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February 20-26, 2015

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Exxon Mobil oil rig heading to Guyana Exxon Mobil today updated Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud on activities that the company will undertake over the next few weeks and it also disclosed that its rig for drilling offshore is due to leave Louisiana today.

NO STUDENTS IN CLASS ALTHOUGH teachers turned up for work, there were reports of low levels of student attendance at primary and secondary schools in seven education districts across Trinidad.

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February 20-27, 2015

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February 20-27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Health Ministry issues measles alert

he Ministry of Health is advising all travellers to Guyana experiencing a fever, rash and other flu-like symptoms, persons who have been in contact with visitors exhibiting those symptoms and those who have not had two doses of MMR vaccines to visit the nearest health centre to check for measles. The ministry is advising the public to take these precautions as part of intense efforts it is undertaking to prevent the reintroduction of measles into Guyana, following a recent outbreak in the USA and in other countries. According to a press release, indigenous measles and rubella were eliminated from Guyana and the Americas in 2002 and 2009 respectively, but remained endemic in some WHO regions. These outbreaks, occurring since 2013, pose a threat to the Caribbean sub-region including Guyana. “Immunization coverage nationally over the last five years is reported above 97% but varies across the Regions and is lower in rural and re-

mote areas of Guyana, with small pockets of vulnerable persons including children and adults existing,” the ministry said. As such, all travellers to Guyana suffering with a fever and rash, along with a cough or runny nose or pink/red eye should contact a doctor or to visit the nearest health centre. Locals who may have been in contact with a visitor experiencing those symptoms are also asked to seek immediate medical attention. Further, visitors experiencing the said symptoms are advised to avoid extensive travel around the country while ill and to avoid close contact, especially with young children (under age 5) in the household during the first seven says of the appearance of a rash. In addition, all persons (adults and children) who have not had two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccines must visit the nearest health centre to be vaccinated. Persons are also advised to take along their vaccination cards to the health centres. The ministry advises that

good hand hygiene; washing, sanitising, cough etiquette (cover cough) and early medical treatment can reduce the risk of measles and other infection. Following the recent measles outbreaks in the United States of America and Brazil, the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) earlier this month urged countries to maintain high levels of measles vaccination coverage at national and local levels. In an epidemiological alert, PAHO/WHO said measles elimination is facing “major challenges,” while noting the ongoing importation of measles in some countries. As a result, it urged countries to strengthen measles surveillance activities and to take appropriate measures to protect residents in the Americas against measles and rubella. PAHO/WHO said the recent outbreaks suggest immunisation rates in some areas have dropped below levels needed to prevent the spread of cases imported into the Americas.

No. 19 chopping survivor says husband constantly threatened to kill them both

itawattie Guyanand, the Number 19 Village woman brutally chopped by her husband, who afterward hanged himself, says he had constantly threatened to kill them both during their abusive 30-year union. Deonarine Guyanand, 59, also called ‘Chiney,’ took his life on Monday afternoon, possibly with the belief that he had ended hers as well. Titawattie, 49, is now a patient at the New Amster-dam Hospital. She was chopped across her face, the back of her left shoulder and across her head. Recounting the attack from her hospital bed, Titawattie said around 3:30 PM on Monday afternoon she was at Punjari Roopram’s residence when her husband visited and asked her for $500. Titawattie cared for the bedridden 98-year-old Roopram. She said she told her husband he had to wait for her to be paid. As a result, she said, the man eventually took her cellular phone and went away. But a few minutes after, he returned and asked her what time she was going home and she repeated the answer she had given him before. She recalled in a shaky voice that her husband left but returned and kept asking her what time she was going home and after she told him the same answer for the third time he pulled out a cutlass from behind his back and started to chop her. The woman

recalled hearing Roopram calling for help but she did not know what happened after because she blacked out and only regained consciousness in the hospital. Titawattie pointed out that her husband would always threaten that he would “chop off [her] neck and hang himself.” Titawattie said her husband always abused her during their 30 years of marriage. She noted that whenever she was beaten, she would suffer wounds and minor injuries about her body but she was never hospitalised before. When asked if she ever reported the abuse to the police, she recalled that on one occasion she took him to a probation officer and the police but he went into hiding for a few days and she didn’t pursue the matter. However, she had given a statement to the police. “I would leave and go away for days but his family does come and ask me to go home back. They does ask me how long I gon’ live at people place and I does go home back,” she also explained. When asked when the abuse started to become unbearable, Titawattie identified 2007, after her husband got paid off from GuySuCo, where he was a cane harvester. Since then, she said, he would sit at home every day and consume alcohol and when she spoke to him he would become abusive.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Ministry of Human Services hosts workshop on child sexual abuse

he Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Childcare and Protection arm is hosting 40 persons from several organisations at a fiveday workshop on child sexual abuse. According to a Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) press release, the workshop commenced on Monday, with a focus on the dynamics of child sex abuse to the extent of which discussions will include: the reasons for the act, the reasons for silence from the victims, questioning techniques for multiple incidents, recantations, false and fantastic accusations, court considerations and internet crimes against children. The sessions are facilitated by author and lecturer at the University of Massachusetts, Dr Lisa Fontes and is the second of its kind being hosted in the past two years. The workshop is being held in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Childlink Inc, the Blossom and Forward Guyana on Multi-Discip-linary Teams (MDT)/ Forensic Interviewing (FI).

Dr Lisa Fontes

Some of the representatives at the meeting (GINA photo) Deputy Director of Policy, Childcare and Pro-tection Agency (CCPA), Teresa Gaime in delivering her remarks said Guyana had established its first ever Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) in 2014 and plans to expand to regions two, three and five. The report said Fontes’ sessions are interactive involving videos, role playing and skyping

with professors and other child sexual abuse specialists. Paul Williams, Senior Superintendent who represented the GPF said his entity is undergoing a modernisation process which in effect will aid in investigations and collaborative efforts with other interlinked organisations. The release said sexual abuse

Teresa Gaime

includes asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities despite the outcome; indecent exposure to a child such as genitals, female nipples etc with the intention to gratify sexual desires or to intimidate or to groom the child; physical sexual contact with a child; or using a child to produce a child. Child abuse the release said can also be accompanied by domestic violence, verbal, emotional, physical and mental Paul Williams abuse. Omattie Madray, Programme Director of Childlink and Ayo rector, Blossom Inc were also Dalgety-Dean, Programme Di- present at the workshop.

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February 20-27, 2015

Why Celebrate Holi? Enjoy the Festival of Colors

The festival of Holi can be regarded as a celebration of the Colors of Unity & Brotherhood - an opportunity to forget all differences and indulge in unadulterated fun. It has traditionally been celebrated in high spirit without any distinction of cast, creed, color, race, status or sex. It is one occasion when sprinkling colored powder ('gulal') or colored water on each other breaks all barriers of discrimination so that everyone looks the same and universal brotherhood is reaffirmed. This is one simple reason to participate in this colorful festival. Let's learn more about its history and significance... THE LEGEND OF HOLIKAWHAT IS 'PHAGWAH'? 'Phagwah' is derived from the name of the Hindu month 'Phalgun', because it is on the full moon in the month of Phalgun that Holi is celebrated. The month of Phalgun ushers India in Spring when seeds sprout, flowers bloom and the country rises from winter's slumber. MEANING OF 'HOLI' 'Holi' comes from the word 'hola', meaning to offer oblation or prayer to the Almighty as Thanksgiving for good harvest. Holi is celebrated every year to remind people that those who love God shall be saved and they who torture the devotee of God shall be reduced to ashes a la the mythical character Holika. Holi is also associated with the Puranic story of Holika, the sister of demon-king

Hiranyakashipu. The demon-king punished his son, Prahlad in a variety of ways to denounce Lord Narayana. He failed in all his attempts. Finally, he asked his sister Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and enter a blazing fire. Holika had a boon to remain unburned even inside fire. Holika did her brother's bidding. However, Holika's boon ended by this act of supreme sin against the Lord's devotee and was burnt to ashes. But Prahlad came out unharmed. THE KRISHNA CONNECTION Holi is also associated with the Divine Dance known as Raaslila staged by Lord Krishna for the benefit of his devotees of Vrindavan commonly known as Gopis. By Gyan Rajhans

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Bus driver begged for his life before shot dead

bandit shot and killed a minibus driver for his gold chain on Monday afternoon at Grove Public Road, East Bank Deme-rara, then managed to escape after a soldier in the area tried to apprehend him. Beepat Taijram, 28, of Lot 55 Albouys Street, Albouystown, was attack-ed in his minibus by two bandits who had boarded as passengers. The attack occurred around 2:30pm aboard the Route 42 bus. Stabroek News was told that one of the bandits shot Taijram in the back and the wounded man then tried to escape. By this time, the other bandit reportedly scampered off. “All ya here, is plie, plie, plie,” one eyewitness said. “I was in the hammock sleeping when I heard the shots start fire and the conductor run into the church yard,” the man recounted. He said the bus had stopped at Campbell Street and the gunshots woke him. The man saw Taijram shot dead in front of the Grove Full Gospel Fellowship Church. Taijram, according to the witness, had already been shot when he disembarked the bus and he was trying to escape but the bandit shadowed him. At the same time, he added, the bandit was oblivious to

Beepat Taijram a soldier’s vehicle that was parked behind the bus. The man said the soldier fired several shots at the gunman but didn’t hit him. He said the bandit hovered over the injured Taijram, snatched his gold chain and sprayed his body with bullets before he dashed through Campbell Street. He said the soldier ran behind the bandit but he was unable to apprehend him. The soldier then moved back to his car and drove through the street. But the bandit was long gone. “A bus man come and collect the man, fi carry he to the hospital, but the man de done dead,” the man said. “Is teenagers them man look like,” he added, referring to the two bandits. Another eyewitness said the minibus driver was shot to the right part of

9 Exxon Mobil oil rig heading to Guyana

February 20-27, 2015

his abdomen. The man said the bandit snatched the driver’s chain after he collapsed on the road. The driver then put his hand up in the air begging the bandit not to kill him. But he was shot several times. “The man had on a fat gold chain,” he said. “If you see people start run, when bullets start fire,” he added. Later in the night, a carload of policemen went to scour the area but they did not find the bandit. Another witness said it is hoped that the church’s security cameras may be able to identify the bandit. Praymwattie Taijram, the dead man’s grieving mother, said, “I don’t think any mother could have a loving son like that.” She said the bandit should have just taken whatever he wanted and not killed her son. Taijram’s wife, Romene Ankase, said someone used her husband’s phone to call her. She said the person told her that he was in an accident. The woman learned of her husband’s fate when she reached the East Bank Demerara Hospital. She remembered him as a good and loving husband. The two shared a fouryear-old son. Taijram, who started operating the bus two years ago, was a former policeman.

xxon Mobil today updated Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud on activities that the company will undertake over the next few weeks and it also disclosed that its rig for drilling offshore is due to leave Louisiana today. A release from the Ministry of Natural Resources today said that Persaud met with Chuck Calavan, ExxonMobil Vice President of US and Latin America and Jeff Simon, Country Manager, ESSO. Persaud was updated on the deployment of the Company’s oil rig (Deep Water Champion) which will depart from Louisiana, USA today for the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana where it is expected to start drilling in mid-March. To further enhance this exercise, Persaud said in the press release that Cabinet recently approved a request from ESSO for a geological and geophysical survey in the form of 3D seismic survey within offshore Guyana. A permit has been granted to CGG Service (UK) Limited to undertake this survey. The release said that he also made reference to the Oil and Gas Policy which will give way to a modern oil and gas development framework. This is being done with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat and other partners.

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Guyanese held in Boa Vista with 50lbs ganja

our persons, including two Guyanese were arrested on Monday with over 50 lbs of ganja in the Brazilian town of Boa Vista, across from Lethem, according to yesterday’s edition of the Boa Vista News. Those held by the Brazilian Narcotics Enforcement police are Guyanese Eric Eldon Bobb, 34, and Clive Lloyd King, 38, and Brazilians Jos, Rodrigues Montague, 58, and Marlene Magdalene Romao, 39. King had been sought by the Guyana police in 2013 in relation to an arms bust in Lethem. The Boa Vista News said that the police seized 44 containers of marijuana which was hidden in the lining of the doors of a vehicle of Guyanese origin. It said that this was the largest seizure of cannabis in 2015. The report added that Brazilian police had received an anonymous tip that the quartet would attempt a drug shipment

Caribbean Star Newspaper Bourda man dies in hail of bullets

This composite photo shows the wrapped packets of marijuana and the four accused.(Boa Vista News) during Carnival. The report said that the police approached the suspects in two vehicles with care in the Satellite City neighbourhood. “Our (narcotics enforcement) team was already monitoring these people. This is a gang that was bringing drugs (from) neighbouring country, Guyana and spraying this drug in sales and distribution points in Boa Vista and also often making a corridor to Manaus. We had knowledge that … there are

other loads to come to Boa Vista, with other members of this gang and we are ahead investigating, seeking to arrest more people”, said a police spokesman in the state of Roraima. According to the spokesman, a motorcycle and two vehicles of Guyanese origin were intercepted. The accused were charged for trafficking and association with trafficking and later admitted to the Monte Cristo penitentiary. The woman was referred to the public jail for women.

