Guyana Times Daily

Guyana ratifies convention to ban mercury use – eyes 2022 as date for full phase-out

By Samuel Sukhnandan

The Guyana government has signed on to a new international pact to control mercury emissions – the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This was done during an international conference organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held in Minamata, Japan from October 9 to 11.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury on behalf of the government. He was accompanied by the acting commissioner of the Guyana Geology Mines and Commission, Rickford Vieira.

Persaud stated that government recognised the environmental and health risks of mercury use and supported the implementation of a legally-binding global instrument on mercury that will examine its supply and trade, mercury-added products, manufacturing products in which mercury compounds are used, artisanal and small-scale mining,

emission, releases, storage and mercury wastes.

Phased approach

He explained that at the forum, the Guyana government proposed a phased approach over a period of 10 years, which should give parties time to prepare for the implementation of the procedures and provisions. This approach, Minister Persaud stated, has been supported by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association

(GGDMA), while discussions were held with Amerindian and riverine communities.

Minister Persaud further stated that Guyana has recognised the need to adhere to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”. The Japanese government pledged its support to Guyana for phasing out the use of mercury.

During the trip, Persaud also held bilateral discussions with Japanese Environment Minister

Nobuteru Ishihara, who reiterated his country’s plan to provide US$2 billion in financial assistance to fight mercury pollution. Discussions were also held with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner to lobby his support for the phasing-out measure.

An action plan was outlined by Guyana to minimise and, where feasible, eliminate the release of mercury release into air, water,

mercury – 2022. According to Dr Luncheon, Cabinet has noted the negative impact mercury has on the environment and has been working hard to ensure that this goal is accomplished by the new deadline. This confirms with the terms of conditions set out by international bodies and likely to be achieved through hard work. Government has already started to look at mercury-free methods.

and onto land from waste by adopting Environmentally Sound Management (ESM). It was proposed that the plan be implemented and completed within five years of its approval, preferably from 2013 to 2017.

2022 deadline

On Thursday, Presidential Secretariat head, Dr Roger Luncheon told a news conference that government has now set a new deadline by which it wants to phase out the use of

Minister Persaud had pointed out the socio-economic implications of a ban on the production and supply of mercury, which could affect approximately 100,000 persons, who directly or indirectly depend on the mining sector to earn a livelihood.

During May of this year, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) presented government with US$12 million to work with nature conservation groups to research mercury use in Guyana and its alternatives, including gold washing, which was recently introduced in Guyana via shaking tables. (samuelsukhnandan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Elderly woman, man robbed in separate incidents

Two armed men on Thursday evening terrorised a woman and relieved her of $7000 after they invaded her home at Number 60 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

The woman, 63, of Lot 132 Number 60 Village, was attacked by the men who dressed in dark-coloured clothing with makeshift cloth masks. One of the men was armed with a long gun and the other with a crow bar.

The woman reportedly lived alone. She had secured her home and gone to bed when around 22:00h, she was awakened by a sound coming from outside her house.

Upon checking via a window, she saw the men, who instructed her to open the door. She did not comply, so the bandits broke a window to gain entry. They then held the woman at gunpoint and demanded that she handed over her money and jewellery. Rampersaud reportedly told them she was poor and handed them the $7000 she had hidden away in a vanity drawer.

The bandits then took her to a dam leading to the backlands, where one of them attempted to sexually assault her in a clump of bushes but was stopped by his colleague. They then questioned her about a neighbour before leaving. Rampersaud subsequently made her way back to the house. The matter was reported to the police, but no arrest was made.

The police are also investigating an alleged robbery committed on Joel “Birdman” Boodhoo, 57, of Lot 39 Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne which occurred on Thursday evening. According to information, the suspect, Delroy “Bully Boy” Fraser, 26, of Crabwood Creek, relieved him of $44,400 and one Nokia cellphone valued $8000. Based on reports received, Boodhoo was walking along a back street in the area when the suspect approached him. As they crossed paths, the suspect choked Boodhoo and relieved him of the phone and cash that were in his left front pants pocket.

WEATHER TODAY

Countrywide: Sunny conditions are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to east north-easterly at 3.57 to 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:19h and 22:48h reaching maximum heights of 2.20 metres and 2.25 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:38h and 16:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.88 metre and 1.07 metre respectively.

OCTOBER 11, 2013

Venezuela evicts oil explorer from Guyana’s waters

– detains crew; govt, opposition protest

An armed Venezuelan naval ship on Thursday evicted a U.S. oil explorer from Guyana’s waters, sparking condemnation from the Donald Ramotar administration and the main opposition coalition A Partnership For National Unity (APNU).

Up to press time, the crew of the vessel conducting a multi-beam survey of the seafloor in the country’s exclusive economic zone was being detained by Venezuelan authorities. A Foreign Ministry statement described the incident, which occurred late on Thursday as “unprecedented in Guyana-Venezuela relations”.

It insists that the seismic vessel, the RV Teknik Perdana, was in “Guyana’s waters when this regrettable incident took place”.

Prospecting licence

The Guyana government is working with Venezuelan authorities to secure the release of the seismic vessel, RV Teknik Perdana contracted by Anadarko, one of world’s largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies based in the United States. Anadarko has a petroleum prospecting licence to search for hydrocarbons in the Roraima block offshore Guyana.

The ship sails under a Panamanian flag and is owned by Singaporean marine surveying company, according to the BBC News.

The ship and its crew were detained by the Venezuelan vessel around 16:00h.

According to the ministry’s statement, the Yekuma –an oceangoing offshore patrol boat that monitors the exclusive economic zone – trailed the seismic vessel before obstructing its path. Crew members were required to change their route and were directed to Margarita Island in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry shortly after issued a statement demanding an official explanation from the Guyanese authorities, saying the ship was illegally in its waters.

However, the local ministry said: “Guyana maintains that the ship was well within the country’s exclusive eco-

nomic zone, but Venezuela has, however, claimed that the vessel had travelled into its territorial waters, and, as such, the crew acted illegally. The crew was instructed to switch off the engines of the vessel and shut down its seismic equipment.”

The crew was escorted by the Venezuelan naval team out of Guyana’s waters and arrested at approximately 17:45h, the statement continued. “These actions by the Venezuelan naval vessel are unprecedented in Guyana/ Venezuela relations. One point is clear and that is that the RV Teknik Perdana was in Guyana’s waters when this incident took place.”

The Guyana government stated it will “employ all peaceful means to facilitate a prompt return to the status quo ante, since neither the Venezuelan naval vessel, the agents of Venezuela, its government nor any other state has the authority to exercise any action in Guyana’s territorial waters, its continental shelf, or its exclusive economic zone without its expressed consent.”

Serious security threat

Additionally, the government believes that “the actions taken by the Venezuelan navy vessel constitute a serious threat to the peace of this sub-region”, and has requested the immediate release of the vessel and its crew.

“Guyana believes in the peaceful resolution of disagreements among states. It is for that reason that Guyana maintains that since the RV Teknik Perdana was merely collecting seismic data, and it

will be some time before actual exploration for hydrocarbons could take place, there was, and is, ample time for Guyana and Venezuela to discuss any differences of view that may exist in relation to the provisional maritime boundary between the two states.”

The government maintains that the application of the principles of international maritime delimitation will vindicate its position that the RV Teknik Perdana was well within its maritime boundary when it was illegally evicted by the Venezuelan naval vessel. (Indeed so is the Roraima concession block.)

Threat to peace

The APNU expressed concern over the situation, saying the actions of the Venezuelan navy “constitute a threat to international peace”. It called on the Venezuelan government to fulfil its obligations under Article 33 for the “Pacific Settlement of Disputes” of the Charter of the United Nations and to desist from “resorting to armed force in its relations with Guyana”.

“APNU condemns the Venezuelan actions and expressed its unqualified support for a strong response by the government of Guyana to safeguard this country’s integrity,” the coalition said in a release.

On August 31, during President Nicolas Maduro’s first visit to Guyana, a con -

tingent of approximately 45 Venezuelans had entered Guyana via the Eteringbang border. The contingent included armed soldiers and research students who claimed they were on a mission to carry out a civil exercise of sovereignty.

Peaceful and practical settlement Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon had confirmed that no permission was granted to the Venezuelan soldiers to enter Guyana with their weapons. He noted that the breach was brought to the attention of the Venezuelan authorities and they apologised. Presidents Ramotar and Maduro had indicated that they would continue to work to resolve the protracted border dispute issue via the good offices process with the United Nations and Professor Norman Girvan Maduro called the dispute a colonial wound as he pledged his country’s commitment to peacefully resolving the issue, shortly after signing a joint declaration with President Ramotar recommitting to a peaceful and practical settlement in accordance with the Geneva Agreement of 1966. He said Guyana and Venezuela will abide with international law.

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

Media monitoring

Six months ago, over in England, from where we used to pick up our manners and morals, the coalition government and the opposition hammered out a new press regulation mechanism. In a refreshing move, the Liberals in the governing coalition broke ranks with its majority Conservative partner and made common cause with the opposition Labour Party.

There was hope locally that one of the opposition parties, not even tethered by coalition protocols, might see eye-toeye with the government on this issue.

It was not to be, but there might once again be presented an opportunity in the present parliamentary session. The People's Progressive Party/C (PPP/C) has once again complained about the “gutter journalism” and “misinformation and fabrication” emanating from sections of the local press and called for a regulatory body to hold the media to “standards”.

We hope the PPP/C government will now be introducing at least a White Paper on this body for discussion, which this newspaper has been proposing for a long time.

The proposed regulations in Britain followed from the 2011 Leveson Report that had been established after the phone-hacking scandal precipitated by the Rupert Murdochowned muckraking News of the World wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people. The Conservatives caved in to pressure from the scandal-prone press and their free-speech allies, who argued about the possible chilling effect of the proposed regulations.

On the other hand, those victimised by the excesses of the yellow journalistic practices, demanded that a new independent statutorily defined regulatory body must have wide powers with sanctions.

The compromise was supposed to establish a new press regulator – but established by a “Charter” and not legislatively – to introduce fines of up to £1 million and compel newspapers to print prominent apologies where appropriate. The system would be voluntary, but there would be strong financial incentives to encourage newspapers to join up. Unfortunately, the process has bogged down after the sections of the press, most guilty of the excesses, flexed their muscle.

In Guyana, this newspaper has argued on various grounds, including media irresponsibility, for the establishment of a Media Monitoring Unit with teeth that would establish some ground rules in the wild-west, gutter-press ethos that guides most of the local tabloids – especially the Kaieteur News. The latter makes the Murdoch-owned media look like the Oxford University Press.

The Kaieteur News has long broadened its muckraking pen from destroying individual lives and reputations to destroying the hopes of this country in attracting investments to sustain its development trajectory.

Numerous surveys of overseas investors, especially from the expatriate Guyanese community, have conclusively linked their perception of Guyana as a crime-ridden destination to the lurid and gristly reporting by that tabloid.

It is instructive to note that both fellow Caribbean Community (Caricom) members Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have much higher crime rates, but their reputations have not been irrevocably damaged, primarily because of a more responsible local press.

The latest round of inexcusable malicious reporting by the Kaieteur News – one that is still playing out – has the newspaper making absolutely false assertions of details about the NEW GPC INC. In one blatant example, it indicated that a warehouse constructed solely by the corporation was left by the government to the corporation.

The owner of the Kaieteur News, like a local petty Murdoch, has used his newspaper to wage a personal vendetta against the owner of Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, in a malicious attempt to besmirch the reputation of the latter.

President Donald Ramotar himself had spoken out against the newspaper before: “Journalists don’t have carte blanche to do as they please.” We agree, but we have to note that, as in Britain, the government must move beyond mere verbiage. We hope that at least one opposition party will have the courage to do the right thing and vote for the establishment of a strong regulatory media unit.

When it comes to federalism, people’s needs should be considered as a priority

Dear Editor, I refer to a letter dated November 22, 2012 pertaining to federalism that was published in the Stabroek News newspaper. In Guyana today, most elected officials are loyal to their respective party, but unfortunately the interests of voters seem not to carry any significant importance as it idyllically should.

Ideally, federalism should offer elected officials the opportunity to be more receptive to their constituents. It should also allow the needs of people to be seen as priority. Most importantly, it aims to eliminate features, such as the “gridlock” and “cliff hangers”, which continuously tend to hinder routine approval of the budget and other important bills.

In addition to this, federalism promotes that the voting of bills should take precedence over party loyalties primarily, because local needs should be considered as the dominant factor. It is heartrending to say that the root causes of most conflicts in Guyana derive from lack

of ethnic unity. It is adverse to say that though Guyana is aware of the ailments that it faces as a country, we still fail to develop the essential mitigation measures required. In the USA, both Democrats and Republicans often vote against their party when their constituents have more to gain.

For example, after Hurricane Sandy ravaged through America’s New Jersey state, Chris Christie, the Republican Governor, hosted President Barack Obama prior to the November 2011 general elections.

He also ensured that federal help for his residents’ loyalty to his Republican party took a back seat to the needs of his state’s interests. Grateful were those who were hungry, homeless and out in the cold.

In Guyana, with the risk of spontaneous elections hovering above us, the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Alliance For Change (AFC) may inevitably still be unable to overcome problems they face due to finan-

cial difficulties. Motives of the AFC could possibly still prevail in Berbice, Demerara, Essequibo and the Rupununi.

Realistically speaking, these two parties may never actually completely disintegrate. However, they stand a better chance of achieving their objectives if they decide to join forces with the existing leading parties. Federalism will thus empower the provinces to prioritise their needs.

It is without doubt that federalism would provide the best opportunities and answers to Guyana’s problems, further guaranteeing a country of unity. The fractures which have opened up within the last 60 years are significantly more compelling to hasten destruction and jeopardise Guyana, possibly dividing us even further. Federalism recognises individuality and further promotes togetherness.

There is no doubt that, over the years, Guyana has become a country of division. Citizens themselves often resort to their own means of combating crime and finan-

cial issues. The country’s integrity remains at stake and at risk to intrusion; and the only approach to dealing with this issue is to ensure the diminution of the ethnic rivalries that we constantly face as a nation.

Over the years, thousands of Guyanese have fled to what they consider as better countries, with more promising opportunities. Federalism will result in an increase in Guyana’s security, making it a safe and secure place to populate. Facilitating the growth of Guyana’s population empowers us to prevent ourselves from becoming an object of conquest.

Most importantly, Guyana needs to make its self more economically viable in order to stabilise the country. Should one region become financially distressed, there is no need for the entire country to suffer.

These very important issues need to be immediately addressed. Federalism really is the best way forward.

Sincerely,

Vassan Ramracha

Our teachers deserve a lot of praise

Dear Editor,

We have Guyanese all over the world and right here around us, we have many teachers, who just picked themselves up and left. We may never regain them. These here must be cherished – they are doing a good work and all realise that Guyana is a work in progress, especially where education is concerned.

Some teaching stalwarts were recently honoured

by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) at a special award giving ceremony held at the National Library. In some countries, the teaching field is not chosen and all because of this fear for violent children.

Going back in time, say five or six years, teachers have quite a bit to be thankful for – increases in benefits as well as increases in teachers’ salaries, especially

the lower tier teachers; free scholarships; housing funds, duty-free concession for selected categories; training; and uniform allowances.

Teachers’ absence from classrooms is not a big issue. This used to be a huge problem. It is not all perfect, as some discomfort is still present come examination time, when teachers and their students’ examinations conflict.

If I were a teacher, I would be very upbeat. I

think of the fact that many more schools are being built and a lot of renovation to existing buildings is being carried out constantly. My concern though, relates to some teachers, in training, being at UG somewhat late, and security and transportation problems come to mind. These should be addressed urgently.

Sincerely,

Cordell Morrison

You can send your letters with pictures to:

Intoxicated pedestrians are a threat to themselves and motorists

Dear Editor,

I have noticed over sometime now that it has become a customary act for intoxicated individuals to walk the streets, particularly at night. As many people may know, excessive alcohol consumption causes impaired vision and poor judgment. When these pedestrians choose to walk the roadways in this irresponsible state of mind, they not only become a hazard to themselves, but also to others utilising the roadways, particularly motorists.

