Caribbean Star

Caribbean First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

November 27– December 4, 2014

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Vol.4 #18

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A $100,000 reward is being posted by Crime Stoppers for information leading to the capture of the criminals who murdered German couple, Hubertus and Birgid Keil in Tobago last week-end, as the police have set up a special high level team to intensify investigations.

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MegastarAmitabhBachchan put an end to online rumours about Dilip Kumar's death by tweeting that veteran actor was "perfectly fine".

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PHIL HUGHES

PLACED ON US$75,000 BAIL

in critical condition after being hit by bouncer

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Guyanese pilot arrested in Puerto Rico over US$620,000 See More on Page 17

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November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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November 27–December 4, 2014 3 Caribbean Star Newspaper Commissioner, Hicken apologise for rape blame comment

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ver one week after he said young women should dress morally acceptable to prevent the commission of rape and following three days of protest actions coupled with a public outcry, Commander of A Division Clifton Hicken The commander’s apology—issued through the Guyana Police Force’s Public Relations Depart-ment—also came shortly after Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud met a group of protestors, who had taken their third day of protest action to his Eve Leary office, and apologized for the

commander’s utterance.

“Divisional Commander ‘A’ Division, Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken, wishes to apologise to all members of the Guyanese society who have been negatively affected by his comments made in relation to the offence of rape…,” the press release said.

It described his comments as being “unfortunate and a “bad choice of words” since he like every other member of the force “understands rape to be a violent act of power and aggression by the perpetrator

on a weaker person.

“Rapists are criminals who ought to be treated as such, and victims are certainly not responsible for the violence committed against them.”

Hicken’s apology came almost after a week of sustained condemnation via the media and picketing exercises. The latest organisation to add its voice to the denouncing of the statement was the Guyana Women Lawyers Associa-tion and it was preceded by Red Thread, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination

(SASOD) and Citizens against rape (CAR).

Individuals such as activist Mark Benschop and University of Guyana lecturer Dr Melissa Ifill and had also joined the picketing line along with other concerned Guyanese.

Human rights activists Sherlina Nageer, who was one of the protestors who met Commissioner Persaud, felt the commander was forced to apologise, noting that he took a week to do so. She said she was not sure if it was picketing exercise that propelled him to do so but stated she was not convinced of his sincerity adding that actions speak louder than words and when rape victims are treated better by members of the force she “would feel better.” For her it was a good public relations move by the police and she advocated for others to from them, singling out Minister of Health Dr Behri Ramsarran as one such individual who she said would not even meet protestors to hear their concerns about the fact that health institutions are not equipped with rape kits.

“But I would take it [the apology] for what it is worth. It is something. It is not everything; maybe the beginning of something,” Nageer said while adding that she is not convinced that more training for police officers is the answer, though it would not hurt.

Just about six protestors had arrived outside Persaud’s office, when he sent someone to invite them to meet him. Nageer said he apologized for his officer’s comment and stated that he does not support such a view and neither does the force. She said they raised the difficulties of specific cases where rape victims experience difficulties pointing out that it is the line of thinking expressed by Hicken that may have contributed to this. He promised to have the matters investigated and took details of same.

Last Monday, during the presentation of rape statistics, Hicken had said, “You know, we’re speaking of preventing somebody from committing an offence and yet we are creating an atmosphere in terms of our society.”

He then added, “When we are within our partnership programmes we advocate for the young females who seem to be vulnerable in a certain age group – that moving from around 13 to 18, 16 to 18 – and we always try to embrace an attire that would be accepted morally.”

A day later, the police issued a statement in which it advised the public that Hicken had been “taken out of context.” [And] “the Divisional Commander had no intention to, in any way, justify sexual assaults.”

According to the GPF, while men should not interpret women’s attire as sending “a particular type of signal… it is happening to some degree.”

The release went on to say that information from interviews of suspects in sexual assault matters and intelligence from discussions among elements of criminal groups, which had been infiltrated suggested that “the mode of dress of the victims may have contributed to the suspects’ selection of targets.” That being the case, it added, Hicken felt “obligated to share that information as one of his crime prevention strategies focusing on sexual assault.”

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November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

$100,000 REWARD A $100,000 reward is being posted

by Crime Stoppers for information leading to the capture of the criminals who murdered German couple, Hubertus and Birgid Keil in Tobago last week-end, as the police have set up a special high level team to intensify investigations.

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he bodies of Mr Keil, 74, and his 71-year-old wife were found on lonely Minister Bay in the Bacolet area on the sister island on Saturday. The couple are from Hessen, Germany.

Two villagers have come forward and reportedly told officers they saw the couple on the beach on Thursday evening. Initial examination has revealed the two were hacked to death. Police sources confirmed to Newsday that autopsies were done last evening at the Scarborough General Hospital by pathologist, Dr Hughvon des Vignes, which confirmed death due to multiple chop wounds to the head, chest and back.

Further forensic tests will be done today in the presence of the couple’s daughter, Annigrede Keil, who was expected to fly into Tobago from Europe last night to assist in the identification of her parents’ bodies. It is understood that she will be under heavy police guard while on the island assisting law enforcement in the matter.

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA), according to Chief Secretary, Orville London, has been communicating with the German Embassy which has been in touch with Ms Keil, who at this time remains severely traumatised, but has not yet made

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any request to the THA or the Government for assistance. London said the THA is available to offer any assistance to the family at this time.

London and Acting Police Commissioner, Stephen Williams, at a joint media briefing in Scarborough on the murders yesterday indicated the highest priority will be given to solving this crime.

“I have assigned the Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for homicide investigations in Trinidad and Tobago to lead this investigation,” Williams said.

“He is at present in Tobago working with a team including the second in command in Trinidad, who is also assigned to work on this investigation and we also would have put together a team of investigators comprising numerous units of the police service including the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit, the Criminal Investigations Department; we are in fact treating this matter as a highest priority, as we know the implications.”

Williams spoke of having received support from the Central Government, the THA, the private sector and the police, and promised that no stone would be left unturned “as the Police Service ensures that they discover, identify, arrest and charge the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

Williams said at the media briefing: “The Police Service will continue to commit all available resources. I have given that assurance to the Assistant Commissioner all the available resources that he requires we will be provided to ensure that this matter is extensively investigated, speedily investigated and not compromised in the investigation by the way of speed, but treating with the matter so that we can bring a successful closure to this investigation with the arrest of whoever is responsible for this heinous crime.”

The police has established two hotline numbers – 780-9320 and 780-9142 – for persons wishing to provide any information, no matter how small. The Commissioner said additionally, there would also be an increase in police patrols in areas of interest.

Addressing the briefing, London said, “This horrendous crime is not indicative of the Tobago environment nor indicative of the Tobago people, and it is something that we take very seriously and something that we intend to pursue with all professionalism and all the rigour that we can over the next couple of weeks until this crime is solved and the perpetrators brought to

justice.” He added the Assembly has decided to take a coordinated approach to deal with the matter, involving all the various stakeholders inclusive of the Central Government, the THA, the Police Service and the private sector to ensure the issue is resolved.

London said further, “The agencies intend to take a coordinated approach, coordinated strategy, coordinated voice to send a powerful signal to all local, regional and international community that this particular situation would be treated at the highest level and given the highest priority.” The Chief Secretary also called on Tobagonians to assist the police with the investigations, he said everyone had a responsibility to come forward with information so that Tobago could remain a safe place.

Meanwhile police also confirmed they have been trying to verify if the Keils had any life insurance coverage or if their murders could have been planned from as far as Germany.

“We are not ruling out anything, even an international connection,” said a police source yesterday.

Two villagers had told homicide officers they saw the couple walking on the Bacolet beach late Thursday night leaving police to believe the couple was killed at least a day before their bodies were discovered on Saturday. Their bodies were not found in the same spot and police believe the woman was the first victim and then her husband was murdered.

His neck was almost severed leading police to believe that whoever carried out the vicious attack wanted to ensure that Mr Keil was dead.

They believe a sharpened object, most likely a cutlass, was used to carry out the brutal chopping but up until yesterday the murder weapon was not found.

Police initially interviewed the caretaker of an estate owned by the Keils, but after he was interviewed he was released. He is not being treated as a suspect at this time, but police are exploring every angle in this investigation.

They also believe the murders may have been planned and were not a case of a robbery which went wrong since jewellery, cellphones and cash remained on the victims’ bodies. Even their two apartments in Bacolet remained intact with nothing stolen.

Police have also verified there was no CCTV footage for the area and therefore there is no camera footage to work with.

However, police believe the person or persons who killed the German couple knew the area well and also knew they were accustomed to taking late night and early morning walks along the beach where the bodies were found.

Their Facebook profile shows many photos of the couple enjoying themselves outdoors whether at the beach, cycling, also indicating they enjoyed winter sports. It indicates they operated a family apartment villa at Minister Bay, and a link to Tobago steelband NLCB Buccooneers website shows a love for the orchestra and their music.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

Food and Drug Dep’t trying to crack down on unlicensed water businesses

hough there are a great number of water processors in Guyana, the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAFDA) has only registered about 39 licensed businesses to date.

“To date, we only have 39 persons qualified,” Director of GAFDA Marlan Cole revealed yesterday, before pointing out that it is known that there are more than the qualified number operating in Guyana. However, he said, this is not reflected in the number of persons licensed. According to Cole, it is difficult to crackdown on these unlicensed businesses due to their sheer number coupled with the fact that the GAFDA unit is small and has a limited number of staff members.

Nevertheless, he said, the department was working as hard as it could to clamp down on these businesses in the interest of public health.

He also said that there is need for the revision of legis-

lation which effectively prosecutes defaulters. “These are some areas that are difficult for us,” he noted.

Cole’s concerns were voiced during an awareness session on water standards held by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). For a few hours, a small group of water distribution businesses and health agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gathered to be sensitised about the requirements necessary to become compliant with water distribution standards.

Noting that water was truly “indispensable,” Executive Director of GNBS Evadnie Enniss stated that businesspersons ought to look outside Guyana for models of proper water distribution. She went on to urge these entrepreneurs to use the standards outlined to benefit the wider society.

“What will people see if there’s a hidden camera placed in your business?” Enniss

questioned before advising businesspersons to always think of the consumers’ health and hold them in the highest regard.

“Remember, you’re not satisfying yourself, you’re satisfying the customer,” she added.

Businesspersons who were present were also privy to presentations on the water standards which aim at not only educating the businesses on what needs to be done but also provides them with an idea of how far along they are and how much further they need to go.

The first presentation focused on the code of practice for packaged water and, according to Al Donavon Fraser, Technical Officer with GNBS, the standard is based on the standards set by the Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality and consists of eight sections.

These sections include hygiene processing requirements, and prescriptions for storage.

Those present were also informed about techniques for collecting, processing, packaging and storing water.

It was noted that sources of water collection must be approved by a competent national authority. Persons were also informed about protecting their water sources from agricultural runoff, pesticides, detergent and disposal of solid, liquid and gaseous waste.

The water supply, Fraser also said, should conform to requirements set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Emphasis was placed on the importance of maintaining contaminant-free water from processing to the time of its sale.

According to Fraser, conformance to the outlined requirements means that products meet the requirements of any Caricom member state. He further said that the use of the standards helps businesses to fine-tune their performances and minimise potential risks.

According to Charissa Wilson, another technical officer with GNBS, packaged water is tested by the GAFDA to fit microbiological specifications.

Wilson noted that water is important and maintained that the customer’s satisfaction should be on the top of the agenda.

“It’s important for us to understand that it’s not just about money,” Wilson said before adding, “It’s about the quality you give to your customers.”

She further said that all manufacturers and water processers should be acquainted with the law governing packaged water. She also placed emphasis on food handler’s training.

“We do not just want to hassle you to get all of these things; we just understand that water is important for the consumers,” GNBS public relations officer Lloyd David added.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

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What is Shiva Linga?

A Shiva Linga consists of three parts, the lowest of which is called the ‘Brahma-Pitha,’ the middle one, the ‘Vishnu-Pitha’ and the uppermost one, the ‘Shiva-Pitha.’

THE HOLIEST SHIVA LINGAS OF INDIA There are 12 ‘Jyotir-lingas’ and 5 ‘Pancha-bhuta Lingas’ in India. The dozen Jyotir-lingas are: Kedarnath, Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Baijnath, Rameswar, Ghrusneswar, Bhimshankar, Mahakal, Mallikarjun, Amaleshwar, Nageshwar and Tryambakeshwar. The 5 Pancha-bhuta Lingas are: Kalahastishwar, Jambukeshwar, Arunachaleshwar, Ekambareshwar of Kanjivaram and Nataraja of Chidambaram. The temple of Lord Mahalinga at Tiruvidaimarudur known also as Madhyarjuna is regarded as the great Shiva temple of South India.

What is behind Lord Shivabeing represented as a ‘Linga?’ The popular belief is that the Shiva Linga or Lingam represents the phallus, the emblem of the generative power in nature. According to Swami Sivananda, this is not only a serious mistake, but also a grave blunder.

SHIVA LINGA: THE SYMBOL FOR SHIVA In Sanskrit, Linga means a ‘mark’ or a symbol, which points to an inference. Thus the Shiva Linga is a symbol of Lord Shiva - a mark that reminds of the Omnipotent Lord, which is formless.

Shiva Linga speaks to the devotee in the unmistakable language of silence, and it is only the outward symbol of the formless being, Lord Shiva, who is the undying soul seated in the chambers of your heart, who is your in-dweller, your innermost self or ‘Atman,’ and who is identical with the supreme ‘Brahman.’

The Linga is like an egg, and represents the ‘Brahmanda’ or the cosmic egg. Linga signifies that the creation is effected by the union of ‘Prakriti’ and ‘Purusha,’ the male and the female powers of Nature. Linga also signifies ‘Satya,’ ‘Jnana’ and ‘Ananta’ - Truth, knowledge and Infinity.The ancient scripture Linga Purana says that the foremost Linga is devoid of smell, colour, taste, etc., and is spoken of as ‘Prakriti’ or Nature itself. In the post-Vedic period, the Linga became symbolical of the generative power of Lord Shiva.

THE 3 PARTS OF A SHIVA LINGA

The ‘Sphatika-linga’ is made up of quartz. It is prescribed for the deepest kind of worship of Lord Shiva. It has no color of its own, but takes on the color of the substance which comes in contact with it. It represents the ‘Nirguna Brahman’ or the attribute-less Supreme Self or the formless Shiva. The Quartz Shiva Linga.

WHAT THE LINGA MEANS TO DEVOTEES There is a mysterious or indescribable power or ‘Shakti’ in the Linga, to induce concentration of the mind, and helps focus one’s attention. That is why the ancient sages and seers of India prescribed Linga to be installed in the temples of Lord Shiva.

For a sincere devotee, the Linga is not merely a block of stone. It is all-radiant - talks to him, raises him above body-consciousness, and helps to communicate with the Lord. Lord Rama worshiped the Shiva Linga at Rameshwaram. Ravana, the learned scholar, worshiped the golden Linga for its mystical powers.

Based on the teachings of Swami Sivananda

By Subhamoy Das Hinduism Expert

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November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

UK couple to sue for $20M

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RITISH national Peter Green who along with his wife Murium were viciously attacked while holidaying in Tobago in 2009, yesterday announced he will be suing the Trinidad and Tobago Government for £2 million or approximately TT$20 million and will be continuing his campaign to tarnish Tobago as a tourism destination.

Green, speaking via a telephone interview with Newsday from his home in Somerset, England, said his anti-Tobago campaign was reignited following the murders of German couple Birgid, 71, and Hurbertus Konrad Keil, 74, who were found dead in Bacolet, last Saturday morning.

Green noted that he and his wife were friends with the Keils and, “we’re so upset at losing such wonderful people.” Green, who returned to the UK following the attack in 2009, had not seen the couple for five years.

“I can’t understand why anybody would wish to hurt them,” he added. No one has yet been charged with the murder and yesterday police announced a $100,000 reward for any information. Green said he does not believe the killer/s would ever be caught.

