Guyana Times International

The simultaneous resignations of three reporters from the Guyana Times newspaper following the refusal of one of them to read a story involving the proprietor of the Kaieteur News, as an anchor on the affiliated Evening News of Television Guyana (TVG) raises the issue of fear that has been generated in the hearts of many by Glenn Lall and his newspaper.

It is now clear that the fear of being harmed by Lall has spread into the journalistic fraternity, who are supposed to investigate entities and individuals who exert such a chilling effect on such a wide swathe of society.

The launching of this newspaper in 2008 earned the ire of the Kaieteur News and its owner, who, up to then, had been very supportive of the incumbent government and its officials. The announced strategy of this newspaper, to adopt a "developmentalist" approach to its reporting, which rejected a reflexive antagonistic approach to the government in the quest to further human development in the country, must have stirred fears of the Kaieteur News viability.

This was made clearer when early on, Guyana Times garnered wide acceptance, even though it also eschewed the sensationalistic approach of the Kaieteur News.

Using its well-honed techniques of yellow journalism, however, the latter went after Guyana Times, accusing it of benefiting from "favours" from the government. One of those was the receipt of advertisements from the government, of which the Kaieteur News had a monopoly when its older rival, Stabroek News, did not receive such ads and was forced to protest.

The Kaieteur News, during that period, reaped the benefits of its monopoly and never once displayed support for the Stabroek News’ complaint. In fact, it derided that newspaper.

But with the three private papers sharing the government advertisements with the state- owned Guyana Chronicle, the Kaieteur News kept up its vendetta against Guyana Times, its owner and soon, the other companies owned by the latter.

When the government did not relent in its policy of encouraging a widening of the media space, the government itself became the target of the Kaieteur News’ yellow journalism. A campaign to expose "government corruption" soon became a weapon to settle scores with anyone who dared to disagree with Glenn Lall.

Lall's reputation also intimidated many of his victims from responding.

In a cable from the local U. S. embassy’s political officer, to the U. S. State Department, as revealed by WikiLeaks, Lall had been described as having a "sketchy past" with ties to the criminal "underworld", and engaging in backtracking or "alien smuggling". It was revealed that he regularly passed on information about his friends and acquaintances in the business world to the U. S. embassy, accusing them of criminal activities.

His visa had been revoked in 2006 and it is surmised he engaged in such "snitching" to have his visa renewed, which it eventually was.

In the wake of recent efforts by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to have Guyana comply with its international proposals to curb the international flow of funds from illegal activities by passing the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill (AMLCFT), Guyana Times and its affiliated media outlets decided to conduct a series of investigative journalistic pieces about the practices of Lall as alleged by the U. S. embassy.

This investigation into Lall’s public reputation began as far back as the early 1990s when he was accused of being allegedly involved in the killing of an individual in Agricola. Numerous stories of his alleged backtracking activities, which breached the vaunted Homeland Security, which the U. S. threw up after 2001, surfaced.

It was also alleged that he is the real owner of a Georgetown shopping mall, hidden by a wall of frontmen and paper corporations, which suggested an alleged massive money laundering operation by Lall.

The fear of the reporters of Glenn Lall is real and is also expressed by others who have remained with the company. If the journalistic fraternity of Guyana is to be taken seriously, it must not back away from investigating the source of this fear. The Guyana Times remains committed to its duty.

Int’l media groups urged to condemn threats to press freedom in Guyana

Guyana Times, which is part of a media group that also includes Television Guyana Inc (TVG), Radio Guyana Inc (RGI), and publications in New York and Canada, is calling on all international press associations to condemn the threats to press freedom and media intimidation in Guyana.

The call is being made by the newspaper on the heels of a recent incident which has seen one of its staff members resigning on November 5 out

of fear for her life, after she was asked to present a news report, as anchor, on the owner of the Kaieteur News, Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall.

The group has informed several regional and international associations about the circumstances surrounding the resignation, which was followed by two others on the same day in sympathy for their colleague’s fear.

As of November 6, more newsroom staff expressed similar fear for their safety and lives, in particular if

they are asked to pursue any stories with respect to Lall, including those that have to do with his ownership of companies through the corporate veil of personalities being used as aprons.

The group regrets the decision taken by the reporters who have departed and wishes them well for the future.

“It is indeed a sad day when journalists have to operate in fear of certain personalities, because they dare to investigate them and make public their findings,” the group said. It added that journalists ought to be able to do their jobs without any fear of consequences at the hands of those whom they publish stories on. The media group is in the process of bolstering security for its staff in view of this recent development. The group is, therefore, calling earnestly on media associations in the region and beyond to speak out against such intimidation and threats to freedom of the press in Guyana.

Media body concerned about reporters’ fear

The Independent Media Workers Association of Guyana (IMAG) has expressed its deep concern over the resignation of Guyana Times reporter/ Television Guyana news anchor Leana Bradshaw and her colleagues Whitney Persaud and Sabatini Daniels.

In a statement, IMAG said it understands that Bradshaw resigned because she was afraid for her life after being asked to present a news item concerning the own-

er and publisher of the Kaieteur newspaper, Glenn Lall.

“IMAG believes that the expression of fear in the execution of professional journalistic duties is a troubling development in the Guyana media landscape, which is deserving of much attention and discussion. IMAG is in solidarity with the reporters who resigned as it considers the safety and well-being of journalists to be a most sacrosanct cornerstone of the profession.”

Concerns

The body said it stood in the defence of the media’s right to report fear-

lessly on any public official or issue where the news is in the public’s interest. In particular,

Guyana Times ’ efforts to pursue issues it considers to be in the public’s interest should also be safeguarded within the confines of freedom of the press. IMAG has contacted Bradshaw and her colleagues to discuss their concerns.

Bradshaw, resigned on Tuesday, citing fear for her safety in light of a recent series of explosive, investigative articles about Kaieteur News’ owner and publisher Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall.

On Sunday, the reporter had initially met with an editor and explained that she had serious reservations about reading a story concerning Lall on television, as she believed she could be identified and targeted. Later that afternoon, when the reporter was told to read the story, she demurred and subsequently, without the knowledge and approval of the editor, excised the story about Lall from the newscast for the Sunday Evening News.

INTERNATIONAL

To contact:

Guyana Times International

New York Office

106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435

Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com

Tel no: 718-658-6804

Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel no: (592) 227-0704, 227-0709. Fax (592) 225-8696, 227-0685

Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Fighting HIV/AIDS

World AIDS Day, which will be observed on December 1, brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/ AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in face of the pandemic.

Countries pledged in 2011 to take specific steps to achieve ambitious goals by 2015 as it relates to the HIV/ AIDS fight. While some have already made measurable progress and are closer to achieving the targets agreed to, there is still much work for others to do before they can get the desired results.

According to a report by UNAIDS, 34 million people around the world are now thought to have the virus that causes AIDS. It should also be noted that the number of new infections in adults has stayed broadly stable for the past four years – at about 2.5 million new cases a year.

We here in the Caribbean region can boast of several successes in relation to our HIV response and perhaps other countries can use our experiences as a model to design and implement critical HIV/ AIDS programmes.

Regional health officials have confirmed recently that there has been a reduction in the number of new HIV infections annually in the Caribbean. At a high level Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/ AIDS (PANCAP) meeting of National AIDS Programme managers, senior health officials and HIV and AIDS regional partners held in Port of Spain, there were several accomplishments outlined. These include improved access to HIV treatment and care and a high likelihood of eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV in the Caribbean.

It was further noted that significant progress had been made in reducing HIV stigma throughout the region.

Participants were, however, concerned that recent studies showed that stigma and discrimination within the health sector still remained and needed to be systematically addressed and the practice of confidentiality reinforced.

Of interest too is that the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting noted that the region could benefit from more open acknowledgement and discussion of sex and sexuality so that more accurate information flows to youths and maturing adults could be fostered. It was also observed that the current approach to youth sexuality was impaired by personal discomfort and outmoded norms.

The importance of achieving universal access to HIV treatment and the value of providing earlier lifelong treatment for persons living with HIV, while ensuring that the quality of care and adherence to medication were maintained was also emphasised.

Additionally, it was agreed at the meeting that through the PANCAP Justice for All Programme, the region had an opportunity to accelerate its HIV response and include persons at higher risk who continued to face real discrimination in their daily lives.

UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team Director, Dr Ernest Massiah, said that more needs to be done to address the prejudice and social inequities that operate to make some people, both more vulnerable to HIV infection and less likely to access prevention, testing, treatment and care services.

He was quoted as saying that young people, men who have sex with men and sex workers are among the populations that need targeted investments and more protective environments through a combination of social dialogue, increased tolerance and law reform.

We applaud the efforts made by the Caribbean, including Guyana, in the fight against HIV/ AIDS, and urge that no room is left for complacency. While we have noted the challenge of funding for crucial HIV/ AIDS programmes in the region, we believe that in order to sustain the advances made, governments and international donor partners need to put more money and effort towards ensuring that their HIV programmes can be sustained. The region cannot afford to take chances in dealing with this dreaded disease.

The calm before the storm

as dusk descended, the Parliament building was the picture of tranquillity on wednesday. Quite the opposite of the fractious session expected today (thursday) when the much-delayed antimoney laundering and countering the Financing of terrorism (amendment) bill is expected to be the focus as guyana struggles to beat a november 18 deadline for its passage

UG to see transformation necessary for 21st century education

By Samuel Sukhnandan

As the University of Guyana (UG) celebrates 50 years of existence, there is much to be proud of, but yet there are still many areas which need serious attention for the institution to develop into one that meets international standards.

The “Jagan Night School”, as it was previously called, churns out approximately 2000 students yearly. This number is likely to grow, as the Guyanese economy continues to expand, thereby creating more job opportunities for a growing population.

The demand for higher education is also likely to increase as well. These are all reasons for the university to constantly improve, to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Touching on the positive achievements made by the university, there is no doubt that some improvement has taken place over the years that has helped to improve the university’s status. The most evident of these examples is the move to strengthen certain programmes, especially in the Social Sciences Faculty.

Study

Besides this, there are many programmes being offered at the university that do not attract a large number of students and are not relevant to Guyana’s changing economy. These and other issues were identified as part of a study done by Trevor Hamilton and Associates, an international management consultant firm, which carried out a study in 2012.

The study focused on enhancing the regulatory framework and operational proce-

dures systems and structures at the university.

The consultants found that government’s financial contribution is declining as a percentage, and in real terms, mainly due to extremely limited fiscal capacity.

In its review of effectiveness and the possibilities for improvement, the firm found that there are currently no policy mechanisms to encourage private investment in educational services at UG.

It was also noted in the report that the governance regime of the tertiary institution is primarily government bureaucracy, with 42 percent of the council members being politically and government appointed.

The more damaging of these findings is that the legal and governance structures are inhibiting private investment. Added to that, it found that UG can ill-afford to recruit and retain staff because salaries are determined by government

wage containment policies.

The study also found that UG is not exploiting the opportunities to operate profit centres and its potential network of connections with employers, mainly in the private sector, as well as the Guyanese diaspora, professional organisations and its alumni.

It also found that UG does not have enough legal provisions to effectively mobilise income from non-tuition and non-government resources.

Further, the consultants found that there is no rigid accountability for performance and productivity, with its viability threatened, because it over-concentrates on high school graduates and only 0.6 percent of the student population is foreign students, mainly because UG is not a high-tech labour-market oriented institution.

Crisis

UG Council member, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told Guyana Times International that it is generally recognised that there is a crisis as it relates to finance and governance operations of the council, faculty and department.

A special committee that will oversee the appointment of a new council that will work to transform UG is being chaired by Dr Roopnaraine.

The committee will be resuming work during the next sitting to look at appointing a new, fully constituted council to ensure that UG has a governing body that has the capacity to transform the institution into a true national asset.

The committee will also be looking at recommendations that relate to the amendments to the laws and statutes of the university.

WPO mourns passing of Anoopwattie Vereen

The Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) in Guyana said the news of the death of Mrs Anoopwattie Vereen was truly shocking. “No one expected that when she took ill on Friday 18th, that she would not have recovered. So it was natural that all her friends and family breathed a sigh of relief when she showed sign of recovery which unfortunately did not last,” WPO said in a statement.

In reflecting on the life of Vereen, the WPO said she was a remarkable woman, noting that one cannot help but appreciate what a loving and caring person she was.

“The village of Helena No. Two and the environs of Mahaica are still in shock. Ms Vereen was the chairperson of the NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council], a justice of the peace and commissioner of affidavits who whether night and day was at the beck and call of those who

needed help. She was on the local board of guardians and made it her duty to ensure that all who needed help were given.”

The children who needed lessons flocked to her bottom-house classes, because her results were also excellent, the WPO said, adding that the young people whom she encouraged to become involved in the Rising Star cultural group benefited from her experience and patience.

“The WPO group in Mahaica, which she led for more than 14 years grew from strength to

strength not only in numbers but in exposure and confidence.

She was in the PPP Central Committee, as well as the WPO Central Committee and secretariat.

She traversed the length and breadth of Guyana to train women on local government issues through the National Democratic Institute.

“She was a teacher by profession and served in the capacity of headmistress of her school. Ms Vereen was a great country and western singer and was not shy when called upon to give a rendition.

She was also involved in the Mandir of her community,” the WPO said.

It added that Vereen had four biological children but “was a mother to all the children she taught and mentored… Guyana has lost a wonderful daughter who served her homeland with dignity, patience, commitment and courage.”

week ending november 10, 2013

Ramotar signs into law three local govt bills – fourth

President Donald Ramotar has assented to three of the four local government reform bills passed in the National Assembly on August 8. The Fiscal Transfer Act, the Municipal and District Council Amendment Act, and the Local Government Commission Act became law on Wednesday with the president’s assent.

The president’s assent came close to three months after the bills crucial to the holding of local government elections under a new regime were passed.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon made this disclosure on Wednesday at the Office of the President.

still being reviewed

According to him, the three acts are now before the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs.

However, the contentious Local Government Amendment Bill under which the opposition vested financial and administrative powers in the Local Government Commission, removing them from the subject ministry, is still before President Ramotar.

The bills were the source of heated debate between the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic and the joint parliamentary opposition comprising the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

After being passed in the National Assembly, the bills were sent to the attorney general’s chambers for scrutiny. Politicians subsequently became involved in a back- and-forth discussion over the length of time the bills were before

the attorney general, with even the diplomatic community weighing in on the situation.

Approximately one week ago, United States Ambassador to Guyana, D Brent Hardt and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre expressed concern over the delay, noting that the legislative process should reign supreme.

“Let’s get on with the elections early next year, and let’s have a new start for Guyana local government... I think that this could have a transformational impact on the country by reconnecting people with their government,” Ambassador Ayre was quoted as saying.

Whether the final bill will be assented to remains a major question. Dr Luncheon had this to say on that issue: “Just

like time has resolved the three, I assumed that time will resolve the fourth.”

After 19 years of waiting for local government elections, which were last held in 1994, Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud said the bills are not a prerequisite.

He noted that the polls can be executed under the Local Authorities (Elections Amendment) Act that was assented to by former President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2009. This particular legislation cleared the way for GECOM to carry out its mandate of hosting local elections through the introduction of a new system.

The minister had said that “the ministry has all that is required for the holding of local government elections... and based on that prem-

ise if we have everything in readiness, we should go ahead.”

Minister Persaud added that Guyana could expect local government elections by the third quarter of 2014. The ministry is currently monitoring the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The commission has conducted approximately 7000 transactions ahead of the closing of its fifth cycle of continuous registration on November 23. The Local Government Ministry also has given the greenlight for GECOM to commence its public awareness programme.

Reports indicating an elevated deforestation rate misleading – Natural Resources Ministry

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has dismissed comments and articles on Guyana’s Third

National Report, indicating an elevated deforestation rate, as misinter-

pretations.

In a release, the ministry noted that the third national report stating the deforestation rate for the year 2012, under the Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) System for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus Sustainable

0.079 per cent. This rate of change is higher than Year Two period (15 months), which was reported as 0.054 per cent.

Recognition

Similar to that of the Year Two period, mining remains the main driver of deforestation in Year Three. Mining accounts for 92 per cent or 13,516 hectares of the total de-

Forest Management), has been jointly produced by the Guyana Forestry Commission and Indufor, and is currently being subjected to an independent accuracy assessment conducted by the University of Durham, United Kingdom.

The report summarises change of forest to non-forest, excluding degradation between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012, at an estimated 14,655 hectares. Over the Year Three reporting period, this equates to a total deforestation rate of

forestation figure recorded in 2012.

However, it is important to note that mining marginally increased from the previous year from 9175 hectares to 13,516 hectares, thus resulting in a difference of 4341 hectares. Of the 4341 hectares, mining infrastructure (road construction) accounted for 1434 hectares; hence, mining activities saw an increase of only 2907 hectares.

“Considering the issues with timely accessing of Norway funds, we need to appreciate the guaranteed and in-

creasing funds that are flowing from our mining sector every year. The positive contributions from the mining sector should not be hastily disregarded, as it contributes to approximately 11 per cent of the country’s GDP and, directly and indirectly employs roughly 30,000 people.

For the same Year Three period, the mining industry earned the government US$ 716 million in foreign exchange.

“Further, we must remain cognisant of the fact that the spatial distribution of mining activities remains very much unchanged. The maps in the report illustrate that mining is heavily concentrated in the mining belts, particularly in the north-west region of Guyana. It is important not to be misguided that the mining sector at large occurs haphazardly and in an uncontrolled manner. There is no basis for a presumption that an increase in mining activity in Guyana, leading to the observed increase in deforestation for the year 2012, is on account of widespread illegal mining activity. With the high prices of gold in 2012, supported by the associated increase in demand for permits, claims and licences, there is evidence of an increase in legal mining activities for this period,” the ministry said.

Families of slain pressmen demand justice - as

Glenn Lall remains silent

The families of the six Kaieteur News pressmen who were gunned down in cold blood at the newspaper’s printing press back in August 2006 are disappointed that they have not heard from the police despite a series of recent articles in the media.

Guyana Times and the Evening News have

nah gat anybody to go to. The police nah say nothing to us in a long time. De government ain’t even doin anything. We don’t know what they afraid of,” one family member said.

The police are also yet to confirm whether or not the matter is considered closed as far as investigations are concerned.

had embarked on a fund-raising effort, reportedly to assist the family members of the victims in the wake of the shooting incident. But it is alleged that not all of the millions of dollars raised were used for that purpose. And even now, no one knows for sure the total amount of money collected by Lall, who continues to be silent

that her identity not be revealed publicly, visibly afraid for her safety, as well as her children’s. The family members of those killed also say they have been waiting for answers from Lall, but none have been forthcoming.

There has been widespread speculation that the slain pressmen were collateral damage

workmen dem dead and gone and nobody remember we. But that is life.”

The killings occurred during a period of unprecedented crime in Guyana from 2000 to 2006, which sent shockwaves throughout the nation.

Seven years ago, the Kaieteur News printery at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, came

been carrying a series of investigative pieces on the mass murder which occurred on the evening of August 8, 2006. “We glad that Guyana Times and Evening News remember us. That day come and gone and nobody get time with us. We

Recently, the family members also cried foul over the money “supposedly” raised for them in the wake of the killings.

The owner and publisher of the muckraking, opposition-aligned Kaieteur News, Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall,

despite many calls for him to come clean with the families.

Millions of dollars were reportedly raised, but the amount of funds handed out for relief to the family members did not add up, said one relative.

The relative begged

for a deal gone sour.

When pressed as to why they expect answers from Lall and not the police, one family member said, “Everybody in Guyana know the truth. Even the police know the truth. But we still nah get justice yet. The

under attack by gunmen, who are believed to be connected to Lall.

Chetram Persaud, of 76 CC Eccles, East Bank Demerara; Eion Wegman, 47, of 51 Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown; Richard Stewart, 24, of 239

Lamaha Park, East La Penitence, Georgetown; Mark Maikoo, 22, of 5 Yarrow Dam, La Penitence, Georgetown, and Shazeem Mohamed of 267 BB Eccles, East Bank Demerara, were shot point-blank and killed.

Another worker, Wordsworth Grey, of 31 Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, was shot dead shortly before the killers stormed the printery.

Senior pressman Ramchand Harripersaud and security guard Julian De Grace were the only survivors of the bloodshed.

Mayor’s wife pays up taxes

– but Lall, Ram yet to do so

The wife of Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, Jenifer Basdeo-Green has paid the full Gy$ 10.2 million owed in rates and taxes for her Jelante Pharmacy on Mandela Avenue to the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC).

This is according to M& CC acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba. She said on Wednesday there was some misunderstanding regarding this issue, but she was happy that the payment was made in such a timely manner.

“I am happy to say that Mayor Hamilton Green wife who was indebted to this council for Gy$ 10.2 million and who has done all kinds of things in writing has paid in full,” Sooba stated.

She said payment was made by way of a manager’s cheque and she personally thanked the mayor for allowing good sense to prevail in the matter.

