Miner beaten to death during robbery at Issano
Canes set on fire as Skeldon strike escalates
MARAD outraged at theft of navigational aids Bogus “cops” rob EBD family of millions Cabinet clears $81M to complete brick prison at Camp Street
tuesdAY, september 23, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com
n what is being described as a brilliantly planned and executed break and enter, bandits on Monday carted off approximately $4 million in jewellery and cash from a Nonpareil home while the family was away.
From all appearances, the bandits fed the dogs in the yard with sedatives and then proceeded to break a window at the rear of the home. Thereafter, they removed the grillwork and made their entry.
They made off with just over $3.5 million in jewellery and a small amount of cash that the family kept in the home. Interestingly enough, the only thing besides the money and jewellery that went missing from the home was a half case of Johnny Walker Double Black Scotch-Whiskey. All other items, including a laptop, iPads, tablets and several other electronic gadgetries, were untouched.
Guyana Times/
statements from the family and carried out preliminary investigations. It was noted that no Crime Scene Analysts/Investigators were at the scene. It was only as the officer was leaving and questions were asked about the experts that he said a fingerprint expert would return today.
Television Guyana and Radio Guyana Inc General
Manager Daniel Singh and his family left home around 07:30h on Monday after securing their home. It was not until, his wife, Samantha Singh, returned home after 18:00h that she made the discovery.
Singh explained that he received the call about the incident around 18:15h and immediately rushed home to his family. Shortly after he arrived, a lone police officer from the Vigilance Police Station arrived on scene. The officer took
Brief interviews with some of the neighbours in the usually quiet Nonpareil community revealed that a suspicious vehicle emblazoned with the logo of a major company was seen in the area for the most part of the day.
One neighbour Hardia Dalchand explained that she saw the vehicle with two occupants parked in front of her home. She explained that the men in the vehicle made no attempts to contact anyone or go to any home. This, she indicated, was strange because if they
were looking for a home to conduct repairs, they would have asked for directions. Further, Dalchand pointed out that she suspected something was amiss after her children came home from school around 13:00h and she did not hear her neighbours’ dogs bark.
“The dogs usually bark; they does come and jump up on the fence and mek noise but me nah hear none of that,” said Dalchand. However, she said she quickly dismissed those fears and went back to her activities. Dalchand noted that the dogs slept for a long time, which was equal-
cence plate. The story took a different angle when the Police Officer interviewed a Wash Bay attendant who worked nearby. The young man, whose name was given as Rayall, explained that during the day he saw some well-known “thieves” scoping the area. He explained that one member of the “Salt fish crew” approached him and asked him for someone by the name of “Buckman”. Rayall told the officer he found that strange since he was called Buckman. The neighbours are contending that should there be an Identification Parade, they
ly strange.
Another neighbour explained that he too was suspicious of the vehicle with the men inside. He noted too that the vehicle was a ‘GGG’ series which was all he could recall from the li-
would be able to identify the suspicious looking persons.
While the family are counting their losses, they are also grateful that no one was at home during the invasion.
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
As if the Skeldon Sugar Factory did not have enough troubles, it is reported that there was a workers’ strike over the weekend. It appears that the Estate Manager, accused of being intoxicated, had an altercation with a worker after the latter did not get out of his way fast enough.
The contra account is that the worker was “liming” with friends on the job and did not take it too kindly when remonstrated by the ever vigilant Manager. What is agreed is that mutual blows were struck during the encounter and the next morning, the worker was given a dismissal notice and escorted by security from the estate premises.
While like all industrial incidents, the facts will be contested, it is evident that this latest incident is symptomatic of the poor state of worker-management relations at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which has contributed most significantly to the fallen state in which the industry presently finds itself.
Worker-management relations in the sugar industry cannot be disjunctured from its historical context. This had pitted workers against a management stratum that was singleminded in extracting profits from the sweat of workers, without any consideration for their welfare.
In Guyana, the historical record is replete with strikes by workers to secure their rights – especially against managers who insisted on defining themselves as “Massa”. This, of course, was the Creole pronunciation of the word “Master”, which is the legal relationship insisted on by the planters in their relationship with slaves, who were chattel with no rights.
These social relations was supposed to have been ended at Independence, when in the words of the great historian Eric Williams (and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago), “Massa day done”.
In Guyana, the master-slave relationship continued into indentureship and afterwards – if not legal then existentially. The trade union – Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) can be proud that it fought a historic battle to insist on rights for workers when in 1976, the then PNC Government nationalised the sugar industry.
The PPP, in Opposition, supported the nationalisation, on the premise that with local owners – defined and announced in front of every estate as the “people of Guyana” – there would be a change in the social relations that were still stubbornly stuck in the master-slave mode.
What is very clear in the instant case is that the incident between the Manager and worker is most likely the occasion for the war, but not the cause of the war. Even though it is 38 years after nationalisation, and GuySuCo has witnessed two departures of the “white” managers during that time, it is suspected that there has not been enough reorientation of the local managers in terms of their relationship with workers. And just as importantly, a lack of appreciation from managers about the reciprocity of rights between themselves and workers.
Take the instant case. If, as management alleges, the workers were “liming” and refused to follow the exhortation of the Manager to perform their appointed tasks, surely the Manager should not have confronted the worker in the manner he did to precipitate blows being shared. It strains credulity to accept that if a worker is told to resume work, he would resort to throwing punches.
Secondly, the employee was summarily dismissed. Once there is a dispute in accounts between two parties in an industrial incident, there has to be an investigation. There cannot be an automatic assumption that “management is always right”. Sugar workers have fought too long and shed too much of their blood for the procedures that have been established to guide management-worker relations to be so cavalierly discarded.
We hope that as all stakeholders work to ensure the sugar industry becomes a viable one, there will be renewed attention in changing whatever structural drag there is in management-worker relations. We are encouraged because the new Executive Chairman comes from a Human Resources background.
Dear Editor,
The recent allegations put forth by Khemraj Ramjattan, leader of the AFC, are based in lies and political selfishness. Ramjattan has alleged that the PPP/C has offered money to parliamentarians to vote against a No-Confidence Motion, but he has provided no evidence that this actually happened.
Even Opposition Leader
David Granger has called into question the validity of these accusations in a recent inewsguyana article.
It seems as though Ramjattan is attempting to mislead the public and tarnish the name of the PPP/C, distracting from the fact that he and his party have offered no solutions to the problems that are actually facing the people of Guyana.
Rather than trying to in-
Freddie must stop demonising Gandhi’s name
Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Freddie Kissoon’s demonising of the world’s most famous freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi (August 17).
Freddie keeps alleging in several columns that Gandhi was a homosexual with no relevance to the main subject of his articles. Out of the blue, Freddie injects, “Gandhi was a homosexual” in his column.
Why this obsession with homosexual behaviour? Freddie, quoting Joseph Lelyveld, accused Gandhi of being a homosexual. This matter was death with in depth by scholars and they agreed no evidence supports such an allegation.
In fact, Lelyveld himself vehemently denied that Gandhi was homosexual. Freddie lambasted Lelyveld for not lying (using the Kissoonian methodology of
manufacturing information) to prove that Gandhi was homosexual.
Gandhi was married, like how Freddie claims he is married, with a daughter, and had several children.
Hundreds of internationally acclaimed writers also penned that no evidence supports the claim that Gandhi was homosexual.
I cannot understand why a newspaper allows itself to be used as the medium to tarnish and denigrate the iconic name of Gandhi by a discredited columnist who is a convulsive information “distortionist”.
Freddie is not even qualified to polish Gandhi’s “chapal”. Gandhi was a great thinker who did not lie on people. Freddie should try to model his life like Gandhi rather than lie on others.
Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
vent stories that are based on lies, Ramjattan could focus on trying to work to pass a budget, improve Guyana’s infrastructure and even work with members of the PPP/C to find common ground.
Instead, he has chosen to spread falsehoods and drag down the entire Parliament for his own political gain. If Ramjattan cannot produce any evidence to back these
allegations, perhaps the members of his party should question their confidence in Ramjattan himself. His decisions and actions have not been those of a true leader, but of a man who is trying to engage in the kind of political trickery that the people of Guyana don’t deserve.
Sincerely, Marcia Quintex
Dear Editor, It is rumoured that Anand Goolsarran resigned retroactively as President of Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI), following the alleged discovery of financial irregularities.
The rumour seems to be grounded in some reality as Goolsarran was reportedly the facilitator of similar activities under the PNC-led Government, prior to 1992.
At the helm of those decisions was then Finance Minister Carl Greenidge. Goolsarran, as an Auditor General from the late 1980s to the end of the PNC regime, served at a time when there was an apparent scheme to defraud the Government and people of Guyana.
Why would Goolsarran submit his resignation letter to TIGI without following protocol, which is
to give at a minimum, one month’s notice to a professional organisation? Something seems amiss about his sudden and retroactive resignation. At the very time that discoveries are being made about the alleged activities of his friend Glenn Lall regarding his involvement in the remigrant scheme, and the call for Goolsarran to condemn Lall for abusing the scheme, Goolsarran immediately resigned!
Whatever the reason for his sudden and backdated resignation, it seems suspicious that Goolsarran should resign the way he did. I call on all in authority to investigate this matter further.
Sincerely, Name withheld by request
BY BHISHAM MOHAMED
The decomposed, headless body of a man was on Monday afternoon discovered at Old Road Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.
The head was reportedly found by workers attached to the Public Works Ministry who were weeding in the area. It was reportedly in a black plastic bag and was being carried by a dog.
Upon the discovery, the men went to the area from where the dog came and stumbled upon the body. A worker told Guyana Times that they saw the dog carrying the black plastic bag and then it suddenly dropped it.
Out of curiosity, he
made
discovery.
It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depth, where few are willing to search for it – Goethe
Dear Editor, Pandit Chrishna Persaud, in a recent letter titled “When will Pandits become professional”, made some candid and bold statements. It is good for people to fearlessly write and say how they feel, but we have to be very mindful of the import of what we write or say and the impact on other people.
Humble and simple folks look up to you, Panditji, for guidance and light and not mere faultfinding.
You indicated that you can see no relevance in my poem, “Seeking the peace of Krishna”. It is shocking and sad that as a Pandit you cannot see the relevance of a poem seeking the peace of Shri Krishna in a troubled world.
It would be irrelevant if we all were at complete peace (especially within) and the world was a place of peace and tranquility. Now, more than ever, the world is more like a place of human savagery and cruelty rather than one of peace and harmony and people are overwhelmed with so many fears and anxieties.
Seeking the peace of Shri Krishna is as relevant for all times as the air is relevant for our existence. The prayers from all religious traditions, bhajans, hymns, etc are impregnated with the idea of seeking the peace of God.
And they do not lose their relevance, even if we recite them with our every heartbeat. Hindus have been reciting the glorious Gayatri mantra from time immemorial. Does this mean that it has become irrelevant and that we should no longer write about it?
You have indirectly derided the performance of pujas by Hindus when you indicated that they spend too much time on costly pujas. A puja (costly or not) is an expression of love of
God. In this context, therefore, there can never be too many pujas or too much time spent on pujas.
Please do not underestimate the power of pujas in transforming the minds and hearts of the devout worshippers. And even if there is no marked change, there is still the imperceptible positive effect of pujas on our overall being.
What is most shocking is that some Pandits who officiate at the pujas do not believe in the power and efficacy of the pujas, but the humble devout Hindu does. Hindus perform pujas because of the joy and happiness they derived from the very act of doing the puja rather than for mere show or pretence.
When we are immersed in a puja, the very perfume of the incense or camphor seems to transport us to a higher realm of divine calm and the bhajans seem to penetrate our hearts with pure joy and ecstasy. Everything leading up to the puja (cleaning the house, etc) is an act of devotion.
All the objects involved in a puja are pregnant with inner symbolism and meaning and meant to establish a direct personal relationship with God. Even if we do not understand the mantras that are recited, we still feel the spiritual fervour. We have to let go of the idea that we can only pray to God in Sanskrit or Hindi.
The only language that Shri Krishna responds to is the language of love. We can pray to God in any language or even no language and it will reach the mark. A mere silent thought from the heart is prayer enough to move the Lord.
When we became a Kabir Das, a Mirabai, or a Sankaracharya, then we can dispense with the performance of pujas. And even then, the glorious Shri Sankaracharya, who
drank the ocean of knowledge with the palm of his hands, used to daily perform Manas Puja to his beloved Lord Shiva.
Unlike a formal puja, Shri Sankaracharya would make all the offerings within his mind with great concentration, and he went even further, and within his mind he would play divine musical instruments and sing and dance to his Lord in blissful ecstasy.
We ordinary mortals need pujas to remind us of our essential spiritual reality. What would be the state if Hindus decided not to perform pujas? Then we will lose the very enduring values that Sanatan Dharma rest upon and would drift away from our prescribed duties.
Instead of bashing Hindu priests, it would be better if you offer constructive suggestions and analysis as to how they can respond to the needs of the community. Not only Pandits but priests from all religious traditions are increasingly becoming more money conscious and transactions-oriented.
Religious leaders have exploited their people for a long time now. But there will always be Pandits and priests who are worthy of the tradition and are dedicated to the upliftment of humanity.
It is important that our Pandits become more community-oriented and be agents for social change. Our Pandits should be in the forefront in the fight against violence, drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling, poverty, rape, suicide, infidelity, etc.
And, by the way there are more than enough motivational speakers, and our Pandits have to be more than mere speakers. They have to live the message that they preach.
Sincerely, Cecil
Ramkirath
for local pathologist to conduct the post-mortem examination on the spot since the body could not be removed due its present state.
A senior rank told Guyana Times that getting Dr Nehaul Singh to perform the autopsy proved futile; hence, the body would have to remain in position until today. The area was secured and it is expected that Police ranks will be placed at the area to avoid tampering with evidence.
Investigators believe that the man was beheaded before his remains were dumped in the area. Several plastic handcuffs were recovered at the scene and were taken as evidence. The head of the corpse was
placed in a brown paper bag and taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home.
On July 24 last, the body of a woman in an advanced stage of decomposition was found in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown and was suspected to be that of missing St Stanislaus College teacher, Ngyozi Goodman. Due to the state of the woman’s corpse, local Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh had to be taken to the scene to perform the postmortem examination, but after more than 30 minutes of examining the remains, he declared the cause of death as inconclusive.
However, he reportedly found signs that the woman might have been stabbed.
Dear Editor,
For the readers of Kaieteur News to truly understand the mindset of columnist Freddie Kissoon, it is necessary for me to repeat the definition of a word that I believe accurately describes this writer.
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word “pompous” as “having or showing the attitude of people who speak and behave in a very formal and serious way because they believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people”.
According to Google, “pompous” means affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important – “a pompous ass who pretends he knows everything”.
Undoubtedly, Freddie Kissoon has his fan-club, whose members read his daily rants in criticising the Government and besmirching the characters of decent members of the PPP/C Administration.
The Education Minister and our Executive President are constantly in his line of fire. His recent salvo aimed at President Donald Ramotar is another indication that Kissoon is in need of some serious help.
The man’s mind is as unkempt as his appearance. For only a person that is psychologically disturbed, will allow such hatred, fabrication of lies, and distortion of facts to occupy his thoughts on a daily basis.
His latest ‘beef’ with the President of Guyana, is that he spends too much time travelling and meeting people... two functions that come with the territory. In a recent letter, Kissoon wrote, “This week he addressed an education event, then opened the GT&T sponsored refurbishing of the UG labs, then Friday the man was on a plane to New York”.
What is wrong with that? President Ramotar is a working President that is committed to serving all the people of this country. The Presidency may have given him the power to accomplish a lot more, but Donald Ramotar has always been a people’s person.
To his credit, he never allowed the pressures that come with the Presidency to deny ordinary Guyanese access to him. Meeting with the international communities and visiting the United Nations, as he’s doing now, is
an absolute necessity for any Head of State.
