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Gag on Guyana Times colliding with press freedom – Nandlall

Haslington girl was sexually molested – autopsy

Govt plugs $16M into development of cruise tourism

CJIA to stage emergency response exercise Miss Guyana Universe creating “pageant fever” IDB supports shared value initiative by Caribbean companies

APNU wants govt to develop comprehensive environment plan GRPA to make bigger push for safe abortions

saturday, october 26, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt plugs $16M into development of cruise tourism

– stakeholders hail move, but warn of hurdles

By Svetlana MarShall

Stakeholders have lauded the move by government to develop the cruise tourism in -

dustry here, with an initial US$80,000 contract for a feasibility study on the sector.

Acting Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali said cruise tourism will aid

in the diversification of Guyana’s tourism industry, but the establishment of an institutional frame -

work is pivotal to a viable and competitive industry. He added that the feasibility study will determine the legislative arrangements required.

The underlying benefits to be derived from cruise tourism must not go unnoticed, he said, explaining that it brings an influx of tourists. “Cruise tourism also brings with it, a large level of spending in local market, because cruise liners do not spend a long time, so they have a very intense period through which tourists interact with the local economy.”

Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Kit Nascimento said the feasibility study was a welcome initiative, noting that the entity stands ready to represent the private sector during the consultative process. “… we look forward to playing a positive and active role.”

Enormous benefits

Like Minister Ali, Nascimento strongly believes that cruise tourism has enormous benefits for a country with a small economy like Guyana. He said, however, that Guyana was not yet ready for cruise tourism. He pointed to the state of the three main rivers in Guyana, singling out the Demerara River.

It is no secret that the Demerara and Essequibo rivers require serious dredging, an issue that has been on the table since the 1990s.

In the 1980s, the Demerara River was dredged to a respectable 22.5 feet to facilitate ships hauling bauxite. But with poor maintenance, the 12mile channel has shrunk to a mere 13 feet, hindering the shipping industry.

Earlier this month, the Donald Ramotar administration said major emphasis would be placed on dredging the Demerara River.

Customs and immigration

Customs and immigration was another area of concern of the THAG president. While Nascimento has no doubts about the Immigration Department’s ability to manage the influx of travellers the industry would bring, he said critical systems must be

put in place. “… you have a large number of people being cleared through customs and immigration in a great hurry, in a very small space of time,” he opined.

Alluding to the garbage situation, which must be resolved before Guyana is ready to host cruise ships, Nascimento said: “You don’t want tourists flowing into Georgetown as it looks today, and it’s not merely cleaning up the garbage, it goes a great deal further than that.”

“It’s keeping the streets clean, removing all of the houses in and around Georgetown, which are collapsing, we can do a great deal, to preserve some of the older architecture sites in Georgetown that would be very attractive to cruise ship tourists,” he explained.

Both the government and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council have been bashed for the deplorable state of the capital city. Citizens were also urged to be responsible in their actions and not litter.

Market analysis

“I would imagine that the consultant would be devoting some time to a sort of a market analysis, to assess the d emand here and the capacity to deliver the product, should the ships come in,” Nascimento said.

Meanwhile, tourists are showing increasing interest in yachting in the Essequibo River, since the yachting rally last month.

Over the past six weeks, more than 30 yachts have visited Guyana.

A foreign investor has already indicated his interest in establishing a marina and boatyard, a vital component of the yachting industry.

The cruise ship tourism is one of the fastest growing segments in the travel industry.

However, Guyana has hosted few cruise ships. Last month, the National Geographic cruise ship visited Guyana for the first time, carrying 110 international passengers, and a crew also numbering 110. The luxurious French vessel Le Levant , Saga Pearl 2 , and the Vistamar were among ships to dock here.

(svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

Guyana, Suriname discuss TIP, piracy during meeting

Speaker of the Surinamese Parliament, Dr Jennifer GeerlingsSimons and Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman

Human trafficking and piracy were among issues discussed by a delegation of Surinamese politicians headed by their House Speaker when they met members of the foreign relations committee of Guyana on Friday.

Shortly after stepping out of a meeting with members of the Guyana Parliamentary Sectoral

Committee on Foreign Relations, Speaker Raphael Trotman and parliamentarians, Surinamese Speaker Dr Jennifer GeerlingsSimons told Guyana Times that meetings attended have proved to be fruitful. She explained that issues common to both countries were placed on the table, such as human trafficking and piracy. Just last month, the Guyana

Defence Force (GDF) and the Surinamese National Army renewed their commitment to combat transborder crimes through joint operations in the Corentyne River.

The modality of this joint venture is yet to be finalised; however, it is anticipated that the GDF Coast Guard and the Surinamese Navy will begin operations within the next six months in the Corentyne River. Together, they will clamp down on piracy, human and drug trafficking, and firearm smuggling, in addition to illegal fishing.

But besides tackling issues, Dr Geerlings-Simons said the meetings have thus far focused on positive cooperation in the area of agriculture and the establishment of a GuyanaSuriname Association. She expressed satisfaction in being in Guyana, reiterating that the visit has proven to be a success.

In comments to the media, her local counterpart echoed similar sentiments, noting that parties are seeking to establish firm associations to share common issues and development.

Dr Geerlings-Simons is accompanied by a team of 11 officers.

Her three-day visit is in response to an invitation by Speaker Trotman. He is hoping to establish a Guyana-Suriname Association to enhance relations between the nations’ parliaments and peoples.

Dr Geerlings-Simons and her delegation have made courtesy calls on the president, prime minister, ministers of government, the leader of the opposition, and the leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC). They also met with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Committee and members of the Parliamentary Management Committee.

IDB supports shared value initiative by Caribbean companies

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has allocated US$750,000 to support clients from its private-sector portfolio in implementing initiatives to create shared value.

A company creates shared value when it addresses economic and social problems in a community, not only making itself more competitive, but also creating benefits for workers and their families.

The IDB is the first multilateral financial institution to endorse the concept of shared value assessments, and will select a group of 10 companies that it is already supporting to identify investment opportunities aimed at optimising the allocation of their resources, increasing their competiveness, and adding

social value in communities. Each project that is selected will receive an assessment designed to identify business opportunities and to draft investment plans during 2013-2014. Companies will be chosen based on their capacity to make substantial shared value investments. Each will receive four months of specialised consulting services so as to be able to identify opportunities and assign priorities among alternative plans. Work is already underway with Subsole in Chile, Caribe Hospitality in Jamaica, and the Universidad de San Ignacio de Loyola in Peru.

Sustainability

With Subsole, an agricultural products firm, studies are aimed at enabling the company’s workforce to

become more sustainable, through investments to improve working conditions of low-income, rural families during the harvest season.

In the case of Caribe Hospitality, a tourism development company, the focus has been on identifying job opportunities for at-risk youth during the construction of hotels, and for including small- and medium-sized companies in the supply chain.

With regard to the Universidad de San Ignacio de Loyola, alternatives are being offered to broaden the socioeconomic spectrum of matriculating students and to lower dropout rates.

The remaining seven beneficiaries are currently being evaluated, with plans for still others to receive blueprints for identifying social issues arising in connec-

tion with the products and services they offer, and expanding the reach of their value chains.

While many firms in Latin America and the Caribbean value investments that not only provide financial returns but also bring with them social and environmental benefits, they lack the capacity, time and resources to identify shared value investments.

The shared value assessment, along with other related topics, will be discussed on October 28 in Cartagena, Colombia, at the Creating Shared Value Global Forum 2013, which aims to develop new thinking on means by which the private sector can help to stimulate development in Latin America and the Caribbean and the world. The event is organised by Nestlé and the IDB.

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

Public-private partnership financing

The announcement by the government that it will seek to finance the construction of the proposed “fixed” Demerara Harbour Bridge has drawn criticisms of the public-private partnership (PPP) financing route that it has chosen for the project, as it did for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP). As with AFHEP, there is no disagreement on the need for the project, simply the financial model chosen.

In our July editorial, “Infrastructure for development”, we had pointed out that both the World Bank (WB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had emphasised the attractiveness of the PPP model for infrastructural development in light of the reduced concessional funding available from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), which had traditionally filled that need.

The IDB, which is the largest lender to the region, in its 2013 Latin American and Caribbean macroeconomic report, “Rethinking reforms: How Latin America and the Caribbean can escape suppressed world growth”, declared, “In addition to providing more financing, PPPs have the potential, if properly designed and supervised, of bringing about efficiency gains in the delivery of infrastructure services.”

In 2009, the WB noted the lag in infrastructural development in Africa and published a report: “Attracting investors to African public-private partnerships: a project preparation guide”. Hoping that concerned Guyanese would consider the WB a neutral, but knowledgeable institution in the financing of large infrastructural projects, we submit some highlights from their report.

In addition to offering policymakers an opportunity to improve the delivery of services and the management of facilities through securing private funding without increasing public debt, governments are also turning to PPPs as a means to improve the procurement of public services.

“The PPP process usually requires information about the true long-term cost of service delivery, which generates a more realistic debate on project selection. By improving the identification of a project’s long-term risks and the allocation of those risks between the public and private sectors, the PPP process enables a more efficient use of resources.”

While there are several types of PPP structures, they all concentrate on the “bankability” of the project. “The majority of third-party funding for PPP projects normally consists of long-term debt finance, which typically varies from 70 per cent to as much as 90 per cent of the total funding requirement, depending on the perceived risks of the project.”

In the case of AFHEP and the Marriott Hotel project, which is also utilising the PPP financing model, there were raised eyebrows at the high debt-to-equity ratios – but we can now see that this is normal. The report explains:

“Debt is a cheaper source of funding than equity, as it carries relatively less risk. Lending to PPP projects looks to the cash flow of the project as the principal source of security. This is quite different from corporate financing, where lenders rely on the value of the company’s assets. Infrastructure assets are effectively worthless without the underlying contractual structure, which is why the detailed terms and conditions, and legal effectiveness, of the PPP contract are so important.

“The lenders therefore take a strong interest in the performance of the project on which the repayment of their loans depends. They play a useful role in reviewing the financial viability – bankability – of the project on which their decision to lend will be based (“due diligence”) and in helping to ensure that the infrastructure asset is constructed and subsequently operated on time and on budget. In some markets and projects, the lenders may receive additional guarantees from the public sector in light of the perceived risks.

“Apart from the debt, the balance of funding consists of equity, usually made available by the main contractors or by third-party financial investors. Equity funding is needed because the lenders require some cushion between the cash flow available from the project and that required to service the debt.”

We hope all Guyanese will take the time to be educated on PPPs.

Men must make the effort to be responsible fathers

Dear Editor,

Being a father is no easy task. It requires a great amount of one’s time and presence. Ideally, fathers should be role models and be sympathetic to their children’s needs. Their role as a father helps greatly in the development of a child. It matters not the age or number of children that they have, because once a father, always a father.

Just recently, the National Men’s Convention was held, honouring men and fathers of all ages around Guyana. Its primary focus aimed at providing closure to men who needed to come to grips with experiences of their own fathers, in ad-

dition to coaching fathers on how to prepare their sons for the responsibilities and challenges of manhood.

Men are generally considered as the sole provider or breadwinner of a family. In Guyana, many fathers are either working at sea or in the interior. The distance that these jobs create often result in fathers not always being able to be physically present with their families. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. In some instances, some jobs offer fathers the equivalence of maternity leave.

Additionally, the matter of distance brings up another important point and this is developing strong communi-

cation relations. Advancing technology has over the years offered multiple means of staying in contact. A committed husband and father will ensure that he maintains contact with his family no matter what. His children will look up to him for being a good man, they will understand the need for him to be away and that it is to ensure their well-being.

Some men can be careless, and sometimes need to be reminded of their priorities. Infidelity has become quite popular over the years where men feel that there is no harm in becoming involved with someone who understands that no commitment is necessary.

These casual, temporary affairs often lead to unwanted pregnancies, where the father of the child has no intention of nurturing them. Though a church can offer guidance to many of these individuals, it often spirals down to personal integrity and responsibility.

Any man can become a father, but it takes a good man to be a devoted one. Men should embrace the opportunity to bring up good families. After all, it is good family structures that will build good organisations, communities and eventually nations.

Sincerely,

Fenton Cooper

Wisdom can make all the difference on our roadways

Dear Editor,

Two unfortunate accidents last weekend resulted in the death of one individual and the severance of another individual’s arm. Both incidents could have been avoided had commuters practiced adequate vigilance on the road way.

In the first incident, a distracted truck driver managed to reverse into the path of a pedestrian. Trucks are generally noisy and so it would have made it almost impossible to hear the cries

for help uttered by the pedestrian.

Nevertheless, the truck driver could have avoided his present predicament by taking effortless precautionary measures. Scouring the area before he proceeded to depart would have only taken a few minutes of his time and could have averted the unnecessary loss of life and the consequences that he may now face.

Statistics show that bikes are more frequently involved in accidents due to

their ability to offer swiftness to their user. However, the impact of a collision is generally more often quite fatal.

In the other incident, a motorcyclist tried to overtake a line of cars and ended up in the path of another, resulting in a multi vehicle collision. Though he’s lucky to be alive, he now has the loss of his right arm to remind him of how careless he was on the roadways.

Personally, I think that the roads of Guyana are not

conducive for bike use and stunts. Many times bigger vehicles force bikes off the road and out of their path. Additionally, as it relates to trucks, they are often poorly lit and exceed their maximum speed limits. These traffic offences need to be urgently addressed. Individuals need to also exercise the necessary precautions when utilising the road ways.

Sincerely, Delroy Thomas

You can send your letters with pictures to:

Disposing of coconut shells

Dear Editor,

I applaud the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for their effort to provide a better life for Guyanese. Essequibo has over the years climaxed to great heights with events such as the 10th Essequibo Nite and the thriving coconut industry reflecting greatly on national development.

Like Guyana, the coconut industry is indeed advancing and, with outdoor firesides becoming obsolete, there is no longer the need for coconut husks to be used as fuel. This has resulted in the ac-

cumulation of excess coconut shells.

The disposal of this end product has become a significant problem over the years. In fact, one of the most visible things for individuals traversing the Pomeroon River is huge mounds of coconut shells floating alongside the river shore.

As a result, a few shells have actually managed to thump my engine propeller and though no severe damage was done, it is becoming more and more frequent.

Nevertheless, the discarding of coconut shells into

or by the river side, whether unintentionally or not has to be addressed. At this time, I suggest that these shells be utilised by people to fill their low land.

Coconut shells are biodegradable and until we can dispose of them in a better way, it is best that we ensure that we do not obstruct the kokers and sluices along the river.

Sincerely,

Boat owner Pomeroon River

Name withheld by request

Spanish should be added to every school’s curriculum

Dear Editor,

The idea of teaching a second language in Guyana’s school is a magnificent one. However, I would personally like to recommend that emphasis be placed on teaching Spanish in particular. Learning a second language opens new doors of communication for individuals interested in travelling the world and meeting new people.

Bilingual children are at an advantage in this increasingly multilingual nation. From as early as a year old, bilingual children show better ability to follow linguistics. Studies have shown that language competence in more than one language is associated with the later onset of dementia in old age.

