CAribbean Star #49 vol. 4 2015

Caribbean First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

July 3 – 9, 2015

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GUYANA

Vol.4 #49

REFUSED BAIL!!

GUYANA

EXXONMOBIL TO PUMP MORE RESOURCES IN OIL EXPLORATION – IN GUYANA

See Page 8 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

See Page 4

HEMA MALINI INJURED IN ROAD ACCIDENT IN JAIPUR, RUSHED TO HOSPITAL; ONE DEAD

TRINIDAD

BARTICA BUSINESSMAN CHARGED WITH $120M GOLD FRAUD

GUYANA PRESSING FOR SOLID CARICOM BACKING OVER CARACAS DECREE See Page 10

OUTSIDE MOSQUE See Page 29

TRINIDAD

CARIBBEAN NEWS

JACK WARNER HIRES TOP BRITISH LAWYER TO FIGHT HIS EXTRADITION

See Page 34

SPORT

CUBA IS FIRST COUNTRY TO END MOTHER-TO-CHILD HIV AND SYPHILIS TRANSMISSION

See Page 35

GUYANA, CHINA’S RELATION SET FOR FURTHER STRENGTHENING Chinese Ambassador pays courtesy call on PM V

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

3

After Cuba: The Only 3 Countries That Have No Relations With the U.S.

O

Why is one of them Bhutan?

n Wednesday, the United States and Cuba announced that they would reopen embassies in each other’s capitals, thus restoring diplomatic relations for the first time since 1961. The agreement doesn’t mean that Washington-Havana ties will go back to where they were before Fidel Castro’s revolution: Congress still maintains an economic embargo on the island, a policy that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. But the re-establishment of embassies, scheduled to occur on July 20, is nonetheless a major breakthrough in the long-acrimonious relationship between the two countries.

According to The New York Times, the overture to Cuba leaves just three countries with which the United States has no diplomatic relations. Two of these are easy enough to guess: Iran and North Korea.

Washington severed ties with Tehran in 1980, months after Iranian students seized the U.S. embassy there and took 52 Americans hostage. U.S. ties with North Korea, meanwhile, have been fraught throughout the latter country’s existence, and have only grown worse since Kim Jong Un assumed control of the country in 2011.

Bhutan is a country with which the U.S. has no real dispute or grievance—or really much history of any kind.

But the third country is one with which the United States has no real dispute or grievance—or really much history of any kind. It’s the South Asian kingdom of Bhutan.

Bhutan is a landlocked nation around the size of Switzerland that’s situated in the Himalayan mountains between India and China. Since joining the United Nations in 1971, the country has maintained a Swisslike aversion to foreign entanglements of any kind. The kingdom has no relations with any of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and only two states—Bangladesh and neighboring India—have embassies in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. Bhutan is so isolated that until 2007, it didn’t even conduct its own foreign policy—India took care of it for them.

In spite of its retreat from the rest of the world, Bhutan is not free of contentious relations. The kingdom has a long-running border dispute with China, which claims roughly 10 percent of Bhutanese territory as its own, and the Chinese government is eager to include Thimphu in its sphere of influence. So far, however, Bhutan has kept its distance: The country recently declined to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a Beijing-led rival to the World Bank.

Bhutan’s resistance to China has led some analysts to speculate that the United States should seize the opportunity to formalize relations with the kingdom, a newly consolidated democracy.

But Bhutan’s leaders just don’t see any reason to get closer to the United States. In 2011, Jigmi Yoser Thinley, Bhutan’s thenPrime Minister, told the Bhutanese News Agency that “there was a time when diplomatic relations signified one’s position visa-vis conflicting powers, choosing sides.

It’s no longer the case.”

The United States also appears to be sat-

isfied with the status quo. In January, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Tshering Tobgay, Bhutan’s prime minister, at a regional summit in Ahmedabad, India, the first-ever meeting between America’s top diplomat and a Bhutanese leader. The talks were apparently warm and productive, but “establishing diplomatic relationship was not a subject of the conversation,” said Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay.Rick Wilking / Reuters

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July 3 – 9, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper REFUSED BAIL!!

Bartica Businessman Charged With $120M Gold Fraud

A

Bartica businessman was charged with misappropriating $120 million given to him to purchase gold when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Eon Ferreira, 34, of Lot A-4 Second Avenue, Bartica was refused bail, after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan, on a charge of fraudulent conversion. Ferreira an employee who was attached to Mohamed’s Enterprise for over six years was charged for robbing the entity of over $120M. Mohammed Enterprise, located with headquarters on Lombard Street, is one of the largest gold dealers in the country.

Ferreira was not required to plead to the indictable charge against him which stated that between June 22 and 28, at Bartica, being solely entrusted

by Nazar Mohamed with $120 million, to purchase gold, he fraudently converted it to his own use and benefit.

His attorney made an appli-

Nazar Mohamed

Mohamed enterprise

cation for bail to be granted while noting that Ferreira has an unblemished record and is not a flight risk, but rather is ready to follow any conditions placed on him by the court.

Ferreira’s attorney explained that because of the nature of his job he would usually buy gold from small miners and apart from him denying the allegation, he would normally purchase raw gold from Mohamed from time to time, something which has been an ongoing arrangement for the past six years. It was further explained, that what had transpired was that recently the price of gold dropped and Mohamed was using the accused as a scapegoat for the

difference between the fixed and fluctuated price.

The defence attorney also noted that while his client was arrested at the Bartica Police Station, he had in his possession $67 million which was taken away from him by Mohamed and he was also threatened. Ferreira, according to his attorney, has been in custody since Sunday and has not yet made any statements.

He concluded that the allegation was wholly malicious and was just an attempt to abuse Ferreira.

Meanwhile, the matter was prosecuted by attorney Latchmie Rahamat who was granted permission by the Director of Public Prosecu-

tions (DPP). Rahamat objected to bail based on the nature, gravity and seriousness of the offence and also the quantum of money involved.

She explained that when Mohamed went to collect the gold from Ferreira he was unable to supply it. A report was made to the police and Ferreira was subsequently invited to visit the station but he refused to do so. Rather police officers had to visit his business place and arrest him. Rahamat also said that while he was being investigated for this matter another person showed up at the police station and complained that Ferreira took over $60 million from him and never returned it.

She concluded that the prosecution feared that not only would the defendant tamper with the prosecution witnesses if granted bail but he was known to be a flight risk.

As a result the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for July 3.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

5

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

Guyana, China’s relation set for further strengthening - Chinese Ambassador pays courtesy call on PM

C

HINESE Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at his temporary office at the Ministry of the Presidency, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, to congratulate him on his new post, as well as to discuss issues which will further strengthen the two countries’ bilateral relations.During this meeting the two officials discussed a number of areas of mutual interest that could see possible collaboration between the two countries.

Continuation and expansion of marketing Guyanese products in China was also discussed.

According to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, the meeting was a very good one and which has further bolstered the bilateral relationship shared between the two countries.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin engaged in discussions during the courtesy call Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin engaged in discussions during the courtesy call He also alluded to the fact that Guyana and China are “very old friends” and yesterday’s courtesy call was “a very cordial visit in which we exchanged our views on a number of matters including how to strengthen our bilateral relations.”

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin presenting a copy of the work done

by China’s President Xi Jinping to Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo (Adrian Narine photo)

Another focus area which derived from this conversation was an improved investment climate for Chinese investors in Guyana.

Meanwhile Ambassador Limin, through his translator, echoed the same sentiments as the Prime Minister with regards to the relationship shared by the two countries.

He said, “China and Guyana (have) enjoyed very good relations for a long time.”

He added that although the new Government has only taken up office for approximately two months, they “have demonstrated a willingness to develop and further

strengthen China and Guyana’s friendly relations…China also gives great importance to developing relations with Guyana…we have been conducting close cooperation in their international affairs as well.”

In closing, the Ambassador also committed China’s continued support to Guyana, as it has done over the years. He noted that he has seen a broader opportunity for cooperation and a brighter future ahead for the continuation of this partnership.

The Ambassador also used the opportunity to gift Prime Minister Nagamootoo with a collection of work done by China’s

President, Xi Jinping.

The Chinese Ambassador also recently paid a courtesy call on the Public Security Minister, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan during which discussions were held on numerous areas of collaboration for the security sector primarily in the area of capacity building. Guyana is to receive security equipment valued US$4M from China.

In 1972, Guyana was the first English-speaking Caribbean country to recognise the People’s Republic of China, and after more than 42 years of friendship and cooperation, the bilateral relationship shared between these two countries continues to flourish.

In 1966, when Guyana gained Independence, steps were taken to promote ties between the two nations. In 1972, a time when the United States was leading global efforts to resist recognition of the Chinese people at the United Nations, Guyana risked itself as the first English-speaking Caribbean country to recognise and support the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and thus establishing formal diplomatic relations.

The relationship between the two countries has been steadily heightening.

Guyana has thus far benefited from several areas of assistance from the Chinese in the investment, infrastructure, health, river transport and security among many others.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

7

Hinduism: A pathway to tolerance and acceptance to all I was asked to pen an article about Hinduism for this week’s paper. After much thought and discussion, I decided that as oppose to writing about Hinduism as a religion, I would focus on tolerance, spirituality and respect for each another; because these are qualities that are prevalent in any religion.

M

y name is Tandi Singh and I am a Hindu, but more than that I am a spiritual individual. I don’t think it matters what name you call “God” but, more importantly, that you believe that there is a higher power. I believe in treating people how I want to be treated, be fair to all irrespective of religious conviction.

It is imperative to understand each other points of view. These days we see in the news, and through social media how religion and its interpretation has been the cause of discontent within the world, and even within families. I was raised in a home where we practice the “religion” of Hinduism, but more so we were taught to practice love and respect and to tolerate one another. We are all different, with differing strengths, weaknesses and points of view, which are all valid.

In the UK, we are taught in schools the tolerance of all religions at a young age. I remember celebrating, Diwali, Eid and, of course being in a Christian country, we celebrated Easter and Christmas. During these celebrations, the entire school takes part and if need be, dresses in the attire. I remember my primary school teachers wearing saris during the Diwali celebrations. This is a good thing, it helps frame us into adults, who are able to understand and respect all people from all walks of life. However, at the end of the day, we knew that we were Hindu girls and got up and prayed each morning at the altar, in our home. We fasted on the day Mum told us we had to, and understood

why that was the case.

It is important to have a “religion” whether it’s an organized one or not.

More importantly it is valuable to be spiritual. To respect one another, to love one another, to treat people how we want to be treated. I don’t think that it has anything to do with religion or what domination you confirm to. It is being Human. Yes, it’s important to have a “relationship” so to speak, with God. However, we live in a world where lots of religions are practiced. I have listened to our Hindu religious leaders speak poorly or negatively about other religions. I disagree. I think hate is born of ignorance. I think that this is exactly what causes bitterness. So, I have made it my duty to understand a little about many religions and cultures. Furthermore, I have taught my son to also be understanding, and unbiased of other religions.

These days we hear such animosity and hostility in the media about “hate crimes” and race crimes. In my humble opinion, if we teach the younger generation that acceptance regardless of religion, race or social stance we will be raising a generation that looks at a person and not at their religious observance or skin color. Our own Hindu scriptures teaches us this, if that’s how you wish to interpret it?

I have never heard a reading that denounces another religion or person; it baffles me why people interpret it that way. Again, Hinduism is a religion which gives us the “seed” so to speak and allows us to formulate our own

ideologies. Which is one thing I find so incredible about my religion. I am able to take the “Parbs” and relate it to my daily life.

When I moved here from London, I had no clue what a Hasidic Jew was.

I landed a job at NYU law school and my coworker was a Hasidic Jewish woman from Russia. If you have ever been to NYU Law School, you will find the majority of the student base is of the Jewish persuasion. This is the respect I speak of. Part of my job was to organize events, and so I had to learn very quickly the rules of Kosher and make myself scarce when the events involving Rabbis were in flow. Tolerance of another’s believes is vital to function in the day to day operations of such a diverse place. It did not alter my own beliefs. I know who I am and I know where I come from and I know what I believe. So, for me, it’s easy to adapt to the needs of another religion.

As a mother, I do what my parents did (and I begrudgingly went along with it as a child, my child is more open to the idea). I bring my son to Mandir so he can learn what our scriptures teach, so he can sing and repeat the mantras. He will learn more than I can give him, but more than that he will learn how to behave in a group environment, he will understand congressional worship and the pros and cos that go along with it, he will learn how to be accepted (or not) and how to process those feelings. So, it’s through a religious organization - yes, but so many more

skills are open to him by attending a place of worship. I bring him so he has a place he can belong, and he can identify with a Mandir and the youth group. So he can say “I am a member of…..” This gives him an identity. I think it’s important for the children to have a place to connect with. It drives a commonalty a comradery and as they grow into adults they can formulate their own opinions and their own thoughts as I did on “religion”.

Nothing says we have to believe what we are old to believe. We grow and think differently. We are able to say “well, yes, I believe this is true based on XYZ” and similarly we can say no we don’t believe and are able to defend that thought. Our religion has “denominations” also. We are Hindus as an umbrella term yes, but we have different beliefs that come along with that. I have relatives that are of the Aryan persuasion, some friends who are of the Swami Narayan persuasion, some who are Jains and of course I am of the Sanatan Dharma persuasion. Religion like anything else, involves acceptance of one’s beliefs and open-mindedness of those who interpret it in a way that perhaps, you don’t. I have a very open mind to my religion and its teachings, and I am not always in total agreeance with some of the “lessons”, I think a lot of it is relatable to everyday life.

I have no problem with the way our religion focuses on respect for elders and respect for parents. I also think that respect is earned in many ways.

For example: Hinduism strongly emphasis the respect for parents and “giving” them right no matter what.

However, if you are a child whose parent is absent (by choice), who has better things to with his/her time than help to shape you, support you, then in my opinion it is perfectly fine to simply accept that is how it is. There is no need to force someone to be a part of your life. If they have chosen to not accept their position in your child hood, then it’s perfectly fine to simply let it be. We have all been taught that it’s imperative to respect our elders, or parents but it must be a two way street. Parents must respect the children. Similarly, parents should be someone their children WANT to respect.

Overall, I believe that Hinduism teaches us some very strong ethics and valuable lessons. However, it’s all about interpretation. The teachings are essentially a technique to allow us to use the lessons and implement it into our lives. Jai Ho.

8

July 3 – 9, 2015

Coalition is not falling apart - it is as strong as ever, says Minister Harmon

M

INISTER of State, Mr Joseph Harmon, has emphatically put to rest any idea circulating that suggests the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition is being self-subverted.In referring to ‘ridiculous statements in some sections of the press,’ the Minister declared quite boldly that on the contrary, “the Coalition is not falling apart, but is working quite cohesively.”

From the inception, when the coalition was launched in February 2015, it was attacked by many, or at least held in suspicion. APNU and AFC, on the launching, had also signed the Cummingsburg Accord. At its core, the Cummingsburg Accord strongly suggests that there must be a sharing of political power and responsibility, as the Agreement provides for some amount of Executive authority to be delegated to the Prime Minister, and it is this which is being used by opposers of the Government to suggest that the union is now suffering from some form of schism and that the Prime Minister is being slighted.

However, according to Minister Harmon, there is no rift and “at the Chairing of Cabinet, there is no issue, because Cabinet is chaired by the President, and upon direction from him, parts are Chaired by the PM.” The Minister alluded to the Tuesday,

June 30 Cabinet session, when “in fact, half of the meeting was chaired by the Honourable PM, and the other half, by the President.”

He also added the all-important detail that, “all decisions made under that particular person, chairing a session, that those decisions stand right across board, and so no one is seeking to subvert another.”

Mr Harmon even hinted at the gathering momentum of the coalition, saying that a forum on coalition building, to strengthen the merger of the APNU and AFC, will take place later in July.

Recently, people queried what was happening with the APNU+AFC bond, but Prime Minister Nagamootoo had offered the explanation that he “is more or less a partner of the President. We consult on a number of issues…I believe that I occupy a very strategic role in the administration of the country.” Prime Minister Nagamootoo is currently acting President of Guyana, in the absence of President Granger who is in Barbados attending the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting.

Caribbean Star Newspaper ExxonMobil to pump more resources in oil exploration - in Guyana

T

HE United States multi-national oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil has expressed confidence in exploration activities in Guyana and therefore will be deploying further resources in this regard. This is according to Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon. Minister Harmon, addressing his weekly post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, informed that Cabinet was briefed of a visit, during this week, of three of ExxonMobil’s Executives to Guyana. The team included the President of Exploration Steven M. Greenlee, Executive Vice-President Exploration Mike Husten and Vice President, America, Erik Oswalk.