That’s how he meets other Heads of State. That’s what brings development and investors to Guyana. That’s how treaties are established to protect our citizens and our sovereignty. That’s how foreign markets are open to Guyanese goods and services.
As a student of politics, these are things that Freddie is aware of, yet he is prepared to stifle his conscience just to let the Government look bad to those mindless suckers who believe everything he writes.
Let there be no doubt, despite some personal reasons, Freddie Kissoon has a political agenda that’s as clear as daylight: He trying his best to get rid of the PPP/C Administration. And even if he has to shamelessly lie through his teeth to ignore growth and development under the PPP/C, and to besmirch the characters of good and decent people, he will do so.
One must ask, why? Is he being paid by the Opposition to keep up these relentless attacks on the Government? It certainly appears so to me. There is no justification, except perhaps someone suffering from a mental disorder, to decry his own race and country, and the Government that protects his right to freedom of speech.
Questions must also be asked: Is it benefiting Kaieteur News to allow a rattlesnake like Kissoon the use of its pages to disseminate lies and misinformation, to continuously use disparagingly remarks to decry the country we all love and its citizens, and to inflict personal attacks on members of the Administration when I was told on several occasions that it is the policy of Kaieteur News not to allow personal attacks on anyone?
Why is Freddie Kissoon an exception to this policy? Like so many others, I have restrained myself from responding to the filth that is spewed on a daily basis in the Freddie Kissoon column in Kaieteur News.
But every now and then, Guyanese need to be reminded of Freddie’s political agenda, and the danger of allowing him to poison the minds of those who read his column.
Sincerely, Harry Gill
Health benefits
The adverse health effects of weaning a child before or during toddlerhood are well documented for Third World countries such as Guinea-Bissau, where children who were no longer breastfed at ages 12 to 35 months had a 3.5 times higher mortality than did their peers who continued to breastfeed. There is a lack of this type of comparative research between breastfeeding toddlers and preschoolers and their already weaned peers in economically advanced countries. The negative impact of early weaning on children’s health is not as dramatically evident but in time it may prove to be significant.
The scientific evidence on extended breastfeeding is just now beginning to accumulate. A number of the health benefits are now being found to be related to the length of nursing with an increasing amount of benefit correlating with increased duration. This is the case, research has indicated, with breastfeeding’s protective effect in maternal breast cancer, osteoporosis, childhood ear infections and malocclusion anomalies (misaligned teeth).
Katherine Dettwyler reports that “a wealth of scientific evidence exists documenting that the benefits of breastfeeding (and the risks of artificial feeding) continue for as long as the infant nurses. Aside from the health concerns, there is now evidence that the longer a child breastfeeds, the higher that child’s IQ score and school grades will be in later years, with a dose effect evident even beyond two years of nursing.”
The word “benefit” is perhaps misleading here, for these “benefits” are what nature intended to be the human norm. Breastfeeding is normal. It is artificial feeding substitutes and premature weaning that are, in fact, abnormal from a biological viewpoint. It is these abnormal practices that place the child at increased risk of illness and compromised intelligence.
For many nursing couples, by the time the child reaches toddlerhood, nursing is a well-established part of their relationship. We can help mothers to feel confident in acknowledging that their breastfeeding relationship is mutually satisfying: highly cherished by the child and often by the mother as well. For moth-
ers it is a mode of giving both nurturance and sustenance. For both mother and child, nursing is a momentary retreat from the increasing separateness of their lives, back to the closeness they shared when the two were one.
Nursing through toddlerhood and beyond Special meeting discussion questions:
* While it is clear that nursing a child beyond the first 12 months of life is something we have in common with the majority of mothers throughout history, in many cultures we stand out as different. While we have been able to find support, we also may face criticism. How do you feel about icism? do you deal with it?
* We want to meet our child’s needs and we want to promote the nor malcy and health fulness of nursing without offending others or becoming a target of criticism. It is a tricky balance to achieve and we each need to find our own comfort lev
el. How do you handle the issue of nursing a toddler in public?
* Sometimes our partners or other close relatives have a different outlook on continued nursing. How do you manage these differences?
* Children can be demanding. At times it may feel that your child’s demands to nurse are excessive or inappropriately interrupting your activities. How do you balance your child’s needs and wants with your own?
* When we choose to limit nursing or decide to wean completely, how can we help our children handle their feelings of loss?
By Jack NewmaN, md
13. “Modern formulas are almost the same as breast milk.” Not true! The same claim was made in 1900 and before. Modern formulas are only superficially similar to breast milk. Every correction of a deficiency in formulas is advertised as an advance. Fundamentally, formulas are inexact copies based on outdated and incomplete knowledge of what breast milk is. Formulas contain no antibodies, no living cells, no enzymes, no hormones. They contain much more aluminum, manganese, cadmium, lead and iron than breast milk. They contain significantly more protein than breast milk. The proteins and fats are fundamentally different from those in breast milk. Formulas do not vary from the beginning of the feed to the end of the feed, or from day one to day seven to day 30, or from woman to woman, or from baby to baby. Your breast milk is made as required to suit your baby. Formulas are made to suit every baby, and thus no baby.
Formulas succeed only at making babies grow, but there is more to breastfeeding than nu-
trients.
14. “If the mother has an infection she should stop breastfeeding.” Not true! With very, very few exceptions, the mother’s continuing to breastfeed will actually protect the baby. By the time the mother has fever (or cough, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, etc) she has already given the baby the infection, since she has been infectious for several days before she even knew she was sick. The baby’s best protection against getting the infection is for the mother to continue breastfeeding. If the baby does get sick, he will be less sick if the mother continues breastfeeding. Besides, maybe it was the baby who gave the infection to the mother, but the baby did not show signs of illness because he was breastfeeding. Also, breast infections, including breast abscess, though painful, are not reasons to stop breastfeeding. Indeed, the infection is likely to settle more quickly if the mother continues breastfeeding on the affected side.
15. “If the baby has diarrhoea or vomiting, the mother should stop breastfeeding.” Not true! The best medicine for a baby’s gut infection is breastfeeding. Stop other foods for a short time, but continue breastfeeding.
Breast milk is the only fluid your baby requires when he has diarrhoea and/or vomiting, except under exceptional circumstances. The push to use “oral rehydrating solutions” is mainly a push by the formula manufacturers (who also make oral rehydrating solutions) to make even more money. The baby is comforted by the breastfeeding, and the mother is comforted by the baby’s breastfeeding.
16. “If the mother is taking medicine she should not breastfeed.” Not true! There are very very few medicines that a mother cannot take safely while breastfeeding. A very small amount of most medicines appears in the milk, but usually in such small quantities that there is no concern.
If a medicine is truly of concern, there are usually equally effective, alternative medicines that are safe. The risks of artificial feeding for both the mother and the baby must be taken into account when weighing if breastfeeding should be continued. (naturalchild.org)
BY BHISHAM MOHAMED
BY BHISHAM MOHAMED
One man is dead while three others are hospitalised following a fire at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara on Monday morning. The blaze is suspected to be the work of an arsonist.
The fire which started about 01:30h has claimed the life of Jason Monroe, 21, of Parfaite Harmonie and has left Princess Babb, three; Shantel Calendar, 15; and Zeelana Calendar, 17, hospitalised.
Babb reportedly suffered first degree burns and is in the Burn Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital while Shantel Calendar sustained second and third degree burns and is said to be in a critical state at the Emergency Unit of the said medical institution.
The third victim, Zeelana Calendar was reportedly receiving treatment at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
However, based on investigations, Police have arrest a male at the Vreed-enHoop Ferry Stelling who is suspected to be the arsonist. Guyana Times understands that the owner of the Lot 201 Parfaite Harmonie home, “Amanda” (only name given) is a security guard and was not at home when the fire occurred. It is be-
lieved that the suspect entered the house through a window to meet Shantel but Munroe who was already in the house confronted him.
Monroe on the other hand shared a relationship with Zeelana. An argument reportedly erupted between the two men which resulted in a scuffle.
A bottle containing kerosene oil had spilled but the fight continued. The suspect then picked up a piece of wood and dealt Monroe several blows to his head, rendering him unconscious.
Additional information gathered revealed that the suspect then lit a jersey and set the house on fire with the four people inside and ran out. Shantel and Zeelana grabbed Princess, but had little time to save Monroe; hence, he was left behind.
The charred remains of Munroe were recovered and are at the Ezekiel Funeral Home. The suspect has several likely charges hanging over his head, including murder, attempted murder and arson.
At the scene on Monday morning, this newspaper spoke with a neighbour, Latchmini Wahab who related that she was in her home about 01:30h when she saw a huge blaze.
She said when she looked through the window, the house was on fire.
The woman recalled contacting the Guyana Fire Service through 912, but due to the closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, they could not have responded.
She noted that by the time the fire engines arrived at the scene, the house was already gutted. She later leant that the tender had come from the Leonora Fire Station.
In the meantime, she woke her children and with their assistance; they formed a bucket brigade and dowsed the house with water.
She said persons in the neighbourhood rushed to the assistance of the injured children and it was then that they alerted them that Monroe was left behind, but it was too late.
The children were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where they were treated and the two with the most serious burns were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Wahab recalled that the owner of the home works as a security guard and would have seen two teenagers, along with two children visiting the home earlier in the day. She described the incident as tragic. Police in a release said they are continuing their investigations.
The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has expressed outrage at the continuous theft and vandalism of its marine aids to navigation.
In September 2013, two buoys were stolen which were placed in the Essequibo River near to Kaow Island, to mark the Rattlesnake Rock. In April, the Modder Bush buoy was stolen or otherwise removed from its position in the Essequibo River near the Leguan Island.
Also the lights on two
other buoys were stolen as they moor in the river near to Leguan, Wakenaam and Hogg Islands.
“The aids to navigation in Guyana are floating buoys and fixed beacons which are strategically positioned in or near the waterways to guide mariners safely. They also mark wrecks and other dangers to navigation,” MARAD said in a statement.
According to the department, even though it has launched an investigation into the disappearance of the aids, it is soliciting help
from members of the public with information that will lead to the recovery of the items which costs million of dollars.
Days after the owner of a mining camp at 14 Miles Issano was allegedly beaten and robbed by two of his exworkers, he succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Joseph Nathaniel Nurse, 35, of Lot 24 Belmonte, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara died about 04:00h on Monday morning. Danesh Rampersaud, 18, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and another man who were in the camp at the time of the attcak also received several injuries but were treated at Troy’s Resources Medical Centre and sent away.
According to information received, about 21:00h on Thursday last, Nurse, a father of four and his two workers were attacked and beaten by two men who were armed with a gun and a piece of wood. During the ordeal, the two men demanded gold and money. Nurse reportedly put up a fight and would have received severe injures about the body.
The two men were bound while Nurse was reportedly left to die a short distance from the mining camp.
Rampersaud managed to free himself and untied his colleague, after which he raised an alarm. Workers from other camps nearby heard the calls and went to their assistance. They were transported to the medical centre and due to Nurse’s condition; he was air-dashed to Georgetown and admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital up to the time of his death.
Ulita Atkinson, the fiancée of the now dead man during a telephone interview with Guyana Times related that the robbery and murder allegedly stemmed from an incident which occurred about two Sundays ago at the mining camp.
Based on a conversation with Nurse before the incident, she said that he had found that two of his employees were stealing from him and he asked them to leave the worksite.
She related that almost two ounces of gold were missing.
Upon searching the two men, one ounce was recovered. Nurse literally threw them out of the mining camp, she added.
However, she noted after speaking to the two workers, she found out that Nurse reportedly went to a popular drinking spot where he saw the two men Orin Major and Colin (only name given) and an argument ensued.
The argument went on for a while after which Nurse left for his camp.
Addition information reaching this newspaper revealed that upon arrival at the mining camp, he saw his two workers and called out to them but got no response.
As he went closer, he saw the two workers gagged and bound. At this point in time, the two former workers came out of hiding and stuck Nurse several times to the head and body. The men then escaped with an undisclosed sum of gold and cash.
On Friday morning, Atkinson stated that she received a telephone call from a friend “Jason” who informed her about the robbery. Moreso, she was told that Nurse was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
About 10 minutes later, another friend “Cannon”
contacted her and told her that “Jo Jo” was badly injured and that the camp was robbed. He too told her that her injured fiancé was transported to the city.
When she arrived at the hospital, her fiancé was unconscious; hence, he could not say what occurred.
“He had marks about the body, a gash to his head, his ankle was swollen, and his chest had black and blue marks as if someone stamped him,” she added.
The woman was hoping for the best, but it was totally the opposite after receiving the news of his demise in the wee hours of Monday morning. Atkinson posited out that she left the camp about three weeks ago, but would normally contact Nurse to check up on him.
When she left, she recalled leaving Major and Colin working with Nurse.
Nurse later told her that he had gotten rid of the two men after they were caught stealing and that he had hired two Indian guys from Tuschen. He sounded happy when she last spoke with him, she recounted.
Shevon Doodnauth, a sister of the dead man told Guyana Times that Police are hunting for the two exworkers as they are the main suspects in the robbery/murder.
She said based on reports, the men might have left the area. She added that the family is seeking justice and will not give up until the two men are caught and placed before the courts.
The man leaves to mourn his four children, mother, seven siblings and fiancé. The Police in a release stated that they are investigating the incident. (bhishamm@guyanatimesgy.com)
Yogesh Manilall was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on an unlawful and malicious wounding charge.
Manilall pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on September 18 at Robb Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Surujdai
Yogesh Manilall
Manilall.
Police Prosecutor
Michael Grant told the court that the Virtual Complainant (VC) Surujdai Manilall and the defendant are mother and son. The incident involving the mother and her son stemmed from a misunderstanding over money.
The court was told that
on the day in question, the VC was at a business place when the defendant met her asking for money. After the VC refused to give him money, he allegedly hit her with a bottle.
The next hearing of this case will be on October 21 in the courtroom of Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
Twenty-one-year-old
Sydney Davis was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $30,000 as he stood to answer three unlawful charges; threatening language, assault of a Police Officer; resisting a Police Officer and possession of narcotics.
Davis appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry.
His first charge read that on August 15 at Karabai Police station, Region one, he made use of threatening language
to a Police Officer after he was declined from seeing his friend who was in the lockups.
His second charge read that on September 18, he resisted Police arrest when ranks tried to apprehend him based on the threatening language he made use of on August 15. However with the assistance of others, he was arrested and taken to the station.
Upon arrival at the Police Station, on the same day, a search was conducted on him where a transparent bag was found on his person that contained leaves, stems and seeds, suspected to be marijuana. The narcotic was weighted and amounted to 39.5 grams.
He pleaded not guilty to the threatening language and assault charges and guilty to the resisting arrest charge as well as the possession of narcotics charge. He was fined $10,000 for the resisting arrest charge and given three years along with an additional $20,000 fine for the possession of narcotics charge. For the two charges that the defendant pleaded not guilty to, bail was refused and he was remanded to prison until December 1 when he will make his next court appearance at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.
After years of reports of the sexual abuse of children, it’s yet not surprising that very few of the newspapers focused on the young man who said he was raped by the Speaker when he was yet a child. The cynosure of all eyes and discussion was the “big man” is alleged to have performed the dastardly act. The dominant thrust is what’s gonna be the political fallout.
Paedophilia, it seems, doesn’t warrant the same amount of attention as “how many votes would be lost or gained to one party or another?” But if we’d paid any attention to the news reports – not only locally but internationally – we wouldn’t be surprised. Quick now – about how many children were molested by how many priests and bishops of the Catholic Church?
We don’t have the faintest clue – because most of the newspaper reports were only concerned about the impact of the “scandal on the Church”! The poor boys were just so much collateral damage...regrettable but unavoidable. And this is what we suspect will happen here. Here’s a young man, who – even the accused Speaker admits – is “troubled” and “unstable”.
Will anyone find out when this boy became “troubled and unstable”? Was he always like this?? Is there a history of the boy being in the company of the Speaker?? Was he pampered with gifts as he alleges?? In a word, as we should have learnt from the copious reports on paedophilia, was he “groomed”, by the accused.
