Caribbean Star #40 vol. 4 by Art15.Design2pro

Caribbean First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

May 1–7, 2015

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Vol.4 #40

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FIRING ELECTIONS GIMMICK – NAGEER NARINE UNDERGOES TESTING FOR OFFBREAKS See More on Page 38 GUYANA

CRANE FAMILY DEFENDS HOME FROM BANDITS, CAPTURES ONE See More on Page 4

Buckling under pressure, President Donald Ramotar fired Dr Bheri Ramsaran as Minister of Health more than a week after a recording emerged of him verbally abusing activist Sherlina Nageer who labelled the sacking an “elections time gimmick”. GUYANA GUYANA

CAUGHT WITH GUN? GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL THE Bail Amendment Bill is now law. If you are сharged with having a real or fake gun, you will go directly to jail. There will be no bail.

GUYANESE MAN PLEADS GUILTY ON COCAINE CHARGE IN BARBADOS See More on Page 6

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Crane family defends home from bandits, captures one

family of Crane, West Coast Demerara courageously defended their home and captured a bandit who invaded it around 11:30 pm on Tuesday as an alleged accomplice(s) fled in fear. Shoba Harnath, 39, told Stabroek News that they tied up the “smallbuilt” man who had a black hood pulled over his face and handed him over to the police. He entered the home through a window in the living room and was carrying a black backpack. Harnath admitted that they dealt him some “slaps” while questioning him about what he was doing in the house. She was pleased with the prompt response from the police. The man who appeared unarmed told the officers that he was 26-years-old. The family recognized him as a villager who would pass by their home at times. Harnath recalled that she and her husband, Hamid Bacchus, 39, became aware of the invasion after they were awakened to a sound from their bedroom door. The mother of seven said they saw a man with a black hood over his head

and her husband shouted ‘aye, wah u doing deh?’ The intruder ran towards the kitchen without responding and when Bacchus grabbed him he pushed him down and continued a desperate bid to escape. One of their daughters grabbed him and he pushed her down as well and tried to jump out of the window. She got up and held on to him again until her father came to her assistance. Just then they saw someone pulling the curtain from the outside and realized that the man was not alone. The woman feels that the bandits felt no one was at home because her eldest son, aged 22, had gone out with their car. The young man received a call about what was taking place in his home and arrived shortly after. The neighbours also ran over after hearing the commotion. She said her children, especially the youngest who is five-year-old are terrified and were trembling during the episode. That was the second time that bandits entered the home and the family was happy that this time they did not suffer any losses.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Triumph man dies after Montrose crash

Arif Williams

22-year-old Triumph died on Tuesday night and two others were injured after an accident on the Montrose Public Road, ECD. According to a police press release, Arif Williams was allegedly driving a motor car at a fast rate, along with passenger Ashley Singh, 19, when he swerved to avoid a pedestrian who was trying to cross the road. Williams lost control of the vehicle and ran into a nearby guard hut where Mahendranauth Krishram of Atlantic Gardens was stationed. Williams, Singh and Krishram, were taken to the GPHC where Williams was pronounced dead on arrival, Singh was admitted, and Krishram was treated and sent away. Williams’ cousin, Isha Aowmathi, explained to this newspaper that Williams was at home when his girlfriend, Singh, called and sug-

Ashley Singh gested they go to dinner. Williams agreed and picked up Singh from LBI and was heading into town when a woman, who was arguing with someone, ran across the road. Williams tried to avoid the pedestrian and ended up crashing into a nearby guard hut. Krishram, the 52-year-old security guard, explained to this newspaper that he was sitting in his guard hut when he heard a car screeching nearby as if it was losing control. He subsequently got up to see what was happening when the vehicle appeared out of nowhere and struck him. Krishram suffered a broken hand and a sprained foot. He also has several stitches to his forehead. Krishram was treated at the GPHC and discharged. Singh suffered a broken arm among other injuries and remains hospitalised.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Guyanese man DON'T LIKE IT? LEAVE! pleads guilty on cocaine charge in Barbados

orty-seven-year old Shawn Lawrence Chance will reappear in court on May 28 after pleading guilty to cocaine charges. The Guyanese national pleaded guilty to possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of one kilo of cocaine. He was fined Bds$100 000 to be paid in four weeks. According to police, Chance arrived in Barbados last Saturday at 5 p.m. After being interviewed by police at the Grantley Adams International Airport, he was referred to Customs. Fifty-three packets of cocaine were found in the bottom of a suitcase. Chance was also referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he subsequently passed out 40 packets of cocaine.

Health Minister reads riot act to complaining healthcare workers.

F you don’t like the job, then you can leave. This was the advice Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan gave yesterday to healthcare workers in the public service who have been complaining about poor terms and conditions of work. Khan said he felt “very pained about what is happening in the health sector”. Khan spoke on TV6’s Morning Edition programme where he discussed some of the ills of the health sector and announced he intended to implement with immediate effect new rules and

regulations aimed at improving patient care. When asked by host Fazeer Mohammed if problems of under-staffing and lack of proper training had led to problems with patient care, Khan said: “You can’t be tired or frustrated from the time you enter to when you leave. That is your attitude. If you don’t like it then why don’t you leave. There are a lot of people who want to come in as caregivers. If you find you are not happy as a caregiver go elsewhere and look for it. But if your job is hospitality and treating patients who come in there, who are sick, with families who are worried, you have to do it properly”. The health minister spoke of the recent death of a newborn at the San Fernando General Hospital where the child’s mother, Sheriffa Ali, complained no one from the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) or the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) had contacted her to express their sympathy over her loss. “In the recent one, no one from the SWRHA contacted them to express condolences. No one. That is wrong. They need to do that. The minister of health cannot go home

by everybody and express condolences but SWRHA can go and be humane with them,” he said. “I have to formulate a system and a plan if the system is not working which was there for 20 or 30 years. Yesterday (Tuesday) in the Senate everybody is saying that the RHA system has failed. I have to find something in the interim to fix patients’ safety. That is my job to make sure when you walk into a health institution you are treated like a human being because you are sick, your relatives are treated properly and you end up in a proper place.” Khan said the Regional Health Authority system was supposed to address issues regarding the professionalism of the health care worker through appraisals and contracts, but the system has failed. “Rather than have a public service type of system, this is where they have appraisals and you can get a new contract at the end of the old one. The RHA system has collapsed, because everyone is being made permanent. At the end of the three or four years you are now called a permanent employee to continue your permanent behaviour,” he said. He said in offending situations, doctors could be suspended, but

nurses could not since they were protected by unions. Khan said he would authorise the use of cameras being used by patients or a patients’ relative to capture footage of the patient care meted out to them by health care individuals. “The only way I can find out if the patients are getting good or bad treatment is if I keep professionals on their toes. Even as far as the security guards, the medical records clerk. I am allowing the patient’s relative to be alongside them and, they might not like this one, also utilise your video camera on your phone if there is something adverse and we are going to cite where you can put it on, and we are going to check”, said Khan. 13 new regulations Yesterday Khan held a press conference at which he outlined 13 new regulations at health institutions which are to take effect from tomorrow. These regulations included: allowing a relative to stay with a hospitalised child or elderly patient on a 24-hour basis, extended visitation hours, and the ability to submit a report with supporting evidence of an offending situation where someone under the care of a public health institution or their representative is unfairly or poorly treated.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

The Universal Mother

eeta Ram everyone. My name is Devi Kellawan and I am a proud member of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir. Over the years, we have learned a great deal about the importance of the divine mother. This was made possible by our great leader, Pandit Manoj Jadubans. Most of you may already know that the divine mother has many forms. The most common are, Durga, Saraswattie and Lakshmi. If we pray sincerely to the divine mother, we can be rid of all pains and sorrows in life. She represents the divine forces of the universe. Durga Maa came into this world many moons ago to destroy Racktabeej Maheshasur and many other demons. Yet, we continue to pray to her today so she can destroy the Maneshasur and Ractabeej that exist within all of us in the form of hate, jealousy and pride. Every year, Hindus celebrate “Nauratri” to seek the mother‘s blessings. Devotees observe fasting and perform puja at various mandirs and temple. Maa Lakshmi is the beloved consort of Lord Vishnu. She represents wealth, prosperity, health, and happiness. When present, a home is filled with happiness and peace. We should pray to her so that our lives are forever filled with her divine blessings. Maa Saraswati represents knowledge

and wisdom. She is the mother of the Arts and Music. Without her blessing, the world would be filled with darkness. She sits on a swan and is usually seen wearing a white sari which also represents purity. Sometimes there are many questions asked about the different forms of the mother. However, it is important to know that the mother may come in dif-

ferent forms but they are all one and the same. A very prominent form we have seen in this age is “Mother Kali”. She is one of the fiercest forms of Durga maa. She is adored all over the world. Her worship is becoming more prevalent as devotees understand the true meaning this form. In conclusion, I encourage all of you to worship the universal mother in the

form of your own mother. Hindus believe that in order to attain the blessings of the divine mother you need to be blessed by your own mother! It is our duty as children to honor and respect our mothers. As we prepare to celebrate “Mother’s Day” on May 10th, let’s ask Durga maa to bless all the wonderful mothers in the world. Jai Durga Ma!

8 May 1–7, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Ramsammy demands APNU+AFC come clean on sugar –‘No ands, ifs or buts’

ILL YOU close sugar, yes or no?” Agriculture Minister and People’s Progressive Party/ Civic member, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, was unequivocal in demanding clarity from the political Opposition on the future of the sugar industry, in a recent public missive. “For more than two years, I have asked our colleagues from APNU+AFC to tell us clearly – will you close sugar, yes or no. I have challenged them to tell us unequivocally – no ands, ifs or buts,” he said, Unfortunately, Dr. Ramsammy said, he has not yet been able to get a clear answer from the political Opposition. He said, “I cannot get a clear answer. Brigadier (rtd) David Granger told the Private Sector that ‘sugar is too big to fail’, repeating a PPP/C position but he also refuses to dissociate himself from a statement made early last year at an APNU media conference that called for closure of sugar and replacing it with tilapia. More recently, Stanley Ming called for closure of sugar too. Again David Granger refused to dissociate himself from this call to close sugar.”Sugar-worker As such, the Agriculture Minister is questioning his real position on the future of the sugar sector. “What is it? Will you close sugar or

not? Come clean and tell us.” He quipped that the answer may be found in what APNU+AFC has said is a leaked incomplete version of its manifesto. NO CLARITY Having reviewed the 46-page document, Dr. Ramsammy contends not only that the dismal contents forced the political Opposition to claim that it was leaked, but also that Guyanese will be disappointed. He said, “Like their public position, their manifesto is the same, playing games with the question. First they presented a sugar plan – but the sugar plan is almost a 100 per cent reproduction from GuySuCo’s (Guyana Sugar Corporation) Business Plan. “Yet the very next page they have this statement: ‘We believe that our sugar fields in Guyana are tailor-made for aquaculture. The farming of tilapia is proving to be lucrative’. The truth is they have a deeply entrenched position to close sugar. This is a disaster, many times worse than the closure of the Railway System in Guyana.” If, according to him, “God forbid” the APNU+AFC plan were to be implemented and the farming of tilapia is pursued, the jobs of some 20,000 sugar workers will be on the line. “Consider also that the most lucrative parts of DIH and DDL (rum production) will close too, leading to even more job losses, house-

hold cost of living will increase because local sugar prices will increase due to importation of sugar, cost of manufacturing in Guyana will increase, cost of drainage and irrigation will increase because GuySuCo presently provides the most extensive drainage and irrigation in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6,” Dr. Ramsammy said. All considered, the Agriculture Minister charged that APNU+AFC has an obsession with sugar and the political Opposition has constantly assaulted the sugar industry and sugar workers. “They must be exposed,” he posited. OBSENE ASSAULT On that note, the PPP/C member turned his attention to what he termed the “obscene assault” on sugar workers and their families by the political Opposition. “They continue to threaten to close sugar. No matter how they try to hide the truth their intention to close the industry continues to be revealed – the more they talk of sugar, the more the truth comes out,” he said. Dr. Ramsammy added, “The assault became more obnoxious in a statement they made in their manifesto about sugar workers’ pay package being too large, accounting for 65 per cent of GuySuCo’s expenditure. Well will they cut the wages and salaries of the sugar workers?” He stated that the question

must be asked in light of the proposal by APNU+AFC to increase salaries for the military and police by some 20 per cent and another proposal for a 10 per cent increase in the remunerations paid to public servants. “Despite these commitments, they made a point to emphasize that sugar workers’ pay package is too high….the AFC had promised a 20 per cent increase for sugar workers in 2011. But now that they have been absorbed into the PNC (People’s National Congress), which is disguised as APNU, the AFC has amnesia that they promised 20 per cent increase to sugar workers,” Dr. Ramsammy lamented. PRETENSE UNVEILED The collaboration between APNU and AFC, before their February 14 alliance, during the days of the 10th Parliament was also highlighted by the Agriculture Minister. “Their pretense of being independent is now ended. We remember them working with APNU to block any support to sugar throughout the 10th Parliament,” he said. According to Dr. Ramsammy, both recent events and historical facts paint a clear picture. APNU, whose majority partner is the PNC, according to him, has a legacy where the welfare of sugar workers was never a priority. “Off course the legacy of the

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PNC which now exists as APNU is one that punished sugar workers and one that froze salary increases for extensive periods of time when they were in Government. Let us not forget, either, that a public servant’s salary in 1992 was less than it was in 1964. In 1964, under the PPP, minimum salary in the public service was about US$60 per month. In 1992, under the PNC, minimum salary in the public service was US$23. Today it is US$210 under the PPP/C,” he said. Consequently, he called for there to be a clear recognition of what APNU+AFC represents. “Sugar workers beware, those who “sweet-mouthed” you in 2011 has again betrayed you. Now they make it no secret – they have targeted you for punishment. Not only do they plan to close sugar, they now want to start with cutting your pay,” Dr. Ramsammy warned. ‘What is it? Will you close sugar or not? Come clean and tell us… APNU+AFC has an obsession with sugar; they have constantly assaulted the sugar industry and sugar workers. They must be exposed’ – Dr. Leslie Ramsammy ‘They continue to threaten to close sugar. No matter how they try to hide the truth their intention to close the industry continues to be revealed – the more they talk of sugar, the more the truth comes out’ – Dr. Leslie Ramsammy By Vanessa Narine

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Ramsaran firing elections gimmick – Nageer

May 1–7, 2015

uckling under pressure, President Donald Ramotar yesterday fired Dr Bheri Ramsaran as Minister of Health more than a week after a recording emerged of him verbally abusing activist Sherlina Nageer who yesterday labelled the sacking an “elections time gimmick”. Nageer yesterday called for similar action be taken against Attorney-General Anil Nandlall. President Ramotar had come under tremendous pressure following Ramsaran’s abusive remarks in which he threatened to have Nageer stripped and slapped and called her a “piece of shit.” Numerous local organisations as well as the representatives of the US, Britain and Canada—all publicly condemned the former minister’s remarks. The pressure began to mount after a recording of the exchange began circulating and Ramsaran issued an apology in which he claimed to have been provoked into anger and uttering harsh words which he regretted. However, the next day, the minister was recorded calling Nageer a “miscreant,” accusing her of spitting on him and saying she was in need of psychiatric help. He was speaking to Regional Health Officers. “Minister Bheri Ramsaran has since been relieved of his Ministerial duties following a meeting with the President. The President reiterates his outrage at the verbal outbursts and insults uttered by the Minister recently,” a statement from Office of the President said yesterday revealing that Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford is now acting in his stead. Ramsaran’s removal is the highest profile sacking since the PPP/C parted ways with then Finance Minister Asgar Ally

and replaced him with his junior minister, Bharrat Jagdeo. “Some people are celebrating but we are not. There are less than two weeks before elections; it is clear to me and others that this is an elections time gimmick,” Nageer said when contacted yesterday after the statement was issued. “I think the PPP lost some ground in their traditional support base and this is an attempt to regain some of that ground. We are not celebrating. We not appeased. And we are not fooled,” she said emphatically. She and some other women continued their protest action outside the former minister’s Brickdam office calling for him not to be returned to any public office regardless of the results of the May 11 elections. Two days after the recording was made public, President Ramotar had condemned Ramsaran’s statements and said he would have had further talks with the former minister. But many said it was not enough and called for him to show real leadership by firing Ramsaran and sending a clear message that the abuse of any woman is wrong. On April 20, Ramsaran was recorded verbally abusing Nageer, saying he would slap her for the fun of it and have her stripped in a public place. Ramsaran had journeyed to Whim to support former president Jagdeo, who was expected to attend court there to answer a private criminal charge filed against him by attorney Christopher Ram. The confrontation occurred after the minister labelled Ram a “wife beater” while being interviewed by reporters. Nageer