“I have absolutely no faith in your legal system. It is absolutely ridiculous,” Green said. He noted that he had no confidence in the Tobago police and it was not like in UK where he knew that Scotland Yard would do their best.

The German Embassy has been attempt-

ing to contact the Keils’ daughter and sources informed Newsday that she could arrive in Tobago as early as today to identify the bodies. “We feel very sorry for the daughter who will have this dreadful uphill struggle with the Government, especially the THA (Tobago House of Assembly),” Green said.

“They were so unhelpful as far as we were concerned. I hope they make it easy for her,” he added. He sent a message for the Keil’s daughter that if anyone in the THA makes any promises to her, she should not believe them.

The Keils murder, “brought back dreadful memories” of the attack on Green and his wife. On August 1, 2009 they were attacked by a man armed with a cutlass while they slept on the back patio of their holiday home in Bacolet, Tobago. Green spent two weeks in a medically induced coma.

Green, now 70, and his wife Murium, 65, are still suffering the effects of the attack.

He noted that his wife’s face is still disfigured and he lost sight in his right eye. He reported that it took him over two years to learn to walk again and he can still only walk for short periods. Green said he spends most of his time in bed and has a high pain threshold for the brain damage he sustained.

He reported they have not received any communication from the THA for more than two years. “They just stopped writing to us (and) no further e-mails to contact them. A completely disgraceful way to act,” he said.

He reported they were initially given a statutory TT$25,000 for their injuries but will be pursuing for £1 million each. He said that after an initial difficulty to find a barrister to represent them he secured the services of Marc Beaumont, who has chambers in the UK, New York and the Caribbean.

He reported they have been providing medical reports, including x-rays to show the damage sustained to them.

“I have a list and medical notes as long as your arm,” he said. He said there was one more medical report taken longer than anticipated. He also reported that for the past nine months Beaumont has been putting a case together and “the world will know what happened”.

He said the matter will be placed in the High Courts in London around the time of Christmas 2014. He noted that even if the suit is unsuccessful, “at least we will embarrass Trinidad and Tobago. It will certainly affect your tourist industry.” Green said they came to this country because they love the people and the island but were treated like “absolute nothings”. He noted that a man initially charged with the crime but subsequently released for lack of evidence, claimed to have knowledge of the real attacker but there was no follow up by the Tobago police.

“They didn’t care about us so why should we care about Trinidad and Tobago when we’re in a position to make tourism real-

Dr. Ravideen Ramsamooj. Ph.D. Trained music teacher.

ly painful for you guys,” a bitter-sounding Green asked.

Green said before he began pursuing legal action he would telephone someone every day and tell them how he has been treated

by Tobago officials and the story has been spreading. He noted that he plans to put up fliers about the attack at travel agencies and Caribbean holiday brochures.

He said that the people in Trinidad were of a slightly different quality but in Tobago, “there seems to be a sub-human lifestyle... that we just can’t explain.” Green stressed that they only wanted recognition and understanding but everything they have tried to do has been distorted. He noted that they have been accused of being racists and even child molesters on blogs.

“I find the issue very, very hurtful,” he added. Green said that he and his wife were “besotted with beauty of beaches and weather” but there is nothing nice about Tobago anymore.

“The people who live there I don’t know whether to feel sorry for them or annoyed with them,” he added. Green said he prays every night that his maker will not take him so he can find out who did this to him. “Me and my family will never let go.

You’ve picked on the wrong family and whoever attacked my wife and I you have my permission to string (hang) them up,” Green added.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Sugar production now stands at 199,000 tonnes

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HE sugar production target for 2014 is likely to be met, according to GuySuCo Human Resource Director, Mr. Jairam Pitam, who added that as of yesterday production stands at 199,000 tonnes.

He also told this newspaper that last week’s torrential rains caused some estates to lose three days but operations resumed yesterday.

“We did not have any losses in terms of the actual crop, what we lost was three days, three opportunity days, but operations have resumed and we are hoping that once the weather holds harvesting will continue and we will be able to meet the target,” Pitam said.

The overall target for 2014 was moved from 216,000 tonnes to 219,000 tonnes.

The first crop was successful, surpassing the 75,000 tonnes target, bringing in about 80,000 tonnes. $6B ALLOCATION Additionally, a $6B allocation in the 2014 National Budget for GuySuCo was approved by the National Assembly. The $6B is expected to cover expenditures that include mechanisation, through the conversion of 2,500 hectares of land to be suitable for mechanical operations, which will be done at a cost of $1.1B,

November 27–December 4, 2014

Four men killed in separate accidents

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tillage and replanting of 9,200 hectares, both efforts being consistent with improving cane production and yield, which will be done at a cost $1B, factory upgrading of all sugar estates, including Skeldon, at a cost of $2B and works to field infrastructure to improve field to factory access and purchasing of equipment, excavators, bell loaders, tractors, etc. to account for the remainder of the allocation.

Despite the dismal sugar production in 2013, Guyana has been taking steps to turn around the sugar industry and hopes to meet the 300,000 tonnes target soon, with a projection that the sector will reach its 400,000 tonne goal by 2020.

Despite its challenges, the industry, according to Government, remains relevant to the health of the national economy. In 2013, sugar exports accounted for 8.3 per cent of total exports valued at US$112.2M and the industry contributed 3.9 per cent of the country’s GDP.

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he police say are investigating three fatal accidents as road deaths continue to climb.

The police said today they are probing a fatal accident that occurred at about 1630h. yesterday at No. 68 Village Public Road, Corentyne, and which resulted in the death of pedal cyclist Dhanraj Doodnauth, 76 years, of No. 68 Village. Investigations have revealed that a motor car was proceeding along the roadway allegedly at a fast rate and collided with the pedal cyclist. The police said that he was taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the car is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

The police are also probing a fatal accident that occurred at about 1740h. yesterday on the No. 10 Public Road, WCB, and which resulted in the death of motor cyclist Dilchand Angad, 28 years, of Plantation Hope, WCB. Police said that investigations revealed that Angad was riding a motor cycle along the roadway when he overtook a minibus and collided with a motor lorry that was travelling in the opposite direction.

He suffered injuries and was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police say they are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Alden Straker, 21 years, of Bartica.

At about 1845h. yesterday, police say that Straker and Julian Rodrigues, 21 years, also of Bartica, were found lying on the roadway at 4 Miles, Bartica, with injuries to their bodies.

They were taken to the Bartica Hospital where Straker was pronounced dead on arrival, while Rodrigues was admitted in a serious condition.

The police said it is suspected that the men were involved in an accident. Two damaged motor cycles were found along the roadway.

Police further said that at about 1445h today on the Betsy Ground Public Road, Canje an accident occurred which resulted in the death of passenger Mahendra Jugisteer, 30 years, of Betsy Ground.

Investigations have revealed that the driver of a motor car in which Jugisteer was a passenger, lost control of the vehicle which turned turtle after colliding with a parked tractor/trailer.

Jugisteer suffered injuries and was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the vehicle is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

At the end of October this year, 113 road fatalities from 104 accidents were recorded in comparison to 85 fatalities from 79 accidents for the same period in 2013; a 33% increase in fatalities.

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November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

US Embassy recognizes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

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n November 25th the world community will observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW). Subsequent to the IDEVAW, the US Embassy will be participating in 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence offers an opportunity to renew the global commitment to free women and girls from violence, whether it happens behind closed doors or as a public tactic of intimidation. If it occurs in our own neighbourhood or on distant shores, violence against women and girls damages us all – men and women alike.

Gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, education level, and international boundaries. An estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Research tells us that violence committed by spouses or family members is the most common form of violence experienced by women globally. Children are par-

Bryan Hunt ticularly vulnerable. Almost 50 per cent of all sexual assaults worldwide are against girls 15 and younger. Around the globe annually, 150 million girls and 73 million boys are victims of forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence.

Women with a disability are two to three times more likely to suffer physical or sexual abuse, as are those living in countries experiencing conflict or humanitarian crises. Indeed, the use of sexual violence as a tool of modern warfare is an increasingly disturbing trend,

meriting global attention.

There is no doubt that globally, the scale of gender-based violence is tremendous, the scope is vast, and the consequences for individuals, families, communities, and countries are devastating. Gender-based violence undermines not only the safety, dignity, overall health status, and human rights of the millions of individuals who experience it, but also the public health, economic stability, and security of nations.

Decades of research and an overwhelming amount of evidence clearly demonstrate that women’s empowerment is critical to building stable, democratic societies; to supporting open and accountable governance; to furthering international peace and security; to growing vibrant market economies; and to addressing pressing health and education challenges. For that reason, all of us have a collective interest in preventing and responding to gender-based violence wherever and whenever it occurs around the world.

Under the leadership of President Obama, former Secretary

of State Clinton, and Secretary Kerry, the United States has expanded our diplomatic and development efforts to eliminate gender-based violence and assist its victims. In doing so, we recognize that we join with a growing global coalition of governments, civil society, private industry, and individual men and women, who are united in their conviction that more must be done on this issue.

Doing more certainly includes raising awareness, changing societal attitudes, and offering care and support for the victims of gender based violence. It includes building more shelters, offering additional counselling to victims and their families, and assisting victims in achieving economic independence from their abusers. International donors, civil society, and the private sector can and should unquestionably assist in this area. However, such efforts will always be insufficient until such time as there is a clear global understanding that gender-based violence is and must be treated as serious criminal activity with severe criminal penalties.

Our first response in handling instances of such violence must include the involvement of law enforcement, prosecutors and the courts to ensure that those who persist in perpetrating violence are held accountable and brought to justice. Decades of research has shown us that if severe criminal penalties are not attached to gender-based violence, such violence becomes a self-perpetuating cycle in which children learn abuse and ultimately become abusers.

Breaking this cycle is the key to ending gender based violence and can only be done by treating such behaviour as the crime which it is.

Please join us and the international community in commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 Days of Activism that follow.

We all need to work together— the international community, governments, multilateral organizations, private sector companies, and grassroots-level advocates to address and prevent violence from occurring any longer.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

Call 347-759-3934 OR 347-661-9930

11

12

November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Duck…$3.75 lb • Gray Chicken…$1.99 lb • White Chicken…$1.99 lb

November 27–December 4, 2014 13 Caribbean Star Newspaper Bourda Market vendors march on City H OME SECURITY Hall after third day of closure

CAMERAS

S

ome 40 angry Bourda Market stallholders marched down to City Hall yesterday, where they accused the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Public Health Department of dragging their feet in the post-flood cleanup and sanitizing of the market.

Record rainfall on Thursday resulted in the market being flooded, like the rest of the city, and it could not be opened for business.

On Thursday and throughout the weekend, some vendors in the ‘green’ (vegetable/fruit section) quickly set up mobile stands along North Road and Robb Street, which made it difficult for vehicular traffic to get by. However, stallholders in the market itself were denied access into the market. They became furious yesterday when, after they would have accessed their stalls to assess the damage and try to salvage whatever they could, they realized that the market would again, not be open for business.

What the stallholders are claiming is that the M&CC and the Public Health Department had ample time to clean and sanitize the market from when the water would have begun to recede on Friday afternoon and to get systems in place so that when they turned out yesterday, they would have been able to do business. They also complained about the rent arrangements since they weren’t able to do business, they didn’t think it was fair to pay the full rent.

It was after customers were yesterday denied entry to the market by members of the City Constabulary that the vendors rallied on the eastern side of the market where they began their walk to City Hall.

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba met the vendors and told them that the spraying of the market had commenced as well as the removal of the garbage that was piled up at various points. But Sooba was quickly corrected by the vendors who stated that there were no spraying being done.

She then made several calls in the presence of the vendors, instructing persons on the other end of the line to

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All water soak and rotten in the water.

Satwantie Narine pointing to some of her damaged pumpkins. “double up” on the work being undertaken so that the vendors could return to their livelihoods.

“And I will tell de people [vendors] to hold y’all accountable if y’all can’t function,” Sooba said on the phone.

When the vendors asked about the rent arrangement and if they would have to pay the full amount of rent since they couldn’t sell for almost three days Sooba replied, “…We will discuss it because y’all already sell three weeks.

We gun discuss that. Y’all don’t push it too far and be unreasonable.”

She later informed the vendors that after the spraying of the market things will return to normal for vending.

Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told Stabroek news yesterday that she wasn’t aware of the situation since she had passed the market on Thursday and it was closed due to the flooding, which she said was understandable. As regards the cleaning, an emergency meeting was held on Friday for discussions with the Solid Waste Director and the City Engineer as to how they will move forward.

Chase-Green said she had received a message from Sooba which was relayed

Garbage piled up along North Road which has become a regular eyesore.

Angry vendors at City Hall yesterday ry-Monroe, which said that they would be working all weekend to deal with the emergency.

“I don’t know what the plan is because we weren’t informed,” ChaseGreen said. “How much will it cost to have a cleaning for the market? I do not know, and under normal circumstances for the market to be closed for so many days it ought to be gazetted.”

Vendors in the vegetable/fruit section were assessing their losses yesterday morning, while some were seen working along with vagrants to clean the drains and their surroundings.

Satwantie Narine, a vegetable and fruit vendor, told this publication yesterday that since Thursday she wasn’t able to sell since flood waters were above knee height.

“Since Thursday now I come back to sell, no council or nobody come tell we nothing. Is them junkies I pay to clean up this place and we can’t use nuff water to wash because the drains already full…

Rain or sun we still have to pay rent for our stands, $4000 for a double stand and $600 for an additional stand to put de fruits on,” Narine said.

Jasoda Betal, who sells fruits, said she pays rent and a cleansing fee and she still had to take part in the cleaning.

“All meh tangerine and mangoes spoil.

Shellene Douglas at her sewing machine yesterday How I will get back money? I got to depend on this lil savings I got,” Betal said.

Further down in the market a seamstress was busy working away on her machine. Shellene Douglas said she wasn’t able to work since Thursday and even though she didn’t have much losses, she had a lot of catching up to do because clients are continuously calling.

“The drainage is bad, terrible. They need to improve the draining now. This isn’t the first time; once bitten twice shy.

Since that big flooding [2005] I does put meh things high,” the seamstress said.

It was unclear when the market would be reopened since the spraying and sanitizing of the market was scheduled to be finished by 3 pm yesterday. When Stabroek News revisited the market at 3.30 pm, padlocks were seen on the gates.

14

November 27–December 4, 2014

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

Zikr - Remembrance of Allah.

VIRTUES OF ZIKR bu Hurairah (Radhiyallaho anho) narrated that Rasulullah (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) has said, “Almighty Allah says, I treat my slave (man) according to his expectations from Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My heart; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a better and nobler gathering (i.e. of angels). If he comes closer to Me by one span, I go towards him a cubit’s length, if he comes towards Me by a cubit’s length, I go towards him an arm’s length, and if he walks towards Me, I run unto him.”

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Note: There are several points elaborated in this Hadith. The first point is that Allah deals with a man according to his expectations from Him. One should therefore always be hopeful of the mercy and benevolence of Almighty Allah and never be despondent of His blessings. Certainly, we are extremely sinful and justly deserve punishment on account of our evil deeds, yet in no case should we feel despondent of the mercy of Allah, as He may perhaps totally forgive us.

“Lo! Allah forgives not if a partner be ascribed unto Him and forgives all except that to whom He will.”

But Almighty Allah may or may not forgive; that is why the Ulama say that true belief lies in between hope (of forgiveness of Allah) and fear (of His wrath). The Holy Prophet (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) once visited a young Sahabi, who was breathing his last, and asked him how he was feeling.

He replied, “O! Messenger of Allah, I am hopeful of the mercy of Allah, and yet I am afraid of my sins.” Thereupon the Holy Prophet (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) said “When the heart of a believer is filled with these two feelings of hope and fear, Almighty Allah fulfils his hope and saves him from what he is afraid of.”

