike across Brazil.

Most people here will eventually support the World Cup when it gets under way,

They say they are angry that billions of dollars are being spent on next month’s football tournament, rather than social projects and housing.

Some of those taking part, however, promised the demonstrations would get bigger and more frequent as the World Cup gets closer.

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

The tournament is due to kick off on June 12. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Surinamese Police deny mass resignations within the Force

The Police Corps of Suriname (KPS) has denied reports of mass resignations saying that so far this year only seven resignations had been received.

“And every resignation is honoured according to the appropriate policies,” the KPS said in a statement, as addressed what it termed the “unnecessary and unwarranted commotion that is being created in the community”.

There have been media reports suggesting that at least

300 officers had handed in their resignations.

The KPS described the media reports as “gossip”, noting also “the reports claimed that the Chief of Police is delaying the resignations and contacted a bank where the workers had applied to”.

But the KPS maintained that only seven people had handed in their resignations and that it has initiated an employment drive to hire at least 300 new officers this year (Antigua Observer)

The advance in talks nine days ahead of the first round of voting in the presidential election is likely to give President Juan Manuel Santos a boost to his re-election bid. The race is shaping up to be the tightest in two decades.

Discussions on how to eliminate the production of cocaine from Colombia were closed, a source from Colombia’s Office of High Commissioner for Peace told Reuters on condi -

tion of anonymity. Sergio Jaramillo, who heads the office, serves as a Government negotiator at the peace talks in Havana.

The FARC announced it would stop all attacks from May 20 to May 28, a period that includes the May 25 election. The second biggest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), also said it would call a ceasefire during the period. Presidential and local elections have historically been marred by leftist rebel attacks nationwide as the groups seek to intimidate and influence voters.

The Government usually sends thousands of additional troops to patrol during the period. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Barbados among top Latin American and Caribbean countries in broadband penetration

The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) released a new study Wednesday revealing that Latin America and the Caribbean lag far behind developed countries in broadband penetration.

But the study shows that Barbados, Chile and Brazil are in the best position to take advantage of this vital development tool.

The bank said the 26 countries of the region included in the index posted a score of 4.37 on the Broadband Development Index, while by comparison, the countries of the Organisation for Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD) rate an average of 6.14.

It said 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 eight – 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 García-Zaballos, who is leading the IDB’s broadband initiative.

A recent IDB study found a 10 per cent increase in penetration of broadband services carries with it average rise of 3.2 per cent in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 2.6 percentage points in productivity.

The new ranking, which can be found on the IDB’s new DigiLAC website, provides data from all the countries of the region and more than 15,000 cities and towns. (Excerpt from CMC)

Around the World

China to discuss crisis with Vietnam

China and Vietnam Ministers are to discuss deadly anti-Chinese riots that have taken a toll on Beijing’s business interests in the Southeast Asian nation, a Chinese official said.

The discussions between Commerce Ministers in China’s Qingdao city come on Friday as Filipinos and Vietnamese residents stage a joint protest in Philippine capital of Manila against Beijing’s movements in South China Sea territories claimed by their countries.

Shen Danyang, a Spokesman for the Chinese Commerce Ministry, demanded that Vietnam took steps to ensure the safety of Chinese people, businesses and property.

“There have already been deaths of Chinese citizens and more than 90 people were injured,” Shen said.

“It’s expected that the number of casualties will rise further. This has resulted in businesses halting work and huge property losses. China strongly condemns this.”

Fierce fighting rages in Libya’s Benghazi

Fierce fighting in eastern Libya between army troops loyal to a general at the centre of recent coup rumours and two armed groups has killed at least 12 people and injured 90, according to officials.

The country’s top military official was describing Friday’s offensive – launched without Government approval – as a “coup”, news agency the Associated Press reported.

Major General AbdelSalam Gadallah al-Obeidi, Libya’s chief of staff, said forces that launched the Benghazi assault were under Haftar’s control. However, he did not address claims that federal forces fought on Haftar’s side, according to the Associated Press.

The riots erupted after China towed an oil rig into waters claimed by both states. Factories perceived to be Chinese-owned have been set on fire. Up to 21 people have been killed and a huge foreign steel project has been set ablaze.

On Friday, chanting “China get out”, more than 100 Filipinos and Vietnamese picketed the Chinese consulate in Philippine capital, carrying banners, including one that urged Manila and Hanoi to “join hands” against Beijing.

UN study finds peacekeepers avoid using force to protect civilians

United Nations peacekeeping missions routinely avoid using force to protect civilians who are under attack, intervening in only 20 per cent of cases despite being authorised to do so by the UN Security Council, an internal UN study found.

“There is a persistent pattern of peacekeeping operations not intervening with force when civilians are under attack,” the report by the Office of Internal Oversight Services said.

“Peacekeepers are absent from many locations when civilians come under attack, and when they are present, are unable or unwilling to prevent serious physical

harm from being inflicted,” the 26-page report said.

Of 507 incidents involving civilians that were included in UN reports between 2010 and 2013, 101 sparked immediate response from peacekeepers, the report said.

Presented this week to the UN General Assembly Fifth Committee, which deals with the UN budget, the report focused on eight of 10 UN peacekeeping missions with a Security Council mandate to protect civilians: Lebanon, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur, Abyei, and South Sudan. It excluded the newest operations in Mali and Central African Republic. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine crisis: UN sounds alarm on human rights in the east

The United Nations has warned of an “alarming deterioration” in human rights in eastern Ukraine, where separatists are fighting security forces.

It also found “serious problems” of harassment and persecution of ethnic Tatars in Crimea, the mainly ethnic Russian region Moscow annexed in March.

Russia condemned the report, saying it ignored abuses by Ukraine’s Government. Meanwhile, a third-party initiative to restore law and order in one troubled city, Mariupol, seems to be succeeding.

Violence between separatists and pro-Ukrainian forces has left dozens dead in the east and south this month.

Separatists control towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where they have

been skirmishing with units of the Ukrainian security forces, sent in to reassert Government control.

The revolt in the east gained momentum after Russia annexed Ukraine’s mainly ethnic Russian region of Crimea in March.

Moscow acted after the overthrow of Ukraine’s elected pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, during unrest in the capital Kiev in February, and his replacement with an interim Government, backed by Ukrainian nationalists. A new Ukrainian President is due to be elected on May 25.

In another development, former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt has accused European Union officials of risking war with Russia by displaying “megalomania” in Ukraine. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Walden Bello, a Philippine Congressman, said the protesters were denouncing Beijing’s moves as provocative. “This protest is all about telling China, ‘Please stop your aggressive moves in our territories. Please respect the rule of international law’,” he said.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, a busy sea lane and fishing ground atop what is believed to be rich oil and gas reserves. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Military aircraft and helicopters, apparently under the command of Major General Khalifa Haftar, were flying over the city of Benghazi on Friday, Libyan security officials said.

On the ground, Haftar’s troops attacked the bases of the Islamist group Rafallah al-Sahati and another group known as February 17, the officials said.

Al-Obeidi said he would ban any forces from entering Benghazi to join Haftar, without elaborating. AlObeidi later described the unfolding events as a “coup”, the Associated Press reported.