As the Speaker said, there must be an investigation into the allegations. The matter, we are told, has been turned over to the Police, but we hope it doesn’t become another “cold case”.
The truth of the matter is that unfortunately, paedophilia is alive and well in Guyana. But most folks automatically assume that it’s young girls being molested. And Lord knows there’s enough of that. But it’s happening to too many of our young boys – who, even more than the girls are too ashamed to speak of “it”. And who’re even more damaged because the act all too often – as it evidently did in the instant case – take away the “manhood” of the victim.
The trajectory of their lives is irretrievably altered – for the worse. But it’s said behind every dark cloud, there’s a silver lining.
We hope that in this very dark and cloudy episode we might have the silver lining of the veil of hypocrisy being finally ripped from the faces of those who would so callously violate our young men.
Today, your Eyewitness read a very dispiriting letter in the Stabber News. An official of ACDA objected to the Culture Ministry’s proposal to have a fence erected around the 1763 Monument – popularly known as the “Cuffy Monument” because of the statue symbolising the 1763 Rebellion.
Now we’d assumed that after the 2013 sprucing up of the surroundings of the monument (250th Anniversary), the Ministry’s trying to preserve the ambiance achieved then.
But hey!! We have no problem with citizens complaining about the plans of officialdom – it’s our money being spent! No? But what we do have a problem with is when one group tries to expropriate a national symbol for their own group exclusively.
Sure, Cuffy was an African Slave who rebelled – but we’ve placed his statue at the Square of the Revolution to remind all Guyanese that the 1763 Rebellion is the heritage of ALL Guyanese.
The “emails” purported to be between the GRA Commissioner, the Attorney General and former President Bharrat Jagdeo are so patently fake!! Can you imagine fellas conspiring to break the law – which could ruin their careers addressing each other as “Dear AG” and “Dear CG”??
Then Anil Nandall READS an offensive article in the KN – but is waiting on “clippings” from CG?? And where’s Jagdeo’s email address? What a tangled (nasty) web...
The Government of Guyana in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has trained 21 nurses and six paediatric care assistants through its Paediatric Nursing Programme to ensure a better child health care system at the premier health institution, the Georgetown Public Hospital . Senior Volunteer and Paediatric Nurse Educator Sumiko Yoshida lauded the Georgetown Public Hospital for the support she received throughout the two-month programme. Yoshida was also amazed by the dedication of nurses to the programme and said some nurses attended classes on their day off.
The training programme
has been around since 2012 and a number of nurses have been trained since. Two training sessions were also completed earlier this year.
Paediatric Ward Manager, Surgical Unit Aarissa Singh said this year’s training programme has seen increased participation by nurses. Yoshida said she looks forward to training another batch of nurses in 2015 through 2017 and in new courses; cardiac recognition, infant and child resuscitation, and paediatric critical care.
She said the goal of JICA is to improve the paediatric nursing services, the paediatric nursing educational training and improving the paediatric ward environment.
The recently completed
training exercise is the third of its nature conducted at Georgetown Public Hospital in collaboration with JICA. She added that in October 2013, 19 nurses graduated from the programme.
She said that the programme is designed to provide nurses with the knowledge and skills required to manage emergency situations through assessment and quick interventions.
Further, it has a number of areas such as team dynamics, coping with death, infant and child resuscitation and vascular access. Nurses are expected to become more confident, competent in patient care delivery, and in caring for infants and children which will improve paediatric/patient services. (GINA)
The Guyana Government has tapped its Ambassador to Brussels as its candidate for the post of Secretary General of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping. Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries have until September 30 to present three final candidates for the position of Secretary General.
Well placed sources have told this newspaper that Dr Patrick I Gomes, Guyana’s Brussels-based Ambassador to the European Union has been nominated.
According to the source, Dr Gomes stands a great chance of being selected, given his involvement as the country’s representative on the ACP for a number of years. Sources have confirmed that that so far nominations have been received from Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, while Haiti and St Vincent and the Grenadines have expressed an interest in naming a candidate.
The Secretary General holds executive powers and heads the Brussels-based ACP Secretariat, which is the administrative and technical body of the ACP Group. The Secretariat provides policy guidance and technical expertise to the organs of the group, and monitors
the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement. Appointment to the top post is for five years, and generally follows a principle of rotation among the six ACP regions, including West Africa (currently holding the post), East Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands.
The SG shall in turn appoint four Assistant Secretary Generals to head various departments in the Secretariat during his or her term. The regions will nominate candidates for these posts
The ACP Group of 79 Member States was established in 1975 by what is known as the Georgetown
Agreement and has as its core functions the management and implementation of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement with the 27 Member States of the European Union addressing trade and economic cooperation, poverty eradication and sustainable development, and political dialogue on regional and international affairs.
Dr Gomes is the former Executive Director of the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), and has also been a consultant Project Manager for the Regional Task Force on Financing the Caricom Food Security Facility (CFSF), in cooperation with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) . In his Academic life, he taught at the UWI’s Faculties of Agriculture and Social Sciences in Trinidad. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the European Centre for Development Policy Management and has co-authored a book on Rural Development in the Caribbean. Along with Father Michael CampbellJohnson, PI was involved in the foundation in the early 70s of The Guyana Institute for Social Research and Action (GISRA).
By Svetlana MarShall
Embattled Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman said he has now realised that he had been set-up following the damning allegations that he sexually molested a boy at the age of 13.
Cornered by journalists at the Parliament Buildings on Monday, Trotman again maintained his innocence. Though he has not been contacted by the Guyana Police Force, Trotman said he is prepared to cooperate as he placed his trust in the hands of investigators. “I have every confidence that not only would the police do a good and thorough investigation but I am confident that I would be completely exonerated,” he said.
Questioned what makes him so “confident,” Trotman said “a lie can’t stand and every lie needs columns of lies to keep that one lie up and when I look at the newspaper this morning I smiled because everything is now crumbling.”
Asked too about the letter of recommendation that he had written for Welchman, the Speaker said he did it based on the fact that he knew his father Johnny Terry Welchman who now resides in Brazil. He explained that his secretary had informed him that a “Johnny Welchman” was there to see him. Trotman said he had not recognised the young man who called him “Uncle Raphael.”
The young man reportedly said he was back from Trinidad and Tobago and needed a reference. “I said ok, and I did something very general because I would nor-
mally said I know the person but I said I know the family…the secretary prepared it and I signed it,” he recalled. According to him, the transaction was done at the “counter.” He added, “I now realise that I have been set up.” He maintains that with God by his side, he would be exonerated.
Meanwhile, in a surprise twist the Alliance For Change said on Monday evening that Trotman has secured an injunction against the young man who accused him of rape and also sued the Privately-owned Stabroek News and Guyana Times for publishing statements from the youth.
Up to press time this newspaper had not been served with any injunction or has it seen the court document purportedly filed by the Speaker. In a statement issued Monday evening Trotman’s party, AFC said that the Speaker has secured an injunc-
tion barring Welshman from publishing whether in the print or electronic media any material relating to allegations he has made against him. The injunction was granted on Monday in the High Court. Welshman has also been ordered to remove all malicious content from his facebook page, the AFC statement said. According to the AFC in his Ex Parte Affidavit in support of the application for the injunction, Trotman has also sought damages in excess of $50 million for libel contained in a statements allegedly made by Welshman and published in the Stabroek News, Guyana Times and on Welshman’s Facebook page.
In an earlier statement, Trotman described the allegations made by Welchman Junior as “wicked assertions,” positing that they are being peddled by “an unstable young man, who appears
to have a troubled mind”. He is convinced that the allegations against him are politically motivated. “Conveniently, such scandalous assertions are obviously intended to provide a timely distraction from the serious prevailing political situation in Guyana, which imminently requires me as Speaker of the National Assembly to guide the ship of the nation’s parliament through the strongest test to Guyana’s constitutional democracy: the debate of a no confidence motion”, he said. In defense of the Speaker, the Alliance for Change (AFC) has urged persons to desist from colluding with others who have been obviously induced to fabricate these claims. According to the alliance the accusation is as another desperate and reprehensible attempt to disrupt the tabling of the No Confidence Motion when Parliament resumes in October.
Wade Mentore, 46, of Rainbow City, Linden was refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday afternoon on a narcotics charge.
Mentore pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on September 18 at Mogaria Hill Top Dam, Demerara River, he had in his possession 460 grams of
cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
Police Prosecutor
Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question around 15:00h, Police stopped the defendant who was at the time driving a motorcycle. A search was carried out on a blue shopping bag which the defendant had at that time. Two parcels were found and when opened, it contained leaves, stems and seeds
which they perceived to be cannabis. Mentore was told of the offence and charged.
Prosecutor Grant opposed bail on the nature and prevalence of the offence and the fact that no special reason was raised by the defendant.
He was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court for October 14.
When some people in trouble dem does look different, talk different, sound different and some does even walk different. A young man who was a lil boy years ago come out in public de other day and talk bout some trouble, which been troublin he mind since he was eight.
De trouble continue fuh de next four long years, so that was a long period of trouble. Whah really had happen is that when he had de trouble back then, he was a lil too small to seh any ting bout de trouble. So he didn’t trouble no body bout he trouble.
De young man actually end up tellin de people in TeeTee bout he trouble. Is a good ting he didn’t choose de Bajans because dem woulda put de young man thru even more trouble. And this is de trouble whah been troublin he since he was small.
But de innocent lil boy was never de cause of de trouble. So is no wonder de big man who de lil boy accuse of puttin he in all that trouble, turn round and describe de lil boy as “troubled”.
Now it look like de big man don’t even wanna tek on de trouble of helpin de lil boy get outta this trouble. And that is whah cause all this trouble. And now de big man find he self in a (w)hole lotta trouble. It gon be real trouble fuh he to prove that he ain’t trouble de lil boy.
So in essence, de trouble now start now that every body know bout de trouble. De Kiss Man had get trouble like that since he was small, but he never raise any trouble. In fact, he had keep on goin fuh more of de same trouble. Now Rum Jhaat in a different kinda trouble. Accordin to he, is not de AFC people get offer a bribe. And according to Green Jah, is not de APNU people either. Now that only leff de PPP/C.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! So Rum Jhaat in big trouble! Wonder if he collect all de money!
From page 9
Meanwhile, following confirmation by the Council of Ministers last month that the Caribbean region will hold the post of Secretary General of the ACP Secretariat for the 20152020 period, the Committee of Ambassadors have designated which regions to nominate candidates for the four Assistant Secretary-General posts. The Committee of Ambassadors was mandated by the Council of Ministers to make the decision based on consensus, as well as the principle of rotation and equal opportunity for each ACP region to be represented at a managerial position in the ACP system. The Committee confirmed the following at their meeting on Thursday 17th July:
Assistant Secretary General in charge of Sustainable Economic Development and Trade – West Africa; Assistant Secretary General in charge of Political Affairs and Human Development – Central Africa; Assistant Secretary General in charge of Macroeconomics, Development Finance and
Intra-ACP Programming – Southern Africa and Assistant Secretary General in charge of Administration, Finance and Human Resources – Pacific. Each region is now invited to put forward qualified nominees for the respective positions. The Secretary General, who will be named at the next ACP Council of Ministers meeting in Suriname on3-4 November, shall make the final appointments of Assistant Secretary Generals based on merit and competence. This management team remains for a five year term, leading the Secretariat in executing its role as the administrative and technical arm of the ACP Group. The Secretariat, which employs nearly 100 staff, provides policy guidance and technical expertise to the Organs of the Group, and monitors the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement. The upcoming period is especially significant for management, as it will see the last leg of ACP-EU cooperation under the current Cotonou Partnership Agreement, which ends in 2020.
September 21 to 27 is dedicated Child Protection Week here in Guyana
By Jomo Paul
Against the background of recent Police reports showing at least two rape cases every day, Executive Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Pastor Patricia SherratanBisnauth said that paedophilia, a long standing crisis in society, has been crushing communities, destroying homes and people.
Many reports of child sexual molestation go unreported in Guyana and the world as a whole. By law child sexual abuse and paedophilia are considered to be statutory rape. Up to July this year, there were more than 140 cases of rape that were reported. Paedophilia has a range of definitions, as found in psychiatry, psychology, the vernacular, and law enforcement. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) defines it as a “disorder of adult personality and behaviour” in
which there is a sexual preference for children of prepubertal or early pubertal age. As a medical diagnosis, a specific criterion for the disorder extends the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13.
A person who is diagnosed with paedophilia must be at least 16 years of age, but adolescents who are 16 years of age or older must be at least five years older than the prepubescent child before the attraction can be diagnosed as paedophilia.
Speaking to Guyana Times in an interview on Monday, SherratanBisnauth said that while paedophilia is “running rampant” in our society, there is little that can be done unless reports are made and investigations adequately carried out. On this note, she remarked that because of preexisting situations and the small number of reports being gathered, “we are barely scratching the surface”. She explained: “People, and children in this case, keep
A20-year-old man succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital after losing control of his vehicle and slamming into a utility pole during an attack by Africianised bees on Sunday.
Dead is Merve Melville of 289 Number 8 Village, West Coast Berbice.
He was in the process of taking his aunt Ingrid “Patsy” Melville, who was first attacked by bees at her Number 8 Village, West Coast Berbice home when he came under attack.
After hearing her calls for help, Melville rushed to his aunt’s rescue and subsequently placed her in the vehicle to be transported to the Fort Wellington Hospital.
However, the bees were still on her and turned on him while he was driving.
Despite efforts to contain himself, the bees continued the attack which caused him to lose control of the vehicle PPP 3869 and slammed into utility pole on the Number 8 Public Road.
Melville was picked up and rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital and was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died early Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the deceased man’s aunt remains a patient of the Fort Wellington Hospital where she is receiving treatment for the bee stings she sustained.
silent because of their vulnerability, and it’s worse for children because in some cases they depend on their assaulters for support.”
The GRPA Head further explained that research
needs to be conducted to determine the scope and intensity of child sexual abuse in Guyana. When asked whether paedophilia and other forms of child sexual abuse are restricted to any one sector of society, SherratanBisnauth responded in the negative. She remarked that “sometimes it’s amazing to know who these persons are, paedophilia has no barriers”.
Widespread
Similarly, Head of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ann Greene contended that paedophilia and child sexual molestation have no barriers. “It has no respect for creed, status, race; it cuts across all divides. You can’t put it down to say that only these people will do child abuse,” said Greene.
She also indicated that while there has been an increase in reports of child sexual abuse, “child abuse is still very much hidden, the
reports are just the tip of the iceberg”. It was noted that child sexual abuse is ranked number two in the number of reported cases of child abuse. This follows child negligence which is ranked at number one.
Police generally do not release statistics on rape in their periodic crime statistics reports. For the year 2013, during the period of January to July, there were 179 cases of reported rapes.
A number of social groups have lamented the manner in which rape is generally handled by the Police; hence, some time ago, the Guyana Human Rights Association in a study titled “Without Conviction: Sexual Violence Cases in The Guyana Justice Process” had revealed an average conviction rate of 1.4 per cent in rape cases of all the reports originally made to the Police.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had reported that there were no convictions
for sexual offences since 2011 – a situation which he described as “alarming” and blamed the archaic jury system, as well as reluctant witnesses for the problem. For the years 2012 and 2013, some 22 sexual offences cases were taken before the court, but there has been no conviction. Instead, there have been a number of hung juries, witnesses failing to attend court, and some victims deciding not to pursue the matter.
Giving the statistics, Nandlall said, in 2011, 16 sexual offences cases were completed. There were three guilty pleas and three cases were nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue prosecution) because the Virtual Complainant (VC) gave a statement expressing a desire not to proceed with prosecution. There were seven not guilty verdicts by the jury. However, in 2012, 10 sexual offences cases were completed.
tuesDAY, september 23, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com
By SVetlana MarShall
Years of being allegedly raped and physically abused as a child have left serious emotional scars on 22-year-old Johnny Welshman Junior – the young man who has shocked the nation by accusing Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman of sexually molesting him when he was just 13.