Just recently, the Mexican ambassador to Guyana disclosed that Mexico, in collaboration with the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the National Council

of Science and Technology are expected to offer scholarships to Guyanese. Three tiers of education can be expected, including master’s, doctorate and specialty programmes.

One of the major stipulations for the scholarships requires applicants to be proficient in Spanish, primarily since all classes are expected to be taught in Spanish. For a number a years now, Guyanese have been offered scholarships in Cuba. The language barrier once again puts students at a great disadvantage.

These students spend as much as seven years in Cuba studying and familiarising themselves with the language. There is no doubt that were these students fluent in Spanish from the inception, there time spent in Cuba could have been minimised.

Guyana has over the years developed partnership

with Cuba and Venezuela, both Spanish speaking countries, with Mexico following closely behind. Adding Spanish to the school’s curriculum will inevitably boost society. Knowledge of Spanish at this level will give leverage to those students who have intentions of further their education in one of these Spanish speaking countries.

Sincerely, Stanley Johnson

or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

GDF sometimes gives all reason for concern

Dear Editor, The unaccountability of weapons and ammunitions within the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) sometimes triggers great concern for many people. It is disturbing to be informed that several members of the GDF are now under close arrest due to missing ammunition for AK-47 weapons.

Over the years there have been multiple cases, both locally and internationally where public officials have found themselves involved in the heart of drug and criminal oper-

ations. The betrayal that these once highly valued individuals bring to the nation is beyond unsettling.

Every effort must be made to deter this possible conspiracy where criminality is concerned.

Failure to keep records, absence of accountability, and withholding intelligence and evidence are just a few factors that indicate suspicion.

Sincerely,

Charran Rampersaud

The current situation occurred at the GDF training camp at Tacama, Berbice. The matter is currently being investigated by members of the G2 and the Military Investigation Department (MID). It is the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) responsibility to protect and serve the nation. If members of the GDF have been falsehearted then these individuals need to be dealt with accordingly. With criminal activities escalating in Guyana presently, of all people, members of the GDF should encompass some sense of integrity.

The business community can help to minimise crimefighting

Dear Editor, Criminal activities continue to plague Berbice and members of the community are calling upon the police to improve their response to address reported matters. I strongly recommend the increase use of officers on motorbikes to assist in the capturing of criminals on the run. This technique has become very common over the years and has proven itself to be quite effective.

The use of a bike tends to allow an officer to maneuver quickly and easily through traffic, enabling them a bet-

ter chance of ambushing criminals escaping on foot or via car. This effective technique was evident a few days ago, when an erratic driver failed to escape. A mobile police officer managed to trail him, subsequently bringing him to a stop. I would also like to recommend the application of decoy techniques. In many cases, a decoy usually consists of a law enforcement officer who casually blends in with society. Many times criminals are often unaware of their presence until they are ambushed.

The assistant commissioner is already addressing measures for combating the crime situation in Berbice. An increase in community patrols and the screening of questionable individuals within the area are just a few to mention. Criminilisation is every civilian’s concern and cooperation with all law enforcement units can ensure a better chance of controlling and minimising crime in Guyana.

Sincerely, Taijpaul Rambarran

Page Foundation

Ways to stop bribing your children

BY JACQUELINE BURT WANG

Bribe buster number two:

Tune in to your child’s needs Next, I spoke with Alkazian, who likens bribes to “behavioural Band-Aids” – they might get your child to cooperate for the moment, but they won’t heal the underlying problem. “Children always have a reason for acting defiantly,” she says. “They’re trying to communicate something.” A preschooler who has a tantrum on the way to swim class might fear that the pool will be too cold or that she’ll get water in her eyes. By pinpointing what may be bugging her, you might be able to defuse it (such as having her take a warm shower first or buying her a pair of goggles) rather than paying her off (such as promising a trip to the toy store afterward).

Trying out the tactic –It’s Monday morning after a hectic weekend of social obligations and missed bedtimes. I need to get Julian ready for preschool, but he’s sprawled out on the floor in tears. “I don’t waaaannna go to school!” he shrieks. “Pleeeeaaase don’t make me go!” I try to calm him with cheery talk about how much fun he’s going to have with his friends, but he just cries harder.

Maybe my sweet-toothed son would get moving if I offered a post-school cupcake,

I think. But then I focus on what’s causing Julian’s outof-character display instead of how to squelch it. I notice that his cheeks are flushed, and his forehead feels suspiciously warm. “Do you feel like taking a nap?” I ask. He nods, falling asleep almost as soon as I put him down. By the afternoon, Julian has a fever of 102F. Lesson learned: Always check the vitals before de ciding my chid is merely misbehav ing.

Bribe buster number three: Take care of yourself

Another mis take I’d been making was fo cusing too much on my children’s demands and not enough on my own needs.

“Stressed-out parents are more apt to resort to payoffs if they’re too exhausted to think of a differ ent solution,” says parent coach Roni Stein, EdD Her philosophy: If you recharge your own batteries regularly, you’ll find better ways to deal with your children.

and a nightmarish paediatric dentist appointment), and I’ve got hours to go before bedtime. I’d love to make it to the gym or, better yet, sneak out for a restorative spa treatment. But I don’t have that luxury, so I decide to heed Dr Stein’s advice and treat myself to a “mini-pampering moment” (definition: anything I like to do that takes no more

I get my opportunity when Charlotte, who’s doing her homework, finally hits her stride and stops asking questions. (Julian sticks to colouring contentedly by himself.) Ordinarily I would squander this rare quiet moment by fretting about my need to clean the kitchen or pay bills. Instead, I relax with a magazine un-

I’m Zen enough to joke about my arithmetic struggles as a child. This breaks the tension, and soon Charlotte finishes up. And I start running the tub.

Bribe buster number four: Eliminate the triggers I’d made progress, but I wasn’t ready to stop. So I phoned Dr Gruder back in the hope of reversing the

Trying out the tactic –It’s been a lousy day (among the highlights: car trouble, an emergency run to school to deliver a forgotten lunch,

minutes, from doing a yoga pose or two to writing an email to a friend). The idea is to feed my self-preservation parking meter a quarter at a time instead of tossing in a handful of change all at once.

til Charlotte becomes frustrated by a math problem. The little respite boosts my mood. Instead of my usual cave-in approach (agreeing to let her skip a bath if she completes the assignment without further fuss),

endless delays and dealmaking that go on during morning madness (“No late pass and we can pick up a new Miley poster later!”). These are the toughest bribes to reverse, he warned, because the same high-stress situations tend

to cause you to break down. The key is to change the pattern. “If you can’t think of what to do in place of a bribe, simply abstain from offering one and come up with a more positive alternative later,” he says. Trying out the tactic – Getting Charlotte up –and moving – is a constant struggle. One evening I chat with her about how much smoother things would go if we set the alarm 15 minutes earlier: She wouldn’t have to wolf down her breakfast in the car and could spend more time fixing her hair. I tell her that if she gets ready early, she can do something fun with the extra time, like crazy dancing to loud music. That last part strikes me as a bit “bribeesque,” but experts tell me little incentives offered in advance (as opposed to when a child goes into full freak-out mode) are an acceptable form of positive reinforcement.

I expect resistance when the alarm clock buzzes the next morning, but there is none. Charlotte is ready with five minutes to spare. I’m a little disappointed that she chooses to squander it watching SpongeBob instead of crazy dancing. But you pick your battles, and I’ve won the war: We arrive before the late bell all week.

How you can cheat

While bribes are bad, it’s totally fine to provide an incentive for your child to behave well. “An incentive is something you offer before a confrontation, so it’s about positive reinforcement, not bribing,” says Lori J Semel, MD, a paediatrician in Mount Vernon, New York. The way you phrase it can make all the difference.

Bribe: “Stop screaming, and I’ll buy you some candy when we get to the checkout aisle.”

Incentive: “We’re going to the grocery store. If you’re patient while we shop, you’ll get two extra books before bedtime tonight.”

Bribe: “If you stop shoving Hannah away and let her share your markers, I’ll let you watch an extra hour of TV later.”

Incentive: “If you share your art supplies nicely with Hannah, we can ask her to come back for another play date tomorrow.”

Bribe: “I know you don’t like the dentist. But if you calm down, we’ll get some new fish at the pet store afterward.”

Incentive: “Get dressed quickly, and we might have time to stop and see the puppies before we go to the dentist.” (Parents.com)

Pioneering at NEW GPC INC: Manufacturing of bird flu medication

In April 2009, U.S. media broke the news of the flu pandemic that was spreading across the globe. The flu pandemic, which was wreaking havoc across the globe and fueling pandemonium with air travel, was identified by the World Health Organisation as the H1N1 virus, more commonly called bird or swine flu.

The U.S. Centre for Disease Control estimated the number people who perished worldwide from the 2009 H1N1 virus infection to be approximately 575,400. A

disproportionate number of deaths occurred in Southeast Asia and Africa, where access to prevention and treatment resources were more likely limited.

Locally, Guyanese attentively followed the news of this deadly virus, worried that the virus may hit the Caribbean and worse,

Ahead of the third reading of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill in the National Assembly, calls continue to mount for its passage.

The Guyana Association of Bankers in a statement on Friday said legislators should ensure passage of the amended bill to avert any financial crisis. The association said the enactment of the bill is fundamental to the continued functioning of all commercial banks in the country in accordance with acceptable international standards. It is therefore critical for Guyana to enact the bill in keeping with recommendations outlined by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

“Bank to bank relationships and business between Guyana’s commercial banks and foreign banks may be halted for an unpredictable amount of time. This includes relationships with commercial banks in sister Caricom territories,” the association pointed out as it alluded to possible consequences. It posited that the integrity of local banking sector is being placed on the line.

The Guyana Association of Bankers represents

all the leading commercial banks in the country, including the Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Inc, Citizen’s Bank Guyana Inc, Demerara Bank Limited, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Republic Bank Guyana Limited and the Bank of Nova Scotia. The association said foreign banks may opt not to conduct business with banks in Guyana due to the non-enactment of the legislation and that the efficient process of access to foreign exchange might become extremely difficult.

“Members of the public may experience difficulty in sending to or receiving money from overseas through commercial banks and cambios if the corresponding banking relationships with foreign banks are jeopardised as there may be no bank relationships to foster this activity.” Additionally, the “Letter of Credit” issued by Banks in Guyana may be rejected by overseas banks.

Matter of urgency

Considering the tricking effect on the whole of Guyana, if the amended bill is not passed, the association reiterated that the passage of the bill should be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services

Association (GMSA) said the “entire economy will be on the verge of collapse... if passage of AML/CFT legislation misses November deadline”. The GMSA said Guyana now faces the possibility of being grey or blacklisted if the CFATF November 18 deadline is missed. Guyana has received an extension after missing the first deadline in May.

It was pointed out that the legislation is the key to the full implementation of Guyana’s action plan which will adequately criminalised terrorist financing and establishment and implement adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorists’ assets. Strict systems will also be instituted to ensure an effective functioning of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), to address in particular the autonomy of the FIU. “Additionally, it will ensure that financial institutions are aware of and comply with their obligations to file suspicious transaction reports in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing.

“Guyana has already missed two key deadlines this year and with the November cut-off looming, our manufacturers/exporters of food products, construction and decorative

Guyana. As the country looked on anxiously, one company remained resolute and steadfast.

In keeping with its tradition of being a standard bearer of providing quality pharmaceuticals to the nation, NEW GPC INC, in collaboration with the Health Ministry, poured resources

into

ufacturing Flumavir (Oseltamivir Phosphate 75mg) which would combat the H1N1 virus should an outbreak occur.

Guyana, at that time, was the only country in the Caribbean to have its own stock of this medication and was therefore the best prepared for such an eventuality. The ability for the NEW GPC to be prepared in times of national need is once again demonstrated, as the company continues to be a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry. The NEW GPC continues to be a trendsetter in the private sector; it also continues to contribute to the development of Guyana.

Fear grips bankers, manufacturers as money bill remains in limbo

hardware, and local distributors of consumables are now very fearful about the value of their investments in Guyana and their ability to continue to operate profitable enterprises. The prospect of capital flight and the shrinking of the local business sector looms large,” the association pointed out.

Capital flight and de-

bilitating economic damage and isolation, is among consequences to be faced, if the bill is not passed. Additionally, the banking industry can be placed in a limbo due to the very substantial costs that would be attached with reforming banking laws, regional and global marketing/networking, product rebranding and

corporate restructuring. First Global Money, Laparkan Financial Services Limited and the Private Sector Commission are among other entities that are campaigning for the opposition to support the amendments and pass the bill in the National Assembly in the upcoming week.

Venezuelan national fined for illegal entry

On Thursday, a 63-year-old Venezuelan national was fined $30,000 after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry to answer to the charge of illegal entry.

Joao Pereira DaSilva with the help of a translator, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on October

20 at Charity, Essequibo Coast, he entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without consulting an immigration officer.

According to Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, the defendant entered Guyana on October 20 and was found to be staying in the country illegally on October 22.

DaSilva was represented

by Attorney Peter Hugh who stated that his client came to Guyana on vacation to spend time with his family who reside at 11 Collinswood Avenue, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara. He added that for a Venezuelan national to get a Guyanese visa, one must have to travel to Caracas, but there are some cases where the indi-

vidual comes here and applies for one at the Home Affairs Ministry. Hugh said that DaSilva was under the impression he could apply for a visa in Guyana.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry instituted a fine with the alternative of three months imprisonment. He chose to pay the fine.

Tradesman remanded on cannabis charge

A39-year-old tradesman was on Friday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of possession of narcotics.

Chetram Persaud of Lot 78C Nismes, West Bank Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on October 24 at 78C Nismes, West Bank Demerara, he had in his possession 336grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the prose-

cution’s facts, on the day in question, acting on information received, ranks went to 78C Nismes where a search was conducted. During the search, a black plastic bag was found in a nearby trench located in the yard. The bag was opened and it revealed that it contained leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

Persaud was contacted and was told of the suspicion and admitted that the narcotic was his property. A caution statement was also signed admitting to the offence. A further investigation was conducted and the defendant was subsequently

charged.

Attorney Glen Hanuman entered an appearance for Persaud and stated that his client is a tradesman and resides at the said address with his wife and three children. He went on to say that the police have not yet analysed the substance collected and cannot say whether it is the illegal drug or not. He added that the bag was not found on Persaud’s person, but some distance from where he resides which is an accessible area. He also stated that his client denies having signed any documents.

Hanuman said that the

matter was prematurely brought to court without advice being given by the director of public prosecution and that when the police went to his client’s home, they seized all of his equipment.

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru objected to bail stating that the prosecution’s facts differ from those put forward by counsel. Mangru also stated that under caution, Persaud admitted that the substance was his.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry refused bail and the matter was transferred to Wales Magistrate’s Court for November 1.

Minibus driver in court for wounding colleague

Dwayne Darrel, a 32-year-old minibus driver was on Thursday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya

Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to the charge of unlawful wounding.

Darrel of Lot 320 Craig, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on October 21 at Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Shemroy Victor.

According to the facts, on the day in question, both men were on the back road bus park where Victor was loading his minibus. An argument ensued over a passenger which resulted in Darrel arming himself with a pair of scissors. He dealt the complainant several stabs. Victor was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains a patient. The matter was reported to the police and the defendant was subsequently arrested and charged.