Interim Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani later said only one jet moved out to attack the militias without Government permission, along with some 120 weapons-loaded army vehicles. (Excerpt

saturday, may 17, 2014

Businesswoman survives execution attempt

Abusinesswoman was in the wee hours of Friday morning shot twice after four men attacked her in what appeared to be a planned execution along Garnett Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

Malika Susan Da Silva, 26, of Lot 75 David Street, Subryanville, Georgetown, had gone to a relative’s home at Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown to collect three persons to take them to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) when her car came under fire by four armed men. In an attempt to escape after being shot, she crashed through a fence and into the wall of house a short distance away. Up to late Friday afternoon, Da Silva was undergoing an emergency surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Fazeela, a relative of the injured woman, explained that Da Silva left her home about 02:00h on Friday morning in her Toyota Hilux vehicle and upon arriving at Garnett Street to collect her sister and brother-in-law, they heard gunshots.

One of the men report-

edly exited the car and discharged two rounds at the woman, hitting her to her shoulder and back.

The relative recalled that after the shooting, the woman drove off the scene, but due to the gunshot injuries, she lost control and crashed into a fence and subsequently into the wall of a house on the other side of the road.

After crashing into the house, the men again discharged four more bullets in their direction and sped away from the scene. Those who rushed out to offer assistance did not get a glimpse of the registration number, or the driver of the car.

Allegedly trailed

From all indications, the Toyota Fielder car was following the woman since she left home. The headlamps of the car were not on and the car did not have registration plates.

The relative further stated that the injured woman assist her father with his business in Stabroek Market, noting that this was not the first time the family was attacked. She added that the men did not

go towards the car to retrieve anything from within, which is a clear indication that the shooter wanted her dead.

The woman, she added, was picked up and taken to the hospital where she was admitted. Fazeela explained that a bullet was lodged close to the woman’s spine and there is a high possibility that it might have serious implications. The doctors, she added are monitoring the woman’s condition.

An occupant of the house that the woman crashed into said she was asleep when they heard the sounds of gunshots, followed by a crashing sound, then a sudden impact.

She added that when they rushed out of the house, they saw the car and two women were inside. One of them, she added, was shot and panting for breath, but was eventually pulled from the wreckage and whisked away to the hospital.

The other occupant of the car was not shot, but sustained a few bruises and was treated and sent away. The woman further related that they also did not get a glimpse of the vehicle which sped away from the scene.

Police spokesman Ivelaw Whittaker in a statement said they are investigating the incident.

“Two of the men who were armed with firearms exited their vehicle and as they were approaching, Da Silva attempted to drive away and the men opened fire, hitting her to the chest,” the Police added. Neighbours rushed out, which contributed to the suspects leaving the scene. Police are continuing their investigations.

Courts donates $2M to Tourism Ministry for Guyana Festival

The Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Ministry on Friday received $2 million from Courts Guyana Inc for the staging of the Guyana Festival, which will be held from August 8 to 10, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Courts Managing Director Clyde De Haas presented acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali with the two-million-dollar cheque at the Courts Main Street branch in Georgetown.

De Haas stated that it was a unique opportunity to support an initiative that will create tourism awareness of Guyana. He continued by saying that this event is an opportunity for Guyanese from the diaspora to reconnect over common food, drinks, and music.

Strategic partnership

In his remarks, Minister Ali expressed gratitude for the sponsorship by Courts, pointing out that Courts Guyana Ltd has made significant contributions in the past to other tourism ventures.

The Minister said the Guyana Festival is the biggest event planned for the year 2014 and it seeks to bring many tourists to the country in hopes of boosting the tourism sector.

The much-anticipated event was launched on April 2 at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. It will celebrate everything Guyanese under the theme “Sound, Soul and Taste”.

It is Guyana’s rich culture that sets the country apart from the rest of the world – six cultures fused together by the independence of one people, a colourful ad-

venture that is a melting pot for all the cultures brewed together, Minister Ali said, adding that this is what the festival celebrates.

The three-day event will see exciting events that will celebrate sport legends, culture, art, entertainment, food, music and much more.

Electrifying

On Day One, there will be an air show, followed by an international concert with drumming and lots of food.

Day Two will commence with the Festival Games –where the Master XI will take on the President’s XI in football and cricket. Famous names on the rosters include Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Lennox Cush, Mahendra Nagamotoo, Clive Lloyd, Narsingh Deonarine, Veerasammy Permaul, and Trevon Griffith. An unforgettable night of legends on stage, such as Dave Martins, follows this day of activities.

Day Three will see the electrifying National

Cook-off with food from every corner and every culture of Guyana represented at the Guyana National Stadium. There will also be a Generation Next concert with local artistes such as Adrian Dutchin, Jumo Primo, and Vanilla.

Every evening of the Festival, there will be Coney Island rides for the entire family, an arts and craft exhibition and sale, and a wide variety of food and drinks on sale.

Festival Passports will be available to commemorate the event, and will contain discount coupons from the sponsors; autographs from Clive Lloyd, Dave Martin and other stars as well as President Donald Ramotar; and the entire programme. It is something that can be kept as a souvenir and will cost US$15 or G$3000. A Festival Coin designed by Kings’ Jewellery to commemorate the event will also be available at the jewellers.

Government has no direct ownership stake in BBCI – Ali

The Government of Guyana does not have direct ownership of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI), maintains Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali.

Presenting the facts on the ownership of BBCI, Ali explained that since 2006, the former Aroaima Mining Company (AMC), a subsidiary of NICIL, had preference shares in the company.

However, in 2011, AMC was dissolved, resulting in its shares being transferred to NICIL, the parent company.

“NICIL then sold those preference (non-voting) shares to NIS par value. As such, NICIL has no ownership stake in the company and consequently no voting rights,” the Minister explained.

It was disclosed that NICIL now has one “special share” or “golden share” but this share does not give it any voting rights or influence on matters in the ordinary course of business, including the toll rates.

“Likewise, NICIL does not have any representation on the BBCI

Board,” Ali said, rejecting claims made by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC). Although the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) owns 100 preference shares, it has a single representative on the Board. However, no one Director can determine or undermine the decision

of the full Board, comprising a total of eight Directors.

In making his case, Ali pointed out that BBCI Board of Directors consists of six Directors appointed by the common shareholders, one Director appointed by the preferred shareholders and one Director appointed by the holders of the subordinate loan stock.

Cannot be compared

Established tolls at the Berbice River Bridge are often compared to tolls at the Demerara Harbour Bridge. As a result, Ali drew a nexus between the two, pointing out firstly that the Demerara Harbour Bridge is owned by the Government, and as such, benefits

from an annual subsidy under the Public Works Ministry.

“In contrast, the Berbice River Bridge is a public/private partnership which does not receive any subsidy. Furthermore, like any private company, the Berbice River Bridge is required to generate sufficient returns to sustain its existence and pay investors a minimum return,” Ali pointed out. Since 2008 the toll order, which was issued by the Public Works Minister, has remained unchanged. The toll structure, which was structured at the time, was determined by a number of variables including projected number and frequency of vehicular traffic, in addition to a willingness to pay.

The Willingness to Pay Study was conducted by the InterAmerican Development Bank in 2000. During the study, 700 passengers of ferry, car, bus, truck and vehicular drivers were interviewed.

Reports have indicated that over the past two years, more persons are crossing the bridge with SUVs and 4WDs than projected.