Bourda resident was shot in a hail of bullets while standing outside a vulcanizing shop on South Road last night. Dead is 40-year-old Randolph Singh of South Road, Bourda. “All I hear is blam! Blam! Blam! About seven times” said an eyewitness, who was in the area at the time of the shooting. He said that at about 10:30pm, he saw a lone gunman walk up to Singh, who was in front of the Air Max Vulcanizing shop on South Road, between Light and Cummings streets with a few others. He added that the gunman then ran east along South Road until he could be seen no more. Singh, he further mentioned, was left lying motionless, while another man who was also shot, ran west towards the junction at Cummings Street and South Road. Within minutes the eyewitness said, Singh and the other man were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival. Although relatives were tightlipped about the incident, an uncle who did not want to be identified told Stabroek News that the dead man had recently returned from the United States of America. At the GPH, family members sug-

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gested that it might have been an attempted robbery, since Singh was said to be wearing a gold chain. However, when this newspaper visited the scene, the eyewitness rejected that suggestion, as he pointed out that the gunman walked up, fired seven shots and made good his escape. Police ranks were seen at the crime scene looking for spent shells and speaking with those who witnessed the shooting. The police this morning issued the following press release on the killing: At about 2200h. last night Wednesday February 18, 2015, businessman Randolph Singh, 41 years, of Charlotte Street, Bourda, along with two of his employees, including Dilbert Mohamed, 33 years, were seated opposite Singh’s business place at South Road, Bourda, when a man armed with a firearm approached and discharged several rounds in their direction and escaped on a motor cycle. Randolph Singh was hit about his body, while Dilbert Mohamed was struck to his right elbow. They were taken to the GPHC where Randolph Singh was pronounced DOA, while Dilbert Mohamed was treated and sent away. Investigations are in progress.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

Caribbean Star Newspaper NO STUDENTS IN CLASS

LTHOUGH teachers turned up for work, there were reports of low levels of student attendance at primary and secondary schools in seven education districts across Trinidad. The average attendance was 77 percent for teachers and 27 percent for students of primary schools. At secondary schools, 72 percent of teachers attended, while 21 percent of students reported for classes. In some cases, teacher attendance reached 85 percent. But at the same time, student attendance dipped to 12 percent, according to figures from officials of the Ministry of Education. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Devanand Sinanan yesterday condemned what he called a “cool down” culture, which every year sees parents keep children away from schools. He said this trend has developed even though teachers have attended classes on Ash Wednesday. “This is a discipline problem, a national malaise: part of the cool-down mentality,” Sinanan said. “The fact of the matter is many of the parents blame the teachers but that is not true. It is a misrepresentation of the facts which the statistics show. As a country we have to condemn that element of the national culture which has been creeping in with regard to that cool down mentality. Something is wrong about that and we in TTUTA will not condone that.” Sinanan continued, “We have been

making a passionate appeal for parents to send their children to school and for some reason, parents are not sending their children to school. We are at a loss to understand why parents think it is okay to keep their children at home. It is really a question of the value and the premium that parents are placing on their children’s education or lack thereof.” Sinanan said children and parents are allowed to have fun but then there must be a clear end to celebrations. “You have to teach children to work hard and when you are finished playing you have to know when to stop,” the TTUTA president said. A Ministry of Education official said all Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha and SWAHA schools had applied and were granted permission for a day off in observance of the Hindu observance of Maha Shivraatri. However, the official said, this did not account for absenteeism across Trinidad. No figures were given for Tobago. President of the National Parent Teacher Association Zena Ramatali said the matter of attendance on Ash Wednesday had been of concern for a long time and she called for the Ministry of Education to take steps to seek a solution. “I think the time has come for the Ministry of Education to make some kind of call for a solution with all the stakeholders,” she said. Efforts to contact Minister of Education Dr Tim Gopeesingh were unsuccessful. On a visit to Maracas Bay, one of the

February 20-27, 2015

popular after Carnival “cool down” spots, Newsday saw many children with their families enjoying the day in the sun and surf. According to Ministry figures, for primary schools in the Port-of-Spain and environs district, there was a turnout of 37 percent of students and 66 percent of teachers. At secondary schools, 19 percent of students attended, while 62 percent of teachers were present. For St George East, 21 percent of students attended, while 63 percent of teachers attended at primary schools. At secondary schools, 34 percent of students showed up, while 64 percent of teachers attended. Officials at the Caroni district reported 28 percent of primary school students attended, while 80 percent of teachers attended. In secondary schools, 17 percent of students went to class, while 76 percent of teachers were there to teach them. In the North Eastern district, 22 percent of students and 83 percent of teachers attended primary schools. The figures were similar for secondary schools where 23 percent of students attended, and 72 percent of teachers presided over classes. The South Eastern district saw 23 percent of students and 85 percent of teachers turned up at primary schools. At secondary schools, 12.3 percent of students were there, while 72 percent of teachers attended. The Victoria district saw 37 percent of

Vulcanizing shop owner shot dead, another man injured

T A

mechanic and his two sons were late yesterday arrested and taken into custody by ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department out of Eve Leary after a search of their home found that they were in possession of two illegal guns.The Guyana Chronicle Newspaper was reliably informed by police sources that the mechanic has been identified as 66-year-old Oswald Dass, while his two sons are Oswald Dass Junior, 21 and Ivan Dass, 23, all living at Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Police sources have also confirmed that the man’s sons work with him at the

mechanic shop which they own. The police at the Eve Leary CID division received information that the family is in the business of trafficking weapons and as such they were placed under surveillance for approximately one week now. Yesterday, the police decided to move in on the men and carried out a search of their home. Buried in their yard the police found a 12 gauge shot gun and three cartridges, along with a 9 MM pistol. The men were told of the offence and promptly taken into police custody where up to late last evening they were assisting in the investigation.

students turn out at primary schools, and 79 percent of teachers. There were 31 percent of students at secondary schools and 80 percent of teachers. And the St Patrick district saw 18 percent of students at primary schools and 85 percent of teachers. At secondary schools, about 13 percent of students were reported to have attended, while 77 percent of teachers were present. Several leading schools in San Fernando report operating as normal despite the high student absenteeism. Dexter Mitchell, principal of Presentation College, San Fernando, said they had a 40 percent turnout of students, with 80 percent of teachers. Even though students attended an Ash Wednesday service at Our Lady of Perpetual RC Church in the morning, classes began right after. “We had mass with St Joseph’s Convent at 9 am at the church and then it was a normal school day,” he told Newsday. The figures were nearly the same at ASJA Boys’ College, Keate Street, San Fernando where 80 percent of teachers were present compared to 30 percent of students. A school official said the teachers were conducting classes with “whoever is here”. One of the few schools to not suffer the “Ash Wednesday syndrome” was Naparima Girls’ High School where principal Carolyn Bally-Gosine said there was a “very high percentage” of students and teachers in the classrooms.

Prosecution still to file statements in East Coast rape case

Pensioner, two sons busted with illegal guns

The firearms unearthed at Kuru Kuru yesterday

he owner of a vulcanizing shop was shot dead at his business premises and another man was shot and injured, according to well-placed sources. The incident occurred shortly before 11 PM at the vulcanizing shop located on South Road, Georgetown between Cummings and Light Streets. Dead is 41-year old Randolph "Rat" Singh of 207 Charlotte Street , Bourda, Georgetown. Sources said he received multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen and other parts of his body. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Thirty-three year old Debert Mohammed of 165 Cummings Street, Georgetown sustained a gunshot to his right elbow. The circumstances surrounding the shooting were not immediately known.

ishnu Singh, the businessman accused of raping a 14-year-old girl, will return to court tomorrow after the prosecutor told Magistrate Zamilla Ally that the police still have statements to be filed. Singh made an appearance yesterday at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. Prosecutor John Singh had told the court that on January 27, Singh was driving his mother’s car when he met the young girl on Agriculture Road. He allegedly forced her into his car and raped her while she was in her school uniform. Magistrate Ally had set bail at $400,000 on the condition that Singh lodge his passport.

February 20-27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

Self-assessment Umar (R.A) used to say: “Take account of yourselves before you are held accountable” With every day that goes by, it is important that we reflect on our actions, statements, dealings and even thoughts. This is to assess our position spiritually and determine who we are as human beings. To identify the areas of our character that requires attention and improvement. Let us ask ourselves: what have we done thus far? Did we give our personal happiness priority? Did we strive to please those around us? Our family, our friends, our spouses and our colleagues. Did we give the pleasure of our lord and creator a position of paramount importance? Or did we manage to find the thin tricky line on which we managed to be happy ourselves and make those around us happy, all while earning the pleasure of our lord? As the standards of our society and the world at large, digress further and further away from true modesty and morality, it is becoming increasingly difficult to walk that thin line of compromise. Everyday gone is the past and every tomorrow signifies the future. Our Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has advised us to constantly reflect on our past to learn from our mistakes so that we will be able to live a more obedient tomorrow. Allah (S.W.T) created us with the ability to choose between right and wrong, and with that he sent down for our guidance the instructions of the Quraan & Sunnah as to what will please him and what will earn us his anger. Very often however, we follow the whispers of Shytaan instead of the teachings of the Quraan and Sunnah, thus we have become a nation of error, sin and misguidance. This isn’t the major problem. Allah is our creator and he knows us better than we know ourselves. Allah (S.W.T) has told us in Hadith Qudsi: “Every son of Adam will make mistakes and the best of the sinners are those who will repent”. Our real problem is that we are

not in the habit of correcting our errors through repentance. We fail to reflect on our mistakes. We have failed to even acknowledge our mistakes. Reflection is a sign of divine guidance, a sign that Allah has not sealed our hearts from the truth, a glimmer of hope for our souls, a sign of intellect and wisdom. While sinning without a second thought and compounding it with greater and greater sins signifies foolishness, a heart sealed from the truth and Allah’s anger. Our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) told us: “The wise one is he who assess himself and prepares for the life after death while the foolish one is he who follow his desires and hopes that Allah will forgive him” Be wise O Muslims! Reflecting on the past to identify our errors and shortcomings, isn’t the proverbial “crying over spilled milk”, rather it is the beauty of the teachings of Islaam In trusting the innate wisdom of a believer to assess himself and plan for a better tomorrow, thus following the advice of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) when he instructed us to let it not be that our days are similar in spiritual progress, rather we should constantly seek to better ourselves and gain closeness to our creator through obedience. Hence, we are required to spend every moment ahead, not only correcting the mistakes made before, but with a desire to enhance every aspect of our lives. With reflection there should come repentance and a desire to enhance our standard of spirituality; our connection to Allah. When we realize the errors we have committed, as Muslims, there should be the desire to rid ourselves completely from this sin. We should feel embarrassed by the thought and afraid of the fact that we will have to stand before our creator on the Day of Judgment. With this thought not only will we be encouraged to re-

pent, but it will serve as a deterrent from future sins. It is only by the mercy of Allah that we do not feel the effects of our sins. Allah has told us in his glorious book: And if Allah were to seize mankind for their wrong-doing, He would not leave on it (the earth) a single moving (living) creature, but He postpones them for an appointed term and when their term comes, neither can they delay nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment). Allah is giving us the opportunity to repent for and rectify our actions, but if we choose to ignore the many warnings we have received in the form of admonitions in the Quraan as well as the Sunnah, the many natural disasters or the current state evil and chaos in the world then we run the risk of Allah’s wrath descending upon us, as we have been told about regarding previous nations. As Muslims it is of paramount importance that we constantly remind ourselves of our primary reason for existence; that we are firstly servants of our creator then employer, employees, parents, children or any position that we occupy. That there is no obeying the creation at the expense of obedience to the creator. In general, it is important that

we understand the obligation upon us to obey the commands of Allah, that we start living our lives in a way pleasing to Allah and with the intention to continue doing so. It is time we realize, and more importantly admit, our faults and shortcoming. Allah asked us about this over 1400 years ago when he said in his glorious book: Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? (Surah Hadid 16-17) It is time for us to be honest with ourselves and repent sincerely for our sins, time to enter completely into Islaam and implement every aspect of it into our lives. Make it such that every part of our life is according to what our creator the Almighty would be pleased with. Allah has given us this command in his noble book: O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. Shayk Abdullah Khan Al-Ihsan Academy Abdullah.khan@ihsanacademy.org

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Chaos continues around Mash Day vending C onfusion over Mash Day vending continues with the acting town clerk selling spots and the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Social Development Committee (SDC) allocating the same spots. Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba yesterday announced at a press conference held at City Hall that persons have obtained permission and were issued with receipts signed by Audrey Redwar, a clerk assigned to Deputy Mayor Patricia

Chase-Green. She said the receipts bore stamps which were not signed. Sooba said that anyone who obtains permission to vend outside of that issued by her office and does so will be met by the full force of the law. “The national police will be working with the City Constabulary from Mash eve to the closing of the events,” she said. It was also indicated that the names of persons who obtained an invoice from the town clerk’s office and paid through

the City Treasury will be placed on a list and the police will work with that list on Mash Day. Additionally the acting town clerk said that the event is an economic activity for the City Council but she observed councillors standing at the Office of the City Treasury directing persons to the mayoral complex for permission to vend, which she said is illegal. The matter Sooba said was brought to the attention of Chief Constable Foo,

Carol Sooba who, she stated, said that he did not know how to deal with it. “If it is beyond [him], the police force will intervene…. and if he needs help, he will get help,” said Sooba while she noted that advice will be sought from the Commissioner of Police and the Commander of ‘A’ Division. She reiterated that the management of the event fell under the authority of the Town Clerk and the City Treasury while the mayor and councillors are responsible for managing policies. Meanwhile, in a press release yesterday, the M&CC revealed that there was no selling of spots by Redwar, but rather a desk was set up for the allocation of spots on the council’s facility free of cost. Further, the release stated, those who desire to obtain spots on Merriman Mall and Vlissingen Road are advised to visit the Mayoral Complex between the hours of 09:00 to 16:00 to uplift their allocation slips free of cost. Mayor Hamilton Green had previously announced that the SDC, under the stewardship of Chase-Green, had decided not to attach a charge for spots for persons desirous of vending during the day’s celebrations. The M&CC had also blamed Sooba for hijacking the management of the sale of spots and also accused her of acting beyond her capacity.

Granny struck and killed by car

70 year old Moruga woman died at hospital on Wednesday after being struck by a car the day before. Korisha Meena Khan, of La Lune Village, had suffered injuries to her neck and back. According to a police report, at around 4.10 p.m. on Tuesday Khan was crossing a street near her home when she was hit by a car driven by a 34-year-old man who was reversing the vehicle. Khan was taken to the Princes Town Health Centre and later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital for further treatment. She died at around 4.30 a.m. Wednesday. Cpl Jairaj of the Moruga Police Station is investigating.