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interjected and proceeded to confront him about the deaths of women and children in the health care system under his watch. At this point Ramsaran could be heard calling Nageer a little “piece of shit” and an “idiot” before asking her to get out of his face. Medical council Yesterday Nageer also stated that it was not the end of the matter, pointing out that she had filed a complaint with the Crime Chief on April 27, in which she said that at no time did she raise her voice, spit at or otherwise threaten Ramsaran. “… Ramsaran, however advanced towards me, raising his hands. I moved back and put up my own hand defensively at this point. (Most of the rest of the time however, my hands were clasped behind my back). I felt threatened by Mr Ramsaran, as if he wanted to hit me,” Nageer charged in the statement. Yesterday she revealed that she would also be writing a letter to the Medical Council of Guyana detailing Ramsaran’s abuse of her as he is a medical doctor and may go into private practice. She pointed out that Ramsaran is just one of many public officials who have abused their offices and if the President really cared he would have fired Nandall as well. The attorney-general, was heard on tape soliciting the sexual favours of a young female for his uncle, among other things, during a conversation with Kaieteur News reporter Leonard Gildarie. Nageer and others will protest outside Nandlall’s office today between 1pm and 3pm. Describing Ramsaran’s sacking as a good start to holding public officials accountable, co-chair of the Partners for Peace and Development Roxanne Myers called for further actions on all public officials who have been caught up in public scandals in one way or the other. She said she looks forward to Ramsaran not being appointed to any public office—not even as a Member of Parliament—whether the PPP/C loses or wins the May 11 elections. She called for the same action to be taken as it relates to Nandlall adding that this would send a signal about how serious the party is as regards addressing issues affecting women. “I am looking forward to the President cleaning up, so to speak,” she told this newspaper. Meantime, Help & Shelter member Danuta Radzik said that while the sacking of Ramsaran took a while, in the end it was the right thing to do. She expressed the hope that the police would bring criminal charges against Ramsaran as there is no uncertainty that the former minister abused and threatened Nageer, both of which are criminal offences under the laws of Guyana. “We hope those charges will be brought against the former minister, if not there is a possibility that private criminal charges can be instituted. A very strong message should be sent to all persons in leadership positions that it is not acceptable that they would use their position to abuse any member of the public and get away with it,” she stressed. Radzik said these kinds of instances have been happening over and over and while they are glad Ramsaran has been sacked, she, like others, feel the same should happen with Nandlall whose act of soliciting sexual favours is criminal “This abuse of women has to stop. Not because you are a leader that absolves you

from committing a crime. Leaders must put their words to action, that the rights of women would be respected,” Radzik said. She surmised that if it were an ordinary citizen that person would have been charged. Radzik also called for the former minister to go through a period of rehabilitation since the issue is now public and after that period he should be assessed to ascertain that he no longer exhibits such abusive behaviour. She also called for some form of a code of conduct for how public officials should comport themselves in office, with sanctions to be applied if it is broken. Meanwhile, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in a statement said while it welcomes the move by the President it comes at a time “when the PPP is desperately seeking every vote in society and women are considered a critical demographic. “As such this must be seen for what it is, another cheap political exercise because Dr Ramsaran will receive his salary for the month and retain access to all state privileges, inclusive of vehicles for which taxpayers will continue to shoulder the burden,” the GTUC said in a statement. According to the statement, to demonstrate that it is not another exercise in cheap politicking, the President must now move to remove Ramsaran’s name from the List of Electors so that after May 11, whether the PPP wins or loses he is not given another chance to enter the National Assembly as a representative of the people. The Guyana Bar Association, the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers and the Justice Institute were the three latest organisations that condemned the minister’s actions and called on Tuesday for him to be fired. Others who condemned his statements were: the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Women & Gender Equality Commission, Red Thread, Guyana Trans United and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) among others along with a number of private citizens who had written letters expressing their disgust at Ramsaran’s action. Ramsaran’s recording came on the heels of one involving the President himself. In that recording Ramotar was heard calling an Aishalton teacher “stupid” during a public meeting in Region Nine. Following the release of the recording, the Office of the President (OP) had stated that the contents of the recording would have to be authenticated. The recording had been released 27 days after John Adams alleged that he was slapped by a presidential guard after he heckled the president during a speech at the same event. In the recording, the President was heard bashing the opposition. There was a brief gap before he was heard saying, “You don’t know anything ’bout Jagdeo. If he been hey, he might have slap yuh cause yuh stupid.” Another recording the government had promised to authenticate was one involving Nandlall, who apart from soliciting sexual favours for his uncle, was overheard speaking about his knowledge of criminal activity and his use of government funds for personal expenditure. Nandlall has not denied that it was his voice on the recording and had said that the conversation was a private one between himself and a longtime friend. There has been no word on any efforts to authenticate the two recordings.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

PPP/C pledges expanded home-based medical care Expanding doctor provided homebased care across Guyana will be a part of the agenda to ensure that citizens have access to health care, the PPP/C says in its recently released manifesto.

n the manifesto themed “Our vision. Guyana version 2.0” which was made public during a launch last Saturday, the PPP/C while stressing that the aim for the health sector is the promotion of long and healthy lives, says that it promotes the concept that “the highest attainable standard of living and the highest quality of life are among the most important fundamental rights of citizens regardless of race, religion, political belief and economic or social condition”. The party says that the proposed health agenda is in response to the health and development needs of all. “We believe that promoting and protecting health are essential to the sustained economic and social development and attainment of the

lightest quality of life”, it says. The manifesto did not expand on the home-based care plan but it would appear that it is intended for the elderly and those who are incapacitated as a result of injury or sickness. Among the other items listed in the health agenda are expanding the health fund to support persons who need to pay for health care, upgrading the Bartica hospital, constructing a new 100- bed ward at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital and a new Port Kaituma Hospital, establishing Skeldon, Lethem and Mabaruma Hospitals as border hospitals, completing the building of the new $250 M maternity building at GPHC by 2016, ensuring that every hospital is equipped with x rays,

ECG and ultra sound machines, replacing the West Demerara and the National Psychiatric Hospital with new hospitals and establishing a Burns Clinic at the Linden and New Amsterdam Hospitals. The PPP/C says that focus will also be on improving accountability within the health sector through among other things the provision of performance reports and patient targets to a specialized group of inspectors, the preparation of an annual report for Cabinet’s perusal and the hold-

ing of annual community meetings by each hospital and health centre to report to the community on their performance and receiving community feedback. According to the PPP/C it will also expand the human resource development programme and among some of the plans listed are sustaining new nursing students’ entry to no less than 250 per year, expanding training for support staff, providing duty-free concessions for key health personnel and facilitating home ownership programmes for health care providers. The manifesto stated too that a PPP/Cled government will ensure the waiting time at the Accident and Emergency and Specialist Clinics is reduced, reduced referrals to GPHC of pregnancy cases (by 80%) and non-pregnancy cases (by 50%) by improving OB/GYN professional staff at Regional Institutions and establish a patients’ Welfare Committee to investigate complaints and respond within 60 days. Attention will be given to the continued expansion and refining of the current programme to reduce the impact of cardiac disease on the part risk population through early screening, aggressive education and the reduced cost and increased access to secondary and advanced cardiac treatment.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015 13 Caribbean Star Newspaper Mother blames lack of operating room staff for stillborn baby

Teresa Lalltoo, a mother who lost a baby after medical personnel at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) chose to artificially rupture her amniotic sac, is claiming that the absence of theatre staff at the institution led to her child being stillborn.

octors at the institution have told Stabroek News that they cannot confirm Lalltoo’s claim, since they are not familiar with the details of her case. They have, however, confirmed that the hospital has been operating with a staff shortage in the theatre for the last two years—a situation which has resulted in the theatre not being operational on Sundays. On Saturday, Lalltoo told Stabroek News that she was taken to WDRH at about 7:30 on the evening of the previous Saturday, April 18th. After being made to wait for about 30 minutes, during which time she was accused by a nurse of trying to “put on a show,” Lalltoo was examined and admitted with a cervical dilation of 3 cm. It was estimated that she would reach optimal dilation of 10 cm by 2AM the next day. However, after 6:30AM on Sunday, April 19th, Lalltoo had still not progressed from a 3cm dilation and workers at the institution, according to her family, chose to induce labour by intravenously administering oxytocin. After an initial dose failed to augment Lalltoo’s labour, a second higher dose was administered to the mother. Lalltoo told Stabroek News that at this point she heard one of the attending physicians say he would be attempting “an experiment” as he had never encountered a mother who did not progress after oxytocin induction. The increased dosage of oxytocin saw the expectant mother dilate to 6cm. At 1:30 PM, a decision was made to artificially rupture Lalltoo’s amniotic sac, since her “water didn’t break.” It was at this point Lalltoo said that a portion of the umbilical cord was pushed forward but became lodged in the vagina—a condition known as cord prolapse. A cord prolapse, according to medical professionals, constitutes an obstetric emergency; while attempts may be made to put the cord back into place, there is no longer an option for natural delivery. At this point, a caesarean section (C-Section) must be performed. The absence of a functioning theatre, however, led to Lalltoo being referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) the same afternoon. Upon her arrival at the GPHC, Lalltoo was told that there was no foetal heartbeat. At 2:15 AM on Monday, April 20th, she delivered a perfectly formed 3.2 kg female child in the presence of nurses and midwives at GPHC.

‘My baby didn’t have to die’ As a result of her ordeal, a distraught Lalltoo, who could barely speak of her experience without bursting into tears, is calling for action to be taken against three members of the WDRH staff. These members are the nurse who accused her of trying to “put on a show” and later accompanied her in the ambulance to GPHC, the nurse who ruptured her “water bag” and Dr Ravi Persaud, who she said was her personal doctor and who was absent during her labour and delivery despite promising to assist or oversee the delivery. “My baby didn’t have to die,” she wept. ‘Can happen to any woman’ Stabroek News spoke with the doctor, who said that he was not Lalltoo’s personal doctor and neither was he attending her delivery or on call on the day of her delivery. “There are no personal doctors in the public health system. I’m often on call in the gynaecology department and examine the expecting mothers. So everyone says doctor Ravi is their doctor,” Dr Persaud explained. He further noted that a decision can be taken to artificially rupture an amnion if the “foetal head is at suitable position and other indications concur.” These indications include a mother who is in active labour (4cm dilation or more) and a pregnancy which is at term. Lalltoo, from her own admission, fit these criteria. He expressed sympathy for what Lalltoo is now going through, while noting that he understood her pain and confusion. Asked if a decision could’ve been made to call in the theatre staff to attend Lalltoo in this emergency, he said, “It would’ve taken less time to transfer to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation than to attempt to call in theatre staff to perform a C-section.” The Medical Superintendent of WDRH Dr Shawn Bancroft, speaking with Stabroek News said that while Lalltoo’s experience was not common, it was something that could unfortunately happen to any expectant mother as obstetric complications do sometimes have unfavourable outcomes. It “can happen to any woman,” he said. He expressed disappointment that the family approached media before even informing the hospital that the child had died. “We refer numerous cases to the GPHC

Teresa Lalltoo and her eight-year-old daughter Anuja and we don’t know what happens until someone tells us, and no one told us this had happened,” he lamented. On Tuesday last, Stabroek News had contacted Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud about the case of Lalltoo. At that time, he said that an investigation had been launched into the death of Lalltoo’s child. Up to Tuesday, however, medical personnel at the WDRH were unaware of any such investigation. No one from the Ministry of Health had approached the hospital for Lalltoo’s medical records nor had even informed the hospital that Lalltoo’s child had died. Medical sources contacted by Stabroek News expressed the opinion that Lalltoo’s

experience can be considered the result of administrative negligence. “Doctors on the ward shouldn’t have to worry about a theatre being operational; a labour ward should not exist without an operating theatre that has staff always available,” one source said, while noting that “there should be no labour ward without functioning theatre not even for normal deliveries, if there is no theatre close down the ward.” Noting that the doctors will probably be used as scapegoats, the source stressed that they should not be blamed since “as a matter of principle, you shouldn’t have women labouring in a place where you can’t rescue them and their child if necessary and that responsibility rests with the people chiefly in charge.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

Series - part 07 / Our guiding Stars

The companions of our noble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)

he world once revolved in darkness. The darkness of sin and deviant beliefs. Spiritual darkness. Filled with chaos and corruption. Envy and hatred governed the day. Tribal war and petty conflict raged rampant in every society. Despicable customs and shameful practices prevailed. Modesty and morality dwindled away and human life was trivialized. It had been some time since a divine reminder had come, and mankind, in his forgetful nature, quickly digressed from the path of guidance. The future of humanity seemed very bleak and the cries of the rare reformers fell on deaf ears. This condition continued for some centuries. At this point our lord the most compassionate, looked upon us with a look of mercy as He raised up from this darkness a shining light in the form of His messenger Muhammad (S.A.W). Guided by nothing more than divine instructions, Muhammad (S.A.W) extinguished the darkness of the world with his life and teachings as a brilliant example. His teachings illuminated the hearts of those around him and eradicated all falsehood from their lives. They wholeheartedly accepted the new teachings and instilled the pure belief into their souls, thus becoming people of firm faith and outstanding personalities. History has never witnessed such resolute conviction in any teaching, men who devoted their entire lives to a cause in such an extremely fearless manner, with personal sacrifice and exertion, as it has witnessed in these companions of prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). It was on the strength of this exemplary behavior that these individuals were raised from the pits of darkness to become guiding stars to success for humanity till the end of time. SALAMA IBN AQWA (May Allah be pleased with him)

One Man Army; Salama ibn Aqwa (radiallahu anhu) tells his own story, narrated in Sahih Muslim, “Then we moved, returning to Madina and halted at a place where there was a mountain between us and Banu al Hayaan