Motion passed on BBCI toll is “populist politicking” – Ramotar

The motion passed by the parliamentary Opposition on Thursday, demanding a reduction in the Berbice River Bridge tolls is “populist politicking” and irresponsible, according to President Donald Ramotar.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Friday, the President said that members of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which piloted the motion, were present in the National Assembly when the Act governing the bridge’s operations and construction was tabled and passed.

“They know that the Government is constrained from doing anything in relation to the toll of crossing the bridge, largely because the act itself says that any changes in the toll have to come from the Board of Directors of the bridge, making a request to the Minister… no such suggestion has come.”

Since the bridge has been in operation, traffic has doubled, leading to more business being conducted, the

President noted.

“You know the old saying, “time is money”, it used to take between three and six hours to cross the Berbice River with the ferry, now it takes about three minutes to drive over. Obviously, it’s much more efficient, there’s no hassle.”

He added that there is actually no evidence that lowering the fares will result in increase in traffic, and for the bridge to remain in service it must remain viable.

The Head of State

said the call made by the Opposition is akin to nationalisation, but explained that the bridge is owned and operated by Guyanese and local companies, “therefore we have to be careful how we handle that, in order to maintain that service…. the mobilisation of funds to build the bridge was totally a local effort”.

There is still a small ferry crossing the Berbice River that caters for residents living close to the banks of the river and this is heavily subsidised by Government, he said.

Describing the facility as one of the more successful private-public partnership arrangements, the Head of State said: “The Opposition, obviously, are playing very cheap politics, acting extremely irresponsibly with the suggestion they have made”.

He reiterated that the cost for fares, which have not increased since the bridge’s opening in 2005, are the equivalent of the same costs to cross with the previously used ferry service, for vehicles.

Minister Persaud clarifies GGMC’s role in ParikaGoshen Road

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) recently published a notice in the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper requesting proposals for consultancy services for engineering designs and supervision of work for the Parika to Goshen Road.

This project was determined to be a mining road and thus qualifying it for GGMC’s funding, according to a written statement provided by the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud to APNU’s Joe Harmon on Thursday in Parliament.

Harmon, in addition to inquiring about the basis for the project, also questioned what determined GGMC’s involvement with regards to being the executing agency for the proposed road, what consultations, if any, took place with stakeholders to determine that the project was a priority one, and the role that the Public Works Ministry will play in developing the technical scope of the project.

Minister Persaud, in responding, clarified that the design, execution and maintenance of hinterland roads have long been supported by the Ministry’s regulatory agency, which is the GGMC.

He further explained that with fluctuation in gold

prices, miners have been forced to find means of reducing cost and under the Government’s programme of support to miners, a number of initiatives have been explored with the relevant stakeholders, with one being exploring more direct routes into the main mining communities, hence the movement to bring about the road.

Minister Persaud said that to ensure coordination of Hinterland Road works, the Hinterland Infrastructural Committee (HIC) for mining areas was established in 2012 and has been involved in reviewing and making recommendations for improving institutional arrangements for hinterland infrastructure management and develop-

ment.

The HIC also reviews and makes recommendations for improving operational and procedural arrangements for the management and development of hinterland infrastructure and developing a national infrastructure plan with specific emphasis on forestry and mining.

The Minister explained that it was therefore the HIC that guided the work on the conceptualisation and preparation for the proposal of the road. He also pointed out that the HIC comprises a number of stakeholders including the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, the GGMC, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Public Works Ministry; therefore, all the stakeholders within the sectors would have been represented with regards to determining whether the road was a priority.

Minister Persaud said that the Public Works Ministry will be involved in every aspect of the project through its representation on the HIC, and additionally by providing support through the Ministry’s Work Services Group. He further explained that the project would have been discussed at the level of Cabinet, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

saturday, may 17, 2014 |

guyanatimesgy.com

Two charged for Pegasus taxi driver’s murder

Two young men accused of the 2013 murder of Pegasus taxi driver Rudranauth Jeeboo were remanded to prison until June 2 when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Friday. Seventeen-year-old Lorenzo Forde, of Princes Street, Charlestown, and 21-year-old Sean Edinboro, of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, were jointly charged for the murder of Jeeboo. Forde was initially charged with the offence. The duo was not required

to plead to the indictable charge.

Jeeboo was discovered dead in a heap of garbage at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, with several injuries to the head on December 28, 2013. His motor car, a Toyota Allion, was later found abandoned at Guyhoc Park, South Ruimveldt.

It is alleged that between Friday, December 27 and Saturday, December 28, 2013, the defendants stopped Jeeboo who was driving on Main Street. After entering the vehicle, they held him up, hijacked

the vehicle and murdered him.

It was reported that during the Police investigation, Jeeboo’s cellular phone, which was stolen, was still being used, and further investigation led to Forde, who gave a confession statement in the presence of his aunt. His co-accused Edinboro, according to Prosecutor Stephen Telford, has a current charge at the Sparendaam Police Station for the murder of a Beterverwagting taxi driver, which was committed prior to Jeeboo’s death.

Social safety nets expand, but results not impressive – World

Bank report

Social safety net programmes have grown exponentially around the world in recent years, but more than two-thirds of the world’s 1.2 billion poorest people are still not covered, says a new World Bank report

Social safety net programmes have grown exponentially around the world in recent years, but more than two-thirds of the world’s 1.2 billion poorest people – those living on less than US$1.25 per day – are still not covered, says a new World Bank report.

According to The State of Social Safety Nets 2014, more than one billion people in 146 low- and middleincome countries benefit from social safety net programmes, yet 870 million of the world’s poorest people remain uncovered.

Social safety net programmes include cash and in-kind transfers targeted to poor and vulnerable households, with the goal of protecting families from the impact of economic shocks, natural disasters, and other crises; ensuring that children grow up healthy, well-fed, and can stay in school and learn; empowering women and girls; and creating jobs.

“On average, developing countries spend 1.6 per cent of their GDP on social safety nets. This is low compared to other public policy measures such as fuel subsidies, which do not target the poorest. More can be done to reach the world’s poorest people,” said Arup Banerji, the World Bank’s Director for Social Protection and Labour.

“There is a strong and growing body of evidence that social safety nets are one of the most cost-effective

ways for countries to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.”

The report is the first in a series of studies that will monitor and report on the growth and coverage of social safety nets in the developing world, highlight promising innovations, and review important policy and practical developments in this area.

Bolstered

The growth of social safety nets has been bolstered by mounting evidence of their impact on reducing poverty, improving maternal and child health and nutrition, boosting school attendance and learning outcomes, and promoting sustained economic growth. Over the past three years, a total of 53 new impact evaluations on social safety nets have been completed, most of them in Africa. Robust evidence continues to mount on the merits of social safety nets, notes the report.

In terms of global social safety net coverage, the report shows that countries at lower levels of income face the greatest gaps in reaching the poorest people:

* In low-income countries, where 47 per cent of the population is extremely poor, social safety nets cover less than 10 per cent of the population.

* In lower-middle income countries, social safety nets reach about one-quarter of

the extreme poor, but the remaining half a billion of the poorest people remain uncovered.

* The situation is best in upper-middle income countries, where about 45 per cent of the extreme poor are covered by social safety nets.