Attorney Paul Fung-AFat who represented the defendant said that on the day the incident occurred, his client had taken away one of Victor’s passengers which resulted in him becoming annoyed and arming himself with a “jucker”. Fung-A-Fat stated that what his client did was an act of self defence.

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru objected to bail on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence along with the fact that the complainant is still hospitalised. He also said that if granted his pretrial liberty, there is a likelihood the defendant will not return to court.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry refused bail and the matter stands adjourned to October 30.

Eyew tness

Long story...

...on legislation

Raymond “Rambo” Gaskin has an opinion on anything and everything under the sun...and on some things that never even saw the light of day. He also has, as we can tell from his latest outing in the press, a sense of humour. Gaskin knocked out a 2800+word disquisition, spanning two and a half newspaper pages, on the matter that’s been engaging Parliament and the business community for the past six months and then concluded dryly:

“These brief observations and comments are not intended to be a comprehensive review of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Act, Act No 13 of 2009, but merely as notes to those grappling with the amendments and to the lay person.” If his comments in the StabberNews were “brief”, he might give Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” a run for its money – if he ever decides to be “comprehensive”.

Now to be honest, even though your faithful Eyewitness is paid to go through this kind of stuff and give his (jaded?) reaction, he must confess he just couldn’t plough through the piece. Even after several attempts. So he did what he used to do when faced with those “comprehension” passages back in high school. (Don’t be rude and ask how long ago that was.) He skimmed with such abandon, he felt like he was surfing.

Basically Gaskin is claiming that under the original legislation from 2009, which is now being amended (or the government is trying unsuccessfully, over the opposition’s intransigence, to amend) the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which is supposed to monitor the money laundering and the financing of terrorism, hasn’t been doing its job. Mainly because it was a one-manshow – and it’s a job for a whole lotta men.

And that government officers such as the finance minister and the attorney general are being given too much authority and discretion. Well, so what else is new? Gaskin misses the entire point of the whole shameful pappy show by the opposition. Why haven’t they been going to the select committee meetings and making the points such as he, Gaskin, made? Why are they going to not vote for the amendments without offering their suggested changes?

But Gaskin did ask the most pertinent question as to how come the opposition, with their star-studded cast of attorneys, passed the 2009 bill they now say is so flawed? (What? You don’t think James Bond and Basil Williams aren’t stars? Just look at the fellas’ suits!) Well, Gaskin never isn’t going to win any “Mr Congeniality” award soon. That’s locked down by Lalloo Ram.

...on disavowal

Did you catch Yog Mahadeo’s disavowal on owning a piece of the action of the brick and glass (mostly glass) edifice at Camp and Lamaha Streets? Hey... with the opposition doing its darndest to prevent the government from passing the anti-money laundering bill, a lot of tongues are wagging as to who the owners are. Since Guyanese aren’t known for hiding their lights (or ownership) under a bushel...inquiring minds have been asking questions as to whether it’s a money laundry.

But your humble Eyewitness does think the ponytailed Mahadeo protests too much: “There has never been any relationship whatsoever with the owners...I have no interest in the property...neither financial nor human interest.”

The StabberNews said Patrick Sukhlal of Impressions Agency was “one” of the owners. Is Mahadeo, who, when he was at Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), dealt so closely with Sukhlal, now denying the relationship? And the cock hasn’t even crowed twice!

Is it because, as we heard, the other owner is Mohan “Glenn” Lall, who’s recently been in the news for reasons connected with the pending legislation?

...on reparations

We do think that these acidic exchanges in the press between African activists are doing the “cause” –whether for reparations or otherwise – any good. Word, brothers.

NICIL/Guyana Stores case

Gag on Guyana Times colliding with press freedom – Nandlall

Attorney General Anil

Nandlall has criticised the decision of a High Court judge to ban this newspaper from publishing articles based on the Guyana Stores 2009 Annual Report and other related articles on the basis that a case dealing with some of the issues was before her.

Nandlall said the order issued by the learned judge, Justice Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire, cannot be supported by legal principles, noting that it was his respectful opinion that it is a misuse, if not an abuse, of the sub judice principle.

Guyana Times was made to issue an apology to the court and the litigants in a case involving government and the majority shareholder of GSL, Royal Investments Inc for carrying a series of articles earlier in October about the annual returns of a public company, Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) and its shareholders and directors, as these were felt to be of public importance. In its apology, Guyana Times said “... it has been advised that these matters touch and concern pending litigation before the High Court and the reports are therefore inappropriate. The Guyana Times therefore offers a profound apology to the court and to the litigants.” Justice George-Wiltshire had also reinforced a gag order on the media for it to desist from reporting on the case outside of the evidence tendered in open court.

However, in a two-page comment, Nandlall, who is also the legal affairs minister, said in Guyana’s legal system, the holder of the Office of the Attorney General is the protector of the public’s legal interest and the defender of the Constitution of Guyana. “It is in

the discharge of these responsibilities, that I view with deep concern the order issued by a judge of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature against a newspaper enjoying daily circulation in Guyana, preventing the said newspaper from publishing matters which may or may not be relevant to a case which is on trial before the said judge.

“I am of the respectful view that this ruling may be in collision with freedom of expression and its fundamental adjunct, freedom of the press, a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution, our supreme law.

Indispensable ingredient

He said freedom of expression is indeed an indispensable ingredient of a democratic society. “My philosophy on this issue coincides with the sentiments expressed by that distinguished Indian jurist, Justice Beg, who remarked in the well-known case of Bennett Coleman and Co Limited verses Union of India (1973) AIR 106 at 149: “Political philosophers and historians have taught us that intellectual advances made by our civilisation would have been impossible without freedom of speech

and expression. At any rate, political democracy is based on the assumption that such freedom must be jealously guarded… Champions of human freedom of thought and expression, throughout the ages have realised that intellectual paralysis creeps over a society which denies, in however subtle a form, due freedom of thought and expression to its members”.

In the case before Justice George-Wiltshire, the National Industrial Commercial Investments Company Limited (NICIL) is seeking to recover from Royal Investment Limited, monies due and owing in respect of the sale of Guyana Stores Limited, a state-owned entity.

“The monies which are being sued for are public funds,” Nandlall argued, asserting that the articles which were published by the newspapers sought to disseminate information, which largely, were extracted from the annual report of Guyana Stores Limited, a public company that has approximately 1500 hundred shareholders.

He said significantly, the very annual report is required

by the Guyana Securities Industries Act, Cap 85:09 and the Companies Act (1991), Cap 89:01, to be filed with the Guyana Securities Council and the Registrar of Companies, respectively, as public records, and are public documents and therefore, information to which the public is constitutionally entitled.

“In the circumstances, I am of the respectful view that the learned judge fell into error by issuing the said ‘gag’ order.”

Lawsuit

The lawsuit was initiated by government some eight years ago to recoup US$2 million and interest owed after the privatisation of the company for US$6 million. When the matter was last called on October 14, NICIL Executive Director and Privatisation Unit head Winston Brassington, returned to the stand where he was re-examined by lawyers representing the respondent in the matter.

During the previous hearing, Brassington was questioned about several pieces of correspondence between NICIL and Royal Investments Inc. In June 2004, the government holding company initiated legal action against Royal Investments Inc for the recovery of the US$2 million plus interest.

The trial started in late 2010, and had almost a year’s break in court. Brassington, who negotiated the deal on behalf of government, has been on the stand for more than two years. The matter comes up again for hearing on December 2 and 5. Justice GeorgeWiltshire had previously stated that the matter is not being tried in the public or by the media, but in her courtroom.

De Kocheur got a Snow Den too

Some people does live just to know whah other people doin. Dem does eaves drop and try to hear whah people talkin. Some a dem does even want to see wheh dem neighbour goin or whah dem doin night time. Others does sneak into people phone and see who dem callin and want fuh read dem email. Dem does do all kinda evil tings just to spy pun other people.

Old people seh that is mindin other people business, or fassness. De calypsonian Super P call it “peepin”. It got plenty boss man like that. Plenty child father and husband like that too. Dem watchin every move. When dem can’t see good, dem does peep. But sometimes de more dem look, de less dem see. And de less dem see, is better fuh she.

Snow Den deh in de news every day just because de Americans like to spy. Dem spy next door to Guyana pun de Brazilian prezzi and all de way in Germany. Fuh sure de Americans spy in Guyana. Dem know all de crooks and dutty people. Dem even know all who payin dem taxes and who in backtrack.

One man who friken de U.S. like how rat friken cat is Mook Lall. Any time he hear bout de U.S. spyin, he does get nervous. De Mook whole body does start shakin and dem Kocheur people does tink he feel cold. Is only he headitor does be able to stablise he.

De Mook ain’t able to pay back taxes because he had to pay back backtrack people. De people who get send back from de U.S. come back fuh dem money. New Thrivin ain’t start sellin food yet pun Camp and Lamaha, so every ting backin up.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But a Snow Den who wukkin at de Kocheur seh de Mook deh pun edge all de time. Wid all de back taxes and backtrack money whah he owe backin up, he friken that de police gon back he up in jail. That gon be a different kinda backin up! But de Kocheur Snow Den seh de Mook like that kinda backin up!

APNU to PPP: Integrity Commission more crucial

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said the coalition would have been more pleased if the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had activated the Integrity Commission rather than establishing its own Integrity and Discipline Commission.

Speaking at the coalition’s weekly press conference on Friday, Dr Roopnaraine said the PPP/C should have put more energy into the real activation of the Integrity Commission since this would have proven more beneficial.

“The Integrity Commission as we know has really essentially elapsed… what we want to see is not merely the appointment of the commission, although that would be important, but we want the office of the commission strengthened.”

As a result, he said the party would like to see that the office has forensic investigative capacity and does not wait for forms to come on its desk, add-

ing, “If we are going to have an Integrity Commission, let’s have a real Integrity Commission with real investigative and forensic capacity.” The PPP/C has established an Integrity and Discipline Commission to ensure its members in public offices maintain the highest level of integrity in the performance of their duties. The commission is made up of five long-standing executive members; however, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee has only named two of them – Dr Roger Luncheon and Clinton Collymore. He noted that the government’s commission has a lot of work to do.

APNU Leader David Granger said the coalition will be pushing for the appointment of an ombudsman, the establishment of a tribunal as well as the functioning of other independent autonomous commissions.

Dr Roopnaraine said when the government appoints an ombudsman, that office must be adequately staffed.

APNU wants govt to develop comprehensive environment plan

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has called on government to develop a comprehensive, national environmental strategy.

Opposition Leader and APNU Chairman David Granger, during the coalition’s weekly press conference, said such a strategy was needed to protect the population from hazards, to preserve the environment from further degradation, and to create a sustainable ‘green’ economy in the shortest possible time.

According to him, Guyana’s biggest problems are air and water pollution, deforestation, coastal zone conservation, flooding, marine litter, public health and solid waste management, as well as damage to rivers and forests caused by poor mining and logging practices.

These practices, he lamented, are harmful to citizens’ health and well-being and pose serious problems.

Turning his attention to air pollution, Granger said this was a serious health hazard and residents living close to rice mills and saw mills, affected by dust, have complained of respiratory illnesses.

Dust pollution

“Residents of the West Bank of the Demerara River and in the mining town of Linden endured decades of dust pollution. They have all called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Ministry to

investigate industries which discharge dust into the air,” Granger added.

As it relates to coastal zone management, the leader believes that this issue receives little attention. In terms of deforestation, Granger said this has been the most visible consequence of the gold rush in the hinterland.

“Marine litter, consisting of man-made, solid material that does not decompose easily, which has been thrown into the marine and coastal environment, results in a continuous build-up of refuse,” Granger pointed out. He stated that evidence indicates that the vast majority of marine litter comes from land-based sources such as municipal landfills located near the coast, riverine transportation, untreated municipal sewerage, overflows from commercial

agricultural and industrial facilities, and recreational activities on the coast.

Solid waste mismanagement

The APNU leader said solid waste mismanagement remains the greatest challenge to people living in the city, towns, neighbourhoods, and villages all over the country. He noted, however, that municipalities lack the resources to improve the collection and safe disposal of debris and waste.

APNU said it was convinced that Guyana’s favourable geographical location, and rich mineral and natural resources should be conducive to developing a ‘green’ economy, and any such economy would generate more than enough wealth to transform the hinterland into a land of prosperity.

He said the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is necessary but not sufficient. The APNU believes that one of the strongest elements of the ‘green’ economy is the emphasis it places on citizen participation, noting that “it is impossible to think of building a ‘green’ economy without full democratic participation of stakeholders and people in communities and people affected by the economy”.

In relation to solid waste, it noted that Guyana can immediately reduce the volume of solid waste by phasing out the importation of plastics, non-degradable containers and Styrofoam.

Baby born on stairs of Georgetown Public Hospital’s Maternity Unit

The Georgetown Public Hospital has reported that a patient delivered a live baby boy at the bottom of the stairs of the Maternity Unit at the hospital, at 23:25h on Thursday.

According to a release, a guard on duty at the gate was reluctant to let the taxi through the maternity gate until she had done a check on the persons in the vehicle.

“This is part of standard operating procedures at the institution as we have had instances of abuse of staff (a nurse was doused with acid by a rejected male).

“The patient had three previous deliveries.

“GPHC is pleased to state that at present, both mother and baby are

in stable condition in the Post Natal Ward, having been attended to by

Sister Batson-Lord and Dr Luncheon (GMO),” the release concluded.

Natural Resources Ministry screens documentary on “Trash”

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s “Pick it up Guyana Campaign” collaborated with the U.S. embassy to facilitate the viewing of an environmental documentary “Trashed” on Friday.

The documentary screened at the Threatre Guild, Kingston, Georgetown, focuses on garbage and the messy issue of global waste, and identified sustainable measures and approaches that can easily be utilised to avert dangers of improper solid waste management.

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt advocated for Guyanese to work collectively to address the garbage situation plaguing Georgetown and by extension the rest of Guyana.

“There needs to be less finger-pointing and more collaborative action. Guyana’s leaders must come together around the table and chart a path to solve the country’s solid waste problems,” he said.

If Guyana is to truly develop into an eco-tourism destination and to be recognised worldwide for its environmental leadership, Ambassador Hardt said the country cannot go on ignoring the degradation of Georgetown’s environment.

“Only by coming together and working together

in a spirit of national unity can the government, private sector, community organisations and the people of Guyana meet this challenge.”

Earlier in the year, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) passed a resolution to restore the capital city as a matter of emergency.

The technical, solid waste, public awareness and resource mobilisation committees were established; however, their works are yet to bear fruit. “It is time to move beyond talk and begin to identity concrete actions to solve these problems. This is a challenge of political leadership and will, of institutional strengthening, and civic education,” the U.S. ambassador posited.

Environment Minister Robert Persaud expressed the hope that the film would

be a motivating factor that would aid in the reduction of solid waste pollution, which has been crippling the tourism potential of the garden city.

He encouraged the students to be agents of change, noting that they too can make a valuable contribution by leading the way in the national effort.

