CaribbeanStar #20 vol.4

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December 12-18, 2014

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Vol.4 #20

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BURIED

IN OWN YARD Guyanese boxer charged with murdering ex-girlfriend in New York See More on Page 3

This was the macabre fate which befell 83-year-old Stephanie Millington, a grandmother who was reported missing since last week Wednesday and whose frail body was discovered in a shallow grave in the yard of her Geranium Drive, Morvant home.

See More on Page 13

Guyana No. 1 in deportees from T&T – AG

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has described as “mischievous, malicious and very dangerous” charges of racial and religious discrimination in the arrest of people or racial profiling in the deportation of illegal immigrants by the Government of the People’s Partnership.

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December 12-18, 2014 Caribbean Star Newspaper Post-mortem confirms Edinburg Village alcoholic died by hanging

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N autopsy report has confirmed that alcoholic Parmanand Dhanraj of Lot 9, Edinburg Village, died as a result of self-suspension (hanging).A post-mortem was performed by Government Pathologist, Dr. Vivikanand Brijmohan at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Wednesday.

The findings have erased speculation by some relatives that the married father of one; was murdered.

Last Sunday, thirty-eight-yearold, Parmanand Dhanraj was found suspended underneath his home at East Bank Berbice at approximately 06:15hrs.

The discovery was made by a passerby, who raised an alarm before informing sleuths at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam.

Dhanraj lived alone and was last seen on Saturday afternoon at 16:30hrs when he was consuming

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a half bottle of white rum.

Dhanraj was a labourer who did odd jobs in the community.

Investigators said that the man had utilised a piece of rope from his hammock to make the hangman’s noose, which he used to hang himself.

The motionless body had been taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Guyanese boxer charged with murdering ex-girlfriend in New York

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uyanese professional boxer Trevis Hall, known as ‘Black Mamba,’ has been charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend in Queens, the New York Daily News has reported.

According to the report, Hall, 28, was picked up hours after he fatally stabbed and bludgeoned Margarita Rivera, 31, a mother of two, with a pipe near her home on Watson Place, in Jamaica, New York last week Monday afternoon.

Hall, a professional featherweight and 2009 Golden Gloves champ, was found unconscious behind a dumpster 10 miles from the murder scene, police said.

He and the victim had been dating for years, family members said. He was charged last week Wednesday.

Hall had threatened Rivera with a knife in June and police were called to the home last week for another dispute.

Hall, who was born in Georgetown, Guyana, won the Golden Gloves championship as a bantamweight in the novice class in 2009.

He was also a Golden Gloves semifinalist as a bantamweight in the open class in 2010 and 2011.

Witnesses had told the media that Rivera was beaten so badly with a metal pipe that she was unrecognisable and that one of the stab wounds was so large that it looked like she had been shot.

They reported seeing a person hit Rivera with a pipe around 2.30 pm, before repeatedly stabbing her in the head and chest and running away. The woman was pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital and police said both the pipe and the knife were found at the scene.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Over 400 graduate from BIT programmes at Mahaicony – Gov’t determined to educate young people December 12-18, 2014

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OUR hundred and twelve students graduated at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre on Monday, having participated in the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) National Training Project for Youth Empowerment and Single- Parent Training Programme.The Government has, over the years, been working to ensure that all Guyanese have a chance to be trained in some aspect of work, which is being administered by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).The BIT has been providing opportunities for persons to qualify themselves with various skills. The work force is empowered annually by skilled persons who have undergone training under BIT. This year’s batch represents a three-fold increase over the number of persons trained in 2013 in the region under the programme. The programme consists of on-the-job training and exposure to life skills education. The youth who are targeted are between the ages of 15 and 25. Most of them do not have the requisite CSEC qualifications to enter the job market, or may not have completed secondary education.

At the Mahaicony Centre, Region 5, some 343 trainees graduated in the following occupational sectors: 59 persons in engineering; 38 in building construction; 22 in electrical installation; 28 in health services; 134 in information technology and clerical skills; and 62 in home economics. There were also 69 persons who graduated under the Single-Parent Training programme.

Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul during his address to the graduating class at the Mahaicony Technical Centre

Government has always placed a lot of emphasis on educating its young people. “The Government is determined that our young people have to be educated and has placed a considerable sum of money from the national budget into the education sector,” the minister said.

The minister explained that over the years, persons have believed that technical education is for school drop-outs, but asserted that this is not so “Technical education must not be seen as a substitute for secondary education, it must be seen as a supplement,” Dr. Gopaul said.

In recent years, he noted, technical education was restricted to Georgetown and New Amsterdam, “but not anymore, we have a centre in almost every region and have extended

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with a few of the graduating students, who were unanimous that they have benefited tremendously from the programme. Ms. Andrea, a cosmetology teacher, explained that she taught a class of 30 girls, of whom the youngest is 16 years old and the oldest 45. “All of them have shown interest to learn; there are shortcomings, but we manage to work through them,” she said.

A student from the nursing assistant programme explained that she now has the confidence and self-esteem to approach the world of work: “Before I was scared because I was not qualified in anything.” Miriam Hussain, a student of Food and Nutrition, noted that the programme was very educational, “I am able to feed my family a nutritional

our hands to our young people throughout the length and breadth of this country.” Dr. Gopaul emphasised that “wherever we [government] see a shortcoming, we will move immediately to correct it.”

meal and able to practise what I have learnt.” She explained that she is the mother of two young children and this programme will assist her with feeding them properly as well as contribute to her household financially.

Speaking at the ceremony, Regional Chairman Region 5, Bindraban Bisnauth noted that he is grateful that the BIT programmes are relevant to the area, as he urged the graduating class to make full use of the opportunity and when the courses have been completed, “lend your services where it is needed.”

Maria Khelawan, Chief Executive Officer of BIT, congratulated the graduating class, noting that for the first time since the programme started, this year the board commenced evening and Saturday classes in collabo-

The graduating class ration with the Ministry of Education.

Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, during his remarks congratulated the students and urged them not to become complacent, explaining that the

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Truck-driver back in court for deaths of five people

HERE are eight more witnesses to testify against truck-driver Balton Barnwell, who is facing five charges of death by dangerous driving.

Sachin Maharaj, 9, Sachin Singh, 12, Rajkumar Deonarine, 15, Rishi Ramlogan, 22, and Rajesh Ramnarine, 37, all of South Oropouche, died in the August 15, 2009 crash.

The group was in a panel van heading to the Balls of Fire cricket match at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain. Barnwell, 74, was charged by Sergeant Vijay Ramdhanie with causing their deaths.

State attorney Sunita Ramjattan told the court on Wednesday that

the State had 14 witnesses in the case. Half of them have already given evidence and been cross-examined. Survivors of the accident, Vedesh Ramsaran and Darson Goolcharan, Ramlogan’s mother Geeta Gangapersad and Ramnarine’s brother Rakesh Ramnarine have also taken the witness stand.

Last August, truck-driver Krishna Boochoon gave evidence of witnessing the crash. Barnwell is being represented by attorney Jagdeo Singh and Melissa Sinanan. He is on $500,000 bail and his driver’s licence has been taken away by the court. The case was adjourned to January 13.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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December 12-18, 2014

APNU encouraged by Date for elections can’t be ‘recklessly set’ – Dr Luncheon – being done in collaboration with GECOM GECOM meeting

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he main opposition coalition APNU says that it is “encouraged” by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) preparations for general elections which are going to be held next year.

APNU met with GECOM this afternoon on elections.

“We had a very full exchange with the elections commission and we were interested in the various processes including the continuous registration process, all of the Election Day preparations, the question of training, so we went through a fairly full agenda to get some indication of the state of GECOM’s readiness to, in fact, administer an election,” chairman of APNU Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine told reporters.

“They answered everything that we asked and I think we had a full and comprehensive review of the processes in which GECOM is engaged,” he said.

He said that they were encouraged by what they were told. “What we’ve heard I think is encouraging. I think that they have gone a long way,” he said while adding that they also have concerns. He identified these as the fact that it is taking GECOM “a very long time” to get the full complement of people applying for Election Day duty. This raises the question of training Roopnaraine said adding that the commission is still very short of the total number of persons it is going to need for Election Day work and that is a matter of concern to APNU. Amid political deadlock and facing growing criticism over his decision to suspend parliament, President Donald Ramotar last Saturday announced that he will call general elections but declined to name a date, saying that he will “announce further steps” in this direction early next year.

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HERE is a clear understanding and necessarily so that the date for, whether it be Local Government Elections or General Elections, could not be recklessly set,” the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon declared yesterday.The HPS during his weekly press conference at Office of the President explained that the date for either elections, Local Government or General Elections, has to be deliberated upon so as not to have a date set that will then have persons not ready for the said elections.

ENGAGING GECOM Responding to the question as to whether the Head of State is engaging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the date for general elections, the HPS explained: “It cannot be set without the densest collaboration with GECOM because at the end of the day GECOM’s timetabling of the preliminary events would be what is needed at the D-Day,” he said.

Dr. Luncheon emphasised that President Donald Ramotar publi-

Dr Roger Luncheon cally recognises the necessity of engaging GECOM forthrightly and in a transparent way to ensure that complications will never arise with a date that “heavens forbid that GECOM might not be comfortable with.”

“When the President announces the date, you could take it for granted that that date could only have been done after confirmation with GECOM about its readiness for D-Day,” Dr. Luncheon stressed.

On December 6 during a press conference, President Ramotar announced that Guyanese will go to early general and regional elections to elect a new government come next year – 2015.

GECOM, however, is currently rolling out its 7th cycle of continuous registration with its first week seeing some 925 new registrants, while 222 persons have made corrections to their information and there were 152 transfers.

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December 12-18, 2014

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Hinduism for Beginners If you're new to this faith, here's where to begin. In this simple introduction to a complex religion, get your basic questions on Hinduism answered and explained in brief.

What is Hinduism?

in circa 10000 B.C. and that the earliest of the Hindu scriptures – The Rig Veda – was composed well before 6500 B.C. The word "Hinduism" is not to be found anywhere in the scriptures, and the term "Hindu" was introduced by foreigners who referred to people living across the River Indus or Sindhu, in the north of India, around which the Vedic religion is believed to have originated.

Hinduism is the world's oldest extant religion, with a billion followers, which makes it the world's third largest religion.

Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices that originated in India, characterized by the belief in reincarnation, one absolute being of multiple manifestations, the law of cause and effect, following the path of What are the basic tenets of righteousness, and the desire Hinduism? for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths.

There is no “one Hinduism”, and so it lacks any unified sysHow is Hinduism unique from tem of beliefs and ideas. Hinduother religions? ism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, in which Hinduism cannot be neatly the prominent themes include: slotted into any particular belief system. Unlike other religions, • Dharma (ethics and duties) Hinduism is a way of life, a Dhar• Samsara (rebirth) ma, that is, the law that governs • Karma (right action) all action. It has its own beliefs, • Moksha (liberation from traditions, advanced system of the cycle of Samsara) ethics, meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology. The reIt also believes in truth, honesligious tradition of Hinduism is ty, non-violence, celibacy, cleansolely responsible for the cre- liness, contentment, prayers, ation of such original concepts austerity, perseverance, penand practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, ance, and pious company.

Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, Karma, etc.

What are the key Hindu scriptures?

How and when did Hinduism originate?

The basic scriptures of Hinduism, which is collectively Hinduism has its origins in referred to as "Shastras", are such remote past that it cannot essentially a collection of spirbe traced to any one individual. itual laws discovered by differSome scholars believe that Hin- ent saints and sages at different duism must have existed even points in its long history. The

Two types of sacred writings comprise the Hindu scriptures: "Shruti" (heard) and "Smriti" (memorized). They were passed on from generation to generation orally for centuries before they were written down mostly in the Sanskrit language. The major and most popular Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

What are the major Hindu deities?

Hinduism believes that there is only one supreme Absolute called "Brahman". However, it does not advocate the worship of any one particular deity. The gods and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all representing the many aspects of Brahman.

Therefore, this faith is characterized by the multiplicity of deities. The most fundamental of Hindu deities is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. Hindus also wor-

ship spirits, trees, animals and even planets.

Who is a Hindu and how to become one?

A Hindu is an individual who accepts and lives by the religious guidance of the Vedic scriptures.

While the teachings of the Hindu tradition do not require that you have a religious affiliation to Hinduism in order to receive its inner teachings, it can be very helpful to formally become a Hindu because it provides one a formal connection to the “world's oldest continually existing enlightenment tradition."

By Subhamoy Das Hinduism Expert

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December 12-18, 2014

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December 12-18, 2014

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Guyana No. 1 in deportees from T&T – AG

ttorney General Anand Ramlogan has described as “mischievous, malicious and very dangerous” charges of racial and religious discrimination in the arrest of people or racial profiling in the deportation of illegal immigrants by the Government of the People’s Partnership.

Ramlogan said statistics from 2010 to October 2014 showed “the number one country with deportees from Trinidad and Tobago is not the African continent, not India, but Guyana.

“The truth of the matter is that illegal immigrants from the African continent were way down on the list at number seven. The total number of African immigrants that have been deported from 2010 to now is 70 persons. Seventy African deportees in four, nearly five, years, against 734 Guyanese (in the same period).

“So when we run to light a fire, coming on the heels of the Ferguson experience in the US

and we jump to pour kerosene to light a social flame that we cannot control, then we must look to the truth which shall set us free. And the statistics show that we must reject outright that kind of nonsense and absurd allegation against the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.”

There is absolutely no merit, truth or justification in it, he said, adding it was mischievous, malicious and very dangerous in a society such as this.

Statistics: 1,757 deported He said he asked for statistics from the head of Immigration, Gerry Downes, because he wanted to see if there was any merit in this charge about discrimination against deportees from Africa.

The statistics provided revealed out of a total of 1,757 deportees between 2010 and now, 41.8 per cent of deportees (734) were from Guyana. He said coming second after “with

a big gap”, was Jamaica, the country of origin of 18.5 per cent of deportees (325 people).

Other Caribbean countries (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Dominica) were third, with 11.4 per cent of deportees; fourth was Asia (China, Indian and other Asian countries), with 10.2 per cent; fifth was Central and South America (5.7 per cent); sixth was Caricom countries (excluding Guyana and Jamaica), 5.7 per cent.

Speaking in the Senate on the Precursor Chemicals Bill, Ramlogan said: “We have a tendency in Trinidad to call upon the law enforcement officers to do their duty and enforce the law… and when they do… the very same people criticise and condemn them. The latest trend is if you arrest anybody—racial profiling, religious profiling. I don’t know what they expect the police to do.

“It is high time that we stop this hypocritical behaviour in Trinidad and Tobago and allow

the law enforcement agencies to do their job as we were trained to do.”

The Attorney General said one had to be careful about pouring scorn on reports from security agencies in the country. He said on the African continent there was a “huge opium/ heroin trade” and there was piracy on the high seas, therefore “one cannot bury one’s head in the sand”.

Ramlogan said Trini­dad and Tobago could not remain nonchalant in the face of entrepreneurial drug cartels which have already tried to use countries of the Caribbean to divert chemicals.

