Caribbean Star #25 vol.4

Caribbean First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbeanstarnews@gmail.com

Vol.4 #25

Star

WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

DISTRIBUTED IN BROOKLYN, QUEENS, BRONX, LONG ISLAND, and MORE!

347-759-3934

MURDERED BUSINESSWOMAN WAS PLANNING TO MIGRATE Fearing for her safety, businesswoman Patricia Sanasie, who was gunned down in an apparent hit on Monday evening, had planned to migrate to the United States.

NEW YORK

See More on Page 4 GUYANA

POLICE PBA’S PATRICK REPORT LYNCH SPURS YELLING, SHOVING 15% DROP AMONG COPS OVER IN SERIOUS NYPD-CITY HALL CRIMES FEUD See More on Page 26 See More on Page 9 LOW FARES AIRLINE TICKETS

Also serving other Destinations to the Caribbean, Latin America, The Indian Subcontinent and the world.

Enquire about group fair and Senior citizen discount

718-291-9292

ON SALE

GUYANA SURINAME JAMAICA TRINIDAD

917-407-9090

Celebrate Maha Shivratri

in India

FEBRUARY 8 - 22, 2015

Call KT&T 718-291-9292 • 917-407-9090 This program is to benefit RKB New York

NARINE PICKED FOR WORLD CUP

See More on Page 39

Police seek fake cop in rape at Ozone Park hotel See More on Page 29

World zoos want TT cubs THE TWO white Bengal tiger cubs, born five days ago at the Emperor Valley Zoo continue to draw international attention with at least two zoos in South American countries expressing major interest in adopting the cubs.

See More on Page 27

If you miss out in the last tour, Take Advantage of this

Magical Tour of Europe

VISIT 9 COUNTRIES IN 14 DAYS —

June 14th - 28th 2015 —

VISITING: LONDON •. NETHERLAND - Holland • BELGIUM • GERMANY • AUSTRIA • ITALY • VATICAN • SWITZERLAND • FRANCE

Call KT&T 718-291-9292 • 917-407-9090

2

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

PIECE OF INDIA, INC

PRESENTS

100%

NATURAL

AYURVEDIC JUICES Piece of India presents 4 juices renowned for their benefits for overall human health. According to the ancient science of Ayurveda these juices provide a variety of benefits and add vitality to life for example:

Vitamin source • Sugar balance • Cholesterol reduction • Immunity booster • Skin rejuvenation Eye health • Constipation elimination • Weight reduction • Digestive support

Natural herbs working in synergy The Ancient science of Ayurveda teaches us of the existence of natural herbs and minerals that can protect your teeth and gums.

Herbi+ Toothpaste brings together the goodness of Neem, Tulsi, Eucalyptus and Miswak and 24 other such rare priceless treasures of nature.

Available at these and other finer supermarkets Apna Bazaar 217 Beethpage rd, Hicksville NY 11801, tel.: (516) 931 2045 Apna Sona Bazaar 117-10 Rockaway Blvd S.Ozone Park NY, 11420 tel.: (718) 835 9100 Apna Bazaar 124-16 Liberty Ave, Richmond Hill NY 11419, tel.: (718) 845 8499

For wholesale inquires only call Piece of India, Inc. at 1 877 367 7852

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

3

Trio on robbery charge after being caught by cops in victim’s house

T

hree men were yesterday remanded to prison on an armed robbery charge after a court heard that one of them answered the victim’s door when police came knocking, while his accomplices were packing the booty.

The allegation against Keon Simon, 19, of Chapel Street, Charlestown, Akeem Marshall, 21 of Albouystown and Lionel Khudu, 22, of Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, is that on January 12, at La Penitence, Georgetown, being together

and armed with a gun they robbed Anthony Rowel of a quantity of valuables and cash, amounting to $165,000 in total.

The men pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Prosecutor Michael Grant said at about 3:15 am on Monday, Rowel was in his apartment when he heard a strange noise coming from his yard. Upon making checks, he discovered the three men

in his yard. Khudu allegedly placed a gun to Rowel’s head, while the two others relieved him of his valuables.

However, Grant said someone saw what was transpiring and informed police who were on patrol. When the police arrived at Rowel’s house and knocked on the door, Khudu reportedly opened it, while the other two were seen in the house packing the stolen items. They were arrested and charged and the items were recovered.

Keon Simon

Akeem Marshall

Lionel Khudu The men were all represented by attorney Adrian Thompson, who made an application for reasonable bail. He said he was informed by his clients that they were walking around the vicinity when they saw some coconuts and stopped to have them. They also had a cutlass in their possession but it was used to cut the coconuts, he added.

Grant objected to bail based on the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence. He also pointed out that a gun was used in the commission of the crime.

Grant said because of the seriousness of the offence, if bail is granted the trio may not return for trial or may even tamper with the prosecution evidence.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned until January 20.

4

Caribbean Star Newspaper Murdered businesswoman was Bandits shoot Linden man, batter wife and young son planning to migrate January 16-22, 2015

F

earing for her safety, businesswoman Patricia Sanasie, who was gunned down in an apparent hit on Monday evening, had planned to migrate to the United States.

According to a source who knew the woman well, Sanasie, 45, of Lot 129 Atlantic Gardens, had been living in fear up to the time she was fatally shot outside her home by a masked gunman.

‘C’ Division Commander Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith told this newspaper yesterday that as far as the police know, it was a lone gunman who carried out the attack.

The shooter was still at-large up to yesterday.

Bloodstains still remained yesterday on the lawn where Patricia Sanasie was gunned down on Monday.

Bloodstains still remained yesterday on the lawn where Patricia Sanasie was gunned down on Monday.

The shooting occurred just a month shy of the one year anniversary of an attempt on the life of her husband, auto dealer Deokarran ‘Ram’ Sanasie, who would later accuse her of being behind a plot to kill him. He is said to have been in the United States since late last year after initially moving from their home.

At approximately 7:30pm on Monday, Patricia Sanasie was attempting to unlock her gate after exiting her vehicle, when a “bulky” masked gunman emerged out of a silver-grey Toyota Raum, held on to her and shot her four times.

When Stabroek News revisited the area yesterday, a resident, who had been in his yard when the attack occurred, said he heard a sound which he initially believed

to be squibs. However, that assumption changed when he heard Sanasie’s daughter screaming, “Oh lord meh mother get shoot!”

The man said he along with others found the daughter bending over Sanasie, who appeared to be lifeless.

Another resident said the community converged at the crime scene and rendered assistance. Unfortunately, the resident said, “She was dead on the spot.” The resident added that Sanasie was shot in her pubic area, neck, head and right arm.

A source close to the family said that money was the root of the tumultuous relationship between the Sanasies. “She used to complain that he trying to cheat she of money,” the source said, adding that the woman claimed she found out that her husband had sold properties behind her back and kept the proceeds to himself.

A house that had been gifted to her for her birthday, the source noted, was among the properties that Patricia Sanasie claimed was sold without her knowledge. “That cause more problems,” the source added.

It was also claimed that she was stripped of all her businesses, save for two “Churches” which had been built for her to run. “That is how she used to get money to take care of

herself,” the source explained, while noting that a private school run by the woman was also closed down.

“It was vindictiveness,” the source opined.

Patricia Sanasie was described as a friendly person, who “lived through” a difficult relationship with her husband. “She [Sanasie] made reports to the police over security concerns, but got no justice,” the source explained, adding, “It was a woman that was crying for help but now she is dead.”

As a result of her concerns, Sanasie made plans about a year ago to relocate to the United States. Up to last week, the source added, she was in the process of renovating a building the couple owned to be leased.

The source also pointed out that around the same time that her husband started claiming that he was fearing for his life, Patricia also said she was fearing for her own life.

On February 12, 2014, Deokarran Sanasie was shot several times about his body while drinking in the vicinity of his auto sales business at Fourth and Light streets, Alberttown. He was rushed to a private city hospital, where he was treated for gunshot wounds to his left thigh and abdomen. He later expressed concerns for his safety and went into hiding.

During that time, his wife and her brother were held in connection with the shooting. However, Patricia Sanasie had denied having any involvement in the attempted hit on her husband. It was that incident which caused the couple to separate, the source noted.

In 2012, the couple had been sprayed with mace and robbed of jewellery and money outside the Edge nightclub. They were later attacked and robbed again by the same perpetrators at their home.

LIVE IN BABYSITTER for a newborn baby girl looking for someone in the late 40 or early 50 in Oceanside Long Island my phone number is

917-407-8564 Lorraine

Godfrey Marks Jr. and his father Godfrey Marks.

A

Linden man is now critical after masked bandits invaded his Kara Kara home, shot him and pummelled his wife and their young son early Monday morning.

Godfrey Marks, 43, who was shot to his left shoulder, is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). His wife, Susan Marks, and their nineyear-old son, Godfrey Marks Jnr, were both gun-butted to their heads during the attack, which occurred at about 3am.

The boy, who was hit while trying to stand up for his mother, sustained a fractured skull.

Nothing was taken in the attack and Susan Marks yesterday told Stabroek News that it appeared that her family was mistakenly targeted by the bandits.

She said her husband, who is self-employed, was transferred to the GPH after being rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital. She explained that he was in a critical condition since the bullet is moving about. She also reported that he has no feeling in the lower half of his body.

Up to yesterday afternoon, the doctors were preparing him for a scan and Susan said it was likely be followed by surgery to remove the bullet.

Recalling the attack, she said she heard a noise in the house that sounded as if something had fallen. “…When I ask me husband was happen there, he tell me is bandit,” she said, while noting that the man had ventured out

on the verandah to see what was transpiring because he heard the dogs barking.

“They tell he don’t move and they shot he. My husband got shot and he fall down right away,” she added.

Susan said it was after the men heard her voice that they entered the upper flat of the house and rushed into her room. “When I attempt to get up, he push me back on the bed and start beat me up in my head and demand the ring I had on my finger and money. But I tell he `boy I ain’t got no money’ and he keep on asking for the ring. But he didn’t get nothing.

He just lash me with the gun in my head,” Susan said.

However, her son was on the same bed with her sleeping and he was awakened after he heard his mother yelling. “He ask them, ‘Wah y’all doing my mother?

Leave me mother alone!’”

Susan recalled. As a result, the men gun-butted the boy.

While two of the men were in the family’s home, Susan said, the other two were waiting at the neighbouring residence while attending to a boat and its engine.

She believed that although the men entered the riverain area by boat, they escaped on foot.

After the attack, the family was taken to the Mackenzie Hospital, where the boy received stitches for a wound on his head. His mother also received stitches to her head.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

BUSINESS FOR SALE

5

$12,500 include fully loaded mobile truck with hot water system and clients we will train Call

347 759 3934 and make an offer TRUCK AVAILABLE IN QUEENS

Call 347-759-3934 FOR A FREE ESTIMATE!!

6

January 16-22, 2015

Police report 15% drop in T HE Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday disclosed that there has been a 15% drop in serious crimes, as it released statistics in relation to the offences of murder and robbery under arms for the period January 1 to December 31, 2014, with corresponding statistics for the same period in 2013.

The police in a release stated that 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.

A total of 147 murders were recorded at the end of December 2014 in comparison to 155 murders for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 5%.

‘During this year the Police Traffic Department will be intensifying its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, in addition to other offences such as using motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving’ At the end of December 2014, robbery under arms overall had increased by 5% in comparison to the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 11% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 6% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms

Caribbean Star Newspaper serious crimes Accused in GPL million-dollar burglary get bail

were used by the perpetrators, the release added.

84 FIREARMS RECOVERED During 2014 a total of 84 firearms were recovered by the police, comprising 46 pistols, 28 revolvers, nine shotguns and one rifle.

In relation to traffic, 146 road fatalities from 135 accidents have been recorded at the end of December 2014 in comparison to 112 fatalities from 103 accidents for the same period in 2013; a 30% increase in fatalities.

Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 60 such persons having lost their lives at the end of December 2014. In addition 26 motor cyclists, 20 pedal cyclists, 16 drivers, 23 persons travelling in motor vehicles and 1 person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.

SPEEDING Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 87 of the 135 fatal accidents recorded at the end of December 2014.

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 65,475 cases being made against errant motorists up to the end of December 2014, and of this total, 19,075 cases were for speeding.

To date, three persons have lost their lives due to fatal accidents during this

month, January 2015.

The generally indiscriminate use of the roads by all categories of road users was a factor that contributed significantly to the spiralling number of fatal accidents last year and the Guyana Police Force is therefore urging that all persons use the roadways in a manner that is cognisant of the five Cs – Care, Consideration, Caution, Commonsense, and Courtesy.

During this year the Police Traffic Department will be intensifying its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, in addition to other offences such as using motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving.

INTERACTIVE SESSIONS At the same time, the Traffic Department will enhance its traffic education programme through Road Safety Talks and other media programmes as well as symposiums and visits to schools and bus/car parks for interactive sessions.

A number of initiatives that were adopted in 2014 will continue this year, including the ‘Name and Shame’ campaign in relation to persons driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of the tow truck in situations where motor vehicles are parked in contravention of the laws, as the Force strives to ensure road safety, the release concluded.

B

reak and enter and larceny accused Devon Brown and Simon Primo were yesterday each granted a $75,000 bail release.

Brown and Primo had been remanded by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on December 30, after being charged with breaking and entering the supervisory room of a Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) branch at Sophia on the previous day and stealing two computers and a printer valuing $1 million in total.

The court had also been told that the two men led police on a high speed chase in the city before being caught.

They both had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Ann McLennan granted bail yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where Brown’s attorney renewed his application for his client to be granted his pretrial liberty.

The two men are to make their next court appearance on January 16.

20

Round Trip: $499 One Way: $285 Round Trip: $538 One Way: $243 “Book Immediately for the Best Deals”

Round Trip: $580

Caribbean Star Newspaper

W

hen Ganga was born, the holy Indian cities of Haridwar and Banaras orVaranasi did not exist either. That would come later. Even so: the world was already old and sufficiently civilized to boast of kings and kingdoms and shaded forests.

So it came to pass that an angry and aging mother named Aditi sat down to fast and pray that Lord Vishnu - the preserver of the world - would aid her in a moment of distress; her sons, who ruled several planets in the universe, had recently been vanquished by the great king Bali Maharaj, who wanted to become the sole ruler of the entire celestial world. As the humiliated mother of defeated sons, Aditi refused to eat, and closed her eyes, with a hurt soul eager for retribution. She kept praying to Vishnu, till at last he appeared after twelve long days of penance.

And so Vishnu disguised himself as a midget Brahmin ascetic answering to the name ofVamandeva. He appeared at the glorious court of Bali Maharaja to plead with the victorious king to give him "just" three pieces of land. Dulled by a sense of invincibility and amused by the midget, the great king lightheartedly consented to the appeal.

Moved by her devotion and strength of purpose, Vishnu promised the aggrieved mother that the lost kingdoms would be restored to her sons.

In that very moment of thoughtless consent, Vamandeva decided to take his chance and started expanding his form to gigantic proportions. To the king's horror, the giant dwarf walked his first step, which, to the everlasting despair of Bali Maharaj, covered the whole universe. That is how Aditi got her sons' kingdoms back.

But it was the second step that assumed crucial significance. Vamandeva then kicked a hole in the shell of the universe, causing a few drops of water from the spiritual world to spill into the universe. These precious and rare drops of the Other World gathered into the flow of a river that came to be known as the Ganga. That was the sacred moment when the great Ganga emerged came into being to become integrated with history.

But even so, Ganga remained in the heavenly universe, fearing that stepping onto the earth might render her unsanctified because of the multitude of its sinners. Indra - King of the Heavens - wanted Ganga to remain in his domain so that she could soothe the cods with her cool waters, rather than move to some other world.Ganga's dilemma But in that earthly world of sinners, there was the great kingdom of Ayodhya ruled by the childless king Bhagiratha, who desperately yearned for Ganga to

January 16-22, 2015

7

Goddess Ganga

come down and wash away the sins of his forefathers. Bhagiratha hailed from a royal family that claimed its ancestry from the Sun God himself. Even though he ruled over a peaceful country, with hardworking, honest and happy people, Bhaigiratha remained melancholic, not only because no child had sprung from his loins to continue the illustrious dynasty, but also because he was bearing the heavy burden of completing the task of bringing salvation to his ancestors.

And then there was something else. A long time ago, King Sagar, the then ruler of Ayodhya, had sent his grandson Suman to search for his 60,000 sons which

were borne to him by his second wife Sumati. (She had actually borne a gourd which burst open to give way to these sixty thousand.) Now these sons, who were fostered by nurses in jars of ghee till they grew up to youth and beauty, had disappeared mysteriously while they were searching for a lost horse let loose

by King Sagar as a part of the great horse sacrifice known as the Ahwamedha Yagna. If this sacrifice had reached its logical conclusion, Sagar would have become the undisputed master of the Gods.

Searching for his uncles, Suman encountered four elephants in the four corners of the world. These elephants

were responsible for balancing the earth on their heads, with all its plenteous hills and forests. These elephants wished Suman success in his noble enterprise. Finally, the dutiful grandson came across the great sage Kapila who, impressed by Suman's demeanor, told him that all sixty thousand uncles had been turned to ashes by his angry gaze when they tried to blame him for stealing that special horse.

Kapila warned that the dead princes would not arrive in heaven by immersion of their ashes in just any river water. Only the celestial Ganga, which flows with its sacred water in the heavenly world, could provide salvation.

8

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

INCOME TAX CENTER 1099’s & 1096 prepared and filed.

Small business taxes, Rental property taxes, Self-employed taxes

NO DEDUCTION OR CREDIT GOES UNCLAIMED 215-15 Jamaica Avenue, Queens Village NY 11428

See How Much Credit You Can Qualify For!!

Types of Return Single Fliers

Maximum Credit

Childless

$496

One Child

$3,305

Two Children

$5,460

Three or more children

$6,143

FAST REFUND CALL JAI SHARMA 347-998-8227 516-849-8400

MAXIMUM REFUNDS FOR LESS...

FREE REFUND ESTIMATE??!

