Caribbean Star #51 vol. 4 2015

Caribbean First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

July 17 – 23, 2015

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GUYANA TAXI MEN CONFESSED TO PLANNING RAMLALL ROBBERY, TRANSPORTING KILLERS –CRIME CHIEF

Vol.4 #51

SWAT TEAM CAPTURES MURDER, ROBBERY SUSPECTS The house which includes the apartment where the incident occurred.

See Page 26

OVER 75% OF PERSONS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER NOT TREATED

TRINIDAD

NO $8M SECTION 34 CONSPIRACY Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has once again dismissed allegations by corruption-accused Jack Warner—this time, on an $8.3 million Section 34 freedom conspiracy—as lies.

See Page 9

WE’RE TRINIS TOO

Dead: Rolston Morrison

See Page 29 SPORT

WICB DROPS DISCIPLINARY CHARGE AGAINST GAYLE

See Page 38

The firearm that was recovered

See Page 34

GUYANA

President convenaes emergency Cabinet meeting on flooding V

LOW FARES

-fugitive killed, cop wounded during shootout See Page 10

Young Trinidadians of Chinese descent have engaged in an online campaign on social media to combat xenophobia and racism that has emerged following reports in the media of Chinese men skinning a dog supposedly to cook for food.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

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Guyana/Venezuela controversy… Maduro incensed by Sunday Chronicle lead story –accuses publication of being ‘anti-Venezuelan’

V

ENEZUELA’S President Nicolas Maduro is outraged by the Sunday, July 12 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, the lead story of which is titled, ‘Maduro’s Govt wants to ‘beat its chest’ on Essequibo claims’. The article carried recent statements made by Venezuelan Opposition Leader, Henrique Capriles, who has accused the country’s leader of using the Essequibo claim to distract the Venezuelan people from the political and economic challenges currently plaguing the oil-rich nation.

Capriles’ comments came in the wake of Maduro’s three-and-a-half-hour long address to the Venezuelan National Assembly on Monday, July 6.

“Yesterday (July 6),” Capriles was quoted in the article as saying, “we saw in the AN [National Assembly in English] that they now want to retrieve the Essequibo [but] who will believe them?

“Maduro was Foreign Minister for six years, and now you realise there is a territory to claim? Please! What they want is to put an issue on the table to divert the attention of the Venezuelan people from the issues that affect them.”

In response to Capriles’ statements, a visibly agitated Maduro said, “This is the most serious thing that was done by an immature, petty, and selfish political leader,” while brandishing a translated copy of the said July 12 edition of the Sunday Chronicle at a high-level meeting in the Milaflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.

“Never in your life are you [Capriles] going to be President of this Republic.

The next Head of State will be a Bolivarian!” Maduro was quoted as saying by Venezuelan State agency, VTV Channel 8 (VTV Canal 8 in Spanish).

Maduro reportedly went on to bash the Guyana Chronicle for being, in his view, “anti-Venezuelan”, and for having repeated campaigns and attacks against the country. He said, too, that Capriles, also the Governor of Venezuela’s Miranda State, is an agent of U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil, acting against Venezuela.

Maduro’s concern seems to be that statements made by the Venezuelan Opposition, as published so prominently in the July 12 edition of the Sunday Chronicle, could affect the advancement of his Government’s Essequibo claim to the international community.

“They put it on the front page when he denigrates and rants against the country; all these arguments are used in international bodies where we bring our claim,” Maduro was again quoted by VTV Channel 8 as saying.

The Venezuelan President has been accused of steering away from addressing the concerns of his country.

Washington Post’s Latin America Correspondent, Nick Miroff on Monday noted in an article: “Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is facing a staggering array of problems… Things were already going badly before global oil prices tanked, so now they’re a lot worse.”

“With Venezuelan crude down to about [US]$50 a barrel, Maduro’s government has been devouring its foreign currency

reserves and plunging deeper into debt, though not fast enough to keep supermarkets stocked,” Miroff said in his July 13 article titled, “Why Venezuela wants to annex two-thirds of the country next door”.

According to Miroff, “Annual inflation is the highest in the world, and the country’s largest bank note, $100 “strong bolivars” is now worth just 17 US cents on the black market.”

Recent revelations on the border controversy show that President Maduro has mandated retired Army Colonel, Pompeyo Torrealba to lead a newly-formed government agency called

“Essequibo Rescue Office”.

“Setting aside for a moment the matter of political and economic priorities, the attempt to take control of two-thirds of Guyana is a somewhat strange one, in light of the hard-earned reputation of Maduro’s political mentor, the late Hugo Chavez, as a big-hearted, tireless advocate for the world’s poor,” Miroff’s Washington Post article said.

Meanwhile, President David Granger has taken to the international community to denounce Maduro’s acts of aggression through an executive decree issued recently, which claims all of Guyana’s mar-

itime space off the Atlantic Coast. This is also the area where U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil is conducting oil explorations.

“Security and stability are indispensable to sustainable development and the pursuit of prosperity. We resent, reject, and resist the threat or use of force or any unilateral coercive attempt by one state against another in order to frustrate the legitimate aspirations of our people to enjoy a good life,” President Granger told the opening plenary of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development on Monday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

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July 17 – 23, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Three Corentyne men, including two currently before the court on armed robbery charges, were refused bail after police said they were found driving around with an unlicensed pistol.

P

olice said Premchand Kallicharran, 28, Cordell Small, 23, and Jermaine Jason Gouldian, 27, were found with the gun when police stopped and searched their vehicle after noticing them acting suspiciously.

According to the charge against the men, on July 12th, at Number 2 Village, East Canje, they had a .22 semi-automatic pistol in their possession while not being holders of a firearm licence. A second charge stated that on the same

Premchand Kallicharran

Cordell Small

Jermaine Jason Gouldian

day they had a .22-calibre round without being holders of a firearm licence.

The police allege that the accused were occupants of PSS 8296, when police on a mobile patrol saw them acting in a suspicious manner. The lawmen stopped them and conducted a search of the car and found the firearm and ammunition in a compartment of the car.

Kallicharran is a taxi driver of Lot 29 Grant 1780, Crabwood Creek Corentyne; Small is a por-

ter of Lot 24 Dukes Town, Corriverton Corentyne; and Gouldian is a fisherman of Lot 29 Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne.

Kallicharran and Small indicated to the court that they had been previously charged with armed robberies and the matters are pending. At this point, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sheriff objected to bail.

The unrepresented men were remanded to prison until July 31st.

Kallicharran was

charged earlier in the year with robbing Lusignan vendor Hemraj Singh and his wife at the entrance of Black Bush Polder. Singh, 54, and his wife, both of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, were reportedly robbed of $180,000, their car key and a cellular phone.

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

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Millions of dollars worth of investments reduced to ashes – as early-morning fire razes Camp and Robb Streets complex July 17 – 23, 2015

A

FIRE which started at approximately 02.30hrs yesterday morning completely destroyed the Golden City Hardware building on Camp and Robb Streets, formerly the Kissoon Furniture Building.

The fire also gutted an adjacent building that was converted to a storage bond for the hardware store and a few small businesses nearby.When the Guyana Chronicle arrived at the scene, the fire was still raging and threatening all buildings on that corner, including the Republic Bank.

The City Mall was also at one point under threat, but firemen managed to contain the fire to just two structures, while several others suffered extensive water damage.

‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken, along with senior police ranks from the division, were at the scene, as well as Fire Chief Marlon Gentle and other senior Guyana Fire Service officers.

Speaking with the media yesterday morning, as his property was going up in flames, businessman Rizwan Nayeem Khan, who

The atmosphere at the scene of the fire at sunrise Engulfed in flames (right) is the Golden City Hardware bond. At left, a numbers, and several streets around the block of the fire were neighbouring is under threat closed off. is also the owner of the Discount building was already engulfed.

Fire Chief Gentle, in an interStore at Regent and Wellington Yesterday morning, firemen view early yesterday morning at Streets, explained that he was at were forced to turn their hose to the scene, explained that the firehome when he received a call that nearby buildings, including the fighters did their best to contain his building was on fire.

Republic Bank, located just across the fire to the two buildings but he The man stated that he was the street, as the wind sent the noted the challenges that the men informed that the fire started in flames in that direction. faced in battling the blaze. the front building, which stands The pressure of the water He spoke of heavy winds which at Camp and Robb Streets, before caused the glass to the fasade of fuelled the fire and pushed it in spreading to the storage bond the Bank to be shattered. How- several directions; combustible located at the back of that build- ever, within hours, construction items within the storage bond; ing which was recently converted workers were on the scene and it and the other parts of the store into one. was observed that they were lay- that had some amount of restauThe businessman further ex- ing plyboard in the space where rant activities and a damaged waplained that when he arrived on the glass was shattered. ter pump which was pulling water the scene, the entire primary The police were out in their from the nearby North Road canal

but was affected by the intake of silt.

Gentle said that the call about the fire came to the central fire station at approximately 02.35 hrs by a man who said that he heard a loud explosion inside the store and was seeing what appeared to be a ball of fire. He added that when the fire tenders arrived at the scene after being mobilized from Alberttown and the Central Fire Station, the entire building was already engulfed.

The Chief Fire Officer stated that there were eleven tenders which responded to the scene and represented all fire stations within Georgetown.

The closeness of the buildings did not make the work of the firefighters easy as that caused the fire to rip through the block.

On the issue of the fire hydrants, the Chief Fire Officer showed the media the fire hydrants which are in the area but are of no use to the fire service.

The fire has left millions in damage and several persons jobless even as investigators try to get to the bottom of the catastrophe.

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H

induism is a dominant religion, or way of life in South Asia, most notably India. Although Hinduism contains different philosophies, it is united by shared concepts, some textual resources, common ritual techniques, cosmology and pilgrimage to sacred sites. It includes Saivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism among other denominations, each with an interwoven diversity of beliefs and practices. Hinduism has been called the “oldest religion” in the world, and some practitioners refer to it as Sanatana Dharma, “the eternal law” or the “eternal way” beyond human origins. Western scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions, with diverse roots and no single founder. It prescribes the eternal duties, such as honesty, refraining from injuring living beings (ahimsa), patience, forbearance, self-restraint and compassion, among others.

Prominent themes in Hindu beliefs include (but are not restricted to), the four Purusarthas, the proper goals or aims of human life namely Dharma (ethics/ duties), Artha(prosperity/ work), Kama (emotions/ sexuality) and Moksha (liberation/freedom); karma (action, intent and consequences), samsara (cycle of rebirth), and the various Yogas (paths or practices to attain moksha). Hindu practices include rituals such as puja (worship) and recitations, meditation, family-oriented rites of passage, annual festivals, and occasional pilgrimages. Some Hindus leave their social world and material possessions to engage in lifelong Sannyasa (ascetic practices) to achieve moksha.

July 17 – 23, 2015

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Hinduism by Savi Singh Hindu texts are classified into Shruti (“heard”) and Smriti (“remembered”).

These texts discuss theology, philosophy, mythology, Vedic yajna and agamic rituals and temple building, among other topics. Major scriptures include the Vedas, Upanishads (both Sruti), Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, Manusmṛti, and Agamas (all smriti).

Dharma is considered the foremost goal of a human being in Hinduism.

The concept Dharma includes behaviors that are considered to be in accord with the order that makes life and universe possible, and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and ‘‘the right way of living’’. Hindu dharma comprise of religious duties, moral rights and duties of each individual, as well as behaviors that enable social order, right conduct, and those that are virtuous. Nothing is higher than Dharma. The weak overcomes the stronger

by Dharma, as over a king.

Dharma is considered the Truth (Satya); therefore, when a man speaks the Truth, they say, “He speaks the Dharma”, and if he speaks Dharma, they say, “He speaks the Truth!” For both are one.

The Hindu method of religious reform is essentially democratic. It allows each person or group to get to the truth through its own tradition by means of discipline of mind and morals. Each group has its own historical tradition, and assimilation of it, is the condition of its growth of spirit. Even the savage clings to his superstitious obstinately and faithfully. For him his views are live forces, though they may seem to us more than childish fancies. To shatter the superstitious of the savage is to destroy his morality, his social code and mental peace.

The Hindu method of religious reform helps to bring about a change, not in the name, but in the content. While we are allowed to retain the same name, we are encouraged to deepen its significance.

Differences in name become immaterial for the Hindu, since every name at its best connotes the same metaphysical and moral perfection. Hinduism does not mistake tolerance for indifference. While the lesser forms are tolerated in the interest of those who cannot suddenly transcend them, there is all through an insistence on the larger idea and purer worship.

The unique feature of Hinduism among the world religions is that it derives not from a single founder,

but from the impersonal Vedic scriptures. Hinduism thus gives scope for worshipful incorporation into its fold of prophets of all ages and all lands. The Vedic scriptures regulate not only devotional practices, but all-important social customs, in an effort to bring men every action into harmony with divine law.

For the Hindus, what counts is not creed but conduct. Religion is not correct belief, but righteous living. The truly religious never worry about other people’s belief.

“Those who love their sects more than truth end by loving themselves more than their sects.”

The Hindu theory is that every human being, every group and every nation

has individuality worthy of reverence. Such a view requires that we should allow absolute freedom to every group to cultivate what is most distinctive and characteristic of it. All peculiarity is unique and incommunicable, and it will be to disregard the nature of reality, to assume that what is useful to one will be useful to everyone else to the same extent.

The world is wide enough to hold men whose natures are different.

Hinduism is a movement, not a position; a process, not a result; a growing tradition, not a fixed revelation. Its past history encourages us to believe that it will be found equal to any emergency that the future may throw up, whether in the field of

thought or of history. I am proud to be a Hindu because I love the Hindu God. Says the vedas: “That God who existed in the very beginning Who was manifested as the One Lord of creation, And who upholds the entire universe.

Who is the source of Power, Whose laws the world and cosmic forces obey.

To that God we pray.”

My God tells me to respect and love all other persons whether he speaks my language or not, whether he attends my house of worship or not, whether he prays to the same God as I do or not. My God tells me to love them all, because they are also his children and devotees, pursuing the same goal. Hinduism recognizes a world of people professing many faiths and beliefs, even if they speak different languages. My God loves them all. I love the Hindu God because He has given me freedom; freedom to think before I act; freedom to make my mind open and receptive to any virtuous thought, from whatever source. He has given me freedom to choose between right and wrong, and has set out the consequences of my choice.

Hinduism thought me not to only read the scriptures, but to reflect upon their teachings; examine them; analyze them; then act upon them. He does not wish that we cultivate blind faith and beliefs.

Whatever we do must be of our own volition, our own choice.

Be proud to be Hindu.

Do something about it.

Learn about your religion.

Live the Hindu life and encourage others to do so.

The more you read The more you know; The more you know The wiser you grow.

LONG LIVE HINDUISM!!!

8

July 17 – 23, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Group pickets against Jagdeo as Opposition Leader

S

everal members of the 1823 Parade Ground Movement picketed the PPP’s headquarters on Robb Street tuesday over the likely installation of former President Bharrat Jagdeo as Opposition Leader and the inclusion of several others on the party’s list for Parliament.

While the six protesters held placards, Jagdeo arrived and exchanged a few words with them before entering Freedom House.

The picketers who included newspaper columnist Freddie Kissoon held up placards that said among other things that the `Opposition Leader is a racist’ and `Jagdeo, Bheri, Nandlall bring disrespect to Parliament’.

The coalition of the 1823 Parade Ground Monument was formed to lobby for the placing of the memorial to the 1823 slave uprising on Parade Ground as opposed to its present location opposite Camp Ayanganna and bordered by the seawall.

The movement also addresses other issues.

In a press release last week, the movement said it was picketing Freedom House against the appointment of Jagdeo as Leader of the Opposition as the “Opposition leader speaks for all Guyanese and Mr Jagdeo while on the election campaign trail and at other fora has by his utter-

The protesters outside of Freedom House ances informed us that he is a racist (and) thus cannot speak for all Guyanese”.