(who were polytheists). The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked for Allah’s forgiveness for one who ascended the mountain at night to act as a scout for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and his companions.” Salama ibn Aqwa ascended the mountain twice, or thrice that night. “At last we reached Madina, so Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) sent his camels with his slave Rabah and I was with him. I also went to the pasture with the horse of Talhah along with his camels.” Salama (radiallahu anhu) was Talhah’s (radiallahu anhu) helper and while he tended to Talhah’s (radiallahu anhu) horse he happened to be next to Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) shepherd. When the day dawned, Abdurrahman al Fazari along with a few Bedouins raided the herd of camels and drove away all of Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) camels. He also killed the man who looked after them. “I said ‘Rabah take this horse, ride it to Talhah bin Ubaidullah and inform the Messenger of Allah that the polytheists have made away with his camels’. Then I stood upon a hill and turning my face to Madinah shouted thrice, ‘come to our help’ and I set out in pursuit of the raiders shooting at them with arrows and chanting poetry, ‘I am the son of Al Aqwa and today is the day of defeat for the mean’.” On foot, Salama (radiallahu anhu) ran chased after them. Salaam ibn Aqwa (radiallahu anhu) overtook a man from them and shot an arrow that reached his shoulder and said to him to ‘take it’. The man then recited the same verse of poetry. This became the slogan for the entire day. Salama continued shooting at them and hamstringing their animals. Whenever a horseman came toward him, he would stop at a tree, hide himself by sitting at its base, shoot at him and restrain his horse. “At last they entered the narrow mountain gorge. I ascended that mountain and held them at bay by throwing stones at them. I continued to chase them this way until I released all of the camels of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alay-

hi wasallam). They left me but I followed them, continuously shooting at them until they dropped thirty mantles and thirty lances, lightening their burden. On everything they dropped, I put a mark with the help of a piece of stones so Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) might recognise them.” He would then continue running. Salama ibn Aqwa (radiallahu anhu) was the fastest runner. They say that he would race with camels and horses. They went on until they came to a narrow valley when the son of Badr al Fazari joined them. They sat down to have their breakfast while he watched them sitting atop a rock. Al Fazari asked about the man sitting on the rock. They said, “This fellow has harassed us. He has not left us since dusk. He has been continually shooting at us, until he smashed everything from our hands.” Al Fazari told them that four of them should make a dash for him and kill him. “Four of them ascended the mountain coming towards me. When it became possible to them I asked, ‘do you recognize me?’ They said they didn’t. I said ‘I am Salama, Salama bin Aqwa. By the Being who has honoured the countenance of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) I can kill any of you I like but none of you will be able to kill me.” They returned to their camp. Salama did not move until he saw the horsemen of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who riding through the trees. The foremost from among them was Aqram al Asadi. Behind him was Abu Qatab al Ansari and behind him was Al Magdad bin Aswad al Qinti. Salama bin Aqwa (radiallahu anhu) caught hold of the reign of Aqram’s horse. Seeing this, the raiders fled. “I said to Aqram, ‘guard yourself against them until Allah’s Messenger and his companions join you’. “ He said, “Salama if you believe in Allah and the Day of Judgement and if you know that Paradise and Hellfire are realities then you should not stand between me and martyrdom.” Salama let him go. Aqram and Abdurrahman al Fazari met in combat. Aqram hamstrung Abdurrahman’s horse and the latter struck him with his lance and killed him. Aqram was killed. Abdurrahman turned about riding Aqram’s horse. Abu Qatadah, a horseman of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) met Abdurrahman in combat and killed him. “By the Being who has honored the countenance of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) I followed them on my feet so fast that I couldn’t see behind me the companions of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) nor any dust raised by their horses. I followed them until before sunset.” This is an entire day, from Fajr until

Maghrib. Salama followed them until sunset, when they stopped at a valley which had a spring of water to have a drink of water. It was called Dhul Qard. “They saw me running towards them and I turned them out of the valley before they could drink a drop of water. They left the valley and ran down a slope. I ran behind them, overtook a man from them, shot him with an arrow between the shoulder blades and said to him, ‘take this I am the son of al Aqwa and today is the day of defeat for the people who are mean’.” The wounded man said may his mother weep over him and asked, “Are you the Aqwa who has been chasing us since this morning?” “I said ‘yes oh enemy of thy self. The same Aqwa.” They left two horses who were dead tired on the slope and Salaam came dragging them along to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). “I met ‘Amr who had with him a container of milk diluted with water and another container with water. I performed wudu with the water and drank the milk. Then I came to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who was at the spring of water from which I had driven them away. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had captured those camels and everything else I had captured, the lances and mantles I had snatched from the mushrikeen. Bilal had slaughtered a she camel from the camels I had seized from the people and was roasting its liver and hump for the Messenger of Allah. I said ‘Oh Rasulullah, let me select from our people 100 men and I will follow the raiders and I will finish them all so that nobody is left to convey the news of their destruction to their people.” “At these words of mine Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) laughed so much that his molar teeth could be seen in the light of the fire. He said, ‘Salama do you think you can do this?’ I said yes by the Being who has honored you. He said now they have reached the land where they are being fettered.” When it was morning Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Our best horseman today is Abu Qatadah and our best footman today is Salama.” He then gave Salama two shares of the booty, the share meant for the horseman and the share meant for the footman and combined them both for me.” In Salama’s request to have 100 companions sent with him there is evidence of the immense number of the enemies otherwise he would not request such a number. Salama was pursuing an entire army alone and on foot and he gave them such a hard time. Abdullah Khan Abdullah.khan@ihsanacademy.org

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Union calls on teachers to work to rule from Monday Starting Monday, teachers around the country are being asked to ‘work to rule’ as a protest against the failure of the present government through the Ministry of Education (MoE) to pay monies owed to teachers as part of a debunching exercise.

he Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) announced at a press conference yesterday that it will be calling on its members to begin industrial action from May 4. As the second five-year agreement between the MoE and the GTU reaches its expiration date, the GTU is calling foul on one of its agreed conditions. According to the 2011-2015 agreement between the MoE and GTU “an equivalent of approximately one per cent of the teachers’ wage bill will be used to impleMark Lyte ment the debunching exercise by the end of May, 2011.” This condition has not been met. Teachers are currently paid on a scale constituted using academic qualifications. This means that a trained teacher with 5 years of experience is paid the same salary as a teacher who has recently graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education. A senior mistress with over 10 years’ experience at her post in some cases may be taking home the same money as someone she once taught. A debunching of the salary scale would see teachers being paid different salaries commensurate with their years of experience. The issue of debunching, according to GTU President Mark Lyte was first brought to the table during the negotiation of the 2006-2010 agreement. That agreement committed to having “the issue of debunching … further discussed between the Ministry of Education and the GTU…” According to Lyte that agreement came to an end and “not a single teacher received any monies from debunching.” The issue was once again raised in the negotiations of the 2011-2015 agreement where particular provisions were put in place to allow for implementation of a debunching policy. Lyte further noted that in 2014 “a task force was put together [comprising] MoE officials and representatives from the GTU.” This task force completed its work in terms of categorising teachers and how they will benefit from the debunching. A document was subsequently submitted to MoE so that teachers could begin to receive their payments. “After months of silence …we were finally told last Wednesday by Dr Roger Luncheon that the government will be unable to pay teachers their debunching monies after ten years.” Lyte informed media. Noting that teachers have been extremely patient, Lyte lamented that they had been “waiting for ten years for teachers to receive long overdue monies only to realise that all these years [they] have been taken round and round and finally to be told that there is no money, that no money has ever been budgeted for the debunching” He therefore announced to the nation’s teachers, “The GTU is taking industrial action as of the 4th of May 2015 in the form of work to rule.” Teachers will work the required hours and complete required tasks but not work

See Union calls on pg. 16

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Parties sign election Code of Conduct

he long awaited Code of Conduct for Political Parties was signed yesterday at the Guyana Election Commission’s Command Centre with Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally stating that adherence to the code will bring peace and order. “Adherence to the code elevates all concerned to a moral high ground away from the currently deteriorating thrust and parry of political campaigning…,” Surujbally said. He emphasised that the parties must not take signing onto the Code of Conduct lightly as “decency does not have an expiry date.” Critics have lamented the length of time it took for the code to be signed considering that the elections are just over a week away and many offending statements have already been made on the campaign trail. Surujbally said, “Statements made at news conferences and on roadside platforms should be to edify and inform not to numb, mystify and create doubt and social unrest.” The Chairman hinted that grandstanding and pomp by parties had no place in the election season. Surujbally called on the parties to abide by the code because “Gecom must not be placed in a position of trying to manage and produce credible elections in an environment of hostility and turbulence, calculated coarseness and unnecessary vulgarity and ad hominem attacks.” He said that those who aspire to manage the affairs of Guyana for the next five years should be prepared to endorse the contents

of the all-encompassing code. Gecom’s chairman stated that the parties cannot in good faith speak about development while speaking in half-truths creating animosity. “This code must not be weakened by distrust, or thrown into the dustbin by this evening. It must not be discarded because of petulance, vexation, petty discontent, manufactured resentment and theatrical posturing,” Surujbally told party representatives prior to the signing ceremony. The signing commenced with APNU+AFC Coalition presidential candidate David Granger placing his signature on the document first. President Donald Ramotar had signed on to the code earlier in the day at the Office of the President. However the PPP’s General Secretary Clement Rohee was at the signing ceremony showcasing the party’s support of the code. Rohee did not take any questions from the media and quickly exited the building while Granger spoke to journalists about his party continuing to take the “high road.” Granger said, “We have already instructed our supporters not to interfere…, not to even go to any political meetings if they feel like they will be offended by what is said of other parties, not to tamper with their election equipment and not to get involved in any disorder involving persons of other political parties.” He challenged the PPP’s intentions, stating, “This is an explosive document. I am surprised the PPP is here.”

Union calls from pg. 15 beyond or carry extra duties. Long-time member of the union Lancelot Baptiste explained that this particular form of industrial action will also implement the non-academic norms to ensure that teachers are working under appropriate conditions. These norms dictate certain facilities and provisions which must be in place. Baptiste emphasised that teachers are being told to fulfil the academic norms but also to demand that the non-academic norms be fulfilled. “We are performing so these non-academic norms should be in place,” he said. He called for teachers to stop accepting overcrowded classrooms, lack of washroom facilities and absence of potable water. “Since the MoE are demanding their pound of flesh then you must demand your pound of flesh,” he said. He also called on teachers who are offering free extra classes in preparation for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination or who may be marking late submissions of School Based Assessments (SBA) to stop as these are not within their required duties. Lyte said the union is prepared to continue this action and even escalate to a strike if the need arises. The union, he said, will assess the response to the action and make appropriate decisions. When asked if this decision had been communicated to the members of the

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

union the executive members of the GTU present at the conference emphasised that they were fulfilling the wishes of the General Council. “The General Council took a decision [to respond to the MoE failure with industrial action],” Baptiste intoned. The last General Council meeting was held during the Easter holiday and Stabroek News has learned that several branches including the North Georgetown Branch of the union are yet to meet with their members to communicate the decisions of that council meeting. Lyte has said that he will be communicating the decision to members with the assistance of media reports owing to the constraints created by the geography of the country. However, teachers at a school within walking distance of the union were not aware of or in agreement with the union’s decision. They expressed the view that the call was unrealistic as it did not acknowledge the real day-to-day requirements of teaching. “It is impossible to complete all your work between 9 and 3.15,” one senior teacher said. “You are in the classroom, then marking of work and completion of records have to be done after.” Meanwhile the MoE is unaware of the union’s decision. Minister of Education Priya Manickchand told Stabroek News that she had received no information about the action. A call to the union yielded the information that the letter to the ministry was being drafted. (Thandeka Percival)

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

PPP/C, APNU+AFC among parties signatory to GECOM code of conduct –Surujbally dubs Code the ‘Holy Grail’ for campaigning unnecessary vulgarity” and other attacks. As such, he welcomed the move by the political parties to sign the Code of Conduct and made it clear that it is “here to stay” and does not have an expiry date. “(Today is) a day which reflects a reinforcement on the desire to exhibit political maturity – a coming of age, so to speak. This is the day on which political differences are consciously cast aside, so that noble, visionary patriots – by placing their signatures on a document – are in effect placing our nation first and are demonstrating their willingness, their preparedness, their commitment to adhere to the rules of the Code of Conduct to which, essentially, they themselves have meaningfully contribut-

ed,” Dr Surujbally declared. WELCOMED Meanwhile, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud, who was the most recent to stress the need for political parties to sign the Code of Conduct, was among the first to welcome the move. “The PSC is very pleased that the political parties’ Code of Conduct produced by GECOM has been signed by the leading candidates of all the contesting parties. The Code sets out some high standards to be followed by the contesting parties and we trust that there is full compliance to the principles. Now that political parties have signed

on to the Code of Conduct, it is expected that they would abide by the protocols documented in the Code, all in the interest of free and fair General and Regional Elections. The advantage of having such an agreement in place, according to GECOM, relates to being able to guard against confrontational and vitriolic election campaign meetings/rallies and statements. GECOM regards contesting parties signing the Code as demonstrating their willingness to craft their respective election campaign strategies in ways that contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquility throughout and beyond the elections. By Vanessa Narine

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LL EIGHT political parties contesting the 2015 General and Regional Elections were represented at the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Kingston office yesterday for the signing of the long awaited Code of Conduct for political parties.People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate and incumbent Head of State, Mr Donald Ramotar, was the first to ink the pact at the Office of the President in the presence of the GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally. He contends that the signing re-affirms the PPP/C’s commitment to ensuring that there is fair and good conduct during and after May 11 Regional and General Elections. President Ramotar was represented at yesterday’s ceremony by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Clement Rohee. Meanwhile, presidential candidate of the other main political party, the Alliance of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger, underscored his hope that the guidelines are adhered to with full compliance. The other political parties represented were the United Republican Party (URP) and the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNT), The United Force (TUF), the National Independence Party (NIP), the Independent Party (IP) and the Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP). HOLY GRAIL GECOM Chairman, during remarks at yesterday’s event, dubbed the Code of Conduct the “Holy Grail” for campaigning. “This Code is more than a guideline. It must be seen as the Holy Grail for campaigning. It cannot be allowed to disappear into the fog of political nothingness…this Code must not be weakened by distrust or be thrown into the dustbin by this evening. It must not be discarded because of petulance, vexation, petty discontent, manufactured resentment and theatralic posturing,” Dr Surujbally stressed. He added, “Statements made at news conferences and by road-side platforms should be to edify and inform, not to numb, mystify and create doubt and social unrest…I dare say that arrogance, aggression, slanderous and overly confrontational statements on the hustings or at news conferences might go a long way to ensure the discreditation of a politician.” He highlighted that while the Code is not punitive, in being self-regulatory, it is not complex; rather it is straightforward and promotes peace, orders, compliance for electoral laws, respect for opponents and respect for the Guyanese people. On that note, Dr Surujbally charged that once this conviction is shared by all signatories, behaviour on the campaign trail will be focused on healing, not on promoting, cultivating or exacerbating existing social fissures. The GECOM Chairman made it clear that GECOM must not be placed in a position of trying to manage and produce credible elections in an environment of “hostility and turbulence, calculated coarseness and

May 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

What do you do when your dreams are smashed?

here is an old hymn we sing entitled “Love Lifted Me” written by James Rowe in 1912. It begins with a wonderful experience of a life that seemed hopeless being saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. It continues with a deep commitment to His love and living for Him. The song concludes with a message to others who need to come to Christ and be rescued from a life of sin and brokenness. Here are the words of this great song: “Love Lifted Me” by James Rowe – I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I. Refrain: Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me! All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing, Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs, Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs. (Refrain)

Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, He your Savior wants to be, be saved today. Many people have their dreams shattered. The comforting and reassuring message of this song brings healing and restoration to the soul that has lost its way from God. Remember Peter who denied Jesus 3 times on the night of His arrest and trials. All the disciples were scattered at the Crucifixion. That says they disappointed with the way things turned out. Broken and grief-stricken, they went into hiding because the killers of Christ would search for His followers to kill them, too. Most of us at some time have had our hopes smashed. Life deals us a tough hand sometimes. Heartaches come, disappointments happen, people forsake us, and our future could seem dim. Pain could seem endless. It could be a death in the family, divorce and betrayal, loss of a job, sickness, accidental injuries and losses. Satan haunts us with fear, anxiety, anger, loneliness, and rejection. Jesus restores the soul that lost its way. Peter and the other disciples felt that sense of brokenness when Jesus was crucified. After His Resurrection, they were wonderfully restored in His love. It was not enough to know He was risen. The disciples needed to reconnect with Him. He led Peter along the pathway of recovery through 3 confessions, matching his 3 denials. The Bible says, “This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him

the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” John 21:1417 Jesus’ persistence in this conversation particularly addresses emotional and spiritual healing and a restoration of what Satan had stolen. We know of Thomas who needed to raise his faith. Jesus gently reached out to him. The confession of “my Lord and my God” was Thomas’ moment of victory. We don’t know specifically about the others, but we can safely conclude Jesus showed them the same love and restoration. Then, they passionately proclaimed His message to the world. Jesus is able and willing to rescue us. When we face disappointment and discouragement, we need to fall back on something that offers reassurance. There must be a fortitude to wait and expect God to fulfill His promises. There must be courage, resilience, staying power, and determination. Satan wants to make you doubt God and end up frustrated. We must remind ourselves God never fails to keep His promises. He said repeatedly in the Bible: fear not, do not be afraid, why are you fearful. Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Peter said 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Jesus uses a therapeutic approach. We have to learn to process the reality of our circumstances. Some people are in denial. We refuse to believe or ignore it and think life is still the same. Some people try to cover it up by pretending everything is okay, but it festers. We should open it up to the Lord. We need

to confront our pain, express every pain and loss openly before Him, and face the changes it might bring. His grace is sufficient for you. 2 Cor. 6:2 AMPL “For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation!” Heb. 2:18 AMPL “For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].” When your dreams are smashed, call on Jesus! He understands, He rescues and He restores. You can call on Him and have a new beginning. 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 August 29,July EqualityNews.ca Caribbean Star Newspaper 11 - 18, 2014 15 5 Ground broken for US$20M TexilaThursday, campus at2013Providence May 1–7, 2015

Political spite Wanted Trinidad police officer PITBULL KILLS GRANNY

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Chief The ground was broken on Executive Officer Saju Bhaskar called the project a dream come true for the students Monday for a new US$20M campus and staff of the university. Bhaskar also said construction of the university will help Bloody attack on 84-year-old thetowoman anchor Texila’s investments in Guyana. that will be constructed for the The new campus is projected to be at Maraval home completed in early 2016. Once opened, Texila American University, at it will serve around 1,500 students and is Ramlogan said there was An 84-year-old great edgeable when it came to incident occurred. expected to house modern laboratories, ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, July 9, 2014, CMC – A police officer coman Wednesday undertaking within grandmother was yesterday the training of dogs and a research centre, library, information Providence, East Bank Demerara. A former head of the now- But he said that “reconsidthe Parliament that he Azizul Rahaman of mauled to death by a family disagreed with themitted deci- Dr suicide hours after a photo of his appeared on a television programme

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-

commits suicide caused after being closure placed on ‘Wall of Shame’ of local airline

sion of the dog’s owner to carry out the training at the house. “Aggression training within your own environment and training of dogs within your own household where you have ageable people or family members in your house

Jones Animal Clinic examined the dog and confirmed it was one of the dangerous dogs referred to in the Dog Control Bill which was passed in Parliament last month but is yet to be proclaimed, police said. Rahaman removed some of the animals and locked

technology centre, student lounges, defunct an state-owned Guywould accommodate cer-

tain amendments based on suggestions from Independent Senators and also from members of the Opposition. The Independent Senators had already forwarded their suggestions to him, but he was still awaiting the Opposition’s before the Act is proclaimed by President Anthony Carmona.

