Guyana Times Daily

Govt wary of loan defaulters

Miner stabbed to death during row at Itaballi

Suspect in minibus driver’s murder surrenders

8 seriously injured after vehicular collision in Essequibo Alberttown residents highlight priorities at City cleanup consultation 60 students on work study attachment at Banks DIH

monday, august 4, 2014| guyanatimesgy.com

1 dead, another hospitalised in Potaro accident

Atragic accident at

Three Miles Potaro, Region Eight has left one dead and one hospitalised after the vehicle in which they were travelling turned turtle on Saturday afternoon.

They were reportedly on their way to a relative’s funeral at Mahdia. Dead is Leonard Raymond, 37, of Micobe, Region Eight and the injured man was identified as Antonio Raymond, 30, also of Micobe.

Two others received injuries, including 14-year-old Frederick Andrew, but they were treated and sent away.

According to information received, the group of men was travelling in an open back land cruiser and in the vicinity of the Three Miles junction, the driver of the vehicle lost control. As a result, the vehicle toppled several times before coming to

a halt.

The injured men were rushed to the Mahdia Hospital where Leonard Raymond was pronounced dead on arrival. There were no visible marks about his body and it is suggested that he might have sustained internal injuries. His body is at the Mahdia Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination.

A source told Guyana Times that the driver of the vehicle was speeding and could not have controlled the vehicle as he negotiated a turn; hence, him losing control of the vehicle.

Despite the occupants of the vehicle telling him to slow down, he continued driving at a fast rate, claiming that he will be late for the funeral service which was scheduled to start at 14:00h.

However, the driver who

is also a member of the family was taken into Police custody and is assisting with investigations.

A hospital official stated that Antonia Raymond sustained lacerations to the head while Andrews suffered minor injuries. The official stated that Raymond is being monitored but is expected to be discharged shortly. One resident told Guyana Times that it is a norm for vehicles to drive at a fast rate while coming out of Micobe. The resident reported that several complaints were made to the authorities, but nothing has been done to curb the situation.

Another danger point, he added is at the junction of the Three Miles Road, which has diversions to other interior locations. The area, he also stated is generally dark due to the trees that cover the trail.

OAS members call for ceasefire, end to violence in Gaza

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), during its regular meeting held on Wednesday, heard the positions of member states and the Secretary General of the institution, José Miguel Insulza, on the escalation of violence in Gaza, which has claimed more than 700 lives to this point.

The representatives, who read the official positions of their governments, and Secretary General Insulza, mentioned the need for an immediate ceasefire, an end to

the violence that fundamentally affects innocent civilians, and support for the measures of the United Nations.

Secretary General Insulza, as he expressed last week, said :“There are two lines here: the first is to demand an immediate ceasefire,” and next, he said it is necessary to emphasise that “Gaza has no viability, no possibility of life in current conditions. It is a zone completely blocked off whose inhabitants cannot leave through Israel nor Egypt without great difficulty.”

The OAS leader appealed to the responsibility of inter-

national organisations to find a solution to put an end to the attacks and to seek a solution for the underlying problem, because “you cannot have 1.8 million people living in a territory that small without any way of earning a living and think that hostilities will not begin again soon.” The representatives of Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States took the floor to present the positions of their governments on the conflict.

ECLAC hosts summer programme on regional economies

The 15th Summer School on Latin American Economies 2014 was launched last week in Santiago, Chile with presentations by Antonio Prado, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and Mariano Laplane, President of Brazil’s Center for Strategic Studies and Management.

The training programme is organised by ECLAC’s Division of Production, Productivity and Management, and 31 postgraduate students (16 women and 15 men) are participating this year. The students come from 16 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United States and Uruguay.

“The school has existed since the year 2000 and its classrooms have been visited by more than 400 students from the most diverse places, who today occupy relevant positions in policy- making and in economic and social analysis, working in governments, international organisations and universities,” Antonio Prado stressed.

In addition to referring

to ECLAC’s tradition within Latin American thinking, the senior United Nations official presented to the students the proposals contained in the three main institutional documents published since 2010, the so-called “equality trilogy” in which ECLAC has attempted to articulate the economic, social and environmental dimensions for promoting development with equality in the Region. “In its latest projects, ECLAC has put the issue of equality on the front line of the development debate,” emphasised Prado, underlining that the organisation “is and has been part of a community of ideas on economics that does not hesitate to challenge the conventional models and that takes as its starting point the historical, institutional and political differences that effectively characterise reality in distinct countries and regions.”

Mariano Laplane, meanwhile, gave a conference on “development challenges in the post-crisis world,” calling for the opportunities and new barriers that have been created for developing countries to be identified. “We need to reduce economic and institutional vulnerability, by strengthening democracy.

We must find a way to have democratic control over the process of wealth accumulation, both private and social,” he said.

The school is oriented towards advanced students in economics or related fields and it is being supported this year by the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Other participants in the inauguration included Mario Castillo, Chief of the Innovation and New Technologies Unit of ECLAC’s Division of Production, Productivity and Management; Gabriel Porcile, Academic Director of the Summer School; and Wilson Peres, ECLAC’s Economic Affairs Officer.

The programme includes a series of courses and seminars given by ECLAC officials and guest professors, and it covers the Commission’s main areas of expertise with an emphasis on the problems of growth and income distribution, as well as industrial and social policies.

During the event in Santiago, the students had the opportunity to discuss ECLAC’s presentations and proposals. “We invite you to keep creating with us this tradition of thinking and this commitment to development,” Antonio Prado concluded.

Santa Rosa Village gets vehicles from Amerindian Affairs Ministry

The Village Council of the Moruca sub-region of Santa Rosa Village in Region One was recently presented with three pick-ups and a back-hoe by Amerindian Minister Affairs Pauline Sukhai.

The vehicles are part of Government’s commitment to the development agenda of the Amerindian villages across the hinterland,

engines and pick-ups. In addition, two years ago, a pickup was provided to enable the enhancement of the security aspect of the village.

Minister Sukhai pointed out that four buses were also provided to Waramuri, Karaburi, Kamwatta and Kwebanna. She added that the three pick- ups which were slated to be handed over would go to the Santa Rosa

the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

The vehicles are not the first batch provided to the sub-region. Over the past three years, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry on behalf of Government contributed a variety of vehicles including tractors, minibuses, boats and

Village Council towards enhancing village administration.

“You ensure that when you use the vehicles, you drive with care… it comes at a cost and it comes with the contribution of Guyana’s taxpayers. You will understand that there are many critics who continues to say that the money that is invested in the indigenous communities are a waste of time and a waste of Guyana’s money and a waste of tax payers money,” she emphasised.

“Therefore, I think that the responsibility of every Village Council is to ensure that the investment and the support received from the Government should be respected in a way that you prove the critics wrong,” the Minister said. The back-hoe’s use will be overlooked by a Management Committee. It is expected to aid in the maintenance of both the main and internal roads of the community. The Minister added that while the Santa Rosa Village is developing fast, the level of resources has not kept up, and “the back-hoe, I believe is going to play a critical role”.

The Minister explained that the vehicles are costly and implored the Council to take utmost care with their operation and maintenance “so that it will bring benefit to the communities which have received them”. Minister Sukhai pointed out that while very few communities request parts and fuel, they will be needed at times.

World Bank debars three firms for fraud

The World Bank Group announced the debarment of two Dutch firms and two of their executives involved in misconduct relating to two projects in Iraq, as well as a Cambodian firm involved in misconduct relating to projects in Cambodia.

In a statement the Bank said C.D.W Construction Co., Ltd (C.D.W Construction) was debarred for three years for engaging in fraudulent practices under the Cambodia Ketsana Emergency Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project. An investigation conducted by the Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) revealed C.D.W Construction submitted fraudulent financial reports and a false statement of construction turnover in its bid in connection with the procurement process.

Earlier this month, the World Bank Group also debarred two Dutch firms and

two of their executives operating in Iraq for four years for corrupt practices under the Iraq Emergency Health Rehabilitation and Iraq Emergency Disabilities Projects. Evidence gathered by INT revealed Development and Relief Corporation International B.V (DRC International) paid an agent a 15% commission on two contracts intended as bribe payments in exchange for contract awards.

The World Bank Group also debarred Development and Relief Corporation B.V. (DRC) -- a sister firm of DRC International -- for three years for engaging in fraudulent practices under the same projects. DRC failed to disclose the full size of its agent commissions in its bids for other project-financed contracts. The debarment of the two Dutch companies represents an extension of existing

debarments already imposed on the same entities and individuals for similar misconduct in other countries.

“Managing fraud and corruption risks through corporate compliance and preventive work in development projects is a priority particularly in conflict-affected situations where needs for services and infrastructure cannot be excused or delayed. These decisions by the Sanctions Board reaffirm the Bank’s commitment to maintaining a strong focus on the impact of the development dollar on behalf of beneficiaries and shareholders,“ said Leonard McCarthy, World Bank Integrity Vice President. The debarment of these companies qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement of Mutual Recognition of Debarments that was signed on April 9, 2010.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

Govt wary of loan defaulters

… as UG fees hike takes effect

BY ALEXIS RODNEY

overnment has expressed concerns about the increasing number of students defaulting on their University of Guyana student loans even as it prepares to increase the portfolio with the recent hike in tuition fees.

Speaking to this newspaper recently, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said the increase in tuition fees at UG and discussions on the access to students’ loans for the new semester is currently engaging the attention of the Government.

He said Government still needs to reflect on the fullness of the implication of the loan increase before a more definite pronouncement could be made on the matter.

Compounding the issue is also the voting down of the $450 million student loan subvention in this year’s budget. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger and Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan have said that the voting down of the UG Student Loan subvention was not a premeditated act.

They have indicated that if the Government brings a Supplementary Bill to the House, they will most willingly reinstatement funding for the university. UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi had told this newspaper that if the decision to axe the budgetary al-

location is not soon reversed, a severe crisis would ensue at the country’s premier tertiary institution. Professor Opadeyi had explained that the situation was further complicated, since loans to students are issued on a yearly basis.

He said if the situation is not urgently addressed, some 3500 students will not be able to enroll in the new academic year, which commences in September.

“The university not having this money to cushion our expenditure is a big blow. On the other hand is to know that over 3500 students will be affected by this development… in real terms, that is, over 50 per cent of our students… If we do not have that income to come in, we’ll have implications.”

Compliance

Meanwhile, Minister Singh said that the increase in tuition fees and discussion on student loans have to be viewed within the context of his earlier statement, relating to the level of compliance of students who were granted student loans.

The Finance Minister had said some weeks ago that thousands of graduates from the University of Guyana have failed to honour their debts in the repayment of their loan and that alternative courses of action would have to be implemented to encourage greater compliance with the Student Loan Agreement which is issued by the University of Guyana Student Loan Facility and funded by the Finance Ministry.

But since that pronouncement, Minister Singh said there has not been any amount of cooperation by students who had benefited from the loan programme. This, he explained is troubling. According to him, it was his hope that persons would have come forward and begin the repayment process.

“As I said in the first instance, we thought that we would have had voluntary compliance, hoping that the

Government drawing the matter to the public’s attention hopeful that there would have been a voluntary response.”

Asked about measures taken to address the issue, Minister Singh said “We are considering the measures. We are currently examining the various measures and we have several options and models that have been proposed. All of the options are being considered,” Dr Singh Informed.

The Minister pointed out that “Guyanese are civic-minded people”. He noted that there are thousands of Guyanese students who have benefited from an education from the university through a student loan programme. Those persons he

said are now gainfully employed and are earning an income.

“It is a demonstration of your civic responsibility to discharged you obligation. You know when you took a loan, you would have to pay it back,” the Minister said, pointing out that, taxpayers are funding the programme through the public treasury.

As it relates to the recent increase in tuition fees and the possibility of students accessing funds through the loan programme to meet that need, Minister Singh said this matter is also being addressed by Cabinet.

The University of Guyana’ Administrative Council recently unanimously voted for

the current tuition fees to be increased come September. The adjusted fee applies to both new and continuing students who are pursing programmes which previously attracted a fee of $127,000. According to UG, continuing Guyanese students will be required to pay an incremental increase beginning with $130,000 in 2014; $145,000 in 2015; and $160,000 in 2016, in addition to a $50,000 Facilities Fee, which replaces the various miscellaneous fees they previously paid.

However, the fees for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Science Degree in Optometry, Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Imaging, Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy, Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Sciences, Bachelor of Science Dental Surgery, Masters of Science in Environmental Management, Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental ManagementClimate Change and Disaster Management and Natural Resource Management, Bachelor of Laws, Commonwealth Master of Business Administration, Commonwealth Master of Public Administration, Master in Education, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Tourism Studies and the Associate Degree in Tourism Studies programmes will not be adjusted, but the students pursuing these programmes will be required to pay the Facilities Fee of $50,000. The new Guyanese students who will be commencing their studies from September at the institution will be required to pay $210,000, inclusive of the Facilities Fee for most programmes, except for those listed above. Meanwhile, though the fees for foreign students have not been adjusted, they will be required to pay the US$250 Facilities Fee instead of the various miscellaneous fees, which they were required to previously pay.

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com, letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Chinese colonialism?

Recently, President Donald Ramotar was asked by a media operative whether the comparatively large Chinese investment – already in place or proposed – is not suggestive of a “Chinese colonisation” of our economy.

With the Chinese involved with the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the expansion and modernisation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the “on-hold” Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Project and several roads – not to mention the Chinese private investment, against the background of our history, the question may appear reasonable.

However, against the entire thrust of the received postWWII wisdom on “growth and development” of povertystricken countries, the question is, in fact, rather alarming and even racist in its premises. For 50 years now, following standard economic theory, the latter countries suffered from a “savings gap” resulting in an “investment gap”.

So in a vicious circle, the poor countries would remain spinning their wheels; even going backwards because of population increases, unless something was done to break the cycle.

This “something” was supposed to increase the investment levels – through aid, in the beginning, and this was proven a failure for decades, through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The “aid” was generally from the Western “developed” countries or the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – which were controlled by the same countries.

The “conditionalities” attached to the “aid” were so fixed that eventually more funds flowed from the poorer countries to the richer ones. As a final irony, the aid was preferentially given to those leaders that supported the US in its Cold War against the USSR.

Many of these leaders, especially in Latin America and Africa, were brutal dictators that oppressed their people. But, in the words of one American President describing one recipient of their beneficence, “He may be a son-of-a-bitch, but he’s our son-of-a-bitch!”

From the late 1980s, with the ascendancy of the neo-liberal ideology that stressed “market fundamentalism”, the West now exhorted the poorer countries to “liberalise”, which meant opening up their markets to their “investment”. The FDI was supposed to originate from Western corporations, banks and investment houses that could move their funds seamlessly from country to country in search of greater returns.

This introduced a boom-and-bust cycle that exacerbated the usual business cycle, and operated at a global scale as was seen in the 1997 Far Eastern financial meltdown.

With the development of the Chinese economy in that same time frame, few commented that the Chinese did not accept the premise of an open market. But their economy thrived, ran a surplus with the West and right now has reserves of US$4 trillion! With that kind of reserves and that size of economy, it should be a surprise to no one that China would seek to engage in Foreign Direct Investment – first, to diversify its portfolio; second, to secure raw materials and third, to make friends in a globalised world.

Other countries with controls also prospered and the World Bank’s 2013 “Global Development Horizons (GDH)” report, titled “Capital for the Future: Saving and Investment in an Interdependent World”, predicted: “China will account for 30 per cent of global investment in 2030, with Brazil, India, and Russia together accounting for another 13 per cent. In terms of volumes, investment in the developing world will reach $15 trillion (in 2010 US dollars), versus $10 trillion in high-income economies.

Again, China and India will be the largest investors among developing countries, with the two countries combined representing 38 per cent of the global gross investment in 2030, and they will account for almost half of all global manufacturing investment.”

When the West invested, it was applauded; now that the Chinese are doing even better, without attaching “conditionalities”, it is “colonialist”. Since the colour of the money is the same, one can only conclude that the colour of the Chinese is objectionable to the naysayers.

Opposition has squandered many opportunities to pass AML/CFT Bill

Dear Editor,

As Parliament fades into an extended period of recess commencing on August 10, there is one colossal elephant in the room that if civil society doesn’t band together and apply some pressure on our political leaders for good sense to prevail, will result in the trampling of our economy and hurt the already shrinking pockets of the average and ordinary Guyanese.

While both Government and the Opposition can be blamed for the more-than-a-year long stalemate in passing the amendment bill to the AML/CFT regime, more of the blame should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the combined Opposition benches.

The Opposition parties have squandered many opportunities and have failed the Guyanese people thus far in ensuring the passage of this Bill. Editor, please be reminded the combined Opposition doesn’t need the Government to pass this legislation!