Depression, post traumatic stress disorder, behavioural problems, poor self-esteem and thoughts of suicide are the key psychological effects of childhood sexual abuse. Welshman has been through all of that and even revealed that since his experience, he is no longer attracted to women.
Malicious
In a statement on Sunday, Trotman described the allegations as malicious and unfounded “by an unstable young man who, sadly, appears to have a troubled mind. I categorically deny his wicked assertions.”
Trotman said unfortunately, Welshman seems to have been “conveniently encouraged by manipulative and diabolic political forces. Conveniently, such scandalous assertions are obviously intended to provide a timely distraction from the serious prevailing political situation in Guyana, which imminently requires me as Speaker of the National Assembly to guide the ship of the nation’s Parliament through the strongest test to Guyana’s constitutional democracy: the debate of a no- confidence motion.” He said, as a true patriot of Guyana, “I will not allow the of-
fice of Speaker of the National Assembly to be compromised or be denigrated by false accusations for political expediency. There is absolutely no truth in the allegation, and I am confident that the masterminds and supporters of this dastardly plot will soon be exposed. I call for a thorough and professional investigation into this scurrilous allegation. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
At the age of 8
Meanwhile, in an interview with Guyana Times, Welshman Junior alleged that he was first sexually molested by a close relative at the age of eight while he was a student at the St Agnes Primary School. But this, he said, was just the beginning, contending that the relative’s friend, from Yarrowkabra, used him as a “toy” for sexual gratification.
However, he alleged that it was only at the age of 12, that Trotman allegedly made sexual advances towards him, af-
ter becoming knowledgeable of the acts committed on him by the close relative and the other man. The young man said that as a child he, along with his brother, was encouraged to visit Trotman’s office on South Road; however, on the day in question, his brother was not present. “The first time he did it to me, it was in his office on South Road, but the second time, he took me in a house, I believe it was in Brickdam because I can recall passing the old people home (Palms),” Welshman recalled.
Father aware
According to him, his father was fully aware of the assault on his childhood, but used it for his advantage. “If you check the record, you would see that Mr Trotman represented my father on numerous occasions and I knew my father was playing that card.” Trotman allegedly pampered him with goodies and even introduced him to the late President Desmond Hoyte, Welshman said, adding that the acts committed against him had caused him to “act out.”
He explained that in school he had become very rebellious and suicidal, noting that it was during that period, social workers realised that something was amiss. “I have been receiving counselling since I was a child and I am sure that Help and Shelter would provide those records. I could vividly remember visiting Ms Ann Greene when she was the Station Administrator of Social Welfare; she had suspicions, but I refused to tell her and that was my fault.”
According to him, he was fearful of his father who had
served as an officer within the Guyana Defence Force, explaining that his father allegedly physically abused him. “He throw me out as a baby, cuff me, gun butt me, kick me… I hate my father for those things. I can’t say that I love him… Everyone knows how he used to beat my mother and who represented him in the court,” said a riled-up Welshman.
Though he had left the shores of Guyana for the twinisland republic Trinidad and Tobago, the alleged victim was often plunged into a state of depression, resulting in him seeking treatment and counselling.
According to him, it was during these counselling sessions that his counsellor said true healing would only come if he confronts his abusers. According to him, it was based on this recommendation that he journeyed to Guyana on July 23, 2014. His intentions, he said, were pure, positing that he simply wanted true healing.
The first person he reportedly confronted was the relative who threatened him before making good his escape to Brazil upon learning that he secured a protection order against him. It is unclear whether Welshman had confronted the other man, but one week after his return to Guyana, he reportedly visited Trotman’s office, making his request known. On top of the agenda were a written apology, a house, a job, and money.
According to Welshman, the Speaker of the House had first encouraged him to apply at the Home Affairs Ministry, but when the job did not suit
him, Trotman allegedly assured him that he would use his influence to get him a job at the Pegasus Hotel. Although the recommendation was written by Trotman, this too fell through. The recommendation, which was dated August 13, 2014, was seen by Guyana Times. Managing Director of the Pegasus Hotel, Robert Badal had publicly stated that he financed the Alliance For Change (AFC) Elections Campaign in the lead-up to the 2011 General and Regional Elections. After leaving the People’s National Congress (PNC), Trotman co-founded the AFC in 2005 along with Khemraj Ramjattan.
Seeking a job
Welshman said it was based on his close relationship with Badal that Trotman wrote the recommendation, thinking that the supervisor post would have been made available; but when this fell through, the young man said he became frustrated, resulting in him making the demands.
Even as he acquired the services of Attorney-at-Law
Jaya Manickchand, Welshman said that he demanded $20 million. “I told him, ‘Uncle Raphael if you know what I still know, you would pay me’ and he told me point blank, ‘Johnny, what you are doing is blackmailing’ and he could get me arrested. That is what he told me in a Prado when he offered me $1.750 (million), and I declined,” Welshman alleged.
Unreasonable
After seeking legal advice, the young man was told that it was an “unreasonable” sum. “Miss Manickchand who
was negotiating on behalf of me called me and asked what would be the least amount I would accept, I told her five million; she said ‘would you accept anything below that’? I made it clear no,” he said. According to him, Trotman was willing to settle the matter for $2.5 million and a verbal apology, contending that any written apology would implicate him further.
Although the content of the series of conversations was not heard by Guyana Times, this newspaper was shown the cellphone log in which several phone calls were made between Welshman and Manickchand. Manickchand last acted on Welshman’s behalf on Saturday after indicating that she would recuse herself from the case following allegations that it was politically-motivated.
Even as he acquires the services of other lawyers, the 22-year-old is maintaining his story. “No question why I waited so long; this thing has been in my mind. I have medical records to show that I have received counselling. I do not suffer from any mental illness; if depression is a mental illness, well, every human being has depression.”
With the Police now involved in the matter, Welshman said he simply wants justice. “The time for settlement has finished, I want criminal proceedings… I want Uncle Raphael to go before a jury of his peers, to go before the court, to be charged, even if he is granted bail, let him be charged.” Though, many would doubt his story given the current political climate, the alleged victim said that he could challenge Trotman to a polygraph test.
By Vahnu Manikchand and andrew carMichael
The strike action at the troubled Skeldon Sugar Estate over the dismissal of a worker has escalated with unknown persons setting ablaze Sunday night approximately 34 hectares of unripened canes – an act the sugar company tied to the industrial unrest.
Talks also broke down between management and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) on a proposal that would have ended the industrial dispute. Workers took strike action following the dismissal of a worker who had allegedly assaulted the General Manager of the estate. However, GAWU objected to the dismissal on the grounds that there was no due process and argued for an investigation. GAWU also proposed the reinstatement of the sacked worker, but the sugar company rejected both proposals.
The strike action commenced on Sunday by both factory and field workers from the estate. Workers at the factory had claimed that the manager was intoxicated and had provoked the cane transporter, who then hit him. The work-
er was issued with a dismissal letter the following day which sparked the strike action.
During discussions on Monday aimed at ending the industrial action, GAWU President Komal Chand said he had put forward two options to GuySuCo’s Director of Industrial Relations, Jairam Petam. However, the sugar company dismissed the options, stating that it will stand by the initial decision taken by one of its managers. Speaking with the Guyana Times, Chand noted that he had gone to the company with a proposal to have the dismissal letter withdrawn or to let an impartial body investigate the matter. “We represented that the matter is getting out of hand, not only we have the strike, but there were some canes that were burnt last night (Sunday)… we try to have the matter defused and normalcy restored… unfortunately GuySuCo, after consulting with their CEO, refused either ways of resolution and rejected both proposals,” Chand stated.
He explained that the proposals were based on the fact that the Estate Manager Davenarine Kumar, being an aggrieved party in the matter, had meted out disciplinary action against the worker, Stephen Daniels, while com-
Stephen Daniels
plaints were also filed against him (Kumar). “So we said since there are two versions, let us have an investigation and in any case the manager, being an aggrieved party, ought not to make any decisions on the matter. He ought to recuse himself from the matter and have the matter dealt with by the Industrial Relations Department of GuySuCo, where they will conduct their own investigations. He cannot be the judge, jury and executioner,” Chand pointed out.
According to the GAWU President, this is a clear breach of industrial relations practices,
where the decision was unilaterally made. Chand noted that this issue escalated to such an extent after workers claimed that this was not strange behaviour for Kumar. The Union head noted that the next step now is for the Labour Ministry to intervene in the matter, engaging both GAWU and GuySuCo so that a compromise can be reached.
Strike will continue Chand told this newspaper that the strike action at the Skeldon Estate is likely to continue until workers feel that justice has been meted out to Daniels, adding that the only way to resolve the matter is for GuySuCo to settle the dispute. He disclosed that reports coming from Skeldon indicate that the workers were still on strike on Monday.
“As of noon today (Monday), the workers were still on strike; there were canes on the dock that are to be milled. We understand that GuySuCo is trying to get some of their managerial staff to see how they could mill the canes they have in the dock area,” Chand revealed.
However, according to a Workers Union Representative, Tamishwar Beharry, the factory commenced grinding operations on Monday afternoon.
“I see some smoke coming out from the chimney this afternoon,” Beharry recalled.
In a statement issued by the Sugar Corporation on Monday, the company refuted allegations that the Estate Manager was intoxicated and had abused Daniels as is being claimed.
Responding to this, the GAWU President reiterated his calls for an independent body to review the matter, calling for an impartial inquiry to be held.
Additionally, GuySuCo said in the statement that some 34 hectares of unripe canes were burnt and the company believed it to be the work of arsonists as a result of the strike actions. Chand pointed out that his union will not condone such immature acts to destroy the assets of the estate and property.
“Any destruction along those lines will hurt every stakeholder and by extension the people of Guyana and we denounce it. We are calling on the perpetuators to understand that such actions are inimical even to the resolution of the matter,” he said.
Abusive language
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Guyana Times, Daniels recalled he was in the field with his supervisor and Factory Manager when the
General Manager approached them and questioned him before pelting out a series of abusive words to him. Daniels recalled that the official subsequently came out of his vehicle and rushed towards him. “I turn around and ‘barred’ because I didn’t know what he could do me,” he said, noting that it was in the process of ‘barring’ that his hands accidentally touched the manager. Daniels further stated the General Manager also made racist comments to him before instructing the security guard to escort him off the worksite. “I apologised to him several times after my hands accidentally touched him,” the Dock Mill Operator explained. Several workers also corroborate Daniels’ story that the senior official abused him about his mother which provoked the man to retaliate. Daniels had been employed as a Dock Mill Operator for the past 25 years. Workers, backed by their union, have promised to intensify their protest action on today. Their demand is that Daniels must be reinstated, paid for the days he was not working as a result of his dismissal and the senior official issue an apology. A prolonged strike at the Skeldon Estate will put in excess of 480,000 tonnes of cane at risk.
BY BHISHAM MOHAMED
Three men posing as members of the Guyana Police Force on Sunday evening terrorised an East Bank Demerara (EBD) family before escaping with millions in jewellery and cash.
Malanie Leung of Lot 140 Green Acres, Providence, EBD and several family members, including her three children, were bound and gagged by the men who wore “Police outfits”.
From all indications, the men would have carried out their research on the family before committing the robbery since they repeatedly demanded gold, knowing that the woman’s husband is a gold miner.
According to information gathered, the woman’s 11-year-old son was in the yard taking a shower when the men who scaled the fence confronted him and instructed him not to raise an alarm.
One of them held a gun to the lad’s head and escorted him into the house. The other occupants of the house were in the lower-flat of the building and were all ordered to lie on the floor and not to make any sound or they would be killed.
When Guyana Times visited the house on Monday morning, Police ranks were busy taking statements from the woman and her children.
In a subsequent telephone interview, the woman stated that the robbery occurred about 19:00h on Sunday as she was preparing to take home her four nieces who had visited for the weekend.
She recalled prior to the robbery, the three men had approached her home, indicating that they were patrolling the area and collected her name, address and telephone number.
“I didn’t see their faces since I spoke with them from my bedroom window and they were beyond the fence,” she added. About 10 minutes later, she explained that her son went to take a shower in the yard when she was confronted by the men who enquired if any male was at home.
In responding to the negative, answer the men made their way into the house and held everyone at gunpoint. She went on to say that while one of the men was keeping watch on them, two others went into the upper flat of
the house where they ransacked every room but came up empty-handed.
After a while, they ran downstairs, collected her and took her back into the upper flat where they demanded the gold and money.
“I tell them whatever they see, that was what we he had at home but they didn’t believe,” the woman said trembling.
The bandits then took her to the master bed room where they ordered her to open a drawer. In that drawer, said there were the jewellery and money.
“They get 150,000 in cash, one gold chain with diamond valued over $1 million, three other chains, three rings and other jewellery… they also took away two laptops, two Samsung phones, five 4S Active phones, one 3Smini phone, two BlackBerry phones,” she added.
The men even emptied her daughter’s school bag and went away with it.
After collecting the money, jewellery and other items, they duct-taped her hands and feet and left her in the closet. They then went in the lower-flat where they ducttaped the children, scaled the fence, and drove away in their car.
In addition, she stated that the men’s faces were covered and they were wearing hats, but despite she wanted to look into their faces, they were warned not to. The woman said she and her children were left traumatised.
Leung believes that the robbery a was set up and she chided the security guard at the front gate for not being vigilant enough. The security guard reportedly claimed that he did not see any vehicle while he was at his post. Another guard subsequently told investigators that he saw the white car but thought the woman was entertaining guests at her home; hence, he did not bother to enquire.
“When the real cops came to investigate, I was reluctant to open for them… they had to show me their badges and so before I let them in.”
An investigation has been launched into the robbery. Only recently, bogus cops robbed a family at an intersection along the Soesdyke Public Road. The two men who were dressed as cops took away millions of dollars in jewellery and cash. No one was arrested for that matter.
With the aim of strengthening security while at the same time maximising capacity, construction works on the third phase of a brick prison at the Camp Street penitentiary is set to commence after Cabinet cleared over $80 million to fund the work.
Last Wednesday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon disclosed that Cabinet had approved the contract of a whopping $81.7 million for the construction of the brick prison.
Speaking with Guyana Times, acting Director of Prisons Welton Trotz said while he was not given any official word about the approved money, the money will go a long way in speeding up the works.
The construction of a brick prison block at the Lot 12 Camp Street location be-
gan two years ago and is currently at phase three. Some $50.93 million was plugged into phase one of the project, which started in 2012. Phase two was done last year and was funded from the $122 million Capital Works budgetary allocation
for infrastructural works to be done at various prisons.
According to the Prison Director, the money granted will not only be used to sustain phase three of the project but also complete the entire prison block. He noted that this new facility will be used to house convicted felons and will contain the necessary amenities.
Trotz explained that the project is aimed at providing a more humane facility for the inmates, while strengthening security at the facility for both the prisoners and the prison staff. The Director pointed out that having a brick prison at the location will also tighten security for the more dangerous criminals held there.
Additionally, he said that with prison breaks in the past, the facility will provide more secure features; thus, preventing any
repeats of breaches of security at the country’s largest penitentiary.
As part of the Guyana Prison Service’s strategic plan to modernise prison facilities across the country, the decision was taken to reconstruct the brick prison block at the Camp Street location, which has six main blocks. Both inmates and staff had complained about the deplorable conditions of the old brick prison. At one point, the old facility was unused due to its inhumane state.
That block had housed prisoners with mental illnesses and the solitary confinement room on the bottom flat; however, the area was flood-prone with sewage problems. The new layout of the facility would allow for better accommodation and would be divided into sections for the various categories of prisoners.
enezuelan leader
VNicolas Maduro said he will travel to New York this week for his debut appearance as President at the United Nations General Assembly despite “racist” editorials against him in major US newspapers.
The socialist-run country is poised to gain a temporary seat on the UN Security Council in 2015-16 thanks to unanimous backing around Latin America and the Caribbean.