It charged that he has also shown disregard of womanhood, and would not be able represent the women in our society.

The group also targeted former Attorney Gen-eral Anil Nandlall saying he is unfit to take a seat in Parliament.

Referring to an infamous phone conversation last year with a Kaieteur News reporter, the press release charged that

Nandlall issued what in any other jurisdiction would have been deemed a terrorist threat.

It added that he has in the past shown his propensity to disregard the sanctity of womanhood, referring again to aspects of the conversation with the reporter.

It also cited former Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran who it noted even the Donald Ramotar administration fired for his “obnoxious behaviour to women”

It also complained against former Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud.

Meanwhile, in a statement on the picket, the PPP said Jagdeo’s “re-entry into active politics and more so to the National Assembly has received… overwhelming support from Guyanese at home and abroad.”

It said that this latest public display by the “usual suspects is laughable, especially with the many grave human rights violations taking place under the hands of the David Granger-led de facto government.”

It asked why the protesters were turning a blind eye to what it said was the arbitrary dismissal of over 2000 Amerindians without any benefits and or justification.

The new government has said this community support officer programme functioned to gain votes for the PPP/C. The PPP said the protesters were also “oblivious to the plight of hundreds of public servants who have been summarily dismissed, and continue to be dismissed from their jobs, because they are perceived as PPP supporters.

The arbitrary removal of the $10,000 cash grant for each child (in) the public school system, a programme which goes to the heart of tackling poverty, appears to be of no interest to the malcontents.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

P

July 17 – 23, 2015

9

No $8m Section 34 conspiracy

rime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has once again dismissed allegations by corruption-accused Jack Warner—this time, on an $8.3 million Section 34 freedom conspiracy— as lies.

Warner called a news conference at the Hotel Normandie in St Ann's yesterday, where he presen­ ted a sworn affidavit claiming Persad-Bissessar accepted $8.3 million in cheques from United National Congress financiers Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson at the Tunapuna home of businessman Ralph Gopaul in May 2010.

Warner claimed the Prime Minister indicated to him the creation of the Justice Ministry would “help our friends”. He also said the Section 34 debacle was designed to give freedom to these two men.

Galbaransingh and Ferguson are accused of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and bid-rigging in relation to two construction packages for the Piarco Airport construction project. The charges indicated the alleged acts took place in the United States

and elsewhere between 1996 and 2001.

Their extradition request was quashed by Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh in 2011, who ordered they be tried in Trinidad.

Following Warner's news conference yesterday, the Prime Minister issued a release stating his news conference “was a damp squib littered with lies and more lies”.

“Let me state very clearly and unequivocally that these accusations are false and without any foundation whatsoever,” she stated.

Persad-Bissessar said she hoped the observers “will by now have noted the pattern of increasingly far-fetched claims being made by this man and how quickly each set of his claims unravels once the facts are known. Everybody knows his present plight and why he is becoming so desperate.

He is a stranger to the truth”.

Warner is accused of corruption, fraud and money laundering by the United States with respect to his tenure at FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association). Warner is currently out on $2.5 million bail.

In dealing with Warner's claim that Galbaransingh and Ferguson paid millions to the Prime Minister for their freedom, Persad-Bissessar stated due process in law was followed with respect to the case of these two men.

She said the record shows Justice Boodoosingh, presiding in the Port of Spain High Court, stayed in November 2011 any move to have Galbaransingh and Ferguson extradited as being “unjust, oppressive and unlawful”.

She noted this was well before the proclamation of Section 34 (in fact, almost one year before). “So that claim of a connection is, as others, absolute nonsense,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar noted Section 34 was passed unanimously by all sides of the House in 2012.

No instruction to AG The Prime Minister noted yesterday the move to repeal came within 24 hours of receiving advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to do so.

She said she fired then-justice minister Herbert Volney, as he “had given erroneous advice to the Cabinet and had failed to ac-

On display: Corruption-accused Jack Warner said yesterday he has never broken a vow not to accept his MP’s salary, but has had to pay himself back for using ­personal funds for public business. He was responding to an exclusive Sunday Express story, “Jack Paid Himself”. See story on Page 9. — Photo: ANISTO ALVES curately represent the position and views of the CJ and DPP”.

The Prime Minister attached the statement she delivered in September 2012 with respect to this.

“It gave me no pleasure to dismiss him, but all ministers in my Government are accountable and when tough decisions have needed to be taken, I have taken them,” she said.

On Warner's claim that Persad-Bissessar gave instructions to

Attorney General Garvin Nicholas to sign papers against him (Warner), the Prime Minister said she gave no such instruction.

She said Warner should take his allegations to the Integrity Commission—as he and others have done before, and for which she has been cleared on every occasion.

“Let him take his allegations to the police with the evidence he claims to have. This will put a stop to this nonsense,” she said.

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A

Caribbean Star Newspaper SWAT team captures murder, robbery suspects -fugitive killed, cop wounded during shootout

July 17 – 23, 2015

wanted man was shot dead while another was wounded early Tuesday morning when a police SWAT team moved to arrest suspects in recent high profile murders and robberies at a house at Craig, East Bank Demerara.

A police constable was also shot in the 2AM confrontation, during which police say ranks came under fire, forcing them to engage the suspects.

Police said Rolston Morrison, 29, was killed in the shootout and Warren McKenzie, 23, was wounded, while seven other men were arrested. The police credited “a concerned citizen” for assistance in tracking the suspects, who have been linked to the recent murders of miner Travis Rudder and mall owner Ganesh Ramlall as well as last week’s armed attack on Justice Nicola Pierre and her husband at their Felicity, East Coast Demerara home.

The arrest of the men also came on the heels of charges being laid against two men for the murder of Rudder and the attack on the judge. Yesterday’s operation by a 25-strong police team came after a surge in murders and robberies which has put the new government under pressure.

Morrison, 29, called ‘Mappy’ and ‘Sadam’ and whose addresses were given as Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, Agricola, Georgetown and Providence, East Bank Demerara, had been wanted by police in connection with

Ganesh Ramlall’ Standing from right at the bedside of the wounded policeman are Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud.

(Police photo)

the murder of Dwayne Kennedy, who was shot and killed at the Golden Grove Market on March 14th.

A police statement said a wanted bulletin had been issued for him on March 18th.

McKenzie, of Lot 80 Brutus Street, Agricola, was said to be hospitalised under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Up to late yesterday afternoon, he was undergoing surgery in an unconscious state at the hospital.

The wounded constable, who was shot in the right thigh, is in a stable condition at a private hospital in the city. He was visited yesterday by Commis-sioner of Police Seelall Persaud, Divisional Com-mander Assistant

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Dwayne Kennedy

Com-missioner Clifton Hicken and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.

The Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team was greenlit by the former government in 2013 to strengthen the police force’s law enforcement capabilities, particularly to make specialised interventions, thereby, ensuring law and order is maintained, and prospective threats are neutralised.

‘Fishy’ According to the police statement on the operation, the suspects were tracked and the SWAT team was deployed along with detectives to make the arrests.

However, the police said ranks came under fire and the constable was shot. As a result, the wounded constable and other ranks returned fire and fatally wounded one suspect—later identified as Morrison—and wounded another suspect—later identified as McKenzie. Seven other male suspects who were in the building were taken into police custody, police added.

In addition, police announced that a 9mm Glock pistol with two magazines and 25 matching rounds along with two wristwatches, suspected to have been stolen, were recovered. The men were confronted at a two-storey wooden house at Lot 118 First Street, Craig, which is divided into four apartments. Only one of the apartments was occupied by the men. The apartment was rented about three months ago by a couple, after which a number of other persons started to show up, sources say.

This newspaper was told that the group of men gathered at the apartment on Monday night and had a “get-together” hours before the police arrived.

A resident in the area told this newspaper that he thought that it was “fishy” that so many men were staying together in a one-bedroom apartment. The man said he nevertheless remained silent about his suspicions. He added that it was not until yesterday that he realised he was living “under the guns.”

According to the man, he was awakened around 2AM by the sound of rapid gunfire.

He said the first sound he heard before he could have made it out of his bed was the shouts of one of the men yelling, “Aww!” A series of shots soon followed.

He also said he was beaten by the police.

“They beat me to talk what I know but I maintained that I don’t know anything because I really don’t and they left me …” he said.

“Three of the men they drag out and the rest they just arrest and put them [in the] back of a vehicle,” he added.

Up to late yesterday morning, spots of dried blood were still visible on the roadway in front of the house, while the entire yard was wet as it had just been cleaned.

Other residents were also reluctant to speak on the record when approached yesterday.

One man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that he and his family were awakened by the loud gunshots and screams. “I just hear ‘Pow! Pow!’ over and over and while the men went hollering, I hear a policeman… hollering, ‘This he, this is the one that kill ‘Boyo’ (Ramlall).

And another one, with a strong voice, I hear he saying, ‘Come out from down there! Why you hiding under the bed?’” he said.

A woman said, “The people them recently started living there and the building just refurbished. I don’t know the guys that living inside. There was also a female that would visit the apartment occasionally.” She suggested that the police opened fire on the men after entering the apartment. “The police them come from three directions and circle the place. Them go from the back of the house, kick down the door and just start shoot. They just can’t come in people house like that and start shoot… none of them boy didn’t shoot, is the police do all the shooting themselves,” she said.

Murders Blanhum yesterday reiterated that the police are conducting investigations into the two murders, the armed robbery of the judge at her home as well as other robberies.

Rudder, a miner, who had been accused of murder and other crimes, was killed after shots were fired through the bedroom window of his residence at Nandy Park early on the morning of June 21st. His fiancee Mawanza Gill and their 18-month-old son were also both shot multiple times in the attack. Ramlall, 48, of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, was riddled with bullets at about 12:10AM on July 5th. He is reported to have sustained at least seven shots, including one to the head. Reports indicate that he was confronted by four gunmen, who were all heavily armed.

While the man’s relatives believed that his murder was a “hit,” Blanhum told this newspaper that the information taken from the dead man’s wife established that the businessman was killed during a robbery.

Ramlall was the owner of the Regent Multi Complex Mall, located at the corner of Regent and Wellington streets.

The attack on the judge and her husband occurred at about 1:20AM last Thursday after a group of men overpowered and tied up a special constable who was on duty close to the house. The armed men, after battering the couple, escaped with a portable safe containing money and jewellery and a suitcase with articles. However, a confrontation with an armed security guard at a nearby premises resulted in the robbers leaving behind the safe and suitcase, while they fled on foot before boarding a waiting vehicle nearby. Police subsequently arrested four men.

Former murder accused Orpheus Johnson was on Monday charged with killing Rudder as well as another man, Gladstone George.

Premnauth Samaroo, 49, of Lot 16 Craig Street, Campbellville was also charged on Monday with armed robbery of Justice Pierre and her husband Mohamed Chand during a home invasion.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator

An Eid Message ‘The gates (of Jannah) were open, the obstacles were cleared and we were left to stroll into Allah’s paradise” “Allaahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illa Allaah, Allaahu Akbar Allaahu Akbar Wa Lillahil-Hamd” (Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah, Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, to Allaah all praise is due).

Today is the day of Eid. A day of celebration, a day of reconciliation, a day of reflection, a day to unite. We celebrate our spiritual enhancement and great achievements of Ramadan with the way we found the time to pray every Salaat at its fixed time and to stand at night to worship Allah with great devotion.

We became people who were kind and considerate. Helping the elderly and smiling with youngsters became second nature thus filling our hearts with a sense of purpose.

We took a step back from the hustle and bustle of the proverbial ‘rat race’ to find our inner believer and rebuild his connection with his creator.

Tolerance filled our souls as we forgave and overlooked the shortcomings and errors of our colleagues, employees, and even our family members (Who we so very often take for granted). Anger seemed like a distant emotion as it rarely showed its ugly head.

Patience ruled the day.

Through hungry stomachs and parched throats we forged on with dedicated obedience as our desires crumbled under the physical exertion. Nothing could shake our resolve as we felt the joy of defying Shytaan and our desires, motivated by nothing more than the promise of Jannah and the deep need to earn Allah’s pleasure.

Haram was now something which brought absolute and disgust and hatred by its mere mention. An attitude of outer as well as inner purity prevailed. The Islamic dress code was in full effect. Our youths stood firm against their desires and terminated all unlawful relationships. Consumption of alcohol was now simply the way of the Kuffar.

Every source of food was checked and re checked, as the slightest shred of doubt was enough for rejection.

Families were now happier as the blessings of such purity invited the mercy and tranquility of the heavens into homes, rendering society a place of optimism and happiness. Bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood were formed, repaired and strengthened as we met, shared our meals, stood in prayer and supplicated to our creator together.

The Masaajid were filled on a daily basis.

Finding your preferred spot in the front line required some effort and the crowds just seemed to grow by the day.

The beautiful Sunnah was now embedded in every action we performed, as we sought knowledge of the correct method. The Quraan became our close companion and a day without it felt empty and lacking.

The gates (of Jannah) were open, the obstacles were cleared and we were left to stroll into Allah’s paradise.

Even Though this was our time to recharge, to re boot, to repent; to stop and say to ourselves: ‘O Abd Allah (servant of Allah)! Remember! Your primary reason for existence is only to worship Allah’. Today is the day of Eid, and that blessed month of transformation, opportunity and piety is now gone.

What will we do next?

What will you do next?

Muslims!

This is your chance once again, to show

your love for Allah and his prophet (S.A.W) by maintaining your newfound self. The believer you are without the influences of shytaan.

O people! Fear Allah, and give thanks to Him on account of the great favors He has endowed upon you, including the completion of fasting and voluntary night prayers, which are the greatest of all favors! Ask Allah to accept your deeds and to overlook your mistakes, for He is the Most Generous of all those who show generosity and the Most Benevolent of those who show benevolence.

It was related that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: “He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (days of fasting) in the month of Shawwaal would be as if he had fasted the whole year.”

O people! Let your gathering today remind you of the Day of Resurrection, when you will be raised from your graves to meet your Lord for reckoning, barefooted, naked, with eyes staring fixedly in horror. Allah said, which means: “The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the Torment of Allah”. (Al-Hajj: 2).

“That Day shall a man flee from his brother, and from his mother and his father, and from his wife and his children. Every man, that Day, will have enough to make him careless of others.” (‘Abas: 34-37).

The Day when the records of deeds will

be distributed to the right and to the left.

Allah has said, the meaning of which is: “Then, as for him who will be given his record in his right hand. He surely will receive an easy reckoning. And will return to his family in joy! But whosoever is given his record behind his back. He will invoke (his) destruction. And shall enter a blazing Fire, and be made to taste its burning.” (Al-Inshiqaaq: 7-12).

The Day when the scales of justice will be set up. Allah said, which means: “Then, those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, they are the successful.

And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they are those who lose their own selves, in Hell will they abide. The Fire will burn their faces, and therein they will grin, with displaced lips (disfigured). Were not My Verses (this Qur’an) recited to you, and then you used to deny them?”(Al-Mu’minoon: 102-105).

The Day when the Siraat (a bridge) will be laid across Hell and people will cross it in a manner that fits their deeds. Those who used to be steadfast in doing good deeds, will cross it quickly, but those who used to slacken and linger about when called to perform acts of obedience will cross the Siraat in a similar manner, a fitting recompense for them. So strive together as if in a race towards all that is good, O Muslims!

Be prepared for that day so that you may be successful!