February 20-27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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

February 20-27, 2015 17 Caribbean Star Newspaper General elections to cost Alliance gearing up for campaign launch, manifesto

y tomorrow, the public will know the name and symbol that the coalition of APNU and the AFC will use for the May 2015 Regional and General Elections and a joint manifesto is being developed with the campaign launch to follow. “Movement is going on on general fronts. We are working overtime and by tomorrow (today) or Thursday the latest the public will know the name and symbol,” General Secretary of APNU Joe Harmon told Stabroek News last evening. On Saturday, APNU and the AFC announced at a joint press conference that they will contest the upcoming May 11th general elections as acoalition, with Granger and Moses Nagamootoo as its presidential and prime ministerial candidates, respectively. The announcement brought to an end weeks of negotiations with the signing of a document dubbed “The Cummingsburg Accord”, formalizing the pre-electoral alliance which both sides are confident can unseat the incumbent PPP/C after 22 years in office. The accord caters for a joint electoral slate and a 60/40 cabinet split, favouring APNU. They also agreed to reorganize the presidency to delegate more responsibilities to the Prime Minister as well as to select the representative of the electoral list and the Speaker of the House from independent members of civil society. The AFC

will choose the Cabinet Secretary. The party promised that in the coming weeks, final decisions will be made on who would secure the top seven constitutional spots. Harmon said that both groups want to assure the public that in a very short time the coalition will be launched with a manifesto evident of policies drawn from APNU and the AFC. He said that leaders of the coalition met yesterday and were pleased with the progress they were making in wrapping up agreements for the alliance as set out in the Cummingsburg Accord. Both parties he said understand the need for alacrity as May 11th is not far away and they need to hit the campaign trail. “Don’t be surprised if by or on Mash we are ready,” Harmon asserted. On Sunday, Presidential Candidate of the alliance , David Granger told Stabroek News that if elected, the coalition promises within its first 100 days to announce a date for Local Government Elections, free up the telecoms and ICT sectors and set up a constitution reform body and the Public Procurement Commission among other things. Within the first 100 days of the formation of a Government of National Unity a seven-point programme will be implemented…,” Granger said. He explained that in addition to the

agreement signed between the two parties, the alliance will make a public commitment to address priority areas during its term in office such as a programme for the reconciliation of the people. “These priority areas include a programme for healing and reconciliation and the introduction of a meaningful constitutional reform programme geared towards improved governance and their fair representation, the sustained improvement of crime prevention and the security environment, local government reforms and the holding of Local Government Elections,” he said. “There is also the creation of a longterm economic development programme but this will be based on consultation and consensus. Then there is also implementing of a holistic youth programme because both of us know the importance of the development and value of our youths to the country’s growth,” he further added. The alliance leader said that the re-organisation of the education, health, sports and recreation sectors, for better service and outcome would yield great benefits for the nation and would add to their plan of youth development. “The political experience following the 2011 election has demonstrated the need for greater political cooperation in order to meet the expectations and aspirations of the electorate”, he said.

more than GUY$2 billion

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

uyana’s upcoming general and regional elections are expected to cost more than GUY$2 billion, according to Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield. He told reporters after a news conference that the cost to hold the May 11, 2015 poll would be around GUY$2.4 billion, about the same cost of that of the November 2011 election. Lowenfield said the Guyana Elections Commission does not have a budget because Parliament has been prorogued. He said GECOM was relying on the legal provision that allows government to spend one-twelfth of the previously budgeted expenditure and “other arrangements are in place.” The Chief Elections Officer explained that he has to make formal requests for funding to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon. Other government sources had previously indicated that the administration enjoys the option of tapping into the Contingency Fund. The Guyana government has not tabled a 2015 Budget in the National Assembly because the Parliament has been prorogued since November 10, 2014 to stave off a no-confidence vote in the government by the combined opposition.

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.

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Located at 126 - 10 111 Avenue, South Ozone Park. Ny 11420. For further information call:www. eima.us

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

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February 20-27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

HE IS WHO HE CLAIMS TO BE AND HE CANNOT LIE for the life of the world.” John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 10:9-11 “ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:36 “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Jesus made many claims about Himself. His teachings, sermons, discourses and parables have fascinated multitudes of every level of society for generations. His miracles are outstanding above anyone else. However, when it comes to admitting who He is, people take a step back. Do you believe what He said about Himself? Jesus displayed an exceptional personality. Imagine you are in the group with Christ for about 3 years. You journey together, eat and sleep in the same place, share your hearts and comfort each other. He demonstrated leadership among them and was so admired that they constantly wanted to be like Him. A disciple will always want to mimic his Rabbi in His character and mission. Maybe humanly speaking, they wondered about His power over nature, diseases, death and demons. Maybe at times they wondered how a man seemingly like them can be so holy and display such power. They must have been stunned at the authority with which He spoke over the Scribes and Pharisees. Then He brought them to Caesarea Philippi, a city of Greek gods and a temple dedicated to Emperor Caesar. In the midst of these shrines, Jesus threw the question at them. Listen to the conversation: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-17) His claim was confirmed from Heaven. Six days after Caesarea Philippi, Jesus took them to what we now call the Mount of Transfiguration where they had

an exceptional experience that confirmed His claim. Matthew recorded it in chapter 17:1-5 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart. And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Every Bible student knows Moses represented the Torah and Elijah represented all the prophets. So, the Father was saying it is time for His Son to take center stage for man’s redemption and reconciliation with the Heavenly Father. Further claims of Jesus distinguish Him from all others. The love He taught has conquered many hearts and established wonderful relationships. His forgiveness softens every hard heart, replaces hatred with love, brings hope to the hopeless and turns the wandering soul into useful citizens. Sinful habits are broken from people who come to Him and their lives are joyful and peaceful. Listen to His words: John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give

He is Who He said He is. Was Jesus a lunatic for making these claims? If He was lunatic, His words would have been lost in the distant past. Was He a liar misleading His followers? Ask the millions who have enjoyed living for Him! Look at others who died satisfied with a wonderful hope of seeing Heaven. Some are willing to admit He is a great teacher; some will say He is a prophet. If we accept Him for a teacher or prophet, why not believe Him? By calling Him Lord, we admit His ownership of our lives and, therefore, we give up our rights in order to submit to His way. Finally, the Apostle Peter made a conclusive declaration to the Jews and to all the world in the book of Acts of the Apostles 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” C.S. Lewis once said, “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” Call Him Lord and prepare to spend eternity with Him. Take your family to church this weekend

Pastor Haniff Bacchus Calvary Assembly

of God

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

Caribbean Star Newspaper Thursday, August 29,July 201311 - 18, 2014 EqualityNews.ca Caribbean Star Newspaper Fifty Shades of Grey beats expectations with record breaking weekend155 February 20-27, 2015

Political spite Wanted Trinidad police officer PITBULL KILLS GRANNY C

ALIFORNIA, United States, with an 18 certificate, with similar but of 2015 to date. Thursday February 19, 2015 – achievements chalked up in GermaFifty Shades of Grey’s $248.7m Universal’s controversial Fifty ny, Russia, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexi- global take thrashed the $241.6m Shades of Grey whipped all compe- co, Argentina, Australia, Philippines total achieved by Avatar, which went tition, past and present, by making and New Zealand. on to be the highest-grossing film of the biggest-ever US debut for the In all, Sam Taylor-Johnson’s ad- all time, in 2009. Some commentaPresident’s Day long weekend with aptation of EL James’ bestseller tors nevertheless point out that prea massive take of US$90.7 million. about a kinky Seattle billionaire and views and early openings mean Fifty It also licked the opposition in the his sex slave made $248.7m at the Shades is counting a potential fiveRamlogan said there was An 84-year-old great edgeable when it came to incident occurred. UK and Ireland, where its $21.5m worldwide box office at the week- dayWednesday take against Avatar’s ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, July 9,three-day 2014, CMC – A police officer coman undertaking within grandmother was yesterday the training of dogs and haul was the highest for a film end, making it the highest global de- weekend.

Bloody attack oncommits 84-year-old suicide woman caused after being closure at Maraval home on ‘Wall of Shame’ placed

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

Neighbours said the dog was one of approximately ten which were bred and being given aggression training in preparation for sale by two of the woman’s relatives. Never once did the residents hear Bunsee scream for help but only noticed she was being attacked as they walked along the roadway close to her home on La Seiva Road, Maraval. Police said it was shortly after 9 a.m. that the residents saw the woman on the ground with the dog tearing away at her body. They tried throwing boulders at the animal in an attempt to stop it but their efforts were unsuccessful, said officers. Investigators said several police officers who were on patrol nearby went to the scene after receiving a report and was only able to have the dog stop biting the woman after opening fire on the animal, shooting it six times. Residents in the area said the officers had no other option but to kill the dog. The other dogs were all locked away in their kennels, they said. “After the first two shots the dog was still biting the woman, like the shots did nothing to it. The police had to shoot it four more times before it stopped,” said one man.

CPR

Training

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

of local airline

A former head of the now- But he said that “reconsidParliamentofthat Azizul hours Rahaman after of thea photo disagreed with themitted deci- Dr suicide hisheappeared on a television programme defunct state-owned Guy- eration never occurred; the sion of the dog’s owner to Jones Animal Clinic exam- would accommodate cerana Airwayshosted Corporationbyairline was eventually carry out the training at the ined the dog and confirmed tain amendments based a senior po-sold has blamed government and within less than a year it was one of the danger- on suggestions from Indehouse. officerthe that hein total was officials forlice the current airline was chaous dogs referred to in the pendent Senators and also aviation woes gripping the os, ” Khan charged. “Aggression training within Dog Control Bill which was from members of the Opa fugitive from the law. country. your own environment and passed in Parliament last position. He said that prior to this, training of dogs within your month but is yet to be pro- The Independent Senators Constable Former GAC General Christopher the state-ownedMadeira, entity had had already forwarded own household where you claimed, police said. who Khan had been on making suspension Manager, Fazal is been strides.from have ageable people or fam- Rahaman removed some their suggestions to him, the Trinidad adamant that political and Tobago Police Serily members in your house of the animals and locked but he was still awaiting spite rather than “We had 80 percent the Opposition’s before the vice financial (TTPS), died afterabout he ingested or operational problemsof weedicide of the market shares in Act is proclaimed by Presia quantity on Tuesday. forced the the country, dent Anthony Carmona. closure ofHis picture had been posted on while receivthe telethe airlinevision programme “Beyond the ingTape” not a co cent “This bill is clearly needed. back in the from the govI would like those perhosted by Inspector Roger Alexander. late nineties, ernment. Not sons who argue that there and it is one Over the last several even should be no legislation to years, when only post carried the words “The first of the ma-The we requested control these dangerous big-budget sci-fi and fantasy movthe protective to jor reasonsmember to($392.5m), borrow dogs, I would like them to ies likeofThe Avengers services the ‘Wall of Shame” is Christopher G u y a n e s egrace only half pay a visit to the relatives Iron Man 3 ($372.5m), The Hun-a If you see Madeira,million do not apare payingMadeira. dolof victims to explain their ger Games: Mockingjay Part One e x o r b i t a ntproach lars from the position and to offer some or confront him since he is con($273.9m), X-Men: Days of Future prices tosidered government condolence. I am calling armed and extremely dangerPast ($262.9m), Transformers: Age travel upous…instead afterand running upon them to go pay them call ($302.1m) ANY police station, of Extinction The North. into debt that a visit and to offer them Dark Knight ($248.9m) 623-0362/ 4968 Rises or send an e-mailhave to The formerbeyondthetape@tv6tnt.com we could some compensation,” said performed better. Former GAC GM Fazal if you havenot aviation of- Most ofKhan avoid, nevdid Ramlogan. thosecould blockbusters information that help the poficial is con- ertheless benefited fromthey give it. ” audicapture this fugitive fromhuge the law”. vinced thatlice Section 19 of the Dog ences inhis China and Japan, the Under photograph, it world’s stat-deGuyana’s current state of Khan continued that Control Act: secondand third-largest markets. ed that he could was wanted charges affairs is one spite for hugetwo expenditures, Fifty Shadesin novels were unofThemisbehaving have been avoided, with GAC waspublic making,office, “three, 19. (1) Where a class A popular in Japan and the movie is and failure to appear in court. the continuance of the four and five million doldog injures a person, FAMILY PHOTO: 84-year-old Lillian Bunsee who unlikely to get a release in conser“prosperous and devellars pre-tax yearly. We without reasonable cause was mauled to death by a pitbull yesterday in her own vative China, so Universal’s film is oping” state-owned carhad very good junior and whether in a public place The charges alleged that he and anhome. to some extent handicapped by dirier being preserved and officer, senior staff. PeopleLenwere or on private premises, the other police minished numbers inCorporal these markets. prized for itsnox functioning sent for university educaowner or keeper of the dog John, knowingly andhave wilfully Fifty Shades total will taken and importance to Guyation in marketing, aviation is a no no. Aggression is not them away at the clinic yes- commits an offence and is handed over a loaded firearm and the studio by surprise, given a budnese travelers. management and diploma the type of training to do terday evening. He told the liable on summary convica get bullet-proof vest belonging to theof of just $40m and expectations courses. ” He boasted that within that environment. Express the dogs were be- tion to a fine of $100,000 Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. haul they of around “They didn’t aknow as far$110m as he isworldwide. aware GuyHigh potency dog food and ing temporarily kept at the and to imprisonment for

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

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

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

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

Up to yesterday evening he was in custody at the CID office along St Vincent Street, Port of Spain. Officers said they would be consulting with Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC to determine what charges could be laid against the man. The other owner was not arrested as he did not live on the premises where the

The other owner said residents no longer wanted the dogs in the area, so he may have to “put them to sleep”. Contacted via phone yesterday, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said the Dog Control Bill was passed on the last day of the parliamentary session in order to prevent it from being “lapsed”. With the passing of the bill,

five years.

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

89-44 162ND STREET JAMAICA NY 11432 SIDE OF APPLEBEE`S/VERIZON ON 162ND STREET CLASS A dogs are identified in the Bill as: 1. Pitbull Terrier or any dog bred from the Pitbull Terrier. 2. Fila Brasileiro or any dog bred from the Fila Brasileiro. 3. Japanese Tosa or any dog bred from the Japanese Tosa.

film’s success means were makingThe a mistake ana Airways wassequels, the first based James’ novels who wasfollow-up last stationed because theyMadeira, do not on unregional airline to offer free Darker and Fiftyalcohol Shades atFifty the Scarborough Police Station derstand aviation, ” Shades Khan headphones and on Freed, are inevitable. Tobago, was also told KaieteurinNews. “They board the charged aircraft. sepCommentators are predicting that were totallyarately clueless and handing with over a loadwave erotic fare, had they known it was a of Hea copycat continued thatvest. Guyeda new pistol and bullet-proof at a ana similar marketplace, mistake, they aimed would have Airways grew to fly never done He it,could but the five to New(One York, wasbyfollow. released on flights TT$150,000 EL James’ exotic trilogy has sold time they realized, it was and three times to ToronTT dollar = US$0.16 cents) bail, oralready too late, ” hethan said 100m to, weekly, trips inmore copieswhile worldwide, dered to surrender his passport to in a recent interview at his creased during peak sumso the film benefitted from a readycourt and report to the ScarborQueenstownthe residence. mer seasons with North made audience of Christian Grey ough Police Station weekly. American Airlines having (played by Irish actortwice Jamie Dornan) Khan believesand that he was to be chartered to aid the Anastasia Steele (played by Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov, “pushed aside” as head influx of travelers. GAC American actress Dakota Johnson) performedwas theable autopsy Tuesday, of the GACwho for expressto increase its feet fans. ing his reservations about of planes under his stewsaidItthat he found approximately 200 nevertheless had to overcome one political cubic appointment. ardship. centimetres of the substance negative publicity surrounding the According to Khan, hespats which inauthor’s his stomach, to with amounted director Tayrealized thatapproximately the lack of Khan said for the first time lor-Johnson over dialogue, as well a regular-sized glass. forward-thinking man-scathing in the reviews. country’s history as several agement wouldAt destroy there were local pilots who the time of writing, “The major problem is thatFifty thereShades is no the GAC andof he therewere captains on jets. GreySo held a rating of just 26 perantidote. it doesn’t matter if someone fore gave the then cent powers “rotten” on review aggregator drinks one teaspoon a bottle. some eight months to re“The or first choiceThe forrepassite Rotten Tomatoes. sultposition is the same, the pathologist added. consider their of ”sengers was removing him. ...contnue on page 8