-NO WAITTAXES DONE IN 20' MINUTES

January 16-22, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper GAWU calls for inquiry into sugar industry

C

alling for a commission of inquiry into the sugar industry, GAWU has slammed GuySuCo over last year’s “disappointing” performance and accused it of producing the sweetener at a whopping US$40 cents per pound, harvesting young canes during the second crop and failing to negotiate a better sales deal with Tate and Lyle.

The attack by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is politically significant given its close ties to the ruling PPP/C and will be taken as another sign of the crisis in the industry.

In the November/December, 2014 edition of its newspaper Combat, GAWU excoriated GuySuCo, noting that last year’s production of 216,142 was the second lowest production in 24 years. It noted that even this figure was 3,000 tonnes below the corporation’s own target.

It also charged that in a bid to get close to its target, GuySuCo had harvested immature canes and this will impact on this year’s target.

“The pre-harvesting of young canes on a number of estates during some weeks in November and December, 2014 was not only senseless and costly, but will

compromise the production potential of the first crop (this year)”, GAWU said.

Other analysts had raised concerns that GuySuCo was reaping young canes but the corporation has not addressed this matter. Analysts have said that young canes are being reaped because GuySuCo has not had a rigorous replanting exercise in recent years and so there aren’t enough mature canes in the fields.

“Was it the decision of the Board of Directors to harvest a significant quantity of pre-ripened cane, of which the tonnes cane per tonne sugar (tc/ts) ratio was poor despite the favourably sunny weather which usually enhances the sucrose content of the cane?”, GAWU asked.

It further contended that despite the all-round resources of the Corporation, it is understood that the cost of production which it said was over US40 cents per pound continues to climb as a result of mainly poor cane quality. GuySuCo’s US$200M sugar expansion project under the Jagdeo administration had been intended to bring down the cost of production to US17-19 cents per pound but this has not been possible. The centre piece of its expansion programme,

the Skeldon sugar factory has been an enormous burden on the industry and is now reportedly producing the highest costing sugar in the industry.

INDEBTED GAWU also charged that this year the industry finds itself more indebted than it was previously and this has been worsened by poor decision making on sales via Tate and Lyle.

“Suppliers’ payments for service and materials are delayed for months. The present cash flow position of the Corporation would not have been in such dire straits had the Corporation agreed in late 2012 to a three-year contract to supply the 190,000 tonnes sugar to the Tate and Lyle market. For three years – 2013, 2014 and 2015 – the Corporation would have been receiving over US$700 per tonne of sugar.

The Corporation insisted on a oneyear contract only for 2013, unlike the Jamaican sugar industry which has negotiated with Tate and Lyle a threeyear contract for years 2013, 2014 and 2015, and is paid US$750 per tonne sugar. The latest shipments to Tate and Lyle in November/December, 2014 by GuySuCo merely attracted US$340 per

9

tonne”, GAWU argued.

It added “The GAWU believes that while it’s long overdue to have a comprehensive Enquiry into the operations of the sugar industry, such Enquiry must not be delayed further if the important tentacled industry is to be saved from collapse”.

The industry has encountered a series of problems over the last decade including the burden of the Chinese-built Skeldon factory, the revamping of the European Union sugar market and the slide in prices, poor field husbandry and declining labour pools.

Successive turnaround blueprints by GuySuCo have failed to reverse the deteriorating performance and the high debt. Sugar production was meant to be averaging between 350,000 and 400,000 tonnes at this juncture. However, it is nowhere near this and 2013 saw dismal production of 186,000 tonnes and the lowest ever first crop tally in the industry’s history.

The crisis in the industry also poses a direct problem to President Donald Ramotar who was a director on the Board of GuySuCo from 1992 up to 2011, years after the crisis in the industry had begun.

It’s not just what you do, it’s who you do it for.

We are in your community helping you plan for the future, so that you and your loved ones keep enjoying all the good in life.

Indra Puran, CLTC, LUTCF Agent, New York Life Insurance Company 420 Lexington Avenue, 14th & 15th fl.

New York, NY 10170 (646) 266 5416 lpuran@ft.newyorklife.com http//:www.indrapuran.nylagents.com

© 2014 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 Keep Good Going™ is a trademark of New York Life Insurance Company, all rights reserved.

Life Insurance. Retirement. Investments.

Registered Representative offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency.

SMRU1614160(Exp.08/07/2016)

GOOD

10

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

Five charged over Black Bush Polder stick-up

Antonio Morgan

F

ive persons were on Monday charged with armed robbery following a recent attack on a couple at Black Bush Polder, Berbice.

The five accused—four men and a woman—denied the charge when they appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s Court and they were released on $250,000 bail.

Those charged are Premchand

Carlton Singh

Cindy DeVair

Delroy Parks

Premchand Kallicharran

Kallicharran, called ‘Boysie,’ 27, of Lot 81 Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek; Carlton Singh, 23, of Grant 1802 Crabwood Creek; Delroy Parks, 28, called ‘Sticky,’ of Cromarty Farm, Corentyne; Antonio Morgan, called ‘Rasta,’ 34, of Lot 427 No. 51 Village, Corentyne; and Cindy DeVair, 19, of Lot 44 Race Course, Springlands, Corentyne.

They are accused of robbing Lusignan vendor Hemraj Singh

and his wife at the entrance of Black Bush Polder.

Singh, 54, and his wife, both of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, were reportedly robbed of $180,000, their car key and a cellular phone.

As the Singhs were about to turn into the Black Bush Polder access road, a car stopped in their path and two men armed with guns emerged and instructed them to hand over their valu-

ables.

However, after the robbers had fled the scene, police were alerted and set up a road block at No. 51 Village, where they saw the suspects’ vehicle approaching. However, the vehicle diverted along an alternative route.

After observing this, the police launched a search and were able to apprehend the car. When the car was stopped, only two persons were inside: the driver and

a woman said to be DeVair.

After the charge was read, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sheriff objected to bail due to the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence. He also stated that the crew was armed with dangerous weapons during the attack.

However, Magistrate Artiga placed them on bail and adjourned the case until January 29.

220.00 453.00 ONE WAY

ROUND TRIP

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Banks DIH registers $2.26b after tax profit

I

n his report Chairman Clifford Reis said that the year “was challenging for our company in many respects, but as a result of prudent decision-making and the implementation of cost saving measures and strict financial controls we have produced a result which even (though) down on the previous year’s results can be considered as acceptable”.

He said that while the economic data suggests that the global financial situation may be recovering in some respects “uncertainty and fear have now taken their place on the agenda of legitimate concerns which are affecting economic results across the globe and locally”. Reis, the long-serving Chairman of Banks DIH, said that fear and uncertainty had affected consumer spending and impacted on companies like Banks.

Profit before tax in 2014 was $3.47B and $2.265b after tax compared to $3.855b in and $2.538b in 2013. The Net Asset Value per share, he said, has increased from $21.55 to $23.20 or 8% and the company has maintained a dividend payment of $0.64 per share with the cost being $640m.

Reis, also Managing Director, said that during last year, Banks DIH continued its policy decision to replace and/or upgrade its production capacity.

During the year, the company was able to complete the Brewery and Cellars modernization programme and inaugurated its palletiser/depalletiser and a new pasteurizer for the beer plant.

He disclosed that in the new financial year major spending will focus on the acquisition and installation of a new Trisco biscuit oven, an online blow moulder for the water plant, the building of a new vehicle workshop, the completion of the Crime Select ice-cream outlet and replacement of trucks and forklifts.

During the year under review, two new products were launched: GT Beer and Rain Forest Water.

Banks’ 51% owned subsidiary, Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. increased its revenue from $3.010b to $3.217b but profit after tax fell from $1.004b in 2013 to $989.1m in 2014. Total assets of the bank increased from $40.7b in 2013 to $42.1b in 2014. Loan assets also rose by 22% from $23.7b to $28.9b. However, customer deposits dropped from $34.2b in 2013 to $33.2B last year. Interest income rose from $2.15b in 2013 to $2.37b last year.

Reis said that dividends received from Banks Holding Ltd, Barbados amounted to $31m and dividends paid to Banks Holdings Limited Barbados totalled $128.1m relative to the investments made with each other.

The company’s Annual General Meeting is set for Saturday, 24th January, 2015 at 5 pm.

I

January 16-22, 2015

11

3 women critical after Savannah brawl

NVESTIGATIONS are continuing into a violent brawl yesterday at the Queen’s Park Savannah involving mainly women and which ended in three women being warded at hospital in critical condition.

According to reports, the incident was triggered after a group of women who arrived at the savannah in three cars accused other women, who were painting temporary Carnival vending booths of posting negative images and comments on social media websites about them (the women who arrived in the cars).

The argument quickly escalated into a full on brawl at the southern end of the savannah as amazed onlookers quickly pulled out their cellular phones and be-

gan to record the fight.

A number of police officers and soldiers arrived on the scene quickly and sought to pacify the warring young women, but this was to no avail for several minutes.

In the video, uploaded on several social media websites, officers — some armed with machine guns — are seen trying to separate the fighting women from each other. In one frame, an officer is seen disarming a woman who held a large hunting knife.

As this woman turned away while being held by the officer who disarmed her, another woman armed with a long pole struck the first woman on her back, prompting the officer to turn and grab

the woman armed with the pole.

Soldiers were seen also trying to separate the women who appeared not to be concerned in the least about the presence of police and soldiers.

In the end, the two warring groups were separated and three badly wounded women, bleeding from multiple wounds, were quickly taken to the nearby Port-ofSpain General Hospital where they were treated and remain warded in critical condition.

Up to press time, several women remained in police custody and were expected to be charged and will possibly appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court today.

THE FAMILY & FRIENDS ORGANIZATION Proudly invite the General Public to a fund-raising

Valentine DINNER & DANCE

On Saturday Feb14th 2015 From 7:30pm until???

At the Golden Palace 123-08 Jamaica Ave.

Music by Popular DJ Special Artistes, Door Price, Raffle and much more Donation: $25 per person including Buffet, soft drink Reasonable Cash Bar All proceeds from this event go to The Children Orphanages of

ALBION & PORT MOURANT, Berbice, Guyana

Please Support this Fund-Raising Event For Information, Tickets, Assisting & Donations please call: 718-736-4124; 917-207-3562; 646-703-2253 or 917-703-0646

12

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015 13 Caribbean Star Newspaper Family of man who died after beaten in police Gang rape of 18- yr-old boy... Main suspect breaks custody still seeking answers silence in exclusive interview

B

R

elatives of Asif Rahim Khatoon, the MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara fisherman who was allegedly fatally beaten in police custody are finding it hard to cope with his death and are “looking for answers.”

His wife, Soorsattie ‘Lilly’ Chandrapaul, 35, is disappointed at the snail’s pace at which the investigation is going and feels justice is being denied.

Khatoon who was arrested around 11 pm on November 21 during a domestic dispute with Chandrapaul had told her that the police had beaten him severely.

As a result, he suffered a fractured skull, broken jaw and injuries to his stomach. His face was also swollen and he was “vomiting blood,” according to Chandrapaul.

She said all of that could have been avoided and her husband would have still been alive had the police not treated him in such a brutal manner.

“He had no problem with the police and I don’t know why the police brutalized him like that He lost his life for no reason.

This cannot be fair!” the distraught woman cried.

“He was a very hardworking fisherman and was earning for his family. Now it is so hard for us to get by. We are facing a really difficulty time. My husband left a house, yes but we can’t eat this house.”

She told this newspaper too, “We have to survive, I have to send these children to school and I have to find food and clothes for them. How can I make it? We’re trying to make much with the little we have.”

The woman tries to be independent and is “running a little shop” but because of her location business is poor. She also rears some chicken but said everyone is doing the same so there are more sellers than buyers.

Sometimes, she said, she feels like giving up because “this is a sad situation we are facing.” She is aware though, that she has to be “strong for my [four] children.”

FILE Chandrapaul told Stabroek News that she had received a call late last month from a senior police officer who told her that the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice and she felt relieved.

Asif Rahim Khatoon She was waiting patiently to hear the decision of the DPP but then was saddened when she recently received information that the file had not reached the DPP. “I can’t say what happen there because I have been waiting so long for an answer and two months would soon finish and nothing is happening.”

His daughters, Shaneeza, 19, and Narifa, 17, told this newspaper that they really miss their father who ensured that they had everything that they needed.

They were “looking forward to seeing him around but now we are looking forward for justice for him.”

According to them, “We want to know where the file is. They need to tell us the truth because it looks like the file disappeared. We understand that the file has to go through a process but it is taking too long.”

Chandarpaul lamented, “If a general investigation is carried out I may get a proper answer… if not I would never know the truth about what happened to my husband.”

The police arrived at the couple’s home after receiving the call and took Khatoon into custody. He was released on November 24 without being charged.

Police had claimed that another prisoner had beaten him while in custody but the woman insisted that, “No prisoner could beat him with his bare hands like that and break his jaw, damage his stomach and fracture his skull and kill him.”

She also said that “all his teeth [were] rocking in his mouth. Those are serious injuries and it is impossible for any prisoner to do that…”

Further, she said, “If he had committed a crime I would have accepted but he did not deserve such treatment. If they can do that to him what can they do to others?”

She was “praying every day

Soorsattie Chandrapaul (centre) and three of her four children with my four kids for justice for my husband. We are left to suffer and it’s only who feels it knows it. I now know when somebody lose someone they really love how they feel.”

She believes that no action is being taken because her husband is an “ordinary fisherman” and said if it was her husband who had done something to the police he would have already been charged and placed behind bars.

ARREST Chandrapaul had said that when the police arrived after receiving the call, Khatoon “did not resist arrest; he co-operated with them” and was placed in handcuffs.

She accompanied him to the station in the police pickup and sat in the cabin while he was placed to lie flat at the back with a few officers.

On the way, they stopped to pick up two young men and her husband tried to get up to see them and one of the officers then reportedly gun-butted his face.

He was also shouting and telling her that the police were “beating him” but when she looked back she did not see anything. When they arrived at the station, he tried to help himself in getting out of the van when a policeman hit him to his face with his knee.

He was kept at the station for the night and was taken to the Parika station the following afternoon.

Around 5 pm on Sunday, he called and told her that the police had beaten him and broken his jaw.

She went there about two hours later and asked to see him but the [female] officer said she could not “take him out.” She insisted that she

wanted to “see his face” and the man was allowed to look out.

Chandrapaul said she noticed that it was swollen and she told the policewoman to “give him two panadols” but she allegedly refused. “She tell me ‘madam you have to go now’.”

She then decided to make a report to a senior rank at the Leonora station the Monday morning and he arranged for a medical to be uplifted.

They went to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and the doctor sent them to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for an x-ray which proved that his jaw was broken.

He was also taken to the emergency unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where two other x-rays for his stomach and jaw were done.

All this time her husband was in a lot of pain and discomfort.

And as if her troubles were not enough, when she asked the doctor to let him lie on the bed and probably give him treatment/saline, he refused.

The doctor sent him instead to the dental clinic but it was already late and she took him the following morning.

There the “specialist checked him and asked why the doctor sent him there.” He referred him back to the GPH where he was admitted in the surgical ward.

But he was still bawling in pain and when she asked the nurses to “give him something for the pain they tell me that they can’t work with me orders, they have to work with the doctors’ orders.

The following morning, on November 27 he was discharged from hospital and he died around 1 pm the same day at his home.

ACKED by his mother, father and aunt, the 17-year-old young man who is being accused by the mother of an 18-yearold boy of organising a gang rape of her son yesterday accepted an invitation to share his side of the story with the Guyana Chronicle newspaper.Yesterday, the 17-year-old, who goes by the alias “Romel”, said he has no idea of any rape that was committed on his friend “Ravo” by himself or anyone associated to him on the day in question.

According to the young man, who spoke with this newspaper in the presence of his parents, explained that on Old Year’s night he invited Ravo to a party that was being held at his uncle’s place in Crane and which was attended by both male and female adults.

He said that about 17: 00hrs on that day “Ravo” confirmed that he was going to accompany him to the party and showed up at approximately 20:00hrs at the Vreed-enHoop junction.

The two then left for the party and by midnight they had returned to Romel’s home where they spent the night. The young man related that the following day Ravo woke up and took a bath, drank a cup of tea but refused to eat anything. Ravo then enquired from Romel if he can stay a bit longer to go another party that Romel was attending later that night and together they again went to the event.

It was there that young man began behaving strangely he recalled.

“As soon as this guy walked into the party he kept talking that someone wants to shoot him, a girl asked him if he will eat and he say he ain’t want nothing to eat and he ain’t want nothing to drink he start standing up one place all the time” Romel said that when the young man began operating like that he said that he and his friends followed him and placed him in a minibus at which point he said that he was going to go at one of his sisters who lives in the sideline dam.

“He jump out of the bus and by the time we reach back at the party he was already there and say that someone wants to shoot him in the bus and he sat down and kept repeating that someone wants to shoot him in the bus” The 17-year-old explained that by 20:00hrs that night they called a taxi and he, Ravo and a male and female friend joined the car. They stopped off at the Vreed-en-Hoop junction and allowed the car to proceed with Ravo and the female to their destination since the two of them lived in the same direction.

“I walking now to go home and he jump out the car and say I leave him alone, that someone inside the car wants to shoot he so the girl and the car man start to laugh, now he ain’t want to go inside and I stop another car and give the car man the money to drop him home, so now I did not know what going on after then, and I meet home like 9 o’clock and me ain’t know what happen” Romel told the Guyana Chronicle. He said that the next morning Ravo’s mother called him and said that her son had not come home yet. That was on the morning of January 2. The young man explained to this publication that he told the woman he placed her son in a car and he even explained that he tried calling him but was not getting any answer from his mobile phone.

Later that afternoon Ravo’s mother called him and said that he arrived home and said that she needed to talk to him. She told him nothing about her son being sexually assaulted.

14

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

Series - Special Edition

Our guiding Stars

The companions of our noble Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) Say, “If your fathers and your sons and your brothers and your spouses and your clan and the wealth you have earned and the trade you apprehend will recede and the homes you like are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and Jihad in His way, then, wait until Allah comes with His command. Allah does not lead the sinning people to the right path.”

The world once revolved in darkness. The darkness of sin and deviant beliefs. Spiritual darkness.

Filled with chaos and corruption.

Envy and hatred governed the day.