“Mayor Green has set the pace and, therefore, Glenn Lall and Bhena Lall and Christopher Ram should either follow the example of Mayor Green’s wife who paid in

full her rates and taxes or face the court of law,” Sooba declared.

The acting town clerk stated that media reports that seem to suggest that the M& CC will no longer collect owed taxes from Christopher Ram and the Lalls, who are being sued for the outstanding amounts, are false.

She said there was no deal made to have their taxes reduced or omitted from the books. Sooba also asserted that the position of the public relations officer of the council, Royston King, is not necessarily the same as the council, as he is speaking for himself and not the council.

news owner and publisher mohan lall, aka glenn lall

Home for Diwali

Several persons have been sued by the City Council for non-payment of rates and taxes.

Rajpati Latchmansingh owes Gy$ 9.2 million for his Lot 38 Cummings Street, Alberttown, Georgetown

property. Garland Lodge owes Gy$ 2.4 million for Lot 134 Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown; and Charles James, Gy$ 5.2 million for Lot 21 Werk- EnRust, Georgetown. Ram is indebted to the council for Gy$ 11.3 million for properties on Waterloo Street, Georgetown, while Lall and his wife owe more than Gy$ 5.6 million in taxes for a Lot 24 Saffon Street, Georgetown property. The cases were filed by Attorney Sandil Kissoon from the Kissoon and Kissoon Law Firm on behalf of the M& CC.

Four receive CoS 2012/2013 CSEC Awards

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Tuesday presented its 2012/ 2013 Chief-of-Staff Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) Awards, to four deserving young women. Receiving the awards were Maya Phillips, daughter of Chief-ofStaff, Brigadier Mark Phillips; Roopa Devi Seenarine, daughter of the late Lieutenant Commander Coast Guard, Latchman Seenarine; Belinda Frelicia Bess, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey Bess; and Crystal Crawford, daughter of GDF civilian employee, Michelle Crawford.

Each was awarded Gy$ 100,000 for gaining at least five grade ones, with an additional Gy$ 25,000 being awarded for every additional grade one earned.

Seenarine gained 10 grade ones. Phillips and Bess scored seven a piece, while Crawford earned five grade ones. Congratulating and toasting the awardees, Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Phillips urged the young ladies to press on to higher heights. “We are happy to present you with these awards and, although the force does not offer a reward at the tertiary level, we wish you to press forward. We believe that it is fitting that the children of our

servicemen and women benefit from their parents service to the force and the nation,” he said, adding: “We look forward to your continued excellence and wish you well in your chosen fields of study. You are to become professionals and serve Guyana. Continue achieving and do your best; the sky is the limit.”

Seenarine, who aspires to a career in either business or accountancy, thanked the chief-of-staff and the GDF for appreciating and acknowledging the achievements of herself and fellow awardees.

She aims to soon be employed and simultaneously pursue private management and accounting studies.

By Anu Dev

“As truth be told, homecoming never gets old” – Hlovate

Ihadn’t fully realised just how much I missed home until it dawned on me that the reason I was in a fantastically upbeat mood all of last week was because I was going home for the weekend. For a while I worried that maybe I was getting used to the Trini food!

Diwali has always been one of the festivals that’s important to my family and me, so I was thrilled that I got to spend Diwali at home, my first year away. For me, Diwali is inextricably linked with my childhood memories and good times. Peaceful times. This is the perfect break to give me some time to decompress from the rigours of med school life. And, of course, it’s just the best thing in the world to eat my mom’s cooking again. (Well, an uncle did drop off a “care package” of mom’s home cooking a few weeks ago – but that quickly became a distant memory!).

I visited the Leonora Market Saturday and I was pleased to see that Diwali preparations seemed to be in full-swing. I saw a lot of smiling old faces. There were vendors selling diyas literally a foot away from each other. I guess it doesn’t get more competitive than that! And of course there are enough fireworks being sold to light up the sky for possibly the rest of the year. But surprisingly I didn’t really hear too many Diwali bhajans being played.

Phillips and Crawford are already students at the University of Guyana pursuing a bachelor’s of science degree in medical technology and associate degree in physics programmes respectively.

Both are aspiring doctors.

Meanwhile, Bess, an aspiring auditor, is pursuing the foundation in accountancy programme at the Accountancy Training Centre.

The GDF Chief-ofStaff’s CSEC Awards are presented annually, to the children of serving officers and ranks, and civilian employees of the force. To be eligible, one must have gained a minimum of five grade ones at CSEC.

But Diwali was definitely in the air. As my dad drove into the village from the airport Friday night, we had to take a different route, since the Dharmic Diwali West Coast Motorcade and programme was winding down in fine style at the end of Uitvlugt. I know I’ve been in a ‘Diwali-mood’ for the past week. “Diwali ayaa re”, anyone?

I was looking forward to the whole experience of cooking Diwali sweets, lighting up the diyas and of course singing Diwali bhajans. I was especially looking forward to the cooking (and the eating that follows, if you don’t mind!). And just soaking up my home vibes.

And by the happiest of serendipities, my birthday happened to be Saturday – the day before Diwali. So it’s beyond incredible that I got to turn 18 at home. My family’s planning, my school’s schedule and the date for Diwali were all aligned! I’m finally an adult! But if the truth be told, I haven’t gotten any blindingly spectacular epiphanies about adulthood yet.

I’m just relieved that I’ve successfully ploughed through the first two months of living on my own.

But while I was in Guyana I had planned to enjoy and savour every second of my time at home.

It really did feel good to be home. “Home sweet home” is not just a cliché…it says it all.

Golfing in Guyana: a new attribute of tourism

Dear Editor,

The golfing fraternity in Guyana is quickly expanding, comprising a dynamic group of individuals including foreigners, diplomats, academics, business people, and local residents. Digicel Guyana is expected to host a two-day premier tournament scheduled for this weekend. So far, more than 70 local and foreign golfers have confirmed their participation in the upcoming event. The expectations are great and there is tangible excitement in the air.

Aside from the nature of the competition, the establishment of golf in Guyana has resulted in many Guyanese returning for this tournament.

Additionally, the tournament tends to draw the presence of quite a few significant individuals in today’s society. This event is indeed an opportunity to promote Guyana and the development of golf tourism in our country.

In countries like Scotland, Spain, New Zealand and India, golfing tourism is colossal. Golfers of all levels go to the extremes to enjoy a game of golf. The high influx of golf tourists in these countries reflects greatly upon them, including the need for services such as tour operators, hoteliers, and golf course and golf service providers.

Guyana has the potential to benefit great-

ly from golfing tourism. Approximately 30 of the individuals expected to participate in this weekend’s event are overseas based.

Certainly, we can have arrangements made for holiday packages incorporating golfing activities to be developed.

As it relates to the appreciation for golf locally, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony has publicised his commitment to support the sport, in addition to assuring members of his obligation to ensure that the access road to the golf course will be properly maintained.

Sincerely,

Kayla Geoffrey

The opposition seems undisturbed by recent gun crimes

Dear Editor,

The head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon recently expressed his disappointment as it relates to the increase in crime in Guyana and personally, I find it disturbing. Statistics reveal that there has been a five percent increase in crime, when compared to the same period in 2012. Robbery under arms has been identified as a major factor in the increase in crime in Guyana.

It is common knowledge that firearms are not manufactured in Guyana, but can easily become accessible to criminals via illegal entry into the country.

I recall in March of this year, the parliamentary opposition voted against the amendment of the firearms act, which was primarily seeking to strengthen enforcement against illicit and illegal firearms entering Guyana.

There has been a worldwide fight against gun crime, so, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the combined opposition would vote against such a muchneeded regulation.

On the contrary, literature shows that criminals are deterred by higher penalties as well as knowing that potential victims have the ability to defend themselves.

There exists indeed a strong negative relationship between the number of law-abiding citizens with gun permits and the crime rate. Simply put, the more people obtain permits, the greater chance there is of a reduction in violent crime rates.

The opposing of the firearms amendment bill by the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leaves me to conclude that these parties are against the safety and well-being of the nation. They have no concern for civility, law and order, and non-violence.

Sincerely, Victoria Marks

2013 Rockstone Fish Festival was a great success

Dear Editor,

The 2013 Rockstone Fish Festival proved itself to be yet again a success. The festival managed to attract scores of people of all ages including local fishermen who grabbed the opportunity to boast about their skills and experience in deep sea fishing.

The organisers of this year’s event managed to improve and expand on the variety of activities offered at the fish festival. Participants were able to indulge in activities such as camping, birdwatching, a fish clay modelling competition, and tours of Essequibo area.

Visitors were able to participate in many competitions including fish catching and deboning, cooking and watermelon eating. This remarkable event provided entertainment, enjoyment, and relaxation for individuals of all ages.

A participant in the fish festival holds up part of his catch

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) stated that the festival has been progressing significantly over the years. As a key potential boost in tourism, we must continue to promote the event held yearly in Guyana. Additionally, this activity should ideally receive more coverage in order to spread further awareness.

With regards, Oudit Jairaj

Linden resident praises education minister for her courage

Dear Editor, I am not personally acquainted with our Education Minister Priya Manickchand, but I do admire the courageous way she approaches her mandate. That aside, I am perplexed at the level of intellectual debauchery on the part of some who have recently risen to criticise Minister Manickchand after she raised concerns as to why congratulations were not forthcoming from the opposition, particularly APNU and its leader Brigadier David Granger to the top students who were recognised by the Caribbean Examinations Council ( CXC) recently and duly rewarded for their efforts and achievements.

Incidentally these students all happened to be from one ethic grouping which raises even further questions in relation to the actions of APNU, the acronym incidentally for A Partnership for National Unity.

This concern is jus-

tified and might I say scandalous, when consideration is given to the fact that the APNU and Granger not only congratulated and honoured the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) top student in 2011 who happened to hail from the mining township of Linden, but also placed this child on their political platform during one of their pre-election rallies, while they berated the government and its education system.

Where were all these vocal critics of Minister Manickhand? Were they out of the country, or is it that APNU is held to a different standard in their mind and putting a child on a political platform is ok when it comes to the opposition, but if any People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) government official ever dare to expose the inconsistency of the opposition on such issues, they are attacked from several quarters and efforts made to beat them figuratively speaking into submission?

Incidentally, I am from Linden so I vividly remember the spectacle of that particular day. How ironic was Granger facilitating this young child he placed on his political stage for excelling and being the first Lindener to emerge the top student and at the same time accuse the PPP/ C government of doing nothing for education, particularly in Linden.

From what I read in the press, he continues with this charade, but in closing I am reminded of a Dr Martin Luther King, Jr quote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Congratulations to all our students who excelled and for those who fell short this time around, please be reminded that there is always a second chance to excel once you remain purposeful and ambitious.

Patrice Harding, Linden resident

Republic Bank welcomes 29 apprentices

The sixth batch of apprentices was welcomed to the Republic Bank family at the launch of the bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme last Friday, in the Woodbine Room of the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, Georgetown. The programme commenced at 16: 00h with a prayer, followed by speeches and cocktails. This batch of 29 apprentices will delight in the same experiences the young men and women have enjoyed over the past five years during their respective seven-month stints, the bank said in a release. The new apprentices will be exposed to both classroom and on-the-job training.

They will also, through the “Care-A-Van” be introduced to the element of care and compassion for the less fortunate. A day of fun and relaxation at a specially selected location will also be part of the youth link experience.

Started over two decades ago at Republic Bank Limited, Trinidad and Tobago, and in-

troduced in Guyana in 2008, the programme sought to bridge the gap between the end of the participants’ school life and the start of their career. Through the apprenticeship, participants are enabled to be more marketable in their career pursuits and are also offered the tools and insights

that they can only get on the job. The apprenticeship programme is geared to guide the apprentices through a process of personal and professional growth and includes facets that when combined, will teach the youths valuable skills for professional and social development.

CJIA tests readiness to respond to emergencies

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday conducted a simulation exercise involving more than 300 persons inclusive of airport, airline, hospital, fire service and other emergency personnel, testing their readiness to respond to an emergency.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, who witnessed the fullscale emergency exercise, explained that it is staged every two years, and is a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“These simulations are part of the certification requirements for an international airport. So every six months, there is table-top exercise, every year there is a partial simulation exercise, and every two years there is

a mass casualty exercise simulation, which today’s event [a fake plane crash] was about,” he said on Wednesday.

Benn explained that the exercise was done to make sure that the airport, its operatives and all the resources which ought to be called upon for an event of the kind that was simulated are able to respond quickly, with the proper resources, knowledge and expertise to help the injured or traumatised.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS); the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Customs and Immigration; the Health Ministry; the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority; the Guyana Red Cross; and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were among the stakeholders involved in the mock exercise.

Minister Benn ex-

plained that evaluators from the ICAO would have observed the exercise and evaluated it “dispassionately” to assess the performance of all involved.

The minister noted

Dr Shamdeo Persaud believes the exercise went smoothly.

“I think it worked well, with everyone being clear about their responsibilities on how to contribute in a cri-

be critical to care facilities.

Dr Persaud particularly praised the high level of response of the medical personnel from the Diamond and Georgetown hospitals.

Dr Persaud noted that the staff responded immediately to their signals. “I think that was good that the local medical personnel were able to respond so quickly. All three sites responded adequately,” he said.

Planned logistics

According to the planned logistics, in the eventuality of a real crash, both Diamond and Georgetown hospi-

did the initial extraction of the ‘passengers’ from the crash site to a collection area. The persons were then moved from there to a triage area that was set up by the GDF, the second responders to the crash.

Dr Persaud said the triage area was to allow the health workers to function, up to standard and away from the danger of the crash site. He explained that the triage area is to provide immediate treatment and to sort and tag persons into three broad groups – dead, critical and not so critical.

that there were some aspects in the exercise where “more energy and assertiveness and control” could have been had, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Chief Medical Officer

sis,” he said. He pointed out that success in such health crisis exercises is very dependent on how well organised the response is, and how smoothly the response personnel move the persons who are assessed to

tals must send an ambulance, as well as some support medical staff.

The exercise began with the GFS first arriving at the crash scene and putting out the fire created by the crash.

The firefighters also

The crash victims were then moved to a more organised care area before being transported to nearby hospitals.

Preparation for the simulation exercise began almost six months ago.

New Port-of-Spain Mayor plans to continue predecessor’s works

Calling himself a servant of the people, newly-appointed mayor of Port-ofSpain Raymond Tim Kee has promised to pursue and continue the work started by former mayor Louis Lee Sing. He made the promise minutes after taking the oath of office at City Hall, Portof-Spain, last Friday. “I am not about breaking down the old and starting new,” Tim Kee, the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, added. He said he would study Lee Sing’s plans with the view of pursuing them efficiently.

“The vision we hold is the same, that is making the city of Port-of-Spain a true capital city, not only in Trinidad but in the Caribbean,” he said. He called on citizens to be the change they wanted to see in the country and said the entire country needed to do better as a people. “For the next three years I commit myself to service. Mayor is a lofty title. I prefer servant or facilitator,” he added. He called on residents of Port-of-Spain to stand with him to build a better city.

Keron Valentine

was re-elected as deputy mayor and received loud applause from approving residents. Lee Sing, who received a standing ovation from councillors and Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley, said he

looked back on his term as mayor with chuckles.

“I was crazy enough to believe that in the time I gave myself I could achieve what I set out to achieve,” he said.

Lee Sing, who was no

stranger to controversy or critics during his 39-month term as mayor, said he was sure bloggers would miss having him to ridicule, abuse and curse on a regular basis. He said members of the gov-

ernment’s Cabinet did not understand the role of the city. “During our term in office we had a Cabinet of ministers who always trampled on the affairs of the city,” Lee Sing said. (TT Guardian)

New tax measures in Grenada to increase revenue

The Grenada government has announced new tax measures it said would help provide much needed revenue and urged the private sector not to use the measure to lay off workers. Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell in a nationwide radio and television broadcast last week said his administration had agreed that people earning more than EC$60,000 annually would now pay tax of 30 per cent.

Mitchell, who is also finance minister, said also that those earning between EC$30,000 to EC$36 000 would now pay 15 per cent. He said the implementation of new tax measures is necessary as his government puts structures in place to increase revenue. “Government will

also reduce the income tax rate by half to 15 per cent for persons earning less than EC$60,000 per year. The rate of 30 per cent will remain for persons earning more than EC$60,000 per year,” he said.

The prime minister

called on banks to be sensitive as the government knows that lowering the income tax threshold will affect some persons who have obligations with financial institutions. “The banks have assured government that it will work with its customers where necessary. I hereby make a similar appeal to our credit unions,” he said, while voicing concern about the possibility of job layoffs.

“I hereby make a special appeal to all employers, especially in the private sector, to exercise restraint in this very difficult period. Retrenchment must be a last resort. We ask that you make a special effort to avoid further layoffs at this time,” he said, as he called on trade unions to exercise restraint in respect of wage demands

in government and in the private sector. Mitchell, who also announced that adjustments will be made to property taxes, issued a warning to delinquent taxpayers.

“No country can run without taxes. No government can provide services without taxes. Throughout our consultations over the past few weeks, there have been consistent calls for government to ensure that everyone pays their fair share. As a consequence, there will be new policies to deal with persons who are not paying their fair share of taxes. Already, Inland Revenue has identified the top 100 tax delinquents and they are being pursued for their taxes owed to the state. This is not simply a fiscal issue. It is a moral issue,” he said.

Eleven bid for TT’s energy blocks

TT’s Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine has disclosed that there could be another onshore bid round in the near future. He made the disclosure

last week following the close of the 2013 Onshore Bid Round at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-ofSpain. Speaking after the ceremony with reporters,

Ramnarine said most of the available land acreage had been “soaked up” in this bid round. However, he said this did not eliminate the possibility of another onshore bid round in the future. Ramnarine said there were “very interesting prospects” in the Central Range block, particularly in the Biche/Charuma area.

Fear and...

... the media

As a columnist for this newspaper, your Eyewitness doesn’t get the opportunity to interact much with the day to day reporters on the beat. With the recent walkout of three reporters – in fear for their lives if they report on television about the escapades of the MuckrakerKN’s Mohan “Glenn” Lall – we have a most interesting development in the journalistic fraternity. Why is it that none of the reporters are willing to concede their fears in public? They were willing to talk about those fears behind closed doors – but the moment they left the Guyana Times building, they offered “journalistic integrity” as their reason for walking off their jobs. Now, that is all well and good and noble, but does it have anything to do with what played out? The reporter who triggered the walkout now says she hadn’t written the script about Lall which she was handed to read on air and couldn’t vouch for its veracity.

One wonders if she would’ve been willing to do the investigative work from the beginning if she were asked.

We’re told that the administration will now be asking the remaining reporters about being journalists with “integrity” to do their own investigative stories. We shall see what unfolds. But the larger question is, “Why has the journalism fraternity been unwilling to check out the source of the reporters’ fears?”

“We’ll be talking with Petrotrin to see how we could move very quickly to drill that,” he stated.

On the bid round, Ramnarine said a total of 11 bids were received for the Ortoire, Rio Claro and St Mary’s blocks last week. A and V Oil and Gas, Lease Operators Ltd, Glint Energy, Range Resources and Trinty Exploration and Production were the companies offering bids for these blocks.

Ramnarine said the bids will be evaluated and a decision on the successful bids will be made in December. He also expressed satisfaction that domestic oil production appears set to register an increase, albeit marginal, for the first time since 2006. Ramnarine said domestic oil production for the first ten months of this year (January to October) averaged 81,500 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

He said the data available to him shows this figure will reach 82,000 bopd by year’s end. Ramnarine also expressed optimism that gas production was also on the increase and for the close of the Deepwater Bid Round on January 31, 2014. He said in that bid round, there has been a total of 14 bids for the six blocks offered. (TT Newsday)

In the media, there are constant charges of “drug empires”, smuggling, human smuggling, money laundering etc, which obviously would involve individuals who would go to great lengths to protect their identities. If for no other reason than the fact that the U. S. has “renditioned” a number of drug lords. So if there were no fear there should’ve been a heck of a lot more investigative reporting than we’ve seen.

Point of fact is that Guyana Times investigative pieces are nothing more than follow- ups to a cable from the U. S. embassy’s political officer. From the one that mentioned Glenn Lall’s exploits and the others revealed by WikiLeaks, it’s obvious that the political officer certainly has his ears to the (Guyanese) ground. The question is – once again – why did all the other media houses refuse to touch the allegations with a 10-foot pole.

If the reporters that quit – or any other reporter or journalist, whether honing to the ethics taught by the University of Guyana (UG) Centre for Communication Studies or whatever – doubted the veracity of the news unearthed by Guyana Times, why don’t they do the journalistic thing and do their own digging? ... politics and economics

There isn’t only fear in the journalistic community about what skeletons might be uncovered – a lot of that commodity abounds in the political realm. But here we don’t have to even do any digging – it’s all out there right in the open. The new kid in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) block Tarron Khemraj who walked over from the Alliance For Change (AFC) – was given back his column in the Stabber News. (It doesn’t matter to the Stabber –once the columnist isn’t People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C).