The Opposition parties would have you believe that they didn’t have enough time to make appropriate contributions to the drafting of the Bill, but the truth is that they had more than a year to do so and more recently an offer was made by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to provide pro bono services to the parliamentary Select Committee, where the Opposition holds a majority, to ensure that any amendments submitted met the rigid international requirements of the international FATF.

I’m sure that offer is still on the table and if accepted, the combined Opposition can move to the floor of the National Assembly (where again they hold a majority) a fully compliant Bill for guaranteed passage.

Some commentators have, as of late, been saying that the APNU has nothing much to show for two and half years in Parliament. Passing this Bill presents a good op-

portunity for that alliance to accomplish something substantive and that is pro Guyana in nature.

The Opposition wants you to believe that the passage of this Bill will somehow represent a victory of sorts for the Government. Well, the reality is that the citizens of Guyana will be the real victors if the Bill is passed and the biggest losers if it isn’t.

If we fail to pass the Bill and international countermeasures are applied, a whole host of damaging effects will occur which will hurt the small man more than the Government or the upper echelon of the private sector.

Just to identify two concomitant consequences of the countermeasures: increased transaction times and costs at banks, insurance companies and money transfer agencies ; and the devaluing of the Guyana dollar as a result of foreign exchange pressures, thus driving up the prices for all imported goods, including fuel and food

items.

Moreover, private sector entities will adapt to those realities and will respond by restructuring their operations (which could mean laying off employees) and or passing on the resulting increased costs to the consuming public. This could occur at money transfer agencies and at public entities like Guyana Power and Light (GPL), which would either have to receive increased Government subsidies or pass on increased charges for electricity onto consumers. Similarly, gas stations would have to charge more for fuel for motor vehicles thus sending up the cost for “bus fare” and commuters driving to work daily.

All these consequences will place an undue burden on citizens and are totally preventable, it just requires a caring and rational Opposition to pass the Bill!

Sincerely, Clinton Urling BLUE CAPS

Truth Simply the Berbice Expo

The annual Berbice Expo has come and gone. It is an event that usually generates interest, and there are scores of booths rented out to display various goods and services available. The private sector is well represented, as are the education sector, NGOs, artisans, manufacturers, and so on.

This year alone, there were 60 booths in just one “tent”! We should take our hats off to the combined Chambers of Commerce. It takes a tremendous amount of work, energy, and time to bring this off year after year. It takes work to keep it fresh.

The President of Guyana dropped by and made a speech. I got news that some 25 people paid some attention, but no one seems to be able to tell me what he said that was of significance. Maybe we should all be more attentive.

But in case the President did not say it, we will venture some ideas that could have been articulated by the President about just how this Berbice Expo (or

GuyExpo, for that matter) could be made to have an immediate impact on the lives of our youths, especially. From the outset, let me say that these ideas did not come from me alone.

The general idea is to marry business growth and development to the aspirations and ambitions of youths.

Here goes:

First, create a database of all the organisers, supporters, participating organisations, participating individuals as well as what goods and services were on display.

Second, get from all prospective employers the kinds of skills they need for new employees in order to expand their businesses.

Third, create a skills and job map to identify training, skills, and needs advanced by businesses for employment of YOUTHS.

Fourth, a crack mobile team should coordinate with the schools, youth organisations and sport organisations, and NGOs to gather up and mobilise the youths to inform them of possibilities. If young people are

shown simply and precisely how this can affect them positively, they will respond in their numbers.

Fifth, two-week courses can be designed and run for youths: in two weeks, the following areas can be covered: writing resumes and application letters; preparing for interviews; professional conduct; invoicing; stock-taking and stock-making; customer relations; communication; ethics; and basic business management.

Sixth, upon successful completion of the twoweek course, youths will be matched to suitable businesses and employed. There will also be a mechanism to monitor and measure the performance of youths. As needed, the two-week course can be refined.

Seventh, each business or individual that hires youths who have successfully completed the two-week course will be the beneficiary of Government-sponsored exemptions from various tax charges. The Government can also absorb part of the payment of youths that have been employed.

A good question, of course, is this: Who will pay for this? We would suggest that the bulk of the payment for teams and teachers can come from some part of the national budget (we can only pray that our politicians will see the good sense of this and be supportive!).

A small portion can be paid by the prospective employers of young people. And participating youths can pay a nominal price which can go towards lunches and drinks during the two-week training.

In this way, events like Berbice Expo can be a yearround springboard for job creation while they develop their own businesses towards greater profitability.

PPP/C further strengthening relations with China

Dear Editor,

A delegation from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), including representatives from the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), and Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) visited China over the period July 14-24 as guests of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The delegation was led by Executive and Central Committee Member of the PPP/C, Shyam Nokta and included Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan. The delegation visited Beijing, Hubei Province, and Shanghai, and met with officials from the CPC as well as leaders at the provincial and local level.

In Beijing, the team was hosted by His Excellency, Zhou Li, Vice Minister of the International Department

of the Central Committee of the CPC (IDCPC) and Wu Quiang, Deputy Director General for the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau.

Discussions took place on the current situation in Guyana, the country’s national development initiatives, and current and future collaboration between the PPP/C and the CPC. The PPP/C and the CPC have had longstanding relations spanning several decades and in recent times, have sought to strengthen ties. At the same time, the PPP/C-led Government has been forging closer relations with China, which is now a key strategic development partner for Guyana with several bilateral initiatives underway and China providing support to several transformational projects in Guyana.

Submitted by PPP/C, Freedom House

Calls for clearer surrogacy rules after Australian couple abandon baby with Down’s

Surrogacy campaigners have called for clearer regulation after a Thai woman was left with a Down’s Syndrome baby when his parents refused to take him, the BBC reported.

The boy, whose twin sister was taken to Australia by the unidentified couple, needs urgent medical care.

The surrogate mother in Thailand says she will raise the boy as her own and an online campaign has raised US$185,000 (£110,000) for his treatment.

The case has raised fears Australia could ban international surrogacy.

The baby boy, named Gammy, has a congenital heart condition and a lung infection as well as Down’s Syndrome. He is currently receiving urgent treatment in a Thai hospital.

His mother, Pattaramon Chanbua, was paid US$15,000 (£9,000) to be a surrogate for the Australian couple.

The couple asked Mrs Pattaramon to have an abortion after doctors informed her of the child’s condition four months after becoming pregnant. She refused, saying it was against her Buddhist beliefs.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was “an incredibly sad story” and illustrated “some of

the pitfalls involved in this particular business”.

It is illegal to pay for surrogacy in Australia so couples have to find a surrogate who is happy to carry the child for no payment beyond medical and other reasonable expenses.

Advocacy group

Surrogacy Australia said this “red tape” means many couples choose to go abroad to find a surrogate, with 400 or 500 each year venturing to India, Thailand, the US, and other places.

Rachel Kunde, the group’s Executive Director, said she hoped the case would lead to better regulation by the Australian authorities of international surrogacy, rather than an outright ban.

“Our greatest fear is that Australia is going to ban international surrogacy altogether,” she told the BBC. “We are hoping that the Government will make accessing surrogates in Australia easier.”

Nicola Scott, a British lawyer specialising in fertility issues, says a lack of regulation leaves the child vulnerable because issues such as termination are not discussed in advance.

She says the answer to the problem is an international treaty similar to the Hague Adoption Convention

so that parents know what the situation is from the outset.

“Then each country would have its own rules and regulations and the parents, surrogates and children would be protected,” she was quoted by the BBC as saying.

Controversial

According to the Wall Street Journal, in an interview, Pattharamon said she feared being plunged deeply into debt by the high medical costs of caring for a son with disabilities, and claimed that the agent who brokered the surrogacy arrangement with the Australian couple reneged on paying her in full. The agent couldn’t immediately be reached.

Pattharamon told the

Journal that although she met the couple once, she never spoke with them or knew their names or how to contact them. A Thai Foreign Ministry official couldn’t immediately confirm details of the case, such as travel or passport information on the baby sister, whom Pattharamon said the biological parents took to Australia.

“The alleged circumstances of the case raise broader issues relating to surrogacy in Thailand,” a spokeswoman for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was quoted by the Journal as saying. “Australian Government agencies are examining these issues in consultation with authorities in Thailand.”

Laws on surrogacy differ around the world. While many countries, including Germany and France, prohibit women from carrying another woman’s child altogether, others ban payments that go beyond compensation for medical expenses, or limit the use of fertility treatments or donor eggs. In Australia and the US, laws on surrogacy also vary from state to state.

For many childless couples, the answer is to look overseas where there are fewer restrictions. In Thailand, for example, commercial surrogacy is a medical gray area. There are no laws directly relating to the practice of surrogacy, and it is largely unregulated. As a result, many agencies and

health clinics in Thailand aim to profit from matching surrogate mothers with egg donors.

Pattharamon was among those willing to take the risk. Struggling to make ends meet at home in the Sri Racha district of coastal Chonburi province, Pattharamon said she chanced upon an advertisement on Facebook seeking surrogate mothers early last year. The 20,000 baht monthly salary (US$622) that she and her husband earned at a nearby plastics factory didn’t cover her expenses, which included rent and food for her six-yearold son and a three-year-old daughter, the Wall Street Journal reported. (Excerpted from BBC News and the Wall Street Journal)

Page Foundation

When puberty arrives early

Puberty: It’s not one size fits all

Puberty’s changes start when the brain triggers the production of sex hormones.

Although physical changes follow a predictable pattern, every child develops at his or her own pace. Puberty usually begins for girls before boys. For

most girls, puberty begins around age 11. For boys, puberty starts from 10 to 14. The average age is 12.

Budding breasts can signal puberty

Breast growth is usually the first sign of puberty girls will notice. First, small lumps form behind the nipples. They

can be sore, but the pain goes away as breasts grow and change shape over the next few years. As they grow, it’s not unusual for one breast to develop more slowly than the other. Boys also may have some swelling on their chest but it tends to go away within a year or two.

Boys: Genital changes

The first sign of puberty in boys is subtle – an increase in testicle size. About a year later, the penis and scrotum start to grow. Semen can be released during an erection when he is awake or when he is asleep.

Hair growth in puberty

After breasts and testicles start growing, body hair will start to grow in and become thicker. For

Pboth boys and girls, new hair will start growing in the armpits and pubic area around the genitals. Arm and leg hair gets thicker. Boys also may start developing chest and facial hair.

Acne: An early sign of puberty

Mild acne may be normal in early puberty. Puberty’s high hormone levels can trigger acne outbreaks. During puberty, the oil glands are more active and your child will probably sweat more. Keeping the face and body clean can help, but if acne is a concern, talk to a doctor. Medications may help.

Later stages of puberty for girls

About a year after puberty begins, girls have a growth spurt. A girl will

uberty’s changes start when the brain triggers the production of sex hormones. Although physical changes follow a predictable pattern, every child develops at his or her own pace. Puberty usually begins for girls before boys. For most girls, puberty begins around age 11. For boys, puberty starts from 10 to 14. The average age is 12. Some children become sexually mature at a very early age. Early or precocious puberty is when a child reaches a physical or hormonal milestone – breast, testes, or pubic hair growth – before age six to eight in girls or nine in boys. Early puberty is linked with obesity in girls. Early puberty rarely is due to hormone exposure or a problem with the thyroid, ovaries, or brain. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned.

get taller and start to get wider hips and fuller breasts. Some curve-related fat will appear on her stomach, buttocks, and legs. Girls usually reach adult height by their midto late teens.

Growth spurts: From boys to men

The peak growth spurt for boys happens later than it does for girls. It occurs around six months after pubic hair development. When it does, your son’s shoulders will become fuller and broader, and he’ll grow taller, too. His face shape will look less round and more adultlike. Depending on when puberty starts, he may not reach his adult height until his late teens or even early 20s.

The first period: Puberty’s ending A girl usually gets her first period between 10 and 16 years old (about two to two-and-a-half years after she starts puberty.) Menstruation is a sign that she’s physically an adult and is able to become pregnant. You may want to talk to your doctor if your daughter doesn’t get her first period by the time she’s 16.

Puberty causes cracking, deeper voices Toward the end of puberty, your son’s voice may start cracking. This is normal, and will stop after a few months. When it does, his voice will sound deeper. Voice changes are caused by testosterone, a hormone released in boys during puberty. It causes the vocal cords to get thicker and longer and his larynx to grow bigger. This is his “Adam’s apple.”

Growing up too fast: Early puberty

Some children become sexually mature at a very early age. Early or precocious puberty is when a child reaches a physical or hormonal milestone – breast, testes, or pubic hair growth – before age six to eight in girls or nine in boys. Early puberty is linked with obesity in girls. Early puberty rarely is due to hormone exposure or a problem with the thyroid, ovaries, or brain. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned.

When to call the doctor

Keep track of your child’s bodily changes in a way that respects his or her desire for privacy. Call the doctor if:

* Puberty signs appear in a girl before age six to eight or in a boy before age nine

* Puberty changes aren’t seen in a girl by age 13 or in a boy by age 14

* Puberty changes do not follow the typical pattern of development (WebMd)

Barticians urge more representation

... bemoan crumbling infrastructure

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Against the background of erratic power supply and a number of impassable roads and other deteriorating public infrastructures, residents of Bartica, Region Seven are calling for more representation from their local leaders and Central Government.

Located on the left bank of the Essequibo River at the confluence of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers with the Essequibo River in Guyana, Bartica is considered the “Gateway to the interior”, with a population of about 15,000 and is the launching point for people who work in the gold and mining districts.

In the 2011 General and Regional Elections, the coalition A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) took control of the region under the chairmanship of Gordon Bradford. However, in recent times, residents have complained about the lack of leadership from Bradford, who has served as Regional Chairman before.

During a recent visit to the mineral rich district, residents complained bitterly, claiming that they

are being offered poor services which are further compounded by lack of infrastructural development.

While the deplorable state of the Bartica/Potaro Road was placed in the spotlight a few weeks ago when the United Minibus Union, Bartica Branch picketed the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Office, Elizabeth Moonsammy; a long standing resident told Guyana Times that internal roads are also plagued with potholes due to lack of maintenance.

According to her, it is time the Government through the RDC or Public Works Ministry invests heavily into resurfacing the road network in the community. Though applauding the Public Works Ministry for attending to the cries of Barticians, Moonsammy urged that the repairs being done to the Bartica/Potaro Road go beyond simply patching.

“I can tell you they have been filling the road… but we don’t want no patch road, we want a completely new road. Bartica is the central part of Region Seven, supplier of stones and we have the most atrocious roads in this country,” Moonsammy complained.

Bradford for his part

told Guyana Times that the appalling condition of the Bartica/Potaro Road is an age-old issue, explaining that the road quickly deteriorates after the completion of substandard works, however, he remains optimistic that this time around, taxpayers will get value for their money.

Currently, the Public Works Ministry is executing repairs to the Bartica/ Potaro Road in the vicinity of One-Four Miles with the use of some $25 million, which was approved in the National Assembly under the Public Works Ministry during consideration of the 2014 National Budget. According to the Ministry, the rehabilitation to the road is 25 per cent completed.

Meanwhile, Ava Abrams, who operates a snackette on First Avenue, Bartica, said flooding remains a major problem. She explained that sections of the community are often covered with water due to a poor drainage network. First, Second, Third and Fourth Avenues are the areas primarily affected, Abrams said.

“Soon as it rains, the whole place cover with water, just recently water

seep into my house, some of the equipments I had in the yard damaged, everything just damaged,” the woman said as she counted her losses. She opined that the drains in the community are too small for the large volumes of water that accumulate during the rainy season.

But Veronica Charles, another concerned resident, linked the frequent floods in the area to clogged drains. According to Charles, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) in Bartica is failing to execute its mandate.

streets.

According to her, besides “a man” who charges $1000 every week to clear domestic and commercial waste, the Bartica Garbage Company charges $1500 per month. “But why do I have to pay when I am paying my taxes, I don’t know what the IMC is doing with the money.”

It was pointed out that the dump site that sits alongside Byderabo Road in the vicinity of Second Avenue remains a health hazard for neighbouring residents. Charles did not only lash out at the IMC, but

is enough.”

But both the Regional Chairman and the IMC refuted the allegations of neglect. According to the Regional Chairman, he has been closely monitoring the road project in his quest to represent the concerns of Bartica residents. Similarly, the IMC said it has been advancing the issues affecting residents, pointing out that garbage no longer leads up to the dump site as in the past, positing that residents should be truthful.