Harmon explained that Cabinet, during the visit of these executives, reaffirmed its commitment to the exploration work being done offshore in Guyana’s waters.

The oil and gas exploration began in Guyana around mid-March, this year, drilling offshore in the Stabroek Block.

Just two months later, on May 20, the company announced that its engagement in Guyana was proving successful, as its exploration drill ship, the Deepwater Champion, had found a deposit of a ‘significant’ amount of oil in the

The Guyanese team led by President David Granger, meeting with ExxonMobil’s top officials on June 29, 2015 Stabroek Block, about 120 nautical miles offshore Guyana. This discovery was made in one of the two wells it dug, in the Liza-1 drill site and which realised more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone.

The petroleum find by the U.S. firm ExxonMobil is being estimated to be as many as 1.5 billion barrels of oil.

Since the announcement by ExxonMobil of its find, the Venezuelan Government has laid claim to Guyana’s territory. Through a Presidential decree it laid claim to Essequibo. The country had also sent notices to ExxonMobil to refrain from exploring for oil in the area claimed by the neighbouring country.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

D Officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force and other police units recovered a quantity of (kush) high grade marijuana, a scope for a high powered weapon, a firearm and several rounds of ammunition.

P

Guns and drugs found in Morvant

OLICE seized some $40,000 in marijuana and a machine gun and ammunition in an anti-crime exercise in North Trinidad on Tuesday.

According to police, between the hours of 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. members of the North Eastern Division Task Force (NEDTF) conducted an exercise in the Mon Repos, Valley Drive and Romain Lands, Morvant.

The exercise was spearheaded by Sargeant by Taylor and and coordinated

by Corporal Small and constable Antoine, and included constables Duncan, Voisin, Mootoor, Highly, Marshall and Moore,

officers of the Morvant C.I.D, Hot Spot & Traffic Staff. The police team received information and searched several houses. In an abandoned house in Mon Repos, Morvant, police allegedly discovered a Commando Mark 3 machine gun with a magazine, and 27 rounds of .45 ammunition.

In Valley Drive, Morvant, police recovered a scope fior a high powered weapon, 190 grammes of kush (a high grade strand of marijuana) with a street value of $10,000 and destroyed 1,000 seedlings valued $30,000.

PC Ceballo is continuing enquiries.

9

Kublalsingh is eating again

r Wayne Kublalsingh, who claimed to have eaten nothing for 288 days, said yesterday he had a meal which consisted of a puree of ground provisions and vegetables.

With that, Kublalsingh said his partial hunger strike against the State ended yesterday.

He told the Express via telephone: "I lay on the bed this morning till about seven.

I just lying there not thinking about anything and then I went out to the (mango) tree, did my two hour meditation and then some Presbyterian gentlemen came and said some prayers and then my mother made something fo9r me which I can't really figure out what it was, it didn't really have any taste."

He said he asked his mother what it was and she said it was a puree made with yam, sweet potatoes, carrots and other ingredients Kublalsingh is staying at his parents’ home in Claxton Bay. The environmentalist and activist who ended his second hunger strike said he had problems eating after the 21 day fast from the first hunger strike in 2012.

He said this time around, he does not expect that many physical problems since he has been having liquids, mainly water and coconut water and an occasional cup

Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM) leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh interacts with security personnel at a construction site for the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin on tuesday. The HRM has its camp set up next to the site at Gopie Trace, Debe. of dhall.

And Kublalsingh said he was very anxious to begin fighting again for the people of Debe and Mon Desir to retain their land instead of making way for the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin.

On Tuesday, he met with the HRM at their camp site, Gopie Trace, Debe.

He said: "I will be meeting with my colleagues at the HRM to decide what to do but we will certainly try to meet with the opposition political leaders to find out what is their position on the matter."

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July 3 – 9, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Guyana pressing for solid Caricom backing over Caracas decree

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mid signs that Venezuela is trying to limit condemnation from Caricom on its May maritime decree that targeted huge swathes of Guyana’s Atlantic waters, President David Granger and Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge yesterday ramped up pressure on the regional body to take a strong stance while pointing out the threat to the wider community.

Caricom Heads will begin their annual conference today in Barbados amid reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be flying in to address leaders on various matters including the controversial maritime decree that has soured relations between Georgetown and Caracas and led to calls from the administration here for a judicial settlement of the longstanding controversy with its western neighbour.

Guyana’s diplomatic offensive in the wake of the May 26th decree from Caracas has attracted support from the Commonwealth whose Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma in a visit here this week said “The Commonwealth stands as one and speaks with one voice in our commitment to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are an association of 53 member states worldwide accounting for one quarter of the United Nations membership.

Commonwealth member governments, individually and collectively, are also committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and to the rule of law.”

In a statement yesterday prior to his departure for Barbados, Granger, who will be attending his first Caricom Heads summit, said that Guyana remained committed to improving relations with Venezuela but is equally steadfast in its stand against the “several illegal and increasingly militant actions of Venezuela directed against Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

“Guyana reasserts that its lawful boundaries that were established 116 years ago are not negotiable. Violation of them on land or at sea is an assault on the tenets of Caricom and must be condemned as such”.

He ended by saying that this would be Guyana’s message to all at the Heads of Government Conference. This would be seen as a diplomatic appeal for maximum support following years of concerns that Venezuelan largesse to Caricom countries which are members of its alternative political and economic grouping, ALBA, might dilute support for Guyana on the key issue of territorial integrity.

Granger’s statement was followed by one from Greenidge who emphatically spelt out the

threat to the rest of Caricom from the Venezuelan maritime decree.

“Our analysis and those of the friendly bilaterals with which we have consulted in the last three weeks point to the fact that the 1787 decree promulgated by Venezuela, apart from being illegal in international law, seeks to appropriate for Venezuela marine spaces and related resources which currently constitute and are accepted as part of the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of every state in the Eastern Caribbean ranging from St Kitts and Nevis to Grenada as well as Suriname. It also affects states to the west and in that regard the Govern-ment of Colombia, like that of Guyana has lodged its objection. We will draw this to the attention of the Heads of the Caricom States. Obviously, it is for those Heads to take appropriate action, whatever the state of their current bilateral relations with Venezuela. Bilateral relations can only continue if you are a state!”

He added “In a matter as fundamental as this, silence is not an option if we are to remain independent, let alone as viable states.

We have to stoutly and unapologetically represent our interests and pursue fairness in the international arena.”

Greenidge, in responding to a recent report that a Venezuela Government spokesman had said there was nothing to be concerned about in relation to the decree, stated that “a law calling on a Navy to enforce a security zone and to exclude other states from it is no laughing matter, neither can it be an error if after six weeks it is still in force. No subsequent amendment has ameliorated to any degree the coercion behind the decree. As of today, it still re-

quires the Venezuelan forces to exclude us as a matter of duty and an obligation from those areas internationally recognised as ours.”

At his press conference yesterday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that Venezuela’s maritime decree is a threat to all of Caricom and added that Granger and his delegation will use the three-day meeting to emphasize this as part its case to woo more support for Guyana.

Granger and the delegation which includes Ambassador Keith George, who is an expert on the Venezuelan issue, the acting director general of the ministry and the head of the frontier division of the ministry, left Guyana yesterday for Barbados.

Harmon told reporters that government has been in preparation mode for the past week, compiling material to present to the regional heads with the hope that Guyana will gain major support from Caricom on this issue.

He stressed that government has been working hard to prepare a compendium of articles on the Venezuela issue. He said that when the president speaks on the matter during the meeting, a book written over the past days will be presented. He stressed that over the last week the administration “has been working tirelessly to ensure that our case is well made, that every individual will have access to our case as presented

by Brigadier Granger when he speaks”.

Harmon said that the president will use the book which will be circulated to all heads of government as the basis for his argument that Venezuela’s claim “is unjust. That our claim is valid and that our claim is meant to be supported by all Caricom states”.

He said that Granger’s remarks will be centred on the fact that the Caribbean must be a zone of peace and therefore a threat by Venezuela to Guyana “is about a threat to all of Caricom”. He said that based on the position the country takes and the individual meetings the president will be having with the various heads of states and other officials, a statement from Caricom in support of Guyana is expected.

He said that the government sees the recent statement from the Commonwealth as positive.

On May 26th, Maduro issued the Decree purporting to annex maritime zones belonging to Guyana. The Decree was gazetted in Venezuela on May 27th. Georgetown has said that the Decree was a “baseless and shameless” bid to usurp Guyana’s territory and a “flagrant violation” of international law. Greenidge has told Parliament that a definitive solution must be found and signalled that the government would be moving for a juridical settlement of the border controversy.

Meanwhile, asked how concerned the government is about the impact Venezuela’s concessional oil initiative PetroCaribe may have on regional solidarity in relation to the border controversy, Harmon noted “we trust that the presentation which we make will be enough to persuade the member countries but PetroCaribe is a very powerful instrument…We believe and we are going to be pushing for harmonizing of foreign policy in Caricom because we think that there are so many issues on the international stage that require the harmonization of policies, this is something we believe is important and necessary and that while the Venezu-

elan situation is one matter at issue there are several matters that are looming large internationally that will require a consistent and coordinated foreign policy approach by the region”.

Harmon also informed that Finance Minister Winston Jordan is representing Guyana at the PetroCaribe summit in Caracas.

He said that it is public knowledge that Venezuela has agreed to an extension of that facility.

With regards to the rice barter arrangement, he said that there is no word on that. “That was not meant to be the central focus of the meeting. My understanding was that would have been raised as a tangential issue. But the central issue to be dealt with had to do with the PetroCaribe fund and Venezuela’s intention to continue to fund that”.

Late last month Maduro was to address his country’s Parliament on its new claims to Guyana’s maritime territory. However this has been rescheduled twice.

Asked about this yesterday Harmon said that he would not want to speculate as to why Maduro cancelled the statements he was supposed to make. “I just hope that it signals a sort of a lessening of the type of serious rhetoric coming out of Venezuela so that we can try to resolve our matters in a more friendly manner utilizing the mechanisms provided for at law and the mechanisms provided under the United Nations charter.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is also to be present at the Caricom summit in Barbados. He presides over the UN Good Officer process that is meant to mediate the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

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July 3 – 9, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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July 3 – 9, 2015 13 Caribbean Star Newspaper Three ministries identified in million Surinam Airways to make non-stop inaugural flight to Orlando, Florida dollar fuel scam

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overnment is probing the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Natural Resources as it tries to recover more than GUY$1 million dollars in “free fuel,” reportedly drawn by former government personnel or associates of the previous administration. This was stated by Joseph Harmon, Minister of State, when he held Cabinet’s weekly press conference Wednesday July 1, at the Ministry of the Presidency. Harmon told media operatives that given the probe into the “free fuel” scandal, the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) has supported this move to highlight a number of what he said were, “conflict of interest” matters apart from former government personnel drawing state fuel without paying. Harmon said that it was so far discovered that non- governmental vehicles had been drawing free fuel from GuyOil and charging the bill to the three ministries. “These were vehicles collecting fuel that were not owned by the State. So it is the owners of these vehicles that we are going to be dealing with because the bill went to the ministries to be paid.”

The Minister had highlighted last week the abuse of the Guyoil credit facility ex-

tended to state agencies; disclosing that former government personnel and their relatives have been abusing the system.

He stated that those persons guilty would have to pay for the fuel or face the consequences. Wednesday, Harmon said that government has identified some five vehicles and the names of individuals who were not employed by the ministries. He said together, there is an outstanding bill of over GUY$200,000 to be paid for each vehicle. He said too that, “There were vehicles that were actually drawing 20 gallons a day; drawing gasoline in containers.”

Apart from Guyoil, Harmon noted persons working in government had been siphoning off fuel from private gas stations.

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UYANESE can now fly from Georgetown direct to Orlando, Florida, compliments of Surinam Airways. The Airline is scheduled to make its inaugural non-stop flight to the U.S. city today (July 2) from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).The Orlando bound flight should depart CJIA at 10:30 hrs this morning and return at 18:00 hrs tomorrow. It will operate once weekly for three months, after which an evaluation of the operation will be done to ascertain the way forward, the Airline’s Local Manager Rudi Westerdorg said.

Currently, Surinam Airways offers two nonstop flights – from Georgetown to Miami – twice weekly since the airline resumed operations on April 2, 2012.

The airline’s official is buoyant of the success of the new route since feasibility studies signal Guyanese travelers are desirous of visiting the U.S. city at an affordable price.

“We work closely with travel agents, so we have an idea of the travelers’ needs,” said Rudi Westerdorg.

Great news for aviation sector Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson, said the introduction of the new route is great and exciting news.

“This initiative is a clear indication of the confidence Surinam Airways has in

the volume of passengers’ traffic in Guyana, and by extension our aviation sector,” he commented.

Minister Patterson also stated the he was impressed with CJIA’s management strategy to attract other airlines to ply the GEO route.

He noted that Guyana is truly the gateway to many other countries, and its potential in the aviation sector is boundless.

To this end, he intends to actively engage CJIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Ghir, on the untapped opportunities available to explore.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

ISLAM

Peace / submission to the will of our creator

Fitra - Sadaqatul Fitr Fitr means to break fast or to refrain from fasting. Hence the Eid after the fasts of Ramadhân is called Eid ul Fitr, as it is the day of rejoicing after the completion of fasting.

On this occasion of happiness, as a sign of gratitude one has to give a specific amount in alms, which is called Sad’qatul Fitr. To purify and obtain complete blessings for the fasts of Ramadhân Mubârak one has to give Sadaqatul Fitr.

It is reported from Hazrat Ibn Abbâs Radiallâhu anhu that Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam made charity of Fitr compul¬sory as a purification of fasts from useless talks and vile discourses and also as food to the poor (Abû Dawûd).

Thus it is wâjib to give Sadaqatul Fitr to purify one’s fast. The true object in giving Sadqatul-fitr on this happy, occasion is also to assist the poor and needy, so that, they may rejoice with the more fortunate.

In a narration of Tirmidhi, it is reported that Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam sent a proclaimer through the lanes of Makkah to proclaim.

“Beware charity of Fitr is wâjib on every Muslim, male or female, free or slave, young or old two muuds [measures] of wheat, or its equivalent, or one Sa’a from food crops”.

It is apparent from this Hadîth that Sadaqatul Fitr is wâjib on every Muslim.

A person should pay Sad’qatul - Fitr on behalf of his family if they own no wealth.

It is wâjib to pay Sadaqatul Fitr whether one fasts or not.

The time of Sadqa becomes wâjib on the day of Eid when the dawn breaks. If a person dies before Subh Sadiq [dawn], no sadaqatul fitr will be paid from his wealth, but if a child is born before dawn, it shall be paid on behalf of that child. It is permissible to pay Sadaqatul Fitr during the month of Ramadhân, though it is advisable to pay on the day of Eid before the Eid Salâh. It will remain due to him whatever time has passed.

To distribute a specific amount of money, barley, dates etc, on the day of Eid ul Fitr is wâjib. This giving of alms to the poor and needy on this auspicious day is called Sadaqatul Fitr. Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam instructed the giving of Sadaqatul Fitr, in the same year fasting [Roza] of Ramadhân was made compulsory. This was in the second year after Hijrah.

The reasons for giving Sadaqah tul Fitr are: (1) To give Sadaqatul Fitr in lieu of the acceptance of one’s fasting.

(2) To thank Allâh Ta’âla, for bestowing on us the strength to fast during the month of Ramadhân.

(3) To purify one’s fast and obtain the complete blessings of fasting.

(4) To celebrate the completion of fasting.

(5) To demonstrate greatness of the day of Eid. (6) To assists the poor in joining the atmosphere of Eid. Sadaqatul fitr is compulsory charity which becomes payable on the occasion of Eidul-Fitr.

RULES OF SADAQATUL FITR Sadaqatul Fitr (or fitrah) is wâjib [compulsory] upon all Muslims male, female and children who on the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr are owners of the Nisâb of Zakâh.

Fitrah becomes wâjib when the Day of Fitr dawns with the commence¬ment of Fajr time. Therefore, if someone died before entry of Fajr on the Day of Eid, fitrah will not be paid out of his (the deceased’s) estate, since this fitrah is not wâjib on him.

And, if a child is born before the rising of Fajr, fitrah will be paid on his behalf. If the child is born after the entry of Fajr (on the Day of Eid) fitrah is not wâjib on his behalf.