“This bill is clearly needed. I would like those persons who argue that there should be no legislation to control these dangerous dogs, I would like them to pay a visit to the relatives of victims to explain their position and to offer some condolence. I am calling upon them to go pay them a visit and to offer them some compensation,” said Ramlogan.

eration never occurred; the ana Airwayshosted Corporationbyairline was eventually a senior po-sold has blamed government and within less than a year officerthe that hein total was officials forlice the current airline was chaaviation woesagripping the os, ” Khan charged. fugitive from the law. country. He said that prior to this, Constable Former GAC General Christopher the state-ownedMadeira, entity had who Khan had been on making suspension Manager, Fazal is been strides.from international cafeteria and Police other amenithe Trinidad Tobago Seradamant that political and ties,financial Bhaskar said. said too ingested that Texila spite rather than “WeHehad about 80 percent vice (TTPS), died after he plans toofbuild which or operational problems of dormitories, the market shareswill in a has quantity weedicide on Tuesday. international forced the provide accommodation for the country, students well. Bhaskar on teleto say closure ofHis while receivpictureashad been postedwent on the that Texila also aspires to build anot 150-bed the airlinevision ing cent programme “Beyond the Tape”a co back in the hospital at the same location.from the govhosted by Inspector Roger Alexander. late nineties, He noted that the university ernment. Not started and it is one with around seven students even when and now has carriedfrom the over words35 “The first of the ma-The we requested 420post students countries. member of the protective services to jor reasons The university was established to in Guyana borrow the ‘Wall of offers Shame”four is Christopher G u y a n e s egrace only half a in 2010 and it programmes: If you see Madeira, do not apare payingMadeira. million dolPre-Medicine; Doctor of Medicine; Doctor e x o r b i t a ntproach lars from the or confront him since he is conof Dentistry; and Nursing. prices tosidered government armed and extremely dangerMinister of Housing and Tourism Irfaan travel upous…instead after running ANY police Ali, who wascall in attendance at station, the small North. into debt that ceremony, 4968 called or it asend momentous occasion 623-0362/ an e-mail to The formerbeyondthetape@tv6tnt.com we could and said the construction universiFormer GAC GM Fazal of ifthe you havenot aviation of- ty falls in line avoid, did withcould an ever changing, eninformationKhan that help the poficial is con- ergised Guyana, where the East theyCoast give it. ” and capture this fugitive from the law”. vinced thatlice East Bank corridors would be it linked. The Under photograph, statGuyana’s current statehis of persons Khan continued that deminister said need to pay critical ed that he could was wanted charges affairs is one spite for hugetwo expenditures, to what the government wants to ofattention misbehaving have been avoided, with GACinwaspublic making,office, “three, create. He also said the ultimate goal is to and failure court. the continuance of the tofourappear and fiveinmillion doltransform the area into a commercial hub. “prosperous and devel- lars pre-tax yearly. We According to Ali, because of the unioping” state-owned car- alleged had very junioranand The charges thatgood hewill and versity, educational nowwere be rier being preserved and officer, seniortourism staff. People other police Corporal Lenboosted in Guyana, which is poised to prized for itsnox functioning sent for university educaJohn, knowingly and wilfully become a major player in the region. The and importance to Guyain marketing, aviation handed over ation loaded firearm and that such an initiative will nese travelers.minister added management and diploma a help bullet-proof vest belonging to the to grow the economy, noting courses. ” He while boasted that and Tobago Police Service. that country hasasto innovative “They didn’tTrinidad knowthethey as far hefind is aware Guy-

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Section 19 of the Dog Control Act: FAMILY PHOTO: 84-year-old Lillian Bunsee who was mauled to death by a pitbull yesterday in her own home. is a no no. Aggression is not the type of training to do within that environment. High potency dog food and aggression training in the home environment is creating a time bomb and it is just a matter of time before tragedy strikes,” he said.

them away at the clinic yesterday evening. He told the Express the dogs were being temporarily kept at the 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,

19. (1) Where a class A dog injures a person, without reasonable cause whether in a public place or on private premises, the owner or keeper of the dog commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for 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.

to grow. Towards this was end, the he said were makingways a mistake ana Airways first that several other universities be comwho was last will stationed because theyMadeira, do not unregional airline to offer free to and that this will an imatingthe Scarborough Police Station derstand aviation, ” Guyana Khan headphones andplay alcohol on portant part in the tourism sector. sepTobago, was also told KaieteurinNews. “They board the charged aircraft. President Ramotar, also were totallyarately clueless andDonald with handing overwho a was loadsaid type ofthat tourism is had they known it was a such Heaa new continued Guyedpresent, pistol and bullet-proof vest. to theana country. He also mistake, they important would have Airways grewsaid to the fly of thefive university shows the connever done He it,expansion but the to New York, wasbyreleased on flights TT$150,000 (One fidenceit that investors havetimes in Guyana. time they realized, was and three to ToronTT dollar = US$0.16 cents) bail, oralready too late,According ” he said toto,Ramotar, weekly, while trips inthe quality of dered to surrender his passport to in a recent interview at his creased during peak sumpeople a country produces is critical to its court and report to the ScarborQueenstownthe residence. mer seasons North development. Texila’s presencewith in Guyana, ough Police Station twice weekly. American Airlines having he further said, will help the country to Khan believesattain that he was to be chartered to aid the a quality health care system, which Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov, “pushed aside” as head influx of travelers. GAC is crucial. He pointed out that as Guyana’s performed theable autopsy Tuesday, of the GACwho for expresswas increase itscare feet population continues to to grow, health ing his reservations about of planes under his stewsaid that he found approximately 200 will be critical. “The university will play an one political cubic appointment. ardship. centimetres of our theGuyanese,” substance important role to train RaAccording to Khan, he inmotar his stomach, which amounted said. “And some of the studentsto will realized thatapproximately the lack of Khan saidand for the first time take our names become our a abroad regular-sized glass. forward-thinking man- wherever in the they country’s history ambassadors, may go.” agement wouldThedestroy there were local pilots who university also has branches “The major problem is that there is noset the GAC anduphein therewere captains on jets. four countries: United So itother doesn’t matter ifThe someone fore gave theantidote. then powers States, theteaspoon United Arab Emirates, India drinks one or a bottle. The some eight months to re“The first choice forrepasand Hong Kong. sultposition is the same, the pathologist added. consider their of ”sengers was removing him. ...contnue on page 8

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.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Choice of Sada Roti, Oil Roti or Bake

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Roast Pork Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . . . .$9.00

Cha Cha Ki Chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9.00

Steam Broccoli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00

Shrimp Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . . . . . . . .$9.00

Fried Chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.00

Mix Vegetable w/ Oyster Sauce . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00

Mixed Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . . . . . . . .$9.00

Fried Snapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00

Broccoli w/ Oyster Sauce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00

Fried Bangamary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00

Steam Baby Pak Choy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00

Fried Shark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00 Pepper Shrimp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12.00

Jerk Chicken Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . .$9.00 Jerk Pork Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . . . . .$9.00 Chinese Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . . . . . . .$9.00

Hot&Spicy or Fried Shrimp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12.00

Roast Duck Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . $11.00

Fried Calamari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00

Boneless Chicken Fried Rice/Lomein/ Chowmein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$9.00

Pepper Steak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00 Roast Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11.00

Lamb Fried Rice/Lomein/Chowmein . . . . . . . . $11.00

Roast Duck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9.00

Pepper/Hot&Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice/Lomein/ Chowmein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12.00

Roast Pork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9.00 Jerk Pork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9.00 French Fries\Platain Chips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00

Chicken

Sweet Com

Cowheel

Vegetable

General Tso’s/Spisy Garlic Chicken Fried Rice/ Lomein/Chowmein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11.00

May 1–7, 2015

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May 1–7, 2015

Help for parents of children with special needs If you’re a parent of a special needs child you’re probably well aware of how complicated and expensive it can be to make sure your child has the proper care. And often times this is a lifelong commitment. From housing, to healthcare, to even the most basic everyday needs—all these expenses add up. And while it may be tough to meet these obligations now, imagine how hard it would be without your income. That’s where a special needs trust can help.

f your child receives benefits from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and

Medicaid 1 it’s important to remember that any income or assets in their name can

1 Known as Medi-Cal in California. 2 Provided premium requirements are met. 3 Consult with local tax and legal advisers to see if state benefits may be affected and for information on trust and taxes. Neither New York Life nor its agents provide legal or tax advice.

affect their eligibility. A special needs trust may provide a way to protect those assets, making sure your child has the resources he or she may need without risking the loss of valuable government benefits. More importantly, if something happens to you, a special needs trust may help provide the necessary means for your loved one’s continued care, basic necessities, and additional expenses—even those that may not be federally subsidized, like specialized medical therapies, education, and transportation. You will need to work with an attorney to create the trust. Once it’s been created, you can fund it in a variety of ways. In fact, you may want to explore the benefits of funding a special needs trust with a permanent whole

life or universal life insurance policy. Both provide death benefit protection 2, allow tax-deferred cash value accumulation, and can be made to suit your specific needs and budget. Your life insurance Agent can help you determine how much money you need in the trust, and discuss affordable options that are best for you. If you provide care for a person with special needs or wish to create a substantial gift, a special needs trust can be of tremendous help. Plus, it’s one of the few estate-planning strategies that can protect your loved one’s eligibility for federal assistance. 3 And, when funded by life insurance, a special needs trust may provide an affordable solution that can last for years to come. This educational, third-par-

ty article is provided as a courtesy by Indra Puran, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Indra Puran at 646 266 5416.

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May 1–7, 2015

US seizes 42 bales of cocaine in Caribbean Sea drug bust

AN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Monday April 27, 2015, CMC – The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has intercepted a vessel attempting to smuggle 42 bales of cocaine into the country through the Caribbean Sea. The CBP said the drugs, weighing 2,425 pounds, had a street value of US$30.8 million. It said the operation, led by the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), took place south of the island of Vieques, an eastern island off Puerto Rico. Two United States citizens were arrested, and a two-engine vessel was seized,

AIR AND MARINE AGENTS INTERCEPTED A VESSEL WEDNESDAY EVENING ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE 2,425 POUNDS OF COCAINE, SOUTH OF THE ISLAND OF VIEQUES.

JOHNNY MORALES, DIRECTOR OF AIR OPERATIONS FOR CBP’S CARIBBEAN AIR AND MARINE BRANCH (CAMB) SPEAKING TO MEDIA ABOUT THE RECENT INTERCEPTIONS. the CBP said. It said US Magistrate Judge Justo Arenas authorized a complaint charging Adalberto Rodriguez-Ortiz and Angelo Burgos-Gomez with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, CBP said “This week federal and local law enforcement worked together to intercept thousands of kilograms of cocaine before they reached our shores,” said Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Vilez, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We cannot, and will not, halt our efforts to protect our communities from the countless societal problems caused by drug trafficking.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper Smokey & Bunty’s burns

OPULAR St James watering hole Smokey & Bunty’s Sports Bar was gutted by fire yesterday afternoon, bringing to an end 26 years of fun times and liming by locals, tourists and even politicians. Dozens of persons looked on in horror as the fire, which started at take away restaurant Sweet Lanyan - located on the same compound - spread to the bar destroying the entire building. Losses have been put at over $5 million. At about 5.15 pm, fire broke out inside the restaurant causing employees and patrons to flee for their lives while frantic calls were made to the Fire Services. Within minutes the blaze consumed the restaurant and spread to an apartment on the top floor of the building. The apartment was tenanted by 55-yearold Kelvin Chang, a man who has difficulty walking. He was rescued by good Samaritans, who pulled him to safety before fire engulfed the building. In minutes, smoke billowed from the building and covered the skyline in St James. Fire officers led by FSO Sylvester Reyes responded and officers from the St James police station kept onlookers at a safe distance and also diverted traffic around the block away from where the fire was raging. Firemen made quick work of the blaze, however it was too late to save Smokey & Bunty’s from being reduced to ashes. When the smoke cleared, there was little left of the building other than a smoldering shell. FSO Reyes said building code violations may not be part of what caused the flames to spread so quickly, since the building had been passed by several inspectors in recent years. At the scene of the fire, Ronaldo “Bunty” Munro, co-owner of the sports bar stared at the ruins in disbelief. Next to him was the widow of deceased co-owner Ricardo “Smokey” Mc Kenzie, Lisa McKenzie who said once an assessment is made, there are

plans to rebuild. “We have to assess the situation and move on as best as we can from here,” Mc Kenzie said. “We are just grateful that no one was hurt, but we have to move on. We cannot let something like this be destroyed.” The history of Smoky & Bunty’s has been one of good times and sad times. But one thing was for certain, come the start of the business day, its doors were always open to welcome eager patrons. During major sporting events such as cricket, football and even boxing, the bar would be packed as fans nursed beers while urging on their team or fighter to win. Its doors first opened in 1989 and quickly gained popularity in the St James community. Persons who stood watching as firemen doused the flames yesterday, recalled that it was at this sports bar many of them drowned their sorrows when the Soca Warriors failed in their bid to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, losing 1-0 to the US at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, when all that was needed for qualification was a draw, They also recalled happy times at the sports bar when the National Football team finally lived the dream when it beat Bahrain 1-0 to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. A year earlier, several patrons were injured when a bomb placed near the bar, exploded. In that year, similar bombings in the capital left several persons badly hurt. The bar gained such popularity, that in 2009, Carib Brewery launched a special edition Stag beer in celebration of the bar. Several national and international personalities frequented it. Politicians, including former Prime Minister Patrick Manning were seen along with other MPs and VIPS liming at the sports bar - a phenomenon which was immortalised in a calypso. Up to press time, the official cause of the blaze was not known and investigations are continuing.