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Voice Of The Youth M

y name is Shaw Ryan Khan. I am the son of Shaw M. Khan and Camille Zeena Khan and I am the grandson of Haji Ali Akbar Khan and Azeezan Khan from Canegrove, Guyana ,as well as Harry Singh and Lillian Ganpati Singh from Industry, Guyana. My respect to my parents and my grandparents always. Since the first time I started writing until now, almost all of my readers know me as the introduction I put in the beginning of my articles. And also, my readers know bits and pieces of who I am through the select information I incorporate in my articles. However, quite a few readers have called and asked me to write an article about myself so that they can know exactly who I am. So, with that being said, I chose to listen to these readers and take this opportunity to tell you all who I am. I was born in Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. For the first few years of my life, I lived in Brooklyn. If I remember correctly, at the age of 3 or 4, my parents found our new home in Queens where we currently live. I attended a public elementary school, a private Catholic middle school, a private Catholic high school, and I am currently in my 3rd year at a private Catholic College. For years I’ve considered becoming a doctor because I love helping people and also because I want to fulfill my father’s dream. (His dream is for one of his sons to become either a lawyer or a doctor) However, as time went on, I realized how interesting our legal system is and how very “conditional” it can be. Because of this, I switched my field of interest from medicine to law. As a result, I am now a junior in college who is majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in business. It is my dream and my goal to finish college, go onto Law school, and give my father and mother a front row seat as they watch me officially become a lawyer. So now that you know the basics of who I am, let’s move on to something more advanced. What are my values? As I grew up in life, I was instilled with certain values and beliefs that continue to carry on even to this day. My parents instilled in me my values and beliefs that not only were taught to me but also practiced in front of me. My parents do not believe that they should teach me things in which they don’t practice themselves. In my life, I am blessed to have people who believe in me even though I am only 20. My parents and my family are a blessing. I was blessed to be raised by parents who instilled in me this kind of confidence and self-esteem. As I was growing up, my parents always told me that I could accomplish great things. They constantly reminded me that they are proud of me. So what I am about to tell you about myself is pretty much derived from the successfulness of my upbringing thanks to my parents and certain family members. First of all, I am a believer of God. My religion is Islam. I believe that we, as a society, should not be differentiated by the color of our skin or the roots of our ancestors, or even the religion that we

practice. Rather, I believe we are all just simply children of the world, journeying through life to discover our own meaning to the question, “what is the meaning of life?” I believe that we might hail from different lands, but we share one earth, one sky, and one sun. The world is one. (Thumbs up if you can recall that reference) Secondly, I believe in being “straightedge”. In other words, I believe in being drug and alcohol free. This means that I never did and never plan to drink or smoke in my lifetime. I mean no disrespect to those who do drink or smoke but it is my personal belief that I can get naturally high off of life and naturally drunk off of happiness. Third; I believe in karma. I believe “what goes around, comes around”. I don’t expect anyone to show me respect if I do not show them respect back. And because of this, I show respect because I wouldn’t want anyone to disrespect me and expect me to respect them. Respect, honesty, trust, and reliability are a few of my values that I try my utmost best to maintain. It is in my belief that with values such as those (and others), karma and God will be on my side.’ Fourth, I believe in dedication, commitment, and motivation. Basically, I believe in never giving up. You all have heard the stories about my days of being picked on . I don’t have to repeat it again because I’m pretty sure you get the point. But what I want to say is this; the experience of being bullied was terrible and I wish it for no other person. It’s like living in a nightmare but only you can’t wake up from it. Fortunately, I survived this nightmare. But what I realized is that I don’t hate the people that bullied me. Rather, I forgive them for what they have done because they were just kids who didn’t know better. But because of these kids, I am who I am today. If it weren’t for them, I don’t think I would be doing what I do today. It sounds crazy but if it weren’t for them, I probably would never have started going to the gym, I probably would have never tried my best to stand out in society, I probably would have been just “another average kid “ living in my block, and perhaps the Voice of a Youth and Beacon of Peace might not have been created and established. So as I think about it, I know some of those who bullied me read this article. With that in mind, I want to say thank you for making me a stronger person, and I forgive you. To my viewers, allow me to share with you one story that I love and has a meaning I will never forget. An angel fell from the heavens onto the earth. As he got up, he found that his wing was broken. He looked around and then looked to the sky and smiled. He said, “oh people of God, be happy. Oh people of God, keep smiling. For no matter what, there will always be another day”. So my message in this article is this; readers, keep smiling and don’t give up. Today might not be the greatest of days for you but there is always tomorrow. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. This is why it’s called the present. The last belief, among many oth-

ers that I don’t have enough room to talk about, is based off of something my grandfather taught my father. My grandfather taught my father the following; “If you are bored and have nothing to do. Do not waste time. Time is precious. Instead, go listen to the conversations of a group of elders. Keep your mouth shut; just listen to what they say. I guarantee you will learn something”. My grandfather taught that to my father in Guyana and now my father has instilled this idea to me. For this reason, I do not have too many friends my age because I prefer to be friends with older people. It is now my belief that I can learn something every time and anytime I am with my true friends. Those friends include Uncle Shafeik (Imam Shafeik) , Uncle Zulfikar, Uncle Nazim (Ustad Nazim Bacchus), Uncle Johnny, Uncle Akbar, and others. The amazing thing is that my true friends do not treat me like some 20 year old child. Rather, they treat me with respect, dignity, and most of all, they treat me like a friend as well. I feel absolutely comfortable with them because I know they always will have my back. And I know that I will always learn something from them as long as I am willing to learn. These friends are a part of my family. Friends allow us to savor our successes and joys, they can comfort us in our challenging moments and provide a mirror for us to learn more about ourselves. I’ve always looked at friends as the family we choose. They enrich our lives. I must say that my friends bring out the best in me. To put things in a broader context, I am an individual with a love of knowledge and a questioning of all facts by my mind. I am an independent thinker who makes decision based on what I know is right, and following my own path regardless of what other people think. I am extremely self-contained; I never join or follow a crowd. But, I am filled with interest in inventing new thoughts and ideas. I am gentle towards people. I love animals, especially my birds (2 African Greys by the name of Ali and Dillan, 2 wild birds by the name of Destiny and Faith, and 1 Quaker by the name of Precious) and my puppy (A soon to be 3 year old Maltese by the name of Joey). I am a natural home lover. I barely notice what other people are doing. I have a deep understanding of worldly affairs. I am a good friend to my friends, and a very caring and dear son to my parents. I am easy to please and I’m happiest with the smallest things. I am a dreamer, a wonderer, a unique child of nature and love, an aura of peace. I am a family orientated guy, I love my family beyond words can explain. My dreams are to make my mom and dad the proudest parents in the world. Some people question and ask me why it is so easy for me to be positive about life. Well, it’s because I am a straight forward person. Don’t get me wrong, I am a naturally nice person (sorry but I had to “toot my own horn” there!). I believe that words are like a seed; they can take root and grow

in a person’s mind for years. So I am straight forward, but in a respectable way. What I mean is that what you see with me is what you get. I am who I am and I choose to accept that. I don’t want to be someone else because if you can’t like me for who I am, then don’t like me at all. What people have not yet realized is that all my experiences in life has lead me to a sort of revelation in which I realize I just have to develop a positive mental attitude. For example, when I wake up in the morning, instead of applying my energies to how I can be blessed, I find some way to be a blessing to someone else. In turn, I feel that God will make my day. Last but not least, I wish to leave you with something that I truly ,truly, truly, believe in and base my life upon; It is a saying by one of the most wonderful and influential journeyer in life, Mahatma Gandhi. He said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values, and your values become your destiny.” Before I end my article, I just want to say this; may God continue to bless each and every one of you and I wish for you to achieve peace and serenity in your lives! Lastly my readers, in your journey through life, I hope you heed my advice. I want nothing except peace and serenity. And remember this; “Without winter, there can be no spring. Without mistakes, there can be no learning. Without doubts, there can be no faith. Without fears, there can be no courage. Your mistakes, your fears, and your doubts are your path to wisdom, faith, and courage.” God bless you all and see you in two weeks! (Like my articles? Want to give me feedback? Do you have a topic suggestion for my next article? Let me know! Add me via Facebook @ Facebook. com/ryankhan0721 or give me a call @ 646-269-8227 or 718-849-1006)

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

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February 20-27, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Don’t rely solely on ‘Uncle Sam’s help for retirement. Twenty years ago, retirement was a time to look forward to and savor. But, today, we live in uncertain times. So, for most working adults, retirement has become very complex—requiring years of planning, a well-thought-out strategy, and a phase to be put off as much as possible. We’re living more years in retirement. Why? Company-sponsored pensions have all but become extinct. Thanks to medical advances and healthier lifestyles, people are living longer. In the early 20th century, life expectancy was 47.3 years vs. today’s life span of nearly 79 years.1 According to data from the Social

Security Administration, a man who lives to 65 will live on average to age 84, while women of the same age should live to age 86.2 Or course, this is good news; but we need to be prepared for it. The truth about Social Security. And if you believe that Social

Security will be there to support you, think again. For retirees in 2013, if you retire at the full age of 66, your maximum monthly benefit is $2,5333—not enough for many of you to live comfortably. While there are no easy solutions, life insurance can guarantee4 the protection of your loved ones and also supplement your retirement savings5 if the death benefit is no longer needed. Leaving a legacy. Life insurance’s primary purpose is to deliver death benefit protection, which can provide a generally tax-free legacy to your loved ones. But permanent life insurance also carries “living” benefits. Your policy earns cash value that accumulates tax deferred. This means you do not pay taxes on any of the accumulation within the policy. Additionally, you can access that money generally tax-free

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Caribbean Star Newspaper MTA bus driver charged after running over 15-year-old girl in Brooklyn, seriously injuring her leg February 20-27, 2015

The girl, who had a walk signal, was trapped under the left front wheel of the bus and later rushed to Bellevue Hospital in serious but stable condition. The driver of the bus, 58-year-old Francisco de Jesus, was arrested and charged with violation of highway law and failure to exercise due care, and given a desk appearance ticket, which angered union officials to the point of threatening a driver work slowdown.

irefighters check under the MTA bus that struck a teenage girl at Union Ave. and Grand St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital. An MTA bus driver was arrested Friday after mowing down a 15-year-old girl in a crosswalk, causing a leg injury so severe she may lose the limb. The criminal charges triggered a verbal clash between union leaders, who

railed against the arrest, and pedestrian advocates, who urged bus drivers to be more careful. Francisco de Jesus was driving his Q59 bus south on Union Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, when he tried to turn left onto Grand St. and struck Jiahuan Xu about 8:45 a.m., cops said. Jiahuan, who had a walk signal, was pinned under the left front wheel, police and witnesses said. She was rushed to

Driver Francisco de Jesus, 58, who remained at the scene, was charged with violation of highway law, a misdemeanor, and failure to exercise due care. Bellevue Hospital in serious condition. “She grabbed my hand and said, ‘Dad I felt pieces of my ripped up leg,’” the teen’s father, Jingxiang Xu, who only speaks Mandarin, told CBS 2 News. Pedestrian advocates said she may lose her leg. De Jesus, 58, who remained at the scene, was arrested and given a desk appearance ticket under the city’s new right-of-way law. Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero traffic-safety campaign stiffened the violation to a misdemeanor in August for drivers who injure pedestrians and cyclists who have the right of way. De Jesus was also charged with failure to exercise due care. Union officials were outraged by his arrest. “We drive for a living on the busiest streets in America,” said J.P. Patafio of Transport Workers Union Local 100. “The law of averages has it we’re going to get into an accident.” Patafio said De Jesus is a 29-year veteran with an impeccable record. He was hospitalized for emotional trauma after hitting the girl. Patafio threatened a work slowdown, saying he could tell bus drivers not to move an inch if a pedestrian is anywhere in a crosswalk. “If they’re going to apply the letter of the law, we’re going to apply the letter of the law — and traffic ain’t going to be moving very fast,” Patafio said. “We have to protect our operators from being arrested.” A union official for the Transportation Workers Union Local 100 was upset at the driver getting arrested for the accident, and threatened a driver slowdown, saying he has to 'protest our operators from being arrested.' PreviousNextA Q59 bus southbound on Union Avenue in Brooklyn made a left turn onto Grand Street and struck a young girl who was crossing, pinning

her under the left front wheel on Friday February 13th, 2015. 0930. A CIS job was performed at the scene. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News). A Q59 bus southbound on Union Avenue in Brooklyn made a left turn onto Grand Street and struck a young girl who was crossing, pinning her under the left front wheel on Friday February 13th, 2015. 0930. A CIS job was performed at the scene. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News). A Q59 bus southbound on Union Avenue in Brooklyn made a left turn onto Grand Street and struck a young girl who was crossing, pinning her under the left front wheel on Friday February 13th, 2015. 0930. A CIS job was performed at the scene. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News). Enlarge A union official for the Transportation Workers Union Local 100 was upset at the driver getting arrested for the accident, and threatened a driver slowdown, saying he has to 'protest our operators from being arrested.' On Dec. 23, MTA bus driver Reginald Prescott was arrested under the new law for fatally striking 78-year-old Jean Bonne-Annee. The next day bus drivers at three Brooklyn depots delayed starting their routes in protest. Pedestrian advocates hailed Friday’s arrest. “MTA bus drivers struck and killed nine pedestrians last year, and eight of those cases involved a driver failing to yield while making a turn,” said Paul Steely White, head of Transportation Alternatives. “MTA bus operators must exercise due care.” TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen blasted White, calling him a “phony progressive intellectual jackass” for praising the bus driver’s arrest. “His comments are absurd and constitute a total lack of understanding of the incredibly difficult work our operators perform,” Samuelsen said.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

“All proceeds will go towards current

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

World News Highlights

ment said on Thursday.

national Monetary Fund said on Thursday.

peace talks.

Thursday, the military said.

LONDON - For all the firewalls Europe put in place over the last three years, the actions investors say they would take if Greece left the euro currency bloc suggest the ensuing panic would rumble through financial markets.

PARIS, Feb 19 - The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Cologne in Germany has disclosed it is worth 3.35 billion euros ($3.82 billion), making it richer than the Vatican.

ARTEMIVSK/VUHLEHIRSK, Ukraine - Fighting raged in parts of east Ukraine on Thursday despite European efforts to resurrect a stillborn ceasefire, a day after pro-Russian separatists spurned the truce by forcing thousands of government troops out of a strategic town.