Tribal war and petty conflict raged rampant in every society. Despicable customs and shameful practices prevailed. Modesty and morality dwindled away and human life was trivialized. It had been some time since a divine reminder had come, and mankind, in his forgetful nature, quickly digressed from the path of guidance. The future of humanity seemed very bleak and the cries of the rare reformers fell on deaf ears.

This condition continued for some centuries. At this point our lord the most compassionate, looked upon us with a look of mercy as He raised up from this darkness a shining light in the form of His messenger Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

Guided by nothing more than divine instructions, Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) extinguished the darkness of the world with his life and teachings as a brilliant example.

His teachings illuminated the hearts of those around him and eradicated all falsehood from their lives. They wholeheartedly accepted the new teachings and instilled the pure belief into their souls, thus becoming people of firm faith and outstanding personalities. History has never witnessed such resolute conviction in any teaching, men who devoted their entire lives to a cause in such an extremely fearless manner, with personal sacrifice and exertion, as it has witnessed in these companions of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). It was on the strength of this exemplary behavior that these individuals were raised from the pits of darkness to become guiding stars to success for humanity till the end of time.

The companion’s love for the Prophet

(SallAllahu

‘alaihi wa sallam) “Say [O Muhammad], ‘If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you …’”

(Aal ‘Imraan: 31).

Sahaba love for the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) Somebody asked Ali (RA): How much was the Sahaba’s love for the prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)?

He replied: “By Allah! To us the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is dearer than our riches, our children, and our mothers, and is more cherish able than a drink of cold water at the time of severest thirst”.

There is no exaggeration in Ali’s (R.A) statement. As a matter of fact, the Companions reached this state because of the perfection of their Imaan. It could not be otherwise, in the face of what Allah has enjoined: Say, “If your fathers and your sons and your brothers and your spouses and your clan and the wealth you have earned and the trade you apprehend will recede and the homes you like are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and Jihad in His way, then, wait until Allah comes with His command. Allah does not lead the sinning people to the right path.”

This verse sounds a note of warning against anything else becoming more attractive to the believers than the love of Allah and that of His Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) Anas (R.A) reports that the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said “None of you can be true believers until his love for me is more that his love for his parents, his children and all the people of the world.”

Anas (RA) says that he heard from the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), “There are three things which when found in a person enable him to taste the sweetness of real Imaan. These are:

When Allah and His Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) are dearer to him than anything else in this world.

When his love for anyone is solely for the pleasure of Allah, and When turning to ‘Kufr’ is as abhorrent to him as being flung into the fire” Umar (RA) once said to the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) : “O Prophet of Allah, you are dearer to me than anybody else in the world except my own self.”

The Prophet: “Nobody can be a perfect believer until I am dearer to him than even his own self.”

Umar: “Now you are dearer to me than my own self.”

The Prophet: “Now, O Umar.”

The scholars have given two meanings to the concluding words of the Prophet: “Now you have the real Imaan.”

“Why is it that only now I am dearer to you than your own self? This should have been so long ago.”

A person came to the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and asked: “When shall be the Day of judgment? O Prophet of Allah!”

The Prophet: “What preparations have you made for that Day?” The Person: “O Prophet of Allah!

I do not claim much Salaat, fast and sadaqah to my credit, but I do have in my heart the love of Allah and that of His Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).”

The Prophet: “On the Day of Judgment, you will surely be with whom you love.”

Anas (RA) says: “Nothing did ever make Companions happier than these words of the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).”

They had every reason to be happy when the love of the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had gone deep into every tissue and fiber of their body.

The Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) once said: “Some of my followers coming after me will love me very much. They will wish they could see me even if they had to forego their wealth and their families and sacrifice all their possessions for it.”

During the battle of Uhud, when at one time the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was fiercely attacked by the enemy and two links of the helmet worn by him were struck deep into his head ( or face), Abu Bakr and Abu Ubaidah (R.A) ran to help him. Abu Ubaidah started pulling out the links with his teeth. By the time one of the links was out, he had lost one of his teeth. Without minding this, he again used his teeth to pull out the other link. He succeeded in pulling out that one too, but had to lose another tooth in the effort.

During one of the battles, Zaid (R.A) was captured by the enemy. As he stood at the gallows to be executed, Abu Sufyan said to him: How would you like it if Muham-

mad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) be killed in your place and you be let off to enjoy life with your family?

Zaid (R.A) replied:

By Allah, it is unbearable for me to sit happily with my family while even a torn is pricking the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

On this Abu Sufyan remarked: “There is no parallel anywhere in the world to the love which the companions of Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) have for him”.

• A woman from the tribe of Banu Deenaar lost her husband, father and brother in the battle of Uhud. When she was informed of this, she, (May Allah be pleased with her), asked “But what happened to the Prophet?” The people replied: “All praise is due to Allah, He is as safe as you would wish Him to be.”

She, (May Allah be pleased with her), replied: “Show Him to me so that I can see for myself” so the people pointed Him out. When she saw Him, she said: “Any disaster besides that of losing you is insignificant.”

• ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar, (R.A) asked his father: “Why do you like Usaamah more than me? I swear by Allah that he never beat me to any battle.” ‘Umar, (May Allah be pleased with him), replied: “Because Zaid (Usaamah’s father) was dearer to the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) than your father was, and Usaamah was dearer to the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) than you were.

Therefore, I favor the love of the Prophet over my love.”

• ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, May Allah be pleased with him, said to Al-‘Abbaas (the Prophet’s uncle): “Embrace Islaam! I swear by Allah that it would be more beloved to me if you embraced Islaam than if Al-Khattaab (his own father) did so.”

This was because Al-’Abbaas was dearer to the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) than Al-Khattaab.

• Is-haaq At-Tujayni, (May Allah have mercy upon him), said: “Whenever the companions of the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) mentioned Him after His death, they would shiver and cry.” Al-Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh, may Allah have mercy upon him, added: “This was also what many of the Taabi’een (the generation after the companions) used to do, due to the love for him that they possessed, and longed to see him.

Others also did the same thing, in order to honour him.”

• Mus’ab Ibn ‘Abdullah, (May Allah have mercy upon him), said: “Whenever Imaam Maalik, (May Allah have mercy upon him), would mention the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), his complexion would change and he would bow down his head and cry until it became difficult for those around him to bear. Therefore, one day, the people around him asked about this and he answered them by saying ‘If you saw what I saw, then you would not find what I do strange; I saw Muhammad Ibn Al-Munkadir, (May

Allah have mercy upon him), and he was a master of Qur’aanic recitation, whenever we asked him about a Hadeeth from the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) he would cry. I used to see Ja’far Ibn Muhammad, (May Allah have mercy upon him), who was one of the scholars who feared Allah and was very humorous and always smiling, whenever the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was mentioned in his presence, he would become pale. He never narrated any Hadeeth unless he was in the state of Wudhoo’. Once I became separated from him, then, when I saw him again, he would be praying, reciting the Qur’aan, or keeping silent. He never got involved in matters which did not concern him. I used to visit ‘Aamir Ibn ‘Abdullah Ibn Az-Zubayr, (May Allah have mercy upon him), and when the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was mentioned in his presence, he would cry until the tears ran dry.”

• Al-Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh, (May Allah have mercy upon him), said: “Whoever loves someone will love all that his beloved loves. This is confirmed in the history of the companions of the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). They would practice this to the extent that they would forego things that were permissible for them to keep, or adopt things that were not compulsory or even recommended for them to do so.”

These are the stories of the companions of the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and those who came after. Their immense love for the best of Allah’s creation, the greatest human being to ever walk the face of the earth, a mercy to the worlds. Let us as believers, show the same love for our dear Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) by sacrificing our desires and following his way of life, by embracing his practices and by sending peace and salutations upon him. Let us show the world true dedication and love for Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

Recite frequently.

“Allahumma- Salli -Ala -Muhammadiw –Wa- Ala –Aali-Muhammadin -Kamaa -Sallaita Ala- Ibrahima –Wa- Ala- Aali- Ibrahima- Innaka -Hamidum -Majid. Allahumma Baarik -Ala –Muhammadiw- Wa –Ala- AaliMuhammadin- Kamaa- BaaraktaAla Ibrahima -Wa –Ala- Aali -Ibrahima -Innaka -Hamidum –Majid”.

“O Allah, let Your Blessings come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious” Shayk Abdullah Khan Abdullah.khan@ihsanacademy.org

Caribbean Star Newspaper

F

January 16-22, 2015

15

Marchan: State officials know of Dana’s murder

ormer LifeSport official, Ruth Marchan, resurfaced on a social media site on Monday, accusing top State officials of knowledge of the murder of senior counsel, the late Dana Seetahal. The accusations prompted an immediate denial by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.

Marchan, the former deputy director of physical education at LifeSport, has spent time in hiding after complaining that she was one of four persons targetted for assassination even before one of them, LifeSport colleague, Curtis “Tallman” was murdered by gunmen who burst into his Malabar house in June last year. She has sought refuge in safe houses since, includ-

ing one which was provided by leader of the Independent Liberal Party, Jack Warner.

In a discussion on a reporter’s social media page on Monday with additions up to last night, Marchan said the truth will out and that one State official needs to know that “not everybody is dunce and stupid”.

Further she said another former official had ignored her warnings about LifeSport whom she now expects to end up in jail, along with several other named persons said to be improper beneficiaries of the programme. She alleged that one top beneficiary had previously had a criminal

record for fraud in a foreign country that had been known to State officials but that had been mysteriously wiped clean.

Marchan was high in praise for two top named Opposition politicians for their alleged wise insight into the scandal. Saying all in the dark will come to light, she added, “That is why they want me dead.”

Saying she was among a trio who had come under attack for not following the dictate of one official, she said, “I’m rocking this boat.” Marchan said she will be protected by God from harm, although elsewhere saying, “All of us are ‘going down’ together.”

“God will open people’s eyes to all who

influenced the hit on Dana. Nobody is greater than him. The wrong person you are playing with,” said Marchan.

She said guilty persons are walking free, while innocent persons are in jail over Dana’s death, the latter including a person named as a prime suspect who was since arrested for alleged gang activity.

“The ground will win this war. People are not stupid and I am not afraid of anybody. I have all my evidence.”

Marchan urged Seetahal’s family to reject her posthumous national award. “The Chaconia Gold Medal - total betrayal to a woman who worked hard for her country.

All in the dark will come to light.”

Buddy’s official says connections in housing scheme done through GPL

A

n official of Buddy’s Housing Development has denied that power connections in the company’s Green Acres housing scheme, at Providence, are illegal.

Ryan Shivraj, the manager of Buddy’s Housing Development Project, denied the recent findings by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL).

He said all of the connections in Green Acres have been done through GPL and he is confused about the accusation.

GPL had reported discovering 44 houses and 50 street lights illegally connected.

While documenting the illegal activities, the staff reported that they had encountered hostility from an unidentified man and as a result police officers were brought in.

An official of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) Loss Reduction Division said the power company still hasn’t removed the illegal wiring in the gated community. The official said there are plans to visit the area again and remove the other illegal connections but he did not specify a date.

According to the Buddy’s Housing Development website, the “elaborate residential” Green Acres scheme, which is the largest built by the company, houses 257 potential homes of multiple types.

“It is a gated community, complete with paved roads, streetlamps, and a shopping complex which will allow basic services to be easily within reach.

Equipped for family life, there is access to a swimming pool, tennis court and a basketball court within one’s neighbourhood,” it says.

16

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

CHOP LIKE RAIN

A

GUN-TOTING bandit yesterday morning felt the wrath of a 57-yearold father who preferred to die rather than to have his Moruga home violated. The middle-aged citizen “rained” chops with a cutlass on the armed intruder forcing him to abandon his weapon and flee the house, bleeding and almost bare-footed having left one of his slippers behind.

“I kept thinking to myself that this man came to kill us,” Rupert Ayres told Newsday as he related how he was confronted during the pre-dawn hours yesterday by the intruder who was armed with a 16-gauge shotgun.

“I wanted to kill him and take off his mask and show the world who he was...so I kept pelting chops at him,” Ayres said.

The drama began at 2.20 am when Ayres who was in bed with his 11-year-old son Keylon, was awakened by the sound of a front door latch being unlocked. “I heard like the door was opening and I

just jumped up and sat on the bed listening,” Ayres said.

“There was silence after the latch opened and I could feel like someone was already in the house,” Ayres said.

“Without hesitation I carefully reached for my cutlass which was under my bed.”

Ayres said that for a few seconds there was absolute silence until he heard a creak as if someone had stepped on the wooden flooring in front of his bedroom. “I knew for sure there was someone in my house who came to rob or kill us and I was not going to allow that,” he said.

As the masked gunman was about to enter the bedroom, Ayres was already prepared.

“I could see his shadow from inside the bedroom but he could not see me,” Ayres said.

“I was about to kill him. As he was about to open the curtain, I shouted, ‘you are not going to kill us!’.”

With these words, Ayres began swinging his cutlass at the man, succeeding in chopping him on different parts of his

body. The house remained in darkness.

“I lured him out of the bedroom and away from my son and I just kept aiming chops at him,” Ayres said, adding that the intruder wore a white mask and was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Ayres said the bandit used his shotgun to fend off the chops. “I was not going to stop until he was dead. I am telling you...I wanted this man dead,” Ayres said. He managed to chop the bandit several times before the intruder jumped through a glass window in the living room.

“He headed straight for the glass louvres and jumped,” Ayres related. “He just went through the louvres and landed in a drain.” The distance from the window to the drain is approximately eight feet.

“When I looked outside, it was still dark but I could see him running out of my yard into the road,” he said. During the scuffle, the bandit’s rubber slippers fell off his feet.

The intruder’s shotgun was

found inside the drain.

“I am not a rich person,” Ayres told Newsday. “I had 25 dollars on me and that is all. So you break in my house to kill me and my son and for what...twenty-five dollars?

This is madness,” he said.

Ayres says he is still in shock over the incident saying this was his first brush with crime in the 25 years he had lived in Douglas Trace, St Mary’s Village, Moruga.

“I know how bad crime has reached in this country because everyone wants a free meal and rather thief and kill to get it. But I didn’t think crime would have reached inside my home.”

Police officers investigating the incident believe the intruder was chopped several times and have called on all medical institutions to report anyone seeking treatment for chop wounds.

The shotgun has since been sent to the Forensic Science Centre, St James for tests. Investigations are continuing.

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

Gov’t calls on Opposition to apologise to Norway, IDB - over wild accusations about Amaila Falls Project

T

HE following is a press statement issued late last night by the Office of the President, calling on the Opposition to “immediately apologise” to the government of Norway and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for deigning to suggest that they are involved in a conspiracy to violate the Constitution of Guyana. The following is the full text of the statement: “For several years, the Opposition has revelled in spreading lies and distortions about Guyana’s development initiatives. Their sole objective has been to destroy the results of hard work undertaken by Guyanese over many years to advance our country.

“In its desperate attempts to destroy development projects, the Opposition frequently resorts to false accusations of corruption where none exists, in order to create a fog of mis-information that sows doubts and fears in the minds of the people of Guyana.

“In their latest foray this week, they have surpassed themselves by suggesting that the Government of Norway and the Inter-American Development Bank are “colluding with the Government of Guyana to violate the Constitution of Guyana”. Even by the standards of the Opposition’s ever-increasing wildness in their accusations, this is quite something.

GOV’T CALLS ON OPPOSITION | see page 28

Pta. Bharati Ramsamooj B.A. Founder & Advisor

Registered :- October 21st 1998 Our Mission To promote East Indian Culture and Spiritual awareness through Music, Language, and other Art Forms.

We are committed to helping our students raise their level of ethical and moral consciousness so that they are better prepared to meet the challenges of the society in which they live.

Classes are available for Classical Vocal, Bhajans, Ghazals, Geets, Folk and other light vocal forms; Tabla, Harmonium, Violin, Flute, Sarangi, Sarod, Sitar and other Indian instruments. We offer courses in Hindi, Sanskrit and Moral education - teaching from the Vedas, Upnashidas, Bhagvat Gita, and Ramayan

Register now and get 50% OFF first two months Fees.

17

Located at 126 - 10 111 Avenue, South Ozone Park. Ny 11420.

For further information call:www. eima.us

718 738 7836.

email: office @eima.us

Now affiliated with University of Massachusetts

18

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Mohabir Intl. Trading

Available for whole sale

COMING SOON Guyana fresh steam katahar

For info and order call

347-759-3934

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

19

THINGS WE PRAY FOR As we continue our 21 days of Fasting and prayer, we ought to have a focus on specific things we will seek God for.

What are you asking for? There are many needs, but what matters most are the changes God wants to make in our hearts.

He wants to make us more like His Son Jesus Christ. Let these be days when we will lay our lives bare before God, holding back nothing, hiding nothing, allowing the Holy Spirit to turn on the search light within our souls and showing us what He wants to root out and what He wants to build up. We must strive to identify our weaknesses and short-comings and ask Him to change them. We must crave more of the Fruit and Gifts of the Holy Spirit. An excellent assessment of our Christianity can come from our own homes. How does your Christianity play out at home? If your Christianity doesn’t work in your home, it won’t work anywhere else.

Here are some Scriptural Prayer Points: The Bible has numerous passages where prayers were said. These can provide excellent topics for our prayer list as we go before the Lord. Here are a few examples of Biblical things to pray for that can be life changing. The following passages are quoted from the Amplified Bible.t.

Ephesians 1:15-19 – pray for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Jesus personally, the hope and inheritance we have in Him, and knowledge of His power working in us. «[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated

in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],» Psalm 139:23-24 – pray that He will reach into the deepest recesses of our being and deal with unpleasant things that hurt us and others around us. “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The Holy Spirit search our hearts.

Psalm 19:13 – «Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression.” If we are honest and confess our sins and the temptations that test our faith, God is able to preserve us from presumptuous sins.

Luke 22:42 – «Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.” This is the Ultimate Prayer we can pray.

Pray for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:14 «All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brother!» As the early church prayed, listen what happened. Acts 2:1-4 records, “AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].” It does not stop there! The Word also promises this gift to everyone who receives Jesus as Savior and Lord. Acts 2:38-39 “And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself.”