Caught with gun? Go directly to jail ...the Bail (Amendment) Bill is now law

HE Bail Amendment Bill is now law. If you are charged with having a real or fake gun, you will go directly to jail. There will be no bail. President Anthony Carmona on Thursday assented to the Bill, which was passed in the Senate on March 30, although three Opposition Senators voted against it. The Bail (Amendment) Bill 2015 was passed in the Senate on March 30, although three Opposition Senators voted against it. On March 220, it passed in the House of Representatives unanimously. The Bill required a special majority for passage and has a sunset clause, expiring August 2016. The following is a statement issued by the Office of the President. On 29 April 2015, His Excellency Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, O.R.T.T., S.C., President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, assented to the Bail (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2015. This amendment is the most recent in a series

of amendments to the Bail Act Chap. 4:60 of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, its predecessors being the Bail Amendment Acts No. 17 of 2008, No. 9 of 2011, No. 11 of 2011 and No. 1 of 2014. The Bail Act Chap. 4:60 was enacted to amend the law relating to release from custody of accused persons in criminal proceedings and to make provision for legal aid for persons kept in custody and for connected purposes. The Bail (Amendment) Act No. 7 of 2015 inter alia, stipulates, in accordance with section 5 (a) that bail will be refused to a person who is over the age of eighteen years and charged with an offence under the Anti-Gang Act, 2011. Pursuant to section 5(b)(ii) of the Bail (Amendment) Act No. 7 of 2015, bail will also be denied where the Prosecution informs the Court that a person charged with an offence specified in Part 11 of the First Schedule, used or had in his possession a firearm or imitation firearm during the commission of the said offence. The Bail (Amendment) Act No. 7 of 2015 has a sunset clause and expires on 15 August 2016.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Call 347-759-3934 OR 347-661-9930

May 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7, 2015

May 1–7, 2015

eligious leaders are objecting to transsexual Jowelle de Souza’s bid to be elected to public office, saying her policies would seek to advocate the lifestyles of non-heterosexuals, which they see as immoral. De Souza, a hairstylist and animal rights activist, plans to run as an independent candidate for San Fernando West in the general election, and launched her campaign in March and last held a cottage meeting in the southern city on April 16. She is the first person in Trinidad and Tobago to have undergone a sex change, doing so at age 19 when she went from being a man to being a woman. For this reason, her candidacy is not welcomed by several leaders of Christian and Hindu faiths. While religious leaders affirm that De Souza, who received a Hummingbird National Award for community service at last year’s Independence Day celebrations, has the right to exercise the rights and privileges accorded her as a citizen, they do not believe someone who leads a gay or transsexual lifestyle should be in public office. Public relations officer for the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies (PAWI), Reverend Michael Brathwaite, told Newsday he is opposed to de Souza’s lifestyle and she would most certainly not get his vote if he had to vote. “I would certainly take exception to that lifestyle. It is not consistent with what we believe as a body. And if I had to give a vote, she would not get my vote. But as an individual, as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, she has the freedom to pursue any privilege and right that occurs to her as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Of course, I will challenge it if she were to use her position to advance her cause; that I will take exception to, certainly,” Brathwaite declared. His standpoint is based on Christian principles. “I will take great exception to her running for office. I find that very inconvenient and very inappropriate as a religious person because there is no way that we, from this perspective, can con-

Caribbean Star Newspaper DON’T VOTE FOR JOWELLE

done such behaviour. And if I have anything to do with her not being elected, certainly I would add my voice.” Brathwaite also made it clear that he felt the legalisation of homosexuality and similar lifestyles (lesbian, transsexual, transgender, bisexual) would be detrimental to society. Another Pentecostal leader, Pastor Winston Cuffie of Miracle Ministries, Couva, also holds strongly to the position that because of De Souza’s sexual orientation, her policies would lean towards the legislation of non-heterosexual conduct, among them same-sex marriage. “Being transgender will inevitably affect her policies, and with respect to moral and spiritual values they tend to lean in the direction of gay marriage and her policies might be inclined to that. That would be a concern for many people in this country if it goes in that direction. Many don’t believe it’s morally correct or spiritually correct. God designed a marriage between a man and a woman, and not a same-sex couple,” said Cuffie, a Chaconia Gold National Award recipient and strong lobbyist for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the People’s Partnership Government. Despite his political views, Cuffie said he supported the democratic rights of nonheterosexuals including “their rights in the workplace, their right to be free from violence, hostility and so” and said the Bible teaches all to “love and care for everyone whatever their social status, views on social and moral issues.” Non-heterosexuals however must be rehabilitated, he said. “We may not condone their lifestyles, but we must help them to be rehabilitated, to be transformed, to turn a new leaf as the case may be because you have people that will not be conforming to biblical standards with respect to adul-

tery for example and so on; it’s a similar approach: with kindness, with love, with compassion, and show them another direction. That’s the approach,” Cuffie said. The pastor said he knows people who are openly gay, and interacts with them as a pastor. “I respect them. I work very cordially with them. I deal with them in a very civic manner. The hostility, abuse, insults, we are not for that at all, at all, at all,” he said. Hindu view Well-respected Hindu leader, Satnarayan Maharaj, secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, says that de Souza is breaking no State law, she is breaking moral law by her lifestyle. “She is not what I would call a sexually normal person, she has her own inclinations. She is entitled to run for office, she has broken no law; she has broken the moral law, but not the State law. I would advise against it (her sitting in office),” Maharaj said. He admits De Souza is free to contest the elections. “You could run, I could run, anyone of us could run...Those of us who are different from the majority either in sexual orientation or other orientation, across the world you see in places where they give themselves up as candidates to make a point, just as you are doing for them now. You are giving her publicity by following the story. I remember some years ago in a European country, a bare-breasted woman, she wanted to run, and she ran. Of course, she lost, but she got the publicity.” Seventh-day Adventist pastor Clive Dottin concurred with the other leaders that De Souza, if in public office, would advocate the principles of the lesbian, gays, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community as policy. “She is going up for public office and of course she will be campaigning for votes. My position is this, we have a very strong international LGBT lobby in the world that is going against the principles as articulated in the Bible. So as a Christian pastor, I cannot, I would not vote for her.

I am very concerned about the agenda of the LGBT community and (what) they are modelling for young people. It is a serious thing, and it is a problem that is affecting our schools,” Dottin said. He’s concerned of a trend to legalise what he sees as immoral acts, such as homosexuality, abortion even drug use. “There’s a triple package coming here, in the world. There’s a homosexuality legalisation agenda, the abortion agenda, the drug (marijuana) agenda; we are moving in the direction, really, of moral decadence in the world,” Dottin said. President General of the Anjuman Sunnat Ul Jamaat Association, Yacoob Ali, told Newsday that while Islam does not condone non-heterosexual lifestyles, he is withholding comment on de Souza. Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris and new Presbyterian moderator, Annabell Lalla-Ramkelawan, could not be reached for comment. However, in a recent Newsday article, Lalla-Ramkelawan did say that while according to Scripture, homosexuality is wrong society must show gays love with the hope of rehabilitating them. Jowelle responds Yesterday, De Souza was in disbelief when told of the religious leaders’ objections to her lifestyle and candidacy, even saying many religious leaders visit her salon in San Fernando to have their hair done. She named Monsignor Christian Perreira of the Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church in San Fernando and several Hindu pundits among her clients. “I find it hard to believe. I often do the hair of these individuals. They’ve been coming for years. Father Perreira, Pundit Vishnu, Pundit Sunil, even the wife of the pastor at the Presbyterian Church, Susamachar, on Coffee Street here. I will refute that until I see someone who says that...I think you got it wrong, because many of them come here and they say, ‘Jo, we don’t judge.’ I work with leaders across the country who I need, because they help me with my rape crisis centre.” De Souza also noted she knows of three countries where the heads of state are openly gay.

Labaria slithers from cobbler’s customer boot

TEENAGER from De Veldt, Berbice river travelled over 25 miles to have his shoes repaired by a cobbler, only to discover that he had transported a venomous labaria snake to New Amsterdam(NA).The teen, referred to as Randy, had approached the shoemaker at the NA Town Hall to have a pair of football boots stitched. But before handing over the shoe, he was ordered to “shake out” the footwear. Seconds later a brown snake, also known as “lance head,” and measuring about three feet, with a series of rectangular and trapezoidal markings, slithered from the boot on to the parapet and attempted to escape. “Lash it! Lash It!” shouted an onlooker.

“Kill it! Kill it!” remarked another “It ain’t dead yet!” screamed the cobbler. “You got to cut off its head,” advised an elderly man, who was seated nearby. I stood horrified, frozen at what was unfolding before my eyes. A snake, slithering from a boot. Unbelievable. Initially, I thought my imagination was playing games with me. But it was true. Seconds earlier, I was preparing to hand over a pair of my son’s basketball boots to be stitched when the drama unfolded. I quickly emptied my bag with the shoes before handing it over to the cobbler. “Will pick it up later,” I shouted, before rejoining the waiting car, and relating the incident to the passengers.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

World News Highlights

VIENNA - An Austrian court refused on Thursday to extradite Ukrainian industrialist Dmytro Firtash, wanted by the United States on corruption charges. UNITED NATIONS - The United States accused North Korea of bullying dissidents on Thursday after diplomats from the isolated Asian country disrupted statements by North Korean defectors on human rights abuses at an event at the United Nations. | Video WASHINGTON - Amid heated debate over Iran policy in the U.S. Senate, one of the leading congressional critics of the international negotiations with Tehran squared off with the country’s foreign minister on Twitter.

ATHENS - Greece’s government signaled the biggest concessions so far as talks with lenders on a cash-for-reforms package started in earnest on Thursday, but tried to assure leftist supporters it had not abandoned its anti-austerity principles. | Video

WASHINGTON - Russia’s military may be taking advantage of a recent lull in fighting in eastern Ukraine to lay the groundwork for a new military offensive, NATO’s top commander told the U.S. Congress on Thursday.

KATHMANDU - Hundreds cheered as rescuers toiling amid rubble left by Nepal’s earthquake pulled a boy and a woman to safety on Thursday after they had been trapped for five days. | Video

BOGOTA - The former head of Colombia’s intelligence service was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Thursday for spying on opposition lawmakers, judges and journalists in one of the biggest scandals to mar the government of ex-President Alvaro Uribe.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Navy ships will start accompanying U.S.-flagged commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s seizure of a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel two days ago, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday.

SANTIAGO - Chilean volcano Calbuco erupted for the third time in eight days on Thursday, sending a new cloud of ash and gas high into the sky, although officials said the latest eruption was less powerful than those of last week.

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BAMAKO - Nine Malian soldiers were killed in an attack by Tuareg separatist rebels on a town near the border with Mauritania, the defense ministry said on Thursday, further clouding prospects for a U.N.-brokered peace deal. RIYADH - A new branch of the Islamic State group in Yemen on Thursday issued a video showing what it said was the beheading of four Yemeni soldiers and the shooting of 10 others, the SITE Intelligence group reported. FRANKFURT - German police said on Thursday they had thwarted a planned Islamist attack, detaining a couple with suspected Salafist militant links, and cancelled a Frankfurt May Day cycle race after they had been seen along the route.

WASHINGTON - The United States and its partner nations conducted 21 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq since early on Wednesday, the Combined Joint Task Force leading the operation said on Thursday. RIYADH - A mortar shell killed a Saudi Arabian border guard patrolling on the frontier with Yemen on Thursday, the Interior Ministry said, bringing to 11 the number of Saudi Arabia’s casualties during its five-week campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande held a telephone conversation with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine on Thursday to discuss the fragile ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, Merkel’s spokesman said.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Always answer the calls of lifelong friends — Vp Premier WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

The week begins like a storybook, complete with babbling brooks and trees that talk and strangers meeting in the woods and falling in love. Exercise figures on Monday, but it’s fun exercise -- the kind you barely notice. The middle of the week is less dreamy and fun, but don’t stop exercising: It will keep you in good spirits even as the details and the drudgery threaten to drag you down. On Friday you’re happy and charming (it’s so much easier to be charming when you aren’t stressed, isn’t it?) and on Sunday you have all the time in the world to sleep in.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)

The bigger the better, as they say. You are right there with them on Monday, as nothing is too grandiose for your tastes and you feel like showing off a bit. Tuesday brings a return to modesty somewhat, with you focusing on small details and quality friendships. Wednesday and Thursday you’d do well to spend with friends. Make some plans together (A lake trip?). But on Friday and Saturday, plan to stay close to home because something there needs your attention this weekend. Deal with it directly and it won’t blow up into a crisis. Don’t deal with it directly and you run this risk.

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 finds you having to mediate a dispute between two of your friends -- and then, horribly, becoming involved yourself. That’s what happens when friends become arbiters! Find a way to back out of the situation gracefully, perhaps by fully admitting that it was never any of your business. Losing face is a lot better than losing a pal. The middle of the week is a corrective to all this early-week weirdness: Tuesday through Thursday is fun and flowers everywhere. Friday and Saturday are exciting, and Sunday is emotionally rich, but, compared to the rest of the week, low-key.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Words come easily to you on Monday, and everyone around you seems to be responding well. If only the same could be said for your communications with your family on Tuesday. And on Wednesday. And on Thursday. You and your family have just hit a rough patch, communications-wise. Meanwhile you’ll be preoccupied by way too much communication (correspondence, phone calls, emails, chatter) in the rest of your life. Until Friday, the spotlight lands on one person -- one person for you to focus on all day and night and all of Saturday, too. Sunday finds you entering unknown territory.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You are a supreme being at the beginning of the week. Top of your game. Better than ever. Whatever you do, let your heart be your guide and proceed with confidence. Unfortunately, on Tuesday, the outside world will give you a bit of a sinking feeling and you’ll find yourself retreating into your own head. Wednesday and Thursday are quiet, introverted days as well -- serious days, in fact -- but Friday is a return to form. Friday is all friends and action and romance and lemonade. The mood will carry on through Saturday. Sunday, check in with the family.

There’s too much happening at the outset of the week for you to get a handle on anything. Sometimes being busy is fun, but you’re a little too busy for your own good. Sink a needle into all the madness and let the tension out. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are productive but pleasant -- as fine a time as ever to chart plans and discuss ideas (and, if you have spare time, to tidy up). Shopping figures into your day on Friday -- shopping for something with a partner, likely -- and Saturday has you thinking about money. Sunday, your intellectual curiosity may lead you to the library.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

You may not have all the answers, but someone else thinks you do -and that’s a great place to be. You’re admired. If the group is without a leader and you have what the group needs, step up to the task. You are a good listener (especially important on Tuesday and Wednesday) and grudges slide right through your fingertips these days (especially important on Thursday). Friday, some heavy duty flirting sets your heart aflutter. Your mind, meanwhile, swirls with thoughts of beauty. It’s amazing the unexpected turns life takes. On Sunday your thoughts are all business.

Work is worrying you on Monday -- something’s up with the boss. If you find yourself tiptoeing around, well, this is probably smart of you -- your instincts are to be trusted. Being flamboyant and forward is not the answer right now. On Tuesday or Wednesday someone will let you in on a secret that changes your understanding of an issue you thought you had all figured out. On Thursday, doing a favor for a friend makes you far happier than you could have predicted. The key to sustaining this happiness on Friday and Saturday is to be aware and take your time. Sunday is a day of energy and rebirth.

The Sun is smiling on Monday, and you, in this happy glow, can’t help but smile, too. You are the beneficiary of good luck and also some long-time-in-coming goodwill. Wednesday and Thursday, an authority figure puts a cramp in your style, but by Friday, you’re getting hugs from friends right and left, for no reason at all. When someone asks you about your hopes for the future on Friday or Saturday, your goals will suddenly seem more attainable than ever. Expect rich dreams on Saturday night; you won’t be able to get them out of your head on Sunday.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You thought you had a certain person figured out -- boy were you wrong! Whatever assumptions you have at the start of the week, drop them. Spend Tuesday and Wednesday doing research. There are so many things you don’t know yet -- you don’t even know all the things you don’t know! On Thursday you’re going to achieve a lot (and you’ll finally start to feel grounded) and Friday you’ll have time to devote to a new project. You go into Saturday with a ton of energy and a goal, but expect the culture around you to take you in unforeseen directions. Friends figure strongly on Sunday.