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

July 17 – 23, 2015 15 Caribbean Star Newspaper Guyana, U.S. amend Caribbean Security Basin Initiative – plugs US$50k for security sector advancements

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U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt and Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge sign the amended Letter of Agreement for the CBSI

UYANA will receive another tranche of funding amounting to US$50,000 under the United States Government-sponsored Caribbean Security Basin Initiative (CBSI), bringing total contributions to US$900,000 for advancing the effectiveness of Guyana’s law enforcement in the fight against transnational crimes, money laundering and corruption. Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

yesterday signed the amended Letter of Agreement with U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

“The Letter of Amendment (3.1) will ensure the continuation of support to Guyana under the CBSI, and it will provide an additional US$50,000 that will bring the total funds provided to Guyana, to date, to US$900,000,” the Foreign Minister noted, adding that the monies

are part of U.S. efforts to advance security and stability in the Caribbean.

Three programmes, currently implemented through the Public Security Ministry, will be funded from the most recent tranche. The first is the Law Enforcement Professionalism and Support Project, through which, according to Minister Greenidge, “training is provided in the immigration procedures detection of fraudulent documents, identification and handling of suspicious persons, and other areas targeting illegal smuggling of aliens, narcotics, and other illegal goods across the borders of Guyana.”

The second project is directed towards counter-narcotics control capabilities, which, Greenidge said, will enhance Guyana’s ability to utilise inter-agency coordination, intelligence gathering on transnational crimes, to improve performance in seizures, and eradication operations.

Funding under this programme will be centralised to the provision of equipment and support for criminal intelligence units.

The third project relates to the rule of law and anti-corruption. This specifically targets judicial reform, improved prison operations, and forensic investigations.

In relation to the improved prison operations, Minister Greenidge expects the enhancements of skills, knowledge and ability of correction officials to manage a correctional system which contributes to public safety and positively affects the fight against transnational crimes.

On justice reform, the programme, according to Greenidge, “provides training in areas such as judicial administration, case management, case-filing systems and anti-corruption, as well as transparency, and accountability of judicial sector institutions.” Finally, Minister Greenidge noted the forensic element would aid the Government of Guyana in advancing criminal investigations, and prosecution.

For his part, U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt lauded the efforts of the David Granger Administration in developing a robust security sector. “President David Granger’s Administration has been clear in its political commitment to taking the steps necessary to ensure that Guyanese law enforcement agencies are able to prevent this country from being used as a safe-haven by international criminal elements.”

The senior U.S. Embassy official, in his address, noted the relationship between the lack of economic opportunities for youth, and the likelihood of youth pursuing criminal activities. “Repeated research has demonstrated that creating economic opportunity for young people is among the most important tools at our disposal to undermine effective recruitment by criminal organisations.”

To this end, he pointed to the collaborations between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Guyana’s Social Protection Ministry to expand programmes, which speak to providing work and life skills training for at-risk youth.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper NGOs engage attorney general on partnership for justice -DeSouza recommends reintroduction of national service July 17 – 23, 2015

even women representatives from a group of NGOs recently engaged Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams on key concerns related to access to justice and the functioning of courts in the interior.

Omattie Madray of ChildLink, Karen DeSouza and Nicola Marcus of Red Thread, Schemel Patrick of SASOD, Emily Dodson of the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, Danuta Radzik of Help and Shelter and Patricia Sheerattan Bisnauth of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association engaged in a lively discussion with the minister on several issues regarding the response to juvenile crime., including the

enactment of the Juvenile Justice Bill.

A release from the Ministry of Legal Affairs on the meeting said that DeSouza recommended that National Service be re-introduced, explaining that she is a graduate of this service and can attest first-hand to its benefits. Other members of the delegation strongly supported this submission.

The attorney general said the group’s solid recommendation of national service has sold him on its benefits as an option to be explored in relation to juvenile crime.

The group also discussed access to justice, the functioning of courts in the interior, the activation of night courts, alternative sentencing, specialised courts for

sexual offences, training for the judiciary, magistracy and court officers, coroner’s inquest and the prevention of discrimination act 1997 on the grounds of sexual orientation, the need for lay magistrates to speed up the delivery of justice, the operation of the family court and the removal the Linden magistracy from under the Demerara Magisterial district as persons have to travel from Linden to Vreed-en-Hoop to conduct judicial business.

Williams pointed out that every magistrate is a coroner and has the power to conduct inquests into violent and unnatural deaths. He also noted that while sound recommendations were made regarding

several of the matters, funding is needed to implement most of them, particularly for improvements in the delivery of judicial services and the dispensation of justice.

The meeting also discussed raising the age of criminal responsibility, extensive training for magistrates prior to ascension to the Bench and continuous training thereafter to curb the vexing issue of the culture of remand for bailable offences, granting frequent adjournments for “flimsy” reasons, inconsistent sentencing and greater use of alternative sentencing for first time offenders. Recommendations were also made for probation officers in every court and for all judicial officers in the justice system to be exposed to gender sensitive training.

The attorney general thanked the delegation for their input and committed to working with organisations toward the timely delivery of justice particularly to women, children, the poor and marginalised members of the society.

Police detain 16-year-old in murder of journalist in Belize

MURDERED JOURNALIST KAREEM CLARKE. (PHOTO: CHANNEL 5 BELIZE)

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ELIZE CITY, Belize, Tuesday July 14, 2015 – Police have detained a 16-year-old boy in their investigations into last Monday’s murder of journalist Kareem Clarke but are still working on ascertaining a motive for the crime.

The teenager was held in another shooting incident on Saturday – the same day Clarke was buried –, in which a man sustained injury to his hand.

“At this time we have one minor in custody for [Clarke’s] murder. We are doing follow-up work right now and we will know by tomorrow [Tuesday] whether we can charge him for that murder, but right now he is only detained pending an investigation at this time,” Superintendent Hilberto Romero told a media conference yesterday.

The senior officer said that police still have not established a motive for the fatal shooting.

However, he added: “We know for certain Mr. Clarke was not a part of any gang.”

Clarke, a 27-year-old journalist with the biweekly Amandala Newspaper, was shot in the left side of the forehead, back of the head, abdomen, right upper back and middle of the back as he was riding his bicycle around 1 a.m. on July 6, after leaving a friend’s home.

He had been ambushed by a lone male whose gunfire killed him on the spot.

July 17 – 23, 2015 17 Caribbean Star Newspaper Ministry processing $572m payment Stewartville man to New GPC for drugs found not guilty

of killing father

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jury found Bramanand Singh not guilty of the decade-old killing of his father Manseh Singh.

Bramanand had denied a manslaughter charge which had stated that between January 27th and January 28th, 2005 at their Lot 51 Stewartville,West Coast Demerara home, he unlawfully killed his father.

A jury returned the not guilty verdict after about two hours of deliberation yesterday afternoon at the High Court.

Singh was visibly relieved after hearing the verdict and being told by trial judge Roxane George that he was “free to go.” Family members who were present in court were also high in praise and could be heard quietly thanking God for the outcome. The prosecution closed its case on Monday after calling seven witnesses to the stand. Closing addresses were then made to the jury by prosecutor Shawnette Austin and defence attorney Sonia Parag.

The state’s case was presented by Austin in association with Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings.

Justice George summed-up the case yesterday morning before handing it over to the jury for consideration and the return of a verdict.

It was the state’s case that on the evening of January 27th Bramanand and his father had a confrontation and the following day his father’s body was found under the house.

Austin had said the police were summoned to the scene and after conducting investigations, the accused was later arrested and charged.

Government Patholo-gist Dr Nehaul Singh had given the cause of death as a ruptured spleen and liver due to multiple blunt trauma to chest and abdomen.

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he Ministry of Health on Tuesday began processing a $572m payment to the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (NGPC) in connection with a contract that was awarded to the company weeks before the May 11 general elections.

According to a Ministry of Health request form seen by Stabroek News, the payment is for the purchase of pharma-

ceuticals and medical supplies. The document dated July 14, 2015 was signed by the Permanent Secretary Leslie Cadogan.

On April 21, the PPP/C Cabinet gave its no-objection to the award of a contract for US$6.7m (approximately $1.4b). Notification was then given on April 27 by the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Donald De Clou to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health that Cabinet had given its no-objection.

On May 9th, Stabroek News had reported that $2b in payments to NGPC for drug supplies had been speeded up. This figure was meant to have included the US$6.7m.

It is unclear if this cheque was withdrawn. At the time it would have been

prepared, none of the drugs under the contract would have yet been supplied.

The awards of drug contracts to NGPC had been subject to much criticism by APNU and the AFC when they were in opposition. The previous PPP/C government had introduced new pre-qualification guidelines for those wishing to supply drugs to the public sector and critics had charged that these had been heavily skewed in favour of NGPC to ensure that only it prequalified. In the end, only NGPC was prequalified despite complaints from several others who had applied for prequalification. The APNU+AFC government is said to be assessing the way forward for the supply of drugs to the public health system.

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Sophia vendor stabbed to death, husband wounded

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he police say that vendor Janice Paul, 40 years, and her husband Eusi Paul, 41 years, had just arrived at their residence at ‘D’ Field, Sophia, when they were attacked by a man armed with a dagger.

Janice Paul was stabbed about her body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC, while her husband suffered injuries to his face and right hand and was treated and sent away.

The suspect has not been arrested as yet, as the investigations continue.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

Voice Of The Youth M

y name is Shaw Ryan Khan. I am the son of Shaw M. Khan and Camille Zeena Khan and I am the grandson of Haji Ali Akbar Khan and Azeezan Khan from Canegrove, Guyana ,as well as Harry Singh and Lillian Ganpati Singh from Industry, Guyana. My respect to my parents and my grandparents always.

Over the past few weeks, I have been asked several times what I want for my birthday. And each time, I keep replying with the same answer; “I don’t want anything.” And some people get a bit annoyed because they want to know why I can’t tell them what I want… But the truth of the matter is, I really don’t want anything. It sounds terrible but I just don’t value materialistic things as much as I value intangible things. Let me explain; I value trust, respect, and loyalty, more than I value even a car. If you give me the purest form of love, friendship, then I am satisfied more than words can say. When I go back to my creator, when I go back to my original home, I want to tell all those, who were looking down at me from Heaven, what amazing journeyers of life I met. I want to tell them about all the experiences I’ve shared with these people, all the fights, all the tears, all the laughter, everything. I had a dream recently whereby I passed away and went to Heaven. While in heaven, I was sad. Why? Because I was missing so much. I was not missing the videogames, I was not missing my phone, and I was not even missing my car! I was missing my family and my friends. And it made me realize that your Heaven may be somewhere we can’t reach until our time here is up, but our heaven is also right around us. Our heaven takes the form of our parents, our aunts and uncles, our cousins, our nieces and nephews, our friends, etc. With that in mind, let’s talk about something I cherish beyond compare, something I consider to be one form of heaven; friendship.

Sometimes in life, you find a special friend; someone who makes you laugh, even at completely nothing, to a point where you can’t even stop; someone who convinces you that there is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it; someone who, when you are down, feeling like the world troubles you and everything seems dark and empty, will be there to lift you up. True friendship will be there when you really need someone and come to you when you need help. A friend will listen to you even when they don’t understand or agree with your feelings. A friend will never try to let you feel he/she is better than you. A friend will be there with you as you share your dreams, hopes, and feelings with. A friend does not have to be told that they are special because they know you feel that way about them.

A friend will accept your attitudes, ideas, and emotions even when there is a difference. A friend will always remember the little things you have done. A friend will try his best to help you pick up the pieces.

Friendship is truly one of the most beautiful gifts God gives you in life.

The best thing about friendship is that there is no true definition of friendship.

I just described my own definition, but I can’t describe yours. Each form of friendship is different from the other. And I want to take this opportunity to show you how friendship can come in different forms.

Friendship can come in the form of someone who you’ve known since you were a child. My best friend, Ramesh, is that form of friendship to me. If I recall correctly, we met in kindergarten. I have terrible memory and I am not afraid to admit it. A few weeks ago, Ramesh and I decided to chill and watch movies at my place. And to be honest with you, I figured that Ramesh doesn’t value me as a friend as much as I value him. And I was not smart when I thought that this was the case. For one, we still make time to hang out with each other regardless of how busy life may seem. But when he asked the question, “bro, do you remember the day we first met?” it surprised me. I honestly said no I did not remember that day much. But then he started to tell me. We met in Kindergarten, more specifically at the first week of kindergarten. He saw me and said “hey, you go to this school right?”, and I said yes. Then, he asked me if lived nearby and I told him I do. Funny enough, HE was the one that asked if I wanted to be friends! To know that he cherishes my friendship with him so much that he remembered something that happened over 15 years ago, it meant a lot to me. It made me realize that although friends may not spend time with each other as the years ago by, the value of that friendship never depreciates.

I have so many more stories to tell you about Ramesh but I just will leave it with one more story. At my 20th birthday, my uncle asked Ramesh to give a speech. Let me tell you, Ramesh is a bit crowd-shy, in a way that he would dance while a crowd watches but when it comes to speaking in front of a crowd, it’s a different story. But regardless, he did not care about the size of the crowd that night and he spoke from his heart. And what really touched me is that he was not scared to say, “I love you bro”. Meanwhile, I’d be even shy to say that to him! But I do love him like he is my brother. No, let me correct that; he is my brother, and I love him.

Let’s talk about another form of friendship. Friendship can come in the form of someone whom you never expected to meet. 4 years ago, if you asked me about a person named Nick Rohoman, I’d tell you, truthfully, that I have no idea who that is. At the same time, if you told me he will end up being one of your greatest friends and best friend, I would be skeptical because I would say I already have a best friend named Ramesh. 4 years ago I was dumb when it came to understanding that friendship can exist between multiple individuals, and you don’t need to have just one best friend. A few years ago, my parents and I were going to sell our house and move somewhere else. But a last minute decision made us

change our minds and stay where we are at. At first, I didn’t like that decision because I wanted to start somewhere new.

But now, I am completely glad that this was our final and concrete decision. A few months after we decided to stay where we are, a new family moved in next door; the Rohoman family. Now, let me explain, I am a shy person when it comes to meeting new people and making new friends.

I can speak in front of millions of people, I can sing in front of millions of people, I can dance in front of millions, but when it comes to talking to individuals and trying to make friends, I am still very shy. One day, my mom told me to go over and say hi to the new neighbors, and to talk to the neighbor’s son because he around the same age as me and seems equally as shy as I am. I didn’t know back then that he would eventually become my best friend.

God gifted me with a friend who lives just right next door that has similar values and traits as I do. We have shared many laughs together and much headaches. He is my vice president of Beacon of Peace, my dance buddy whenever there is a family party that my family gets invited to, my counselor when I need someone to talk to, and most importantly he is my best friend and brother from another mother.

And lastly, I want to talk about one more form of friendship. Friendship can come in the form of, simply put, a package. When you meet one individual, someone those around that individual also become cherished friends. I’ll split this last part into two because I want to talk about two more individuals. When I met Nick, I was also introduced to his two sisters, Saudia and Sasha. I’ll start with Saudia. When I met Saudia and Sasha, they struck me as unique girls.

Why? Because their form of joy and happiness are similar to my own. Do you know what they wanted for their 16th birthday? They didn’t want a fancy party or a fancy gift, or an expensive night out.

Rather, they wanted their parents, their brother, and even my mom and I, to be there with them at home, cut a cake, and have a home-cooked meal. That is pure and simple, and I love that about them because those two words describe them perfectly. When it comes to Saudia, no matter when I see her or text her, she is always happy and always makes me laugh. It’s funny, I have so many stories to talk about Saudia with, but if I kept talking about more stories, I would need to ask the newspaper publishers to enlarge the size of the newspaper! I can tell you this though, I never had a sister but to me, Saudia is my sister. She always makes me feel welcome and cherished and never makes me feel like I am outsider. As for Sasha, Sasha and I developed our friendship and made it flourish even further. I am proud and honored to say that she is my girlfriend and I cherish her, appreciate her, and love her very much.