During the Easter weekend every year,

“The biggest problem right now is the IMC, the IMC was forced upon us and I don’t think they know what they are doing because this entire town filthy, garbage everywhere. They say they are a model, but really they are a disgrace to themselves,” Charles said as she vented her dissatisfaction. During the visit by this publication, piles of garbage were not only seen in the central commercial area but along the regular avenues and

the Regional Chairman as well, contending that the regional authorities are pursuing their own personal and political agendas while the people of Bartica are suffering.

“We have a Regional Chairman who seems to make no representation on behalf of the people of Bartica. Let me tell you what we have in Bartica, poor roads, garbage pollution, clogged rains, no electricity and brown water but we are saying enough

Bartica hosts the Bartica Regatta, with a growing variety of entertaining holiday activities, including water sports (featuring mostly speed boats), cricket, boxing, soccer, talent shows, a street parade, and a Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant. The Regatta attracts people from all parts of Guyana, and even from other countries. There is also a summer Regatta, which is held annually in August. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

Miner stabbed to death during row at Itaballi

A28-year-old min-

er was on Saturday evening stabbed to death during an argument with another man at Itaballi Landing, Region Seven.

Dead is Wayne Johnson of Grant Sand Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. According to a statement released by the Police, the incident occurred sometime around 21:30h.

Police said that Johnson was “involved in an argument with another man while they were imbibing at Itaballi, Mazaruni River, during which he was stabbed to his chest”. The man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bartica Hospital.

Guyana Times understands that Johnson had rejected a woman and that led to an argument between the woman’s partner and himself, during which he was stabbed.

Johnson’s siblings and close relatives gathered at the Lyken Funeral Parlour

as his body was being transported from the Bartica Hospital on Sunday. The four siblings broke down in tears as they viewed his lifeless body.

Speaking with this publication, the sister of the dead man related that they received the information of her brother’s death on Saturday evening. She noted they

were told that a woman had approached her brother but he rejected her.

The spurned woman then went to her partner and reportedly concocted a story.

On Sunday, while Johnson was at a shop imbibing, he was confronted by the woman’s partner. The two had an exchange of words, but Johnson walked away, heading for the ‘Waterside’.

He was then followed by the man and an argument subsequently ensued between them, during which the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed Johnson in his upper chest area before escaping.

The distraught sister explained they were made to understand that the suspect was involved in similar incidents on the coast land, and would usually escape into the interior to hide before returning after a while.

Guyana Times understands that the Police received information about

the suspect’s whereabouts and were making efforts to apprehend him by Sunday afternoon. Efforts by this newspaper to confirm whether this was done proved futile. Another relative told this newspaper that Johnson had called home around 17:00h on Saturday and informed his family that he was on his way out; however; they received another call some time after 22:00h with the unfortunate news.

The relative disclosed that Johnson sustained a single stab wound to the region of the heart.

Johnson, a father of two, had moved into the interior about three years ago and has been living in Itabali with a woman who is bearing his third child. The body of the 28-year-old miner is at the Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination. He leaves to mourn his parents, five siblings and three children.

ACDA to launch African Business Expo

In an effort to promote entrepreneurship among people of African descent, the African Cultural Development and Association (ACDA) will later this year host the first ever African Business Expo.

ACDA Director Eric Phillips told Guyana Times that the event is to recognise black entrepreneurs

throughout Guyana and will be launched in November 2014.

The event is also a dedication to the life and works of the late Marcus Garvey, who Phillips described as the father of Pan Africanism, a hero, political icon, daring entrepreneur, poet and powerful orator.

This exhibition will

also celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Garvey’s United Negroes Improvement Association (UNIA), which was an organisation dedicated to racial pride, economic self-sufficiency, and the formation of an independent black nation in Africa.

This Business Exhibition will highlight and promote prominent Afro-Guyanese

businesses and their owners for their significant contributions to Guyana’s economic society. The businessmen and women will also be rewarded for being significant role models for other young Guyanese of African descent who may travel down the same business path.

The African Business Expo is set to have about 100 booths that will display 100 different products or business ideas from Guyanese locals. According to Phillips, the event will be a learning experience as persons of the African community can learn and build from each other. Also said to be present at the expo will be 10 international exhibitors who will assist Guyanese in reaching out to larger regional and international markets.

The two-day event will feature the launch of 10 new local products, all produced by Afro-Guyanese. In addition, there will be five workshops tackling all business related issues such as exporting, financing, clusters and product management.

Eyew tness

Silence...

...of the PNC lambs

With the emergence of David Granger as the leader of the PNC in 2011, an interesting sideshow developed: the selling of Granger to Indian Guyanese. It began with one of his former officers from his Army days, Malcolm Harripaul.

In a heart-warming story, Harripaul recounted as to how a loan from the GDF’s credit union was denied to him. But with a simple word to Granger (Sit!!), the order was immediately rescinded. And the Indian Guyanese officer got his loan.

Granger was supposedly a man bereft of the old, discredited, racially-exclusive PNC image. He was also “Godfearing”, “morally upright”, soft-talking and helped old ladies cross the street. (Even though he was old and shaky himself!) Harripaul didn’t see the irony of Granger unilaterally reversing the assessment of a junior officer given responsibility for credit allocation, was actually a high-handed, dictatorial move.

And so the selling of Granger to Indians continued. The killing of the ballot box martyrs?? Hey! While Granger might’ve been in the Army, he wasn’t there!! Never mind he wrote that the soldiers were “only doing their job”! The killing of Rodney who’d attracted multiracial support?? Hey! Granger wasn’t there either! It was just coincidence that Burnham jumped him over several senior officers and made him head of the Army – a month after Rodney was arrested for burning down Congress Place.

The old 60s riots?? Naaah...Granger wasn’t there either. Never mind, he resuscitated the commemoration of the Son Chapman’s sinking and kept alive the claim that it was the work of the PPP. He even moved it from the remote location where the tragedy had occurred to centre stage in Linden. And never mentioned a word about the ethnic cleansing of Linden before the sinking. But slowly, Granger began to attract some overseas Indian Guyanese. There’s Tarron Khemraj, AKA the “Donkey Cart” economist; his bosom buddy, Gerard Ramsaroop, AKA Flower Boy; Mike Persaud, AKA “Guess who’s coming to dinner”? Never mind these fellows had absolutely no connection to a single voter in the country – they could write letters to the press! And this passed for a “groundswell in the Indian community” for Granger!!

Granger’s going back on his word on the Linden power-tariff equalisation didn’t faze them. His willingness to sponsor the financial strangulation of Guyana?? “Realpolitik”. But this Eyewitness wonders at the deafening silence of this “Indian wing” at the blatant rigging of the PNC’s internal elections?? Is it a stunned silence??

Or is it the silence that signals acquiescence and approval?? Speak now or forever hold your PIECE!!

...broken on war

Ex-Speaker Ralph Ramkarran’s getting desperate. Even since he left the PPP in a huff over his rejected bid to become leader – and more importantly – “Presidential Candidate”, his ploy to satisfy his ambitions has been quite transparent – position himself to be the “consensus candidate” of the motley Opposition crew. When the man was inside the PPP, nary a squeak about “shared governance” was uttered.

But the moment he bolted, he suddenly became the most fanatical proselytiser for “one love” Government. With him being the “love guru”, of course – to lead one and all to the promised land where the lion will lie down with the lambs. So you could understand why he got his buckta all in a knot when Granger dropped “shared governance” like a hot cassava after the elections.

But now that Granger’s destroyed any chance of ANYONE considering him for even being “national dog catcher”, much less President, Ramkarran’s gone all radical for “shared governance”.

But, he warned, the demand’s “not going to be met without a large-scale national and sustained struggle”. Even war??

...on Uncle Tom’s mockery?

Will there be silence on the old Muckraker slave’s assertion that the killing of gays and their general persecution and belittling “provide a welcome distraction”? How the abused become abusers!!

President Ramotar outlines challenges to governance

...during meeting with Pomeroon residents

President Donald Ramotar on Saturday visited the Arawak village of Wakapau in Pomeroon, Region Two, during which he told residents of the challenges to his leadership of the country, blaming the Opposition and what he described as the “opposition media” for some of the problems.

President Ramotar was accompanied by Minister within the Agriculture Ministry Alli Baksh and Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud. The Head of State updated the community on obstacles faced by the Government in carrying out its development agenda, the main one he listed being the “Opposition’s ‘anti-development’ stance against such projects as the Specialty Hospital and the effort to have hydro-power in the country”.

The President also spoke of the Opposition’s continued lingering on the passage of the critical AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, the President stated clearly that the Opposition is only looking after its own political agenda at the expense of the country and its people.

“They want power so bad that they do not care if they hurt the ordinary people of our country,” the President said and pointed out that the Opposition’s sole purpose is to hurt the country in hopes that things will become so bad that the people would turn against the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPPC) Government.

Residents were also brought up to speed with the Opposition’s cutting of the National Budget, with an emphasis on targeting developmental programmes that would bring about significant benefit to all, and for the threat to pass a no-confidence motion against the Government for seeking to restore the funds cut from the 2014 Budget.

The President said that this latest action by the Opposition shows their dishonesty in their carrying of the propaganda line that Government, in restoring the cut projects, is acting illegally.

“The Constitution gives us this right,” the President said. He said too that the Opposition has the advantage of having the country’s two main private newspapers on its side

“That is why they will never like us. That is why they will never write anything good about us in the paper because of this different interest that they represent,” the President said. During the meeting, the President also spoke of the many Government efforts over the years to transform the economic landscape of the country. This includes Government identifying human resources development as a national priority and investing in providing quality education.

The President noted that Government aligning education to the needs of society and Guyana’s future, has sought to live this philosophy and this is clearly shown through the annual budgets, whereby the largest chunk, is always allocated to the sector. Government has also afforded access to enhanced education through the provision of more improved facilities, teacher training, computerisation in schools and homes, and building greater capacity in science and technology. Such programmes as the school uniform assistance, school feeding and the provision of books have also improved attendance.

Even as focus has been on education, other sectors including health, housing and agriculture, guided by prudent policies and programmes as implemented by the PPP/C administration, have also received much attention and have played their role in furthering the Guyanese economy and contributing to an improvement of livelihoods countrywide,

Region Five residents receive OLPF computers

Tthe President noted.

He told the residents that the PPP/C needs their support to carry on the transformation of the country. He pointed out too, that the Government has a lot of challenges ahead of it, but also with many things still to be achieved. This, he noted can only be done collectively with support from residents to realise the full potential of the country. President Ramotar also donated a boat engine to the community during his visit.

he One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Programme is adding to its long list of recipients, with hundreds more happy and grateful people, as it continues its distribution exercise.

An additional batch of computers was distributed on Sunday to Region Five Residents at Hyde Park. Residents who benefited from the distribution were quick to comment on their pleasure at receiving the Government laptops.

Whitney Joseph expressed appreciation at receiving her laptop, stating that, “it could help my children with their homework

and everything”. For Alexia Richmond, the laptop will be used by her entire family.

“Being a mother and parent of two, I can be able to assist my kids at home with their homework without having to go to the Internet café and pay, which adds more expense for the family. So I am grateful for what the Government is doing in our community.”

Monty Moonesar feels good about the laptop, stating that his children would learn from the computer while Sirmattie Mangar, a widow, is happy because it will benefit her four grandchildren who are without parents. Phulmanie Jadubh

is also happy that her grandchildren will learn and do a lot of school work on the new computer.

Janat Jadoo stated that his entire family will now become computer literate and will be able to access information which is important for them, and he is “... much thankful for this gesture”.

Meanwhile, Rena Ramah expressed the hope that Government continues its distribution exercise to ensure that each family in Guyana can access a computer. The novel OLPF programme targets the distribution of 90,000 laptops to Guyanese by 2015. (GINA)

Kamarang residents want more teaching aids for nursery schools

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Sunday hosted a consultation with residents of Region Seven on the recently launched Hinterland Education Improvement Programme (HEIP). During the consultation, residents urged that more teaching aids be made available to nursery school pupils.

The programme targets specific areas that need Government’s intervention so as to ensure the country’s

children are not only provided with the necessary infrastructure, but that they also receive the quality of education that is much needed in the hinterland. The programme will be implemented over the next five years targeting Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. Manickchand was accompanied by her Permanent Secretary, Delma Nedd, Region Seven Regional Executive Officer (REO) Peter Ramotar and other Ministry officials.

The consultation was held with residents of Kamarang and neighbouring villages to have their inputs on the implementation on the HEIP programme.

During brief remarks at the event which was held at the Kamarang Primary School, Minister Manickchand highlighted some of the developments that have been occurring in the education system over the years.

“The only sustained way to do well and stay

doing well is to invest in education.... We in the Government believe that we must strongly invest in education, but it is one thing to say that we will invest… we must match that commitment with financial resources and we have been doing that,” Minister Manickchand noted.

Last year, 15.9 per cent of the National Budget was spent in the education sector, followed by 13 per cent this year. In 1992, it was a mere five per cent. Because of this consistent investment, 72 per cent of teachers spread across the country are trained, compared to 30 per cent trained two decades ago. More than 50 per cent of the teachers in the hinterland regions are trained, through the Guyana Basic Education Teacher Training Programme, and other initiatives that facilitate distance training.

Access to LRC

Ninety-two per cent of the clusters have access to a Learning Resource Centre (LRC). Ninety per cent of the schools have a teachers’ house and 90 per cent are equipped with sanitary blocks, 45 per cent with electricity and 83 per cent with water facilities.

Former councillor calls on Rose Hall Town Council to resuscitate play park

The business community has partnered with the Rose Hall Town Municipality to ensure the smooth running of the township and to facilitate residents’ comfort and more specifically the building of business-community partnerships.

In line with this, Poonai Bhigroo of Poonai’s Pharmacy and Animal Health Care has called on the municipality to resuscitate the abandoned play park, and emphatically expressed his willingness to spearhead the project.

Speaking at a simple ceremony to hand over a signboard he donated to the Rose Hall Town Mayor and Town Council on Friday on the lawns of the facility, the former councillor and prominent business owner called upon the town’s staff, especially the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), Bevon Sinclair, to take up the mantle of responsibility with regard to the dilapidated playground.

He noted that during his stint as Councillor some time ago, he had challenged the municipality to do its utmost for this project in terms of lobbying the Local Government and the Chambers to ensure the play park, which has returned to a pasturelike state, is once again active so that the young ones can benefit.

“It is unfortunate to see the condition of our only play park in this area

where children in our community are starved for recreation and today I stand firm in my personal commitment to do what it takes to get the play park in a state where children can have recreational activities, so I am challenging you to hand over that project to me,” he stated.

Unfortunate

He challenged the municipality to maintain a standard and said while businesses have a responsibility towards the municipality, there is a pressing need for the entity to have a more proactive relationship with the community.

“The only time you see the municipality is when they are in need of something and this should not be the scenario… this is not good public relations, but you need to be out there when the people need you too, only when there is an occasion and you need something, then your presence is known… this partnership’s vision is to sustain a vibrant and innovative relationship,” he pointed out, highlighting that during the crisis faced by residents, the municipality should be there assisting in every possible way.

“To give something back, to reinvest and to reconnect with the community and importantly to be satisfied that you are supporting a worthy cause... Businesses that engage in community partnerships enjoy many positive ef-

fects. Such a partnership not only makes staff and management feel good, but it puts them in touch with issues outside their own area of knowledge,” Bhigroo opined.

In concluding, he expressed his appreciation to the residents for their support over the years.

In extending her gratitude to the businessman for his much-needed and

kind gesture, Town Clerk Malissa Punch assured him that the organisation will work assiduously to ensure the continued development of the town.

IMC Chairman Sinclair noted that this partnership is a positive move in the right direction and also expressed heartfelt and profound gratitude to the businessman for the initiative.

One of a kind, and de one and only

It got some people in this world who old people does seh dem is one of a kind. It ain’t got no equal to them. Dem is one and only kinda people. No matter how far and wide yuh look, dem is one of a kind. Even when dem do some ting, it ain’t got nobody who gon be able to do it like dem.

Tek a man like Green Jah fuh example. He don’t talk much, but he got plenty tings pun he mind. So whenever he talk, he does talk he mind. And if any body know Green Jah, that mind musbe full of plenty tings. That is why whenever he talk, mouth does open and story does jump out.

De other day Green Jah seh he ain’t friken no Rodney Commission of Inquiry. But lo and behold, when de Inquiry finally start, Green Jah put he tail between he two foot and disappear. Was Will Yams who had to go and show he face. If only Green Jah know whah Will Yams seh behind he back, Green Jah gon never trust Will Yams again.

De joke of de week was when Green Jah seh he ain’t see nutten wrong wid de Pee-N-C selection. That was de same day when Green select people who woulda select he fuh be de leader again. So said so done, Green Jah get re-selected as party leader.