The report notes that the expansion of social safety net programmes, particularly in the form of cash transfers, is particularly evident in SubSaharan Africa. For example, 37 African countries currently have unconditional cash transfer programmes, almost double the number four years ago. Globally, the number of countries with a conditional cash transfer programme increased from 27 countries in 2008 to 52 in 2013. Similar trends are notable for other types of safety net programmes such as public works.

Available data on combined spending on social safety nets in low- and middle-income countries amounts to US$337 billion. Despite the positive trend, the report also notes that developing countries’ spending on social safety nets is still disproportionally low.

In the Middle East and North Africa, average expenditures on fuel subsidies are four times higher than those for social safety nets. Similar spending patterns are observed in India, Cameroon, Malaysia, Ecuador, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

“Three countries – India, China and Brazil – have the largest social safety nets programmes in the world, and account for almost half of global coverage. Lowerincome countries are learning from their experience,” said Banerji.

“This new data shows that, if safety nets are done right, it is possible to close the gap on coverage and reach all of the 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty across the world.” The report also notes that countries are moving from fragmented programmes to integrated social protection systems.

SUDOKU

Resist the urge to tell others how to run their lives. You are not infallible. Unless you are asked for your opinion, keep your thoughts to yourself. Work on self-improvement instead.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Be prudent when making monetary contributions. Find out ahead of time how the money in question would be used. You could find yourself in trouble with the authorities if you don’t follow the rules.

20-March 20)

Don’t be afraid of overtime if it will help you complete unfinished business. Get back to a solid health regimen. Take a pass if a proposal or joint venture makes you feel uncomfortable.

21-April 19)

A real estate prospect will appeal to you. It may not be a convenient time to make a move, but keep your eye on things and your options open.

(April 20-May 20)

Tension is brewing. Be gentle and understanding when dealing with others. It will take all the patience you can muster to avoid a disagreement that would end in regret.

(May 21June 20)

Throwing money around will not impress anyone. Honesty and integrity are much more attractive features. A new acquaintance has the potential to turn into a business or personal partner.

Increased socialising will lead to profits. Your peers will want to join forces with you. Display your skills and broadcast the contribution you are willing to make.

(July 23Aug. 22)

Let your carefree temperament lead you to fun. You and the people you most enjoy spending time with will be in sync, enabling you to engage in shared activities that will bring you closer together.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Be cautious in romantic situations. Don’t rush love or expect too much from others. Bide your time and be observant. You’ll gain valuable knowledge if you wait and watch.

23Oct. 23)

Reclaim your independence today. Get out and involve yourself in social or recreational clubs. You don’t need to convince someone else to join you. It’s time to make new friends.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Burn off excess energy. It isn’t necessary to join a gym. You can exercise at home, getting the same results and saving money to put toward an evening of entertainment.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t squander your money on a risky venture. Gambling will deplete your budget and anger someone you love. “Frugal and fit” should be your mantra.

EDFA launches Stag senior football league

The East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) in conjunction with Ansa McAl under their Stag Beer brand, launched the EDFA senior league on Friday at the beverage company’s Beterverwagting head office.

The league, which was absent since 2011, has returned due to Ansa McAl’s ultimate goal for football as explained by the company’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Darshnie Yusuf.

“We are trying to revitalize and push football in such a way that it will be throughout the country, this is something that we want to do…we want to see this sport grow to such a level that when we rally with our national team, these are the players that we’re rallying behind,” Yusuf stated at the press conference.

John Maikoo, who is

the brand manager for Stag Beer, revealed that the cost of the tournament will range around two million dollars,and noted that it is the smaller tournaments that aid in the development of sport.

“We all know football in this country, people look at the big tournaments and they don’t acknowledge these league tournaments and you can recognize that Stag has been sponsoring leagues and that is our commitment to football at that level,” Maikoo highlighted.

Meanwhile, organizing secretary of the EDFA thanked Stag and Ansa McAl for coming on board, while highlighting that the league is just the beginning of a packed year for the association.

The tournament will commence on May 25 at the Buxton Community Centre ground with action set to start from 16:00h.

Spinners bowl Berbice to three-run victory over President’s XI

wickets

Berbice relied on spinners Arif Chan (315) and Balchand Baldeo (3-22) to pull off a thrilling three-run victory over the President’s XI in the final preliminary round game in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) oneday tournament on Friday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Defending a modest total of 119, the Berbice bowlers maintained consistency throughout, restricting the President’s XI to 117-8 in 42 overs.

With the President’s XI needing seven off the last over, Chan kept his cool giving away only four runs.

In the run-chase, the President’s XI lost the wicket of Sunil Singh (4) early, before Ryan Shun (40,103 balls, 4x4), and Avishkar Sewkarran (27, 87 balls, 1x4) added 81 for the second wicket.

lenge, while the President’s XI bowlers made the most of the pitch on which shotmaking was very difficult under overcast conditions.

Berbice were reckless, lacked application and lost wickets in a blink before the last-wicket partnership between Smith (17 not out) and Chan (12) which yielded 30 runs, being the highest in the entire innings.

Ronaldo Mohamed (3 not out) and Daniel Lewis (1 not out) were unable to see them through.

Viendra Gooniah and Sharaz Ramcharran also picked up a wicket apiece for Berbice.

Earlier, after deciding to bat first, the Berbice batsmen were poor and didn’t appear to be up for the chal-

From a position of 96-1, the President’s XI slipped to 114-8, losing Sewkarran, Shun, Nick Ramsaroop (6, 1x4),) and Damion Waldron (0), Kelvin Sewpersaud (2), Kareem Mentore (2), Chavin Moriah (0) in the space of 18 balls.

Parmanand Ramdhan was the only shinning light in the dismal performance with a top score of 25 (3x4s, 1x6). Balchand Baldeo (18), Ashkay Homraj (12) and David Latchay (10) were the other batsmen to cross the double figures mark. For the President’s XI, off-spinners Vivian Albert and Daniel Lewis were the stars, taking 3-21 and 3-26 respectively.

Chavin Moriah, Ronaldo Mohamed and Damion Waldron also bowled beautifully to claim a wicket apiece.

Over at Enmore Community Centre ground, skipper Brian Sattuar led from the front with a sparkling half-century to guide

Demerara to a seven-wicket win over Essequibo. The hosts started their run chase of 236 at a brisk pace with Sattuar and

Tagenarine Chanderpaul at the helm. The duo stitched together a quick 147-run stand to put Demerara in total control.

Sattuar made 81 from 105 balls, with eight boundaries and one six, while Chanderpaul stroked his way to a 93-ball 55. Ramnarine Chatura, (36), was the other batsmen dismissed for Demerara. Kemol Savory and Steven Sankar remained unbeaten on 29 and five respectively. Batting first, Essequibo were bowled out for 233 in 49.4. Kemo Paul top scored with 62. He received support from Ricardo Peters, 44, Ryan Adams, 34, while Akini Adams (17), Avenash Persaud (14) and Shivindra Hemraj (13) being the other batsmen to reach double figures.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul (2-35), Cleon McEwan (2-38), Sherfane Rutherford (1-17), Steven Sankar (1-19) and Keon Morris (1-56), were the chief wicket takers for Demerara. The President’s X1 ended on 22 points and Demerara 16.The two teams will therefore meet in the final at the GCC ground,Bourda, on Sunday at 09:30h.