A case in point, just recently, a 58-year-old man from Essequibo was killed on the road. Believed to be intoxicated, he appar-

ently fell asleep on the road and a car subsequently ran over him. I heard of another incident that occurred in Buxton just recently. At 04:00h, a man was seen lying on what one would consider a frequently traversed route to motorists. I guess he was one of the lucky ones and he managed to make his way off the road before a vehicle came by. There is no doubt that this person could have been another one killed due to being intoxicated. It is disturbing and unfair to know that drivers are exposed to this kind of threat. I applaud the campaign to get drunk drivers off the road, but now there is need for a cam-

paign against drunken pedestrians also. Statistics in South Africa showed that last Easter, 60 per cent of the 241 road users who died on that weekend were intoxicated pedestrians.

Passers-by, bar owners, and other alcohol vendors should take it upon themselves to report individuals who appear excessively intoxicated. This small act of consideration could possibly go a far way in saving a life, an addition to preventing the unnecessary burden that a driver would have to face should he become involved in such an accident.

Sincerely,

Faye-Anne Mathews

Congratulations to the newly- appointed CoP

Dear Editor, The National Community Policing Executive (NCPE) and the Community Policing Organisation of Guyana wishes to congratulate Leroy Fitzpatrick Brumell on his appointment and confirmation to the post of commissioner of police (CoP) for the Guyana Police Force.

We greet this historic development with elated anticipation that will definitely enhance perpetually the satisfaction yielded through

our existing remarkable work relationship that we are already enjoying under your sterling supervision.

We will continue to stand solidly and in solidarity, ever committed to integrated and unified support collectively, so as to efficiently serve and protect the citizens of Guyana, especially in seeing promptly that the desired level of peace and lawful order return to our streets and communities.

We also stand in support

of this development which is guaranteed to be pivotal in seeing our country’s national crime fighting strategies attaining the desired results and even more infinitely.

Yours sincerely,

Edward A Persaud Public Relations Officer NCPE and F Division Community Policing Group

or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

GSA is making Guyanese proud

Dear Editor,

A lot of good things came out of the many workshop sessions during Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2013 that was hosted here in Guyana. The major one for me is that five Caribbean students will be arriving soon to attend the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). This school is very pivotal and Guyana should keep investing in it and with reason – agriculture is of paramount importance, and with the friendly soil quality and massive land mass here, Guyana has everything to gain.

This school goes back to Dr Cheddi Jagan’s idea of creating a centre, catering for the needs of a national training institution in Guyana where agriculture is concerned. This idea had some humble beginnings –first enrolment comprised of 25 male students in 1963 and five dwelling houses provided facilities for classrooms, dormitories and cafeteria, and lectures by the Agriculture Ministry on a part-time basis.

This jumped in 1964 to the school becoming a state corporation and thus a board was appointed by the agriculture minister to formulate various policies for its operations. Since that time, the school has solidified itself and has kept on growing. It still does the basics: offering theoretical and practical training in agriculture; developing, manag-

ing and operating farms and undertakings of an agricultural nature; operating commercial farms and undertakings in accordance with good farming practice; and being the framework for agricultural initiatives.

Generally it promotes and supports agricultural development, through education and training of young men and women, interested in agricultural careers. For too long, agriculture has been sidelined and now it is being given its rightful place.

While here, the students will be taken care of to the fullest, by the government of Guyana. A lot of countries in our region are looking toward Guyana for food and nutrition security. So far, some moves (for our help) have come from Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados

and Suriname. Guyana is really in vanguard position where agriculture is concerned. In helping the other countries around us, we are contributing to a great cause and we are also sowing some good seeds. Other nations have strengths that we can capitalise on.

I take great pride in telling of another nice happening, during Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2013. It is that members of a delegation from Trinidad and Tobago had discussions with the agriculture minister. They are looking at the GSA’s model for development in Trinidad and Tobago. This is a really big endorsement of this institution. It speaks volumes about Guyana’s place among its neighbours.

Yours faithfully, Zameena Haniff

Page Foundation

Try these simple ideas to make work with adjectives thrilling

By SuSan Verner

Human adjective Bingo

Have your students create their own Bingo boards for an adjective review game.

Give students a blank Bingo board and some old magazines. Students should cut pictures of people out of the magazine, one for each blank on the Bingo board, and glue them in place however they see fit. Students should use a variety of different pictures and different people.

Once the glue dries, it’s time to play human adjective Bingo. To play, call out different adjectives that can describe people. If a picture on their board matches that description, they can cover the square. When someone calls bingo tell your class to keep their markers in place. The class will have to agree that the people and adjectives match to win the game.

Classmate Bingo

Depending on the personality of your class, you can play Bingo using the pictures of your students on a blank Bingo board in place of pictures from a magazine. Start by giving each person a blank

Bingo board, and ask them to fill in the spaces with adjectives that might describe a person. Then, instead of pulling adjectives randomly, show random pictures of your students (one person per photo) as well as other teachers and students they might know going about their usual (or unusual) activities. If you take pictures of special events or classroom activities, this game is a great way to make them work double duty.

Adjective elimination

Divide your class into two (or more) teams to play this adjective elicitation game. One at a time, students come to the front of the room. (If possible, you may want to put some type of divider between the students or

use an easel so neither person can see what the other writes.)

To play one round, show the two students (and your class) a picture. For the next sixty sec onds, each person must write down as many adjectives to describe the picture as he or she can think of.

At the end of the minute, have students compare their lists. Any word both students listed gets crossed off. Each student gets one point for every remaining adjective and minus one point for every word which is not an adjective for his team. Continue until everyone has had a turn up front. The team with the most

Adjective match it

card either from the draw pile or the discard pile. Then discard one. (Play is similar to Gin Rummy.) The one who gets four cards that describe his picture wins.

Matchmaker

Can a match made in heaven happen in a classroom? Your students will be able to answer that question at the end of this activity. Each person in class will play matchmaker for an unattached friend or family member.

To play this adjective review game, you or your students will need to create a deck of adjective cards. You can use index cards or upcycle an old deck that may be missing a card or two. To

the game, simply write a different adjective on each card. To play, each person starts with a picture. You might want to choose pictures for your students or have them choose their own. You can use magazine pictures, travel brochures, pictures printed off the Internet, or have students bring in pictures they have taken themselves.

Each person lays the picture in front of him so he and the other players can easily see it. Then, the dealer gives each person four cards and turns the first card over to make a discard pile.

The goal is to get four cards, and therefore four adjectives, that describe the picture in front of you. On each turn, pick up one

Each person starts by making a list of adjectives which describe her single friend. The adjectives should describe appearance and personality (both good and bad), and students should also list likes and dislikes for their friend.

Then, students go around the room asking questions about their classmates’ single friends. The matchmaker’s goal is to find someone who is similar to his friend and who he thinks would be a good match. When students think they have found one, they should show you the two profiles and see if you agree.

Pen pals

In this creative activity from teachthis.com, students will work together to create a letter from a pen pal. Divide your class into groups of eight, and make a copy of this blank pen pal form for each student. Students start by filling in the blanks of the first sentence, which gives a name and age for the pen pal. Then they should fold over the top of the paper so no one can see what they wrote.

Everyone passes their papers to the person on their right and then fills in the next sentence which describes what the person looks like. Again, students fold down the top of the paper to hide what they have written before passing it to the right again.

Continue in this manner, filling in the blanks, folding the top of the paper down, and passing the paper to the right until all of the sentences on each sheet are complete. Pass the paper one more time and have students unfold it to reveal the letter from their pen pal. Be prepared for some entertaining combinations of descriptive adjectives. (Busyteacher.org)

Ram, Lall attempting to evade court action

Opposition adviser Lallbachan Christopher Ram, and owner and publisher of the muckraking Kaieteur News Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall, are desperately trying to evade court action brought by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over their non-payment of rates and taxes to the tune of millions of dollars

In a press release issued on Friday, Ram presumptuously claimed that discussions on the matter go back to the 1990s when agreement was reached to have balances due for services rendered to the M&CC offset the millions of dollars he owes in rates and taxes.

Ram claimed that the issue is essentially an administrative one, and suggested that the matter could be settled out of court.

Spurious

And in a spurious Kaieteur News report, also on Friday, Lall made a similar claim about off-setting the millions of dollars owed in rates and taxes by he and his wife, Bhena, with services provided by the muckraking newspaper.

Ram and Lall were slapped with lawsuits on Thursday morning for the millions owed.

The cases were filed by Attorney Sandil Kissoon from the Kissoon and Kissoon Law Firm on behalf of the M&CC.

Ram, who is closely connected to the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI), reportedly owes more

than $1.4 million in taxes for sub lot D of 157 Waterloo Street, North Cummingsburg and $7 million for sub lot B, according to court documents.

He is also believed to owe the M&CC another $2.9 million for sub lot C of the same Waterloo Street property. In total, Ram reportedly owes the M&CC more than $11.3 million.

For their part, the Lalls owe the M&CC more than $5.6 million in taxes, according to court documents, for a property at 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

Legal action

Inside sources at the M&CC have confirmed that both Ram and Lall were served with notices about a week ago to pay their debts, as legal action loomed.

The men, who are avid supporters of opposition political parties, will appear on October 24 to answer the charges.

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba said the council will continue its zero-tolerance approach in dealing with breaches of the city’s laws.

She noted that a number of cases are before the court, as the council seeks redress, but declined to make specific mention of any case.

A leading financial expert in the private sector said he finds it surprising that both Lall and Ram are claiming that they are owed for various services, hence they did not pay their taxes.

He said this was very presumptuous, as any accountant would know that if a

statutory body is owed, payment must be made on those dates that are prescribed in law.

Failure to do so is subject to penalties, which are also clearly prescribed in law. He said this has always been the way, highlighting that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in particular so conducts its business.

The financial expert went on to give an example: if someone overpays the GRA in 2011 and then owes for 2012, the GRA expects that person to pay in full for 2012 by the prescribed deadline, while treating the possibility of a refund for 2011 as a separate matter.

He said offsets are, therefore, generally not allowed even on the same taxes, much less printing or advertising costs and consultancy fees.

Shock

Many other Guyanese are expressing shock at the development, given Ram’s recent comments about accountability and transparency in government.

He has also been a vocal opposition political commentator, calling on the business community and citizens to pay their rates and taxes, as reported prominently in the Kaieteur News.

One observer said it was ironic and, indeed, hypocritical that these two public self-righteous figures would be calling on the government to be more accountable and transparent, when they themselves are not.

Labourer accused of impregnating teenager

Two months after allegedly sexually assaulting a Berbice teenager, a 21-year-old labourer was on Thursday taken into custody. He is expected to be charged soon.

Guyana Times understands that the offence was committed on a 14-year-old girl of Rose Hall, Berbice between August and September at her residence.

Information reaching this publication suggests that the teenager was home alone

when the suspect, who is a regular visitor to the home, pulled her in the bedroom and forced her.

The teen did not report the incident to her mother or anyone close to her at the time.

A week ago, the teenager fell ill and upon inspection by a doctor, it was revealed that she was six weeks pregnant. Upon questioning, the teenager related the ordeal to her mother who contacted the police.

saturday, october 12, 2013 |

First town clerk conference set for October 25

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry has been placing much emphasis on building the capacity of its workforce at all levels, and it will be hosting its first town clerk conference on October 25.

It is anticipated that during the activity there will be a review on the levels of performance, addressing challenges and the progress achieved. The ministry recently concluded a training session for town clerks, treasurers and other persons involved in the financial management of municipalities.

At a press conference on Friday at the ministry’s Kingston office, junior Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker noted that while the training was well-received, its success will be measured by the standard of financial reports submitted.

On other matters relating to municipal management, Minister Whittaker highlighted that all of the six municipalities have received the first tranche of the 2013 subventions and are in various stages of implementation, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. This year, government made available $65 million to assist with the

10,000

municipalities’ capital programmes.

Whittaker noted that the Anna Regina municipality was awarded $9 million and has made great progress in executing their projects which focus on roads and drainage work. The New Amsterdam municipality received $10 million, Rose Hall $8 million, Corriverton $8 million and Linden $10 million.

With the available funding, the municipalities will be undertaking road and drainage works, lighting, bridge rehabilitation, solid waste collection, and procuring equipment. Minister Whittaker explained that the private sector has been brought in to assist with sol-

id waste management. The Georgetown municipality intends to use its subvention to acquire two used 10-tonne trucks with skidsteer loaders, for which the procurement process has already commenced. Minister Whittaker noted that in a meeting with the municipality on Thursday, he emphasised that for the past two years, the council has been acquiring machinery and equipment to help with drainage and solid waste and the ministry, like residents, is dissatisfied with the training offered to the operators and the maintenance of the equipment.

Minister Whittaker stated that the Public Works Ministry had agreed to provide much-needed training of the operators. The City Council has been urged to identify persons for training. He added that during the meeting, it was impressed upon the council the need to accelerate the process of consultation with residents which will lead to the possible identification of projects for the 2014 subvention programme. All of the municipalities have been encouraged in this regard, and by November 15, they are expected to submit their subvention projects and estimates.

euros up for grabs as CTA launches film and video competition

Under the theme “Adding Value to Local Foods”, the second Caribbean Young Professionals Science and Agriculture film and video competition was launched on Thursday at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The competition hosted by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) along with other sponsors, seeks to promote the importance of science, technology and innovation (STI) to improve agricultural performance while supporting economic development.

There is 10,000 euros up for grabs in the competition and the top five winners will also be given the chance to participate in the Caribbean Tales Festival in 2014.

At the launching ceremony of the competition, CTA Director Michael Hailu said videos and films are good ways to document the success stories happening in the Caribbean and have them shared. He noted that the competition has been creating a stir.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy pointed out that films cast lasting impressions on people. “We all can talk about a film whether it is 50 years old because it made a mark in our heads and so I’m happy for agriculture and technology. We have

already made a start in using film to accelerate progress in these areas for people to be aware,” he said.

The minister noted that the launch of the competition comes at an opportune time when there are vast opportunities available.

Dr Ramsammy encouraged Guyanese to participate in the competition, noting that it would not only develop production skills, but would also raise awareness on agricultural issues.

Trinidad and Tobago Film Company Chief Executive Officer Carla Foderingham said the competition is at a point in bringing Caribbean countries together while helping them to understand each other and how to develop the agriculture and science industries using films and videos.

Foderingham disclosed that youths are exploring issues that adults have shied away from, using films and videos.

Meanwhile, the winner

of the first competition held in 2010/2011, Vincent Lewis, credited his two partners for helping him to create “Beewise”.

Lewis noted that their focus was not on the prize, but on doing their best.

“From the beginning, we knew we wanted to do something different from the ordinary documentary-type video, we wanted a video with excitement, thrill and energy, yet have a strong scientific impact so we decided to do a syntactic type film of bees.” He noted that he did not know anything about bees, but at the end, he learnt a lot and has also benefited from the competition.

“Because of the initiative, CTA and other sponsors engaged three years ago my partners Atkin Issacs, who is now studying apiculture and is a licensed farmer in Trinidad and Gisele Aguilera, who is an aspiring host/actress, who hosts shows across the country, and yours truly has his own licensed media company,” Lewis disclosed.

The videos have to be a maximum of five minutes. More information on the competition can be obtained at www.ccst-caribbean.org.

The competition was launched amid the 12th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) held under the theme “Linking the Caribbean for Regional Food and Nutrition Security and Rural Development”.

Exporter remanded for cocaine in star apples

On Friday, a goods exporter was remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore to answer to the charge of possession of narcotics.

Forty-year-old Charles Anderson of Lot 245 Enterprise Gardens, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that between January 24 and 25, 2012 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, he had in his possession 20.056 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the prosecution’s facts, the defendant has been an exporter for several years and on the day in question, he exported a quantity of fruits, including mangoes and star apples to Canada. When the shipment reached Canadian shores, it was checked by the author-

ities who found that there was cocaine stuffed inside the star apples. The information was circulated to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit where an investigation commenced. Anderson was arrested and was told of what had been discovered in one of his shipments. The defendant claimed that he was given the items by a person whom

he only knew by a ‘call name’. Officers made attempts to contact the person but their efforts proved futile.