You might say that this is not a form of friendship but it is. There is a song that goes like this; “How can we be lovers if we can’t be friends”. Sasha is my best

friend and more; she is my cheerleader, my diamond, and my everything… She is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.

True friends do not come into your life everyday but when they do come, it’s a beautiful thing. A friend is like a beautiful flower, unique in its own bloom, distinct from any other, and adding love and grace to your life.

I have always seen my life as a journey on a road to tomorrow. There have been hills and valleys and turns here and there that have filled my life with all kinds of challenges and changed. But, I made it through those times because there were always special friends I’ve met along the way. MY special friends are the ones who have walked beside me, comforting my spirit, and holding my hands when I needed it the most. Some people will be your friend because of your possessions but the only real friends are the people who will be your friend because they like you from the inside. In opinion, this is my definition of friendship. It’s up to you to decide yours. But I want to take this opportunity to thank all those that I have mentioned above for being the few people in my life who I consider to be my true friends.

Before I end my article, I just want to say this; may God continue to bless each and every one of you and I wish for you to achieve peace and serenity in your lives! And I would like to wish myself a happy 21st birthday! I’ll be turning 21 on July 21st!

Lastly my readers, in your journey through life, I hope you heed my advice.

I want nothing except peace and serenity. And remember this; “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”

(Like my articles? Want to give me feedback? Do you have a topic suggestion for my next article? Let me know!

Add me via Facebook @ Facebook.com/ryankhan0721 or give me a call @ 646-2698227 or 718-849-1006)

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

19

The Fourth Man in the Fire T

he familiar story of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace is found in the Book of Daniel Chapter 3. Every Sunday School child knows this wonderful story that happened when the Jews were held in Babylon about the sixth century B.C. It is worth opening the Bible and reading it again.

Daniel 3:1-6 says, “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits… in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image.… Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of … all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

Your faith will be tested.

This is inevitable. Abraham was tested. Adam and Eve were tested. Joseph was tested. Jesus was tested. We too will be tested. James 1:2-5 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” 1 Peter 1:7-9 reinforces, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Living for God will cost us something. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The price is the Cross.

Nebuchadnezzar brazenly built an image of gold and demanded total allegiance of everyone through worship of his image. This is a picture of Satan who always wanted to take the place of God. He will lure you away from faithfulness to Jesus Christ. He wants you to submit your will to him. . Do you feel pressured to conform to the world’s standards contrary to God’s Word? Do you feel you might be overtaken by temptations?

Your response to tests defines who you are.

The story speaks of the test of faith and character of God’s people in times of adversity. Your Christian character is vital to your relationship with the Lord, with the Church, as well as to the rest of the world around you. Someone wisely said charisma may

take you at the top, but it takes character to keep you there. Based on Bible teaching, we understand it is more important what we become than what we accomplish. In order to develop sound character, we must surround ourselves with friends who will tell us truth even if it hurts. They will correct us when we say or do wrong things, not merely tell us things to make us feel good.

Satan offers second opportunities to reconsider.

The king heard of three Hebrew boys who did not bow to the idol. Daniel 3:13-18 says, “Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. … and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear …all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Now, these boys could have said we’ll just go through the motions of bowing, but not really worship the image – God knows our hearts. Instead, they resolved to be true to God who has been good to them.

They knew if He worked a miracle before, He can do it again. They demonstrated great faith in God’s love, His power and His Sovereignty. How much pressure can you resist without compromising with sin?

Satan offers us excuses: Everybody else is doing it. You can try it just once. It will be a secret; no one will know. You’re not looking to harm anyone else. God will forgive you when you go back to church. Second chances are given so you can reconsider and give in. The threat may seem severe: You could look like a fool for standing up for God. You might carry losses for being truthful. You can lose friendships for maintaining purity. We must weigh the benefits of natural gains against eternal gains. My friend, don’t trade your salvation for anything else.

Trials are a great opportunity to experience miracles.

Daniel records in 3:20-25, “And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace… Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Jesus keeps His word – He will never leave you nor forsake you. If you don’t bow, God won’t let you burn. If you bow, then you will burn. Stand firm on God’s Word.

Verses 27 to 30 completes this story:

“And the princes, (etc) saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego … Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.” God always wins and His faithful people are blessed! Let us hold on to eternal life in Jesus Christ without compromise.

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

C

Caribbean Star Newspaper Firefighters contain St. Rose’s High lab fire

July 17 – 23, 2015

ity firefighters saved St. Rose’s High from potential destruction last evening when they managed to contain a fire that engulfed the prep room for the school’s chemistry lab.

According to the caretaker Chapman (only name given), the fire started around 7:15PM. The man, who said he had carried out his usual search of the building about an hour earlier, recounted that he was sitting in a waiting area when he saw smoke coming from the prep room.

A teacher, Yolanda Welch, who was in the Information Technology lab at the time, said that she exited the lab to dis-

pose of some garbage when she noticed the smoke emanating from the room. “I started to panic and called 911 ’cause I couldn’t find a number for the fire station,” Welch said, while noting that the police informed her that they were going to send help.

Welch said that she quickly informed Chapman, who was already aware of the fire.

Chapman said he ran out of the building for help after the room burst into flames a few minutes after.

Another teacher, who was close by, arrived at the scene before the fire fighters and turned off the breakers outside of the

President convenes emergency Cabinet meeting on flooding

Microscopes damaged by the fire school, cutting all electrical power.

Firefighters and police arrived at about 7:25 and were able to extinguish the fire and prevent its spread to other parts of the building.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, who was on

security Corentyne Cham- Prison ber of Commerce cameras go up alarmed at crime W wave -calls for urgent response

T

P

resident David Granger summoned an emergency meeting of the Cabinet, in light of intense flooding in Georgetown, East Coast and other coastal areas.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency this morning said that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has since been activated and the Guyana Defence Force will be supporting the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Communities in flood relief efforts.

The Ministry release said that over the past 16 hours Guyana has experienced an intense period of rainfall. Georgetown it said saw approximately 70mm of rainfall. The East Coast of Demerara received approximately 100mm, while Leonora in Region 3 received around 225mm. This resulted in flooding in most low-lying areas.

The following decisions and actions were taken as a result of that emergency meeting: · An aerial survey of the coastal areas of the country will be done to ascertain the extent of the flooding along the coast. · The Ministries of Public Security and

Communities will contact all regional offices, stations and police outposts to obtain a quick briefing of any affected areas. · Shelters will be established in suitable areas for any residents that require temporary accommodation. · Traffic restrictions will be issued and citizens are advised that all non-essential travel should be avoided.

The release said that the President was briefed by the Minister of Public Infrastructure and assured that all mechanical pumps in the city were operational during the night. At low tide, at 7:00 am today, all sluices in Georgetown were opened, with the exception of the one at Sussex Street, which is under repairs. This will bring some measure of relief to the higher sections of Georgetown, the release said.

Rainfall of approximately 20mm – 40mm is anticipated in the next 12 hours, which will contribute to additional flooding in low-lying areas.

The emergency Cabinet meeting was to have reconvened at 8:00 am this morning and further updates will be provided.

Middle Street at 7.30 am today.

Middle Street at 7.30 am today.

the scene, told Stabroek News that it was too early to ascertain what caused the fire. He praised the prompt response of the Alberttown Fire Station, which arrived first, and the firefighters’ effectiveness in containing the fire and preventing it from spreading further. He said while he has no indication that the fire was an act of arson nature, the scene would be treated like a crime scene.

Some teachers and persons who were at the scene after the fire were suspicious about the cause of the fire, given the fact that there had been four other fires in the city, on the East Coast and on the West Coast in the two preceding days.

he Corentyne Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to those who are demanding that the twomonth-old government urgently take action to bring the crime situation under control.

According to a press release from the Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, they are “alarmed at the spate of unprecedented levels of crimes being committed in Berbice,” which in their estimation, has “not experienced anything of this nature in recent memory.”

The Chamber of Commerce said that “ ‘people’ would not be too concerned of all the talks and disclosures of ‘Forensic Audits’ if their relatives (are) being killed and their business takings are being seized by gun toting bandits.” This was a reference to the launch by the new administration of a series of audits of state entities. In order to stem the crimes, the Chamber has demanded that the government get the police to unrelentingly “pursue these criminals and bring them to justice”.

It noted “We are also worried by the increasing reports of teenage criminals snatching chains & cellphones with increasing alacrity.”

It said that armed bandits seem to be operating without concern about police intervention and that the latter appear “unwilling or demotivated to act”.

The body also issued a call to the government to “honour their promises in the 100 days plan” and to retain the uniform grant to students as well as the $10,000 grant to families with children in public schools.

In addition, the Chamber also said it is “looking forward in the near future for a reduction on personal income taxes and a new regime of taxes on vehicles reflecting lower taxes on newer fuel efficient vehicles.”

orkmen have begun to install security cameras and other equipment at the nation’s prisons in an attempt to monitor illicit activities and claims of prisoner abuse.

The move comes on the heels of an impending lawsuit filed by the Prison Officers Association (POA) seeking to shut down the remand facilities on the basis of various infractions of health and safety provisions.

Yesterday, officers said the “jail was nice now” after some of the camera equipment was installed at the prisons in Arouca.

Officers said the jammers, to block unauthorised cellphone use by prisoners, had also arrived and should be installed at a later date by a contractor.

In an interview yesterday, president of the POA Ceron Richards said, “We welcome any initiative and it (security equipment) was promised since late 2013 and we are serious about the Osha issue.”

Richards said they had made many complaints to the Osha board seeking an inspection of the prisons, but without a response.

“This is outstanding. We have written for them to inspect the prisons and we have to look at taking legal action against the OSH board. We have written to them to visit and to date but no one has visited. The board has turned its back on the Prison Service,” he said.

Last week, Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar announced that Government had authorised an additional $12 million “to ensure that we have video surveillance throughout almost every part of the prisons.”

On the issue of surveillance cameras, Ramadhar said then that the ministry had initially planned to implement the measure on a smaller scale but had to adjust this. He said it had brought in the National Operations Centre (NOC) to play a key role, as well, in the light of recent issues at the nation’s prisons.

Ramadhar’s statement came a day after prisons officer Kerwyn Boswell was shot outside his San Fernando home, an incident which once again prompted the POA to raise its voice over government’s tardiness in implementing long-promised extra security measures for prisons officers and the prison system. Richards said yesterday that Boswell was “okay and comfortable.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

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Help for parents of children with special needs If you’re a parent of a special needs child you’re probably well aware of how complicated and expensive it can be to make sure your child has the proper care. And often times this is a lifelong commitment.

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That’s where a special needs trust can help.

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fits. More importantly, if something happens to you, a special needs trust may help provide the necessary means for your loved one’s continued care, basic necessities, and additional expenses—even those that may not be federally subsidized, like specialized medical therapies, education, and transportation.

You will need to work with an attorney to create the trust. Once it’s been created, you can fund it in a variety of ways. In fact, you may want to explore the benefits of funding a special needs trust with a permanent whole life or universal life insurance policy.

Both provide death benefit protection2, allow tax-deferred cash value accumulation, and can be made to suit your specific needs

and budget. Your life insurance Agent can help you determine how much money you need in the trust, and discuss affordable options that are best for you.

If you provide care for a person with special needs or wish to create a substantial gift, a special needs trust can be of tremendous help. Plus, it’s one of the few estate-planning strategies that can protect your loved one’s eligibility for federal assistance.3 And, when funded by life insurance, a special needs trust may provide an affordable solution that can last for years to come.

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July 17 – 23, 2015

Taxi men confessed Granger to seek in Brazil over to planning Ramlall support Venezuela claim robbery, transporting killers — Crime Chief

P

resident David Granger will be attending the Mercosur summit this week in Brasilia but will venture to Brazil one day early to seek support over the ongoing controversy with Venezuela which was exacerbated by two recent maritime decrees from Caracas seeking to appropriate Guyana’s Atlantic waters.

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman yesterday stated that the president will be going to introduce.

Duo to stand trial for Vlissengen Rd robbery/murder

T

wo detained taxi drivers have confessed to planning the armed robbery on mall owner Ganesh Ramlall and subsequently transporting the killers including the now dead Rolston Morrison to and from the businessman’s La Jalousie home, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday.

Morrison, the suspected leader of the gang, was killed and an alleged gang member shot and wounded during Tuesday’s early morning “shootout”.

T

he two men who were char­ ged with murdering businessman Ashok Raghoo following a robbery in the city late last year, were yesterday committed to stand trial at the High Court.

Jermain Otto, 26, of Lot 735 East Ruimveldt and Travis Mc Dougall, 25, of Lot 422 East Ruimveldt were charged with murdering Raghoo in the course or furtherance of a robbery committed on him and his wife Shayraz Raghoo of property valued $4 million at Vlissengen Road.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Soldier jailed for killing colleague by dangerous driving

A

soldier has been sentenced to 36 months in prison after being found guilty of causing the death of a fellow serviceman due to dangerous driving.

Guyana Defence Force member Antonio Eastman was sentenced at the conclusion of his trial by city magistrate Judy Latchman, who said she was satisfied that the evidence established that Eastman caused the death of Lieutenant Ronald Gonsalves through dangerous driving.

The charge stated that on November 1st, 2013, at Mandela Avenue, Eastman drove motor vehicle PPP 2210 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Gonsalves.

According to the prosecution’s case, the accident occurred when Eastman and two other soldiers left Timehri for Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown.

Ronald Gonsalves Eastman, the driver of the vehicle, allegedly attempted to overtake another vehicle but lost control and ran into a lantern post, resulting in the death of Gonsalves and serious injuries to himself and three other soldiers, who survived.

Eastman’s attorney, Leslie Sobers, stated that his client did not aggravate the situation as he was not driving under the influence of

alcohol or drugs.

Additionally, he related that Eastman thought of Gonsalves as a brother and has since expressed his shock and remorse at the terrible accident.

Sobers asked the court to exercise its discretion and impose a monetary punishment for the offence rather than a custodial sentence that would tarnish his client’s army career.

Magistrate Latchman, however, opted to impose a custodial sentence of 36 months for Eastman.

As a result, Sobers asked for bail for Eastman while steps are taken to appeal the sentence.

However, Prosecutor Vishnu Hunte objected to the application, while noting that Eastman had been found guilty and handed a sentence by the court. Magistrate Latchman subsequently denied the lawyer’s application and Eastman was taken into custody.

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July 17 – 23, 2015

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COME & EXPERIENCE THE SPLENDOR OF AN

Exotic Tour of East Asia September 6th

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ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

Floating Boat Market

Visiting THAILAND - Covering vibrant city of Bangkok which is the Capital and also known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon - “City of Angels.” PATTAYA - The flamboyant city famous for its corals and beaches. HONG KONG,- A place full of cultual Kaleidoscope with full of architecture, natural beauty, delicious cuisine and fascinating culture. MALAYSIA - KUALA LUMPUR - One of richest Asia’s capital with historic Sight Seeing & Petrona’s tower. MALACCA - Historic port entry famous for its rich natural heritage and architecture. SINGAPORE - A very diverse, young and beautiful country with many languages, cultures, gorgeous sight seeing.

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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

-

• 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

FIVE STAR HOTELS USED FOR YOUR COMFORT Bangkok Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok or Similar Hua Hin Hilton Hua Hin Hotel & Resort or Similar Singapore Sheraton Towers or Similar Kuala Lumpur Intercontinental KL or Similar Hong Kong Inter-Continental Grand Stanford or Similar *** Hotel is subject to change depending on availability *** TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: • Visa fee, if any. • Travel Insurance • Gratuities to guides, drivers & porters • Personal expenses or other expenses.