“Trashed” is a groundbreaking environmental documentary, which paints a vivid picture of the global problem of waste disposal. The film was first shown to a small group of students in June on World Environment Day. In recent times, the embassy has been working with the environment and education ministries to share the lessons behind the sobering film with students, communities, families and leaders in Berbice. The next stop is said to be Linden.

saturday, october 26, 2013

GRPA to make bigger push for safe abortions

The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) will kick off its 40th anniversary celebrations on Sunday under the theme “Advancing Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights for all Guyanese”.

The celebration will commence with an event planned for the Seawall Bandstand, Kingston, Georgetown, around 16:00h Sunday. On this occasion, GRPA will also launch the Vision 2020 of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), an international nongovernmental organisation (NGO) of which GRPA is an accredited member association. The IPPF works in 172 countries to empower the most vulnerable women, men and young people to access life-saving opportunities and to live with dignity.

GRPA in a statement said it joins IPPF in its commitment to work towards the elimination of poverty, gender inequalities and injustices in ways that respect, protect and fulfil human rights of all persons.

The IPPF Vision 2020 is a 10-point plan to put sexual and reproductive health and rights at the heart of the international development agenda.

It urges governments to meet 10 goals, among these are: reducing maternal mortality due to unsafe abortion by 75 per cent, making comprehensive sexuality education available to all and recognising sexual rights as human rights. By 2020, if an additional 120 million women and couples are given access to desired contraception options, 200,000 fewer women and girls will die in pregnancy and childbirth and 50 million abortions will be prevented.

Heart of achievement

According to IPPF Director General Tewodros Melesse, “As the world works towards a new framework for development which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it is time to put SRHR at the very heart of what governments and the international community want to achieve… Reaching this goal depends on all of us working together to make Vision 2020 a reality.”

The GRPA was established in 1973 by the Guyana Women’s League of Social Services (GWLSS) led by Olga Byrne, the association’s first executive director. The idea of the association emerged within a context where access to family planning and maternal health information, education and services was lacking. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are linked to major issues facing Guyana, such as poverty, school dropout, domestic and sexual violence, homophobia, gender inequality, high risk sexual behaviour, maternal mortality, cervical, breast and prostate cancer, STIs, HIV, and other health and social challenges.

The GWLSS responded to this situation, which they saw as critical to the advancement of women’s equal-

ity in Guyana. Today, GRPA is a leading organisation in Guyana for sexual and reproductive health, combining medical services with counselling, education and other support programmes.

Appeal

A member of IPPF, GRPA is also attentive to the situation of men and sexual and reproductive health with a call for men and boys to be more educated on these issues and to be partners with women in addressing SRHR concerns. The association was awarded a national award – Medal of Service in 2002 for providing service of a consistently high quality in the field of sexual and reproductive health, family planning and information and education vital to the prevention of STIs/HIV/AIDS.

“As we reflect on our history and work towards the achievement of Vision 2020, we affirm our commitment to continue to serve Guyana and to increase our scope to reach rural and hinterland communities in a more sustained way. We also pledge our commitment to the achievement of fundamental human rights as critical to building a good and wholesome Guyana and urge that every effort be made to ensure that all Guyanese have access to SRH services, and that they are protected from genderbased violence, diseases, and other threats to life. We are deeply grateful to our members, staff, board of directors, clients, volunteers, the IPPF, ministries of health and human services and social security, UNFPA and other partners for their significant contribution and look forward to enhanced partnerships and networks,” said Executive Director, Reverend Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth.

GDF welcomes U.S. Coast Guard team

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has welcomed nine United States Coast Guard personnel for two days of interaction with the GDF Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guardsmen are members of the newly-formed Technical Assistance Field Team, or TAFT, a joint U.S. Coast Guard/Department of Defence team based out of U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Florida, the U.S. embassy here said in a statement.

The team provides hands-on technical assistance in support of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) partnership. TAFT assistance focuses on the upkeep of U.S.purchased interceptor-type small boats used for combating international organised crime such as narco-trafficking and piracy.

According to the release, TAFT team is currently comprised of nine U.S. Coast Guard members, with six U.S. Army personnel expected to join the team by the spring of 2014. At full operating capacity, the team will be able to provide local and long distance support to Caribbean coastal forc-

es, including the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard. The TAFT team specialises in small boat repairs, development of short-and longterm maintenance plans, and the improvement of logistics and supply processes, often serving as a conduit between U.S. embassy staff, local forces, and commercial and technical representatives.

This week’s initial site survey brought the team to Georgetown to meet the leadership of the Guyana Defence Force and Coast Guard, followed by an assessment of the current status of GDF Coast Guard vessels, infrastructure, and maintenance and logistics systems. The visit enabled team members to develop a strong rapport with their GDF counterparts and better understand the everyday challenges of operating small vessels within Guyanese territorial waters.

Praise

Select members of the team travelled by GDF Air Corps helicopters to the GDF Coast Guard’s floating base in the Essequibo River, where they interacted with fellow coast guardsmen and were briefed on the distinc-

tive challenges faced by GDF Coast Guard personnel in operating the floating base. At the end of the visit, TAFT Senior Chief Machinery Technician Gilbert Page praised the GDF Coast Guard colleagues the team worked with for their “ingenuity and professionalism”.

The U.S. Coast Guard team and U.S. embassy’s Military Liaison Office regard the visit as establishing a strong foundation for further CBSI cooperation, especially following the anticipated delivery of coastal patrol vessels in the coming months through the CBSI programme.

TAFT Officer-InCharge, Lieutenant Commander William “Brian” Winburn observed that the team’s presence reflected the U.S.’ commitment to the CBSI. Lieutenant Commander Bob Novotny, commander of the embassy’s Military Liaison Office, added that this initial TAFT visit “marks the beginning of a new and enduring chapter in security cooperation and information exchange between the United States and Guyana in support of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative”.

Regional fisheries body concerned over depleting seafood reserves

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has expressed concern over the future of the region’s seafood reserves, saying that climate change has a rippling effect on the fisheries sector.

Climate change will affect not only the fish and their habitat, but also industry performance and all the human, social and economic benefits derived from this, according to the CRFM’s Deputy Director, Dr Susan Singh-Renton.

Singh-Reuton said: “The direct, more immediate impacts that we can expect to see are deterioration in the quality of the marine habitats and accompanying declines in local marine resources through effects on their production and availability.”

Dr Singh-Renton outlined according to a CRFM statement that there will be ripple-on impacts for industry

livelihoods and the contribution of fresh fish in meeting the region’s food and nutrition security demands.

She added, “The tourism industry will also take a big hit, as the typical Caribbean vacation will offer poorer sand and sea recreational activities.”

“Caribbean marine life is being threatened throughout the range of supporting habitats. Sea grass beds, mangrove swamps, coral reefs and the open ocean will face changed conditions, affecting sea life in both nursery grounds and adult living areas,” according to Dr SinghRenton.

The coral reefs are being affected by ocean acidification, increased sea temperatures that are known to cause coral bleaching, excessive sedimentation from land-based sources, usually through flooding. Dr SinghRenton emphasised that the region’s coral reefs are de-

scribed as among “the ‘richest ecosystems on earth’, and should be carefully monitored and conserved.” Other factors which have the potential to affect Caribbean fisheries include changes to ocean current patterns (which influence the migration patterns of larger fish) and riverine inputs, which provide much needed nutrients to local fish stocks.

Dr Singh-Renton noted that riverine inputs of nutrients are also at risk from climate change, which can alter the flow and volume of riverine material in coastal waters.

Dr Singh-Renton was speaking at a forum on “Inclusive Evidence Based Coverage of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Caribbean” at the 12th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, which took place in Guyana in October 2013.

Miss Guyana Universe creating “pageant fever”

Katherina Roshana, Miss Guyana Universe 2013, sponsored by NEW GPC INC/ Limacol, is creating history in Guyana with what is being referred to as “pageant fever”.

The excitement is tumultuous; people are on social media 24 hours daily, some hardly sleep, as Roshanamania takes effect. Guyanese and many the world over support Guyana and pray that Guyana, their beloved candidate and friend can win the top prize.

It is said never, for decades has there been so much excitement and even joy in the hearts of Guyanese, and never has so many of all groups in this great country been excited in recent history.

For decades, interest in international pageant weaned for various reasons. Many of the Guyanese population were not interested any longer. But Katherina Roshana, the now famous international ambassador of peace, internationally-trained model, now local movie star, teacher, oriental medicine student and humanist/social worker, has changed the face of international pageants for Guyanese. Maybe forever!

There are thousands of supporters locally and internationally following Katherina on social media, the Internet, the print and electronic media, and telephone. Several persons are

actually going to Russia to be part of the pageant.

Shock In Moscow, Russia, Katherina has taken the pageant with shock and awe, with many asking where she comes from. She arrived one day before the actual start, and now she is the midst of things with her catwalk, gait and persona. Some say they were almost dumbstruck with her speech and her smile, and wondered if she was an Indian movie star. Many are amazed that a little known country, which many never heard of, could produce a woman, a lady of such beauty, ladylike characteristic and perfection in skin texture, hair and smile. Excited, won-

The yachting industry in Guyana is gaining momentum as the second flotilla of nine yachts has anchored in Guyana’s waters.

This fleet of vessels follows closely on the waves of the just concluded Nereid’s Rally, when another seven yachts sailed into the Essequibo River in early September, as they made their way from Trinidad and Tobago to French Guiana, as part of the rally.

Within the last two months, more than 25 yachts have arrived in the country, testimony to the expanding yachting industry in Guyana Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali has noted that the steady influx of yachts augurs well for the development of the niche industry in Guyana, and will undoubtedly pave the way for investments in the development of the neces-

sary infrastructure to support yachting.

The vessels arrived a few days ago, and made their way to Bartica, 30 miles from the mouth of the Essequibo and at the centre of the confluence of three great rivers, the Mazaruni, Cuyuni and Essequibo; this is an official port of entry and welcomes the arrival of cruisers, they then anchored off of the Baganara Island Resort.

The seamless entry of the vessels into Guyana is being facilitated through an interagency collaboration with the Coast Guard, Customs and Immigration, the Guyana Police Force, the Maritime Administration and other private sector stakeholders, and this joint approach being employed is in keeping with Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali’s commitment to ensure that all systems are in place to make the yachting indus-

2000 more solar panels being procured for hinterland – Hinds

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has announced plans to acquire an additional 2000 solar panels for the ongoing Hinterland Electrification Programme under which homes and schools in the hinterland are being supplied with electricity.

dering, many not even ever heard of her and her country, would admire and encourage her. One European woman, actually mimicked placing a blessing on the centre of her forehead, ‘a tika’, a custom for people of Indian ancestry, amazingly by a person of European descent.

Katherina took gift souvenirs of Guyana for the new friends for life; she knew she would meet, and they are amazed at what coconut shell could make, as the Miss Guyana Universe explained its intricacy, its environment friendliness, and how coconuts could help Guyana just using its shells that would be usually discarded. They are absorbed in the earth if discarded.

try a success.

Close to 20 persons are on board the nine yachts that are now in Guyana, and it is expected that the vessels will stay anchored in the Essequibo for another few weeks, while the visitors engage in sight-seeing activities.

Among the yachts are Nirvana, Liahona, Capicse, Persephone, Eileen of Avoca, Hope, Wild Matilda, Impressionist and Out of Africa

The Baganara and Hurakabra resorts, in particular, now cater to receive cruisers anchored close offshore. These resorts are exceptionally beautiful nature destinations which offer exceedingly comfortable and well appointed accommodation, jungle walks, birding, beach front dining, well stocked bars, recreation facilities, water sports and dingy docking.

Guyana is now becoming known as a safe haven for yachts, and cruisers may now sail up the Essequibo River, to clear customs, immigration and health authorities within an hour of checking in by completing the simplest of customs clearance forms to be found at any cruising destination in the Caribbean and South America.

The announcement came after numerous testimonies by toshaos earlier in the week about the government fulfilling its promise to deliver solar panels to the various Amerindian villages, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. “We are looking to get it (solar panels) either from a programme of assistance or maybe in next year’s budget. So we have that in mind,” Prime Minister Hinds said during the just-concluded toshaos conference held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

During day three of the meeting, some toshaos who had not yet received their panels made inquiries of the prime minister at a highly-interactive session attended by President Donald Ramotar and other Cabinet members.

The distribution process was one of several that suffered a major setback after the opposition cut funding for the country’s Low Carbon

Development Strategy (LCDS) that specifically targeted Amerindian community development.

The action had discouraged and disappointed many of the Amerindian village leaders and villagers themselves who were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the panels, intending to capitalise on the availability of electricity, especially during the evening hours.

The first phase of the project saw 11,000 65-watt photovoltaic solar home systems being made available to residents, and about 184 villages began receiving about 12 to 15 kilowatt hours of electricity.

Hinterland Electrification Unit

The Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister has been the executing agen-

cy and has facilitated training in assembling, installing, and maintaining the systems. Residents from 184 villages were trained.

The prime minister also announced that a technical representative from the Office of the Prime Minister will be visiting Isseneru to follow up on a request for a generator. In villages, like Himacabra and Kabakaburi in Region One and St Cuthbert’s Mission in Region Four, the solar panels can be considered a success story. Solar panels distribution and installation have been successfully completed for all households at Himacabra, Toshao Joan Williams told her fellow leaders while presenting an update on progress in her community.

With electricity fast becoming a reality in the hinterland areas, the government is now aggressively focusing on the establishment of computer hubs to pilot the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project in the Amerindian villages. Waramadong, Region Seven is one of 50 hinterland locations that have been earmarked for the launch of the initiative, and unlike the coastland where computers are delivered to individual homes, the hubs will provide a central location where villagers will meet for computer training.

CJIA to stage emergency response exercise

TInternational Airport (CJIA) on November 6 will stage a full-scale preparedness exercise to test the airport’s emergency responses while providing hands-on experience for airport and airline staff, hospitals, fire service, security and other emergency personnel.

During the simulated exercise, personnel will respond as in a real scenario, including the use of sirens, firefighting equipment and other emergency vehicles.

An Airport Emergency Committee, which usually plans for any emergency at the airport, began preparation for the exercise more than six months ago in developing the scenario and coordinating the logistics for the large-scale event.

CJIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir explained that “the simulation is a great opportunity to test the airport’s readiness to respond to any emergen-

cy. We always have to ensure that key airport stakeholders and first responders are aware of their roles in the event of an emergency where timing and coordination are key elements to saving lives and saving expensive assets. The fullscale emergency exercise takes place every two years and is a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)”.

Meanwhile, a script outlines exactly what areas will be tested during the exercise. This criterion was crafted by experts from various law enforcement and health agencies.

“The element of surprise is key. The first responders will respond to the scene of the accident and these personnel will be tested on how they will react in a real emergency when making decisions,” said Andre Kellman, the airport’s deputy operations manager, who is coordinating the response for emergency personnel

during the exercise.

Testing, testing A sign test was conducted on October 23 at the proposed crash site. According to Kellman, clear signages are important because they lessen the chaos and traffic congestion during a “real life incident”.

“Traffic control is a major challenge… so we want to get the signs right which will guide the police and other emergency crew to the scene,” he explained to committee members.

Moreover, the roles that each agency will play in the exercise were also cemented at the October 23 meeting.