Praying over the Word is powerful Christians should use Bible study as part of prayer and devotional time. In prayer, we talk to God; In reading the Bi-

ble God speaks to us. This makes prayer a conversation. God speaks through His Word. What He says He will do. He certainly wants to change our circumstances, but more importantly He wants to change our hearts. He can show us what needs to be changed in our hearts. Our behavior is a display of what prevails upon our hearts. Our thoughts are revealed in our actions. Every outward manifestation is indication of some inward condition.

When you pray, get ready to hear from the Holy Spirit and let Him change you.

As we pray, let us humble ourselves, confess our failures and weaknesses, and ask God to make more like Jesus. Let us come broken and ask God for His Spirit to reign in us. If He reigns, we can be effective witnesses for Christ. As we surrender to God’s will, it could cost us something, but it will be worth it when we see Jesus in Heaven.

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

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

President meets Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan

P

RESIDENT Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar had the honour of meeting Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan during a visit to Maharashtra, earlier this week.

President Donald Ramotar meets Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan during his visit to India

President Donald Ramotar meets Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan during his visit to India The President and wife also met with the state’s Governor, Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan. The Governor’s wife Vinodha, state Industries Minister, Subhash Desai, Minister for Housing, Mining and Labour, Prakash Mehta and Bachchan were among those present on the occasion.

President Ramotar was on a six-day official visit to India during which he was awarded the prestigious Privasi Bharatiya Samman award for his immense contribution in the field of public service and for fostering ties between Guyana and India.

New secondary school among projects budgeted for 2015 in Region 2

Region Two Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud

R

EGION 2 Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud has said that the Regional Administration has budgeted for a new, modern secondary school for Abram Zuil among several major projects for 2015.

Speaking on an RCA Channel 8 programme with Minister Norman Whittaker on Wednesday in Essequibo, Mr. Persaud said the new secondary school is listed in the capital works programme for this year, and once the national budget for this year is passed in Parliament, the project will come on stream.

In highlighting some of the major projects for Region 2 for this year, the chairman said the main canal is also listed for desilting, so farmers can have a better flow of irrigation water from conservancies to their rice fields; and the Region 2 budget has catered for a new power station with three new engines to give a reliable supply of electricity to residents, and to meet the demand of the business and manufacturing sectors.

He said also that it has been budgeted for Charity and the schemes to have a better potable water system, and for a $75M rice cereal factory to be constructed at Anna Regina so the rice industry can have value-added industries.

Mr. Persaud said a new, modern hospital is also budgeted for this year. The building is to be constructed with three wings, and the Charity hospital will be fully equipped this year to perform surgeries. Oxygen will also be available to all patients at health centres across the coast.

The Chairman said the budget would also cater for a secondary education programme to be started this year at Kabakaburi, and for the road leading to Red Lock Bridge aback Anna Regina to be upgraded and paved. The road leading to Mashabo is also budgeted for upgrading this year.

The Chairman said the Anna Regina Multilateral School playground is budgeted for development this year, so that schools can use it for their sports activities. He said more dams leading to rice fields are budgeted for upgrading with sand and loam, while the Dawa Pump Station is listed for maintenance work during 2015.

The Chairman said a large pump will also be set up at Lima this year to improve drainage. He said the contract for the setting up of the pump is already awarded to Mr. Doodnauth Samaroo of Hampton Court.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Rugen Fisch Welch's smoked herring Concord fillets grape jelly 6.7oz

$1

32oz

99 $ 6.99

Lipton tea bags -2 boxes

Caprisun 10 pouches-6oz

$5

00 $ 6.99

$1

99 $ 5.00

Listerine twin pack 3 liters

2 for

$10

99 10.99

$

• Lamb black pudding

$16 6.99

Honey bunches of oats cereal

3 PACK

$

99

• White pudding Allegra macaroni-16 oz

• Souse $

.79c

krishna vegetable ghee

Ovaltine

$6

$5

$12

99 $ 13.99

Nescafe Taster's choice instant coffee -12oz

Colgate cavity protection

$9

Crest cavity protection reg toothpaste 4pk

99 $ 8.99

800g

4.4lbs

99 $ 3.00

Gatorade -32oz 2 for

99 $ 3.99

Goya chick peas 6lb 14oz

Chief Chinese sauce

Ajax dish liquid

$3

$5

90oz

28oz

99 9.99

Irish Spring Soap - 20 pk

$

Palmolive dish liquid original -90oz

99 6.99

$

Dove beauty soap

Tide plus downy

ALL detergent

Febreze air effects

$15

$12

$15

$6

16 bars

99 13.99

Olay Ultra Moisture soap -16 bars

$

140oz

99 26.99

Tide powder bucket -9kg

$

21

Now available

Cheerios reg whole grain cereal

5 pc 8.2oz Jergens lotion triple pack

NYQUIL OR ZZZQUIL

Quaker oats 2-40oz pks

40.7oz Champion chowmein 4 for

January 16-22, 2015

225oz

99 19.99

Tide liquid -156oz

$

3cans 9.7oz

99 0.69 each

Scott toilet tissue single roll

$

22

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

23

24

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

WORLD FAMOUS PALMIST & SPIRITUALIST PANDITH: RAMAN SHASTRY

300 years traditional

Are you disappointed meeting astrologers and not gettting solutions then once meet god gifted Spiritualist - Pandith Raman Shastry to get permanent solution to all your problems.

SKILEED IN ASTROLOGY *PALMISTRY *NUMEROLOGY *HOROSCOPE & *FACE READING

SUGGESTIONS & SOLUTIONS ON: • Business Problems • Love Problems • Money Problems • Enemy Problems • Family Argument • Jealousy • Childless Couples • Marriage Problems

• Sexual Problems • Property • House Problems • Worried about loved ones

100% Guaranteed Result

OVER POWERS IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEMS

He can Handle, Remove & Destroy Black Magic, Voodoo, Obey, Witchcraft Demonic Forces, Evil, Bad Luck & all Negativity and Gives Protection Destroy your problems before they destroy you and live a life of happiness, peace, love, and prosperity like a millions of people across the world.

Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 8:00pm | 7 DAYS A WEEK Private and Confidential CALL FOR APPOINTMENT WITH SPIRITUAL HEALER Private House (only apnt.)

347-341-2541

718-690-4564

103-02 Lefferts Blvd. S.Richmond Hill. NY 11419 (Private House)

164-08 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica, NY 11432

646-255-3052

Our Village

We specialize in West Indian dishes & Fresh Pastries

ROTI SHOP

Tel: 718-740-1011 211-61 Jamaica Ave., Queens Village, N.Y 11428 BREAKFAST Plain Vegetable is $5.00 With Chicken or Shrimp $6.00 *Katahar $8.00 *Bake & Saltfish $5.00 *Pumpkin *Ochro * Cabbage *Spinach * Bora * Saltfish (All Served with Oil Roti or Dhallpuri or White Rice)

Lunch Fish................................... $7.00 (Tilapia, Butter fish and Banga)

Hassa................................ $8.00 Gillbaker........................ $10.00 Snapper.......................... $10.00 Shrimp............................. $9.00 Duck.............................. $10.00 Goat................................. $8.00 Curry Chicken............... $7.00 Stew Chicken.................. $7.00 Crab Curry...................... $9.00 (All Served with Oil Roti or Dhallpuri or White Rice) Cook up Rice............ $7.00 Sm Cook up Rice........... $10.00 Lg Fried Rice.................. $7.00 Sm Chowmein................ $7.00 Sm

Beans and Rice........ $10.00 Lg Fried Fish......................... $1.25 Fried Chicken................. $1.25 BBQ Chicken.................. $1.25 Jerk Chicken.................... $1.25 Dhal (A Cup).................. $1.25 Jerk Chicken.................... $1.50 Dhal Puri......................... $2.00 Oil Roti............................ $1.75 Sada Roti......................... $1.50 Bake.................................. $1.00

Lunch

Week End Special

*Pepper Pot................... $10.00 *Pachonie...................... $10.00 *Ox Tail......................... $ *Soup..............................$

Snacks Egg Ball............................ $1.25 Cassava Ball........... 2 for $1.00 Fish Cake......................... $1.00 Phoulourie.............. 6 for $1.00 Chicken Patties............... $1.25

Pastries Cheese Roll...................... $1.00 Pinetart............................ $1.00 Chinee Cake.................... $1.00 Salara................................ $1.00 Sponge Cake.................... $1.50 Pone.................................. $1.50

Snacks Sugar Cakes..................... $1.50 Fudge................................ $1.50 Split Channa.................... $1.50 Whole Channa................ $1.50 Curma.............................. $1.50 Saltseao............................ $1.50 Plantain Chip.................. $1.50 Nut Crush........................ $1.50 Tamarind Balls....... 2 for $1.00

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

25

You can’t control the future.

But you can prepare for it.

Term life insurance protects your family and your budget.

W

hether you’re a parent planning for a child’s education or a small business owner poised for growth, one thing is certain— there’s not much you can do to control the future.

The good news is, there’s plenty you can do to prepare for it.

Believe it or not, life often follows a fairly predictable path. While there

may be occasional detours along the way, we generally know what lies ahead.

Marriage, children, homeownership and retirement are events most of us will share. How well we handle these events is often a matter of planning.

Take something as inevitable as death. We all know it’s coming—the only real question is when. If it comes too early, it could

pose significant financial challenges for your family. That’s where term life insurance can help.

Term life insurance offers young families and those on a budget an affordable way to protect their future.

Term life insurance provides quality, dependable coverage for a specific period of time. Depending on the amount of coverage you select, these policies can help make sure your family will have the money needed to keep a roof over their heads, pay for college, or simply meet all of their day-to-day responsibilities. And, as your financial circumstances change in the future, a term poli-

cy can often be upgraded to permanent life insurance, which can provide a lifetime of protection and peace of mind.

While we may not be able to predict every moment the future has in store, it makes sense to prepare for the ones we can. And with term life insurance, it may be more affordable than you realize.

This educational third-party article is being 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

New York Life Insurance Company

JEAN TRAVEL & TOURS A WORLDWIDE SERVICE Located at 175-14 Hillside Avenue 2nd Floor Jamaica,NY11432

TEL:718-658-6100 ASK FOR JEAN

AD ID

IN

ALL FEARS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

TR

G

A N A Y U

FOR THE BEST RATES & PACKAGES CALL NOW LOW FARES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

26

Caribbean Star Newspaper PBA’s Patrick Lynch spurs yelling, shoving among cops over NYPD-City Hall feud January 16-22, 2015

T

he Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association was not so much on Tuesday as some cops shouted down Lynch regarding his demand that Mayor de Blasio apologize over comments related to race and police relations.

Not exactly the blueprint for a more perfect union.

Members of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association nearly came to blows on Tuesday during a meeting of delegates in Queens. There was pushing, shoving and lots of screaming at Patrick Lynch, president of the 23,000-member union.

The in-house battle erupted over the issue of what patrol officers really need — an apology from Mayor de Blasio or better equipment and more officers to back them up on the streets.

“This is what my members want!” a cop yelled near the end of the raucous meeting. “They want more cars, better vests, more manpower!”

And then the cop — one of about 350 in attendance — took a verbal jab at Lynch, who has called on de Blasio to offer a mea culpa for his continued lack of support for police.

“They don’t want an apology,” he said.

At the peak of the clash, about 100 cops were standing and screaming at Lynch, sources told the Daily News.

“I don’t care about an apology!” another PBA member shouted. “I want to

Antun's in Queens was the scene of Monday's contentious PBA meeting

Lynch later blamed the incident on 'a few agitators bent on their own self-agendas.' know what you’re going to do to protect us!”

The battle lines were clear when the meeting took an ugly turn. The Lynch supporters were generally from Manhattan and his detractors were delegates from Brooklyn and the Bronx, sources said.

“They were screaming,” one of the

sources said. “Lynch’s guys got up and there was shoving and pushing.”

There were no reported injuries at Antun’s, a catering hall in Queens Village. The fracas was first reported by the Daily News.

Some of the delegates at the meeting blamed Lynch for ordering a recent slowdown in arrests and summonses — a claim the PBA boss has denied. And, sources said, they accused him of buckling under pressure once NYPD brass made it clear they expected police activity to return to normal.

A source added that delegates have been peppering the PBA leadership for answers.

“They want to know if there’s a plan,” the source said, referring to whether cops should make more arrests.

Cops also wanted to know what happened at a Dec. 30 meeting of five police union heads, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and de Blasio at the Police Academy in Queens.

“They asked Lynch directly: ‘What did you ask the mayor for?’ ” the source added.

But Lynch provided no answers.

The yelling and screaming lasted about 10 minutes before Lynch stormed out.

“He didn’t want to talk about it,” the source said. “He said, ‘Everything we say gets back to the media.’ ” Lynch wouldn’t directly answer questions from The News either. In a statement, Lynch later blamed the brouhaha on “a few agitators bent on their own self-agendas.”

NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi ANDREW SCHWARTZ/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Lynch later blamed the incident on 'a few agitators bent on their own self-agendas.'

“The frustration with the mayor’s policies and concerns for safety continues to be expressed by our members,” Lynch said.

“They are rightly angered by the lack of support from City Hall, the dangerous lack of staffing, the lack of proper equipment to deal with the lethal environment we face and the reinstituted

Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins, right, blamed the decline of NYPD arrests and summons on 'a hesitancy' brought on by Eric Garner’s July 17 death in a police chokehold. quota policies.”

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton acknowledged Friday that a “slowdown” in arrests and summonses was reflected in crime stats in the weeks after the Dec. 20 execution of Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos in Brooklyn. He said Monday that the numbers were on their way back up and has insisted there are no quotas.

In a related development on Tuesday, the Lieutenants Benevolent Association delivered a three-page letter to the mayor’s office suggesting ways to “remedy the estrangement” between cops and the administration.

The letter says that de Blasio “initiated dialogue” with organizers of the various protest groups as they prepared to disrupt the city after a jury decided not to indict the cop who killed Eric Garner in a chokehold on Staten Island July 17.

PBA President Pat Lynch speaks about meeting with Commissioner Bratton WPIX – New York “Mr. Mayor, this led to the perception of you and your administration aligning yourselves with the protesters,” the letter states.

Earlier in the day, Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins blamed the decline in arrests and summonses on “a hesitancy” brought on by Garner’s death.

“What we have is no clarity as to the position of whether we should be fully enforcing these quality-of-life crimes or not,” Mullins said on Geraldo Rivera’s radio show on WABC-AM.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

27

Fly in the Comfort of Air India with Kali Bharat Yatra

TEL 718-291-9292 CELL 917-407-9090

Celebrate Holi in India in o J e Com &T KT

FEB 28 - MARCH 10, 2015 VISITING: DELHI - AKSHARDHAM RISHIKESH /HARIDWAR - AGRA TAJ MAHAL - JAIPUR - FATEHPUR SIKRI - MATHURA/BRINDAVAN UDAIPUR - MUMBAI (BOMBAY)

Yes! You Can Still Get On Board, But Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

JUST A FEW MORE SEATS LEFT CALL TODAY

TO GET ON BOARD CALL KALI TRAVEL AND TOURS (KT&T) 718-291-9292 • CELL 917-407-9090

28

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

World News Highlights

CAIRO - Arab foreign ministers on Thursday endorsed a Palestinian plan to resubmit a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council calling for Israel to withdraw from occupied territories by late 2017.

MOSCOW - Ten days after cutting off his monitoring tag and declaring he would not stay under house arrest, Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny says Russian police are standing by while he walks out of his door.

PARIS - The French investigation into last week’s Paris shootings is exploring the possible role of Djamel Beghal, an Islamist suspected of first bringing the gunmen together and putting them on the path from impressionable youths to cold-blooded killers.

T

BRUSSELS - Two people were killed during a Belgian police counter-terrorism operation in the town of Verviers on Thursday, local media said, raising concerns about security in Europe a week after Islamists killed 17 people in Paris.

BRUSSELS - Belgian public television channel RTBF said on its website that it had reports of three people being killed during a police counter-terrorism raid in Verviers in the east of the country.

PARIS - President Francois Hollande assured Muslims in France and abroad on Thursday that his country respected them and their religion but would not compromise its commitment to freedom and democracy.

MADRID - Spain’s High Court on Thursday ordered an investigation into time spent in the country

by French supermarket gunman Amedy Coulibaly days before he launched a deadly attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris.

ROME - Two Italian aid workers taken hostage in Syria five months ago have been released and will soon return home, Italy’s government said on Thursday.

the fact that the persons on the vessel had no knowledge that the drugs were there has to be taken into consideration.

While explaining that the GRA has jurisdiction over the vessel and CANU has jurisdiction over the cocaine found, he said that the revenue body was presently working on a settlement so that the vessel can be released.

He said that keeping the vessel in continued detention, among the things that would have to be addressed is a place to store it. Sattaur pointed out there have been similar cases in the past and they have all been resolved through settlements.

“We impose what the law allows.

The law allows for us to be engaged in settlement,” he said, while stressing that while the law provides for forfeiture, a fine can be imposed as another course of action.

He later confirmed that the GRA has been in contact with the owners of the vessel. According to Sattaur, with this type of situation a number of issues can arise, inclusive of loss of income.

DAKAR - The four African nations most threatened by Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram must put aside mutual distrust and agree on a command structure and strategy for a fledgling regional force if they want to defeat the militants, a top U.N. official said.

CAIRO - Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said after “constructive” talks in Cairo on Thursday he hoped that a Canadian journalist working for Al Jazeera television could be released before long from an Egyptian prison.

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is alarmed that Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in a downward spiral of actions and counter actions and calls on both sides not to exacerbate existing divisions, a senior U.N. official said on Thursday.

AMSTERDAM - Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court will need extra funding to revive a long-dormant case against a Lord’s Resistance Army commander who was arrested in Africa last week, sources said on Thursday.

GENEVA - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Saudi Arabia on Thursday to stop the serial flogging of an atheist and civil rights blogger sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes over an extended period.

PARIS - France’s foreign minister will soon travel to Morocco to temper a row with its former colony almost a year after it suspended judicial cooperation between the two states leaving gaps in security coordination over Islamic militants.

ALGIERS - Algerian special forces believe they have found the body of Herve Gourdel, a French tourist kidnapped and beheaded by Islamist militants last year while hiking in mountains east of Algiers, a security source said on Thursday.

GRA exploring fine for release of cocaine ship

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the management of the MV Delta Dies, the cargo ship on which a container with 192.4 kilos of cocaine was recently found, are currently engaged in talks that could see a fine being paid for the release of the vessel.