Everybody else seh dem see a lotta wrong tings and dem even talk bout it day after day. So clearly Green don’t see wid de people. Even he own people, accordin to de Linden and Plaisance people.

Plus Green Jah trying to tell de whole of Guyana that he believe in de principle of One People, One Nation and One Destiny. But he fuhget to tell de people that he also believe in de principle of one leader...fuh life.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And that one leader fuh life is de one and only, and de one of a kind Green Jah!

Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce pleased with Berbice Expo

Newly-elected Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce President Tajpaul Adjodhea has dubbed the 2014 Berbice Exposition and trade fair a great success.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Adjodhea said the 10th annual event held under the theme “Exploiting Science and Technology for Economic Development”, has met all of the Chamber’s expectations and it is completely satisfied with the end result.

He stressed the advantage of having good weather throughout the event which contributed significantly to the number of people turned up.

“The recently-commissioned lights at the venue was an additional plus and this allowed both the

patrons and businesses to feel more comfortable… the number of children that attended was astonishing and we went beyond the hours of expectation to facilitate residents,” he said.

However, he highlighted that in terms of constraints concerning the site and venue, the time for preparations – approximately two weeks –is too short.

Meanwhile, the exhibitors themselves had mixed comments on the exposition and trade fair. While some applauded the Chamber for this initiative others were not too optimistic and alluded that more should be done in terms of gaining a more respectable turnout of both patrons and exhibitors.

Frank Sanichar said the 10th edition of the event was not to his ex-

pectations and pointed out that although the management committee is doing their utmost, there is still need for improvement.

“I think more local company involvement, since there is a lot of local manufacturers in Guyana… we need to push more of our local products,” he said. He also suggested that patrons should be allowed free entry one night into the venue so as to facilitate those who cannot afford the entrance fee.

Citing the need to strike a balance, Sanichar said he was aware that it was costly to set up the event; but particularly since this is the out-of-crop season, people needed this break. He said generally the expo was not bad, but he was expecting a bigger crowd; however, he was satisfied that his company did well at the event.

The owner of a Trinidadbased company that solely deals in Indian garments (name not given) extended his gratitude towards the Government of Guyana for allowing them to showcase their products and pointed out that he was extremely satisfied with his sales for the three-day event.

The patrons this publication spoke were also happy that Berbice had the capacity to host such events and complimented the organisers and sponsors on the important initiative which they opined was a success in every area.

“Berbicians are starved for recreation and entertainment and we need more events to be held here…with the floodlights now in place and fully functional Government needs to ensure we in Berbice have bigger events,” a resident stated.

Times Notebook

The Gaza massacre

Emulation of the immoral and shameful stance of powerful nations like the US is not an option for Guyana. We must not be timid in declaring to Israel that its genocide in the Gaza Strip must end now!

By any moral standards, Israel is wrong in the brutal killing of children and innocent people in Gaza. Guyana’s President; the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C); and Islamic groups in Guyana have spoken out against the violent conflict in Gaza.

But the Alliance For Change (AFC); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); the private sector; religious groups; and human rights organisations are silent. Are they afraid they might offend the US Government?

The ferocious assault on the Palestinian people in Gaza cannot be justified on the pretext that Hamas is using women and children as protective shields. The brutal attack resulting in the deaths of children at the

UN school in Gaza is ample proof that Israel is engaged in reckless attacks on innocent people. Condoning the killing of innocent children and women in the Gaza Strip is an affront to common humanity.

There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza where more than a million people are forced to survive without water and electricity and where most of the infrastructure and people’s homes have been destroyed by Israel’s powerful military might.

Travesty of unimaginable magnitude

Mahatma Gandhi once said that an eye for an eye always turns the whole world blind. Israel claims that its occupation and transforma-

Kamarang residents...

Having achieved Universal Primary Education, Minister Manickchand said that focus is now on now on secondary education. Currently, a modern secondary school is being built at Kato, Region Eight, and there is consideration for one to be built in the Upper Mazaruni.

Today, there are 130 nursery schools across the hinterland, 250 primary schools, and 17 secondary schools.

“We believe that you are important as every other citizen and you must be treated equally,” Minister Manickchand told the residents.

She said Government recognised that once the infrastructure was in place, then the next step was to improve the attendance rate, hence, the introduction of the school feeding and uniform programmes. As a result, 74 per cent of the nursery school students are attending school, 81 per cent primary and 82 per cent secondary. Further, Government introduced a new initiative this year which will see every nursery, primary and secondary aged child in the public school system receiving a $10,000 grant.

The HEIP initiative is a five-year plan to improve ed-

From page 9

ucation delivery in the hinterland and riverine areas. Among the targeted areas are improvement of quality of teacher education, aligning teaching-learning resources to improve students’ outcomes, improving physical facilities, fostering community alliances and strengthening management supervision. During the event, the residents had an opportunity to raise concerns, one of which is the need for training for teachers in different areas.

While commending the Government for the infrastructure that has been put in place, the residents are asking for more teaching materials for the nursery schools, and to include craft and Information Technology as subjects in the secondary schools. The residents are also requesting that the Ministry facilitate more consultations as they relate to implementing education policies and programmes.

Minister Manickchand said the Ministry will be reviewing these recommendations and concerns and will be implementing them through the HEIP programme over the next five years. Already, the HEIP was launched in Region Nine at Lethem, and Bartica, Region seven.

tion of Gaza into a killing field is because of rocket attacks by Hamas. This is a case of an eye for an eye, except Israel is murdering innocent children and their parents. And the whole world seems to have gone blind!

Adding to the tragedy is the obsession of countries like the US and other developed countries to support Israel at all costs, no matter what are the circumstances!

Superimposed on this travesty of unimaginable magnitude is the shameless defence of Israel by the US media. We are utterly struck by how the American media and the American people are indoctrinated into ignoring the most basic facts about Gaza. Guyanese must not be similarly indoctrinated so that they ignore basic facts in this unending tragedy.

The Palestinians have been living under Israeli occupation, euphemistically called a blockade, since 1967.

That is the cause of the “war” over the Gaza Strip. That occupation in 1967 added salt to an injury that was inflicted on a people in 1947 when their country was taken away and given to the Jewish people to form the State of Israel. Guyanese ought to know that Britain had considered Guyana as a possible Jewish State leading up to 1947.

Israel has the “right” to defend itself, but Palestinians have the “right” to resist occupation. Those conflicting rights are leading to perdition, and, the an-eye-for-aneye syndrome that has now turn the whole world blind.

In exercising its “right” to defend itself, Israel has maintained an occupation since 1967 by blocking Gaza’s air, sea, and land borders, locking the people of Gaza in a giant prison. Every child in Gaza is born a prisoner.

Israel’s argument that the deaths are collateral

damage to win peace is myopic, because thousands of children will grow up with senseless hate for Israel. This genocide can succeed only to breed more freedomfighter “terrorists” and many more decades of war and terrorism.

The Palestinians feel abandoned by the world and feel they must exercise their “right” to fight for freedom by any means. Not only have they been occupied, but Israel, the US, and other developed nations invent reasons to deny Palestine its freedom.

Consider the democratic Gaza elections of 2006. Israel and the US said they would abide by the results of the election, but once the results showed Hamas won, the US and Israel did all they could to overturn the results.

The truth is that this latest onslaught represents Israel’s determination to destroy the Palestinian uni-

ty agreement, a Jewish goal the US and Europe embrace. Israel wants to destroy Palestinian unity so that President Mahmoud Abbas cannot negotiate with Israel on behalf of all Palestinians, leading to a peace agreement that would end the occupation and affirm an independent Palestinian State.

What is certain is that war will not solve the problem. Israel may pound and pulverise the Palestinians and its might is winning the battle, but that will not kill Palestinians’ aspirations and quest for justice.

Emulation of the immoral and shameful stance of powerful nations like the US is not an option for Guyana. We must not be timid in declaring to Israel that its genocide in the Gaza Strip must end now!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times.notebook@gmail.com.

Westford gave clearance for hiring of High Court staff …says not a function of Supreme Court

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

Amid the rift between the Supreme Court and the Legal Affairs Ministry over the recruitment of staff for a Verbatim Court Recording Unit, Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford said it was she who gave clearance for the advertisement to be placed and clarified that the court does not have such authority.

She believes that the Supreme Court might be confusing its financial autonomy with full independence; the latter would give it the authority to hire its own staff.

Westford’s comments come in the wake of an advertisement in the Guyana Chronicle last Sunday by the Legal Affairs Ministry, seeking applicants for a specific department that is to be implemented at the Supreme Court.

The High Court has since published its own notice, distancing itself from the advertisement and urging would be successful applicants not to consider themselves employees of the court.

This notice by the court has raised a lot of questions, including the question of who can really appoint staff for the judicial agency; though the Supreme Court did not say in its notice, which is under the name of acting Registrar Rashid Mohamed, the reasons for its action, it has been reported that the judicial agency is claiming the right to appoint its staff.

The advertisement that was placed in the Sunday, July 27 edition of the Guyana Chronicle sought applicants

for the positions of Chief Editor, Senior Editor, reporters, press technicians and an audio technician for the Verbatim Court Recording Unit, a new department to be set up in specific sections of the Supreme Court.

A senior official at the Legal Affairs Ministry told Guyana Times that the Ministry is very surprised at the action of the Supreme Court, adding that the Permanent Secretary was just carrying out the instructions after approval was given by the Public Service Ministry to have those various positions filled. Speaking with Guyana Times, Westford confirmed that she had granted approval to the Legal Affairs Ministry to have the positions filled, hence, explaining the placement of the ad by the Ministry.

Westford refused to further comment on the issue between the two agencies, specifically the notice published by the Supreme Court, stating that she is out of town and is not aware of the matter.

Responsibility

However, the Minister explained that her Ministry is solely responsible for approving any employment within state agencies, including the Supreme Court, but with the exception of those positions that are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission under the law. Westford went on to say that there is legislation that govern which agencies employ what level of staff. The Public Service Minister stated that neither the Supreme Court nor the

Legal Affairs Ministry can make any appointment on its own and will have to seek approval from the Public Service Ministry regarding employment.

“They have no authority anywhere that allows them to do so,” the Minister said, while stating that no Government agency is allowed to do so; even the semiautonomous agencies need approval from the Ministry to fill positions. She continued that the Supreme Court is not an employer and needs to get approval from her Ministry before any appointments can be made. The Minister said that she will have to talk to officials from both entities to get to the root of the issue, reiterating that neither can claim responsibility for appointments.

According to Minister Westford, the agreement reached in the National Assembly earlier this year regarding the autonomy of the Judiciary was for financial independence and not for full autonomy. She explained

that the arrangement favours the Judiciary in that it will be given its entire budgetary allocation in a lump sum rather than receiving monthly subventions.

In April this year, the Judiciary was granted full financial independence after Government entered an agreement with Opposition, who had threatened to delay consideration of the 2014 Budget Estimates until specific agencies were granted financial autonomy. When the Legal Affairs Ministry’s budget came up for consideration, the Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, moved a motion to have all the line items under Agency 55, the Supreme Court, to be reduced and placed under a lump sum allocation to the said agency, but under a different line item.

However, shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge, had presented a series of motions which sought autonomy for several agencies, including the Supreme Court and one of the objectives of those motions was for the Supreme Court to be funded directly from the Consolidated Fund as opposed to being a subvention agency.

Greenidge had cited, in support of his motions, Article 122 A (2) of the Constitution which states: “Subject to the provisions of articles 199 and 201, (appointment of judicial, legal and public officers) all courts shall be administratively autonomous and shall be funded by a direct charge upon the Consolidated Fund; and such courts shall operate in accordance with the principles of sound financial and administrative management”.

1 dead, several injured in Essequibo smash-up

Amechanic is now dead while three other persons are injured following a two-vehicle collision at Taymouth Manor, Essequibo Coast on Saturday evening.

The dead man has been identified as Delvin Benn, 23, of Lot 72 Queenstown Village, Essequibo Coast while the injured have been listed as Dr Nandy Benons, 23, of New Amsterdam, Berbice; Rodwel Spellen, 34, of Henrietta, Essequibo Coast; and Andre (only name given), 21, also of Henrietta.

The injured are now patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Based on information

received, Benn was driving along the Essequibo Coast and in the vicinity of Taymouth Manor, he came into contact with a Honda CRV, driven by Spellen which allegedly swerved from hitting a donkey. The donkey was reportedly in the corner of the road, but walked onto the roadway as Spellen approached it. In an effort to avoid hitting the animal, he swerved and went into the other lane close to a turn hence he did not see Benn’s approaching vehicle.

The injured people were rushed to the Suddie Hospital where Benn underwent a six-hour emergency surgery. He was subsequently medevacked to the

Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention. It was on the way to the Ogle International Airport that he succumbed. He reportedly sustained severe head and other injuries, including several broken ribs.

Dr Benons, who is attached to the New Amsterdam Hospital, suffered trauma to the head and other injuries, while Spellen sustained a fractured hip and lacerations to his head and Andre is being treated for minor injuries.

Disbelief

At the Georgetown Public Hospital on Sunday, Kenroy Semple, father of the dead man, told Guyana Times that his son was returning home after visiting a friend in Affiance when the accident occurred. He was at the time driving his motor car bearing registration number, PHH 8643.

Semple noted that he was at home when he received the news of the accident around 21:00h and rushed to the hospital where he saw his son being taken into the theatre for surgery. He said after six hours, a decision was taken to transfer him to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.

He said an ambulance

Suspect in minibus driver’s murder surrenders

After two days on the run, the man accused of stabbing Gavin Fifee, a minibus driver, to death during a quarrel after he urinated on Fifee’s minibus on Thursday evening at the Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Minibus Park turned himself over to the Police on Saturday.

Orin Jerrick, 30, of Anns Grove, ECD turned up at the Brickdam Police Station with his lawyer, Pamela Dos Santos around 15:30h, a Police source confirmed. The source told Guyana Times that after the alleged attacker’s identity was made known to them, several visits were made to his home but on all occasions, he was not seen. Relatives reportedly told the ranks that they had not seen him since the incident on Thursday evening, but promised once they made contact with him, they would advise the young man to surrender.

One relative of the suspect reportedly told Police ranks that Jerrick was not known as a violent person. Thirty-one-year-old Fifee was stabbed with a homemade weapon during an argument with Jerrick. The suspect was reportedly urinating on the minibus Fifee operates when he was asked to stop doing so by the now dead man, but he refused. It was during the argument that

took them to the Hampton Court Airstrip where they boarded an aircraft and were flown to the city. His son was alive when he left Essequibo, but by the time he arrived at the Georgetown Public Hospital, doctors pronounced him dead.

The grieving father said

he last saw his son when he left for the masjid and could not believe that he was no more. He said his son was a gem who did not give him any trouble. With regard to the accident, he said he was told that the driver of the other vehicle swerved from hitting a donkey and went into his son’s lane resulting in a head-on collision.

His son and the injured were taken to the hospital by public-spirited citizens.

Dr Cindy Benons, sister of the injured doctor, told Guyana Times that her sister left Berbice on Friday to visit a colleague on the Essequibo Coast. The doctor recalled being home on Saturday evening when she received a call from her sister’s friend who related the dreadful news.

She said that while information about the accident

remained sketchy, she was told that the driver of the vehicle in which her sister was a backseat passenger swerved from a donkey and crashed into a vehicle which was coming from the opposite direction.

Her sister, she said, suffered trauma to the head and minor injuries to her body. When this publication visited the hospital, the injured doctor could not move her neck. It has only been a year since she graduated after studying in Cuba. The Police have since launched an investigation into the fatal accident. The body of Benn is at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination scheduled for today. Benn leaves to mourn his parents and five siblings.

Guyanese among Caribbean youth advancing issues at SIDS

confab

Caribbean youth advocates have agreed to unite around common issues that impact the region and speak with one voice for greater impact at the upcoming Third International Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The meeting will take place in Samoa, September 1-4. Building on the Youth Declaration which emerged out of the Youth Empowerment and Sustainability conference held last year, the young people, who participated in a two-day Regional Youth Advocacy Workshop in Jamaica on July 24 and 25, reaffirmed key issues to be advanced in Samoa.

Fifee was stabbed several times to his chest. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by public-spirited citizens where he died. Fifee leaves to mourn two daughters, aged two and seven years.

They include Education, Climate Change, Good Governance, Social Protection and Health Care. They also developed key messages around each issue to help create a better understanding of the uniqueness of Caribbean countries and the vulnerabilities that threaten sustainable devel-

opment in the region.

Given the size of the youth population, young people have a stake in ensuring that the world takes account of the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and economic shocks said Sheila Roseau, Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean.