It is mentioned in one Hadith that a

believer thinks of his sin, as if he is sitting under a huge rock that is threatening to fall on him, while for a transgressor his sin is no more than a fly which is easily scared off, i.e., he takes his sins very lightly. In short, one should be appropriately afraid of ones sins, and at the same time remain hopeful of Allah’s mercy.

Mu’aaz (Radhiyallaho anho) died of the plague and, in the moments of death’s agony, he fainted many times.

Whenever he regained consciousness for a moment, he would say, “Oh Allah!

You know that I love You. By your Honor and Glory, you know this very well.”

Just before breathing his last, he said, “0 Death, you are a welcome guest but have come at a time when there is nothing in the house to eat.” Then he said, “0 Allah! you know very well that I always feared you, and today I die hopeful of your forgiveness. 0 Allah! I enjoyed life, not in digging canals and planting gardens, but in remaining thirsty in the hot weather, in undergoing hardships for the sake of Islaam, and in taking part in the gatherings engaged in zikr under the supervision of the Ulama.”

Some Ulama have written that the fulfillment of expectations promised by Almighty Allah in the aforesaid Hadith is in its most general sense. It carries assurance not only in respect of forgiveness but also in respect of prayers, health, wealth and safety. For instance when a person prays to Allah and sincerely believes that Allah shall accept his prayer, then his prayer is actually accepted, but if he has doubt (that his prayer would not be accepted], it is not accepted. Thus, in another Hadith it is stated that the prayer of a person is granted so long as he does not say that his prayer is not granted. The same is true in the case of all blessings relating to health, prosperity, etc.

According to one Hadith, if a destitute person discloses his hunger to everybody, he is not relieved of his poverty, but if he shows submission to Gracious Allah, his condition may soon change for the better. However, hoping for

Caribbean Star Newspaper

the better from Almighty Allah is one thing, and being over-confident of His help and forgiveness is another thing.

Almighty Allah has warned us against such an attitude in several verses of the Holy Qur’an e.g.

“Let not the deceiver (the Satan) beguile you in regard to Allah” i.e. one should not be misled by the devil to commit sins just because Allah is the most Merciful and the Forgiver”.

There is another verse, “Does he have knowledge of the Unseen, or has he made a pact with the Beneficent. No, never.”

The second point in this Hadith is “Whenever a slave of mine remembers Me, I am with him.” In another Hadith, it is stated, “So long as one’s lips move in My remembrance I remain with him” i.e.

Almighty Allah bestows His special care and mercy on him during all this time.

The third point is that Almighty Allah mentions him with a favor to the angels, which signifies the value of zikr. Firstly, this is because Allah created man such that inherently he is liable to be good as well as to go astray. Submission on his part therefore deserves special appreciation. Secondly, at the time of Aadam’s creation, the Angels (who have no instinct for doing evil) could not understand the creation of man and had contended that he would cause blood-shed and trouble in the world, while they are always there to praise and glorify Almighty Allah.

Thirdly, man’s worship of Allah and submission to His will is more commendable than that of the Angels, because he does so on account of his faith in the unseen which, however, is actually seen by the angels. It is to this fact that Allah refers in the Holy Book: “How would man not have worshipped if he had actually seen the Paradise and the Hell.” It is for this reason that Almighty Allah praises the noble deeds of those who worship and glorify Him without seeing Him. The fourth point contained in the above-mentioned Hadith is that if a man increases his devotion to Almighty Allah, the increase in His mercy and kindness upon him is proportionately far greater. “Getting near” and “running” signify immediate increase in His blessings and mercy. Thus, it is up to a person that, if he wants to enjoy more kindness and favors from Almighty Allah, he should increase his devotion to Him. The fifth point in the above mentioned Hadith is that the Angels have been stated to be superior to man, while it is commonly known that man is the best creation of Allah. One reason for this has already been explained in the translation (of the Hadith), that the angels are superior because they are innocent and are unable to commit

sins. Secondly, they are superior because they are better than the majority of men, including even the majority of believers; and yet some selected Believers like the Prophets (Alaihimus salaam) are superior to the angels.

A Sahabi once said, “0, Rasulullah, (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM), I know that the commandments of Sharee-at are many, but of these tell me the one that I may practice assiduously throughout my life.” The Prophet, (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM), replied, “Keep your tongue always moist (i.e. busy) with the zikr of Allah.” According to another Hadith Mu’aaz (Radhiyal-laho anho) has said, “Once at the time of my departure from Rasulullah (Sallallahu ALAIHI WASALLAM), I asked him to advise me of that action which is most pleasing to Almighty Allah: whereupon he replied, “At the time of your death, your tongue should be busy with zikr of Almighty Allah.”

By “my departure”, Mu’aaz (Radhiyal-laho anho) refers to the occasion when he was appointed by the Holy Prophet (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) as the Governor of Yemen and sent there for teaching and propagating Islaam. It was at the time of that farewell that Rasulullah (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) had given him some parting instructions.

By saying that “the commandments of Sharee-at are many”, the Sahabi had meant that although observance of every commandment is imperative, to specialize and attain perfection in each and every one is difficult; and so he wanted that Rasulullah (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM), may recommend him something of over-riding importance which he might hold fast to, and practice at all times and in all conditions of sitting, standing or walking.

According to another Hadith, a person who possesses the following four things is truly blessed, from the worldly as well as spiritual point of view: 1. A tongue ever absorbed in the zikr of Almighty Allah.

2. A heart filled with gratitude of Allah.

3. A body capable of undergoing hardships.

4. A wife who does not betray her husband’s trust in respect of her chastity and his wealth.

The phrase “moist tongue” according to some Ulama means excessive utterance (of zikr) and, idiomatically, it is used to convey excessive glorification and praise. Abu Darda (Radhiyallaho anho) said that those who keep their tongues wet with the zikr of Allah, will enter paradise smiling.

Shayk Abdullah Khan Al-Ihsan Academy Abdullah.khan@ihsanacademy.org

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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November 27–December 4, 2014

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Cane harvester killed in crash at Betsy Ground

Betsy Ground cane harvester lost his life yesterday on the public road at Betsy Ground, Canje, after the driver of motor vehicle PFF 556 crashed into a utility pole at around 14:45 hrs.

Mahendra Jugisteer, 30, was the fourth man to die in a traffic accident over two days and the third in Berbice.

The driver of the motor vehicle, Devendra Kumar Bakiri, 25, sustained injuries and is currently at the New

Amsterdam Hospital receiving medical attention under guard.

According to information reaching Stabroek News, Bakiri was speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred. He reportedly first hit an electricity pole, toppled several feet and then hit a parked trailer before landing in a trench. Jugisteer, his cousin, was a passenger in the vehicle.

Eyewitnesses said the acci-

dent occurred within seconds and after the car halted they saw that two men appeared to be severely injured. “When we reach nobody ent movin. Is sheer blood all ova,� eyewitness Sidney La Fleur said. The men were rescued and taken to the New Amster-dam Public Hospital where Jugisteer was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to reports, the two men were imbibing in alcohol during the day and were heading home when the

accident occurred. A police source said a breathalyzer test on was performed on Bakiri and he was over the legal limit for alcohol consumption.

Jugisteer leaves to mourn his wife, child and other relatives and friends.

At the end of October this year, 113 road fatalities from 104 accidents were recorded in comparison to 85 fatalities from 79 accidents for the same period in 2013; a 33% increase in fatalities.

Man held at JFK with cocaine in rum

- placed on US$75,000 bail

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man, who travelled from Guyana to the US last Monday and was found with 8.206 kg of cocaine hidden in four bottles of rum at the John F Kennedy Airport in New York, has been granted US$75,000 bail.

Wilton Sinclair was charged with possession of cocaine on November 18 before Magistrate Judge James Orenstein in the US Eastern District Court.

According to court documents, Sinclair was a passenger on Caribbean Airlines Flight 525 which departed Georgetown and travelled to Trinidad and Tobago. He then boarded another Caribbean Airline Flight 524 and flew to the United States.

But on arrival at JFK Airport, he was selected for passenger screening by the US Customs and Border Protection officers.

Sinclair was carrying a shopping bag, which contained four 1.75 litre bottles of rum, which when inspected were found to contain a thick, syrup-like substance inconsistent with rum.

Further inspections revealed the presence of cocaine and Sinclair was arrested.

He was interviewed by an agent and advised of his Miranda rights. However, Sinclair waived his rights and told law enforcement agents, in the absence of an attorney, that he was paid US$6,000 to take the four bottles containing cocaine from Guyana to the United States.

The court documents said a preliminary hearing was waived and bail was set with surety sworn after Sinclair was advised of his bond obligations and conditions, which he signed to.

16

November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

17

Guyanese pilot arrested in Puerto Rico over US$620,000 ation in 1991 and for the past 15 years he has been freelancing with Ringwood Airport in New Jersey as a flight instructor.

In 1992, Mr. Lall started his own business “K.L.X Logistics Inc” located at 13 Edward Hart Drive, Jersey City which offered trucking and warehouse services, and was operational from 1995 to 2010.

In 2007, he purchased a gas station KEM KHAMRAJ LALL

G

uyanese pilot Khamraj Lall has been detained in Puerto Rico over cash amounting to US$620,000 which was found in the private plane he was in on November 22.

According to Puerto Rican newspaper Primera Hora, US federal agents at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport on the Caribbean island detected the large sum stashed in plastic bags during routine investigations.

The large sum of money had not been declared to US authorities and was detected during a search of the aircraft.

Lall, the report said, was the passenger of a private plane that landed in Isla Verde on November 22, according to an affidavit by a federal agent.

It had stopped to refuel with the intention of continuing to Georgetown, Guyana according to information from the electronic file of the Federal Court.

Primera Hora said it was reported that Customs officers asked the detainee to report how much cash he was carrying.

However, Lall, who was traveling with his father and the pilot of the aircraft, initially reported only US$5,000 between him and his father but later said the two had US$12,000.

US authorities require that sums over US$10,000 be reported.

On closer inspection of the plane, officers found US$150,000 first “wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket near an exit,” according to the statement of the federal agent.

Subsequently, in a compartment near a motor, several black garbage bags with the other US$470,000 were found. Lall said that all the money was his. He said his father and the pilot knew nothing about the high amount of cash carried in the aircraft, the report said.

Judge Marcos Lopez issued an arrest warrant for Lall. He faces charges of falsely filling federal reports and smuggling more than US$600,000, the report said.

Lall’s profile on http://execjetclub.com says “Mr. Kem Lall migrated to the United States of America 30 years ago in pursuit of his dreams in aviation. He graduated from the College of Aeronautics with a Bachelors Degree in Technology and Engineering, and later obtained his pilot license.

He has been flying since 1994 and holds a PIC ( Pilot-In-Command) type rating approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He has worked for Pan American airlines as an engineer for five (5) year until they closed their oper-

now known as the Kaylee’ Service Station located at Coverden, East Bank Demerara as part of his investment plans in Guyana and later expanded his venture when he introduced Quin’s Special Events & Services compose of two limousines.

In pursuit of his dreams, Mr. Lall acquired a Westwind 1 Aircraft, which is

a light executive jet that will be operating an international private service from Guyana to the North America, South America and the Caribbean. This service is the first of its kind in Guyana and Mr. Lall has many more plans that will surely boost the aviation and tourism sector in our economy.”

18

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

19

ITS THANKSGIVING TIME At this time of the year, we hear the stories of the origins of Thanksgiving in America and all the traditions attached to it. We recall how the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth and their first celebration of Thanksgiving with wild turkey, corn and Squanto. Their journey to America was for the purpose of finding a place to worship and serve the God of the Bible peacefully. Over the years, Americans have tried to maintain a connection with history by serving special meals of turkey, corn and the other trimmings that go along with that.

Thanksgiving was intended to express gratitude to the Sovereign God for all His goodness in spite of many challenges.

WASHINGTON’S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION After many years, on October 3, 1789 President George Washington, at the request of Congress, issued a Proclamation that the entire nation should observe Thanksgiving to God Almighty.

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:” Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protec-

tion of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially

such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington” LINCOLN’S PROCLAMATION This Proclamation by Washington was later supported by President Abraham Lincoln’s revised Proclamation on October 3, 1863. Here is an extract of what Lincoln stated regarding the many blessings of God: “They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the

lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln” Let all who are blessed to live in these land offer sincere thanks to God, repent of our sins in Jesus’ name, and Cariimplore our God to bless our families. When our families gather for Thanksgiving, talk about all the good things we have received from the kind hands of God. Take your family to church this weekend.

Pastor Haniff Bacchus Calvary Assembly

of God

102-07 Rockaway Blvd, Ozone Park, NY 11417 Tel. 718-659-4500 www.calvaryozone.org

20

November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

US$41,000 CPGI projects commissioned in Canal Nos.1 & 2

B

ORN out of the recognition that climate change continues to be the greatest challenge to agriculture in Guyana’s administrative regions, the US$41,000 Canal Polders Green Initiative (CPGI) Project was commissioned yesterday by Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker and CARILED representatives.

Speaking at the event in Canal No. 2 on the West Bank of Demerara, Minister Whittaker plugged the initiative as a great achievement, especially considering the role of the Guyana Government in diversification of the agricul-

tural sector.

“Guyana is heavily dependent on agriculture both as a source of food and also a source of income and a source of revenue for the country,” the Minister said, adding that “our focus over many decades has been what we call the traditional crops: sugar [and] rice.”

He added: “But our Government determined many years ago that it is not the best thing to put all your eggs in one basket.”

Coming out of a series of consultations sometime ago with residents and local government authorities from the

area were recommendations, according to CARILED National Country Coordinator, Dhanraj Singh.

These centred around “those avenues which the Ministry of Local Government together with the CARILED programme can support those local government agencies on the ground to provide better support for local economic development in the communities.”

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT With a primary focus on women empowerment and creating new employment for women, there are three proj-

ects of that nature in the area, which along with consultations and training sessions with residents amount to some US$41,000.

But this is not limited to those direct beneficiaries of the project, said Singh who pointed out that the beneficiaries will open their projects to the public to further educate those persons who are interested in the new technology being utilised.

This is to ensure that not only beneficiaries like Canal No. 2 farmer Naiomi Rambarran will benefit from the project. Naiomi grows parsley, celery and Observing the second crop of produce lettuce. She said that in four weeks she had reaped some 200 heads of lettuce for marketing.

With the floods that washed through the regions on Thursday, Naiomi said that she can now rest easy whenever it rains since her produce is grown above ground level. She recalled that during the floods, even though she had to wade through two feet of water, she was relieved to know that her produce was untouched.

CARILED, the Caribbean Local Economic Development Programme, is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development and is implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, an organisation made up of local government bodies in Canada.

Outlining the basis for the Canadian Government’s investment in the local economy, CARILED Programme Director, Alix Yule said: “We really believe that given the current global economic environment, for communities to prosper the local economy needs to be stimulated.”

Yule plugged the need for the involvement of local government in these sorts of projects to further stimulate economic development. She remained optimistic of the venture since “It’s very difficult to help an economy grow.” However, Yule urged for interagency collaboration to ensure the viability of these projects.

The Small Business Council, coming out of the Small Business Act of 2004, currently aids in funding for the project through Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development Limited (IPED).

A shade house structure at Canal No. 2 with a water tank of treated water

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November 27–December 4, 2014 25 Caribbean Star Newspaper Bartica man killed, friend injured Corentyne pensioner killed by speeding car in motorbike collision at Four Miles

A

75-year-old pedal cyclist was struck down and killed by a speeding car while he was on his way home at around 16:40 hrs on Sunday.

Deowraj Doodnauth called Daniel of Lot 165 B Number 68 Village, was returning from a shop when he was hit by the car.

Stabroek News understands that Doodnauth was riding in the corner of the road facing incoming traffic. However, the driver of the speeding vehicle lost control as he came around the Number 68 Village turn and struck down Doodnauth.

An eyewitness said that from all indications the driver appeared to be travelling at 100 miles per hour. He said that when the car hit the pensioner, his cycle was stuck to the front of the car while Doodnauth pitched a few

Deowraj Doodnauth feet away from the point of impact. The eyewitness said the car did not come to a complete stop until it had hit and damaged two culverts on private property.