He quoted a 2006 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report which stated: “Trinidad and Tobago has an advanced petrochemical sector, which requires the import and export of chemicals that can be diverted for the manufacturing of cocaine hydrochloride. Precursor chemicals originating

from Trinidad and Tobago have been found in illegal drug labs in Colombia.”

He said in a 2007 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Training Manual, an example of diversion was cited. “A Mumbai-based exporter presented to the Narcotics Commissioner of India a No Objection Certificate from the Competent Authority of the importing country for export of two million ephedrine tablets to Trinidad and Tobago. Suspicion led to enquiry, which confirmed that the actual quantity permitted in the NOC was 200,000 tablets only.”

He said according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Drug Report 2014, cocaine supply indicators showed that the Central and South America and the Caribbean seizures in 2011-2012 amounted to over 70 per cent of global total. “This is a damning statistic and certainly supports the need for stricter controls on cocaine production,” he said.

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December 12-18, 2014

Stepfather murder accused deny confessing to crime

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he trio accused of the 2009 murder of their stepfather Motilall Singh at Windsor Forest will challenge the prosecution’s case that they confessed to c o m m i t t i n g Bibi Farida Khan the crime, during a re-trial at the High Court.

Bibi Samiza Khan, Hoosman Khan, called ‘Strong Man’ and Bibi Farida Khan, all of Windsor Forest, are on trial before Justice Dawn Gregory and a 12-member jury for the murder of overs e a s - b a s e d Bibi Shamiza Khan Guyanese Motilall Singh at Windsor Forest. The bloodied body of Singh was found close to a tiny bridge at Second Street, Windsor Forest in September 2009.

Early this year, the siblings’ first trial ended in a hung jury, according to State Counsel Natasha Backer.

Meanwhile State Counsel Mercedes Thompson said it is the state’s case that the trio Hoosman Khan confessed to the crime, in their caution statements to the police.

During yesterday’s proceedings, pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, testified that Motilall Singh died of haemorrhage and shock, due to multiple incised wounds about his body. He explained that the deceased had 17 stab wounds, left to right across the front of his body, ten of which entered in the chest area.

The pathologist was the last of 13 witnesses that the state presented in court when the re-trial commenced in November. Following his testimony, the siblings’ attorney Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos asked Justice Gregory for time to interview his clients, citing the inconvenience of doing so when they are locked up.

Subsequently Justice Gregory ended the session, explaining to the jury that the prosecution had presented its case and that at the next session, the defence would answer the state’s case.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Corentyne man critical after drive-by shooting

No. 78 Village, Corentyne salesman is now in critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital after he was shot in a drive-by attack on Monday night.

Shazam Bacchus, 23, was awaiting transportation to go home on the No. 72 Village Public Road, Corentyne, at about 8pm when the attack occurred.

Police said two men approached him in a car and one of them discharged a round from a firearm that hit him to his chest. The men escaped.

Bibi Bacchus said yesterday that after being shot her son was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital and later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. The mother explained her son sustained injuries to his in-

testines and a kidney. She added doctors performed a minor surgery on her son and removed a section of his damaged intestine. The bullet, she noted, is still lodged in his body.

According to the mother, Shazam told her from his hospital bed that while he was waiting on taxi a black car drove by and someone shouted “Yo.” When he turned to look he was shot.

The woman and other relatives were clueless about the motive for the attack and they believe that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Bacchus, called “Short Man,” works as a salesman at a grocery in the Skeldon market. He had left his employers home at No. 72 village when he was attacked.

Shazam Bacchus in hospital yesterday

Caricom assuaged by Ramotar’s announcement on polls – Chairman

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aricom’s Chairman, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that given President Donald Ramotar’s assurances that he will make an announcement on General Elections early in 2015 the community is “not too concerned at this point” over the prorogation of the Guyanese Parliament.

He told Stabroek News during a phone interview yesterday from his office in Antigua and Barbuda, that Caricom will “respect the President’s judgment and Constitutional right,” to suspend the legislative branch of government. He said that at this point the community will be keenly watching the development of the situation and how it plays out in the coming months and should Ramotar renege on his commitment to name a date for General Elections, Caricom is committed to engaging as mediators.

Browne stated that the current political crisis in Guyana was raised by Ramotar himself on Monday at a meeting of the Heads of Government during the Fifth Caricom-Cuba Summit held in Havana.

Stabroek News asked the Chairman how such a decision by the President though constitutionally permissible was acceptable as it had resulted in a suspension of the National Assembly for a month now preventing the body of elected officials from meeting and conducting work on behalf of the people. Browne said that Caricom was not looking to aggravate any of the parties involved including government and that Guyana’s parliamentary prorogation was a domestic issue.

He said that Caricom was sufficiently satisfied that the President’s decision was not intended as an abuse of power and that given Ramotar’s assurances that he will call general elections in 2015 the

Gaston Browne President’s decisions had to be respected.

Caricom’s Chairman spoke about the long history of democracy in the region and that as a regional body Caricom was committed to “respect the democratic traditions of the Caribbean.”

He said that that while Ramotar spoke in Havana, the community was duly satisfied that the creation of an autocratic state was not the intention behind the prorogation.

Observers note that Ramotar’s decision to hold a press briefing at State House on Saturday and stating that he would make an announcement in early 2015 on general elections was a pre-emptive move by the administration to defuse any questioning by leaders at the Caricom summit.

Browne remained optimistic and refrained from speaking on how Caricom would proceed should the regional body not be impressed with Ramotar’s future handling in of the Parliamentary prorogation. He also declined to elaborate on

correspondence with the government or members of the opposition.

Both opposition groups, A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (AFC) had written to Caricom to express concerns and as part of their joint decision to internationalise the issue.

Leader of the Opposition David Granger has urged that an emergency meeting of Heads of Government of Caricom be convened “to consider a collective approach to the governance crisis in Guyana.” Caricom Secretary General Irwin La Rocque told Stabroek News on November 29, that he had received a letter from Granger and AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan requesting that he bring certain matters to the attention of the Caricom Heads of Government. Asked whether the matter would likely be discussed at the next summit of Caricom Heads of Government, La Rocque said that he did not know as there is no agenda yet.

Meanwhile, as it stands the stalemate between the opposition and government remains. Granger formally declined to speak with Ramotar via a letter on Monday. In the letter Granger reiterated the opposition’s stance that there will be no discussions until the prorogation has ended.

Ramotar has held fast to the constitutional propriety of his decision noting that prorogation was the only way to stave off the no-confidence motion by the AFC and continue with the parliamentary agenda.

He had stated that during the prorogation, discussions between government and the opposition could occur.

The opposition responded by stating that suspending one of the branches of government then requesting talks was a form of dictatorship.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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BURIED IN OWN YARD

his was the macabre fate which befell 83-year-old Stephanie Millington, a grandmother who was reported missing since last week Wednesday and whose frail body was discovered in a shallow grave in the yard of her Geranium Drive, Morvant home.

Police sources last night revealed a female relative and the boyfriend of that relative were in custody assisting lawmen in their investigations.

Today, an autopsy is expected to be performed at the Forensic Science Centre, St James to officially ascertain Millington’s cause of death.

Millington was buried in an area of the backyard where she would have traversed regularly to get to and from her home which she shared with her daughter and grandchildren. Police sources admitted they were baffled as to the motive behind Millington’s death, which they view as a homicide.

Shocked residents who gathered near the Police ‘crime scene’ tape, which cordoned off the elderly woman’s house yesterday, were heard telling each other that while searches were being conducted for the missing woman, she lay in a shallow grave in the yard of her own home. Police said at about ten o’clock yesterday morning, members of the North Eastern Division Task Force led by Cpl Sunil Bharath were conducting enquiries at the home of the elderly woman having received certain information.

Police officers began a systematic search of the surrounding area of Millington’s house and later realised a section of the backyard appeared to have been recently dug up. Using shovels, the officers cautiously dug into the area of the backyard and discovered Millington’s corpse.

Police said if the autopsy confirms investigators’ suspicion that the elderly woman was murdered, it would be the 380th murder for this year.

Concerned residents looked on yesterday as police processed the crime scene. Not wanting to be identified by name, the residents described Millington as a pleasant and quiet woman. Residents added they usually saw the elderly woman walking with her grandchildren.

“I already knew something like this might have happened, but finding her buried in the yard of her own home, that was a great shock to me,” said one resident. “The last time anyone in the area saw her she was going to pay some bills. That was last week Wednesday. No one saw her after that.”

Millington is the seventh elderly person to be murdered in the past six weeks.

At 9 am on Monday, 75-year-old Dallas Kidman succumbed to injuries while warded at West Shore Medical Centre, after being severely beaten during a robbery on November 30.

Poli Wanted Trinidad polic PITBULL KILLS GRANNY

On November 22, elderly German Reid was stabbed to death in South nationals Birgid and Hubertus Keil, Oropouche. On November 9, Norma were chopped to death while on va- Holder, 76, was raped and strangled cation in Tobago. During the same in her Laventille home and on Octoweek of the Keils’ murder, Ramlal ber 29, Florentine Arneaud, 73, was Ramroop, 66, was found stabbed to found stabbed to death in her Sangre death in Biche and 74-year-old John Grande apartment.

Mitchell was beaten to death in BelAccording to a Newsday count, Ramlogan said there was An 84-year-old great edgeable when it came to incident occurred. mont. there have been 16 murders Trinidad, this year ORT-OF-SPAIN, July 9, 2014, CM an Wednesday undertaking within grandmother was yesterday the training of dogs and On November 17, 88-year-old Edna of people over the age of 65.

Bloody attack oncommits 84-year-old suicide woman caus afte at Maraval home on ‘Wall of S placed

mauled to death by a family pitbull.

Lillian Bunsee had never ventured close to the dogs as she had been attacked in the past, but yesterday morning one of the dogs escaped from its kennel and again attacked her, this time killing her.

Neighbours said the dog was one of approximately ten which were bred and being given aggression training in preparation for sale by two of the woman’s relatives.

Never once did the residents hear Bunsee scream for help but only noticed she was being attacked as they walked along the roadway close to her home on La Seiva Road, Maraval.

Police said it was shortly after 9 a.m. that the residents saw the woman on the ground with the dog tearing away at her body. They tried throwing boulders at the animal in an attempt to stop it but their efforts were unsuccessful, said officers.

Investigators said several police officers who were on patrol nearby went to the scene after receiving a report and was only able to have the dog stop biting the woman after opening fire on the animal, shooting it six times.

Residents in the area said the officers had no other option but to kill the dog.

The other dogs were all locked away in their kennels, they said.

“After the first two shots the dog was still biting the woman, like the shots did nothing to it. The police had to shoot it four more times before it stopped,” said one man.

CPR

Training

The resident, who asked that his name not be published, said regardless of the type, he was always opposed to people giving aggression training to dogs within their own household which is shared with other family members.

He said he was also knowl-

of lo

P

A former head o Parliamentofthat Azizul hours Rahaman after of thea photo disagreed with themitted deci- Dr suicide hisheappeared on a defunct state-ow sion of the dog’s owner to Jones Animal Clinic exam- would accommodate cerana Airwaysho C carry out the training at the ined the dog and confirmed tain amendments based has blamed g it was one of the danger- on suggestions from Indehouse. officials forlic th ous dogs referred to in the pendent Senators and also aviation woes “Aggression training within Dog Control Bill which was from members of the Opag country. your own environment and passed in Parliament last position. training of dogs within your month but is yet to be pro- The Independent Senators Co Former GAC had already forwarded own household where you claimed, police said. wh Manager, Fazal have ageable people or fam- Rahaman removed some their suggestions to him, the adamant that ily members in your house of the animals and locked but he was still awaiting spite rather tha the Opposition’s before the vic or operational Act is proclaimed by Presia q forced the dent Anthony Carmona. closure ofHis the airlinevisi “This bill is clearly needed. back in the I would like those perhos late nineties, sons who argue that there and it is one should be no legislation to of the ma-The control these dangerous jor reasonsme dogs, I would like them to G u y a n e s egra pay a visit to the relatives are payingMa of victims to explain their e x o r b i t a ntpro position and to offer some prices tosid condolence. I am calling travel upous upon them to go pay them North. a visit and to offer them 623 The formerbey some compensation,” said aviation ofRamlogan. info ficial is convinced thatlice Section 19 of the Dog Un Guyana’s curren Control Act: ed t affairs is one of have been avo 19. (1) Where a class A and the continuanc dog injures a person, FAMILY PHOTO: 84-year-old Lillian Bunsee who “prosperous an without reasonable cause was mauled to death by a pitbull yesterday in her own oping” state-ow whether in a public place The home. rier being pres or on private premises, the oth prized for itsnox fu owner or keeper of the dog and importance is a no no. Aggression is not them away at the clinic yes- commits an offence and is han nese travelers. the type of training to do terday evening. He told the liable on summary convica b within that environment. Express the dogs were be- tion to a fine of $100,000 “They didn’tTrik High potency dog food and ing temporarily kept at the and to imprisonment for

WE ALSO OFFER! 1) EKG Technician 2) Phlebotomy Technician 3) State Board exam on Premises

aggression training in the home environment is creating a time bomb and it is just a matter of time before tragedy strikes,” he said.

animal hospital until the other owner makes a decision “on what he is going to do with them”.

Detectives from the Port of Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID) led by ASP Ajith Persad went to the scene and detained the man who owned the dog.

“It was not for any legal reason or anything. Relatives and so on would be going to the house to give their condolences and what have you, so we are just keeping the dogs for a little while,” he said.

Up to yesterday evening he was in custody at the CID office along St Vincent Street, Port of Spain. Officers said they would be consulting with Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC to determine what charges could be laid against the man.

The other owner was not arrested as he did not live on the premises where the

The other owner said residents no longer wanted the dogs in the area, so he may have to “put them to sleep”.

Contacted via phone yesterday, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said the Dog Control Bill was passed on the last day of the parliamentary session in order to prevent it from being “lapsed”.

With the passing of the bill,

five years.

(2) Where a class A dog kills a person or causes the death of a person, without reasonable cause, the owner or keeper of the dog commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for ten years.

89-44 162ND STREET JAMAICA NY 11432 SIDE OF APPLEBEE`S/VERIZON ON 162ND STREET CLASS A dogs are identified in the Bill as: 1. Pitbull Terrier or any dog bred from the Pitbull Terrier.

2. Fila Brasileiro or any dog bred from the Fila Brasileiro.

3. Japanese Tosa or any dog bred from the Japanese Tosa.

were making because theyMa d at derstand aviati told KaieteurinN were totallyara clu had they know ed mistake, they w never done He it, time they realiz TT already too late der in a recent inter Queenstownthe res oug Khan believes t Pat “pushed aside” of the GACwh fo ing his reservat said one political cub app According to in realized thatapp th forward-thinkin agement woul “Th the GAC and fore gave theant th dri some eight mon sulp consider their removing him.

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December 12-18, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

The Holiday Season.

A Time to dedicate more effort to understanding the Quran.