The Guyana Defence Force, Customs and Immigration, Health Ministry, Caribbean Airlines, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Civil Defence Commission and the Guyana Police Force, are among the stakeholders for the November simulation exercise.

Rice farmer dies under suspicious circumstances

AVictoria, East

Demerara rice farmer died on Thursday afternoon after he reportedly fell from a tractor in his rice field, but speculation is rife that the true circumstances of his death remain unknown.

Fitzpatrick Junior Blair, 61, of Lot 9 Belfield Housing Scheme, Victoria, succumbed while on his way to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Thursday evening.

Relatives have been receiving conflicting reports on what really occurred when Blair was on his rice field a few villages away.

A cousin of the deceased, Rihanna, stated that her cousin was in the company of two other men and was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of his death. She stated that one of the men told the family that he left the field to purchase something to eat, but, on his return, he saw the elderly man on the ground.

“He then went on to say that he went to buy tennis roll and drink and when he come back, he say he see meh uncle fall off the tractor,” Rihanna added.

She stated that the family received a telephone call about 17:00h and one of the men related that her cousin was “dying” while there was laugher in the background.

“I tell them that they should be serious and talk the truth… while talking to them, Blair collected the phone from the man and cuss me… so I hand the phone to he wife and she too did not believe that he was hurt and tell them she got to see he before she believe,” she explained.

The men managed to transport Blair from the rice field to his home in a car, the

Haitians, Dominicans describe court ruling as an “injustice”

Last month, the Dominican Constitutional Court ordered the Central Electoral Board to search all birth registries since 1929 and remove anyone who was believed to have been wrongly registered and recognised as a Dominican citizen

As the global community continues to condemn a Dominican Republic court ruling stripping Dominicans of Haitian descent of citizenship, both Haitians and Dominicans here have been speaking out against what they describe as an “injustice” in the Dominican Republic.

“This is all about targeting the Haitians,” said New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat, a Dominican.

“Dominicans here need to press for a national debate on this injustice,” he added, calling for a referendum in his homeland “to amend the constitution and fix this mess.

“You can’t be ‘born in transit’ when your parents have been there for 40 years,” Espaillat continued.

Last month, the

Dominican Constitutional Court ordered the Central Electoral Board to search all birth registries since 1929 and remove anyone who was believed to have been wrongly registered and recognised as a Dominican citizen.

Between 1929 and 2010, the Dominican state granted nationality to all children born in the country, except for those whose parents were diplomats or “in transit” at the time of their birth.

“Transit” was considered anything less than 10 days.

Throughout the decades the Dominican Republic accepted a considerable amount of Haitian migrants, often employed as temporary workers at sugar plantations, according to the Londonbased human rights watch dog, Amnesty International. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

relative said, and when the family saw him, they realised that the men had been telling the truth. She recounted that they took him out of the car, and shortly after, he told them that he wanted to use the washroom after which they cleaned him up and rushed him to the hospital. By the time they left the house, Blair could not move his arms and legs.

The cousin stated that the family suspect foul play, since Blair left home in good health and he had issues with some people.

She explained that sometime back, the two men aforementioned wanted to lease the rice field from her cousin, but he refused and gave someone else the land to work. This created a rift among the men, but they remained friends.

Family members are now awaiting a post-mortem report, which would verify the man’s cause of death. Blair leaves to mourn his wife, one child, and seven siblings. The police have been called in to investigate the incident. The publication understands that several people were detained and questioned.

Relatives of dead Mon Repos teen blame truck driver

The relatives of 13-year-old Rama Manoo, of Lot 295 Seventh Street, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, who died in a truck accident are blaming the truck driver for his death. The lad was on his way home after purchasing bananas to offer at his mandir.

The truck driver, who hails from Good Hope, ECD, was taken into police custody on Thursday evening immediately after the accident. He was accused of driving too close to the corner of the road, especially since he would have seen that the narrow road could not accommodate two vehicles at the same time.

It was also reported that prior to the accident, he almost hit another resident who was sitting on a bench in front of his yard. At the scene on Friday, police ranks were busy taking measurements in the company of the driver.

The relatives of the dead lad were not present at the scene. At the Manoo home, family members were bus-

ily constructing a tent to facilitate a wake while his mother sat in a hammock being consoled by her relatives.

An uncle of the now dead lad, Ramnarine Manoo, stated that he was at the mandir on the night of the accident, but left after the service and went home, where he received the dreadful news. He was told that his nephew was riding his bicycle on the school road when the handle came into contact with the truck’s tray.

As a result, the bicycle

spun at least twice and the lad fell onto the roadway and into the path of the left rear wheels. He added that the truck was loaded with sand.

He also slammed reports in various sections of the media which claimed that the road on which the child was struck had many potholes which is not the case. “Where the accident happen is far from where the bad part is…”.

The man also stated that the driver of the motor lorry should have been more responsible when driving along the roadway. “My nephew just left home to go and buy bananas and he was returning home when the bicycle handle come into contact with the tray and the accident happen.”

He further disclosed that the lad was a devout Hindu and someone who was always willing to assist in any way possible. The lad is survived by his parents and four siblings. Police are continuing their investigations.

Ancient mummies found in Lima suburb

Archaeologists in Peru have found two mummies more than 1000 years old in a suburb of the capital, Lima.

The mummies -- of an adult and a child -- were found at an ancient religious complex which has been under excavation since 1981.

The child is believed to have been an offering to the gods and may have been buried alive after the adult’s death.

Researchers also found other offerings including the remains of guinea pigs and jars with feline designs.

“This is one of the most important finds in more than three decades of exca-

vation, because the mummies are intact,” researcher Gladys Paz told the AFP news agency.

Search underway in Jamaica for missing Trinidad man

The police have launched a search for a Trinidadian man, who went missing on Tuesday, one day after he arrived on the island.

The police report that Keron Martin Fraser, rented a vehicle to travel to an undisclosed location in May Pen in the central parish of Clarendon. A friend reported him missing when he failed to return.

A search was launched and on Wednesday, the police intercepted the rented vehicle with two men aboard. The men who are 22 and 19 years have been taken into custody for questioning.

The cops suspect foul play in Fraser’s disappearance and have been in contact with Trinidad High Commission. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

The mummies are squatting and are fully dressed, wrapped in rope. It is the third intact find

among more than 70 tombs uncovered in the Huaca Pucllana tomb, a pyramidlike temple built by the preColumbian Wari culture between 100 and 600 AD in what is now the Miraflores neighbourhood.

In 2010, archaeologists found the remains of a woman with four children, and in 2008, the remains of a teenage girl.

The site was built on 2.5 hectares of land and towers over 20 metres (66 feet) high. So far, only about 40 per cent has been excavated.

The Wari culture flourished between AD 500 to 1000 on the coastal area of northern Peru. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbados will defend its business brand against opportunistic attacks, says PM

Barbados will defend its interests stoutly and will not give any nation or group of countries licence to “launch opportunistic attacks” on its business brand and its commitment to international tax co-operation and transparency, without a response.

This was the message delivered by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on Thursday at the opening of the International Business Week Conference in Barbados.

Stuart said: “We will

not ignore what is now a clear pattern of our competitors in the pursuit of investment in financial and other services.

“And, we will rebut all efforts by any organisation that attempts to force unilateral changes to our domestic law in an effort just to ‘make up numbers’.

“Barbados does not intend to be a passive bystander in this purported ‘step’ change in the rules governing international tax cooperation. That would be contrary to our clear foreign policy focus in such matters.” He told his audience that for these reasons, subject to confirmation that no domestic law impediments exist, Barbados must signal its interest in participating in discussion on the development of a global rules-based system to concretise the emerging standards on automatic exchange of tax information, and give active consideration to signing the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

U.S. spying may harm terror fight

EU leaders meeting in Brussels said distrust of the U.S. over spying could harm the fight against terrorism.

A statement agreed by the leaders said that “a lack of trust could prejudice” intelligence-gathering co-operation.

German spy chiefs are travelling to Washington next week to press for action over the alleged monitoring of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone.

Both Germany and France want talks with the U.S. to find a new “understanding” by the end of the year.

As well as the bugging of Merkel’s phone, there are claims the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has monitored millions of telephone calls by both German and French citizens.

Spain on Friday followed Germany and France in summoning the U.S. ambas-

sador to explain reports of spying on the country.

The UK’s Guardian newspaper has reported that it obtained a confidential memo from the NSA suggesting it had monitored the phones of 35 world leaders. The latest revelations have been sourced to U.S. whistleblower Edward

Snowden, the former intelligence contractor who fled the country earlier this year and is now in Russia.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said a review of U.S. intelligence gathering, called for by President Obama, would look at how it affects foreign policy. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Nigeria kills 70 Islamists

More than 70 members of the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram have been killed during a Nigerian military operation in the northeastern state of Borno, an Army spokesman told CNN on Friday.

The military “remains on the offensive”, according to General Ibrahim Attahiru, who said the operation started Thursday and continued into the next day.

This was not the only clash between Boko Haram and Nigerian troops of late.

Suspected members of the extremist group around 17:30h Wednesday (12:30h ET) attacked a military checkpoint in Damaturu, Nigeria’s Joint Task Force reported in a statement. Also in northern Nigeria, Damaturu is the capital of Yobe state.

Special operations troops responded, waging “a fierce

encounter with the terrorists in various parts of Damaturu ... for several hours,” according to the Joint Task Force.

By the time that fighting was over, 21 suspected Boko Haram fighters were dead, the government group reported. Three vehicles were recovered, as were assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade, improvised explosive devices and 709 rounds of ammunition. (Excerpt from CNN)

Former Nevis premier accused of unfairly attacking Supreme Court

Former premier of Nevis Joseph Parry has been accused of acting unfairly and irresponsibly over statements he made suggesting that the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Supreme Court has been less than professional in its rulings on a matter affecting him.

The objection to what is seen as comments attacking the integrity of the court has come from the presi-

dent of the St Kitts and Nevis Bar Association, Charles Wilkin QC.

“Mr Parry is perfectly entitled to vindicate his name and to protect his legal right. But to seek to do so by way of an attack on the integrity of the legal system and by trying to tarnish in general terms the quality of judges and the ethical standards of UWI-trained lawyers is unfair and irresponsible,” Wilkin said.

The court has come under scathing attack from former Deputy Premier Hensley Daniel of the Nevis Reformation Party, whose seat it declared null and void in an election petition case.

Daniel is blaming the NRP’s loss in the last Nevis elections in part on the courts.

NRP leader, former premier Parry, said he fully agrees and insists that both their reputations have been hurt by the court ruling on the election petition. However, Wilkin said the former premier’s comments represent an unnecessary attack on the OECS Supreme Court. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Colombian mom sold daughters’ virginity

Amother of 14 in Colombia tried to make ends meet, police say, by pushing her daughters into “hell” and selling their virginity for a couple hundred dollars.

Margarita de Jesus Zapata Moreno, 45, was arrested this week together with a 51-year-old contractor who police believe impregnated one of the young daughters.

She broke down in tears when she stood in front of the cameras after being arrested in Bogota, the Colombian capital. The

Rebels,

Bogota Metropolitan Police say Zapata sold the virginity of 12 daughters to much older men seeking to have sex with young virgins.

Authorities also say the suspect would begin selling her daughters to men as soon as the girls turned 12 years old. She charged anywhere between 300,000 and 400,000 Colombian Pesos (US$160) for a virgin.

But Zapata strongly denies the accusation. Colombian authorities often show high-profile suspects to the media shortly after arresting them. When

Zapata was standing in front of the cameras Wednesday, one of the reporters shouted a question to her: “Did you prostitute your daughters?” She answered: “No, my darling.”

Colombian police say they learned of this alleged case of abuse because one of the alleged victims stepped forward. Authorities say one of the suspect’s daughters forced into prostitution gave birth to a baby boy when she was 14. She had refused her mother’s orders to have an abortion. (Excerpt from CNN)

Congo army clash after talks collapse

Congo’s M23 rebels clashed with government troops for the first time in nearly two months on Friday, and neighbouring Rwanda said Congolese army shells had landed on its territory.

The clash came days after peace talks broke down in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

General Sultani Makenga, M23’s military commander, said the rebels came under attack about 16:00h local time (02:00 GMT) on Friday at Kanyamohoro, around 15 km (10 miles) north of Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We are going to defend our positions,” Makenga told Reuters by telephone.

Congolese army General Lucien Bahuma said M23

fighters had attacked first and fighting was continuing.

The Rwandan army said via Twitter the Congolese army had fired three shells and small arms into Rubavu district, just over the border from Goma and close to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi.

In late August, Rwanda accused Congolese troops of shelling its territory and the tensions between the two neighbours raised fears of a regional conflict. A Reuters reporter in Goma said fighting was intense and continuous on Friday morning as Congolese army troops bombarded rebel positions with heavy artillery. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Cuba to scrap twocurrency system in latest reform

Cuba is to scrap its two-currency system in the latest financial reform rolled out by President Raul Castro, official media report.

Since 1994, Cuba has had two currencies, one pegged to the U.S. dollar and the other worth only a fraction of that.

The more valuable convertible peso (CUC) was reserved for use in the tourism sector and foreign trade.

Now its value will be gradually unified with the lower-value CUP, ending a system resented by ordinary Cubans.

The Cuban economy is almost entirely staterun and the tourism sector has boomed since the collapse of the Soviet Union plunged Cuba into economic isolation and hardship.

The two-currency system was supposed to protect Cuba’s fragile economy but angered locals paid in the much lower-value CUP and denied access to goods only available for those with convertible pesos.

The policy exacerbated the creation of a twotier class system in Cuba which divided privileged Cubans with access to the lucrative tourist and foreign-trade sectors from those working in the local economy - alltoo-visibly contradicting Cuba’s supposedly egalitarian society.

The council of ministers has approved a timetable for implementing “measures that will lead to monetary and exchange unification”, the official Communist Party newspaper Granma said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Small tsunami reaches Japan after earthquake

Asmall tsunami triggered by a quake has hit Japan’s eastern coast – where the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is located –but no damage is reported. The 30cm waves reached the region after the 7.1 magnitude tremor struck at a depth of 10km (six miles), about 320km off the coast. A tsunami alert issued for several areas was later lifted.

Workers at the Fukushima power station had been told to leave waterfront areas for higher ground.

But a Fukushima spokesman later said there was no damage or change in readings at radiation monitoring posts around the plant, according to Reuters news agency.

The Japan

Meteorological Agency had warned that a small tsunami – up to one metre (3.3 feet) – could reach the eastern coast after the tremor in the Pacific Ocean.

The agency had also issued a “yellow” advisory for Fukushima and the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, Ibaraki and parts of Chiba.

But it added: “Though there may be slight sealevel change in coastal regions, no tsunami damage is expected.”

The earthquake struck about 02:10 local time on Saturday (17:10 GMT Friday).

The tsunami advisory was lifted about two hours later.

The Fukushima reactors were damaged by the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Darryl White has been named the new managing director of RBC Caribbean’s TT bank RBC Caribbean chief executive officer Suresh Sookoo made the announcement at the TT Manufacturers’ Association’s (TTMA) gala President’s Dinner at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre on Wednesday night.