Prosecuting on behalf of CANU, Prosecutor Oswald Massiah stated that the defendant said that he does not have a number or an address for the person who gave him the articles to export but has been doing business with them for some time.

A further investigation was carried out after which advice was sought and the defendant was subsequently charged.

Massiah objected to bail, stating the quantity of the drug along with the fact that if Anderson is granted bail, he will not return to court to stand trail and also there were no special reasons put forward by the defence for it to be granted.

Attorney Mark Waldron, who represented Anderson,

told the court that the charges against his client are inadmissible since the facts of the case are based on hearsay. He went on say that before the shipment left Guyana; CANU had to satisfy themselves that there was nothing in the shipment before it left Guyana. He added that his client gave CANU ranks the correct contact information for the person who gave him the articles but two ranks took it upon themselves to inform the person that Anderson was cooperating with the investigation and gave the individual information. He ended by saying that the information which his client provided is not misleading, it is accurate.

However, Magistrate Azore refused bail and the defendant was remanded to prison. The matter was transferred to Court One for October 14.

Duo remanded for La Familia ganja bust

Two men were brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charges against them.

Marlon King, 41, of Lot 19 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown and 30-year-old Karlson Fawcett also known as “Karlo” were charged with the offence of possession of narcotics.

It was alleged that on October 9, at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown the duo had in

their possession 8.206 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge as it was read to them.

According to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit special prosecutor Oswald Massiah, on the day in question, ranks from CANU, acting on information, went to Aubrey Barker Road in the vicinity of La Familia Hotel. While in the area, they observed King exiting a motor vehicle with a suitcase and approached another one which was parked a short distance away. King then placed the suitcase in the trunk of the second car and closed it.

Shortly after, the ranks approached the car and by that time, the other defendant, Fawcett, approached the vehicle claiming it to be his. A search was conducted on the suitcase and it was discovered that it contained 18 packets of cannabis. Both men were told of the offence, cautioned and arrested.

Massiah stated that King elected to give a statement which said that he got the suitcase from a person on Sherriff Street, while Fawcett claimed he had no knowledge of the suitcase or the drugs. He added that advice was sought and the duo was subsequently charged.

Prosecutor Massiah objected to bail based on the grounds of the quantity of the charge (which exceeded one gram) and if granted his pre-trial liberty, he will not return to court.

Attorney Melville Duke, who represented King, told the court that his client’s statement was forcefully taken. He said that his client is a diabetic who must take his meals and medication on time. He alleged that the police deprived King of food and water leaving him with no choice but to give a statement and was only thinking about his health at the time.

Magistrate Azore refused bail and both men were remanded to prison. The matter was transferred to Court One for October 14.

Eyew tness

To

call or not to call...

...elections

Reacting to a reporter’s question after his weekly press conference, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon suggested maybe only new general elections could end the logjam that the opposition unleashed in Parliament. It’s worse than even the shutdown Barack Obama’s opposition has tripped off in the U.S.

There, the opposition at least wanted to do some horse trading. Here, the opposition parties have been feeling their oats ever since they scraped together a one-seat majority in the National Assembly. At the one instance where one of them – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) attempted to do some negotiating, the Alliance For Change (AFC) quickly scuttled that initiative in the most reprehensible and despicable manner: raising the bogeyman of race.

That was the end of bargaining and the beginning of brinksmanship.

As the country has seen, matters have steadily gone downhill since. Deadly protests in Linden, trapping thousands of commuters at Agricola, having Guyana blacklisted by the international banking system by refusing to pass enabling legislation, throwing Amerindian Guyanese out of the development loop by cutting the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) funds earmarked for hinterland development...and the list goes on and on.

What to do? While some have called for the resumption of the tripartite talks President Donald Ramotar initiated earlier in the year, we don’t see much coming out of that vehicle. The opposition parties have gotten too big for their britches and have much too many unrealistic expectations.

The president would be setting himself up for a fall. They have made it clear that they believe they can take over the Executive from their perch in Parliament. They pretty much want the president and Cabinet to be their rubber stamp.

This will not do. The president cannot jettison his constitutionally defined responsibilities. Unless something gives, the country will start to drift because the opposition just doesn’t want any progress. We can see this by the manner in which they’ve blocked the Amaila Falls Hydro Project – a game changing project if ever there was one.

So that leaves us with the ultimate test for legitimacy: the voice of the people. Don’t worry about the opposition threatening snap elections through a vote of no confidence. They don’t dare: they’ve shot themselves in the foot too many times in the past two years. That leaves the president: it’s his prerogative to call elections anytime he chooses. He just has to give three months notice.

Let the games begin!!!

...hypocrites’ bluff

We’ve been remarking in this column for some time now about the barefacedness of some people in this country. There’s a lot of them around. But the ones that stick in the craw are those that sanctimoniously jump on soap boxes with a holier-than-thou attitude and lecture everyone in sight about how to be better citizens – when all the while they’re busy screwing the very system they purport to build.

Two of the exemplars of this oleaginous low life are Mohan “Glenn” Lall and Lallbachan Chris “Suspenders” Ram. They’ve taken refuge into each other’s arms as they hold themselves as paragons of virtue pushing “truth, justice and the democratic way”! They wish!!! They’ve been busy like little squirrels peeping into everybody’s business – but their own.

Well, like they say, “time longer than twine” and “truth will win out”. It’s now been revealed that Ram hasn’t been paying taxes on his Georgetown properties since 1998!! He owes the city more than $11 million! And the man purports to be a bookkeeper, a lawyer and a financial analyst.

Lall, on the other hand is the owner of the MuckrakingKN and while he doesn’t have the qualifications of Suspenders, he insists on accusing others of corruption. While he has unpaid taxes of $6 million going back to 1994!! Take the mote...

...Felix’s misdirection

Winston Felix was the commissioner of police who insisted a SWAT unit was vitally necessary to confront the “new wave” heavily armed criminals. The wave’s gotten higher but now he opposes a SWAT. What’s up Bannuh?

Local govt polls likely next year – Minister Persaud

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud on Friday disclosed that the much-anticipated local government elections will be staged by the third quarter of 2014.

“We have seen a tentative timetable that the elections commission would have put out, which seems to suggest that there might be a possibility of local government elections ... maybe somewhere mid of the year or the third quarter of the year,” he explained.

The minister made this disclosure during a press conference at his Kingston office. He said the Donald Ramotar administration, through his ministry, is closely monitoring the movements of the Guyana Elections Commissions (GECOM).

Based on reports submitted to the Local Government

Ministry, GECOM has conducted approximately 7000 transactions ahead of the closing of its fifth cycle of continuous registration on November 23. Additionally, the ministry has given its green light for GECOM to commence its public awareness programme. Minister Persaud explained that subsequently the commission will compile its preliminary list, ahead of the local government elections.

Training for NDCs

Councillors and representatives from the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) will converge at the ministry in Kingston to participate in an intense training session from November 18.

“We will be discussing and deliberating on the new electoral environment, legal environment in which the next local government elec-

tions will be held... discussions would centre around legislation, issues such as what is a constituency, how you define or recognise these constituencies, the two systems, under which elections would be held, proportional representative system and the first past the post system,” he explained.

Major emphasis will be placed on the Local Authorities (Elections

Amendment) Bill, which was assented to by former President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2009. This particular legislation clears the way for GECOM to carry out the mandate of hosting local government elections through the introduction of a new system of conducting the poll.

Reform bills

Questioned about the impact of the four local government reform bills not being passed into law on the staging of elections, Persaud said, “The ministry has all that is required for the holding of local government elections... and based on that premise if we have everything in readiness, we should go ahead.”

He posited that President Ramotar understands the importance of local government elections and would, therefore, try to prevent any further delays.

continued on page 11

Satan headquarters is dem boys quarters

Dem boys ain’t got no shame at all. Old people woulda seh dem bare face. But old people always kindhearted. So compare to whah dem boys got, bare face is a kind word, because bare face got cure. But whah dem boys got ain’t got no cure. Whah dem boys got is like a plague whah does deh pun people fuh life and don’t ever go away. It does deh wid people from de cradle to de grave, or as old people seh, from erection to resurrection.

That is because is not only dem boys face bare. Is dem whole skin, body, heart and mind naked. People can see right thru dem at all de evilness and wickedness whah dem schemin every night. If some body tek a torch light and switch it on in any one a dem boys mouth, de light gon shine thru dem back door like bright day light. But, of course, all a dem boys gon prefer it de other way round.

And talkin bout night, dem boys does have to operate night time because of dem evil deeds. Satan does rule de world night time, and dem boys is he right hand and leff hand. People tink Satan deh in hell, but Satan deh right hey in Guyana. And de headquarters is dem boys quarters. And dem boys got a lotta quarters. And all dem boys quarters owe de guvament a lotta taxes.

In between dem boys quarters pun Waterloo Street and dem boys quarters pun Saffon Street, de taxes whah dem owe could pick up garbage fuh a whole month in GT de garbage town, includin de mayor-fuh-life Green Ham, who is de duttiest pile a garbage pun Regent Street and in de whole s*itty.

Once Green Ham de garbage get pick up, all de problems wid GT gon get fix right away. After all, de mayor-fuh-life is one a dem boys too. And he does spend a lotta time at dem boys quarters.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Is no wonder de mayor-fuh-life don’t wanna collect taxes from dem boys.

Two men die mysteriously in Berbice

The police have launched separate investigations into the deaths of two men at Reliance and Number 64 Village, Corentyne, Berbice on Thursday.

The dead men were identified as a Surinamese national Nate Kumar Singh and Chandradat Teekaram also called “John”, 54, of Lot 182, Number 64 Village.

According to information received, Nate Kumar Singh and a worker were doing repairs to a two-storey building owned by Dave Sookram of the U.S. at Lot 40 Reliance Settlement.

About 20:00h on Wednesday evening, Bacchus retired to bed while Singh remained on a bed in the hall. About 06:00h the following morning, Bacchus woke up and found Singh sitting motionless in a chair in the hall with a brown towel wrapped around him.

Guyana Times understands that on Tuesday, Singh complained of experiencing chest and back pains and severe headache. Singh was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was examined by a doctor who pronounced him dead on arrival. A post-mortem examination is expected to

be performed shortly. Teekaram may have died Thursday morning between 06:00h and 11:00h at his house. Investigations revealed that about 06:00h on Thursday, Teekaram’s wife, Seermattie Harmon, also known as “Janelta”, left home to make a telephone call at another relative.

About 11:00h, she returned home and observed that the house door was locked which prompted her to call out for her husband, but got no answers.

However, the woman asked a neighbour to wrench open the door and upon entering, she observed her husband sitting on the toilet seat with his head between his knees in a motionless state.

She raised an alarm and was told to inform the police who subsequently arrived and examined the body. No marks of violence were seen.

Guyana Times understands that Chandradat suffered from poor blood circulation. He was taken to the Skeldon Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. His body is presently at the said hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Guyana has land for investment – GO-Invest

The Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest) said it handles more agriculture-related investments proposals than any other investment initiatives.

Acting GO-Invest Director Dhanraj Dhanpaul listed more than 10 agribusinesses and said these companies are not indigenous since they continue to operate in Guyana through investments facilitated by his office.

He was at the time speaking of the investment possibilities and waivers that await potential businesses at a workshop organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the Caribbean. The workshop was one of several held as part of Caribbean Week of Agriculture.

Local agriculture

Among the companies currently operating in the local agriculture sector are the Barbados-owned Santa Fe Inc and Al Axis Splash; Citrus Company Guyana Inc, Southern Investment, Virgin Caribbean and Old Mac Agro Supply; Henry’s Farm of Trinidad and Tobago; Caricom Rice Mill of St Vincent; and Barron Foods of St Lucia, which is

owned by a Guyanese.

“You’ll see we have large ones with more than 250 employees with an annual sale of G$500 million (US$2.5million) and an asset base of half a million U.S. dollars, then we go to the medium size one, (which employs) 51 persons (with an asset base of) US$200,000),” Dhanpaul said.

The office has been able to facilitate investment by companies interested in agriculture and agro-processing, livestock and crops, manufacturing, energy, mining and tourism. To aid the process and guided by the Investment Act of 2004, there have been waivers on customs duties, Value Added Tax (VAT) and tax on machinery, equipment and chemicals.

Land dominates the requests by investors, Dhanpaul explained. He said industrial and agricultural lands are available.

“Land is always an issue… industrial land, there is land that is an established estate, some are still being developed, some are advanced, some have already been exhausted, we are trying to expand those estates and we trying to get new ones going,” the GO-Invest official stated.

State land is available for agricultural purposes and only by lease. This has posed a problem in the past since investors in some cases have not utilised the land. But GO-Invest Office has taken a new approach.

Feasibility study

“The investor would come and discuss the need for land, sign the MoU, without leasing the land, let him conduct his feasibility study once the findings are favourable, then we may proceed to release the land in tranches… once he performs, we continue to release land.”

Three large tracts of land are available for agricultural purposes: These are in the Canjie Basin in the east of the country towards the Suriname border; Rupununi Savannahs close to the Brazil border; and the intermediate savannahs, in the centre of the country.

Local govt polls likely...

“Something got to be really wrong with the PPP/ Civic [People’s Progressive Party/Civic] government for not wanting to hold local government elections, when it is alleged that there is so such incompetence... at the level of the NDCs and municipalities that they are having negative impacts on the government electoral chances.”

He made it clear that it was always the intention of the PPP/C to facilitate the elections, explaining that after the Local Authorities (Elections Amendment) Bill was assented to in 2009, and elections were due in 2010.

In the heat of preparation, the Jagdeo administration instructed GECOM to decentralise its operation, following an indication from then Opposition Leader Robert Corbin that his party would not contest the polls unless there was local government reform.

In August, the Local Government Commission Bill, the Local Government Amendment Bill, the Municipal and District Councils Amendment Bill, and the Fiscal Transfers Bill were unanimously passed in the National Assembly.

from page 10

Currently, these bills are being scrutinised by the attorney general’s chambers, before being sent to President Ramotar for his assent. “My understanding is that those bills are still at the AG’s chambers, I am advised that they are not far from reaching the final stage.”

Meanwhile, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), during a press conference on Friday, advocated for the president to assent to the bills to maintain a high level of democracy in the country. Local government elections were last held in 1992.

UG needs urgent restructuring – UGSSA

By Samuel Sukhnandan

University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) president and long-serving lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture Dr Patsy Francis said there is an urgent need for government and other parties to fix the current state of the tertiary institution.

Dr Francis said as the University of Guyana (UG) celebrates 50 years of existence, there is much to be proud of, but there are still many issues which need to be ironed out in order for the university to improve its overall standards.

The UGSSA head said government needs to rethink its policy, especially as it relates to the retention of students, who would have completed studies with the university, but eventually leave for greener pastures.

Development

“The government must also decide what university they want to have, how relevant is the kind of university we have now, as against the one that will be important for the development of a small economy such as ours,” Dr Francis said.

The long-serving university lecturer believes that special focus should be placed on having a meaningful conversation with all stakeholders as to the way forward for UG.

Dr Francis added that the $500 million promised to the university were never transferred and unless this is done, only then it would be

in a better position to regulate and improve its finances at all levels.

She also reiterated that the government has a major role to play in making these things possible.

Further, she said the UG administration needs to take a more concerted effort to develop a sustainable financial plan that will take the university to higher heights.

Dr Francis also made reference to the loan agency at the university, calling for it to be reformed, in such a way that encourages students to repay their loans.

She pointed to a recent example where students who having completed studies at the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica are made to repay their loans.

However, Dr Francis noted this does not mean that she is recommending an increase in taxes, but is calling for government to look at using a small percentage of some tax to help fund the institution in its day-to-day operations, at all levels.

She also raised concern over the delay in making

critical changes to the acts and statutes that govern the operations of the university.