• Surcharges (if any) • Any items of personal nature such as tips, laundry, telephone bills, etc • Anything not specially mentioned in the ‘Tour Price Includes Column’

TOUR COST: $3,900 PER PERSON - BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

KALI TRAVEL & TOURS (KT&T) 169-12 Hillside Ave. Jamaica NY 11432

Tel. 718-291-9292 • Fax (718) 291-7434 • Cell 917-407-9090

Email: kaligroup@verizon.net • www.kalitravelandtours.com MEMBER

Recognized by Government of India, Ministry of Tourism

By Appointment — Tour Operator To Air India

MEMBER

Tour is Subject to cancellation which may be due to unforeseen circumstances, if any

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29

World News Highlights

WASHINGTON - Iran should use a nuclear deal agreed this week with six world powers to improve its own economic situation, and not to pursue “adventures” in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Thursday.

ATHENS - Europe moved to reopen funding to Greece’s stricken economy on Thursday after the parliament in Athens approved a new bailout program in a fractious vote that left the government without a majority.

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended the debate about a possible temporary Greek exit from the euro zone in the conservative parliamentary faction, a source told Reuters.

BAGHDAD/ERBIL, Iraq - As Iraqi forces prepare to try to recapture the city of Falluja, tens of thousands of civilians find themselves trapped between Islamic State militants ready to use them as human shields and a government suspicious of their loyalties.

ADEN - Senior members of Yemen’s exiled administration flew into Aden on Thursday to make preparations for the government’s return, an official said, three months after being pushed out by the armed Houthi group.

BRASILIA - The speaker of Brazil’s lower house of Congress said on Thursday he is weighing legal arguments to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, which would be the first ouster of a sitting president in the country in nearly 23 years.

DUBAI - Iran’s security hawks have begun sniping at their country’s historic nuclear deal, emboldened a day after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described some of the world powers that signed it as “untrustworthy”.

BERLIN - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in a letter to the president of Germany’s Bundestag lower house of parliament that the International Monetary Fund would not be involved in the payment of a first tranche of a planned third Greek bailout.

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Eleven people were sentenced on Thursday for trafficking sex workers from Hungary to Britain, in what the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said was one of the largest sex trafficking cases prosecuted in London.

AKCAKALE, Turkey - Cemal Dede fled his home in a remote Turkmen village in Syria after warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State bombed the house next door. He had no idea he wouldn’t be coming back.

GENEVA - The U.N. Security Council must intervene in Burundi to prevent mass atrocities and the risk of a regional conflict, seven independent U.N. human rights investigators said on Thursday.

FRANKFURT/ATHENS - Greek banks face deep surgery including closures or mergers after a bailout but they are seen getting a brief reprieve with a capital injection before the painful overhaul begins.

BEIJING - China on Wednesday condemned the Philippines for doing repairs to a rusting ship it ran aground on a South China Sea reef, demanding Manila remove the vessel while adding that Beijing “reserved the right to take further measures”.

KIEV - Ukraine’s parliament has passed all the laws needed to receive a new tranche of loans amounting to over $3 billion under an IMF-backed bailout program, Finance Ministry official Artem Shevalev said on Thursday.

ABUJA - Two explosions rocked a market in Gombe, northeast Nigeria, on Thursday, an emergency services official said.

BEIJING - Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has ridiculed China’s Communist Party for wanting to control his reincarnation, saying the government is “pretending” to know more about the system than he does, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

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TO BAKERIES IN NY/NJ. “We should hang our heads in shame,” Dr Edwards said yesterday when he released the information. He suggested that this should be an area for further study as it is not clear why those persons had not accessed treatment.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

Once you learn to appreciate Indian music, there is no going back — Vp Premier

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ARIES

(March 21-April 19) You don’t feel afraid of anything.

You could dive from a plane and never even break a sweat. Monday and Tuesday are going to be full of wild expeditions -- make sure you’re hanging around people who can handle themselves in exciting situations -- and not only are you going to learn a lot about yourself, you’re going to learn a lot about the big, weird world around you.

Wednesday and Thursday may be a little on the crummy side (two words: money issues), but Friday, Saturday and Sunday promise to be fastpaced and, if you’re lucky, romantic.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22) There isn’t an hour that goes by that you don’t learn something new. Well, okay, some hours are pretty uneventful, but lately you’re learning things left and right, especially Monday through Wednesday. All this education comes from people whose opinions you never thought would differ much from your own. Most of your learning opportunities this week are going to take place, surprisingly enough, at work – on Thursday, the key is going to be maintaining your modesty and not letting things come to blows with the boss – but your weekend is going to be spent with friends.

Smart friends. Horizon-broadening friends.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Monday you’re going to play a game with someone that reminds you of being a kid again. It’s not every day that you get to take thick pieces of chalk outside and draw giant bugs and flowers on the driveway, so you should relish it. The middle of the week is going to return you to less exciting matters – work, responsibilities, details, errands, laundry, family obligations – but at least it will be busy and you’ll get tons checked off your to-do list.

You’ll be busy into the weekend, in fact. Time flies when you’re running around. Er, something like that.

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

GEMINI

(April 20-May 20) You are not the kind of person to rush right out and buy whatever’s in the store window, but on Monday you’re hankering to make a purchase. But you’re also having second thoughts.

That’s how the whole day is going to be: half of you wants to jump ahead, the other half wants to back up a bit. Your best bet? Wait a day or two. See how you feel on, say, Thursday. (By the way, you’re going to feel on top of the world on Thursday.) In the coming weekend, shopping figures prominently (again). Maybe you’re in for some impulse buying after all.

(May 21-June 20) Monday, you surround yourself with exceptionally talented people. You have great friends. So why not turn to them for advice at times like these? They’ve been through stuff before, and they can help, especially midweek.

It’s nothing you can’t handle, but it will be something similar to an obstacle course: You’re going to have to climb through a lot of hoops before you make it to the weekend. On Friday, someone is going to make eyes at you, and if you’re single, you should make eyes back. There will be a lot happening – and a fair amount of romance – in your weekend.

VIRGO

LIBRA

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) For a while there it seemed like your wheels were just spinning, but now you’re finally getting some traction. On Monday, you have a sense of what you’re doing and why it matters in the grander scheme of things.

You don’t have any more money to show for it, alas, but that will come with time. And anyway, what does money buy you? Not anything that truly matters. Thursday will be a day of deep conversations and a fair amount of soul-searching, but oddly enough it will be a fun day, and the weekend will be what you make of it.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Your family needs you in the beginning of the week, and you’re not the kind of person who would ever let them down. So what if you have to drop what you’re doing and run an errand or two for someone – that is exactly what families are all about. Don’t worry; everyone at work will understand. Wednesday, thankfully, returns you to more exciting matters: your love life, your free time and your ability to express yourself creatively. You are a master of communication, and that’s going to help you this weekend, when a whole swarm of flighty people suddenly appear in your life.

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Monday is all about you and you-know-who, and things could go either way. Your mood is going to determine whether the day goes terrifically or not so well at all. Obviously, the happier you are, the happier you-know-who will be. It’s amazing how much you two rub off on each other. But every day isn’t going to be as sensitive as Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday, for example, will be full of magnetism and dynamism and romance, and Friday you both will feel full of energy. Expect a lot of long, winding conversations over the weekend.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You don’t have to proceed very far into Monday before you see something that completely blows your mind: a bare tree against the sky, a chimney coughing up blue smoke, a clever-looking snowman... The world is truly full of more people and more beauty than you’ll ever have time to exhaust.

Midweek on will be spent doing family things and talking about family matters, but surprisingly, there’s a chance that you may have an unexpected romance this Sunday. It’s a small chance. But it will be a good day either way.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22) So sometimes you get a little emotional, especially Monday and Tuesday. That’s perfectly okay. You’re only a human being. Still, why let the small things get to you? You are always on the go, but some things don’t have to be hurried.

When you feel like sprinting, walk instead. You’ll be amazed how much more pleasant the world is.

On Thursday, a dinner party or a social gathering will be the setting for a crazy conversation about something you’ve never considered, and that’s going to set off a frenzied, the-wilder-the-better weekend. Fasten your seat belt. It’s going to be insane.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Monday you are going to be of service to someone else, and they are going to be so thankful they aren’t going to know what to do with their gratitude. (Obviously, you think they should channel their gratitude into buying you dinner, but you’re not going to push it.) Then on Thursday, you and you-know-who are going to have a minor spat – nothing big – and it’s going to remind you of the importance of compromise.

Even people who are madly in love have to sometimes go out of their way to make their partners happy. You scratch their back, they’ll scratch yours – especially over the weekend.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20) You thought you had all your ducks in a row, but you just glanced back at them and they all turned into muffins. Wait, what? You had ducks, now you have muffins? That’s how weird Monday (and possibly straight through Wednesday) is going to be. (Muffins! Where there were ducks?!) One thought that’s going to pass through your head more than a few times on Thursday is that you’re living in a dream, but no – this is real life, in all its ducky, muffiny charm. Take things slowly and make sure you don’t fall for any illusions on the weekend.

They’re everywhere.

Never Give Up Kimberly Heeralall

J

ai Seeta Ram Everyone! My name is Kimberly Heeralall and I am a blessed member of the Naujavaan Mandalee Youth Group of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir.

Today, my article is about why you should never give up. Have you ever given up on something that you wanted achieve in life?

We have all felt like giving up in some point of our lives. But sometimes we give up before making an honest effort or trying everything that we can.

Here are a few reasons why you should never give up. I hope that you find your reason before you decide to stop trying and that it inspires you to move on. Firstly, you must remember that as long as you’re alive, anything is possible. This means the only good reason for you to give up is death. As long as you are alive—healthy and free—you have a choice to make attempts to succeed. However, you must be realistic. It is not very likely that you will succeed the first time you try.

Everything takes time to be learnt, and you will make mistakes. Learn from them!

You are stronger than you think. One little failure, even 10 or 100, is not a legitimate reason to stop striving for success. Express yourself. Come out and show yourself to the world, as well as to yourself. You can and will achieve what you intend to do. You fail only when y, u surrender. A good question to ask yourself when taking up an endeavor is, “Was it done before?” If somebody else can do it, so can you. Even if only one person in the world has managed to achieve what you want, this means that it is doable. This should be reason enough for you to never give up.

Believe in your dreams. This means do not betray your true self. There will always be a lot of people who will tell you that what you want to achieve is impossible. Do not let anyone ruin your dreams. But do allow those around you to support you. Let your family and friends become a source of inspiration and motivation to keep moving on. You may need to try to change your point of view, study and practice more, but never give up! Always remember that here are people worse off than you. Right now there are

many people who are in a worse situation and in worse conditions than you are now.

Do you want to give up your daily 5 miles of jogging? Think about the people who cannot even walk and how much they would love to be able to run 5 miles.

Achieving your goals will help to improve the world overall. When you achieve everything you intend to, you can use your success to make changes in the world or in the lives of individuals. You can encourage others. Be a source of inspiration to others by refusing to give up. Maybe someone else can succeed because you have never surrendered. But aside from everyone else, YOU deserve to be happy. You deserve happiness and success.

Keep this attitude and never give up before you reach your destination. We should keep on trying because practice makes perfect.

Pandit Manoj always tells us to never give up and keep on trying. This is the only way you will reach your goals. I hope none of you give up in life. God is always with you no matter what. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.

Thank you and Jai Seeta Ram!!

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

Entertainment News

Why did Katrina Kaif skip Neetu Kapoor's birthday bash?

T

here is this strange buzz doing the rounds about why Katrina Kaif was unable to attend Neetu Kapoor's birthday bash recently.

Some say since she was shooting for 'Jagga Jasoos', she was forced to miss it.

Strangely, however, her co-star and beau Ranbir Kapoor could make it, but not Katrina.

Earlier, there were whispers about differences between Katrina and director Anurag Basu over date issues for the film's reshoot.

Truth can sometimes indeed be stranger than fiction.

Sanjay Gupta needs 'crash course in time management'

F

ilmmaker Sanjay Gupta is juggling between a lot of things and so he says he needs to learn how to manage his time.

The 45-year-old took to micro-blogging website Twitter and wrote: "Movies to make, Books to read, Shows to watch, Music to hear & my Kids. I need a crash course in time management".

Gupta is waiting for the release of his upcoming film "Jazbaa", which is slated to hit the theatres on October 9.

The film, which is being touted as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's comeback wagon, also stars Irrfan Khan, Shabana Azmi, Abhimanyu Singh, Atul Kulkarni and Chandan Roy Sanyal.

A

Batman vs Superman new trailer arrives online

brand new trailer for Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice has landed online shortly after being screened for the fanboys during the Warner Bros panel at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend.

It shows, from Bruce Wayne's perspective, the massive destruction during the battle between Henry Cavill's Man of Steel and Michael Shannon's General Zod, reported Ace Showbiz.

"Today is a day for truth. The world needs to know what he stands for. That kind of power is dangerous. Let the record show that this city holds him responsible," says Holly Hunter who plays a senator.

Meanwhile, Ben Affleck's Batman himself says, "Twenty years in Gotham.

How many good guys are left? How many stayed that way? He has the power to wipe out the human race, and I must

Uma Thurman returns to CAA

A

ctress Uma Thurman has returned to international artiste management agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), after staying without one for the past year.

Thurman had been represented by CAA for most of her career, including during her Oscar-nominated role in Pulp Fiction and her iconic role in Kill Bill series. After leaving the agency in 2011, she signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) the following year and then with United Talent Agency (UTA) in 2013, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

The 45-year-old, who last appeared in the miniseries The Slap, will next be seen in comedy Adam Jones (previously titled Chef), starring Bradley Cooper. She will also star opposite Tim Roth in the indie comedy "The Brits Are Coming", which begins filming later this month. Thurman will play part of a couple that plots a jewel heist to pay off a gambling debt.

Kareena positive about success of 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'

A

ctress Kareena Kapoor Khan, currently busy promoting her forthcoming film "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", says the film will garner both commercial as well as critical success.

"I think 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' has both critical acclaim as well as huge commercial success. I think both are important, but a good film is more important than anything else," Kareena, who will be seen with superstar Salman Khan in the film, told reporters at a promo-

Why was Tabu missing from Shahid Kapoor's wedding reception?

T destroy him."

"We've done stuff in Man of Steel to launch this conflict," director Zack Snyder explained during the discussion at the fan-centric convention. "We put Gotham and Metropolis right next to each other. It makes sense for us in our story that they're kind of sister cities across a big bay, like Oakland and San Francisco."

31

abu's absence from the wedding reception of Shahid Kapoor on Sunday have set tongues wagging.

The actress created a buzz when she agreed to play Sasha's mother in Haider (2014) and they appeared to have bonded well, but something perhaps went wrong between them.

During a promotional event for her upcoming film, Drishyam, recently, Tabu had apparently refused to answer a question on Shahid's wedding.

Is it just a case of drifting apart after their much-acclaimed film Haider? Or something more?

tional event here on Tuesday.

Salman, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the film's director Kabir Khan, singers Adnan Sami, Mika Singh and Jubin Nautiyal and Salman Khan Films CEO Amar Butala were also present at the event.

The film, which will hit the screens on Friday, has been extensively shot in Mandawa (Rajasthan), Kashmir and Delhi.

32

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

Kate Winslet plays fashion designer in 'The Dressmaker'

T

he first trailer of Australian drama comedy "The Dressmaker" features actress Kate Winslet as a dress designer.

The movie centers on a dress designer who returns to her Australian home, from which she fled as a child after being accused of murder.

The trailer opens with Myrtle Dunnage, played

by Winslet, arriving in her hometown in a remote area.

"I don't know why you return to this home," Myrtle's mother says in the trailer.

Not only her mother, but also other inhabitants in the town are not h a p p y about her return.

"She's back! The murderer is back," one of the neighbours yells.

It turns out that Myrtle

is not as bad as people think about her.

She makes changes to her environment with her sense of fashion.

She transforms a nerd girl into a stunning girl by making her a fabulous dress which makes the girl become the centre of attention in a party.