Ramadhân. The fitrah could be paid even before Ramadhân.

Sadaqatul Fitr is wâjib upon all those who fasted as well as those who did not fast for some reason or other.

The fitrah can only be paid to “the poor” those who are entitled to accept Zakâh.

Fitrah cannot be utilized for any charitable purpose other than the poor. Therefore, if fitrah monies are accumulated and then spent on some other charitable cause, the fitrah obligation of the fitrah payers will not be discharged.

Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “The fast remains suspended between Heaven and Earth until the fitrah is paid.”

It is not obligatory upon the husband to pay fitrah on behalf of his wife. If she is the owner of Nisâb, she shall have to pay her own fitrah.

This Hadîth of Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam illustrates the importance of the fitrah and its direct bearing on the acceptance of our Saum [Fasting].

The Fast is only presented for acceptance

by Allâh Ta’âla when the obligation of fitrah is correctly discharged. The Muslim public should therefore be very scrupulous when effecting payment of the fitrah. If the fitrah is misused or wrongly distributed by the representatives of the public, the public will still be responsible for its (Fitrah’s) fulfilment.

If a minor is the owner of wealth to the amount of Nisâb, then payment of fitrah on behalf of the minor could be made from out of his (minor’s) wealth.

Please consult your local Scholars / Imam for the exact cash equivalent of both the Nisaab and Sadaqatul Fitr.

The fitrah should preferably be paid before the Eid Salâh.

10 Advices for progress in Ramadhaan

The father has to pay the fitrah on behalf of his under age children, i.e. those who have not attained the age of puberty.

It is not permissible to delay the payment of fitrah later than the Day of Eid. However, if it was not paid on the Day of Eid or before, the obligation remains and the fitrah will have to be paid.

It is permissible to pay the fitrah in advance at any time during the month of

1. Constantly ask Allah for ability (tawfeeq) to benefit from the blessings of Ramadan daily. This should begin in earnest.

2. Make a firm determination to abstain from all forms of sin and vice and to avoid frequenting places where sin is committed. Special care should be

taken to abstain from the vices of the eyes, ears and tongue as these are the tributaries to the heart and mind.

3. Try to lessen ones mundane engagements and free one’s time for solitude, prayers and company of the pious Ulama.

4. Make a point of dedicating some time of the day or night to sit in the company of pious Ulama and seek their advices and counsel.

5. Utilize the auspicious month of Ramaadan to build and imbibe the Sunnah lifestyle. Memorize and recite the masnoon duas for particular occasions with regularity.

6. Use and manage ones time in a careful manner. Emancipate oneself from frivolities, futile discussions and activities and occupy oneself in the service of others and in seeking Islamic knowledge.

7. Start reading books and articles on the Ramadaan of our pious Ulama and seniors. In this there is ample motivation.

8. Become cognizant of the actions of the heart. Do everything with a clear intention and purpose.

9. Rid oneself from the harmful traits of anger, arrogance, vulgar speech, hatred and ill feelings for others. Develop patience, humility, gratitude and sincerity.

10. Adopt a practical timetable for one’s activities and remain steadfast upon it.

If these brief guidelines are adopted with zeal and sincerity there is great hope that Allah will bestow one with the true rewards of Ramadaan and facilitate a bond with His servant for life.

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

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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July 3 – 9, 2015

Guyanese girl, Tobago’s best in SEA

uyanese national, 12-year-old Debra Amata, is celebrating her success as the first place student in Tobago in this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment Examination (SEA).

Debra, a student of Signal Hill Government Primary School, emerged ahead of the 836 students who wrote the exam in Tobago.

She is the last of three children of Andrew and Vivienne Amata, medical doctors employed by the Tobago Regional

Health Authority.

Upon receipt of the news, Debra who has been placed at Bishop’s High School, Scarborough, was overwhelmed. She told Newsday that “preparation is the key to success”.

“I prayed, I went to sleep early, I made sure I had a good breakfast, I studied, for me those were the key elements that have brought me to this point, not forgetting the guidance of my parents and teachers,” the top achiever said.

Debra’s parents were overjoyed by her success.

“I don’t believe it. I mean I know she could do it, she is very bright and it’s…

I’m out of words. She worked hard, she studied, she used the Internet a lot so she went beyond the text-book and she’s very dedicated and well disciplined. I just have to give apart from thanks to God, her teachers, Miss Roberts and Miss Kerr, I have never seen such dedicated teachers, they are absolutely amazing,”

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said her proud mother, Vivienne.

Vivienne had advice for parents of children preparing for such exams which are often stressful for many.

“Let the children have fun and enjoy themselves, yes they are still children and this is just the foundation,” she said.

Debra’s father told Newsday he was impressed by her accomplishment.

“I’m very excited, I’m ecstatic actually. I’ve always been impressed with her because she is hard working, very intelligent and an all-rounder. I encourage all parents to support their children and give them words of encouragement, let them follow and obey their teachers,” Andrew said.

The Amatas are originally from Guyana and only moved to Tobago one year ago.

Also celebrating SEA success are Shane Telesford, of St Nicholas Private Primary School, Tobago’s second place winner, J’da Nicome, of Scarborough RC Primary School, is Tobago’s third best SEA performer.

Scarborough RC had five students among Tobago’s top ten as they also copped the sixth, seventh, eighth and tenth spots. Belle Garden Primary School, last year’s best performing school, copped the fifth place, while Hope Anglican took the ninth spot.

Cocaine trafficking Swedish woman repatriated

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25-year-old Swiss national jailed in Trinidad for drug trafficking has been repatriated to her home country to serve out her sentence.

Tabita Dietrich was convicted in August 2013 for the possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and was sentenced to three years of hard labour.

She was repatriated on Monday under the authority of a ?Transfer of Prisoner? warrant and will now serve the remainder of her sentence in Switzerland.

Dietrich was handed over by prison officers to local Interpol officers Cpl Dirk John and PC Sham Sinanan, at Piarco International Airport.

The Interpol officers then handed her over to Swiss officials who had arrived in Trinidad last week to facilitate the repatriation, a media release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service stated yesterday.

The Swiss officials and Dietrich departed Piarco around 1:15 p.m.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

Cabinet votes to respect CCJ ruling, pay off $2B Court Judgments …PPP/C administration was guilty of contempt, imposing discriminatory tax

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OVERNMENT has decided to pay off almost $2B in liabilities stemming from Court Judgments awarded against the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).The Judgments made against the then PPP/C Government, arises from its failure to adhere to a previous CCJ ruling, leading to a case of contempt being acted on in favour of Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL).

The Guyana Government was asked to fork over more than US$2M in compensation to the Trinidadian company.

The then Guyana Government was also found to be guilty of imposing a discriminatory tax which was found to be in breach of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramus, to

which Guyana is a signatory.

THRILL IMPORTER Surinamese based importer of ‘Thrill Drinks’ Rudisa Beverages and Juices NV, had taken the then Guyana Government to court over the tax imposed that caused the company to pay $10 on each bottle of beverage it imported into the country.

The CCJ ordered the Guyana Government to pay the Surinamese Company some $6.5M in compensation.

Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon, yesterday made the disclosure following Cabinet’s meeting the previous day.

He explained that Cabinet decided to pay the debt that the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government inher-

ited from the PPP/C administration since Guyana has signed on to the CCJ as its final judicial arbitrator.

According to Harmon, the accord that binds Guyana to the CCJ must be respected. He affirmed that the Court has made a ruling against the Guyana Government, and since the CCJ represents the highest level of appeal in the jurisdiction, the ruling of the court must be respected.

The matter of the court judgments against the then PPP/C Government became a renewed subject of topical interest after Attorney General, Mr Basil Williams, recently called on his predecessor to explain why the judgments were still to be paid.

Minister Harmon told members of the

media yesterday during his post Cabinet press engagement that the Council of Ministers had been briefed by the Subject Minister on the outstanding judgments.

LAW ABIDING COUNTRY Minister Harmon said Cabinet was told Guyana continues to be in default of the CCJ rulings.

According to the Minister of State, “Cabinet made it clear that as a law abiding country where the rule of law will reign supreme, that judgments of court have to be respected unless they are vacated.”

As such, Minister Harmon reported that Cabinet has since taken the position that Judgments awarded to TCL in the sum of TT$2.6M will be respected.

He used the opportunity to reiterate that the judgment was incurred because of contempt for the court.

Rudisa Beverages was awarded US$6.5M and, according to Minister Harmon, “these sums of money are due to be paid to the companies and Cabinet has taken the position that they will honour these commitments.”

He did seek to explain that “in the spirit of our accepting this responsibility Cabinet has advised the Honourable Minister of Legal Affairs (Basil Williams) to seek to enter into negotiations with these companies.”

The Minister explained that the APNU+AFC Government is looking to have the companies accept a smaller compensation package than that which was awarded by the CCJ and for which the PPP/C administration had failed to honour.

CLEAR THE AIR Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has in recent time stated publicly that it was the APNU+AFC duo, during the course of the life of the 10th Parliament which blocked attempts at remedying the law for which the CCJ found to be discriminatory.

Minister of State Harmon however, yesterday sought to clear the air on the matter firstly seeking to make pellucid that the judgments by the CCJ against Guyana was for, specifically, a violation of the Treaty of Chaguaramus.

This Treaty, he said, binds the various CARICOM countries to a number of commitments. According to Minister Harmon, what occurred during the life of the 10th Parliament was that the then Opposition voted down amendments to an unrelated issue.

Harmon said, what in fact was presented to the House by the then PPP/C Administration was an Environmental Bill, which in fact sought to impose a new tax on local manufacturers.

He accused Nandlall of attempting to rewrite history as if to make the APNU+AFC coalition somehow responsible for the judgments made against the Guyana Government.

In fact, Minister Harmon, told reporters that the records indicated that a decision was taken by the former administration approving the sums of money to be paid.

“In spite of that, this crass contempt continued,” said Harmon.

The Minister of State was adamant: “We have to show that we respect the law, we have to show that if this is the court of final jurisdiction that we respect it and once you subscribe to the jurisdiction of the court then you have to abide by the judgments.” (Gary Eleazar)

July 3 – 9, 2015 17 Caribbean Star Newspaper ‘Mildew bread’ update… Bakewell retaliates by sidelining Lusignan shopkeeper –for daring to go to the media with story chairman or someone senior to Ganga, the secretary confirmed that the company has a Chief Executive Officer but refused to provide a number for the woman’s office.

Checks by this publication later found that the company’s Chief Executive Officer is one Annetta Nasir. When a call was placed to the CEO’s office, her secretary informed that she was not available to speak with the media as she was in a meeting. The secretary, who was informed about the nature of the call, said she would pass the message on to the CEO. Up to the time of publication, no call was returned to this publication from the CEO or her office.

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ENERAL Manager of Bakewell, Rajin Ganga and the Bakewell Bakery is now being accused of victimisation by a shop owner in Lusignan who is claiming that the company has taken a decision to drop him from their list of wholesale customers after he expressed concerns about getting mildewed bread from the company for some time now.

On Monday, this newspaper conducted an interview with businessman Angad Sukhdeo, and the story was reported in yesterday’s edition of this publication with the headline: “Bakewell under fire in Lusignan for mildewed products – company says it has return policy before shelf-life expires”. In the story, the businessman accused the company of supplying bread and tennis rolls to his shop that would become mildewed long before the shelf-life expires.

Yesterday morning the man telephoned this newspaper to inform that the company was angered at his approach to the media on the issue, and had ordered the delivery trucks not to supply him with any of the company’s products, a decision the man has condemned as blatant victimisation.

Sukhdeo said when the delivery truck went to the area yesterday morning and he tried to make his usual purchase, he was informed about the company’s position by the salesman, who said that his boss saw the article in the newspaper and instructed them not to sell him any longer.

On Monday when this publication contacted General Manager Ganga to have him respond to the claims by Sukhdeo, who has been a Bakewell customer for more than ten years, he repeatedly requested the name of the aggrieved customer. Ganga said he was very interested in finding out who the customer was, so that the company could have addressed the concerns yesterday morning when the delivery truck visits the area.

He further stated that in cases like those, the company is always open to hearing from the customers so that issues can be addressed because any problem the customer has becomes a problem for the company. He went on to refute claims that the company refuses to allow customers to return mildewed bread and tennis rolls.

When this publication contacted the office of the General Manager on this latest development, his secretary, Natasha, said he could not take the call at the time, but would return it later. After this reporter placed another call to the company at approximately 14.45 hrs the secretary informed that the General Manager would not be entertaining any questions or speaking any further on the matter.

She also informed that Mr. Ganga asked her to pass on a message which she reported him as saying, “Mr. Ganga said to tell you that you have to do what you have to do because he has a business to run.”

Asked whether the company has a

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

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July 3 – 9, 2015

19

THE FALL OF BABYLON

he Bible is so full of interesting stories. Some stories are reports of historical facts; others may be illustrative whether parables and so on.

The history of the kingdom of Babylon is well recorded in the Old Testament and, as with everything else in the Bible, there are some important lessons for us to learn. You have heard it said, “History repeats itself.” Many things change, but there are some things that will never change. Therefore, we are bound to see a repetition of the past, howbeit with some modification, yet in principle the same.

Babylon was the most powerful nation of its time, yet she fell to an inferior empire just as God predicted through the prophet Daniel. We must grasp the true concepts or suffer likewise.

The King of Babylon desecrated what God sanctified.

“Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” Daniel 5:1-4. Babylon was powerful and feared by other nations. The nation of Israel was in captivity at this time.

Historians tell us the king would bring the idol gods of defeated nations into the temple of his god as captives. He thought the temple vessels were gods from Jerusalem. In his wild party, Belshazzar brought out the vessels to be used in the party. Those vessels were consecrated unto God. It was utter disrespect for God to use them in a drunken party.

There are some things in our time that are sanctified unto God to be respected as holy. Freedom should mean we are free to live for God, be useful citizens who contribute to the development of society, respect each other’s rights, and promote decency and proper training of children, and so on. Marriage between one man and one woman was sanctified by God. It was God’s idea and initiative. It was His plan for a healthy family and wholesome upbringing of children.

The King spread his defiant influence to others.

As the party went on, Belshazzar be-

came drunk and ordered the consecrated vessels of Jehovah to be brought into the wild party. He offered them to the revelers to use to consume wine and in this desecration, they boasted the defeat of Israel’s God and worshiped their idol gods.

When men become drunk with power and arrogance, they tend to think they could be beyond God and His laws. Instead of recognizing the One who gives life and numbers our days, men feel they hold such power that the world must obey their every whim and fancy, but God is disregarded. The idols society worship today include the once-mighty dollar, high living, and friendships that pat us on the back for wrong-doing. How quickly and easily evil can spread! How hard for people to stand up for truth and righteousness!

The King saw the hand of God. “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” Daniel 5:5-6. Obviously, God was patient with the king, as He is with all sinners, giving grace and space to repent and turn from doing wrong to honoring Him. God was not in the vessels they desecrated. They believed in idols and superstitions. God is spirit and operates in the supernatural. So when Belshazzar thought he held Israel’s God in his hands, he saw the manifestation of God by a hand writing on the wall. He was stunned. There comes a time when the patience of God runs out. Remember the holiness of God must necessarily be comprised of love and justice. If He shows lack of love, He will fall short of perfection. If He fails to serve justice, He demonstrates imperfection. The Book of Hebrews explains, “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.

How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a

harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” God does everything in love, yet only He, in His sovereignty, can measure the limit when justice must be applied. Listen, my friend, God loves you, but don’t try to abuse His good nature; you will regret it. Belshazzar went too far and God responded personally.

There is a limit to God’s mercy.

“But (thou) hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.” Daniel 5:23-30. God will show up and make Himself known to everyone who thinks they could ignore Him or exalt themselves above Him. The Pharoahs, the Caesars, the Herods all thought they were god, but they were wrong. Belshazzar was wrong.

His legacy tells of a man who defied God and paid dearly for it, including the fall of

his nation. God declares in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” God will forever be on His throne and we will all stand before His Supreme court one day. This goes for everyone of us, including leaders around the world.

There is still time to repent.

God sent His Son Jesus Christ to give His life in full settlement of our sin debt.

Such love will not turn away the truly penitent. We must repent of our sins and ask His forgiveness based on what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross. We must teach our children God’s Word and His ways. Daniel remained after Belshazzar and served the Persian Empire at a top level government position. God gave him favor and that favor worked positively for his people while they were in Babylon.