ATHENS - Greece’s central bank governor sought to reassure depositors on Thursday, saying outflows from Greek lenders were under control and that the central bank would aim to protect liquidity and the banking system.

ATHENS/BRUSSELS - Greece formally requested a six-month extension to its euro zone loan agreement on Thursday, offering major concessions as it raced to avoid running out of cash within weeks, but immediately ran into strong objections from EU paymaster Germany.

WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said it is confident Ukraine should get an overall $40 billion financing package to support its economy, without providing details about the breakdown of funds.

LONDON - A British teenager was found guilty on Thursday of plotting to behead a soldier in London after being influenced by the murder of an Afghan war veteran who was hacked to death by two Islamists in the capital a year earlier.

Leftist party says Portugal next target if Greece exits euro LISBON - Portugal’s debt will be the next target of speculators if European countries push Greece out of the euro with their demands for more austerity, the leader of Portugal’s Left Bloc party said.

WASHINGTON - Two Colombians have been sentenced to prison for the 2013 kidnapping and murder of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent in Bogota, the Justice Depart-

WASHINGTON - All parties involved in the debt negotiations between Greece and its European partners are trying to minimize risks to financial stability, a spokesman for the Inter-

ISLAMABAD/KABUL - Senior Pakistani army and diplomatic officials said on Thursday the Afghan Taliban have signaled through the Pakistani military that they are willing to open

MAIDUGURI - Nigerian warplanes bombarded training camps and caches of weapons and vehicles belonging to the Islamist group Boko Haram in the northeasterly Samibisa forest on

CARACAS - The U.S.-based owner of a supermarket chain taken over by Venezuela’s socialist government hopes to recover his business despite accusations of hoarding goods to inflate shopping lines.

Is Carnival

PPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday dismissed criticisms, calling them “mischief”, raised on social media of him in the company of a young woman while they were playing mas with Wendy and Ivan Kalicharan’s band Bazodee in San Fernando on Carnival Tuesday. Several pictures of Rowley frolicking with members of the band were posted on social media. But the one that created the problem was a picture with a young female masquerader. Speaking with Newsday, Rowley said he was aware of the photos and the criticisms that some people were making about them on social media. “I think they should get a life and stop fantasising about mischief they wish they could create over an innocent Carnival encounter in a roving band full of friends and strangers of all walks of life having a good time.” Rowley, who is also People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader and Diego Martin West MP,

added, “This is Carnival.” All three dailies published photos of Rowley enjoying himself with other masqueraders. Ravina Rampersad, the woman who appeared in the online photos with Rowley, also slammed the criticisms made about the photos. On her Twitter page, she wrote, “This is blown out of proportion but let’s face it, this is Trinidad.” Rampersad also said, “Carnival was amazing despite the controversy taking place.” United National Congress (UNC) campaign manager Rodney Charles confirmed to Newsday last night that he had approached former Express photographer Trevor Watson, who had taken the photos, with an intent to purchase them. Charles said he was told about the photos and contacted Watson to find out whether he would be interested in selling them. Charles said Watson told him no. “There was no sale, no purchase,” he stated. Saying he subsequently

saw the photos on social media, Charles said, “We were not interested.” Asked if he found the pictures inappropriate, Charles said he would make “no judgement” on the pictures but personally, he would not find himself in that kind of situation. Charles denied the reports which claimed the UNC would have used these photos in their election campaign. “We want to run a clean campaign. We want to hear his policies. We want it to be his policies against our policies,” he said. On social media, some raised a “gender issue” regarding Rowley’s wine with the young masquerader, saying society would say it was okay for him to do this when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was laughed at for the ribbed leggings she wore with a suit at a Carnival fete on February 6. But defenders of Rowley said he was having a grand time as all revellers did on Carnival Tuesday, putting down the online firestorm to politics.

VIENNA - Iran has still not addressed specific issues that could feed suspicions it may have researched an atomic bomb, a U.N. watchdog report showed on Thursday, potentially complicating efforts by six powers to clinch a nuclear deal with Tehran. BOGOTA - Reparations to victims of Colombia’s five-decade war will be paid no matter how much the government’s finances are affected by a drop in oil revenue, because making good to the millions who suffered is “sacred,” a government official said on Wednesday.

Carnival Corporation expands presence in Caribbean

IAMI, United States, Thursday February 19, 2015, CMC – Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest travel and leisure company, is expanding its presence in the Caribbean by welcoming guests at its newly-developed Amber Cove port in the Dominican Republic, beginning October 2015. Six of Carnival Corporation’s nine brands will call on Amber Cove along the country’s Amber Coast – a partial filming location for the original Jurassic Park movie – to give cruise passengers another exotic location

to explore as part of their vacation experience. With the opening of the new Amber Cove port, passengers will be able to make stops along the Dominican Republic’s north Amber Coast, which has not been regularly visited on cruise itineraries since the 1980s. “It will open expanded itinerary options in the Caribbean, the world’s most popular region for cruise vacations1, and will pair with the company’s Grand Turk Cruise Center only 100 miles to the north to anchor new central Caribbean itineraries for Carnival’s nine

global brands,” said ETN Global Travel News Industry. The new $85 million facility represents the largest cruise industry investment ever made in the Dominican Republic. The opening of Amber Cove adds to the portfolio of cruise destinations Carnival Corporation has developed in the Caribbean. This includes the Grand Turk Cruise Center in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Puerta Maya on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico, and Mahogany Bay on the island of Roatan, Honduras.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Maha Shivratri

By: Arun Ramphal

ai Sita Ram. My name is Arun Ramphal and I am a proud member of the Naujavaan Mandalee Youth Group of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir. On Tuesday, Hindus across the world celebrated an important holiday called Maha Shivratri. This is also known as “The Great Night of Lord Shiva.” On this night, devotees worship Lord Shiva by performing poojas and singing of bhajans and kirtans. This pooja is known as the Shiva lingam pooja and is performed four times between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The origin of Maha Shivratri can be traced to many different legends. One of which is the churning of the ocean. The Devas and Asuras were churning the ocean to find amrit (nectar). While churning the ocean, a toxic poison appeared that could have destroyed the universe. The Devas and Asuras went to Lord Shiva to ask for his help. Lord Shiva agreed to help. He drank all the poison and save the world from destruction. Lord Shiva kept the poison in his throat which turned his throat blue. This gave Lord Shiva the name of ‘Neelkantha” which means “The blue-throated Lord.” The Shiva Lingam pooja is performed as a devotion to Lord Shiva. The Shiva Lingam is a representation of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of “Jyotirlinga” before Brahma and Vishnu to carry out

a test. Dhar (water, milk, honey coconut water etc.) is poured on the Lingam while chanting “Om Namah Shiva”. When this is done with love, sincerity and purity, it connects the devotees to the Supreme Being. Jai Ho!

04. She explained that the incident has left him in a state of shock and shame, which initially prompted him to remain quiet for days before reporting the matter to the police. The 23 – year – old recently got married. iNews understands that the young man felt “paralyzed” after consuming an alcoholic beverage that was given to him by one of the friends and he subsequently faint-

ed. It was noted that he woke up at his place of work after the alleged rape and then went home without revealing what happened to anyone. However, after returning to work, his alleged rapists verbally abused him and it only came to a stop when he chopped one of them. This then prompted a police investigation which uncovered that the 23 – year – old was allegedly raped. The victim continues to receive medical and psychological treatment to help him cope with the stress and trauma of the incident. The woman has since accused some police ranks in the Corentyne area of trying to cover up the matter; however Commander of ‘B’ Division, Brian Joseph reassured iNews that this is not the case. He explained that a statement was obtained from the victim after a report of rape was made and the accused men were arrested and placed on bail as investigations continue.

Barbados government moving to tighten immigration policy

3-Y-O Corentyne man allegedly drugged, gang raped

he family of a 23 – year -old man is crying out for justice, after they reported that he was allegedly raped by three men in the Corentyne Berbice area. iNews understands that he was allegedly drugged and sodomized by the men while working with them on January 29, 2015. His mother told iNews that her son only came forward and related to the family what had occurred on February

February 20-27, 2015

RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday February 19, CMC – Barbados government legislators have defended the immigration policy of the island despite a recent ruling by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice awarding a Jamaican national a substantial amount of money for being denied entry. Debating the Immigration (Amendment) Bill, the legislators urged immigration officers not to be intimidated by travellers who sought to subvert the island’s immigration policy. Attorney General and Home Affairs Minister Adriel Brathwaite, who has warned of non-nationals going “underground” in a bid to evade authorities, said that the CCJ ruling may have affected some immigration officers who are feeling intimidated. “They should not and cannot execute their responsibilities looking over their shoulders worrying about whether or not Barbados will be sued. Therefore, CARICOM has offered some guidance in terms of this issue of the automatic six months entry into Barbados. The Solicitor General’s chambers has offered some guidance, [and] I know we’ve had some discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Brathwaite said. Brathwaite said ”notwithstanding the court ruling no one can determine the national security concerns of the country. “We have a responsibility as the elected members of Parliament and part of our responsibility is to secure our borders and, therefore, we should not water down what we do because we are afraid of what people might say outside the region, in the region about being sued.” “I am saying and I am encouraging them when individuals come in front of them, do not be afraid to interrogate them. Yes, there is a six months automatic entry, but you must ask the questions. How can you determine whether or not a person is able to provide for himself if he says he’s here for three weeks? How can you determine if he’s able to provide for himself.” Brathwaite said the government would also not tolerate any attempt to intimidate immigration officers. “We will not tolerate that. We will not tolerate the abuse of our immigration officers and they must be able to go about their duties fearlessly and we would provide whatever mechanisms to make sure they are protected,” he said. Brathwaite said that the authorities were also moving to stamp out the practice of foreigners seeking immigrant status not keeping appointments with

the Immigration Review Committee, sometimes on the advice of their lawyers. He told legislators that the amendment to the Immigration Act was aimed mainly at combating passport fraud, and the government was moving in the direction of introducing biometrics with regulations providing for individuals to be subjected to facial or retina scans and fingerprinting so the authorities could be satisfied that the subject was who they claimed to be. Finance Minister Chris Sinckler, who also contributed to the debate said “when I hear this policy about CARICOM, about free movement of persons and all of these things, even though I am a regionalist, I know that with great power comes responsibility. Even though I give up some my sovereignty under CARICOM, I still have a responsibility to protect the citizens of my country and protect the visitor too. “Some persons may be coming for things that are not necessarily wholesome. They, too, might be exposed to things that they might have not been exposed to if they had not tried to engage in mischief. “I know as a former immigration officer that almost on a daily basis there is always some mischief-maker who is secreting themselves in a country and engaging in illegal acts, and immigration has to be going for them. The department has to be using physical resources, human resources and financial resources going after people. There are people who find ways to bypass security, get into the country and then you have a lot of problems with them,” he said. The Finance Minister said that “if the Immigration Department had to issue a press release every time they encounter someone they had to intercept or go for in that regard and to deport, they would have to be a press release in the paper every minute of the day. “That is the reality. Many Barbadians are unaware of this because they are not exposed to it at that level. I know the Minister of Immigration is aware because he has to deal with it on a daily basis, but the average citizen is not. We must be aware of the challenges these people have to deal with,” he added.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

“Never make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings” — Vp Premier WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Monday through Wednesday, you’re trying to get a jump on the week. You want to get as much done as possible, and to get ahead without making it look like you’re trying too hard. After all, wouldn’t it be great for your reputation if you could make magic happen and not break a sweat? You’re going to need help, and you know exactly whom to ask. Motivate them well. Thursday and Friday, a group meeting reveals that everyone more or less thinks of you as being in charge. You’re a natural leader. This weekend, do what you can to shine light on other people.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)

Monday through Wednesday, you don’t particularly feel like engaging with the rest of the world. It’s all so exhausting and the possibility of being misunderstood is great. On the other hand, are you going to let them get to you like that? No way! Balance is key, especially the balance between caring what other people think and not worrying about what other people think. Thursday and Friday, everyone wants to talk about money, but you’re a lot more interested in talking about ideas. Saturday and Sunday, do something that really lets your mind wander. Go for a walk. Doodle a landscape.

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)

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are excellent days. Some travel plans get finalized (you can’t wait!), someone who thinks they’re much smarter than you concedes that you were right and they were wrong about something (your head’s getting big!) and someone you’ve never understood explains their side of things (you’re learning!). Thursday and Friday are a little less than excellent -- a power struggle is in the stars and your friends are being weird. But Saturday and Sunday, your friends are back to normal and one in particular is in need of an update. Spend an evening together and fill them in.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Monday through Wednesday, nothing is as it seems. You can tell something’s up, but that doesn’t help you. Try to draw people out, but don’t work too hard at it. Some things take time. It’ll all become clear soon enough. Go into Thursday and Friday with an open mind, because something radical is under way, and you’re going to find out about it. The more prepared you are to have your point of view completely turned around, the better. This weekend, occupy your brain with something creative. Postpone all thoughts of math and politics and communicating with other people (unless you’re thinking about them creatively).

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Monday through Wednesday, watch your words. Something flippant and funny and just a little biting might really rattle someone -- even if you’re absolutely, obviously kidding. Offhand comments have a way of sinking into people, and you don’t want people you adore walking around slightly damaged by you. Thursday and Friday, the thing you’re trying hardest to do might be a waste of your time. Consider letting go. Saturday and Sunday, as much as it seems like you should make a financial decision, put it off until next week. You’re still letting your plan take shape in your mind.

If indecision strikes at the beginning of the week, look to those you admire and respect. (Think: Who do I know who makes really, really good decisions?) They’ll be happy to help, and you’ll be glad you asked. Around Wednesday and Thursday, feed your head – you’ll be bored and restless if you’re not learning or doing new things. Meeting new people is extra fun now, too. From Friday afternoon through the weekend, life may involve interruptions and assorted delays. Find a way to kick-start a situation or bring a book to while away the time in a meaningful way.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Monday through Wednesday are kind of gloomy, but not in a very noticeable way. It’s more like an afterthought, a background thought, a not-all-thatdistracting feeling. Mostly you just feel unbalanced. But don’t worry, because on Thursday and Friday, the feeling evaporates in the heat of a romantic bender. And not only are you getting along fantastically well with you-know-who, but you’re getting along fantastically well with everyone. Saturday and Sunday, try not to be swayed by people who don’t fully understand your goals. Your plan is good and right.

Monday through Wednesday draws on your powers of determination and self-control. You’re under intense scrutiny at work, for whatever reason. (A promotion on the horizon? You never know.) In any case, you work incredibly well with other people. This may explain why everyone wants to be on your side. If only you were so appreciated at home! This is a common refrain in your mind, but it’s especially true Thursday and Friday. Expect something unexpected in the domestic realm. Saturday and Sunday, all the worries wash away in a wave of romance.