As such, Dr Francis said that this should be fasttracked, which will help to reduce the political interference that continues to take place and has to some extent, affected the smooth functioning of the university.

While noting that some of the statutes are still very much relevant, she noted that some of them are not applicable to the university’s operations today. This, she said is not only her view, but it has been the same view shared by many lecturers at the university, including past vice chancellors and professors.

Self-sufficient

The UGSSA head is therefore urging the relevant authorities to ensure that this matter is addressed at the soonest possible time. This, she said, is important to making UG more self-sufficient and would help greatly in its development.

President Donald Ramotar recently said his government is committed to ensuring that the university progresses, but said this would take a collective approach by all parties to make UG a 21st century university. There have been many criticisms about the political interference at UG, which critics believe is creating major setbacks for the entity. The university currently faces a $532 million debt, has very few qualified lecturers and poor infrastructure. (samuelsuknandan@guyanatimesgy.com)

saturday, october 12, 2013 |

DDL appeals GRA $5.2B tax demand

– GSL among major defaulters

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has appealed a decision by the High Court which ordered it to pay more than $5.2 billion in Consumption Tax to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), even as the tax collection body is warning businesses that do not comply with court orders that it will resort to levy proceedings.

In a statement on Thursday, the GRA said that this matter is of paramount importance. “The company has thereafter filed a separate and distinct application for Judicial Review/ Prerogative Writ in the High Court,” GRA said.

Meanwhile, the revenue body listed a number of businesses of which it secured winding up orders for being in tax payments. The GRA said it obtained several judgments over a number of years against defaulting taxpayers for outstanding taxes (PAYE and VAT).

Defaulters

The judgment debtors include: COPS Guyana Limited, $433,66,071(PAYE); Guyana Stores Limited, $354,184,590 (Corporate and other taxes); Didco Trading Company, $59,257,183 (PAYE); Ian Edwards Trading as Universal Janitorial Services,$21,071,050 (PAYE); Interior Forest Industries Limited, $20,504,044 (VAT); United Associates Security & Domestic Services, $14,584,694 (PAYE); Kayman Sankar Company Limited and Kayman Sankar Investment, $12,367,411

(PAYE); Mazaharally and Sons Limited, $11,753,080 (VAT); Don Gomes, $3,763,514 (PAYE); Liana Cane Interiors, $2,367,411 (PAYE) and Friendship Hotel and Restaurant Holdings Inc, $618,491,299 (VAT).

According to the GRA release, despite having obtained judgments against numerous taxpayers, it has encountered significant difficulty in enforcing court orders. This hurdle has forced the GRA to take action to ensure delinquent taxpayers comply with the judgment orders.

Consequently, the GRA has instituted winding up proceedings against companies such as COPS (Guyana) Limited, Didco Trading Company and Friendship Hotel and Restaurant Holdings Inc.

Friendship Hotel and Restaurant Holdings Inc, was incorporated on January 18, 1994 and continued under the Companies Act 1991 on July 19, 1998. Its princi-

pal activity is the operation of fast food outlets under the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizza Hut franchises. In the case of COPS (Guyana) Limited, GRA said it should be observed that Sentinel Security Inc, carries on a similar business at the same location as COPS previously did, and they continue the contracts previously held by COPS.

Guyana Stores Limited

In addition to winding up proceedings, GRA said it has also instituted levy proceedings against other delinquent taxpayers. Further, it noted that Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) has failed to liquidate outstanding liabilities totalling $354,184,590 to the GRA. The GRA has since demanded outstanding taxes; however, the company filed an Originating Notice of Motion for numerous conservatory orders to prevent the GRA from demanding the outstanding taxes.

On July 12, acting Chief Justice Ian Chang determined the matter in favour of the GRA. This matter is currently being appealed by GSL.

“The GRA wishes to advise that this non-compliance with court orders will not be tolerated and all outstanding judgments will be vigorously pursued by way of levy, garnishee and distress proceedings and other forms of execution.”

The GRA said it remains committed to collecting the state’s revenue and will take all necessary steps to ensure that defaulting taxpayers comply with orders of court.

CJIA’s taxi drivers, Red Caps urged to be better ambassadors

One of first impressions passengers arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) get of Guyana is from their interaction with the Red Cap porters and taxi drivers, and this the airport’s management intends to build on.

According to a release, at a meeting held recently, the airport’s Chief Executive Officer

Ramesh Ghir, Commercial and Administration Manager

Durrsattie Doodnauth and Safety Officer Manmohan Balram engaged in a candid discussion with the autho-

rised taxi drivers and Red Cap porters.

“You are our ambassadors and the image portrayed has to be one of professionalism,” Ghir stated. Given the fact that several complaints have been laid against both drivers and porters, Ghir wants to nip problems in the bud. According to him, customer service is a significant boost to any airport and “our own should not be any different”. Furthermore, a new system was unveiled to taxi drivers, which will permit a smooth and efficient shift ar-

rangement. “They will operate a turn system whereby passengers will go with the next taxi in line. This will eliminate individual taxi drivers themselves approaching passengers and trying to coerce them into using their service. It will be more structured and lend to a better experience for the passengers,” Ghir explained.

Overall, drivers agreed with the plan, which will become effective shortly. He also acknowledged that there will be teething problems that will be rectified along the way.

Guyana needs counterterrorism strategy – UN expert

United Nations Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) Deputy Director Weixiong Chen has urged Guyana to develop a comprehensive and integrated national strategy specifically geared at counterterrorism, as this had proven in practice to be a successful approach in other jurisdictions.

Chen made the comments during a meeting here on Monday with stakeholders. He recognised that Guyana was a party to 14 of the 18 international conventions against terrorism, and to all major international conventions on human rights.

He also lauded Guyana’s tolerance of different religious beliefs and informed that Guyana’s position against terrorism was very clear and was appreciated by the UN.

Technical assistance

Chen was part of a sevenmember delegation from the CTED who visited Guyana to assess the country’s compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005) and review its needs for technical assistance. The delegation included representatives from CTED, International Maritime Organisation (IMO), INTERPOL and the 1540 Committee.

In delivering the feature address, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee welcomed the CTED dele-

gation to Guyana and highlighted the significance of the visit, expressing his gratitude to the United Nations for the attention shown to Guyana. He pointed out that Guyana had undertaken a number of inter-agency initiatives to address terrorism here, and this process was ongoing.

Minister Rohee also spoke of the strides being taken in Guyana to update its local counterterrorism legislation, including the proposed amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Number 13 of 2009. The minister welcomed any support offered by the United Nations to build capacity in Guyana with regard to counterterrorism.

Cargo security measures

During the visit, the CTED team held meetings with senior government officials and functionaries with responsibility for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). The team also paid site visits to John Fernandes Shipping Limited and Demerara Shipping Limited to observe on-site maritime and cargo security measures.

The Home Affairs Ministry said it stands committed to cooperating with its international partners on initiatives geared at enhancing the peace and security of the citizens of Guyana.

Meanwhile, at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, head of the Presidential Secretariat

GPL apologises for

Dr Roger Luncheon said the CTED team spent Monday and Tuesday with senior government officials to examine preparatory measures locally in its review of Guyana’s counterterrorism organs and principles. He said the high level UN team met with representatives of local law enforcement and counterterrorism entities such as the Guyana Police Force, “principally the law enforcement, national security, because of the countering finances aspect, the FIU and with the money laundering supervisory bodies”.

Counterterrorism

The focus was on Guyana’s counterterrorism architecture, such as those set up within the scope of international treaties and the UN Security Council’s resolutions on countering terrorism, Dr Luncheon said.

The definitions of actions which constitute terrorism were examined along with the roles of law enforcement, national security bodies and legislative instruments used to counter terrorism.

The team was updated on the status of government’s principal strategic counterterrorism intervention which included the enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill and the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU): a unit which will be based in the office of the police commissioner to investigate anti-money laundering and counterterrorism.

blackout in South Ruimveldt

The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has apologised for the extended outage experienced by its customers within South Ruimveldt Gardens, Roxanne Burnham Gardens and East and West Ruimveldt areas on Thursday.

The power company in a release said the blackout was due to unforeseen technical difficulties experienced by its technicians

while reconfiguring the network in preparation for the commissioning of the New Georgetown (North Ruimveldt) Substation in November. According to the release, its technicians worked throughout the evening and power was restored to all areas at 23:00h.

The New Georgetown (North Ruimveldt) Substation is one of seven new substations un-

der GPL’s Infrastructure Development Project, which is aimed at improving the quality of electricity supplied, system stability, improved voltage regulation, and reduction of technical losses.

“GPL would also like to encourage our valued customers to check our website at www.gplinc.com where our line maintenance schedule can be found,” the release concluded.

Tax cheats owe City Hall over $500M

– Sooba says close to 100 will be sued

By Svetlana MarShall

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Friday disclosed that close to 100 tax defaulters will be sued for outstanding sums amounting to more than $500 million.

Kaieteur News proprietor Mohan “Glenn” Lall; opposition adviser Lallbachan Christopher Ram; and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green’s wife, Jennifer Basdeo-Green are among those already sued.

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba told a news conference on Friday that the outstanding amounts date back to 1997.

At the end of December 2012, the figure stood at $500 million.

On Thursday, Ram and Lall were slapped with lawsuits. Ram is indebted to the council for $11.3 million for a Waterloo Street, North Cummingsburg property, while Lall and his wife, Bhena, owe more than $5.6 million in taxes for his Lot 24 Saffon Street property.

“Mr Lall said that the council owes him $7.1 million and we took him to court for $6.5 million or therein. I wish to inform the media that I have been acting in the capacity of town clerk for 14 months, and so is the city treasurer and I am not aware that this council owes Mr Glenn Lall and Bhena Lall any money,” she said.

Indebtedness

According to Sooba, the municipality on numerous occasions advised Lall of his indebtedness but to no avail. She noted that as a proprietor of a newspaper, he should have been an example to other taxpayers.

“I consider the article in the Kaieteur News not only to be misleading but an act of wickedness and if Mr Glenn Lall had the city at heart, he would have paid his debt,” said Sooba.

The acting town clerk also debunked claims made by the newspaper owner that the council had agreed

to do an exchange of cheques based on discussions with Mayor Hamilton Green.

She made it clear that the mayor has no authority to conduct the financial affairs of the council and has never approached the administration on the situation relating to Lall’s indebtedness.

The council was also accused of taking a political stance but Sooba said that was not the case.

The list of persons and the amount of rates and taxes owed are as follows:

Basdeo-Green – $10,145,631 from 1997 to 2013, for X Street, Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown; Rajpati Latchmansingh (Sandra Singh) – $9,244,124 from 1997 to 2013 for Lot 38 Cummings Street, Alberttown, Georgetown; George Sebastian –$11,579,978 from 1997 to 2013 for Lot 235 Albert and Forshaw streets, Queenstown, Georgetown; Garland Lodge – $2,491,217 from 1998 to 2013 for Lot 134 Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown; and Charles James – $5,299,181 from 1997 to 2013 for Lot 21 Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

The acting town clerk told media operatives that numerous attempts were made to collect the money

owed to the council but to no avail.

“The major source of our funds comes from the payment of rates and taxes and the provisions therein to execute the works this council is supposed to be executing, is provided for in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01,” she explained.

Payment plan

A payment plan was among the initiatives put forward in the past before this ongoing debt recovery drive. It was the council’s continuous failure to persuade persons to pay their rates and taxes that led to the court action.

Optimistic that the council will win the cases against the defaulters, Sooba said the funds garnered will be used to execute major projects in keeping with its responsibility.

“It’s very obvious the state of the building that we are in, and by no means, five or 10 or 20 million would be the amount to preserve this building and to repair, restore but this will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and so is the Kitty market and several hundred others of the council’s properties,” added Sooba. (svetlanam@ guyanatimesgy.com)

OAS anti-corruption body ends meeting in Guyana

The Organisation of American States (OAS) anti-corruption body concluded its meeting with stakeholders here on Thursday following a series of presentations, which will aid in determining whether Guyana is implementing the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.

The consultations with the commission from the OAS Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC) and civil society commenced on Monday at Cara Lodge.

Closed-door

Outside the meeting on Thursday, Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira declined to divulge details of the confab.

The meeting was a closeddoor event and as a result, participants such as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI); the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG); the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; the Guyana Bar

Association; the Consultative Association of Guyana Industry; and Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) were all asked to keep their presentations confidential.

Teixeira made it clear that the government will not be making any pronouncement on the meeting until the assessment is completed in 2014; however the OAS team will be issuing a press statement after returning to its headquarters.

Disappointment

The presidential adviser expressed disappointment that the TIGI would have leaked its presentation to sections of the press.

In another section of the media, TIGI made public details of its presentation to the OAS.

Additionally, the transparency institute advocated for the Audit Act of 2004 to be amended to facilitate qualifications requirements for appointments of the auditor general, noting that future auditor general appointments must centred on recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee.

The presidential adviser also criticised a local newspaper for misinforming the public. In its October 9, 2013 edition, the newspaper said “notably absent from the closed-door discussions were the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).”

However, Teixeira explained that only public service agencies were invited to make presentations and as such, the GTUC could not be included.

However, Guyana Times was told that FITUG was represented by Seepaul

Business coalition in search of funds to keep doors open

The Guyana Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS (GBCHA) is exploring all possible avenues to generate sufficient funds to keep its doors open.

The organisation announced on Friday that it will host a fundraising activity to provide additional services for a longer period. The activity will take the form of a raffle.

The winner will receive a trip to Trinidad, while the second-place finisher will experience a weekend at Harukabra River Resort and consolation prizes will be given to the third- and fourthplace finishers.

As international donors cut back on funding, many local non-governmental organisations are facing financial constraints.

The GBCHA was 100 per cent funded by President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Under PEPFAR, there was a commitment of US$15 billion for a five-year period (2003-2008)

Narine, general secretary of the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU), an affiliate of FITUG.

Attendance

Representatives of the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, as well as the commissioner of information were also in attendance during the four-day event.

When contacted by Guyana Times the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the GCCI and FITUG all declined to make any comments about the meeting.

However, FITUG said it was more than happy to be a part of civil society and make a presentation to the OAS. According to the umbrella trade union, the contents of its presentation were in keeping with the reality here.

“The exercise was a good one, we got the impression that there was satisfaction from the team,” an official said.

from former U.S. President George Bush to fight HIV/ AIDS globally.

The lack of funds is a critical issue, but membership subscription and donations have been helping to keep the organisation afloat.

GBCHA Director Suzanne French told Guyana Times that she was grateful for the support given by organisation’s members.

“We are grateful to be able to sustain the secretariat to a level with membership support, as we have mentioned the donor support is what initiated the secretariat operations initially,” she said.

Constraints

French emphasised that the organisation’s work continues as a result of its membership. She noted, however, that the organisation is forced to provide counselling and testing services less often as a result of constraints.

“We had been offering testing for five days when we first started and for the past year, we have been doing two and half days, so you can image how we feel turning away so many persons every month,” she said.

The coalition director is calling on all stakeholders to assist in whatever way possible to keep the organisation afloat. Currently, the organisation can only garner enough resources to support a counsellor for half a month.

French stressed, “…we don’t want to… burn out our quality counsellor, so it would be difficult to have one person see 400 people within a month.”

AG probing fraud at Plaisance NDC

The unearthing of two suspected cases of fraud within the Region Four administration has drawn sharp criticism from Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Persaud said resources are limited and when fraud is unearthed, it places the ministry in a difficult position at the regional and local government levels.

Many communities complain about a lack of certain services and when the neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs) are informed, a lack of funds is often cited, Persaud noted.

Despite this seeming inability to service their constituents, he said, some NDCs still find ways to misuse and abuse funds that are made available to provide services and this will not be tolerated.

An investigation was mounted into the management of the accounts of the Industry/Plaisance NDC by the auditor general and the Guyana Police Force after

senior Local Government Ministry officials unearthed several dubious transactions.

Minister Persaud noted that there has been a breakdown of authority within the Region Four administration and this is unacceptable.