He weighed in on the notion of “political risk”... but we thought he danced around the issue – very well as he had to, seeing that his new party presents the greatest political risk to this country’s development. Imagine Granger had informed the international business community that if APNU were to form a new government (would Khemraj be given the finance slot ahead of the old codger Carl Greenidge?) they would not honour contracts entered into by the present government.

Now even if Khemraj studied Samuelson in Econ 101, he would know this is the kiss of death to the “probability” future substantial Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) for the next decade.

... Diwali

Can you believe that the festival of Diwali, which is supposed to be one of peace and tranquility, in which one becomes enraptured by lights, is now being hijacked by thugs hurling squibs? Why can’t the police enforce the ban on this explosive device?

Over 100 graduate from President’s College

President’s College (PC) in Guyana last Friday held its 23rd annual graduation and 28th anniversary ceremony at the college’s Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara tarmac, honouring over 100 students who performed well at the 2013 Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

This year, the college recorded an 84.5 per cent pass rate at CSEC, and 94.7 per cent pass-

es at CAPE, a significant improvement when compared to previous years, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

During an address to the students, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh stated that while the school performed exceptionally well, the students must continue to work hard in order to achieve greater success.

“Our country has invested much in you and indeed much is expected of you…there is much hard work and service ahead of you…your

country needs you,” he told the students.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand expressed satisfaction with the school’s performance, noting that it has improved significantly over the years.

“The education system has transformed in terms of access and government is now looking at the quality of education delivered. We used to talk about access, now we talk about how we can achieve quality education, which also involves teacher training,” she noted.

Receiving awards were Shalita Appadu, who copped first place at CAPE and the country with six grade ones and one grade two, followed by Aarif Baksh with one grade one, four grade twos and one grade three, and Kevin Garbaran, one grade

one, three grade twos and two grade threes.

Meanwhile, for the CSEC, Melissa Asregado placed first with 11 grade ones and one grade two; Edrianna Stephen second, with 10 grade ones and two grade twos; and Kerrie Hooper, third, with eight grade ones,

four grade twos and one grade three.

Students also received prizes for placing first, second and third in their respective classes and also certificates for participating in the President’s Youth Award Programme (PYARG).

PPP/C deeply concerned about court’s gag on Guyana Times

The ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) said it is deeply concerned about Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire gag order on the Guyana Times newspaper regarding reporting issues pertaining to the operations of Guyana Stores from the company’s audited financial statements.

Noting that some of the matters are not even relevant to a case pending in the court, the PPP/ C said the information which the newspaper is prohibited from publishing concerns the proceeds from a sale of a state asset, Guyana Stores Limited, which are therefore public funds.

“The information

which was published is extracted from annual reports of the former state corporation, which by law, are public documents and therefore, the information are matters to which the public is entitled,” the party noted.

“Therefore, we support the attorney general’s contention that the order of the learned judge may be an abuse of press freedom and is in violation of the Constitution of Guyana,” the PPP/ C contended, adding that as a party which has fought so many battles and contributed to so many advances in the pursuit of freedom of the press, “we view this as a most retrograde step. We call upon all concerned to do

roxanne george-wiltshire

that which is necessary to reverse it. We may not agree with many of what the press publishes; but we must respect their right to publish it,

once it is lawful for them to do so.”

The party said from its inception, it has been in the forefront of every form of struggle to ensure that Guyanese of all races, creed and class enjoy the universally recognised basic human rights, freedom from exploitation of every kind, access to justice, and indeed a better quality of life. In particular, the PPP/ C said it has a long history of championing freedom of expression in all its forms, including freedom of the press.

Struggle

“In fact, we led the way in launching a legal challenge against a decision of the PNC government in 1973, which

placed restrictions on the importation of newsprint into Guyana. Our new Guyana Company Limited, the publisher of the Mirror Newspaper, filed the action. Additionally, we stood up, publicly, in solidarity with all journalists who were subjected to pressure and physical violence for merely publishing matters considered to be critical of the PNC dictatorship. These included journalists from the Catholic Standard, Dayclean, and other publications.”

According to the party, when it took office in 1992, it continued the crusade for freedom of the press and created the requisite environment for free expression and

free press to flourish. “It is in this newly-created environment, that we have seen the establishment of two additional privately owned daily newspapers, the advent of over 20 television out fits, spreading across all three of the counties of Guyana, and the creation of several Internet generated news mediums which disseminate news 24 hours per day.”

Significantly, the party said it is the government that recently broke the state-run and managed radio monopoly and distributed a number of radio licences to private entities and individuals to establish radio stations in Georgetown, Linden, Berbice, and Essequibo.

OAS opens second youth confab of the Americas

The Organisation of American States (OAS) opened on Tuesday at its headquarters in Washington, DC, the Youth Conference of the Americas, with the participation of OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, and Panamanian First Lady Marta Linares de Martinelli. They all spoke of the important contribution young people make to the development of the nations of the hemisphere.

Secretary General Insulza welcomed the attendees and panellists, and stressed the importance of the meeting and the need for governments to provide the means to ensure that young people “truly are the future.”

He noted that “overall, it is said that the Americas are favoured

by the so-called “demographic bonus”, which takes place when the proportion of the population that is of working age grows faster than the dependent population of school age or retirement age.”

“The advantage of the communities that experience this condition”, he said, “lies on the fact that they have a higher proportion of their populations in conditions to save, invest, work and produce, while increasingly fewer people require investments in education and health.”

He cautioned, however, that the “demographic bonus” runs the risk of being wasted owing to the precarious conditions and lack of access to opportunities facing the new generations of the hemisphere.

Solutions to youth problems

In this context,

Secretary General Insulza expressed his hope that dialogues like the one held at the OAS “serve to advance the search for ways to respond to these and other pressing questions that present themselves when we face the issue of youth”.

He said the organisation has long been working on forging a future for new generations, and recalled that the 38th session of the General Assembly, held in Medellin, Colombia in June 2008, had the theme “Youth and Democratic Values”.

Along this line, Insulza stressed the importance of the Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas, organised by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), an institution associated with the OAS that in

the last eight years “has supported 24,301 young people from the hemisphere and has allowed for the development of more than 8400 business projects”.

The first lady of Panama, for her part, stressed the impor-

tance of youth as agents of change. “If we want young generations to have critical minds, to propose policies and take an interest in the future of the country, the state’s responsibility must always be focused on strengthening impor-

tant pillars such as education and health.”

After the opening session, Secretary General Insulza also presented an award to the first lady in recognition of the project led by her office on early childhood development.

New CJIA scanner deterring “front door” smugglers – Sattaur

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said the new scanner at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has been serving its purpose and persons are now deterred from smuggling commercial goods in their suitcases.

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur told Guyana Times International that the operation of the new scanner has so far proved to be effective. He explained that since the installation of the scanner in 2011, many persons have been found culpable of declaring items to be for personal use when they are intended for commercial purpose; despite this, no one has been prosecuted.

In light of the peak

Christmas season, systems will be put in place to create a free flow of traffic at the airport. “In view of the impending Christmas season where

you know you have a lot of people coming to the country, we have already taken steps to relax the rules a little bit. Unless, we have the means to ac-

quire some more of those scanners,” he said.

The GRA said less scanning will be done during this period to prevent a build-up at the

airport. Sattaur stated that the scanner has, to some extent, caused persons to stop smuggling in commercial quantities of goods in their suitcases and hand luggage.

Anti-smuggling boost

In an effort to boost the drug fight and introduce a more effective declaration system at Guyana’s main port of entry, the GRA installed the scanner at the airport. Signs are placed at strategic points in the airport, giving travellers warning of the penalties they could face if they fail to declare commercial quantities of goods.

The US$ 80,000 scanner is used for all incoming baggage at the CJIA and detects packages which are deemed commercial goods, as well as weapons and narcotics.

The NUCTECH film

safe X Ray Inspection System was acquired through the Support for Competitiveness Programme (SCP), with assistance from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

SCP is a component of the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit (NCSU).

Persons found guilty of making false declarations could face a fine of up to Gy$ 25,000 and three years in prison.

The scanner is not intended to target persons visiting the country, but to clamp down on persons taking advantage of the system where there are no controls and mechanisms in place to detect individuals using their suitcases for commercial importation of goods that are subject to duty.

Canadian envoy calls on APNU’s leadership

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles last week paid a courtesy call on opposition leader, re -

tired Brigadier David Granger, at his Hadfield Street, Georgetown office. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) members of

Parliament, Deborah Backer, Joseph Harmon and Ronald Bulkan were also in attendance.

According to an

APNU release, the high commissioner took the opportunity to reaffirm her country’s commitment to programmes related to her government and the government of Guyana.

Among the many things discussed was the restructuring of the Canadian Foreign Trade Ministry. The high commissioner informed the opposition team that as a conse -

quence, certain development programmes and departments were being merged. The two parties agreed to meet on a regular basis to discuss matters of mutual interest.

CJIA runway expansion begins

Despite political opposition to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, works commenced on the runway some two weeks ago, the airport said Monday evening.

According to the CJIA, the contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is “tackling a trial section in the Timehri North area (beyond the localiser)”.

“I know we had some hiccups, but I am happy to see works have commenced for this transformational project,” Public Works and Transportation Minister Robeson Benn told CHEC technicians during a visit to the site on October 31. At the time of the visit, CHEC’s engineers were in the process of removing the soft soil (peat) and backfilling the area with sand.

When completed, the runway will be able to accommodate Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

The entire Gy$5.6 billion allocated to the transport sector programme was slashed by the parliamentary opposition during the consideration of the 2013 na-

tional budget estimates, despite the pleas of the government about the benefits that a modern airport will bring to this country. Of the amount, Gy$5.3 billion was budgeted for the upgrade, expansion and modernisation of the CJIA through the construction of a new terminal building, aprons, air-bridges, taxiways, and the extension of the runway by a further 3500 feet.

Benn had told a news conference back in July that US$20 mil-

lion was earmarked for CHEC and work is ongoing; however, the heavyearth moving and other works have not yet started.

Critical project

“It’s either we let the money go down the line and forget about it or do it, but the question is whether Guyana needs the project or not,” Minister Benn said.

He posited that the project has to go ahead. “We cannot stop the engineering refinement, and when we get the go-

ahead, we are now doing all those things,” he said.

The US$150 million project is funded by the government of China through the China Exim Bank. Minister Benn said the budget cut has delayed the taking of certain steps between the company and Guyana, in terms of payments and signing of agreements.

The upgrade and expansion project comprises a new terminal building measuring 16,000 square metres, that will have eight passenger

boarding bridges, two elevators; and CCTV and departures control systems. The project also involves the extension of the airport’s main runway by 3500ft to a final length of 10,500ft, and the construction of eight international parking positions, including a dedicated position for cargo aircraft.

The governments of Guyana and China inked the framework agreement on October 31, 2012 for a US$130 million (RMB 825 million)

loan from the Chinese Exim Bank to fund construction of the project. Once completed, it would ensure that the CJIA is able to meet service projected traffic for several years and become a hub for regional and continental traffic, with a state-of-the-art airport.

Meanwhile, Minister Benn has reportedly instructed his engineers to carry out tests on the soil (peat) found in the area. Peat is an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world.

“Data has shown that over time, the formation of peat is often the first step in the geological formation of other fossil fuels such as lignite, which is considered the lowest rank of coal. It is mined in Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Poland, Serbia, Russia, the United States, India, Australia, and many other parts of Europe and it is used almost exclusively as a fuel for steamelectric power generation,” CJIA said in the release. Up to 50 percent of Greece’s electricity and 25.7 percent of Germany’s comes from coal power plants, particularly low-grade coal such as lignite.

Improved sex education necessary to curb teenage pregnancy

By Svetlana MarShall

As Guyana battles with a high rate of teenage pregnancy, the head of a leading reproductive health agency is calling for safe sex and contraception to be taught in schools.

Recently, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) disclosed that Guyana has the second highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in both the Caribbean and South America. It is estimated that 96 out of every 1000

girls between the ages of 15 and 19 give birth, according to the State of the World Population 2013 Report. With a rate of 97 per 1000 adolescents getting pregnant, Guyana lags behind only The Dominican Republic with a rate of 98 per 1000 teens in the Caribbean, and Ecuador in South America with 100 of every 1000 teen girls.

Reacting to the news, Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) Executive Director Patricia

Sheerrattan-Bisnauth said lack of information or misinformation was a key contributory factor.

According to Sheerrattan-Bisnauth, the Education Ministry, in collaboration with the Health Ministry, needs to make its sex education programme in schools more realistic.

The sex education programme focuses primarily on abstinence, and fails to include safe sex and contraception. “We ought to be more realistic,” she posited.

According to the GRPA executive director, teenagers are having sexual intercourse at an earlier age today, compared to this age group years ago, hence, while authorities prefer teenagers to abstain, this was not necessarily the case. To combat the situation, she said the Education Ministry, in particular, needed to change the conversation about sex, discussing it in a “healthy and wholesome way”.

Parents need to be educated as well, she said, noting that teenagers turn to the Internet and peers in search of answers when parents fail to effectively inform them. Poverty was also listed among the contributing factors by Sheerrattan-Bisnauth, who explained that teenagers get into sexual re-

lations at times in exchange for financial gains. This aspect, she said, must not go unnoticed.

Illiteracy

Family Commission

Chairman, Dr Kwame Gilbert has cited illiteracy as one of the leading causes of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in Guyana. Reverend Gilbert said there were a number of contributing factors responsible for the current trend, but illiteracy stands out.

He explained that a population with more literate individuals would make better choices, thereby decreasing the number of teenage mothers.

It was pointed out that while core subjects such as social studies, mathematics and English are key, emphasis must also be placed

on maintaining and instilling values that will positively influence the lives of children.

HIV infections

Meanwhile, with regard to upgrading the sex education programme, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony had said a resort to the distribution of condoms in high schools was being mulled across the region, even if at this point it was just tangential. He made the remarks at a CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COSHOD) Special Meeting on youth held in Guyana last year.

Dr Anthony, who had chaired the meeting, reported that this move was being mulled as a result of the worrying new trend in the region when it comes to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Roshana continues to win hearts in Russia

Guyana’s representative in this year’s Miss Universe pageant, Katherina Roshana, continues to win hearts and be an ambassador of goodwill for her country.

In the national cos-

tume competition, Roshana, in her plumed outfit of wonder representing the Bird of the Rock (aka Cock of the Rock), was a sight to behold, thanks to Derek Moore’s artistry and vision.

EPA, UNDP working on proposal to mainstream biodiversity conservation into mining

- as Guyana stands to lose US$20M of forest funds

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continue to work on developing a proposal to mainstream biodiversity conservation into the mining sector.

This comes at a time when mining is listed as the leading driver of deforestation in Guyana, accounting for 94 percent of all the deforested area for 2012. The current legislative measures and practices are being examined, with the primary objective to incorporate biodiversity concerns, ahead of the commencement of a second phase, which will see the materialisation of pilot activities to reforest degraded areas.

“Guyana has, over the past years, developed a robust mechanism that governs forest utilisation at the level of forest concessions. Among some of the mechanisms are… the National Log Tracking System, the Codes for Practice for Timber Harvesting and Processing, and the Guidelines for Annual and Management Planning,” the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry

said in a press release.

It was further noted that these codes of practice and systems have been developed with strong legislative guidance, including the National Forest Plan and Policy 2011 and the Forest Act 2009. Additionally, a new programme for independent assessment on legality and sustainable forest management, which included independent forest monitoring, has concluded that local systems are effective in ensuring sustainable forest management (SFM).

Additionally, the Guyana Forestry Commission is taking active steps to engage and build capacity at the stakeholder level to effectively execute SFM. Accelerated deforestation

“This was advanced in a number of programmes, including the establishment and operating of the Forestry Training Centre, which provides training to large and small operators in the forest sector. This model is being replicated for the mining sector to build the capacity of stakeholders,” the ministry pointed out.

Mining activities continue to destroy the

From page 20

Roshana continues...

When she appeared on stage, the thousands in attendance applauded. With a glowing smile, Roshana, who is sponsored by Limacol/NEW GPC INC, worked the audience – displaying her poise and grace. The Bird of the Rock is only found in the Kaieteur Falls highlands. The legendary bird is non-migratory, and cannot be domesticated or transferred anywhere else.

The beauty queen expressed gratitude to the franchise holder of Miss Guyana Universe, Odinga Lumumba; Mrs Pat Coates of Village Couture; Derek Moore; Richard Younge; Ronnie Morris; Sonia Noel; the Apsara Entertainment Group; the media; her fans, and the persons who have made her trip and pageant experience what it is and provided their support.

country’s pristine forests. Guyana stands to lose US$20 million under the Norway-Guyana conservation agreement owing to a 0.025 percent increase in deforestation. This is according to the third National Deforestation Report, which was completed in October under the Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) System for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus).

The Norwegian government agreed to pay Guyana up to US$250 million over the fiveyear period spanning 2010 to 2015, if it maintains a deforestation rate below 0.070 percent. The report indicates that Guyana lost an estimated 14,655 hectares of forest between January 2012 and December 2012, with a total deforestation rate of 0.079 percent, surpassing the threshold.

In other words, annual deforestation due

to mining has increased to 13,516 hectares from 9891 hectares, a “meagre” 3600 hectares as against 18.5 million hectares, the Natural Resources Ministry said. “This is approximately 93 per cent of all recorded deforestation in 2012. It should be noted that the driver of mining accounted for 1434 hectares of infrastructure development in the hinterland, which is part of the total 13,516 hectares.”

The Natural

Resources and Environment Ministry said ongoing programmes and interventions are being implemented to improve the REDD+ model. The implementation of the ministry’s Draft Strategic Framework 2013-2018 and the mandates of the committees that are implementing the recommendations of the Sustainable Land Use Committee (SLUC) are among programmes also on the table to tackle the issue of deforestation.

At the national level, the government spearheaded the passage of the Protected Areas Act 2011, and the subsequent creation of the Shell Beach and Kanuku Mountains Protected Areas. With this important step, government, for the first time in Guyana’s history, created a national system of protected areas, which, together with the Community Conservation Area in Konashen, accounts for almost nine per cent of Guyana.

“This is a major step in ensuring that important areas of forest and biodiversity are maintained for both current and future generations,” the ministry posited.

First female pilots honoured on revenue stamps

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn and Minister in the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill were recently honoured for their role in the Women in Aviation stamp launch on October 9 as part of World Postal Day observances. That event saw Guyana’s first female commercial pilots Beverly Drake and

Pickering-Moore getting postal stamps in their honour from the Guyana Post Office Corporation.

The ministers were presented with plaques showcasing the first day covers of the stamps by Attorney Everette Richards who represented the stamp honourees.

They both expressed delight at recognition of their efforts in making

the stamp launch a reality.

Pickering-Moore and Drake were among the eight Guyanese women pioneers in the aviation industry who were honoured recently for their bravery in breaking the gender barrier in professional aviation in the 1960s.

The two women made history as a result of their commit-

ment and dedication in the industry and their faces are now featured on Gy$20 and Gy$80 stamps, which were revealed during the tribute ceremony, as the first stamps in a series to honour the group.

The other six women to be similarly honoured are: Feriel Ally, Barbara Adams, Williette Gardener, and Sandra Persaud. (GINA)

Ali forecasts Gy$32.5B investment for tourism sector 21,000 Guyanese obtained U.S. visas in past year, says ambassador

Approximately 35,000 U.S. visa applications have been processed in the past year, U.S. Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt disclosed. He said Guyanese interest in acquiring visas has increased radically over the years.

“There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Guyanese interested in travelling to the United States, we think that is a good thing, and we welcome tourism,” he posited during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International

According to the U.S. ambassador, approximately 21,000 of the 35,000 applications were approved. In wake of the recent visa fraud, Ambassador Hardt said applying to the U.S. embassy should be the only way of acquiring a visa, noting that the online application has made the

process less tedious. He said the embassy has increased staffing to meet the demand of Guyanese.

He briefly disclosed that the U.S. embassy is investigating the recent incident of visa fraud.

On September 30, approximately four immigration officers stationed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were taken into custody after being accused of collecting monies to allow three persons to pass through immigration with forged U.S. visas.

It was reported that the four female immigration officers requested Gy$60,000 from the three people in exchange for not reporting the matter to authorities. The money was reportedly paid and the three persons were allowed to pass.

Meanwhile, on October 17, two Colombian nation-

als appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being charged with forgery. Twenty-seven-year-old Samir Edwardo Garcia Salazar of 1414019 Bogotá, Colombia and Jamie Enrique Mereses, 52, of 18 Fifteen Street, Bogotá, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman. Salazar and Mereses, with the help of a translator, pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that between February 17 and March 21, 2012 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, they conspired with person(s) unknown and forged two Republic of Guyana business visas, numbers 270 and 272 dated February 17, 2012 purporting to show that the same was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office knowing it to be false. They were granted bail in the sum of Gy$100,000 each.