Monday through Wednesday, you find your outlook subtly affected by the amount of money in your wallet. Specifically, you have a desire to keep more of it in there. It’s true that no amount of money can buy you a good time; even a day skiing in the most fantastic setting of all would be for naught if you weren’t into it. Most of the pleasure you get out of the week is social, and most of your social time is on Thursday and Friday. You love talking to someone from a completely different social group. This weekend, if you feel like you should leave the house but you don’t really want to, don’t.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

Monday through Wednesday is pretty much what you always want in your workdays: lots getting done, a happy outlook, high energy, recognition in the areas where you deserve it. Of course, the compliments from your good friends are the ones that mean the most, but even people you barely know are impressed. Thursday and Friday you’re given to daydreaming about the future. You can’t help it: Things look really good from where you are! Saturday and Sunday, put all of your energy into something other than work.

From Monday through Wednesday, every fiber in your being is telling you to climb out of the cockpit and onto the wing to repair any problems. But you know full well that you can’t climb out of the cockpit and fix the wing -- you’ll get sucked into outer space! You have to keep flying the thing. That’s the first half of your week. Again, you want to keep on flying. On Thursday and Friday, you’re in beautiful territory. Blue skies. Friends nearby. A clear sense of your future. Saturday and Sunday, you’re trying to reconcile the fantastical stuff about the world with the everyday.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

Monday through Wednesday, you become the point person in a group -- it could be coworkers, friends, classmates or acquaintances. The reason you’re perceived as a good person for everyone else to follow? It’s because you seem to be someone who knows other people, including influential people, important people. You know how to use your social capital. On Thursday and Friday, you dream of being able to help more people, but that can become a trap: You can spend so much time on others that you’re distracting yourself from, well ... yourself. This weekend, turn your focus toward you. It’s time.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Entertainment News

Pirates of Caribbean 5' plot unveiled

he synopsis of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' is revealed as the movie is starting production in Australia. According to the official plot, Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow will have a hard time facing off a new character, reported Ace Showbiz. "Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea... Including him. "Captain Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas," read the synopsis. The fifth instalment in 'Pirates of Caribbean' movie franchise will be directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Ronning with a script by Jeff Nathanson ('Catch

T WAS clearly a case of Machel Montano versus Machel Montano as his songs dominated the Parade of the Bands at the Queen’s Park Savannah venue. Montano’s “Like Ah Boss” was the first song played at the venue in the morning when the first band – Harts – crossed the stage. It would set the tone for the rest of the day, continuing a dominance which became apparent on Monday. By 1 pm, the song was played at least 35 times, though members of the Savannah audience would be hard-pressed to say exactly how many times the song was played as it was virtually on constant rotation. Still, Montano faced some glimmers of competition. From his own songs. The late-comer to the competition – which

Me If You Can', 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'). Javier Bardem is confirmed to play the villain, Captain Salazar.

Rowley «wine» under fire

HOTOGRAPHS of People's National Movement (PNM) political leader Dr Keith Rowley chipping along the road with a woman on Carnival Tuesday, has become the topic of heated discussion on social media sites today. Anti-PNM activists called on Rowley to explain why an aspiring Prime Minister would be seen with a woman other than his wife, Sharon. Rowley played mas with in San Fernando with the band Ivan Kallicharan's band Bazodee. He was among revellers in the section "Landslide". Rowley was captured by Express photographer Trevor Watson, dancing with an unidentified woman as he paraded through the streets of San Fernando . But the photographs, posted on social media site Facebook, angered many who complained that the PNM leader had stained his character ahead of a general election. The criticisms, however, were countered by those who believed that Rowley had done nothing wrong.

Photo: TREVOR WATSON

Rowley declined to comment when contacted by the Express on Wednesday.

"by and through" EFO Films, who are co-defendants in the suit, to work with her while she was at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014 to announce she would be starring in a movie called "Inconceivable". The lawsuit claims the movie never took off because of the difficulties in landing insurance for the troubled star, who has previously been in rehab six times and endured a number of legal problems.

has nonetheless become popular – “Party Done” was played at least half dozen times by 1 pm. The song had been popular with some bands and at J’ouvert. Montano’s collaboration with Patrice Roberts “Great Parade”, was also heard at least half dozen times, as well as his other hit “Erupt”. Montano’s “Like Ah Boss” was also largely the tune of choice at all venues across the country, including San Fernando and Tobago. He has won the Road March six times with “Big Truck” (1997); “Band of the Year” (with Patrice Roberts 2006); Jumbie (2007); “Advantage” (2011); “Pump Yuh Flag” (2012) and “MOR, Ministry of the Road” (2014).

Scarlett Johansson to star Universal's Kristin Gore-scripted thriller 'The Psychopath Test'

carlett Johansson is set to take the lead in the Kristin Gore -scripted film based on the Jon Ronson book ' The Psychopath Test.' The thriller, which will be directed by Jay Roach, will be produced by Brian Grazer along with Roach and his Everyman Pictures banner, and Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Deadline.com reported. Ronson, who wrote 'The Men Who Stare At Goats,' here tackles how the medical community, who tries to diagnose and classify an elusive group: remorseless, deadly psychopaths, say one out of every hundred people is a psychopath, devoid of empathy, manipulative, deceit-

PNM Political Leader Dr Keith Rowley playing in Kalicharan Masqueraders’ band in San Fernando on Tuesday.

Lindsay Lohan sued ctress Lindsay Lohan is being sued for allegedly not paying for the services of a stylist management company. The "Mean Girls" actress is the subject of a lawsuit from Exclusive Artists Management, Inc, which claim she has committed fraud, failure to pay for services rendered and breach of contract, reported TMZ. The suit claims it booked a hairstylist and make-up artist for the actress

Machel v Machel

ful, charming, seductive, and delusional. The book, which explores their world and the madness industry, is published by Picador and Riverhead Books and was a bestseller in the US and the UK.

Yami Gautam: I love exploring historical cities like Jaipur

he actress, who was in Jaipur recently, says she wants to play a Rajput princess on screen When Yami Gautam was recently in the city to promote her upcoming film Badlapur, she told us that she'd also like to portray a Rajput princess on screen someday. "I have always been inclined to do a role that has a taste of reality. So I would like to portray the role of someone who had registered her name in the Indian history for her achievements. It might be a warrior Rajput Princess or might be someone like Indira Gandhi. I have a lot of interest in history and mythology," she said. The actress is a big fan of history, and consequently, Jaipur is one of her favourite cities. Elaborating more on that, she said, "This is my second visit to Jaipur.

This one is a short trip mainly for work, my maiden trip to the city was for pleasure. I saw all the historical places like Hawa Mahal and City Palace. Having a deep interest in history, I like exploring cities that have a rich past. Jaipur is known for its culture, and is very earthy and rustic." Yami, who will be seen playing a young mother in Badlapur, feels proud to be associated with the film. She elaborated, "This was a challenging role, not because I am playing a mother, but because it required me to play many shades. This is an emotional story of a young couple. The character of Nisha is very important in itself. I never believed in signing a film just for the sake of it. We belong to a generation where we have equal opportunities to show our acting talent and give quality performances."

February 20-27, 2015

Louis Jourdan, 'Gigi' star passes away

ouis Jourdan, the actor who played Kamal Khan in 'Octopussy' and starred in 'Gigi', passed away. He was

93. The French actor, who had a long reign as Hollywood's preferred star to play elegant international gentlemen, departed at his home, revealed his friend and biographer Olivier Minne over telephone from Paris, Stuff.co.nz reported. 'Gigi,' where Jourdan had portrayed the dashing Gaston, was one of the most successful movies of the 1950s and had dominated the 1959 Oscars with nine awards, including best picture and best director. Jourdan grew up as Louis Gendre in Cannes, where his father was a hotelier, and had studied acting from the prestigious Ecole Dramatique in Paris, after which he took his mother's last name for his movie career. Though he had confessed in a 1960 interview with Coronet magazine that he always disagreed with producers on playing the man "perpetually cooing in a lady's ear", he later reconciled with his Hollywood image as 'the French cliche.' In addition to Gigi, Jourdan's notable films include 'Three Coins in the Fountain' (1954), 'The Swan' (1955) with Grace Kelly, 'The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful' (1956) with Brigitte Bardot and 'Can-Can' (1960), which co-starred Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine. Minne said he had accepted to play the

role of a homosexual in 'The Immortalist' on Broadway, which was quite revolutionary at the time. It was in later years of his career, that he was discovered to play evil villains as well, such as the Afghan prince Khan, James Bond's nemesis in the 1983 film. He bid farewell to Hollywood in 1992 and in 2010 was awarded with the Legion of Honour award by France. Jourdan had married Quique in 1946, and had once said that his playboy roles didn't affect his marriage as when "one has been married more than 30 years it would be absurd not to admit there had been some sort of difficulties at some times... but the important thing is that we have weathered them." Unfortunately, Jourdans' only child, Louis Henry Jourdan, had died of a drug overdose in 1981.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Delhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secret hang-outs featured in Bollywood films

elhi still has secrets to offer if you seek. Many of these hidden jewels have found their way to the big screen, and have overnight turned into must-see places. Any Delhiite who's seen PK, can be put into one of two categories. Category one has people who, for the first time, discovered that a baoli (what's that?!) existed near Connaught Place, and the second set has those who knew exactly what it was and were found cribbing about losing another Delhi secret to Bollywood. This is not the first time when a relatively unknown spot in the city has overnight turned into the 'place-to-be' after Bollywood decided to put its stamp on it. DT lists some such transformations - from hidden to the hottest - in the list of hangout places for filmi Delhiites. This hidden wonder had a Wikipedia page and tourist reviews from all over the world much before the 'alien' Aamir Khan made it his home. PK is, however, not Baoli's Bollywood debut. It has in the past hosted Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and has also appeared in many music videos, the last being AR Rahman's Laadli. But the number of visitors, according to the locals here, has gone up greatly since PK released. Sanjay, the guard at Baoli, in a rather miserable state, told us, "Hum toh hairan hi ho gaye hain itni bheed dekh ke. Har type ke log aate hain aur humein unhe saare time hatate rehna padta hai. Closing time 5pm hai aur hum ek ghante tak logon ko bhagaate rehte hain." At walking distance from Janpath, the place is now a profile picture-worthy place for its visitors, and the initially-hidden Hailey Lane now has a dedicated auto stand and a 'PK momos' point.

HAUZ KHAS FORT Before Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri decided to down desi daaru at the then-undiscovered Hauz Khas fort, it was the frequent haunt of south campus students, architecture loving history buffs and of course, couples looking for a cheap making out spot. The venue was then lined with posh houses and kachchi mitti ke ghar, but all of that changed once our nightlife experts and Ranbir-lovers found their way to the fort. After the movie, guards had to be appointed to go around smelling cold drink bottles for alcohol content, and to make sure students didn't have their Rockstar bucket-list moment here. Visitors are now often seen struggling to find their way around the ruins without coming in the frame of a zillion selfies and, on weekend mornings, pre-wedding photo shoots.

PAHARGANJ Paharganj has always existed on the Delhi map as a marketplace for cheap leather and silver products, a firang backpacker's heaven and for many other unsaid, 'shady' things. But it made it to the list of 'places you should visit if you want to be a true Delhiite' only after one of Bollywood's cooler directors, Anurag Kashyap, took it to the big screen in his own edgy way in Dev.D. Years later, Paharganj is still living up to its shady reputation but with a bigger fan following, which consists of students looking for cheap daaru outings, Delhi-discovery enthusiasts ticking off another destination on their list and scared-but-hoping-tolook-cool visitors trying to figure out the hype behind it all. HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN DARGAH The Imtiaz Ali-Ranbir Kapoor duo did a lot of damage to the 'secret Delhi places scene' during their Rockstar days in 2011, the consequences of which are still being faced by those Delhiites who claim to have discovered these places first. After the film, many college students started making their way to Nizamuddin Dargah, in groups, of course (because, hello! it's so unsafe!), for the special Thursday and Friday evening qawwali, with the hopes of discovering their inner rockstar here. The dargah has also found a permanent place in the itineraries of the many heritage tours being organised in the city every weekend and in the list of Bollywood hopefuls coming to seek blessings before their next film's release. HONORARY MENTION: INDIA GATE AFTER RANG DE BASANTI A passing shot of India Gate has always been the easiest way of registering 'ab hum dilli mein hain' in any Bollywood movie since forever. But it was one film that managed to change the monument's reputation from being a tourist destination and Sunday family outing spot, to a symbol of protest and youth awakening. If Aamir Khan and co. can walk on Rajpath with candles in hand, so can Delhi. This branding, which started with protests for Jessica Lall in 2006, is here to stay, and we're sure we'll find protest-enthusiasts gathering at India Gate anytime anything goes wrong in the world. The only complaining party, we think, is Jantar Mantar, which lost out on the 'coolest protest spot' tag after this movie, and has permanent protesters as its inhabitants.