When Stabroek News visited Doodnauth’s home yesterday, his grieving widow was crying incessantly.

His daughter-in-law Sunita (only name given) said she was at home when she heard the screeching of the brakes on the road. She said she ran out to the road

where residents told her that her father-in-law had been hit down. Sunita said she saw her fatherin-law on the public road in a motionless state and checked for his pulse but there was none. “The residents said to me he is dead but I still checked,” she said.

She added that as they waited on the police to arrive, the driver of the black car tried to escape but residents held him.

“A relative of the driver [then] tried to fight the men that hold the driver,” she said, but she held on to the driver and the relative calmed down.

A daughter of the deceased, Reshma Doodnauth, said the family of the driver went to them family yesterday morning and to offer sympathy and also asked if they would be “willing to settle.” They did not give a definite answer as family

from abroad would have to have an input on the decision.

Reshma said her father had gone to the shop to purchase a few items.

He had celebrated his birthday on Saturday and wanted to buy things for his grandchildren. The daughter, along with an eyewitness, indicated to this publication that Doodnauth had not consumed any alcoholic beverage. “He was a sober man when the accident occurred,” the eyewitness said.

Doodnauth was described as a hardworking and caring individual who was well known and respected in the community.

Doodnauth is survived by his five children, wife, grandchildren siblings and other relatives and friends.

The driver of the car is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

A

21-year-old excavator operator was killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday night after his cycle collided with another one on the Four Miles, Bartica road.

According to reports, Alden Straker and his friend, Julian Rodrigues, 21, were found lying on the road side with injuries to their bodies. They were rushed to the Bartica Hospital where Straker died a while later.

Rodrigues was later air dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a critical condition.

Straker’s cousin said that on Sunday night they received a call from one of his friends, who told them that he was involved in an accident and that they should go to the hospital. She said when they arrived, Straker was already dead.

Stabroek News received information that the driver and passenger of the other

motorcycle escaped after the accident, leaving Straker and Rodrigues unconscious on the road.

Rodrigues’ mother Yonette Layne said she got a call from her sister around 7.30 pm on Sunday, and she was told that her son and another boy were involved in an accident and they were lying unconscious on the road.

Rodrigues sustained a broken leg and thigh, and minor injuries to his face and hands.

Police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding Straker’s death.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING MASSIVE PILL STASH November 27–December 4, 2014

More Than 1,300 Oxycodone Pills Seized from Ozone Park Residence and Vehicle

Q

ueens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that a 36-yearold Ozone Park man has been charged with illegally possessing 1,385 prescription drugs - namely 1,347 oxycodone tablets and 38 diazepam (Valium) pills - as police and prosecutors concluded a long-term investigation.

District Attorney Brown said, “The drugs which the defendant is alleged to have trafficked in each have a street value of $20 to $25 a pill and are popular with club patrons despite the fact that they pose serious health risks. We have seen a huge rise in the use and abuse of prescription painkillers. Drugs such as oxycodone are extremely potent and have a high potential for abuse and death. Shutting down sources such as alleged in this

case will save lives.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as George Kurz, 36, of 97-41 Eckford Street in the Ozone Park section of Queens. Kurz was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge Elisa Koenderman last night on first-, second-, third- and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance charges. The defendant is being held on $50,000 bail and was ordered back to court on December 4, 2014. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

District Attorney Brown said that, according to the charges, the New York City Police Department’s Organized Crime Investigations Division and the District Attorney’s Rackets Bureau were conducting a long-term investigation which involved court-au-

thorized audio surveillance. It is alleged that numerous conversations were monitored in which Kurz discussed and arranged the sale of narcotics.

On November 19, 2014, according to the charges, Kurz was observed by a police detective exiting his residence and entering his vehicle. As he started to drive away, the detective stopped Kurz’s vehicle and allegedly observed a small bag with what appeared to be pill bottles in it on the front seat. Kurz allegedly stated to the detective that his wallet was in the bag and that he (the detective) should remove the wallet from the bag. It is alleged that inside the bag was Kurz’s wallet, a pill scraper with six blue oxycodone pills stamped with “215” (30 milligrams) inside and two pill bottles - one containing 103 blue oxycodone pills with “M30” (30 milligrams) stamped on them and the other containing 14 green oxycodone pills with “80”(80 milligrams) stamped on them.

Later that day, a court-autho-

rized search warrant was executed at Kurz’s residence and among the items allegedly seized were 402 blue oxycodone pills in various zip lock bags from an open safe in the basement and, from a dresser in the basement, a zip lock bag containing 297 blue “M30”oxycodone pills, 107 blue “M30”oxycodone pills in a pill bottle, 171 green oxycodone pills in a white bottle, a zip lock bag containing 80 green oxycodone pills, a blue bottle containing 90 green oxycodone pills and a zip lock bag containing 38 yellow diazepam (Valium) pills. In addition, a pill bottle containing 77 peach-colored oxycodone pills stamped with “E700” (5 milligrams of oxycodone and 325 milligrams of acetaminophen) was recovered from a cabinet in the kitchen, as well as a box of zip lock bags on a bedroom shelf consistent with those used for packaging oxycodone pills and $811 in cash that was found on Kurz’s person or in the residence.

The investigation was con-

ducted by the New York City Police Department’s Organized Crime Investigations Division, namely, Detective Gerard McNally, Sergeant James Baratta, Lieutenant Christopher Fasano, Captain John Dusanenko, Inspector John Denesopolis and Chief Thomas Purtell, Commanding Officer, Organized Crime Control Bureau.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Brian E. Kohm, of District Attorney Brown’s Rackets Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gerard A. Brave, Bureau Chief, and Mark L. Katz and Catherine C. Kane, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Linda M. Cantoni.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

`We and our families suffered immensely’ managers say about NBS fraud charge

E

ight years after three senior NBS managers were charged with conspiring to defraud the NBS of $69M, the men are still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives but expressed pleasure at the Ombudsman’s recent report which found that there was no basis to charge them for fraud.

In an interview with Stabroek News, Maurice Arjoon, who had been with the New Building Society for 30 years when he was charged, stated that he had been affected both emotionally and physically by the allegations. At the time of the allegations Arjoon had been the Director-Secretary.

Prior to the charge of conspiracy to defraud, Arjoon and two other managers were dismissed from NBS for misconduct and dereliction of duty in relation to the $69M lost from a customer’s account.

“These people destroyed my life; I was left highly traumatized,” he said. He explained that he had lost a lot of weight and had suffered from sleepless nights. He added that his family had not been spared and had suffered almost as much as he had.

“My mother didn’t take it too well,” Arjoon said. “She took it

on and now she’s bedridden.”

“I’ve been exonerated but the scars and the trauma does not go away like that. During these seven and a half years I could not have survived this ordeal without the help of my family, especially my wife. She’s been my tower of strength and has been very supportive,” Arjoon said.

He also said that he received “overwhelming support from the man on the street”, a sentiment that was echoed by co-accused Kent Vincent.

Vincent, who had been with the NBS for 13 years and had been the Operations Manager when he was charged, explained that the past seven and a half years have been “a difficult period” for him and his family. It was also, he said, a time of grace from God. “My wife is a housewife and I have five daughters so it wasn’t easy being without a job,” Vincent said. When the men were charged, Vincent’s youngest daughter had been 2 years old, the eldest in her teens.

“My children were having to go to school and deal with accusations; I’m sure they had a rough time too,” he said.

According to Vincent, his finances had been exhausted from years of lawyer’s fees.

“We were left with very little.

We had to cut back on everything with our expenditures; we were turning off lights, moving our microwave out of the house… we couldn’t afford to pay the rent but our landlord was an angel and he allowed us to stay in the house for couple years well without us paying. I still owe him money but he’s been like a father to us,” Vincent said.

He stated that the most difficult part was having to go to court and stand there “wasting time”.

“Everyone knew it was just a matter of time before the charges were dismissed; they were just prolonging the case, dragging out,” he said.

However, his problems did not end after the managers were freed of the charges by the court and about eight months after he was able to find a job.

“There are people who would look at you and think you’ve done something wrong; I’ve learnt to not judge people who appear before court and who are charged because you can’t always take things at face value,” Vincent said.

Meanwhile, both of the men expressed satisfaction with the Ombudsman’s 25-page report which vindicated them of any

involvement in the $69M fraud.

The report was sent to all three of the managers and according Vincent it was “quite revealing”.

“There were some things in the report that we were not aware of and I know that after a time the truth will have to come out,” he said. He continued, “I’m pleased that people are seeing that we were not involved in anything; I’m very pleased with the report.”

Arjoon further said that he had been wronged when he was denied his pension. “I haven’t received a cent of my pension and I contributed about $8M in my 30 years,” he said.

According to Arjoon, he was wrongfully dismissed and subsequently sued the NBS. The trial, he said, started in 2011 and is still ongoing. He stated that he was initially cross-examined on February 27, 2014 and is still in the witness box.

“I’m going to break the Guinness Book of Records for being in the witness box for so long,” he lamented.

He added that his matter against the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is still in appeal after it was dismissed in April 2013.

Both men expressed gratitude

to the Ombudsman, retired Justice Winston Moore, and retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Henry Chester who assisted Moore in his investigations.

“Although internal and external investigations at NBS and the trial at the Magistrates’ Courts cleared us, it is solidified seven and a half years later by this report from Guyana’s Ombudsman,” Arjoon said in a statement. He went on, “I must extend heartfelt thanks to the Ombudsman…and Henry Chester for investigating my complaint in a most professional manner.”

Vincent added, “When I saw the report I was pleasantly surprised; I was very happy with its conclusion. “There’s still hope for persons who have been wronged, thanks to the appointment of the Ombudsman.”

The other manager who was charged was Kissoon Baldeo. He could not be contacted by Stabroek News for comment.

According to Justice Moore’s report, the senior managers had suffered “a grave injustice”. The Ombudsman’s role is to investigate complaints against persons who hold public office. This report is his first major one since being appointed to the post in December last year.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

27

28

November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

World News Highlights

KINSHASA - Authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo began to transfer former Rwandan rebels on Wednesday from disarmament camps in the east to a northern transit camp, the U.N. mission said, in an apparent first step to their relocation in a third country.

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto faced fresh questions on Wednesday about his dealings with a company at the center of a conflict-of-interest scandal, after it emerged that he enjoyed rentfree use of a house belonging to the firm as a campaign office.

KIEV - Russian forces are still operating in eastern Ukraine, providing the backbone of separatist rebels fighting the Kiev gov-

M

inutes after Azmon Alexander, dubbed the country’s most wanted man, was nabbed by officers as he sat in the back seat of a car in Malabar, he told heavily armed police officers, “I can’t believe I am being arrested today, but thanks for not shooting me. At least I am no longer the country’s most wanted man.”

Alexander, alias “Pappy,” dressed in a tattered and worn out discoloured khaki long pants and striped jersey was arrested at about 10.30 am yesterday while sitting in the back of a green Mazda vehicle along Lennox Yearwood Expressway.

“He was found in very good condition,” said Head of the Northern Division, Senior Superintendent David Abraham.

Alexander was the lone passenger in the vehicle. He was armed with a cutlass and gave himself up to Inspector Mark Maraj, Sergeants Matthew Haywood and Lindon Mascal, Corporal Sifontis and others.

He was immediately handcuffed and put into a police vehicle along with the driver and taken to the Arima Police Station where both men were placed in a cell.

As he was being escorted to the Arima Police Station, Alex-

ernment, NATO’s top military commander said on Wednesday after talks with Ukrainian leaders.

said on Wednesday she had presented her resignation from the post.

was no new room for compromise on one of the key contentious issues in the Syrian conflict.

CAIRO - An Egyptian committee investigating political violence made a rare break on Wednesday with judicial support for heavy-handed state tactics, recommending the government should amend a law restricting protest.

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police on Wednesday cleared one of the largest protest sites that have choked the city for months, arresting scores of pro-democracy activists in a blow to those hoping to wrest greater political freedom from authorities in Beijing.

PARICHINAR, Pakistan - A U.S. drone killed five suspected militants in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, a militant and a government official said, as the intensity of air strikes grew as part of an anti-Taliban offensive by the Pakistani military.

BOGOTA - A Colombian general and two others taken captive

by Marxist FARC rebels could be free by Saturday, President Juan Manuel Santos said, in a move that may lead to the restart of suspended peace negotiations to end 50 years of war.

DOHA - At a desert base, Gulf state Qatar is covertly training moderate Syrian rebels with U.S. help to fight both President Bashar al-Assad and Islamic State and may include more overtly Islamist insurgent groups, sources close to the matter say.

MADRID - Catalonia’s two main parties on Wednesday moved a step closer to calling a snap regional election they want to use as a proxy for a referendum on independence from Spain.

MADRID - Spain’s Health Minister Ana Mato, whose former husband is linked to a wide-ranging corruption scandal involving Spain’s ruling People’s Party,

SOCHI, Russia/MOSCOW - Russia said on Wednesday it would support President Bashar al-Assad to combat “terrorism” in the Middle East, indicating there

LONDON - Two brothers from London on Wednesday became the first Britons to be convicted for attending a militant training camp in Syria as Western governments increasingly warn of the

threat posed by fighters returning from conflicts in the Middle East.

CAIRO - Egypt’s cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft anti-terrorism law that would give the government blanket power to ban groups on charges ranging from harming national unity to disrupting public order.

VIENNA - The U.N. atomic agency will need more funds from member states to help pay for its monitoring of an extended interim nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, it said on Wednesday.

SOFIA - A Bulgarian imam and six others detained during a special operation by security forces earlier this week have been charged with supporting the ultra-radical militant group Islamic State, Bulgarian prosecutors said on Wednesday.

CAPTUERD ! ander remained calm and quiet.

He said nothing else to the officers.

At about midday yesterday he was removed from the cell, a brown jersey placed over his face, and he was taken by heavily armed police officers to the Arima Hospital where he was medically examined and handed back to officers.

Yesterday he was expected to be taken into the custody of homicide and anti-kidnapping officers for questioning into the October 26 kidnappings and subsequent murders of Irma Rampersad, 49, her 14-monthold granddaughter Shania Amoroso, and family friend, Felix Martinez, 52.

He is expected to be questioned about the kidnappings of Rampersad’s teenage daughters Janelle Gonzales, 19, and Felicia Gonzales, 17, who were also kidnapped at the same time. They were later rescued by police at a shack in the Lalaja Forest two Fridays ago.

He is also expected to be questioned about other serious crimes, including his escape from the Mayaro Magistrates’ court on January 31 of this year.

Alexander, who has a criminal record of 42 serious offences including keeping persons hos-

tage, rape, robbery and firearm offences, did not display any cuts and bruises about his body, nor appeared to be injured in anyway, while being examined at the Arima Hospital.

Newsday understands it was a tip-off from a member of the public that led the police to Malabar where they found Alexander.

Yesterday police officers thanked members of the public for all their assistance in the apprehension of Alexander and noted that the partnership was well worth it.

Yesterday efforts were also being made to locate a shotgun and a hand gun previously allegedly used by Alexander to commit some of his crimes. Police believe Alexander hid the weapons prior to his arrest.

Yesterday, Head of the Northern Division, Senior Superintendent David Abraham said acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, commended all of the officers who took part in the search for Alexander and the kidnapped victims and he has promised them commendations and awards.

“The Commissioner of Police commended us for a job well done in recovering Alexander safe. He told us that was good

work,” Abraham said.

“We had a team effort with the Northern Division and my North Eastern Task Force, Inter-Agency Task Force — all the officers participated,” he said.

Some of the officers from the divisions were not present when the actual arrest was made, but Abraham said, “I want to commend them all. They were in the search from morning till night.”

Yesterday, when Alexander was detained, Newsday contacted his mother, Mary and she expressed surprise that her son had been arrested. She said no one had called her and she was happy that the police did not shoot him. “Oh my God! I

was praying that the police find him, but don’t kill him. Is now I know. Nobody called and tell me anything. I am happy.”