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

The car sputters to a stop on Monday. At first you’re annoyed to be by the side of the road, but this is only the beginning of the adventure. Sometimes the most amazing experiences begin with the most unpromising circumstances. This is a good lesson, and it’s something you carry with you the rest of the week. Wednesday and Thursday are business-related, Friday is social but intellectually stimulating, and Saturday you stumble across something utterly, wonderfully, mind-bendingly new. On Sunday, unwind.

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

Your way of doing things works great for you, but it might not work great for someone else. Ditto your way of looking at things. It’s important not to be bossy, and it’s especially important this week. As wise as your criticisms are on Tuesday and Wednesday, the people you’re around may be entirely uninterested in hearing them. And relationships with the people around you are the key to your well-being right now. When a problem arises with a partner (in either the business or romance realm) at the end of the week, be quick on your toes and solve it right away. No sense letting weirdness linger.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Entertainment News I

Sachin Tendulkar quashes daughter Sara’s Bollywood debut speculations New Delhi, April 27: Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who is making his film debut in a docu-feature on his life, is upset by speculation that his daughter Sara is joining showbiz. “My daughter Sara is enjoying her academic pursuits. Annoyed at all the baseless speculation about her joining films,” Tendulkar posted on Twitter on Monday. Rumours were rife that Sara, 17, would be making her Bollywood debut opposite Shahid Kapoor in an upcoming movie. Meanwhile, Sachin has been excited about his own film debut.

In March, the master blaster invited his fans to suggest the title for his biopic, conceived by Mumbai-based production company 200 Not Out in co-ordination with World Sports Group, the firm that manages Brand Sachin. The movie, to be directed by London-based writer-filmmaker James Erskine, promises “never seen before facets and footage” on the cricket legend. Apart from his presence in the movie, Tendulkar is said to be making a lot of contribution to the project, which will capture his phenomenal rise in the world of cricket.

Salman Khan impresses with his ‘Hindu and Muslim’ remark at the Jodhpur hearing!

The Kick actor earned a few extra fans with his recent statement at the court case hearing in Jodhpur

alman Khan was at the Jodhpur court today for the arms act case hearing. The Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor was pretty confused when he was quizzed about his caste in the court. We hear that someone in the court prompted to the actor and said, “Muslim”. Now what Salman did next only won him more brownie points and some good press too. We’re sure that his secular answer must have impressed any more like us. Chief Judicial Magistrate Anupama Bijlani quizzed Salman for the court procedures. He asked the actor his name, father’s name and cast amongst other details, which were to be mentioned in the court’s form. And the actor put some serious thought into his response and said after a brief pause, “Hindu and Muslim”. It seems that the cast question left the actor a little confused. And we totally understand from where this one is coming. Anybody who knows the actor will also be aware of the fact thatSalman

Khan and family celebrate both the religions. The actor’s family have as grand Eid parties at their Bandra residence and even bring home Ganesha home during Chaturti. So is Salman looked puzzled on being asked about his caste it is only understood why, right?

Why is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looking so tired?

s the Jazbaa shoot taking a toll on the actress? A picture can speak a thousand words and this one surely did! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan‘s beauty has been described in many ways by many men and women. She is one of the most beautiful women on earth and we can’t agree more. That was also one of the reasons why we were so eager to see her back onscreen. Fortunately, the actress gave her nod to Sanjay Gupta’s Jazbaa; so very soon she will be on 70mm once again. But guess the shoot is turning out to be too strenuous for Aishwarya. A recent picture of her makes her look tired and tad sleep-deprived. It won’t be wrong to say that Aishwarya’s eyes are her assets. They are glorious, light coloured and extremely expressive. Hence, the same couldn’t hide the actress’s tiredness during the second schedule wrap of Jazbaa.It is big

and bright, but it seems weary. Although she isn’t devoid of makeup as is evident, it failed to conceal her tired out face. But we have to say this, Aishwarya will manage to hold your gaze even after all that. We hope Jazbaa is worth all the tiredness the actress is enduring!

Angry Akshay Kumar rubbishes rumours about Nepal earthquake donations! Contrary to the rumours, Akki won’t be donating the first day collection ofGabbar Is Back to the victims of Nepal earthquake…

kshay Kumar, who is currently busy promoting his upcoming film Gabbar Is Back co-starring Shruti Haasan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, took to popular social networking site Twitter to clear the air about Nepal earthquake donations. Rumours were doing the rounds that Twinkle Khanna’s hubby dearest was going to donate the first day collection of his film to earthquake victims of Nepal. However, that’s not the case. And the Singh Is Bliing actor pointed this out on Twitter late last night. He tweeted, “Heard a rumour that I am donating #GabbarIsBack’s 1st day collections to the #NepalEarthquake victims. Firstly I am not the producer so that’s not my call to make and more importantly I don’t need to wait for the film’s release to do my bit.” Apart from putting all the rumours to rest, Khiladi Kumar also tweeted, “If you too want to lend your support here’s the link –> https://www.facebook.com/nepalearthquakesupport.” Ever since the news about Nepal quake broke, Bollywood celebrities have been doing their bit to help the ones who have suffered because of this unfortunate tragedy. Last night, Anushka Sharma tweeted, “HELP!Every little amount

counts !PLS join me in helping d people of Nepal.Follow this link & make a donation.THANK YOU http://ketto.org/nepalneedssupport …” Besides Ms Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Dia Mirza, Varun Dhawan, Amitabh Bachchan and Shraddha Kapoor have also lent their support for the Nepal quake victims.

May 1–7, 2015

Aamir Khan: I thought I was finished after a string of flops post Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak As Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak completes 27 years, Aamir reveals what he went through when he tasted failures after failures after rather outstanding debut

ansoor Khan’s Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak not only gave a love story for people to remember for years, but it also gave one of the most loved pairs of Bollywood, Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla. After the spectacular debut, everyone expected Aamir to be the next big thing in the industry. But instead, Aamir earned the title of one film wonder, as he gave a string of flops in succession. As Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak completed 27 years, Aamir Khan opened up about the traumatic times when he was starving for success. Speaking to a leading daily, Aamir said,”Within the first two years of QSQT, I experienced the weakest stage of my life. The films I had signed started releasing and flopping one after the other. So I was like,”I am finished. There’s no way I can survive this onslaught,” since I knew how bad my other unreleased films were. I was called ‘óne film wonder’ by the media, and rightly so. I had a feeling that I was stuck in quicksand.” Later, Aamir was offered a film by the

ace filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt himself, but Mr Perfectionist had the courage to say no to it as he didn’t like the script. So if today, Aamir is known for being choosy with films, the credit goes to the unsuccessful phase in his career where he went hit less for nearly 3 years.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Revenge: Axed by ABC!

BC has taken a red sharpie to Revenge. Following weeks of rumors and assumptions that we would see Revenge canceled this spring, the network has done just that. It will end after the Season 4 finale. "We can officially tell our fans that this will be the end of the story,” executive producer Sunil Nayar told Entertainment Weekly today, adding: "We’ve been talking to the network and we all just wanted to make sure that we felt very confident." "Now that everybody has seen the finale - which is fabulous - everybody understands that as much as we all adore the show, it has hit exactly the mark it needed to to end. "This is the series finale of Revenge that will be airing in a couple weeks." Revenge stars Emily VanCamp as Amanda Clarke, a woman who went undercover in the Hamptons to avenge her father's presumed death. It started out on fire in 2011, but quickly burned through storylines and lost a great deal of ratings momentum over the past couple seasons. Over 10 million people tuned in to its premiere, but that figure dropped to 4.45 million for a recent installment. Now May 10 will be its final episode.

Two weeks ago (SPOILER ALERT!) Victoria Grayson, Amanda's main nemesis throughout the show's duration, killed herself in a house fire, sparking talk that Revenge would soon be axed. “There’s a tiny little cliffhanger in the series finale,” Nayar teases. “We don’t want people to get weary of the stories we’re telling, so we felt like they deserve an ending to this novel that Mike Kelley started four years ago. "I really feel like the last couple chapters are worthy of the first many." And, hey, you can watch Revenge online for all of eternity.

Britney Spears reassures fans she is "ok" after falling on stage in Vegas

ritney Spears has reassured fans she is fine after taking a tumble on stage in Las Vegas. The 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' singer was performing during her residency show at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Nevada strip when she fell over mid-way through her dance routine. Following the show, the 33-year-old took to Twitter to address her onstage mishap, letting concerned fans know she hadn't been badly injured. She tweeted: "Thank you for all of the sweet wishes! Had a little scare on stage tonight with my ankle but I'm ok!" Britney's fall came as she was performing one of her hit tracks from 1999 '(You Drive Me) Crazy'. During the number, the mum-of-two fell to the ground after landing awkwardly on her foot while performing the track's choreography. After toppling over in her heels, ever the professional, Britney got back up again and carried on with the set. And she stole the heart of her fans by doing so. Commending the pop princess for continuing, many praised Britney on social media. One user tweeted the starlet: "Great job going on with the show!" While another said: "@britneyspears inspires us everyday to get up when we fall down and brush it off. #weloveyoubritney!! Glad you're OK!" Britney has been performing in Vegas since December 2013 after landing her-

self a residency with her 'Piece of Me' show and following rave reviews, she recently bagged herself two awards for it - the Best of Vegas award and the Best Bachelorette Party. Picking up her gongs earlier this month, Britney said: "Look what I got over the weekend! Thank you Best Of Las Vegas, my dedicated team & POM crew, @phvegas, and all of YOU!"

May 1–7, 2015 33 Caribbean Star Newspaper Angry Anurag Kashyap blasts the media for alleging Radhika Apte nude video leak was for publicity!

A Justin Bieber Loves Italian Food, Hates Arrest Rumors

ccording to a recent report, Justin Bieber was nearly arrested in Rome this week. TMZ circulated a story that claimed Argentinian authorities went after the artist for an incident in 2013 in which Bieber supposedly told his bodyguard to beat up a member of the paparazzi. Justin was summoned to Argentina late last year to face this charge, though he never showed up because… really, why would he? So, did the Argentine government really ask international authorities to have Bieber apprehended in Italy a couple days ago, as alleged online? No, Bieber counters. "Rumors rumors rumors. All good. Comes with the job," the superstar Tweeted in response last night. It is true that Justin is abroad in Europe, however, for a very cool reason: he's shooting scenes for his Zoolander 2 cameo! "Enjoying Italy and appreciate all the kind people here. Thank you. Great food," Bieber added in his message. The singer, of course, is working very hard to repair his public image, so it makes sense he'd look to end all arrest talk before it picked up a lot of momentum. He's looking to put these Justin Bieber scandals in the past...

Kaley Cuoco Hair Color Change: Pretty in Pink?

Big Bang Theory star has undergone a big hair color change. Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting may not be getting divorced and she may not be pregnant… but she sure is pretty in pink! So she hopes, at least. The beautiful and beloved actress took to Instagram last night and shared a couple photos of her fresh look, which included some significantly dyed locks. “Have wanted to do this for years! Finally went pretty in pink! Thank you @vspaeth for giving me such a special color! Obsessed! @andylecomptesalon #doyou,” the previously-blonde star captioned this collage of pictures. Cuoco-Sweeting joins Hilary Duff, Julianne Hough and a number of other celebrities who have also recently ditched their regular color for this spirited hue, presumably in honor of spring.

ngry Anurag Kashyap blasts the media for alleging Radhika Apte nude video leak was for publicity! A recent video of Radhika Apte has gone viral on social media! This video has a certain shock value as the actress lifts her dress and exposes her lower front part. As soon as the video went viral, a few media reports doing the rounds suggested that the clip from the international project was leaked on purpose. Though the Bombay Velvet filmmaker had admitted that he feels responsible for the leak, he was furious when the media started

sensationalising it. He called the media sick following the media’s allegations. His anger is visible from his tweets. The filmmaker had shot a 20-minute short film with Radhika Apte, which required a frontal nude shot of the actress that has gone viral. The BV director was commissioned to direct this film along with six other filmmakers from different parts of the world who have also directed different films that will eventually become part of one big film. Currently the cyber cell of Mumbai Po-

lice has registered a case against an unknown person for leaking an adult video of the Hunterrr actress. The complaint was filed after Anurag approached the Mumbai police.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Caribbean Connections

Caribbean economies face peril with declining coral reefs - report

ASHINGTON D.C., United States, Monday April 27, 2015, CMC – The United Nations and conservation groups have warned the Caribbean that their economies are in peril with the decline of coral reefs. According to a report, years of overfishing, boating and environmental degradation are causing coral reefs in the Caribbean and around the world to disappear. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says erosion threatens not just fish and marine life that are supported by coral ecosystems, but a vast tourism economy. “Coral degradation is a global problem,” said Luis Solorzano, executive director at The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization working in more than 35 countries and operating more than 100 marine conservation projects. “Coral reefs help protect coastlines, which include coastal communities, hotels and other investments, from storms,” he added. Researchers at Stanford University in California say the stony substance secreted by millions of tiny animals minimizes the force of sea waves and helps protect an estimated 200 million people in islands and coastal states from storms and rising sea levels. In a study last year, Stanford scientists estimated that up to 60 percent of coral

Cancer second leading cause of death in Barbados says health minister

B reefs around the world have been wiped out, adding that things could be getting worse in the Caribbean. Recent studies show the region may have lost 80 percent of its coral reefs. Local economies, noted NOAA, “receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.” In a report on the weekend, NBC News said – reliance on tourism by Caribbean islands is hastening the demise of the ecosystem. If tropical reefs and other ecosystems are destroyed, the oceans could lose US$1 trillion in economic value “by the end of the century,” according to a study published by Scientific American last October. Protecting coral reefs “will become even more valuable in the future, as climate change results in more severe—and in some places, more frequent—weather events like hurricanes,” Solorzano said.

RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday April 27, 2015, CMC – Health Minister John Boyce says cancer is second leading cause of death in Barbados. He says the main cancers of public health concern are prostate, colon, breast and cervix, which account for more than 60 per cent of sickness and death from the disease. Addressing the Caribbean Association of Oncology and Haemotology Conference, Boyce said that cancer was second to cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in Barbados. The conference, which ends Saturday, has attracted health care professionals from Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. It is being held under the theme “Challenges in Cancer Care Treatment – the Caribbean Perspective”. Boyce told the conference that Barbados had a cancer registry which formed part of the Barbados National Registry for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (BNR) and data from the first year of operation of the cancer component has indicated that breast, uterus and cervical cancers were the leading cause of death in women, accounting for 49 per cent of all cancer deaths, while 48 per cent of total deaths in men were attributed to prostate cancer. He said that data from the registry had already begun to positively influence policy and programme development within the Ministry of Health.

Some areas include the scaling up of the expanded programme on immunisation to include the HPV vaccination for prevention of cervical cancer, more broad-based gene testing for breast cancer and integrating palliative care, as one of the pillars of cancer treatment. Noting that Barbadians aged 45 to 84 were particularly at risk for developing the disease, the Health Minister said that his Ministry, along with the Barbados Cancer Society and Cancer Support Services, supported an enhanced national screening programme for breast, cervix, prostate and colon cancers. He said that work was also continuing to strengthen the country’s ability to provide quality chemotherapeutic, immunogenic, radio-therapeutic and surgical choices. “We look forward to having fully integrated radiotherapy options for cancer treatment and these include brachytherapy, use of the gamma camera and cobalt technologies,” Boyce added.