“If you’ve got authority and you can’t use it and you’re misusing it, it means, therefore, that government has got to take actions that are appropriate and give it to persons who can make use of it,” the minister said. He noted that it is only when central government officials visit many of the NDCs that issues and difficulties are recognised.

“Interfering or misusing taxpayers’ money will not be condoned by this ministry,” he reiterated, adding that government is steadfast in its belief that management must be done within the legal framework at all times.

The Auditor General's Office is currently conducting audit visits to all 10 administrative regions and is at present in Region Five.

Fire ravages Beepat’s bond, house at Ogle

By AvenAsh RAmzAn And BhishAm mohAmed

Amidmorning fire on Friday devoured a bond owned by M Beepat and Sons Limited at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), leaving millions of dollars in losses.

From all indications, the fire might have been electrical in origin.

The blaze at the bond at Lot 19, Temple Street, Ogle, reported started about 10:30h and quickly spread to a nearby house occupied by Debbie Williams and her children. No item in the house was saved.

According to reports, the damage to the house could have been minimised, but there were some challenges with respect to firefighters tapping into water sources in a timely manner.

Pupils of a nearby nursery school were seen heading home in an orderly manner accompanied by their teachers and parents.

Flames

The flames were seen emanating from the top of the building and due to the contents of the bond, which included mostly Fish Spray and other flammable materials, the fire quickly spread throughout the building.

During the fire, two gas cylinders exploded, creating some bit of panic among residents. One resident who resides close to the bond removed all his household items as a precautionary measure.

At the scene, a number of exploding Fish Spray tins were seen flying out of the bond while the owners of the destroyed house were seen sitting on a neighbour’s platform in tears. They did not offer a comment to the media.

Firefighters were also busy mending broken hoses which left many onlookers and houses drenched. One house at the Eastern end of the street was completely

soaked and its gutters were pouring as though there was a heavy downpour.

Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Operations Officer Joseph Mc Donald said when they received reports of the fire, three tenders and a tanker were deployed to the area and upon arrival at the scene, the bond was already engulfed by flames.

Nearby house

He noted that firefighters concentrated on dowsing the nearby house, but due to heavy winds, their efforts were rendered futile.

Mc Donald explained that the house was heavily grilled which made it more difficult for the firefighters to get into the premises. A neighbour told Guyana Times that she was cooking when she heard a loud explosion followed by her granddaughter’s screams of “Fire!Fire!”. By this time, the sickly woman was escort-

ed out of the house as thick smoke billowed from the bond.

The woman stated that when she saw the fire, she panicked and instructed her relatives to remove their household items.

Explosion

Another man said he just heard the explosion and as he looked up, he saw the thick smoke, followed by a huge ball of fire. The bond erected some 20 years ago stored products distributed by the company.

The man disclosed that after the fire started, attempts were made to save the nearby house, but the heat was too much and there was no easy access into the house since all the windows and doors are grilled.

Member of the Beepat family, Jonathan Beepat was at the scene, but declined to comment when approached, so too was Williams.

AFC tells Brumell he has a lot of work to do

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has congratulated Leroy Brumell on his substantive appointment as police commissioner and said it will continue to offer its full support.

Brumell’s confirmation comes at a time when serious crime is on the increase.

The police statistics indicate that there have been 98 murders at the end of September, including 19 that were committed during armed robberies, two execution-type, 13 domestic-related and 23 undetermined.

According to the party, which suffered a number of

resignations of several of its executive, the crime situation is troubling.

“It is clear that crime is taking a serious toll on our society. We have reports from people in many communities that they are afraid to be out at night.

"In villages on the Corentyne, people are in their houses by sundown, taking whatever precautions they can to safeguard themselves and their families. Businesses nationwide are forced to employ extra security which many can ill afford,” the AFC said.

The AFC said while it welcomes the confirmation of

Brumell, but this alone will not reverse the escalating crime rate.

“There is urgent need for a comprehensive review of policing in Guyana with a view to making the force more professional and responsive to the threats of today.

"There is also the urgent need to build public confidence in the force as this is critical to crime fighting.

"There is urgent need for the establishment of a DEA office in Guyana to help in the fight against narco-trafficking as this is part and parcel of the crime situation,” said the AFC.

Guyana shivers from earthquake in TT, Venezuela

Ashort earthquake hit Trinidad and Tobago and part of Venezuela about 22:13h lasting no more than three seconds, sending tremors as far as Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Granada.

According to reports, some sections of the twin island republic suffered power outages as a result of the quake.

The magnitude was 6.1 on the Richter scale and the epicentre of the earthquake was 33 kilometres North of Guiria, Venezuela.

As a free service to the world, the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Programme would normally provide the magnitude but initially, thanks to the Republican government shutdown, the data was initially unavailable.

There was no report of damage in Guyana but the tremors here were felt in Georgetown, Corriverton, Berbice, Linden, Bartica, Mahdia and the North West District. The shaking here

lasted for about a minute and soon after, many took to Facebook and Twitter to file their comments and observations.

“Wow, I thought de flu was making me feel dizzy lol, but it was a tremor!!!” one person said on Facebook. Another said, “And I think I was crazy.. Lol,” but soon after another Facebooker said, “well now you know you are not”.

Friendly Forecast has issued a tsunami alert for near the coast of Venezuela

Republic Bank remains committed to Marriott project – Brassington

National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited

(NICIL) Executive Director Winston Brassington has assured that Republic Bank remains committed to Guyana’s Marriott Hotel project, which is currently underway in Kingston, Georgetown.

Brassington, who is also head of the Finance Ministry’s Privatisation Unit, told Guyana Times Friday evening that he was recently in contact with one of the directors of Republic Bank, who spoke on behalf of the chairman, and who gave full assurance that the bank is still on board with the project.

“As of this moment, I have been given the full commitment of the bank that nothing has changed as regards its investment in the Marriott Guyana Project,” Brassington said.

NICIL’s executive director further pointed out that his conversation with the bank official stemmed from the fact that he received telephone calls from two reporters representing other sections of the media, who said they had information that Republic Bank had pulled out of the project.

Brassington further said

that, while he is ready and willing to speak with reporters, he is however disappointed that many of them often represent the private, special interests of the certain media houses, which appear to have now become common place in Guyana.

“My reponse to the two reporters, who called individually from separate media entities, was that unless they were willing to vouch for the accuracy and authenticity of their information, I would have no other alternative but to conclude that they were acting on behalf of these private, special interests and the persons behind them,” he said.

Reporters

Brassington also disclosed the names of the two reporters to this newspaper – both of whom are known to be aligned with the opposition.

The bank from the inception had indicated that it is 100 per cent behind the government-backed project that will see the realisation of a hotel of internationally recognised standards as the Hyatt in Trinadad and Tobago and the Hilton in Barbados.

President Donald Ramotar has said that the

Hyatt and Hilton hotels were built by the governments in those countries and are attracting tourists although none of the two countries have the tourism potential like Guyana.

Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), the all purpose vehicle for the project had said a great deal of deliberately misleading information and ill-informed opinions have been published in the media with regard to the financial investment in the Marriott Hotel project. According to a release, the AHI investor will pay US$8 million for 67 per cent equity in the company, AHI. The total value of the equity is US$12 million. Equity is the value of the shares of the company or the net value of the assets available to the shareholders.

Put differently, the private investor is only entitled to 67 per cent of the net assets of AHI.

Total assets minus total liabilities, that is, total assets

US$58.5 million minus total liabilities

US$46.5 million. This consists of loan financing arranged by Republic Bank (US$27 million), outfitting loan for the Entertainment Complex (US$4 million) and NICIL’s loan, US$15.5 million.

Brazil’s Japanese community gets apology for abuse

Brazil’s truth commission has apologised for the government’s “racist” maltreatment and detention of its large Japanese community during the second World War in a step that could open the way to compensation claims.

Twenty-five years after similar steps by the U.S. and Canada, the move to make amends has been welcomed by groups representing the 1.5 million migrants and second and third-generation descendants in Brazil who now

make up the biggest ethnically Japanese population outside of Japan.

After Brazil declared war on Japan in 1942, thousands of families from this community were arrested or deported as potential spies or collaborators.

The government also closed hundreds of Japanese schools, seized communication equipment and forced the relocation of Japanese who lived close to the coastline. A Japanese community in the northern Para state was restricted from travel.

Survivors have testified about the use of torture, and the degrading loyalty test in which Brazilian Japanese were forced to step on an image of Emperor Hirohito, who was then considered a deity in his country. The truth commission saw video testimony of survivors and their children, including Akira Yamachio who said his father was arrested and tortured in Anchieta along with other prisoners: “A bit of the truth is better than silence,” he said. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

St Kitts PM awarded EC$350,000 in newspaper defamation case

The High Court has ordered an opposition aligned newspaper to pay Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas EC$350,000 in damages for defamation.

Attorney Sylvester Anthony said that the prime minister had been able to get a default judgement against the Democrat newspaper after no defence was filed.

“They did try at a stage to file a defence because they applied to the court to set aside the default judgement that we got and the court dismissed their application.

“The problem they had is that the defence that they tried to file is not a defence known to the law of defamation and that is referred to as well in the judgement. So

they really could not have defended the case,” Anthony said.

He said the size of the award speaks to the egregious nature of the defamation and disclosed that the court was very clear in its language in relation to the conduct of the defendant which is the Democrat.

“For example, with regards to the attempt to set aside the default judgement, this is what the court had to say ‘In the case at bar, even after the application to set aside the default judgment was denied, the defendant still refused to retract and apologise thereby showing that his actions were malicious and spiteful and further injured the claimant’s proper feelings of dignity and pride’,” Anthony said, reading from the judgement.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Jamaica signs US$60M loan agreement with IDB

Finance and Planning

Minister Dr Peter Phillips on Friday morning signed a US$60 million loan agreement on behalf of Jamaica, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), at its headquarters in Washington DC.

The loan is the third tranche of financing for the public financial and performance management programme and represents the

first policy based loan operation since 2011. It accompanies the government of Jamaica’s efforts to enhance public management by strengthening fiscal discipline, improving public financial management and increasing public performance management.

IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno, who signed on behalf of the bank, expressed the IDB’s satisfaction with respect to

Jamaica’s strengthened fiscal management. He said he was satisfied with the country’s progress with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility and the first review of which was approved by the IMF’s board on September 30.

Moreno said the review is an important reflection of the IMF’s confidence in Jamaica’s macroeconomic stabilisation programme. He reiterated that the fiscal management programme combines policy initiatives and government actions in four key areas which include fiscal responsibility, financial management, public procurement and performance management and accountability.

He added that all these reforms are paramount to accomplishing the objectives of Jamaica’s stabilisation programme currently being implemented and are expected to deliver ambitious debt reduction and fiscal consolidation over the next four years. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Ecuador’s Correa warns on

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa has said he will resign if the National Assembly decriminalises abortion as part of a reform of the Penal Code.

Correa, whose term ends in 2017, described himself as a “left-wing, humanist, Roman Catholic”.

He said members of his own governing alliance have been pushing for the change.

“They can do whatever they want. I will never approve the decriminalisation

of abortion,” he said.

Correa has accused many members of his governing bloc of betraying him and trying to push their own agenda by stealth.

“It has cost me more, the betrayals of my own supposed friends, than the acts of my enemies.”

“If these acts of betrayal and disloyalty go on, I will tender my resignation,” said Correa.

Correa, an economist trained in the United States, first came into power in

Nevis independence still on the table

Independence for Nevis remains on the table for the ruling Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), this is according to the chair of a meeting held between Premier Vance Amory and Nevisians living in the Washington DC area.

how would that work with the unity concept, whether CCM would still support independence for Nevis,” Elliott recounted.

He said the premier indicated that Nevis independence was “not off the table”.

abortion

2007. He was elected to a third term in February.

He is part of a new wave of left-wing leaders that came into power in Latin America in the last 15 years, following the electoral success of the late Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez.

Correa has criticised “American imperialism” in the region and in August 2012 offered political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is holed up at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Everton “Obi” Elliott, who chaired the meeting on Wednesday, told WINN FM that the premier was asked pointedly about his CCM party’s position on Nevis going it alone as separate country.

“It’s still part of the CCM policy and… thus, it is always there, and he stated that he feels that for Nevis independence to happen it would have to be a ground swell from the people of Nevis to want Nevis independence.”

“Questions were raised about CCM’s stance on Nevis independence, and

According to Elliott, Amory was also questioned vigorously about the CCM’s participation in the threeparty political partnership in St Kitts and Nevis, dubbed the Unity Construct. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

India braces for Cyclone Phailin

More than 200,000 people in India are being evacuated as a massive cyclone is sweeping through the Bay of Bengal towards the east coast.

Cyclone Phailin, categorised as “very severe” by weather forecasters, is expected to hit Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states on Saturday evening.

The Meteorological Department has predicted

the storm will bring winds up to 220 km/h (136mph).

A deadly super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.

But officials say this time they are better prepared, the BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi reports.

However, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii is forecasting even stronger winds, predicting sustained speeds of up to 269 km/h

(167 mph).

Cyclone Phailin is expected to make landfall close to the city of Gopalpur (Orissa state), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on Friday. It said Phailin would bring heavy rain, which would be accompanied by a storm surge of at least three metres (10ft).

“Extensive damage” was expected to mud houses on the coast. (Excerpt from BBC News)

31 dead, 200 rescued from capsized ship off Italian island

The death toll from a ship that capsized Friday in international waters near the Italian island of Lampedusa climbed to 31, according to the Maltese military.

More than 200 survivors were pulled from the water, but the search continued for more than a dozen peo-

ple still believed missing after the ship carrying hundreds of migrants sank, the Rescue Centre of Malta, a branch of the Armed Forces of Malta, told CNN.

“We are trying to save as many people as we can,” said Maltese military spokesman Keith Caruana.

Italian and Maltese military forces using helicop-

ters and boats pulled 206 of the 250 people believed to be on board the ship, authorities said.

The shipwreck occurred in international waters about 60 nautical miles south of Lampedusa, an island south of Sicily, Italian navy spokesman Alessandro Busonero said. (Excerpt from CNN)

U.S. says senior Taliban commander captured

U.S. military forces have captured Latif Mehsud, a senior commander with the Pakistani Taliban, the U.S. State Department has said but it declined comment on when it happened.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said on Friday that U.S. forces had apprehended Mehsud, whom

she described as a senior commander of Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan.

The Pentagon said Mehsud was captured in a U.S. military operation in Afghanistan, but the Washington Post newspaper reported on Friday that he was forcibly snatched from an Afghan government convoy in Logar province several weeks ago as

Afghan officials were trying to recruit him to launch peace talks.

The Pakistani Taliban confirmed the capture, but said Mehsud was seized by the Afghan army at the Ghulam Khan border crossing in the eastern province of Khost on October 5.

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defence and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for American Progress Larry Korb told Al Jazeera from Washington DC that the capture would not help Afghan-U.S. relations.

“President Karzai wanted to use this Taliban commander to help with negotiations,” he said. “So this does not help at all... the relationship with Karzai is very personal, and I hope that John Kerry can establish a relationship with him.”

Republic Bank economist Ronald Ramkissoon has said that if the U.S. Federal Government’s shutdown leads to greater economic uncertainty, there will be implications for TT and the rest of the Caribbean. “While the world, the Caribbean included, is more and more turning to emerging economies for trade, dependence on North America and Europe is still critical for this region. As

such, if the situation in the U.S. worsens there will be implications for the Caribbean,” he told the TT Guardian on Thursday. The U.S. Federal Government shutdown is now in its 11th day.

The federal government officially shut down for the first time in 17 years on October 1, after House Republicans refused to drop demands that parts of the Affordable Care Act be delayed in return for

approval of a mandatory government funding bill.

Everything from national parks to national security to Federal Courts and other important parts of the U.S. economy that depend on government services have been partially shutdown. Ramkisson said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and other areas of the Caribbean and TT economy will be affected. (Trinidad Guardian)

NCaribbean Africa Asia Economist warns: U.S. govt shutdown could hurt TT

Nigeria, Brazil sign MoU on trade, investment

igeria and Brazil on Tuesday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their bilateral cooperation on trade and investment. The Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Olusegun Aganga, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Ricardo Shaefer, his Brazilian counterpart on development, industry and foreign trade,

North America

U.S.