"I can make you the most striking girl in the room," Myrtle says.

Following the party, many other women ask Myrtle to make them beautiful dresses. Despite her impressive career as a dressmaker in the town, Myrtle still struggles to overcome the murder issue which continues circling her life with the help of her love interest, Teddy McSwiney (Liam Hemsworth).

Based on a popular novel of the same name

by Rosalie Ham, the movie is slated for a release in the US on October 22.

It also features Judy Davis, Isla Fisher and Elizabeth Debicki.

Emma Stone has discreet social media account?

A

ctress Emma Stone has hinted at having a secretive account on social media after quitting Twitter in

2013.

Stone left the micro-blogging site after her account was hacked, reported E! Online.

When the 26-year-old Aloha actress was asked if she would create a new account on Twitter, she said, "I don't know.

I don't think so."

When the reporter asked her whether she had a secret social media account which she might use to stalk people, she

coyly answered, "I don't know. Maybe."

Last year, when the Birdman actress stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon she opened up that she had an account on Pinterest but she kept it secret.

She confessed, "I would be humiliated if anyone were to see how many inspirational quotes I have. I got a lot of like, 'Just pick yourself up by the bootstraps.' " It is not clear yet whether the social media account Stone was referring to during her latest interview is her secret Pinterest account.

Salman's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' pendant in high demand

A

pendant, which is the same as worn by actor Salman Khan in his forthcoming release "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", has turned out to be a bestseller online.

The official "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" silver pendant went on sale on Amazon.in and jumped to the number one bestseller position within a day of being live.

"Much to our delight, Bollywood actor Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' pendant became one of the bestselling products on day one of its launch on Amazon.in. More than 50 percent of the or-

ders came from outside of top eight cities (in India), which highlights how consumers from smaller markets are able to enjoy Amazon. in's fast and reliable delivery experience," an Amazon India spokesperson said in a statement.

The orders mostly came in from metro cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata. As much as 64 percent of the sales happened via mobile (app and browser), 34 percent on computers and two percent from tablets.

July 17 – 23, 2015 33 Caribbean Star Newspaper Amitabh Bachchan says the intensity of his Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone to friendship with Amjad Khan always remained star together in YRF film?

W

ith the announcement of the Salman Khan starrer Sultan, it seems that Yash Raj Films is all set for yet another A-list project. Speculations are that YRF’s untitled next will have Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone paired opposite each other for the first time. Moreover it is being said that the film will be directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya.

However, prior to this, rumours also indicated that this film is a part of the Dhoom franchise. But, now it is said to be a completely different film. Apparently, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s appearance together at Aamir Khan’s bash seemed to have sparked these rumours. When contacted the production house, the spokesperson said, “YRF will be announcing its forthcoming films soon and we request that you wait for the details of the announcement. Till then we would request all concerned to please refrain from any speculations.”

On the other hand, Hrithik Roshan doesn’t have a release in 2015 and he is busy preparing for Ashutosh Gowariker’s magnum opus Mohenjo Daro. On the other hand, Deepika Padukone will be soon seen as Mastani in the period love story Bajirao Mastani.

Jennifer Lawrence rubishes pregnancy stories

D

uring the promotion of her film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, the 24-year-old Oscar-winning actress said she reads about her pregnancy rumours on tabloids and often gets surprised, reported E! Online.

M

egastar Amitabh Bachchan has revealed he and his "Sholay" co-star Amjad Khan had a great friendship that withstood difficult times.

Bachchan, 72, who launched the book written by Amjad's son Shadaab, said he recollected the memories of his first meeting with the late actor on the sets of the 1975 blockbuster. "... A journey filled with happiness and joy and togetherness and trying times and difficult times. But the intensity of our friendship always remained.

"We spent some anxious times at various stages of our friendship... His accident, my accident and then his sudden passing away but there was a bond that remained unspoken between us and still does...," he wrote on his blog.

Amjad, who had a near-fatal accident on the Mumbai-Goa road in 1986, died six years later due to heart failure.

Besides "Sholay", the actors shared screen space in "Ahsaas", "Suhaag", "Mr Natwarlal", "Laawaris" among others.

34

A

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD girl yesterday recalled the horror of watching her father die in a pool of blood on Monday shortly after she and her brother, aged 12, heard loud explosions in their garden in Barrackpore. The girl, Savannah Joseph and her brother Christian, had just gone to an area of the garden to bring a luchette for their father Cyril Joseph, 52, when they heard gunshots.

Fearing someone was shooting at them, the siblings hid. When they did not see their father, they climbed a hill from where they observed him lying motionless on the ground some distance away.

“I went and shake daddy and told him, ‘daddy wake up’, but he was not moving,” a traumatised Savannah told Newsday. “I kept on shaking him and there was blood on his hand.” She then took her father’s cell phone and called for help.

Their mother Elizabeth Rangoo, who was at home a couple miles away at Seebalack Branch Trace, Rochard Road in Penal, answered the call. Recounting the conversation she had with her daughter, Rangoo told Newsday outside the Forensic Science Centre yesterday, “She said, ‘ma! Daddy get shoot and he eh moving!’ I said, ‘No! hold he hand and shake him...he will get up!’

Then she hung up the phone and called her uncle.” As to what could have happened, Rangoo blamed her common-law husband’s death on a trap gun. But she is not ruling out foul play because she said Joseph and another man from the area had a dispute over crops.

“It was a rat trap they used and they put the gun on top of it,” Rangoo said. “And when he walked past, his foot or something touch the string to the gun and it fired. We

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

By MIRANDA LA ROSE

oung Trinidadians of Chinese descent have engaged in an online campaign on social media to combat xenophobia and racism that has emerged following reports in the media of Chinese men skinning a dog supposedly to cook for food.

Lily Kwok, 22, of Glencoe, who started the campaign, told Newsday yesterday that the video shown on television last Thursday and published in the newspapers along with “uneducated comments” by Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan “has led to an onslaught of xenophobic and racist comments against Trini- Chinese.” A Facebook profile which she started yesterday invites “any and everyone to join me in taking a photo sending a positive/ constructive message on social media to combat ignorance, xenophobia, intolerance and racism.” She posted, “Fight ignorance.

Proclaim your humanity. Spread love. #IAmAPerson.” A photo shows her holding a poster that read, “I will not go back to China” and “I am Trinidadian.”

At press time the post had attracted 114

Caribbean Connections DADDY WAKE UP

think it was a set up yes,” she suggested.

“I think it was a particular man. That man and Cyril had a court case and thing before for the same digging up some crops.” The children may have fallen prey to the deadly weapon had they had not left their father’s side to retrieve a water spray can and the luchette. Police have since seized one of the trap guns that led to the father’s death.

The incident is said to have occurred at about 3.45 pm on Monday, the time when Joseph and his children usually venture to the garden to tend their banana plants and other crops. Speaking to Newsday yesterday at the family home in the company of her grandmother Samdaye Rangoo, 62, Savannah said she has not been able to sleep since the incident as the image of her father covered in blood, continues to torment her.

“He was right there with us in the garden and then he was gone,” the teenager cried.

She recalled her father’s last words to her.

“Savannah you and yuh brother go bring the luchette and the water spray can from the van... those were his last words.” Savannah said she had just finished put on her tall boots as her father shouted out to her.

“I had the luchette in my hand already and I grabbed the spray can and then I heard this loud explosion in the garden. I knew it was a gunshot, “she recalled.

Savannah acted immediately and grabbed her brother and hid behind their father’s van which was parked near to the garden. “I was holding Christian and I was scared because I was thinking that there was someone with a gun in our garden,” she said. The children remained hidden behind the vehicle for a few minutes. “When I re-

alised that there was silence, I carefully got up from behind the van with my brother and called out to daddy. He did not answer,” Savannah recounted.

The girl said she then climbed a hilly area in the roadway where she was able to get an overview of the garden. “I saw my daddy lying on the ground. I ran as fast as I could into the garden and when I reached my daddy I kept telling him to wake up but he did not,” the distraught teen said. She soon realised that her father had stepped on a trap gun. Wiping her tears an inconsolable Savannah said, “I still keep seeing him in the garden every time I close my eyes with his mouth and eyes open and his clothes soaked in blood. And every time I think about him it hurt me so much.” Savannah’s grandmother said that Joseph was very close to his children and struggled to make ends meet, working in the garden to provide for them and his wife who is four months pregnant.

Savannah and Christian, the grandmother told Newsday, loved going in the garden to help their father.

“They would look forward to going in the garden every evening with their dad. They loved him dearly,” the grandmother said.

She said it pains her to see her grandchildren growing up without a father.

“She (Savannah) has not stopped crying and Christian since the incident has stopped speaking. He just watches and stares. I know he is in pain, “ Rangoo explained. She believed that the traps were set deliberately in the garden to kill Joseph due to an ongoing dispute.

“Whoever did this, did it out of greed and have killed a father.

We’re Trinis too

“Like” and had 824 “Share.” Asked why she started the campaign, Kwok said the comments she has heard, including “telling the Chinese to return to China and for Government to control Chinese immigration” in all forms of media and on the street, were hurtful. “After all,” she said, “I am a person who has feelings, who has an identity.” As a Trinidadian, who was born and raised in Trinidad to parents who were also born and raised in Trinidad, she said, “I was angry at first.” However, she said, she believes education is a more powerful tool than ridicule in dealing with hateful and bigoted people.

The day after the airing of the video during a television newscast, Kwok said her family’s restaurant experienced slow business and closed earlier than usual.

Before the entire incident, Kwok said, “I never experienced xenophobia and racism in Trinidad.” The response to the campaign, she said, has been mostly supportive and positive, but some have questioned her “Trinidadianness.”

Restaurant owner, Jenny Lin Hulder, 32, who has also joined the campaign

told Newsday that Khan’s comments on dog meat being seasoned with MSG and possibly served in restaurants might have created panic in public.

“I am seeing a decline in sales.

Not only me, but other restaurants have been affected ever since the video was aired,” she said.

Among others affected were relatives going about their business in a market who had vegetables thrown at them.

“It has gotten ridiculous. Jokes is one thing but getting thrown at with vegetables is public lynching,” she said. Most of the older Chinese were not saying anything, she said.

“What can they say? They can’t express themselves so well because they don’t have a great command of the English language. It is the only younger ones like us, who were born here, who have a better grasp of what is going on, and who will have to make representation.” Asia Jutla, a young professional of Maraval, said she joined the campaign because she realised it was important to address the xenophobia and racism that persons of her ancestry were ex-

They did not stop to think who would raise his seven children and a baby on the way,” she said.

Rangoo said the family needs all the help they can get along with counselling.

Cyril’s common-law wife Elizabeth, recalled for Newsday what happened when she arrived at the scene of the tragedy.

“When we reached and see him his head was above the water so no water went in him.” Elizabeth told Newsday. “His mouth and eyes were closed and it looked like he had a smile on his face.” She added that when police checked his body, they discovered that he had seeds for planting in his hands. Rangoo then turned to her plight now that her husband was dead. “I have five children and one on the way...who is going to help me?” she lamented.

Rangoo was in a common-law relationship with Joseph for 24 years. She told reporters at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday that she was accustomed to tending the land along with her common-law husband. However she stopped when she became pregnant.

Police have not yet determined whether or not the shooting was accidental. Investigations are continuing.

periencing after the publicity given to the skinning of the dog.

“Personally it is upsetting to hear the statements being made out of ignorance by a lot of my countrymen,” she said.

Many people have not realised that the recent fire on Charlotte Street housed a Chinese association that looks after the cultural heritage of Trini-Chinese nationals who were born and bred in TT, she said, yet she heard statements that said it was good “for them because they are cruel to dogs”.

It was hurtful, she said, “to know people are still being stereotyped and identified as sub- sections of society for victimisation and isolation.” Trinidad is supposed to be a “callaloo country”, she said, “but when things like this happens it shows that, maybe, we aren’t that close to being a callaloo country.” Proud of her national heritage, she said, “It is so important to hold onto the things that bring us together as a people rather than the things that drive us apart.” Kwok, Lin Hulder and Jutla all declared that they do not eat dog meat.

July 17 – 23, 2015 35 Caribbean Star Newspaper Jamaicans and Guyanese held by US Coast Guard in cocaine smuggling attempt

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AN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Tuesday July 14, 2015 – The United States Coast Guard has arrested five smugglers caught with $3.2 million of cocaine in a sinking boat in the Caribbean Sea. The three Jamaicans and two Guyanese and 215 pounds of cocaine were intercepted on a Guyanese fishing vessel on the afternoon of July 2, but the Coast Guard only made the interdiction public in a statement yesterday.

The five were nabbed while the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless were on routine patrol. They saw the “suspicious” boat, Chrispoph, approximately 170 miles south of the Dominican Republic.

The Coast Guard then contacted the

Guyanese government, which confirmed the Guyanese registry of the Chrispoph and authorized the Coast Guard to stop, board, and search the vessel.

During a preliminary search of the fishing vessel, five bales containing 98 packages of cocaine were found.

The Coast Guard officials also realized that the boat was taking on water because of a broken shaft seal and they transferred the smugglers and the contraband to their vessel. The boat eventually sank.

The men and drugs were subsequently transferred to another Coast Guard vessel to be transported to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they were taken into custody by special agents from the Caribbean

Corridor Strike Force over the weekend.

“This is a great way to start our counter-drug patrol here in the Caribbean,” said Commander Charles Kuebler, Dauntless’ commanding officer.

“We are glad these drugs will not reach our streets and we hope this interdiction will help investigatory agencies dismantle the transnational organized crime networks that threaten the security and prosperity of the US and our Caribbean neighbors.”

The interdiction was a multi-agency law enforcement effort in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force.

THE SEIZED CONTRABAND WITH AN ESTIMATED WHOLESALE VALUE OF $3.2 MILLION WAS TRANSFERRED LAST SATURDAY, ALONG WITH THE DETAINEES, TO SPECIAL AGENTS FROM THE CARIBBEAN CORRIDOR STRIKE FORCE FOR PROSECUTION.

Jamaica’s coral gardens give new hope for dying reefs

A TOTAL OF 60 FRAGMENTS FROM FIVE SPECIES OF CORALS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE TREES IN THE CORAL NURSERY

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INGSTON, Jamaica, Monday July 13, 2015, IPS – With time running out for Jamaica’s coral reefs, local marine scientists are taking things into their own hands, rebuilding the island’s reefs and coastal defences one tiny fragment at a time – a step authorities say is critical to the country’s climate change and disaster mitigation plans.

Five years ago, local hoteliers turned to experimental coral gardening in a desperate bid to improve their diving attractions, protect their properties from frequent storms surges and arrest beach erosion.

In 2014, their efforts were boosted when the Centre for Marine Science (CMS) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona scored a US$350,000grant from the International Development Bank (IDB) for the Coral Reef Restoration Project.

Project director and coastal ecologist Dale Webber told IPS that his team will carry out genetic research, attempt to crack the secrets of coral spawning and re-grow coral at several locations across the island and at the centre’s Discovery Bay site. The project will also share the research findings with other islands as well as another IDB project, Belize’s Fragments of Hope.

The reefs of Discovery Bay have been studied for more than 40 years, and are the centre of reef research in Jamaica. It is also home to several species of both fast and slow growing corals that Webber says are particularly resilient.

“They have tolerated disease, global warming, sea level rise, bleaching, etc. – all man and the environment have thrown at them – and are still flourishing. So they have naturally selected based on their resilience,” he explains.

A total of 60 fragments from five species of corals have been placed on the trees in the coral nursery. The five species are Orbicella annularis; Orbicella faveolata; Siderastrea siderea; Acropora palmata and Undaria agaricites. These fragments are being monitored as they grow and will be planted on the reefs.

