Caribbean Star #56 vol 4. 2015

Caribbean First Interfaith Newspaper, Serving The Community

August 21–27, 2015

Caribbeanstarnews@gmail.com

Star

MORE CCTV CAMERAS TO FIGHT CRIME

GUYANA

GRANGER UNVEILS 10-POINT PLAN FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES See Page 17

GUYOIL FUEL PRICES TO GO DOWN

-RAMJATTAN

Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced in Parliament that gasoline prices at GUYOIL stations will drop to $168 per litre from $174 and diesel will be $199 per litre from $210.

See Page 4 TRINIDAD

18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN GIVES HERSELF UP TO THE POLICE FOR KILLING OF 16-YEAR-OLD JERNICE FRANCIS See Page 3

See Page 15

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PPP RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT, JAGDEO SWORN IN AS OPPOSITION LEADER See Page 20

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

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August 21–27, 2015 3 Caribbean Star Newspaper 18-year-old woman US training for police internal probe unit gives herself up to the police for kill- T ing of 16-year-old Jernice Francis he U.S. Department of Justice and the Guyana Ministry of Public Security are working together to provide training to the Guyana Police Force Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Police Integrity Program.

The OPR is the body that investigates complaints against police. It has been criticised in the past as ineffective and not undertaking adequate investi-

gations.

A release from the US Embassy yesterday said that the joint project is designed to boost OPR initiatives in CBSI police agencies including Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados.

Via the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), former police officers are working with foreign governments to develop professional and transparent law enforce-

ment institutions that protect human rights, fight corruption, and lower the threat of transnational crime and terrorism.

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implement the INL-funded “CBSI Workplan”. This is a three-year police development programme supporting the Regional Security System and its seven member states of the Eastern Caribbean. The OPR project falls within this workplan.

The CBSI partnership with the Caribbean was launched

by U.S. President Barack Obama at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

More CCTV cameras to fight crime -Ramjattan Government wants to install CCTV cameras on every city street as part of its plans to address the country’s escalating crime, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan announced last evening, while informing that more resources would also be given to the police force.

S

ince assuming office in May, the APNU+AFC government has been confronted with a continuing rise in serious crime that began since February.

While the government has announced various interventions, the situation continues to worsen. Currently a five-point security plan is being finalised.

Ramjattan yesterday told the National Assembly that under Phase Two of the Citizens Security Programme (CSP), government has formulated an

“emergency smart street safe city proposal” that will see the installation of over 100 CCTV cameras in and around the city, where over 50 % of crimes are committed.

Additionally, he said the proposal also includes the construction of a command centre, where the footage would be monitored throughout each day.

Under the previous administration, some 130 cameras– which was the last count given by former Head of the Presi-

Khemraj Ramjattan dential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon–were installed.

Ramjattan said footage from some of these cameras has led to convictions in hundreds of careless driving and dangerous driving cases. “We manage to see the face of the driver and the car and we send a summons to them,” he said, while adding that it has paid dividends.

During an interview with Stabroek News on Monday, Ramjattan had outlined the proposal for the additional cameras but when asked how long it will take to implement he said the plans were still in the infancy

stage.

Though he could not say how many cameras are currently working, Ramjattan stated that the command centre where all the cameras will be linked will be separate from the existing Central Intelligence Unit (CIU), which is located in the compound of Castellani House.

Based on what this newspaper was told previously, the existing CCTV cameras are monitored by staff attached to the CIU. Police are also receiving a live feed from the unit. Up to now, the heads of the unit, which falls under the control of the Ministry of the Presidency, has not been identified to the public and information on its workings and staff complement has been top secret.

According to Ramjattan, the CCTV cameras proposal had to first get the backing of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to ensure that funding could be made available for the purchasing of the cameras and the construction of the command centre.

“We had to get the IDB to do

a no-objection to the people who are going to manage that Citizens Security Plan and the names have gone up to them for the no-objection. It will take some time, so we now have to get the disbursements from the IDB,” he told Stabroek News.