20

Clippers Sterling ‘will not pay’ NBA fine

Los Angeles Clippers

owner Donald Sterling has said he will refuse to pay a $2.5m (£1.5m) fine from the league for racist comments, US media report.

“We reject your demand for payment,” his lawyer said in a letter to the National Basketball Association (NBA), Sports Illustrated magazine reports.

Sterling’s “hateful opinions... simply have no place in the NBA”.

In the letter, Maxwell Blecher also wrote that no punishment was warranted for Mr Sterling’s actions and that his rights for a fair investigation had been violated, according to the USA Today newspaper.

The NBA recently appointed Dick Parsons, a businessman and lawyer, as new Clippers interim president while the league attempts to force a sale of the team.

Pacers ready to battle Heat after banishing Wizards

The Pacers will be hoping to make it third time lucky against the Heat after losing to Miami at the same stage in the last two seasons, with West confident of success this time around.

Mr Sterling was heard asking a woman not to associate in public with black people nor bring them to games.

On announcing the ban and fine, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Mr

Mr Sterling is also reportedly threatening to sue the league. He was banned from the National Basketball Association for life after he was recorded making racist remarks.

Amid the upheaval, the team was eliminated from the league play-offs on Thursday.

Fans have demanded Sterling sell up

Coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the game “the locker room was not good in a sad way. It felt like all the stuff they have gone through came out and they released all their emotions”. (BBC Sport)

Durant wakes up to carry Thunder past Clippers

Kevin Durant shook off a cold start to score 39 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers 104-98 on Thursday to clinch a place in the Western Conference finals.

League MVP Durant began the game with one-forseven shooting from the floor, but caught fire and added 16 rebounds and five assists in a Game Six road win that gave the Thunder a 4-2 best-of-seven series triumph.

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Durant told reporters. “I just tried to stay with it, no matter what. My team mates did a great job screening for me.”

Durant’s assured performance carried the Thunder to a third West final in four

years, in which they will play the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs.

It was far from easy going for Oklahoma City, however, as they had to rally from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter to muscle past the Clippers.

In Game Five, the Thunder were down by 13 in the closing minutes of the

fourth but fought back to stun Los Angeles.

The Clippers’ Chris Paul, who took most of the blame for that loss with several bad plays in the final few moments, had 25 points and 11 assists in their seasonending defeat.

Blake Griffin added 22 points and eight rebounds.

(Reuters)

Matches played by Auckland Aces in 2012 subject of ICC probe-New

Zealand Cricket

New Zealand Cricket has confirmed matches played by an Auckland Twenty20 team in 2012 are the subject of an ICC investigation into match-fixing.

Chief executive David White told a news conference that matches involving the Auckland Aces at the Champions Trophy in South Africa formed part of an ongoing investigationalthough he said no current New Zealand players are being investigated.

The announcement followed a report in the Daily Telegraph that former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent had provided the ICC’s anti-corruption unit

with evidence of match fixing in as many as five countries.

White said: “We can confirm the following: No games played in New Zealand are being investigated by the ICC; no current Black Caps are being investigated.

Investigation

“No matches involving New Zealand national teams are being investigated, however, we have been informed by the ICC that some Auckland Aces matches in the Champions League in South Africa in 2012 are being investigated.

“I would like to stress that we understand that this is very much an isolated incident. Match fixing is

David West delivered his strongest game of the playoffs with 29 points to help guide the Indiana Pacers into Eastern Conference finals with a series-clinching 93-80 Game

Six win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday.

The veteran power forward was in an aggressive mood from the opening tip-

sepp

off, taking 26 shots and sparking a fourth-quarter surge that helped the Pacers advance from the best-ofseven series with a 4-2 victory.

The top-seeded Pacers’ next challenge starts on Sunday, with a home Game

One encounter against the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat.

“We’ve got home court (this time), which is a good start,” West told reporters. “We know who they are, they know who we are. It’s going to come down to the details.” Feeding off their home crowd, the Wizards threatened to force a Game Seven when they rallied to take a 74-73 lead with about eight minutes remaining but West calmly sank two straight jump shots and the Pacers closed the game with a 20-6 run.

“David has a way of settling our young guys and riding the waves in a game,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “He made a couple (big) buckets. We’re lucky to have David West.”

Lance Stephenson added 17 points and eight assists for the visitors. (Reuters)

Blatter ‘has drive to continue’ as Fifa president

Sepp Blatter has given his clearest indication yet that he will stand for a fifth term as Fifa president in 2015.

a threat to cricket around the globe and we remain 100 percent behind the ICC in their focus on fighting corruption.”

The Telegraph claims Vincent had provided the ICC with information on matches targeted for spot fixing and the names of players involved - these included matches played in England’s county competition and in four other countries.

Vincent is reported to have provided the information as part of a plea bargain and in the hope of avoiding criminal investigation for his personal involvement in or knowledge of spot fixing between 2008 and 2012.

(Skysports)

After retaining his post unopposed in June 2011, the 78-year-old Swiss, who has held the role since 1998, had said he would not contest the next election.

But he told Swiss television station RTS: “Of course I want to continue. I have the drive to continue.”

Last week, Blatter reportedly confirmed that he would certainly run again, but Fifa denied that was the case.

Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb and former deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne have been tipped as successors to Blatter, but both have said they would not stand in opposition to the current in-

cumbent if he stood for election in Zurich in June 2015.

“The path to the throne is not yet open,” Blatter added.

“There are a lot of people who would like to take this position but they realise it is not a bed of roses.”

Speculation that Uefa president Michel Platini, who has been a close ally of Blatter, might succeed the Swiss at the world governing body has cooled since the former France midfielder opted against running in 2011.

Blatter appeared to dismiss the possibility that Platini could revive a bid for the sport’s top job, saying the Frenchman “is a man with a very deep character, he wouldn’t do it.”

Blatter told the BBC in October that he had “a mission” to fulfil at Fifa , adding that he would support a

proposal to increase presidential terms from four to eight years.

In his latest interview, Blatter also repeated his claim that awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar may have been a “mistake”.

“Yes, it was a mistake,” he said. “We all make lots of mistakes in life.

“The technical report from Qatar clearly indicated it was too hot in summer, but nevertheless, the executive committee, with a fairly large majority, decided that we would play in Qatar.”

A subsequent Fifa statement stressed the point that Blatter was highlighting an oversight by the executive committee who voted for Qatar, rather than questioning the country’s ability to host the event.

(BBC Sport)

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Brazil clear favourite to win World Cup, financial analysts say

BWorld Cup title, confirming on home turf its reputation as a soccer superpower, according to a global survey of over 120 footballloving market analysts polled by Reuters.

regions in the 32-team tournament.

However, being the favorite of analysts and bookmakers should not cause too much enthusiasm in Brazil, according to Reuters polls on previous World Cup tournaments.

Spain by 3-0 to win the Confederations Cup after a flawless campaign.

Despite unrest in Brazil’s streets over the staggering cost of the World Cup and jeers for President Dilma Rousseff, Brazil’s team received massive support from its fans, giving economists another reason to be optimistic about the Selecao.

EARLY BATH FOR ENGLAND?