February 20-27, 2015 33 Caribbean Star Newspaper Carnival 2015. 2015 Calypso Monarch seals place in history petitions while at secondary school concluding his A-level study. In 2004, he placed fourth in the National Junior Calypso Monarch, won the Pathfinders competition and a number of other smaller competitions. Also, in that year, Chucky took part in the Schools Parang Festival, where he won the Best Male Vocalist title. In 2005, he entered the senior calypso realm, where he succeeded in qualifying for the semifinals of the National Calypso Monarch. In this same year he was a Young King finalist, won the Tunapuna and Laventille

Roderick “Chucky” Gordon performs his calypso I Believe. PHOTO: JEFF MAYERS

hen he won the 2015 National Calypso Monarch title on Carnival Sunday night, Chucky (Roderick Gordon) joined an elite group of only five calypsonians to have registered back-to-back wins in the competition since its establishment in 1939. They are Atilla the Hun (Raymond Quevedo), Striker (Percy Oblington), Duke (Kelvin Pope), Sparrow (Dr Slinger Francisco) and Chalkdust (Dr Hollis Liverpool). The first to do so was Atilla The Hun. He won the contest in 1946 singing Daily Mail Report, and successfully defended the title in 1947 with Million Dollar Jail. Eleven years later, in 1958, Striker won with Don’t Blame the PNM and Can’t Find A Job To Suit Me, and repeated the win in 1959 with Ban The Hula Hoop and Comparison. Then came Sparrow to lift the titles in 1962 with Model Nation and Sparrow Come Back Home and 1963’s Dan Is The Man In The Van and Kennedy. Duke established a record of four straight wins in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971. Sparrow returned to winner’s row with consecutive victories in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Chalkdust claimed his first title in 1976 with Three Blind Mice and Ah Put On Mih Guns Again and retained it in 1977 with Juba Dubai and Shango Vision. Twenty-seven years later he repeated the double, winning in 2004 and 2005. Ten years later it was Chucky, who won the title last year with Wey Yuh Think and Wedding of De Century, and repeated this year with The Rose and I Believe. The young, two-time National Calypso Monarch participated in a number of junior calypso competitions, including the National Junior Calypso Monarch and NACC Pathfinders com-

Calypso Monarch competitions, and placed fourth in the Stars of Tomorrow competition. Heavily involved in culture, Chucky took part in the Prime Minister’s Best Village Competition in 2005 with the Barataria Community Council, where he won the Best Male Vocalist title and the Best All-round Performer award in the folk theatre category. The calypso fraternity began to take special notice of Chucky in 2006. He proved that he was here to stay, making history by becoming the second youngest person, at age 19, to become a National Calypso Monarch

finalist. He also placed fifth in the Young Kings competition, fourth in the Stars of Tomorrow competition, and won the Tunapuna Monarch title for a second consecutive time. Chucky also made his first venture into the soca arena with his debut hit ,See You, which allowed him to place third in the International Groovy Soca Monarch competition and gave him the opportunity to perform in a number of parties and fetes. As a result of such an outstanding season, Chucky was nominated as a Best New Male Artiste at the International Soca Awards in New York.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Caribbean Connections Twenty killed and scores injured in Haiti carnival parade

ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Tuesday February 17, 2015, CMC – At least 20 people on a packed Carnival float were killed and 46 injured early Tuesday when the float came in contact with a power line as it moved through the streets of the capital. According to media reports, someone on the float used a pile to move the line so the float could pass under it. The float was sponsored by the Haitian hip-hop group Barikad Crew. The police report that some of the victims were instantly electrocuted while some managed to jump off, causing panic in the crowd. Hundreds thronged the General Hospital, where many of the victims were taken, some carrying victims and others searching for family members brought by ambulance.

L EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT (CREDIT: INSTAGRAM/IAMTICO) “My sincerest sympathies with the victims of the grave incident this morning at the Champ de Mars celebrating Mardi Gras Carnaval,” Haitian President Michel Martelly said on Twitter.

Caribbean Airlines flight targeted by laser light on approach to Piarco

ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,Tuesday February 17, 2015, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government has warned residents in an area close to the Piarco International airport to desist from using laser lights on aircraft warning that the authorities would adopt a zero tolerance of such actions. The authorities said that on Monday, a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight 460 “was hit in the cockpit of the aircraft with the beam of a laser light”, about 2.5 miles short of the airport. It said another CAL plane was also affected by laser light. “The pilots of both aircraft reports the light source emanated from the Kelly Village area which is on the approach path to Piarco. “The National Operations Centre (NOC) in its role for air coordination integrates its operation with CAA.

Brand Jamaica in high demand in UK

Constant surveillance has revealed the citizens of Kelly Village, St. Helena and Bamboo Village are breaking the law. “Internationally this irresponsible behaviour and wanton disregard for the law has been deemed and borders on terrorist activity, as the perpetrators are affecting the landing procedures of an aircraft and placing the passengers, other aircraft and the members of the public on the ground in very grave danger.”

The NOC warned of the possible disaster that would occur “if one of these aircraft affected by the stupid act of these personnel on the ground goes down in one of our energy sectors or oil and gas installations the phathom of the catastrophe cannot be imagined”. The authorities said that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service with the support of the NOC “would be adopting a zero tolerance of such actions and strongly advise that anyone found conducting this illegal act will receive the full brunt of the law. “The NOC will continue to monitor this situation and with all agencies in a combined effort to bring it to an immediate stop.” The authorities warn that persons found guilty of committing such acts would on summary conviction fined TT$10,000 (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) and to imprisonment of one year.

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ONDON, England – A recent visit by a 15-member delegation to the New Covent Garden Market in London, led by Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier to explore the market and how Jamaica can take advantage of the high demand for local fresh produce in the United Kingdom (UK), and increase exports to that market. The delegation was informed that Jamaica has a strong brand presence in the UK and there is a huge demand for Jamaican produce by the food service sector. Minister Kellier, in expressing optimism at the possibilities, said, “Once the connections can be made, we can put a lot of farmers to work in Jamaica.” “There are lots of fruits sold on this market that we can produce in Jamaica. The fruits we grow have a higher level of flavour and quality than those grown elsewhere because of our climate and our soils,” he said. “This visit will allow us to go back to Jamaica and explore with our own farmers the opportunities to get into this market,” he added. The Jamaican delegation was hosted by Director of Business Development and Support at Covent Garden Market Authority, Helen Evans; Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) Chief Executive, Nigel Jenney; and Head of Agriculture at QV Foods, and FPC Executive, Chris Marshall. The team visited several traders in the market such as P&I Fruits, French Garden and Bevington Salads, and were shown the banana holding rooms at Premier Fruits. Paul Emmett of P&I Fruits, who addressed the group, said, “There is a market here for anything from Jamaica. People identify with ‘Brand Jamaica’ they know they will get good quality and on a regular basis.” Fresh Produce Consortium Chief Executive Nigel Jenny said the strength of the national brand should not be underestimated. “We have seen that in the food service sector there is tremendous interest in Brand Jamaica. Every trader we have spoken to here today is interested in trading with Brand Jamaica and you should not underestimate the importance of that. What you need to do is keep in control of plant health issues, and if you really want to break into the UK market, GlobalGAP is an absolute minimum requirement,” he advised. GlobalGAP is an internationally recognised set of farm standards dedicated to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). During the tour, the delegation also heard of possibilities for increased banana and mango exports. Links have already been forged to supply specific melon varieties to the UK Marketing Consultant with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Dr Derrick Deslandes pointed out. Vice President for Export and Market Development at JAMPRO, Robert Scott, said there is an opening for ginger from Jamaica. “Something we do very well in Jamaica are public/private partnerships…what we have seen with our visit to New Covent Garden today and to New Spitalfields in November is that there is an absence of Jamaican products for the food service sector and this is a clear opportunity for Jamaica,” he said. New Covent Garden Market is the largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK. The market provides ingredients to many of London's top restaurants, hotels, schools, prisons, hospitals, and catering businesses.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Alfonso: Trinis put off Ebola fears until after Carnival

ational Security Minister Carl Alfonso says while there had been a fear of Ebola in Trinidad and Tobago, most people “will start thinking about that fear” today, now that Carnival 2015 is over. Alfonso told TV6 News yesterday, on the last day of Carnival, “Right now, during the Carnival time, I am not hearing any discussions or debate about Ebola, as serious as it is.” Alfonso even displayed a card he carries on his person, distributed by the National Security Minister, advising people about the do’s and don’t where Ebola is concerned.

The National Security Ministry has been leading the State’s response to Ebola before Alfonso replaced Gary Griffith as the National Security minister earlier

this month. Asked what had been the feedback about Ebola concerns as of yesterday morning, Alfonso said: “Nothing at all, you know. Nothing about people having, well, they have a fear, but most people will start thinking about that fear tomorrow (today).” National Operations Centre executive director Garvin Heerah said contingency plans were put in place to deal with the increased visitor arrivals during the Carnival season. “Immigration, Ministry of Health; there’s a combined effort at all of the airports and seaports to treat with that, so

we have that well under control,” Heerah said. On January 1, then National Security minister Griffith said: “There is a full green light for Carnival 2015,” at that time, based “on the very good work that we have seen by” Trinidad and Tobago’s Ebola-prevention, information and response team, chaired by Vice-Chief of Defence Staff Brig General Anthony Phillips-Spencer. “Citizens can feel safe to understand that this situation with Ebola has been properly locked down at this time,” Griffith said as National Security minister on January 1.

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ASSAU, Bahamas, Monday February 16, 2015, CMC – A 56-year-old man is due to appear in court Monday charged with murdering his 81-year-old mother. A post mortem found that the woman, Princess Butler, had died due to asphyxia. There were also injuries to her body. A police statement said that the woman’s body was found at her home and that investigations led to the arrest of her son, whose name has also not been released. “The suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday 16th February to be formally charged,” the statement said, noting that the crime occurred on February 4. Meanwhile, a 38-year Bulgarian man, who is suspected to have stolen thousands of dollars from several bank accounts using a card-skimming device, has been arrested. Police said that detectives acting executed a search warrant at a house occupied by the suspect over the weekend, and “found an assortment of fraudulent credit cards, laptop computers, a card reader and over US$75,000:00 in cash. “The suspect along with a 22 year old Bahamian man were taken into custody for questioning,” the police said.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Govt cuts back: fewer armoured vehicles New Zealand and Australian scientists to conduct geothermal study in Grenada C February 20-27, 2015

utbacks in the 2014/2015 budget due to the fluctuating oil and natural gas prices on the international markets may result in the Government purchasing fewer armoured vehicles and armoured personnel vehicles (APVs) than it had first planned. National Security Minister Carl Alfonso says, however, there is no intention to abandon the planned acquisition of the armoured vehicles and APVs. The Express reported last month that advertisements had been appearing in the media about the acquisition of 20 specially outfitted armoured vehicles, along with 15 armoured personnel carriers (APVs) as well as drones, helicopters and offshore patrol vessels during the tenure of Gary Griffith before his appointment as National Security Minister was revoked by President Anthony Carmona on the advice of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) or US crude oil price on which the budget is partly-pegged was reduced from US$80 per barrel to US$45 per barrel while the natural gas price used to calculate the budget was lowered from US$2.75 per million British thermal units (mmbtu) to US$2.25 per mmbtu. The WTI oil price has rebounded from a low of just below US$45 per barrel last month to just above US$52 per barrel during yesterday’s trading. Natural gas prices traded at US$2.75 per mmbtu yesterday.

Alfonso said of the armoured personnel carriers and APVs to be acquired: “We are going to get them but not in the volume that we had discussed before.” He spoke with Tv6 News during a walkabout he conducted in Port of Spain with the National Operations Centre executive director Garvin Heerah and other senior ranked State national security officials who were all accompanied by a heavily armed security detail. Alfonso sought to dismiss any perception that the Cabinet took a decision to lift the ban on glass bottles during Carnival 2015 that had been in place for Carnival 2014. “I didn’t realise there was a decision for no glass bottles downtown. Was that a law passed or something? I’m not aware of it,” Alfonso said. He said he knows there was “a discussion to ban or not to ban glass bottles for Carnival.” “No official decision was taken,” Alfonso said. He added that as far as he was concerned people are free “to use their glass bottles.” “We would hope that they don’t but if they do they’re not breaking any law as far as I am aware,” Alfonso said. Woman Instinct Love Dominion (WILD) mas band leader Ian McKenzie told Tv6 News said he bought cups for his masqueraders. Heerah said the crime figures for Carnival as of yesterday morning had been “extremely low.”

T. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Tuesday February 17, 2015, CMC - A team of scientists from New Zealand and Australia will be conducting technical and geoscience analyses in Grenada over the next two months as the island continues to facilitate the exploration and eventual use of geothermal energy leading to a reduction in Grenada’s carbon footprint and ultimately lower electricity prices. A government statement said that the studies will be conducted at sites closer to the center and northern parts of the island, in the general vicinity of Mt. St. Catherine, where a number of potential geothermal sites will be investigated. “The study seeks to define where the geothermal resource is located and identify possible sites for subsequent exploration efforts” it added. In 2014, the governments of Grenada and New Zealand, signed a Geothermal Support Partnership Framework aimed at facilitating the exploration and eventual use of geothermal energy. “In this regard, it was agreed that several activities, including the review of

existing studies and the undertaking of additional studies as necessary as well as geophysics survey of potential geothermal sites and the analysis of the scientific data will be conducted. The parties also agreed on the completion of a stored heat assessment and quantification of power generation potential. The New Zealand-based firm, Jacobs New Zealand Limited, has been contracted by the New Zealand government of New Zealand to undertake the required studies and technical analyses. The firm estimated that the initial phase of the assignment will cover a 30 week period, commencing with desktop reviews, technical and logistical planning, which they started in December 2014, and concluding with the submission of the technical reports and a presentation of the way forward, in June 2015. “The government of Grenada is committed in its efforts to enabling the provision of more sustainable energy to the citizens of Grenada, and a reduction in the reliance of imported fossil fuel.”

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

February 20-27, 2015

LIME Pre-Champs build$ 1 Billion up to provide over $3m for participating schools OUR orders JPS to pay

S preparations for the region's largest secondary school athletics festival get into high gear, telecommunications firm LIME is once again answering a call for support. The company will be providing financial assistance of over $3 million to schools through various initiatives it has planned ahead of the annual ISSA GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships scheduled for March 2428. "Having been on board for several years, we are aware of the many challenges that schools face in getting athletes ready for Champs each year. Their expenses include meals and nutrition, transportation, boarding and the like, which often are not included in its regular administrative funding. Through the donations we will be making over the period, we hope to offer well-needed support which will ultimately improve the quality of the performances at the Games," said Stephen Miller, LIME sponsorship and events manager. Many schools indicate that the cost of preparing teams for the prestigious Games is burdensome on school coffers. The ongoing programme will assist with expenses directly associated with participation in the highly anticipated and competitive meet. The first segment of the programme was launched at the Hydel Group of Schools last Friday. LIME staged the first in its series of 'Journey to Champs' pep rallies which saw the school receiving a cheque for $100,000 and a high energy injection of performances and giveaways. Intended to spark a school spirit and friendly rivalry leading into the annual four-day meet, LIME has selected six high schools for the series. The others include Calabar High, Edwin Allen High, Kingston College, Jamaica College and St Jago High. Excited about this year's plans, Miller said that as the official telecommunications provider powering the most prestigious high school athletics meet in this hemisphere, the company saw it fitting to begin preparations for the 2015 Games with a bang. He further disclosed plans for an upcoming parish-based initiative that will allow fans, alumni and general supporters to win cash for the secondary school of their choice. Details on the company's main initiative for struggling schools will be announced at the launch of the Games next month. "We are certain that this year's event will be even more impressive than the last and as such we have also upped the ante, not only through the execution of our sponsorship of Champs, but also now with the support that we are offering to the participants," he explained.