“As young people, you have many concerns and ideas and we want to hear them. We want to ensure that the voice and realities of Caribbean people are echoed on the international stage and in Samoa so that your priorities, the priorities of the region cannot be ignored; and that the development agenda post 2015 is truly reflective of all our regions.”

Warren Chanansingh, Deputy Global SIDS Focal Point and UNFPA Youth Advisor based in Trinidad and Tobago, while acknowledging that youth voices are increasingly being recognised as important in development and developmental

processes, warned that this inclusion must never be tokenistic.

“We, therefore, need to continuously ensure and advocate for youth to be recognised as equal partners in creating sustainable futures. Let us, together, abolish the tokenistic participation of young people through our strategic advocacy of developmental issues. As young people, we need to recognise that we have a responsibility to ourselves and the world we live in, to make it a better place for everyone,” he stated.

Thirty young people from 13 countries across the region participated in the workshop which was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. It was organised by UNFPA and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in collaboration with other UN agencies and Caricom as part of the preparatory activities leading up to the Third International Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS.

8 seriously injured after vehicular collision in Essequibo

Eight persons are in serious conditions after a car and van collided on the Annandale Public Road on the Essequibo Coast Saturday night.

Injured are drivers Chandanie Dass, 32, Manager for Courts Branch at Henrietta on the Essequibo Coast and Nicklous Singh of Annandale. Dass of La Union Village on the Essequibo Coast was the driver of motorcar PSS 3067.

Dass suffered multiple injuries, including a gash to her head and other wounds to her feet and her abdomen. She underwent surgery at the Suddie Public Hospital

and was later air-dashed to Georgetown Public Hospital. She is presently in the Intensive Care Unit. According to Police, motor car PSS 3067 and motor van PRR 9027 were heading in opposite directions on the Annandale Public Road. The accident occurred around 21:05h Saturday.

Dass told Police that she was blinded by the “high beam” light when she lost control of her vehicle. Both vehicles were damaged extensively. Meanwhile, a passenger who was in Dass’ ve-

hicle up to press time was in a critical condition at the Suddie Public Hospital. Ponnai Dass of Queenstown

is presently in the Intensive Care Unit battling for her life. She sustained head injuries and a broken arm and feet. Chandanie Dass and Ponnai Dass attended a wedding on Saturday and were returning home when they met in the accident.

Nicklous Singh, who collided with Chandanie Dass, is also battling for his life at the Suddie Public Hospital. He had in his vehicle Kevin Kumar, Shane Kumar, Linden Marks, Krishna Ramsamooj and Anthony Hanes. All those passengers are presently at the Suddie

Public Hospital in the Male Ward.

Kevin Kumar, who was in Nicklous Singh's vehicle, said they were heading home from Suddie after dropping off a few persons. He said Singh was driving at a moderate speed and when the vehicle collided, all he remembered was that he was thrown off the vehicle. Kumar received 10 stitches to the forehead. Another passenger, Anthony Hanes said he was stranded on the road and Nicklous offered him a drop. He said he could not recall what exactly happened, but he was pinned down.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the injured persons were assisted by residents and taken to the hospital. Dass was said to be pinned in her vehicle, but was pulled out by residents. Family members of Dass said they are currently praying for her to recover from the injuries she sustained.

Alberttown residents highlight priorities at City cleanup consultation

More communities continue to be involved in consultation meetings for the massive $500 million clean-up exercise that is scheduled to begin this month.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), on Saturday, residents of Alberttown pointed out issues to Local Government Ministry officials and other stakeholders pertaining to what they believe are priorities.

At the meeting held at St Ambrose Primary School, residents spoke of blocked alleyways and drains that lead to flooding. One resident, who has been living in Alberttown for 51 years, noted that while attention must be given to all areas in the town, there are some low-lying areas that suffer tremendous flooding even with a short period of rain. He lamented that business people have been carrying out construction work and the waste material are all thrown in drains and sand blocks the alleyways.

Another resident pointed out that snakes are also found in her yard while the unclean water from flooding has caused her to become ill. Other residents suggested ideas to the officials as what they would like to see done to enhance the city. Some residents recently collaborated and started cleaning their areas but they still need help from the Ministry.

The Ministry’s officials pointed out to the residents that they need to sub-

mit a proposal as to what are the areas that need to be cleaned. The residents after the meeting came together in various groups, according to the streets they are living in, and started writing the proposal.

The Government of Guyana has allocated $1 billion in its 2014 Budget for a cleanup programme with an allocation of $500 million for Georgetown.

Consultations have been ongoing for several weeks to allow residents the opportunity to have their say. While

Guyana knocks developed countries for defaulting on ODA

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said the global community has failed to deliver on its obligations as reflected in the United Nations General Assembly resolution regarding the Official Developmental Assistance (ODA) to developing countries and also reaching the criteria of the Millennium Development Goal (MGD) Number Eight.

The ODA has its genesis in the United Nations General Assembly resolution in 1970, where the United Nations had agreed that the developed world would undertake to provide to the developing world official development assistance amounting to 0.7 per cent of its gross National Income.

The 0.7 per cent target has been affirmed in many international agreements over the years, including the March 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico and at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johnannesburg, South Africa later that year.

However, to date, there have not been any successes for developing countries in this regard. Minister Singh, while delivering the feature address at the recent launch of the United Nations Development Project Human development Report at the International Conference Centre on Thursday, said he was taking the opportunity to make his concerns known because of the presence of UNDP representatives there.

“Almost five decades on, only five countries in the entire global community have been able to achieve the delivery of that commitment,” Minister Singh said, adding that in a world where commitment and accountability are spoken of, it is unacceptable that only five developed countries in the world have discharged their “voluntary entered into commitment” in relation to delivery of the Official Developmental Assistance

Redoubling efforts

tellectual property, access to drugs, I must as a member of the Cabinet and citizen of the developing world, call on the international community, to redouble its efforts to discharge the obligation that were voluntarily entered into five decades ago in the case of the ODA commitment and the MDG a decade ago.”

He pointed out that of all the MDGs that have had progress; MDG Number Eight is undoubtedly the most underperforming and underachieved MDG. Much of what the global community had committed to achieve under the global partnership as described by MDG Eight has not been achieved, he reiterated.

“The global community, even as we engage in the final push to achieve the MDG’s is also engaging in a conversation on the Post2015 World.” Guyana, he related, is a part of that conversation and in particular on the subject of a new global partnership post-2015.

Dr Singh, who said his point has been repeated at every opportunity he has had, said he speaks more for the developing countries around the world, since although Guyana is a developing country, it has been receiving support from the its development partners. “It is an issue that is considered bigger than Guyana.”

in some communities there have been good turn-out and vibrant discussions, the same cannot be said for some areas.

Several contracts valued a total of $34.4 million were recently inked for the de-silting of several main canals while a $5.8 million contract for the de-silting of internal drains at Le Repentir Cemetery was granted. Work is expected to commence shortly at the burial site.

The Finance Minister also chastised the international organisation for failing to deliver on its commitment in relation to MGD eight, which speaks to a global partnership. “Whether it shows commitment of development assistance, whether debt relief for the most vulnerable countries, whether a global trade in architecture that takes into account a developmental imperative, in-

As of June 2005, 16 out of the 22 donor countries have met or agreed to meet the 0.7 target no later than 2015. Critically, on May 24, all EU Development Ministers met in Brussels and announced that by 2015, all of the original “EU-15” member states will set timetables to meet the 0.7 target by 2015.

In addition, the “new” EU countries will achieve 0.33 per cent by 2015. So far, only five countries have met or surpassed the 0.7 target: The UN Millennium Project urges all developed countries to follow through on the Monterrey commitment “to make concrete efforts towards the target of 0.7”.

Former TT Minister says audit leading to resignation doctored

Former Sport Minister

Anil Roberts has described the controversial Life Sport audit as “flawed, untoward and doctored”, and says he will be taking fresh evidence from the programme to the Director of Public Prosecutions, acting Police Commissioner, Finance Minister and the Integrity Commission.

Roberts said the 53-page report, which was tabled in Parliament on July 25 by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, was “clearly designed to create public mischief”.

Roberts also promised to “seek legal advice on the report,” in a bid to get redress on the matter.

On Thursday, shortly after resigning as Sport Minister, Roberts said the “Overview of Conclusions” on Page 4 of the report stated

that “given the widespread nature of the breaches, it is difficult to understand how they went unnoticed by the

Ministry of Sport. “Consideration has to be given to whether there was complicity by officers of the

Son of prominent Mexican politician charged in drug cartel case

The son of a prominent ruling party politician in Mexico was charged on Sunday with withholding evidence as authorities investigate his potential ties to organised crime after a video surfaced showing him meeting with one of the country’s top drug lords.

Rodrigo Vallejo is accused of being part of a cover-up and failing to answer questions by investigators with the federal Attorney General’s Office, the Government said in a statement.

The case threatens to damage the crime-fighting image of the ruling

Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has sought to de-emphasise drug violence in favour of economic reforms.

Vallejo, the son of the former PRI Governor of western Michoacan state, has claimed publicly that he was threatened and forced to meet with Servando “La Tuta” Gomez, leader of the violent Knights Templar cartel.

The leaked 18-minute video was made public last week and shows Vallejo chatting amicably with Gomez about Mexican politics, portions of which have

been repeatedly played on national television.

The video immediately prompted calls from Opposition politicians for a full investigation.

Vallejo’s father, Fausto Vallejo, was elected governor in 2011 in a campaign marked by accusations that the PRI had colluded with organised crime to steal a narrow victory.

Vallejo resigned in June citing failing health. The Knights Templar cartel clashed with vigilante groups in Michoacan earlier this year, prompting Pena Nieto to order federal troops into the restive state. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ministry. For example, the entire payment of TT$34 million to EBeam Interact Ltd was made notwithstanding that external attorneys advised that there may have been grounds to contest and resist the final payment.”

On December 6, 2012, SporTT engaged EBeam to provide numeracy, literacy and interactive technology for the Life Sport programme at a cost of TT$34 million.

However, a legal battle ensued between SporTT and EBeam over the contract.

Roberts produced a letter from JD Sellier and Company, dated February 17, 2014, written by attorney Anja Dass, which stated that SporTT was obligated under the contract to issue the remaining TT$17 million to EBeam. (Excerpt from TT Guardian)

‘Madman’ disarms cop, shoots 2 civilians in Jamaica

Aman believed to be of unsound mind

Sunday disarmed a Police Constable in the normally busy Half-Way-Tree square in St Andrew and used the service pistol to shoot two civilians, including a woman.

None of the injuries are fatal. The “madman” reportedly fired off several shots before a plainclothes Policeman shot him in the leg and recovered the weapon. Those injured including the “madman’ were taken to hospital. (Jamaica Observer)

Vice President of

TT state owned refinery suspended

The Vice President of Petrotrin’s refinery and marketing department has been suspended pending investigations into the recent oil spill in the southern town of Marabella.

Petrotrin Chairman Lindsay Gillette told a news conference Saturday that Vice President Mado Bachan was suspended with pay and other suspensions were also expected, but the number could not be confirmed.

The company also announced the appointment of an independent auditor to conduct further investigations on the leaking tank at the Pointe-a-Pierre refin-

Hundreds in Spain demand release of El Salvador priest

Hundreds of people in the Spanish town of Daimiel have marched to demand the release of a Roman Catholic priest detained in El Salvador.

Father Antonio Rodriguez, who was born in Daimiel, has been accused of smuggling mobile phones to imprisoned members of El Salvador notorious gangs.

Demonstrators say Father Tono has dedicated much of his life to helping gang members turn away from crime.

El Salvador has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

More than 300 of Father Tono’s supporters, including Mayor Leopoldo Sierra, marched through the streets of Daimiel in Spain on Sunday.

Among them was a former Salvadoran gang mem-

ber, Isamar Orellana, who now lives in Spain.

“I am a living example of how much Father Tono has done to help us get out of that difficult world,” Orellana told the EFE news agency.

“He was a wonderful person to me, the father I never

had.”

In March 2012, the two main gangs (maras) in El Salvador signed a truce mediated by the Catholic Church.

The 18th Street (or M-18) and the Salvatrucha (or MS-13) gangs, which operate across Central America,

also agreed to a truce in Honduras.

The authorities say the move has saved thousands of lives.

But critics accuse the Church and the authorities of being lenient with criminal organisations involved in extortion, drug trafficking, and murders.

The Prosecutor’s Office said the priest had been under investigation since March 2013.

Father Tono rejects the accusations and says he is the victim of political persecution by El Salvador’s Government.

President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a former left-wing rebel, said the arrest was not part of an alleged Government campaign against the Catholic Church in El Salvador. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ery and a failed bund wall which was expected to contain oil spillage from tanks.

“When this board was appointed, it set up an asset maintenance and optimisation committee to look at asset integrity issues This committee will now be expanded to include independent consultants and investigators to look at all asset integrity issues. I call upon the president to provide all inspection reports to this committee and for management to cooperate fully,” Gillette said.

The spill in Marabella has caused severe discomfort to over 200 residents and is expected to cost Petrotrin at

least TT$5 million (One TT dollar = US$0.16 cents), said Petrotrin President Khalid Hassanali.

On Friday, President General of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget said Petrotrin was attempting to cover up its failings to properly maintain the tank by hiding documents, copies of which were obtained by the OWTU.

The oil spillage was the second major one at the state-owned refinery facilities. In December, approximately 7000 barrels of fuel oil were spilled into the Gulf of Paria. (Excerpt from CMC)

Bertha disrupts Caribbean islands

Tropical Storm Bertha crossed the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on its march across the Caribbean.

Bertha began to bring wind and rain to the Lesser Antilles on Friday. At the time, tropical storm warnings were in effect for a large portion of the island chain. After tracking across the Lesser Antilles, Bertha marched across the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Bertha crossed through the Lesser Antilles very close to the island of Martinique Friday afternoon with peak sustained winds near 50 mph.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Government spokeswoman Audrey Hamann said that some 150,000 homes were

affected by (power) outages, but that no damage or injuries were reported.

On Saturday, Bertha moved across Puerto Rico and, according to the National Weather Service office in Puerto Rico, there were multiple reports of downed trees and power lines along with flooding, mudslides and roads being washed out.

One of the harder hit areas appears to be around Utuado where there were multiple reports of urban flooding along with several mudslides.

Elsewhere across the island, a section of road collapsed between Aguas Buenas and Bayamon. Near the popular El Yunque National Park, there was a partial road collapse along with downed tree branches.

(Excerpt from accuweather)

Gaza school strike criminal – UN

An attack that killed 10 people at a United Nations -run Gaza school was a “moral outrage and a criminal act”, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said.

It constituted a “gross violation of international law”, Ban said. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was appalled by the “disgraceful” shelling.

Israel has declared a “humanitarian ceasefire” in most of Gaza for seven hours today.

Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai said the ceasefire would apply to all of the Gaza Strip except eastern Rafah from 10:00 (07:00 GMT) to 19:00.

Sunday’s blast hit the entrance of the school, which is sheltering thousands displaced by the conflict. Israel denies firing into the school.

The Israeli military said it had targeted three militants from the Islamic Jihad group on a motorbike near the school, though the group did not report any of it members killed or injured.

Government Spokesman Mark Regev said that if militants were turning the vicinities of schools into war zones, they should be held accountable.

Gaza health officials say 30 people have died on Sunday, while militants continue to fire rockets into Israel.

The latest exchanges came after Israel’s military said that an officer it feared captured had now been con-

firmed dead. Hadar Goldin went missing on Friday near Rafah.

His funeral was held in the Israeli town of Kfar Saba on Sunday afternoon.

Confirmation of Second Lieutenant Goldin’s death means 66 Israelis have now died in the fighting, all but two of them soldiers. A Thai worker in Israel also died.

The UN has warned that a “health disaster of widespread proportions” is unfolding in Gaza, with medical services facing collapse.

In the latest incident, eyewitnesses said a missile struck as people queued for food.

At least 30 people were also hurt on Sunday, Palestinian officials said. Images showed injured children being carried away.

Ban described Sunday’s attack as “yet another gross violation of international humanitarian law”, and said Israel had regularly been informed of the precise location of the school.

“This madness must stop,” he said in a statement. (Excerpt from

India ready to revise 1950 friendship treaty with Nepal

India has told Nepal it is ready to revise the 1950 India-Nepal friendship treaty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in what is the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Nepal in 17 years, told his counterpart Sushil Koirala that he wanted to see it completed in his tenure. Nepal has been asked to send a team to negotiate this with India as soon as possible. By putting this out on the table at the start of his engagement with Nepal, Modi has made it clear he will not accept popular Nepali gripe about this treaty. Nepal has used the “unequalness” of the treaty as a stick against India over the years. But despite repeated Indian requests for revision, Nepal has shied away from the actual nego-

Scores die in gun battles in Libyan capital

Aday of fighting in the weeks-long battle for control of the international airport in the capital Tripoli has killed at least 22 people, Libya’s interim Government said. In a statement released early on Sunday, it said “heavily armed groups” shelled “civilian targets” endangering thousands of citizens and leaving hundreds of families displaced.