APNU tables motions for veterans’ commission, village day

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) leader

David Granger moved a motion for the establishment of a National Veterans’ Commission, when Parliament reconvened on Wednesday.

According to the motion on the Order Paper for Wednesday, the commission seeks to examine the conditions and circumstances facing veterans of the defence and disciplined services, and to make recommendations for their health and welfare.

Granger’s motion is in accordance with Article 24 of the Constitution, which prescribes that “every citizen has the right to free medical attention and also to social care in case of old age and disability”.

It is also in keeping with Article 197 A (five) of the Constitution, which allows for disciplined forces commissions to be constituted by the National Assembly from time to time.

He notes that thousands of persons have served in the “defence forces and discipline services of Guyana in which they rendered essential national defence and public security services to the nation as whole”.

He also believes that “many ex-soldiers and servicemen have faced challenges which have

had deleterious effects on their employment, health and welfare of their dependants”.

Section 20 of the Defence Act, Chapter 15:01 is also cited in his motion, which highlights that certain members of the defence forces are required to retire only after 22 years of service while other veterans of the disciplined services may be discharged honourably from regular service.

National Day of Villages

Meanwhile, the opposition leader is also calling on the government of Guyana to issue a commemorative stamp and coin, as well as designate November 7 as ‘National Day of Villages’.

The significance of this day will be to honour and respect “the pioneering purchasers and to promote national appreciation of the village movement at all levels”.

In light of this motion, Granger has sought to highlight the preamble of the Constitution that declares “We the Guyanese people… proclaim our commitment to safeguard and build on the rich heritage, won through tireless struggle, bequeathed us by our forebears.”

Article 35 further states, “The state honours and respects the diverse cultural strains which enrich the society and will seek constantly

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali said in the coming years, some Gy$32.5 billion will be invested in the tourism sector.

Ali made the announcement while addressing the launch of Tourism Awareness Month last week at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. Ali, delivering the feature address, said the tourism sector is poised for major expansion, outlining some future plans such as the upcoming launch of a direct flight service to the U.S. on December 4, the construction of a new golf course on the LindenSoesdyke Highway, a five-star rated revolving restaurant, two new hotels in Georgetown and several eco-tourism resorts under construction. These represent about Gy$32.5 billion in investments in the sector, in addition to the Marriott Hotel.

to promote national appreciation of them at all levels.”

Meanwhile, the stipulated November 7 date is identified, given that on that day in 1893, emancipated Africans established Plantation Northbrook, a free community which was later named Victoria Village.

This move was followed by a series of other purchases of communities, known as the Village Movement. The most recent issuance of commemorative coins was last month when the Bank of Guyana, in collaboration with the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, issued two coins in honour of the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion and the 175th anniversary of Indian Immigration to Guyana.

‘The 1763 Slave Revolt’ and the ‘1838 Indian Arrival’ are the names of the two commemorative coins.

According to Culture Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, the coins serve as a good reminder for current and future generations of the importance of their past and “the resistance that our ancestors put up, they didn’t just accept the conditions under which they laboured, but they also tried to resist the horrors of the slavery system that was imposed upon them”.

and outlined several of the challenges facing the sector. He said while Guyanese can celebrate their country’s tourism product, “we have to be clear about what we are offering, especially in the eco-tourism sector”.

Citing the efforts and marketing of honey produced by the single mothers’ group attached to the Mangrove Project at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, the minister said it was an example of what was possible locally.

“Human, cultural and service changes

while every country has issues, their media recognise the need to sell their individual country and what they have to offer. He chided some sections of the local media for their sensationalist front pages, noting that the media in other countries which are affected by worse crimes desist from doing the same.

Ali said too that there was also more interest from Latin and South American countries in the tourism sector, and in order to capitalise on this, there must be investments in human capital, and in new and improved infrastructure for the tourism sector. As part of this effort, it was announced that a National Institute of Hospitality will be built in a joint effort between government and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Tourism Awareness Month 2013 is being held under the theme, “Communication and Information Sharing for Tourism Development”.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the sector currently generates billions of dollars while providing jobs for approximately 10,000 people, but the quality of what is offered locally needs to be improved if the industry is to achieve greater heights, according to the minister.

CTO lauds Guyana

The minister, who described the formal launch of the month at the Guyana International Conference Centre as a “bitter-sweet” occasion, said the most recent figures from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), praised Guyana for its progress, and cited an increase of 13.5 percent in visitors. He acknowledged that much more needs to be done,

acting tourism minister irfaan ali and tourism and Hospitality association of guyana representative andrea de caires, cutting a cake at the launch of tourism awareness month

are needed to complement the infrastructural changes occurring,” he urged. Once this is done, the tourism sector could actually become a major livelihood option for many Guyanese. “All of us must respond to the problems, not hide from them,” Minister Ali stated.

The efforts of Dr Bobby Ramroop to buy the Amazon Warriors team and sponsor the Guyana leg of the recently-held Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket tournament were lauded as an example of what could be achieved with forward thinking, and good business acumen, Minister Ali noted. He said as a result, Limacol brand awareness has been increased and businesses in India and other Asian countries are now interested in what Guyana has to offer, not only in goods and services, but in tourism.

A call for the media to be more nationalistic and patriotic was also made by Minister Ali. He acknowledged that

Touching on the hospitality aspect, he noted that the Marriott Hotel’s construction and the Cheddi Jagan Airport expansion project, are “absolutely essential” to offering better services and increasing Guyana’s visibility in overseas markets. The country’s diplomatic partners also can play a role in increasing Guyana’s outlook abroad, said the minister.

South Rupununi Safari

Meanwhile, the inaugural South Rupununi Savannah Safari was also launched Thursday evening. The event, which follows the successful Pakaraima Mountains Safari, will run from November 27 to December 1. It is open to drivers of allterrain (4×4) vehicles; participants who pay a fee of Gy$15,000 at the Tower Hotel, will experience outdoor camping amid majestic scenery, according to organiser Frank Singh. He said the approximately 1000 mile round trip from Georgetown to Achiwib will see participants visit at least 10 indigenous communities, the largest ranch in South America and glimpse lots of wildlife. The high point will be visiting Lethem for the community’s expo on November 30.

Govt advertises new harbour bridge project

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said government is advertising for expression of interest for the construction of the new bridge to link Regions Three and Four.

The prime minister told media operatives that government continues to takes steps to have a new bridge, noting that the Public Works Ministry has been putting out tenders for contractors.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn said the initiative is a step by step process and will take time for the sake of clarity.

“It is a pre-feasibility study that has identified a number of locations for the bridge; the study is intended to be a guide. The final feasibility study itself and to identify resources and agencies and financial structure that should be brought into the construction process,” he added.

The minister said these spots will be evaluated, perhaps with anoth-

er couple of sites in the feasibility study.

“We have advertised for express of interest and some forms came in on that and we have to develop on that interest from there,” Benn stated.

In September, Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) General Manager Rolston Adams said a pre-feasibility study was completed for the construction of the new bridge.

The study, he said will assist greatly in the reduction of traffic congestion on the East Bank corridor.

Adams said a gener-

al study was conducted which looked at all the different types of bridges that could be constructed, but government is looking to build a fixed structure.

Some of the locations looked at were the existing location where the bridge is, one at New Hope, East Bank Demerara and the third site is at Versailles in Houston.

He explained that suggestions in relation to the study were given to a consultant and feedback should be available by month-end.

This report will then be handed over to Minister Benn, after which it will be sent to Cabinet for approval.

The current Harbour Bridge is a 6074-foot long floating toll bridge. It was commissioned on July 2, 1978.

The bridge crosses the Demerara River, four miles south of Georgetown, from Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara to Schoonord, West Bank Demerara.

Benefits of mining outweigh drawbacks – Persaud

In wake of recent criticisms highlighting the negative impacts of mining, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said increased mining activities in Guyana continue to positively affect the country’s development.

“The growth of the industry has resulted in significant job creation and stimulated economic activity in remote communities and across the country. Increased investment in the sector has resulted in innovative technology being utilised to effect more efficient recovery and production,” the ministry pointed out.

In 2012, gold and bauxite exports represented 50 percent and 10 percent respectively of total export revenues, the ministry posited, noting that gold export earnings totalled US$716.9 million, 38.7 percent higher than the 2011 level.

According to the Natural Resources Ministry, the average export price per ounce of gold increased by six percent to US$1575.4 per ounce in 2012 from US$1486.5 per ounce in 2011.

“Declared gold production of 438,645 ounces was the highest record-

ed in the entire history of the gold industry (excluding one of the largest producers, Omai), and was 20.8 percent higher in 2012, than 2011.”

Meanwhile, the bauxite industry experienced a 12.5 percent growth, with the production of 2,213, 972 tonnes of cement grade bauxite. In general, the mining and quarrying industry recorded 14.8 percent growth in 2012 over 2011.

Guyana’s capital account also reflected a surplus in 2012, driven by significant growth in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), linked to investments in the mining and quarrying industries. As a result, FDI grew by 19 percent, accounting for US$293.7 million in 2012. Net domestic credit by the banking system expanded in 2012 with strong

Richmond Hill Guyanese raise funds for Democrat mayoral candidate

Guyanese-Americans and South Asians from the greater Richmond Hill area of Queens organised a fundraising dinner for Democrat mayoral candidate Bill DeBlasio, an Italian-American. Some prominent Guyanese community leaders and elders turned out for the event.

The dinner banquet was held at the Guyaneseowned Dave Catering Hall in Richmond Hill. Organisers say close to US$175,000 was collected to help the candidate with his expenses for the campaign.

The candidate’s wife, Chirlane, graced the event with prominent Caribbean-American politician Una Clarke,

who, along with community political leaders like Kawal Totaram, facilitated the event.

The amount of money raised is reportedly the largest sum collected by DeBlasio’s campaign since he launched

Caricom accredits

his candidacy some six months ago.

There are a few Guyanese and other West Indians who work for, or serve as advisors for the campaign. Guyanese political analyst Vishnu Bisram is a registered volunteer and also mans phone banks for the campaign through the Teachers Union.

Chirlane DeBlasio and Una Clarke expressed their gratitude to the Richmond Hill community for raising the funds.

They assured Guyanese and others that they will not forget the community. With city-matching grants of six to one, as much as US$1 million could be granted to the campaign.

Israel’s

firstever ambassador to region

contributions from the mining sector, reaching 51.5 percent.

“Mining is an important part of the Guyanese economy, contributing 10.6 percent to the nation’s annual GDP in 2012. Between 2007 and 2012, there was 14 percent growth of the total export value of mining. In 2011, it was estimated that 13,800 people are directly employed in the small and medium scale mining of gold and diamonds, and 19,000 indirectly employed in mining support industries,” the ministry posited.

Based on the ongoing trend, the ministry anticipates that mining will continue to be the key driver in Guyana’s economy.

In an effort to alleviate the negative impacts of mining and promote sustainable development in the industry, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said its 2013-2018 Strategic Framework will reduce degradation from the mining sector.

Improving reclamation of mined out areas, and providing initiatives to address impacts on deforestation and forest degradation from mining are among areas to be tackled within the strategic framework.

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on Tuesday said he looked forward to the development of a more structured and formal mechanism for cooperation between Israel and Caricom.

He made this statement during a ceremony at the Caricom Secretariat headquarters, Turkeyen, Guyana, where ambassador to Caricom from Israel Amiram Magid presented his credentials. Ambassador Magid is the first Israeli ambassador to Caricom.

In his remarks, Ambassador LaRocque said he was convinced that the new ambassador’s record as a fully engaged and diligent diplomat will serve to further enhance relations between Israel and Caricom.

“Caricom has much to gain and learn from Israel and, as in any meaningful partnership, I am sure that Israel has much to learn from the Caribbean Community,” he said. According to the secretary general, there were two important areas in which Caricom could benefit from a strengthened relationship at the regional level: protected agriculture and water management.

He said Caricom welcomed the opportunity to begin discussions in that regard. Ambassador LaRocque thanked the Israeli ambassador for his country’s contribution to the permanent memorial for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave trade being spearheaded by Caricom. He also used the opportunity to draw the new ambassador’s attention to what

he referred to as a call being sounded by the region’s leaders for attention to be paid to the issue of reparations for the consequences of slavery. Other priority areas outlined by the secretary general included the issues of non- communicable diseases, the Arms Trade Treaty, and the inclusion of disabled persons on the post-2015 Development Agenda. The Israeli ambassador in his remarks said his country has always sought partnership and cooperation with all nations. He said as a small modern state, his country understood the needs of the Caricom member states and “stands ready to share its experience with them.” He said he was no stranger to the region since he has previously served in seven other Caribbean countries since 2010.

Amerindians benefit from housing project in Rupununi

BY: SABATINI DANIELS

President Donald Ramotar handed over the keys to a number of houses to residents of the North Rupununi District, Region Nine last Friday, an initiative spearheaded by the Housing and Water Ministry through its second Low Income Settlement Programme (LIS- 2).

Under the programme, the roofs of some houses were also refurbished. The project

which benefitted are Kwatamang, Katoka, Massarra, Central Annai and Apoteri. In Kwatamang, some 35 households benefited: 23 from roof replacements and 12 for houses while in Katoka, 10 household benefited from roof replacements and 12 houses were built. In Massarra, seven roof replacements were completed, but seven of the 12 homes are completed thus far.

The four roof top replacements in Central

it provided employment opportunities for 40 percent of residents.

Great beginning

The president lauded the project as a great beginning, noting that it will expand from village to village until everyone in the hinterland has a better quality of life.

Ramotar said he knows the housing conditions in the hinterland are not always good, pointing out that he hails from a hinterland village and has travelled extensively.

is a collaborative effort of the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), aimed at providing affordable, sustainable housing in Region Nine.

The communities

Annai were completed; however, two of 12 houses are completed. Meanwhile, in Apoteri, six of 12 roof replacements are completed and nine of 11 houses are under construction. Sixty per cent of labour for the project was provided by beneficiaries while

The president said government wants to do much more for hinterland residents, and much focus is being placed on hinterland education.

“I have seen for myself, having the opportunity to travel to the parts of the hinterland, the transformation that

is taking place and that gives me immense joy in many ways to see our people grasp at education, grasping at opportunity and developing themselves.”

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said the project is a great accomplishment and a symbol of the government’s commitment to ensure a better quality of life for its people, describing the day as a day for celebration for the beneficiaries.

“These are all investments that we are proud to make on your behalf, these are all investments we think that you so richly deserve… for us, we are all equal and we all deserve equal opportunity and equal treatment,” he declared.

He told the gathering that the government wants to work with them hand-in-hand to guarantee they obtain what they deserve. “In the government, there is a partner that will ensure you are equally treated every single time.”

Ali said his ministry did not want the project to just be the building of the homes, but rather for it to be an experience that would improve the livelihoods and skills of the persons who worked on them.

Meanwhile, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said the project mirrors an approach which the government promotes, which is, equal housing for all Guyanese.

TT authorities probe death of prisoner at Arouca station

An autopsy Monday on the body of a 30-year-old prisoner who was found dead in the holding cells of the Arouca Police Station in Trinidad on Saturday night revealed he died as a result of blunt force trauma.

TT media reported that an investigator from the Homicide Investigations Bureau will be appointed to probe the circumstances surrounding Kevin Anthony Singh’s death and whether the blunt force trauma injuries were self-inflicted or he was beaten by persons unknown.

The autopsy was carried out by government pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes. Singh’s relatives were Monday still in a state of disbelief at his death, but remained

adamant, Singh never had suicidal tendencies and as such, they believe he was murdered. They also believe police at Arouca Police Station are not telling the truth and described the death of their relative as ‘a cover up’.

However, the police are maintaining Singh inflicted the injuries on himself by banging his head repeatedly against

the metal bars of the cell where he was kept after being detained for larceny of a car.

According to police reports, Singh of Las Lomas No 1 was detained last Friday, as a suspect in the larceny of a car. Relatives said at about 8 pm on Saturday, they received a phone call from officers at the Las Lomas Police Post stating they had been contacted by

“It teaches… that collaborating will move mountains and the government’s credibility and image, which we have created over the last two decades to promote Guyana and its credibility in working with development partners.”

Sukhai said the project provides a model

which can be replicated in many of the poor developing countries, as “It lends experiences and lessons to these countries that they could follow and implement… for their people.”

Some 209 houses are expected to be covered under the housing programme.

officials stationed at the Arouca Police Station, asking for the immediate presence of Singh’s family at the latter police station.

The family complied with the request and made arrangements to go to the police station. When they arrived about an hour later, they were told by officers Singh was dead. Contacted for comment, Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said a First Division Officer will be appointed to probe the death of Singh and added the Police Complaints Authority has already been furnished with a police report on the death of the prisoner. He said the PCA will be provided with other information which will form part of the investigation. (TT Newsday)

Antigua and Barbuda begin preparations for general election

The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) says it has registered over 48,000 persons under its mass voter re-registration exercise over the weekend, as the country prepares for a general election which Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said would be held within the next four months.

ABEC said that the St Georges constituency had the highest number of registered persons with a figure of 4, 593 and that the total number of people registered during the re-registration exercise totaled 48, 109. The preliminary voters list would be issued within a two-week period and would “be made available to the public for 30 days

in which time it can be scrutinised. At the end of that period, the claims and objections phase will begin.

General election is constitutionally due in March 2014, but the prime minister in an address over the weekend, said that “within four months you would have exercised your right to choose a government that would continue to keep the flag of Antigua and Barbuda flying high”.

The last general election was held in March 2009 and the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP), which has been in power since 2004, is hoping to improve on its slender victory when it won nine of the 16 seats at stake. (Caribbean News)

Granger calls for establishment of engineering committee

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is calling on government to establish an Engineering Committee at the level of Cabinet that will bring some coordination to the huge number of projects that are undertaken by various ministries. The party made this call during its weekly press conference held on Friday.

APNU leader David Granger said a step in this direction is necessary, given the number of delays and substandard work that has been carried out over the years, on many infrastructural projects, countrywide.

He posited that the current administration does not have a comprehensive plan to improve or increase public infrastructure assets and therefore, the committee will serve to address these issues.

“Deteriorating public infrastructure is impeding national development. Rickety stelling, congested city streets, failing ferries, deteriorating hinterland airstrips, broken bridges, impassable roadways, weakened kokers and sea defenses have become impediments to

everyday commuting, communication and commerce.”

Granger also listed five keys areas of infrastructure development that needed urgent improvement. The first being air transportation. He said at least 44 more frequently used airstrips in the hinterland receive only marginal maintenance. This, he believes, is a contributory factor to aviation accidents in the country.

Road transportation

According to him, road transportation is also another area that needs serious attention.

Granger said traversing some roads is very agonising, while many major bridges are in a deplorable state. He also made reference to the collapse of sections of the Demerara Harbour Bridge in July 2012, and the temporary collapse of the Moco-Moco Bridge, as examples of the poor works being done in this area.

Further, Granger noted that river transport faces a worst situation, as its ageing fleet of ferries is a “maritime nightmare”.

He told media operatives that these same

ferries are becoming increasingly uneconomical to maintain. In addition to that, Granger said the Bartica, New Amsterdam, Parika, Rosignol, Stabroek, Vreed-en-Hoop and Wakenaam stellings are all in need of rehabilitation.

Speed boat associations are also demanding to have safer facilities for daily riverine traffic.

Touching on anoth-

er area, the leader of the opposition said Guyana’s sea defence remains poor, stating that the Public Works Ministry cannot competently cope with the challenge of maintaining them. Breaches and overtopping is another area that needs serious attention, as this cause major flooding to both residential and farming communities, especially in coastal parts of the country.

The APNU, he said believes that government’s E-governance Project Unit was unprepared to adequately supervise the installation of the 560-kilometes fibre-optic cable from Lethem to Georgetown.

Poor work

Granger clarified that APNU is not in disagreement with the project, but rather the poor works being executed by contractors.

“Guyana needs a plan to coordinate the efforts and consolidate the resources of various state agencies which seem to be involved in public infrastructure work.”

Granger stated that public works, housing and water, local government and regional development and the natural resources and environment ministries and the Office of the President have all been administering various infrastructural projects.

This, the party said, may be one of the reasons there is a huge number of substandard works being carried out on all the areas mentioned.

APNU is therefore calling on government to formulate a coherent policy and comprehensive infrastructural plan in order to avert confusion in the delivery of services and to ensure value for money.

The opposition leader said this call should not go unheard, but must be taken into serious consideration to ensure that development takes place in the way it ought to, especially in making sure that commuting is made easier and that there is no impediment to trade.

Private sector petitions for passage of money laundering bill

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is petitioning members of the National Assembly to consider, make any necessary adjustments and pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill of 2013.

The bill seeks to amend the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009.

Guyana faces blacklisting if the bill con-

taining several amendments by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) is not passed by the House.