Brazil last hosted the cup in 1950 and an unexpected defeat then by Uruguay in front of more than 200,000 fans left deep scars in Brazil’s national psyche and nurtured glorythirsty teams which, led by Pele, were crowned world champion three times in the following four cups.

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Brazil was the best bet for over half of the respondents, way ahead of Germany and arch-rivals Argentina, as international soccer fans vie for one of the millions of tickets to cheer on their home country after the first kick off on June 12.

“Brazil are the big favorites. It will be very difficult for Brazil to lose there,” said John Welch, a strategist with CIBC in Toronto. “But because of the way (Brazil’s coach) Felipao plays, they are not going to be winning by 3 or 4 goals every time like they did in 1950 until the final.”

Market professionals from across the world who regularly participate in Reuters economic polls were invited to showcase their forecasting powers on sporting matters. Most responses came from Europe and South America, in line with the greater presence of both

Although most were right in predicting Spain’s glory before the 2010 South Africa cup, economists failed miserably in forecasting Italy’s fourth title in 2006.

Some used sophisticated statistical models to predict World Cup results but were beaten by Paul, an Octopus living in a aquarium at Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, who picked the right winner in 12 out of 14 matches in the latest cup.

A Reuters Breakingviews calculator based on the hard numbers – the players’ transfer value, population, participation and public engagement – suggested Germany will squash the dream of a sixth win for Brazil.

In any case, this year’s solid consensus is evidence of the great impression left by Neymar and his teammates last year, when they crushed once-feared

The best candidates to repeat Uruguay’s feat in the economists’ opinion are Germany, with 18 votes, and Lionel Messi’s Argentina, with 13. Spain had more mentions than Germany to appear in the World Cup final match, but only eight expect a second straight title.

None saw Brazil’s challengers coming from England, though. The inventors of football were pointed as the most likely former world champion to crash out of the tournament in the group stage, with 64 mentions.

“England will return from Brazil without scoring a single goal a la France in 2002,” said Isaac Matshego at Nedbank.

Pessimism about England’s World Cup prospects seems to have reached the highest levels after a British government report suggested that the national team faced their customary early exit from the tournament. (Reuters)

djokovic subdues feisty Ferrer to reach rome semis

Novak Djokovic stayed on course for his third Rome Masters title although he was forced to dig deep to beat a tenacious David Ferrer 7-5 4-6 6-3 in a high-quality quarter-final on Friday.

The Serb looked to be in full control when he led 5-2 in the opening set but Spaniard Ferrer fought back to 5-5 and although he lost the opener the tone was set for an intense duel.

Djokovic eventually prevailed on his second match point having double-faulted on his first, the point in between being a 38-stroke baseline rally of extraordinary quality.

In the women’s Italian Open at the same atmospheric Foro Italico venue home fans were given something to shout about when Sara Errani reached

Novak Djokovic

the semi-finals with a superb 6-3 4-6 6-2 victory over world number two Li Na.

It was her first career win against a top-three ranked opponent and helped her reach her second consecutive Italian Open semi-final. She was joined in the semis by 11th seed Ana Ivanovic,

who followed up her win over Maria Sharapova with a thrilling 6-4 3-6 6-4 win over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.

Djokovic will face Milos Raonic in the semi-finals after the Canadian beat Roger Federer’s conqueror Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. On the other side of the draw Grigor Dimitrov reached his first masters Series semi-final when German veteran Tommy Haas retired from their match with a shoulder injury.

Celebrating his 23rd birthday Dimitrov was presented with a cake on the court which his coach Roger Rasheed splatted all over the Bulgarian’s face. Top seed and defending champion Rafa Nadal faces Briton Andy Murray in the night session. (Reuters)

Hinds lashes out at NSC

-Kumar responds…

By TreisTon Joseph

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, had some choice words directed at the National Sports Commission after the basketball federation was locked out of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Thursday evening for approximately 45 minutes.

Hinds, who noted that the dates to use the (CASH) were already pre-booked, quipped that the CASH was being controlled as personal property and related his thoughts on the saga.

“It has become a ridiculous situation that the Guyana Basketball Federation, the governing body for basketball in Guyana when seeking to use the sports hall has to go through a number of hoops

Memorex U-17 cricket in Berbice

and ridiculous demands in order to get access if they

“When on the other hand you have a fringe group called the YBG (Youth Basketball Guyana) that promotes basketball through the schools that seem to be a division of the National Sports Commission that gets free access to the sports hall. Every time we play in the sports hall we have to

pay and this situation cannot continue,” Hinds stated.

Further, Hinds shared what he thought might have caused Director of Sport Neil Kumar to order the lock out.

“What has happened over the past several years is that the national sports commission led by CEO/MO Mr. Neil Kumar, has partnered with the YBG circum-

venting and undermining the authority of the GABF, so when an article was pub lished basically saying that the GABF is in control of basketball related events it obviously raised his acts and he seemed to take it very personal.

“What might have also caused him to react is the release of the presiden tial under-19 squad for the Inter Guiana Games (IGG).

All national teams whether for IGG, whether for senior nationals have to be picked through the coaches that are identified by the lead association,” Hinds stressed.

Meanwhile, Kumar was quick to dispel the notion that the NSC was trying to hamper any progress of the federation with use of the CASH.

NBS second division 40-over cricket…

“The days that were booked that he (Nigel Hinds) was talking about were booked by the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), he then went and stopped it and said that the GABA has no right to do this. I never had a meeting with anyone form the GABF about the use of the CASH.

“We (NSC) have never banned them (GABF) we have given all our support, Michael Singh (President of the GABA) can tell you and I have given clear instructions to let’s work together,” Kumar noted.

Meanwhile, the under-19 squads along with some of the female players were eventually able to put in some work on the hard court after the gate and the doors of the CASH were opened after the 45-minute wait.

Sandy (74, 4-26) stars for Number 64 Fighting Marines

The 2014 New Building Society second division 40-over cricket competition continued recently with Leonard Sandy of Number 64 Fighting Marines solid all-round performance highlighting the latest matches.

Sandy first slammed 74, which included five fours and seven sixes, which together with 50 from Emmanuel Davidson, saw the Marines to 203 in 22.2 overs against Number 68 Turn Team. After that, he opened the bowling and took 4-26 to help bowl out Turn Team for 147 in 23.3 overs.

Off-spinner Steffon Adams took 5-12 from six overs and leg-spinner Emerson Benjamin 2-14 from six overs, as Hopetown United dismissed Bush Lot Challengers for just 61 in 20 overs. Hopetown went on to win by nine wickets .

After Daneshwar Ramkissoon scored 57 (11x4s) to lead D’Edward

Warriors to 162 in 25.3 overs against Monedderlust, his team-mates, pacer Joshua Hamid took 5-28 from six overs and off-spinner Narendra Iqbal 4-7 from 3.2 overs to skittle out the team from Number Five for just 56 in 12.2 overs.

Below are the summarised scores from the games.

At Number 63: Number

64 Fighting Marines beat Number 68 Turn Team by 56 runs. Number 64 Fighting Marines 203 all out from 22.2 overs (Leonard Sandy 74, Emmanuel Davidson 50, Toolaram Persaud 3-23) Number 68 Turn Team 147 all out from 23.3 overs (Naresh Nandkumar 38, Leonard Sandy 4-26, Kumar Chan 2-6).