The statement came a day after Libya’s newly elected Parliament, or House of Representatives, held its first official session in a heavily guarded hotel in Tobruk, a coastal city, as armed factions turned the two biggest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi, into battlefields.

Near the capital Tripoli,

oil depots burned after being hit by shells fired by various rival groups.

“Eight fuel tanks are now on fire, including the ones we had put out only days ago”, Mohamed al-Harrari, National Oil Corporation spokesman, told Al Jazeera.

“The firefighters can’t work. It’s too dangerous.”

The smoke rising from the tanks, which contain benzene and household cooking gas, filled the sky of southeast Tripoli, more than 20 kilometres east of the depot.

The 22 people killed on Saturday were the latest casualties in fighting that has claimed more than 200 lives in recent weeks.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US to send 50 experts to fight Ebola

The United States has announced plans to send at least 50 public health experts to West Africa to help fight the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola.

A senior US health official said the outbreak was out of control, but insisted it could be stopped.

Ebola has claimed 728 lives in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone this year. The current mortality rate is about 55 per cent.

Meanwhile, an American doctor infected with the virus is improving in hospital after returning to the US from Liberia.

Dr Kent Brantly arrived at a military base in Georgia on Saturday before being driven to Emory University Hospital.

Another infected American, aid worker Nancy Writebol, is expected to arrive in the US soon.

At

tiations.

“The India-Nepal treaty is unequal in its treatment of Indian citizens in Nepal, which India has never complained about,” said Jayant Prasad, former Ambassador to Nepal. While Nepali citizens get national treatment here, the same is not applicable to Indians in Nepal.

Equally, the clause that Nepal should consult with India on defence policies has been inoperable for decades, said sources who have dealt with Nepal for years. It was after the 1962 India-China war that Nepal decided to open relations, even defence relations, with China. Therefore, India has little to lose by removing this aspect of the treaty.

(Excerpt from Times of India)

Islamic State takes Iraqi oilfield and towns

Islamic State fighters have captured the northern Iraqi town of Zumar and a nearby oilfield after a battle with Kurdish forces who had control of the area, witnesses say.

Islamic State, which staged a lightning advance through northern Iraq in June, has warned residents of nearby villages along the border with Syria to leave their homes, suggesting they were planning an assault, the witnesses said on Sunday.

The group also seized control of Wana, a town near Mosul Dam in northern Iraq on Sunday, witnesses and a Kurdish official told Reuters news agency.

The armed group formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, controls a large expanse of northern and western Iraq, and has threatened to march on Baghdad but has stalled its campaign just north of the town of Samarra, 100 kilometres north of Baghdad.

But it has been trying to consolidate its gains, setting its sights on strategic towns near oilfields, as well as the border with Syria so that its fighters can move easily back and forth and bring in supplies.

The rebels had already seized four oil fields, which help fund their operations.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The virus spreads through human contact with a sufferer’s bodily fluids. Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.

Dr Thomas Frieden, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, announced the new US measures in an interview with ABC’s This Week.

“We do know how to stop Ebola. It’s old-fashioned plain and simple public health: find the patients, make sure they get treated, find their contacts, track them, educate people, do infection control in hospitals.”

The experts would arrive in West Africa within 30 days to fight what he called the “scary” disease. (Excerpt from BBC News)

least 367 dead after quake hits southwest China

a stretcher after an earthquake hit Longtoushan township of Ludian county, Yunnan province August 3

Amagnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southwestern China on Sunday, killing at least 367 people and leaving 1881 injured in a remote area of Yunnan province, and causing thousands of buildings, including a school, to collapse.

The US Geological Survey said the quake registered at a shallow depth of less than one mile (1.6 kilometres). Chinese state media said it was felt most strongly in Yunnan as well as in the neighbouring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan.

The official Xinhua news agency said the epicentre was in Longtoushan town in Yunnan’s mountainous Ludian county.

Communications have been seriously affected and rescuers have begun arriving on the scene, the report said.

Pictures posted online by state media showed troops stretchering people away and cars damaged by fallen

bricks.

Many people rushed out of buildings onto the street after the quake hit, electricity supplies were cut and at least one school collapsed, Xinhua added, with more than 12,000 houses having collapsed and 30,000 sustaining damage.

Ludian resident Ma Liya told Xinhua the streets were like a “battlefield after bombardment”.

The Government is sending 2000 tents, 3000 folding beds, 3000 quilts and 3000 coats to the disaster zone, where heavy rain forecast for the coming days will add to the misery, the report said.

Ludian is home to some 265,900 people, Xinhua added.

This region of China is frequently struck by quakes, with one killing more than 1400 in the same part of Yunnan in 1974.

A quake in Sichuan in 2008 killed almost 70,000 people. (Reuters)

monday, august 4, 2014

60 students on work study attachment at Banks DIH

The students on tour of the soft drink production plant

Approximately 60 students from various secondary, technical and tertiary institutions in Regions Three, Four and Seven are attending a six-week Work Study Attachment Programme at Banks DIH Limited.

The programme, which started in June and runs until the end of August

Rose’s High, St Joseph’s High, Camille Institute of Business and Three Mile Secondary of Bartica, Region Seven.

According to a release, Banks DIH Personnel Executive Thecla Gonsalves disclosed that the students are exposed to training in several sectors of the company’s operation.

dition, three students from Three Mile Secondary School in the mining district of Bartica are currently at the company’s Bartica Branch.”

According to Gonsalves, the Work Study Programme has been in existence for many years and students look forward to securing a stint with Banks DIH

on a rotation basis, is being attended by students of the University of Guyana, the Government Technical Institute (GTI), the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), Carnegie School of Home Economics, Annandale Secondary, Queen’s College, St Stanislaus College, Stewartville Secondary, Patentia Secondary, St

“At present, we have students attached to the Central Laboratory, Trisco Division, Vehicle and Central workshops, Property Maintenance, Environment and Safety, Refrigeration and Electrical Departments at Thirst Park as well as our restaurants at Demico House and Camp Street,” she added.

Gonsalves said: “In ad-

Changing growth

As the global economy shifts from crisis to recovery mode, the changing growth patterns – with advanced economies generally recovering and emerging markets slowing on a broad basis – carry new spillover risks, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

The 2014 Spillover Report, which assesses the impact of policy actions in one country on others (spillovers) and the possible consequences for the original spillover source economies themselves (spillbacks), analyses the implications of two key trends.

First, interest rates are

Limited.

“We are also encouraged by their enthusiasm as we prepare them for the world of work,” she added. The students were taken on a guided tour of Thirst Park by Communications Manager Troy Peters, who encouraged them to seize the opportunity afforded to them by the company.

Regional youth business training programme expands

Training for the Region’s at-risk youth continues to grow, with the launch of the Creativity for Employment and Business Opportunity, (CEBO) programme in St Vincent and the Grenadines, July 21-26 2014.

Targeting at-risk youth aged 15-29, CEBO is a tool to engage, inspire and create entrepreneurial interest and action among young Caricom nationals as a means of countering youth unemployment, mitigating drug abuse, crime and violence and fostering economic resilience.

Twenty-five young persons benefited from the National CEBO training in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Participants were divided into teams and each team was tasked with developing a business plan. Teams were then given small loans from the Bank of CEBO to start a simulated business. The businesses developed were: One Stop Cuisine, Fruity Blast, Jolie Pops and Yummy Pastry. All businesses developed were profitable.

At the opening ceremony held at the Girl Guides Headquarters, the Minister with responsibility for youth, Frederick Stephenson told participants: “This training can propel you into becoming one of the most successful youths who start their own businesses and become a re-

gional leader in the service or goods which you provide.”

The Minister challenged the participants to not only think locally as they develop their initiatives and ideas, but to become creative and think regional and even international.

Assistant Secretary General, Human and Social Development of the Caricom Secretariat, Dr Douglas Slater in his remarks expressed optimism that the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines would continue to roll out CEBO after this initial workshop. “We (The Caricom Secretariat) anticipate that following this workshop, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines and other local partners will be inspired and committed to continue to mount CEBO workshops across this country and provide follow-up support to CEBO graduates, ably supported by the facilitators who were trained in the methodology.”

CEBO is a regional programme that is currently being implemented in eight Caricom member states. The Caricom Secretariat with the support of the Government of Japan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Youth Innovation Project, had piloted CEBO in five Member tates in 2012-2013, namely, The

Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica and St Kitts and Nevis. The Secretariat has since received additional funding from the USAID and the “Caricom/ SPAIN Citizen Support Security Project-Support for Youth Empowerment and Resilience” to deliver CEBO in seven additional member states, namely: St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Montserrat, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. The St Vincent National CEBO Workshop was supported by the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Family Services, Community Development, Gender and Youth Affairs; Youth entrepreneurial development stakeholders; and St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Caricom Youth Ambassadors. It ended with an award ceremony and exhibition.

During the award ceremony, Dr Hilary Brown, Programme Manager, Culture and Community Development, Caricom Secretariat, congratulated all the partners and participants on delivering a CEBO Workshop that was a “resounding success”. Participants in the workshop who are desirous of establishing or growing businesses will be referred to local agencies for further assistance based on their specific needs.

trends carry new global spillovers – IMF

expected to rise as some major, advanced economies begin to unwind their extraordinary stimulus as recovery takes hold. With policy rates near zero and large central bank balance sheets, these central banks face complex challenges in achieving a smooth unwinding, the IMF staff report says. Yet, with recovery uneven across countries – faster in the United States and the United Kingdom than in the euro area and Japan – normalisation will be “asynchronous,” that is, proceed at different times. This has possible spillovers implications.

Second, emerging market economies are slowing in a

synchronised and protracted manner, and average emerging market GDP growth is projected to decline from seven per cent during the precrisis period (2003-2008) to five per cent over the next five years. This trend carries sizable spillovers to the rest of the world through trade and finance, and also has substantial influence on other emerging markets and developing economies through “neighbourhood” effects. These two risks could intersect and interact with each other, the report says. “Markets may re-assess growth prospects in emerging markets if there are renewed bouts of financial turbulence

as advanced economies normalise monetary policy,” noted Hamid Faruqee, chair of the task force producing the report. Such a re-assessment by markets could, in turn, generate further stress, he added. One of the downside scenarios, according to the report, is that tighter financial conditions combined with further weakening of emerging market growth could lower global output by as much as two per cent.

Monetary unwinding

Not all spillovers are negative, says the IMF staff report, which stresses that the reason financial conditions tighten plays a key role in

determining the spillover effects. When advanced economies normalise monetary policy as their economic outlook improves, interest rates (and thus global yields) will rise. While this will tend to tighten financial conditions across the globe, the accompanying boost to growth should potentially offset any negative spillovers resulting from the higher interest rates. In other words, faster growth in advanced economies – which translates into higher external demand –could be good for other economies, if managed well.

On the other hand, if the tightening of monetary conditions is not driven by

higher growth but is instead triggered by, for example, financial stability concerns, spillovers could have a negative impact on growth elsewhere, especially in vulnerable emerging economies. Similarly, asynchronous adjustment in advanced economies – for instance, continued easing in the euro area and Japan and tightening in the United States and the United Kingdom – may result in larger swings in exchange rates of major currencies, potentially causing problems for economies with balance sheet vulnerabilities and foreign exchange exposures.

Guyanese youth get training in animation

Agroup of young people in Guyana began foundational training in computer animation last Monday aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage, steering young people away from crime and violence, and offering them different career options.

According to a release by the Caricom Secretariat, the training, which is under way at the Guyana International Conference Centre,Liliendaal,Greater Georgetown, is being undertaken as a partnership among the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, the United States Government and Animae Caribe. The exercise offers participants the opportunity to use technology to tap into their creativity and enter a very lucrative field which spawns advertising, education, and the film industry, and combines art and technology.

Caricom member states recently ramped up efforts in

CBSI initiative, had emphasised the need for critical development in communities through support for social justice programmes and the importance of providing opportunities for education, jobs, and careers for young people in the Region, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana, Mr Bryan Hunt said at the opening of the workshop on Monday.

“Since the President’s announcement, the US government has partnered with Caribbean governments, regional institutions such as Caricom and the OECS, the private sector, civil society, law enforcement and the judiciary to: improve legal and regulatory frameworks; support diversion and alternative sentencing for youth offenders; reintegrate youth offenders into society and the workplace; increase youth employment, expand education and skill-building opportunities for youth; improve lit-

urged a reorientation of the Region’s education system to tap into the creative technologies. He charged the youth participants to seize the opportunity of the emerging trend of animation production in the Region.

Two one-day workshops were previously held in Suriname during CARIFESTA XI in August 2013, with approximately 50 young people benefiting from the training. A third oneday workshop involving 20 young inmates was held at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) in Trinidad and Tobago in October 2013 prior to the Animae Caribe Animation and Digital Media Festival. However, this workshop in Guyana is the first community-based intensive short course in animation.

A critical component of this workshop involves using animation to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Caribbean. This is being done through an introduction to the

developing cultural and creative industries of which animation is a key component.

Programme Manager of the Culture and Community Development sub-programme of the Caricom Secretariat, Dr Hilary Brown, said in 2010, the Caricom Secretariat began exploring the field as one of the creative industries with potential for development in the Caribbean.

The workshop is the fourth in a series under the CaricomUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID) Crime and Violence Prevention Project and the Caricom and Animae Caribe regional initiative called “Animating the Caribbean” that engages young people between 15-29.

The partnership with the United States (US) Government comes under the umbrella of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) between the US and Caribbean governments, which was announced by US President Barack Obama in 2009 during the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. President Obama, in announcing the

eracy and numeracy, increase primary-to-secondary education rates; provide remedial education for young adults; support community-based policing, and educate communities to effectively collaborate with Police on community safety issues and other activities,” he explained.

The animation skill-building workshop, he added, expands the work that the Caribbean Community has been doing under the CBSI partnership, investing in youth training in a science and technology field that is very relevant today.

Mr Alfred King, Permanent Secretary of Guyana’s Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, which is also partnering with the Caricom Secretariat for the initiative, lauded the workshop for its potential to counter unemployment among youth. Noting that animation was responsible for a booming multibillion-dollar industry in the United States, he said it has similar potential for the Caribbean Region. “We can now create an alternative to drive employment for young people,” Mr King said, as he

Inclusion

There are many reasons why inclusion should be an everyday conversation. For example, is it important to mould the values of our children for the next generation, so that young people can see the person first rather than their disability, because this way they can learn empathy and value diversity, something that is a global issue.

Though we have gotten much better when it comes to inclusion and diversity, we still have a far way to go. That is why it is important that every school and community do their part to provide an opportunity for friendships among differently-able people, because in order for them to develop friendships, it requires a common experience for all.

It is also crucial for differently-able children to attend the same school as their neighbourhood friends. Eventually children learn to adopt a comfortable way to interact with differently-able peers.

Working out the needs of the person as an individual is important, because we are all different and we all have different needs and wants in life, but as human beings, we all have the same basic needs.

Even though we may not have been born with any sort of disability, at certain times in life we may ourselves experience unpredicted severe illness including aging-related that may reduce our independence.

Which means it is very important to keep in mind that the scope of disability is large, but yet the basic needs are all the same for everyone, meaning that we all need to eat, and stay safe and healthy, etc. The bottom line is that there is simply no one-size-fits-all and the different variations of disability are entirely individual.

Having said that, it is probably best to try and recognise the needs of the differently-able people, by spending time with them and talking to them about their needs which are really the only way to find out what they truly want and need, because when someone else makes the choice, it’s not necessarily the one that is best for the differently-able person.

There are many ways that differently-able people can make a difference and contribute to the community. Because one thing we have to remember is that being able to care for another person gives a sense of confidence and ability and it is

Narine Dat Sookram

not different when making a contribution to the community or other people.

It could be as simple as paying appreciation to someone who did something as simple as installing a new DVD player, making them feel a part of the world and a useful person to society or even trying to maintain their current skills.

Keep in mind too that this can be anything from giftwrapping or volunteering as a mentor to other people with disabilities. Many people might not realise, but there are employers who specialise in employing differently-able people.

Let’s not forget that with technology, now many differently-able people can work from home and make a career for themselves. For example, a qualified person such as a call centre specialist can still work from the comfort of his/her home with the use of a computer.