Consequently, in light of the need for Guyana to comply with the recommendations of the CFATF and enact and/or amend legislation to prohibit money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the necessary bill of Parliament as required to ensure compliance has been reviewed by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and has been deemed acceptable, and has been with the appropriate select committee of Parliament for approximately six months.

Though the Alliance For Change (AFC) has indicated their support for the bill, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leader David Granger has said the coalition will not be supporting the amendments to the bill, due to their absence in the entire process and the need for it to be properly done.

He said that the coalition has no-confidence in the amendments made to the bill and its readiness for a final reading which had been scheduled for November 7.

The opposition leader reiterated that government had the bill for four years and was looking to have it passed through the National Assembly in a mere four months.

A matter of priority

However, the PSC, which represents 17 business organisations across Guyana, and the interests of 21 corporate entities, including all manufacturing companies, said it is mindful of the severe economic con-

sequences of failure to enact the aforesaid bill, and respectfully requests the National Assembly to pass the legislation as a matter of national and economic priority.

The commission said it notes the concerns expressed by the opposition parties but no written submissions have been forthcoming as it relates to adjustments to the bill as deemed amendable by the political opposition.

The PSC reiterated that failure to enact the legislation will result in the blacklisting of Guyana by other countries which will result in severe hardship for the business community and the ordinary citizens of Guyana.

Correspondent banks will increase their queries regarding customer transactions, thus increasing the cost of doing business. Not surprisingly, this process has already begun.

Foreign banks have already begun to sever ties with local banks and branches; the cost of remittances will escalate. Remittances, which now make up 40 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of Guyana, will be reduced to the detriment of the poor.

The PSC also noted that the conduct of everyday business and the retention of jobs are at stake, and Guyanese will be faced with difficulty in obtaining insurance and insurers may be forced out of business.

Transactions involving payments to foreign suppliers will become difficult, if not impossible; and all essential imports will be affected and delayed with associated increases in costs.

When Indian indentured servants arrived in what was then British Guiana, they brought their rich culture and ancient traditions, which have since been maintained among the subsequent generations who have made the territory, now independent Guyana, their home.

One of the most pop-

ular of these traditions has been the Diwali festival, known as the festival of lights, brought over by the Hindu indentured servants. The festival, also termed Deepavali, which means ‘a row of lights’, is now a public holiday and is celebrated on the 15th day of the Hindu calendar month of Kartik.

Initially celebrated

here since indentured Indian workers arrived, within the dilapidated logies which once housed the labourers, simple mud or clay diyas were filled with ghee and lit by cotton wick to observe the religious occasion brought from the India motherland.

Then, on the eve of Diwali almost 40 years ago, a tradition among

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, the cultural association formed in 1974 that organises the annual motorcades, saw the need for innovation in the festival to keep the tradition dynamic, and the event became a unique extravaganza in the Caribbean.

It would be the November 1991 motorcade that would see for the first time, the participation of five private companies, of which the Neal and Massey Group of Companies and Kayman Sankar Company took

first and second prize respectively in the pick-up and truck category at the time.

Since then, the categories have been somewhat reclassified: large vehicles, which include low-bed trailers and trucks; small vehicles such as cars, pick-ups, vans etc, and the commercial category, which was recently included for companies. In addition, in 2008 a ‘best designer in the commercial category’ award was in-

began with the staging of the first Diwali motorcade where vehicle owners took to the streets, decorating their vehicles with lights, and where even decorated horse drawn carts made their way through the streets.

Founder of the event, the late Pandit Repu Daman Persaud, who was then president of the

When it comes to accessories, many are unaware of the suitable items that work best with their outfit. No matter how much fashion experience you have in the clothing world, even the best of us are at a loss when it comes to adding spunk and pizzazz with accessories.

For Indian outfits, accessorising starts first and foremost with the very important concept of knowing what look you want to sport. Your style should be a reflection of what you like and your personal taste. Secondly, the most important task is selecting jewellery, hair ornaments, shoes, handbags and scarves that will aptly complement your outfit. Accessorising also includes your hairstyle, nails and makeup.

Accessorising your Indian outfits depends a great deal on the nature of the event, whether it is religious ceremonies, weddings, cocktails or just normal parties. The timing of the event is also important to consider; whether day or night.

Depending on the event you can decide whether you want to go simple or heavy on the accessories. In order to select appropriate accessories you must choose the colour of your outfit. If you are wearing neutral or darker shades you may want to accessorise with something colourful. If you are wearing patterned cloth-

ing, choose solid colours in accessories and vice versa.

Choose accessories which will enhance your outfit. Look at your outfit’s colour, feel and texture when choosing appropriate accessories. Work to find accessories that will successfully benefit a variety of wardrobes, stretch your

budget and utilise items available to you.

When shopping for accessories, as with clothes, you will find your most flattering looks by understanding the colours and styles that suit you best. If you are wearing neutral, plain colours, you can wear almost any colour of jewellery. Shiny or antique gold, silver and bronze are usually the most popular types of Indian jewellery. However, you can spice up your look with more chunky, colourful and contemporary pieces. Bring attention to your best points and minimize your worst. Choose a body part to fo-

rings, whether baris, barji humkas, or jhumkas, opt for the elaborate ones when donning a sari, gagrah-choli or anarkali, leave your neck bare. If you choose to adorn your neck, feel free to load it with necklaces dainty and chunky alike, but wear the tiniest most understated earrings possible- tiny rhinestones studs or pearls. An arm band/amulet known as baaju band in Hindu is an excellent choice to adorn the arm. It is a distinct look. For wrists and hands, don not wear bangles/bracelets and rings at the same time and definitely do not wear on both hands. Do not go

cus on and stick with it. Focal points are those on the body that attract attention such as the ears, neck, arm/hands or feet. If you choose ear-

overboard. You can wear a few rings on a bare hand for an interesting look.

Traditionally, Indian women love to adorn

their hair with various accessories such as jhumars and bindis. Fresh flowers are also an excellent choice for accessorising your hair especially for those early morning and outdoor functions. You could use flowers behind you ear, around your bun or upswept hairdo or along the length of your braid.

When choosing accessories such as shoes, handbags and clutches, the most important thing is to harmonise these with your outfit. If you are wearing a lightcoloured sari then pair it with contrasting light coloured elegant slippers with rhinestones or beaded work rather than dark coloured, heavy looking shoes. Pairing your anarkalis, shalwar kameez, and gaghrah-cholis with trendy high heels and pumps is definitely a plus!

Strive to have a few signature pieces of jewellery. Remember a polish appearance is achieved through balance, so do not go overboard with your accessories. Too many can appear flashy, overdone or inappropriate and too few can result in a drab or uninteresting look. If you are in doubt do not wear it! (By Omkar Tewari. Excerpted from Horizons 2012 issue)

The late Pandit

Reepu Daman

Persaud always emphasized the importance of children and young people pursuing education to the highest levels. Through the Reepu Daman Persaud Foundation, the pandit’s goal of aiding deserving students to help them realize their full potential is being achieved.

Pandit Persaud, who was also a politician, guru to many; president and founder of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and one who served for 41 years as a parliamentarian, made no distinction between boys and girls. It was his belief that all young people need to equip themselves with all the necessary education and skills so that they could effectively contribute towards their community and country, as well as their personal enhancement.

On January 16, 2006, the Reepu Daman Persaud Foundation was launched to coincide with his 70th birthday. Under the foundation, assistance is provided in the form of tuition fees and related expenses for University of Guyana students; oneyear scholarships for students studying at the Dharmic Rama Krishna Primary School and bursaries to children across the country to assist with educational expenses.

To date, more than 35 students of the Dharmic

Rama Krishna Primary School have had one year tuition fees paid for by the foundation. In addition, 75 bursaries have been given to children from Berbice, West Coast and East Coast Demerara.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, the late

expanded this across the country. We asked our various branches countrywide to identify deserving children to help them financially and even help them further to university,” Dr Persaud stated.

The foundation has also given a full fouryear scholarship to

to provide free training at our Dharmic Kendra. We have also started classes in East Coast at the Strathaven Mandir, and after Diwali we will expand the classes to Parika, West Coast Demerara and Berbice. Our aim is making our programme accessible and open to anyone. Any

pandit’s daughter, Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud pointed out that her father believed strongly in education and the development of youths, and this gave birth to the foundation.

“One way we thought of educating and developing youths is by providing scholarships for them. We started at our Dharmic Rama Krishna School by giving scholarships to children at all levels, once they would have some sort of assessment. The scholarships were given based on academic merit as well as a needs-based requirement. We have

week before as the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha presents motor-

cades throughout the country in Essequibo, Berbice and the final Georgetown/East Coast motorcade on the eve of Diwali.

The temporary ad-

Vickram Deonarine of Essequibo to pursue a civil engineering degree at UG. It is also bearing the cost of his accommodation on campus. Vickram will graduate this month (November). Another student whose fees were borne by the foundation was successful in obtaining his accountancy diploma at UG.

“This year we have decided to expand our work to develop people musically. Two fulltime musicians, who have played for the popular Zee TV show “Sa Re Ga Ma”, have been brought in from India

child who has that natural ability or inclination can benefit from it also,” she outlined. The foundation also emphasizes the importance of blending extracurricular activities with academics. Persaud pointed out that more parents are realizing the programme is not just about dancing but is a discipline. The children have to attend school, practice and also get to participate in many of the Dharmic Sabha’s events like the Kala Utsav planned for November 24.

“We are also working to partner very soon

with an institute in India so that Indian music exams can be written here. Also, if we find very talented students and we feel they can benefit from overseas training, it is our hope we can have that funding available. One thing my father believed, which is exemplified in his children, is education. Each one of us he invested in, and he always felt that children should have the opportunity to excel. I think it relates to his background – coming from a logie environment; being fatherless very young, his mother alone raising him and struggling for his education. I think he achieved a lot and reached the pinnacle of where he wanted to be in religion and politics. Looking at his struggle and what he had to go through as someone who came from a very poor and humble background, I think he thought that children out there should not have to go through this, especially those who have an aptitude for learning. As his children we understood his passion and we wanted

to start this foundation,” she disclosed.

She said too that the brainchild of the foundation was her mother, Indranie Persaud, who has always ensured its smooth operation. The foundation is sustained by the contributions from the children, godchildren, relatives and friends of Persaud, and is governed by a board of trustees.

When asked about what Diwali will be like this year, Persaud answered: “Diwali will be a bit sad for us and the Dharmic Sabha because it is the first one my dad will not be with us. However, in continuing his legacy, the motorcades are bigger this year. We have also expanded our rangoli competition and included other schools across the country. So we are continuing to look for creative ways in expanding our programmes. I want to take this opportunity to say happy Diwali to everyone.”

For more information on the foundation call 227-2010 or go to Reepu Daman Persaud on Facebook.

ditions to the vehicles, made of steel or bamboo, painted and covered with electrical lights (fairy lights), are gaily decorated in a theme of choice, which has grown to often include depictions of Hindu deities, and the lotus leaf in which sits a representation of Maha Lakshmi, an important deity of the festival

With increasing development both technologically and economically, the motorcades have each year proven more elaborate and spectacular than the last.

As thousands of Guyanese and tourists line the route or arrive at the LBI ground to view the floats, the

Part I

Beauty pageants have always been hugely popular –as well as controversial. As with anything involving aesthetics, it’s often a subjective experience. Miss Guyana pageants have been no exception.

With pageant fever running high after the recent crowning of Miss Guyana Universe 2013 Katherina Roshana, who is about to take part in the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Russia later this week, Guyana Times Sunday Magazine looks back at the highs and lows of the Miss Guyana World and Miss Guyana Universe pageants over the years.

Miss Guyana World

While virtually nothing is known of a local Miss World pageant when Guyana was British Guiana, 1966, the year of Guyana’s independence, saw Guyana arrive on the Miss World pageant scene with a bang when the country’s first Miss Guyana World, 19-year-old Umblita Van Sluytman, made it to the semi-final round. Though Guyana did not go on to the finals, which was won by Miss India, it was a proud moment for the brand new state. Umbelita died in 2004.

Then in 1967, Miss Guyana World Shakira Baksh, at 19 placed third (second runner-up) in the pageant which saw Miss Peru crowned Miss World. It would be the closest to winning,

to date of writing, that Guyana has made it at either a Miss World or Miss Universe pageant. Baksh, who also acted and modelled, subsequently married British actor Michael Caine and now lives in England.

When the 1968 Miss World was staged, Guyana was again among the notable beauties when Adrienne Harris placed sixth (fifth runner-up) among the seven finalists of the pageant, won by Miss Australia.

Pamela Patricia Lord continued the run at the 1969 Miss Guyana World when she became third runner-up at that year’s Miss World pageant in which Miss Austria was crowned queen.

After four years of consecutive pageantry appearances in which Guyanese beauties had consistently showed their potential, 1970 would see Miss Guyana World in the spotlight when Jennifer EvanWong received a place among the semi-finalists for the event which was eventually won by Miss Grenada. Evan-Wong died in 2005.

The new decade seemed to continue shining for Miss Guyana World contestants when in 1971 Nalini Moonasar came in fourth (third runner-up) at the pageant won by Miss Brazil. However, she would be the last contestant Guyana would send to any international beauty pageant for almost two dark decades.

The country finally did return to the Miss World pageant in 1988, but its fortunes changed drastically, and to date it has yet to field any contestant that has reached the previous pageants’ levels. Despite her beauty, the first Miss Guyana World after the long hiatus would create local controversy, and earn no place among the top most beautiful women in the world.

When 20-year-old Christine Jardim won the 1988 Miss Guyana World pageant, the first one for Guyana after a 17-year absence, her victory was particularly marred by dissent about her weight and the usual subjective ideal of beauty. Nevertheless, despite not gaining a place on the world stage –Miss Iceland won the event that year – Christine continued with her studies and is now director of enterprise development at Florida International University.

The following year Lyla Shalimar Ryhaan Majeed claimed the crown in the 1989 Miss Guyana World but was unsuccessful in repeat-

ing such a feat in the international pageant. That year the pageant, won by Miss Poland, was held, for the first time out of England, on the island of Hong Kong.

Guyana would for ten years after, again not produce Miss World contestants. Then, in the year before the new millennium, Indra Changa became the 1999 Miss Guyana World but did not gain a place, and Miss India took the Miss World title.

With no pageant contestant competing in 2000, it would be in 2001 that Guyana fielded a Miss Guyana World when Olive Gopaul was chosen to represent the country at the Miss World. She too failed to place at the event won by Miss Nigeria, but remains a well-known business personality.

In 2002 Odessa Phillips was chosen Miss Guyana World and headed to London for the 52nd Miss World pageant after its planned staging in Nigeria was cancelled. She also failed to place and the event was won by Miss Turkey.

Twenty-one-yearold Alexis Glasgow was the 2003 Miss Guyana World. Though the New Amsterdam beauty would suffer the same fate of her contemporaries, and it was Miss Ireland who took the coveted title, she has since moved on from the pageant and now lives in Iceland.

Suzette Shim would shrug off her 2003 loss to Alexis Glasgow in the Miss World Guyana contest and in 2004 achieve the title and the opportunity to go to the Miss World pageant in China.

The 19-year-old failed to place in the pageant which was won by Miss Peru.

In 2005 Jasmine Herzog arrived in China to participate in the 55th Miss World pageant. Despite the high hopes of the rest of the country, she failed to make an impact in the event won by Miss Iceland.

Miss Guyana World 2006 Dessia Braithwaite; Candace Charles, Miss Guyana World 2007 and Christa Simmons in 2008 would continue Guyana’s dismal run at the pageant which was won by Miss Czech Republic, Miss China and Miss Russia respectively.

Then, in the 2009 Miss World contest won by Miss Gibraltar, Imarah Radix placed among the top 22 in the Miss World Talent segment of the pageant; the closest Guyana had come of note since 1971.

In 2010, UK-based Miss Guyana World

Althea Shepherd made it into the top 20 of the Miss World Sports segment of the competition whose crown went to Miss United States. Shepherd, a model and actress, continues to be active in her careers.

Arti Cameron would be crowned Miss Guyana World 2011, but there was no Guyanese Miss World at the 2011 pageant which was won by Miss Venezuela; visa troubles led to the unique absence of the Guyanese contestant in 2011, and as a result she was permitted to wear the crown in 2012 and represent Guyana at the 2012 Miss World pageant. Despite initial signs of calamity again in 2012, she eventually made it to the 62nd Miss World pageant. Though failing to impress the judges, she earned a People’s Choice Award at the event, which was won by Miss China PR.

Ruqayyah Boyer was chosen by the Miss Guyana World franchise holder to represent the country at the 2013 Miss World contest that was won by Miss Philippines. Boyer too failed to pull the country out of its dearth, despite being among the top 32 in the Beach Fashion segment of the competition.

Next week we take a look at Miss Guyana Universe where, among other things, we shall discover some contestants who had the extreme good fortune of representing Guyana at both Miss World and Miss Universe pageants.

Guyanese artist, puppeteer and arts lecturer Michael Khan, also known as ‘Ole Man Pappie’, was recently awarded notable certificates by the Guyana Cultural Association and the state of New York for his significant contribution in preserving Guyana’s cultural heritage.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, the artist noted that the Guyana Cultural Association Folk Festival Award (GCA) ceremony, is an annual event in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug 28, 2013, presented awards acknowledging individuals for their work in preserving and promoting Guyanese culture and heritage.

The award Khan received from GCA was in recognition of his creativity, outstanding work and contribution to the revival of oral traditions, folk tales, myths and legends; presenting Guyanese oral traditions through puppetry, song, dance and dramatic story telling and propagating cultural legends and customs to school age audiences.

Additionally, he received a City Council Citation from the city of New York which described him as an “outstanding citizen, one which is worthy of the esteem of both community and the great city of New York.”

Khan mentioned the Guyanese folk characters Ole’ Man Pappie and Janie Gyal played a very integral part in early village life. He

added that those living on the low coastal plain from Crabwood Creek to Essequibo, had interactions with both village characters, especially Ole Man Pappie when the children would taunt him with the rhyme, “Ole Man Pappie teef fowl egg, Go in de shop and buy Jill bread.”

Also, some may recall Ramjohn Holder’s song, “Janie Gyal”. Janie Gyal is a village character who considers herself the village beauty queen and herbalist. Janie Gyal, with the help of Ole Man Pappie, was always looking for a husband from village to village but never found one that suited her taste. The women in the villages would try to keep their husbands away from Janie Gyal

as much as possible and would tell her, “Lang, lang time Janie Gyal, Awe nah guh backdam, Cum leh we guh backdam, Janie gyal, cum leh we go back dam.”

The research on these two village characters came about with the Inter-American Development Bank cultural grant, of which Khan is a recipient and earned his study leave at the University of Guyana.

The artist wanted to revive these characters to encourage younger generations to learn about their Guyanese heritage and build appreciation for their rich culture.

“This was unexpected and I felt like I didn’t deserve to be awarded since

what I’m doing comes from my heart, especially where children are involved. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share the folk tales and toys we grew up playing with, and that of our ancestors. Guyana’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage is indeed dying and I am committed to share our rich diverse culture with the children and people of Guyana and the world at large,” Khan remarked on receiving the awards.

At the GCA award ceremony in NY, Khan disclosed that Ole Man Pappie and Janie Gyal, played by his assistant Natasha Azeez, were the most featured village characters at the Guyana Folk Festival. They were also in charge of the children’s village.

“We took to New York traditional folk toys and games such as a wooden scooter, rollers made of empty milk cans and the ones with the covers nailed to a stick, spinners, which were also made using the cover of the carnation milk can, and telephones made out of cans. Also, we took rice bags that we as children used to sleep on; nowadays we have therapeutic mattresses. We also featured artefacts such as the cane cutters’ water bag, cutlass holder and much more. We plaited rubber bands and made a ‘Chinese jumping rope’. The adults had fun with this one,” Khan recalled.

In addition, Khan said that he took a coconut bat, lucky seeds and buck beads. The children had fun making hand bands, necklaces and earrings. These activities gave parents an opportunity to relive their childhood memories of making chains and playing ‘gam’ with the ‘kuru’ seeds used as marbles.

Some of the Guyanese parents, Khan noted, who treasured their childhood memories, were able to share these with their children and grandchildren.

“One man showed us the scar on his foot he got from his small days while he was trying to ride a scooter. It was very emotional as we all shared so many good memories of a good Guyanese childhood life. Claire Ann Goring, Cultural Director of GCA, commented that she was

captivated with the response of the Guyanese adults living abroad who still remember how to make and use the traditional toys. Similar views were shared from other members of the association about the Children’s Village and how well it was received,” Khan disclosed.

Apart from playing the traditional games, dramatic storytelling of Guyanese myths, tales and legends such as Brer Anansi, Balgobin, De Baccoo, Moongazer, Ole Higue were told to the attentive audience comprising parents and children, with gestures of, “Yeah, I remember that” or “My grandmother used to tell me that.”