Jamaica’s reefs – which make up more than 50 per cent of the 1,022 kilometres of coastline, have over the years been battered by pollution, overfishing and improper development. Finally in 1980 Hurricane Allen smashed them.

Many hoped the reefs would regenerate, but sluggish growth caused by, among other things, frequent severe weather events and an increase in bleaching incidences due to climatic changes sent stakeholders searching for options.

A massive Caribbean-wide bleaching event in 2005 resulted in widespread coral death and focused attention on continuing sand loss at some of the island’s most valuable beaches. But aside from the devastation caused by the hurricane, scientists say the poor condition of the reefs are also the result of a die-off of the sea urchin population in 1982 and the continued capture of juvenile reef fish and the parrot.

Predictions are that the region could lose all its coral in 20 years.

3-D modeling software could help scientists save coral reefs: http://t.co/Q5DCmErzPS pic.twitter.com/ztb766nkzi Some reports say that only about eight per cent of Jamaican corals are alive. However, new surveys conducted by the UWI at several sites across the island show coral cover of between 12 and 20 per cent.

Along Jamaica’s north coast from Oracabessa in St. Mary to Montego Bay, coral recovery projects have yielded varying levels of success. The Golden Eye Beach Club, the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary and Montego Bay Marine Park are among those that have experimented with coral gardening.

The process is tedious, as divers must tend the nurseries/gardens, removing algae from the fragments of corals as they grow. The pieces are then fixed to the reefs. The results are encouraging and many see this is an expensive but sure way to repopulate dying reefs. A

combination of techniques, management measures and regeneration have boosted coral cover at Discovery Bay from five percent to 14 per cent in recent years.

“We hope to supplement this and get it growing faster,” Webber who also heads UWI’s Centre for Marine Sciences says.

At the Centre’s newest Alligator Head location in the east of the island, the aim is to increase the coral cover from the existing 40 per cent. The nurseries have also been set up at the site in Portland to compare the differences in growth rate between sites.

COASTAL ECOLOGIST DALE WEBBER (PHOTO: JAMAICA GLEANER) At the NGO-operated Montego Bay Marine Park, where an artificial reef and coral nursery was established in the fish sanctuary, outreach officer Joshua Bailey reports: “There have been moderate successes. New corals are spawning and attracting fish.”

He cautioned that the impact of “urban stressors” on the park and in surrounding communities – high human population density and high levels of run-off – makes it difficult to judge the success of the restoration.

One of the most recent projects proposed the construction of an artificial reef off the shore of Sandals Resorts International Negril, as one of many solutions to reduce beach erosion along the famous ‘Seven Mile’ stretch of the Negril coast. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) approved the construction of an artificial reef in 1.2 metres of water offshore the Resort’s Negril bay property.

Andrew Ross is responsible for the Sandals and several other projects. A marine biologist and head of Seascape Caribbean, he explains that the Negril

project lasted one year. It allowed for the study of fast and slow growing coral species and included the construction of a wave attenuation structure to determine how wave action influences sand accumulation. The coral nursery and the structures were populated with soft corals, sponges and a variety of other corals from the area.

In Oracabessa, a fishing village on 16 kilometres east of the tourist town of Ocho Rios, the commitment of the fishermen who initiated the project and their private sector partners have kept the reef and replanted corals clean and healthy, demonstrating how successful the process can be in restoring the local fisheries.

“The fishermen have done a beautiful job of keeping the corals alive and the fish sanctuary successful,” Ross says of the project he started in 2009.

Much of Jamaica’s reefs have reportedly been smothered by silt from eroding hillsides, the algal blooms from eutrophication as a result of agricultural run-offs and the disposal of sewage in the coastal waters.

The reefs are critical to Jamaica’s economy as tourism services account for a quarter of all jobs and more than 50 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

Fisheries directly employ an estimated 33,000 people. Overall, the Caribbean makes between US$5 billion and US$11 billion each year from fishing and tourism, an indication of the importance of reefs to the economies of the islands.

The Restoration Project provides the CMS with the resources to undertake a series of research activities “to among other things mitigate coral depletion, and identify and cultivate species that are resistant to the ravages of the impact of climate change,” Webber says.

In an email outlining the process, he notes that the project will provide “applicable information and techniques to other countries in the region that are experiencing similar challenges,” during its 18-month lifetime.

Expectations are that at the end of the project, there will be visible changes in coral cover. The successes seen in Oracabessa, where fishermen report improvements in catch rates and fish sizes, and at other sites are an indication that coral gardening is working.

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July 17 – 23, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper Delta to increase scheduled flights between Atlanta and Grenada

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T. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Tuesday July 14, 2015 – Just one month after the launch of its new service between Atlanta and Grenada, Delta has indicated it will not only return the service in December, but also add two weekly flights during the peak holiday season.

Delta will resume its seasonal service from Atlanta to Grenada on December 19 with three weekly flights – Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The schedule will return to weekly Saturday-only flights from January 9.

On June 6, 2015, the airline began operating a non-stop service to Grenada from its Hub in Atlanta. The weekly scheduled flight, which concludes on August 15, 2015, added 640 seats to Grenada’s airline capacity from the U.S market in June. To date, the four-hour flight has performed quite well for the destination.

Chief Executive Officer at the Grenada Tourism Authority Rudy Grant said the increased seat capacity could reap major benefits for the country’s tourism industry.

“The Atlanta flight opens significant op-

portunities for expanding our airlift, not only from Atlanta but throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe,” he said.

Grant, who recently returned from a Grenada Destination Roadshow in the United Kingdom, indicated that the Atlanta flight formed an integral part of the discussions with the travel trade in Manchester.

“Delta owns 49 per cent of Virgin Atlantic. As such, there is a great possibility that Delta’s Atlanta flight might serve as a valuable connection for those traveling from Manchester aboard Virgin’s non-stop flight to Atlanta,” he explained.

At a scheduled departure time of 9:50 a.m, Delta’s Atlanta-Grenada flight has already begun functioning as a noteworthy connection for travelers originating from other US cities. To date passengers aboard the flights to Grenada have originated from cities, such as, Boston, Charleston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Orleans, and Washington DC, to name a few.

The new Delta service from Atlanta was introduced as a trial during the summer months.

Unions and BIDC reach deal to avert national strike in Barbados

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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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RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday July 15, 2015 – The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) has given into the demands of the island’s largest public sector trade union and reinstated workers it forced into retirement last month, narrowly averting a national strike that was set to begin as early as today.

The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) yesterday declared victory after the BIDC agreed the 10 employees would go back to work. The statutory body will also hold further consultations with the NUPW and its planned court action will be halted.

The reinstatement offer from the BIDC was put on the table during a meeting of the sub-committee of the social partners.

The acceptance by the union staved off an islandwide shutdown that would have been phase three of industrial action which started last Monday with a protest march through the capital and intensified with Sanitation Service Authority workers going on strike and Customs and Immigration workers embarking on a goslow.

Today’s go-slow by Customs and Immigration officers had contrasting effects on the i … – http://t.co/h16TVY2Nrg pic. twitter.com/h54rHUnRlh — Barbados Today (@BarbadosToday) July 15, 2015 When the BIDC retired the 10 workers a month ago, it said it had invoked its right under the Statutory Boards (Pensions) Act to retire officers reaching the age of 60, but the NUPW insisted the move was illegal and demanded the reinstatement of the workers or payment until the age of 67.

Speaking at a joint media conference, top officials of the NUPW and the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) which gave its support throughout the impasse, said the development was a victory for workers all across Barbados.

But even as the BIDC and the NUPW reached agreement, the union served notice that it was also expecting that similar letters sent to other public sector workers would be withdrawn.

“It is hoped that the decision of today’s meeting will inform all other decisions of statutory boards and central government which are aimed at similar action,” NUPW president Akanni McDowall said.

“With today’s precedent, unions are therefore calling on the government to rescind the letters to the QEH [Queen Elizabeth Hospital] and Customs Department employees and to workers employed by any other government-run organization that we may not have heard to date.”

During the industrial action, the unions had insisted that they were protesting not just the BIDC matter but the administration’s disrespect for and failure to consult with trade unions, and breaches of the Barbados Social Partnership protocols.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on Monday blasted the trade unions, accusing them of using blackmail and bullying tactics.

But the unions hit back yesterday in a joint statement, saying that the administration’s reluctance to engage in meaningful consultation with the workers representatives has contributed, “in no small measure”, to the volatile industrial relations climate in the country.

July 17 – 23, 2015 37 Caribbean Star Newspaper Caribbean leads world in reducing the number of new HIV/AIDS infections

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DDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Wednesday July 15, 2015 – The United Nations is reporting major progress by the Caribbean in battling HIV/AIDS, with the region recording the biggest drop in new infections compared to all regions in the world.

According to a report from the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), ‘How AIDS changed everything — MDG6: 15 years, 15 lessons of hope from the AIDS response’ which indicates that the world has met and exceeded the sixth millennium development goal of halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic, it is estimated that the number of people newly infected with HIV in the Caribbean in 2014 had been cut in half since 2000.

“The number of people living with HIV in the Caribbean fell sharply in the first half of the past decade, as new infections declined and substantial AIDS-related mortality persisted.

As access to HIV treatment has expanded, the number of people living with HIV has stabilized and begun to increase, consistent with trends seen globally,” stated the report which was released yesterday on the sidelines of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.

The decrease in new infections was most pronounced in the 2000 to 2004 period, when they fell by almost 32 per cent. In the 2005 to 2009 and 2010 to 2014 periods,

more modest declines in new infections of about 10 per cent occurred.

Haiti accounted for roughly half of all new HIV infections in 2014 in the Caribbean, with the Dominican Republic contributing the second largest number of new infections.

AIDS-related deaths in the region have also fallen by 59 per cent since 2005.

“The Caribbean is the only region in which the estimated decline in tuberculosis-related deaths among people living with HIV has exceeded 50 per cent. From 2004 to 2013, TB-related deaths among people living with HIV in the Caribbean fell by 66 per cent,” the report stated.

Worldwide, new HIV infections have fallen by 35 per cent and AIDS-related deaths by 41 per cent, and UNAIDS said the world is on track to ends the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Meantime, the UN body also reported that evidence indicates the Caribbean has achieved important successes in delivering essential HIV prevention services to sex workers.

Reported condom use among sex workers in the region during their last episode of commercial sex ranged from 72 to 98 per cent. In recent years, HIV prevalence among sex workers in the Caribbean ranged from one per cent in Antigua and Barbuda to eight per cent in Haiti.

By contrast, the prevalence of HIV in men who have sex with men in the

region ranges from two per cent in Antigua and Barbuda to 38 per cent in Jamaica.

The other progress was reported in access to antiretroviral therapy. In 2014, 44 per cent of all people living with HIV in the Caribbean received antiretroviral therapy, similar to the global coverage. This represented a sharp increase in treatment access since the launch of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 when treatment access was essentially non-existent in the region.

However, the not so positive report on the HIV/AIDS situation in the Caribbean was that stigmatization and discriminatory attitudes towards

people living with HIV remain common in many countries.

In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the two countries that account for the majority of new HIV infections in the region, 40 per cent or more of people surveyed said they would avoid buying fresh vegetables from a person known to be living with HIV; and a survey among female sex workers living with HIV in Santo Domingo found that female sex workers living with HIV were lost at each step of the HIV care continuum.

“Stigma and discrimination related to sex work and HIV were important factors affecting treatment continuation and engagement in care. Treat-

ment interruption was found to be over three times more likely among sex workers who experienced sex work-related discrimination,” the report stated.

It is estimated that there were about 280,000 people living with HIV in the Caribbean in 2014, including equal numbers of women and men and 13,000 children. An estimated 29,000 were young people aged 15 to 24 years, with females representing about 53 per cent.

Although the number of people living with HIV in the Caribbean is smaller than in other regions, it still has the second highest HIV prevalence of all regions.

Task force launched in US Virgins Islands to crack down on child predators

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HOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, Monday July 13, 2015 – Citing the need for a territory-wide approach to fighting the escalation of child exploitation and other predatory crimes against children, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has partnered with local and federal law enforcement and community leaders to form the US Virgin Islands Crimes Against Children Task Force (VICACTF).

Through VICACTF, federal and local law enforcement agencies will pool their resources to jointly investigate all crimes committed against children in the US-administered Caribbean territory.

Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department Delroy Richards Sr said his department embraced the collaboration.

“If the children are indeed our future then we must protect them from all predatory elements that seek to undermine the very laws that are enacted to shield them from those elements. Our resources must be directed to a common goal that centers on the eradication of all suspected predators in the territory. The bottom line is zero tolerance,” he said.

The VICACTF is comprised of HSI as the lead agency, the US Attorney’s Office, the US Marshals Service, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Justice, the US Customs and Border Protection and the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services and Family Resource Center.

“The Virgin Islands Department of Justice is committed to protecting the children within this community and will make every effort to prosecute identified child predators and sexual offenders,” said Virgin Islands Acting Attorney General James Carroll.

“With an increase in this type of crim-

inal activity, we must become more vigilant and use our resources more effectively to combat crimes against children and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”

Each year, millions of children fall prey to sexual predators and are left with permanent psychological, physical and emotional scars.

The HSI said its mission is to investigate and target those who possess, transport and produce child pornography, as well as those who engage in child sex tourism, and those who use sex to entice minors.

It noted that, based on the number of complaints received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline, Internet crimes against children are rising at alarming levels.

“Joint partnerships such as the VICACTF should send a clear message to those who exploit the most vulnerable segment of our society – our children – that we will not rest until they are brought to justice,” said Angel Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

CRICKET & Sports

WICB drops disciplinary charge against Gayle

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Chris Gayle had labelled the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel as “ridiculous” for dropping Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the World Cup squad © AFP

he WICB has decided to discontinue pursuing a disciplinary charge against Chris Gayle over comments he made in January about West Indies’ selection policy.

On January 12, Gayle slammed the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel for dropping the pair of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from West Indies’ World Cup squad, calling the move “ridiculous”.

Gayle’s outburst subsequently earned him a Rule 9 charge of the WICB’s Code of Conduct, which states that “players and team officials shall not make public or media comment which is detrimental to the interests of the game”.

However, the code also states that such a charge must be laid against an offender within 10 days of the alleged commission of the offence. The WICB’s disciplinary committee ruled that since Gayle had been reprimanded outside the required time frame, it would drop the charge.

A WICB media release confirmed that the board had “accepted the intimation of the Disciplinary Committee that the charge should be discontinued” and said Gayle had been accordingly notified about the same.

Hodge, Beaton hand Tallawahs a thrashing Guyana Amazon Warriors 179 for 3 (Hodge 65*, Fudadin 54) beat Jamaica Tallawahs 95 (Russell 28, Beaton 4-9) by 84 runs

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alf-centuries from Assad Fudadin and Brad Hodge, followed by a four-wicket haul from fast bowler Ronsford Beaton helped Guyana Amazon Warriors crush Jamaica Tallawahs by 84 runs at Sabina Park for only their third victory of the season.

Amazon Warriors, having been inserted, began slowly, with the openers Lendl Simmons and Fudadin scoring just 15 off the first four overs. However, Simmons let loose in the fifth, smashing 14 runs off Andre Russell. The boundaries remained scarce, with only two fours and a six being hit in the next five overs, but both batsmen kept the score ticking with singles and twos.

Russell eventually dismissed Simmons in the 11th over to end an opening stand worth 71, but Fudaddin continued briskly and reached his fifty of 38 balls.

He fell soon after, for a 43-ball 54, but there was little respite for the hosts as

Hodge counterattacked with a second straight half-century. Hodge launched a total of three fours and six sixes during his unbeaten 30-ball 65, including 14 off another over from Russell, who ended with figures of 3-0-39-1. Hodge’s blitz lifted the team to 179 for 3 and meant that Tallawahs needed nine an over right from the off.