This is according to GRA head Khurshid Sattaur, who says there are provisions for settlements as well as forfeiture in the Customs Act. Currently, the police and the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) are awaiting legal advice as it pertains to drug trafficking charges being instituted against the captain and two of his crew members who were held after the discovery of the narcotics.

Sattaur, asked whether authorities in Guyana would take control of the vessel or if it would be released, stated that there are a number of things outlined in the Act as it relates to seizure and forfeiture of a vessel on which drugs is found.

He indicated that there are some legal difficulties that the revenue body will have to deal with and he pointed out that

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro held a “detailed discussion” on the global oil market situation, Interfax news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying after the leaders’ meeting on Thursday.

He said that such cases can be challenged by international lawyers. The GRA, he said, lacks lawyers who can successfully challenge these kinds of things.

He said that in lieu of court proceedings, there can be settlements in the form of a fine, which he determines to be appropriate.

The ship had travelled from Suriname to Guyana and was scheduled to leave Guyana for Spain then to Holland and finally to Belgium.

After it arrived in Guyana in the first weekend of the new year, it travelled to Linden, where bauxite was loaded. It was, however, under surveillance by local authorities, who were tipped off by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC).

The drugs were packed in 185 packages or bricks, which were concealed under the pallets of a container aboard the vessel. The discovery was made by CANU investigators with assistance from the Guyana Revenue Auth-ority’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division and the Drug Examination Unit.

GOV’T CALLS ON OPPOSITION | from page 17 “The Government does not intend to lower itself to engaging with such a preposterous assertion as has been made, but calls on the Opposition to immediately apologise to Norway and the Inter-American Development Bank. Both have long been supporters of Guyana, the global fight against poverty, and the international community’s efforts to combat climate change. Their motivation in assisting the people of Guyana is purely honourable. Moreover, the idea that such a conspiracy could be concocted between the Government of Guyana, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Norway is simply ridiculous.

“The Government, instead, would like to repeat the following points: “On October 24, 2014, His Excellency President Donald Ramotar gave an address to the nation, concerning Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy, with a specific focus on Amaila Falls.

“In his address, President Ramotar pointed out that of the US$150M received by Guyana to date in payments for forest carbon, US$80M would be invested as Guyana’s equity in the Amaila Falls project. This is the same position that has been repeated for years, and which the Opposition previously supported.

“The President pointed out that in August 2013, ‘self-serving political games attempted to destroy the project that was about to benefit all Guyanese by providing them with affordable, reliable, clean energy.’

“His Excellency then proceeded to give the strong commitment that he would not give up in the face of such base-less attacks and that his Government would remain steadfast in pursuing this transformative project.

“The Opposition refuses to acknowledge that Government made more than four presentations to them on the Amaila Falls project, starting in March 2012 through August 2013. In addition, the Government shared the principal confidential agreements in the project and requested comments / questions on these documents. No questions were received.

“Instead of constructive dialogue and engagement, the Opposition is now focusing on disparaging our reputable international partners such as the IDB and Government of Norway, an ill-advised strategy that assumes that the Guyanese people and the world will choose to believe the picture painted by the Opposition vs. the rigorous standards that these institutions abide by.

“The simple fact is the people of Guyana are paying too much for power that is too unreliable. The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project offers the opportunity to address this critical need. It seems that since the Government is committed to bringing the benefits of this project to the people, the Opposition’s intent is to prevent its development. The Government will persevere despite these narrow-minded attacks and will continue to do what’s in the best interest of all Guyanese.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

The Advantages of an Older Sibling

M

y name is Priyanka Ramdihal and I am 9 years-old. It is indeed a blessing to be a member of the Naaujavan Mandlee Youth Group of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir. My article today is about the advantages of having an older sibling. On behalf of all the younger siblings out there I confess as much as there are times that we disagree with our older siblings there are still advantages of having one.

One advantage of having an older sibling is they are role models.

They are role models because they teach us things that are most significant. My older sister is my role model because she has taught me to put my education first.

When I do homework and there are questions I do not understand, my older sister is there to teach me step by step so I can understand. When I finally understand it inspires me. It inspires me because her confidence in me gives me confidence in myself.

Older siblings can help you become a better person. They can motivate you when you are down about things.

My older sister pushes me to become a better person. She has taught me things that I should remember each day. One of them is to have faith

I

in yourself. When you have a bad day and you think it it is only getting worse , older siblings are right behind you cheering you up. They look out for you and remind you as much as things may become challenging, you shouldn’t give up. We should be able to take on these challenges and succeed.

Older siblings become our best friends at a young age. We should be able to talk to them and ask advice on problems we can’t figure out or just express feelings.

They take us places and have fun. My older sister has taken me places such as chucky chesses, the movies, Cold stone icecream and many other places. Going to all these places with her has created memories we can

talk about in the future. . As I get older, my older sibling has taught me that family is the most important thing and without family we would have nothing.

On behalf of all the younger siblings out there I confess as much as there are times that we disagree with our older siblings they are still advantages of having one. They are role models because they teach us things that are most significant to our lives. Older siblings can help you become a better person. Older siblings remind what is important in life and how to cherish those important things. The biggest advantage is they help us become more confident in ourselves.

Jai Ho

16yr-old boy talks about the reality of Public Schools

have been going to a private school for some time, about 9yrs. I don’t really have any real experience or knowledge about public school. This led me to interview a boy in my class, Yusuf Rahman. Since he enrolled here in 5th grade, I’ve seen him as one of a kind. I didn’t have a friendship with Yusuf, but you can learn a lot about a person just by sitting in the same class as him/her. In a typical classroom, there are different groups of people; the smart ones, the egotistic ones, the “dumb and I’m proud!” ones, the all-rounders, etc... I have always seen Yusuf as a class clown. He was never really serious about school and just seemed really anxious to leave for public school after 9th grade.

To my astonishment, he has returned now in 11th grade. I asked him some simple questions, and these were his responses: Me: Please state your name.

Yusuf Rahman: Yusuf Rahman.

Me: When did you leave this private school?

Yusuf Rahman: After 9th grade Me: Why? Yusuf Rahman: I wanted to explore the other options a little bit. I thought that I needed a change, and wanted to learn about different things.

Me: In 6 words, describe public school.

Yusuf Rahman: Unorganized, a lot of fun, people with bad behavior, and easy to mess up.

Me: That wasn’t 6 but we’ll make it work. Was the academic curriculum taught in public school better than that of private school?

Yusuf Rahman: No, it was terrible.

Me: Did you learn anything new?

Yusuf Rahman: Only a few things.

I joined theater and learned a couple of things about it. Other than that, it was very easy to get distracted from learning.

Me: Do you think that your academic progress improved in public school?

Yusuf Rahman: Not at all. I did horrible.

Me: Did your public school experience make you a better person?

Yusuf Rahman: In some ways, it did. The experience taught me how easy it is to mess up, and how hard life is when you have your own responsibilities. People I know think that I am more mature now than before.

Me: What aspects of public school have had a negative effect on you?

Yusuf Rahman: Drugs was a big factor. It led to me skipping school.

Teachers don’t really care about you in public school.

Me: Ok, if that’s for teachers, what about students?

Yusuf Rahman: They don’t care either. They just pretend to be your friends, just to get what they want.

Me: Would you say that’s the same situation in Islamic school?

Yusuf Rahman: Islamic school is much better. It’s the place to be if you are serious about learning. But if you want to have fun and do all the dumb stuff, public school is the place for you.

Me: What type of school do you prefer?

Yusuf Rahman: I prefer this private school. When I get older, I would like to put my kids through an Islamic private school.

Me: Why did you come back to this private school?

Yusuf Rahman: Two reasons; I needed my credits that this school offers, and I noticed all the bad that I would do.

Me: So you wanted to change?

Yusuf Rahman: Yes. Me: Do you regret going to public school?

Yusuf Rahman: Not terribly. I did learn the some stuff that I needed to learn for myself, like life lessons.

Me: Do you miss public school?

Yusuf Rahman: I miss the freedom a lot. But in this school, they teach you for the right reasons – to help you succeed in the future.

Me: So it was worth coming back?

Yusuf Rahman: Yes. I’d rather suffer now and live a good life in the future than live life now and suffer in the future.

Me: Would you recommend that a student from a religious private school go to public school?

Schenectady Resident Sentenced To 1/ To 4 Years In Prison For Vehicular Manslaughter In Death Of 59-Year-Old Woman

Q

ueens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that a 24-year-old Schenectady, New York man, who pleaded guilty in November 2014 to vehicular manslaughter, has been sentenced to 1% to 4 years in prison for the crash that killed a 59-year-old woman in September 2013.

Queens District Attorney Brown said, “This case is yet another tragic example of how deadly motor vehicles can be and the consequences of climbing behind the wheel of an automobile after consuming alcohol. The defendant pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and has now been sentenced to prison for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Vishwanand Subryan, 24, of 830 Hamilton Street in Schenectady, New York. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular manslaughter on November 10, 2014, before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Suzanne Melendez. Yesterday, Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Dorothy Chin-Brandt imposed an indeterminate sentence of 1% to 4 years behind bars and 3 years post-release ignition interlock.

District Attorney Brown said that, according to the charges, two New York City police officers assigned to the 102nd Precinct were on 117th Street at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13, 2013, when

29

they heard a loud bang coming from behind them. The officers observed the defendant driving a silver Toyota Camry speed past them. The defendant was exceeding the speed limit by roughly 30 miles per hour, he failed to stop at a stop sign and continued through a solid red light. The officers pursued the defendant and pulled him over.

According to court records, said District Attorney Brown, an intoxilyzer test administrated at the 112th Precinct showed the defendant had a blood alcohol level of .09 percent - above the legal limit of .08 percent in New York State. At the scene of the loud bang, Raj K. Chohan, 59, was found on the ground between two parked cars in cardiac arrest. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Assistant District Attorney Marilyn A. Filingeri, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Investigations Bureau, prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter T. Reese, Bureau Chief, and Peter J. McCormack III and Richard B. Schaeffer, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and John W. Kosinski, Vehicular Homicide Unit Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Charles A. Testagrossa and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.

Yusuf Rahman: Not at all! Here, they let you graduate in 11th grade why would you stay for another year?

Me: Anything other than early graduation?

Yusuf Rahman: If you want to be serious in your education, stay in private school.

Me: Is there anything else you would like to say about public school?

Yusuf Rahman: If you go to public school, don’t do drugs, bad things, or cut school. It’s very easy to get distracted there.

Me: How did your parents view the situation?

Yusuf Rahman: They didn’t like the things I would do in public school, but it was my decision to return to this private school. When you make mistakes, you learn from them.

Me: Do you think you’re a better person?

Yusuf Rahman: Not entirely, but Insha’Allah (God willing), I will get better as time passes.

I must say that Yusuf’s responses were unexpected. I could never fathom that a person could leave the confines of a private school, gain their freedom and yet choose to return. He did more than just return; he came back with a new perspective and purpose. His experiences in public school caused him to really think about the reality of life. Yusuf seems to be a changed person. I say this after a day of observing his everyday routine. However, not everyone is as lucky as Yusuf. Some people leave for public schools and are negatively affected by the environment. For some, they have forgotten who they are, where they’re from, and where they’re going. I am now of the belief that public school may not be the place for me. This is why I pray for all youths, in private and in public school. I ask God to make it easier for us to do good and harder to do evil, and to make us people with strong faith, respected by all.

Written by Iram Fatima Mansoor Al-Ihsan Academy Grade 11A

Police seek fake cop in rape at Ozone Park hotel

C

ops are looking for a creep who impersonated a cop and raped a woman in Brooklyn after hiring her to give him a massage, officials said.

The man, who responded to a Craig's List ad for a half-hour massage, met his 25-year-old masseusse on Oct. 26 at the Linden Motor Inn in Ozone Park.

After the massage, he identified himself as a police oficer - displaying a gold and blue "FDA" badge - and then raped her, cops said.

The suspect stole the woman''s cellphone and cash, before taking off in a black C-Class Mercedes Benz. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with yellow lettering, light blue ripped jeans and black sneakers.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

30

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

Speak when you are angry, and you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret.

— Lawrence J. Peter.

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Handle any outstanding legal matters or kick off new projects at the beginning of the week. A proactive approach to all aspects of your life can lead to serious progress now. Around Thursday and Friday, the universe asks you to read between the lines and go beyond the obvious. A little solo contemplation is very fruitful as well – look within and discover the source of your current state of mind and heart. When the weekend comes, you’re all fired up, and meeting new people is a grand idea. You might just make a great connection.

CANCER

(June 21-July 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)

The universe may provide something that jolts you out of your routine at the beginning of the week, and if not, you might think about mixing it up yourself. Go someplace new; get a different point of view. You may feel unusually vulnerable or moody around Thursday and Friday, and it’s important to pinpoint the source of this sensitivity or these emotions. Do something physical, too; it will help you destress and get grounded. You might walk to work, go to yoga or try kickboxing. This weekend, wrapping others around your little finger is remarkably easy, so choose whom you exercise your charm on with care.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Two heads are better than one at the beginning of the week – get a partner, a friend or a coworker in on whatever you’re trying to accomplish. Having fun with it makes forward motion easy, and they can help keep you on task. Around Thursday and Friday, listen to what your physical being is telling you. Attending to your health is important now, and your body’s likely trying to send you a message about what it needs. It looks like there’s an action-packed weekend ahead, with relationships highlighted. A connection can be taken much deeper if you want to go there.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Sharing your feelings is favored at the beginning of the week, especially feelings of the romantic variety. Go out on a little bit of a limb – why the heck not? The responses you get are likely to be resoundingly positive.

Around Thursday and Friday, family or friends should take priority. Make an extra effort to step outside yourself and take a look from their point of view – you may be a bit stuck in your own head now.

The weekend finds you full of fun and liable to do something spontaneous. People love your wit, your generosity and your wild streak now!

Indecisive much? At the beginning of the week, even a small choice may be difficult to make. It’s the universe urging you to get grounded, including getting in touch with your beliefs and values. Then, around Thursday and Friday, someone may challenge your views. Your knee-jerk reaction might be an emotional one, but a logical consideration of the situation is also in order. Only then can you formulate a full-fledged response. After all of this, the weekend’s the time for some sheer pleasure. Make plans of the blowing-off-steam, fun-loving variety.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

You’re in top form at the beginning of the week if the stars have their say, multitasking marvelously at work and juggling personal matters with total panache. Fun and flirtation definitely play a role, too. Around Thursday and Friday, give work matters or your broader career concerns top priority. Change is in the air, occupationally speaking, and you don’t want to get caught unaware.

Make a move rather than waiting to see what happens.

This weekend, you’re equal parts intellectual and expressive, mind and heart, thought and feeling. It’s an excellent combination.

You may be lost in your own head at the beginning of the week, whether you’re sorting something out or just spacing out. While you might feel like being alone, checking in with a friend is a good idea. Expect a major change of mood around Thursday and Friday; you’re on fire now, fully present and extra hot. Plenty of attention’s coming your way – attention of the very positive variety (if the stars have their say, that is). When the weekend comes, though, you’ll need to buckle down and think seriously. Let your personal philosophy be your guide.

You’re much beloved at the beginning of the week, even more so than usual.

Is it your extra-sparkling wit, or the way you intuit others’ needs so sweetly, or how you share your knowledge without being condescending?

Enjoy the good energy, because around Thursday and Friday, you might have some mood swings to contend with. Where’s this coming from? Find out and accomplish some personal growth – and get happy in time for a lucky-looking weekend. Your spirit of adventure and willingness to try virtually anything new nets you an unexpected reward now.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

Home may not be the tranquil oasis you’d like at the beginning of the week. Maybe a relationship there needs attention, or maybe it’s just the housework ... whatever it is, a proactive attitude on your part is better than a passive one.

Around Thursday and Friday, however, you take a waitand-see approach. Consulting a mentor, whether from the work or personal realm, prior to making a decision is an excellent idea. This weekend, your instinct to take care of others is strong, but you also need to nurture yourself. Block out some time for yourself.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

All of your efforts may not quite be paying off as they should at the beginning of the week, but it would be entirely unlike you to give up. Timing is everything, and this is probably just a delay. By Thursday and Friday, you can perceive something you’ve missed, and a little introspection leads to a lot more personal power. Get organized now, too – workwise and otherwise. This weekend, someone who thinks you’re always entirely practical would be surprised (and likely thrilled) to be let in on some of your innermost idealism. Do you dare?

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You’re not one to let differences of opinion or background stand in the way of something good. At the beginning of the week, you can make a friendship or forge a fruitful work connection with someone entirely unlike you. Find the common ground. Adjusting your pace is key on Thursday and Friday. Whether it’s work, romance or another area entirely, seek the balance between moving too slowly and getting ahead of yourself. Fun is to be found this weekend in a group setting, especially one that involves common values or a joint goal. Get yourself around some like-minded, freethinking individuals.

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

While making a decision may be tough at the beginning of the week, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, then take a proactive step. Otherwise you’ll be left in limbo – or left to deal with someone else’s choices.

Around Thursday and Friday, your emotions may be running the show. Spend time with trusted loved ones and do an activity that helps clear your head. And while the weekend may bring a difference of opinion, it’s all about how you handle it. Ask questions to find out what underpins their point of view, rather than pushing yours.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

31

Entertainment News Brad Pitt, Gosling, Christian Bale in 'The Big Short'

B

Amitabh Bachchan gets Social Media Person of the Year award

M

egastar Amitabh Bachchan, an active blogger and user of different social networks, has been named the Social Media Person of the Year, by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). The event is still due to happen in the capital, but since Big B won't be able to make it there, he was honoured in advance by by a representative of the body.

He received the award here Tuesday.

"There is an association of social media for India the IAMAI...and they reward me with the 'Social Media Person of the Year' award and it is time really to reward the Ef (Extended Family) for

this... you are the ones that have made it possible for me to be given this recognition," the 72-year-old posted on his blog srbachchan.tumblr.com.

The senior Bachchan posted a photograph in which he's seen receiving the trophy. "The ceremony is in Delhi, and since I cannot be there, they came over to present it to me and (they will) play a video of it at the function to be held in a few days," he added.