Crime, Ramjattan said, has been on the increase since February and not from when government took office as many are being led to believe. “…The impression being (falsely) given by the opposition is that as soon as this coalition came into office we are the ones that started this high crime rate,” he said, while informing that to shoot down such assertions he asked the Commissioner of Police to provide him with crime rates statistics. “It was growing since February, long before we come into government, long, around the same time y’all stop paying the indigenous CSOs [Community Support Officers], the thing start going up around that time,” he said, causing an See page 10

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

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Caribbean Star Newspaper Ramjattan: Deflating upsurge in crime will take time – says Administration doing all it can to arrest the situation August 21–27, 2015

M

INISTER of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan Wednesday said that deflating the upsurge in crime will take time, as he pointed that the situation did not begin under the current Government, but under the former Administration.The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been very critical of Minister Ramjattan on the increase in crime.

But he suggested that the members on the Opposition benches have no moral authority to blame him.

Former Minister of Public Service Jennifer Westford, who is now a member of the Opposition, he said, has been charged with committing a crime — the fraudulent transfer of State vehicles to her family and friends.

Ramjattan told the House that the crime situation started in February, not long after the former Government stopped paying the some 2000 Amerindian Community Support Officers (CSOs) it is claiming that the Granger Administration dismissed.

This statement caused some uproar on the Opposition benches, with Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira saying that the claim by the minister is inaccurate and racist, and should be withdrawn.

The former Administration had not

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan addressing the House yesterday made any financial allocation for the CSOs beyond April 2015, and none were issued contracts outlining the terms and conditions of their work.

As such, Ramjattan said the claim by the Opposition that the Government fired the CSOs is false, just as their claim that crime began to increase when the new Government assumed power.

He said crime is fuelled by high unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and illegal guns in the streets, among other factors. Violent crimes, he said, are committed by people who cannot find

jobs, but also, he said, crime is caused by greed.

The desperation, he said, is a breeding ground pushing up the crime rate, but he said the Administration will be implementing social programmes to create employment, so as to address this worrying situation.

Not T20 Cricket The Public Security Minister stressed that bringing the crime rate down will take time, contending that the situation is not “T20 Cricket,” but more of a “Test match” at hand.

And on this note, he said the Administration is committed to bringing the culture of greed to a halt, and would be working to build a strong Police Force which will have no place for rogue cops.

The administration of the Police Force, the minister said, will be strengthened, and this among other things will boost the morale of officers and encourage them to give of their best.

In the past, he said, retired officers had to go through a hassle to get their monies, including their gratuity; and certain officers, for some strange reason, were not allowed to go on overseas training.

This, he said, will stop, and strong emphasis will be placed on building capac-

ity in the Police Force. Ramjattan also said the criminal justice system will be strengthened and a two-month amnesty will begin in September for illegal firearm holders to hand in their guns, pointing out that “there are too many out there.”

The 02:00hrs curfew, he also said, will help in reducing road accidents since many are caused by intoxicated persons.

But coming back to the Police Force, the minister said strong attention will be placed on strengthening the police administration, training and identifying crime hotspots and conducting regular patrols.

Ranks will also be deployed to areas most in need.

But the Force is faced with a challenge, he said, pointing out that it is short of some 1,500 to 2,000 ranks.

Nevertheless, the minister said more vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicles, and boats, among other facilities, will be given to the police to fight crime.

And added to this, over 100 surveillance cameras will be installed in and around the city to aid in crime-fighting there. Some 50 per cent of crimes are committed in the city.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

7

Hindu thought in Practice: Yoga from the Vedas

J

by Kaveeta Ramphal

ai Shree Ram everyone, my name is Kaveeta Ramphal and I am a devotee of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir.

My article is based on the practice of Yoga which derived from the Vedas.

Now, Yoga is becoming a mutual topic of conversation among westerners. In the media, yoga is seen as a mainstream therapy to reduce stress, overcome fatigue, lose weight, build self-confidence and increase mindfulness. Practicing yoga can help make you mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally fit, which makes yoga a hot topic of discussion and scientific research. You hear celebrities and fitness instructors’ talk about the different types of yoga and the numerous health benefits obtained.