Khan pointed out that in celebration of Amerindian

ers and storytellers. I will be visiting nine schools in the Cayman Island telling stories through the use of puppetry, imagery and art making. Also, the University of Guyana marks its 50th anniversary this year, and plans are on stream to present "Dark Night Story Night", an enactment of stories told on a moonless night (dark night). Additionally, a child art exhibition entitled "Visionary eyes of the young III" and a textile art mural for the Education Lecture Theatre at UG are also planned. For Mashramani 2014 Ole Man Pappie will be visiting schools sharing folklore stores and will also make appearances in the gardens and villages. In addition, Ole Man Pappie will be having motivational talks swith stu-

Heritage Month he held “Amerindian Tales and Legends of Guyana Part II” at the Walter Roth Museum. Also, children from the Tiger Bay area enjoyed dramatic storytelling, side walk drawing and painting miniature petroglyphs reflecting the ones inside the national museum.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for their kind support, especially Dr James Rose who has remained committed to our cause of taking our rich diverse culture and folklore across Guyana,” Khan said gratefully.

From November 28 to December 10, 2013, Khan will be at ‘GIMISTORY’ in the Cayman Island. He is ecstatic that his character, Ole Man Pappie, is getting popular throughout the Caribbean.

“I will be sharing the stage with the legendary Guyanese Dave Martins, Henry Muttoo and many other renowned folk sing-

dents of third, fourth and fifth forms on career opportunities and the preservation of Guyanese folklore,” he declared.

Since 2001, GCA has awarded leading artists and cultural enablers for their contributions to the Guyanese society. The 2013 Festival and Award Ceremony marked the 12th anniversary of the founding of GCA. They have recognised a range of talented people across Guyana and its diaspora whose accomplishments are in diverse fields such as in arts, education and community service, and as cultural enablers. Those who receive awards are selected by a committee that evaluates each nomination considering attributes in the GCA published criteria that incorporate originality, scope, impact/ influence, integration, pioneering spirit, challenges and achievements. The finalists represent exemplary models of Guyana’s cultural mosaic.

This week's Crossword

J kes

Tech support

Actual telephone dialog of a former WordPerfect Customer

Support employee: “Ridge Hall computer assistant; may I help you?”

“Yes, well, I’m having trouble with WordPerfect.”

“What sort of trouble?”

“Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.”

“Went away?”

“They disappeared.”

“Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“It’s blank; it won’t accept anything when I type.”

“Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?”

“How do I tell?”

“Can you see the C: prompt on the screen?”

“What’s a sea-prompt?”

“Never mind. Can you move the cursor around on the screen?”

“There isn’t any cursor: I told you, it won’t accept anything I type.”

“Does your monitor have a power indicator?”

“What’s a monitor?”

“It’s the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have little light that tells you when it’s on?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Great! Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it’s plugged into the wall.”

“Yes, it is.”

“When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?”

“No.”

This week's Puzzle

“Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.”

“Okay, here it is.”

“Follow it for me, and tell me if it’s plugged securely into the back of your computer.”

“I can’t reach.”

“Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is?”

“No.”

“Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?”

“Oh, it’s not because I don’t have the right angle-it’s because it’s dark.”

“Dark?”

“Yes-the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.”

“Well, turn on the office light then.”

“I can’t.”

“No? Why not?”

“Because there’s a power outage.”

“A power… A power outage? Aha! Okay, we’ve got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in?”

“Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.”

“Good! Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.”

“Really? Is it that bad?”

“Yes, I’m afraid it is.”

“Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?”

“Tell them you’re too stupid to own a computer.”

The lecture

An elderly man is stopped by the police around 1 a.m. and is asked where he is going at that time of night.

The man replies, "I am going to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body."

The officer then asks, "Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?"

The man replies, "My wife."

By RichaRd Kistnen, esq

For much of the past several weeks, there has been news coverage of problems associated with the rollout and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise referred to as “ObamaCare.” Generally speaking, the law provides that uninsured individuals will be assessed a penalty when filing their tax returns. (Currently, orders are being issued to extend the deadline by which an individual has to obtain health insurance to avoid the tax penalty.) The heart of the program is the implementation of an “online marketplace” in which people can see all of their options in one place (rather than having to call each provider, as before). The theory behind the law is to standardize health insurance plans with baseline coverage, and have enough “healthy people” purchase coverage that it would offset the costs associated with treating those with chronic and/or severe conditions.

Much attention in the news has been drawn to the federal exchange’s website, which has been plagued by implementation issues. New York, however, was one of the states that opted out of the federal exchange and to create its own marketplace. I used the New York website for my own use and thought that, overall, it worked well.

To begin, a user must create a profile. Thereafter, you must verify your identity with items such as date of birth, social security number, last known address, and so on. Once your profile is created and your identity is verified, you must provide household and income information. Information that is requested includes how many people are in your household, how many require

health insurance, who is employed, what kind of income is earned, and what kinds of deductions can be taken. (It is in this area that the website gets tricky. For a regular wage earner, your paystub info can be directly entered into your profile. For self-employed and small business people, entering income and expense information is not as simple, and you will ultimately estimate your income.)

After putting in household and income information, this is cross-referenced with information which the state has on file (which I thought was pretty impressive technology). After the site determines that your income information is accurate, it presents you with your healthcare options. It lists out providers, monthly premiums, whether you are issued a tax credit and what plan is offered. (Again, plans are standardized, and go from Catastrophic to Bronze to Silver to Gold to Platinum. The minimum level of services covered in each group is the same from provider to provider.) From this list, you can determine what kinds of plans you can afford, including deductibles, co-pays, etc.

I, ultimately, was successful in picking out a health plan. While still costly, the plan I was able to find was cheaper by $200.00 than the plan I had looked at before the New York exchange was created. Moreover, there is no exclusion of coverage for people who have a preexisting condition. To help you navigate your options, there are “navigators” available to help you in and around the city. People can also call the providers or the exchange directly with questions or help with their applications. If you have questions concerning the New York State Exchange, call 1-855-355-5777. You can also contact the Law Office of Richard Kistnen, (718) 738-2324.

How cold temperatures affect the ears

By Tisha BosTon

We are now in the Fall season and this presents challenges for our ears. The ear is responsible for hearing and balance; it is a vital organ in communicating. The ear is very sensitive when it comes to lower temperatures because it has no protective fat tissue and thus, cools down very quickly.

Exposure to cold temperatures allows for less blood circulation in the ear, causing the nerves in the ear canal to react strongly and painfully.

During cold conditions, water in the ears can cause inflammation. Sometimes a cold head too may lead to cramped muscles, especially in the neck region, and ear infections. An acute ear infection is one of the main health problems associated with exposure to cold climate. Extreme cold conditions can also cause frostbite in the ears, which can lead to permanent damage to the body, if not treated immediately.

oughly after showering or swimming before entering the cold. Avoid wearing earrings,

Three of the easiest ways to lower the risk of an ear infection or other ear complications associated with the cold season are:

• Keep the ears warm by covering them with a hat, helmet, headband or earmuff.

• Dry the ear canals thor-

since met- al conducts cold and this can rapidly cool down any part of the body that is in contact with it.

For people with existing hearing complications, cold conditions can reduce the battery capacity of their hearing instrument. If the temperature drops

below zero degrees Celsius, the hearing aid can fail completely, due to condensation occurring within the instrument. Condensation is the reverse of vaporization; it is the change of water from its gaseous state to a liquid state, so when transitioning from cold to warm conditions, small drops of water can get into the electronics and bring damage to the hearing instrument.

Some solutions for hearing aid users to consider during the cold weather are:

• Water-resistant hearing aids for these are less susceptible to condensation damage.

Spare batteries that one can easily carry in pantspockets or hand bags.

• Special drying containers to store hearing aids; these are usually provided by a medical professional.

• Winter gear for the ears such as hats, headbands, earmuffs, etc, which will prevent the batteries from rapidly cooling down.

All in all, now that the leaves are falling and some of us are getting to crave turkeys and put up decorations, protecting your ears should also be part of your agenda.

Isis Metoo is the reigning Miss West Indian Canadian 2013, who impressed the judges with her talented vocal performance of Adele's ‘Skyfall’, her stunning evening gown and brilliant response during the Q&A segment. This West Indian beauty was born in Trinidad on October 15, 1983.

She is a member of the Samsara Dance Group, which won the ‘Best Soca Group Dance’ award at Wi Can Dance Competition 2013. The group also opened for Ravi B & Karma during the Easter weekend concert last year and has performed at various charity events for Sears Glam Campaign and Sears Children Cancer Society. Metoo hails from a family that has in the past 16 years been engaged in various activities that reaches out to persons with disabilities. This, she described as the “most rewarding and life changing experience that has shaped her into the person she is today.”

She will go on to represent the Miss West Indian Canadian Pageant in 2013-2014, attending various charity events until it's time for her to crown the next queen in 2014.

Rangoli is a traditional Indian art of decorating the entrance to a house.

Described as an ancient art, Rangoli is practiced by almost all households in India, whose designs are passed down through generations, where some of them are hundreds of years old.

In India, where Guyanese Hindus’ indentured ancestors brought the tradition, Rangoli patterns vary in the different Indian states. Diwali would be incomplete without the traditional rangoli being created.

The word rangoli is said to have been derived from the words rang and aavalli which refers to a row of colours. A Sanskrit word, it generally means expression of art through the use of colours. It is also known as alpana, aripoma, or kolam. Rangoli is drawn using rice powder, chalk, chalk powder or white rock

powder, flowers, legumes or pulses.

A rangoli design usually has a geometric shape, said to denote the infiniteness of time. A basic rangoli usually comprises two interfacing triangles drawn to symbolise Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge.

A 24-petal lotus border outlines the triangles, and at the four corners of the border, tiny footprints are drawn to represent Maha Lakshmi's footprints. A lotus design is used to represent the goddess Lakshmi, as the lotus is also symbolic for the beginning of life.

A rangoli design is usually created at the entrance of the house during Diwali, not only to welcome the guests, but also the goddess Lakshmi. However, Rangoli designs can be seen adorning pathways, courtyards or pavements during Diwali.

Over the years, the Tourism Ministry has been placing a lot of emphasis on domestic tourism, and in this regard, it has implemented several initiatives such as the ‘Wakenaam Nite’, ‘Essequibo Nite’, and several expos.

In expanding on the ‘Nite’ initiative, the ministry last week launched the ‘Leguan Nite’, to allow individuals to visit and explore the island and see what it has to offer. At the ceremony at the Tourism Ministry’s South Road Office, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh said the event, which is expected to have a greater outcome than Wakenaam Nite, is scheduled for November 9 at the Greens Park ground, Blenheim.

Leguan is a small island in the Essequibo River, with a primarily rice farming and cattle rearing community, and is home to approximately 4000 people. The event is expected to attract a large crowd, because it will serve as an open exhibition to the Region Three island.

It will offer a tour of

the island, along with a visit to the beach, which can be used as family time to relax or play a game of cricket or volleyball while allowing visitors to experience life on the island, which includes rice farming, cow milking and fishing, along with other daily routines. Overnight camping will also be facilitated at the community centre ground and in the school’s compounds.

“We continue in our efforts to promote domestic tourism and afford all Guyanese the opportunity to see their country and experience the various cultural nuances that define each community,” Haralsingh said.

The main attraction of the event, however, is the pageant which consists of five segments and will see nine young women sponsored by residents or former resi-

dents of the island competing for the crown. The young women were at the launch of Leguan Nite and highlighted their platforms: pollution, peer pressure, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, women empowerment, rights of a child, child abuse and unemployment. Entertainment for the evening will also be provided by the Shakti

Strings Orchestra along with local dancers and singers. Local delicacies such as duck, chicken, and iguana curries and coconut choka will be on sale; while there will be lots of games and fun activities for children.

Transportation to the island is by boat, and speed boats are expected to work 24 hours on the day of the event to accommodate passengers travelling to and fro.

The ferry will also be making its usual trips to and from the island; however the ministry is working to have an additional trip added onto the ferry’s schedule for the day. The Leguan Cultural Committee, which has organised the event with the ministry, has secured sponsorship from Banks DIH, Gizmos and Gadgets, the Guyana Chronicle and residents from the island. (GINA)

RIt is the first year Diwali Utsav was held at this casino and the evet saw hundreds in attendance. Among the many activities to participate in included; traditional henna painting, cultural dancing and singing, as well as a variety of authentic cuisines for everyone to enjoy.

Guyana Times International would like to congratulate the management of Resorts

Casino for hosting this special event celebrating the "Festival of Lights", aimed at promoting the religious and cultural teachings of Hinduism in the community.

…How the Volunteer Youth Corps Inc (VYC) helps less-fortunate kids

Located at Lot E Luckhoo Street, Durban Backlands, the VYC has been in existence for about 17 years. It is a non-governmental, nonprofit organisation that has dedicated years to improving the lives of children and youth by providing quality holistic health, social and economic support in the community.

Volunteers work daily with more than 80 at-risk youths with behavioural problems and encourage them to stay in school to reach their full potential. The youths not only receive capacity building from the VYC but academic support to improve in mathematics and science at school. The organisation also

the youth corps inc is asking members of the public to donate an unwrapped toy to help make this holiday season a joyful one for children at the centre

supports children who need medical treatment overseas and children under six years old every Saturday at the local orphanage.

Every Christmas, the VYC hosts a concert and gift-giving ceremony where it works to bring a toy to each child in and around the community. This year is no exception, with a target of 500 youths from south-east

Georgetown, including Sophia, Tucville, South Ruimveldt, Lodge, and east La Penitence.

At the concert, the children will be performing carols, dances, poems and dramatic pieces along with a few special artistes. The VYC has already received commitment in the form of food and costumes from families in the communities in support.

In order to make this happen, the VYC humbly asks you to donate an unwrapped toy to help make this holiday a joyful one for these children. The deadline for donations is Saturday, November 30. The event will be held on Saturday, December 21 at the Lodge Community Ground (adjacent to the VYC centre).

The VYC encourages

everyone to please help ensure all of the children in their community have a special holiday this season. Donations are collected daily and they welcome toys for children between the ages of six and 16.

For more information on how you can assist, please contact Goldie Scott at goldiescottvyc@ gmail.com or call 2271011.

Laparkan participating in Americas cargo show, conference

Laparkan Shipping was among hundreds of international logistics providers participating in the Americas Air and Sea Cargo Show and Conference which opened on Wednesday at the Doubletree Hotel and Convention Centre, Miami, U. S. A.

Laparkan’s delegation to the show and conference is led by its chairman, Glen Khan and includes Vice Chairman Hussein Haniff and Laparkan Airways Network Manager John Green. Laparkan also has a booth at the exhibition.

Prior to the opening, Khan had described the conference as “an impor-

tant forum for the cargo industry as it provides an opportunity for the major players in the business to assess current trends in trade and the transport of goods around the world. We will also be looking at issues such as rates, port and airport facilities and the very critical issue of security.”

The show and conference will conclude on November 8, and will provide an opportunity for manufacturers and distributors to discuss their logistics needs, especially as they embark on product and market diversification.

Another aspect of the discussions will be proposed changes to key regulations in various countries and compliance with the new laws and requirements.

Laparkan Airways Network Manager John Green said the event also provides an opportunity for negotiations with other air cargo providers about collaboration arrangements designed to provide cost efficient service to customers.

The show, which was inaugurated in 1991, is held every two years.

Customer

Appreciation Day

On Saturday, at a Customer Appreciation Day, persons shipping both personnel effects and commercial air and ocean cargo to the Caribbean for the holiday season will be updated on regulatory requirements of government agencies, both in the U. S. and at the destination.

Saturday’s event, to

be held at the company’s office and warehouse at 3750 West Oakland Park Boulevard in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, from 11: 00h to 14: 00h, is one in a series Laparkan is hosting in an effort to educate and inform its customers about requirements, packing tips, sailing schedules and documentation preparation so as to avoid unnecessary delays with customers being able to access their cargo during the busy holiday season.

A similar event will be held on Saturday, October 19 in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to the provision of shipping information, Laparkan will also be showing its ap-

preciation to customers by handing out shopping bags, water bottles, keychains and other useful giveaways, as well as providing discount coupons for future shipments and offering refreshment.

Informative

A highlight of this Saturday’s event will be an opportunity for customers to get an autographed replica of the cricket ball used by former West Indies world record wicket taker Lance Gibbs, who will be on hand to sign the cricket balls, and to have photographs taken with customers.

“This will be a very festive yet informative event and we invite all our customers to come out and join us as this is also part of the celebration of Laparkan’s 30th anniversary,” said Gibbs, a marketing representative of Laparkan.

Gibbs explained that during the peak season, ports around the Caribbean are quite busy and at times even congested, so it is important that shippers know and understand the requirements and procedures, fill out documentation correctly and ship in a timely manner so as to ensure their cargo reaches its destination when they require it.

Caribbean news

APNU not rethinking position on Guyana’s money laundering bill

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said it remains firm on its position, not to support the passage of Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill. This was disclosed by APNU’s leader David Granger during a media conference last Friday.

Granger confirmed that come later this week, his party will not be supporting the amendments to the bill, due to their absence in the entire process and the need for it to be properly done.

He said that the coalition has no-confidence in the amendments made to the bill and its readiness for final reading set for November 7.

The opposition leader reiterated that government had the bill for four years and was looking to have it passed through the National Assembly in a mere four months. He noted that it is 21 days since Parliament reconvened on October 10 and there has not been a sin-

gle sitting, while accusing the government of wasting time.

“I do not think that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force or the other financial institutions are going to be moved simply by the passage of a law, they look at enforcement and they have crticised Guyana over the last four years,” he asserted. The opposition leader also noted that the taskforce has even moved to send a team to Guyana and has noted that the Financial Intelligence Unit has failed to provide a report or moved to prosecute persons found in breach of the law.

Granger noted that the government should return the bill to the parliamentary select committee, where it spent the last few months so that the amendments can be completed. He also expressed a belief that it will be difficult to make amendments to the bill, on the floor. He also stated that the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) support for the bill, is not a concern for APNU.

Caribbean experts say Myrie ruling is a turning point for regional integration

Almost a month after the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that Barbados had breached the rights of a Jamaican national when she sought entry into the country in 2011, regional stakeholders say the judgment represents a turning point for the regional integration movement.

The CCJ was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court, but while many Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries are signatories to its original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana and Belize are signatories to the appellate jurisdiction of the court that also serves as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the integration movement.

At a panel discussion at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies last week, panellists examined the implications of the CCJ ruling in the Shanique Myrie case in which Barbados was also or-

dered to pay BDS$75,000 in compensation.

Barbados’ Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite said that while the introduction of free movement within Caricom though noble is not properly thought out.

Highlighting Barbados' concerns, he said there were not enough structures in place to ensure free movement work and if the region doesn't get it right, there will be chaos.

“We're faced with a situation where we are concerned about wheth-

er or not we have the capacity not only to provide housing for all of our people, but for those of us, those people from the region who we would love to come to live with us.

“But we can't invite people to come and live with us and then we have six and eight people living in a room, sharing one bathroom etc., (these) kind of stories you hear from time to time.

“We have the whole issue of education. We, to the best of my knowledge are about three secondary schools behind

where we would like to be and probably three or four junior schools from where we would like to be. If we want to invite our brothers and sisters, we want to ensure that they also have access to education,” he said.

Brathwaite insisted there's nothing earth shattering about the Myrie judgement and that Bridgetown has already made moves to retrain its border personnel in keeping with the CCJ ruling.

But Dr Tennyson Joseph, the head of the Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work at UWI said the Myrie ruling has forced the region to rethink the concept of sovereignty.

He said the region's current economic troubles have also led some governments to look inward, moving away from the vision of deeper integration articulated by the framers of the “Time for Action” report who laid the foundation for strengthening of Caricom and the integration movement. (Excerpted from Caribbean News)

A brief history of Prashad Nagar

It was a wide, flat and abandoned

rice field when, in the late 1950s, real estate developer Hari Prashad purchased just over 76 acres put up for sale by then British Guiana conglomerate Bookers, in an area called Bel Air, which was then mainly rice fields owned by Bel Air Estates Ltd.

The land, known then as “area H”, was bordered by Bel Voir Court to the north; a reserve between the land and Campbelville to the west, by Sophia to the east, and Cummings Canal to the south. It has since become known as one of the country’s oldest premier housing schemes: Prashad Nagar.

Hari Prashad decided to turn the former rice land into a housing estate which he named Prashad Nagar; Prashad, his family name, and ‘Nagar’, a Hindi word that means a city, town, division or district. Its streets were

named after either family members or friends of Hari Prashad, or places in, or references to India; a reflection of his brief sojourn to that country in the early 1950s and his close ties to his culture.

Hari Prashad (or Harriprashad) began life in the Mahaica Creek area where he grew up to first labour in the fields and cut logs, while in the evening reading and studying Hindu religious texts and being actively involved in cultural and social activities there. He would later move

to the city where he began a career in real estate before migrating to India in the early 1950s with his family. He returned to Guyana later that same decade to refocus on the real estate business, when he bought area H.