At Hopetown: Hopetown United beat Bush Lot Challengers by nine wickets. Bush Lot Challengers 61 all out from 20 overs (Steffon Adams 5-12, Emorson Benjamin 3-14) Hopetown United 64-1 from 9.4 overs (Kwasi Mentore 27*).

At Number Five: D’Edward Warriors beat Monedderlust by 106 runs.

D’Edward Warriors 162 all out from 25.3 overs (Daneshwar Ramkissoon 57, Mohandat Ibarrian 46) Monedderlust 56 all out from 12.2 overs (Joshua Hamid 5-28, Narendra Iqbar 4-7).

At Number 43: Number

43 Scorpion beat Yakusari Caribs by three wickets, Yakusari Caribs 108 from 21 overs (Satesh Danroop 2-12) Number 43 Scorpion 109-7 from 25 overs (Farouk Drepaul 30, Ramesh Ayana 2-13).

At Bush Lot in West Berbice: Rainbow Generation beat Bush Lot United by 34 runs. Rainbow Generation 163 from 32 overs (Odel Burnett 37, Keino Gravesande 33, Navendra Mahadeo 2-18, Kurd Griffith 2-22) Bush Lot United 129 from 29 overs (Dellon Joseph 33, Rennison Mitchelle 3-25, Duvston Cummings 2-12, Keino Gravesande 2-22, Junior McKenzie 2-35).

At D’Edward: D’Edward beat Blairmont Community Centre by six wickets. Blairmont Community Centre 95 from 20.4 overs (Tony Ramanan 45) D’Edward 97-4 from 11.4 overs (Devendre Lalsa 28, Kevon Jawahir 28).

rotary to host PWd day of sport sunday

The Rotary Club of Georgetown will stage its day of sport for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) on Sunday from 08:30h at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park. According to Public Relations Officer and past president of the Rotary Club of Georgetown, Pradeep Samtani, approximately 1200 persons from all the regions of Guyana

are expected to participate. He also informed via a press release that Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony will take the salute at the march past and deliver remarks to declare the event open. Immediately after that, representatives from 21 organisations will compete in the 26 events carded for the day.

The participating organisations are Lion’s School

for Children with Special Needs; East Bank Special Needs School;the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre; the Guyana Society for the Blind; Linden Centre for the AHandicapped; Guyana Association for the Visually Impaired; the Open Door Centre;the Differently Abled Athletics Club; Region Two CBR; East Bank CBR; East Coast CBR; West Coast Berbice CBR; East Berbice

CBR; Ruimveldt Parent Support Group; Kuru Kuru CBR; the New Amsterdam Special School; Linden Unit for the Blind; St Barnabas Special School and Cheshire Home.

Among the activities planned are walks, athletic events, wheelchair race, tyre race, musical chair, bag race, egg and spoon race, wheel barrow race, bun eating competition, and late for school.

– Samwaru, Jagjit bag 10-wicket match hauls

The 2014 Memorex Enterprise sponsored Under-17 cricket competition in Berbice started recently with two outstanding bowling performances.

After Adim Shoetyal took 6-30 to help Cotton Tree Die Hard restrict Blairmont Community Centre to 169 in their first innings, Blairmont Under-15 pacer Ramnareshwar Samwaru took 4-19 from nine overs to see Cotton Tree being bowled out for 51 in their first innings. When Cotton Tree followed on, Samwaru took 6-3 from seven overs to end up with match figures of 10-22 from 16 overs to engineer Cotton Tree being dismissed

for just 11 runs. He was supported by off-spinner Seon Glasgow, who took 4-2 from five overs.

Port Mourant declared their first innings against Sand Reef Twilight at 1662 with Daniel Samaroo (59*) and Haresh Jaipaul (65*) featuring in a 130-run third -wicket partnership. When Sand Reef replied, leg-spinner Vivek Jagjit took 5-17 from six overs and 5-30 from 8.1 overs to bowl them out for 61 and 62 and to end with match figures of 10-47 from 14.1 overs.

Guyana Under-17 batsman Brandon Prashad hit 52, Azam Khan 51 and former Berbice Under-17 cricketer Joshua Gobin 42 not out to steer Rose Hall Town Bakewell to 233-6 declared against Cheskoy Riders. Gobin, bowling off-spin, then took 5-6 from four overs to bowl out Cheskoy

for 52 in their first innings. In their second innings, leftarm spinner Keith Simpson took 5-16 from 9.4 overs to rout them for 102.

Meanwhile, pacer Raymond Van Keric and left-arm spinner Steffon Anderson had seven-wicket match hauls for Police in their victory over Rose Hall Community Centre. Below are the summarised scores from the games.

At Blairmont: Blairmont Community Centre beat Cotton Tree Die Hard by an innings and 107 runs. Blairmont Community Centre 169 all out (Zameer

Inshan 35, Javed Karim 31, Seon Glasgow Jnr 24, Adim Shoetyal 6-30, David Samuel 2-40) Cotton Tree Die Hard 51 all out (Ramnareshwar Samwaru 4-19, Seon Glasgow Jnr 2-2, Chandredat Veerasammy 2-8) and 11 all out (Ramnareshwar Samwaru 6-3, Seon Glasgow Jnr 4-2).

At Port Mourant: Port Mourant beat Sand Reef Twilight by an innings and 43 runs. Port Mourant 1662 declared (Haresh Jaipaul 65*, Daniel Samaroo 59*) Sand Reef Twilight 61 all out (Vivek Jagjit 5-17, Daniel Samaroo 2-7, Joshua Beharry 2-8) and 62 all out (Vivek Jagjit 5-30, Ezekiel Kempedoo 2-4, Daniel Samaroo 2-22). At the Rose Hall Welfare ground in Canje: Police beat Rose Hall Community Centre by 10 wickets. Rose Hall Community Centre 33 all out (Raymond van Kenir 4-10, Steffon Anderson 3-4) and 76 all out (Kristoff Bahadur 37, Steffon Anderson 4-17, Raymond Van Kenic 3-15, Kevin Sinclair 2-22). In the other game, Rose Hall Town Bakewell defeated Cheskoy Riders by an innings and 79 runs. Rose Hall Town Bakewell 233-6 declared (Brandon Prasad 52, Azam Khan 51, Joshua Gobin 42*, Kevin Nandram 3-40, Sanjay Mohabir 2-50). Cheskoy Riders 52 all out (Nazim Ally 21, Joshua Gobin 5-6, Sylus Tyndall 2-13) and 102 all out (Nazim Ally 49, Keith Simpson 5-16, Brandon Prashad 2-31).

GBL president reports on historic WBSC Congress

President of the Guyana Baseball League (GBL), Robin Singh, recently returned from the historic and firstever World Baseball Softball Congress in Africa, held in Hammamet, Tunisia.

The inaugural congress of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) elected Italy’s Riccardo Fraccari to lead the world governing body as its

first-ever sole president.

Dating back to 2012, the 64-year-old Fraccari helped guide and deliver the birth of the WBSC as an interim co-president, alongside softball partner Don Porter. Now, Fraccari will serve as the lone WBSC president for an initial seven-year term that extends to 2021.

The WBSC Congress, which took place last weekend in the North African

city of Hammamet, also elected its first-ever executive board, formalising a complex merger of baseball and softball’s two independent international sport federations- a process that took nearly four-years of talks, legal consultations and planning to arrive at the day where only one official would lead as president.