When society indulges in disobedience and dark deeds, a Muslim turns to his creator and gains closeness by performing acts of obedience. He seeks out guidance and direction to the straight path. Allah (S.W.T) has informed us that the highest form of guidance is found in the Quraan, for those who will be fearful of their lord.

H

ere are some of the many virtues of acquiring knowledge of the Quraan: Uthman (Radhiyallaho anha] narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: “The best amongst you is he who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.” In most of the books, this hadith is quoted with the word ‘and’ between ‘learns’ and ‘teaches’ as above. Thus the greatest reward would be for him who learns the Holy Qur’an and thereafter teaches it to others. But in some of the books this ‘hadith’s is narrated with the word ‘or’, in which case the meaning would be: “The best amongst you is he who learns the Qur’an or-teaches it.”

According to this version, the reward is general, i.e., equally great whether one learns himself or teaches to others.

Thus there would be equal virtue for both.

The Qur’an is the basis of the religion of Islam, and on the preservation and propagation of the Qur’an depends the very existence of this faith. Hence the virtue of learning and teaching the Qur’an is self-evident and does not need further elucidation.

There are, however, various degrees of excellence. The highest is to learn the Qur’an along with its meanings and purport, and the least is to learn its words only.

The hadith mentioned above is sup-

ported also by another saying of Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) as reported by Sa’eed ibn Saleem (Radhiyallaho anho): “If a person who has acquired knowledge of the Holy Qur’an considers another person who has been gifted with something else to be more fortunate than himself, he has shown disrespect to the blessings of Allah bestowed on him on account of his learning the Qur’an.” It is evident that since the Qur’an, being the Word of Allah, is superior to all other discourses as mentioned in some of the Ahadith quoted later, its reading and teaching must be superior to everything else.

Mulla Alt Qari quotes from another hadith that whoever acquires the knowledge of Holy Qur’an stores the knowledge of Prophet Hood in his forehead.

Sahl Tastari (Rahmatullah alaih) says that the proof of love for Allah is the existence of love for the Word of Allah in one’s heart. In ‘Sharhul Ihya, the list of people who will be given shelter in the shade of the Arsh (Throne of Allah) on the fearful Day of Judgment includes those persons who teach the Qur’an to the children of Muslims and also those who learn the Holy Qur’an in their childhood and are devoted to its recitation when grown up.

Abu Sa’eed (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe

wasallam) said: “Almighty Allah says; “If anybody finds no time for My remembrance and for begging favours of Me, because of his remaining busy with the Holy Qur’an, I shall give him more than what I give to all those who beg favors of Me. The superiority of the Word of Allah over all other words is like the superiority of Allah over the entire creation.”

In other words, compared to those who are begging favors of Allah, He will surely confer some better reward on a person who remains so occupied with committing the Qur’an to memory or learning and understanding it that he hardly gets time for du’a (prayer).

‘Aa’ishah (Radhiyallaho anha) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) once said, “One who is well versed in the Qur’an will be in the company of those angels who are scribes, noble and righteous; and one who falters in reading the Qur’an, and has to exert hard for learning, gets double the reward.”

“One who is well versed in the Qur’an” means one who is proficient in memorizing as well as in reciting it.

It is highly praiseworthy if one masters its meaning and significance as well. “To be with the angels” means that, like the angels who transferred the Qur’an from the, Lowhul Mahfooz’ (Protected Tablet in the Heavens), he also conveys it to others through its recitation and, therefore, both have the same occupation; or that he will join the company of such angels on the Day of Judgment. One who falters will get double reward—one for his reading and the other for his effort in reading the Qur’an, in spite of faltering again and again.

It does not mean that his reward will exceed that of a well-versed person. The reward that is mentioned for a well-versed person is far greater, so much so that he will be in the company of special angels. The explanation is that the labor involved in faltering and the difficulties in the reading of the Qur’an carry an independent reward.

As such, reading of the Qur’an should not be given up, even though faltering may be an excuse.

Mulla ‘Ali Qari has reproduced from the riwayat of Ta-brani and Baihaqi that one who cannot memorize the Qur’an well and yet persists in learning it by heart gets double reward. Similarly, one who cherishes a longing for memorizing it and does not possess the ability to do so, but does not give up his efforts, will be reckoned by Almighty Allah among the huffaaz (Plural of hafiz—one who has learnt the whole Qur’an by heart) on the Day of Resurrection.

With such great virtues there for the taking, what is keeping us from taking part in these rewards and blessing except our own weakness of faith compounded by laziness and love of material gain.

It is time we wake up and realize the true reason for our existence; to worship our creator and prepare for the life hereafter. It is time we start making the time for the word of Allah and stop waiting to find the suitable time. Let us put aside our comforts and desires and dedicate a portion of our day to reading and learning something of this great book.

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

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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Guyanese man held with cocaine in cream liqueur at JFK airport A

nother Guyanese drug courier has been intercepted at the JFK International Airport, in New York, after being found with almost 3 kilogrammes of cocaine in bottles of cream liqueur apparently sourced from a duty-free shop at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

Raphael Armstrong was held last Friday, shortly after he touched down aboard a Caribbean Airlines Flight

from Georgetown, Guyana. He is the second person within the last month to be found with drugs hidden in alcohol purportedly sourced from an airport duty-free shop.

US Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent James Mundy says in the criminal complaint filed against Armstrong that Customs and Border Protection officers ap-proached him for an inspection. Armstrong present-

ed a black suitcase and a “duty free” shopping bag for examination and acknowledged ownership of the items.

In the complaint, which was seen

by Stabroek News, Mundy says the officers examined the suitcase without issue and Armstrong appeared to be calm. However, when the agents began their inspection of the “duty-free” bag, the officers noticed that he immediately focused his atten-

tion on the bag, which contained two 26-ounce bottles purported to be rum cream liqueur.

According to Mundy, one of the officers noticed that the cap was not sealed on one of the bottles and after removing the cap it was noticed that there was a strong odor. As a result, Armstrong was escorted to a private room for a secondary search and the substance from inside both bottles field tested positive for cocaine. The total amount recovered from the bottles was 2.88 kilogrammes.

Armstrong has since been charged and remanded to prison.

In a similar case last month, another man, Wilton Sinclair, was intercepted at the JFK Airport with 8.206 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in four bottles of rum.

He was subsequently charged with possession of cocaine.

A security source recently told Stabroek News that Sinclair’s case suggested collusion be-tween the smuggler and staff at the airport, given the fact that the bottles of rum were packaged in duty-free bags.

DNA results confirm body is that of missing St Stanislaus teacher

T

he results of the DNA testing conducted by the Forensic Science Centre of Trinidad on the samples taken from the body that was recovered at Turkeyen, ECD, on July 24, 2014, have confirmed the body to be that of teacher Nyozi Goodman, of William Street, Kitty, the police said today.

Additionally, samples taken from the body that was found at Graham’s Hall, ECD, on September 22, 2014, have been forwarded to the Forensic Science Centre of Trinidad for DNA testing.

It is suspected that the body is that of businessman Mohamed Farose Khan.

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T

December 12-18, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Trio held over fatal Sterling Products raid

hree suspects have been held following the failed robbery at Sterling Products Limited (SPL) on Monday that left a security guard dead and another employee wounded, while company Chief Executive Officer Ramsay Ali says security has since been reviewed.

After fatally shooting security guard Wilfred Stewart, 45, and wounding Mario Gohill, 31, an Indian national working as a chemist, the invading bandits managed to make their way to the accounts department at the SPL Providence complex, where they were met with a locked safe.

The men subsequently fled in a waiting car.

Ali told Stabroek News that the bandits, who wore masks, did not succeed in robbing the company since the money was secured.

Noting his sadness at Stewart’s death, he disclosed that the company has since held meetings with the security team in an effort to tighten its security against similar occurrences in the future.

While Ali said that ranks at the Providence Police Station, which is just a short distance away from the company, arrived within minutes of the attack, Stabroek News learnt that they were tipped off after a worker managed to flee the complex.

A source told this newspaper that the employee, who worked in the accounts department, made a run for it after realising what was happening. The source said that the employee ran towards the southern side of the building and exited over a fence and alerted persons at the nearby Rubis Gas Station, who rushed him to the nearby police station.

That source added that one of the five bandits who carried out the attack had taken away Stewart’s weapon and shot him after he tried to prevent their efforts to proceed to the area where the money

Wilfred Stewart was kept.

Furthermore, the source said that the masked men stormed into the room where the money was kept and, after assaulting a female employee because the safe was locked, then aborted their plans and made good their escape in the awaiting car.

Meanwhile, Police Crime Chief Leslie James last evening confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Gohill, who was shot in the left leg, is now a patient at a city hospital.

Although witness accounts said the attack was carried out by as many as 10 men, police yesterday said that it was three men with guns who entered the SPL compound at 6:45pm on Monday evening.

“Dem men dem jus’ buss the gate and start shooting,” an eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous, had told Stabroek News after the attack on Monday. The

witness recounted that the men entered the front gate of the business and quickly dealt with Stewart. They then proceeded to the eastern building in the compound, reportedly in search of the accounts department.

When Stabroek News asked about the ability of the bandits to bypass the security gate, Ali said the attack caused the company to review its security.

He said that all day yesterday he was meeting with the security team and discussed ways of better securing the premises. Furthermore, he added that improvements will also be made to the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.

In relation to the response of police, he said that ranks from the Providence Police Station arrived in minutes and that he was satisfied with the police response.

Ali said that he would not jump to the conclusion that the attack could have been the result of an inside job. He qualified that opinion by stating that persons enter the premises daily to conduct business and someone could have been eyeing the daily movement of the operations.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO), in a press statement urged police investigators to, obtain satisfactory answers to the questions surrounding the facts and circumstances of the shooting, which they believe will help to ensure a similar act is not committed against another security officer.

The release stated that GAPSO will continue to provide all the necessary resources to ensure that security officers get the job done, while investing in training to prepare those on the front line for potentially deadly situation.

Furthermore, GAPSO expressed its sadness at the killing of Stewart, which it labelled “senseless and cowardly.”

Dead: Wilfred Stewart It added that its members’ thoughts and hearts are with Stewart’s wife, two children and his family and friends.

This newspaper was reliably informed that employees, including the assaulted female, all met with counsellors yesterday as they were still in a state of shock at the attack.

The dead man’s sister, Judy Stewart, described him as a very quiet and family-oriented person who was loved and known to the entire community. She said in spite of his quiet nature, he was jovial and would tease her whenever he visited, which was often.

She added that she last saw him on Monday December 8, just over an hour before the attack.

Stewart is survived by his heavily pregnant reputed wife, their two daughters, his parents and siblings.

Cash jet pilot granted extension for processing of bail submissions

C

hief Executive Officer of the Exec Jet Club Khamraj Lall, who was recently caught with US$620,000 stashed aboard his private jet at a Puerto Rican airport, on Monday secured a two-day extension for the processing of his bail documents.

Magistrate Judge Marcos Lopez granted the extension based on a motion on Monday by Lall’s lawyer, Rafael F. Castro Lang, one week after the Guyanese pilot was granted US$100,000 bail bond release. In his motion, Lang noted that as part of the conditions for bail Lall was given five business days with an “unsecured” bail, which would then become cash or “secured” bail.

Unsecured bail bond, according to USLegal.com, means a bond that holds a defendant liable for a breach of the bond’s conditions in which defendant signs a contract and agrees to appear before the court. If s/he fails to do so, s/he promises to pay later the agreed bail bond amount before the court. On

Kem Khamraj Lall the other hand, secured bail requires the defendant, or someone on her/his behalf, to come up with a secured item, such as a property deed, that is of equal value to the amount of bail. If the defendant doesn’t appear in court, the secured item is forfeited as payment.

Lang stated that all documentation had to be original in order for the clerk’s office to process the bail. He said it was sent via express mail to him but only reached the clerk’s office on Monday and the office was then in the

process of verifying all the information and coordinating where in New Jersey Lall’s mother would have to go and sign. As a result, the attorney asked for a two-day extension which was granted.

As part of the surety for his bail, Lall had to submit his pilot’s licences.

The conditions for his bail also include confinement to his New Jersey home, with the only travel allowed being to Puerto Rico for his court hearing.

While still being the CEO of his company, Lall can only operate in an administrative capacity and perform his duties from his residence.

At last week Monday’s hearing, Lall filed a waiver of preliminary hearing, which was approved, and probable cause as to the charges contained in the criminal complaint was found.

Lall appeared before Magistrate Judge Lopez, who also ordered that he not violate federal, state, or local law while on release; must cooperate

in the collection of a DNA sample if it is authorised; must advise the court or the pre-trial services office or supervising officer in writing before making any change of residence or telephone number; and must appear in court as required and if convicted must surrender as directed to serve a sentence that the court may impose.

Searches of Lall’s private aircraft during a refueling stop at the Luis Munoz International Airport, in San Juan, on November 22, uncovered US$150,000, wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket under the exit row seat and US$470,000 in a black suitcase inside a compartment next to the engines which contained several black garbage bags containing bundles of currency.

Lall, authorities said, accepted responsibility and ownership for the money and informed that his pilot and his father, who were with him during the refueling stop, had nothing to with the monies. Under US law, amounts over US$10,000 must be declared.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

Four men fined $7,500 each for driving under the influence THE Guyana Police Force yesterday said the following persons have been charged and found guilty by the courts for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Sheet Anchor Public Road, East Canje, Berbice. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on 2014-1201 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

1 Hafeez Persaud, 28, of Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyzer on 2014-11-27 while driving motorcar HC 4429 on the Sheet Anchor Public Road. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged

2.

Ruel Jagroo, 25, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, was stopped and tested with a breathalyzer on 2014-11-27 while driving motorcar PSS 7332 on the

GAWU, GuySuCo reach pact on production incentive

istrate’s Court on 2014-1204 where he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.

S

and appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court on 2014-12-01 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

3. Jaipersaud Lallbeharry, 34, of Adelphi, East Canje, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyzer on 2014-12-02 while driving motorcar HB 785 on the Cumberland Public Road, East Canje, Berbice. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the New Amsterdam Mag-

4. Kennard Basdeo, 20, of Anna Catherina, WCD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyzer on 2014-12-03 while driving motorcar PKK 1729 on the Leonora Public Road, WCD. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol.

He was charged and appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on 2014-1204 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.

ugar workers have been awarded 4.5 days’ pay for this year’s sugar production, a release from the main sugar union, GAWU said yesterday.

As of yesterday, annual sugar production stood at 208,949 tonnes. A twice-lowered target of 216,000 tonnes was set for this year. The Chief Labour Officer (CLO), Charles Ogle provided conciliatory services to the Union and the Corporation after the parties reached an impasse at the end of two sessions on November 26 and December 03, 2014.

GAWU said that the CLO’s intervention on December 05 and 08, 2014 assisted it and the Guyana Sugar Corpora-tion Inc (GuySuCo) to make concessions which paved the way for the resolution of the workers’ API dispute.

GAWU said that because of the deep financial crisis facing the industry, the workers would receive their incentive not later than February 27, 2015 rather than around the second week in January, 2015.