Christians must maintain their salvation and relationship with Christ. He will bring you out with victory. Every one of us needs to find our way back to Christ and back to church. Take your family to church this weekend.

Pastor Haniff Bacchus Calvary Assembly

of God

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

20

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

Accused in Mahaica farmer’s murder remanded to prison

A

n excavator operator has been remanded to prison after being charged with the murder of Hardat Kissoon, who was shot once to his chest and robbed of a bag containing money on June 1 while he was in a minibus heading home.

Sherwin Trotman, 32, of Lot 45 Section D, South Turkeyen, was not required to plead to the capital charge when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan

at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 2.

It is alleged on June 1, while in company of others at UG Road, Trotman murdered Hardat Kissoon, pursuant to a robbery.

Trotman was charged with a series of other offences prior to this, the most recent being escaping from lawful custody while being a remanded prisoner on a sexual offence charge. Early last year, he was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment for escaping from lawful

custody. He was also committed to stand trial at the High Court over the sexual offence.

Kissoon, called `Buju’ of Cane Grove, Mahaica died instantly on June 1 after being shot once in the chest by a gunman who escaped on a motorcycle which was parked on the University of Guyana access road. At the time of the incident, he was returning from a city bank where he had changed a cheque for over half a million dollars.

Hardat Kissoon

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The cash was snatched and he was shot. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

No details of the murder were presented in court.

However, Trotman stood in the prisoners’ dock and asked the court for the permission to speak which was granted.

He said, “My Worship in this matter there was no ID parade and I didn’t give no statement to the police. They just arrest me and show me a video with two individuals on a motorcycle and they say I was the rider and they couldn’t identify the other person because the video was dull.”

The defendant further told the court that he was saying this because he wanted the public and the media to know that he didn’t commit the crime he was being charged with. He added, “They say if I don’t tell them who is the shooter they will have to put me as the rider. A police officer then tell me if I give him $2 million I will get loose but I tell he I ain’t got no $2 million.”

Trotman was unrepresented by counsel while Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones indicated to the court that the incident was caught on surveillance camera, which led to Trotman’s identification.

The matter was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court for July 8.

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July 3 – 9, 2015

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Life Insurance: Can You Afford To Wait?

Critical decisions, such as buying a home, getting married, or having children, require deliberate, thoughtful consideration. Indeed, the outcome of any one of these decisions can irrevocably change your life for better or worse. But, delaying the purchase of life insurance can be a costly mistake for you and your loved ones. Waiting just a few years can have a negative impact on several key areas of a life insurance policy.

Whole Life Insurance: Financial Protection Plus Cash Value Accumulation In its simplest form, whole life insurance protects the people who depend on you for financial support — no matter what happens to you tomorrow. Aside from providing money to your beneficiaries to replace your income, whole life insurance also offers guaranteed* cash value accumulation on a tax-deferred

basis, as long as the policy remains in force. If available, cash value can be borrowed against to fund a child’s education, supplement your retirement income, or meet an emergency cash need.

Remember, policy loans accrue interest at the current variable loan interest rate and reduce the total cash value and total death benefit by the amount of the outstanding loan and accrued loan interest.

*Guarantees backed by the claims paying ability of the issuer.

The Effects of Waiting Since a portion of the premiums paid accumulates cash value each year, over the long term, cash value accumulation can be considerable, especially since taxes on the growth are deferred. Generally speaking, the sooner you start paying policy premiums, the faster your cash value may accumulate.

A whole life policy is also eligible to receive dividends, if and when declared by the insurance issuer. Unlike cash values, dividends are not guaranteed. In addition, past dividends are not indicative of future dividends.

As a policyholder, you have several options for dividends usage. For example, you can take dividend distributions in cash or apply dividends to add insurance coverage through the purchase of paid-up additional life insurance. Paid-up insurance is also eligible for dividends, has cash value, and requires no additional premiums. Other

dividend payment options may be available. So, waiting in this case can cost you the opportunity to increase the benefit paid to your beneficiaries.

Let’s say you’re healthy now, but you decide to delay purchasing whole life insurance for five years. In five years, you may suffer an unexpected health condition, which may place your insurability in jeopardy. In the worst-case scenario, if you were to die in the next five years, the cost of waiting would be the death benefit your beneficiaries would not receive.

Remember, purchasing life insurance is a major decision.

So, it’s important to take the time to gather all the necessary information and choose the coverage that best suits your needs. While the decision is up to you, keep in mind that postponing your decision can prove to be costly.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Windsor Forest playschool teacher dies suddenly

July 3 – 9, 2015

Surasattie Walker and her only child, Peter

T

HE community of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, plunged into mourning with news of the death of Principal of Precious Gems Playschool, Mrs. Surasattie Walker. Relatives said Mrs. Walker, 37, who just about two weeks ago had surgery done at a private hospital in the city for an undisclosed ailment, complained yesterday morning of feeling unwell.

“She was clutching the region of her heart,” a family member said, “and so we took her to the Leonora Cottage Hospital around 08:00 hrs. We do not know, but we surmise it might have been a blood clot causing complications, or maybe she

Principal Surasattie Walker (left) and children of Precious Gems Playschool during a school party. At right is Teacher Sharda had a heart attack. However, she was given oxygen, but did not survive. She died within about an hour at Leonora Hospital.”

Mrs. Walker has been operating the Precious Gems Playschool for about the last four years, assisted by her motherin-law Leila Walker and a class teacher, Sharda.

She is married to Peter Walker, an employee of Guysuco’s Uitvlugt Estate and they are the parents of one boy, Peter Junior, who was still in a state of deep shock and perhaps denial when the Guyana Chronicle visited the home.

Peter Junior, 12, said the pain runs deeply. He recalls the great moments he shared with his mom and dad, noting that she was really a wonderful mother to him.

“I love my mommy dearly and remember she would take me along on tours she conducted for the children of her school.

I remember the great times we shared, going places together when my other grandma, Kowsilla Ganpath who lives in the United States came home for vacation,” he said forlornly.

Meanwhile, other community members noted what a great loss the community would suffer at her passing. She loved

Dead: Surasattie Walker (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

and did the best for the children in her care at the playschool and had come to be like a mother to them. “She was quiet, family-oriented and a good wife who will certainly be missed,” family members said.

Sursattie Walker is survived by her husband Peter, mother Kowsilla Ganpath, son Peter Jnr.; sisters and brothers and other relatives and friends.

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COME & EXPERIENCE THE SPLENDOR OF AN

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• 3 nights accommodation in Bangkok • 2 nights accommodation in Hua Hin • 2 nights accommodation in Singapore • 2 nights accommodation in Kuala Lumpur • 2 nights accommodation in Hong Kong • Daily breakfast • 8 lunches and 3 dinners • Half day island tour of Hong Kong • Half day city and temple tour of Bangkok • Tour of Ayutthaya and cruise, Bangkok • Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Bangkok

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• Half day local tour of Hua Hin • Local tour of Malacca • Half day city tour of Kuala Lumpur • Half day city tour of Singapore • Transfers from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur • Transfers from airport to hotel to airport Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur • Transfers from Bangkok airport to Bangkok hotel to Hua Hin to Bangkok airport

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July 3 – 9, 2015

India-born Anusha Saha, 11, is No 1, placing first among more than 18,000 primary school children in the 2015 Secondary Entrance Assessment Examination (SEA).

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nd becoming a brain surgeon is the goal the Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School student has already set her sights on.

“I know that hard work really pays off and if you persevere success would really be yours,” Anusha wisely advises those preparing for SEA next year, after learning of her achievement personally from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the school on Carib Street, San Fernando. Anusha heads off to her first choice, Naparima Girls’ High School at the start of the 2015/2016 academic year in September.

Schools in the country’s second city took top honours in this year’s SEA exam written by 18,357 students on May 7.

Second place went to Riyad Rajan, 12, of Trinidad Muslim League (TML) Primary School, on Farah Street, who moves on to his first choice, Naparima Boys’ College, while Aaliyah Webb, 12, of San Fernando Girls’ Government School, Rushworth Street, placed third and joins Anusha at Naparima Girls’.

Riyad wants to be a lawyer and Aaliyah wants to be an astronaut.

Anusha and her parents, engineer Jaoy-

Caribbean Star Newspaper ANUSHA’S NO 1 anta Saha and his wife, Kuntala, a lawyer turned full-time housewife, migrated to Trinidad and Tobago from India when the celebrated student was only 10-weeks-old.

Kuntala gave up her law practice when she arrived in Trinidad as there was no one to take care of Anusha. Growing up in Trinidad, Anusha enjoyed her school days at Grant Memorial. Anusha praised her SEA teacher Nicole Subahnee, who has only been teaching students at this level for the past two years, for her success. She is also grateful to her parents.

“I am very happy that I got this achievement. I would not have been able to do this without my teachers and parents especially my mom,” Anusha said yesterday.

Her parents could hardly contain their joy for their only child who they both described as a hard worker and an all-round student.

“We were expecting her to do well, because when she came from the exams and we asked her how she did, she said, ‘100 percent’,” Jaoyanta said, also telling of Anusha’s heavy involvement in extra curricular activities.

“She likes reading, she is all-round. She won prizes in Spelling Bee, prizes in a UTT art competition, she plays tennis, everything, she is a very disciplined girl,” said the proud father.

Jaoyanta said he came to Trinidad 15 years ago to work and decided to stay, later

bringing over his wife and baby daughter.

They live in Gulf View, La Romaine.

“Trinidad is a very quiet place, and I feel like this is my home because I don’t feel no difference between India and here, people are very nice,” Jaoyanta said, smiling.

A trip to the United States is the couple’s gift to Anusha for her top honours.

Riyad: the top boy Celebrations at the TML school took on an extra special meaning, as Riyad’s placing as the second top SEA student was a welcome present for principal Camille Hosein who retires tomorrow. The TML school is accustomed to being in winners’ row having produced top students in 2007, 2010 and 2013 and also gaining places in the top 200.

For Riyad, the Prime Minister announcing his name as the second place winner left him “speechless” when he went to the podium.

Riyad, the only boy among the top three SEA placings, went on to encourage his peers to work hard towards success. His SEA teacher, the school’s vice principal, Shaheed Allaham said preparations for SEA were “very challenging” with the new Continuous Assessment Component programme which accounts for 40 percent of the SEA marks.

Riyad’s parents Roger Rajan, an engineer and owner of Volte Engineering Services, and Shabana Aziz-Raja, an auditor at

Change

By Kevin Persaud

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ai Sita Raam. My name is Kevin Persaud and I am a proud member of the Naujavaan Mandalee Youth Group of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir.

CHANGE - a word that is a sentence in itself. The only thing that is permanent. Change is something that we experience from the very inception of our existence.

The dictionary’s definition of the word “change” is, “To make or become different”. Take a look at your surroundings and you will see many changes, although the actual components may have remained the same.

Here is how my guru, Pandit Manoj Jadubans, explained “change” to me: “There once was a cook who had a very pessimistic son. He would always complain regardless of the challenges he faced in life. One day, the cook being very clever, asked his son to help him prepare few dishes in the kitchen. The cook presented him with an egg, a potato, and some coffee beans.

After boiling all of the items, the cook told his son to observe what has happened to the items. He saw that the egg which was once fragile is now hard and stable; the potato that was once hard is now soft and feeble. However, the most amazing of all was the aroma coming from the beans that has been boiling.

The water became delicious coffee. The cook explained to his son that all of the items had faced the

same boiling water and without any additional ingredients, have now changed. Like the egg, when faced with adversity, you can harden up and become stronger, or you can become fragile and weak like the potato. Be that as it may, we must all strive to be like the coffee beans and be able to change that which is imposed upon us and make it better.”

I have gathered from this story that there are different ways of handling change. Most of the time, we hold the controls and should not become a slave to change.

Change is an integral part of life.

Think about it. Change is necessary in order for us to grow from baby to adulthood.

Our development is dependent on the personality changes we make. Two types of changes that stand out in people are circumstantial and personal. Circumstantial change takes place when a certain event or action enables you to react in a different way. Personal change takes place when there is a need to behave or act in a different way. A fairly good example of circumstantial change would be in the Ramayana when Lord Raam was forced into exile and had to adapt to his new environment.

However, even though Lord Raam was faced with circumstantial changes, he never allowed himself to undergo personal change and remained as humble as he had been before being exiled to the forest. The story of Lord Raam is an ideal example of circumstantial

change. We know that being able to control how change affects us can be a daunting task but still is achievable. Just like Lord Raam and the coffee beans, we should not allow ourselves to become affected by change but impose change in return for the positive.

A few ways this can be done is by first trying to determine what it is you aim to gain as the end result.

Secondly, try to determine how this will affect you. And finally, try to determine how this will affect others. For example, let’s say you’re at the park and someone you may or may not know approaches you with drugs. If it’s someone you know the decision may be hard at first. In this situation, addressing change can greatly help in decision making allowing you to consider many more possibilities as a result. By taking the drugs, what can you gain? You may be able to alter

the National Gas Company, said while they were surprised at his top placing, their son deserved the success as he was a committed and determined child.

“He never missed a day from school not even if he had a medical appointment,” his father said. Riyad will be going to Disney World, in Orlando, Florida for vacation.

Aaliyah: I prayed Aaliyah, who hails from Princes Town, was the last to learn of her success but it would be a day she would always remember. Though she knew her ability, Aaliyah said she never thought she would have performed so well at SEA “but I prayed and prayers are always answered.”

“I am baffled,” Aaliyah said. “At first the journey was hard, but as I became accustomed it got easier. I will tell my fellow students to focus on your goal and you should be able to do it with hard work.”

Her elated parents Allan Webb, a teacher at San Fernando Boys’ Government Primary School, and housewife, Annette, said they were “extremely proud of their eldest child and hope she becomes the role model for her younger sisters, Ashley, nine, and Alice, seven. Her father gave all the praise to his daughter’s teachers whom he said worked hard and created a nice environment for the girls. Allan said he intends to surprise his daughter with a gift he knows she would be happy with.

your mood for a short time but in the end there is more to lose than to gain. Almost all common drugs have adverse effects such as cancer and other health issues. More so, making decisions under the influence can affect many in the process. A great example of this could be drinking and driving. Under the influence, your decisions can change your life and the lives of those around you. In any case, for each step of the way, the good should always outweigh the bad.

Lastly, a phenomenon that I have observed quite frequently is how willing people are to accept change according to age. As the saying goes, “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks”. This is somewhat true but not unavoidable. How many times have you ever been driving with your parents and they tend to take the same route all the time no matter how much traffic there is or to come home only to find out that for the third time this week your parents have cooked chicken curry( in the same pot )? It’s not uncommon for this to happen as humans tend to choose to do what is more familiar to them over trying something new. However, as I said before, change is necessary and it is like chicken curry. Sometimes better in moderation. It could be a simple thing like making a new dish one night a week or trying to play a new instrument or even trying a new route on your way home from work even though you might get lost along the way. Change allows the body and mind to behave in different ways which can broaden your views of the world and helps you to become more accepting of

things you are not use to. If you don’t believe me, try playing a new sport or a sport you haven’t played in a while and tell me if you don’t wake up a little sore in the morning.

What is even funnier is that you could be sore in parts of your body that you didn’t even know could get sore in the first place. Similarly with change, we won’t know what we are capable of achieving until we actually give it a try.

For me personally, I have experienced quite a bit of change in my life and have also observed a lot of people that have changed around me. If there is one thing that I can say for sure, it is that nothing happens without change, whether it is you that seeks to change or is affected by the change around you.

One famous quote that speaks of change is by none other than Mahatma Gandhi -“Be the change you want to see in the world”. Be the coffee and allow yourself to impact the world. Do not wait for change to happen. Our fore parents have fought hard and without a doubt have sacrificed close to everything in their lives. This is one of the hardest kinds of change to make.

It is because of this sacrifice, I had the opportunity to change from being a college student to being part of a work force. However, one thing that I won’t allow to change is my determination. This is something I can proudly say I have inherited from them. I thank you for reading, and I can only pray that you continue to strive on the path of righteousness, as any type of change you make should be a step towards god.

Jai ho!

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

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World News Highlights

UNITED NATIONS - Malaysia told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday it plans to push for a U.N.-backed tribunal to prosecute those suspected of downing a passenger airliner last year in eastern Ukraine, though Russia described the move as premature, diplomats said.

BOGOTA - Colombia’s government plans to carry out lie detector tests on senior civil servants who allocate contracts to private companies as it tries to clamp down on widespread corruption and embezzlement of public funds.