— Refund

back customers for unauthorised FX adjustment on accounts

HE Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has again found itself on the receiving end of an unfavourable decision by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), after it was yesterday slapped with an order to refund close to $1 billion to customers. The sum is for charges made to customers’ accounts from March to December 2013 for foreign exchange adjustment on fuel supplied by Petrojam. In a lengthy release, the utility regulator said the light and power company is to refund customers for the charges, which it included on their bills without consultation. Public education specialist at the OUR, Elizabeth Bennett-Marsh told the Jamaica Observer that the JPS’s justification for the charge was that “it adjusts the fuel cost recovered for any differences between the estimated fuel cost computed at the exchange rate at the end of the month in which it incurs the fuel cost and the exchange rate at which these US$ invoices

were actually settled”. However, the OUR determined that the sum taken from customers, totalling $973,373 million, was in contravention of the Amended and Restated All-Island Electric Licence. “The OUR, having received JPS’s explanation for making the adjustments, considered the matter and concluded that JPS had no authority under the existing regulatory framework to unilaterally impose the additional costs on customers. The licence explicitly states how the charges are to be determined, and once this is done, there is no provision for an adjustment and, even so, JPS is not entitled to levy charges unilaterally,” Bennett-Marsh further stated. The regulator has also given JPS a week to submit details of how the company plans to repay customers, and when refunds would begin. “Customers are to be fully refunded within six months of the effective date of the directive,” the OUR ordered.

Just a month ago, the OUR rejected the JPS’s application for an increase in non-fuel rates, and instead handed down a determination for the company to reduce electricity rates by an average of two per cent. In a release late yesterday, the light and power company said that it was reviewing the OUR directive, explaining that the sum quoted by the regulatory body “was paid to Petrojam for oil used to generate electricity”. “[The amount] represents the difference between the estimated amounts for which JPS was billed in Jamaica dollar terms, and the actual amount paid to Petrojam. The J$973m accounts for approximately one per cent of the total fuel bill of close to J$73 billion paid by JPS to Petrojam for fuel in 2013,” JPS said. Meanwhile, JPS President and CEO Kelly Tomblin questioned why the company was only hearing from the OUR just now when the light and power company had already provided an explanation for the charges based on a request made in 2013.

“The OUR asked for an explanation of the charges in May 2013, which we provided in a matter of days. It is not clear why we did not hear from the OUR until more than a year later on this issue,” Tomblin said. “JPS believes we acted within the confines of the licence, but it appears, once again, that the OUR and JPS have a fundamental difference on what prudently incurred costs include,” she explained. “Legitimate cost recovery is one of the regulatory principles on which we are asking an independent tribunal to arbitrate in our appeal of the recent OUR rate determination. We believe that we should be allowed to recover the actual cost of doing business. Fuel is fundamentally a pass-through cost, like other normal operating costs, and we do not charge our customers one dollar more for fuel than what we incur in cost,” Tomblin added. She said that JPS experienced an under-recovery of its fuel cost amounting to US$42 million in 2013 and US$18 million in 2014. “No business can survive in the long run, nor attract much-needed capital if it cannot recover its actual prudently incurred business costs,” Tomblin declared.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

CRICKET & Sports

Australia cruise to opening win CA chairman pushes ODI revamp

Australia 342 for 9 (Finch 135, Maxwell 66, Bailey 55, Finn 5-71) beat England 231 (Taylor 98*, Marsh 5-33) by 111 runs

ew Zealand by 98 runs, Australia by 111. Who said hosting the World Cup brought added pressure? Day one showed why it would be no surprise if the two home nations met in Melbourne on day 45. In front of 84,336 fans at the MCG, Aaron Finch scored 135, Mitchell Marsh took 5 for 33, and Australia subjected England to their second-biggest

World Cup loss in terms of runs. Finch’s hundred was the first of this World Cup; back in 1992, Martin Crowe struck the first century of the World Cup on the opening day and went on to be Player of the Tournament. Australia would love such a six weeks from Finch, but will settle for now with this win. Their 342 for 9 was their highest ODI total at the MCG, and England never really had a hope in their chase. For England, the match was Omni shambolic, even in its ending. James Taylor, who had shown some fight and reached 98, tried to whip Josh Hazlewood to leg and was given out lbw. He reviewed, and the ball was missing leg. But in scrambling for a leg bye, his partner James Anderson had been run out. Out, review, not out, review, out. It capped off a muddled day for England. Having played Ravi Bopara through the tri-series and warm-ups, they dropped him and altered their batting order. Having opened the bowling with Chris Woakes through the tri-series and warm-ups, they made him first change. Generally they bowled, fielded and batted dismally.

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n his final year as the Cricket Australia chairman and an ICC powerbroker, Wally Edwards is intent on making further changes to ODI cricket as he watches the World Cup contested according to playing conditions he had a major hand in bringing about. Edwards has believed for some time that the 50-over game should be re-branded as “World Cup cricket”, with a more vigorous points and rankings system linked to Cup qualification across the four-year cycle that culminates in the global tournament. Such a system would create the context many have yearned for in ODIs for decades. Edwards’ concept for World Cup cricket will be discussed in detail at an ICC subcommittee meeting in Melbourne next week. Edwards serves presently as chairman of the influential Executive Committee or ExCo, a key plank added to the ICC’s governance under the raft of “big three changes” pushed into place by India, Australia and England at the governing body’s annual conference in June 2014. “I’d like to see a lot more context for 50-over cricket,” Edwards told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I would call it World Cup Cricket. We’ve got a meeting on Monday in Melbourne with the ICC and one of the subjects is this. From my point of view this is one of the big strategy items, which is also focused on making the world of cricket better. “I would have a system where maybe after one year the top two teams play off in a best-of-three [series] or something, which would take a week,” said Edwards, a former opening batsman for Australia. “That counts for one year and if you could work the points out so that even teams like Ireland have a

chance that would be quite interesting. There [would be] a decent prize at the end of it, a decent lump of money. “In the second year [after a World Cup in the current cycle] you’ve got the Champions Trophy, which I would like to call the World Cup qualifying tournament. In the third year you’d be finishing off the rankings for the World Cup and then in the last year you’ve got the World Cup. Something like that where each year there is a some pinnacle at the end that everyone is playing to achieve, and then the World Cup is the big one. It will make a lot more sense to people I think.” The proof of Edwards’ ability to influence the thinking of the game’s global governors has been demonstrated by the presence of two new balls at either end and tighter fielding restrictions at this World Cup, meaning fielding teams can only use four fielders outside the circle at most. Edwards pushed for these changes - which India, among others, have not appreciated - because he believed strongly that the game’s regulations should encourage attacking cricket, rather than the sort of percentage run-saving tactics that had become commonplace in ODIs. His philosophical views predated the arrival of Darren Lehmann as Australia’s coach, but the host team’s aggressive way of playing the game, striving for boundaries with the bat and wickets with the ball, has dovetailed neatly with Edwards’ view of how the game should be played. This was illustrated starkly during Australia’s opening World Cup fixture against England at the MCG, where Edwards was a delighted spectator in watching his team pile on 342 for 9 before rolling the visitors for 231.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

USACA elections scheduled for March 21

he USA Cricket Association has announced that elections for 2015 will take place at a Special General Meeting in Dallas, Texas on March 21. Nominations for candidates to the executive board are open until February 18 with the election set to occur under the current constitution after a proposal to ratify a revised constitution failed at the 2014 USACA Annual General Meeting in New York last November. USACA has published a list of 39 voting members eligible to take part in this election, up from the 15 that were allowed to take part in the controversial 2012 USACA general election. A total of 32 of the then 47 USACA member leagues were barred from voting after being declared “not in good standing” due to the results from a USACA compliance audit but USACA has now moved to make most of those leagues eligible to vote again, regardless of whether or not they meet the criteria established in 2012 to become members in good standing. Of the 39 member leagues, five of them are also registered as member leagues of the rival American Cricket Federation. Separately, there are seven leagues on the voting list that have not previously been USACA members prior to the 2012 USACA election and do not appear to have gone through the membership ratification process outlined in the US-

USA cricket is searching for sunnier days after much infighting © IDI/Peter Lim ACA Constitution. The process includes submitting an application before going through a provisional membership period of at least one year followed by a referral to the USACA board for review and approval to full membership by a majority vote of the board. None of the

Caribbean Star Newspaper

BUSINESS

eight leagues are mentioned anywhere the November AGM. But sources have in USACA Meeting Minutes since the indicated that the USACA board reject2012 USACA AGM. ed the proposals that were submitted USACA had appointed a committee at a board meeting in January. USACA of six league presidents to form a set of made no announcement as to the evenrevisions to the proposed constitution tual status of the findings of the six-man after it had fallen short of approval at committee. January 23-29, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Miller, Duminy Ireland makes tons sinks spirited Zimbabwe South Africa 339 for 4 (Miller 138*, Duminy 115*) beat Zimbabwe 277 (Masakadza 80, Chibhabha 64, Tahir 3-36) by 62 runs

decade. That’s how long it’s been since Zimbabwe had South Africa four down with the team’s hundred still a way away. Opportunity beckoned, but David Millerand JP Duminy heard the call louder. Their counterattacking centuries reinforced the skill that runs down this mighty batting line-up, as a score of 83 for 4 grew into 339 for 4 and the world record for the fifth-wicket partnership was updated to 256 off 178. Perhaps Zimbabwe took heart from that. Perhaps the team talk was if their opposition could do that with a poor start, what might happen if the top order stood up to be counted. Chamu Chibhabha, back after nearly two years in ODI exile, and Hamilton Masakadza, playing his first World Cup in a 13-year career, decided to test the theory. A refreshing partnership began, but it could only extend to 105, and the ones that followed were cut short before they could pry the match from South Africa’s hands as they won by 62 runs. Zimbabwe lost it when their bowlers lost it in the final overs. The result was a numbing mix of sixes off overpitched balls, sixes off full tosses and sixes off short balls. The wresting of momentum appeared very stark as the fielders began giving up on chasing the ball once it cleared the infield. And those were the lucky ones for Zimbabwe. Miller tonked one that soared over the square-leg boundary and may well had disrupted the traffic outside the ground. Solomon Mire was the bowler and this was how that over, the 48th of the innings, went: 6 4 4 6 4 6 - that’s more than South Africa made in the first 10 overs. Zimbabwe bowled 23 overs for under six. Eight was the most they had given away until the 37th cost 10. After that, there was a batch of fours between the 45th and 48th that bled 80. While batting, they had been ahead of South Africa’s 262 at the end of the 46th over. The question of ‘what if’ must be haunting them. Miller and Duminy, meanwhile, would be sighing in relief. Their firepower should be celebrated and their patience in constructing a suitable launchpad should not be overlooked. There were 69 balls without a boundary in the middle overs before the tap was turned to full. They blunted some balls that held onto a slow pitch, pinched singles off others to push the run rate higher, and eventually ended up with a score that was nearly a hundred runs more than what they had hoped for.

Ireland 307 for 6 (Stirling 92, Joyce 84, N O’Brien 79*) beat West Indies 304 for 7 (Simmons 102, Sammy 89, Dockrell 3-50) by 4 wickets

reland put the world in the cup as the obliging West Indies sleepwalked to an embarrassing - does it embarrass them anymore, though? - defeat during which only Darren Sammy and Lendl Simmons seemed awake in rescuing them from 87 for 5. The West Indies bowling was as flat as their top

February 20-27, 2015

statement - beat West Indies

order as the adventurous Paul Stirling, smooth Ed Joyce and nerveless Niall O’Brien coasted to the target of 305 efficiently and without any anxiety despite a late wobble that came too late. Fittingly the most compelling story played itself out in Nelson, whose population is 45000 and whose cricket ground, the Saxton Oval, holds a maximum of 6000. There was immense joy as Ireland’s discipline and nous stood in a two-finger salute to the administrators’ plans to keep them and other smaller crick-

et teams out of the World Cup. There was grief too as West Indies showed for the most of the match a lack of application, fight and cricketing smarts. It was almost as if they had a long night out in Nelson but forgot to invite Sammy and Simmons. Only rarely do two men win matches against teams that maximize their resources as Ireland do. It doesn’t matter that Sammy posted the highest score by a No. 7 in World Cups - 89 off 67, it doesn’t matter that the 218 their lower half added was the

second-highest in ODI history, it doesn’t matter that Simmons accelerated from 26 off 44 to 102 off 84. What mattered was that this was a flat pitch with boundaries hard to defend, and that they didn’t have the bowling to defend. Stirling and Joyce showed them how to do it, letting at no point in the chase the asking rate go beyond 6.64. This was no upset; there were 25 balls to spare when the match finished. This was a clinical defeat of a team that could not look less interested even if it tried.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

Full IPL window for Morgan, Bopara

ven while taking place under cover of the World Cup, the IPL auction has the potential to cause ripples throughout the game, so events in Bangalore on Monday will have been watched closely by county chief executives. England players have not tended to attract much attention but, on this occasion, three of the five put on the block were sold - though only two have county contracts. Middlesex and Essex would have been prepared to lose Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, both of whom have played in the IPL before. They will now have to plan for them to be absent for the duration of the competition, which runs from April 8 until May 24, after the ECB decided to allow them the maximum window of availability. This is a shift in policy from previous years, when England have tended to require contracted players to cut short their spells in the T20 league, and was influenced by the fact the 2016 World T20 will take place in India. Morgan and Bopara, who are on ECB increment deals, are likely to be involved in that tournament and the hope is that their IPL exposure can enhance England’s chances. New Zealand are the opposition during the first part of England’s 2015 home season, starting with two Tests in May, but it is some time since Morgan or Bopara were involved in that format and they will be back well before the first ODI on June 9. The ECB is also planning to give its own T20 competition, the NatWest Blast, a boost

by making all England players available for the fourth round of matches on June 5, fitness permitting. In a busy summer for England, with an Ashes series also scheduled, this will be a rare opportunity to prioritise the domestic game. The third England-qualified player to have been picked up by an IPL franchise is currently not in line to play in the Blast. Kevin Pietersen fought repeatedly with the ECB over its IPL stance - it was a central issue in the 2012 breakdown in relations that led to Pietersen being dropped - but his new Sunrisers Hyderabad team-mates Morgan and Bopara will be the ones to benefit. That could make for another talking point in the dressing room. In 2014, Pietersen helped Surrey to Finals Day but restrictions to the salary cap and the signing of Kumar Sangakkara mean he is unlikely to return. Sangakkara was one of those overlooked at the IPL auction, which should be to Surrey’s benefit. His commitments to Sri Lanka remain uncertain, with Test series scheduled for June and August, but the absence of an IPL deal is one less obstacle to his arrival. The lack of interest in Alex Hales, the No. 3-ranked T20 batsman, and Michael Carberry, who played a key role in Perth Scorchers’ Big Bash success over the winter, means that both will be around for the start of the season at Nottinghamshire and Hampshire respectively. Yorkshire had already covered for the loss of Aaron Finch - bought for £350,000 by Mumbai Indians

Eoin Morgan will be available to play a full season of the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad - by bringing in Younis Khan for the start of Hashim Amla, Doug Bollinger and Tillathe season. karatne Dilshan - there might even be the For those established international play- possibility of a spell in county cricket to ers not invited to the IPL ball - such as soothe the pain.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

February 20-27, 2015

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