Meanwhile, GAWU said that the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Raj Singh assured the Union and workers that the Corporation would pay the 4 per cent in wages/salary retroactive payments from January 01, 2014 on December 19, 2014. The retroactive payment would be from January 01 to October 04, 2014 since the increased pay rates have been implemented from October 05, 2014

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December 12-18, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

19

THE LEGEND OF THE CANDY CANE There are several versions of the origin of the candy cane. One story tells of a candy maker in Indiana who wanted to make a candy that would be a Christian witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy – white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard substance to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God. The candy formed a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus. It could also represent the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. The candy maker stained it with red stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received – by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

O

ther stories indicate that the existence of candy sugar sticks with colored stripes has been documented as far back as 1844. Visual evidence of the J-shaped, white-with-a-red-stripe modern candy cane did not appear until the beginning of the 20th century. Christmas cards produced before 1900 show plain white canes, but striped canes only started to appear on Christmas cards at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1919 Bob McCormack began making candy canes for local use and sales in Albany, Georgia, and by the middle of the century his company had become one of the world’s leading candy cane producers. (http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/candycane.asp).

Let’s get the facts straight.

Whilst the origin and message of the candy cane seem uncertain, there are some things we can be sure of. The Bible records the certainty of the Birth of Jesus Christ, the One who was born to save sinners. The sure promise of God’s love in Jesus Christ is extended to everyone who will come humbly to Him. Someone (anonymous) wrote a beautiful poem expressing the comparison between Jesus and the candy cane. Take a look at this: Christmas Candy Cane Poem about Jesus Look at the Candy Cane What do you see?

Stripes that are red Like the blood shed for me White is for my Savior Who’s sinless and pure!

“J” is for Jesus My Lord, that’s for sure!

Turn it around And a staff you will see Jesus my shepherd Was born for Me! For sure, Jesus was born to save sinners.

The Gospel of Matthew 1:18-25 records: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.”

The birth of our Lord involved the full participation of Heaven. The prophets received messages from Heaven and declared many details of the coming Messiah. Isaiah spoke of His virgin birth; Micah spoke of the place where He should be born; several Old Testament books spoke of His lineage; and

the list goes on. Matthew records how the prophecies were fulfilled. Angelic activities surrounded the event of His arrival on earth as a baby. Angels visited Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds with their messages. Unfortunately, the people of earth did not show much interest so they made no preparation for the birth of the Savior. The scribes knew and informed Herod and the wise men, yet they made no effort to show interest in that wonderful and historical event. Are we like that sometimes? Are we indifferent to what God wants to do for us? He gave His only Son to pay for our sins and now He is inviting us to come to Him and ask His forgiveness for our sins. If we come, we can have eternal life in Jesus Christ.

For sure, every soul needs a Savior God sent His Son to redeem all of mankind. The soul of every person is of value enough that God would give up the life of His Son for our redemption. What would you give up for the redemption of your own soul? My friend, nothing will suffice, but God was willing to pay the redemption price for us. The purpose of Jesus coming to earth can be clearly seen in Romans 5:6-8 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It does not matter the ethnicity or social status of people; Jesus did for all of us what we could not do for ourselves. His death was sufficient to satisfy God’s judgment of our sins so now we can be forgiven if we humbly come to Him. For sure, Jesus is coming back again.

The Prophet Isaiah said in chapter 9:6-7

of his Book, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” At His first coming, He submitted to humiliation in order to suffer the penalty for the sins of the world. At His Second Coming, He will reign King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He will be the Ruler the world is looking for to bring peace and prosperity. He will not only restore the earth for the Millenial Kingdom, but His reign will last for all eternity.

Let us celebrate His Birth and dedicate our lives to Him. 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

Caribbean Star Newspaper Police record 11% drop in serious crime up to November

T

December 12-18, 2014

HE Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday reported that at the end of November 2014, they recorded an 11% drop in serious crimes when the period January 01 to November 30, 2014 is compared with the corresponding period in 2013.

Among the serious crimes are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

Police added that a total of 127 murders were recorded at the end of No-

vember 2014 in comparison to 133 murders for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 5%, police added.

At the end of November 2014, robbery under arms overall had increased by 6% in comparison to the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 10% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 2% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

INCREASE IN ROAD FATALITIES In relation to traffic, 130 road fatalities from 121 accidents have been re-

corded at the end of November 2014, in comparison to 100 fatalities from 92 accidents for the same period in 2013; a 32% increase in fatalities.

The other categories of accidents – serious, minor and damage – have seen reductions unto the end of November this year, in comparison to same period last year.

Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 57 such persons having lost their lives at the end of November 2014. In addition 24 motorcyclists, 18 pedal cyclists, 13 drivers, 17 persons travelling in motor vehicles

and one person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.

Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 75 of the 121 fatal accidents recorded at the end of November 2014.

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 61,853 cases being made against errant motorists up to the end of November 2014; of this total, 17,493 cases were for speeding.

Meanwhile, one person to date has lost his life due to a fatal accident during December 2014.

Road fatalities show a 32% spike, with speeding the main cause

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has recorded an alarming 32% increase in road fatalities from January 1 to November 30, but an overall drop in serious crime over the same period when compared to the corresponding period last year.

According to a press release, there have been 130 road fatalities from 121 accidents at the end of November, compared with 100 fatalities from 92 accidents over the same period in 2013. This reflects a 32% increase in fatalities.

Pedestrians have been the main road users affected, with 57 of them having lost their lives up to the end of November. In addition, 24 motorcyclists, 18 pedal cyclists, 13 drivers, 17 passengers in motor vehicles and one pillion rider on a bicycle were also killed.

Meanwhile, the other categories of accidents—serious, minor and damage—have seen reductions over the same period, compared to the corresponding period in 2013.

Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 75 of the 121 accidents recorded at November month end. Police traffic enforcement has resulted in 17,493 cases, from a total of 61,853, being made against errant motorists for speeding. Already this month one person has died in a fatal accident.

Statistics have also revealed an 11% drop in serious crime, for the said period, compared to the corresponding period in 2013.

A total of 127 murders were recorded at the end of November compared to 133 murders for the same period in 2013, reflecting a 5% decrease, police said.

At the end of November, there was an overall increase in armed robberies by 6% compared with the same period in 2013.

Statistics also indicate an increase by 10% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms and a 2% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators. Other serious crime policed are robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the persons, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping, the release said.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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December 12-18, 2014

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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December 12-18, 2014

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Understand the benefits of permanent life insurance.

Permanent life insurance can provide you and your family with longstanding benefits that ultimately provide a greater sense of protection and financial security. Here’s an overview of the ways that a permanent life insurance policy can be a valuable option for you and your family.

W

hile the primary purpose of life insurance is to protect loved ones in the event of your death, permanent life insurance offers other financial benefits that may be extremely helpful with everyday expenses. One of the larger financial perks of purchasing a permanent life insurance policy is the cash value accumulation component, which guarantees1 cash value accumulation on a tax-deferred basis. This cash 1 Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer.

retirement income as the life insurance needs decrease, or even ensuring the continuation of a personal business you’ve worked hard to build. Moreover, some permanent life insurance policies may be eligible for dividends3 which may be used to help pay premiums or purchase additional insurance.

accumulation is often referred to as a “living benefit” since it is a benefit you can enjoy during your lifetime. As long as your premiums are paid, the cash value that builds in your policy accumulates on a tax-deferred basis and can be borrowed against2 generally income tax-free. That money can be accessed via policy loans for virtually anything, such as funding a child’s college education, supplementing your

Stay safe and secure.

Unlike permanent life insurance, which is in place for your entire life, term life insurance generally provides a tax-free death benefit for a specific length of time. When the term expires, so does your protection. While you may be able to renew it, your health may have changed and the rates may be higher. While term insurance may initially offer more affordable premiums, permanent life

2 The cash value in a permanent life policy is accessed through policy loans, which accrue interest at the current rate and decrease the available death benefit and cash value.

3 Dividends are based on the policy’s applicable dividend scale, which is neither guaranteed nor an estimate of future results.

insurance provides a lifetime of protection and value. Your premium stays the same regardless of your age or health conditions, and the policy is more likely to be in force when your family needs it most.

Now is the time.

It’s always a good time to protect your family. But it’s even more important to make sure they’re protected when other assets can’t be counted on.

That’s why permanent life insurance is so valuable—its cash value is guaranteed to accumulate each year, regardless of the economic environment.

This educational, third-party article is provided as a courtesy

by Indra Puran, Agent New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Indra Puran at 646 266 5416.

Indra Puran, LUTCF, CLTC Agent

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26

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

QUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR SELLING $500,000 IN STOLEN VEHICLES AND AUTO PARTS - AS WELL AS WEAPONS AND DRUGS - OVER INTERNET

M

ore Than 20 Vehicles Allegedly Stolen And Sold, Including a Mercedes, Cadillac and Lexus; Six Other Defendants Variously Charged With Insurance Fraud And Selling Marijuana And Stolen Vehicle Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that a Queens County grand jury has indicted a Jamaica, Queens, man for selling stolen vehicles, as well as weapons and marijuana over the Internet. Six other individuals were also indicted for their alleged participation in the overall scheme. (See Addendum for details on defendants) District Attorney Brown said, “The main target of this investigation allegedly used the Craigslist website to initially sell stolen auto parts before his criminal activity brazenly escalated and he began to sell luxury automobiles and motorcycles that had been stolen, as well as weapons - including a 9mm Glock and a .357 Magnum - and approximately five pounds of marijuana. The defendant is also alleged to have been involved in scamming insurance companies in bogus stolen car claims with three of the other defendants.”

The District Attorney identified the main defendant as Conrad Hall, 43, of 159-08 132nd Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens. Hall is presently awaiting arraignment before Queens Supreme Court Justice Robert C. Kohm on seven indictments charging him with criminal possession of stolen property, insurance fraud, criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of marijuana, criminal sale of marijuana and other charges. Hall faces a maximum of more

than 200 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

District Attorney Brown said that, according to the charges, Hall advertised the sale of stolen auto parts on Craigslist and frequently set up meetings with buyers in his home dating back to October 2012. Thereafter, Hall is alleged to have progressed to selling whole vehicles many of which were stolen from Queens County and Long Island. In total, the stolen vehicles - such as a 2011 Mercedes, a 2011 Lexus, various Honda models and a 2014 Kia Sorrento - and the auto parts are valued at approximately $500,000.

Hall is additionally charged with selling two stolen motorcycles - a Ducati and a Suzuki - and, on several occasions, a total of approximately five pounds of marijuana valued at about $12,500. Hall is further charged with selling weapons - namely, a .22 caliber Jimenez, a 9mm Glock, a .357 Smith and Wesson and a 12-gauge shotgun.

The indictments additionally charge co-defendants Denise Mboumi, Shane Carter and Eboni Davis with working in collusion with Hall to have their cars allegedly “stolen” - respectively, a 2012 Acura TL, a 2010 Honda Civic and a 2009 Pontiac G6 - and then file claims with their insurance carrier for cash pay outs totaling approximately $60,000 between March 2014 and October 2014.

Further, the indictments charge co-defendant Jermaine Edwards with selling a stolen 2010 Honda CRV with Hall and two other co-defendants - Roger Haye and Carlton Young - working with Hall to sell marijuana. The apprehended co-defendants are also

presently awaiting arraignment before Queens Supreme Court Justice Robert C. Kohm. If convicted, Young faces up to 14 years in prison and Edward, Mboumi, Carter, Davis and Haye each face up to seven years in prison.

The investigation was conducted by the New York City Police Department - specifically, Detective John Donovan under the direct supervision of Sergeant Arthur Bryant and Lieutenant Christopher Gately, and under the overall supervision of Executive Officer Robert Lapollo and Commanding Officer Donald Boller in the Auto Crime Division and the Organized Crime Control Bureau Chief Thomas Purtell. Also assisting in the investigation was the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s Lou Pagnotta and Jim Mikowski, and State Farm Insurance, Progressive Insurance and All-State Insurance.

Assistant District Attorney Hana Kim is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Mary M. Lowenburg, Chief of the Queens District Attorney’s Auto Crime and Insurance Fraud Unit, and under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Mark Katz and Catherine Kane, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and Assistant District Attorney Gerard A. Brave, Bureau Chief of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, 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 an indictment is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ADDENDUM Conrad Hall, 43, of 159-08 132nd Avenue in Jamaica, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, insurance fraud, criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of marijuana, criminal sale of marijuana and other charges.

If convicted, Hall faces a maximum of more than 200 years in prison.

Jermaine Edwards, 19, of 132-44 156th Street in Queens is charged with thirdand fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. If convicted, Edwards faces up to seven years in prison.

Denise Mboumi, 31, of 409 Milfors Street in Brooklyn, is charged with third-degree insurance fraud and first-degree falsifying business records. If convicted, Mboumi faces up to seven years in prison.

Shane Carter, 30, of 134-50 234th Street in Queens is charged with third-degree insurance fraud and first- degree falsifying business records. If convicted, Carter faces up to seven years in prison.

Eboni Davis, 33, of 2815 Dewey Avenue in the Bronx, is charged with third-degree insurance fraud and first-degree falsifying business records.

Davis faces up to seven years in prison.

Davis is still being sought.

Roger Haye, 36, of 37 Carolyn Avenue in Valley Stream, Long Island, is charged with second- and third- degree criminal sale of marijuana. If convicted, Haye faces up to seven years in prison.

Carlton Young, 34, of 140-45 160th Street in Queens, is charged with second- and third-degree criminal sale of marijuana. If convicted, Young faces up to 14 years in prison. Young is still being sought.

‘Absurd and dangerous’

A

TTORNEY GENERAL Anand Ramlogan, responding yesterday in the Senate to allegations of racial profiling in the Immigration Department following the deportation last weekend of 11 Africans, defended law enforcement agencies and described such allegations as, “absurd and dangerous.”

On the deportation of 11 African nationals last Sunday, Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) head Khafra Kambon claimed the Immigration Division unfairly targetted Africans for deportation.

Kambon also called on Government to establish an Independent Review Committee to examine the details of illegal immigrants’ cases.

But speaking during debate yesterday in the Senate, Attorney General Ramlogan refuted these claims. He stated, according to Immigration records from 2010 to now, the highest number

of illegal immigrants deported are from Guyana at 41.8 percent or 734 persons.

The next highest number of deportees were from Jamaica at 18.5 percent, followed by other Caribbean countries at 11.4 percent, Asia at 10.2 percent, Central and South America at 6.5 percent and other CARICOM countries at 5.7 percent. Africa was seventh on the list at four percent or 70 deportees.

“We have a tendency in Trinidad and Tobago to call upon the law enforcement authorities to do their duty and enforce the law.

Yet having called upon them so to do, when they enforce the law and take action, the very same people come now and criticise and condemn the law enforcement officers,” Ramlogan said.

The Attorney General added that the “latest trend” is to claim racial or religious profiling whenever someone is arrested.

He said it was high time to stop

such “hypocritical behaviour” and allow the police and other law enforcement officials to do their jobs.

He referenced the many protests in the United States over that country’s grand jury decision not to indict a white police officer, Darren Wilson, for the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, on August 9 in Ferguson, Missouri.