Big B makes the most of social media to communicate with his fans and well-wishers. The legendary film personality has over 12.5 million followers on Twitter and more than 18,857,196 likes on his Facebook page.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Rihanna's flirty moment?

A

ctor Leonardo DiCaprio and singer Rihanna were reportedly spotted flirting with each other at a party

here.

The duo were caught in the wrong moment at designer Nikki Erwin's 30th birthday bash at the Playboy Mansion on Saturday, reports eonline.com. However, there are two contradicting theories where one states that they were 'just chatting' and the other mentions that they were getting intimate.

"No one was making out. They are just friends. That's it. There was a big group dancing. Tom Hardy, Naomi Campbell and a bunch of other people. Everyone was having a good time together. Maybe a little bit of friendly flirting but no scandal here," said a source.

Whereas, another source said "They were spotted smooching during the party". The party was also attended by celebrities like Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, Pamela Anderson and Tobey Maguire

rad Pitt, Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling are set to team up for 'The Big Short', which will deal with the incidents before the 2007-08 global financial crisis.

The film, based on Michael Lewis' best-selling book, will be produced by Pitt's Plan B and Paramount.

The book chronicles the housing and credit bubbles of the 2000s that led to the 2007-08 global financial crisis. The

script is by Adam McKay, who is also expected to helm the movie, said the Hollywood Reporter. Pitt had previously starred in an adaptation of Lewis' 'Moneyball'.

Shilpa Shetty: Sharing household chores secret of successful marriage

W

hy should only women cook and do the laundry, asks actress-entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty, who feels men should contribute equally to household chores to ease out a woman's responsibilities. She also feels this give and take goes a long way into a happily ever after. Shilpa, who is married to businessman Raj Kundra, credits her husband for helping her out in household work whenever needed and thereby maintaining a balanced life.

"There is lot of give and take needed in a relationship and that's how it works. That makes the relationship interesting," Shilpa told IANS over phone from Mumbai. "There are a lot of men who do the laundry and I would like to say that Raj is one of those men. Whenever we travel abroad, where we don't have any help, we help ourselves.

There is nothing to feel sorry about," said the mother of son Viaan, who will turn two later this year.

"I would want my son to help his partner when he is a grown-up man," she said.

Shilpa's stand comes in reaction to a Nielsen India Survey, supported by Ariel India , conducted on Indian households across five cities which revealed that more than two-thirds of Indian women feel the existence of inequality between men and women at home.

She says it is upsetting how Indian society teaches girls - but not boys - to learn skills like cooking and doing the laundry. "I just think that one need to also condition young boys and that's when you will have a new and brighter India," she said.

The 39-year-old, who has been married for over five years, salutes "all women who are homemakers". "I'm not a feminist but a responsible woman. I salute all the women who are homemakers and I think that's the most difficult job. There is no day off. Wom-

en are not only going out and earning bread and butter but also looking after the family," she said.

To cite an example of a woman's quandary, Shilpa said, "Cooking is difficult for all the men. I love to cook and I cook in a while, but if I am made to cook every day, that will get on my nerves. So, if men can help in something as small as the laundry, then why not?" she added. Shilpa may be a celebrity to the outside world, but at heart, she says, she's still the girl who comes from a middle class background and has seen her father helping her mother in household work.

"I've seen both my parents work really hard...my dad used to do the house's laundry. When we were young, the washing machine was just introduced, so I remember my dad waiting for the weekend only to help my mother do the laundry," said the actress, whose association with Bollywood goes back to almost two decades.

During her film career, she delivered hits including 'Main Khiladi Tu Anari', 'Dhadkan' and 'Life... in a Metro'. Not only in India, she gained international recognition after featuring and winning Britain's 'Big Brother' reality show in 2007.

Besides, she is also running her IOSIS spa and wellness chain and, to top it all, she is even a film producer.

32

S

Caribbean Star Newspaper TRINIDAD and TOBAGO ‘TAAN’ ICON PASSES ON

January 16-22, 2015

By Ramesh D. Kalicharran

olona Girdharrie popularly known as “SOLO” hails from Forest Park, Clarkston Bay in Trinidad. He was born on June 26, 1945 and died on January 1, 2015 in New York. Solo came from a family of renowned singers. He was the nephew of two Maestros Sohan & Mohan who were a household names in Trinidad.

Sham Rampersad was the most sought after person whom Solo choose to arrange his music for his L/P called “Glimpses of Glory”, 47 years ago. From then Sham emerged as a prominent music director, and Solo remained a close friend of Sham; just last year Sham rendered music for Solo.

Speaking with Sham, following this great loss, it is evident that this friend is saddened by Solo’s demise, especially in the manner that Sham reminisced

pver Solo for his versatility in music as a whole, and just not just as a Taan singer but a virtuoso of Classical, Semi-classical, Filmy, Bhajans, Geet and Ghazals. No doubt, this very versatile artiste will be

missed by all.

Two decades ago when the Hon Basdeo Panday was Prime Minister, Solo was instrumental in forming Trinidad and Tobago Classical Singing Association. He participated and won several competitions and, undoubtedly, was a role model for younger aspiring musicians. He was an international artiste and performed in several countries including Holland, Guyana, Canada, Britian, and Canada.

Solo share the stage with many Notables including Yousuff Khan, Isaac Yankarran, Jameer Hussain, and even with Ustaad Ramdhani.

Community and Cultural activist, who keep the tradition of “Mastana Bahar”, Shri Anoop Dhanpat, said the passing of Solo is a great loss of Taan Singing.

Recording artiste and a fellow Classical/ Taan singer, Rodan Sookraj recalls not on-

lywas Solo was an excellent Taan singer but he had good knowledge of the history of music, and a good grasp of Hindi.

Former Member of NCIC in T & T and school teacher in New York, Ayube Khan echoed the same sentiments. He said , “Solo’s demise certainly leaves a void in Taan singing.”

It is interesting to note that the song ‘Nanda Baba’ was the brainchild of “Solo”.

In fact, on his first Album 30 years ago, ‘Nanda Baba’ was one of the songs Solo sang on that Album; the music was rendered by Narendra Ramdular, but then the song ‘Nanda Baba’ was subsequently sung and recorded by Anand Yankarran.

Kudos to both singers. Anand’s version had a different tempo, with an upbeat, and was certainly a favorite of all.

We wish Solo a musical journey to Vikunt: Ram naam, satya hai.

World zoos want TT cubs

T

HE TWO white Bengal tiger cubs, born five days ago at the Emperor Valley Zoo — the first such births in this part of the world — continue to draw international attention with at least two zoos in South American countries expressing major interest in adopting the cubs.

This was revealed yesterday by president of the Zoological Society (ZSTT) Gupte Lutchmedial who added that the local zoo is on an international breeding programme of the rare Bengal tigers,

and the same way TT is on a waiting list to acquire three of these animals, zoos in South America are waiting to see if they could acquire the two local cubs.

“We have had requests from zoos in Argentina and one from Colombia asking to adopt our two cubs,” Lutchmedial said. Tourism Minister Gerald Hadeed disclosed that the arrival of the tigers contributed to a record breaking number of over 300,000 visitors to the zoo in 2014. In 2013, the zoo attracted 225,000 persons.

This white Bengal tiger cub along with another, born five days ago to Bengal tiger Rajasi at the Emperor Valley Zoo, continues to draw int...

Speaking yesterday after Hadeed viewed the cubs and their mother Rajasi at the zoo, Lutchmedial said, “just as we were waiting for Bengal tigers, there are other zoos waiting for Bengal tigers.” A citizen has also expressed interest in rearing one of the cubs, he added.

The sale or exchange of the giant cats, he said, will depend on the animal’s gender. In addition, he said, the zoo has to monitor its cat population.

At present, the giant cats consume 1,200 pounds of meat a week. The cat population includes three lions and two lionesses, a cougar, several ocelots and the three Bengal tigers acquired nine months ago from South Africa.

Although the zoo rears its own cattle and acquires meat from the horse-racing industry, Lutchmedial said with two more mouths to feed, it would be challenging. However, if Minister Hadeed had his way, he would like to see the cubs remain with their mother at the Emperor Valley Zoo. Lutchmedial said the public was not likely to see the cubs who were born last Saturday, for the next two or three months. Asked about their gender, Lutchmedial said the cubs have not been examined as yet. “We want to leave them alone with their mother for now.”

However, Lutchmedial hazarded an educated guess that the cubs may be a male and female.

Rajasi, he said, “is a fantastic mother.”

The tigers breeding within nine months of their arrival tells a story of easy adaptation to their new environment, ZSTT vice president Ben de la Rosa said. The eyes of the cubs are still closed and it would take another ten to eleven days to open.

The birth of the two cubs brings the white Bengal tiger population now in captivity to 202. The zoo has two white Bengal tigers - a male and a female and a yellow female Bengal tigress. It is expected that the male tiger will also breed with the yellow tigress.

Speaking about further upgrading at the zoo, Hadeed disclosed that $15 million has been allocated for phase three of the zoo’s development which will include an animal hospital. Phase two of the project, which includes accommodation for the African exhibits, is due for completion in March. It was also funded to the tune of $15 million.

The zoo has plans to import during the summer months a black rhinoceros from the United States. Other animals expected are chimpanzees and merekats to add to the African savannah exhibits. They are expected to co-exist with the giraffes.

January 16-22, 2015 33 Caribbean Star Newspaper David Fincher, Ben Affleck to remake Eddie Redmayne considered leaving acting 'Strangers on a Train'

T

he hit team behind 'Gone Girl' – director David Fincher, actor Ben Affleck and screenwriter Gillian Flynn – are set to reunite for a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1951 classic 'Strangers on a Train'.

The project, under the working title Strangers, will see Affleck play a character similar to Farley Granger's tennis star who meets a charming psychopath. Fincher's version would be a more modern take on the story, said the Hollywood Reporter. The 1951 film was an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel, and starred Granger, Ruth Roman and Robert Walker.

Transformers: Age of Extinction' tops Razzie nominees

F

ilmmaker Michael Bay's film 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' has been nominated for seven awards at the 35th Golden Raspberry Awards, also known as the Razzies.

The fourth installment in the popular scifi 'Transformers' franchise is nominated for worst picture along with 'Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas', 'Left Behind', 'The Legend of Hercules' and 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', reports aceshowbiz.com.

Following the footsteps of its predecessors, 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' has emerged in the 'worst of the worst' list, leading the pack with seven nominations, followed by 'Saving Christmas' and 'Legend of Hercules', which earned six nominations each. All three of them are nominated in the worst director category. In acting categories, Cameron Diaz tops other actors with three nominations. She is nominated for worst actress (for 'The Other Woman' and 'Sex Tape'), worst supporting actress (for 'Annie') and worst screen combo (with Jason Segel in 'Sex Tape').

'The Expendables 3' cast members Mel Gibson, Kelsey Grammer (who also stars in 'Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return', 'Think Like a Man Too' and 'Transformers: Age of Extinction') and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all nominated for the worst actor title.

This year's Razzie Awards includes a new category, Razzie Redeemer, which acknowledges that past nominees and 'winners' can and often do, go on to far far better things.

The contenders are Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Mike Myers, Keanu Reeves and Kristen Stewart. The winner for the inaugural Razzie Redeemer Award is determined by public votes, which can be submitted on film review site Rotten Tomatoes. Winners of the Razzie Awards will be revealed Feb 21.

Fincher and Flynn collaborated successfully on the latter's dark and twisted novel about a charming but dangerous wife, who takes revenge on her cheating husband by disappearing and then framing him of her murder.

Fincher and Flynn are also working on HBO drama Utopia together. Rosamund Pike played the murderous wife opposite Affleck in 'Gone Girl'. Affleck has a busy schedule as he is slated to next star as the Caped Crusader in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'. His other attachment include 'The Accountant' and 'Live By Night', which he will direct as well.

A

ctor Eddie Redmayne says he had thought of quitting acting for fear of being 'found out'.

Asked by OK! magazine if he has considered quitting acting, he said: "Very often, yeah. You always think you're going to be found out," reports femalefirst. co.uk.

"Because you're doing this thing you did as a kid and you enjoy it so much, sometimes you think, maybe I should just leave now. It's a bit of a drug, it's very addictive," added 'The Theory of Everything' star.

34

K

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Caribbean Connections

Grief turns to anger as search continues for two still missing in St Vincent crash

INGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Wednesday January 14, 2015, CMC – Grief is giving way to anger among some residents of Fancy who gathered at Rock Gutter as the search continued Wednesday for two people still missing after a minivan carrying at least 14 students plunged into the sea in northwestern St. Vincent on Monday Officials have confirmed that five people died, and 10 others hospitalised as a result of the accident.

The Ministry of Health said seven people, including three children remained hospitalised at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, the nation’s main healthcare facility.

Chestlite Ballantyne, the younger brother of detective, Station Sergeant Hesron Ballantyne, was leading the search for his niece, Semonique Ballantyne, who, along with Chanstacia Stay, are still missing and feared dead.

The police officer was too emotional for an interview, but expressed appreciation that both of his daughters were not in the same bus on Monday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Christopher Benjamin told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the police would spare no effort in trying to recover the missing bodies.

He said that the Coastguard would put a specialist diver in the rough waters, but was not discrediting the importance of local knowledge in an area where the swells are high and the undercurrent strong.

“The water (is) dark; the waves [have] stirred up the water, so it is dirty, so you can’t see as much as you are supposed to see,” resident, Dillon Baptiste, told CMC after a four-hour stint in the water.

He said it is very difficult to swim in the rough sea, where large boulders line the shoreline.

“It is really difficult, because the current underneath (is) strong,” he said, and opined that the tide has already dragged the two missing person away.

assist.”

“We are in support of two parents who are still missing two girls — two of our school girls. So we are all here this morning to see if they can retrieve the bodies so that we can have a closure to this part of the tragedy at this location,” said another resident, Urna Michael.

Ballantyne, who was sitting with a group of residents, said that he and other men had been able to retrieve four bodies from the rough waters characteristic of the Atlantic side of St. Vincent. But they expressed disappointment with the response of police.

“Me and my boy them alone took out the dead bodies from out of the water; the police never give us a strength (a helping hand), until we reach up in the road. Then the police still running us like dogs. And we deserve more respect than that,” he told the (CMC).

Okeino Bowens, one of the men who assisted in retrieving bodies, told CMC he lost two of his cousins in the tragedy — brothers Jamalie and Jamal Bowens.

“Right now, I know their father is in real pain because he right now behind the bars (in prison) in Martinique, so I know is real pain he feeling,” Bowens said, as he too criticised the police.

“Yesterday when I come here, no help from the police; no help from the police at all,” he said, adding that “the next thing I

hear on the news, that police help.

“I ain’t see police help there,” said Bowens, whose brother in law is hospitalised with a broken leg as a result of the accident.

“Right now, we are trying to hold the faith with everybody.”

But Bowens’ anger was not only directed at the police. He told CMC that a person with interest in the vehicle telephoned a relative to ask if a purse had been recovered.

“He ain’t concerned about nobody life?

He ain’t concerned about the life that go down there? He ain’t concerned about nothing! All he concerned about is money.

Boss man, we ain’t like them things; we got to do something about it out here.”

On Monday, police and disaster managers struggled to implement crowd control measures as thousands converged on the site of the accident that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves described as a “tragedy of national proportion”.

“We all grieve and ask God for guidance and strength as well as we lean on one another,” he said, noting that the recovery of bodies from the sea is ongoing.

In one instance, a police officer had to be reminded by a colleague that the people whom he was chasing away from the area Asked if he and another man, Oneal had just recovered the partly nude body of Thomas, were concerned for their own a female student. safety, Thomas replied, “well, we tried to Officials have praised the response of health officials and have promised a review and identify weaknesses in their response.

Some observers have expressed disappointment that no body bags had been brought to the area, noting that the body of the female www.eliteradionyc.com • Playin The Best In Caribbean Music 24/7 • Download the app from any App Store search: eliteradionyc student was

placed on the concrete road, covered with a tarpaulin, before being wrapped in a blanket and placed in the back of a government vehicle.

In Fancy, a crisis centre has been set up at the Seventh Day Adventist Church to complement the one opened in Owia immediately after the tragedy.

“This is open here so that people who are grieving, they can come across here. Counsellors are here… who can talk with them, console them, we also do a lot of praying and so forth,” said psychotherapist Samuel Joyles, a counsellor with the Mental health Department of the Ministry of Health.

“Whatever the need is at the particular moment, psychologically, spiritually, we’ll try to provide.”

Joyles said it might be helpful for persons who are not directly affected but are being impacted by the tragedy to visit the area.

“Everybody in Fancy is impacted by this, most of the folk are related. So, it is a village that is mourning. So if you are outside of Fancy and you are hurting … it might do you some good if you can visit, come out here, talk to the folks and mingle with them.

Joyles spoke of the December 2013 floods, when St. Vincent and the Grenadines experienced similar tragedy when 12 persons were killed by floods and landslides.

“There was a lot of solidarity, we came together, people helped. This is another occasion. This one needs more of people comforting people and consoling people, because in the days and weeks ahead, it is going to kick in even further. The funerals are yet to come, so people are going to need support along the line.

Three students from the North Union Secondary School were killed in the accident and classes have been suspended as students anxiously await the outcome of the search for another pupil.

Principal St. Clair Da Santos told reporters that a large number of students collapsed when the news of the accident broke.

He told CMC on Tuesday that some students were yet to come to terms with the reality of the accident.

“The mood is still a very sad one. This morning when I came in, I was greeted by a number of students who were really curious to find out if that is really true, if we have lost those students. And they were still crying, teachers still very sad.”

Parents’ Day was scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but will be postponed to next week, he said.

Teacher Michael Thomas who taught two of the students who died, said “to be honest, I am very shaken up.

“I try not to think about it because it leads me to tears, but everywhere I turn, I can’t escape it. I wish it was something that didn’t happen, but [it is] something which I have to live with,” he told CMC.

Caribbean Star Newspaper AirlineRatings.com’s safest airlines for 2015

B

RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday January 9, 2015 – With 2014 having the dubious distinction of being the year of some of the most tragic and mystifying aviation incidents in modern history, the announcement of AirlineRatings.com’s top 10 safest airlines and top 10 safest low cost airlines for 2015 is timely.