Let’s not forget too that fostering an enriched learning environment is also the key, because additional resources in the classroom benefit all children. This way, differently-able children get to learn from typically developing peers who can act as role models, making them more likely to develop appropriate social and communication skills.

For questions, comments, feedback, sent them to mcnarine@rogers.com .

Caribbean’s oral tradition to orient the participants in the rich culture and diversity of the Region. The participants were encouraged by Dr Brown to design their storylines using Caribbean personalities and folklore.

She told the participants: “We need to hear and see more of our own Caribbean stories because these help us to develop our own identity, to make us proud of what we have and learn to appreciate our rich culture and diversity.”

Highlighting the rareness of the opportunity, Bryan Hunt told the youth: “Opportunities like this do not come very often. Be sure to enjoy the experience and participate fully.” The US Government, he said, remained committed to investing in youth in the Caribbean as a means of investing in the future, building human capital and supporting the sustainable development of the Region. The closing ceremony of the workshop will feature the presentation of the short animated films that the participants would have produced over the course of the training.

Changing growth trends...

In terms of impact, spillovers from monetary policy normalisation in advanced economies will likely differ across countries. Past experience suggests that those with relatively strong fundamentals – that is, lower inflation, higher current account balances and reserves, and deeper financial markets – can better mitigate spillovers from higher interest rates abroad. The staff report notes that the effects from these global shocks are milder in these economies, and credibility gives them more policy space to respond to the shock itself.

Slowing growth in emerging economies

While growth in some advanced economies is rebounding, emerging markets are slowing down on a synchronised basis from their highs before the crisis. Here, growth is expected to be below post-crisis rates and longer-term historical

averages over the next five years. “Two features stand out when comparing the current slowdown with other such episodes: mediumterm forecasts have been revised down continuously since 2010, and a slowdown in productivity is more visible this time around,” says Faruqee. “The slowdown thus appears to have a large structural component.”

Given the significant and rising contributions of these economies to the global economy over the past few decades, such a protracted slowdown will likely weigh on global growth through trade and finance channels. The report estimates that a one percentage point slowdown in emerging economies lowers growth in advanced economies by ¼ percentage point, on average, largely through reduced trade. Other important channels where slower emerging market growth could carry spillovers include through glob-

al commodity markets and through banks exposed to emerging market borrowers. The staff report also highlights local spillovers from emerging markets to other emerging and low-income countries, or the “neighbourhood” effect. For example, a slowdown in China and Brazil would impact emerging Asia and Southern Cone countries, respectively, through trade. Russia would have an impact on its neighbours through remittances, while Venezuela would affect its neighbours via potential changes in the provision of favourable financing through energy cooperation agreements. Geopolitical tensions in Russia and Ukraine could spill over to other parts of the world from major disruptions in production or transportation of natural gas or crude oil, and trigger a renewed bout of increased risk aversion in global financial markets.

SUDOKU

Now is a good time to bring some added closeness to your romantic relationship. Take time to do something special with the one you love. A lucrative business deal will come your way.

By Bernice Bede Osol

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

It’s time to eliminate negative or troublesome situations. Trying to please too many people will result in emotional turmoil. Health problems will occur if you are not careful.

Strive for flexibility when it comes to your plans. Be prepared for a change in your schedule. Being too rigid will thwart your advancement.

You will have difficulty reading between the lines today. Don’t make assumptions. Do whatever it takes to fully understand what is expected of you.

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

Stay ahead of the competition and be aware of what is going on around you. You will be able to use some new information to your advantage.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

The time for making changes is overdue. Don’t hide your talents. You will have to step into the spotlight and focus on your career goals if you plan to advance.

(March 21-April 19)

Be gracious and patient when dealing with others. The people in your life deserve to be treated with care and respect. Go the extra mile for your loved ones.

(April 20-May 20)

Be cautious when operating equipment or traveling. There is someone waiting for you to make a mistake. Focus on what you do best and leave no room for error.

(May 21June 20)

You will be uncertain about an important partnership. Travel opportunities look positive. You will have greater insight into your future due to a discussion with an unusual someone.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Make an adjustment to your personal and financial plans. If you act on impulse or are too quick to trust others, you will lose control. Gather and employ information to suit your needs.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Be courageous and keep the momentum flowing until you reach your goal. Waiting for someone else to lead the way will lead to a missed opportunity.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Communication problems will lead to misinterpretation. Take the necessary steps to ensure that all of your projects are done meticulously and correctly. A missed detail could prove costly.

Zouks take first win in Limacol CPL 2014

– defeat winless Antigua Hawksbills by 5 wickets

An excellent bowling performance from Sohail Tanvir inspired the St Lucia Zouks to their first win in their bottom of the table clash against the Antigua Hawksbills in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League. The home franchise team defeated the Hawksbills by 5 wickets with 15 balls to spare.

The chase was not without incident as some laissez-faire batting from the top order made things a lot harder than they should have been for the St Lucians.

Tanvir was in fine form with the ball as he put together a spell of three for 15 to restrict the Hawksbills to 103 for six in a rain affected match. He bowled with guile and variation in four overs that saw him concede just one boundary.

The Pakistani’s bowling performance may well have been in vain as the Zouks top order failed yet again, but Henry Davids steadied the ship in an unaccustomed position down the order to steer his side home.

Yet another poor batting effort inside the Powerplay saw the Hawksbills chasing the game from the very beginning. Ben Dunk’s insipid tournament continued as he departed for a second ball duck, LBW to an excellent inswinger from Tanvir. His fellow opener, Devon Thomas, was gone in the next over, mistiming a drive straight up in the air off Mervin Mathew. They managed just one boundary inside the fielding restrictions to find themselves 22 for two after six overs.

Shacaya Thomas didn’t last long either, attempting a slog sweep off Shane

Shillingford that was easily caught on the boundary. That brought Samuels to the crease, batting at five in this match. The last time Samuels batted down the order he made 66. His side were in desperate need of a similar performance here, but it was not to be.

Samuels’ arrival brought the rain and with it a lengthy delay, a return to the field for one ball, and then yet another interruption. Eventually the pa-

tience of the crowd was rewarded with some cricket, with the game reduced to 16 overs a side.

Danza Hyatt had been grappling with his own technique for his whole innings, and he finally played a shot in anger, a powerful six over wide mid-wicket. The very next ball Samuels took off for a single that was ambitious to say the least to leave his partner run out by a pitch length. While other batsmen were happy to work the ball

around, David Hussey was quick to counter attack. He pulled Sammy for consecutive sixes as he punished anything short of a length. When Tanvir pitched the ball up it brought him the wicket of Hussey, caught by Johnson Charles at long on.

The full straight delivery also accounted for Sheldon Cottrell two balls later as the stuttering nature of the Hawksbills batting effort continued.

The best innings of the

night for the Hawksbills came from Carlos Brathwaite, the bowling all-rounder taking 17 runs off an over from young Ray Jordan. He did a fine job in getting his side over 100 off their 16 overs.

A revised target of 106 courtesy of the Duckworth Lewis calculations left the Zouks with what should have been a straight forward chase, but, as a side short on confidence, things were never going to be easy. That brought Davids to the crease and together with Sunil Ambris, he put together a match winning partnership. With the rate never more than a run a ball there was no need to try anything adventurous, and the experienced Davids saw to it that the ball was worked around and the bad balls were put away.

A run out yet again made it more difficult for the Zouks, as Ambris failed to make his ground going for a second that was never there. That gave Tanvir the chance to set about finishing with the bat what he started with the ball. He ended unbeaten on 20 hitting two sixes to win the game, but Davids could not quite get all the way to the end. He was brilliantly caught in the deep playing an ugly hoick that was completely unnecessary. Cottrell was the man with the wicket but it was too little, too late. The Zouks have won at last. The Hawksbills remain winless going into the last round of matches in St Kitts and Nevis but have two more chances to record a win.

SCOREBOARD

Antigua Hawksbills innings (16 overs maximum)

BR Dunk lbw b Sohail Tanvir 0

DC Thomas† c Shillingford b Mathew 2

DP Hyatt run out (Sammy/ Shillingford) 26

SE Thomas c Charles b Shillingford 10

MN Samuels* not out 21

DJ Hussey c Charles b Sohail Tanvir 16

SS Cottrell b Sohail Tanvir 0

CR Brathwaite not out 20

Extras (lb 2, w 6) 8

Total (6 wickets; 16 overs) 103 (6.43 runs per over)

Did not batGC Tonge, GB Hogg, B Laughlin

Fall of wickets 1-2 (Dunk, 0.3 ov), 2-6 (DC Thomas, 1.6 ov), 3-30 (SE Thomas, 8.2 ov), 4-47 (Hyatt, 10.4 ov), 5-70 (Hussey, 12.3 ov), 6-71 (Cottrell, 12.6 ov)

Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-153, M Mathew 3-0-14-1, DJG Sammy 3-0-20-0, ROO Jordan 3-0-33-0, S Shillingford 3-0-19-1

St Lucia Zouks innings (target: 106 runs from 16 overs) ADS Fletcher† c Brathwaite b Tonge 2 J Charles lbw b Brathwaite 11 K Lesporis c Hogg b Tonge 1 SW Ambris run out (sub [JJ Athanaze]/Brathwaite) 17 H Davids c sub (JJ Athanaze) b Cottrell 43 Sohail Tanvir not out 20 DJG Sammy* not out 0 Extras (b 4, lb 4, w 6) 14 Total (5 wickets; 13.3 overs) 108 (8.00 runs per over)

Did not batS Shillingford, M Mathew, LAS Sebastien, ROO Jordan Fall of wickets 1-12 (Fletcher, 1.6 ov), 2-19 (Charles, 2.3 ov), 3-21 (Lesporis, 3.2 ov), 4-67 (Ambris,

Regional Women’s Super50 starts Thursday

The West Indies Cricket Board announced on Sunday that this year’s Regional Women’s Super50 Tournament opens this coming Thursday, August 7 in Dominica.

Eight teams – including last year’s double crown champions Jamaica – will take part in the Tournament which will be contested in two groups in the preliminary phase before advancing to the playoff stages.

Matches will be contested at Windsor Park, the inter-

national venue for the game in the island, as well as the historic Botanical Gardens next door, Benjamin Park in the north and Grandbay Playing Field in the south.

Under the new format, each team will have to play for their final position in the tournament, following a round of playoffs.

Finals Day is set for Wednesday, August 13.

Schedule of matches

GROUP A: Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago

GROUP B: Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Thursday, August 7 –

ROUND 1

Grenada vs T&T –Grandbay Playing Field

Barbados vs Dominica –

Windsor Park

Guyana vs Jamaica –

Benjamin Park

SVG vs St. Lucia –

Botanical Gardens

Saturday, August 9 –

ROUND 2

Dominica vs Grenada –

Botanical Gardens

T&T vs Barbados –Grandbay Playing Field

Guyana vs SVG –Windsor Park

Jamaica vs St. Lucia –

Benjamin Park

Sunday, August 10 –

ROUND 3

Grenada vs Barbados –

Grandbay Playing Field

T&T vs Dominica –

Windsor Park

Guyana vs St. Lucia –

Benjamin Park

SVG vs Jamaica

Tuesday, August 12

FINALS

Malik’s mayhem fails...

The platform had been set, but both of these batsmen had to make the most of it. Boundaries were the order of the day, especially as both Gayle and Shah are not quick runners between the wickets. At the start of the 15th over, both men were scoring at less than a run a ball. Shah went about fixing that as he hit Holder for two sixes in a row. Shah fell in the next over, attempting another six, but he had done his job for the finishers to come. Unfortunately for the Tallawahs, no one could take up the mantle.

Andre Russell arrived at the crease, fresh from a heroic performance in his last match, but he could not replicate his efforts as he skied a ball from Rampaul to the legside into the waiting hands of Kieron Pollard. The Tridents’ fast bowler continued his wicket-taking form two balls later as he removed Adam Voges for a golden duck. Rampaul finished with four wickets in the innings to leave him well clear of the other bowlers as the man with the most victims.

When Gayle departed before the end, it left the lower order with a lot to do. That only led to more wickets falling as the new men found scoring quickly a big ask. They were 120 for two at the fall of Russell’s wicket. In the next four overs, they scored just 27 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Despite the late order collapse, this was still the highest total that had been set at Sabina Park in this year’s tournament. There was work for the Tridents to do. That task was made all the more difficult when Dwayne

Smith was well caught in the gully by Jerome Taylor in the first over. Smith is having a feast or famine tournament, with two centuries and three scores in single figures.

Shane Dowrich could have been out twice in three balls as he first fended a ball from Jerome Taylor that was nearly caught by Christopher Bernard. Then he set off for a single that was never there and, had Taylor hit the stumps, he would have been gone by half the pitch. He just could not find a way to score runs, finally falling to a poor shot outside off stump having made just nine runs off 24 balls.

At the half-way stage, the Tridents looked to be struggling to get anywhere near the target, but Shoaib

Malik seemed to be finding some timing after playing himself in, hitting the first six of the innings in the 10th over. The problem was that the required rate was now close to 10 an over and Taylor still had half his allocation left to bowl.

Neil McKenzie was playing the anchor role for Malik, but he should have been dismissed on eight when Gayle failed to claim a simple chance in the covers off Nikita Miller. The bowler had the last laugh as he bowled the South African two balls later to leave the Tridents 69 for four with seven and a half overs to go.

When Pollard walked out to the crease, his side were up against it needing 11 runs an over with six wickets in hand. Despite swinging hard, he too found it dif-

ficult to judge the pace of this Jamaican pitch. He mistimed a pull shot off Russell that was caught at third man.

The return of Taylor into the bowling attack ended the match as a contest, finishing with outstanding figures of two for 11. In the last two matches, he has been near unplayable. Malik was a class apart for the visitors, but without any telling support, even his stellar performance was not enough.

The Tridents are certain of being involved in the knockout stages of the event now, but it is looking increasingly likely they will have to win both knock out games to make the final as this defeat leaves them in fourth place.

For the Tallawahs, automatic qualification for the final remains a realistic target.

Jamaica sprinter to target 200m after Glasgow 2014

Multiple world and Olympic champion

Usain Bolt says he will make the 200m his focus after the Commonwealth Games. The 27-year-old 100m and 200m world record holder only competed in the 4x100m relay at Glasgow 2014, helping Jamaica to gold at Hampden Park.

“I think I’ve done enough in the 100,” he told BBC Radio 5 live. I know people want to see me run fast in the 100 but I love my 200 and I want to do something special for myself. So for me, my main aim is the 200.”

Bolt, who will turn 28 on 21 August, set the 200m world record of 19.19 seconds in Berlin five years ago. The Jamaican also posted a 100m world best of 9.58 at the same World Championships. “The world record can keep going down.

You never know who’s going to show up next and dominate,” he added.

“I’ve said I want to run sub 19. That’s one of my big-

gest goals and my biggest dreams, so I’m definitely going to be training hard and seeing what I can do.”

Bolt, who will miss the closing ceremony later on Sunday, said the older he gets the harder it is to stay

at full fitness. The eight-time world champion’s next race is a 100m on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on 14 August. “You can feel a difference sometimes especially after a workout. I have to take more ice baths now

SCOREBOARD

Jamaica Tallawahs innings (20 overs maximum)

CAK Walton† lbw

b Rampaul 25

CH Gayle* c Pollard b Emrit 39

OA Shah c Mendis b Nurse 42

AD Russell c Pollard b Rampaul 1

AC Voges lbw b Rampaul 0

DE Bernard c Nurse b Emrit 5

DL Vettori c Pollard b Rampaul 0

J Theron c Rampaul b Emrit 9

J Blackwood not out 2

JE Taylor not out 9

Extras (lb 4, w 11) 15

Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 147 (7.35 runs per over)

Did not bat: NO Miller

Fall of wickets 1-35 (Walton, 5.3 ov), 2-114 (Shah, 15.3 ov), 3-120 (Russell, 16.1 ov), 4-121 (Voges, 16.3 ov), 5-123 (Gayle, 17.3 ov), 6-127 (Bernard, 17.5 ov), 7-136 (Vettori, 18.6 ov), 8-137 (Theron, 19.2 ov)

Bowling: RR Emrit 4-0-353, Shoaib Malik 3-0-26-0, JO Holder 4-0-21-0, AR Nurse 4-0-39-1, R Rampaul 4-0-

18-4, AJ Hosein 1-0-4-0 Barbados Tridents innings (target: 148 runs from 20 overs) DR Smith c Taylor b Bernard 5 SO Dowrich† c †Walton b Bernard 9 BMAJ Mendis b Taylor 2 Shoaib Malik not out 81 ND McKenzie b Miller 9 KA Pollard* c Taylor b Russell 6 JO Holder c Blackwood b Taylor 7 AJ Hosein not out 1 Extras (lb 3, w 5) 8 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 128 (6.40 runs per over)

Did not bat: AR Nurse, RR Emrit, R Rampaul Fall of wickets 1-6 (Smith, 0.6 ov), 2-11 (Mendis, 3.1 ov), 3-27 (Dowrich, 6.3 ov), 4-69 (McKenzie, 12.3 ov), 5-79 (Pollard, 15.1 ov), 6-109 (Holder, 17.1 ov)

Bowling: DE Bernard 4-020-2, JE Taylor 4-0-11-2, AD Russell 4-0-32-1, DL Vettori 3-0-16-0, J Theron 3-0-390, NO Miller 2-0-7-1

Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio midway through his final round with a back injury.

which is not so much fun.