The United States is unhappy with that but is not seeking to scupper it, diplomatic sources say. At the weekend, though, both the New York Times and the Washington Post decried Venezuela’s probable place on the council, citing repression of opponents.
Maduro, a 51-yearold former bus driver who won an election to replace his mentor the late Hugo Chávez last year, blasted the newspapers and said he would hold his head high in representation of Chávez, Venezuela and the regional left-wing ALBA bloc.
“They treat me in a racist manner. The Washington Post and The New York Times treated me like a bus driver and an illiterate,” he said on Monday afternoon during the inauguration of a school.
“I’m proud that a bus driver can be President of the Republic... Gentlemen at the Washington Post, this busman right here is going to the United States. Just
you wait!” added Maduro, decked out in a jacket fashioned off Venezuela’s vibrant yellow, blue and red flag.
Venezuela famously made waves at the 2006 General Assembly when Chávez compared George W Bush to the devil, saying he could still “smell sulfur” a day after the former US President addressed member states. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller told supporters at the National Arena on Sunday that her governing People’s National Party (PNP) will win next year’s Local Government Elections, as well as the 2016 General Election.
The Prime Minister added that she was confident that the people of Jamaica know that the PNP is the best party to govern Jamaica.
Disparaging comments by Opposition spokesman on finance and planning Audley Shaw that while the PNP Government may be passing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) tests, it is failing the “people’s test”, Simpson Miller said:
“I tell you something more, we are going to pass the people’s test again next year when Local Government Elections are due. And then, we are going to pass the people’s test again, when the big one comes around.”
Sunday
“Comrades, 2016 is not far away. We are not ready yet to step on the gas pedal, but we are tuning up the engine, we are cleaning up the carburettor, we are changing out the air filter, we are dressing up the vehicle: We are getting ready; we are getting ready,” she repeated.
“We have passed the IMF test and we have passed the
people’s test. Come next year, we will pass the people’s test again. You know why? The people know that we know what we are doing, and the people know that we know where we are going, and the people know that the People’s National Party right now is the best Government to lead Jamaica,” she added. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
Agriculture officials are urging stronger measures to preserve food security, including the setting up of a Caricom Food Bank.
The call comes as the Region continues to deal with the effects of climate change and other problems threatening food security. Senior Extension Officer in the Agriculture Ministry of Antigua Owalabi Elabanjo said the Region should come
together and give serious consideration to the setting up of such an institution, in the event of a disaster.
“We need to start looking into food banks where we can store food for six months, after six months we can sell it out and replenish it again.”
“We must have food, at hand, to feed our people in the Region. As I have said in Zero Hunger, we are using the initiative to make
sure that every home participates in food production,” Elabanjo said on the Big Issues Programme. In recent years, food production has decreased significantly in many countries. The agricultural sector in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Dominica has suffered drastically over the past few months as a result of rainfall shortage, pest, diseases and other contributing factors.
PJ Patterson says Jamaica should “sever link to an imperial court”
Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson has called on the Portia Simpson Miller led Administration to proceed with efforts to sever ties with the UK-based Privy Council and the Queen as Head of State.
Patterson in an address at the 76th annual conference of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) on Sunday said the party should not allow itself to be derailed in the move to become a republic.
He also said Jamaica should “sever the link to an imperial court”, in reference to the Privy Council. For years, Jamaica has been divided on the issue of whether to make the Caribbean Court of Justice the island’s final appellate court.
Patterson said that “we will not be held blameless”
by the next generation if we” fail to do these and other things to secure a prosperous future.
Patterson, as Prime Minister during the 1990s, saw to the establishment of a Commission to examine options for reform of the Jamaican Constitution, including the establishment of a Republic. The discussions between the PNP and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) broke down on the question of what form of republic Jamaica should become – one with a ceremonial President or an Executive President. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)
coast, believed to be remains of Santa Maria
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says the remains of a Haitian shipwreck, believed to be the lost remains of the Santa Maria –the flagship of Christopher Columbus, requires further investigation.
A UNESCO team led by the former head of the Spanish National Museum on Underwater Archaeology, Xavier Nieto Prieto, recently examined the wreck off CapHaïtien in northern Haiti
and collected samples as part of the investigation.
The wreck was first discovered by explorer Barry Clifford, who earlier this year alerted Haitian authorities. Clifford then said he was certain that the “Holy Grail” of shipwrecks had been found but needed to investigate further.
However, Clifford and Charles Beeker, a leading maritime Archaeologist and Director of Indiana University’s (IU) underwater science programme, were rejected by UNESCO’s
Scientific and Technical Advisory Body.
Ulrike Guerin, who is responsible for underwater cultural heritage issues at UNESCO, said the two were rejected on several grounds, including a lack of scientific background, proof of available funds and competence.
In response, Beeker said the decision made no sense given that he and Indiana University were endorsed by UNESCO to document Columbus artifacts at La Isabela, The Dominican Republic. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)
Located on the Northeastern Atlantic coast of South America, Suriname’s security forces are charged with defending its borders and more than 240 miles of coastline. Bordered by French Guiana to the East, Guyana to the West and Brazil to the South, Suriname is a nation full of nature reserves and diversity.
trafficking.
However, like most nations in the Region, Suriname is at risk of transnational threats such as organised crime and illicit
In order to expand their capability to face these challenges, Suriname military officials welcomed a group of American special operations soldiers during a four-week Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) in the month of August.
Nearly 50 members of the Surinamese security forces from Suriname’s Army Special Forces and Surinamese military and law enforcement antiterrorism units work with members assigned to the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). The JCET focused on the development of small unit leaders and noncommissioned officers. US and Surinamese forces exchanged training techniques and knowledge of small arms training, small unit tactics, riverine operations and operational planning. JCETs are part of Special Operations Command South’s Theatre Security Cooperation programme with nations across the US Southern Command area of responsibility. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)
Adecorated Iraq war veteran who scaled a fence on Friday night and got into the White House had over 800 rounds of ammunition in his car and was arrested in July with a sniper rifle and a map marking the executive mansion, a Federal Prosecutor said on Monday.
Omar Gonzalez, 42, was also stopped, but not arrested in August walking by the White House with a hatchet in his waistband, Federal Prosecutor David Mudd told a federal judge.
The previous interactions that Gonzalez had with the US Secret Service is part of a sweeping internal review underway of how the agency failed to stop him from getting inside the White House, and whether more security is needed, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.
The incident with Gonzalez follows a number of security lapses involving the President’s security detail, including a prostitution scandal in 2012.
Asked on Monday whether he has confidence in the agency, President
Barack Obama said: “Secret Service does a great job. And I’m grateful for the sacrifices they make on my behalf and my family’s behalf.”
Gonzalez faces charges of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a “deadly or dangerous weapon.” He was carry-
ing a knife when he entered the White House. The charge carries up to 10 years in prison.
He consented to a search of his car after his arrest, and officers found more than 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete. (Excerpt from MSN)
An Algerian group has kidnapped and threatened to kill a Frenchman unless Paris halts air attacks in Iraq on fighters from its ally, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
The Jund al-Khilafa group said in a video on Monday that it had abducted Herve Gourdel on Sunday in a mountainous Tizi Ouzu region in Northern Algeria, where al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is active.
Gourdel was shown squatting on the ground flanked by two hooded men with assault rifles, as he asks for the French President Francois Hollande, to intervene.
He said that he arrived in Algeria on September 20, and was abducted a day later. “I am in the hands of Jund al-Khilifa. This group is asking me to ask you [Hollande] to not intervene
in Iraq. I ask you to do everything to get me out of this bad situation and I thank you.”
France launched its first air attacks on ISIL fighters last week, after joining a USled coalition to “degrade and destroy” the threat posed by the group.
The French Foreign
Ministry and presidency acknowledged Gourdel had been abducted, and that the video was genuine.
“We will do everything we can to liberate hostages,” said France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. “But a terrorist group cannot change France’s position.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Afghanistan’s President-elect promised to end political strife and corruption in a speech on Monday, his first since signing a power-sharing agreement with his rival aimed at bringing months of turmoil to a close.
“Afghanistan’s stability is most important for us,” former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani said in his address at the presidential palace in Kabul. “Let’s build up this nation and put the past behind us.”
Ghani was named
President-elect on Sunday after he signed a USbrokered deal to share power with his opponent, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.
Abdullah had complained of mass vote-rigging in June’s run-off ballot, and the rivalry threatened to destabilise the country just as most foreign troops prepare to leave.
Under the terms of the unity deal, Ghani will share power with a Chief Executive proposed by Abdullah. The two will share control over
who leads key institutions such as the Army and other executive decisions.
Ghani’s Administration must now forge a Government after much acrimony as well as deal with an emboldened Taliban insurgency.
The Taliban on Monday dismissed the agreement for a unity government as a “sham” orchestrated by the United States, and they vowed to press on with their war against the Afghan Government and US and allied forces backing it. (Excerpt from Reuters)
The UN refugee agency says Turkey urgently needs help to care for 130,000 Syrian refugees who have crossed the border in recent days.
The UNHCR said this was the largest influx in such a short period since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. The Syrian Kurds are fleeing an advance by Islamic State (IS) militants, who have seized swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months.
IS fighters are reported to be closing in on the Syrian town of Kobane.
The capture of Kobane, also known as Ayn al-Arabon, would give the jihadists complete control of the area.
Even before the latest influx, Turkey was struggling
to cope with more than a million Syrian refugees who have crossed into its territory since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began more than three years ago.
Carol Batchelor, the UNHCR’s envoy in Turkey, told the BBC that such high numbers of refugees would place a strain on any host community. She called for “increased solidarity and international assistance” for those flooding across the border.
“The situation is deepening. It’s becoming protracted. People are desperately in need,” she added. Batchelor said food, blankets and winter clothing – particularly for children – were needed. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Students at Calcutta’s Jadavpur University say they will continue a boycott despite a Government vow to set up a panel to investigate a sexual assault on a female student.
What began as anger over last month’s attack has snowballed into fury over the authorities’ response. Protests reached a peak at the weekend when up to 25,000 marched through Calcutta’s streets.
Students say they will not return to class until the Vice Chancellor quits. Dozens of students were injured when Vice-Chancellor Abhijit Chakraborty called in Police last Tuesday night to quell a protest on campus.
The classrooms at Jadavpur University are empty. There are students walking about but they are
all boycotting their lessons. Some are tattooing the word “shame” on their arms.
The walls are covered with posters, calling on the Vice Chancellor to resign. It is the only topic of conversation. One young student told me “I will not set foot in my classes until he has been thrown out of this institution”. A female student said:
“if we do not stand up and protest what will happen if someone attacks me”? Many here are angry and there is a mood of defiance in the air. Student leaders are meeting to decide what to do next. Whatever decision they take it will be some time before classrooms here are full of students again. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Ugandan MPs have been inundated with complaints that many condoms on sale in the East African nation are too small, warning the problem is a blow to the fight against AIDS.
Insisting that one size doesn’t fit all, MP Tom Aza said Uganda’s Parliamentary Committee for HIV/AIDS said a recent tour of areas worst hit by the virus revealed that some men “have bigger sexual organs and therefore should be considered for bigger condoms.”
“When it comes to action, when they’re having sexual activity, of course with the pressure, it bursts,” he told NTV Uganda.
A stage version of Marco Baliani’s “Amore Buono” performed in Rome in 2006
“Some youth are complaining that the condoms they are being given, some of them are too short, their organs can’t fit in them,” MP Merard Bitekyerezo also told the channel.
condoms, to the acquiring of HIV and AIDS.”
Another committee member, Sarah Netalisile, said the size issue was “exposing our younger boys and girls, and all those users of
NTV Uganda’s report said the MPs would push for better condom supplies and bigger sizes. It is not the first time the penis size issue has been raised to condom manufacturers. (Excerpt from France24)
tuesDAY, september 23, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com
AMemorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Guyana and the United Kingdom paving the way for the latter to provide training and mentoring for the staff of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) created by the government to investigate money laundering crimes.
Signing on the ruling administration’s behalf on Monday was Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr
Roger Luncheon, who said that it was remarkable that such an event could occur within the relatively short space of time that SOCU was conceptualised and established to investigate suspected money laundering crimes, prosecuting persons suspected of terrorism and financial offences.
Investigations and prosecution of money laundering activities, Dr. Luncheon said, along with the financing of terrorism crimes, be-
came a matter of concern in Guyana’s mutual evaluation under the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) programme of activities, “and the response was the Special Organised Crime Unit”.
He added that from SOCU’s gestation to the present, certified and verified support by the donor community, the time frame of less than six months, point to how much could be achieved when all work together.“This is a further
A24-year-old mother of one was on Monday morning charged and remanded to prison for trafficking narcotics.
Natasha Livingstone of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not to the charge before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is alleged that on September 19 at Mabaruma, North West District, she had
in her possession 102 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
Livingstone was represented by Attorney Sandy FordThompson, who told the court that her client has no knowledge of the narcotics, as her belongings were not searched in her presence, adding that she was in the washroom when the search was conducted.
She requested bail in a reasonable sum stating her special reason that being of
multiple occupancy and that her client is pregnant and is not a flight risk.
Police Prosecutor Michael Grant opposed bail on the grounds of the nature and prevalence of the offence. He maintained that the illegal substance was found in the presence of the accused.
Livingstone was remanded to prison until October 14 and her case was transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, will be hosting a series of Public Consultations on the Draft Biosafety / Biotechnology and Biosecurity Legislation (Act and Regulations), from Wednesday to October 15, 2014, within various administrative regions of Guyana.
These consultations are aimed at facilitating public review and discussion of the Legislation pending its finalisation, the ministry said in a release. Guyana became a Party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) on August 29, 1994, subsequently signing on to the supplemental agreement the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) which entered into force on September 11, 2003.
As a Party to the UNCBD, Guyana is expected to implement measures to support effective implementation of Modern Biotechnology involving the use of GMOs/LMOFFPs: one such measure is the development of a National Biosafety Framework (NBF). A key focus of the NBF is to ensure that GMOs/LMO-FFPs introduced into the environment, either intentionally or by accident, would not impact negatively on the Caribbean region’s biodiversity.
The National Biosafety / Biotechnology and Biosecurity Legislation is one (1) of five (5) components to be implemented through the NBF, providing critical support
example of the Government of Guyana and the donor community as prime stakeholders in this struggle against serious crimes, as they go out in positioning Guyana to respond to its obligations.”
Referring to the words of advice from a British expert on money laundering, who explained that jailing offenders was no longer seen as a deterrent, and recognised that in these modern times, forfeiture of assets and interrupting the financing of those with criminal intent were added factors, said the HPS.
He emphasised to the head of SOCU, Lt Col. Sydney James that his successes will not be measured necessarily in convictions and putting criminals behind bar, “A different order is required and it is our fervent hope, our expectation that this training that flows from the execution of the memorandum of understanding, and indeed the very existence of SOCU, would indeed give rise to expectations that are met, and that can clearly demonstrate that, yes Guyana is meeting its obligations to its people and its obligations to the rest of the world, when it comes to fighting money laundering and financing of terrorism”.
The agreement will result in significant support from the UK, for SOCU, according to British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre. “It is important to us both, that organised crime is tackled, at its root, both in Guyana and outside the confines of Guyana. It is also
ous one signed on January 13, for similar assistance. Despite the non-support from the Parliamentary Opposition of the FATF compliant Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill, and its subsequent non passage
important, today, because it helps Guyana to fulfill its international obligations under the Financial Action Task Force’s framework”.
The High Commissioner also wished the SOCU, “every success” and also thanked the United States Government for supporting the initiative. This most recent MOU builds on a previ-
in the National Assembly, Government has indicated that it will be doing all that can be accomplished within international regulations to put measures in place to signal its support for the internationally required financial obligations. Guyana’s case comes up for review in October, by the FATF.