While in Tunisia, president Singh attended a COPABE (Confederaciòn Panamericana de Béisbol) meeting to discuss developments in the region.

Following the meeting, Singh was tasked with heading a fact finding mission to the English speaking Caribbean countries with an aim to foster further development of the game in those areas.

The GBL also committed to membership in the International Softball Federation with the aim of having the game introduced in schools throughout Guyana.

President Singh’s report to the GBL board also made specific reference to baseball as a significant tourism product. In addition to sport and culture, “large groups have indicated interest in playing recreational baseball in Guyana as soon as we have constructed our first field”, Singh told them.

According to Singh, baseball and softball are enjoying a surge in interest in Guyana and participation and plans are moving apace for an extremely busy and productive miniseason during the school holiday in July and August.

East Coast leg of Guinness street football starts tonight

Apart from winning the competition and earning bragging rights for a year, the champion team of the East Coast leg of the Guinness Greatest of the Street football competition will be the lone team from that zone to advance to the national playoff next month.

It is against this backdrop that the boys from Plaisance will be hardpressed to retain the title they won last year by defeating Victoria Church Yard United 2-1 on the back of a double from skipper Warren Gilkes.

They will be up against 15 other teams when the competition kicks off this evening at the Haslington Market Square tarmac, the venue for all the games in the zone.

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 18:30h. At 19:00h, Buxton ‘A’ will trade skills with Melanie ‘B’, with Melanie ‘A’ set to face Mahaica at 19:30h after which there will be a break.

The action will resume at 20:00h 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 21:00h , while the final game will bring together Golden Grove Superstars and Victoria Eagles at 21:30h.

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. Meanwhile, 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, runner-up Retrieve Unknowns and winner of the third-place playoff, Scheme.

Fernandes takes double win on night three of squash tourney

Taylor Fernandes took two victories in the under-17 category when the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in conjunction with Digicel continued their junior squash championships on Thursday evening at the Georgetown Club.

Fernandes took on Rebecca Lowe in her first encounter and dominated her opponent to win in three straight sets after a tough first set between the two under-17 lasses.

Lowe battled hard with Fernandes carrying her to a stiff first set that ended 119, but was unable to sustain her momentum as Fernandes won the other two sets easily in 11-1 and 11-3.

Fernandes a little while after was able to totally dominate her encounter with Savannah Mendes in three straight sets as the match ended quickly in 11-2, 11-2 and 11-3.

Makeda Harding displayed her skills yet again by defeating Sarah Lewis, a familiar opponent whom she

faced in the Kraft Skilled level tournament earlier in the year.

Harding came out of the blocks firing to win the first set 11-7, while Lewis replied with a second set victory that ended 11-6. Lewis then went onto win the third set in 11-7 putting herself in prime position to win the match.

However, Harding had other ideas by taking a tough fourth set that could have gone either way at 11-8 and capped off the match by winning the fifth and final set at 11-7.

Anthony Islam suffered mixed fortunes during the evening, as he defeated Gianni Carpenter 11 - 3, 115, 11 - 0 in the Boys’ Under 13 category, while losing to Alex Cheeks in a very competitive match that ended in four sets at 3 - 11, 11 - 5, 3 - 11, 4 -11 in the Boys’ Under 15 category.

Daniel Islam, the twin brother of Anthony, also had a rough evening in the boys’ under-13 category as he defeated

John Phang in three

straight sets at 11 - 2, 11 - 6, 11 – 0, while losing to Shemane Griffith in three straight sets at 11 -2, 11 -4, 11 - 4 in his boys’ under-15 match.

Full results of the evening’s matches are as follows.

Girls’ Under-11 -:Paige Fernandes defeated Beau Fernandes 11/3 11/8; Kirsten Gomes defeated Aliyah Persaud 11/4 11/6; Madison Fernandes defeated Haley Carpenter 11/3 11/0.

Boys’ Under 11 Novices : James Mekdeci defeated Tome Reis 11/7 11/6, Liam Carpenter defeated Chad DeAbreu 11/8 20/18.

Boys’ Under-11 : Shomari Wiltshire defeated Nechemiyah Levans 11/2 11/2; Nechemiyah Levans defeated Nathan Rahaman 11/6 11/6; Ethan Jonas defeated Gareth DaSilva 11/1 11/0;Zachary Persaud defeated Gareth DaSilva 11/5 11/2; Demetrius DeAbreu defeated Michael Alphonso 11/8 2/11 11/2; and Dominic Collins defeated Rajiv Lee 11/5 11/7.

Boys’ Under-13 :Shomari

Wiltshire defeated Lucas Jonas 11/5 11/2 11/2; Daniel Islam defeated John Phang 11/2 11/6 11/0; and Anthony Islam defeated Gianni Carpenter 11/3 11/5 11/0. Girls’ Under-13/15 :Rebecca Low defeated Maya Collins 11/1 11/6 11/7; Savannah Mendes defeated Jamila DaSilva 11/1 11/2 11/2 ; and Makeda Harding defeated Sarah Lewis 11/7 6/11 7/11 11/8 11/7.

Boys’ Under- 15 : Shemane Griffith defeated Daniel Islam 11/2 11/4 11/4; and Alex Cheeks defeated Anthony Islam 11/3 5/11 11/3 11/4.

Girls’ Under-15/17 : Taylor Fernandes defeated Savannah Mendes 11/2 11/2 11/3; and Taylor Fernandes defeated Rebecca Low 11/9 11/1 11/3.

Boys’ Under-17 : Ben Mekdeci defeated Michael Ramroop 11/2 11/5 11/1; and Alec Melville defeated Matthew Phang 11/7 11/5 11/6.

Boys’ Under-19 : Nyron Joseph defeated Jael Gaskin 11/3 11/3 11/3.

Record number to start Independence Three-Stage today

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Seventy-nine (79) riders, an increase from last year’s total of 76, will begin the quest for top honours this morning when the 32nd annual Independence Three-Stage cycling meet pedals off in Corriverton.

Cyclists from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla and the United States of America make up the group looking to oust Jamal Eastman, who won last year’s event in a time of six hours, 58 minutes, 13 seconds (06h: 58m: 13s).

A sprinkling of local riders turned up at the Sport Ministry’s head office on Main Street on Friday when they joined officials to head to Berbice to overnight and prepare for the opening two stages today.

They were given words of encouragement by highranking officials of the ministry and the Guyana Cycling

Federation.

Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said he is impressed with the growth of the event over the years, pointing out that the influx of foreign riders can only serve to improve the quality of the race.

As he has done over the years, Dr. Anthony once again challenged the riders to lower last year’s winning time.

Permanent Secretary Alfred King also shared similar sentiments, adding that the race is part of the administration’s activities to celebrate Guyana’s 48th Independence anniversary.

President of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Cheryl Thompson, urged the participants to adhere to the rules set out by the officials. She also encouraged the riders to exercise safety and discipline.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar said he expects a highly competitive two days of racing, noting that he is

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aware that the local riders have been training hard over the past weeks.

When action pedals off today, 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 07:30h.

At 14:00h today, 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

08:00h 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.

Spinners bowl Berbice to three-run victory over President’s XI

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