The grand jury’s decision triggered major protests in Ferguson with persons setting fire to cars, breaking into and looting stores and hundreds engaging in street protests.

Ramlogan accused such persons making and/or perpetuating claims of racial profiling in local arrests and deportations of trying to light a social flame that may very well not be controlled on the heels of the events in Ferguson.

He added, the statistics showed that the claims of discrimination were “arrant nonsense.”

BEWARE RACIST CLAIMS: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, speaking in the Senate yesterday, hit persons making claims of racial profiling against local law enforcement agents in both arrests and deportations.

“The figures and statistics show that we must reject outright that kind of nonsense, and that kind of absurd allegation against the

Government of Trinidad and Tobago... It is mischievous, malicious and very dangerous in a society such as ours,” Ramlogan said.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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December 12-18, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

World News Highlights

LIMA - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made an impassioned plea on Thursday for all nations to work for an ambitious U.N. deal next year to fight climate change, saying time was running out to reverse a course “leading to tragedy”.

WASHINGTON - A CIA cable disclosed on Thursday showed that U.S. counter terrorism officials in 2003 discounted reports that a leader of the Sept. 11 attacks met an Iraqi intelligence official in Prague just before the attacks, further undermining a Bush administration argument for the invasion of Iraq.

VIENNA - Several states pledged on Thursday to back a U.N. nuclear agency request for

$

4.6 million euros ($5.7 million) as soon as possible to pay for its monitoring of an extended, interim nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

LONDON - Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said on Thursday he would support an inquiry into whether British spies were complicit in CIA torture of terrorism suspects, if other investigations failed to uncover the truth.

JOS, Nigeria - Two bombs exploded near a bus station in the central Nigerian city of Jos on Thursday evening, witnesses said, the second one killing at least 40 people.

UNITED NATIONS - Kenya defended its involvement with the International Criminal Court on Thursday as prosecutors seek to have the country held

accountable by the court’s member states for failing to cooperate on an investigation of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

AMSTERDAM/ABIDJAN Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday said Ivory Coast must hand over Simone Gbagbo, the wife of former president Laurent Gbagbo, to stand trial in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity.

WARSAW - Russia’s military is engaging in an unprecedented amount of activity around the Baltic Sea, Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon on Thursday said Italy and Turkey would provide initial heavy maintenance of Lockheed Martin Corp’s new F-35 fighter jet and its engine in Europe from

2018, paving the way for billions of dollars in work by companies there.

MONTREAL - The Canadian man who killed and dismembered a Chinese student in Montreal in 2012 was “a man on a mission” who had planned to commit such an act and film it six months in advance, the prosecutor in one of the grisliest trials in Canadian history said in his closing argument on Thursday.

TOKYO - As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promises voters a bright future for Japan’s economy, key parts of his conservative base want him to steer the nation back toward a traditional ethos mixing Shinto myth, patriotism and pride in an ancient imperial line.

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police arrested pro-democracy

activists and cleared most of the main protest site on Thursday, marking an end to more than two months of street demonstrations in the Chinese-controlled city, but many chanted: “We will be back”.

NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A French countess, who sold off her jewels, artwork and real estate to build an unusual village-based anti-poverty program, plans to release details of the initiative next year as an open source tool-kit for other NGOs. MADRID - The conservative-led Spanish parliament passed an anti-protest bill on Thursday against heavy opposition from politicians and activist groups, who say the law violates the right to protest, limits freedom of expression and gives more power to police.

SEVEN CHARGED WITH MARKETING FAKE DESIGNER GOODS

2.2 Million Worth of Counterfeit Designer Brand Handbags, Gloves, Wallets, Belts, Jackets, Shirts, Watches, Scarves, Sunglasses Seized; Designers Include Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Michael Kors, Prada, Ferragamo, YSL, Hermes, The North Face, Ralph Lauren and Burberry Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, j oined by New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton and James T. Hayes, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York, today announced that seven Queens residents - two married couples and three other individuals - have been charged with trademark counterfeiting and that more than $2.2 million worth of fake designer handbags, gloves wallets, watches and other items bearing the logos of various designers - including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and Prada - have been seized from various storage locations from which the defendants allegedly operated.

District Attorney Brown said, “Trademark counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. Small counterfeit operations like the ones discovered as a result of this investigation fuel an underground economy. They are cash business-

es that pay no taxes, damage the reputations of reputable brand owners and lower consumer confidence in the name brands by foisting inferior products into the marketplace.”

District Attorney Brown continued, “With the holiday season in full swing, consumers should bear in mind that such unauthorized products, which often come from overseas, steal jobs from American workers and revenue from legitimate American manufacturers and retailers that can result in actual job losses to their employees. In addition, such piracy deprives the City and State of much needed tax revenue. My office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement colleagues to close down these illegal operations and prosecute those involved.”

Commissioner Bratton said, “Trademark counterfeiting is a global economic problem that costs manufacturers millions of dollars which translates into the loss of jobs for many hardworking people. I want to thank all of the investigators and prosecutors involved in this significant seizure of counterfeit goods during the holiday shopping season.”

“Counterfeiters are eager to draw in holiday shoppers to profit from the sale of fake products.

Tuesday’s arrests and seizure of millions of dollars in counterfeit goods will keep unwitting customers from spending their hard earned money on knock-offs,” said James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York.

“Counterfeit merchandise costs jobs and hurts the economy. We urge consumers to protect themselves from these substandard and dangerous goods. Follow the old saying: If it is too good to be true - it probably is.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Naqing Zhang, 31, and his wife, Wei Wei Dong, 32, of 147-14 Willets Point in Whitestone; Chin C. Chu, 43, and his wife, Jian Y. Xia, 38, of 15016 33rd Avene in Flushing; Sai E. Chen, 39, of42-56 157th Street, also in Flushing; Wei A. Liao, 41, of 83-11 139th Street in Jamaica; and Pizhong Zhou, 22, of 246-07 61st Avenue in Douglaston. The defendants were arraigned on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, before Queens Criminal Court Judge Suzanne Melendez on charges of second-degree trademark counterfeiting. The defendants, who each face up to four years in prison if convicted, were released on their own recognizance and are scheduled to return to court on January 27, 2015.

The District Attorney said that

the investigation - dubbed “Operation Treasure Hunt” - leading to the charges and arrests began earlier this summer when the New York City Police Department’s Organized Crime Investigations Bureau began a joint investigation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Bureau into the illegal sale of counterfeit goods.

According to one complaint, defendants Nanqing Zhang and Wei Wei Dong, while working out of two separate storage locations - Treasure Island Storage located at 109-09 180th Street in Jamaica, and 18-02 131st Street in College Point - between July 14, 2014, and December 2, 2014, sold more than fifty counterfeit handbags bearing the Louis Vuitton logo to an undercover operative. In executing a court-authorized search warrant at the defendants’ Treasure Island bin earlier this week, 65 large boxes were allegedly seized which contained more than 5,300 counterfeit items, including handbags, gloves, wallets, hats and designer tags (to be placed on the counterfeit items) bearing the names of such designers as Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Prada, The North Face, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Hermes, UGG and Burberry.

Defendants Chin C. Chu and Jian Y. Xia are charged in a second complaint with selling more than fifty counterfeit Guicci and Chanel handbags to an undercover operative between August 14, 2014, and November 24, 2014, from a storage bin at Treasure Island Storage. In executing a court- authorized search warrant at the defendants’ Treasure Island bin earlier this week, more than 1,700 counterfeit items were seized, including handbags, pocket purses, wallets, watches, belts and scarves bearing the names of Michael Kors, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Guicci, Hermes and Burberry.

A third complaint alleges that Wei Da Liao, while working out of the Treasure Island Storage facility between November 5th and 26th, 2014, sold more than thirty counterfeit boots and jackets bearing the logos of The North Face, UGG and Michael Kors to an undercover operative. In executing a court-authorized search warrant at the defendant’s Treasure Island bin earlier this week, more than 2,150 counterfeit items were allegedly seized, including pants, hoodies, scarves, gloves, jackets, fleeces, belts, wallets, hats and jean bearing the names of Juicy, Michael Kors, Versace, The North Face, Louis Vuitton, Guicci, Fendi and True Religion.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

PUZZLE!

How to get good grades

Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9

4 5 9 1 3 8 6 7 2 7 3 6 4 2 5 9 8 1 2 1 8 6 9 7 5 4 3 9 8 5 3 6 2 7 1 4 3 4 1 7 5 9 8 2 6 6 7 2 8 4 1 3 5 9 8 6 3 2 7 4 1 9 5 5 2 7 9 1 6 4 3 8 1 9 4 5 8 3 2 6 7

3 7 2 9

S

take notes in school. Your notes should be written neatly and only be the most important things learned because they are good tools to use to study. The notes you take are useful for upcoming exams and will help you get good grades.

When you know a test or quiz is coming up, immediately write it in your homework book and start planning for study time. Making time to study prior to a quiz or exam will help with getting good grades.

For example if you know a quiz is coming up, study for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 min in the evening until the test or quiz. It’s very helpful to write the problems and the answers to them down because they will stick in your head. Also, make sure your notes are readable, in order to be able to understand them. It’s helps to have a study buddy so you can get prepared for the test. Remember when you’re studying, start with the one you’re bad at. Go over previous quizzes and tests. Review your mistakes and try to fix them and ensure you don’t make it again.

Completing homework, it’s a very important part in getting good grades as well as submitting homework on time. Take as much time you need to finish your homework but it should be handed in. Don’t leave it for the last minute because it will be stressful and may not be correct. Remember to do homework first before anything else, school always comes first. You can make doing homework fun by listening to music but try not to get distracted. Always do your homework because if you aren’t doing so well in school that could boost you grade. Homework can help you understand what you are learning in school and if you get questions wrong, the teacher can

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ita Ram, my name is Brianna Persaud.

I am 12 years old and I am a blessed member of the Naujavaan Mandalee Youth Group of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir.

Majority of children go to school every day and complain and complain that the work is so hard. Many of us don’t even try to stay awake or attempt to stay focus. Children should not think of school as torture or think we are being forced to learn. Attending school should be fun and we should always be ready to do our best by working hard and staying focus.

In my experience middle school is not easy; it’s a lot of work and very different from elementary school. I was worried about attending middle school initially but I was able to adjust quickly. Middle school is a big step up from elementary school. In middle school there are about six to eight different classes to attend with different teachers for each one. You don’t want to disappoint your parents with a bunch of horrible grades, no! You want to show them some good grades like A’s or B’s so here are some ways to get good grades.

Getting good grades is easy but students in middle school need to be organized. Keep your binders and folders with dividers organized by color and by class.

When you get homework, school work, or anything else, always put the date, subject, and teacher name so it will be easy to find things. Be sure to use your planner or agenda to write down each of your assignments, tests, quizzes, projects, essays, and field trip etc. By organizing your classes, homework assignments and all other assignments it will help you in getting good grades.

Another way to ensure good grades come your way is to make it your duty to

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help. Always share your answer with the class because maybe your answer is correct and everyone else has a different answer, or vice versa, sharing will only help.

Be confident in your answer regardless if it is wrong. If you share your answer and it is wrong, the teacher can help you. You can also be open with how you feel, others can probably relate. Being open and sharing your answers from the homework helps teachers to get to know you. It took me a while to realize that teachers don’t yell at you if you answer a question wrong or ask a question, they are there to help.

Remember to always participate in class by asking questions like I mentioned before.

If you don’t understand a math problem or something the teacher is teaching, ask a question. It is also important to answer questions asked but the teacher, as you might be graded on how much you participate. Also, if you don’t ask questions then you’ll never understand and when it comes time to taking a test you won’t be able to solve certain problems. Also don’t be afraid to ask the teacher to further explain him/ herself. (I’m still working on this part).

Also, it is important to behave properly in class. If you don’t behave properly there are numerous things that you are doing. By not behaving properly you are being a distraction to the class and they won’t be able to learn anything. The same goes for you.

Being distractive also may lessen your grade for disrupting class. When the state test and

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regents come and you can’t remember it will be your fault because you were not paying attention. If you behave properly then you and everyone will be able to learn and you’ll all ace your tests. In order to do this you should always be prepared. This shows that you are responsible and focused. It also shows them that you are willing and determine to learn, and learning is your priority in school. Teachers won’t have to worry about you doing the wrong things. To behave properly I like to stay in my seat and come to class on time and I also don’t play around in class. Always follow the instructions that your teacher gives you.

Another way to help get good grades is to participate in extra credit as well as ask for more work to help you practice things you don’t understand. If you keep practicing and doing more then it would become easy to remember the information. Also extra credit always helps to get better grades.

It is very important to get good grades in order to reach many heights and achieve goals in life. Although middle school is not college, it is a preparation for the road ahead. If you do good now, later your path will be easier. Having goals now at a young age can help you achieve you life goals.

Everyone one should make it their goal to have good grades. School is very important in life but also remember to be well rounded. Don’t forget to have fun as well as make friends who are worth having friendships with.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

I am not what happened to me, i am what i choose to become.Carl jung

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

A big workout or a major house-cleaning is in order on Monday. You’ll not only feel better about yourself and your surroundings, but you’ll be able to clear your head, too. Then, something’s urgent around Tuesday and Wednesday; could it be in the love department? Making the first move wouldn’t hurt. While you’ve certainly got your own concerns from Thursday through the weekend, making the world brighter for those around you (your boss, a relative, a friend, even a random stranger) ref lects a very lovely cosmic light back on you.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)

If you have time off on Monday, make the most of it; if you don’t, consider taking some. Your energy’s so good ... why waste it on work? Around Tuesday and Wednesday, you might leave that shell of yours so far behind that it’s a little outrageous. Kudos to you for putting yourself out there, but do also give a tiny bit of thought to what this might mean down the road. Those who think you’re hopelessly at the mercy of your emotions might be surprised by your objective standpoint and analytical abilities during the rest of the week. It’s a great time for a reality check.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

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)

Take someone out to lunch on Monday -- or have them over and make it for them. Keep it agenda-free and just talk; building bonds goes great now. You know you’re right around Tuesday and Wednesday, but getting adamant about it isn’t necessarily the way to sway people. Listen to their side (no, really!), and be ready to understand that there might be something to it. Common ground can be found. The rest of the week’s ripe for shaking things up, especially in your love life. Surprise someone, and surprise yourself, too.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(May 21-June 20)

On Monday, you’re not as social a creature as you usually are, and nesting at home might sound better than anything. Heed that natural instinct. You’re ready to make things happen again around Tuesday and Wednesday, when the process of going from a concept to reality is smoothed by the stars. Getting people to agree with you is favored now, too, so make plans while you can. From Thursday through most of Saturday, those connections aren’t as easy; you might even have to explain yourself a lot. The last of the weekend looks to be full of good feelings and the chance of romance!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Take it easy on Monday and give yourself time to think. Finding the source of your emotions is important now, whether they’re negative or positive. Then, around Tuesday and Wednesday, your inhibitions might just go out the window, and it just might be a marvelous thing.

Why not do what you feel, say what you mean and make the most of life? You’re hot now! This ought to be out of your system by Thursday, and the rest of the week looks low-key. You’re working things through, professionally or personally, or even both.