BUTHIDAUNG, Myanmar In the fertile river valleys near Myanmar’s border with Bangladesh, stateless Rohingya Muslims say there is no let-up in

soldiers forcing them into hard labor, despite the government launching a campaign three years ago to end the practice.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Suspected Boko Haram insurgents rounded up and shot dead dozens of people in a raid in a town in northeast Nigeria on Wednesday, military and local sources said, part of a resurgence of attacks in Borno state in the past month.

he took $100,000 in cash bribes as well as jewelry from vendors seeking contracts while he was assigned to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, federal prosecutors said.

AMMAN - Syrian insurgents led by Islamist groups began a major offensive to gain full control of the divided northern city of Aleppo, a monitor and rebels said on Thursday.

MANILA - A ferry carrying 189 passengers and crew capsized off the central Philippines in heavy waves on Thursday, killing at least 36 people but the majority of those on board were rescued, the coast guard and police said.

ATHENS/WASHINGTON The International Monetary Fund delivered a stark warning on Thursday of the huge financial hole facing Greece as angry and uncertain voters prepare for a referendum that could decide their country’s future in Europe.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky admitted in federal court on Thursday that

ATHENS - A referendum on bailout terms that has morphed into a plebiscite on Greece’s future in Europe has created the

first real splits in Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ ruling coalition.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military said on Thursday a coalition airstrike in Syria killed a senior Islamic State leader who helped fundraise, secure arms and transport fighters for the militant group.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke to Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi on Thursday about the fight against Islamic State militants, expressing support for Iraqi efforts to mobilize local tribal fighters, the White House said.

UNITED NATIONS - Burundi’s parliamentary election was not free, fair, transparent or credible and violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms were committed, the United Nations

said on Thursday.

VIENNA - Tehran and world powers were still shy of a breakthrough at nuclear talks on Thursday as foreign ministers flew in to help push for a swift deal and resolve disputes over how sanctions could be lifted and how Iran’s compliance would be monitored.

BERLIN/WASHINGTON - Germany is taking seriously the latest reports about U.S. spying on senior government ministers and they are putting strains on vital security cooperation between the two countries, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said on Thursday.

MOSCOW - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is leaving talks over Iran’s nuclear program in Vienna on Thursday, RIA news agency said.

Murder outside Mosque

KILLED: Daniel Bostic

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walked up behind him and fired.

Bostic was shot three times - twice in the head and once in his back.

Witnesses told police that worshippers scampered to their cars, and adults and children who were inside the mosque locked themselves into a room.

A witness said: ?People were crying and panicking. Plenty people ran to their cars. People who were upstairs and the children ran to a room in the back and locked it. He was still breathing when police arrived on the scene?.

Bostic was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital.

He died while he was being treated. Early on Thursday, police seached areas of Embacadere, San Fernando, looking for suspects.

An autopsy is expected to be performed on the body on Thursday at the Forensic Sciences Centre.

he San Fernando Jama Masjid located on Mucurapo Street where Daniel Bostic was shot dead last night. -Photo: RICHARD CHARAN THE man ambushed and gunned down on the compound of a mosque in San Fernando on Wednesday night, was preparing for a Ramadan prayer service and was greeting fellow worshippers when he was shot in the head.

Daniel Bostic, 28, of Drayton Street, San Fernando, was killed while standing in the yard of the historic San Fernando Jama Masjid.

Bostic is the son of well-known People’s National Movement activist, Marva Bostic.

According to police, at around 7.50 p.m.

Bostic was walking up the steps of the prayer room of the mosque The San Fernando Jama Masjid located on Mucurapo when a lone gunman Street where Daniel Bostic was shot dead last night.

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WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ARIES

(March 21-April 19) The preparations have been made.

The pans are greased. The stove is fired up. It’s time to do your thing. You may need to call in some assistance when the going gets tough, but some people love to help. No matter what happens on Tuesday, keep a clear head. On Wednesday and Thursday, your perseverance is richly rewarded -- someone may even pin a blue ribbon on your lapel. It may fall off on Friday, since the end of the week is going to bring some frustrations. Don’t worry -- they’re minor compared to your successes. Sunday, you’re a star.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22) You have enough self-respect to hold off until you get what you want. Others may interpret this as arrogance, to which you should reply, ‘What’s wrong with having standards?’ Listen to their advice, thank them for their love and then do whatever you feel is right. By midweek, you open up to the idea of flexibility, but your non-negotiable issues are still non-negotiable.

The end of the week (Friday especially), you’re consumed with research. Find out more about this person. Don’t make a decision until you’re sure of the facts. A big piece of the puzzle falls into place on Sunday.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You’re interested in art and music on Monday and Tuesday, but you’re more focused on keeping your cash in your wallet. Music and art can tax the money flow, unfortunately. Find a way to do what you want without spending too much dough and you’ll be very happy. On Wednesday and Thursday, the way to have fun without spending a lot is to strike up wild conversations with people you don’t know. The stories they tell! The things you learn! You spend Friday sorting your thoughts and letting your brain expand, spongelike. Saturday and Sunday are fun in a juvenile, goofy way.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

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) Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a tree? To be so grounded, healthy and tall? You’ll get an inkling of this feeling on Monday and Tuesday. People will want to sit near you. They’ll regard you with awe. Wednesday and Thursday someone may regard you with something other than awe -- it may feel like they’re coming at you with branch cutters and leaf shearers. Hold your own in a dignified way, and don’t let them get to you. On Friday, the world will be righted again. Spend Saturday and Sunday in the comfortable company of your favorite people.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You have an arsenal of tools, but your creativity is the most useful at the start of the week. Your recent projects have been attracting attention -- good attention -- and, if you’re single, you might not be much longer. You’re also ambitious in other realms. By midweek, your regular way of doing things starts to seem both inefficient and boring; a new method for approaching the usual routine is in order. On Friday, resist the urge to be critical of a good friend, and find a way to be supportive. Then, on Sunday, when someone else is critical of you, shrug. Deep down, you know what’s what.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) How you got to be so lucky, you’ll never know. (At least, you’ll never tell, because you’re modest -- truth is, it has a lot to do with how hard you work.) Monday and Tuesday are defined by the accolades people bestow on you. Their support gives you lots of energy, and that energy, in turn, inspires you to change your approach to work or school on Wednesday and Thursday. Suddenly, you’re the brilliant one.

You’re the funny one. You’re the one everyone wants to be like. Use your creativity to your advantage on Friday and Saturday. Then, Sunday, collapse on the couch after a week done well.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20) Finding the answer to a question you have on Monday requires some detective work. You spend the day (and Tuesday, too) collecting clues and dusting for fingerprints -- all metaphorically, of course. You’re attempting to bring out the truth. Wednesday and Thursday you’re very influenced by the theories and perspectives of others; a conversation about someone’s opinions has the added benefit of unearthing a lot of facts. Friday and Saturday are paradoxical: The clearer things become, the more questions you have -- internal questions regarding your future. Spend Sunday mulling.

LIBRA

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) What’s with this sense of imbalance? Why is your home life so weird right now?

It’s enough to give you vertigo. It’s also making you a bit sentimental. On Tuesday, no matter what’s going on in the present, your mind is dwelling on the past. There’s only one solution: Romance. You need something fiery to distract you, to bring you into the now. Luckily, romance figures into Wednesday and Thursday, and beauty -- everyday beauty -- plays a major role in Friday, too. The weekend begins a bit frantically (Saturday is chaos), but ends with smooching (sweet, sweet Sunday).

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) People’s motivations are not always apparent. The world hurls forward in mysterious ways. You’re not sure why things are happening in a certain way on Monday and Tuesday, but the mere fact that you’re thinking about such questions places you ahead of the pack. Wednesday and Thursday are inspiring.

The excitement you get from a small discovery makes you crave still more great finds, and your enthusiasm infects others. Friday and Saturday, you’re constantly dissecting the difference between fantasy and reality. Sunday is positively electric.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22) That elephant in the room? Maybe you should deal with it, because it’s starting to be demanding. It’s distracting you. Monday and Tuesday, addressing issues directly is the way to go. What do you have to be embarrassed about?

Wednesday and Thursday you’re buoyed by your newfound confidence, but the challenge is to get everyone else around you to address problems directly, as you’re doing. Try to get them to be connected, rather than aloof, and to call a spade a spade. By Friday, you’re tired of other people and may want to end the week with a pizza and a rented movie. But Sunday’s a riot.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Don’t be deterred. Don’t let them tell you it’s impossible. It’s not impossible.

When you set your mind to something, pianos raining from the sky couldn’t get in your way.

That said, make Tuesday an exercise in modesty, and recognize that Wednesday, when things don’t go your way at home, is just a hiccup on your path toward grandeur. Sometimes things at home don’t go exactly right. No big deal.

Conflicting ideas on Thursday lead to a more complex outlook on a problem, and Friday and Saturday are charged with innovation. Sunday is in your hands.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20) The group needs a leader -- this much is obvious -- and all eyes are on you. The group needs a lot of things, you realize, which is what any true leader would recognize. There are also other reasons why you might be the right person for the job. Reluctantly, you agree. On Wednesday and Thursday, you long to help anyone you can. You want to change the world. It’s hard to focus on the entire world, though; you might scale back your ambitions and focus on doing a few small things well. Friday and Saturday, you’re trying new things, running ideas up flag poles and making calls. Sunday offers exciting challenges.

65-year-old ‘granny’ Dolarie Sewghair scaled two six-foot high fences to escape the gun- toting bandits

HE invasion of 10 armed bandits forced two women, including a 65-year-old grandmother to scale six-foot fences in a bid to escape the robbery attack at Seventh Street, John’s Settlement in Port Mourant, Corentyne.Just after 01:00 hr on Wednesday morning, Dara Singh, aged 38 years, was offloading several items, including two tractors from a container.

He had engaged the services of several persons from the neighbourhood, to assist with the task. They had just completed the offloading when his overseas-based brother-in-law along with his wife, left the premises seconds before bandits struck.

After they drove away in the car, six men ran into the yard, saying: “No body move.”

“Me run under the tractor and hide.

One of the other bandits say, look the owner gone and hide under the tractor.

They started to beat me under the tractor, before dragging me into the kitchen where they told me to kneel. They asked for the money and the gold. Me say you all nah do me nothing. This is all I have in my pocket…$700,060…the container money.”

65 year old ‘granny’ Dolarie Sewghair scaled two six-foot high fences to escape the gun- toting bandits But Singh noted that the men, some armed with shotguns and a pistol, cutlasses, and iron were dissatisfied with the amount, and demanded more money and jewellery.

The intruders reportedly asked for Singh’s overseas-based guest, who had moments before left the home.

Singh recalled being taken to his bedroom before he was returned to the kitchen where he was constantly “broadsided” with cutlasses.

According to him, his helpers along with members of his family, which amounted to 12 persons, were all held against their will for almost 45 minutes, as an additional four men kept watch

Sharaz Azaz shows the iron Dara Singh was dragged from under a tractor, beaten bar which was used by a bandit to inflict injuries to and robbed his head from the outside.

Meanwhile, Shavraj Azaz had just finished helping out when the bandits rushed into the yard. He was told to lie before a bandit armed with an iron rod inflicted several injuries to his head, forcing him to comply.

Kamalie Devi Khalicharan saw the bandits entering their yard, and being fearful, she did what was a normally impossible task. She scaled two separate six-foot fences, before seeking refuge in a neighbour’s home, two streets away. Her mother-in-law Dolarie Sewghair, was not to be left behind although her son Dar’s

One of the tractors which was being offloaded from the container when the bandits struck

life was in danger. She, too, scaled the fence before running for safety.

However, Sabita Singh could not join the two elderly women in their hurdle jumps. Instead, she stayed behind and was gun-butted to her face. She is six months pregnant.

After the bandits had left and the family re-grouped, they discovered missing an additional US$600, a rip saw, two amplifiers, two gold chains and four finger-rings, among other items.

Two youth are in custody and are assisting the police with the investigation.

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

31

Entertainment News

BT Exclusive: Salman Khan to throw an Eid Makers of 'Guddu Rangeela' decide to cash in on the ‘Mata Ka Email’ song controversy? party for his fans in 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'

S Aaj Ki Party song

alman Khan will throw an Eid party for his fans in his upcoming entertainer Bajrangi Bhaijaan that is releasing July 17.

The song titled Aaj Ki Party is a total masti song, full Salman Khan style. The song, set in Old Delhi, has been shot on a lavish scale with over 300 dancers and has been sung by hit singer Mika Singh and composed by Pritam. The songs Selfie Le Le Re, Tu Chahiye and Bhar Do Jholi Meri have already become popular. Let's wait to see if Salman Khan fans take to Aaj Ki Party too.

W

e had reported a few days back how a few religious groups had taken objection to the lyrics of the Mata Ka Email song from the upcoming en-

Meenakshi Seshadri aka Damini now and then

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ishi Kapoor and Meenakshi Seshadri, who acted together in the cult film Damini (1993), touched base with one another when the actress visited Mumbai recently.

Rishi, who was blown away with Meenakshi's svelte appearance, lost no time in putting up a picture with her on his micro-blogging page and wrote, "Any guesses who this is? I didn't recognise her for a moment.

T What a lovely surprise... Meenakshi as always whenever in Mumbai pays us a visit unannounced. Looking gorgeous!"

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2' begins filming

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ctor John Corbett is seen topless filming the movie in a photo posted by writer and co-star Nia Vardalos on Instagram, reported The Wrap.

In the caption with the photo Vardalos referenced the scene in the first film, saying: "Is someone trying to get baptised again in #MyBigFatGreekWedding2 ?"

The pair play Toula and Ian who faced

battles to marry across their different families and cultures in the first film, Toula a Greek-American from a lower-middle class extended family and non-Greek Ian with upper-middle class parents.

Kirk Jones is directing the sequel, with Vardalos again writing the screenplay.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is set to hit theaters on March 25, 2016.

tertainer Guddu Rangeela, starring Arshad Warsi and Amit Sadh, threatening the filmmakers to remove the song from the film or face dire consequences including disruption of shows. In an innovative marketing twist to this controversy, we have now learnt that the makers have announced a digital contest asking the audiences to pose with their Guddu Rangeela movie ticket to win a chance to visit the Mata Vaishno Devi temple with their family. Well, this certainly seems to be a first. We will wait to see the result of this marketing idea this Friday when the film hits the theatres.

Sangeeta Ahir: 'Guddu Rangeela' is for the masses and classes

he main hero of any film is its script, believes Sangeeta Ahir, producer of Guddu Rangeela.

She is someone who goes by her gut feeling in picking stories and her acumen for good content has helped her associate with filmmakers like Mahesh Manjrekar, Subhash Kapoor and Madhur Bhandarkar. "Creating cinema is not the same as creating a product. Content is what matters! We are looking at an array of ideas for Mangal Murti to ride on," says Sangeeta. A strong believer in massy films, she says that it was the realism in Guddu Rangeela that attracted her.

"This film might have patriarchal overtones, but it includes the voice of a woman. This story has a beautiful connect with the mass as a common man rises up to fight the autocracy of khap panchayats."

A hands-on producer, Sangeeta knows her pluses and weaknesses, and refrains from encroaching into a filmmaker's creative arena. "Any production house must

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never have a 'I-me-myself' agenda and understand the sensibility of filmmaking.

Our job was essentially to give our director the liberty to work freely. "Speaking about her association with Subhash, she says, "Subhash is a brilliant writer. He understands the mass mentality and accordingly gives his stories a touch of reality. He has ensured that this film is both for the masses and classes."

Orlando Bloom gets cosy with Brazilian actress Luisa Moraes

ctor Orlando Bloom was spotted getting cosy with a Brazilian actress Luisa Moraes.

The duo arrived at their dinner date at Zooma Sushi in Malibu, California, at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night and dined for nearly an hour.

During their meal, the two enjoyed sushi and cocktail drinks. The duo couldn't keep their eyes and hands off of each other, and at one point Bloom bent his head down to steal a kiss from Moraes, who happily obliged, reports eonline. com.

Bloom has kept his romantic life pretty private following his split from ex-wife Miranda Kerr in 2013.

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July 3 – 9, 2015

Johnny Depp puts entire French village up for sale

ohnny Depp puts entire French village up for sale Mortdecai star Johnny Depp has put his Plan de la Tour estate up for sale for close to USD 26 million.

The estate is comprised of a 37-acre property that includes a "complete Provencal village of stone-built houses dating back more than 200 years", reported Us magazine.