Asked if he could have been on his way to her home, she said, “He wouldn’t come by me.”

“I still don’t think that he killed anyone. I don’t think he killed anyone. If he did, I don’t know, but I feel relieved that he has been held.”

She added that she was in church yesterday praying and the sermon reflected that if you grow your child in the right way, he or she will not depart from the teaching. She said, “My son

CAPTUERD! continued on page 29

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

29

PUZZLE!

J

Be thankful

ai Sita Ram, my name is Kristine Heeralall. I am 13 years old and a blessed member of the Naujavaan Mandalee of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir. With the holiday season here, everyone’s mind is on shopping and family gatherings. It is a time to give back and thank those who helped us along our journey in life. We have to take a moment and think about what and whom we are thankful for. I am soo thankful for my parents. This statement is obvious for everyone no matter the age. However do we respect our parents and commend everything they do? We must show them we love them for all the sacrifices they make each day. Being one of the youngest of 5 siblings, I tend to get mixed in with lots of confusion and yes, sibling fights. However, my mom always manages to have everything in order. From waking us up every morning at 5am and making breakfast, lunch and dinner for 8 people and make sure everyone is in order going out and coming home each day. Every night, before she puts a morsel of food in her mouth she makes sure everyone has showered, homework is done and checked and we are filled before getting into bed.

Even when we are at school, she is shopping everywhere looking for things we need, without spending a dime on her at times.

In addition, my dad leaves me speechless each morning. This year my sisters started high school which is two hours bus ride from home. However, even though me and my sisters have to be at school by 8.am, and dad has to be at work by 8.am sometimes even earlier, he ensure he drops us to school then go along his day. Until he knows we got there early and safe he will not go to work. No matter if it rains, snow or a storm; my dad wakes up and goes to work every day to provide for us. I am really thankful for the parents god has blessed me with.

My parents are my god, and in general our parents are the first

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4 5 3 sight of god we see in our life.

We must worship them, because without them, we will be nothing.

I am also thankful for the blessing of my youth group and my mentors. My NMYG friends have become brothers and sisters to me. Pandit Manoj, Aunty Ravina, and Aunty Rita are people I keep close to my heart. I can go on forever thanking them, because I am more than thankful for them.

They have taught me things that I never taught I can do, from chanting bhajans to leading the havan.

They do not only teach us mantras, they teach us the value of life, and how to be motivated each day. They showed us the meaning of Seva and helping our community and being thankful for what we have. And most importantly they have became second parents whom we can talk to at any time.

I am beyond thankful for them and the entire connection at the Mandir.

My brother once told me that, “We make a living by what we get and we make a life by what we give.” And he is right, life does not mean we have to work, and pay bills and take advantage of opportunities but to give back to those who are less fortunate. Pandit Manoj always preaches that we must remember our roots and be thankful for the people like our parents who forever will be that force that drives us to greatness and success in life. JAI HO!

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CAPTUERD! from page 28 grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He grew up in the church.

I don’t know if he could do those things.”

Yesterday she was contemplating whether she could take a hot meal for her son and was making arrangements with police officers to get permission to do so.

When Newsday first contacted Peter Sylvester, the husband of Irma Rampersad and broke the news to him of Alexander’s arrest, a relieved Sylvester seemed lost for words at first.

As his voice choked with emotion, he said, “I praise and thank God and the entire police service. I feel proud of the police service. I am praying and thanking God.” Newsday asked to speak with him a little later as-he absorbed the news.

In the follow-up call, he told Newsday, “Whoever I can tell, I tell them that he has been caught. I have not gone into the village, but I am telling everybody in my area. Everybody is glad that he has been caught. It is a relief to Brasso Seco because we were like fugitives in our own homes.”

Asked if he had made contact with the rescued sisters who are at a safe house, Sylvester said, “I called the big-

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gest sister, Gail. She must be told, all of them in the house in Arima.”

Newsday subsequently learned Gail, a sister of the rescued sisters, broke the news to them and they both expressed relief saying that God had answered their prayers.

Asked how he felt, Sylvester said, “I am finally getting some closure.”

Asked what lesson he learned from the experience, he said, “You can’t trust your own shadow, not even your best friend. Nobody will come from America and do this to you. It is somebody from right around who will do this to you.”

Sylvester added that he plans a prayer meeting with close friends and relatives for the souls of his loved ones. “I will get together with my children, including my son who was innocently locked up. We will hold hands and we will pray.”

His son Anthony Sylvester was detained twice by police for questioning and released last Tuesday.

Newsday also understands that a family at Bypass Road, Arima, who had reported to the police about threats made to their lives because of the arrest of a relative in relation to the Brasso Seco kidnappings and murders also expressed relief on learning of Alexander’s arrest.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.- Michael J. Fox WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

As the leader of the pack, you will encounter things before anyone else does. If you meet someone who has something to offer the group, make the necessary introductions. You excel at facilitating interactions between others. Toward the middle of the week, you are using others to your advantage, or at least you’re putting their unique talents to use for the sake of the greater good, and by Friday you’re going to get some recognition for all the connections and possibilities you’ve created. On Saturday, your friends will all but build a statue in your honor. Sunday, get some rest.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)

At the start of the week, you’re tapped. You are out of gas. You lack fuel. This is more of an emotional state than a physical reality -- problems in your social life and private life are zapping your emotional energy. Wednesday and Thursday are, therefore, ideal days to recharge. Eat a banana, put on some comfortable socks and plug yourself in to a deep sleep. Friday and Saturday you’ll feel restored and confused when someone else emotionally retreats.

Although you’ll completely understand where they’re coming from. If you have nothing else to do on Sunday, go exploring.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

The right words just slide out of your mouth on Monday without your having to think about it. And people are responding the way you want them to. Expression and high ideas figure into your day on Tuesday as well, but Wednesday you fall into a sentimental mood and by Thursday you feel entirely unsocial. People from your past keep walking through your thoughts. Then, Friday, a dose of fun -- and possible romance -- dramatically improves your outlook on everything and returns you to the present. You will remain cheerful, alert and attuned to beauty through the weekend.

The weekly horoscopes are updated on every week to gives you an in-depth insight into your family, your love life, any career opportunities, friends and money issues.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

As tantalizing as the potential pay off may seem, taking a risk at the outset of the week isn’t going to pan out the way you want. Rather than directing your energy toward schemes of world domination, direct your energy toward other people. Your charm gets you more midweek than you might expect. Thursday is a day of enlightenment, but Friday and Saturday are, frankly, weird. Rather than attempting to understand, just try not to take anything personally. On Sunday, be around people who make you feel comfortable.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(May 21-June 20)

Your opinions are pretty solid, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s in the mood to hear them. If the right message is delivered at the wrong time, it won’t resonate.

So spend Monday and Tuesday with your ears open.

Be the master of your own fate and, when it comes to your friends, be encouraging without being dogmatic.

Wednesday and Thursday most likely find you at work and involved in a minor squabble, but Friday and Saturday the stars have something fairly radical in store for you. A change of heart. A change of perspective.

Some kind of surprise. Sunday has you thinking about change.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You’ve seen romantic comedies about people as giddy as you and you-know-who are, although you also feel like your romantic happiness at the start of the week is transcendent. Certainly, it lifts you up higher than you have been in a while. Success on the love front translates into more confidence in every other aspect of your life -- which explains why the middle of the week you’re able to ask for things and then (hooray!) get them. Friday and Saturday you might have to let a few things go, make a few compromises, but nothing you can’t handle. On Sunday, art is on your mind.

You have responsibilities and you’re dedicated to seeing them through -even when, on Monday and Tuesday, you have a perfect excuse to let yourself off the hook. This is admirable of you. And fate will reward you: Wednesday and Thursday are a postcard of romance. A postcard with swans on it. And cute buildings. The great thing about love is you can take it anywhere in the world with you. Friday and Saturday you’re itching to do some cleaning. Blast the radio and get out your sponges. Sunday, some confusion about your relationship with you-know-who requires your attention.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Largeness is a theme on Monday. ‘The bigger the better’ is your mantra. Your reasons are philosophical, but the effect this outlook will have is financial. By Tuesday, you might find yourself the proud and somewhat embarrassed owner of an incredibly expensive piece of art. Or furniture. Or even jeans. Midweek, practice self-control. Instead of eating out, make yourself a sandwich. Focus on non-material things -your future, for example. Define a path. Friday and Saturday your problem-solving skills are needed at home, and Sunday will tax your imagination in pleasurable ways.

You and your friends are more jovial than a performance troupe on Monday and Tuesday. You feel a bit like you’re in some kind of play -- or a sitcom. Your social circle is satisfying on a deep level. But Wednesday and Thursday your focus turns inward. Values, original thinking and music figure strongly.

Friday is a fine day to go to a party -- introduce yourself to a stranger, see how much you have in common -- and Saturday is rife with new ideas. You impress people wherever you go. But you exhaust yourself in the process. On Sunday, slow and steady is the answer.

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

Your dreams are smarter than you may realize. If you’re trying to solve a problem on Monday or Tuesday, consider what your own mind has been telling you. And whatever you do, don’t stress. By Wednesday or Thursday, when positivity and good outcomes are strong themes, everything will have sorted itself out. Money is in the stars on Friday -either a lot of it or a lack of it -- and Saturday has something to do with your future. On Sunday, your compassionate side emerges in an interaction with friends. You are only too glad to help.

Remember the ‘Care Bears’? They lived on clouds, they each had their own specialty and they harnessed the group’s power to do good things. That’s what your group of friends is like on Monday and Tuesday. The start of the week is as expansive as a cloudscape. Wednesday and Thursday are, unfortunately, the opposite of expansive (restriction and discipline figure strongly, and you may not get the answers you’re looking for). But Friday is just about perfect: you have energy, you feel inspired, you feel significant. This mood, gloriously enough, lasts through the weekend.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

GEMINI

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

An authority figure (most likely a boss) is a big part of your life at the start of the week. Do the right thing. Give them the respect they deserve. And when a blabbermouth starts in about something inconsequential, put your foot down. You’re not a goody-goody; you’re a person who cares about relationships. Relationships with friends in high places are crucial on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, kick off your shoes and give yourself a break after what will have most likely been a grueling week. Then spoil yourself this weekend.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

31

Entertainment News

Dilip Kumar perfectly fine: Amitabh Bachchan

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egastarAmitabhBachchan put an end to online rumours about Dilip Kumar's death by tweeting that veteran actor was "perfectly fine".

Rumours about Dilip Kumar's death spread online last evening prompting Bachchan to call Saira Banu.

"Some baseless rumours being spread about Yusuf Saheb - Dilip Kumar, being ill .. Saira ji just informed me he is perfectly fine!," Bachchan, 72, tweeted.

Dilip Kumar, 91, and Saira Banu, 70, recently attended Salman Khan's sister Arpita's wedding reception in Mumbai.

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hile Sania Mirza kept denying the possibility of a biopic on her life, claiming that she was a private person, it seems that she has indeed given the idea some thought. According to a Zoom video report, Sania considered Salman Khan apt to play her husband Shoaib Malik in her biopic, if one was ever made. She has, in the past, also cast for her part in the film, choosing Deepika Padukone to play her role. The tennis player is reportedly working on her autobiography which is tentatively titled Against All Odds.

Priyanka Chopra: 'Bajirao Mastani' role one of my hardest ever

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ollywood actress Priyanka Chopra says her character in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming love saga 'Bajirao Mastani' is one of her most difficult roles and working on the film is draining.

The 32-year-old 'Mary Kom' star is currently shooting for the period romance, which also stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

JK Rowling pens script for Harry Potter spin-off project

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K Rowling has finished the script for 'Harry Potter' spin-off film 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.'

The 49-year-old author's work, which is set in New York, 70 years before the Harry's arrival at Hogwarts, would center on character Newt Scamander and his expeditions before writing the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a book which was a part of wizarding school's syllabus, the Mirror reported.

Producer David Heyman has teamed up with director David Yates again for the franchisee, and Yated said that Rowling

Sania Mirza wants Salman Khan to play Shoaib Malik in her biopic

had jotted a "wonderful script" and he was "really excited" about the project.

Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone in Shimla

Kim Kardashian's app to aid AIDS research

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eality TV star Kim Kardashian is "thrilled" to help in the fight against AIDS by raising money through exclusive content on her 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' application.

The 34-year-old is working with multinational corporations Apple and (RED) in honour of World AIDS Day on Dec 1.

Through her app, she's offering exclusive new content and funds of all the in-app purchases will be donated to the Global Fund in a bid to eradicate the disease, reports contactmusic.com.

"Players can show their support by participating in special (RED) events and purchasing exclusive (RED) in-game items like (RED) Beats headphones," she said in a statement.

"As a 'thank you' for their support, players can take a (RED) branded selfie with me and share to their social networks! Players can even attend a (RED) fundraiser event in-game. I'm thrilled to be able to support (RED) through Kim Kardashian: Hollywood," she added.

As part of the special features, the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star's mother and manager Kris Jenner will become the first member of the family to get her own avatar as she helps gamers get to the top of the A-list.

Danny Boyle to helm Universal Pictures' Steve Jobs film

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fter setting the screen on fire and the cash register ringing with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have joined hands again for a film that's being produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Titled Tamasha, the film is directed by Imtiaz Ali and music composed by AR Rahman. Now, we have learnt that the second schedule of the film has begun in Shimla. Interestingly, a major portion of their last film was also shot in snow-capped mountains.

In the weeks leading up to World AIDS Day, 25 games, including "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" will be making new content available to raise funds.

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anny Boyle is set to helm Universal Pictures' upcoming Steve Jobs movie.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the high-profile project, which was penned

by Aaron Sorkin, was recently picked by Universal after Sony Pictures put it into turnaround. The movie is based on Walter Isaacson's 2011 biography Steve Jobs, and will star Michael Fassbender.

Scott Rudin, Mark Gordon and Guyman Casady are producing the film, which had been shopped with a price tag of more than 30 million dollars.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Rakhi Sawant's most bizarre statements

November 27–December 4, 2014

PM Narendra Modi condoles Sitara Devi's death

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rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the death of eminent Kathak danseuse Sitara Devi.

"PM has condoled the passing away of noted Kathak dancer Sitara Devi. PM also recalled her rich contribution to Kathak," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet.

Sitara Devi, 94, died early on Tuesday in Mumbai after prolonged illness. She is survived by a son and a daughter.

A recipient of prestigious awards like Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma

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Shri and Kalidas Samman, she was born in Dhannolakshmi in the family of Brahmin ‘kathakar’ Sukhdev Maharaj in Kolkata in 1920.

Brad Pitt to join Rihanna at her Diamond Ball

inger Rihanna has enlisted actor Brad Pitt for her inaugural Diamond Ball. The 26-year-old pop star will be introduced by Pitt at her first annual Diamond Ball, which will take place on December 11, reports eonline.com.

The gala event, which benefits Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

"It is such an honour to have Jimmy Kimmel host this event. There is no one

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anbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif’s relationship has always been shrouded in mystery. Neither Katrina nor Ranbir admit to the relationship in public and yet the rumour mill was recently abuzz with reports of the two moving-in together. Now there’s some more good news for fans of the actors. According to a report in Mid-day, the two might get married by the end of 2016. The report states that Ranbir Kapoor’s parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor have set a deadline for him to marry by the end of 2016 and Ranbir revealed this little detail to a friend during a shoot. Now whether the two will wait another year to get married or will wedding bells ring for the couple next year is something that only time will tell.

Though Ranbir Kapoor wasn’t invited to the big Khan wedding of the year, his alleged ladylove Katrina Kaif chose to be a part of the celebrations given her equation with the bride, Arpita Khan. However, according to a report in DNA, Ranbir simply laughed-off Salman’s tongue-incheek comments for his girlfriend Katrina

o doctor nahi deta bhagwan deta hai: Karan Johar was in for a surprise when Rakhi Sawant said the unthinkable on his chat show. While talking about cosmetic surgeries and enhancements, Rakhi confessed to getting a boob-job done. She said, “Jo Bhagwan nahi deta, woh doctor deta hai!” Though it left Karan Johar in splits, we know that was quite a bold statement. Kudos for being so unabashed and unapologetic, Rakhi!

more hilarious to make the first annual Diamond Ball an incredible night. I'm blessed by his support," Rihanna said in a statement.