The land for the new housing estate was divided into 404 house lots of various sizes ranging from 124’X60’ to 53’X80’ in a May 1957 approved plan, and which sold for between GYD 1,800 – GYD 3,500 at the time. Water and electricity were provided, and though the roads were initially burnt-earth, Prashad, with the financial contributions of the residents, maintained them until the buyers formed self-help groups to rebuild the roads.

There are streets called the primary streets of the housing scheme, which include Chandranagar, Delhi, Ganges and Kaka streets. Delhi, Ganges and Kaka streets form

the boundaries of the housing scheme.

Chandranagar Street is named after the Prashads’ eldest daughter, who was also the eldest child. Delhi and Ganges streets are named after a famous city and river in India respectively, and Kaka Street, of which kaka is a reverential term for a paternal uncle or chacha , is named after an Indian philosopher Dr Kaka Kalilkar who was once a houseguest of the Prashads. Kaka Street is now often referred to as Omai Street.

Some streets are named after the Prashads other children: Shribasant, Deobirana, Munipur and Purshottam streets

Other streets in the quiet residential neighbourhood include Bissessar Avenue, named after a wellknown gynaecologist, Dr Jairam Bissessar, a close friend of the family; Premniranjan Place is named after esteemed Justice Prem Persaud, who has written more in-depth on the scheme’s history. Amla Avenue East and Amla Avenue West are named after the wife of Hari Prashad, and Cheddi Street, named after the late President Cheddi Jagan.

– named after their four sons, and Sachibazaar, Shantiniketan and Rohinital after their other three daughters. Santram Street is named after the father of Hari Prashad.

Decades after the private housing scheme was established, there were government efforts in 197071 to rename Prashad Nagar. After vociferous protests, then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham let the name stand but the Prashads would lose administrative rights for the scheme when it came under the Georgetown City Council by the 1970 Municipal and District Council Act.

TT, Venezuela to crackdown on million-dollar sex trade

There is a multimillion dollar sex slave trade taking place between Trinidad and Tobago (TT) and South America, where persons are being held against their will, forced into prostitution and threatened with death. This was disclosed last week by TT and Venezuela ministers, who met to discuss initiatives to crack down on the illegal trafficking of humans, drugs and guns and protecting the borders of both countries.

TT's National Security Minister Gary Griffith and Justice Minister Emmanuel George engaged in two hours of talks with the Venezuelan team–People’s Power for Defence Minister, Admiralin-Chief Carmen Teresas Melendez-Rivas and Interior Relations, Justice and Peace Minister, Major Miguel Rodriguez Torres.

The meeting took place at the Justice Ministry’s office at Tower C of the International Waterfront Complex, Port-of-Spain.

Prostitution

At a news conference

following the meeting, both Griffith and Torres, when questioned, disclosed that humans were being trafficked into the country for prostitution.

Griffith said there were 14 cases where people were trafficked from Venezuela, Colombia and Guyana.

Questioned on whether people from Trinidad were trafficked to Venezuela, Torres said there were cases of Trinidadians being forced to work in ice cream companies for low wages to the point of slavery.

“In Venezuela, we have seen some incidents where Trinidad and Tobago citizens arrive who basically work in ice cream distribution companies in Venezuela without knowing the language and without documents, undocumented workers for very, very low pay, and work there many hours almost under conditions of slavery. We’ve been talking with the ministries, once we have appropriate information and studies, we will forward them to the ministry of foreign affairs in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

Inhumane work

He said the Venezuelan authorities are aware of Venezuelans being brought to the country under false pretences and being forced into prostitution and inhumane work.

Both Torres and Griffith disclosed that the human trafficking ring was on the rise.

As such, a representative from TT’s human trafficking unit will visit Venezuela and assist in the joint crackdown operation.

Griffith said Venezuela was used as a trans-shipment point where Colombians, guns and drugs were trafficked to TT. He said the trade was on the rise and efforts will be intensified to clamp down on it and, in doing this, the illegal entry of drugs and guns will also be curbed as they are all coming in on the same vessels.

The minister said through joint collaborative work and the sharing of intelligence, TT’s law enforcement and Venezuela’s national guard will crack this slave trade. (Excerpted from TT Express)

Jamaican gov’t launches Ja$250 million school sport infrastructure improvement project

The government of Jamaica has signed an agreement that will see Ja$250 million being pumped into the infrastructural development of 23 high school and community based sporting facilities across the island.

The high school sports infrastructure improvement programme is being facilitated through the collaboration of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the ministries of education, agriculture and local government. The project will see schools in the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Portland, St James, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Clarendon, St Thomas and Trelawny benefitting over the next two years from improvement in their sporting facilities

The programme will

be funded by the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) which will provide Ja$100 million, and the European Union sugar transformation programme, that will provide another Ja$150 million.

Minister with responsibility for sport in the OPM Natalie NeitaHeadley, signed the official agreement at a launching and commitment ceremony recently at the Vere Technical High School in Clarendon.

She noted that under the first phase of the project, the ministry of agriculture will be facilitating the development of sporting facilities in 13 schools which fall in areas under the EU sugar transformation programme.

Neita-Headley said the global acclaim that Jamaica is currently re-

Barbadians find jobs in Canada

Thirteen Barbadians were scheduled to leave the island Wednesday to take up jobs in Alberta, Canada.

They are the first set of workers who will be employed on two-year contracts with a popular fast food chain in Canada. The opportunity was facilitated by the Diamond Global Recruitment Group, the Barbados Liaison Service and the

National Employment Bureau (NEB) of the ministry of labour, social security and human resource development.

Meanwhile, opportunities continue to arise for people desirous of working in Canada.

The NEB is recruiting Barbadians for positions in the hotel, fast food and vehicle maintenance sectors. Short and long term contracts are available in the hotel sector for caf-

eteria attendants, second cooks, stewards, banquet servers, bartenders, in-room dining servers, housekeepers and male spa attendants.

In the fast food category, jobs are available for food counter attendants and maintenance/ janitorial staff, while in vehicle maintenance, there are vacancies for forklift drivers, lube technicians and agricultural mechanics. (BGIS)

Tobago House of Assembly sues TT gov’t

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is seeking to extend its court action against the central government of Trinidad and Tobago for encroaching on its reforestation programme to other areas including community development, education, CEPEP and fishing. It is also seeking the court’s interpretation of the Assembly’s involvement in the Green Fund and its authority over Tobago’s forests.

Chief Secretary Orville London said he had met with the Assembly’s attorneys last week to discuss the “cynical encroachment on the authority of the Assembly”. He said the

encroachment included the ministry of Tobago development organising its own programme

in the communities, the promised spending of TT$8 million in educational activities in Tobago and the transfer of the Tobago CEPEP allocation in the 2014 budget to the national CEPEP.

He said the Assembly has also had challenges regarding appointments to State Boards and agencies, the latest being its nomination to the Appeals Board of the Town and Country Planning Division. He added that his information was that the Tobago nomination went to Cabinet but “it didn’t come out so it’s obvious that once again we have been blanked.” (TT Newsday)

ceiving for its athletic prowess, is just recognition for the hard work of its athletes. She noted however, that it was a process that started within the school and community infrastructure.

“It started at the grass roots, in community leagues kicking football with juice boxes, on the street corners in communities without playgrounds, at schools with dirt tracks.”

Neita-Headley informed that following consultations with the ministry of education, ISSA and the council of principals, the decision was made to choose five from among the top 10 performing schools and five from the bottom 10, that would benefit from the programme. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Kareena not worried about husband's intimate scenes on-screen

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan says she does not mind actorhusband Saif Ali Khan getting intimate with other heroines on-screen.

"We do not feel insecure. This is my professional life and my personal life has got nothing to do with it (professional life) at all. They are two separate areas of my life. There is no insecurity that I feel (when Saif gets intimate with any heroine). He is an actor and that is his job," Kareena said.

"He should get intimate with other actresses. If it is a romantic song, he should look like a romantic hero. He should look good all the time (with his co-stars). I want him to do that and vice versa," she added.

According to Kareena, Sonakshi is the best co-star of Saif in ‘Bullett Raja.’

"I hope ‘Bullett Raja’ does well. He should work with everybody and all films should do well. Whenever his film is releasing he should look good with that particular heroine," she further stated. (TOI)

When Ranbir Kapoor refused to act with Shah Rukh Khan

Though Ranbir Kapoor's last movie ‘Besharam’ didn't fare well at the box-office, the young actor had allegedly refused to act in a movie with superstar Shah Rukh Khan. A Mid-Day report said that Karan Johar had made an offer to Ranbir to do a film with none other than SRK. However, Ranbir refused

as he did not want to be a part of two-hero project.

The report further stated that after delivering three super-hit films, Ranbir believed that he can carry a movie on his own shoulders, and does not need support of other male actors.

The actor is also busy shooting with his other films like ‘Bombay Velvet’, ‘Jagga Jasoos’ and ‘Roy.’ (TOI)

‘Never thought Arjun Kapoor would become an actor’ - Deepika

Deepika Padukone, who is busy promoting ‘Ramleela’, has wrapped up Homi Adajania's English film ‘Finding Fanny Fernandes’ in which she stars opposite Arjun Kapoor.

"It's done, it's finished. I have finished shooting for it. It's called 'Finding Fanny Fernandes'. It's an English film set in Goa and I just came back two days ago, it's already done," the 27-year-old said.

Talking about the ex-

perience of working with Arjun, Deepika said it was a bit strange for her.

"For me it's a little strange to be working with him, I have known him for many years. I have known him since when he was a fat kid, he was part of a group of friends and I never thought he would become an actor.

"So it's a little surreal, I am extremely proud and I feel very happy for him. The fact that he has got into such good shape, that his first

film ('Ishaqzaade') did so well... He is growing with every film. It was surreal, but also fun," she added. (TOI)

Rani Mukerji bonds with Aditya Chopra’s family on Diwali

Actress Rani Mukherji, who according to rumours is married to Aditya Chopra, was allegedly celebrating Diwali at Aditya Chopra's residence with the rest of the Chopra family.

The pretty actress was enthusiastically participating in all rituals, and was seen bursting crackers with family members. According to media reports, the Bong beauty was also seen interacting with guests and family friends Karan Johar, Jimmy Sheirgill, Poonam Dhillon and Vaibhavi Merchant.

Though Rani looked very much like a part of the Chopra family, she wasn't seen with Aditya Chopra. Aditya is very camera shy and avoids being clicked with his lady love. (TOI)

Veteran actors Hema Malini and Dharmendra's younger daughter Ahana Deol will marry Delhi-based businessman Vaibhav Vora on February 2, 2014, but the actress is unwilling to spill any more details on the wedding.

"We have not decided as yet whether we will hold the ceremony here or in Delhi. As of now, we cannot reveal anything," Hema told IANS. The couple got engaged in June this year

at Hema's Juhu residence. The engagement was held in a very traditional manner and took place in the presence of the two families.

Ahana had reportedly met Vaibhav during her sister Esha Deol's wedding last year. Esha is married to Mumbaibased businessman Bharat Takhtani.

Apart from being a trained Odissi dancer, Ahana is also interested in designing. (TOI)

‘Deepika looks the best with me’ - Ranveer Singh

The sizzling chemistry between Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, the lead pair of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ‘Ram-Leela’, is hard to miss. In a candid chat, the actors talk about what makes them tick as costars and friends. The following is an excerpted from TOI.

How do you find each other as co-stars and friends?

Deepika: Be it as a friend or a costar, Ranveer doesn't hold back in terms of support and enthusiasm. It is nice to see someone who is unapologetic about the way he is. He is refreshingly lovable.

Ranveer: As a co-star, Deepika is very focused, professional and disciplined. As a friend, she is someone you'd love to hang out with. She likes to let her hair down and have fun. Were you both comfortable shooting the intimate scenes?

Deepika: As actors, we prepared and approached the intimate scenes like any other scene. There was no extra preparation or discussion.

Ranveer: I don't have any inhibi-

tions in life, either as a person or as a performer, which works to my advantage. When you are doing a passionate love story, what drives the narrative forward is the palpable chemistry between the two lead characters. You don't have to gear yourself to make that happen... it's either there or not there.

Who does Deepika look the best with on screen?

Ranveer: Me!

And, who does Ranveer look good with?

Deepika: Arjun Kapoor!

‘Haven't found the special one yet’ - Priyanka Chopra

Actress Priyanka Chopra says she has not found the "special one" yet, with whom she would like to get married. "I am not getting married anytime soon. I haven't yet found the special one with whom I would like to settle down," Priyanka said.

Her younger brother Siddharth Chopra recently got engaged and is

likely to tie the knot with his sweetheart of the

past three years, Kanika Mathur in 2014.

"It was my brother's decision and we all support him. I know what you are planning to ask... So before you complete the question let me clarify that I am not getting married. Fortunately, I don't have any pressure from my family to get married," she added.

(TOI)

‘I see the next SRK in my son AbRam’ - Shah Rukh Khan

King Khan, who is ruling the Bollywood industry, says he sees the next Shah Rukh Khan in his son AbRam.

When asked who in the young set of actors has the capability to be the next Shah Rukh Khan, he said: "I see the next SRK in AbRam, but it will take time."

He said he has dedicated this year for small things and little happiness.

"Each year, we run after to achieve something big, may it be big films, awards...I know it is all important and it’s been 22 years and I have decided to focus on small things. In the race of catching big things, we miss small

things," SRK said.

"This year, I want to spend time with my children. I look forward to spending quality time with my children. They are growing older and getting busy in their own lives, so I am trying to get into it. So, I have dedicated this year for small little happiness," he added.

The actor who has achieved everything in life says on the professional front he has not achieved everything. "On the professional front, I have not achieved everything. There is a long way to go. I try to get better with my each film and I will continue to do that till my last breath." (TOI)

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling still very much in love

Actress Eva Mendes has slammed reports that her relationship with actor Ryan Gosling is in trouble. She says it's false.

If recent reports were anything to go by, the couple was close to calling it quits, but the 39-yearold has confirmed that she and Gosling are still very much in love, reported contactmusic.com.

"The whole story is completely false," said Mendes' representative. Mendes and Gosling

went public with their romance in September 2011. (TOI)

Kate Hudson helps Lea Michele get through after Cory’s death

Lea Michele credits Kate Hudson for helping her get through the weeks after Cory Monteith's death.

The ‘Glee’ actress, whose co-star and boyfriend of one year died from an overdose in his hotel room in Vancouver, Canada, in July, revealed the ‘Something Borrowed’ star, 34, immediately opened her Los Angeles home and took care of Lea and her family after hearing of the actor's tragic death.

The 27-year-old star told the December issue of Elle magazine: ''I called her and said, I don't know where I'm going to go because my

house is swarmed [with reporters]. She was like, 'Oh, you're going to stay at my house.' Like it was nothing.

''She let my family stay there, and any of my friends. She made sure that in the refrigerator were my favourite juices. I'll never really be able to thank her, truly,

for what she did for me.''

The actresses bonded when Kate, who has two sons, Ryder, nine, and Bingham, two, guest starred on the FOX series for six episodes last year.

Lea is still coming to terms with Cory's death and hopes to help people by being open about the situation.

She said: ''It's very hard and you have to be very strong to come out of this alive, but I think by doing the best for myself, by showing that you don't have to lose yourself, maybe someone else will feel some sort of strength or comfort.''

(TOI)

Richards refuses to keep custody of Sheen's sons

Actress Denise Richards has reportedly refused to take care of her exhusband Charlie Sheen's four-year-old twins, claiming they are violent towards her daughters and dogs.

The 42-year-old was granted temporary custody of Sheen and Brooke Mueller's sons---Bob and Max---in May until the end of this year after their mother's drug use spiralled out of control.

The actress, who has two daughters--Sam, nine and Lola,

eight with Sheen---as well as two-year-old adopted daughter Eloise, wrote a distressing letter to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), blaming Mueller for her sons' bad behaviour.

A source told tmz.com that Richards said the boys often go into a "zombie-like state" and gave details about their violent behaviour, including one incident that saw Bob throw a toy at Sam's face forcing Richards to take her to the doctor.

The former ‘Bond’ girl also claimed that Bob and Max have even harmed other children and slapped their teachers in school. (TOI)

Blake Lively denies having any fitness routine

Blake Lively has revealed that she has no fitness routine.

When asked if she follows a fitness routine, Lively said, "None!"

The 26-year-old actress told Vogue Paris that she is lucky to have an active lifestyle and doesn't need a trainer or even pay attention to what she eats, People Magazine reported.

The ‘Gossip Girl’ star added that she can't start her day without a cup of hot milk chocolate or finish without crunching a few dark chocolate squares, as its good for her morale. (TOI)

Ashton Kutcher is eager to mentor young people.

The 35-year-old actor, who is dating ‘Black Swan’ star Mila Kunis, has signed up to Popexpert.com, a website offering users the opportunity to video chat with professionals from different industries and gain insight for their own well-being and success. A source told E!

News: ''Ashton is passionate about giving back and being a mentor to young people. It's a cause that is very impor-

tant to him.'' The ‘Two And A Half Men’ star goes by his real name Christopher Kutcher on the site and users will be charged just $5 to chat with the actor for one-hour for the first session and $10 for any additional sessions. But the site currently says he has no upcoming availability and users requesting time must sign up for the waiting list.

(TOI)

Kristen Bell feared loving dogs more than own child

Kristen Bell has confessed that before the birth of her baby girl, Lincoln, she worried that she wouldn't be able to love her own child as much as her dogs.

The ‘House of Lies’ star told Flare Magazine that she didn't really feel connected to her daughter during the entire pregnancy, People

Magazine reported.

The 33-year-old actress, however, asserted that within 24 hours of her daughter's birth, her hormones reset and they reprogrammed her feelings about Lincoln, making her more protective of her.

Bell has two pups, Lola and Mr. Shakes, with actor hubby Dax Shepherd. (TOI)

‘Didn't want to be lesbian’ - Portia

De Rossi

Australian-American actress Portia De Rossi says she never wanted to be a lesbian and once thought being gay was "strange".

The 40-year-old, just celebrated her fifth wedding anniversary with TV personality Ellen DeGeneres, also admitted that she thought lesbians "hated men", reported radaronline.com.

"I just didn't want to be a lesbian. I'd never met one for a start and I just thought they were strange, they hated men and they were very serious," De Rossi said in an interview.

"I had these ridiculous images in my head and there were no out celebrities or politicians or anybody that I could look to and go, 'Oh, I could be like that.'

"There was nobody that I could say, 'I could date her and I want to be like her.' I just kind of thought I don't want to live like this. I don't have to, I don't need to, I just shut down the emotional life," she added.

But things began to turn around after she met DeGeneres backstage at an awards show in 2004. She came out as gay a year later.

"For me, being honest about who I was, coming out, being gay, starting to date, that was a huge turning point for me, because I realised without changing my life, there was no point in changing the way that I ate," the ‘Arrested Development’ star said.

De Rossi and DeGeneres got married on Aug 16, 2008. (TOI)

Demi in India for spiritual meet

It's an ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ moment for Demi Moore as her dragged-on-forever divorce with Ashton Kutcher finally inches towards a closure. The glamorous Hollywood star is currently in India, doing some soul-searching or so it seems. This week, the star was spotted in McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh, taking a leisurely stroll down the scenic paths. She is said to be in India

to attend a spiritual conference, 'Craving, Desire and Addiction', in which the Dalai Lama is also a speaker.

Moore, pictured walking along with a couple of spiritual leaders and monks, was dressed completely in black and sported oversized shades and boots. And the session she attended at the conference was on 'The Role of Dopamine' in the Addicted Human Brain! (TOI)

Kishore makes stunning comeback to clinch title

– Sukhram remains queen of the fairway

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Eighteen-year-old

Avinda Kishore

made a stunning comeback on the final day to clinch top honours in the Championship Flight (0-9 handicap) on Sunday when the Digicel Guyana Open golf tournament concluded at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.

The indomitable Christine Sukhram maintained her stranglehold on the Ladies Flight (0-36), landing her eighth consecutive Guyana Open title, while Roy Cummings and Esau Shamshudin won the B Flight (10-18) and C Flight (19-28) respectively.

At the end of the first day on Saturday, 18-year-old Kishore was nowhere in the reckoning, as his brother and defending champion Avinash Persaud and New York’s Jaipaul Suknanan shared the top spot on gross 75 and Mike Mangal next with gross 76.

However, “Ganguly”, as Kishore is popularly known, played brilliantly

on the final day to cop his maiden Guyana Open title with Suknanan and Mangal failing to build on their momentum from the opening day. The championship came down to a three-way battle among Kishore, Persaud and Patrick Prashad, but it was the young Kishore, who held his nerves to win by the slim margin of two shots. He finished with gross 151, while

Prashad took second spot ahead of Persaud on a countback after both ended with gross 152.