Generation capacity in the Demerara/ Berbice Integrated System (DBIS) has been significantly reduced since Sunday due to shortfall in expected imported energy from GuySuCo, Skeldon, and the failure of the turbo charger on GPL’s No.3 Wartsila set located at Kingston, Georgetown.
patience while we work to restore power to normalcy. Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has reported that workers at Skeldon Estate have begun to return to work after strike action taken on Friday, according to the Government Information Agency.
to the National Policy on Biosafety / Biotechnology and Biosecurity previously finalised. The primary objective is that through the development of the National Biosafety/Biotechnology and Biosecurity Legislation, appropriate measures will be taken to minimize any potential risk, and to set a platform for the wise implementation of biotechnology initiatives.
The document is available for the public to review and make comments at www. nre.gov.gy and www.epaguyana.org; comments on the document can be submitted to benticknbf@gmail.com by October 31, 2014. The Agency requests that comments be referenced by stating the page number and paragraph number before the comment.
Unfortunately, these two incidents arose at a time when the No.1 Wartsila generator at the Kingston 1 plant is undergoing a major overhaul, the Guyana Power and Light said in statement. According to GPL, GuySuCo is unable to supply energy to the grid because of industrial action at its Skeldon factory. It is uncertain when GuySuCo Skeldon operations will return to normalcy.
In the interim, the replacement component for the turbo charger is expected to arrive on Thursday night, and the machine will return to operation on Friday. The No. 1 Diesel Generator at the Kingston 1 Plant is on schedule to return to service on Sunday, September 28. Consequently, GPL said it has been forced to load shed in Demerara and Berbice since Sunday evening.
GPL regrets any inconvenience this may cause our customers in Demerara and Berbice and seeks your
The Minister noted, according to GINA that while normal resumption is expected today the Union has been representing the workers and has been meeting with Management. He expressed the hope for an amicable settlement to the problem which caused the strike. Ramsammy stated that whilst the strike has cost the sector a significant amount of productive time, this will have to be made up. This he pointed out, would be in conjunction with making up time lost in July and August due to the weather conditions which had also caused lost time.
“I am glad that some of the workers have returned today and more will return tomorrow…I am glad that GAWU and management are meeting,” the Minister noted with the expectation of ending the strike.
Meanwhile, Minister Ramsammy pointed out that while Skeldon has been doing extremely well over the past several weeks, workers have earned ex-
tra days pay for surpassing their targets. He added that this has also been so with other estates after a shaky start for the second crop. The Minister pointed out that while this has been due to bad weather; GuySuCo has been making up for the earlier losses. He expressed confidence that the overall target would be made for the year with better weather and production time expected over the rest of the period into December.
Minister Ramsammy added that while the good first crop gives some leeway into the second, there is also hope of exceeding the overall target at the end of the year. Observing that for 2014, whilst the cane is in the field, strikes should be avoided since the weather is not always favourable. Additionally, the Minister stated that while debt will not be written off this year, it will go into next year and the cash flow will be used to manage the debt situation.
“The debt situation has not prevented Guysuco from its everyday operation. As we produce sugar we are able to generate income that takes care of the debts.
I’m not overtly worried about the debt. The entire short - term payments have been met at this time,” the Minister stated.
Fourteen burial grounds in Region Two, including La Belle Alliance –which is home to Damon Cross – were recently cleared of overgrown vegetation through the Government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP), which is being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Water.
The CIIP aims at improving access and aesthetics in communities across the country while fostering greater community cohesion, the Ministry of Housing said in a release. CIIP will directly benefit residents in the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and target townships while creating employment for more than 1200 persons. Activities under this programme include: weeding parapets, cleaning residential drains, and clearing cemetery and crematorium grounds.
According to the Ministry, works have commenced in several regions and they are currently preparing to roll out the programme in other areas. The first areas of focus across the country is improving the grounds of cemeteries and
clearing residential drains which are overgrown with vegetation. As such, clearing exercises commenced in all NDCs and the Anna Regina Township in Region Two on September 1. Some of the burial grounds were not cleared for decades and the grounds were inaccessible and unsafe. For instance, the historical La Belle Alliance Burial Ground was not cleared in about four decades.
The 17 labourers who worked to clear this ground were challenged by stubborn overgrown vegetation, Africanised bee hives and dangerous snakes that con-
verted the marshy areas into their homes. According to Basil Persaud, Regional Community Enhancement Officer, clearing of the 3,920ftX200ft burial ground is 50 per cent completed. Clearing of this section came to an abrupt halt because when workers encountered bee hives.
He noted that the Ministry is currently organising bee experts to remove the Africanised bee hives since the safety of the workers and visitors are a top priority. Other burial grounds that benefited from improvements include Charity,
Better Hope, Andrews, Elisa, Three Friends Walton Hall, Cotton Field, Queenstown, Habadeen/ Zorg-en-Light, and Golden Fleece.
As a result of works by the Ministry, the Habadeen/ Zorg-en-Light Burial Ground is now in an excellent condition with not even a blade of grass visible. The 40 labourers who worked on this project ensured that every stump and weed was removed.
Clearing of the Three Friends Walton Hall Burial Ground was done in three days by 52 workers. This site is approximately 150 sq ft and was not cleared in decades. Its improvement has now enhanced the physical landscape of the community.
Another burial ground that was in a deplorable condition and, was also not cleared in decades is Elisa. While some burial grounds received minor clearing by residents over the years it was evident that this was not the case with the Elisa Burial Ground.
Project Coordinator Karen Roopchand assured that continuity of similar exercises is a must. She noted that as vegetation begins to surface, workers attached to the various areas will be proactive rather than reactive.
She also noted that several other initiatives are planned under the project which will contribute towards cleaner, healthier and safer communities across the length and breadth of the country.
About 45 million indigenous people live in Latin America, representing 8.3 per cent of the Region’s population. In the last decade, there has been progress on their access to health care and education, their political participation and the recognition of their territorial rights, but significant gaps persist, according to a new report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
The document "Guaranteeing indigenous people’s rights in Latin America: progress in the past decade and remaining challenges," presented on Monday in New York, aims to contribute to the debates that will take place at the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, on September 22-23, as well as to the process of implementing and following up on the post-2015 development agenda.
The report shows important progress in access to health care, reflected in improvements to indicators such as the proportion of births attended by health professionals or infant mortality among indigenous peoples. The deaths of children under five years old decreased between 2000 and 2010 in seven countries with available data (Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia).
In addition, in seventeen countries there are institutions with specific mandate to address the issue of intercultural health. In the educational field, class attendance rates have risen significantly at all levels. In the eight countries with data available from the censuses taken in 2010 and 2011, attendance of children between 6 and 11 years of age ranged from 82 per cent to 99 per cent.
Nevertheless important gaps persist vis-à-vis the non-indigenous population in terms of finishing secondary school
and gaining access to higher education. There has been progress as well in the recognition of indigenous peoples’ territorial rights, including the right to collective property ownership.
The study shows that improvements have been made in most countries in the Region, mainly in demarcating and granting titles to land, but significant challenges remain in terms of territorial control, including natural resources. Between 2010 and 2013, researchers identified more than 200 conflicts in indigenous territories linked to extractive energy and mining activities.
The report highlights the increase of the political participation of indigenous peoples, the continuous strengthening of their organisations and the establishment of alliances for political influence, but warns that these groups are still scarcely represented in State bodies.
Even though progress have been observed on the right of prior, free and informed consent and the respect for institutions and systems of self-government, these achievements are insufficient regarding international standards that recognise the fundamental right to self-determination of these peoples.
The study notes that, according to census data, the estimated indigenous population in Latin America in 2010 was about 45 million people, with 17 million living in Mexico and another 7 million in Peru. The countries with the greatest proportion of indigenous people are Bolivia (62.2 per cent), Guatemala (41 per cent), Peru (24,0 per cent) and Mexico (15.1 per cent).
Present calculations indicate that Latin America is home to 826 indigenous groups. This represents an increase from the last figure given by ECLAC in 2006, when 642 peoples were identified.
This jump is due to the improvements in statistical data in recent years and to indigenous peoples’ influence through the struggles for the recognition of their rights.
Brazil has the greatest number of indigenous peoples (305), followed by Colombia (102), Peru (85), Mexico (78) and Bolivia (39). Many of those groups are in danger of disappearing physically or culturally, as was confirmed in the cases of Brazil (70 peoples at risk), Colombia (35) and Bolivia (13).
In addition, the report estimates that another 200 indigenous peoples live in voluntary isolation in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. The indigenous population’s potential for growth is greater than that of non-indigenous people, because their age structure is younger and their fertility rates are higher, although there has been a reduction in this indicator in the five countries with available data (Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela).
The document also reveals that recent internal migration rates are lower among indigenous peoples than nonindigenous groups and that in 4 of the 10 countries with available information (Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) most indigenous people live in cities.
ECLAC’s report analyses in depth all the available information in each of these areas, advocates to strengthen mechanisms for the protection of indigenous peoples implemented at the United Nations system and offers recommendations to countries encouraging them to recognise indigenous peoples’ contribution to build a new development paradigm, based on a structural change towards equality and sustainability.
Technological advancement has improved greatly over the past years. We have gone from TDMA phones to smartphones such as BlackBerry and iPhone; from desktop computers to laptops and tablets. Life today seems impossible without flat screen televisions, mp3 players, i-pods, and similar gadgets. But have you ever stopped to consider what happens to the older models of these and other electronics that we no longer use? Well, they all contribute to electronic waste or e-waste.
The Environmental Protection Agency, recognising that e-waste is on the increase in Guyana, has developed environmental guidelines for its management. E-waste consists of discarded electrical or electronic devices: everything from battery operated toys and hair dryers all the way up to computers and other circuit board containing equipment.
While we might not notice it, electronics are very dangerous when released into the environment. We might only see the outer shell of these products, but within their casing are circuit boards, wiring and electrical connections that make the device actually function. These can pose problems to the environment and human health, since they contain harmful chemicals, which can leak and contaminate the immediate environment in which they are disposed.
Some of the materials found in these appliances include:
* Mercury: found in fluorescent tubes, mechanical doorbells, thermostats and flat screen monitors. Health effects include sensory impairment, dermatitis, memory loss, and muscle weakness. Environmental effects in animals include death, reduced fertility, slower growth and development.
* Sulphur: found in lead-acid batteries. Health effects include liver damage, kidney damage, heart damage, and eye and throat
irritation. When released into the environment, it can create sulphuric acid – as avery strong acid, this is corrosive and can affect soil and water organisms and react with other compounds in the environment and release noxious gases.
* Cadmium: the most common form of cadmium is found in nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries. These batteries tend to contain between six to 18 per cent cadmium. When not properly recycled, it can leach into the soil, harming micro-organisms and disrupting the soil ecosystem. In humans, it affects the body’s ability to metabolise calcium, leading to bone pain and severely weakened, fragile bones.
* Lead: used for solder, and can be found in CRT monitors (television and computer), lead-acid batteries and some formulations of PVC. When released into the environment, lead accumulates in the soil and is absorbed by plants. Lead poisoning can cause various health problems including the impairment of the brain's thought and speech related functions; eventually, lead exposure can cause paralysis, coma and death.
* Copper: found in the wiring of almost all appliances. It can cause irritation of the throat and lungs and affect the liver, kidneys and other body systems.
* Arsenic: often found in circuit boards. May disrupt cell communication and interfere with the triggers that cause cells to grow, possibly contributing to heart disease, cancer and diabetes if someone is exposed over a long time to low doses.
Good e-waste management practices
To reduce the buildup of e-wastes in the environment, the 3 R’s principles of waste management are recommended: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
* Reduce the amount of e-waste you generate by being smart in your purchasing of gadgets – buy only what you need.
* Reuse electronic equipment which is still functioning, by donating or selling it to someone else. Some parts can also be used to assemble new computers, or in construction and flatware.
* Recycle components that cannot be repaired – where facilities exist.
In a following article we will examine the management of e-wastes in more detail.
You can share ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, c/o EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown or email eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.
ARIES (March 21April 19)
TAURUS (April 20May 20)
(May 21June 20)
Your health should be your top priority. A better lifestyle can be yours if you make conscientious personal changes. Remember to look after the well-being of your pets, too.
Organise a function that will bring together friends and family. Make arrangements to meet at an event, a park or even at home. The important thing is to have some fun.
If you are diplomatic, you will win favours and support. A proposal you make will be accepted if you are progressive, not aggressive. Let your creative imagination take over.
LEO (July 23Aug. 22)
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)
A loved one will be concerned if you have been spending too much time helping others. Follow your heart and make amends once you have done what’s necessary.
A newcomer to your circle will provide valuable insight regarding your image and how to promote yourself. Self-discipline will enable you to tackle unmet goals. Focus on moving forward and making money.
You’ll take others by surprise with your enthusiasm. A release of pent-up energy will have you hopping from one activity to another. Someone will show unexpected romantic interest.
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)
Lady Luck is in your corner. You will derive much satisfaction from a home improvement or renovation project. A hands-on approach will result in plenty of praise.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)
Your unselfish nature will win you admiration. Host an event that will bring together people with different interests. Your amiable nature will ensure a good time.
CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)
If events take an unexpected turn, you may not recognise the person behind the scenes. Someone you have trusted in the past may be out to discredit you.
(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
PISCES
(Feb. 20March 20)
You’ll be overwhelmed by the many requests being made of you. Do what you can, but remember to take time for your own needs. If you make relaxation a priority, your day will end on a high note.
It’s time to deal with unresolved issues or projects. Matters have a way of piling up if you are not careful. Put in extra time and finish what you start.
Go with the flow. Times are changing, and so are you. An interesting partnership can be developed if you broaden your horizons and friendships. Forge ahead.
Four registered clubs under the auspices of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) have voiced their concerns against the Draft Horse Racing Legislation, saying that the document is arbitrary, null and void.
The clubs, Rising Sun, Ryan Crawford, Kennard’s Memorial Turf Clubs and the Budhan Memorial Sports Complex, is calling on Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony to put on hold the proposed legislation until the restoration of a cordial relationship between the member clubs is achieve.
On September 11 last, members of the GHRA presented a copy of the draft Horse Racing Legislation to Minister Anthony, with the view of having the necessary legislation in place to support horse racing.
The document was presented by Rajendra Poonai – Legal Advisor of the GHRA and Vic Odit –President of the GHRA.
The document took precedence from two other legislative models –one done by Justice Cecil
Kennard and the other, which is the Trinidad and Tobago legislation, compiled by Senior Counsel and horserace magnate, Marcel Crawford.
Poonai indicated that discussions were also held with the members of the horse racing fraternity and feedback was garnered some of which related to some of the contentious matters. The draft document was also influenced by recommendations made by the Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority (TTRA), David Loregnard.
However, a correspondence seen by this publication on Monday on behave
of the four clubs indicated that Oditt is no longer the President of the GHRA, and has no authority to transact any business on behalf of the GHRA.
Further the correspondence stated that any representations made by him or Poonai in the circumstances constitute a grave misrepresentation and will be considered arbitrary, null and void.
The correspondence also indicated that any administrative position must have the majority support of the governing body in discharging its mandate, and at present only the Port Mourant and Bush
Ramdhani also made a clean sweep of the Under-15 competition, toppling Cadogan 21-10, 21-10 in the Singles, before teaming up with Cadogan to win the Doubles against Suriname’s Joy Yzer and Hing 21-7, 2111. Ramdhani and Beharry emerged with a 21-9, 21-7 victory over Karg and Yzer to lift the Mixed Doubles medal.