The property is located about 17 miles from Saint Tropez and Depp, 53, purchased it in 2001.

According to a report, he has spent USD 10 million on improvements, including a wine-tasting cave that is decorated to look like a Pirates of the Caribbean set.

The estate features more than a dozen buildings including a main house, guest cottages, a chapel, a bar, a restaurant, and a workshop and garage. It is 10,760 square feet and boasts 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms.

Some of Depp's personal belongings will be included in the sale of the property.

Abhishek Bachchan: My daughter off limits for public

Actor Abhishek Bachchan gave a fan a piece of his mind for sharing a meme about his daughter Aaradhya.

On the Twitter incident that happened in June, Abhishek stated that his daughter is "off limits" for the public.

"My family is strictly off limits. I do understand that my parents and my wife are public figures but my daughter is strictly off limits. I'm not here to talk about her.

Nor do I appreciate anyone making detrimental comments about her," he said at the trailer launch of All Is Well.

Irked with the post that one of his fans posted about Aaradhya, Abhishek tweeted: "Don't like my movies? That's cool.

Will work harder to make movies you like.

Bringing my daughter into it is NOT cool."

However, Abhishek had some positive comments to make about social networking.

"If you are on a public platform, you have to be ready for the brickbats and the bouquets. I always take feedback in my stride and if they make any negative comments, I definitely take notice of it to see how I can improve myself," he said.

"If you're on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, these things are going to happen and it's healthy, fine and fun most of the times," he added.

The actor will be next seen in All Is Well, which is an upcoming family drama film. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Shyam Bajaj and Varun Bajaj and co-produced by Ajay Kapoor.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck say they're getting divorced

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s regulars at a local farmer's market, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and their three young children looked like the perfect Hollywood family.

The stars took turns working so they could nurture their careers and their kids devoted parents who appeared arm-inarm at countless industry events.

"It's work, but it's the best kind of work," Affleck famously said of his marriage to Garner when he accepted the best picture Oscar for Argo.

Now, it seems the work is done. After weeks of public speculation about their relationship, the couple announced Tuesday they plan to end their 10-year marriage with a divorce.

"We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children," Garner and Affleck said in a joint statement. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter."

Affleck will continue to live on the couple's property in a separate house, and they will co-parent their children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The couple is also planning to go to a mediator to settle their divorce, the person said.

Just last fall, Garner and Affleck were praising each other's commitment to family, career and philanthropic causes.

Affleck, 42, said he's grateful Garner takes on the "lion's share" of their family responsibilities.

"She's been really smart about choosing her projects," he said at a November

Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck say they’re getting divorced 2014 gala. "They're not so time-consuming that she can't do this work and be there for our kids, which is the most important thing to her."

Garner, 43, said at the same event that she and Affleck were selective about the causes they support.

"We don't scatter our energy around," she said.

The two met while making 2003's Daredevil, in which they both played superheroes. They wed in 2005.

Affleck expanded from acting to directing during their relationship, earning accolades for his 2007 debut feature, Gone Baby Gone, and 2010's The Town, before winning best picture for 2012's Argo. He starred in the 2014 hit Gone Girl and will be playing the caped crusader in next year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Garner's recent film credits include Dallas Buyers Club and the family film, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Garner was previously married to actor Scott Foley. Affleck was previously engaged to Jennifer Lopez.

Kate and Oliver Hudson not surprised at disownment?

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ctress Kate Hudson and her brother Oliver were reportedly not surprised when their father Bill disowned them.

The 65-year-old musician earlier said his two children were "dead" to him, but the How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days actress and her Scream Queens star brother said they were not surprised as he has been making similar comments towards them "forever," reported Us Weekly Magazine.

"They don't care and are not surprised by this. It's been this way, and he's been saying this stuff, forever," a source said.

According to an insider who is close to the siblings, the pair have had "zero relationship" with their father for several years.

A source suggested Bill controversially shunned his children in an attempt to "clear his name".

"They weren't surprised at all that Bill spoke out. He's always trying to clear his name and his image."

The public breakdown of the film stars' relationship with their father began earli-

er in June when Oliver wished his sister a "Happy abandonment day" online on Father's Day, spurring Bill's comments.

"I would ask them to stop using the Hudson name. They are no longer a part of my life. Oliver's Instagram post was a malicious, vicious, premeditated attack.

He is dead to me now. As is Kate. I am mourning their loss even though they are still walking this earth," he said.

July 3 – 9, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Sandra Bullock's 'Minions' heels auctioned for charity

Hema Malini injured in road accident in Jaipur, rushed to hospital; one dead

The car which met with an accident with the car of veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini in Dausa on Thursday.

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ema Malini was on her way from to Jaipur from Agra when her mercedes car rammed into an Alto car near Dausa in Rajasthan, that accident killed a four-year-old child.

Actor and BJP’s Mathura MP Hema Malini has been hospitalised after being injured in a road accident at Dausa in Rajasthan. The actor was admitted to Fortis hospital in Jaipur where her condition is said to be stable.

The MP was on her way to Jaipur from Agra when her Mercedes car rammed into an Alto car near Dausa (Rajasthan). While a child died in the accident, four others were severely injured.

Doctors at the Fortis hospital said she suffered injuries on the forehead and a CT scan and other tests were being conducted.

“The accident occurred on national highway 11 near Dausa Midway at around 9 pm when the car in which Hema Malini was travelling collided with another car.

One four-year old was killed who was in the other car. Four others who were injured in the accident have been admitted in Dausa hospital,” a police said.

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he 50-year-old actress, who plays villain Scarlett Overkill in the Despicable Me spin off, Minions, wore the Custom Rupert Sanderson heels on the red yellow carpet of the LA premiere of the film.

There are only 10 replica pairs each signed by Bullock herself up for grabs, reported E! Online.

The auction which begins on July 1 on CharityBuzz, will benefit Art + Practice, an organisation that works to provide space and time to create art for foster children living in underprivileged communities in Los Angeles.

Bidding closes on July 10.

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34

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

Caribbean Connections

Jack Warner hires top British lawyer US$200 million invested in renewable energy projects in Jamaica to fight his extradition

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ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Wednesday July 1, 2015 – Corruption accused Jack Warner has hired a top British lawyer to help him fight his extradition to the United States.

British media is reporting that Edward Fitzgerald Q.C confirmed he has been retained by the former FIFA vice-president as he prepares for battle with the US. The 61-year-old Queen’s Counsel has represented Trinidad and Tobago businessman Steve Ferguson, who was indicted in 2006 in Florida for alleged corrupt practices regarding the Piarco International Airport in the twin-island republic but has successfully resisted extradition.

Also among Fitzgerald’s past clients are controversial Muslim cleric Abu Hamza, accused murderers and Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoners.

Fitzgerald has been called to the Bar in a number of Caribbean jurisdictions, including Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to the Huffington Post, he is renowned for defending some of the most despised people in society. Explaining why he does so, the barrister told The Guardian in 2007 that “everyone is entitled to a fair trial”.

“It would be terrible if we stopped defending people because they’re unpopular. The legal process is an attempt to civilize our emotions of revenge. Anything that’s against lynch law seems to me to be a good thing,” Fitzgerald said.

On May 27, Warner was slapped with eight charges related to alleged corruption while he was FIFA vice-president and president of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) – including taking a US$10 million bribe to vote for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup – after a United States investigation into the world football governing body.

K BRITISH-BORN EDWARD FITZGERALD Q.C HAS BEEN HIRED TO BE PART OF JACK WARNER’S LEGAL TEAM. A total of 14 current and former FIFA executives and sports marketing executives were named in the 47-count indictment.

Warner is currently on bail, awaiting an extradition hearing. Despite a newspaper report to the contrary earlier this week, the United States has reported that no final extradition request has been made as yet.

The US has 60 days from the date of the provisional arrest warrant, on which Warner was taken to court in Trinidad, to produce evidence to begin formal extradition proceedings.

Warner has made it clear that he is not going anywhere without a fight.

Speaking last night at a cottage meeting of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) which he leads, the former government minister said he wasn’t planning to run and hide.

“All I say to them is ‘bring it on’, and when they bring it on, it will be a long, hot summer,” Warner said.

“Jack Warner ain’t going anywhere, he ain’t going anywhere . . . I’ll be here not for five, 10 or 15 years, I will be here for a very long time,” he declared.

Warner said that despite government using taxpayers’ money to hire a British QC and five local lawyers, he was not afraid because he has the best legal team and God on his side.

INGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday July 1, 2015 – Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Julian Robinson says US$200 million has been invested in various renewable energy initiatives that will come on stream by the end of next year.

Among the projects are the US$45 million expansion of the Wigton Windfarm in Manchester and the recent signing of a US$47 million financing agreement with WRB Enterprises and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) for development of a 20 megawatt solar plant in York Town, Clarendon.

And Robinson says the government’s focus on renewable energy solutions is well placed.

“Reliable energy sources have revealed that alternative energy technologies, such as wind, solar, and electrical storage, continued to gain ground in 2014, with solar, in particular, capturing almost 50 per cent of all global investments in clean energy, which grew to over $310 billion in 2014,” he said.

Wigton Windfarm is the largest wind energy facility in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean, providing more than 100 million kilowatt hours of electricity to the grid on an annual basis.

“When the new 24-mega watts generating plant comes on stream in early 2016, it will increase renewable energy input to the grid by two per cent,” Robinson pointed out.

As for the development of the 20-megawatt solar plant in York Town, Clarendon, the minister said when that facility is completed, it will be one of the largest solar projects constructed in the Caribbean.

“It is of strategic national importance to Jamaica and is one of three successfully selected proposals from among 24 other projects . . . to provide a total of

Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Julian Robison (right), looks on as Chief Executive Officer of Maynex Technology Limited, Harlo Mayne, demonstrates the operation of the H2 Flex, which converts water into hydrogen gas.

115MW of renewable energy to the Jamaican power grid,” he noted.

Robinson said there are also prospects for hydro power development, following the completion of feasibility studies late last year, which identified 26 MW in hydro potential from six local rivers.

“The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) will be carrying out an aggressive marketing drive to attract investment to exploit these commercial opportunities while increasing Jamaica’s renewable energy supply,” he said.

The minister said that those projects, among others, were being pursued to increase renewable power generation to about 20 per cent by 2030 and reduce the importation of oil, which last year amounted to US$2 billion.

“To achieve this objective we have sought to involve both private and public sector entities in the development of our renewable energy resources. Our strategy is bearing fruit as we see local and overseas companies as well as government corporations investing in renewables,” he said.

Jamaicans, Vincentian caught in massive drug bust in Antigua

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T. JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday July 1, 2015 – Law enforcement officials in Antigua and Barbuda have nabbed three non-nationals in an operation that also netted over 230 pounds of cannabis and more than 49 kilos of cocaine.

The cannabis which was found in crocus bags, has an estimated street value of over EC$2.3 million (US$851,851) while the wholesale value of the sealed packages of cocaine is over EC$1.7 million (US$629,629).

The suspected smugglers – two Jamaican men and a Vincentian man – are now facing drug charges.

According to local media reports, the Jamaicans have been in Antigua for a while and the Vincentian recently trav-

THE CANNABIS FIND. elled to the island.

They were held early yesterday morning when personnel from the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy conducted an operation in the rural Mount Joy community.

THE COCAINE WHICH WAS SEIZED.

35 Cuba is first country to end mother-to-child HIV and syphilis transmission

Caribbean Star Newspaper

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AVANA, Cuba, Wednesday July 1, 2015 – Cuba yesterday became the first country in the world to receive validation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that it has eliminated motherto-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

“Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General said on the heels of the announcement.

“This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation.”

Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidiba said the achievement was a celebration for Cuba and for children and families everywhere.

“It shows that ending the AIDS epidemic is possible and we expect Cuba to be the first of many countries coming forward to seek validation that they have ended their epidemics among children,” he said @Lzloures: Cuba’s success in eliminating mother to child HIV transmission marks the beginning of the end of the AIDS epidemic.

— UNAIDS Caribbean (@UNAIDSCaribbean) June 30, 2015 The World Health Organisation/ Pan-American Health Organisation (WHO/ PAHO) has been working with partners in Cuba and other countries in the Americas since 2010 to implement a regional initiative to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

As part of the initiative, the country has worked to ensure early access to prenatal care, HIV and syphilis testing for both pregnant women and their partners, treatment for women who test positive and their babies, caesarean deliveries and substitution of breastfeeding.

These services are provided as part of an equitable, accessible and universal health system in which maternal and child health programs are integrated with programs for HIV and sexually transmitted infections. #Cuba MoH attributes success in eliminating vertical HIV transmission to political will, zero discrimination and community participation.

— UNAIDS Caribbean (@UNAIDSCaribbean) June 30, 2015 “Cuba’s success demonstrates that universal access and universal health coverage are feasible and indeed are the key to success, even against challenges as daunting as HIV,” said PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F. Etienne. “Cuba’s achievement today provides inspiration for other countries to advance towards elimination of mother-tochild transmission of HIV and syphilis”.

Every year, globally, an estimated 1.4 million women living with HIV become pregnant. Untreated, they have a 15-45 per cent chance of transmitting the virus to their children during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding. However, that risk drops to just over one per cent if antiretroviral medicines are given to both mothers and children throughout the stages when infection can occur.

The number of children born annually with HIV has almost halved since 2009 – down from 400,000 in 2009 to 240,000 in 2013. But intensified, efforts will be required to reach the global target of less

than 40,000 new child infections per year by 2015.

Nearly one million pregnant women worldwide are infected with syphilis annually. This can result in early fetal loss and stillbirth, neonatal death, low-birth-weight infants and serious neonatal infections.

However, simple, cost-effective screening and treatment options during pregnancy, such as penicillin, can eliminate most of these complications.

There have been major efforts in recent years to ensure that women get the treatment they need to keep themselves well and their children free from HIV and syphilis and a number of countries are now poised to eliminate mother-to-child trans-

July 3 – 9, 2015

mission of both diseases.

Between 2009 and 2013, the proportion of pregnant women living with HIV in lowand middle-income countries receiving effective antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of the virus to their children doubled. This means that globally, 7 out of 10 pregnant women living with HIV in lowand middle-income countries receive effective antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of the virus to their children.

Among the 22 countries which account for 90 per cent of new HIV infections, 8 have already reduced new HIV infections among children by over 50 per cent since 2009, based on 2013 data, and another four are close to this mark.

PROVIDING PREGNANT MOTHERS WITH ANTIRETROVIRAL MEDICINES CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF HIV TRANSMISSION FROM 45 PERCENT TO JUST ONE PERCENT, ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO).

(PHOTO: JEFFREY MOYO/IPS)

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

PRESIDENT GENERAL OF THE OILFIELDS WORKERS’ TRADE UNION ANCEL ROGET, IN THIS FILE PHOTO, HAS WARNED OF ACTION.

Trinidad union threatens action after workers fired for refusal to berth boat over Ebola concerns

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

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

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ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Thursday July 2, 2015 – The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) has warned it will take action in protest of the firing of three employees of the stateowned oil company who refused to berth crude oil tankers because they came from the West African country of Gabon during the Ebola crisis last year.

In fact, president general Ancel Roget is quoted in the Trinidad Express as saying that if the Petrotrin workers are not reinstated, “all hell will break loose”.

In addition to the trio sent packing, several other workers have either been suspended or issued warning letters.

It was in October and November 2014 that employees refused to berth the tankers at the Pointe-a-Pierre port because they were afraid they might be infected by the Ebola virus which had claimed the lives of thousands of people in West African nations neighbouring Gabon. This was despite receiving a health clearance certificate from the Ministry of Health which deemed the vessels free from infection or contamination.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Petrotrin said that at the time of the incident, its senior personnel engaged in dialogue with employees and the OWTU Pointe-a-Pierre branch to share infor-

mation and to address concerns and additional protective equipment was also offered to the employees to allay any concerns, although that was not required.

“Despite these efforts, employees persisted in their refusal to berth the vessels which forced the company to take alternative measures to berth these vessels and ensure the continuity of operations,” it said, adding that the situation had cost the company significantly.

“An investigation was later conducted to determine whether 66 employees had breached their duties. After the preliminary investigations, 26 employees were exonerated and there was culpability found on the part of the remaining 40 employees. The 40 employees were given an opportunity to respond on more than two occasions.”

Petrotrin said that after carefully reviewing the facts, it decided to terminate three employees and issue suspensions and warning letters to the other 37.

But Roget has charged that the workers were really fired because they opposed Petrotrin’s decision to privatize its bunkering operations.