“I have to work a little bit harder and not go out as much as I used to.”

But the hard work paid off for the Jamaican, who added Commonwealth gold to his collection on Saturday night and paid tribute to the Glasgow crowds. “I’m sad I didn’t get to run the individual event because the energy out here is just wonderful - the people give you a lot of energy.

“The people make a Games a Games, and the people really came out and supported, the stadium was always full, the energy was always up. For me that’s a Games. Everything was perfect.”

The Manchester United fan said he hoped that when he hung up his running spikes he might be able to work his way into Louis van Gaal’s team. “Hopefully when I retire I can talk to him and get a spot in the team. Van Gaal means business - he’s solid and I’m happy. Manchester United are back.”

Woods, 38, appeared to hurt his back hitting his tee shot on the ninth hole at Akron.

The world number 10 had surgery in March, causing him to miss three months, but has reported no problems with his back since returning in June. It is the second time this year he has withdrawn during the final round. (BBC Sport)

England missed out on a netball medal at Glasgow 2014 after losing 52-48 in their bronze match against Jamaica.

Anna Mayes’ England had to recover quickly from Saturday’s one-point semifinal defeat by New Zealand, but found themselves 25-24 behind at half-time.

An enthralling third

quarter finished with the scores level but Jamaica pulled ahead in the dying minutes and held on for the victory.

Australia claimed gold with a dominant 58-40 win over New Zealand. The Diamonds have now won three Commonwealth titles - following on from successes in 1998 and 2002.

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Digicel Schools Football… Bush Lot Secondary take third place

Bush Lot Secondary are the first West Berbice school to finish within the top places in the four years of the Digicel Schools Football Tournament

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Bush Lot Secondary won the third place play off of the 4th annual Digicel Schools Football Tournament when they beat Beterverwagting (BV) Secondary 3-1 at the Providence National Stadium on Sunday.

Led by a double from Eon Fordyce, the boys from West Berbice took control of the second half of the game after the score was level at 1-1 at half time. Jeavon McKenzie put Bushl Lot in the lead in the 5th minute of play, however, that goal was answered three minutes later when Paul Kingston rocked the back of the nets and sent goalkeeper Shane James tumbling to the ground in the process.

Mark Hubert and Joel Beveny made several attempts to carry their team ahead and together with Eon Abrams playing in the midfield Bush Lot Secondary were under pressure in most of the first half. James was forced to make some crown pleasing saves while he got good support from his defenders in the likes of Collide Miller and Calvin Dorris.

With a third place tro-

phy on the line, both teams returned to the pitch after the interval energised as the sun began to fade and the lights were turned on. BV seemed the more aggressive and on two occasions forced James to come off of his feet with both of his hands out stretched to make saves. Abrams was the player creating all of the opportunities but they all went abegging. Phillip Liverpool, who seemed to have found renewed energy, also made some attempts but always found defender Roytden Shultz in the way. McKenzie again made an attempt to register his mane on the scoring cards but goalkeeper Shawn Bhramdeow made a save which could be considered the play of the game. This was after Fordyce and Adrian Price had dribbled through the defense of BV. The corner, which was awarded after Bhramdeow’s save, was taken by Marlon Nicholson and went to the far side of the goal, landing on the foot of Fordyce who controlled the ball well before chipping it past the goalkeeper for his team to take the lead once again. That 68th minute goal brought with it

court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking ? Also you can have all evil forces

the energy Bush Lot needed in the dying stages of the game- something which they lacked in their semi-final against Christianburg Wismar Secondary a week ago. Fordyce was again in action as he took on Kishan Chester inside the 18-yard box and was successful in getting pass him and coming one on one with Bhramdeow for the tournament’s 754th goal and his second. The shot went low, fast and Bhramdeow could not make the save, sending the scores of Berbicians in attendance into a frenzy and panic in the BV camp as nine minutes remained in regulation time. Bhramdeow was soon after substituted and Travis Issacs took control of the game. Bush Lot kept making advances, allowing Chester and Okemie Hoppie to put on a show at defending. They were successful in keeping the scoreline at 3-1. Bush Lot did not mind when the final whistle came as they were the first West Berbice school to finish within the top places in the four years of the tournament.

UDFA suspension to be revisited

Associations and affiliates of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), after meeting with members and affiliates of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) are convinced that something fundamental was wrong with the procedures employed to suspend members of the UDFA following the GT Beer tournament final that was held on January 1, 2014.

According to a press release from the GFF, following intense and wide ranging discussions with

the members of the UDFA membership with a view of finding a way forward for the development of the game in the Bauxite Mining Town, it was recognised that the suspension of the top executives not only brought the game into disrepute but struck at the heart and life out of UDFA’s football administration, a key component necessary for the game’s development anywhere in the world.

“The associations/affiliates are keen that with a properly constituted GFF

Executive and with the establishment of all constitutional committees, steps would be taken almost immediately to ensure that this issue is given priority attention in keeping with the process to ensure a fair outcome.”

“That aside, is it the belief of the associations/affiliates that once this matter is given due attention by the General Council of the GFF, the suspensions of the executives of the UDFA is more than likely to be reversed,” the release concluded.

Inter-Guiana Games 2014…

Van Lange, Simmons claim swimming gold for Guyana

Swimmers Britany van Lange and Soroya Simmons ensured Guyana was among the gold medals during the first leg of the 2014 Inter- Guiana Games held here.

Van Lange claimed gold in the Girls 19 and Under

200 metres Individual Medley and Freestyle events as well as the Girls 19 and Under 100 metres Freestyle event.

The 18-year-old also took bronze in the Girls 19 and Under 50 metres Freestyle and the Girls 19 and Under 50 metres relay events.

Guyana’s only other gold medalists was Soroya Simmons who won the Girls 19 and Under 100 metres Backstroke. Simmons also

captured silver in the Girls 19 and Under 50 metres Backstroke and silver in the Girls 19 and Under 50 metres Relay.

Suriname finished on top with 12 gold medals, 11silver and 8 bronze for a combination of 31 medals. French Guiana captured 8 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze for a total of 25 medals while hosts Guyana claimed 4 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze for a total of 16 medals.

Guyana crowned IGG athletics champions

By TreisTon Joseph

Guyana dominated both days of the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) Athletics to come out convincing victors of the 2014 event on Sunday. The local athletics team amassed 333 points to beat Suriname who tallied 295 points over the two days at the Camp Ayanganna Ground.

Tevin Garraway made amends for his 100 metres loss to fellow Guyanese Kevin Abbensettes in the male 200 metres with a 21.40s run to top Abbensetts who ran 21.50s for second. Suriname’s RoOmario Pansa was second with

Digicel Schools Football…

22.10s.

Ornesto Thomas copped a middle distance double by winning the men’s 800 metres with a time of 2:00.70s to finish ahead of Suriname’s Uracio Seedorf who clocked 2:01.50s for second. Miquel Shepper was third in 2:10.90.s

Avon Samuels won a double after winning the girls 200 metres in 24.90s while Guyana’s Jevina Sampson was second to her countrywoman in 25.20s. Suriname’s Sabrina Menso was third in 26.40s.

Cassey George also doubled with a win in the female 3000 metres with a time of 10.58.50s while

Claudrice McKoy was second for Guyana in 11.19.30s. Esmeralda Amania was third in 12:07.60s.

Carifta 1500 metres bronze medalist Andrea Foster won her first gold of the 800 metres event with a 2:21.80s run while Shontel Hinds was second for Guyana in 2:33.90s. Suriname’s Davinia Asantiba was third in 2:45.60s.

Meanwhile, Suriname dominated field events on the second day of the competition but was unable to oust Guyana from the top position at the end of day two.

did not field an athletics team.

Three-peat for Christianburg Wismar Secondary

By TreisTon Joseph

Christianburg

Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) were definitely the superior side as they came out 2-0 winners over Waramadong Secondary to win the title for the third straight time when the Digicel Schools Football Tournament culminated on Sunday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Both teams met in the final for the last three tournaments and all three times CWSS came out on top and can now seal their status as undisputed champions of school football.

The game started somewhat tentative but it was CWSS striking after the first 20 minutes only for the goal to be adjudged offside.

Waramadong never seemed comfortable in their attack as they played good possession football but never really threatened to score with their haphazard attack from 20 yards out often going wide of the target.

With CWSS seeming more purposeful and dangerous on attack, Waramadong Secondary failed to produce the sort of possession football they have been known to play

and were often on the defensive but were lucky not to concede in the first half.

Ironically enough, Waramadong made a defensive change at half-time but conceded a minute after when a ball eluded the keeper and hit the far post only for a defender to accidentally put it in.

Waramadong made some runs as well as a couple of substitutions but could not respond to the goal scored by CWSS and when the Linden team scored their second in the 68th minute, it spelled the end in bold letters for Waramadong.

Donovan Francis was the man sealing the deal for CWSS.

CWSS received one million dollars for the first place finish while Waramadong Secondary were awarded $600,000 for their second place finish. Third place finishers Bush Lot Secondary received $400,000 while Beterverwagting Secondary collected $200,000 for their fourth place finish.

Meanwhile, the goal hungry Granville Daniels of Annai Secondary won the golden boot, having scored eleven goals in the tournament.

Daniels registered a helmet-trick in his first match against Sand Creek Secondary and then returned the next day to register a hat-trick when his school played St Ignatius Secondary.

Not satisfied with

that, the 16-year-old left his home town and went to Lethem to take on the Region Two champions Charity Secondary where Daniels scored another hattrick to send his school into the national quarter-finals.

Daniels played one more

game but failed to register his name on the scoring sheet.

A total 758 goals were scored in the 2014 edition of the Digicel Schools Football Tournament.

Meanwhile, the decision to move the final to the

National Stadium was indeed a wise one as a massive crowd turned out to support their teams. The games attracted even Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Opposition Leader David Granger.

Inter Guiana Games 2014...

Defending basketball champs Guyana defeat Suriname in opener

By TreisTon Joseph

The first bucket for the local girls came four minutes into the first quarter, but even an offensively off night could not have stopped the Guyanese girls from walking away with a 44-34 win against their Dutch counterparts on Saturday evening when the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) continued with basketball at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

Guyana’s inability to convert easy opportunities at the rim, especially second chance points early in the game, allowed the Suriname girls to get an early jump on Guyana with a 7-2 run before Guyana came charging back with a 5-0 run to end the first quarter 7-7 in the low scoring contest.

Suriname, in the second period, played brilliant perimeter defence which forced turnovers but failed to convert easy opportunities as Guyana stayed within striking distance via their rebounding

machine Ginelle Ifill before closing out the period strongly to go into the half with a twopoint lead with the score 1715.

Out of the break, Guyana started playing more fluently as the ball seemed to be finding open shooters who continued to rattle the rim.

However, Ifill’s brilliance in the rebounding department kept giving Guyana multiple opportunities to convert while Suriname started to tire especially with the aggressive half court traps they were trying to play on the defensive side of the court.

Heading into the fourth quarter, it was obvious that the Dutch girls had run out of gas as Guyana started to open their lead to eventually win the game by 10 points.

Ifill finished the game with a double-double of a game high 18 points and at least 20 rebounds for Guyana while Tamara Hunter, who had seven points, played a major role in setting the offence while be-

ing aggressive by attacking the rim.

Janine Tuart was the main scorer for Suriname with 16 points while Agida Eersgeling had nine points in the loss.

Meanwhile, in male action, Suriname routed French Guiana 61-47 to give the French their second loss of the tournament.

Gavin Kenshil played brilliantly and scored a team high 17 points while Emile LaRose dropped 12 points in the win for the Dutch.

Yaan Hande was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points in the loss that sent French Guiana to a sure third place finish in the tournament.

Guyana will now play Suriname in the male encounter in the hope of recapturing the title that has eluded them for seven years while the female will play a tough French Guiana team in the hope of retaining their title from last year.

Dwight Holder easily wins Emancipation cycle race in Berbice

Corriverton’s Dwight “Bad Boy” Holder proved why he is considered the best on wheels in the border town of Corriverton when he outsprinted team- mate Brian Harris to take the Corskeld

Trackers Emancipation Race on Sunday.

Holder of Trojan Cycle Club won the 40-mile event from Corriverton to Number 43 Village and back to the starting point in a time of one hour, 43 minutes and 27 seconds (1:43:27).

Holder tested the 16 starters from the time the white flag was down and no one dared follow him, which allowed him to quickly get a half- mile lead. Afraz Ally eventuality attempted to break away from the others but was followed by Nishane Jaundoo, Dillan Kuppin and pre-race favorite Berish Sahadeo.

Holder hit the 10-mile point at Number 63 Village as a loner to take the first of two sprint-point prizes. Shortly before that, Sahadeo developed bike problems and was out of the race. Meanwhile, Harris started to make his way

to the bunch as he moved away from the juveniles. He was soon with Holder’s followers.

Jaundoo then made his move, but Harris did not allow him to make advances alone as Holder kept going at 40 km per hour. As the two neared the turnaround point at Number 43 Village Harris, realising that he needed to do more if he was going to get anywhere close to Holder, left Jaundoo to look at his wheels and went for his man to make it a two-man race from Number 52 Village to the finish line.

The Corriverton “Bad

Boy” who knew the area too well timed his sprint home, but did not need that much effort as Harris showed no indication of challenging him in the 200- metre sprint to the finish line. Jaundoo came in as a lone bird to occupy the third spot.

The Juveniles stayed together and were only separated during a test of speed when they saw the checkered flag waving.

Roopchand Kidernauth can now boast of being the number one juvenile sprinter on the Upper Corentyne as he got past the finish line

ahead of Komal, leaving Dillan Tappin and Afraz Ally to peddle for one of two places. Tappin was the better and finished third.

For the Novices, Roy Bowman was first with Steven Sears second ahead of Clyton Sookoo. The lone female to participate was Sullena Samwaru.

The event was organised by Corskeld Trackers Cycle Club and sponsored by the Trophy Stall.

President of the club Zamad Djmier, in brief remarks, acknowledged the contributions made by those who fought for the

freedom of slaves and those oppressed by indentureship. He said emancipation is a time to honour our foreparents who went through many struggles. “Today it is not about the trophies, it is about those who fought for our freedom... We are dedicating this race in honour of those who perished,” said. Before the start of the race, the trophies were handed over to the club by businessman Vishnu Hardyal on behalf of the Trophy Stall.

Malik’s mayhem fails to stop Jamaica Tallawahs

– as Barbados Tridents fall short by 19 runs

The Jamaica Tallawahs kept pace with leaders of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, thanks to a 19-run victory over the Barbados Tridents at Sabina Park. A noisy home crowd saw a professional performance from their team as they defended a decent, but not daunting, total. Chris Gayle was in the runs once again, but the star performers for the Tallawahs were Owais Shah with the bat and Jerome Taylor with the ball. Shoaib Malik played a lone hand for the Tridents, but his phenomenal 81 off 42 balls was not enough to bring his side victory.

The Tallawahs got off to a flying start, with Chadwick Walton hitting the first ball for four. Expensive overs from Ashley Nurse and Shoaib Malik saw the home side reach 34-0 at the end of the fourth. Some control was re-asserted by Jason Holder and Ravi Rampaul as they combined to bowl two overs for just three runs as the Tallawahs were restricted to 37-1 by the end of the Powerplay. The man to depart inside the first six overs was Walton who fell LBW to Rampaul, who further extended his lead at the top of the wicket-taking chart.

The home side made it to

Three-peat

the 10th over without further loss, but the run rate continued to fall. Nurse and Malik were costly with the ball, but the seamers, especially Holder, kept the scoring down to well under a run a ball. Shah really struggled to time the ball early on, as he has throughout his time in this year’s Limacol Caribbean Premier League, but the longer he remained in the middle, the more fluent he became. Chris Gayle also saw the halfway point as the moment to accelerate, hitting a towering six off Reyad Emrit to finally get his innings going.