In other results, Jeffrey won the Boys Under-13 Singles; Kevin Karg and Timothy Karg of Suriname
won the Boys Under-13 Doubles; Timothy Karg took top honours in the Boys Under-11 Singles; Chante Koswal won the Girls Under-11 Singles; Timothy Karg and Rivano Bisphan combined to win the Boys Under-11 Doubles; Chante Koswal and Sion Zeegelar topped the Girls Under-11 Doubles; and Timothy Karg and Chante Koswal prevailed in the Under-11 Mixed Doubles. Special prizes were given to the most improved
players on both countries: Siya Persaud of Guyana and Eros Peirpont of Suriname, while Amelia Balram of Guyana and Miracle Abdillah of Suriname were rewarded for their ‘Excellent Sport Personalities.’ Prizes were presented by Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart, Guyana Olympic Association Vicepresident Charles Corbin and Olivia Wijntuin of the Suriname contingent. (Avenash Ramzan)
Lot United Turf Clubs are in support of Oditt, notwithstanding that Bush Lot United Turf Club previously voted in support of the no-confidence motion which was moved against Oditt.
On June 28 last aggrieved members of the GHRA passed a vote of noconfidence against Oditt at a special meeting held at the Bush Lot United Turf Club.
The aggrieved members alleged that Ouditt has been micro-managing the authority and that they had lost faith, trust and confidence in him as a result.
“His lack of leadership
qualities, inability to consult and make decisions and his dictatorial behaviour in dealing with critical issues such as race dates; unfair and biased attitude towards some of the clubs and their members and his many other weaknesses have caused the members to lose trust and confidence in him and as a result, led the GHRA into disrepute and confusion,” the aggrieved mem -
bers alleged in a release.
Fazal Habibula, who was performing duties as the first Vice President, has assumed the position as President (ag) until elections are held in January, 2015.
To this end, Oditt contended that the decision is null and void since the special meeting held was unconstitutional and that the release is a useless document, which has no legal standing.
Oditt recently told this publication that the work of the authority continues under his leadership as the GHRA implements measures to improve local horse racing.
The local horse- racing boss replaced retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard, when the body held its annual general meeting in February at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club pavilion.
By Treiston Joseph
The University of Guyana (UG) played brilliantly on Sunday to win the Banks DIH Seven’s Rugby tournament which was held at the National Park Rugby Field.
Youth, speed and agility were the ingredients UG displayed on their way to a thrilling 26-24 win over the much more seasoned Yamaha Caribs.
Caribs in the first half used their size and experience to outplay UG, heading into the halftime break with a comfortable 12-5 lead as former national sprinter Carl Lewis scored and converted while Akeem Fraser
had try for the Caribs.
Captain of UG Ryan Dey had the only try for UG in the first half with some brilliant moves on his way to the end zone.
However, in the second UG simply outran Caribs who were unable to keep up with the pace of the university men who also displayed youthful strength in their scrums.
Philbert Joseph and Dey scored while Godfrey Brooms converted both times before Osei McKenzie scored and converted for the UG men to give them the win.
Scoring in the second half for Caribs came from Akeem Fraser and Andrew
Jarvis while Captain
Theodore Henry converted.
While Dey was happy with the win for UG, president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU)
Peter Green was happy with UG’s performance noting that they have “become of age” and are now “men”.
Green also praised the Guyana Police Force for their performance as well highlighting that the force displayed “great tackling”.
The one day tournament was used as measuring stick to select a short list of players to represent Guyana at the upcoming NACRA championships scheduled for later this year in Mexico.
Led by some useful contributions from the batsmen, Metro Office and Computer Supplies defeated Good Hope All Stars in a highscoring feature 20/20 tapeball cricket match on Saturday last.
Playing at the National Park Tarmac, Good Hope All Star batted first and piled up 205 from the allotted overs with Harold (46),
Chan (34) and Billy (27) being the leading scorers in an innings that included 14 fours and six sixes.
Faced with an asking rate of over 10 runs per over from the start of the innings, the Metro boys did not shy away from the challenge, but rather they confronted it head on, charging to victory to lift the winner’s trophy.
Vish Baljor and P.
Sukharan were at the crease when victory was achieved, finishing on an unbeaten 44 and 40 not out respectively. Sachin Sahadeo made 33, while H. Samlall supported with 18. The innings included 14 fours and 11 sixes.
After the game, Metro skipper Arif Baksh commended his players for a great effort, noting that the victory was the result of total teamwork.
Top West Indies Women batter
Stafanie Taylor has praised the efforts of the team thus far in their home series against New Zealand Women, describing their showing as one of the best she has ever seen.
The West Indies, who have been rising in stock,
the new ICC Women's Championship table.
The West Indies, as a result of winning the first three matches of the series, currently have six points.
The points are identical to Australia, the reigning world champions, who recently defeated Pakistan in a recent series. The West
She said the series, which bowls off today at Arnos Vale in St Vincent, presented a good opportunity for the team to 'complete the double', as well as end on a high ahead of their preceding tour of Australia in November.
The West Indies were beaten 3-0 in one-dayers
in recent years, overcame the challenge of world rated New Zealand 4-0 in their recent one-day internationals at Warner Park in St Kitts.
The triumph represented the first time that the regional women were recording a series whitewash over an established International Cricket Council top-three ranked team.
"I have never seen us play this type of cricket before," said Taylor, shortly after the series triumph, which put the 2012 beaten ICC World Cup finalists in pole position atop
Indies, however, lead by virtue of having a better net run rate of +0.35.
"I think the girls are really maturing, both as players and as individuals," said Taylor, who added that going forward 'it was good' for the team.
The 23-year-old, who ended the one-day series with 159 runs to finish second to overall leader, behind teammate Deandra Dottin, who scored 176, also pointed to the upcoming Twenty20 series against the New Zealanders.
and 4-0 in Twenty20s, while on tour of New Zealand earlier this year.
"This is a revenge series, as we had a hard tour in New Zealand where it was really, really tough," she said.
"It is really good to know that we are at home and that we bounced back well as we really needed it going into our tour of Australia.
"We hope that winning the one-day series will give us good momentum going into the T20s, where hopefully we will finish off well again, and have an overall good home series." (windiescricket)
Hamaz Eastman in a time of one hour, forty-seven minutes and forty-five seconds (1:47:45) has won the Irene Benjamin 50-mile 75-year birthday road race on Saturday in Berbice.
Eastman who was out in an early break with Romello Crawford, Robin Persaud, Stephano Husbands, Paul DeNobrega, Marlon ‘Fishie’ Williams, Michael Anthony, Junior Niles, Jackeran Sookhai and Raynauth Jeffrey powered his way to the finish line ahead of Williams and DeNobrega in a close finish.
The last sprint was too fast for Husbands, Jeffrey and Persaud who finished in that order.
Persaud was the first to give up the chase as Eastman got off his seat to get past Williams just a few meters away from the finish line.
The race was organized by former national cyclist Wilbur Benjamin to honor his mother on her 75th birthday.
Thirty-six riders took
part in the event which had a top prize of $75,000. A total of $375,000 was given out in prize money.
The high paced race started outside of the Benjamin Sports Store at Fyrish Corentyne and proceeded to Number 51 Police Station before the riders returned to the place of origin to finish.
The juniors who were also part of that race and finished with most of the seniors saw Stephano Husbands winning that category with the second place going to Michael Anthony ahead of Jamal John.
The veterans did not go all the way and turned around at Nand Persaud Rice Mills at Number 36 Village and finished at the point of origin. Their 35-mile race was completed in a time of one hour, fifteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds (1:15:27). Junior Niles won that category just getting home ahead of Jackeran Sookhai with Gary Benjamin finishing a distant third.
Persaud took two sprint point prizes while Crawford, Eastman DeNobrega, Anthony and Jeffrey grabbed one each. The females were given a shorter distance to ride and started at Tain in front of the Berbice Campus and finished at Fyrish. The first place went to Christine Matterson with the other two places going to Deance Welch and Whitney Foyer in that order.
The 75-year-old Irene Benjamin was on hand to make presentations to the winners.
Saturday’s race followed a pattern that has now become a tradition in Berbice where cycle road raced start in excess of one hour behind schedule.
Saturday’s race started ninety minutes after the 2:00PM scheduled start. Cyclists were forced to wait for more than one hour for the police to arrive. This some of the cyclist say has been happening to often when they come to Berbice to take part in cycle road races.
tuesday, september 23, 2014
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Astunning 43-ball 90 from Suresh Raina was the cornerstone of Chennai Super Kings' 54run win over Dolphins in Bangalore but the contest, at least for the early part of the Dolphins chase, was far more closely matched than the eventual victory margin suggested.
Dolphins captain Morne van Wyk had opted to bowl and said his decision had been influenced by the reputation the Chinnaswamy Stadium had for aiding sides batting second. For 20 overs of Super Kings' innings, however, van Wyk could only watch from behind the stumps as Raina, Brendon McCullum, Faf du Plessis and Ravindra Jadeja plundered runs at will, powering Super Kings to 242 for 6.
The Dolphins response was equally explosive at the start. Van Wyk and Cameron Delport raised
the side's 50 in 15 balls. By the end of the Powerplay, Dolphins had raced to 85 for 2, bettering the CLT20 record set by Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings innings (20 overs maximum)
DR Smith c Zondo
b Maharaj 7
BB McCullum c Smit b Zondo 49
SK Raina c Delport b Frylinck 90
F du Plessis c van Jaarsveld
b Alexander 30
MS Dhoni*† b Frylinck 0 DJ Bravo c van Jaarsveld
b Abbott 11
RA Jadeja not out 40
R Ashwin not out 4
Extras: (lb-4, w-4, nb-3) 11
Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 242
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Smith, 0.5 ov), 2-99 (McCullum, 8.2 ov), 3-164 (Raina, 14.2 ov), 4-174 (Dhoni, 14.6 ov), 5-190 (du Plessis, 15.6 ov), 6-222 (Bravo, 17.5 ov)
Bowling: KA Maharaj 4-0-54-1, KJ Abbott 4-0-37-1 (3-nb, 1-w), CJ Alexander 3-0-40-1 (1-w), R Frylinck 4-0-52-2 (2-w), AL Phehlukwayo 1-0-19-0, K Zondo 2-0-19-1, D Smit 2-0-17-0
Dolphins innings (target:
243 runs from 20 overs)
MN van Wyk*† lbw b Ashwin 17
CS Delport b Sharma 34
C Chetty c Sharma b Bravo 38
KA Maharaj b Sharma 8
VB van Jaarsveld c Smith b Bravo 30
K Zondo c Raina b Nehra 9
D Smit run out (†Dhoni) 0
AL Phehlukwayo b Sharma 22
R Frylinck b Nehra 6
KJ Abbott b Sharma 5
CJ Alexander not out 16
Extras:(w-3) 3
Total:(all out; 20 overs) 188
Fall of wickets: 1-34 (van Wyk, 1.4 ov), 2-56 (Delport, 2.6 ov), 3-90 (Maharaj, 6.6 ov), 4-115 (Chetty, 10.2 ov), 5-138 (van Jaarsveld, 13.2 ov), 6-139 (Smit, 13.6 ov), 7-139 (Zondo, 14.1 ov), 8-152 (Frylinck, 16.1 ov), 9-165 (Abbott, 17.5 ov), 10188 (Phehlukwayo, 19.6 ov)
Bowling: A Nehra 4-0-422 (1-w), R Ashwin 4-0-381, MM Sharma 4-0-41-4, RA Jadeja 3-0-36-0, SK Raina 1-014-0, DJ Bravo 4-0-17-2
earlier in the day. As is typical in big chases, the breakthroughs came when the Dolphins batsmen kept playing for the big shots, but they were also left to rue a poor decision from umpire K Srinath, who adjudged Van Wyk lbw when a ball from R Ashwin had pitched several inches outside leg stump. The dismissal came in an over where the Dolphins captain had smacked two fours and a six off the bowler.
After van Wyk was dismissed, Dolphins' hopes rested on Delport who swung and swiped his way to a nineball 34. All but two of the deliveries he faced had raced to the boundary and his bustling innings had threatened to play out the same way as Andre Russell's a few days ago before Mohit Sharma ended it with a slower ball.
After Delport was out, the pressure of keeping pace with a spiraling asking rate was squarely on Cody Chetty. He tried with a gamely 37 off 28 balls but his dismissal gave Super Kings an opening to stifle the scoring rate for a couple of overs and the bowlers responded. (Cricinfo)
The Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) pitch is now being left to mercy of the elements as bandits on Sunday night carted off the club’s pitch covers.
The ground is located in Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice, and the executives now seeking the support of the public in locating the much needed pieces of covers.
“The members of the club express shock and disappointment that people can be so low and heartless to steal such an important piece of equipment, which is used to care the cricket venue,” the club said in a statement on Monday.
It added, “The venue has produced many national cricketers and has made a difference in the lives of many people in the Canje area. It is a real shame, and the club calls on the police to apprehend the perpetrators and deal with them accordingly.”
Anyone having information with regards the recovery of the covers are asked to contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875, Hubern Evans on 624-3275 and Sahadeo Singh on 6171103. All information will be treated with confidence, the release concluded.
Aroydy Branford put on a dazzling display of goal scoring to lead the Hikers under-21 Hockey Club to their fourth straight title on Sunday at the National Gymnasium in the annual Hikers Hockey Club Junior Indoor Tournament.
The under-21 boy’s final was evenly poised as both GCC and Hikers had hard times breaking the defence of each other until Branford’s goal scoring frenzy that recorded all five of Hikers goals for the 5-2 win.
GCC in the female under-21 girls final would make one final push to score three goals in the final three minutes of the game to walks away with a 3-0 win over a Hikers team that was unable to keep their composer.
Marian Acadmey would surprise their detractors to come out on top of the boy’s under-16 final with a 2-1 penalty win over Old Fort Vikings.
With the game drawing at 1-1 and Rosario Ramsammy displaying his skill as he scored the game’s first goal by dribbling each of Old Fort defenders before scoring, Marian proved too much for the highly favoured Vikings.
Ramsammy and Eleomar Silva were the two goal scorers for Marian in the penalty shootout.
In the girl’s encounter the GCC under-16 girls were dragged out by Old Fort as both teams played solid defence.
However, Aliyah Gordon
shop.
In the Global Technology Inter Schools category
champions Christ Church as well as MVPs Bushani Kaladeen (North Ruimveldt Multilateral) and Hilton Chester (Queens College), all received certificate values at $45,000 each for computer classes at Global Technology.
Complete Results
Under 13 Category
Champions - Marian Academy (Brian Sucre, Ethan Sookra, Makeda Hardin, Keon Ramjit, Eleomar Silva & Daniel Brazao)
Runners-up - Old Fort
Stanislaus College (Myron Philips, Troy Hodge, Shemar Boston Ezekiel Springer & Gordon Trotman)
Third Place - Marian Academy (Makeda Harding, Rosario Ramsammy, Jesse Newton, Keon Ramjit, Eleomar Silva, Lorenzo Vanzo & Mawali Bishop)
MVP Girl - Bushani Kaladeen (North Ruimveldt Multilateral)
MVP Boy - Hilton Chester (Queens College)
iNet Communications Under 16 Girls
Champions - GCC (Aliyah Gordon, Dominique Woodroffe, Shania Riley & Ateya Ally)
broke through the defence of Old Fort to score the game’s winning goal for GCC.
The Most Valuable Players (MVP) of the tournament are as flows; Under 13 MVPs Makeda Harding (Marian Academy) and Omari George (Old Fort) received gift certificates valued at $6,000 each. While iNet Communications under 16 MVPs Aliyah Gordon (GCC) and Rosario Ramsammy (Marian Academy) received certificates worth $8,000 each and Woodpecker Products under 21 MVPs Ashley DeGroot (GCC) and Aroydy Branford (Hikers) received similar certificates worth $10,000, all redeemable and Woodpecker Products trophy & sports
(Darren Stouffle, Charles Chester, Dominic Alleyne, Stephon Headly & Omari George)
Third Place - GCC
(Rahim Oliver, Samuel Woodroffe, Eon Burke, Michael Hing, Meshach Sargeant, Alexie Cox & Camyla De-Moraes
MVP Girl - Makeda Harding (Marian Academy)
MVP Boy - Omari George (Old Fort)
Global Technology Inter Schools Category
Champions - Christ Church (Kareem McKenzie, Shania Riley, Stephon Sprosta, Daniel Hooper & Rahim Oliver)
Runners-up - St.