"Brad Pitt is not only a phenomenal talent, but I admire him and am inspired by his philanthropic work," she added.

CLF works to improve the lives of underserved communities worldwide in the areas of health, education, the arts and culture.

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Christian Bale jealous of Ben Affleck?

ctor Christian Bale, who is best known for portraying Batman in 'The Dark Knight' trilogy, says he felt jealous when he saw actor Ben Affleck taking over the character in his upcoming film 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'.

Affleck received a heavy backlash from fans once he was confirmed as the new Batman in Zack Snyder's upcoming film, but nobody was more stunned about the casting news than Bale. Bale said that there was a small part of him that wanted to carry on with the role, and after learning that Affleck would be his successor, the British actor was shocked, reports contactmusic.com.

"I've got to admit initially, even though I felt that it was the right time to stop, there was always a bit of me going, 'Oh go on. Let's do another'.

"So when I heard there was someone else doing it, there was a moment where

I just stopped and stared into nothing for half an hour," Bale told Empire magazine.

However the British star, who last played the role in 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises, is now comfortable with his decision to walk away from his incarnation of Bruce Wayne.

"I'm 40. The fact that I'm jealous of someone else playing Batman. I think I should have gotten over it by now," he further added.

Ranbir - Katrina's love life Kaif. The actor apparently didn’t mind Salman addressing Katrina as Katrina Kapoor and also didn’t react to his comments on the actress’ missed opportunity to be Katrina Khan. While it would have been expected that the actor would be miffed with the reports, Ranbir surprised everyone by taking the episode as a mere joke.

Lovebirds Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif reportedly hosted a house-warming party at their new pad at Carter Road in Bandra on Sunday night. A report on midday.com quotes a source saying that Ranbir had been staying at Krishna Raj bungalow due to father Rishi Kapoor’s illness.

But with improvements in his health, the couple stepped into their new house.

Friends from the industry Ayan Mukherji, Hrithik Roshan, Kangna Ranaut, Anushka Sharma, Kabir Khan, Mini Mathur and Karisma Kapoor turned up at the new pad for dinner, reports mid-day.

The duo have apparently decided to move in together and the media is abuzz with this news. So when a TV channel decided to take a picture of their alleged

love nest, Ranbir supposedly got angry at the crew, sources were quoted telling mid-day.com. Sources further said to mid-day.com that when the crew was trying to get a glimpse of the duo outside their Bandra house, Ranbir is said to have gotten wild at them and though he could not catch the cameraman, he is said to have gotten his hands on the cameraman’s backpack from the car and is said to have taken it with him. He apparently even asked the car driver to call the cameraman who alleged begged Ranbir to let him go as it was his first day at work.

Mumbai Mirror had earlier reported about Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif’s love nest being put together on Carter Road. The two are now taking their relationship to the next level and will soon move in to a sea-facing penthouse some time soon. According to a report on bollywoodlife.com, the lovebirds will be shelling out Rs 15 lakh per month as rent for their love nest. The report further quotes a source saying, “Katrina wants to share the rent with Ranbir.” Moreover, Kat has been taking care of all the paperwork as

she has done this before having lived independently in the city for so long, the report states. “Kat is investing a lot of time reading up a lot about home decor on various sites, magazines and books for their new home,” the report quotes a source close to Katrina.

November 27–December 4, 2014 33 Caribbean Star Newspaper ‘There are no excuses’: Pacquiao camp calls out Mayweather

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ACAU — While Manny Pacquiao was trying to coax Floyd Mayweather into being his next opponent, Chris Algieri was left to contemplate what might have been. They are two prizefighters headed in different directions after Pacquiao’s dominating performance in their WBO welterweight championship fight Saturday night at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Macao.

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) scored five knockdowns and also forced Algieri into a standing eight-count en route to a one-sided decision before a sellout crowd of 13,202. It left Pacquiao publicly calling out Mayweather, and Algieri wondering how things could have gone so wrong.

“I think it’s time to make that fight happen,” Pacquiao said of the long-discussed match with the unbeaten Mayweather.

“The fans really deserve that fight. It’s time to say yes, so people can prepare for early next year.”

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach also challenged Mayweather.

“I think that anybody, whoever reads about Mayweather or Manny, will say, ‘Why didn’t these guys fight each other?’ ” Roach said. “It’ll always be a question mark.

Let’s face it: The best should fight the best.

They’ve been the best guys out there for over three years. Usually, the best does fight the best somewhere along the line.

This is something that will haunt them forever.”

Arum added: “If boxing is to be considered a major sport, the fight has to happen.

All the nonsense has to cease. Everybody should be working together to make that fight. There are no excuses anymore. None.

I’ll be at the phone. Manny will be at his phone. We’re ready.”

Algieri, meanwhile, faces an uncertain future. He was never in the fight with Pacquiao, losing on the scorecards 119-103 twice and 120-102. He was overly passive in the early rounds, had no sting on his jab and often fought with his head low, nullifying his 4-inch height advantage and 72inch reach. He was an easy target for Pacquiao’s rapid combinations.

The Filipino was credited with six knockdowns, though the first in the second round appeared to be more of a slip. Algieri was dropped twice in the sixth round, and twice again in the ninth, when he was nearly stopped by a straight left and later forced into taking a standing eight-count. Pacquiao earned another knockdown in the 10th, when Algieri went down in the slippery corner amid another flurry. There was never a point in the fight when Pacquiao was hurt as Algieri simply fought to survive.

“I would have liked to have seen Chris settle down, stand up straighter and fight him,” said Joe DeGuardia, Algieri’s promoter. “But if he does what he’s supposed to do, he’ll learn from this loss and become a better fighter.”

Some speculated Algieri was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the pay-perview bout fought Sunday morning local time amid a boisterous crowd of mostly Pacquiao fans. But the Long Island long shot credited Pacquiao for making him look overmatched.

“Every time I thought I had him, he had the ability to adjust,” Algieri said. “He’s a great fighter and his experience really showed. It was difficult to get much steam going as he kept readjusting.”

Algieri never had any steam.

“Once it was late in the fight and the scores were pretty wide, I tried to look for

some good opportunities, but Manny didn’t give me a lot of holes,” he said. “He was not reckless. He was smart in his approach. He didn’t leave me much to take advantage of.”

Roach expected a more competitive fight.

“After the first 30 seconds of the first round, you knew he was lost,” he said of Algieri. “You could see he didn’t belong in the ring with Manny Pacquiao.”

Algieri (20-1, 8 KOs) was stripped of his WBO light welterweight title for fighting Pacquiao for the welterweight crown. He plans to take a break and contemplate his future.

“It’s a learning experience,” Algieri said.

“It’s not going to shake my confidence in my ability. I’m still proud of my skills. I’m just very disappointed with the way the fight went.”

Algieri tries to dodge more Pacquiao blows.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Connections

Experts fear bubonic plague will spread after 40 die in Madagascar

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NTANANARIVO, Madagascar, Monday November 24, 2014 – An outbreak of bubonic plague in Madagascar has left 40 dead in less than three months, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The number of confirmed cases of the killer disease on the Indian Ocean island now stands at 119 and health experts fear it may spread rapidly.

While only two cases of plague and one death have been recorded to date in the capital Antananarivo, experts now fear it could be the area most at risk, with its high population density and weaknesses in the health care system conducive to rapid spread.

The current plague outbreak in Madagascar reportedly saw its first known case on August 31 in a man from Soamahatamana.

He died on September 3.

The country’s health authorities alerted WHO to the outbreak at the beginning of this month.

Neither trade nor travel restrictions have as yet been recommended by the interna-

tional health body due to the outbreak.

Bubonic plague, which killed around 100 million people during the 14th century when it was known as the “Black Death,” is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia Pestis, which uses fleas as hosts and is usually transmitted to humans by rodents.

It derives its name from the large swellings, or “buboes” that develop on the groin, armpits or neck, and kills up to two thirds of victims within four days without treatment. Patients receiving antibiotics within 24 hours of infection have a better chance of survival.

If the bacteria reaches the lungs, however, the victim develops pneumonic plague, which is passed from person-to-person through coughing and can kill within 24 hours. About two percent of the cases reported in the current outbreak in Madagascar have been the lethal pneumonic plague.

Bubonic plague has now almost completely vanished from the developed world.

The last known outbreak was in August 2010 in Peru.

Laws to protect women, girls under review

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EVERAL laws are currently being reviewed as the Government intensifies its drive to protect the nation's women and girls and eliminate acts of violence against them.

This was disclosed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in a speech read

by Information Minister, Senator Sandrea Falconer, at a church service held on Sunday at the Constant Spring Church of God in Kingston, to commemorate International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Simpson Miller informed that a Joint Select Committee of Parliament is now reviewing the Sexual Offences Act, the Offences Against the Persons Act, the Domestic Violence Act, and the Child Care and Protection Act. "The committee will focus on offences as well as the punishment of crimes such as the murder of pregnant women, the assault of women, children and the elderly as well as sexual crimes," she said.

The prime minister stressed that violence against women is unacceptable and illegal, and the Government will continue to put measures in place to provide greater security and protection for women in the fight to eliminate violence against them.

Simpson Miller said that work is also far advanced on Jamaica's sexual harassment legislation, which will provide an avenue of redress for women, who are so violated.

She called on all citizens to play their part in addressing acts of violence against women and girls.

"The Government can do its part but it is the responsibility of all of us to do all that

we can to give all women and girls a new reality and a different outlook, by breaking the culture of violence and the culture of silence on this issue," the prime minister implored.

She further urged women, who have been abused, to find the courage to "fight back" and end the vicious cycle of violence, by speaking up and seeking help.

"Seek help from trusted friends, relatives, or support groups. You are not alone in your fight against violence," she stated.

The prime minister said the Government will continue the education of citizens and build public awareness of gender-based violence and violence against women, and ultimately engender a culture of peace and respect for all.

Opposition Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, who spoke on behalf of Opposition Leader Andrew Holness, said the social ill of violence against women, "demands urgent attention from every member of our society, who still believes in decency, justice, and prosperity".

"We need to say no to violence against Jamaica's women. We need to stand up for the rights and equality of all our women and girls and say 'yes, equal opportunity in education, in society, at home and at the workplace,'" she said.

Johnson Smith also urged all Jamaicans to "make their voices heard" during the review of the various pieces of legislation that aim to improve protection of the most vulnerable in society, including the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The United Nations observes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women today.

MONSIGNOR REGINALD LA FLEUR

Roman Catholic priest defrocked amid sexual scandal

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OSEAU, Dominica, Monday November 24, 2014, CMC – The Roman Catholic Church has issued a decree defrocking a priest who had been accused of sexually abusing a young girl nearly 20 years ago.

Roman Catholic Bishop, Gabriel Malzaire issued the decree earlier this week removing Monsignor Reginald LaFleur from the priesthood.

Father LaFleur, also known as ‘Father Reggie’ received his termination letter on 6 November 2014 after he “failed to respond to defend his matter on two occasions”, according to the statement issued by the Bishop.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church here described the defrocking as a painful decision for him and the diocese.

“I am sure that one will appreciate that this is one of the most difficult things that I have ever had to do in my life as a bishop and priest.”

Monsignor LaFleur had been placed on administrative leave in 2013 following reports of inappropriately touching a 12-year-old girl in 1994.

LaFleur, who has declined to take part in the church investigation into the case, has 60 days to issue an appeal.

Last year, Bishop Malzaire said the alleged sexual conduct case involving the Grand Bay parish priest, would be referred to the Vatican in Rome for a decision.

He said a decision on the matter would be made by an office of the Catholic Church called the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, after a local review board concluded it was “beyond our competence”.

The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith was founded in 1542 with the aim to “spread sound Catholic doctrine and defend those points of Christian

tradition which seem in danger because of new and unacceptable doctrines”.

It investigates crimes which the church describes as ‘serious’ including crimes against the sixth Commandment (“thou shall not commit adultery”) committed by a cleric against a person under the age of eighteen.

According to Bishop Malzaire’s statement, “after a Diocesan preliminary investigation the case was forwarded to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which has exclusive competence in these matters”.

“The Congregation, having reviewed the case, authorized the Diocesan Bishop to proceed with an Administrative Penal Process”.

Bishop Malzaire said that Monsignor LaFleur was duly informed of this process and invited to take part by leading a defence either personally or through his advocate.

“Two canonists from outside the Diocese were invited as assessors of the evidence gathered. Because the accused cleric had not answered to the invitation to participate in the process, and in an attempt to preserve the right of defence, another canonist from outside the Diocese was invited to lead a defence on behalf of the accused cleric,” the statement said.

“After forwarding the judgment of the assessors and the canonist who led the defence on behalf of the accused to Rome, the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith authorized that the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state be imposed on the accused cleric,” it added.

The Roman Catholic Church has been hit by numerous scandals mainly in the US and Europe in the past few years, including allegations of covering up the sexual abuse of children by priests to protect pedophiles and its own reputation.

November 27–December 4, 2014 35 Caribbean Star Newspaper Trinidad and Tobago’s most wanted fugitive in custody for triple murder

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday November 24, 2014, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago police say they have captured the country’s most wanted man, the main suspect in the disappearance of four members of a family.

Police said they captured Azmon Alexander Sunday after Irma Rampersad, 49, and her daughters, Felicia, 17, and Jennelle Gonzales, 19, and her oneyear-old granddaughter Shania Amoroso, were reported missing

from their home in Brasso Seco, south of here, on October 26. A family friend, Felix Martinez, 52, was also reported missing.

On November 8, the bodies of Irma Rampersad and Shania Amoroso were found in the Brasso Seco Forest. The body of Martinez was also later found.

Police said they captured Alexander in Arima, east of here. He had a cutlass in his possession and was the lone passenger in a vehicle. He offered no resistance when the police nabbed him.

Woman charged in poisoning death of St Elizabeth teacher

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T ELIZABETH, Jamaica – A woman alleged to have been involved in a poison assault on a couple in Santa Cruz last Wednesday leaving a 30 yearold teacher Kerry Ann Powell dead has been charged with assault and housebreaking.

Police say Patricia Taylor Sinclair, estranged wife of Powell's boy friend – who was himself hospitalised after the alleged assault – is to appear in the Santa Cruz Resident’s Magistrates Court this (Tuesday) morning.

Police say Taylor Sinclair has been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and house breaking.

Last week a policeman who was also detained for questioning in relation to the incident was released pending further investigations.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar in a statement congratulated the police and urged the public to continue providing assistance in a bid to end the criminal activities here.

“Given the brutal and tragic circumstances of this particular case of the murders of three people from the Brasso Seco community, where one of the victims was an innocent 18-month-old baby, quick and successful investigative work by the police bring a sense of hope that justice will

be delivered,” he said.

“I must also thank and congratulate those very caring and civic mind citizens who, in different ways, assisted the police with information which eventually led to the capture of the suspect.

“I believe all officers of our protective services should heed the signals sent by these interventions which can help tremendously in ongoing efforts to build greater trust and confidence by people and communities in our Police Service,” she added.

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November 27–December 4, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

St Kitts-Nevis government downplays Canada’s visa travel restrictions

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ASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Monday November 24, 2014, CMC – The St. Kitts-Nevis government Monday sought to downplay the decision by Canada to impose visa restrictions on nationals from the twin-island Federation wanting to visit the North American country, noting that since the September 2011 terrorist attacks on the United States countries have been reviewing their immigration policies periodically.

“Countries review and change their policies routinely in order to protect their interests and their people and so do we,” Foreign Affairs Minister Patrice Nisbett said in a broadcast.