AirlineRatings.com, the world’s only safety and product rating website, monitors 449 airlines worldwide and employs a rating system that takes into account a range of factors related to audits from aviation’s governing bodies such as the FAA and ICAO as well as government audits and the airline’s fatality record.

The website’s editorial team also examines each airline’s operational history, incident records and operational excellence to arrive at its top 10, which are always at the forefront of safety innovation and launching new aircraft.

Topping the list again is Australian carrier Qantas, which has a fatality-free record in the jet era. AirlineRatings.com editors noted that over Quantas’ 94-year history it has amassed an extraordinary record of firsts in safety and operations and is now accepted as the world’s most experienced airline.

In 2008, in its successful defence to the British Advertising Standards Association of its claim to being the world’s most experienced airline, the Australian carrier listed

January 16-22, 2015 almost 30 notable industry leading achievements.

Quantas has been a leader in the development of the Future Air Navigation System; the Flight Data Recorder to monitor plane and later crew performance; automatic landings using Global Navigation Satellite System, as well as precision approaches around mountains in cloud using RNP. Qantas was also the lead airline with real time monitoring of its engines across its fleet using satellite communications, which has enabled the airline to detect problems before they become safety issues.

The rest of the top 10 in alphabetical order are: Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.

35

AirlineRatings.com’s top 10 safest low cost airlines have all passed the stringent International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and have excellent safety records.

They are, in alphabetical order: Aer Lingus, Alaska Airlines, Icelandair, Jetblue, Jetstar, Kulula.com, Monarch Airlines, Thomas Cook, TUI Fly and Westjet.

While 149 of the 449 airlines surveyed have the top seven-star safety ranking, almost 50 have three stars or less.

Five airlines only achieved one star for safety from AirlineRatings.com: Agni Air, Kam Air, Nepal Airlines, Scat and Tara Air. Despite the much publicised losses of MH370 and MH17, fatal accidents for 2014 were at a record low of 21 – or one for every 1.3 million flights.

Wanted: Apartments Studios One (1) Bedroom

Paralysed man killed by gunmen acting as Trinidad police officers

P

ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Tuesday January 13, 2015, CMC – Gunmen, pretending to be police officers, shot and killed a 36-year-old paralysed man as the murder toll in Trinidad and Tobago climbed to 20 since the start of the year.

Police said Kerwyn Scott, 36, of Blue Basin, Diego Martin, west of here, had been shot several times as he lay in his bed on Monday.

The police said that the gunmen entered Scott’s home after claiming to be police officers. Scott had been shot several times last November, and left paralysed from the waist down after the attack His girlfriend, who did not wish to be identified, said that four or six of the men, some of whom were dressed in police uniform, entered the bedroom where Scott was and fired several shot at it.

“Scott’s girlfriend, Tishan John-Baptist, questioned how the killers were able to access law enforcement uniforms” reported the Trinidad Guardian.

According to the Trinidad Guardian, police indicated “Scott was killed for one of two reasons—to silence him as the main witness in the attempt on his life last year—or to ensure he was dead after the first attempt failed.”

Police said no one had been arrested following the murder.

Two (2)Bedrooms Three (3) Bedrooms Private houses Top rents paid.

Call 917-916-3006 for details.

Mix use building with two residential units and a store.

Contact Darshan @ 917-916-3006 for more details

36

D

Caribbean Star Newspaper Al-Qaeda publishes instructions for bomb to pass airport security

January 16-22, 2015

Cheaper oil can help overturn Jamaica's negative growth

ESPITE a greater than expected contraction in the economy, Jamaica is in a strong position heading into the final quarter, especially due to lower oil prices, according to Richard Byles, co-chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC).

Jamaica had negative GDP growth of 1.4 per cent for the July to September 2014 quarter, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). That was "even greater" than the negative 0.8 per cent previously expected by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Byles said.

But Byles was optimistic that results for the third quarter would show "a good positive GDP performance".

He was speaking at EPOC's monthly press briefing at Sagicor Life head office in New Kingston yesterday.

The October to December quarter should improve

as the "pass-through of lower oil prices should stir a little more GDP activity", Byles said.

Oil at US$50 per barrel "has a tremendous benefit for Jamaica", he said. The impact will be felt not just at the pump and on electric bills, but would also mean that the current account deficit "is going to improve dramatically".

Tourism and other services, which includes the growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, were the two main "bright spots" in the economy, Byles said. And now

that the drought is over, agriculture is set to rebound.

The cumulative primary surplus showed a "significant over-performance", Byles said. The surplus of $54.4 billion for April to November was 12.8 per cent better than the budget of $42.2 billion.

Meanwhile, the Net International Reserves (NIR) had also improved, standing at US$2,002 million, or US$740 million more than the December IMF target.

Looking ahead, the January to March 2015 quarter is "really important", Byles said, as the Government has to increase the primary balance to $121 billion.

To reach that target the Ministry of Finance will have to be "really tight" in how it spends money and will have to improve tax collection, Byles said.

"It's tough, and I know all they have to do is go after every dollar of revenue," Byles said.

L

ONDON, England, Wednesday January 14, 2015 – As if last week’s deadly attacks in France and warnings of plots to inflict mass casualties in the West weren’t bad enough, Al-Qaeda has published detailed instructions on how to build an undetectable bomb designed to blow up a passenger plane.

The organisation’s Arabian Peninsula branch in Yemen, which has been linked to the Paris carnage, has also prioritised its targets, with the United States followed by Britain in the two top spots.

In the latest edition of its online magazine Inspire, which features a passenger jet on the cover, the group outlines how to make a bomb from household items without the use of metal components that would alert airport security.

The chilling text instructs readers how to build the device from “simple materials that are readily available around the globe,” going on to pinpoint the best location on an aircraft to detonate the device to ensure maximum destruction.

According to Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), it has “spared no effort in simplifying the idea” so that any “determined Muslim can prepare.”

AQAP was behind Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s 2009 attempt to blow up a passenger jet over the US city of Detroit.

The bomb, concealed in his underwear, failed to detonate and “the underpants bomber” was subsequently jailed for life.

Chirif and Said Kouachi, last week’s Charlie Hebdo magazine killers, are thought to have been trained by AQAP in Yemen, where at least one of them met Anwar al-Awlaki, the group’s spiritual leader until his death in 2011 at the hands of US forces.

Awlaki founded Inspire magazine, which has been linked to seven out of 10 terror plots against British targets alone since 2010, according to a report in Britain’s Sunday Times.

The Times quoted an explosives expert who was sceptical that the bomb AQAP was instructing its readers to build would evade detection. The expert also doubted its effectiveness, saying it was more likely to burn rapidly, “in the manner of a firework.”

Four years ago, however, the first edition of Inspire featured the infamous “Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom” explosives guide.

The manual was suspected to have been the recipe for disaster that went on to kill three and injure more than 250 in last year’s Boston Marathon bombings.

In the latest edition of Inspire, the group called for a new generation of “lone wolf” terrorists to blow up American Airlines, United and Delta planes using the new, supposedly undetectable homemade bombs.

According to AQAP, the high-profile airlines should be targeted in a bid to make headlines and “crush the enemy’s economy.”

Also targeted in the Inspire article are UK carriers British Airways and EasyJet, as well as Air France.

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.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

Caribbean must “move expeditiously” to prepare for massive earthquake

P

ORT-OFSPAIN, Trinidad, Tuesday January 13, 2015, CMC – The Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is warning the region to “move expeditiously” towards building resilience amid predictions the Caribbean could be hit with an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or greater.

“We must develop, legislate and enforce Building Codes using up-to-date seismic hazard maps based on the latest available science. Preparedness measures at the individual levels are insufficient and greater efforts are needed to facilitate self-resilience,” the SRC said in a statement as it marked the fifth anniversary of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that ricked Haiti in 2010, killing an estimated 300,000 people.

The SRC said that the earthquake in Haiti “should have been the wakeup call for a fundamental shift in regional mechanisms for coping with seismic hazards”.

It said major earthquake disasters around the world have stimulated similar shifts and resulted in greater resilience to seismic hazards in these regions.

“This has not happened in the Caribbean and the region continues to be extremely vulnerable to seismic events,”

GK invests J$83m in education, environment in 2014

K

the SRC said, adding “research suggests that the region is capable of generating an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or larger every 3-5 years.

“Of more concerns, we are long overdue for a magnitude 8.0 earthquake, which has 32 times more energy than the Haiti event. In light of these sobering facts, it is imperative for the region to move expeditiously towards building resilience to such events,” it added.

The SRC said that while there have been advances in many areas, “the effectiveness of the implemented strategy from country to country still needs to be measured.

“The need for broad based impact assessments for seismic hazards and risks is now greater than ever with clearly established short term and long term objectives. Every year that passes without the necessary measures being in place is a year closer to a repeat of the Haiti disaster. Now is the time to be ready,” the SRC added.

37

INGSTON, Jamaica – GraceKennedy Limited says it has spent just over J$83 million on educational initiatives in 2014, through its Grace and Staff Community Development and GraceKennedy Foundations. The figure represents a J$31m increase over 2013.

The company noted that J$28 million of that sum was invested in scholarships and bursaries at the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Technology and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, as well as among several secondary institutions.

Ten million of that amount was allocated to the funding of its two Chairs at the UWI in environmental management and management studies. The Foundation also provided grants to several schools as part of refurbishment or improvement projects, GraceKennedy said in a news release Tuesday.

The Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation reportedly invested over $55 million, which allowed for programme support at the second-

ary and tertiary levels, covering skills training, workshops, student support (medical and otherwise), as well as tutoring and other support at its five homework centres.

“Our corporate social responsibility is something we take very, very seriously,” said executive director of the GraceKennedy Foundation, Caroline Mahfood.

“We try to do as much as we can, both in education and the environment, because we know the need is great,” she continued.

Group CEO Don Wehby is proud of the company’s 2014 contribution to education.

“We know that education will be the game-changer for Jamaica, and that is why we remain committed to investing in that area. We look forward to making a significant impact in 2015 as well,” he said.

Confucius says a good idea can be bad

Schoolgirl fished from St Thomas river identified

S

T THOMAS, Jamaica — The schoolgirl who reportedly drowned Tuesday in the Morant River in St Thomas, has been identified. She is 14-year-old Nadrieka Dacosta, a student at the Seaforth High School.

OBSERVER ONLINE reported late Tuesday that Nadrieka’s body was fished from the river close to the Bustamante Bridge, after she had reportedly encountered difficulties while swimming.

Reports are that Nadrieka went for a swim with four of her schoolmates about 5:00 pm when the incident occurred.

Yep, if wishes had wings horses will fly. And if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

Get some insurance just in case

AUTO HOME BUSINESS LIFE Stanley K. Raj

Main Street/ New York Inc.

108-05 Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill, NY 11419 Tel: 718-848-7610 24hr: 347-829-5716 Visit: mainstreetquote.com

38

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

CRICKET & Sports

‘Will play as long as I’m fit and hungry’ - Younis

Y

ounis Khan has said that he will continue to play as long as he is fit and is able to sustain his hunger for the game. The 37-year old Younis, who made a comeback to the one-day side after being dropped last September, also ruled out focusing on only Tests to prolong his career.

“I don’t have such thing to just play Test matches. My body is in front of you, I don’t get stiffness in my body. Whenever I will feel that my body is not allowing me to play I will go and retire,” Younis said in Lahore.

“I have some plans and I hope I succeed in them. I don’t get this life back and it makes you happy when your national anthem is played in other countries. I am a proud Pakistani and will try to serve my country. I will continue to play as long as I am fit.”

Younis also did not feel any need to move down the order for the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand conditions. Nearly half of Younis’ ODI career has been spent in the No. 3 position and that was where he wanted to continue, he said.

“I have been playing at No. 3 since 2004. I have no such thinking that there will be two new balls in Australia and [that I should] bat down the order. I will be very

Gayle leads West Indies in record chase West Indies 236 for 6 (Gayle 90, Wiese 3-43) beat South Africa 231 for 7 (Du Plessis 119, Bravo 2-32) by four wickets

Younis Khan: ‘I will be very happy to bat at No. 3, like Imran Khan used to in 1992’ happy to bat at this position, like Imran Khan used to in 1992. I will be very happy if I repeat that and score runs for the team at No. 3.”

While acknowledging that conditions would be different during the World Cup, Younis felt Pakistan had as good a chance as teams such as Australia and South Africa. “In the subcontinent, the pitches are skiddy and subcontinent teams do struggle when they play outside their own territory.

But other teams like South Africa, England and Australia play well there. [But] with the new rule where five fielders are inside the circle, I think it will be good for us. I think Pakistan team has chances equal to Australia and South Africa’s to win the World Cup.”

Got graffiti on your wall and automobiles

call 347 759 3934 for a free estimate kevin kleens power washing We also do mobile fleet washing We come to you!!

T

he Wanderers is home to what it calls the greatest ODI of all time – the 438 game - and now it is also home to what could become known as the most thrilling T20: the 236 game. West Indies pulled off the highest successful run chase in the shortest format, propelled by Chris Gayle’s 90 off 41 balls, held together by Marlon Samuels’ seventh T20 half-century and finished by Darren Sammy, who led his side to a series win with a game to spare.

South Africa could be forgiven for being shell-shocked. They would have thought their chances of squaring the series were strong after Faf du Plessis became the second South African to score a T20 hundred, helping them post their second-highest score in the format, and with the knowledge they had never lost a T20 defending a 180plus score before.

There was one man who could change that and change it he did. Gayle scored his only international T20 century at the Wanderers - against South Africa in 2007 - and seemed set to bring up his second with a bruising batting performance. He could not quite repeat the feat but his team-mates ensured his efforts did not go to waste.

It began in the third over, after West Indies got off to the start they needed but lost Dwayne Smith, who drove down the wrong line to a full, straight, Marchant de Lange delivery. Gayle faced a situation he relished: his team needed quick runs and aggression, someone who was willing to take on the bowlers no matter where they landed the ball.

Luckily for Gayle, Kyle Abbott insisted on going full - perhaps after seeing what happened to West Indies’ bowlers, who erred by doing the opposite - and presented five full tosses in succession. Gayle let the first one go, took four fours off the rest and when Abbott held his length back to end the over, carted him over deep midwicket for six.

Twenty-two runs came off that over and it was the sign everything was going to go. The next three overs cost 46 as David Wiese and de Lange also searched for the yorker but ended up offering runs.

West Indies scored the second-highest number of runs in the Powerplay, 86, and Samuels cashed in as well.

Aaron Phangiso and Imran Tahir bowled the first two overs that did not

go for double figures but even their luck was short-lived. After Gayle brought up his fifty off 20 balls - three slower than at Newlands on Friday night - with a six off Tahir, he grew even more hungry. Phangiso was hit to the grass embankment, Tahir to the top tier of the stand and Justin Ontong, turned to perhaps because du Plessis had run out of options, flat out of the ground. While Samuels played a supporting role, the second-wicket stand grew to 152 off 11.5 overs.

The required run rate was whittled down to under 10 runs an over when Tahir bowled the first boundary-less over of the innings and the pressure started to mount again. Gayle was desperate to see his team through and went after Wiese but the bowler took pace off the ball and had the Jamaican caught behind.

That was where it could have all gone wrong for West Indies. On Friday, they lost five for 50 when Gayle departed and this time they threatened to unravel similarly. Tahir had another tight over, with just five runs coming from it, then Samuels holed out and Kieron Pollard was also deceived by a slower ball. Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo enjoyed two big hits each and fell attempting a third but the important thing was that even as wickets fell, West Indies kept adding runs.

When Darren Sammy joined Denesh Ramdin, West Indies needed 23 off 14 balls - which set the scene for the captain to play a knock like the ones he had in the World T20. He kept his cool while neither Abbott nor de Lange held theirs and secured the victory with four balls to spare.

South Africa would not have expected that after they were treated to a show by their own leader. Du Plessis was called on in yet another mini-crisis, after the first two wickets went cheaply, and was joined

by David Miller, promoted to No. 4. They posted 105 runs for the third wicket at a run rate of 12.85 - a fraction more than the Gayle-Samuels stand of 12.84 - and took advantage of a West Indies attack who could not find their lengths.

Sulieman Benn was either too full or too short and Sheldon Cottrell offered too many low full tosses. Their stand could have grown into something of even more substance but Miller was run out thanks to good footwork from Russell before he could reach a half-century, leaving du Plessis on his own. The middle order did not contribute enough around the captain’s hundred, which came off 46 balls, one more than Richard Levi’s record in T20 internationals.

In the end, he would probably have taken less if he could have enjoyed what West Indies did.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

S

January 16-22, 2015

Narine picked for World Cup

unil Narine returns to international cricket next month after being named in the 15-man World Cup squad which includes five allrounders, three specialist batsmen, four fast bowlers, two spinners and a wicketkeeper.

Jason Holder, named captain for the South Africa ODI series, retains the position and as reported on Thursday, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard have been left out by the Clive Lloydled selection panel.

Also making a comeback is Darren Bravo, who had opted out of the Test series for personal reasons and wasn’t part of the ODIs scheduled to follow.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach, who suffered an ankle injury in the Centurion Test and had to return home, finds a place in the 15 as well.

“I believe we have selected a very good team which will do West Indies proud at the World Cup,” Lloyd said via a WICB media release. “We have a good mixture of some good seasoned players and some good youngsters who will fly the West Indies flag in Australia and New Zealand.

“If they play to their potential I am quite sure we will do very well. I have really high hopes in this team - I believe they can do something special. We have the talent and if we can play to our potential we have a very good chance of lifting that trophy.”

Narine’s return will come as the greatest boost for West Indies. A proven match-winner, he was ranked No. 2 on the ODI

Sunil Narine is set to return to international cricket and T20 rankings when his action was reported as suspect in successive matches during the Champions League Twenty20 last September. Consequently, Narine missed out on playing in the final for Kolkata Knight Riders, who lost to Chennai Super Kings.

Although Narine’s citation in the CLT20 did not impact his chances of bowling in international cricket - he was only suspended from doing so in BCCI-organised tournaments Lloyd had expressed annoyance at the scrutiny when West Indies

arrived in India last October and withdrew Narine from that tour, which was cut short once the West Indies players pulled out after the fourth ODI owing to contractual disputes.