Prashad had the best net (137) in the Championship Flight, with Mangal (138) and Kishore (141) occupying second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Sukhram was unstoppable in the Ladies’ flight, carting off yet another title she

has made her own since 2006. She had a net 136, winning by quite a distance from Shanella Webster (144) and Joann Deo (150). Sukhram also recorded the best gross of 156, leaving Deo (194) and Webster (210) to settle for second and third respectively.

In the B Flight, Cummings managed gross 162 to win ahead of Lakram Ramsundar (170) and Colin Ming (173). Cummings also had the best net (140), with Jerome Khan (142) and Mike Guyadin (142) rounding out the top three.

Shamshudin copped the C Flight on a countback against K.M. Chung of Suriname. Both ended with gross 187, while Paton George took third.

George had the best net of 147, with Shamshudin again pipping Chung for second spot after both ended with 149.

At the presentation ceremony which followed, Kishore and Sukhram, both of Lusignan, were presented with the Guyana Open trophies and the Digicel Red Jacket.

Apart from receiving one year free member-

ship from the Lusignan Golf Club, the two champions were rewarded for their efforts by fellow villager Lakram Ramsundar, who has committed to sponsoring the airfare for Kishore to play in any Open tournament overseas, while Sukhram received a cash award.

The Lusignan Golf Club also used the opportunity to induct former Guyana and West Indies batsman and cricket administrator, Joe Solomon, as a life member of the club. At 84, Solomon was the oldest player to participate in the two-day tournament.

Speaking on behalf of Digicel, head of marketing, Jacqueline James, expressed her company’s delight to partner with the Lusignan Golf Club for the first time sponsoring the Guyana Open. She made a commitment to the 2014 tournament, noting that Digicel is enthused by the high number of young players who competed in the championship. The tournament attracted 74 golfers from Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and the U.S.A., and was the largest-ever in over three decades of its existence.

‘Drag Warz’ winners crowned – Jiwanram, Persaud and Ramchand share spoils

Winners of last week Sunday’s Banks DIH/ Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club ‘Drag Warz’ received their prizes during a presentation ceremony at the club’s facility, Albert Street and Thomas Lands, on Friday evening.

Among the recipients who collected trophies and cash incentives were: Richard Hamid (Toyota Corolla AE110), who claimed the top spot in the 15-Second Class, and Davendra Ramroop (Nissan Sunny) in the 14s Class. The 13-Second event was won by Kevin Bachan (Toyota Corolla AE100) while Paul Jiwanram held his nerve for a win in his Porsche Boxter in the 12-second Class; the 11-Second Class was shelved due to bad light however, the prize money was shared.

The prize for the Fastest Reaction Time was awarded to Mucho Jaggernauth (Toyota Corolla AE91) with a time of 0.037s while

commendations were given to Romaine Henry (Toyota Celica) – 0.039 seconds and Sharima Khan (Toyota Corolla NZE) – 0.077 seconds.

Meanwhile Shawn Persaud (Toyota Carina 192) copped a trophy for the highest speed, clocking up to 111mph while Anand Ramchand (Mitsubishi Evolution) clocked 107mph and Hamid Ramlagan, 101mph.

However, Ramchand would return to post the fastest time of the day –9.820s ahead of Adrian Fernandes (Toyota Celica), 10.593s, while Shawn Persaud clocked 10.820ss over the 1000 feet.

The day’s sponsors were Banks DIH Limited, GT&T, NCN, HJTV, Kaylee’s Service Station, Ramchand’s Wrecker and Trophy Stall.

Shiv the survivor

– Shivnarine Chanderpaul is among the last of the cricketers around from the 1990s

By Scott oliver

As one of cricket’s iconic players takes his final cricketing curtain call in Mumbai later this month, another of its great survivors, another enduringly boyish member of Test cricket’s exclusive 10,000-run club, will be watching from the opposing ranks, doubtless demonstrating the stickability that has been the hallmark of his crabbily productive batting down the years.

Shiv Chanderpaul’s career is a model of the adaptability and durability required to survive in the international arena. Indeed, his is already the third-longest Test career in West Indian history, behind only George Headley (who joins Sachin Tendulkar as one of only five men to have played Tests in four separate decades) and Garry Sobers, and by the time he steps out in Kolkata for the first Test, it will be the 20th longest of all.

Given the famous Buddhist aphorism about a journey of a thousand miles beginning with a single step, if you are to survive

You try everything to stay in. There are times when you’re out and you say you’re not out.”

The singled-mindedness is perhaps apt for someone who hails from Unity Village. Disputes over whether or not he was out never stopped the flow of bowling.

“The guys from the village would come out and just be throwing balls at me all day long,” Chanderpaul recalls with a gleeful smile.

Long hours

Four times he has batted undefeated for 1000 minutes, while he is the only man to have faced 1000 consecutive deliveries in Tests without being dismissed.

Notwithstanding a glorious 69-ball hundred against Australia in 2003, he is, to invert a line that could be used about any number of his teammates, generally there for a long time, not a good time.

“It’s the way I prepare myself: going in the nets and batting for hours and hours.

Thinking about the game – which goes for two-hour sessions, maybe two and a half– – I prepare that way in the nets.” Even so, to survive

for two decades at the sharp end, you first need to work out how to survive for a session.

For Chanderpaul, that ability was developed in his formative years in rural Guyana.

“You learn to be tough in country cricket. We used to play ‘friendlies’ between ourselves, and you always want to bat first. You always say, ‘I’m first, I’m first’. The only way the others would get batting is if they get you out.

club helped me. I lived way up in the country and had to come to Georgetown to play cricket. My club president found some people to sponsor me, to pay for my transportation to come down to play. But not everyone got help. How were the players going to play if there’s no money there?” The span of Chanderpaul’s career –– he debuted in March 1994 –– almost exactly coincides with the decline of West Indies.

For all the theories about the pull of soccer in the region, and the allure of U.S. university scholarships for basketball or track and field, he is adamant about where the issues lay: “We played Red Stripe games in the past and would get maybe $150 or so for the whole game. How are you gonna survive on $150 per game? You play five games in the whole year. You can’t survive! When I came in, that’s what I was getting paid.”

Support

for a session, or for 1000 minutes, you need to be in a position to pursue a Test career in the first place, and Chanderpaul is in no doubt that, for the first major step up of his career, into the Guyana team, he owes a debt to the generosity of his club.

“Guys would turn up for their country, maybe play trial games, and wouldn’t get paid. So I had to find ways to pay all these things, and some people from my

Thanks to the support of people in Unity Village, as well as no little talent and dedication, Chanderpaul was soon playing with the big boys. It wasn’t so easy at the grass roots.

“People from Guyana or Trinidad would leave for the USA or Canada to play cricket, because there was contracts there, and when they got back the local board members would say, ‘These guys are not interested in playing cricket’. I was thinking: Why are you saying that? The guys are breaking their contract and coming back home to play, and you saying

they’re not interested in playing cricket! Right away that shows they’re committed. You’re not paying them a single cent to stay home and play, so they have to go overseas. They have to survive.”

Nevertheless, Chanderpaul is equally adamant that the good times are on their way back, with T20 sparking the revival - not just through the inspiration provided by West Indies’ World Twenty20 win in Sri Lanka last year, but the establishment of the Caribbean Premier League and its implications for the talented young players and

cricketing ecology of his region.

“Cricket’s still the most popular sport in the Caribbean and now that we’ve started the CPL, which went well this year, it will be for a long time in the future. This is what people in the Caribbean have been waiting for. I guess more kids are going to be interested in the game and more parents are going to be interested in bringing their kids back into cricket. We have a few sponsors now, some money’s coming into the game, the players are going to be happy and cricket’s going to be booming again.”

Survival mode

As his own 17-yearold son, Tagenarine, starts out on his journey as a professional cricketer - father and son have played together for Guyana - Shiv, after a summer with Derbyshire, has to turn his attention to making runs for West Indies in the land of his forefathers.

It won’t be easy, which is often the way he likes it: “As a batsman, you don’t mind seeing the really flat pitches but it’s also good when there’s a challenge there for you and you have to dig in and you have to do well for your team. Sometimes you come out on top, sometimes you don’t.”

However harsh the sub-continental environment proves, Chanderpaul, hunkered under that crabby carapace (and his stance is likely to provide the majority of the sideways movement at both venues), will simply bang in his bail, same as always, and adapt: “Wherever you go there’s home advantage, you might say, and the conditions will suit the home team. As a player you have to find a way to deal with it. You have to survive.” (Cricinfo)

'I knew there will be a time when the runs will flow' - Rohit

In less than a week, Rohit Sharma has joined most of India's batting elite. On Saturday in Bangalore, he said hello to Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in the ODI double-century club, hitting 16 sixes in the innings.

Five days later, in Kolkata, he took 165 deliveries before he even lofted the ball in the air, and joined Sourav Ganguly, Sehwag, Gundappa Vishwanath, Mohammad Azharuddin and recently Shikhar Dhawan as those with a century on Test debut. What makes this innings really special is that he has been yearning for the chance in Tests for a few years now, coming close - he was once listed to play in 2010 but injured himself moments before the toss - but not getting to put that white India shirt on. However, he couldn't say what satisfied him more: the Bangalore double or this century on debut when

India were struggling at 82 for 4 in response to West Indies' 234.

"I cannot really say," Rohit said. "That was a 200, really special. And this is even more special because it's a Test hundred on debut. See, anywhere you get a hundred, it's very special. And on top of that if your team wins, that's like the icing on the cake. We've got to wait another three days to see what happens in the game. Both these innings are very close to my heart. With that innings in Bangalore we won the series, and here... let's hope that we can get into a good position tomorrow, and then I'd be more happy."

This has been an exceptional year for Rohit. He has led Mumbai Indians to the IPL and Champions League T20 titles, has transformed his career by opening in ODIs, and now has had a dream Test debut. This time last year he was licking his wounds

from a disastrous ODI series in Sri Lanka, which somehow cost him the Test place that should have been his after the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. How did he turn the corner?

"Being a sportsman, there is a lot of inspiration to take from so many sportspersons from around the world,"

Rohit said. "You look at Michael Hussey, he made his debut when he was 30. There are a lot of other cricketers who had to wait for their opportunity. I'm no different, I'm one of them. I knew once I got an opportunity, I'd try and make the most of it. I never wanted to put my head down, I believe that if you have the ability, the talent, if you

South Africa go 2-1 up with easy win

South Africa’s batting improved to match their bowling effort and with both departments at a similar standard, took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series on Wednesday. Half- centuries from Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy helped South Africa post their first total over 250 in 11 innings before another impressive effort from their attack made sure Pakistan were just about out of the match before the batting Powerplay of their innings was over.

The last time Pakistan successfully chased a total

of over 250 was more than two years and nine months ago, when they beat New Zealand in Napier. After the start Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez gave, it seemed that could change in Abu Dhabi. They posted 50 in 47 balls with 80% of the runs coming in boundaries but between them and Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir’s blitz, there was little else from a line-up which is prone to collapses.

South Africa had both their big names players back in the XI with Hashim Amla slotting in at the top of the order

and Dale Steyn included as well. Amla made little difference, bowled for 10 by Mohammad Irfan, but Steyn struck the blow that turned the match.

After Shehzad and Hafeez got on top of South Africa, with Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe struggling to hit the right lengths in their opening spell, Steyn made the decisive inroad. His first delivery was short and angling away. Shehzad prodded and was caught behind and Pakistan’s momentum was abruptly halted.

Shehzad had played with freedom to that point,

know you can do it, there is no need to worry about anything.

This was not a freebie century from 400 from 4. Rohit had to fight hard for every single of his initial runs. India were struggling, the ball was turning, and West Indies were on top when Virat Kohli was the fifth man out. "See, they were bowling quite well when we lost five early wickets," Rohit said.

He spoke about the innings with the same maturity that he played it with. "They were varying their pace so when I and MS [Dhoni] were batting runs were not really coming so easily," Rohit said. "So we just had a plan of negotiating these overs and as I said, we had to stick [to] whatever we'd decided and then capitalise when the day was coming to an end. I knew this exactly because the outfield here is very fast so you just need to play your normal cricket. After MS got

driving, pulling and cutting to leave the new ball bowlers looking out of sorts.

Once he was gone, South Africa asserted their authority, removing Hafeez in the next over through a good catch by du Plessis at point.

Steyn left the field after his initial three-over spell and seemed to be clutching his hamstring but returned to bowl soon after. He handed over to Tsotsobe, who bowled a controlled second spell, headlined by 21 dot balls in succession to build pressure even while Imran Tahir was leaking runs at the other end.

Tsotsobe was rewarded for his miserliness.

His 19th dot was edged by Umar Amin and even though he wasn’t given out on field, the review revealed a clear nick. Eight balls later, Tahir trapped Misbah lbw with the googly - the Pakistan captain was too late to review but it would not have mattered - and Pakistan had unravelled.

Having swelled with confidence, Tahir bowled a range of variations and picked up two more wickets not off his best balls but because of poor shot selection - Umar Akmal who returned a full toss to the leg spinner and Asad Shafiq who gifted a catch to cover.

Ryan McLaren’s wily effort could easily have gone unnoticed but his mixture of change of pace and immaculate line helped him claim the wick-

out, me and Ashwin had a really good partnership. At Eden Gardens, if you just can manage those few initial overs, thereafter it becomes... I wouldn't say easy but you get a lot of run-scoring opportunities." And Rohit knows from personal experience. He made his first-class debut here and scored a century. He started captaining Mumbai Indians here, and won the IPL final here.

Whether it came after three years, it doesn't matter. Finally, it came. So I'm really happy. I was really happy yesterday, and obviously on this magnificent day today, I'm happier. But it's not done, we've got a game on our hands. So we just need to be focused. Tomorrow would be another crucial day. If we can bat till about lunch, maybe a few more overs after lunch, we can get some good lead and try and put them under pressure."

et of Shahid Afridi to leave the Pakistan tail to end the match with dignity.

Wahab and Tanvir had some fun, swinging their way to a stand of 61, the highest of the innings but by then it was too late.

Pakistan needed partnerships earlier, like South Africa had to be able to chase down the total.

Quinton de Kock and du Plessis put on 77 in a dis play of the former’s newfound maturity and the latter’s return to form.

De Kock has obviously tightened around the offstump after the torrid time he had in Sri Lanka while the move to promote du Plessis to No. 3 paid off.

He was struggling against spin in the previous matches and giving him time against a newer ball proved the right decision.

Du Plessis had time to settle in and batted with more patience and composed an innings for the first time in many months. Both he and de Kock were out to Afridi, in what could have allowed Pakistan to run through South Africa but the middle-order held firm.

JP Duminy was given out lbw off Irfan, who struggled with his lines, on three but reviewed successfully - the first time that has happened in the series - and survived a run-out chance.

Irfan dropped a catch in his follow through from de Villiers but didn’t get a finger on the ball as it hit the nonstriker’s stumps, where Duminy was out of his ground. (Cricinfo)

Several Guyanese cricketers cop awards at OSCL presentation

By RavendRa Madholall

Several former Guyanese cricketers copped awards at the 18th annual Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) award and presentation ceremony which was held on Saturday evening at the East Town Banquet Hall, Scarborough, Ontario.

Leading the way was Ejaz Mohamed, who was adjudged Most Valuable Player (MVP), after his outstanding batting performance for the victorious Cricketer’s Cove in the grand final played recently against East Coast Cricket Club.

He also took home a trophy for his unbeaten 79, while his teammate Troy Gobin was given a prize for his matchwinning 93. Mohamed represented Guyana Under-19 team in 1997, while Gobin donned the national colours in 1990 and 1991.

Other ex-Guyanese youth cricketers who were the recipients of trophies too for their spectacular contributions this year were Rems’ Rovendra Mandolall for his 88 and East Coast’s Krishna Deosaran, who was chosen as the MVP in the final for his side. Deosaran accumulated 326 runs in the East Division Conference A.

Mandolall played for Guyana Under-19 team in 1994 and 1995, while Deosaran featured in three consecutive years from 2004.

Fast bowler Trevon Garraway was the other cricketer who would have played for Guyana, but at the senior level. He represented ‘GT Banas’ in Canada this season, playing for the East Division, and

Meanwhile, President of the OSCL, Albert Ramcharran, delivered the feature address and extended heartfelt congratulations to the triumphant teams and also to the players who collected prizes for their outstanding performances.

He reserved special mention to the sponsors for their support again this year and making the tournaments a reality, while he acknowledged the commitments and dedication of his fellow executives.

was also part of ‘OSCL Jaguars’ side for the Guyana Independence Cup game against ‘OSCL Kaieteur’.

Other outstanding awards went to Caribbean Sensation’s batsmen Suresh Persaud and Anand Balwant for making 399 runs and 326 runs apiece in the East Division, while Kumar Doodnauth of Cricketer’s Cove led the way for the West Division, aggregating 286 runs.

Mahendra Nauth scored 285 runs for Annandale and Abdul Samad made 251 runs for Masters, also in the West Division.

Rems’ Pradeep Singh led the way for the most wickets (22) in the East Division, while Inul Rudolph collected 20 wickets in the West Division Conference B.

Notably, Riaz Ali of Lions; Lalchan Shivraj of Rems and Gavin Singh of Better Hope Sports grabbed hattricks this year and all received prizes.

Guest speaker Kenny Girdharry, a former president of the League, was also in attendance and stated that the growth of the league and participation of the teams once again demonstrated the commitment of the executives.

He revealed they have been doing a terrific job and they must be congratulated for having another function to recognise the players, teams and other important persons.

Some of the sponsors were Shiv Misir, a Broker, MVA, ABR, Twilight and Starlite Family restaurants, Paradise Travel, Dundee Private Investors Inc, Norman Sue Bakery Ltd, Ian Kirby (Scotia Bank), Rems Employment Agency, Paragon Linen, Hollis Wealth Financial Advisor, TDMJ Accounting and Bookkeeping Services, Bobby Photography and Active Green Ross, among others.

Guyana Softball Cup III bowls ...

According to Deonarain, the teams will be hosted at the official opening ceremony from 17: 30 hours this afternoon at the main pavillion of the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda. Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony is slated to deliver feature remarks at the event.

The chief coordinator also informed that the teams are required to assemble at the GCC ground on Friday morning at 08: 00 hours for a photo shoot. The teams are expected to be fully uniformed.

Format

Preliminary action in the competition will take place on Friday and Saturday with the grand finals of the two categories- the Open 20/ 20 and the Masters 20/ 20- set for Sunday at the GCC ground, Bourda.

During the two days of preliminary action, which will comprise 36 games, the venues will be the GCC, Police, Sport Ministry, Demerara Cricket Club, YMCA and Education Ministry grounds.

In the Open 20/ 20 competition, which was won last year by New York Softball Cricket League All Stars, the teams will battle for a first prize of Gy$ 800,000 and a massive trophy, with the runner-up team carting off Gy$ 200,000 and a trophy.

The Man-of-the-Match in the final will be the recipient

of a trophy, while the player of the tournament will receive a gold bracelet, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery.

In the Masters 20/ 20 segment, of which Savage XI of Guyana are the defending champions, the participating teams will vie for the coveted prize of Gy$ 600,000 and a trophy, with the losing finalist having to settle for Gy$ 150,000 and a trophy. Like the Open category, the Manof-the-Match in the championship game and the player of the tournament will receive a trophy and a gold bracelet respectively.

On Sunday, prior to the two category finals, there will be three female exhibition games, featuring four of the leading teams on the distaff side- Trophy Stall Angels,

Two semi-finals will be followed by a grand final, with the winner pocketing Gy$ 50,000 and the loser Gy$ 25,000. The MVP will collect Gy$ 5,000 and a trophy.

While admission to the venue for the first two days is free, a fee of Gy$ 500 will be charged per patron on the final day, with the first ball set to be bowled at 10: 00 hours.

Zones

For the Open 20/ 20 competition, the 12 teams have been placed into three zones.

Zone A comprises South Florida Softball Cricket League, Regal XI, Wolf’s

Warriors and Smith’s XI; Zone B consists of defending champions New York Softball Cricket League All Stars, 2011 winners Cotton Field Wild Oats, Corriverton and Farm XI; while Zone C is made up of Ontario Softball Cricket League, Berbice Titans, Karibee Boys and Trophy Stall. The 14 teams in the Masters 20/ 20 segment have been divided into four zones. New York Better Hope, Brooklyn Legends, reigning champions Savage XI and Floodlight make up Zone A; Zone B comprises SCI Miami, New York President’s XI, 2011 champions Regal Masters and Industry Super Kings; Zone

C will see rivalry amongst New York Seaview, Ontario Masters Softball International and Wellman XI; while New York Softball Cricket League Legends, Parika Defenders and Superior Woods Success Masters have been placed in Zone D. The event has attracted corporate support from Top Brandz Distributors, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Trophy Stall, Survival Supermarket, Mike’s Pharmacy, Nauth’s Motor Spares, Rohan Auto Spares, Clear Waters, Steve’s Jewellery, Guyana Beverage Company, Rubis (Bel Air), Metro Office and Computer Supplies and Motor Trend.