After explaining to manufacturers that the bank has been “making strategic changes,” to meet their needs, he said: “One important step in this holistic action plan

is naming one head for our Trinidad and Tobago bank and, hot off the press, we today announced Darryl White as your managing director for the Trinidad and Tobago Bank. I will be working closely with Darryl to reclaim our preeminent position in this market.”

Up until his appointment, White was the regional vice president of corporate banking for RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited. He has more than 22 years’ banking experience – including 11 at the management level

– working with regional and international financial institutions, the bank’s press office said in an email to the TT Guardian. “White is a strategically-minded professional with proven competence in regional business development (over a period of 10 years), capital market structuring, building of distribution networks, trade finance, risk assessment, electronic banking, financial planning and control, bank card management and information technology (IT) issues,” the bank said. (The Guardian)

Nigeria loses ₦356B annually to contraband

The Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Saka Yunusa Alao, has disclosed that Nigeria loses an estimated ₦1 billion on contraband rice daily which translates to ₦356 billion yearly. Alao, who was in Yola on an official visit, revealed this while taking journalists round the contraband storage facility of the Adamawa/Taraba states command.

He revealed that the command had made 2316 seizures

of rice alone, whose value was estimated at hundreds of millions of naira this year.

He noted that the NCS was determined in ensuring that the federal government’s fiscal policies were implemented religiously in order to safeguard the economy and prevent illegal export to other countries.

Alao explained that in order to put an end to the activities of smugglers in the country, the customs had deployed

aircrafts to all borders in the country, adding that policing at border areas has also been intensified. These measures, according to him, were already yielding positive results. He said if rice smuggling alone could be tackled, the country would be able to produce about seven million jobs in the sector alone. This, he noted, was why the federal government directed that rice should only be imported via the sea. (allAfrica)

Twitter has unveiled the price range for its shares when the company lists on the stock exchange. In a filing on Thursday, Twitter said it planned to sell 70 million shares priced between US$17 and US$20 (£10-£12) to raise up to US$1.4 billion (£865 million).

The offering represents 13 per cent of Twitter and values it at as much as US$11 billion. Analysts said the valuation, which was less than forecast,

indicated the firm wanted to avoid the dip in prices that followed Facebook’s listing.

“They’re trying to price this for a very strong IPO, ideally creating the conditions for a solid after-market,” said Brian Wieser of the Pivotal Research Group. Facebook’s shares were priced initially at US$38 per share. The stock soared within hours of its debut to a high of US$45 but later slumped. Some analysts had blamed

over pricing of the shares as a reason behind the fall. However, Facebook shares have since recouped most of their losses and are now trading above the listing price.

Twitter’s share sale on the New York Stock Exchange will make it the biggest Internet company to go public after Facebook. The microblogging site has seen steady growth since its launch seven years ago. (BBC News)

Britain’s strongest growth in more than three years has provided a foretaste of the looming general election battle as the Conservatives and Labour clashed over the state of the economy.

David Cameron and George Osborne seized on a second successive set of strong growth figures which showed that expansion in all four sectors of the economy produced a 0.8 per

cent jump in national output.

The chancellor said the UK was “on the path to prosperity”.

Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, said the pickup was long overdue and was “no recovery at all” for the millions of people seeing prices rise faster than wages.

The political battle over growth was prompted by official figures registering the fastest pace of expansion since the spring of 2010, the period

just before and after the last general election. Output grew by 1.5 per cent in the latest 12 months, but remains 2.5 per cent below the peak reached in early 2008, before the most severe recession of the postwar era.

In the subsequent 18 months, gross domestic product fell by 7.2 per cent and the stop-start recovery that followed has been the slowest of modern times. (The Guardian)

Japanese industrial output is expected to have rebounded in September, fuelled by strong domestic demand and business investment, a Reuters poll showed, highlighting the strength of the economy as government policies bolster growth.

Indicators of Labour demand, consumer spending and real estate investment next week are also likely to come in strong, showing that Japan is making steady progress towards beating deflation.

“Companies are going to start building up inventories to meet demand brought forward before the sales tax hike in April,” said Hiroshi Miyazaki, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

“They will also produce more capital goods as capital expenditure plans are strong,” he said. Industrial production is forecast to have risen 1.8 per cent in September, according to the Reuters poll, following a 0.9 per cent decline in August. The data is

due at 08:50h on Wednesday in Tokyo (19:50h Tuesday). Manufacturers, surveyed by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, will also give forecasts for production in October and November, which will help measure how quickly output will grow as the year-end approaches. The jobs-to-applicants ratio, a measure of Labour demand, is expected to have risen to a five-year high of 0.96 in September from 0.95 in the previous month, the survey also showed. (Reuters)

Abu Dhabi’s state-owned fund International Petroleum Investment Co has repaid in full a US$2 billion loan that its unit took out in 2011 to finance the purchase of a stake in Malaysian bank RHB Capital, banking sources aware of the matter said.

The financing for the acquisition was provided by the seller of the stake, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB); the asset sale was widely seen as a

means to shore up the capital base of the lender at the time.

IPIC’s majority-owned unit Aabar Investments agreed in 2011 to pay 10.80 ringgit per share for ADCB’s 25 per cent stake in RHB in a US$1.9 billion deal. The valuation offered by Aabar effectively stalled a consolidation in Malaysia’s banking sector. ADCB booked a US$357 million gain from the stake sale.

In its third-quarter earn-

ings statement on Wednesday, ADCB, majority-owned by the state, said its customer loans and advances on September 30 declined two per cent, mainly because of the repayment of a US$2 billion loan in late September. It did not specify the name of the entity which repaid the loan.

“This has a negligible impact on our profitability but significantly reduces our concentration exposure. (Gulf Business)

Evaluating a business idea

CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY

Start networking

Outside your close friends and family, you can enlist your neighbours, acquaintances, and co-workers about your plans to start a certain business. Find the demographic of people you know that will patronise such a business and get their immediate thoughts about their need for such services or products you are considering.

This group of people will likely be your first go-to group when you are ready to open the doors for business so take their words under advisement when it comes to pricing, products, and marketing concepts. You don’t have to give away your whole plan but ac-

tive investigations with relevant people can be productive.

Do your homework

Since the advent of the Internet, perspective business owners have an added advantage of being able to explore similar businesses in the area. It is wise to check out what others are doing in similar or relevant businesses. It can certainly help to contact such businesses outside of your area and ask real questions you need answers to before committing to a business idea. Those business owners closer to home base may be more reluctant to share information with potential compe-

tition. If accessible, ask about shadowing a business owner in your area that doesn’t trigger business conflict. Getting a hands-on look at running a show on your own may be all you need to make or break a business idea.

Exploring a business venture in your area may require additional steps before you can feel confident enough to give it a go. The important part is to keep things simple in the beginning and build on a basic concept. Often people get too bogged down with complex ideas that are too complicated to orchestrate and end up abandoning otherwise great and truly viable ideas. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Aggregate demand

Two new nursery schools commissioned

The government has recognised role of early childhood education, and in this regard, the ministry along with the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) is working on ensuring a conducive learning environment.

On Thursday, two new nursery schools that were built at a cost of $64.5 million each, the Beterverwagting and the Diamond Nursery Schools, were commissioned.

The opening of the schools was witnessed by education and finance ministry officials, regional officials, teachers, parents and students.

During the ceremony at Beterverwagting, Education Minister Priya Manickchand stated that the nursery sector is at the best place it has ever been, and this also holds true for the education sector as a whole.

“Guyana has this incredible thing that we can boast of, and that is that, 85 per cent of the nursery aged children are in schools, it’s much higher on the coast… this is the highest in the Commonwealth Caribbean,” she said. While nursery education is not compulsory and children can start school from Grade One, because of the facilities and availability of teachers, they have been attending school.

Additionally, the nursery system has 69 per cent trained teachers. “This school is a grand example of how well we are doing… 100 per cent of your teachers at this school is trained,” the minister said. Some of the Beterverwagting nursery schoolteachers are also graduates of the University

The Guyana National Council on Public Policy (GNCPP) has launched another in its televised series on the rights and role of local civil society in the context and scope of human security and insecurity. According to a release, the GNCPP is a 10-year-old policy-oriented, non-government organisation (NGO) committed to developing a prestigious and influential Guyanese think tank, while attempting, at the same time, to organise and mobilise other NGOs to pursue

of Guyana. This realisation means that the students are more likely to get an education of a high quality.

Minister Manickchand noted that training teachers does not happen “by magic” since Guyana has moved from a place where 30 per cent of teachers was trained to today where it is 70 per cent. Over the years, the ministry has had to make conscious decisions regarding improvements to the Cyril Potter College of Education and salary enhancements among others.

Parental role

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the minister highlighted that while the government is committed to ensuring students do well, parents also have a role to play. In this regard, she called on the parents to extend their interest in the children’s education to primary and secondary schools.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh was also present at the commissioning ceremony since the funding of the project falls under the BNTF and the Finance Ministry.

In his presentation, he noted that the management of the national budget is no different from that of the domestic budget. “We have at a macro level, in government, do much the same to find an optimal balance between competing calls on finite resources… in this government’s policy choices – on a constant and consistent trend reflected in this government’s policy choices is that there is no investment more important than

their own mandates and objectives independently.

The resumed series of television conversations will be moderated under the theme of the 1994 United Nations Human Development Report from which emerged the concept of human security and insecurity. The local debate will also focus on the role of civil society in securing a sustained quality of life for Guyanese citizens. Issues related to poverty alleviation will naturally be discussed. Panelists for this first programme will include

investment in our country’s people and in particular in our country’s young people,” Dr Singh said.

Further, it is for this reason that education is allocated the largest share of sectoral resources in the national budget. For instance, in 2012, the sector spent $26.5 billion, representing 14 per cent of the national budget; meanwhile in 2013, the sector was allotted $28.7 billion.

While there are other demands among the other sector, “our government has been resolute in its conviction that amongst all very legitimate competing demands for resources, there is no better investment to make than in education, and in educating the young people of our country,” the minister said.

He added that this is a commitment the government has made to the people of Guyana that there will be no greater priority than is ensuring the young people of Guyana are properly prepared for the future.

As a result of the investments that have been and are still being made in the education sector, Minister Singh explained that it is no accident that Guyana has achieved Universal Primary Education.

“Because we set ourselves a target that no child in Guyana shall be denied a place/opportunity to access and complete primary education… to achieve this goal, we ensured that primary schools were built throughout the length and breadth of our country… that they were equipped, that they were staffed,” he said.

Magda Pollard, Shibaki Fernandes, Tracy ChanSmith, Seon Singh, Henry Chester, Andres Atkinson and Adrian Thompson, among others.

GNCPP founder and chairman, Guyanese international Corporate lawyer Dr Phillip Mozart Thomas, will also indicate plans for a conference of civil society NGOs from Guyana and overseas scheduled for mid-2014. That conference will culminate in the establishment of Guyana’s first National Civil Society Council, it is anticipated.

saturday, october 26, 2013 |

Haslington girl was sexually molested – autopsy

An autopsy on Friday revealed that the twoyear-old who passed away mysteriously earlier this week after a bout of diarrhoea was sexually molested.

The 15-year-old relative who has been accused of committing the act could face a manslaughter charge. The teenager had been taken into custody after the child’s death, and has denied having any involvement with her death and sexual molestation.

The autopsy was performed by Dr Nehaul Singh on Friday at the Georgetown Public Hospital and gave the cause of death as haemorrhage and shock due to multiple abdominal injuries.

The mother of the rape accused told Guyana Times that she was certain that her son did not commit such an as act. She explained that her son would normally be among the children in the

yard, and this was the first time he was accused of such. She said that after the accusation was made, she personally checked her son and confirmed that he was still a virgin. “You tell me, if they claim that meh son had sex with this lil gal, if he nah go get some bruises on [his genitalia] … if they go charge meh son, they go to take he to the hospital and examine he properly to see that he nah know wah call woman yet”.

Split in family

The accused’s mother stated that the child and her mother moved back to Guyana from Trinidad about two months ago. She went on to say that her son is staying at a relative’s home, since the child’s mother is armed with a cutlass and threatening to harm him. He has to report to the Cove and John Police Station on a daily basis.

Watson was pronounced

dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday, hours after she was seen playing with her cousins in their yard. She was earlier in the day left in the care of her grandmother who subsequently asked the young man to keep an eye on the child, since she had to run an errand.

It was reported that the child was playing in the yard with her cousins when she had a bout of diarrhoea and the other girls called the young man to clean her. He told relatives while bathing the child, she defecated again which prompted him to take her into the upper flat of the house and give her tea, but soon after she fainted.

This newspaper understands that an hour before the child passed away, the suspect went to the shop to purchase a tablet with the intention of giving it to her. Shortly after returning, he called out to a cousin that the child was not feeling well.

Businessman shoots self on sea wall

Moments after allegedly being involved in an argument with his wife at their home in Bel Air Gardens, Greater Georgetown, a businessman took his own life on Friday afternoon by shooting himself in the mouth with a .32 Taurus revolver. The bullet exited the back of his head.

The dead man was identified as Robert Marvin Wright, 71. According to reports, the man and his wife had been quarrelling over the recent sale of a business on Camp and Lamaha streets.

Police in a statement said

that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. The police confirmed that Wright is reported to have shot himself in the mouth at about 14:50h in the vicinity of Conversation Tree, Rupert Craig Highway. His .32 Taurus revolver, with four rounds and one spent shell, has been recovered by the police and taken into evidence. Wright’s body was taken to the Lyken Funeral home to await a post-mortem.

The man reportedly phoned his best friend informing him that he was on

the sea wall and was contemplating taking his own life, claiming that he was “fed up”. The friend who rushed to the area arrived in time to see him put the gun to his mouth and pull the trigger. The man reportedly told investigators that he attempted to talk Wright out of his plan, but he was determined to commit suicide. When contacts were made with the relatives of the dead man, they refused to offer any comment.

Wright leaves to mourn his wife and children. The police are continuing their investigations.

Local Govt Ministry signs $1.6B security contract

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry on Friday signed a $1.6 billion security contract with Home Safe Security & Domestic Services and the regional democratic councils (RDC) on the coastland, at the ministry’s office in Kingston.

The one-year contract, which will commence on November 1, caters for 708 locations in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10, and the provision of 1898 security guards.

The contract is in line

with the minimum wage, and eight hours per day work law, Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud said. He noted that the project was developed for all the regions; however, the focus is at present on the coastland. He added that many services tendered for the contract, but Home Safe Security & Domestic Services emerged as the most suitable.

Home Safe Security & Domestic Services manager Robert Johnson was very happy to be on board with

the ministry, and he looks forward for a long and fruitful relationship with them.

Regional executive officers (REOs) representing the various regions, highlighted that over the years, they have encountered problems with security services in terms of the number of guards provided and lateness, and expressed the hope that the regions would not have to contend with those issues.

Johnson assured the minister, along with the REOs, that he will work to ensure a reliable service.

SUDOKU

Don’t be shy; stand up and be heard. Take on a challenge and prove that you have what it takes to be victorious. A partnership will open doors and help close deals.