According to WICB, Narine had opted to rehabilitate himself and considering that he has been picked, the selectors must be confident that he has made the necessary adjustments. It would be Narine’s first time at a World Cup as he made his ODI debut in December 2011.

Although Lloyd made a general comment on the composition

Van Wyk century leads SA to consolation win South Africa 195 for 3 (van Wyk 114*, Pollard 1-13) beat West Indies 126 (Simmons 49, Cottrell 5-23) by 69 runs

H

39

e is neither South Africa’s firstchoice limited-overs wicketkeeper batsmen nor their second so it was only fitting that Morne van Wyk, third in the queue behind Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers and overlooked for the World Cup despite topping the ongoing one-day cup run charts, became their third T20 centurion.

Minutes after an emotional celebration in which he ended up wiping tears from his eyes, van Wyk put team above self and clobbered South Africa to a total above 190 to ensure they did not squander their strong start.

“If we lose the game, my runs will not have been enough,” van Wyk said at the innings break. Luckily for him, they were.

South Africa stopped West Indies from

completing a third successful chase and a series whitewash with an aggressive batting and assured bowling performance.

Their task was made considerably less difficult by the unavailability of Chris Gayle, who was left nursing the back injury that kept him out of the Test series, but the hosts had niggles of their own which could have worked against them.

David Miller left the middle order appearing even softer than usual, despite the earlier-than-planned return of JP Duminy, as he sat out with a back spasm but van Wyk ensured they did not have too much to do.

He single-handedly set South Africa up for victory by starring in their third century opening stand in the format, taking advantage of a careless display early on in the field from West Indies and showing patience while being pegged back to propel them to a match-winning total at the end.

F

of the squad, he did not touch on why Bravo and Pollard were dropped. The two players, along with Darren Sammy were originally not part of the South Africa ODI series, but Sammy was subsequently included and also found a place in the World Cup squad.

According to former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding, Bravo and Pollard were beingpunished by the WICB for instigating the strike during the Indian tour. The players’ legal counsel said his clients were being victimized as well.

Marlon Samuels, ho claimed after the pull-out from the India tour that he had wanted to complete the series, has been named the vice-captain and is the most experienced player in the squad after Chris Gayle.

West Indies squad Jason Holder (captain), Marlon Samuels, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor

Brett Lee retires from Twenty20s

ast bowler Brett Lee has announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket, effective from the end of this year’s BBL campaign. Lee, 38, became a domestic T20 specialist after retiring from internationals in 2012 and he has played in the IPL and New Zealand’s HRV Cup, although since his last appearance for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2013 he has been solely a Sydney Sixers player.

So far this season he has taken nine wickets at 22.22 and an economy rate of 7.14, making him the leading wicket taker for the Sixers in the tournament. He has taken 105 wickets at 30.27 in 117 Twenty20 appearances in a career spanning nearly ten years in the format; his debut was in the inaugural T20 international between Australia and New Zealand in February 2005.

Lee’s retirement from T20s also brings an end to a career that began at the elite level nearly 20 years ago; he made his

first-class debut in April 1995. The Sixers have only one regular match left in their campaign, against the Sydney Thunder on Thursday next week, but they also have a good chance to be part of the finals.

“I knew before the season started that this was going to be my last season,” Lee said. “I met with [coach] Trevor Bayliss and the talk was will I play for another two or three years, and I had that option, but I said to him straight away I want to make this my last year, I really want to enjoy this year.

“I think I’ve certainly had a lot more fun in the last six weeks than I ever have in my life. That’s because I haven’t put pressure on myself.

“Cricket has given me so many great memories, it has given me so many great opportunities. I’ve been lucky enough to play for 20 years, whereas most people might get a year or two. To play for two decades at the top level, really happy.”

40

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

GRAND SALE! LOWEST PRICES OF THE YEAR!!

LARGE SELECTION OF MAJOR BRAND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS TVS VIDEOS SMALL APPLIANCES HI-FI SYSTEMS CAMERAS

Authorized SONY and BOSE Dealer

Y R E V D E N A R B R O J E MA L B A L I A V A WE HAVE IT ALL!

114-10 Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill 718-641-5455

ELECTRONICS APPLIANCES

G&R

Check Out The Competition... Then SHOP G&R

Classes Available Specializing in wedding cake decoration

ALL OCCASIONS Hall Decorating Floral Arrangments

Favors & Balloons Cake Box & Invitations Ribbon Imprinting

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

41

ICC proposes governance changes for Associates

T

he ICC have sent out a document to its full council members as a move to amend rules pertaining to Associate and Affiliates nations. The amendment in rules will give the ICC the power to decide which among rival bodies get official recognition.* All members have been requested to respond to the resolution by January 22.

Approval of such a move would have the greatest impact on the ongoing dispute between the USA Cricket Association and the American Cricket Federation.

USACA had appeared set for a third suspension in a decade after it was put on notice in June for being in violation of Associate & Affiliate governance statute 3.1 which currently states that members must have a single, recognized cricket board. Member countries put on notice have one year to get their affairs in order, but should this resolution pass USA are less likely to be suspended.

Avoiding the ban would allow USACA to have national team representation at ICC events in the immediate future, including the World T20 Qualifier to be played in Ireland and Scotland this summer. However, USACA would not be completely in the clear if the resolution gets approved.

Through statute 3.1, which is to be amended, the ICC recognizes a member board if it can provide a letter of support from their country’s National Olympic Committee. USACA and ACF are understood to have been pursuing that letter over the last 18 months from the USOC, but neither group has obtained it. In its absence, another change in language for statute 3.1 would give ICC the authority to determine which of multiple boards receives recognition in a country where a dispute between competing boards arises.

According to the proposed changes, it is the ICC that would have final say

Jamie Harrison, the American Cricket Federation president, has urged members of the US cricket community to drop their ties with USACA over “the appropriate status, structure, recognition, membership and competence to be recognized by the ICC (at its absolute discretion) as the governing body responsible for the administration, management and development of cricket in the country.”

The ICC felt the language of statute 3.1 “might cause some difficulties for Members, where the ‘sole’ governing body could be challenged if an alternative body existed in the same jurisdiction and sought also to claim governing body status.”

So they circulated a document to its members for a review of the language.

The document also emphasizes that, “For the avoidance of doubt, there can only be one ICC Member from any individual country, and in the event of a dispute, the ICC retains absolute discretion to determine which body (if

any) to recognize as the sole ICC Member in that country.”

The ICC’s procedures also allow for a review of a cricket board’s status as an Associate Member “at any time either by their Regional development manager or the ICC Global development manager.”

ESPNcricinfo contacted the ICC to find out if Americas regional development manager Ben Kavenagh or Global development manager Tim Anderson intend to make a review for USA’s status, but a request for comment went unreturned.

A USACA source indicated that they would discuss their stance on the proposed revisions at a board meeting next week. Meanwhile, American Cricket Federation chief executive Jamie Harrison has sent out a letter to various members of the US cricket communi-

ty in which he encourages players and leagues to abandon USACA in favor of the ACF. “The ICC will not intervene in USACA’s internal affairs, so long as they seem (on the surface) to line up with constitutional requirements,” Harrison wrote. “You can stay with USACA and continue to exhaust yourself, fighting with people who have always treated you like dirt; or, you can come help us build a better future together for American cricket - today.”

Should the boards agree on the amendment of the statute there is also the potential for Switzerland’s readmission into the ICC fold. The Swiss Cricket Association was suspended in 2011 and then expelled from in 2012 after a rival governing body was formed, putting it in violation of statute 3.1 as it stands now.

Gayle slams selectors over Bravo, Pollard omissions

A

fter hammering a match-winning 90 that helped West Indies win the Twenty20 series against South Africa, Chris Gayle launched a scathing attack on the West Indies Cricket Board and the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel for dropping the senior pair of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the ODI series and the World Cup. Repeatedly labelling the move as “ridiculous”, Gayle felt it was a case of “victimization” against the two Trinidadian allrounders.

“How can those two guys not be in the team?” Gayle, who is the first current player to raise his voice against the omissions, said during the post-match media conference at Wanderers. “To me it got to be like victimization when you look at it towards those two guys. Come on, guys.

It is just ridiculous. Come on. Ridiculous.

Really hurt. Ridiculous. Honestly, it throw

me off. We can only talk. We can express our feelings, which I’m doing at this point in time. The squad already is announced.

It is just sad.

“It is a big batting line-up when you look at our team. But it’s just disappointing when you look at the 50-over format - we won’t be at our strongest,” Gayle said. “We don’t have our strongest team without Pollard, nor Bravo. So that is actually sad for us. It is a really big blow for us to actually lose two key players, two key allrounders as well, very good in the outfield. I don’t know what the history behind it is, but it is a ridiculous selection from my point of view.”

On Saturday, the WICB announced the 15-man World Cup squad to be led by Jason Holder with Marlon Samuels as vice-captain. There was no mention about Bravo and Pollard, who had been

earlier been ignored for the ODI series against South Africa. Gayle, whose blazing starts were instrumental to West Indies chasing big totals in successive matches, including the highest successful Twenty20 chase on Sunday, said he was glad he could dedicate the series victory to Bravo and Pollard.

“I don’t know where our cricket is actually going to …where we are heading with this sort of situation. But it is really sad.

Actually we won the [Twenty20] series with our best team and now there will be changes, with two of our biggest players in ODI cricket not involved in the 50-over format and the World Cup. It really hurts but I’m really, really glad that we won the series for Pollard and Bravo.”

Gayle’s blunt attack came a day after the WICB released a list of 12 players granted central contracts. That list did

not include Gayle, who said he could only express disillusionment over the omissions at this stage, but smelt Bravo and Pollard paying a price. Although Gayle did not mention it directly, he was referring to the India tour last October when Bravo, as ODI captain, led the boycott against the WICB and the West Indies Players’ Association over a contracts dispute and pulled out of the tour.

What astonished Gayle further, he revealed, was when Bravo told him that the selectors’ vision was focused on re-building the team. “Bravo said to me, to be honest with you, the team they selected for the World Cup is actually to re-build for the next World Cup, which I can’t understand. Basically what they are telling us: we are not going to win the World Cup [but] build for the next World Cup which is really ridiculous.”

42

Caribbean Star Newspaper WICB accepts task force recommendations

January 16-22, 2015

T

The West Indian players had pulled out of the tour of India because of a dispute with the WICB and WIPA over their contracts

Jeff Pentland, Yankees’ new hitting coach, has work cut out for him

N

EW YORK – Jeff Pentland, Head No. 1 of the Yankees’ newly established two-headed hitting coach position, has yet to meet or talk in any depth to any of his prospective pupils. He really doesn’t have a stated “hitting philosophy” a la Charlie Lau or Walt Hriniak or even Kevin Long, his predecessor when it was a one-man job. He doesn’t even seem to really know his partner, Alan Cockrell, all that well yet.

Pentland has been a hitting coach for five major league clubs, most recently with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011. But Pentland knows this: He’s got a big job ahead of him trying to coax more production out of a lineup that massively underperformed in 2014.

“I work off the individual. I don’t have a general philosophy,” Pentland said on a conference call with Yankees beat reporters Thursday morning. “Obviously, I think I have the knowledge or I wouldn’t be here. I feel comfortable around them and I want them to feel they can come to me at any time and we can work out any issue we need to. It’s my job to earn their trust and be there for them and develop them as they need.”

The 15-minute call was short on specifics, although Pentland was asked how he would deal with Alex Rodriguez (of course), Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, and the new shortstop, Didi Gregorius. He was also asked if he would take measures to increase the Yankees’ production against the shift, which especially has seemed to hurt Teixeira when he was hitting from the left side.

RODRIGUEZ On A-Rod: “I’ve seen Alex for a long time. I saw him in his first professional games and in the instructional league. He’s been a tremendous talent over the years. I’m looking forward to being around him and being with him. Him and I have talked over the years, just hi and hello kind of conversations, but I have a great deal of respect for his career and what he’s done, so, you know, I have a great deal of respect for him. I hope he has a successful season and I’ll be there for him.”

he WICB board of directors has accepted the recommendations of the task force set up to conduct an inquiry into the dispute that led to the West Indies players abandoning their tour of India in October 2014. The accepted recommendations were: “The WICB will plan a team building activity in the first week of April, prior to the start of the England tour of the Caribbean.

This activity will be geared towards building greater understanding and trust among the players, the board of directors and the WICB management.”

“The team manager is the designated head of the West Indies team

delegation and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. The head coach is responsible for team performance.” “The players will be issued with match/tour contracts at least three weeks prior to departure for/ start of a series.” “The WICB will pursue engaging the services of a sports psychologist for the West Indies senior team. The WICB will also pursue engaging the services of a mental kills coach at the developmental levels.”

“The WICB will develop a players handbook which will be issued to all players. The handbook will outline responsibilities, expectations, protocols, standards and matters of general conduct.”

The task force appointed by the WICB to assess the contracts dispute involving the players, WIPA, and the board had said that all three parties were at fault. It said that it was imperative the “WICB must now build pillars of trust and respect with the players”, and that the WIPA had a “very real role to play” in this process.

At a meeting on January 10 in Antigua, the WICB also shortlisted seven candidates for the position of West Indies coach, with the aim of appointing one after the 2015 World Cup. The board said Stuart Williams would continue functioning as the coaching coordinator until then.

Sangakkara returns to top of Test rankings

K

umar Sangakkara has reclaimed the top position in the ICC Test Players Rankings, following his double-century in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington, which the hosts won by 193 runs.

Though Sri Lanka lost the series 2-0, Sangakkara’s 203 in the first innings of the second Test helped him move up to 909 points in the rankings. Sangakkara managed just 12 runs in total from the other three innings, but it was enough to take him one point clear of AB de Villiers in second place. Sangakkara had earlier topped the run-scoring charts in Tests in 2014, hitting 1438 runs at 71.90, with four hundreds and

eight half-centuries.

Kane Williamson, meanwhile, jumped seven places to a career-best seventh place in the rankings after a stellar series in which he ended as the leading run-scorer with 396 runs at an average of 198. Williamson scored two fifties as well as an unbeaten 242 in the second innings in Wellington, which took him past the 3000-run mark in Test cricket, from just 39 matches.

Australia’s Steven Smith, who scored a record-breaking 769 runs in the four-Test series against India, leapfrogged Angelo Mathews to fourth in the rankings, while Virat Kohli moved up three places to 12th after collecting

Kumar Sangakkara’s 203 in Wellington took him a point ahead of AB de Villiers in second place scores of 147 and 46 in the SCG Test and 692 runs in the series overall.

Among the bowlers, Trent Boult was rewarded for his 11 wickets from four innings with a sixth-placed position in the rankings, nine points adrift of Mitchell Johnson.

Dale Steyn still heads the

Dilshan, spinners, run outs foil NZ

Todd Bowles ‘humbled’ to coach Jets

A

fter six years of Rex Ryan’s bluster, the New York Jets decided to turn down the volume, announcing Wednesday the hiring of Todd Bowles – a longtime assistant whose quiet leadership impressed team officials.

The former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator signed his contract, a four-year deal that averages slightly more than $4 million annually, sources said.

“It’s an honor and privilege to coach the Jets,” Bowles said. “ ... I can’t help but be humbled by the chance to coach this team. I’m going to do everything I can to build a consistent winner.”

The Jets paired Bowles with new general manager Mike Maccagnan, who was officially hired Tuesday after-

noon – about four hours before the Bowles news leaked.

Bowles and Maccagnan, who had no previous experience together, spent more than two hours in a private meeting Tuesday, getting acquainted.

Maccagnan was so eager to meet Bowles that he accompanied a driver to the airport and greeted him as soon as he landed.

A similar scene played out 25 years ago, when Bowles – a player for the Washington Redskins– was picked up at the airport by Maccagnan, a team intern.

Owner Woody Johnson, who led concurrent searches for a coach and GM, said he’s “confident” that Bowles and Maccagnan “are the right combination to lead this team.”

table, with a commanding 79-point lead over second-placed Ryan Harris.

India’s 0-2 series defeat in Australia meant they slipped down to No.7 in the Test rankings, behind Sri Lanka. South Africa remain the top ranked side in Tests, with 124 points, five ahead of Australia.

Sri Lanka 252 for 4 (Dilshan 116, Henry 2-34) beat New Zealand 248 (McCullum 117, Herath 2-36) by six wickets

S

ri Lanka sauntered to their first victory of the New Zealand tour, after Tillakaratne Dilshan hit a breezy 116 off 127 balls on a fine batting surface at Seddon Park.

The six-wicket win had been forged by the spin bowlers - Dilshan among them - who delivered 37 overs between them, and

by New Zealand’s several indiscretions between the wickets. A target of 249 never looked a testing on a pitch that offered little

in the way of seam or turn, and thanks to Dilshan, Sri Lanka were in control for the entire duration of their chase.

New Zealand losing four wickets to run outs will be cause for concern, but their batting was also ineffective, except for Brendon McCullum, who struck a supercharged 117 from 99. Of the other top-six batsmen, only Ross Taylor had made more than 10, and his contribution had been a pained 34 from 69 balls. Once Sri Lanka dismissed McCullum, four more wickets fell in eight overs, effectively scuttling the hosts’ chances of posting a competitive score.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

January 16-22, 2015

43

January 16-22, 2015

Your Faith, Our Home

R

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

ТМ

22

January 16-22, 2015

In Loving Memory... A Tribute

October 19, 1917

Sunset:

January 12, 2015

23

Mary Brown

Florence Culpeper Sunrise:

January 16-22, 2015

Sunset:

In Loving Memory of a Life Beautifully Lived and a Heart Deeply Loved. Dearest Mother, Mother-In-Law, Grandmother and Great Grandmother Florence Culpeper you are in our hearts. Rest In Peace. you are gone but never forgotten.

e c a r G f o n a m o W l a n e A Phenom

t f i g e h t u o y h t i w “Keep , e c n a r e v e s r e P d n a e v o L f o . u o y h t i w d e r a h s e v a h I which s t r a e h r u o y o t e s o l c e m d l Ho e u n i t n o c l l i w I d an . � u o y d to lea

Sponsered by Elcock Funeral Home

Caribbean Star Newspaper

December 22, 2014

Caribbean Star Newspaper