“We are not foolish to not make the link. It is a diversionary tactic to go through with this major bunkering deal,” he charged.

July 3 – 9, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Beach disappearing on St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Union Island

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INGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Thursday July 2, 2015, IPS – Fifteen years ago, Stephanie Browne, a former Member of Parliament in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, needed only to look at the beach outside her house to know why her community in Union Island was called “Big Sand”.

So expansive were the beach and dunes that people played cricket games there without getting wet.

Today, just a few feet of sand remain, saved only by the large boulders that have been placed more than 20 feet into the sea, where the fence for Browne’s property once stood.

“There could have been other reasons but I think climate change is the main reason for losing that beach down there,” Browne, who retired from politics 15 years ago, tells IPS. “The water is too deep to show you where our fence was because a part of our fence is now way out in the sea and we have lost land for a number of years,” she says.

“What we’ve had to do is to use the boulders to try to keep our land and that’s why we are able to still have a little beach there.

If not, there would absolutely be no beach,” she explains.

Browne tells IPS that she estimates the amount of land lost is enough to build a two-bedroom house of the type common in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, complete with a yard and fencing.

“There was a lot of sand and a lot of beach. Now, we have a lot of rocks, trying

to save what we can,” she says.

Union Island is one of the southern-most islands in the archipelagic nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a country of 32 islands, islets and cays.

Unlike St. Vincent, the “main island”, the Grenadines has the white sand beaches commonly associated with tourism, the main revenue earner on the island and the country.

But rising seas, blamed on climate change, are beginning to imperil the beaches on the five-kilometre by three-kilometre island of 3,000 people.

Allan Providence, a senior officer at Union Island Airport, was born in St. Vincent but has been living in Union Island for 22 years.

“I know exactly what the island was like before it came to this point,” he tells IPS while standing on the sliver of sand that remains at Big Sand.

“What you are seeing here, this location, this is a structure that they used to have beach-o-rama and picnics and so on, and even out in the water where you are seeing the water is breaking now was where people would congregate, partying,” Providence says, pointing to an area 30 to 40 feet away.

The structure to which he referred is a concrete building with a zinc roof that has begun to collapse as the rising water undermines its foundation.

“But now, we have the sea is here. So, over the years, it has really degraded and

brought it to this point,” Providence tells IPS. “The water is rising and the sea is coming in, and that would definitely be as a result of climate change. Definitely. It was never like this,” Providence tells IPS. Residents of Union Island are doing what they can to highlight the impact of climate change.

One way that this is being done is through Radio Grenadines, an Internet radio station that was officially launched on June 12, two years after it was founded in the bedrooms of two residents.

The launch of the not-for-profit radio station coincided with the graduation of 21 its contributors from a media training course endorsed by the Association of Caribbean Media Workers.

The training programme focused on using media to spread awareness about climate change and what can be done at the level of the citizen. It was funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP).

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Haydn Billingy, national co-ordinator of the GEF, noted that the National Anthem of St. Vincent and the Grenadines celebrates the seas and “golden sands” of the Grenadines.

“These are the very things we use, that we call our natural resources, to attract our tourists and being that we are so depended on these natural resources, we have to show respect for them,” he said.

He noted that the Radio Grenadines proj-

37

ect looks at using electronic media to raise awareness “about the important issue of climate change that is affecting us not only locally but globally”.

“In this harsh economic climate, there are still NGOs who are locally bred who care enough about the environment to dedicate tremendous voluntary work to ensure that it is protected for future generations,” Billingy said in reference to Radio Grenadines and other NGOs that focus on climate change.

“It shows that some people still appreciate and understand the indelible, fragile connection between the environment and human health and also livelihoods,” Billingy told the graduates.

In addition to the 21 persons trained in radio broadcasting, 62 members of NGOs that focus on the environment and climate change were trained in public relations and media use.

Billingy tells IPS that this is what is meant by “community empowerment”.

“These persons are now in a position to understand the environmental issues that are affecting St. Vincent and the Grenadines and they are possibly in a position to now be employed in the area of media and even the environment. This is what we mean when we talk about sustainable livelihoods.

“Indeed, I am seeing the Grenadines being the forerunner of environmental protection in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Billingy tells IPS.

38

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

CRICKET & Sports

Anger as 10-team World Cup not up for debate For the 95 Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC, the most significant part of the recent annual conference was what was not announced. There was no formal discussion of the format of the next two World Cups, effectively confirming that the 2019 and 2023 tournaments will be three days longer than the 2015 edition but reduced to ten teams.

“The only information that I’ve had from the ‘Big Three’ was that it was extremely difficult to unpick the TV rights and to change things,” Ross McCollom, chairman of Cricket Ireland, said in reference to the takeover by India, England and Australia. The ICC’s broadcasting deal with Star Sports, agreed last October, guaranteed India nine games in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.

Scotland captain Preston Mommsen has made clear his disgust at the attitude of England who, as hosts of the 2019 tournament and a prime mover in restructuring the governing body, were critical to the ICC’s decision-making.

Giles Clarke, the ECB president, is known to be a strong supporter of the move; a senior ICC source recently described him as “hell bent” on a 10-team World Cup. The ECB chose not to explain its stance.

“There is anger at what I’m reading about the ECB and their input into this ICC meeting,” Mommsen said. “That’s going to make me and my Associate colleagues very angry that they’ve taken such a selfish and narrow-minded approach to the entire decision-making process. It’s very short-sighted and not good for the growth of the global game.”

He added that the proximity of leading Associates to England made the possibility that none would qualify for the 2019 World Cup “a serious missed opportunity”.

“I don’t think they have any right to call it a World Cup,” Mommsen said. “It’s completely regressive when you compare it to other global sports. It’s beyond belief that this is actually happening in 2015.

“The idea and dream of playing in a World Cup is what inspired me to try and play for Scotland. I’m sure it was the carrot for many current and past Scottish players to play the game.”

Mommsen fears that the reduction in teams for the World Cup will “significantly impact upon the younger generation.

It’s going to be even more of a challenge now for Cricket Scotland to keep growing

the sport.”

“A young lad now may well choose a different sport. All the other sports are expanding their World Cups and we don’t see why we should be shrinking ours” Mommsen even suggested that “taking that to a higher body is something that I have no doubt will be looked at by the top Associate nations”. In 2011, there was talk of Associate nations challenging the original plans to make the 2015 World Cup ten teams in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although this time there is at least the prospect of a qualifying tournament for the last two spots.

His frustration is exacerbated by the performance of the Associates in the 2015 World Cup, and the support Martin Crowe, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachin Tendulkar and many others gave to their presence.

“It’s probably the best tournament that Associates have had,” Mommsen said.

“The ICC could actually take a lot of credit for all their hard work but instead of embracing that instead that they’ve decided to take away all the hard work.

“It would be good to know the facts of why this decision has been made. Clearly money is a huge factor but that can’t be the only factor,” Mommsen said, arguing that the ICC could make far more money in the long run by displaying a more inclusive attitude. “The deal is short sighted in terms of markets that could be tapped into in the longer term. If you gave other countries the chance to a) take part and b) try and take part that opens the door.”

While less withering than Mommsen, Willie Donald, the acting chief executive of Cricket Scotland, was also exasperated by the news. “If England haven’t supported wider access to the World Cup then that is unfortunate,” he said. “We share the disappointment of the other associates.”

Donald suggested that there was a “bipolar situation” in the ICC, contrasting the genuine efforts made to expand cricket with “the decision to corner the

Giles Clarke, shown with his Cricket Australia counterpart Wally Edwards, remains wedded to a 10-team World Cup © Getty Images market”.

Niall O’Brien, who has played in all three World Cups in Ireland’s history, said that “we wouldn’t be where we are now” if Ireland hadn’t participated in the 2007 World Cup, which was a 16-team tournament. “If that’s not as possible for a young lad now they may well choose a different sport.”

“All the other sports are expanding their World Cups and we don’t see why we should be shrinking ours,” he said.

“It’s gut-wrenching. It’s just a bit sad that potentially Ireland have played in their last World Cup.” O’Brien added that it was “very strange” that the 2019 World Cup qualifier will be in Bangladesh, while the 2023 World Cup qualifier has been awarded to Zimbabwe.

“The ICC obviously don’t want a Full Member to miss out on the tournament,” he said. The previous World Cup qualifier was in New Zealand, replicating the conditions in the main tournament.

But McCollom suggested that Ireland had not yet completely given up hope that the decision to contract the World Cup might be reversed. “It’s not like they’ve never changed decisions before so we’ll always live in hope that they might see the light and change their minds,” he said.

“The quote that they’re trying to use is a bigger, better global game but reducing the size of the World Cup doesn’t back up what they’re saying.”

While Ireland have led the opposition to previous ICC decisions, they have been comparatively less vociferous in opposing the steps taken to reduce the World Cup, reflecting their hope that the new ODI 12-team structure will lead to more fixtures.

McCollom conceded that it had been “extremely frustrating” trying to secure games against Test nations but added,

“there is traction happening”. It is understood that Ireland hope to host both Sri Lanka and Pakistan for two-match ODI series in 2016; they are also likely to play a triangular series with Afghanistan in Zimbabwe this October, with the same three teams playing in a tri-series in Ireland next year.

Tim Anderson, the ICC’s well-respected head of global development, last week asserted that Associate cricket was “in a much better place now than say it was six or 12 months ago” despite the World Cup decision.

However, it is far from clear that Associates themselves agree. “I’m not even sure we’re in an equal place - we’re in a new place and a different place,” Donald said.

Tim Cutler, the chief executive of Hong Kong, was also not convinced. “With the World T20 now out to four years and the reduction in World Cup teams I would have to say the assertion that there are now more opportunities for Associates and Affiliates isn’t entirely accurate,” he said. “It’s quite a bitter pill to swallow.”

Cutler also argued for cricket to strongly consider making a push for Olympic status, something staunchly opposed

by England and India. “Perhaps a sixes tournament in the Olympics could be the shop window opportunity for us to showcase our great sport without compromising media deals,” he said. “Even the cynics cannot deny that the potential of national investment in new markets like China is appealing.”

Based on the example of rugby sevens, the Chinese Cricket Association would expect to receive $20 million a year from the Chinese government if cricket was included in the Olympics.

They currently receive only $30,000 a year from the ICC.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

39

Dhoni and Kohli: a clash of ideologies?

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hen MS Dhoni shocked everybody on December 30 last year by announcing his Test retirement mid-series in Australia to concentrate on his limited-overs cricket and on taking the one-day team forward, he sent India into an uncharted era. To be pedantic, India split the captaincy for a while earlier too, but Dhoni played only 11 Tests under Anil Kumble before assuming full leadership, and both captains in that case were of largely similar temperament and philosophy. Also, Dhoni tasted immediate success in limited-overs cricket, and his Test captaincy was a natural progression.

This now is new. Dhoni is looking to extend his one-day career; he is going to play on at least until the World T20 in 2016. More importantly in the current scenario, the senior, more established captain has the lesser job and will be spending significantly less time with the team than Virat Kohli. Captains the world over relinquish the reins of ODI sides first. Misbah-ul-Haq plays Tests and Azhar Ali leads Pakistan in the one-dayers. Ditto Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan. Not with Dhoni and Kohli. Getting the ODI captaincy first gives you a soft launch and you naturally progress to Tests, which are full of possibilities and thus demand more of a captain.

Even more importantly in India’s case, the personnel for the teams are similar but the personality and philosophies of the leaders could not be more different. In his first Test as captain as a stand-in at that - and in the frying pan that is playing in Australia, Kohli opted for pace, pace, pace, and a rookie legspinner ahead of a left-arm spinner many believe to be limited and an offspinner who had been tried without rewards in overseas Tests. The thinking was: fingerspinners don’t get wickets in Australia, and Kohli didn’t want his spinner to do a mere holding job. Another possible explanation was lack of patience, or trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat with not much to lose because he was supposed to have just one Test as captain back then.

Dhoni is more pragmatic. He has reason to be so. India’s fast bowlers and spinners are not accurate away from home. They don’t offer him the luxury to attack. Dhoni doesn’t rage against the machine. He began to gradually ask less of them. Long before the BCCI sent that press release on December 30, 2014, Dhoni had already resigned as a bowlers’ captain in Tests away from home. The Lord’s Test, when he asked Ishant Sharma to bowl bouncers in the fourth innings, was one last flicker. In the next Test, hampered by Ishant’s injury, Dhoni was back to getting Ravindra Jadeja to bowl 12 overs into the pads of left-hand batsmen with a 6-3 leg-side field in the second session of the first day. As if with Ishant injured, Dhoni was back to being jaded with the bowling.

Kohli is young, he is fresh. He has not

As ODI captain, MS Dhoni, the senior player of the two, effectively has the smaller gig to Virat Kohli’s Test do © AFP

Virat Kohli is very likely to be more demanding of his bowlers than MS Dhoni was © AFP led India to away whitewashes. He is not scarred. Something about him says he will refuse to settle for less from his bowlers.

He wants his fast bowlers fast. Not just in the first four balls of the over, not just in the first two sessions of the day, not just in the first innings of the Test, not just in the first Test of the series. He wants his spinners to go after wickets. He has said more than once that he is willing to risk a loss for a win. Even in Bangladesh he picked three of the fastest men available to him in the squad. At times Dhoni was happy with just Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling off a long run.

There is no guarantee Kohli’s methods will succeed. They will depend on the execution. And, don’t worry, his bowlers will test his patience, but something about him suggests that when the bowlers revert to bowling one bad ball per over, he won’t just shrug his shoulders and have fielders following the ball. He will demand more. That’s what he said in Australia. “You need composure and character to go out there and say, ‘I’m tired, but I need to take two wickets for my team, so I need to

bowl at the same pace as my first spell.’

That’s where character counts. When you’re tired and you’re down and your team expects you to step up. That’s something we’ve not been able to do in the last couple of years.”

The success or failure of the new methods only time will tell, but Kohli does seem to have brought in a new philosophy and has jolted the team out of its comfort zone. It is no longer about just the processes. The new leadership says it is not happy with the right processes if they are not producing the right results. It is about time they began winning away Tests, it says. It is also at odds with the way the ODI captain thinks. There is potential for conflict and confusion, if there isn’t some already. The selectors and the board - the latter still finding its feet - can’t afford to just sit back and watch. They will need to keep a constant eye on how the team is responding to the two captains. The arrangement can easily go on for too long.

Personally, too, there is scope for unease for the captains. To Dhoni, sudden-

ly the team could feel like a new place with new ideas. If you spend time out of it, it can be even more disorienting. You come back in, lead in a different format while trying to rediscover your own batting, lose a series to Bangladesh, and go against your own nature and first criticise a trusted, consistent and selfless batsman who is batting at an unfamiliar station, and then give the out-and-out fast bowlers a tongue-lashing in public.

Earlier this week the Daily Telegraph published a fascinating conversation between two of England’s most celebrated captains, Michael Vaughan and Mike Brearley. They spoke from personal experience and from their experience of people. Talking of the upcoming Ashes, Brearley said it was an advantage that Cook hadn’t played ODIs and was fresh, but he also pointed out that the England side had changed during the ODIs. “It will be difficult for him [Cook] if things don’t go well to start with, if he feels they have not got the same spirit in the team as they had in the one-day matches, and if he does not feel quite in charge,” Brearley told Vaughan. “Nasser [Hussain] felt that with you when you took over for one-day matches.”

Vaughan agreed. “That was in 2003,” he said. “I did it differently for the oneday matches, Nasser came in for the Test matches and felt the team had moved on.” The arrangement lasted only three Tests.

It is possible Dhoni came to Bangladesh and felt the team had moved on.

Maybe that leaves him vulnerable. We don’t know what he feels - he will never let us know - but this is a risk that comes with a split captaincy. He is edgier than ever, has got frustrated easily, and has expressed that frustration easily.

What Dhoni said about the fast bowlers - unprovoked - in the final postmatch presentation in Bangladesh does not necessarily mean that he and Kohli are at each other’s throats, or that Kohli can’t wait to assume absolute control of the team, but it puts out in the open a clash of ideologies and philosophies.

There is an obvious mutual respect there: Dhoni the captain backed Kohli when everybody wanted him dropped in Australia in 2011-12, and Kohli the batsman has won Dhoni many an ODI off his own bat. Yet they could be pulling the team in different directions.

Kohli himself is yet to win a Test. His ODI form hasn’t been great. The selectors probably don’t feel comfortable enough to hand the team over entirely to him. They probably want to see more of him as captain.