Good for you.

Getting organized for the week to come is a fine idea on Monday, but getting together with someone you care about would be even better. At least give a call and have a chat. Then, if you feel like you’re at a disadvantage around Tuesday and Wednesday, don’t freeze up or get outraged. How can you reshape your role in a positive way? Sort it out -- and get on it. Anything’s possible with the great energy you’ve got from Thursday through most of Saturday. Snap things into place with ease. If you can’t decide on Sunday, don’t push yourself.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Whatever big ambitions you have for Monday are likely to be foiled. Your mission: Make the best of it. Around Tuesday and Wednesday, taking action is much more favored, and others look to you to take the lead, whether in your professional or personal life. For best results, add an unusual element. Give it flair! Socializing’s favored from Thursday through the remainder of the week, as is sorting out an interpersonal issue. With your charm, diplomacy and ability to unearth the best in people, you may end up great friends with somebody you never thought of as a buddy.

Combining the emotional with the intellectual on Monday -- letting yourself go after thinking it through -- allows you to see a new angle. Around Tuesday and Wednesday, it’s tempting to let your reaction spill out, but a certain situation demands restraint. Life could be stressful now, so plan to handle it calmly instead of letting it get to you. Then, if you don’t have your agenda out in the open during the rest of the week, why would you expect that anyone else would? Consider leveling with someone important in your life. The results might surprise you.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

Wherever you are, you might wish you were someplace else on Monday. It’s just one of those days; breathe deeply and hold on. News is traveling about your ability to get things done, and around Tuesday and Wednesday, there’s a chance of getting overloaded. Know when to say no -- or to ask the requestor to take on something in return. Over the next few days, though, you’re pretty much unstoppable, and it’s an excellent time to turn that sharp mind (and that solid-gold heart) toward the future. What is it you want to do next? Sunday’s ideal for taking the first step.

Stick to the plan on Monday. Your emotions may seem very compelling, but it’s unlikely you’ll still feel this way in the long term. In fact, as soon as Tuesday and Wednesday hit, you’ll be able to separate out your reaction from reality, and from there it’s easy to make a discovery and even improve a relationship. And if you’re interested in relating to people (or maybe a certain someone) on a deeper level, the rest of the week offers opportunities galore. Skip the chitchat and get down to the real deal by asking serious questions and sharing powerful emotions.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

GEMINI

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Let your mood dictate your day on Monday as much as possible. You’re happiest and you get the most done when you have a flexible agenda. It looks like a distinct advantage may be coming your way around Tuesday and Wednesday -- a lucky break, a bonus or an upgrade. Knowing you, you’ll be generous, too, keeping the good vibes going. But beware: If you can’t be bothered with the details from Thursday through most of Saturday, the details will likely become a bother to you. Time with friends, new or old, is favored on Sunday. How about brunch?

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

Monday’s a fun day, so if you have some time off, make the most of it.

Making an overture of the romantic variety is favored now, too – lucky you! Keep your nose out of other people’s business around Tuesday and Wednesday, or at least keep your opinion of it to yourself. Further developments will have you glad you didn’t chime in. It’s your own affairs – maybe with a friend or partner – that are first and foremost during the remainder of the week. You’re usually so charitable, but right now you’re more critical, which can be very useful in making improvements.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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Entertainment News

Paris Hilton gets clicked with Saira Banu: Hope Yusuf Sahab Salman Khan, Mika is home for his birthday

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aris Hilton on Monday performed at a private party in Pune during her hush-hush visit to India.

The guest list included 'good friend' Salman Khan, with whom she posted the above picture, and singer Mika. Mika was so taken by Paris that he gave her the khanda that he was wearing at the party and Salman helped her wear it.

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Mel B to undergo surgery to correct blindness

ormer Spice girl Mel B is planning surgery after revealing she is completely blind in her left eye.

The 39-year-old singer has previously spoken about issues with her eyes after laser surgery went wrong 15 years ago, but she is now planning to go under the knife to get a cornea implant to finally sort out her sight after confirming she cannot see anything out of one eye.

"The lasering went wrong so this will be totally life-changing. I can't see at all out of my left eye," contactmusic.com quoted Mel B as saying.

As well as wanting to correct her vision, the mother-of-three, who has children, Phoenix, 15, from her former marriage to Jimmy Gulzar, Angel, seven, from her failed engagement to Eddie Murphy and three-year-old Madison with her husband Stephen Belafonte, wants to adopt a child with the businessman.

"We've been talking about it for two years. I'm 40 next year, I want to have one more baby," she said.

e hope Yusuf Sahab is home for his birthday but even if it takes longer, it's fine as his health is a priority," said Saira Banu. The thespian was admitted to a suburban hospital on Saturday evening after the X-rays detected bronchospasm, pneumonia patch.

The superstar's wife elaborated, "Antibiotics weren't helping much. He had to be on intravenous therapy and so had to be shifted to the hospital. He is a lot better now. He has recovered but a few doses still need to be administered."

The yesteryear actress added, "You know, this was my biggest fear. Everybody kept asking me about his 92nd birthday plans. I kept saying nazar mat lagao. I was a little scared. Maine Yusuf sahab ke liye sadka diya... donated money, distributed food to the poor. If he gets discharged by tomorrow (his birthday), I plan on having a quiet dinner in the house."

Tom Cruise's daughter becomes hairstylist

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ctor Tom Cruise's daughter has started working as a hairdresser here.

According to a source, Isabella - the adopted daughter of Cruise and his exwife Nicole Kidman - has completed a course at the Vidal Sassoon Academy and is now working at their salon here. The 21-year-old hairstylist decided to follow a different path to her famous parents by signing up the 30-week course, which costs 15,000 pounds.

Kate Hudson, Matthew Bellamy call-off their engagement

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Russell Brand risks Twitter ban

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omedian Russell Brand may face a Twitter suspension after publishing phone number of a journalist to his 8.7 million followers on the micro-blogging site.

Breaching Twitter's rules, the 39-year-

old posted a photograph of a Daily Mail journalist's business card on his Twitter page. In doing so, he risked breaching Twitter's guidelines, which state members cannot post personal information about others without permission.

ate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy have broken off their engagement after four years of being together.

The 36-year-old Muse frontman's rep told E! Online that though the pair, who had welcomed their son, Bingham Bellamy, in July 2011, has been apart for a while, they are still close friends and committed co-parents.

The split comes as a surprise as the couple had happily walked the LACMA Art + Film Gala red carpet together only last month, and the actress, 35, had even revealed her Thanksgiving family plans that included Bellamy.

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December 12-18, 2014

Malaika Arora Khan thinks that Arbaaz resembles Roger Federer

oger Federer's presence in India has once again sparked the topic of the tennis legend and Arbaaz Khan resembling one another. The actor-filmmaker's wife, Malaika Arora Khan says she too spotted the similarity. She adds, "Everybody says he does (resemble Roger) and I think so too."

Ask Arbaaz how Malaika teases him about the similarity and he says, "It was an inside joke. When Roger lost the Wimbledon final this year, I joked how I had lost a match." He adds, "I know that

people think I look like him. I don't know, probably when I was younger — during Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya days."

Pitbull invites Iglesias for New Year show

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inger Pitbull has invited tour mate Enrique Iglesias to join him in a New Year show.

The 33-year-old, who recently hosted the American Music Awards, will front a new year-end show titled "Pitbull's New Year's Revolution", reports contactmusic.com.

The show will be aired live from the Thompson Miami Beach hotel on Dec 31, and the line-up will include Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, The Band Perry, Fifth Harmony and Becky G.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Leonardo DiCaprio left club with 20 women?

eonardo DiCaprio, Toni Garrn bond over tennisLeonardo Dicaprio to join climate change marchLeonardo DiCaprio drops out of Steve Jobs' biopicLeonardo DiCaprio teams up with Netflix for documentary 'Virunga'Leonardo DiCaprio donates $2 mn for marine cause Actor Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly left a night club here with 20 women.

According to a source, the 40-year-old who was here for art show "Art Basel", spent Saturday night partying and during the early hours of Sunday he left a nightclub with 20 women. DiCaprio rolled into the club without his on and off girlfriend Toni Garrn and hung out with Brandon Davis and Joe Jonas.

"He left with 20 girls. Leo and 20 girls.

He is my hero," the source said.

"He was overflowing with models everywhere. The Jonas brother looked scared, like he was going to drown and suffocate in the women. His face was hilarious," added the source.

The Addams Family' child star Ken Weatherwax passed away

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he Addams Family' star, Ken Weatherwax, who played the role of child character Pugsley Addams, has passed away. He was 59. According to his half brother Joey D. Vieira, Weatherwax died of a heart attack at his Box Canyon, California, home over the weekend, and his

body was found on Sunday. Weatherwax, who played Pugsley, the son of Gomez and Morticia Addams, in the family of ghoulish television series, which aired on ABC from 1964 to 1966, had remained in show business as an adult and worked as a grip on the sets of several Hollywood productions.

Bill Cosby to be interviewed by LAPD soon over sexual assault claims

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APD, who is currently investigating Bill Cosby's sexual assault case, will contact the actor soon to further investigate the case, it has been revealed.

Law enforcement sources told that the detectives who will do the interview were elite. One of Playboy bunnies, Judy Huth has filed a police report saying that Cosby got her drunk in 1974 when she was only 15-years-old and then sexually assaulted her at the Playboy mansion.

LAPD is currently looking for documents and interviews from people at the Playboy Mansion to determine if the 77-year-old actor was even there when the alleged incident took place.

Akshay Kumar-Taapsee Pannu share a Punjabi bond

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kshay Kumar and Taapsee Pannu, who are working together for the first time in 'Baby', have quite a few things in common — both are Punjabis, disciplined and health-conscious.

Apparently, seeing her disciplined way of working, the superstar asked her if she came from an army background.

"For me, that's a compliment," says the actress, adding that he also insisted that she talk to him in Punjabi.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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Who do you think will suit the perfect Bond villain?

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laying James Bond in the superhit franchise is probably every actor's dream. Well, when you have mean weapons, sexy cars and hot girls to romance, who wouldn't want to be 007?

But there is an even more attractive part that only a few have had the privilege to play; that of Bond's nemesis. The attraction is such that even the great theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking recently expressed a desire to play a Bond villain.

Unfortunately for him, the makers have already cast Austrian actor Christoph Waltz as Ernst Blofeld in the upcoming Bond movie Spectre.

Be it Le Chiffre from Casino Royale or Auric Goldfinger from Goldfinger or Elektra King from The World Is Not Enough, every Bond villain has been menacing and maniacal. And coming to think of it, Hawking as the wheelchair-ridden and computer-voiced mastermind would've been as menacing using science to give the MI6 a tough time. Here are some others who would look and fit the roles of 007's arch rivals.

MIKE TYSON The distinctive facial tattoo and mean looks alone qualify this boxing legend for the role. Add his acting experience in cameos and you have a person who would surely do justice to the part.

SHANE WARNE The blonde former Australian cricketer has the looks to play a Bond baddie and his controversial life makes him a perfect candidate.

He can turn his ability to pick scalps (read: wickets) into something more lethal.

JIM CARREY He is probably not the best candidate on the list if you only consider his comic side, but looking at his work as the Riddler in Batman Forever, one might rethink and cast the versatile actor in a Bond film.

ANDREW FLINTOFF Doesn't he remind you of actor Mads Mikkelson?

Well, Mads played Le Chiffre in Casino Royale and the tall Freddie can repeat a similar performance is what we think.

KEVIN SPACEY Remember the manipulative Roger Kint of The Usual Suspects? Spacey would be a great choice to play a poker-faced cold-blooded murderer. His ability to slip into any character gives him an edge too.

NAOMI CAMPBELL She would be an ideal choice as a vamp if a Bond film named For Your Fashion Only was ever made. Plus, her temper and run-ins with the law would only add authenticity to her being cast as the film's villain.

DONATELLA VERSACE One look at her and you know she can play a ruthless and menacing vamp with ease. The 59 year-old's has shocked many with her recent photos and that certainly makes her a candidate to be considered for the role.

PETER DINKLAGE His nickname from Game of Thrones can be borrowed for the film. With a penchant for giving the audience a better villain with every movie, the makers would definitely not regret having cast Dinklage whose portrayal of the bad guy in X-Men: Days Of Future Past was noteworthy.

NEIL NITIN MUKESH Neil Nitin Mukesh has played characters with grey shades in the past and looks every bit a menacing villain should. He could too, very well, fit the bill as a Bond villian.

NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI The Fhai-

jal Khan of Gangs of Wasseypur 2 can very well reprise his role as the vulnerable yet gruesome don, albeit in a suave avatar.

The new Fhaijal might very well be interested in the plethora of guns at his disposal.

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH Not much needs to be said about this one. Versatility is Cumberbatch's forte and he will undoubtedly fit the role of a mad criminal mastermind, much opposite to his detective Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Benedict Cumberbatch mastermind in Sherlock.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

Caribbean Connections

Jamaican Star Alia Atkinson Wrote Her Name In History Saturday, Storming To Victory In The 100M Breaststroke

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OHA, Qatar, Friday December 7, 2014, CMC – Jamaican star Alia Atkinson wrote her name in history here Saturday, storming to victory in the 100m breaststroke in World record time at the World Short-course Championships, to become the first black woman to hold a global title.

The 25-year-old stunned defending champion and World record holder, Ruta Meilutyte, touching the wall first in a time of one minute, 2.36 seconds ahead of the fast-finishing Lithuanian.

Meilutyte was timed at 1:02.46, missing out on becoming the first woman to successfully defend the 100m breaststroke title.

Moniek Nijhuis of the Netherlands clocked 1:04.03 to take bronze.

Atkinson’s time also shattered the championship record of 1:02.43 set

by Meilutyte during Friday’s semi-finals.

“I couldn’t believe it! It came down to the same thing as the 50 and on the 50 I got out-touched so in my mind I went straight back to that,” said Atkinson, who celebrates her 26th birthday next Thursday.

“I just thought ‘oh okay’ and looked up at the board and it didn’t really click yet and then it really started to click. It took a while!”

Meilutyte looked the favourite to successfully defend her title when she took an early lead with Atkinson in strong pursuit, and was ahead at the half-way point.

However, Atkinson closed quickly off the final turn and just got up in time to beat Meilutyte, to create the upset.

Atkinson is a three-time Olympian and was good enough to finish fourth in the 100m breaststroke at London 2012 in a time of 1:06.93.

Crane Beach Is One Of The Most Beautiful Beaches On The Caribbean Island Of Barbados

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RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday December 4, 2014 – The Caribbean recently made a splash by securing two places on a list compiled by First To Know titled “10 most beautiful beaches that will make you want to retire early.”

While no judging methodology was outlined, each of the winning beaches met the website’s criteria “there’s only one way to describe these ten most beautiful beaches: paradise.”

“Whether you’re interested in finding a place to simply prop up your umbrella, feel the warmth of the sand between your toes, or embark on tropical adventure where you’re free to float around on the bluest waters with an ice-cold drink in your hand, these are the ultimate destinations by the shore,” said First To Know.