Kamla calls for Rowley’s suspension from Parliament over “Emailgate” scandal

PRIME MINISTER KAMLA PERSAD BISSESSAR (FILE PHOTO) ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday April 27, 2015, CMC – The coalition People’s Partnership government says it is moving towards having Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley suspended from the Parliament after accusing him of providing false information to legislators in the so-called “Emailgate” scandal. Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar addressing the 26th anniversary of the

ruling United National Congress (UNC) in Couva, Central Trinidad, on Sunday night, said that the so-called emails that Rowley read out in Parliament uggesting that she and senior members of her government were involved in a plot to undermine several state institutions including the judiciary were a hoax. “These are the facts, three sources have now shown that the e-mails have no substance, there is no truth, there is no basis for the fake e-mails Dr Rowley read in Parliament,” she told supporters, listing among the sources, the United States Justice Department. “We will deal with him in Parliament…I’ve already advised Dr (Roodal) Moonilal, based on these documents and others which we will deal with in the Parliament, we will file a motion of censure again against Dr Rowley on emailgate, but we will not stop there…we will also call in the House for Dr Rowley to be suspended from the service of the House,” she added. In 2013, Rowley told legislators that he had received in December the previous year, a total of 31 emails, from a “whistle blower” indicating how operatives within

the government had sought to undermine those institutions including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the media.. He said he had passed them on to the Office of the President. Rowley said the emails, dating back to September 2012, were from people concerned with the government’s defence of the early proclamation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act that had the effect of allowing people, whose trial has not started after a 10-year period to walk free and a verdict of not guilty entered against their names. Critics say that the clause was aimed at supporting businessmen Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, who have been described as financiers of the ruling United National Congress (UNC), the biggest partner in the four-member coalition government. The two are facing fraud and laundering charges relating to the re-development of the Piarco International Airport in 2001. They are also wanted in the United States on a number of related charges. The government later repealed the section and Prime Minister Persad Bissessar

dismissed her then justice minister, Hebert Volney, a former High Court judge, on the grounds that he misled Cabinet into believing that the Chief Justice Ivor Archie and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Roger Gaspard, had supported the idea of the early proclamation. Rowley told legislators that the contents of the email collaborated strongly with events that unfolded in the country the previous year as the government sought to defend its decision over the controversial legislation and read into the Hansard, the exchange of correspondences between people with email addresses like “anan@gmail.com, kamlapb@gmail.com, surujrambachan@hotmail.com and garygriffith@hotmail.com purporting to come from senior government ministers and officials. Prime Minister Persad Bissessar said while the email address was hers, she was not the author, and that she had passed them to the police for investigation. The emails allege exchanges between Persad Bissessar, then-attorney general Anand Ramlogan, former minister of local

See Kamla calls on pg.35

Caribbean Star Newspaper Buildings can now go up to four storeys in Negril

INGSTON, Jamaica – Developers can now construct buildings up to four storeys in Negril, Westmoreland. This is an increase from the previously allowable height of three floors. The disclosure was made today by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill during his Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives. The change to the Negril-Green Island Local Planning Area was among four provisional Development Orders announced by the minister last year, the other three being for the parishes

of Portland, Trelawny and Manchester. Pickersgill today confirmed all four Development Orders. “I can proudly announce that I have confirmed the four Development Orders. Let me add however, that I have made an important change to the Negril Development Order, which will now permit a maximum of four storeys for buildings, not exceeding a height of 50 metres,” Pickersgill said during his presentation. “However, the setback at the high water mark remains at 46 metres (150 feet), except under exceptional circumstances.”

May 1–7, 2015

He explained that the manner in which land is utilised for development purposes has a profound impact on the environment and as such Development Orders are important lawful instruments that establish the parameters for the rational, progressive and sustainable development of land. The minister also said other Development Orders are on stream to be published during this financial year, and that the Government is on target to have the entire island regulated by Development Orders under the Town and Country Planning Act by the end of the 2016—2017 financial year.

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill

Kamla calls from pg. 34 government Surujrattan Rambachan and then-national security adviser, Gary Griffith. As she addressed the UNC public meeting on Sunday night, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar called on the police to release the information regarding their investigation into the emailgate, saying the country was heading into a general election. “I have legally all the Google records pursuant to a court order in the case filed by the Integrity Commission and all the e-mails for the month of September which Rowley sent out were fake. “Not a single e-mail remotely resembled anything that he read. Three sources have said there is no substance, no truth and no basis for the fake e-mails that Rowley read. We gave full authority to disclose those records and tonight I call on the police to state whether there was any e-mail as Rowley said. “Should the conclusion of the report indicate that the contents of the e-mail were fake and criminal proceedings undertaken, the Opposition leader must immediately resign from his seat,” she said. During her address, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar said she would not be rushed into naming a date for the general election that must be held no later than September 17 this year. “Today, speculation is all over that I am going to announce the election date today. But listen carefully, the last time a man tried that he lost the election when he called it before time” she said, an obvious reference to former prime minister Patrick Manning who called an ealy poll in 2010 and lost. “I say my track record speaks for itself. We have held every single election within time, according to the laws of Trinidad and Tobago. Today, I say I will continue to comply with the law. I give you the assurance that I will call the elections when the elections are constitutionally due under the law.” “No one will jumbie me to call an election before it is due. They could jump high, they could jump low, no election date will be announced before it is due. They could bark and shout, we will call it when it is due,” she told supporters at the UNC celebrations that were not attended by the party founder and former prime minister Basdeo Panday.

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May 1–7, 2015

Venezuela's reserves fall to 12-year low

Caribbean Star Newspaper Defence lawyer says there are holes in lottery scam case

ARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela said Wednesday its foreign exchange reserves have fallen 14 per cent since the beginning of the year, to $18.99 billion, their lowest level in almost 12 years. Ratings agencies have warned that the South American oil giant, which has been hit hard by sliding crude prices, risks defaulting on $10 billion in debt payments due this year. The central bank's foreign currency reserves had not dipped so low since late 2003. Venezuela is struggling with a recession, 68.5-per cent annual inflation and severe shortages of the basic goods that it relies on oil money to import. State oil company PDVSA reported Monday its earnings fell 4.3 per cent in 2014, to $128.4 billion. Venezuela, which has the world's largest proven oil reserves, gets more than 96 per cent of its foreign currency from crude exports. That dependence has hit the economy hard as global oil prices have collapsed nearly 60 per cent from June to February, complicating President Nicolas Maduro's efforts to revive the economy ahead of legislative elections this year that his

United Socialist Party of Venezuela risks losing to the opposition. To raise cash, the Government has in recent weeks secured a $5-billion loan from China, issued $1.5 billion in bonds through PDVSA's US-based subsidiary Citgo and allowed the Dominican Republic to pay off $1.9 billion in outstanding oil debt at a discount of more than 50 per cent. It also reportedly swapped part of its gold reserves for $1 billion in cash from Citibank. Venezuela's foreign exchange reserves have fallen 28 per cent since Maduro succeeded his late mentor Hugo Chavez in April 2013.

ISMARCK, ND (AP) — As prosecutors in a Jamaican lottery scam case called on victims to testify Wednesday about how they were duped out of their savings accounts, the lawyer for the man on trial said authorities should have investigated whether his client was himself a victim of stolen identity. Sanjay Williams, 25, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, has pleaded not guilty in federal court to conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. Williams, the first of 32 defendants to go to trial, is accused of buying and selling so-called "sucker lists" with the names of potential victims. While questioning FBI Special Agent Frank Gasper on Wednesday, defence attorney Charlie Stock said investigators should have looked into an incident in which Williams' email account was hacked. Stock said they should have checked whether Williams' credit card information was stolen. On several occasions, Stock referred to his client as "this Sanjay Williams," implying that prosecutors had the wrong guy. Gasper replied that there's plenty of other evidence against Williams, including passport information, money wire receipts, various account information, and a credit card Williams used that was confiscated when he was arrested. Prosecutors say Williams is tied to

Lavrick Willocks, considered to be the mastermind of the operation that originated in the Montego Bay area. Gasper agreed with Stock's contention that the operation Willocks is accused of running was sophisticated and adept at hiding identities, using aliases and falsifying phone numbers and email addresses. Willocks has been charged and is awaiting extradition from Jamaica. Stock said in his opening statement that so many people in the case have used fake names that it's hard to believe witnesses. Prosecutors called on more victims in the case to testify Wednesday, including a woman who still sent money to an alleged scammer after Gasper contacted her about the scam. That witness, Bridgette Rzepnicki, a home health care worker from Cincinnati, told the court that she was contacted by someone wanting money after she arrived in Bismarck on Monday. All of the victims who have testified so far say they have not heard of Williams or met him. US District Judge Daniel Hovland offered Rzepnicki some advice before he excused her from the witness stand. "Don't spend another nickel with someone on the phone who you don't know personally," the judge said.

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May 1–7, 2015 37 Caribbean Star Newspaper Trinidad police say no “nudging” in emailgate investigation

ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday April 27, 2015, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Monday said it was not being “nudged” into announcing the outcome of an investigation into so-called “Emailgate” after Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar questioned the delay by the police in providing the public with the outcome of its probe. Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams speaking on a television programme here also said that the police could not state when the probe would be concluded. ”There is the issue of politics in relation to this inquiry but there is no behind the scene nudging” he told television viewers. On Sunday night, as she addressed the 26th anniversary of the ruling United National Congress (UNC), Prime Minister Persad Bissessar said that her coalition administration would be moving towards having Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley suspended from the Parliament after accusing him of using providing false information to legislators in the “Emailgate” scandal. She told party supporters that the so-called emails that Rowley read out in Parliament suggesting that she and senior members of her government were involved in a plot to undermine several state institutions including the judiciary were a hoax. “These are the facts, three sources have now shown that the e-mails have no substance, there is no truth, there is no basis for the fake e-mails Dr Rowley read in Parliament,” she told

supporters, listing among the sources, the United States Justice Department. “We will deal with him in Parliament…I’ve already advised Dr (Roodal) Moonilal, based on these documents and others which we will deal with in the Parliament, we will file a motion of censure again against Dr Rowley on emailgate, but we will not stop there…we will also call in the House for Dr Rowley to be suspended from the service of the House,” she added. “I have legally all the Google records pursuant to a court order in the case filed by the Integrity Commission and all the e-mails for the month of September which Rowley sent out were fake. “Not a single e-mail remotely resembled anything that he read. Three sources have said there is no substance, no truth and no basis for the fake e-mails that Rowley read. We gave full authority to disclose those records and tonight I call on the police to state whether there was any e-mail as Rowley said. “Should the conclusion of the report indicate that the contents of the e-mail were fake and criminal proceedings undertaken, the Opposition leader must

St Lucia court sentences cathedral killers to life in prison

ASTRIES, St.Lucia, Monday April 27, 2015, CMC – Two men accused of setting fire to worshippers 15 years ago, have been sentenced to life imprisonment. After spending 14 years in jail during which a re-trial was held, the sentence was handed down on Friday in the High Court. The men – Kim John and Francis Phillip were sentenced in the aftermath of the December 31,

2000 tragedy in which stormed into the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception here, shortly after midnight dousing worshippers with gasolene and setting them on fire. They also bludgeoned Sister Theresa Egan, 73, to death while Rev. Charles Gaillard, 62, died from severe burns to his body. In all, close to a dozen worshippers suffered burns in the attack. The men had pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the Privy Council overturned their death sentence for murder. The crime – one of the heinous in St. Lucia’s history, the police said the men declared that they were Rastafarian prophets sent by God to fight corruption in the Catholic Church.

immediately resign from his seat,” she said. In 2013, Rowley told legislators that he had received in December the previous year, a total of 31 emails, from a “whistle blower” indicating how operatives within the government had sought to undermine those institutions including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the media.. He said he had passed them on to the Office of the President. Rowley said the emails, dating back to September 2012, were from people concerned with the government’s defence of the early proclamation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act that had the effect of allowing people, whose trial has not started after a 10-year period to walk free and a verdict of not guilty entered against their names. Critics say that the clause was aimed at supporting businessmen Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, who have been described as financiers of the

ruling United National Congress (UNC), the biggest partner in the four-member coalition government. The two are facing fraud and laundering charges relating to the re-development of the Piarco International Airport in 2001. They are also wanted in the United States on a number of related charges. Rowley told legislators that the contents of the email collaborated strongly with events that unfolded in the country the previous year as the government sought to defend its decision over the controversial legislation and read into the Hansard, the exchange of correspondences between people with email addresses like “anan@gmail. com, kamlapb@gmail.com, surujrambachan@hotmail.com and garygriffith@hotmail.com purporting to come from senior government ministers and officials. William told television viewers that the Deputy Commissioner of Crime Glen Hackett was in

consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on “finalising that inquiry. “What we have done is take an approach where the police service has engaged with the Office of the DPP, not with the DPP because in that matter, his name has been raised in that matter and the DPP has assigned for our interaction the deputy DPP. “So the police service have been working with the deputy DPP on the key requirements of that investigation and on that guidance they continue to explore different aspects. At present they are seeking to finalise the inquiry’. He said he was not in a position to state how long it would take. “Would it take a week, two weeks, three weeks I can’t sat, I am not leading the inquiry,” he said, adding “it is at this point where we are seeking to finalise the inquiry and when the inquiry is finalised the Deputy Commissioner will go public with the outcome”.

May 1–7, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

CRICKET & Sports

Narine undergoes testing for offbreaks

mbattled West Indies and Kolkata Knight Riders offspinner Sunil Narine has once again retested himself, this time for his offbreak which the BCCI had banned him from bowling on Wednesday. Narine took the test today in Chennai at the ICC-accredited Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Sciences Centre. After a fair amount of his deliveries were reported by the match officials during Knight Riders’ away match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 22, Narine underwent testing last weekend. The tests revealed that Narine had a flex in his elbow while delivering the offspin delivery. Consequently, the BCCI, while allowing Narine to play in the IPL, made it clear that the he could not bowl his stock ball. Among other deliveries that were tested and cleared were his knuckle ball

and straighter delivery. According to an official privy to the test, it is understood that during the testing last week, Narine was noticed drifting towards delivering the offbreak with his older action. On Thursday, Narine bowled offspin with his remodelled action. If he can use that delivery only if he is cleared. The results are likely to be out in a few days. Although the Knight Riders franchise has strongly supported Narine and mentioned he continues to be available for selection, experts like former Indian leftarm spinner Murali Kartik believes that it would hurt Narine if he is rushed back, especially without his go-to delivery. Narine missed out on playing against Chennai Super Kingsh on Tuesday, and will once again sit out in the home match against the same opponent tonight.

Hafeez 224 builds commanding lead Pakistan 537 for 5 (Hafeez 224, Azhar 83, Misbah 59) lead Bangladesh 332 by 205 runs ohammad Hafeez had missed a double-century twice in the past after coming close. He was dismissed for 196 against Sri Lanka in 2012 and had fallen short by three runs last year against New Zealand. But continuing on the flawless effort of the second day in Khulna, and on his recent Test form in general, Hafeez finally passed the landmark. By the time he was dismissed for 224, the best by a Pakistan batsman against Bangladesh, Hafeez had helped his team

strengthen their hold on the Test with a lead of 80, which then swelled to 205 by the end of the day after half-centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed. It wasn’t a surprise that he slowed down after entering 190s. It took him 14 deliveries to get off 190. Then, after reaching 198 with a crisp straight drive off Mohammad Shahid, Hafeez had to wait 11 more deliveries to find the couple he needed. As Taijul Islam drifted on to the leg side, Hafeez paddled fine and scampered through for the second run, completing his double-century in 286 deliveries.

Bangladesh, Pakistan and WI tussle for Champions Trophy spots

he latest ICC rankings show an intriguing battle developing for qualification for the 2017 Champions Trophy. The top seven sides in the world, plus hosts England, will compete at the next 50-overs tournament and the cut-off date for qualification is September 30, 2015. Bangladesh, with 88 points, have risen to eighth place after a 3-0 drubbing of Pakistan, who are a point behind them at ninth. Mashrafe Mortaza told ESPNcricinfo that moving up the rankings was a priority for Bangladesh to make sure they remained in contention for direct entry into the next World Cup as well. “See in the dressing room we mostly talk about training, planning and the match, mostly,” he said. “But of course, whenever we were in a briefing, I would mention it and we discussed it in length. As a cricket nation, we have to progress in every format. We have to ensure we are going ahead in T20s and Tests but the ODIs too need attention. We will prepare properly for the T20 World Cup next year and we need constant attention to Tests but we have a target to stay within No. 8 to qualify for the 2019 World Cup. This is an important first step.” West Indies, who are ranked seventh, currently have no ODIs scheduled between now and September 30, leaving them potentially vulnerable to Pakistan, who have eight matches to come

- three at home to Zimbabwe and five in Sri Lanka each at home, and Bangladesh have three against India and South Africa. Meanwhile, Australia have tightened their grip at the top of the ICC ODI rankings following their World Cup victory last month. Their lead has doubled over India after triumphing in Melbourne to lift a fifth title. New Zealand’s run to the final of the World Cup sees them rise to third in the table, while England’s miserable tournament has sunk them to sixth place. India remain in second place, the position they also occupy in the T20 rankings, with Sri Lanka, the reigning World T20 champions, extending their lead. The latest ICC rankings see the table recalibrated to include matches only in the last three years. One-day rankings differ to the Test placings, that are calaculated after every match.