This is a delicate time for Indian cricket, and decisions to be made now are as important - if not more - as when the four big batsmen had to be phased out. The members of the team, some by making plain their intentions to play on until a certain time, some by not performing well in the series in Bangladesh, have not made it any easier for Sandeep Patil’s selection committee.

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July 3 – 9, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 3 – 9, 2015

41

CPL sans Barbados will not be the same

The prospect of dropping the loss-making Barbados Tridents from the tournament will be a blow to the country and its partying fans

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he Caribbean Premier League (CPL) entourage moves on from Barbados and St Lucia this weekend, heading north to St Kitts for its next round of partying and T20 cricket. Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad, which hosts the final at Queen’s Park Oval on July 26, follow.

It leaves Barbados after four matches that attracted spirited sell-out crowds each night with an ominous notice from the CPL bosses that, after three years, it could well be the end of play at Kensington Oval.

Chief executive Damien O’Donohue and chief operating officer Pete Russell told the local press that the government and private sector had “failed to come on board” and that if they received a good offer from “people knocking on our doors” they were prepared to pull out of Barbados.

“All the other teams are making money because of the support of the government and the private sector in those countries,” they said, adding that they would review Barbados’ position when the season is over.

They didn’t sound in conciliatory mood, even as they declared that they “love coming to Barbados”.

While CPL had invested US$20 million in staging matches on the island, it was getting little in return, describing it as “a very unfair partnership”.

Should Barbados fail to produce “at least US$1 million”, their franchise team, Barbados Tridents, the 2014 champions, would morph into the title of whichever franchise would take its place, just as

Antigua Hawksbills were disbanded and transformed this season into St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the same reasons. The St Vincent Vikings and Grenada Spice could be next, provided their governments and private sectors “come on board”.

The crux of the matter is money and how much of it Barbados and other territories keen on attracting a tournament that has stimulated cricket’s waning interest are willing to provide CPL with the investment its seeks.

The Barbados government is passing through difficult economic times. It is under public pressure for cutting jobs and taxing heavily to reduce its substantial deficit O’Donohue and Russell termed the Barbados operation “a financial disaster”, estimating losses at US$1 million over each of its first two seasons.

Citing a report, prepared for it by the international sports market analysts, SMG-Insight/YouGov, the CPL claims it injected US$166 million overall into the economies of the participating territories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago) over the six weeks of the 2014 event.

It went mainly into the rental and preparation of grounds, hotel accommodation, air travel and internal transportation for teams and CPL personnel along with fees for players, officials and entertainers who are the core of the package.

It placed the US$28.7 million pumped into Barbados’ economy at the top of the list last year, just ahead of St Kitts and Nevis, the venue for the final, with US$25.1 million.

The report estimated that 217,176 spectators paid US$47.4 million to follow the matches in

Barbados Tridents may be the defending champions but at the boardroom the picture is far from rosy © CPL T20 Ltd.2015 2014, with “thousands of new jobs created in tourism and travel across the region”.

Exposure through global TV coverage was up to 65 million from 36 million in the first year, according to the report; a further increase is expected in the current season.

Such statistics should be enough to encourage those that could raise the capital to buy into the CPL. The government of St Kitts-Nevis, with support from its wealthy foreign citizens, has a five-year contract worth US$7.25 million; other governments and private sectors have come up with similar sums.

A few issues preclude Barbados following suit, as they did Antigua-Barbuda. The government doesn’t have the money.

It’s as simple as that. It is passing through difficult economic times.

It is under public pressure for cutting jobs and taxing heavily to reduce its substantial deficit. One union is threatening to call an island-wide strike.

To hand over even US$1 million to guarantee four, privately run T20 cricket matches for a week every year, however popular, would be generally regarded as irresponsible. Even if its treasury could afford it, it might see it worthier to use the funds to boost falling local standards.

The experience of the 2007 World Cup is somewhat different but is another factor all the same.

“The net effect of the Cricket World Cup could well be negative in light of its heavy fiscal costs and the already heavy debt burden in the region,” the International Monetary Fund (IMF) accurately predicted.

Bidding territories then had to satisfy a long list of expensive qualifying criteria, among them the construction of new or improved stadiums in Barbados, Antigua and Guyana. Barbados earned the final but the anticipated returns never materialised; the completely renovated Kensington Oval remains a drain on the treasury, as does the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in An-

tigua and the National Stadium at Providence in Guyana.

In the case of the CPL, it’s once bitten, twice shy. The tourism, manufacturing and business sectors, normally the most obvious sources for investment, find themselves caught up in the financial bind that affects their governments.

There is no question that the CPL has revolutionised the game.

Sold in 2013 by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) under licence to Digicel, the giant Irish mobile phone company with considerable interests in the Caribbean, it has fired the public’s imagination in a once flourishing, but now waning, game. Nowhere has its appeal has been more profound than at Kensington Oval.

Every night, the stands have been filled to capacity with joyous fans celebrating the success of the Tridents, a team in the national colours of blue and gold that includes five Trinidadians, a couple of Sri Lankans, a South African and a Pakistani. It is captained by a Trinidadian so locally popular a placard at Thursday night’s match proclaimed: “Citizenship for Pollard”.

It is a phenomenon unthinkable before the CPL’s arrival. Regional cricket had always been based on the intense, age-old rivalry between the territories; the WICB met such resistance to its plan to open up its new Professional Cricket League to draft selections that it had to mandate each of the six teams to include at least two non-nationals in their squads for next season.

If Tridents’ match against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Saturday was, indeed, the last of the CPL in Barbados, it will be truly missed by the thousands of its converts. But there would be obvious reasons for it.

Karunaratne, Mathews steer SL to series-levelling win Sri Lanka 315 (Silva 80, Mathews 77, Yasir 6-96) and 153 for 3 (Karunaratne 50, Mathews 43*) beat Pakistan 138 (Hafeez 42, Kaushal 5-42, Prasad 3-43) and 329 (Azhar 117, Shehzad 69, Prasad 4-92, Chameera 3-53) by seven wickets

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ri Lanka negotiated a 153-run target, the threat of rain and a brief batting stutter to eventually ease to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Test at the P Sara Oval, levelling the series with one match to go. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s fifty and his 72-run partnership with captain Angelo Mathews for the third wicket was the calming influence in a chase that had got off to a frenzied start.

A wet outfield, the result of heavy

overnight rain, had delayed the start of the day’s play by half an hour and with the threat of rain looming over the final day, Sri Lanka played a gambit, pushing the aggressive Kithuruwan Vithanage to open the innings with Karunaratne.

Sri Lanka fined for slow over rate Sri Lanka have been fined for maintaining a slow over rate in the second Test at the P Sara Oval. Match referee Chris Broad imposed the fine after Sri Lanka were ruled one over short of their target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

Captain Angelo Mathews was fined 20% of his match fee while his teammates were fined 10% in accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players Support Personnel. Mathews pleaded guilty to the offence and accept-

ed the sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In the first innings, Vithanage had fallen attempting an unnecessary reverse sweep at a crucial juncture. In the second, he did the job he was sent out to do, starting with his first ball off Junaid which was confidently flicked over midwicket for four. By the time the lead spin pair of Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar was introduced into the attack, Sri Lanka had raced away to 28 off four overs, with Vithanage contributing 18. In Babar’s second over, Vithanage smacked a towering six straight down the ground and followed it up with a slog-sweep for six over midwicket off the next ball. Three deliveries later, he holed out to deep midwicket attempting a similar shot.

Off the next ball, the first of Yasir

Shah’s second over, Kumar Sangakkara was done in a delivery that spun in and took a deflection off the glove to short leg. The wickets would have raised Pakistan’s hope of making Sri Lanka’s chase a little tougher but Mathews and Karunaratne restored calm with their partnership.

There were a few opportunities for Pakistan with run-out chances created but the pair motored along smoothly, at a scoring-rate of 5.46 an over.

Karunaratne fell two balls after scoring a fifty off 55 deliveries but Sri Lanka were only 32 runs adrift of the target at the time. Mathews’ unbeaten 43 off 57 ensured there were no further hiccups for Sri Lanka.

The third Test begins in Pallekele on July 3.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Gayle outdoes Samuels, Guptill in Tallawahs win IPL governing council to discuss CLT20 alternative July 3 – 9, 2015

Jamaica Tallawahs 164 for 3 (Gayle 72*, Lynn 52) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 160 for 5 (Guptill 53, Samuels 50, Santokie 4-37) by seven wickets

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hris Gayle’s red hot T20 form carried over to Warner Park in St Kitts where his unbeaten 72 led Jamaica Tallawahs to a seven-wicket win against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Australian importChris Lynn pitched in with 52 as part of an 85-run partnership for the second wicket, which put Tallawahs on course to overhaul 160. Gayle finished the chase with a pulled four, taking his team to their second win of the season.

Gayle’s aggressive knock, which included six fours two sixes, was not without shaky moments though. After drinks

were taken with the score at 71 for 1 in 10, play resumed with Gayle, on 28, hitting the third ball of the 11th over from Marlon Samuels to long-on where Martin Guptill’s one-handed effort nearly produced a sensational catch.

Gayle offered another chance on 49 to start off the 17th over bowled by Shahid Afridi and Tallawahs still needing 10 an over but Orlando Peters had trouble spotting a skier, running in from deep midwicket and nearly overrunning before eventually grassing the chance. Gayle then brought up his second successive half-century off 46 balls and carried on to add an unbroken 50-run stand inside five overs with Andre Russell.

Having opted to bat, Patriots had post-

ed a competitive score, with Guptill assembling half-century stands with Tonito Willett and Samuels for the second and third wickets. Guptill got off to a quick start, boosting the Patriots to 49 for 1 in six overs, but he went more than 11 overs without hitting a boundary - a streak that started in the sixth over - before a second six brought up his 50 off 47 balls.

Krishmar Santokie accounted for Guptill two balls into the 18th over. Samuels and Afridi then took Patriots past 150 and Samuels brought up his own half-century with a six before Santokie wrapped up the innings, dismissing Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite off consecutive balls.

Santokie ended with impressive figures of 4 for 37.

ICC blasts USACA’s selection policies, player treatment

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he ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has recently received a formal complaint related to national team selection procedures of the USA Cricket Association, according to information contained in a 40-page report delivered at the ICC annual conference last week in Barbados.

The complaint references a The ICC report noted that many USA players and stakeholders threat of legal action “by the referred to the board’s method of staff appointments «as a joke» parent of an aggrieved child” © Peter Della Penna against the USA U-19 selection process, with the complaint to ecutive, David Richardson, and tournaments held in the USA the ICC ACSU alleging that the head of global development, and overseas. It is part of a patselection process was “corrupt” Tim Anderson, states that many tern of administrative behavior and should be investigated.

USA players and stakeholders in which players interviewed Though the ICC report did referred to the board’s meth- told the ICC that they felt “disnot name any individual, the od of staff appointments “as respected and not supported complaint is believed to ref- a joke” and felt that such de- by USACA.” erence Shyam Patnam who, cisions “were damaging to the “Such a feeling was exaceras ESPNcricinfo reported last team’s ability to perform at the bated when, at times, USACA week, was pursuing arbitra- highest level” due to the incom- was unable to provide approtion with USACA over the USA petence of support staff. priate medical insurance for U-19 selection process held in USA technical director Robin national team players,” the reMay. Patnam separately alleged Singh’s reputation as an Indian port stated. “This saw players in a letter to USACA that three Premier League and Caribbean being asked to sign pre-tour/ players were unfairly select- Premier League title-winning event waivers,” which would ed after not attending the trial coach was highlighted as one have absolved USACA of finanwhile four other players ben- of the few things that served cial liability in the case of injury. efitted from nepotism, due to to be beneficial to players. It On some occasions, the report relations with current or for- came with a caveat though, cited, players were not reimmer USACA administrators. He that his coaching pedigree and bursed when they sustained added that the seven players acumen are helpful only when injures and required medical atshould be replaced in the USA he is available. The report cited tention while playing or training U-19 squad by his son, Aravind, Singh’s prolonged absences, for the USA. and six others. Patnam’s initial due to his franchise T20 comIn its defence, USACA claimed request for an appeals hear- mitments, as “an impediment that the geographical size of the ing with USACA was ignored, to the development of the best country, combined with insuffiprompting him to hire Cali- players and teams in the US.” cient funds for preparation and fornia sports attorney Jeremy “It is strongly felt that for lack of vacation days the playEvans in a bid to escalate the USA cricket to meet its po- ers are able to obtain from their matter. tential, the recruitment of full- day jobs make it challenging for In addition to the mention time, competent coaching re- the national team to get togethof the USA U-19 selection sources based in the USA is a er for pre-tournament training process, the ICC report also fundamental requirement,” the in order to produce consistentoutlined numerous instances report stated. ly positive performances. The of substandard selection proWorryingly, the report also ICC report countered that even cesses for USA’s other national cited instances in which the though these arguments have teams, as well as accusations of welfare of USA’s players is un- merit, the obstacles should not politically motivated support dermined by USACA’s inability be as debilitating as they are staff appointments. The report, to provide them proper in- made out to be. which was prepared by a re- surance coverage prior to and “These challenges are imview group led by ICC chief ex- during their participation at ICC portant, however, they are

not insurmountable with the involvement of competent, properly motivated people, the development of partnerships and the raising of income. Noting the apparent lack of confidence and distrust within the cricket community about USACA’s capacity to implement a merit-based high performance system, it is, however, doubtful that the injection of additional funds only would lead to better on-field performances,” the report noted.

As for women’s cricket initiatives, the ICC expressed disappointment in the fact that the number of female hardball players in the country had only risen from 75 to 135 from 2011 to 2015, despite USA’s participation in the 2011 ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh. The data submitted by USACA, and similar figures reported by other governing bodies in the Americas, resulted in the ICC pulling the plug on funding ICC Americas women’s tournaments for World Cup and World T20 berths until better efforts are made by the respective local governing bodies like USACA to develop “more robust” playing pools and domestic structures for women.

“The review group is of the view that, given the right environment and support, the USA has significant potential to develop an internationally competitive women’s team in a relatively short period of time. This is largely due to the possibility of talented female athletes in the US that have grown up playing softball, hockey or even lacrosse being able to transition into cricket, and/or females with cricket playing expatriate heritage being given greater opportunities to play competitively.”

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he IPL governing council is set to discuss an alternative to the Champions League Twenty20 in a meeting, likely to be held in Delhi, on July 8.

Though the CLT20 has still not officially been scrapped, it is believed that the three boards governing the multinational T20 tournament have signed an exit clause with the broadcaster of the tournament.

As a result, according to a BCCI insider, “It is a given that CLT20 is history and it’s time to look ahead”.

The BCCI is understood to have plenty of options to fill in the three-week void created in the fixtures by the CLT20 cancellation. At the moment, there are three major options being discussed in the BCCI corridors.

To play a mini-IPL comprising the top four teams in IPL 2015. Likely to be a seven-match tournament with a league stage of six matches, followed by a final.

To play a baby-IPL with all eight teams participating. The tournament will have a total of 15 matches, with eight teams divided into two groups of four, followed by two semi-finals and a final.

Instead of playing a mini/baby-IPL, respond to the WICB’s informal proposal of playing a short series in India to make up for the losses arising out of West Indies’ pullout from last year’s tour of India.

The IPL governing council is likely to discuss the first two options threadbare.

If either of those two options is considered financially and logistically viable, then the governing council is set to forward it to the BCCI working committee, likely to be held in the latter half of July, for ratification.

The most critical aspect of playing a mini-IPL is to consider the ramifications of it on the broadcaster for the IPL. If any other broadcaster is awarded rights for a miniature version of the IPL, Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd, owners of Max and Six who broadcast the IPL, may appeal to the Competition Commission of India.

However, the BCCI at the moment is not looking that far. The issue of broadcasting, according an IPL insider, will arise only if a mini-IPL is formalised. The BCCI hierarchy is also confident that the issue can be dealt with by following a transparent method to award broadcast rights.

While the BCCI’s coffers are richer due to the settlement with the CLT20 broadcaster, a mini-IPL will help the IPL cricketers and franchises oblige their contractual commitments. Ten per cent of every player’s IPL contract is set aside as his match-fees for the CLT20, provided his team qualifies for the tournament.

Similarly, a portion of every franchise’s sponsorship deal is understood to have been provisionally based on its qualification for the CLT20.

Only if the governing council decides against filling in the CLT20 slot with a franchise-based league will it let the working committee discuss the possibility of playing a series at home against West Indies.

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