Scoring for the Caribbean in second and tenth place respectively were Crane Beach in Barbados and The Bahamas’ Taino Beach, both of which encapsulate the Caribbean dream of palm-fringed shorelines and crysJamaican star Alia Atkinson wrote her name in history Saturday, storming to victory in tal-clear sea.

The Crane is no stranger to accothe 100m breaststroke. lades, having been named “one of the ten best beaches in the world”

by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, among others.

Located on the island’s scenic East Coast, about five minwww.eliteradionyc.com • Playin The Best In Caribbean Music 24/7 • Download the app from any App Store search: eliteradionyc utes east of

Grantley Adams International Airport, Crane Beach is renowned for its picturesque location on the windswept Atlantic and magnificent expanse of powdery pink sand.

Crane Beach is home to what is believed to be the Caribbean’s first resort hotel, which was first opened in 1887. Now fully restored and expanded, the property combines old-world charm and natural beauty with the ultimate in contemporary luxury.

The Bahamas’ Taino Beach, which capped the list in tenth place, is situated on Freeport’s south-eastern coast, outside the main hub of Grand Bahama Island and town of Freeport.

Its quiet location belies its proximity to Grand Bahama Airport just 15 minutes away, while the nearby Bell Channel Bay boasts a small marina that operates a ferry service to Port Lucaya.

Taino Beach is noted for safe swimming and good watersports in an uncrowded setting, with its signature resort the sole occupant of a generous expanse of soft white sand beach. A wide range of watersports equipment is available to guests.

First To Know’s 10 most beautiful beaches 1. Calabria, Italy 2. Crane Beach, Barbados 3. Hanalei Bay Beach, Kauai, Hawaii 4. Hidden Beach, Marieta Islands, Mexico 5. Maldives 6. Menorca Beach, Spain 7. Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Ionian Islands 8. Phi Phi Island, Thailand 9. Seychelles 10. Taino Beach, Bahamas

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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Haitian woman claims she had baby on detention center’s floor

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Haitian woman who admitted she snuck into the country illegally on a Haitian sloop last December gave birth on the floor of the Carmichael Road Detention Centre two weeks ago and was later released back into society, The Nassau Guardian can confirm.

Maryle Claude, 19, said after she had her baby she was transferred to Princess Margret Hospital.

She claimed immigration officers then released her and threatened that either she sort out papers for her and her baby or they would deport her.

Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas Antonio Rodrigue confirmed that the Haitian embassy is aware of the matter.

Rodrigue said an embassy official visited the woman in hospital.

Immigration and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said yesterday he was made aware of an “emergency like that”, though he did not go into specifics.

Claude said she was picked up by immigration officers early one morning, but could not remember the date.

She recalled that she gave birth at the detention center on November 16.

“On Sunday evening, I was feeling pain and at about 6 p.m. I pushed out the baby’s head,” she said through a translator yesterday.

“Before that, two women from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force came over and saw me in pain and told me that nothing was wrong and that I was just complaining and that I just wanted to get out of the situation I was in.

“At 6 p.m. I ended up having the baby, but they still didn’t carry me to the hospital.

The other girls who were in the room with me started to make noise and carry on bad and at 8 p.m. they took me to the hospital.”

Claude said the other detainees helped deliver the baby. She said that she was so weak she passed out during the ordeal and had to be revived.

The Haitian mother delivered a healthy baby boy, whom she named Alexander.

“I would have rather been deported,” she said.

“I would have been home with my family and had my baby. To know that I had a baby in a prison on the floor, knowing that I could have died and even my baby could have died is terrible.”

When asked about her release, Mitchell said he could not say what the administrators did, but admitted that “there is no facility to deal with people like that”.

He added, “You do not want to send a message out where you have a baby and are paroled out into the public. That is not how it works.”

Claude claimed that there were two other women at the detention center who were pregnant.

When called for comment yesterday, Immigration Director William Pratt said he was out of office for a while, but was made aware of a woman who went into labor at the detention center. He stressed though that he had no information regarding Claude.

Pratt said if she was at the facility, she would have been the responsibility of the Department of Immigration.

“If she went into labor, the first thing our officers would do is call an ambulance,” he said.

“It is not that [anyone] meant for her to have [a] baby on the floor.”

He added, “Having a baby does not give anyone a passport to stay in The Bahamas.”

Pratt said if the woman is in the country illegally, she would be picked up and deported.

Maryle Claude, an illegal immigrant, comforts her son Alex ander two weeks after giving birth to him at the Carmichael Road Detention Center

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

Jamaica’s PM under fire for multi-million housing trust spend

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INGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday December 10, 2014 — Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is facing increasing pressure from the Parliamentary Opposition and local interest groups to dismiss the board of the state-owned housing agency, the National Housing Trust (NHT), following its decision to purchase a cash-strapped tourist attraction called the Outameni Experience.

The debacle began in late October when news broke that the NHT had acquired the nine-acre property for J$180 million (US$1.6 million) nearly two years earlier. The Opposition had raised concern that the agency, which is mandated to provide low income housing to the Jamaican populace, had no business purchasing the failing tourist attraction, and described the transaction as a ‘bailout’ extended to the former owner, businessman Lennie Little-White.

Five weeks after the debacle began, the Prime Minister and members of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) reveled in the victory of a by-election in one of its stronghold constituencies in the west, at about the same time that a small group of protesters staged a peaceful protest near the headquarters of the NHT and called on the government to act in the interest

of transparency and accountability.

The attraction is located near Falmouth in the western end of the island, on the outskirts of the tourist mecca of Montego Bay. The NHT was established by the government in 1976 and legally requires all working Jamaicans over the age of 18 to pay statutory deductions of 2.5-3% of their income. These statutory payments entitle the payee to borrow funds from the entity to purchase or build homes.

However, the NHT’s decision to purchase Outameni and subsequent efforts by the government to justify the transaction has drawn the ire of opposition members.

Public outrage has been further fueled as more news emerged that a large percentage of NHT contributors fail to qualify for any type of mortgage, despite years of payments to the agency.

Mrs. Simpson-Miller, whose office has oversight over the NHT said she was not made aware of the multi-million purchase until it was revealed in the news in October. She further told Parliament that the NHT board made a decision to invest in the land and “explore ways of using the property for social and physical infrastructure to enhance the quality of life and for the enjoyment of NHT contributors, Jamaicans and visitors.”

Police at the scene where the girl’s body was found. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Body of female found buried in New Haven

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INGSTON, Jamaica — The body of a female was found in a shallow grave in New Haven, Kingston 20, Wednesday afternoon.

Police say that they were called to

the area about 12:30 pm after residents stumbled on the remains and raised an alarm.

More information later.

Kimmo Matthews

VP in legal battle

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LIVE Chin - son of late VP Records owner Vincent Chin -- has filed a lawsuit against his step-mother, Patricia, over the ownership of songs he wrote.

According to an article posted on the New York Post website, Chin, 60, filed the federal lawsuit in Brooklyn, New York.

Chin is contenting that his late father's Queens-based VP Music Group has been licensing more than 1,100 songs, written by him and recorded by artistes, without permission.

He is seeking US$3 million from his stepmother and three music companies he claims knowingly tried to scam him.

Patricia claims the copyrights to the music were part of the "marital estate" left by her husband.

Clive Chin has worked with major players in the reggae/dancehall industry including the Wailers, Dennis Brown, Black Uhuru and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

His first major commercial success was Java, an international hit by Augustus Pab-

lo. He also produced Pablo's debut album, This is Augustos Pablo.

He had further local hits with Dennis Brown's Cheater, and Junior Byles' King of Babylon. Other hits include Carl Malcolm's Miss Wire Waist and Fattie Bum Bum, which, with the help of Jonathan King, became a UK chart hit in 1975, reaching number 8.

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.

It is the readers responsibility to make intuitive decisions that are right for themselves.

December 12-18, 2014 Caribbean Star Newspaper Jamaica begins US immigration law recognises enquiry into bloody only legal adoptions

Tivoli military incursion

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INGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday December 9, 2014 — A Commission of Enquiry has begun to look into the circumstances that led to the deaths of 70 people during a joint police-military operation in Kingston, Jamaica in May 2010.

The enquiry, which began on December 1, will hear from over 500 witnesses over a three-month period. The commission chairman and former Barbados Attorney-General, Sir David Simmons, and two other justices will determine, among other things, whether security forces used excessive measures during an incursion into the West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens – a depressed inner-city slum which was the stronghold of convicted gangster Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

The killings occurred over a four-day period in May 2010 after the government led by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding declared a State of Emergency to allow the police and the military to execute a warrant for Coke’s arrest. Coke was subsequently extradited to the United States, where he is currently serving a 23-year sentence.

During the first week of testimony at the enquiry, eight residents of West Kingston gave various accounts of being beaten and shot at by soldiers or police officers. Several witnesses described being denied the opportunity to seek medical care for their injuries and alleged that the security forces damaged valuable property as they sought to learn Coke’s whereabouts.

The commission has already seen fiery exchanges, most notably between Convenor of the Tivoli Committee, Lloyd D’Aguilar, and Sir David. Mr. D’Aguilar was evicted from the Jamaica Conference Centre on the second day of the enquiry and barred for the duration of the proceedings after he engaged in a verbal tirade with the commission chairman, calling him a ‘political hack’ and ‘an enemy of the people of Tivoli Gardens”.

In the meantime, after several testy interactions between witnesses and lawyers representing the police and the military, the Office of the Public Defender, which represents most of the civilian witnesses, says it will consider debriefing the witnesses after giving testimony.

Included in the Terms of Reference for the commissioners is to examine the conduct of operations by the security forces in Tivoli Gardens and look into allegations that persons were especially armed to repel any law enforcement effort to capture the fugitive Christopher “Dudus” Coke.

The enquiry is also seeking to determine what arrangements were made, and what precautions were taken, to protect citizens in Tivoli Gardens and other affected areas from unnecessary injury or property damage during the State of Emergency.

AMG will continue to monitor developments as the hearings continue.

Ask the US Embassy Q: My relative in the United States is filing for an immigrant visa for me and I would like to bring my adopted child with me. How should I do this?

A: Congratulations on your expanded family! For immigration purposes, it's important to note a distinction between a child that is informally adopted -- say, a niece or nephew that you're taking care of while their parent is away -- and a child that is formally and legally adopted by you according to Jamaican law. A legally adopted child may benefit from US immigration law but an informal adoption does not count.

The law allows legally adopted children to be added to your immigrant petition, provided that your visa category supports additional derivatives (relatives), if the children meet the law's definition of 'child'. In order to be defined as 'children', they must be: * Legally adopted while under the age of 16 (or under the age of 18 if adopted with another sibling under the age of 16); and * In the legal custody of, and have resided with, the adoptive parent for at least two years. If an adoptive parent was awarded legal custody of the child before the adoption was final, this period of legal custody will be taken into account. If legal custody did not exist prior to adoption, the date the adoption decree was issued will be the date custody starts for immigration purposes.

US immigration law recognises only legal adoptions At your visa interview, bring proof that your adopted child meets these requirements. The Adopted Child Register is the primary proof of legal adoption; if using legal custody to meet the two-year requirement, also bring the legal custody decree. For evidence of residence with you, be prepared to show that you've lived together as parent and child for at least two years -- for example, school or medical records, mail to both of you at the same address, evidence of financial support, affidavits from neighbours, etc. If you can bring sufficient evidence at the first interview, it will help the visa pro-

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cess move quickly and smoothly.

If you have questions about the process, feel free to e-mail our Immigrant Visa unit at kingstoniv@state.gov. We can advise on document questions or if derivatives can be included in your petition prior to the interview. The officer will then let you know at the interview if further evidence is needed.

It's also important to note that if your legally adopted child has living biological parents, the biological parents do not have any future rights, privileges or status regarding US immigration -- so an adopted child cannot file for a biological parent later on in their lives.

You can find more information about how to travel to the US on our website, www.kingston.usembassy.gov. Keep on top of Embassy news on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ pages/US-Embassy-Jamaica and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter.

We also answer general visa questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The embassy staff in Kingston will answer questions you may have regarding the US Mission, including consular law, regulations and/or practice.

In order to respect privacy, staff will not answer questions about specific visa applications. The embassy employs a visa appointment system, so it is only necessary for visa applicants to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Send your questions to: editorial@jamaicaobserver. com and we will forward them to the embassy.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

CRICKET & Sports

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A-Rod not at spring training weight

AN DIEGO (ESPN) -- Alex Rodriguez isn’t yet at the weight the New York Yankees want him to be at when he reports to spring training in two months.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Matthew Krause, the team’s strength and conditioning coordinator, visited A-Rod on Wednesday in Miami.

“Like all our players, you have a report weight we’re hopeful that they hit,” Cashman said. “He’s approaching that. He’s not at that spring training weight that we desire just yet. But there was progress, and he continues to tweak -- Matt continues to tweak his conditioning program.”

Rodriguez is coming off a season-long suspension for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract. The third baseman turns 40 in July.

“Alex texted me yesterday,” Cashman said. “I said, ‘All things good with you,’ and he said, ‘Yup.’”

Krause was hired by the Yankees a year ago, and Cashman said he’s starting to build a relationship with the three-time American League MVP. “He assessed him maybe a month ago, maybe a little bit longer, and he assessed him now,” Cashman said. “He’s working hard. Obviously, he’s continuing to get ready for spring training.

He’s moving in the right direction.”

He called the acquisition of Didi Gregorius from Arizona “better for us in the long term regardless.”

“We have an under-control shortstop,” he said. “It probably worked out for everybody.”

Mets to ink John Mayberry Jr.

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AN DIEGO (ESPN) -- The Mets have addressed one of their needs, signing John Mayberry Jr. to a oneyear deal to serve as a righty bat for the bench. He will earn $1.45 million, with the chance for performance bonuses.

Mayberry, who turns 31 later this month, may start in the outfield against left-handed pitching, allowing Terry Collins to use Michael Cuddyer at first base over Lucas Duda if the manager chooses.

Mayberry was non-tendered by the Toronto Blue Jays on Dec. 2.

He hit a combined .212 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 146 at-bats this past season with Toronto and the Philadelphia Phillies. That included hitting .243 with five homers in 70 at-bats against southpaws.

The deal, still unannounced, is pending a physical. The terms were agreed to late Wednesday night.

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AN DIEGO (ESPN) -- Scott Boras describes Max Scherzer as a guy who “fits” into a classic Yankees championship rotation.

Boras doesn’t yet know if the Yankees will be all-in on Scherzer -- he called it an ownership-level decision -but he thinks Scherzer fits into what he theorized as the Yankees’ formula for winning titles: three top starters combining for 50 wins and 600 innings.

Max Scherzer “That model of having 50 wins and 600 innings has worked very well for them,” said Boras, who was surrounded by a mob of reporters during his annual State of the Boras Address. “You can go back to when [Roger] Clemens was the No. 1 or [Mike] Mussina was the No. 1 and [Andy] Pettitte. They have won a lot of World Championships with

that formula.