Runners-up - Old Fort
(Carolyn Dean, Cassie Campbell, Lianna Williams & Veronique Sampson)
Third Place - Hikers (Makeda Harding, Aliyah Abel, Cherub Autar & Cianna Cummings)
MVP- Aliyah Gordon (GCC)
iNet Communications Under 16 Boys
Champions - Marian Academy (Jesse Newton, Rosario Ramsammy, Eleomar Silva, Daniel Brazao, Brian Sucre, Keon Ramjit & Philip Gomes)
Runners-up - Old Fort (Omar Hopkinson, Richard Thomas, Stephon Sprosta & Deron Wilkinson)
Third Place - GCC (Daniel Hooper, Kareem McKenzie, Eon Burke, Meshach Sargeant, Samar DeFreitas, Christian Gonsalves, Lorenzo Vanzo)
MVP - Rosario Ramsammy (Marian Academy)
Woodpecker Products Under 21 Girls
Champions - GCC (Rebecca Xavier, Ashley DeGroot, Briawna Gordon, Dacia Woodroffe, Leah Alphonso, Aliyah Gordon, Dominique Woodroffe, Saskia Hing & Shania Riley)
Runners-up - Hikers (Latacia Chung, Renee James, Charlyn Elliot, Tekeisha Deleon, Nicole Eastman, Annesa Permal, Delice Adonis, Marcia Persaud, Shemuel King, Romichelle Brumell, Makeda Harding, Aliyah Abel & Macaela Harding)
Third Place - Old Fort (Bushani Kaladeen, Minsodia Culpepper, Malica Dey, Carolyn Dean, Cassie Campbell, Lianna Williams, Owinter Henry, Youneik Sadiq, Sarah Phillips, Shana Hernandez & Veronique Sampson)
MVP - Ashley DeGroot (GCC)
Woodpecker Products Under 21 Boys
Champions - Hikers (Jamarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Andrew Stewart, Michael Harding, Laured Stewart, Robert Brumell, Joshua Carew, Deryck Blair & Tivesarid Garnett)
Runners-up - GCC - (Eric Hing, Jason Ray Khalil, Mark Sargeant, Medroy Scotland, Steven Xavier, Keon McKenzie, Daniel Hooper, Kareem McKenzie, Michael Craig, Lennox Carrol, Eon Burke, Shaquille Hooper)
Third Place - Old Fort (Omar Hopkinson, Mark Fraser, Timothy Baker, Stephon King, Onasis Fraser, Stephon Sprosta & Deron Wilkinson)
MVP - Aroydy Branford (Hikers)
Lasith Malinga has suggested Sri Lanka would be wise to groom another bowler as a World Cup failsafe as he prepares to undergo surgery on Monday that will keep him out for around 16 weeks. Malinga consulted his orthopaedic surgeon in Melbourne on Sunday, and decided his long-term ankle complaint had degenerated to an extent that it required surgery.
Return
If there are no complications during the arthroscopic procedure or recovery, Malinga is expected to return to full intensity at training in mid-January, giving him around a month of practice before Sri Lanka play the World Cup curtainraiser against New Zealand on February 14.
Sri Lanka's selectors remain hopeful that he will be available for at least some of the seven ODIs Sri Lanka are scheduled to play against New Zealand in January.
Malinga will undergo a three-dimensional CT scan before going under the knife on Monday and is wary that the surgery could put his World Cup plans in disarray.
"I will do everything I can to be back for the World Cup," Malinga said. "But I think it would be good for us to give a young bowler a few opportunities in the meantime, so that we can at least have someone prepared."
The surgery will aim to "clean up" a joint in his ankle, Sri Lanka physio Steve Mount said. "It has been a long-term issue for Lasith, and he's had chronic pain
there for some time," Mount said. "It's a regular complaint for fast bowlers, but it has reached a stage where his ankle didn't respond how it previously has done to methods like cortisone injections and load monitoring.
"If everything follows the normal recovery time, he could be a chance to play in some of those New Zealand one-dayers, but we'll also be careful not to rush him back."
Malinga will recover for around 10 days in Australia before returning to Sri Lanka. He had been expensive in his last two ODI series, against Pakistan and South Africa, when he was also clocked at consistently lower speeds than he had been bowling at in the past. He said the pain in his ankle had caused the dip in form.
"When you have a problem in the ankle you land on in your bowling stride, it affects the pace and also the control," Malinga said. "I did my best, but I couldn't put as much strain on it as I usually do."
Concerns over the state of his ankle had been raised when it failed to respond to a cortisone injection on September 5. However, he played the Champions League qualifiers for Mumbai Indians on his own prerogative, SLC's cricket operations manager Carlton Bernardus said. The surgery will be carried out by Dr. David Young, who has previously treated Malinga for a separate injury on his right knee, which has prevented him from playing Test cricket since 2010. (Cricinfo)
The two-day
Amerindian Heritage
Month sports activities concluded on Sunday with exciting rivalries in the various disciplines at the Everest Sports Club ground, Camp Road and Carifesta Avenue.
The event saw more than 500 athletes from 16 villages, drawn from across nine of the 10 administrative regions, competing in male and female volleyball, cricket and football.
Twelve male and female teams started the competition and were drawn in two groups in each category. There was fierce rivalry amongst the teams in the round-robin stage on Saturday, while on Sunday the semi-finals and finals were somewhat one-sided affairs.
In the male category, new champions were crowned when OreallaSiparuta of Region Six defeated Central Rupununi of Region Nine in the final 1510, 15-12. Daniel Daw was adjudged MVP of the final. In the female category, Laluni of Region Four defeated St Cuthbert›s Mission, also of Region Four, in straight sets, 15-7, 15-8. The MVP was Pauline Shuman.
Cricket
In the cricket competition, Laluni males retained their crown when they prevailed in the seven team tapeball competition.
The defending 2013 champs of Region Four first defeated Moraikabai of Region Five in the semifinal, while Mainstay of Region Two defeated Campbell Town of Region Seven by eight runs in the other ‘final four’ game.
In the fina, Laluni won
the toss and batted first, posting a challenging 49-4 from their six overs to which 2013 losing finalists Mainstay replied with 42-6 from their six allotted overs.
David Francis had a good all-round game and was named Man-of-the-Match for his contributions with the bat and ball. He made 15 runs and picked up 1-4.
The female cricket competition was played with the small soft rubber balls with the bowlers bowling under-hand. Ten teams starting the competition on day one. Among the 10 teams were 2013 champions Laluni and St Cuthbert›s Mission, who was making a return to cricket after an absence of two years.
Both Region Four teams
plied with 62-4.
Andrea Ferrier with a top score of 36 was named MVP of the final as her team took the championship by 10 runs.
Football
Like previous years, the football competition was once again the main sporting attraction with huge support for all teams, including the finalists.
The female football finals, which got started at 19:00 hours on Sunday put together GT Girls and Paruima of Region Seven. Paruima ladies showed superior skill levels, while the GT Girls were more aggressive and strongly built.
After full time, both teams were still to find the
set up a high-scoring final that was swinging both ways, but eventually ended in favour of the more determined St Cuthbert›s ladies. The new champs batted first and made 72-3 from their six overs to which Laluni re-
back of the net and took to the penalty line. Paruima started poorly missing their first three attempts, while GT Girls, despite missing their first kick, were able to score the next three to spark wild celebration on the field and beyond the lines.
Elizabeth Styles U-19, 50-over cricket…
The MVP was Ruth George, the outstanding goalkeeper of the GT Girls team, who made three saves in the penalty kick out.
The GT Girls team comprised Amerindian ladies or ladies of Amerindian heri-
Blairmont Community Centre won their last Zone A (West Berbice) preliminary match against Bush Lot New Generation last weekend to end unbeaten in the Elizabeth Styles
Under-19, 50-over cricket competition in the Ancient County of Berbice.
The latest win has ensured their passage to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Bush Lot made a fairly challenging 185 all out in 35 overs, thanks mainly to Navendra Mahadeo, who made 56 (8x4s). Legspinner Chandradatt Veersammy picked up 4-32 for Blairmont, who made light work of the target, winning with four wickets and 18 overs to spare.
In another match in the same zone, Berbice
Under-19 pacer Renison Mitchell took 5-11 to help Achievers A bowl out D’Edward for a paltry 55. He then came back with the bat to score 24 not out to lead Achievers A to an eight-wicket win. Below are the summarised scores from the games played.
At Bush Lot: Blairmont Community Centre beat Bush Lot New Generation by four wickets.
Bush Lot New Generation 185 in 35 overs (Navendra Mahadeo 56, Terry Dhanraj 33, Rameshwar Somwaru 3-20, Chandradatt Veersammy 3-32) Blairmont Community Centre 187-6 in
32 overs (Shamar Flatts 32, Chandradatt Veersammy 28, Akeem Miller 2-20).
At D’Edward: Achievers A beat D’Edward by seven wickets. D’Edward 55 in 14 overs (Richard Braithwaite 29, Renison Mitchell 5-11, Grisean Grant 2-5) Achievers A 56-2 in 8.1 overs (Renison Mitchell 24*).
tage, who are now residing in Georgetown. They defeated Orealla-Siparuta of Region Six 4-0 in their semifinal game, while Paruima thrashed Karasabai of Region Nine by the same score line.
The male football final brought the curtains down on the activities this year with 2013 champions Central Rupununi beating Mabaruma of Region One via penalty kicks. It’s always very competitive when Region One and Nine clash in football and this time was no different. Mabaruma was first to score in the opening half, while Central Rupununi equalised in the closing stages of second half.
After full time, the score line was 1-1 and the champs were decided on penalty kicks once again. Central Rupununi was first to the line. Both teams were going very well scoring all their shots until Mabaruma’s fourth attempt was spectacularly saved by Leland Gomes,
who was later named MVP of the final.
Central Rupununi scored their fifth attempt which gave them an unassailable lead and the second consecutive title. They now have two wins on the lien trophy and will look to successfully defend their title next year to ensure the trophy makes the trip to the Rupununi. All finalists received trophies and cash incentives for their efforts.
There were also novelty events that were very well received by the thousands that were otherwise entertained. The added attractions were opened to athletes and members of the public. These included Piwari drinking, hot tuma pot and archery for both males and females.
The event was deemed a resounding success once again and many spectators were heard saying that next year Heritage Sports and Family fun day should be held at the Guyana National Stadium, mainly because of the huge turnout of fans.
Wales CDC made easy work of Zeelugt on Saturday at the Zeelugt Community ground with a 102 run win when the 2014 40 overs West Demerara Cricket competition continued.
Wales taking first strike in a rain reduced match (28 overs), scored a comfortable 233 for 9 off their allotted amount of overs.
Ramesh Thakur was in top form with the compiling a stroke filled 110 while Malesh Persaud fell short of a half century with 46 runs, Omar Shakur was the most successful bowler for Zeelugt with figures of five over for 31 run while taking three wickets.
David Doonuaght was
the next best bowler with six overs for 33 runs along with two wickets.
In reply, Zeelugt never got going as fell to 131 all out off of 25 overs to lose the game as Terry Dass was only able to muster 27 runs while Dennis Maniram has 22 in the abysmal bating effort.
Chandrika perdaud was a charm with the ball, picking up a fiver for off five overs while giving away 37 runs to help his side with the win.
Brian Pooran was economical with the ball only giving away 11 runs off of his six overs, picking up two wickets in the process. The tournament will continue next weekend at different venues across West Demerara.
The phenomenal Priyanna Ramdhani continued her dominance in the age group categories, while Hemraj Beharry announced his presence on the local badminton scene when the Bank DIH Guyana Classic Badminton tournament concluded on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) will meet with key stakeholders today to discuss the Franchise System being implemented by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) later this year.
In a press release issued on Monday, the GCB indicated that Guyana Cricket Inc. is extending an invitation to all Inter-county players, match officials, first division clubs, county board executives, media and other interested stakeholders to attend an important meeting to be held on Tuesday September 23 at the Everest Cricket Club Pavilion, starting at 15:00 hours.
This meeting, according to the release, will discuss the roll out of the new WICB
game in the region.
“This professional structure and environment is geared towards, and certainly will, revolutioniSe cricket in the region and contribute significantly to the repositioning of the West Indies team in the upper echelons of international cricket,” said Wehby, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaican headquartered multi-national company, GraceKennedy Limited.
Ramdhani, a star performer for Guyana at regional and international meets, was at her best, carting off a total of six gold medals.
The pint-sized athlete won the Girls Under-13 Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles and was also suc-
The two-day competition, organised by the Guyana Badminton Association, attracted players from Guyana and neighbouring Suriname.
cessful in all three of those categories at the Under-15 competition.
Beharry, on the other hand, tasted success in the Boys Under-15 Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Ramdhani and Beharry’s performances ensured Guyana finished with 14 first place finishes and 11 runner-up spots.
Ramdhani defeated compatriot Abosaide Cadogan
21-9, 21-14 in the Under-13 Girls Singles final, before they teamed up to beat the Suriname pair of Sanaa Arichero and Abigeal Hing 21-14, 21-9 in the Under-13 Girls Doubles final. Ramdhani and fellow Guyanese Tyreese Jeffrey disposed of the Dutch duo Timothy Karg and Arichero 21-0, 21-0 in the final of the Under-13 Mixed Doubles.
Shelroy Thomas poured in 12 points in the final quarter to lead the Bounty Colts to an 86-78 victory over the Victory Valley Royals (VVR) in the first Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) National Hard Court practice game on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. With the game ties heading into the fourth quarter and both teams trading the lead, Thomas would hit two daggers from beyond the arc
to give the Colts the lead for good at the 1:45 mark.
Thomas would end with a game high 28 points while Shane Webester who was recently acquired from Linden would drop 18 points to help lead the Colts.
Rayon Cummings, 12 points and Niko Fraser 10 points also helped the Colts in the scoring department in the team effort.
Harold Adams had a team high 27 points for VVR while versatile guard Chris
Shelroy Thomas
Williams had 21 points in the loss. Marlon Pollydore also contributed 12 points to the VVR score.
Meanwhile the Georgetown outfit Nirva Knights squeezed past Canje Knights 62-61 as Akil Lewis top scored with 24 points. Owan Walton had 20 points as well.
Jason Gladstone had a team high 17 points to lead the Berbice side while Steve Roopnarine and Kevon Emmanuel netted 16 and 14 points respectively.
Franchise System. The new system is expected to kick into motion on October 1, 2014.
The WICB is looking to roll out a full Professional FirstClass Franchise System in which a cadre of 90 players will be engaged in a professional cricket structure on a day-to-day basis, year round.
The Board has committed to partner with the six territorial boards to fund six FirstClass Franchises in the region, which will compete in the annual Regional First-Class and Super50 tournaments.
Each franchise will retain 15 players, who will work as a unit on a day-to-day basis in each territory under a Head Coach and support staff. The six franchises will be based in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands.
A few persons have already endorsed the new system, noting that it can only serve to enhance West Indies cricket.
Regional business executive and Director of WICB, Don Wehby, said on Saturday that the professionalisation of First-Class cricket in the West Indies will revolutionise the
“I am excited by the prospects for the success of this professional structure and I urge that it receive the support of regional governments, corporate Caribbean, fans, the tourism sector and all the facets of our society which hold cricket dear,” urged Wehby, a former Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service in the Jamaican government.
Former West Indies fast bowler, Adam Sanford, has also thrown his support behind the WICB and its latest initiative.
The Dominica-born rightarm fast-medium bowler, who now resides in and plays for the USA national cricket team, believes the move will serve to create a professional environment that would eventually lead to the creation of top level players. The initiative he added, will serve to expose more players to the West Indies selectors.
“The talent is in West Indies; the players are there and the talents are there but if you pick the wrong people to play then it is not going to happen because the level is just going to stay where it is. Like I’ve always said, I’d love to see players go out there and do what they have to do and given an opportunity like that, players are being given the opportunity and you have to give West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for doing something like that,” he said.