By Bernice Bede Osol

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

You’ll face a somewhat steep learning curve today. Don’t be afraid to challenge your abilities. Open your mind and hone skills that will contribute to your happiness.

Head down the path that offers unusual and unfamiliar sights. You will learn much and make many new discoveries and friends if you take the road less traveled.

Face any disruption to your day with courage and action. A change will do you good and give you time to think. You should head in the direction that pleases you best.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

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

Don’t waste time. Size up your situation and do whatever it takes to get what you want. Discuss your plans with people you feel have something to offer. An increase to your income will happen soon.

(March 21-April 19)

Observe what is going on around you today. Make adjustments quietly and strategically. You will have more options if you leave yourself room to maneuver. Keep your choices simple and affordable.

(April 20-May 20)

Refuse to let an emotional incident stand between you and your goal. Speak up, offer suggestions and make decisions that give you the freedom to choose what works best for you.

(May 21June 20)

Work with whatever you are given today. You may have to turn a negative into a positive. Look for an opening that allows you to reach your destination with the least amount of resistance and expense.

What you do for others will not go unnoticed. Strive to make a difference and you will be rewarded. Improving your community will raise your profile.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Look for a peaceful way to bypass opposition. Focus on your talent and displaying your expertise. Romance could be in the making.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

It’s a good day to broaden your interests and perfect your talents. Make a lifestyle choice that is unusual. A healthy conscience will lead you to a better place mentally, physically and emotionally.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You should do whatever it takes to improve your surroundings, make your place more user-friendly and less expensive. The steps you take today will have a big effect down the line.

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Women artists' exhibition

The Guyana Women Artists’ Association opened its 25th Annual art exhibition at Castellani House, Vlissengen Road on Thursday night. Below are some of the paintings that are currently on display at the exhibition that runs until November 16

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South Africa in control, but hit by ball-tampering penalty

brought up

South Africa’s march towards a result that will draw the series and prolong their sevenyear unbeaten record away from home continued unabated, but the gloss on their seemingly impeccable performance was lost when the on-field umpires penalised them for tampering with the ball on Friday.

Graeme Smith’s team ended the third day needing six wickets to complete an emphatic victory - probably

by an innings considering Pakistan were still trailing by 286 with two days remaining - but the likelihood of a meeting with the Match Referee loomed large as the sun set in Dubai.

The incident occurred two overs after tea, before the start of the 31st over, following television visuals of one player rubbing the ball allegedly on the zipper of his trouser pocket. The umpires

Ian Gould and Rod Tucker called Graeme Smith over

for a chat and subsequently changed the ball and awarded a five-run penalty against South Africa, sanctions that are consistent with the penalty for unlawfully changing the condition of the ball. A second television visual showed another player allegedly picking at the side of the ball with his finger.

On either side of that unsavoury episode, however, South Africa made strides towards victory, albeit not at the pace at which they had shut Pakistan out of the Test over the first two days. After South Africa were dismissed for 517 with a lead of 418, 16 minutes before lunch, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander punched Pakistan in the gut by dismissing their openers in their only overs before the break.

Steyn swung the ball back into Shan Masood’s front pad and the left-hand batsman continued Pakistan’s lousy use of reviews by wasting one on an lbw that was plumb. Philander then handed Khurram Manzoor his first pair in Test cricket; the right-hand batsman hung his bat outside off stump and watched Jacques Kallis dive to his right at second slip to take the catch at head height. Pakistan were 2 for 2.

After lunch, Younis Khan and Azhar Ali focused on survival. Steyn swung and seamed the new ball away from the right-handers; Philander bowled with unrelenting accuracy; Morne Morkel hit speeds off 149.6 kph - the fastest ball of the Test - in his first over. With four slips and other catches in place, there were gaps to exploit on the huge out-

field but only 18 runs were scored in the first 13 overs. One of Tahir’s legbreaks spun so viciously from the rough around off stump that it went straight to first slip. Azhar and Younis, however, survived all that until Smith brought on the parttime offspinner JP Duminy ten minutes before tea. His first ball spun sharply into Azhar and kept low to hit the back pad just in line with off stump. In an instant, a vast amount of hard graft had come undone and Pakistan were 48 for 3. Duminy could have struck in his second over, too, but Kallis failed to catch an outside edge from Younis off the penultimate ball before the break.

Younis’ composure, which had served him well through the second session, disappeared soon after the tampering incident, when he charged Tahir and attempted a mow across the line. He missed and the ball bounced off his pad on to his stumps. At 70 for 4, Pakistan were in danger of sliding further towards defeat but Misbah-ulHaq and Asad Shafiq put on an unbeaten 62-run stand. Shafiq was fortunate to survive a stumping chance on 18 off Duminy, and Pakistan will need a miraculous performance from him and the rest to prevent an innings defeat.

The third day had begun with promise of more records being broken, with Smith resuming on 227 and de Villiers on 157. However, with the job already done unlike when they had come together early on the second day, their stroke-play wasn’t as tight.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa 1st innings

A Petersen lbw b Zulfiqar Babar 26

G Smith* c Younis Khan b Saeed Ajmal 234

D Elgar c Azhar Ali b Saeed Ajmal 23

J Kallis lbw b Saeed Ajmal 7

D Steyn b Mohammad Irfan 7

AB de Villiers† c †Adnan Akmal b Mohammad Irfan 164

JP Duminy b Mohammad Irfan 7

F du Plessis not out 17

V Philander b Saeed Ajmal 8

M Morkel c Younis Khan b Saeed Ajmal 7 Imran Tahir c Misbah-ul-Haq

b Saeed Ajmal 2

Extras: (b 5, lb 8, w 2) 15

Total: (all out, 163.1 overs) 517

Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-91, 3-119, 4-134, 5-472, 6-478, 7-486, 8-505, 9-515, 10-517

Bowling: Mohammad Irfan

34.3-5-102-3, Junaid Khan 31.32-105-0, Saeed Ajmal 55.5-8151-6, Zulfiqar Babar 36.2-2124-1, Azhar Ali 5-0-22-0

Pakistan 2nd innings Shan Masood lbw b Steyn 0 Khurram Manzoor c Kallis b Philander 0 Azhar Ali lbw b Duminy 19 Younis Khan b Imran Tahir 36 Misbah-ul-Haq* not out 42 Asad Shafiq not out 28 Extras: (w 1, nb 1, pen 5) 7 Total: (4 wkts, 55 overs) 132 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-48, 4-70

FIFA and UEFA must act over football racism, Yaya Toure

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says it is time to let FIFA and UEFA “do their work” after accusing CSKA Moscow fans of racism.

Toure claimed he was racially abused during Wednesday’s Champions League win and suggested African players might boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Asked on Friday whether a boycott was still possible, the Ivory Coast player told BBC Afrique: “We’re not here yet.” He added: “Let’s leave FIFA and UEFA to do their work.”

Toure spoke to referee Ovidiu Hategan during the 2-1 win over CSKA to complain about the behaviour of the home fans, although the Russian club have denied any racist abuse took place.

The Romanian official chose to do nothing at the time, but UEFA - which governs European football - has since opened disciplinary proceedings against CSKA Moscow for the “racist behaviour of their fans”.

“UEFA has decided to do

certain things. They have decided to apply the rules. That’s all we want,” said Toure.

“A lot of things have been said about racism. If today an organisation and supporters stray from the straight path or slip up, the goal is to set them straight again.

“We are all humans. It is not a nice feeling to go and play a football matchto bring joy to the peopleand to be called a monkey or to hear monkey noises. I don’t look like a monkey. That’s what disappoints me so much.”

Toure had suggested after the match in Moscow that African players might decide not to play in the 2018 World Cup if nothing was done to tackle the issue of racism.

But several Premier League managers believe talk of a boycott is either wrong or at best premature.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists threatening the 2018 World Cup is not the way to combat racism in football and urged players not to punish “billions” for the “disgraceful behaviour” of thousands.

“If I was a black player, I

would say the other billions are much more important, so let’s fight the thousands, but let’s give to the billions what the billions want,” he said.

“And the billions want the best football - and the best football without black players is not the best football.”

Manchester United manager David Moyes believes walking off the pitch would be allowing those responsible for the behaviour to win.

“It is the people who come up against the racial abuse that should really answer the question but my

feeling is I don’t think walking off the pitch [works],” he said.

“That gives the people chanting or shouting against you what they want. That is not the way. Sanctions have to be taken on the club, the players and other supporters who are involved.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said UEFA must complete its investigation before there is any more talk of a boycott.

“It’s a bit early because it’s not proven what happened,” he said.

Manuel Pellegrini, Toure’s manager at

Manchester City, urged the European governing body to act.

“UEFA have the right things in place to deal with the problem and they need to deal with the issue,” said the Chilean. “I hope it won’t happen again.”

While UEFA has said it is investigating Toure’s complaint, its president Michel Platini has ordered an internal investigation to find out why proper protocol was not followed in the handling of the incident.

Kick It Out chairman Lord Ouseley said Hategan should not officiate again for failing to deal with the alleged abuse.

Manchester United defender Patrice Evra fears racism will never be beaten. Evra, victim of Luis Suarez’s racist comments at Anfield two years ago, told MUTV: “I don’t think we will stop the racism.

“FIFA have to do something because every year we hear something about racism.

“I am sad even to have to talk about it.”

India my hunting ground – Samuels

MIAMI, Florida –India: It’s where the West Indies’ Player of the Year, Marlon Samuels, scored his first century; an innings of 104 runs in 2002, which helped the Windies to a draw in their third Test against India in Kokata.

The Caribbean team is coming off six consecutive Test wins and the 32-yearold Jamaican, who has had a strong return to the sport since 2010, is looking to not only confirm his consistency, but also help the team to prove that the recent upturn in results is not a fluke.

“It was another wonderful year. for me to get Cricketer of the Year. It shows that I am consistent and that’s how I want it to remain, it’s a great achievement,” Samuels told The Gleaner from the team’s Miami/Orlando-based training and team-building camp ahead of their two-Test and three one-day international series against India, which gets under way on October 31 with a three-day match against Uttar Pradesh in Cuttack.

“It’s very important for the team to try and pull off a win in India. It’s never easy to win in India, but over the years I set a lot of goals and achieved them; some didn’t go as planned, but as you know, I scored my first century in India and during a couple of other tours I went there and scored a lot of runs, so you can call it my hunting ground,” Samuels laughed.

“So it’s just for me to keep this frame of mind, continue to work hard and I guess the hard work that I have been putting in will help me to accomplish my goals and that consistency that I

want,” added Samuels, who was also named as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year for 2013.

Meanwhile, Samuels has spent the past few days bonding with his teammates, in a specially arranged team-building exercise, organised by the West Indies Cricket Board.

The camp started out in Orlando on Sunday and moved to Miami on Wednesday, with the cricketers complementing their physical preparations by participating in a number of psychological drills, community outreach activities, social get-togethers, and general bonding exercises.

It’s an experience that

Samuels is relishing and one that he believes will make the team a stronger unit heading forward.

“It’s different. It’s out of our comfort zone so to speak. In any team you need teambuilding; not everyone is going to get along, not everyone will be friends after their careers are over, but team-building exercises are always important for any team to move forward and improve,” Samuels said.

“You see the guys in a different environment and stuff like that and you see so many different sides and learn so much about everyone. It’s been a good experience for all of us I think,” Samuels added. (First published in the Jamaica Gleaner)

Cilic’s drugs ban reduced following appeal

Marin Cilic’s drugs ban has been reduced from nine to four months.

Cilic tested positive for banned substance nikethamide in April and was given a suspension in September, backdated to May 1.

But the Croat’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was partially upheld, meaning he is eligible to return to competition.

The 25-year-old has won nine career titles and is a former Australian Open semi-finalist.

“The panel determined that the degree of fault committed by the athlete was inferior to that established in the [tribunal] decision,” CAS said in a statement.

Marin Cilic

“The panel also determined that the sanction imposed was too severe in view of the degree of fault and concluded that it should be

Li Na and Jelena Jankovic into WTA semi-finals

China’s Li Na moved into the semi-finals of the WTA Championships for the first time with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Victoria Azarenka in Istanbul on Friday.

World number two Azarenka needed treatment on a back injury at 2-3 in the opening set and lost the next eight games as Li eased to victory.

The result means Jelena Jankovic, who lost to Sara Errani, will meet Serena Williams in the last four.

Li will face Petra Kvitova, who saw off Angelique Kerber on Friday.

Czech Kvitova recovered well from the setback of losing the first set to her German opponent after taking a 4-1 lead.

She responded well, however, to progress 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3.

Jankovic suffered a 6-4 6-4 defeat by Errani, but it did not matter as the Italian was eliminated on Thursday.

The result meant

Jankovic, Errani and Azarenka all ended up with one win but it is the Serbian who progresses courtesy of her superior sets record.

Azarenka revealed after her defeat by Jankovic on Wednesday that she was mentally fatigued and struggling for motivation but it was a back problem that scuppered her hopes on Friday.

The Belarusian has with-

drawn 25 times either before or during matches over the past eight seasons, but she battled through against Li despite her restricted movement.

“There is a no-win situation, retiring and it being discussed,” she said when asked why she did not pull out.

“I don’t have a tournament next week. The physio told me there is no real structure damage but you can’t fix it that quickly.

“The most important thing is I just wanted to try to do my best for the fans who came and watched our match, and out of respect for my opponent.”

Victory for Li sent her beyond the group stages for the first time at the year-end championships.

“The match was not about tennis or about fitness, it was only about mentality,” she said.

“Because I thought maybe after the first set she would give up but she still tried to continue to play.”

Carey Brown is Jamaica’s new Anti-doping chief

KINGSTON, Jamaica

- A chemist employed with the government, Carey Brown, is the new executive director of the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO).

Brown replaces Renee Anne Shirley, who left the anti-doping commission almost nine months ago.

Brown’s appointment comes days before a threemember team from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) visits the island to conduct an extraordinary audit on the commission’s drug-testing programme.

The audit is also expected to focus on the first half of 2012 when it was reported that the local agency

completed one out-of-competition test on Jamaica’s track and field athletes prior to the London Olympic Games.

JADCO has come under increased scrutiny in recent months following a rash of positive doping tests by Jamaican athletes.

The organization has also been publicly criticized as well following a series of damaging articles published locally and internationally by the former executive director, Shirley, which exposed weaknesses within the commission’s testing programme.

Hafeez agrees to BBL contract with Renegades

reduced to four months.”

International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti said the ITF “respected the decision of the CAS tribunal, who agreed that an antidoping rule violation has been committed”.

“We await the full decision to better understand CAS’s reasoning for reducing the sanction,” he added.

Cilic’s ranking, which has dropped to 47, is set for an immediate boost with the return of his points from events including the French Open, Wimbledon and Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club, London, where he was runner-up to Andy Murray. (BBC Sport)

Mohammad Hafeez, the Pakistan allrounder, has agreed to a Big Bash League contract with the Melbourne Renegades.

He will miss the first two games of the tournament due to international commitments with Pakistan in the UAE. This will be the first time he will play in the Australian T20 league, which begins on December 20.