Hopes that lawmakers were nearing a deal to avert a U.S. debt default bolstered global equity markets on Friday, but trading in short-dated Treasury debt suggests bond-market investors are concerned the battle will merely be pushed to later in the year.

President Barack Obama and Republican leaders appeared closer to ending a political crisis that has closed

Europe

much of the U.S. government and pushed the country close to default. This helped U.S. stocks to their best day since the beginning of the year on Thursday, and Wall Street extended gains on Friday.

Still, one of the proposals involves extending the federal borrowing limit for only about six weeks, temporarily putting off a default that could come as soon as next week.

As a result, yields on Treasury bills maturing in late November and throughout December spiked on Friday, as banks and investors shy away from holding debt that is at any risk of delayed interest or principal payments. This had already caused yields on bills due in late October and early November to rise; those yields fell only modestly on Friday. (Reuters)

Royal Mail shares jump sharply on market debut

Royal Mail shares rose

38 per cent to 455p in their first day of conditional dealings on the London Stock Exchange. The hugely oversubscribed sale was priced at 330p a share, valuing the 500-year-old firm at £3.3 billion. At one point, the price hit 459.75p.

Private investors received 227 shares each. In all, more than 225 million shares were traded on Friday. The shares are listed officially next

Tuesday, but City institutions began conditional dealings on Friday.

Some 10 million shares were traded in the first 30 seconds when the market opened. Stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown reported that its website was having “intermittent problems” due to the “unprecedented interest” in Royal Mail. Tom McPhail, the firm’s head of pensions research, said it was “extremely sor-

ry for the delays”, but was making “significant progress in clearing the backlog” and hoped to have all systems running normally again soon.

“We have experienced demand this morning which has gone off the scale,” he said.

“We now have six times the normal number of staff working on our dealing lines. We know we are not the only broker affected by such problems this morning.” (The Guardian)

China has knocked the U.S. from its top spot as the world’s biggest net importer of oil, U.S. government data shows. The country’s fast-growing economy, as well as the rise in car sales, has led to its new status, according to September’s data.

Oil consumption in China had outstripped production by 6.3 million barrels a day, said the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

In the U.S., the figure was

Middle East

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties is talking to banks about raising a bridge loan of up to US$1.5 billion with an option to convert it later into a bond, banking and industry sources aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The proposed financing comes ahead of a US$1.25 billion bond maturity in May 2014; Aldar would probably use funds raised through the loan to meet that obligation,

signed for his country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement aims at strengthening bilateral cooperation on the promotion and facilitation of trade and investment between the two countries. Speaking at the ceremony, Aganga said that the MoU was a follow-up to the recent meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and his Brazilian counterpart,

Dilma Rousseff. According to him, the agreement goes beyond trade and investment to include industrial cooperation and financing as well as how both countries can double their trade volume. The minister listed the sectors covered by the MoU to include infrastructure, power, automobile, agriculture and sugarcane to sugar among others. (allAfrica)

6.1 million. China’s own oil supply has been outstripped by its economic boom, and its oil fields have been damaged by flooding during the past few months.

The country had had to import to make up the shortfall, said the EIA. It predicts the trend will continue into 2014. The U.S. uses 18.6 million barrels of oil per day compared with China’s 10.9 million, despite having a population a third the size of China’s.

But the U.S. is increasingly able to support itself after the growth of its domestic hydraulic fracturing, or fracking – a new technique of drilling for gas and oil from shale rock. It has attracted controversy from environmental campaigners concerned about the large quantities of water used and the potential danger of carcinogenic chemicals. The campaigners say the chemicals could escape and contaminate groundwater. (BBC News)

said the sources, declining to be named as the matter is not public.

It would be one of the first financings undertaken by the firm since its Abu Dhabi government-backed merger with Sorouh Real Estate was completed in June, creating the second-largest listed property firm in the United Arab Emirates and one of the biggest in the Middle East, with assets of US$13 billion.

A spokesman for Aldar,

30.5 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala, declined to comment. Banks have been invited to pitch for the bridge-to-bond financing, the sources said, with two of them stating the loan component would have a one-year lifespan. Under a bridge-to-bond deal, a firm can often secure cheaper loan funding as banks can earn income from fees paid for arranging the bond. (Gulf Business)

Starting a restaurant business

Starting a restaurant business requires scrupulous planning, intense micro-management and a heavy initial investment, but if successful, it can blossom into a rewarding and long-lasting business. Many restaurants have lasted for decades, and some for centuries. How can an ordinary investor successfully start a restaurant business?

Concept, location and financing

First and foremost, you need to do a comprehensive survey of your area. If your target location is saturated with pizza shop, then you shouldn’t open a pizza shop. If the area is populated by

college students, then you should focus on lower-priced fare. If the area’s real estate is cheap, but the surroundings aren’t safe, then you shouldn’t set up shop there. Legendary entrepreneurs Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield started up their ice cream chain – Ben and Jerry’s – after setting up in the only local college town without an ice cream shop. The lack of competition made them an instant monopoly.

Once you know the cuisine that you’ll be serving, you should sketch out a concept that will set your restaurant apart from its competitors. Ben and Jerry’s offered crazy flavours, Krispy Kreme attracted visitors with its donut conveyor belt, McDonald’s

produced larger burgers than its peers – such as White Castle, and Domino’s Pizza introduced the concept of a 30 minute delivery. Your company should have a concept – which can be a gimmick – that makes it memorable. After you have a rough concept, write out a comprehensive business plan, which will help calculate your start-up costs. If you’re starting from scratch, and not purchasing a franchise, the costs will primarily consist of real estate, equipment, labour and promotion costs. This initial cost can be staggering, and unless you are already wealthy, you need to explore different avenues of financing. (Business Dictionary)

GPHC to get equipment, personnel boost

The capacity of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will soon be boosted with the deployment of better trained doctors and new equipment, which would see persons benefiting from services never offered before at the public facility.

This was disclosed by GPHC Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan, during an interview with this publication on Thursday. As private hospitals continue to improve their facilities as a means of attracting more income, the GPHC is aiming to improve the services it offers the public free of cost.

Khan noted that while the medical facility depends solely on the government for funds, foreign experts will help to boost services on a pro-bono basis.

“A week or two ago, your newspaper carried an excellent article on a team coming out of Memphis, Tennessee from a charity who’s looking at the children here to take them abroad, and eventually come here to do cardi-

ac surgery sometime next year, and that was a very successful visit”, he stated.

He explained that the hospital will not have to pay to bring the medical team here. “They would come and do surgery and the beauty about this team from Memphis, they would not leave the country until the last patient they operate on is discharged and is on the way to recovery.”

Additionally, another team would be coming out of Calgary, Canada to offer similar services. The overseas teams are expected to provide training to doctors here free of cost, to carry out surgeries after they would have served their time here.

Assessment

The doctors have also made a commitment to assess the hospital’s capabilities and will be providing equipment to boost competencies. “They’ve also offered us to bring equipment to donate them and leave them at the hospital that we don’t have presently, to do these types of surgery like the open heart and lung surgery,” Khan added.

The GPHC CEO stressed that these services to be offered at the hospital will be free of cost, but there are a few services that require payment by patients. “ … when doctors suggest a CT scan, patients are required to pay 75 per cent, while the hospital pays 25 per cent”.

He explained that hip and knee surgeries also require payment – a decision that was made by the hospital’s board of directors. “The board of directors ruled that money collected would work as a recovery cost to ensure there is a revolving fund for implants used.”

Biofuel development should not compromise food security – CFS

Following a week of intense discussions, the Committee on World Food Security stressed the link between biofuels and food security, saying the “progressive realisation of the right to adequate food for all” should be a priority concern in biofuel development.

The world’s most important intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder platform for food security and nutrition said biofuel development “should not compromise food security, and should especially consider women and smallholders”.

The October 7-11 meeting drew nearly 750 people, including more than 130 government delegations, 100 civil society, and 50 private sector organisations.

Following the talks, the CFS also agreed on the importance of integrating smallholder agriculture into national policies, strategies, and research aimed at boosting investment and sustainable development.

Opportunities, risks Family farmers, fishers, and others whose livelihoods depend on smallholder agriculture in developing countries account for most of the 840 million chronically hungry people in the world, according to the recent UN hunger report, “The State of Food Insecurity in the World”.

On the subject of biofuels and food security, informed by a report from the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on Food Security and Nutrition, the CFS noted that biofuel development encompassed “both opportunities and risks in economic, social and environmental aspects”, depending on the context and practices.

“In some cases, current biofuel production creates competition between biofu-

el crops and food crops,” it added.

The CFS encouraged the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and other stakeholders to look at ways to help countries strengthen their capacities to assess their situation with regard to biofuels, taking into account food security concerns at global, regional and national levels, and legitimate land tenure rights.

Efficiency of biofuels

“Governments and other appropriate stakeholders are encouraged to review biofuels policies – where applicable and if necessary –according to balanced science-based assessments of the opportunities and risks they may present for food security,” the committee said.

It called on biofuel research and development partners to improve the efficiency of biofuels, both resources and processes, and to devise solutions adapted to the needs of all stakeholders, including those in leastdeveloped countries, as well as women and smallholders who are most in need of ac-

cess to modern energy services.

The CFS’s recommendation called for the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in The Context of National Food Security (VGGT); the Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security; the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) Sustainability Indicators for Bioenergy, and FAO Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) Approach.

Investment

On the issue of investment in smallholder agriculture, also informed by an HLPE report, the CFS adopted a policy recommendation calling on governments, together with smallholder organisations, civil society, the private sector, research institutions and international development partners, to work together to “build a country-owned vision” designed to boost investments in smallholder

agriculture.

The CFS recommended countries consider how agricultural, urban and rural sector policies, strategies and budgets could best enable smallholder access to productive assets, local, national and regional markets, appropriate training, research, technology and farm support services – especially for women.

Eradicate poverty

The importance of smallholder agriculture will be highlighted in 2014 during the International Year of Family Farming.

The CFS also tackled a wide range of other issues designed to support efforts to eradicate chronic hunger and extreme poverty, including responsible agricultural investments and food security in protracted crisis situations.

These discussions were slated to continue during regional consultations in the months to come. At the end of the week, Gerda Verburg of the Netherlands was elected as the CFS chair for a two-year term. Verburg succeeds Yaya Olaniran of Nigeria.

Guyana to host CSF conference in December

The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) at the University of the West Indies will be hosting its third annual science conference, this time in Guyana where issues surrounding the development of science in the Caribbean would be addressed.

CSF Assistant Director Lois Oliver recently visited Guyana and met with the National Science Coordinator Petal Jettoo, to plan the workshop, which will be held in December 2 and 3 at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara, under the theme “Stimulating entrepreneurship and education through STEM”.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Oliver explained that with the theme in mind the conference would

be focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.

“We cannot keep doing the same thing, the same way all the time and expect big, great results… we realise a lot of Caribbean people are not taught to be entrepreneurs; we are taught ‘you go to school, you get your qualifications and you get a job working for someone else’, but we want these people to understand that you need to forge ahead,” she stated.

STEM for development

Oliver noted that the next great idea may be from a Caribbean scientist and that will, in turn, provide employment opportunities for scores of people in the region.

“We want people to stop think in a small business way and think about how we can

actively focus on things like poverty reduction and job creation, using STEM, for our people,” the CSF assistant director said.

Oliver revealed that when the idea was pitched to have the conference hosted in Guyana, CSF thought it was a good idea to be where all the action is since the country has biodiversity which cannot be seen anywhere else in the Caribbean.

Focus

“All of what we focus now is in biodiversity, water resources management, natural resources management, that is where a lot of the thrust is. Guyana is unique because of your terrain and topography.

"You have all these wonderful reserves and wetlands

and forests, and there is so much development in science going on in Guyana; the country recently put out a science policy,” Oliver stated.

Showcasing Guyana

She noted that many Guyanese scientists will be involved in the conference, “so we want to ensure that we involve and showcase what’s happening in Guyana; after all, we are having the conference there”.

The CSF assistant director went on to say that they are hoping to feature not only scientists from Guyana and the Caribbean but from the Caribbean diaspora.

The first day of the conference will be interactive with students and young scientists being exposed to all the possibilities available to them.

She disclosed that Professor Maya Trotz, who is a Guyanese, has been working on a project making videos of scientists in the Caribbean.

She noted that the videos will be launched at the conference, since it is more of a career showcase for young people whereby they can hear the life stories of those scientists and understand their path to success.

Oliver noted that students who participate in the workshop will benefit immensely as it relates to career information.

The two Guyanese students who went to the CSFrun Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), recently held in Barbados will be reflecting on the four-week programme and feedback

will also be given from the winners of the national leg of the SAGICOR Visionaries Challenge on their trip to Barbados for the regional competition. SP Meanwhile on the second day of the conference, representatives from CSF throughout the Caribbean will be addressing the forum. The conference will also have a session where posters of scientists’ projects will be on display. The sciences faculty of the University of Guyana is expected to be involved.

According to Oliver, the aim of conference is to foster awareness of STEM in the Caribbean and promote entrepreneurship using STEM. The first conference was held in Barbados and last year in Grenada.

SUDOKU

Distance yourself from anyone who is unpredictable. You will maintain control if you follow a set plan. Take care of responsibilities early so you can socialise or take care of personal needs.

By Bernice Bede Osol

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

Deal with personal responsibilities first and clear the way for love, laughter and enjoying life. Step away from anyone who makes you feel guilty or puts demands on your time.

Enjoy making new friends or visiting places you’ve never been before. Expand your interests and pick up knowledge and skills that will help you address a personal problem.

You need a change. Spice up your life, participate in a fun activity or shop for items that will update your appearance. Make plans to enjoy time spent with friends or loved ones.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)

Don’t take anything or anyone for granted. Listen carefully and abide by the rules. Disillusionment regarding a personal relationship is likely. Do your own thing and protect your money and possessions.

(March 21-April 19)

You’ll make a big impression by offering solutions and hands-on help to someone in need. Reconnect with someone you have worked or dealt with in the past. New beginnings look promising.

(April 20-May 20)

It will be difficult to think clearly concerning work-related matters. Put your emotions aside and look at the big picture. Compromise will be necessary if you don’t want to suffer a loss.

(May 21June 20)

Indulge in activities that are physically and emotionally challenging, and you will succeed in reaching your goal. Taking a different approach to life and love will attract someone special.

You will pick up valuable information that will help you make a decision that can improve your personal position or a relationship you have with someone exciting.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Focus on what’s ahead instead of living in the past. The present is what will count if you want to achieve a brighter future. Avoid emotional confrontations.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

A change will do you good. Visit places you have never been before or strike up conversations with people doing things that interest you. Diversify, and you’ll feel satisfied.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Consider what motivates you, and you’ll find a better way to spend your time and to get ahead. A thrill only lasts for a moment. Strive for longevity.

Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

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FlOwErs

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

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U.S. Green Card Lottery 2013. We are now accepting entries for the Annual Green Card Lottery sponsored by the U.S. Government. Enter now for a chance to become a permanent resident of the USA. Closing date November 2, 2013. Contact Balwant Persaud Immigration and Visa Services 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings and Light Sts.) Tel: 225-1540, 655-3105, 622-8308

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Dutch healing and upliftment, for clearing of land, dredging and ground work (strictly interior operation). Phone: 662-1247.

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Vacancy exists for two cashiers/ office clerks and two porters, cashiers/clerks must be literate, apply in person with written application to May’s Shopping Centre, 98 Regent Street, Georgetown. Urgently needed! One plot of land in Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling and Eccles. Phone: 675-7292

Caricom appoints new assistant secretary general

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat now has a new assistant secretary

general in charge of human and social development. The new appointee is former St Vincent and the Grenadines Foreign Affairs, Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Dr Douglas Wilbert Slater.