“The idea of them having No. 1 pitchers certainly would add protection where their current pitchers are -- take innings off of them, give them a little bit of an umbrella to lead and be the No. 1. I can’t predict what the Yankees are going to do, but I can tell you a guy like Max fits into their starting rotation to develop a World Series-caliber set that is similar to what they have had in the past when they have won.”

Scherzer is looking to top Jon Lester’s six-year, $155M contract, which Boras called a “great deal” for the Cubs. Reports say Boras is looking for $200 million or more for Scherzer. The Yankees have acted as if they want no part of such a contract, but officials from other clubs think they might be bluffing.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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Kohli centuries in India’s strong reply to Australia Kohli celebrates his century in Adelaide

India 5 for 369 (Kohli 115, Pujara 73, Rahane 62, Vijay 53) trail Australia 7 for 517 dec by 148 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

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n Test captaincy debut, on the ground where he had scored his maiden Test century, Virat Kohli made his seventh hundred to lead India’s reply to Australia’s 7 for 517 declared. India would have been in a better position had M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane pushed on after reaching half-centuries on the easypaced Adelaide pitch.

They would have still been in a reasonably solid position had Kohli not taken on a Mitchell Johnsonshort ball and topedged a pull to long leg with four overs left in the day. Kohli departed for 115, leaving 119 as his highest Test score, with a corresponding ODI mark of 183.

Barring the opening stand of 30, the

next four partnerships were all 70-plus, Kohli the common factor in three of them. Kohli came into Adelaide having tallied 134 runs in ten Test innings in England. He ducked into a Johnson bouncer first ball, hit flush on the front of the helmet. There was concern among the Australians, most particularly Johnson, visibly strained about the blow with Phillip Hughes’ death on his mind. Kohli steadied himself and won every crucial moment against Australia’s premier fast bowler from thereon, till his downfall.

Three balls after the hit, he strode forward to drive Johnson down the ground for three. First ball from Johnson after lunch, he leaned on the front foot to drive through extra cover for four. First delivery from Johnson with the second new ball. Same result. Three balls later, he punched off the back foot. Same result.

Johnson went for 90 in 16 overs leading up to Kohli’s depature.

Ponting to coach Mumbai Indians in IPL 2015

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Ricky Ponting pulls had served Mumbai Indians in an advisory role during IPL 2014 © BCCI

ormer Australia captain Ricky Ponting will take over as head coach of Mumbai Indians from the upcoming IPL season. Ponting will replace former India and New Zealand coach John Wright, who has been given a new role of talent scouting in addition to creating a youth development organization to be run by the franchise.

Ponting, who retired from international cricket in 2012, was bought by Mumbai in 2013 for a base price of $400,000. He was appointed the captain immediately but decided to step down mid-way into the campaign owing to a poor run of form: 52 runs from six matches. Despite a weak first phase, Mumbai bounced back to win their maiden IPL title that year under Ponting’s successor - Rohit Sharma.

However, Mumbai retained Ponting in an advisory rolein IPL 2014 when he traveled with the team for a few matches. Mumbai finished fourth last season.

In a press release, the franchise also said that former India captain Anil Kumble has been “elevated to the Owners Group and shall oversee the implementation of the Vision for Reliance Sports that currently has interests across multiple sports including Football, Basketball and Cricket.”

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December 12-18, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Rampaul not among World Cup probables

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ast bowler Ravi Rampaul has been left out of West Indies’ 30-man provisional squad for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Rampaul played two ODIs during the 2014-15 tour of India in October before the series was cancelled because of a dispute between the West Indies players, the WICB and WIPA. The squad also included six uncapped players: left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters, legspinner Imran Khan, offspinner Ashley Nurse, 19-year-old fast bowler Marquino Mindley, left-hand opener Evin Lewis and allrounder Jonathan Carter.

Squad: Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Imran Khan, Leon Johnson, Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Marquino Mindley, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kenroy Peters, Versammy Permaul, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

Former USA captain Nadkarni retires

Sushil Nadkarni’s match-winning knock against Nepal at 2010 ICC WCL Division Five in Kathmandu was one of many successes he enjoyed for his adopted country © International Cricket Council

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ushil Nadkarni, one of the most prolific batsmen in the history of US cricket, has announced his retirement aged 38. The former national team captain informed the USA Cricket Association by email on

Tuesday of his decision and later said he made up his mind after USA did not progress beyond ICC WCL Division Three in Malaysia in October.

“The T20 World Cup Qualifiers are coming up next year but

I feel like that’ll be the time for youngsters to get an opportunity to step up,” Nadkarni told ESPNcricinfo. “Division Four is two years from now. Just looking forward, I think it’s time to step aside. I have to thank all the

coaches I played under, all my teammates who supported me, other support staff and my family. Having started competitive cricket at 16, it’s been 22 years of active cricket so it’s been an emotional decision but I definite-

ly want to thank my wife, my kids and my mom specifically who have supported me through my cricket career.”

Born in Pune and developed through that Maharashtra system, Nadkarni at one time opened the batting for India U-19 against an Australia U-19 side featuring Brett Lee and had a brief first-class Ranji career before opting to migrate to Texas in 1999 aged 23 during the dot com boom to pursue a career in consulting. Two years passed before he even realized that cricket was played in the USA at which point he resumed his career at the amateur level before he eventually got a call up in 2006 to play for his adopted country. He scored a century on debut in a win over Cayman Islands during a tour of Canada.

It was an auspicious start for Nadkarni in a record-setting career. In 2008, he made the highest score in any format for USA by racking up 197 against Suriname in Florida. In 2010, he scored USA’s fastest ton in 50-over cricket against Cayman Islands in Bermuda by getting to triple figures in 54 balls. He also set a number of records in domestic and league cricket, including a USACA National Tournament record 223 off 102 balls for the Central West Region in 2008. But Nadkarni says the achievement he’s most proud of was a half-century in a famous win over Nepal in Kathmandu at WCL Division Five in 2010.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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Will Brandon McCarthy’s exit lead to Max Scherzer’s entrance?

SAN DIEGO (ESPN) -- The Yankees liked Brandon McCarthy, but not enough to propose a four-year marriage to the tall right-hander. Instead, the Los Angeles Dodgers made McCarthy an even richer man as part of their reconstruction project.

The Yankees were not going to go four years because of concerns about McCarthy’s injury history and the fact he has pitched 200 innings just once in his career. Brian Cashman is preaching patience and insists the Yankees should not and will not do anything they are not comfortable doing. Basically, the current organizational philosophy is discipline over big splashes.

Now it is time to see if it stays that way.

All offseason, the Yankees have privately said they will not be going after any of the big three starters (Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields). Despite rumors to the contrary, they were true to their word on Lester. But as each starter falls off the board, the bread crumbs lead to the Yankees maybe making a late run at Scherzer if they want to be true

of Tommy John surgery. Michael Pineda has had many incidents since joining the Yankees and has never reached 200 innings.

Cashman is in contact with Hiroki Kuroda, so he is a candidate to give it another go, while the rest of the names on the ledger are David Phelps, Adam Warren, Bryan Mitchell, Manny Banuelos and maybe, eventually, top prospect Luis Severino. There are not a lot of guarantees.

The Yankees should soon hear if Chase Headley is going to return. If not, they are acting as if they prepared to go with Martin Prado at third and rookies Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela at second. The suddenly fragile Mark Teixeira will be at first.

The importance of last year’s USA Agent Scott Boras believes the Bombers are ideal for Max Scherzer. With Brandon McCarthy off to big-money signings (Jacoby Ellthe Dodgers, it might be time to get him. sbury, Brian McCann, Carlos playoff and World Series conMaybe they will buy into Scott present makeup of their staff. Beltran and Brett Gardner) only tenders in 2015.

Boras’ view that Scherzer’s To review: Masahiro Tanaka is grow.

Scherzer offers the innings “pitching odometer” makes him dealing with a small tear in his Boras is looking for $200 miland the dominant stuff to com- younger than his birthdate of right elbow and did not look lion or so for Scherzer. It is such bine with a strong bullpen that July 27, 1984, suggests. the same at the end of the year, a large deal that even Boras could vault the Yankees back The Yankees have concerns following his rehab. CC Sabath- termed it an “ownership-level” into October. All the Yankees about their starting rotation. ia had knee surgery and hasn’t decision. So it is up to Hal Steinneed to do is change their new- Even Joe Girardi stated that been a very good No. 5 starter, brenner how much of his money found policy of not giving long- during his media session here let alone an ace, in two sea- he wants to spend. It is a boatterm deals to 30-something this week. There is a major lack sons. Ivan Nova will not return load, but it might be what the pitchers. of certainty and depth in the until late May or June because Yankees have to do.

Root century leads England to fine victory England 240 for 5 (Root 104*, Taylor 68) beat Sri Lanka 239 (Sangakkara 91, Woakes 6-47) by five wickets oe Root’s third ODI century of the year helped England to a five-wicket victory in Pallekele and maintained their hopes of winning the series against Sri Lanka.

Root came to the crease after the loss of two early wickets and with his side facing a familiar nemesis: a trial by spin on a dry pitch.

But he exuded calm and skill, provided deft touches and powerful blows, and ran like a whippet between the wickets. In partnership with the equally impressive James Taylor, he made light of a testing total and took England to victory with five balls to spare. It was the highest successful run-chase in an ODI on the ground.

Sri Lanka still lead 3-2 with two games to play but England will take great confidence from this side as they look towards the World Cup. Not only did they keep their nerve in spin-friendly conditions in which they have little pedigree, but the chase was built upon the performances of young players with many years in front of them.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

Alexander: Amir Khan’s style is ‘nothing special’

evon Alexander insists that Amir Khan’s boxing style suits him perfectly as he sets out to prove the Bolton welterweight is “nothing special”.

Khan heads into Saturday night’s Las Vegas fight with ambitions of using victory over Alexander as a stepping stone to a shot at either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, but the American former two-weight world champion has other ideas.

“Khan’s style is perfect for me,” Alexander told Sky Sports News. “I’m going to be able to do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it in the ring.

“He’s a good fighter, but I just don’t

see anything special that Amir Khan does. From me you’re going to see versatility, power, speed, movement - all of it. I’m going to be ready. I’m excited.”

Khan believes his ability to stay with Alexander before making life uncomfortable with his superior boxing skills, particularly on the inside, will be the difference.

“There’s going to come a time in the fight when I’ll put pressure on him and rough him up a bit,” Khan said. “I know he doesn’t like that.

“We’ve been working with a lot of sparring partners where I’ve had to go in and go for the body. I don’t think he likes body shots either.”

Devon Alexander expects Khan to play into his hands in Las Vegas, but Khan intends to unsettle the American © Getty Images

Lyon five-for secures 73-run lead India 444 (Kohli 115, Lyon 5-134) trail Australia 7 for 517 dec by 73 runs athan Lyon continued bowling an impressive brand of offspin to earn Australia not only a handy first-innings lead but also enough time to build a target and have a second crack at India in Adelaide. Lyon claimed three of the five wickets to fall on the fourth morning - Peter Siddle took the other two - to complete his sixth five-wicket haul as India were dismissed with just under an hour to go before lunch.

Resuming on 5 for 369, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha survived opening spells from Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson without much trouble. The bowlers’ lines and lengths were tight - largely wicket-to-wicket - and did not allow for shot making, but the batsmen were content to leave and defend.

Michael Clarke made his bowling changes just after the first half hour and the wickets came quickly. Rohit had just stepped out to loft Lyon for a boundary over mid-on, but when he advanced again next ball he wasn’t to the pitch of it and chipped a return catch to the bowler. India were 6 for 399 with their tail exposed.

Siddle had been unwell and expensive on the first day but his pace was up on Friday and he quickly breached the debutant Karn Sharma’s defences to hit leg stump. Had Siddle not dropped Mohammed Shami off Lyon on the deep midwicket boundary, India’s innings would have had a quicker end but the ball burst through his hands and went for four.

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Peter Siddle kissed his black armband after bowling Karn Sharma Though he had Saha for company, Shami slogged with carefree abandon. His initial approach was questionable, but it brought valuable runs after Saha’s dismissal. Saha was caught at slip off bat and pad but replays and snicko were inconclusive. Lyon then had Ishant held at batpad second ball to complete his five-for.

India’s last wicket added 22 runs - Varun Aaron’s contribution was 3 - as Shami swung between deep square leg and long-on. Siddle eventually found the toe end of his bat, and Shane Watson took a low catch at first slip to end the innings.

Smith, Clarke flatten India on rainy day Australia 7 for 517 (Smith 162*, Warner 145, Clarke 128) v India ichael Clarke battled through severe back pain to make his 28th Test hundred, Steven Smith scored his fifth and the pair punished India’s inconsistent bowlers on a second day badly hit by rain. The pair racked up 163 for the sixth wicket through three long interruptions in play, hitting 21 fours in the 30 overs they batted together. Poor light ended play four deliveries after Clarke fell for 128.

Clarke, who had taken injections after retiring on 60 in the 44th over on day one, accompanied Smith out under gloomy skies in a start delayed by ten minutes. He winced as he pulled and hobbled more than he ran initially. Unable to lean fully forward, he stood on the crease and hit the fast bowlers. He used his feet to spin, dragging himself to the other end if a run was available, or lurching back to the crease if it wasn’t. His mobility improved gradually, but even late in the day, he was gingerly taking the twos.

India were unable to test even a half-fit Clarke. Their fast bowlers had been too full and wide at the start of the match. This morning, they pulled their lengths back too much. Ishant Sharma, their best bowler on day one, started short and wide to be put way for four by Smith. Mohammed Shami did the same first ball of the next over, and Clarke helped himself this time.

Both batsmen brought up emotional

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hundreds. Clarke celebrated quietly with an intensely expressive face after coming through a bouncer burst from round the stumps on 98. Smith walked up to where 408, Phillip Hughes’ Test cap number, had been painted on the ground and stood there to look up at the sky.

Smith then set about the Indian bowling with even more purpose and aggression, powering boundaries in limited-overs fashion. India had conceded 51 in the 12.2 overs leading into the first interruption.

Between the second and the third, they leaked 50 in 7.3. Varun Aaron went for nearly six runs an over, Shami five, and the debutant legspinner Karn Sharma tallied over four. The lowest any of them conceded was 120.

Smith was in so much control he did pretty much whatever he wanted to. He slogged Aaron just past the bowler’s head for four, he made room and drilled Shami through the covers, he reverse-swept Karn from outside leg stump.

He did offer a simple stumping chance when he missed a charge at Karn, but Wriddhiman Saha, having kept for 109 overs, could not collect. Smith was reprieved again off Karn, on 161, when Ishant put down a diving chance at long leg. Clarke swept the next ball straight to square leg, and Mitchell Johnson walked in. The only plus for India was that he had a bat in hand, and not the new ball.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 12-18, 2014

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Your Faith, Our Home

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Traditional & Non-Traditional Services Family Owned Since 1974 Offers a WIDE Variety of Services Shipping to Anywhere in the World Free Video and Newspaper Tributes Pre plan and save 130-02 Liberty Avenue, QUEENS, NY 11419

(718) 845-7408

www.ElcockFuneralHome.com

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