“I have agreed [to] a deal with Melbourne Renegades,” Hafeez told ESPNcricinfo. “Playing in Australia is always a tremendous experience and the opportunity will allow me to play around the best players. Since the

2015 World Cup will be in Australia, my stint will help me acquire ample acquaintance of Australian conditions.” Hafeez is currently

Pakistan’s leading run scorer in T20Is with 1093 runs, and has led the Pakistan T20 squad since June 2012 to 12 victories out of 18 matches. He last toured Australia in 2005, and had a poor run averaging just 12.50 in six ODIs. He most recently featured for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League. Hafeez was recently dropped from the Test squad for the South Africa series in the UAE, and is likely to miss out on the Tests against Sri Lanka in December. Hafeez is currently training ahead of his departure to the UAE for the limited-overs leg of the South Africa tour, which begins on October 30. (Cricinfo)

Pros and cons of switching “Nationals” from Christmas to Easter term

By Treiston Joseph

or over half a centu-

Fry that the Guyana Teachers’ Union/ Ministry of Education Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field Champions have ruled the roost as the country’s premier sporting event in schools, it has been held during the first term of school, save for sixth edition in 1965.

The historic sporting event, entering its 54th year, has brought to the fore some of the country’s best talents, some of whom went on to great things for Guyana despite a sprinkling of sponsors for the event. However, recently there have been rumblings by the MoE to have the championships moved to the second term of the school year

(Easter term).

This too has created rumblings among many stakeholders and followers of the event.

This article, therefore will seek to identify some of the advantages and disadvantages of moving the event from November to Easter.

Advantages

Fuses well with international competition

With the international season beginning in February and ending in late September, “Nationals” (as it is called locally) in November, will be coinciding with the time most countries are in their off or preseason.

However, if the tournament is moved to Easter when the international sea-

son is heating up, Guyana will be in a better position to select athletes for the Junior Carifta, World Youth and or Junior Championships and the Caribbean Union of Teacher’s (CUT) Games, which all take place between April to July.

Additionally, athletes should be in better form for “Nationals” while officials will have a better chance of seeing a larger scale of athletes from across all the regions of Guyana. This can also help to increase Guyana’s success rate at international events.

The possibility of no rain

The Christmas season is known for its rainy periods which have affected the championships in the past. A move to the Easter term can only work to the benefit

of the athletes and organisers of the championships.

Preparedness

After the Inter Schools and Zones in the Christmas term, if the event is shifted to the Easter term, organisers of the event will be able to plan better for a more successful “Nationals” and will have more time to allow the athletes from the hinterland to travel and therefore will be better prepared physically for the games.

In addition, athletes will have ample time to prepare their bodies for the event especially after going through a lengthy offseason and pre-season training regimen, allowing for a higher level of competition at the culmination during the Easter term.

Stronger athletes, fast-

Busy weekend for local riders

Local riders are in for a busy weekend with the staging of two cycling events at different parts of the country.

Today, cyclists will compete in the Payless Variety Store 11-race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park where the experienced Robin Persaud will look to defend the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race.

Persaud won in a time of one hour, 18 minutes, 42.19 seconds (01h: 18m: 42.19s) in the main event last year, but this year has not been quite the same, and no doubt the 38-year-old rider will want to successfully defend his title this Saturday and return to winning ways even as the 2013 season draws to a close.

A new champion would be crowned in the Juveniles race since last year’s winner Raul Leal, who was involved in an accident earlier this year, has not fully recovered, while Junior Niles, Nigel Jacobs and Alfie Soonaram will look to defend their respective titles.

Other races carded for the day include the Veterans Over-50 and Over-60, BMX Boys Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14 years. Action is set to pedal off at 09:00h. Representatives of Payless Variety Store of Wellington Street in Georgetown and Vreed-enHoop are expected to be pre-

sent at the event to assist in the distribution of prizes at the conclusion.

Following Saturday’s race, the riders will switch focus to the roadways on Sunday when Digicel stages the second annual Breast Cancer Awareness 78mile race from Linden to Georgetown, starting at 07:00h.

The riders of the Open category will start in Linden, while the females and veterans will commence in front of Splashmin’s Fun Park on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and finish at the National Park.

In 2012, Paul DeNobrega, was the first to cross the finish line, thereby copping top honours in both the senior and junior categories.

Geron Williams finished second, while Paul Choo Wee Nam, Enzo Matthews, Michael Anthony and Warren McKay rounded off the top six in that order.

Anthony was the runnerup in the junior category, while Raul Leal ended third.

Junior Niles was the leading rider in the Veterans’ division, with Ralph Williams and Ian Jackson claiming second and third positions respectively.

Naomi Singh was the top female rider with Linden’s Hazina Barrett settling for second spot.

This year the winner of the Open category will receive $240,000.

Fraser goes berserk in NA Town

Day 10/10 cricket

Canefield Cricket Club of East Canje became the winners of New Amsterdam Town Day Softball 10/10 cricket competition played on Thursday at the All Saints ground in New Amsterdam. In what was a controversial final, Canefield romped to a five-wicket win over favorites Memorex with one ball to spare.

Batting first, Memorex rattled up 149 for 5 off their allotted overs. Washeid Edwards topscored with 38 and Vishal Phillips was

left not out on 26 while Roy Jafferally made 25.

In reply Canefield were 32 for 3 when it was discovered that Memorex had 12 players on the field which resulted in a long delay.

The innings was built around West Berbice batsman Keith Fraser who batted at number three. Fraser struck eight sixes and eight fours to finish unbeaten of 84. He got support from Joshua Diaram who chipped in with 16.

The two put on 102 for the third wicket and when

Diaram departed, Canefield needed 32 off four overs.

However, Memorex seized the opportunity to get back in the game and had Canefield looking for 20 off the last two overs and eleven off the last over. Canefield reached home with one ball to spare after Fraser was able to get back on strike with three balls left in the innings.

Extras accounted for 32 on the scoresheet.

Canefield received the GT&T trophy, along with

$20,000 while the Man-ofthe-Match went to Fraser. Earlier Canefield squeezed pass Universal DVD in an opening thriller. Batting first, Universal DVD scored 115 for 8 off 10 overs. In reply Canefield made 116 for nine off 9.5 overs.

In the other game Memorex made easy work of Number 19 All Star. Batting first Memorex piled on 173 for 5 and in reply Number 19 All Star were bundled out for 60 in seven overs.

(Andrew Carmichael)

er times can only result in more international success.

The key to a successful athlete is always his foundation and once offseason is rushed there would not top class performances at the event.

Disadvantages

Examination period

With a move to the Easter term, “Nationals” can affect the students set to write the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), along with those preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) from March-April and May-June respectively, not forgetting the regular end-of-term assessments.

Due to the fact that these exams are in the second and third terms of the year, student/athletes gravitate more to their exams which will af-

fect the championships and vice versa.

Possibility of more Injuries

During the Easter term junior athletes locally are faced with a number of local competitions. Adding international events and along with “Nationals” athletes can get burned out, increasing the possibility injury. In addition, due to the fact that Guyana has no synthetic track and the championships are contested on uneven surfaces, heightens the possibility of injury to prominent junior athletes.

On the other hand, the event should benefit more from a change from November. However such a change can only be made by the better judgments and considerations of the relevant stakeholders.

LABA officials to meet to discuss GABF ban, fate of Roberts

The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) will make a final pronouncement on their suspension by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) today.

LABA was suspended indefinitely after the association failed to reinstate Dwayne “Brown Sugar” Roberts upon the orders from the GABF.

Roberts, who was initially banned for six month and fined $15,000 for injuring a referee after throwing a ball at him during a game, was subsequently banned for six years after alleged making threats to a LABA official.

However, Roberts appealed the decision at the level of the GABF that subsequently wrote LABA to reinstate the former national player.

LABA stood their ground and was suspended by the governing association indef-

initely which caused a stir among the Retrieve Raiders that sat out of a semi-final encounter in the recently concluded Trophy Stall final.

Such action caused the LABA to meet with the Linden club on Thursday evening to discuss the suspension of the association, along with the suspension of Roberts.

President of LABA Haslyn Graham related to Guyana Times Sport that the position of LABA on Roberts suspension will remain the same, pending another meeting among LABA executives that was scheduled for Friday evening.

“The meeting (Thursday’s meeting) did come off but we are going to meet as an executive body and review some suggestions made to us by the GABF and based on that discussion we will come to a decision,” Graham stated in an invited comment.

Hearts of Oak football tourney winds down to grand final

Canje took on North New Amsterdam in the semi-final of the Hearts of Oak Masters FC Inter-Ward football tournament while Central NA will take on South NA in the second semi-final on Friday evening at the All Saints ground, Princess Elizabeth Road.

In recent action North NA ensured that Fyrish would not reach this stage of the competition when they thrashed them 3-1. Delroy Ferdinand shooting with pin point accuracy, netting a double in the 37th and 54th minutes while Delon Feria scored in the 49th minute. Fyrish pulled one back in the 56th minute to salvage some pride.

In the other game played, Rose Hall also lost to a similar margin to Central NA. The game was completely dominated by the Joseph brothers with Jamal scoring in the 45th and 55th minutes and Kelvin, in the 60th

The goalkeeper goes too far out and A Romallus scores for

minute. A. Romallus scored the consolation goal for Rose Hall in the 30 minute.

Rose Hall finished the game with 10 players after S. Batson was given his sec-

Sixty players to receive retainer contracts from January

FLORIDA, United States - President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, has reminded that some 60 players are to receive retainer contracts in the New Year as part of the Caribbean Premier League licensing arrangement.

Cameron was speaking in Florida where the West Indies cricketers are participating in a week-long team building camp ahead of tours of India and New Zealand.

“Starting in January, at least 60 players will have regional retainer contracts for the first time. We will also ensure that the support staff is in place in the territories as well,” Cameron said in an interview with the Gleaner.

These 60 regional retainer contracts will be in addition to the 15 Annual Central Retainer Contracts which is offered centrally by the WICB. “I intend to keep building on this relationship, as a matter of priority, and as time goes on there’s more to come.”

Cameron also spoke in glowing terms about the relationship between the WICB and the West Indies Players Associations (WIPA), organizations which have been at loggerheads over a range of issues from player contracts to disputes involving top players like Chris Gayle.

The WICB president says he has been seeking to patch the holes and bring both organisations closer in an effort to create a stronger West Indies cricket product and that the two organsations will soon sign a new Memorandum of Understanding and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“You will notice that we have not had any public spat with our players’ association,” said Cameron.

“This, I think, I’m most encouraged about, because at the heart of the sport are the players. The relationship I believe is evolving positively. As a matter of fact, we have been able to settle a number of matters out of court, clearing the way for a new MOU/CBA”.

Cameron is certain that a better working relationship between the WICB and WIPA will allow both to take full advantage of the commercial potential of West Indies cricket.

“One of the big opportunities for increasing revenues lies in merchandising rights and licensing. We have not really been able to tap into this area for a number of reasons,” said Cameron.

“… but one of the biggest impediments was the negative atmosphere that existed between the players and the board. Remember, the players are who sell merchandise. Now that we’re improving those relations, I expect we will be better able to pursue those opportunities”. (CMC/WICB)

ond yellow card in the 58th minute for dangerous play.

After being warned once Batson attacked a striker which resulted in his own

goalkeeper being injured. A penalty was awarded and the young Joseph made no mistake against the new goalkeeper, who was taken

from the midfield to stand between the uprights.

Canje are still to lose a game in the competition while South NA is the other

Lack of role models hurting Guyana’s cricket, says Dr Winston McGowan

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Historian Dr Winston McGowan said a lack of modern day role model cricketers is one of the main obstacles hurting the development of the game locally.

McGowan made the disclosure during “A Conversation about Cricket” panel discussion at the Moray House Trust (MHT), Camp and Quamina Streets, on Thursday evening. Other panelists were former England and West Indies Captains Mike Atherton and Clive Lloyd respectively. They engaged the audience of cricketers, past and present, and cricket aficionados on the glory days of cricket, especially in the West Indies and the way forward for the Caribbean side after a decline.

The event was sponsored by NEW GPC INC/Limacol, the official sponsor of the in-

augural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 tournament held in July and August, and the franchise owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

“In a sense we don’t have cricketers, you don’t have really what you can say cricket role models. I mean we only had two world class players over the last

10 years, Chanderpaul and Sarwan, and to an extent Carl Hooper. Our problem is quality players are not coming through our system. New players don’t have role models.

“We don’t have people who we can look up to in cricket and that is disappointing. Some of us hoped that people like Assad

Fudadin and Narsingh Deonarine would have developed into world class players, but that is not so. Deonarine in particular, when he was sixteen I really felt he would have been another Chanderpaul but that is not so. So I think we are lacking really, in terms of successful cricketers,” McGowan opined.

Concern McGowan, once a professor at the University of Guyana, said the situation is definitely a cause for concern, not only for the game locally, but regionally.

“It’s a concern, because historically it was Guyana and Barbados that really constituted the strength of West Indies cricket, but

things changed because we are becoming a bigger territory in terms of more and more islands contributing to the team. West Indies cricket has never done well without the Guyanese and Barbadian input in the past.

“The track record shows that when Guyana succeeds, the West Indies do as well,” McGowan concluded.

Pybus appointed Director of Cricket

T JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board on Thursday announced that Richard Pybus has been appointed Director of Cricket.

Pybus has been appointed on a three year contract which will commence on November 1.

Pybus, an Englishman, is the former Pakistan Head Coach and worked extensively in South Africa where he served in the capacities of Head Coach, Professional Cricket Manager and Consultant Coach with award winning sides Titans, Border, Cape Cobras and Nashua Dolphins.

Pybus was Head Coach of Pakistan during the 1999 to 2003 period. He also coached the Titans and Cobras to a total of nine titles which is a South African coaching record in first class and franchise cricket.

The 49 year old led the establishment of the Border Cricket Academy and served as its first Director. He is English and South African trained

and is a Level 4 qualified coach.

WICB Chief Executive Officer

Michael Muirhead commented that Pybus emerged after a rigorous in-

ternational recruitment process which saw a diverse range of applicants both from the Caribbean and internationally.

“Securing the services of Richard is a major coup for the WICB as he is a rounded professional whose skills and expertise are renowned and recognized throughout the cricketing world,” Muirhead said.

“I look forward to Richard joining us in Antigua and enhancing the work which we are doing so as to ensure that all the necessary structures are in place to allow West Indian cricketers to develop and flourish regionally and internationally,” Muirhead said.

“He has extensive knowledge in designing and managing successful cricket development systems both at the grassroots and elite levels and we look forward to him building on the work we have already done in putting the various critical foundational elements in place,” Muirhead added.

Pybus said he is both delighted

and honoured to be on board with the WICB.

“I am delighted and honoured to accept this key role in West Indies Cricket and to help build on the progress that has been made in recent years. I am particularly looking forward to working with the West Indies teams, the First Class sides, the High Performance Program and the educational structures to ensure a rigorous, competitive system that feeds through elite players to international level,” Pybus said from his South Africa base before departing for the West Indies today.

Pybus holds a degree in Media, Literature, Communications and Cultural Studies from Portsmouth University and a post graduate certificate in Further Education from Greenwich University.

He is also a certified Master Mental Skills Coach. Pybus will be based at the WICB Secretariat in Antigua. He is married and father of three children. (WICB Media)