The new assistant secretary general stated that with the secretariat now deliberating on its work plan for the next year, he is “intent to listen, read, engage and discuss with staff and the secretary general” areas that will be prioritised under his portfolio.

The consultations now being conducted across member states would also assist in guiding this process, he said.

Dr Slater said he has chosen this new career path because he likes public service and wants to be of benefit to the wider Caribbean. According to him, he comes in as a “constituent of Caricom” which allows him to be more cognisant of the difficulties being faced by member states. He said he was also very aware of the challenges of the secretariat, including the lack of resources, but noted that efficiency and conservation will play a large role in addressing those issues.

Region needs education system to deal with global realities – TT PM

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has underscored the need for the region to pursue an education system that will prepare the next generation to deal with the impact of a changing global environment.

Delivering the seventh annual Distinguished Alumni Lecture at the Cave Hill Campus of the

University of the West Indies (UWI) on Thursday night, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said the children of Caribbean were “growing in a world where they have to compete harder than we did, for relatively less resources than we accessed”.

She said the new global realities indicate that “Caribbean children will have much more expansive

concepts of achievement that are built on completely different variables from the decades past”.

She told the audience that it was these stark contrasts that partly guided her as a head of government and chairperson of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) “to deeply consider our every policy and process approach to sustainable development”. (CMC)

Commemorating World/European Day against the Death Penalty

By EuropEan union amBassador

October 10 marked the 11th World and European Day against the Death Penalty. The abolition of capital punishment contributes to the progressive development of human rights. Capital punishment is not only inhumane but is also unnecessary. No compelling evidence exists to show that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime. Imposition of the death penalty contravenes the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment. International studies show that the abolition of the death penalty does not lead to an increase in crime.

The United Nations Resolution Number 67 calls upon states that have not yet done so to accede to or ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aimed at the abolition of the death penalty. Here in Guyana, a parliamentary select committee of the National Assembly is currently deliberating on the issue of the death penalty; we urge the committee to recommend the abolition of the death penalty.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton have issued a joint declaration reiterating their strong opposition to the use of capital punishment. They continue to underline the inhumane and cruel nature of this un-

necessary punishment and its failure to prevent crime.

The EU and the UK are the world’s leading institutional actors in the fight against the death penalty and its action in this area represents a key priority of its external human rights policy.

The EU and the UK actively support the civil society organisations around the world campaigning for the abolition of capital punishment. Experience in Europe and other parts of the world has taught us that the death penalty does not prevent an increase in violent crime, nor does it bring justice to the victims of such crimes. Any capital punishment resulting from miscarriage of justice, from which no legal system can be immune, represents irreversible loss of human life.

For people who are interested in learning more about this important issue, the European Union Delegation shall screen a series of short films dealing with the issue of the death penalty around the time of Human Rights Day on

December 10, to which all are welcome.

There is a worldwide trend towards abolition: since 1993 the number of countries that abolished the death penalty by law for all crimes grew from 55 to 97. One hundred and forty countries – more than two thirds of the countries of the world – are now abolitionist in law or practice. Although there is a de facto moratorium on the death penalty in Guyana – it has been 16 years since the last execution – more than two dozen persons have since been sentenced to death.

The EU and the UK – and increasingly most of the world – consider capital punishment to be a cruel and inhuman punishment. Any miscarriage of justice – which is inevitable in any legal system – could lead to innocent persons being killed and is irreversible. We urge Guyana to abolish the death penalty, an action which will contribute to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights for all Guyanese citizens.

Courts Pee Wee set to sizzle today

After two exciting weekends of competition, the annual Courts Pee Wee Under-11 football competition is set to continue today with another dozen games at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.

In the opening game of the day, St Margaret’s, who played to an exciting 2-2 draw with Enterprise Primary last Saturday, will trade skills with St Ambrose, while Enterprise would look to secure maximum points against Green Acres.

Last year’s runners-up Tucville will look to rebound from a loss last weekend when they face St Sidwell’s, with North Georgetown set to take on South Ruimveldt, before West Field come up against J.E. Burnham.

St Stephen’s and Stella Maris will square off, with Success and St. Angela’s going head-to-head and West Ruimveldt and St Gabriel’s doing battle.

The lads from Sophia are down to challenge East La Penitence, while defending

champions Marian Academy will look to topple Redeemer. Ketley and F.E. Pollard are set to trade skills, with the

unbeaten St Pius down to tackle Winfer Garden. Games will commence at 10:00 hours.

34,273 runs and counting

– Sachin Tendulkar’s career in numbers

India’s premier batsman Sachin Tendulkar earlier this week announced that he will retire from international cricket after the upcoming series against the West Indies in India. As a tribute to the “Little Master” we present below some of his major achievements in numbers.

* 24 years - Span of Sachin Tendulkar’s illustrious Test career. He will retire with the fifth longest career ever. If the second Test against West Indies goes into the fifth day, he would have played Test cricket for a span of 24 years and three days.

* 34,273 - Runs scored by Tendulkar in internationals, the most anyone has scored. This includes 15,837 runs in Tests, the most any batsman has scored, and 18,426 runs in ODIs, another record.

* 50,024 - Runs in firstclass, List A and Twenty20 matches, put together. Tendulkar is the 16th batsman to aggregate 50,000 or more career runs.

* 13,408 - Runs Tendulkar scored in Tests batting at number four. He has scored 4502 runs more than the next batsman on that list, Jacques Kallis. He has also scored 44 of his 51 Test centuries at that position, which is ten more than what Kallis has at number four.

* 100 - Centuries in international cricket by Sachin Tendulkar, 29 more than the next batsman on the list. Tendulkar has hit 263 fifty-plus scores, again, the most by any batsman.

* 2541 - Runs scored by Tendulkar in 1998. The first of only six batsmen to score 2500 runs or more in

a year. Tendulkar is one of only two batsmen to score 2000 or more international runs in a year five times. Kumar Sangakkara is the other.

* 20 - Hundreds Tendulkar scored against Australia, the most any batsman has scored against a team. He has hit ten or more centuries against three teams - Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa - one of the only two batsmen to achieve this feat, along with Ricky Ponting. Tendulkar has hit 11 centuries against Australia in Tests, the fourth highest for a batsman against a team.

* 12 - Centuries by Tendulkar in 1998, the most any batsman has scored in a single year. His seven Test centuries in 2010 is the joint-second highest for a batsman in Tests.

* 28 - Scores in the nineties by Tendulkar, double the number for the next batsman on the list.

* 4 - Hundreds in consecutive Tests by Tendulkar, one of 14 batsmen to do it.

* 6 - Number of times Tendulkar hit 1000 runs or more in a calendar year in Tests, the most by any batsman. He also holds the record for scoring the most ODI runs in a yearhe scored 1894 ODI runs

in 1998. Tendulkar scored 1000 or more runs in ODIs in a year seven times, a record.

* 76 - Number of Manof-the-Match awards won by Tendulkar in his career, the most by any player. He won 14 awards in Tests and 62 in ODIs. His 62 awards is a record in ODIs.

* 2044+ - Fours hit in Tests by Tendulkar, the most any batsman.

* 17 years, 107 days - The age at which Tendulkar scored his first Test century, against England at Old Trafford. At that time he was the second youngest to hit a century after Pakistan’s Mushtaq Mohammad. Now, he’s the third on the list after Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh and Mohammad.

* 10 - Fifties in consecutive Tests by Tendulkar, one of only five batsmen to hit fifties in ten or more consecutive Tests.

* 12,400 - Partnership runs added by Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in international cricket, the most by any pair. Tendulkar has added 6920 Test runs with Rahul Dravid, which is the most by any pair in Tests.

* 38 - Century partnerships Tendulkar has put on with Ganguly, the most by any pair. The next pair on that list is Tendulkar and Dravid, with 31 centuries. Tendulkar and Dravid have added 20 century partnerships in Tests, which is the most by any pair.

* 7 - Number of Test teams against whom Tendulkar has scored 1000 or more runs. He is one of only two batsmen, the other being Dravid, to achieve this feat. (Cricinfo)

and Banks DIH Limited, the top four schools will receive a 32-inch television set each to aid visual sessions in the classroom. In 2012, the four top schools were recipients of a laptop each.

At the end of the competition, which is a collaborative effort of Courts (Guyana) Inc., the Petra Organisation

All 24 teams will be given stationery vouchers and participation trophies from Courts (Guyana) Inc., while they will also be provided with two footballs each and playing bibs, compliments of the Petra Organisation. The champion school will also receive a complete set of uniforms. Under the tournament format, the teams have been divided into six groups of four teams, where they will contest a round-robin. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third place finishers will advance to the Round of 16, after which the teams will battle for positions 1-16.

(Avenash Ramzan)

Bangladesh v NZ, 1st Test, Chittagong, 3rd day…

Mominul maiden ton leads steady reply

Mominul Haque wiped away any doubts about his place in the Test line-up with an authoritative 181 that helped Bangladesh make significant progress towards New Zealand’s first innings score of 469. His innings is the third highest score by a Bangladeshi batsman, and it was an innings that was his first serious expression of a calculative approach.

At stumps, the home side was 380-7, with Sohag Gazi and Abdur Razzak at the crease. Nasir Hossain was the last of the recognised batsman to be dismissed, which means that the tail would have to bat around Gazi, who is on 28.

Despite some natural wear and tear on the wicket, there haven’t been many balls that caused alarm. At best there was a sense of bemusement when some of the deliveries bounced twice or

thrice on their way to wicketkeeper BJ Watling. This was predicted, and so was assistance to spin. But it hasn’t materialised yet, much to the dissatisfaction of Bruce Martin and Ish Sodhi. Mominul dictated terms for the six hours he spent at the crease, picking up where he left off overnight. Five fours came off the first 27 deliveries he faced, which got him to the century. He had to survive a couple of close calls when he edged a few and skied one towards deep point, but reached the mark off 98 balls.

Though his pace slowedtaking another 100 balls to get to 150 - Mominul made key contributions to a 126run third wicket stand with Marshall Ayub, 46 runs for the fourth wicket with Shakib Al Hasan and another 121 with captain Mushfiqur Rahim for the fifth wicket. (Cricinfo)

President’s Cup golf tourney tees off today

Leading local golfers will line up today at the Lusignan Golf Course for the staging of the second President’s Cup golf tournament, set to tee off at 09:00 hours.

The tournament, which has been organised to promote golf and sport tourism in Guyana, will be declared open by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, in whose honour the tournament has been named.

The Head-of-State is slated to perform the ceremonial tee-off to signal the start of the tournament, as he did last year.

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority have recognised that this sport targets a special niche, attracting

members of the celebrity clan. As such, efforts are underway to sustain the tournament as a signature event on the local sport calendar.

Organisers of the activity are assuring that special invitees and patrons will be treated to another spectacular day of gold, following much the same format as the inaugural tournament held last year. They are also optimistic that members of corporate Guyana and the diplomatic community would be a part of the activities.

Meanwhile, the course has been being kept in tip-

top shape, the fairways and roughs have been cut and the green has been being sprinkled every night so the current dry season would not affect it.

The Lusignan Golf Course comprises nine holes and participants would be vying for lucrative prizes, including the player Nearest-to-the-Pin and the longest drive among others.

Over 45 local participants have signed up for the amateur tournament, which has attracted sponsorship from Banks DIH Limited, Ansa McAl Trading, CIDI and Marketing and Distribution.

Hand-in-Hand cycling at National Park today

Leading local riders will converge at the National Park today for the ninth annual staging of the Hand-inHand Insurance Company Limited’s 11-race cycling programme, set to pedal off at 09:00 hours.

The day’s activities will be hosted around the inner circuit, with the feature event being the 35lap Schools Boys and Invitational, which is set to attract the country’s leading cyclists and their up and coming challengers.

Michael Anthony will look to defend his title, having won last year’s race in a time of one hour, 17 minutes, 22.05 seconds (01h: 17m: 22.05s), but will face stiff competition

from the likes of Alanzo Greaves, Robin Persaud, Paul DeNobrega and Marlon Williams among others.

Michael Cummings (Juveniles), Shameer Baksh (Veterans Under-50) and Alfie Soonaram (12-14 Boys and Girls) are the defending champions of their respective categories. Other races carded for the day are the BMX Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14, Mountain Bikes, Veterans Over-50 and Over-60.

Senior officials of Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Limited are expected to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of the day’s activities, which are being organised by national coach, Hassan Mohamed.

Pujara’s third triple-century sets up huge lead

While the fans of Indian cricket were struggling to come to terms with the inevitable retirement announcement of Sachin Tendulkar, wondering what life will be like without him, doubting if things will ever be normal again, Cheteshwar Pujara delivered immediate normalcy in the remote town of Hubli. Resuming the day at 139, he first accumulated, then looted, even as he farmed the strike, and became only the ninth batsman ever, and the second Indian, to score three firstclass triple-centuries. His two previous triples came against Karnataka and Orissa

It wasn’t a personal pursuit. Pujara’s innings gave his side, trailing 1-0 in the series, four sessions within which to force a result. India

A declared 296 ahead, and all three of their quicks delivered an early wicket each before the Guyanese pair of Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin saw them through to stumps.

Pujara’s innings was just the feeling of serenity and calm that the Indian crick-

et fan needed. Nothing was done in a hurry, not one shot was uncouth.

Pujara scored 60 in the first session, happily lapped up the life given to him in the last over before lunch, then hit away 107 of the 142 scored in the middle session, and declared the innings closed at the stroke of tea. Pujara’s control was so comprehensive that he let the last man Ishwar Pandey face only three balls in a 5.2-over-31-run unbeaten partnership. Pujara scored 71 off the last 55 balls he faced.

Outside the usual drives and pulls, Pujara also manipulated the field with a reverse lap and a regulation lap off successive deliveries. How the fielders must have felt mocked. Two of the fielders weren’t all that amused when a third bouncer in a Miguel Cummins over was called a no-ball. Ashley Nurse spoke to Pujara for more than two minutes with Chadwick Walton joining in.

Six overs later - as it happened on day two in the last over before lunch - Nurse had a chance coming his way at second slip, and dropped

it. Pujara was 198 then. He took a single off the last ball and went off to sate the lesser of his hungers. When he came back, he had one delivery from Nikita Miller jump at him, but benefitted from the absence of a short leg. A leading edge in the next over fell short of point, but then he tucked one off the hips for his 22nd four and his eighth first-class double-century.

You knew a session of Pujara punishment was around the corner. In the back of your head was his sprint from 150 to 200 in 17 balls when Saurashtra were pushing for a declaration against Madhya Pradesh on the last new year’s eve. Here he waited for a bit. Time wasn’t quite right yet. With Uday Kaul he added a largely patient 93. Once Kaul got out, the switch was flicked. He was 235 off 360 when he pulled over the infield for a four.

Dhawal Kulkarni scored only six out of a 39-run seventh-wicket stand. Pujara wasn’t muscling the ball, but hardly ever hitting to the fielder. At Kulkarni’s fall, Zaheer Khan came out and swung a few, so Pujara

took the back seat and let him do that. Zaheer’s wicket brought another, and Nurse was now on a hat-trick, and Pujara was 273. Pandey played out the remaining two balls of that over, and bought himself a parking ticket at the non-striker’s end.

For the next 23 balls, Pujara kept refusing singles, kept placing couples, kept hitting the boundaries, and eventually took a single off the fifth ball to reach 299. Pandey duly played out the last. As the field came up with Pujara on 299, he survived a lbw appeal from Delorn Johnson bowling left-arm quick from round the stumps.

He played a scintillating cover-drive off the next ball to bring up the triple. The lead was now approaching 300, the clock was nudging 2.10pm, and the declaration was perfectly timed, merging the 10-minute changeover into the 20-minute tea break.