“Canada is an important ally, an ally of long standing. Your government values the strong relations which over the years that Canada and St. Kitts-Nevis have built.

“Canada has important security concerns, the government recognizes this and the government of St. Kitts-Nevis will do all in its power to respect and accommodate the concerns of so an important ally,” Nisbett said.

But Opposition Leader Mark Brantley said that Canada’s position may have been influenced by an Iranian national holding a diplomatic passport issued by the St. Kitts-Nevis government.

Brantley reminded nationals that the Iranian national claimed to Canadian border agents that he was entering Canada for meetings with the Canadian Prime Minister on behalf of the government and people of St. Kitts Nevis, and that “the claims by the Iranian national of a meeting with the Ca-

nadian Prime Minister were categorically false.

“This occurrence in Canada led to immediate concerns there as to the safety and security of that country’s borders. As a consequence, the media reports confirmed that the Canadian authorities made urgent representations to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis raising serious concerns about not just this but other incidents involving St. Kitts Nevis passport holders entering or seeking to enter Canada using the visa free status currently granted by that country to nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Brantley added.

Brantley said in November last year, Nisbett was “compelled under increasing pressure to make a statement to the National Parliament addressing this issue”.

He said that “Nisbett identified the Iranian gentleman and confirmed that this Iranian national had been granted diplomatic status by the Cabinet.

“Minister Nisbett also confirmed that the Iranian national was made a special envoy for St. Kitts and Nevis to Turkey and Azerbaijan,” he said.

In a statement over the weekend, Ottawa said that the visa restriction would go into effect from November 22 and that citizens from the twin-island Federation joined those from “the vast majority of Caribbean nations and citizens of some 147 countries” where visas are needed to enter the North American country.

Ottawa said that the St. Kitts and Nevis nationals in good standing travelling to Canada between “now and November 24, 2014 will be granted a temporary resident permit upon arrival in Canada, free of charge”.

There has been speculation that Canada had imposed the new visa restrictions based on St. Kitts-Nevis nationals based on that island’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) under which investors are provided with St. Kitts-Nevis passports in return for making substantial investments in the country.

Nisbett, who met with a “government of diplomat” last Friday, said “Canada wanted to determine for itself exactly who does and who doesn’t enter its territory”.

The statement by Canada on its official website stated that the country would continue to “welcome genuine visitors from St. Kitts-Nevis and has a number of programmes including a multiple entry visa to make it easy for such legitimate visitor to travel to Canada”.

Nisbett said the CIP has funded projects from agriculture to energy to health ‘all of which expanded opportunities for the people of St. Kitts-Nevis” and that the government is “committed to ensuring that the programme continues to work and that it continues to work well”.

He said in order to ensure this, the government has always sought to revise “as necessary” the legislation in order “to properly meet the needs of the people of St. Kitts-Nevis and in order to protect the constructive relations we have so careful built with nations across the globe.

“And the government will always seek ways to strengthen the security features of the St. Kitts-and Nevis passport. This type of vigilance is important today and it will be equally important 20 years from now ,” he added, outlining some of the “more recent measures the government has put in place where our passport is concerned”.

He said that the key changes to the

passports include having the place of birth printed in the passport and “new St. Kitts and Nevis passports are being issued to replace any passports in existence which may not indicate the place of birth”.

Nisbett said that the strong relationship that exists between Basseterre and countries around the world is evident of the collaborative undertaking “that has moved our country so steadily forward”.

In his address to the nation, Brantley said that the twin island Federation “is still unaware whether this Iranian continues to enjoy not just St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship but our diplomatic status as well.

“This scandal involving an Iranian having diplomatic status of our Nation showing up in Canada was quickly followed by an Advisory from the United States Government issued on 20th May, 2014 wherein the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network warned the world that the St. Kitts Nevis citizenship by investment programme was being abused by foreign nationals who wished to engage in illicit financial activity,” he added.

Brantley said that the warnings “therefore were clear.

“It was obvious that the security features of our CBI programme were causing great concern within the borders of friendly Nations. Fellow Kittitians and Nevisians, it is an oft stated truism that every action has consequences. Well in a release from Canadian Immigration authorities…the entire nation of St. Kitts and Nevis will now feel the consequences”.

He said “this unprecedented step taken by the Canadian government tells us all that they are unhappy with the security measures in place in St. Kitts and Nevis in relation to our citizenship by investment programme.

“The problem now though is that you and I will pay a price for those undesirables whom the Denzil Douglas led administration has allowed to access our passports,” he said, assuring Canada “that they have no better friends in the region than the people of St. Kitts and Nevis”.

Brantley said he intends sending communication to the Canadian government “assuring them of our commitment to amicably resolve with them any concerns about the safety and security of our CBI programme”.

CEO: Kevin Mohabir Chief Editor: Rhoda Mohabir Head Of Distribution: Shevin Mohabir Director/Sales Manager: Kevin Mohabir Distribution: William Despot, Sham Mohabir, & Shevin Mohabir Sports Editor: Darshan Chikery Layout & Design: Michelle Disclaimer: Caribbean Star Newspaper Inc. & Advertisers are not responsible for typographical errors on the published Ads. We accept articles, artwork, and photography which are in accordance with our Mission. We reserve the right to accept, reject, or edit any material we receive but do our best to honor the integrity of the author/artist. We do not endorse any particular writer or advertiser. We simply offer our readers information on various subject matters. It is expected that all material is submitted in “Good Faith” with no intent to mislead or harm others.

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November 27–December 4, 2014 Caribbean Star Newspaper Japanese lessons for Caribbean in waste management

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OKYO, Japan (CMC) — The Ariake Incineration Plant will probably have no major role to play in the construction of the Olympic Village for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Japan.

Chances are, however, it will have to deal with the waste that will be generated by the athletes during the Games of the XXXII Olympiad from July 24 to August 9.

The Olympic Village will be constructed not far from the plant which has acknowledged that its role is to reduce waste generation, reuse waste and to promote recycling waste as resources.

"We are not likely to have a major role in the construction of the Olympic Village but you never know the future," said plant manager Hisakazu Nikaido.

He told Caribbean journalists during a visit to the plant that almost 40 per cent of the waste at the facility is biomass and that the facility accepts at least 100,000 tonnes of waste annually.

Waste is burnt in the incineration plant and becomes ash of the volume of about one twentieth, with officials saying this process contributes to prolonging the limit of disposal sites.

It is also utilising the heat energy produced by the incinerators for generating electricity power, supplying steam and hot water to the waterfront area and neighbouring public facilities.

Nikaido said that the plant, with a price tag of 41.7 billion yen (One Japanese Yen =US$0.008 cents) when it was constructed in 1995, receives at least one million US dollars annually in selling electricity.

"So in a sense we are earning our money," said Nikaido, adding "we don't have any complaint about gas or waste water from citizens".

Nikaido would not say whether or not his plant could be a model for Caribbean countries, given the peculiarities of the regional states, but following the first ever Japan-Caricom summit held in Trinidad and Tobago in July, Caribbean leaders said they hope to make use of Japanese technologies in fields such as renewable energy, energy saving and disaster risk reduction.

President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr Akihiko Tanaka, said that Tokyo's aid would be guided by the requests from developing countries.

"The major purpose of our facility is to contribute to the betterment of our partners and the tangible results that we would like to see are the betterment of the living standards and social and economic conditions of our partner countries," he said of JICA, which promotes itself as "the world's largest bilateral development organisation, operating in some 150 countries".

He added: "Our approach has long been emphasising the ownership and self-help of our partners and our basic approach is what we call request principle. This is a principle to all countries of the world that we will not come forward and tell our partners this is what we are going to do in your country.

"What we would like to do is to ask you what you would want us to do and that is what we call the request principle, so I think with the Caribbean we are now in the process of having the request from the partner countries in the Caribbean, but that does not mean we are simply waiting."

The communique issued at the end of the one-day meeting between Caribbean Community (Caricom) foreign mnisters and their Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida on November 15, noted that "bearing in mind that stable energy supply

An aerial view of the Ariake Incineration Plant. and clean energy, as well as information communication technologies are key to economic development in Caricom member states, they welcomed investment and interest by Japanese enterprises in such fields.

"They also recognised that it is important to improve the business environment including infrastructure, capacity building, and affiliated industries in order to enhance trade and investment," the communique noted.

"We can learn so much from Japan," said Jamaica's Foreign Affairs Minister AJ Nicholson.

"You take the issue of energy; we do not in Jamaica have any oil and the like, so it means that to keep down our energy bill one of the things we have to do is conserve and I don't think we have the discipline to do that," he said, adding "and we asked

them to help us inculcate that also into a way of going forward".

Last month, JICA brought to Tokyo several Caribbean experts for a first-hand view of several projects dealing with energy and disaster management.

The Caribbean experts would no doubt have been made aware of the Yokohama Smart City Project (YSCP), a social system demonstration project whose ultimate aim is the construction of Japanese-style smart grids and their spread in other countries.

"Yes, we are hoping to develop projects not only for Japan, but to the rest of the world, including the Caribbean," said Fumiki Natori of the Climate Change Policy Headquarters at the City of Yokohama.

Established in 2010, the YSCP's mission is the verification of technology, mechanisms and business models for smart cities in the overall "FutureCity" project.

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Ryou Nakano, the assistant manager at the Climate Change, Policy Headquarters, said Japan also suffers from global warming and as a result "in various ways global warming has been affecting our lives".

He further warned that "if we do not take measures by 2030, we will see changes".

The YSCP has undertaken several projects that involve collaboration between the city and numerous private sector enterprises including Tokyo Gas, Toshiba, Nissan Motor, Panasonic and Accenture.

These YSCP projects include renewable and yet unused forms of energy; energy management in homes; office buildings and next generation transport systems.

Natori said the plan is to reduce carbon dioxide by five per cent and reduce the electricity bills for consumers by at least 30 million yen annually.

As part of the initiative under the YSCP, home energy management systems (HEMS) were installed in nearly 4,200 households in Yokohama over the past four years.

"We are trying to invite more households into the project," said Nakano, with officials indicating that the overall objective is to assure a stable supply of power and reduce the total amount of CO2 emissions.

Earlier this year, a test, the largest of its kind so far in Japan, was conducted using about 3,500 of the HEMS to assess the ability to save energy.

The City of Yokohama said that the results of the study will be used to determine how households could save energy without difficulty and to build an effective saving model for diverse urban lifestyles.

It will also contribute to the establishment of flexible power tariff schemes promoted by the Japanese government to "control power demands without lowering the levels of comfort in living and to assure a stable supply of power in the community".

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

CRICKET & Sports

Clarke issued ‘please explain’ – at odds with Cricket Australia

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Assad Fudadin’s Test career has a new lease of life © WICB

Assad Fudadin added to West Indies Test squad

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ssad Fudadin, the Guyana batsman, has been added to West Indies Test squad for the tour to South Africa in December and January as a replacement for Darren Bravo, who withdrew because of personal reasons.

Fudadin, 29, has played three Tests for West Indies, against New Zealand and England in 2012, when he made 122 runs in five innings with one half-century. He recently scored a century for West Indies A against Sri Lanka A in Moratuwa, in October.

The West Indies selectors also requested that fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell play for Jamaica in the third round

of the Professional Cricket League so that they “have an opportunity to evaluate his match readiness,” the board said in a release.

Cottrell had returned from the A tour of Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury. As a result, he will not leave for South Africa with the rest of the squad on November 30.

Test squad for South Africa: Denesh Ramdin (capt), Sulieman Benn, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sheldon Cottrell, Assad Fudadin, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton

ichael Clarke is likely to lose his fight to play in the first Test against India but faces a far bigger and more significant struggle to regain the trust of Cricket Australia and its selectors following the events of the past week, which have seen the captain and the board at odds over his fitness.

Clarke’s single-minded quest to play in the first Test of the summer has left a trail of equal parts confused and furious CA officials, coaches and selectors in its wake, while the contrivances of the grade game he had chosen to prove his availability are now under investigation. It remains to be seen whether the selectors, including the chairman Rod Marsh and the coach Darren Lehmann, can still work with him.

An announcement ruling Clarke out of the Gabba was expected on Tuesday, but was put to one side by events at the SCG, where Phillip Hughes was felled by a bouncer and taken to hospital for emer-

gency surgery. Clarke drove to St Vincent’s Hospital to be at Hughes’ side, but only after being asked to explain why he had defied the selectors over how he would prove his fitness for Brisbane.

James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, will ask for a “please explain” from Clarke about why he continued to plan for a grade appearance with Western Suburbs this Saturday despite advice to the contrary from the national selectors.

“I will speak to Michael and others who have been involved in the process to make sure I understand where these things have gone awry,” Sutherland told The Age. “It’s not really appropriate for me to go into any more detail. All I can say is I am concerned that there are some mixed messages coming out of Cricket Australia in the last 24 hours or so and I want to understand why things have fallen off the rails a bit there.”

Michael Clarke is expected to be ruled out of the Gabba Test but may have to repair his relations with Cricket Australia and the national selectors © Getty Images

Australia survive late scare, go No.1 in ODIs Australia 8 for 275 (Watson 82, Finch 76, Smith 67, Peterson 4-32) beat South Africa 6 for 280 (De Kock 107, Behardien 63, Rossouw 51, Cummins 3-54) by 2 wickets (D/L method)

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ustralia will enter the World Cup year ranked as the game’s top ODI team and with the likes of Steve Smith, Aaron Finch and Shane Watson all running into ominous form, following a fourth victory in five matches over a sloppy South Africa at the SCG. The hosts had more to play for in this fixture than the visitors, and it showed during their chase of 275, reduced from

281 by the second of two brief showers for the day. Finch, Watson and Smith all struck the ball cleanly, though the latter’s sublime run of scores was maintained partly by some ordinary work in the field by a South African side missing AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn.

Morne Morkel’s confidence ebbed away, as epitomized by a dreadful misfield to concede a boundary to Smith, who was also bowled off a Kyle Abbott no-ball and edged Morkel behind though the South Africans did not deign to appeal. Finch and Watson gave less chances, both working their way into decent touch after slow starts to the summer.

There was less promising news for Glenn Maxwell and the stand-in captain George Bailey, who each entered the match short of runs and confidence and will return to their states wondering who will be the man to make way for Michael Clarke, should he return in the new year.

A late slide to the doughty left-arm spin of Robin Peterson briefly allowed South Africa to sense victory, before James Faulkner struck the winning boundary.

Quinton de Kock’s sixth ODI ton featured 14 fours

Caribbean Star Newspaper PCB ask ICC to list Amir’s ban

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he PCB has written a letter to the ICC requesting that the governing body review the conditions of Mohammad’s spot-fixing ban. The letter, sent to the ICC on Wednesday, requested that 22-year-old Amir be allowed to return to domestic cricket before his fiveyear ban ends in September 2015.

A PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo: “The PCB has officially sent a letter to ICC, asking it to review the ban on Mohammad Amir in light of the revision in the [ICC’s] anti-corruption code.”

As per the revised anti-corruption code, banned players could be allowed to return to domestic cricket before the end of their penalty if they meet certain criteria.

The letter was directed to the ICC’s anti-corruption unit chairman, Ronnie Flanagan, who can sanction the early reintegration of banned players based on a number of factors, including the level

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of remorse shown by the player, their cooperation with the ACSU’s education program, and how helpful the player has been in terms of disclosing relevant information.

According to the PCB, Amir, who was banned for his role in the spot-fixing scandal of the 2010 Lord’s Test, has met all the conditions and so qualifies for reintegration.

While the PCB has been in discussions with the ICC over Amir’s case for a while now, it is reluctant to extend the same treatment to Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, who were also banned - for longer periods - after the spot-fixing scandal. Unlike Amir, who pleaded guilty during the criminal investigation in London, Butt and Asif continued to insist they were innocent, even in the face of evidence against them, confessing only after they had lost all option of appealing against their bans.

Permaul’s 8 for 36 gives Guyana two from two

eft-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul career-best first-class figures of 8 for 36 clinched a dramatic 92run victory for Guyana over Windward Islands in the waning moments of play at Providence Stadium in the second round of four-day matches in the Professional Cricket League.