ICC ODI Rankings 1. Australia 129pts 2. India 117 3. New Zealand 116 4. South Africa 112 5. Sri Lanka 106 6. England 94 7. West Indies 88 8. Bangladesh 88 9. Pakistan 87 10. Ireland 50 11. Zimbabwe 45 12. Afghanistan 41

Sri Lanka Cricket is poised to receive $ 300000 from the ICC, effectively the team’s prize money from the 2015 World Cup

SLC standoff with ICC could be resolved soon

ri Lanka’s sports minister has expressed his confidence that Sri Lanka Cricket’s current standoff with the ICC will be resolved, while the ICC has agreed to release a small percentage of the sum it is holding in escrow. Navin Dissanayake, the sports minister, said SLC would shortly receive USD $300,000 from the ICC, which amounts to about 2.5% of the payment due to the board. The release of this money, which is effectively Sri Lanka’s prize money from the 2015 World Cup, is seen by SLC as a step toward the board’s full reintegration at the ICC. Dissanayake said he had also received a letter from ICC last week, and expects to respond over the next few days. He hopes to outline his reasons for suspending the SLC elections and appointing an interim committee. “I can say that the letter from ICC was very cordial and there was nothing confrontational about it,” Dissanayake said. “So I am certain, we can sort this out with ICC. I am meeting ICC Chief Executive David Richardson and ICC Chairman Srinivasan to negotiate the matters shortly.” The ICC’s constitution does not allow for government interference in cricket ad-

ministration in full member nations. However, the SLC comes under the sports ministry’s purview, according to Sri Lanka’s sports law. This, Dissanayake said, was the crux of the wrangle. “There is a conflict between Sri Lanka Sports Law and ICC regulations,” he said. “It can be negotiated. ICC has to understand the situation in member countries.” Dissanayake also said Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department would probe the awarding of local broadcasting rights of Sri Lanka matches to Carlton Sports Network as part of a wider investigation. Meanwhile, a collective of Sri Lanka Cricket stakeholders, most from voting clubs and associations, has urged the Sri Lankan government to reinstate elections at Maitland Place. Sixty-eight members of cricket associations had met over the weekend, and expressed concern that SLC had been sidelined by the ICC. The collective issued a release which said “outgoing office bearers” would seek an appointment with the government “to discuss this issue in order to minimize the damage that could cause to Sri Lanka Cricket and the restoration of the democratic rights of the membership.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Anderson inspires England to memorable win

England 464 (Root 182*, Ballance 77, Cook 76, Trott 59, Bishoo 4-177) and 144 for 1 (Ballance 81*, Cook 59*) beat West Indies 299 (Samuels 103, Broad 4-61) and 307 (Brathwaite 116, Bravo 69, Anderson 4-43) by nine wickets

ngland produced a remarkable victory in the second Test after a seemingly moribund contest was brought to life by the brilliance of James Anderson and the seemingly ineradicable flaws in West Indies’ game. Anderson was the inspiration during a helter-skelter morning session in which England ripped out six wickets and Alastair Cook was there at the end to complete a run chase that was as sedate as it would have seemed unlikely 24 hours earlier. West Indies lost 8 for 83 in 30.4 overs either side of lunch, surrendering a position of relative security with indecent haste and undoing four days of hard work. England, who seemed to have been blunted on the fourth evening as Kraigg Brathwaite compiled a determined century, seized the moment with alacrity after Anderson took three quick wickets with the new ball. Victory, one reminiscent of their one-session mugging of Sri Lanka at Cardiff in 2011, put England 1-0 up in the series. The prospect seemed a distant one at the start of the day, with West Indies having erased their 165-run first-innings deficit only two down. There was little in the pitch to help England’s bowlers and it was appropriate that Anderson was the catalyst, as he was during their last overseas Test victory, at Kolkata in 2012. West Indies did remove Jonathan Trott for his second duck of the series, bowled off an inside edge, but they twice put down Gary Ballance, the second time with 17 required. They also lost Jason Holder to injury, a nasty-looking roll of the ankle

James Anderson took three wickets, two catches and effected a run-out to inspire England that could affect his participation in the third Test. There was little else in the way of drama as Cook and Ballance put on an unbroken three-figure stand, both making half-centuries. Ballance also scored his 1000th Test run, in his 17th innings, putting him joint-ninth on the list. Cook’s fifty, meanwhile, was his fifth in eight Test innings - given how unexpectedly well his day had gone, he might have wished for a few more runs

to chase and the possibility of that elusive hundred. The emotions of both sides underwent a complete turnaround in little more than three hours as a Test that had moved sluggishly through four days suddenly went into fast-forward. Anderson was involved in all six wickets to fall in the morning, taking three with the new ball to go with a couple of catches and a superb run-out, as West Indies toppled from the relatively secu-

rity of 224 for 2 to a perilous 286 for 8. The dismissal of Kemar Roach, chipping Moeen Ali to mid-on five minutes before the lunch break, was a sign of the fallibility gene that has become such a problem for the health of West Indies’ cricket. When they were eventually all out for 307 around 40 minutes into the afternoon session, Moeen taking the last two wickets in three balls, it left England with almost 60 overs in which to chase 143.

ICC investigates plans for alternate cricket structure

he ICC is investigating the Essel Group’s mooted plans for an alternative world cricket structure, even as former IPL chief Lalit Modi revealed he stepped away from the project after deciding it was not something he could deliver. An emergency ICC committee has been set up to investigate moves made by the Indian billionaire Subhash Chandra, owner of the Essel Group and also Zee TV, of which the subsidiary Ten Sports owns home international cricket television rights for numerous Full Member countries including Pakistan and Sri Lanka. ESPNcricinfo understands that the committee will also look into the recent activity of Modi and his business partner Dean Kino, the former Cricket Australia head of business and legal affairs and also a key figure in the development of the Champions League Twenty20. Speaking to the Guardian, Modi said he had done some early work on Chan-

dra’s plans over several months, before stepping back. However, he warned against underestimating Chandra, who had previously bankrolled the rebel Indian Cricket League that was snuffed out by the emergence of the IPL - ironically under Modi’s stewardship - and left around $2 million in unpaid wages for the players and staff who took part. “I looked at the plan and discussed it. We had conversations for months - but I usually don’t touch something I cannot deliver, and this I cannot,” Modi said. “It’s not something you can just do and launch - it will take years and it won’t happen overnight. It is not putting a tournament together, it’s about building the sport from the grassroots up. “You have to understand Subhash Chandra as a man. If you do, you will know he goes after what he wants and he does not stop. Whether he will succeed is the billion-dollar question. Subhash is a powerful body no doubt but it is a foolish plan at the moment. But he does

what he wants and I wish him all the luck. It could be very close, who knows? If he presses the button and puts the money on the table things could start very quickly. The ICC should be fearing him.” Another report, in the Sydney Morning Herald, has outlined plans for international players such as Michael Clarke and David Warner to be offered as much as $50 million each over 10 years to add their names and reputations to the breakaway venture. Modi said that players had been made aware of the project and that trust could be won by payments up front, but there were greater issues of logistics and infrastructure. “I don’t think players have signed anything yet but a few know about it,” he said. “They will come, but it is too early for that. The plan requires billions up front. Trust would be a serious issue but they could overcome that with advance payments. If somebody had three or four billion to play around with, with it could be done very easily. Anything

less? It would be very difficult. “Logistics are the big issue and infrastructure the bigger issue. In my case we had one competition and had the cash and the infrastructure available, with partners and stadiums in place. On a green field project like this, where are the stadiums? They need to find them, create them or convert existing ones - the gestation period for that is quite long.” The ICC executive board has faced a wave of criticism following the adoption of a “Big Three” model in 2014 driven by Kino, IPL COO Sundar Raman, ICC chairman N Srinivasan, outgoing ECB chairman but incoming president Giles Clarke, and CA chairman Wally Edwards. The model placed most responsibility for, but also reward from, the international game in the hands of India, England and Australia. Srinivasan, Giles Clarke and Edwards are known to have discussed the possible breakaway at their most recent ICC meetings in Dubai earlier this month.

May 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

May 1–7, 2015

Plaxico Burress accused of failing to pay state taxes

ormer NFL star Plaxico Burress has been indicted on charges he failed to pay taxes, a prosecutor’s office announced Thursday. The 37-year-old former wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and New York Jets was charged last week with willful failure to pay a state tax and issuing a bad check or electronic funds transfer. Plaxico Burress is the first person in the state of New Jersey to be charged under a new law that makes issuing a bad electronic funds transfer a criminal offense. Nick Laham/Getty Images Burress is the first person in the state

to be charged under a law adopted and signed last year that makes issuing a bad electronic funds transfer a criminal offense just like passing a bad check. Each offense could carry up to a fiveyear prison term if he is convicted. Burress lives in Totowa. He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. It was also not clear if a lawyer is representing him. In a news release from the Mercer County prosecutor’s office, authorities said Burress filed his state income tax return for 2013 on Oct. 20, 2014, showing he owed nearly $48,000, the amount that would be due for someone with a taxable

income of about $550,000. Prosecutors said he submitted an electronic funds transfer, but it failed. Officials said the state Division of Taxation notified him of the problem in

multiple letters, one of which was sent certified and returned unclaimed, but officials never heard back from him. Authorities also said they notified Burress’ tax preparer. They say he also did not pay up after a criminal complaint was filed in February. Burress had a previous brush with the law. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to violating a New York weapons law after he accidentally shot himself in the thigh. He spent 20 months in prison. The wide receiver returned to the NFL after his release but has not played since 2012.

Marcus Mariota Is Projected To Be Better Than Jameis Winston

e’ve heard the debate for so long that its edges have nearly gone dull: Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota? Who should go first? If there were a formula for how to choose a No. 1 quarterback in the NFL draft, Tom Brady would have gone No. 1 overall and JaMarcus Russell would have been lucky to be selected 199th. This stuff is hard, especially when you consider the stakes. Missing on a first-round quarterback can set a franchise back for years. Because of the “boom or bust” nature of the position, selecting a quarterback, particularly in the first round, is riskier than selecting a player in any other position. What, then, to do about Winston versus Mariota this Thursday? Build a model, of course. This year, ESPN’s Production Analytics crew created a QB model to help teams reduce the risk of drafting the wrong quarterback. Like all models, this one had a few outliers, but it would have predicted that Andrew Luck would be the top QB in the last three draft classes, that Russell Wilson would be far better than his thirdround grade, and that first-rounders Brandon Weeden and EJ Manuel would be below-average quarterbacks — and of course that’s without using those years of data to fit the model.1 The model’s opinion on this year’s top two: Mariota — not Winston — is the top prospect. The goal of the model is to predict a player’s Total Quarterback Rating over his first four years in the league, which is generally the length of his rookie contract. The main inputs into the projections were a player’s college stats (adjusted for defenses faced),2 combine/physical measurements, scout grades and play-type frequencies in college. After determining which factors mattered most,3 the model projected a player’s NFL success in four categories — on passing plays, on running plays, how many sacks he’s likely to take, and how many penalties he’s likely to incur — over his first four seasons. These play-type projections and how often each play is expected to occur4 were combined to produce the QBR projections. Not surprisingly, scout grades5 were the most significant predictor of quarterback success. Scouts have the luxury of knowing things that aren’t completely captured in college stats, and they generally do a good job measuring a quarterback’s passing capabilities. Where the scouts fall short, however, is their evaluation of efficient rushing quarterbacks. The model found that players who were

effective rushers were generally undervalued by scouts. That does not mean that every player who runs for 1,000 yards in college will be a good NFL quarterback; rather, the quarterbacks who are efficient runners have an ability to extend drives that serves them well in the NFL. For example, Luck ran for 150 yards in his final college season but was one of the more effective college rushers, converting a first down on 39 percent of his rushes (excluding sacks). Once in the NFL, Luck has been one of the best scramblers in the league and was the most efficient rushing quarterback in 2013. The added rushing component is also a major reason that Wilson was projected to be one of the top quarterbacks in his class (47.3 projected QBR) but only the eighthbest quarterback by Scouts Inc. The model did not explicitly take into account the sexual assault allegation made against Winston or his off-field transgressions — although those were likely baked into the scout grades, which were a part of the model. Out of the 67 players evaluated in the 2012 to 2015 draft classes, Mariota was the most efficient rusher on a per-play basis. Excluding sacks, he averaged 9.8 yards per rush attempt in his college career and gained a first down on 41 percent of those plays. Winston, on the other hand, ranked 29th in per-play rushing efficiency and gained a first down on 24 percent of his carries. Mariota and Winston are each projected to be above-average quarterbacks in their first four years in the league, but they are far from the elite level that the model projected for Luck (79.2 projected QBR) when he came out of college. Their four-year projections are closer to the expectations for Robert Griffin III entering the 2012 draft. After Mariota and Winston, Brett Hundley is expected to be the third-best quarterback in the class, but there is a clear gap between the top two QBs and the rest of the prospects. Like Mariota, Hundley is athletic and ranks in the top 10 in per-play rushing. Other models look favorably upon Hundley, making many believe he could be the sleeper of the 2015 draft class. The rest of the 2015 QB class is expected to perform at the level of replacement level QBs.6 No one model can perfectly predict NFL quarterback success, but looking at what numbers have mattered in the past tells us that we will be lucky to have three players come out of this draft class who will have long-term NFL success.

A camp that could have been the first chance for a new USA squad to get together has been scrapped ahead of the ICC Americas Division One T20 tournament

USA’s preparatory tour to Jamaica cancelled

or the second ICC event in a row, a planned pre-tournament trip for the USA senior team has been called off. In February, the USA Cricket Association had announced that a 14-man squad would be picked and to travel to Jamaica for a four-day preparation camp from April 23 following the National Championship in Florida. The camp would have been the first chance for USA’s new squad to play together ahead of the ICC Americas Division One T20 tournament in Indianapolis from May 3. However, several team sources confirmed on Thursday night that the players were still in the USA and though USACA administrators had told them that “they were working on something” for the team, nothing had been organised. Team sources also confirmed that USACA still had not finalized travel arrangements for them to get to Indianapolis next week. The current situation is virtually a carbon copy of USACA’s build-up to ICC WCL Division Three in Malaysia last October. USACA had planned for a five-day camp in Jamaica prior to leaving for the tournament, but it was scrapped due to USACA’s poor financial situation. Plane tickets to get the players to New York for departure to Malaysia were purchased less than 48 hours before the squad left JFK airport and were only financed after USACA received funds from the ICC. The team wound up finishing fifth and was relegated to Division Four. Despite debts of $4.1 million on their

2013 tax filings, USACA had attempted to demonstrate that their finances were set to improve by announcing a new sponsorship agreement on March 14 with Overseas League Club (OLC), which according to its web site is a leisure facility located in Bangalore. Robin Singh, who has coached USA’s national teams on a contract basis since 2011, is listed as an OLC board member. A USACA press release on March 14 stated that the four-year sponsorship with OLC “goes a significant way to deploy large capital sums for the ongoing running of the competitive teams as well as supporting national recognized youth development programs through 2019.” USACA president Gladstone Dainty was also quoted as saying that the deal was a “vital way to stabilize funding issues that leagues and organizations in the US have to deal with on a day to day basis.” USA will be the only one of four sides to go into the four-team double round-robin tournament without playing any warmup matches. Canada will be touring Houston, Texas next week for three practice games against an invitational XI including several former West Indies and USA players. Bermuda toured Jamaica for three matches from April 13-16 while Suriname hosted an MCC touring side in March. ESPNcricinfo attempted to contact multiple USACA administrators regarding the state of the planned preparation for the ICC Americas T20 tournament but emails and phone calls were not returned.

May 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7, 2015

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