The tournament’s top scorer Chris Gayle began the chase positively by smashing a four and a six off the first over, but Tallawahs failed to kick on from there, with both Gayle and his opening partner Chadwick Walton getting out in the space of five deliveries.

Wickets continued to fall freely, with Marchant de Lange (2 for 17) and Sunil Narine (2 for 9) striking at regular intervals to reduce Tallawahs to 54 for 5. Russell swung his way to a 14-ball 28, but after he was dismissed, Beaton cleaned up the tail on his way to collecting a career-best 4 for 9, including three in an over. It meant that from 93 for 5, Tallawahs had collapsed to 95 all out inside 16 overs to succumb to their fourth defeat of the season.

Brad Hodge blasted three fours and six sixes for his 30-ball 65 © Caribbean Premier League

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

Rogers and Smith plunder England on Day 1

Chris Rogers scored an unbeaten 158 to put Australia in a dominant position © Associated Press Australia 337 for 1 (Rogers 158*, Smith 129*) v England

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n the first day in Cardiff, Joe Root had a life on zero and went on to score a century. On the first day at Lord’s, Chris Rogers had a life on zero and went on to score a century. In Cardiff it was Brad Haddin who dropped Root; at Lord’s it was Root himself who missed Rogers’ edge at third slip. Root’s hundred set up an England victory; Rogers’ ton might yet do the same for Australia.

Of course, it is not as simple as to say that had Root got his hands above his head to snare Rogers the day would have belonged to England. But a wicket in the first over would have been the perfect start. Instead they had to settle for one breakthrough for the entire day, a David Warner brain-freeze that brought Rogers and Steven Smith together to begin a 259run partnership.

By stumps, Australia were in a dominant position at 337 for 1. Rogers was on 158 and had earned a place on the Lord’s honours board, a fitting achievement given the service he has provided to Middlesex over the past four years. Smith was on 129 and got his name on the board too, five years after he made his Test debut at Lord’s as a No. 8.

For Rogers, this day ended a frustrating run of half-centuries that failed to turn into hundreds, seven in consecutive innings until that streak ended with his 10 in the second innings in Cardiff. For Smith, it was simply a continuation of his remarkable first-innings form of the past eight months: it was the sixth time in the past

eight Tests that he had scored a first-innings century.

The Lord’s pitch offered little for Alastair Cook’s bowlers. The pace was slow and sideways movement infrequent. But if they were to give themselves the best shot at a 2-0 lead in this Investec Ashes series, they had to take their half-chances.

And they didn’t. James Anderson drew the Rogers edge that flew at catchable height over Root’s head, but other chances were missed later in the day.

On 50, Smith edged a good Ben Stokes delivery that moved away off the pitch and Ian Bell, at second slip, got his hands low to the ground but failed to cling on to a chance he should have taken. A tougher chance was missed when Rogers was 78, his attempted sweep off Moeen Ali brushing the glove on the way through and ricocheting off Jos Buttler’s gloves down the leg side.

It was a frustrating day for England’s bowlers. The fast men struggled to have any real impact, though a couple of balls fizzed past edges. Moeen delivered enough scoring opportunities that the batsmen could wait him out. Except, that is, Warner, who on 38 had struck two boundaries already in Moeen’s first over when he intemperately tried to thump him over long-off for another and was caught.

That left Australia at 78 for 1, but twoand-a-half wicketless sessions followed.

Rogers had been the more positive of the opening partners and although he slowed done somewhat after Warner’s departure, the scoring rate never stagnated too much. He was especially strong when

late-cutting the spinners and punching the fast bowlers through point, and he finished with 25 boundaries.

He slowed as triple-figures approached but from his 209th delivery Rogers pushed a drive back past the bowler Anderson for four. Almost as soon as the ball left his bat Rogers let out a scream of excitement, knowing that it would reach the boundary and a Test hundred at Lord’s was his.

By the end of the day he had passed his previous highest Test score of 119 and as the evening grew near he steered a boundary through third man to bring up his 150. Among Australians, only Don Bradman and Bill Brown have scored Test double-centuries at Lord’s, and Rogers will begin day two with a realistic chance of joining them.

He had well and truly overtaken Smith, who beat Rogers to a century by two overs. The milestone came from his 161st delivery with a pull for four off Anderson, and it was one of 13 fours (plus a six) he struck over the course of the day.

His runs came all around the wicket, a perfectly timed on-drive off Broad and a dancing cover-drive off Moeen among the highlights.

Smith’s first fifty came from 111 balls and his second fifty from 50 balls, but his pace then dropped away again as he complemented Rogers’ lifting tempo. The two men worked together to ensure they reached stumps safely, though an edge from Rogers in the last over fell just short of Bell at slip. If everything went England’s way in Cardiff, at Lord’s it was quite the opposite.

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Super Kings owners look headed for appeal

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senior official of India Cements, the company that owns Chennai Super Kings, has said the franchise was likely to appeal the quantum of punishment - a two-year suspension from the IPL - imposed on it by the Supreme Court-appointed RM Lodha Committee.

There were varying opinions on the process of the appeal, but the official said Super Kings would approach the Madras High Court for relief. “Clearly, we will appeal to the Madras High Court,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “We will appeal to reduce the proportion of the punishment.”

It was clear, however, that the Super Kings management was not optimistic. “It would be good to get an injunction. Otherwise, we don’t have any option but to shrug it off and stay away for two years.

What else can we do?” There was no date set for the filing of the appeal, with Super Kings saying on Tuesday that the franchise would not rush the process without studying various aspects of the judgment.

The Rajasthan Royals owners - the other suspended franchise - continued to stay under the radar, making no public statements about their next move. Some BCCI officials felt Royals had little choice but to appeal for a reduction in the period of suspension, given the business of Jaipur IPL Cricket Limited, the holding company, revolves entirely around the team.

In that scenario, there is concern over whether the franchise can sustain themselves financially for two years without being part of the IPL.

Taylor, McCullum drag Zouks home off last ball St Lucia Zouks 91 for 6 (Charles 41, Kallis 3-15) beat T&T Red Steel 90 for 4 (Kallis 38) by four wickets

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ith seven needed off two deliveries, Ross Taylor swung the first over midwicket for six to drag St Lucia Zouks home off the last ball in a rain-affected game against Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel.

Opener Johnson Charles had led the chase of 91 in nine overs with 41 off 23, including three fours and three sixes, after the early exits of Andre Fletcher and captain Kevin Pietersen. However, with 24 required off 12, he was bowled by Jacques Kallis first ball of the penultimate over. Kallis sent back Kyle Mayers as well to finish with 3 for 15 in two overs, and Zouks were left to get 17 going into the last over.

Nathan McCullum managed to hit Dwayne Bravo for two fours and a couple before holing out off the fourth ball, but Taylor connected big off the fifth, which was only the second delivery he faced.

Red Steel had posted 90 for 4 after being asked to bat. Kallis led at the top with 38 off 19 and despite the rest of the top order not contributing, the Bravo brothers slammed a few late boundaries to help their side to a daunting total.

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July 17 – 23, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

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Finch streak of injuries continues - broken foot

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aron Finch ‘s disastrous Twenty20 campaign for Yorkshire has been confirmed as over after scans revealed that he has broken his foot.

Finch has fractured his fifth metatarsal in his right foot. He will return to Australia on Tuesday to see a specialist in Melbourne.

The Australia Twenty20 captain picked up the injury during Yorkshire’s NatWest T20 Blast victory over Durham Jets last Friday at Headingley.

The injury continues a run of misfortune. He tore his hamstring playing in the Indian Premier League, which kept him sidelined for two months at the start of the summer and last month he bruised his lung when he was struck by a bouncer while playing for Yorkshire’s Second XI in an attempt to find his way out of a mediocre run of form “That’s the end of the season for Aaron, as far as Yorkshire is concerned,” said director of cricket Martyn Moxon.

“It is a great disappointment for Aaron and the club and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

Yorkshire will seek to extend Glenn Maxwell’s stay to cover for Finch. The Australian batsman plays his last match for the club this evening before a two week tour of India with Australia A. “The plan is for Glenn to return after the India A tour at the back end of July to play in the Royal London One-Day Cup competition and a couple of Championship

Aaron Finch’s involvement in IPL was also cut short because of injury © BCCI matches,” Moxon said. “We are finalising arrangements with Cricket Australia, but expect that to be sorted out soon.”

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson will join the Club for the final four games of the Cham-

pionship campaign at the end of August.

Finch made only 76 in six innings for Yorkshire and sat out their defeat on Sunday against the bottom club, Derbyshire, which saw their hopes of a

stealing quarter-final place hanging by a thread. Any failure to beat Worcestershire at Headingley on Tuesday would see Yorkshire eliminated at the group stage.

Faulkner banned by Cricket Australia

James Faulkner has been given a four-match ban by Cricket Australia © Getty Images

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ames Faulkner, Australia’s man of the match in the World Cup final, has been suspended for four international matches and will not be considered for the limited overs matches that

follow the Ashes.

While playing for Lancashire, Faulkner crashed his car after a night out drinking in Manchester with his Tasmania teammate Tim Paine and was found to have

been more than twice over the legal blood alcohol limit.

Faulkner spent the night in the custody of Manchester police and will face court on July 21. However, Cricket Australia

have acted swiftly under the board’s code of conduct to suspend the allrounder.

His ban covers the match against Ireland, plus the Twenty20 and first two ODIs against England. Faulkner had been warned that a suspension would effectively rule him out of the tour.

It is another blow to the tourists and a help to England’s chances of maintaining their upward curve in the short formats, begun against New Zealand.

Team performance manager Pat Howard said Faulkner had accepted his penalty.

“James has acknowledged the seriousness of his actions and has accepted the penalties handed down today,” he said.

“He has cooperated fully with the disciplinary procedure and is deeply remorseful.

“We have reminded James that his actions had serious potential to cause harm to him and others. Aside from the suspension handed down, he has been formally reprimanded for his behaviour.

“In saying that, we do acknowledge that James has been a player with a good track record and we would like to think that this episode is very much out of character.”

Howard and CA also expressed disappointment in Paine, who was also in the car with Faulkner at the time.

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July 17 – 23, 2015

Door not shut on Watson - Lehmann

ustralia’s coach Darren Lehmann has insisted that Shane Watson’s Test career is not over despite being replaced by Mitchell Marsh for the critical Lord’s Test.

Lehmann stated that Watson had only narrowly won selection for the first Test at Cardiff, and after a poor match in which he was twice out cheaply lbw and was unable to take a wicket, the selectors decided the younger Marsh deserved a chance having made two centuries in the warm-up matches.

“Obviously Shane has been a little bit disappointing with his runs and it’s a tight call,” Lehmann said before play on day one. “He’s been an experienced player for us. Mitch Marsh has done everything we could ask for behind scenes and first two tour games he’s in good form.

“Tight call first Test, we went with experience, this Test we’ve gone with Mitch Marsh. Tough call on Shane but I’m sure he’s got plenty of cricket left in him.”

Many have concluded this decision marks the end of Watson’s time in the

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

Shane Watson was dropped in favour of Mitchell Marsh for the second Test after going wicketless and managing only 49 runs in Cardiff © Getty Images Test side, but Lehmann said the allrounder could still win his way back into the XI on this tour if he presses a

hard enough case in the remaining tour matches. Lehmann drew parallels with the World Cup earlier this year, when

Watson was dropped for Marsh midway through the tournament and then reinstated.

“I think it’s a case of him getting back and obviously got a county game next week he’ll play in and try find some form back and keep putting his name in front of selectors,” Lehmann said. “A chance very much like the World Cup where he got dropped and came back into side, so really form will dictate what Shane does.”

Whatever happens in Watson’s Test match future, he remains a central player in the ODI and Twenty20 teams, meaning he is likely to be around the national squads for some time yet.

With Mitchell Starc passed fit, the Australians made two changes to the team for Lord’s, also bringing in wicketkeeper Peter Nevill for his Test debut in place of the unavailable Brad Haddin.

Nevill’s cap was presented to him by a fellow New South Welshman in Steve Waugh.

“Player 443 for us and gets his cap presented by Steve Waugh, one of the greats of the game,” Lehmann said. “We wish him a great and long career.”

CSK, RR owners suspended for two years

n an order with far-reaching implications, the RM Lodha committee has suspended India Cements and Jaipur IPL, the owners of the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals teams, for a period of two years. The committee has also banned for life Gurunath Meiyappan, a former team official of Super Kings, and Raj Kundra, a former Royals co-owner, from any involvement in cricket matches.

The committee’s order effectively leaves the two companies with teams that cannot play. Super Kings have twice won the IPL, and are perennial tournament favourites, while Royals won the inaugural edition. The onus is now on the BCCI and the two companies to work out the way forward, to decide whether the teams will be in a two-year limbo or play under different ownership.

The news sent officials of the two franchises, and also of the BCCI, which owns the IPL, into a series of meetings as they began to make sense of the judgement. The IPL governing council is likely to meet over the weekend, and the BCCI’s working committee might meet before that. In a brief statement Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI president, said it was “committed to honour and respect judicial decisions and it would give its observations after the entire report is read and a collective decision is taken.”

Among the franchises, the initial sense was that both would appeal against the decision, though the sheer composition of this committee - Lodha is a former Chief Justice of India and Ashok Bhan and RV Raveendran are retired judges of the Supreme Court - suggests any court would be wary of overturning the decision.

The committee, which made its report public in a 45-minute session in New Delhi, said its ruling was based on disciplinary grounds, on behalf of the BCCI. It refused to accept the argument that the acts of Gurunath and Kundra were personal, and that the franchises could thus not be held responsible.

“Disrepute has been brought to cricket, the BCCI and the IPL to such an extent that there are doubts abound in the public whether the game is clean or not,” Lodha, a former Chief Justice of India, said.

“Jaipur IPL claims it is highly celebrated as a nursery of players. But three of its players have accused of alleged spot-fixing. This shows that all is not well in their handling of affairs. The position of Raj Kundra with the Rajasthan Royals franchise - part owner and team official - means his actions brought the game, BCCI and IPL into disrepute.”

Kundra responded on Twitter by saying, “Many inaccuracies...Have requested for a copy of the judgement. Obviously very shocked and disappointed...”

Gurunath Meiyappan has been suspended for life from any involvement in cricket matches © Hindustan Times The panel came down hard on Gurunath, who they felt had caused “huge injury” to the image of the game, and said that India Cements had not shown to have taken any action against him.

“Any agony suffered by him because of media coverage or any hardship that may have been caused to him is too small in comparison to the huge injury he caused to the reputation and image of the game, the IPL and the BCCI. If the reputation and image of the sport are

Gurunath Meiyappan has been suspended for life from any involvement in cricket matches © Hindustan Times lost, what remains? Being 40 years of age, he is not young but middle-aged. It is difficult to accept that he has passion for the game.

“Not only that no urgent action was taken by India Cements against Gurunath Meiyappan but as a matter of fact no action has been shown to have been taken against him. The order of suspension passed by the BCCI against GM after his arrest is not an action by India Cements against its official.”

Former High Court Judge Mukul Mudgal, who was part of the three-member probe panel which conducted an independent investigation into the corruption allegations, called the verdict a “temporary setback” for the IPL, but one

that was taken for the “greater good” of cricket.

“I’m sorry, but if the franchise is banned, how can the team escape? So this has to happen,” Mudgal told the Times Now news channel. “It’s a consequence of some wrongdoing and it also sends a message all across, right to the top, don’t indulge in any wrong doing.

“Please remember however great it may be, however popular it may be, it’s about the game of cricket. And therefore in the long run it will benefit the IPL. There is a current feeling that all matches in the IPL are fixed, which is a totally wrong feeling. I can only think that this step will restore people’s confidence in the game of cricket and in the IPL.”

Caribbean Star Newspaper

July 17 – 23, 2015

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