In the fifth over after the break, Zaheer trapped Powell who played across the line. Four balls later, Kulkarni struck the off

stump of a left-hand batsman for the second time in the match, this time Leon Johnson, to make it 18-2. Kraigg Brathwaite fought hard, but didn’t have the runs to show for the time spent at the wicket, and when he fell lbw to Pandey in the 18th over, the score had reached only 57. That Deonarine and Fudadin played out the semi-new ball without many alarms made Pujara’s innings seem even more significant in terms of time needed to level the series. (Cricinfo)

West Indies A 1st innings 268

India A 1st innings

VA Jagadeesh b DE Johnson 16

G Gambhir b Deonarine 123

CA Pujara* not out 306

V Sehwag c Nurse b Miller 38

AM Nayar c sub (CAK Walton)

b Fudadin 11

P Dogra b Miller 7

U Kaul† c sub (CAK Walton)

b Nurse 26 DS Kulkarni c Cummins b Deonarine 6

Z Khan c Powell b Nurse 19

BA Bhatt b Nurse 0

IC Pandey not out 0

Extras (b-1, lb-6, w-3, nb-2) 12

Total (9 wickets dec; 150 overs; 634 mins) 564

Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Jagadeesh, 11.3 ov), 2-242 (Gambhir, 74.2 ov), 3-317 (Sehwag, 89.2 ov), 4-340 (Nayar, 96.1 ov), 5-359 (Dogra, 105.2 ov), 6-452 (Kaul, 128.5 ov), 7-491 (Kulkarni, 139.5 ov), 8-531 (Khan, 144.3

ov), 9-531 (Bhatt, 144.4 ov)

Bowling: ML Cummins 23-471-0 (2-nb, 1-w), DE Johnson

22-3-98-1, JL Carter 6-1-22-0, NO Miller 40-8-112-2, AR Nurse 29-1-106-3, AB Fudadin 16-360-1 (2-w), N Deonarine 13-1-

Flattened!

U-19 crush Windies by 198 runs to take 2-1 lead

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Bangladesh eased to a commanding 198run victory over West Indies Under-19 in the third limited overs game on Friday evening at the Guyana National Stadium.

By virtue of the victory, the Bangladeshis secured a 2-1 lead in the seven-match 50-over series. Chasing 287 for victory, the hosts were bundled out for 88 in 18.3 overs. Bangladesh’s array of spinners continued their excellent work in their tussles with the hosts, sharing nine

wickets, with Zubair Likhon claiming a hat-trick.

Likhon claimed the wickets of Jofra Archer, Bryan Charles and Jerome Jones in his three successive deliveries as the West Indies batsmen were again undermined by the clever spin bowling from the visitors on a pitch offering them sharp turn and generous bounce.

The host’s run-chase never gathered momentum as they lost wickets at regular intervals with their hero in the opening match, Leroy Lugg, also failing to fire.

Jeremy Solozano (17),

Shimron Hetmyre (17), Lugg (16) and Fabin Allen (15 not out) were the batsmen to reach double figures.

Javed Rahuttul finished with a flattering 3-9 from 4.3 overs, while UzZaman Nehad ended with 2-21 and Miraj 1-18.

Earlier, the in-form wicketkeeper/batsman Uddin Jashim and Sadman Islam Anik put together a patient 116-run second wicket stand to steady the innings after Munim Shahriar Jummon (01) was caught behind off Jofra Archer in the third over.

The pair provided the foundation for the huge total with Anik falling short of a hundred by five runs and Jashim hitting 68.

The duo batted sensibly as the 100 came up in the 25th over and Jasmin completed a well-deserved half-century off 70 balls, after being put down on eight.

The Bangladeshis pair didn’t have any problems in negotiating the Windies bowlers as the spinners weren’t as

effective as one expected them to be.

But just when the visitors seemed to be in control of the situation, Jashim threw his wicket away.

The right-handed batsman was trapped leg before by spinner Taryck Gabriel (351). It was Jashim’s second consecutive half-century of the series.

Mossadek Hossain Saikat joined forces with Anik and offered an early chance in his innings, after which the pair added 60 runs for the third wicket. Anik looked in good touch and milked the bowling with ease. He collected four boundaries in his 122-ball innings.

Saikat (32) Nazmul Hasan Shanto (25) and Mehedi Hasan Miraj (23) also contributed to the Bangladeshi total.

For the hosts, Jofra Archer, Alzarri Joseph and Ramaal Lewis chipped in with one wicket each.

The West Indies’ made three changes from the second game on Wednesday with Tagnarine Chanderpaul,

GT&T supports national ruggers

Preston McSween and Gudakesh Motie making way for Gabriel, Lewis and Joseph. The fourth game is sched-

uled for Monday at the

Club ground from 09:00 hours. Admission to the venue is free.

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh innings Sadman Islam Anik c Lewis b Joseph 95

Munim Shahriar Jummon c wkp b Archer 1

Uddin Jashim lbw b Gabriel 68

Mossadek Hossain Saikat b Lewis 32

Nazmul Hasan Shanto run out (Archer) 25

Mehedi Hasan Miraj c Charles b Gabriel 23

Abu Sarker Saeed st wkp b Gabriel 7

Prodhan Rifat not out 9

Javed Ferdous Rahuttul run out (Charles) 2

UuZaman Nehad not out 4

Extras: (w-18, nb-2, b-2) 22

Total: (for eight wickets; 50 overs) 286

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-121, 3-181, 4-220, 5-259, 6-261, 7-269, 8-274

Bowling: Archer 5-0-40-1 (5-w), Jones 9-0-59-0 (2-w, 2-nb), Joseph 6-0-41-1 (4w), Lewis 10-0-47-1, Charles

10-0-37-0, Gabriel 8-0-513 (2-w), Allen 2-0-9-0

West Indies innings L Lugg b Nehad 16 J Solozano c Saikat b Miraj 17 Taryck Gabriel b Rahuttul 0 F Allen not out 15 S Hetmyer lbw b Nehad 17 T Coleman b Rahuttul 8 R Lewis run out (Saikat) 2 J Archer lbw Likhon 0 J Jones c Saikat b Likhon 0 B Charles lbw b Likhon 0 A Joseph st wkp b Rahuttul 1

Extras: (w-8, lb-2, b-2) 12

Total: (all out; 18.3 overs) 88

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-40, 3-44, 4-68, 5-84, 6-86, 7-87, 8-87, 9-87, 10-88

Rifat 2-0-20-0 (3w),

1-0-4-0, Miraj 4-018-1, Saikat 1-0-5-0, Rahuttul 4.3-0-9-3 (1-w), Nehad 4-021-2, Likhon 2-0-7-3

ADay of Interaction organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/National Sports Commission will be held at the Enterprise Community Centre ground on Sunday, starting at 09:00 hours.

Hundreds of athletes and officials are expected to participate in various sports disciplines, including football, volleyball, domino and softball cricket.

The day’s activities will commence with a grand opening ceremony, which will include a march pass of athletes displaying banners depicting various aspects of sport activities.

Also anticipated to be in attendance are Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, regional officials, and other political and regional representatives who will make brief remarks encouraging persons to use sport for cohesion and healthy lifestyle.

During the day’s activities, persons, particularly youths, will be given clear inspirational messages ena-

bling them to understand the importance of spending quality time in meaningful ways. Trophies will be presented to outstanding performers in the various events. Sports gear and equipment will also be distributed to the communities to ensure the continuation and development of sport in the areas.

The day’s activities are expected to be alcohol free; therefore, the distribution and or sale of alcohol will not be permitted at the venue.

Construction of warmup pool moving apace

Construction of the 25m warm-up pool at Lilliendaal is well underway, as the government of Guyana seeks to enhance Guyana’s ability to host prestigious regional and international meets.

The warm-up pool, which is a prerequisite for the staging of regional and international competitions, is being built by Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services, which will install the base and decks, to be completed by March 2014.

After that, Myrtha Pools will supervise the installation of the pre-fab pool, according to Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony.

The minister also pointed out that unlike the 50m Olympic size swimming pool, which was erected on pile foundation including 110 70’ piles, the warm-up pool will be built on strip foundation.

“We need to work quickly and in a timely manner. I think some of the challengers that we experienced with this particular pool [50m pool], we’ve learnt from them and the design we’re

employing here [warm-up] is slightly different. This particular pool [warm-up] would have had quite extensive piling,” the minister explained.

The minister also used the opportunity to urge the contractors to work assidiously to honour the deadline, as finishing the project on time is critical.

“One of the difficulties we had with the 50m pool is when you excavate and you allow the rain to catch you, then you’re in trouble. So you need to finish off this

portion as quickly as possible and put it in a state that the rain does interfere with your work. I think if we do that we would be in the safe zone,” Dr. Anthony stated.

Managing Director of Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services, Deoraj Dalchand, said works have been progressing well on the project since the site was handed over by the Sport Ministry in early September.

He noted that the contract was signed on August 16, while the project was handed by the ministry on September 10. Actual work on the site began on September 15.

Meanwhile, Director of Sport Neil Kumar said alternative arrangements have been made for national swimmers who usually use the 50m Olympic sized swimming pool to train on a daily basis.

Kumar revealed that swimmers are now utilising the Colgrain and Castellani pools, an arrangement that will be in effect until the warm-up pool is completed.

NBS second division 40-over cricket…

Foo, Algu lead Albion Travellers to victory

The 2013 New Building Society (NBS) second division 40-over cricket competition in Berbice continued last weekend with some outstanding performances.

Opening batsman Bruce Foo slammed 97, which included seven fours and six sixes, and together with 80 not out from Brian Algu, helped Albion Travellers post 238-5 from 30 overs against Rose Hall Guns and Cannons, who were then bowled out for 152 in response. Off-spinner Bhupendra Matadin picked up 4-21.

Fizul Permaul scored 76 to steer Number 55 Mayflower to 244-9 from 30 overs against Number 59, before leg-spinner Dilip Singh took 5-25 to help bowl out Number 59 for 132.

Farook Drepaul’s 50 helped Number 43 Scorpion defeat Johanna Bush Rangers by seven wickets, while Anthony Seeraj’s halfcentury saw Corriverton to victory.

Meanwhile, there were also five-wicket hauls for Jairam Tilkuram of Letterkenny Young Star and Kumal Ganesh of Kennard’s Memorial.

Below are the summarised scores from the games.

At Albion Front: Albion Travellers beat Rose Hall Guns and Cannons by 86

runs. Albion Travellers 2385 from 30 overs (Bruce Foo 97, Brian Algu 80*, Monesh Singh 2-27) Rose Hall Town Guns and Cannons 152 from 29.1 overs (Roydel Doris 37, Monesh Singh 29, Bhupendra Matadin 4-21).

At Number 59: Number 55 Mayflower beat Number 59 by 112 runs. Number 55 Mayflower 244-9 from 30 overs (Fizul Permaul 76, Chandilall Persaud 45, Motie Anand 44) Number 59 made 132 in 25 overs (Dilip Singh 5-25).

At Number 43: Number 43 Scorpion beat Johanna Bush Rangers by seven wickets. Johanna Bush Rangers 109 from 26 overs (Dwayson Watson 25, Balram Samaroo 4-28, Yugishwar Dhanroop 3-11, Andesh Dhanroop

Universal DVD T20 competition…

Bermine, RHTG&G clash in second semi-final tomorrow

The second semi-final of the 2013 Universal DVD first division T20 cricket competition in Berbice is scheduled for Sunday at the Port Mourant ground on the Corentyne where Group A winner Bermine will tackle Group B runner-up Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTG&G).

The match will bowl off at 13:30 hours.

RHTG&G, even without their main batsman Assad Fudadin, who is presently in India campaigning for the West Indies A team, have a good all-round side at least on paper, and will certainly start as favourites.

Their batting will be spearheaded by the hardhitting former Guyana wicketkeeper/batsman Delbert Hicks, national one-day allrounder Rajiv Ivan, former Berbice wicketkeeper/batsman Jason Sinclair, former Guyana Under-19 batsman Dominique Rikki, all-rounder Clinton Pestano and Khemraj Mahadeo.

Their bowling attack will consist of a barrage of spinners led by off-spinners Ivan, Berbice player Eon Hooper and Shailendra Shameer, as well as leg-spinners Ravi Narine and Shawn Perreira, who is a Guyana Under-19 cricketer. Former Berbice cricketer Pestano is the only pacer in the side.

spearheaded by two batsmen who have shown good form in recent matches- former national opening batsman Shemroy Barrington and Berbice one-day opening batsman Anthony D’Andrade.

They will be backed up by Berbice all-rounders Devon Clements and Romario Shepherd, as well as Joemal LaFleur, who was also in the Berbice one-day squad. Berbice Under-19 wicketkeeper/batsman Hakeem Hinds, as well as Keion DeJesus and Trinson Bynol and former Demerara all-rounder Damien Vantull will also lend support.

Clements, LaFleur and Kevin Pellew, as well as leftarm spinner Vantull.

RHTG&G squad reads: Delbert Hicks (captain), Dominique Rikki, Jason Sinclair, Rajiv Ivan, Khemraj Mahadeo, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano, Ravi Narine, Shawn Perreira, Shailendra Shameer, Arif Chan, Devin Baldeo and Daniel Lewis. Hilbert Foster is the manager.

3-15)

Number 43 Scorpion 1113 from 11.3 overs (Farook Drepaul 50, Vincent Peters 41).

At Tain: Letterkenny Young Star beat Tain Block Four by three wickets. Tain Block Four 134 from 27.1 overs (Dhanraj Dulari 47, Jairam Tilkuram 5-37) Letterkenny Young Star 140-7 from 25.3 overs (Michael Samaroo 40).

At Mibicuri: Kennard’s Memorial beat Mibicuri Strikers by three wickets. Mibicuri Strikers 93 from 29.1 overs (Kumal Ganesh 5-20) Kennard’s Memorial 94-7 from 15.2 overs (Kamaldevin Permaloo 32).

At Number 48: Number 48 Challengers beat Number 52 Survival by one wicket. Number 52 Survival 111 in 22.5 overs (Mark Thompson 29, Joseph Brijbilas 4-26, Balram Persaud 3-26, Rayon Ameer 2-30) Number 48 Challengers 115-9 from 27.5 overs (Muneshwar Imrit 25, Amit Ramrup 3-27, Wayne Garnett 2-24).

At Number 72: Corriverton beat Number 72 Cut and Load by four wickets. Number 72 Cut and Load 103 from 25.5 overs (Vejai Persaud 32, Eric Phillips 4-4, Faroud Bacchus 3-24) Corriverton 105-6 from 16 overs (Anthony Seeraj 51*, Devanand Chatterpaul 2-15, Michael Singh 2-33).

Bermine have a batting line-up that on a good day can give the RHTG&G bowlers problems. It will be

Shepherd, who opened the bowling for Berbice recently, Mark Jackman and possibly Orlando Tanner, will make up the pace attack. The spinners, who can do damage once they pitch the ball in the right areas, will be off-spinners

Bermine squad reads: Anthony D’Andrade (captain), Shemroy Barrington, Joemal LaFleur, Devon Clements, Romario Shepherd, Trinson Bynol, Hakeem Hinds, Keion DeJesus, Damien Vantull, Kevin Pellew, Mark Jackman, Orlando Tanner, Amir Seecharran and Daniel Thuesday. The manager is Carl Moore. Umpires Clement Brusch and Omadat Samaroo will preside over the match.

Flex Night hosts outreach in Upper Corentyne

In preparation for the upcoming Flex Night Berbice event, scheduled to be held on October 26 at the Corentyne Comprehensive High School in Port Mourant, Flex Night Inc. recently conducted an outreach exercise involving bodybuilders from the Upper Corentyne area.

The team coordinating the Upper Corentyne event comprised Raheem

Ali, Flex Night Regional Coordinator for Berbice; Nankumar Sukhdeo, manager of Flex and Fitness Gym in Hampshire, Port Mourant, and Hashim Jameer of House of Pain Gym in Ankerville.

The planning and coordination in Skeldon were done by Lyndon Murray of the Skeldon Community Centre Gym. The outreach took place at the Skeldon Community Centre and at-

tracted representatives from as far as Port Mourant and New Amsterdam. The group discussed measures to raise the level of participation in bodybuilding events and agreed that the first Upper Corentyne Flexout would be held in March 2014. Plans for this event would be spearheaded by Murray in collaboration with Flex Night Inc. officials.