Resuming overnight on 133 for 5 in the second innings, Guyana batted 12 overs in the morning session on day four before declaring on 175 for 6 to set Windward Islands a target of 283. Windwards reached 100 for 1 in the 34th over but Permaul’s removal of Dwayne Smith for 55 sparked a stunning collapse which saw the visitors eventually dismissed for 190 in 80.2 overs. Permaul earlier claimed three wickets in the first innings to complete a career-best match-haul of 11 for 76.

Permaul’s final-day heroics couldn’t trump the performance of Narsingh Deonarine, who took Man of the Match honors after setting up the win with 136 off 293 balls for Guyana in their first innings total of 291. Shivnarine Chanderpaul assisted Deonarine with 63 after Guyana won the toss and elected to bat first, and the pair’s 153-run fourth-wicket stand established a sizable advantage for the home side. Deonarine then followed it up in the field by taking 5 for 24 to restrict Windwards to 184 in their first innings.

At Warner Park in St Kitts, Trinidad & Tobago completed a comfortable win over Leeward Islands by six wickets. Yannick Ottley carried on from his overnight score of 40 to finish unbeaten with 76 off 230 balls to get Trinidad & Tobago to the target of 203. His third-wicket stand of 104 with Jason Mohammed, who made 56, was by far the largest partnership of the match and the two were the only players to cross fifty.

Leewards made 202 in the first innings after being sent in by T & T with

legspinner Imran Khan taking 4 for 83.

Three players finished on 34 apiece for Leewards - Austin Richards, Akeem Saunders and Jeremiah Louis - but Khan removed the first two while Louis ran out of partners before Khan and Rayad Emrit wiped out the tail.

Trinidad & Tobago only made 130 in response to give Leewards a comfortable first innings advantage. However, that lead was squandered when Leewards fell in their second innings for the identical total of 130. Khan did even more damage in the second innings, taking 6 for 13 to finish with his second career ten-for to be named Man of the Match.

Jamaica and Barbados were unable to get any play in over the course of the first three days and as a result their match at Windward Park in Barbados ended in a draw. Barbados won the toss and sent Jamaica in to bat when play was finally able to get underway on day four with Jamaica reaching 111 for 4 before declaring their first innings after 40 overs as Shacaya Thomas made 59. Barbados reached 6 for 2 in 3.4 overs before play was called off.

Shacaya Thomas scored 59 for Jamaica in a rain–affected draw against Barbados

November 27–December 4, 2014

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Fast bowler Mohammad Amir had pleaded guilty to spot–fixing, and worked with the ICC on a player-education video during his rehabilitation

Hughes in critical condition after being hit by bouncer

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hillip Hughes has undergone surgery and remains in a critical condition after suffering a sickening blow to the head during the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia at the SCG. Hughes was taken by ambulance to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney after the incident on day one of the match.

At approximately 5.20pm, the hospital confirmed that Hughes was out of surgery and remained in a critical condition in the intensive care unit.

ESPNcricinfo understands Hughes was in an induced coma after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.

At approximately 4.15pm hospital spokesman David Faktor had addressed the media and said Hughes was in surgery having arrived at the hospital on life support.

“He arrived in a critical condition and remains in a critical condition. He is undergoing surgery as we speak,” Faktor said. “When he arrived he underwent a set of scans to establish the extent of his injuries and then a decision was made to perform surgery ...

All I could confirm is that he did sustain a head injury and that he is in a critical condition at the moment.

“I understand he was ventilated at the scene and arrived at St Vincent’s already ventilated and on life support and he underwent scans and then he went to surgery.”

Tim Nielsen, South Australia’s high performance manager, was at the hospital and said the outcome of the surgery was not likely to be known for some time.

“As you’re aware Phil Hughes was injured today and he’s undergoing surgery,” Nielsen said. “The outcome of that surgery is unlikely to be known for 24-48 hours, we ask you to respect the privacy of his family and friends.”

The Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said: “We were all in shock and ... pleasingly there was medical attention he was able to receive immediately at the ground and then to be transported to hospital and now we hope that whatever the procedure is that he’s going through, he comes through in the right way and gets the best possible care and recovery.

“It’s difficult for [the players] being there and they’re all very close to Phil. He’s a really popular guy, not just here but around the world ... Everyone knows and understands the way he plays his cricket. He’s fiercely determined, extremely proud of his achievements and I guess he’s a quiet achiever, but has the respect of all of his team-mates.”

Hughes was taken to hospital after a sickening blow to the head left him motionless on the SCG pitch on day one of the match. Three ambulances and a medivac helicopter attended to 25-year-old Hughes after he was struck midway through the day. Play was suspended when he left the field and then abandoned after he was conveyed to St Vincent’s Hospital by ambulance. Players and officials were comforted at pitchside as Hughes was treated.

“Phil grew up in NSW and is a former Blue and is held in the highest regard by his current and former teammates. The thoughts and prayers of all at Cricket NSW and indeed everyone in Australian cricket are with Phil the very best for a speedy and full recovery.”

The South Australian Cricket Association released a statement on Hughes: “On behalf of the SACA Board and administration, our thoughts and prayers are with Phil Hughes and his family at this time.

40

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Sarwan withdraws from T&T four-day squad

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atsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has withdrawn from the Trinidad & Tobago squad for the Professional Cricket League four-day competition due to personal reasons and will return to Guyana. Sarwan was T&T’s overseas pick during the player draft organized in October and was one of the players who was not selected by his territorial squad of Guyana.

Sarwan had missed T&T’s opening game against Barbados last week and was expected to sit out the second-round match against Leeward Islands, which starts on November 21.

The Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board

has said it will consider options regarding Sarwan’s replacement and hoped that the batsman will return to the team for the one-day competition.

“The T&TCB said it is their sincerest hope that the former West Indies Test player can resolve the issues he currently faces with a view to his possible return for T&T in the Nagico Super50 limited-overs regional tournament in January,” the board said in a release.

Sarwan had captained Leicestershire in five championship matches during the English domestic season this year before a back injury forced him to return home.

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Ramnaresh Sarwan had missed T&T’s opening game against Barbados, which ended in a draw. © Getty Images

Harvick takes Homestead, Cup title

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Despite criticizing their batting, AB de Villiers said South Africa would be “the team to beat at the World Cup”

‘We are better than Australia’ - de Villiers

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ollowing South Africa’s 1-4 series defeat in Australia, AB de Villiers was understandably unhappy with several areas of their game. He criticized their batting, fielding, the number of extras they conceded, the way they approached the last 10 overs of innings and their lack of ruthlessness, but he did not think any of that makes them a lesser side or any less likely to win the World Cup. In fact, quite the opposite.

“There is absolutely no doubt in [my] mind we are the better team,” de Villiers said on the squad’s arrival back in South Africa. “We didn’t play the big moments as well as we wanted to but I really believe we could have beaten them 4-1 on another day but it didn’t happen that way.

They will be one of the favorites for the World Cup but I still believe we are better team. We will be the team to beat at the World Cup.” Confounding as that confidence may sound in light of their recent performances, de Villiers is sticking by it because he believes the lessons South Africa will take from their visits to New Zealand and Australia will stand them in good stead

for the World Cup. “If you don’t learn, especially if you are not playing well, then you are not going to move forward as a team,” he explained.

“We learnt a lot of little things - like flying from Perth to Canberra and understanding there is a time difference and jetlag comes into play even though you are on tour. And different wickets. There is no set of rules that you’ve got to play in a certain way in Australia. Russell [Domingo] and I made a lot of notes. We are definitely more prepared than what we would have been if we didn’t go on the tour.”

South Africa’s next assignment is against West Indies at home and they will not play any ODIs until after the World Cup squad is announced. For Domingo that will be the ideal finishing touch. “We can have the players playing together as a unit without the pressure of playing for World Cup spots. It will be great to get into a series where players don’t have that kind of pressure,” he said. Then, South Africa will head to the tournament as what de Villiers called “the team to beat.”

arvick picked off car after car, and passed two other title contenders on a series of restarts as he aggressively chased both the victory and the title Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

His desperate drive from 12th to first over the final 15 laps gave Harvick the championship over Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman and Joey Logano.

All four were determined to claim their first career title, and all four raced to win -- because winning, it turned out, mattered in this Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

“If you want to win the championship, you’re going to have to figure out how to win races,” Harvick said. “In the end, that’s what it came down to, was winning the race to win the championship. It all worked out.”

The four drivers all found themselves racing each other at the front of the field after the sun went down on the 400-mile race. It was Hamlin, the Charlotte Hornets season-ticket holder who had Michael Jordan cheering from his pit, who seemed to have the race in control until a caution with 20 laps to go.

All four teams were forced to make tough strategy decisions that ultimately decided their fate. Joe Gibbs Racing decided not to pit Hamlin, which moved him to second on the restart. Richard Childress Racing gave Ryan Newman two tires, while Harvick crew chief Rodney Childers made the risky call for four tires.

Team Penske also had planned to give Joey Logano four tires, but a problem with the jack destroyed Logano’s chances and he plummeted from sixth to 21st, ending his championship bid.

Harvick restarted 12th with 15 laps to go and not much time to pick his way through traffic. As Hamlin passed leader Jeff Gordon on the restart, Harvick shot past four cars to move to seventh.

“The seas kind of parted down the backstretch and we were able to get three or four cars or six, I guess, or five. You’ve got a very short time to do it,” he said. “You had all the championship guys show up at the front of the pack. I was just going to hold the pedal down and hope for the best.”

Kevin Harvick outlasted Ryan Newman to win at Homestead-Miami and clinch the first Chase for the Cup under the new playoff format.

Then came another caution, and Hamlin, on old tires, knew he was in trouble.

Harvick, on the four fresh tires, rocketed through the middle on the restart, dicing his way through traffic to pick up another four spots and move into second.

“I loved our chances, but they weren’t there at the end,” Hamlin said. “Strategy is part of winning, and the strategy for us didn’t work out with the cautions.”

Harvick got by Hamlin, then Newman passed Hamlin for second and the championship became a battle of drivers who had essentially swapped seats this year.

There was one more caution, forcing Harvick to nail one final restart with three laps remaining, and he eased his way ahead of Newman on his way to the win.

The victory capped a magical first season at Stewart-Haas Racing, where Harvick moved this year after 13 seasons with Richard Childress that failed to produce a championship.

Stewart, co-owner Gene Haas, and Childers, who left Michael Waltrip Racing for the chance to build Harvick’s team, delivered.

“They gave us all the resources we needed,” Harvick said. “We never talked about money, we talked about building a team. It was just go get what you need.”

For Stewart, it took the sting off his 15year winning streak coming to a close Sunday.

“It doesn’t make up for a bad year,” Stewart said. “I mean, I’ve had a terrible year. But this makes the end of November great.”

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November 27–December 4, 2014

Hafeez 178 - puts Pakistan in dominant position Pakistan 281 for 3 (Hafeez 178*, Misbah 38*, Craig 2-67) v New Zealand ohammad Hafeez missed the second Test of the series due to injury, went to England briefly to get his action tested, but he could have well been playing in Abu Dhabi where he had scored 96 and 101*. He started the day with a boundary through point and went on to complete his seventh Test century, making most of a pitch with no grass, no cracks and no signs of life. Hafeez’s unbeaten 178 was also the highest anyone had scored in a Sharjah Test. The innings came at a good rate too, taking Pakistan to a dominant position after they had opted to bat.

Despite the unhelpful conditions, New Zealand had managed to pick up three wickets, including that of Younis Khan, in the first two sessions. But then Misbah-ulHaq ensured the wobble was a minor one as he provided solid support to Hafeez in a century stand.

Hafeez grabbed centrestage but much of the attention at the start of the match had centred on the comeback of Daniel Vettori, who had been drafted into the XI at the last minute in New Zealand’s bid to find a series-equalising victory. Vettori’s previous Test outing was more than two years ago. This Test - his 112th for New Zealand - took him past Stephen Fleming as the most-capped New Zealand player.

Vettori led his team into the ground, knowing this could be his last Test and despite no first-class cricket in almost a year,

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Sri Lanka hold on despite Moeen and Bopara Sri Lanka 317 for 6 (Dilshan 88, Perera 59, Jayawardene 55) beat England 292 (Moeen 119, Bopara 65, T Perera 3-44) oeen Ali produced an abundant oneday innings to raise horizons and rouse spirits, but it will take more than a one-man masterclass, however brilliant, to turn England into fancied World Cup contenders. Moeen clocked the third fastest ODI hundred in England’s history, but ultimately it was Sri Lanka whose 25-run victory gave them first strike in the seven-match series.

To surpass Sri Lanka’s 317 for 6, England would have needed to scale unsurpassed heights. They had never chased more than 306 to achieve victory; no side had won at the Premadasa Stadium with more than 286 to its name. Moeen’s 119 from 87 balls, the latest eye-catching performance in an outstanding start to his international career, kept the faith, but when he knocked back a soft return catch to Jeevan Mendis, sixth out at 203, England subsided.

If the initial thrust was Moeen’s, the sad-faced finale, as so often, belonged to Ravi Bopara. He was last out for 65 from 62 balls, a judicious innings which ended when a mishit legside skier plucked by the diving Kusal Perera. This was lone, admirable and

M Mohammad Hafeez was the first Pakistan opener in 15 years to score consecutive centuries started off with a maiden when called in within the first 10 overs. With no help from the pitch, Vettori was accurate in the three overs he bowled before lunch. The only time he lost his length, Hafeez carted him over midwicket for a six.

He had to wait for 35 overs before getting another spell. By that time, Pakistan had moved to 143 for 2. It took him only eight more deliveries to make his presence felt as he beat the in-form Younis with his drift and struck him right in front. It was Younis’ first single-digit score this home season. Younis asked for a review of the decision after some discussion with Hafeez, but the replays only showed over and over again how Vettori’s arm-ball had outdone Younis.

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Moeen Ali made a wonderful maiden ODI hundred but could not help England to victory predictably unrewarded resistance. Too often his doughty efforts achieve nothing. But his presence in the squad should be a given.

After their troubled one-day tour of India reluctantly undertaken at India’s request after the failure of the Caribbean malcontents to fulfil their obligation to complete the

tour - Sri Lanka deserved something restorative on their return to home shores. They found it in the shape of a disorientated England bowling attack, which was perhaps surprised to find itself called into service after the monsoon - particularly persistent this year apparently - conveniently relented in the nick of time.

Jets to start QB Geno Smith

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n Tuesday, after the team’s embarrassing 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Ryan was leaning toward keeping Vick in the lineup, according to a source. But late Tuesday night, the decision was made to start Smith, a source said.

The feeling close to the team is that general manager John Idzik insisted that Ryan start Smith, his underperforming former second-round pick.

Smith’s return will happen on a national stage, as the Jets play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night at MetLife Stadium.

“The main factor is you want to give your guys a chance to win the game,” Ryan said. “That’s the No. 1 factor you look into.

But that’s what we did. We feel good. Geno last time out had a good game against Miami (in Week 17 last season).”

Say this for the Jets (2-9): Even when

they’re bad, their quarterback situation never fails to fascinate. This marks the second quarterback change of the season.

After a Week 8 blowout loss to the Bills that dropped them to 1-7, the Jets benched Smith, who threw three straight interceptions in the game. At the time, Ryan had little choice but to make the change, as the locker room had grown weary of Smith’s turnover-prone ways.

Vick went 1-2 as the starter. He played turnover-free football in his first two starts, steadying the offense with his veteran leadership. But he was terrible on Monday night, completing only 7 of 19 passes for 76 yards and an interception.

Smith replaced him in the third quarter.

Vick suffered wrist and ankle injuries in the game, but those apparently didn’t factor into the decision. On Tuesday, Ryan told reporters that the decision wouldn’t be based on Vick’s health.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

November 27–December 4, 2014

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November 27–December 4, 2014

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November 27–December 4, 2014

In Loving Memory... A Tribute

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