Due to the publicity of yoga therapy, almost everyone knows something about its benefits, but not everyone knows the nitty-gritty of the common practice of yoga. It is a spiritual practice derived in India about 5,000 years ago. Today, it is still a vibrant and rich tradition in its birthplace. Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism have all contributed to the evolution of yoga and have even influenced other religions. However, the central idea of yoga among these four religions is the belief that this practice leads one onto a path to enlightenment, but what does the practice of yoga mean to Hindus?

Most scriptures describe yoga as a practice to control the senses and bring together a state of unity with the mind and body. “Yoga is said to be the

oneness of breath, mind, senses and the abandonment of all states of existence,” according to the Maitri-Upanishad, while the Katha-Upanishad says, “this they consider yoga: the steady holding of the senses.” The Brahmanda-Purana states “yoga is said to be control.” Additionally, Patanjali the well-known author of the Yoga Sutra, based on ancient yoga traditions, says “yoga is the control of the whirls of the mind.” According to the most renowned Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna - the reincarnation of Vishnu, articulates that yoga is harmony. “A harmony in eating and resting, in sleeping and keeping awake: a perfection in whatever one does”, he added. The Lord explains in the Gita about bhakti or devotion, karma or action, jnana or knowledge and dhyana or concentration to achieve atman or self-realization and moksha, the attainment of liberation, which is the ultimate goal of yoga.

However, in the western hemisphere, not everyone does yoga to attain moksha, but performs it as a type of exercise to help promote a healthier lifestyle. According to a nationwide survey done by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in 2012, it released that 21 million adults and 1.7 million children practice yoga in the United Sates, nearly double the number from 2002.

There are several types of commonly practiced yoga in the United States, anusara, ashtanga, bikram, hatha and vinyasa among others. Anusara yoga

founded by John Friend, an American Yogi, in 1997, is based on the belief that everyone has an intrinsic goodness which uses physical asana or postures and philosophical aspects to help the students to strive for their inner goodness.

Unlike anusara, ashtanga is based on ancient yoga teachings. It is probably a harder type of yoga and is not recommended for beginners since it entails a consistent and specific sequence of postures used for toning the body and building core strength. Additionally, every movement is linked to a breath.

The beauty of ashtanga is the journey to each pose instead of holding a pose.

However, hatha yoga revolves around holding the pose, breathing and calming the mind. This is the most widely practiced yoga style in the west, solely for its health benefits and not towards the path of enlightenment. The physical exercises you do during a hatha session leaves you feeling more relaxed, energized and peaceful. Unlike hatha yoga, bikram yoga, founded by Bikram Choudhury about 30 years ago, makes you sweat. Classes are held in artificially heated rooms and are performed in a series of 26 poses in the same sequence each session. Similar to the above yoga styles is vinyasa which is Sanskrit for flow. There is a lot of movement which is in synchrony with the breath. As you move upward, you inhale with the stomach expanding and downward you exhale as the stomach collapses. Each pose leads to another pose, like the sun salutation which is a set of 12 poses done in a sequence.

Like ashtanga, it helps tone the body and builds core strength but each vinyasa class is different.

Most importantly, the Bhagavad Gita makes it clear that regardless of which path one embarks upon, yoga is an individual journey that requires lifelong dedication, consistent practice, and devotion to God. “The best way to prepare for any moment in the future is to be fully conscious in the present,” said Deepak Chopra, in his book of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A practical Guide to the fulfillment of your dreams. Regardless of which style of yoga is practiced, the goal is the same, to achieve physical and spiritual wellness. All in all, the beauty of yoga is now becoming a universally accepted practice. It has been around for thousands of years and its vibrant traditions, sprung from the teachings of Hinduism, still lives on. Jai ho!

Photo illustrating various yoga poses License: CC0 Public Domain Free for commercial use / No attribution required (Creative Commons)

8

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

Chile’s first resident ambassador to Guyana accredited President David Granger Wednesday accredited the country’s first ever resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from Chile to Guyana, Claudio Rachel Rojas at the Ministry of the Presidency.

A

release from the Ministry of the Presidency said that in presenting his Letters of Credence to the President, Ambassador Rojas said that the establishment of a permanent mission in Georgetown is testimony of his country’s commitment to the deepening of ties and the movement to a new level of collaboration.

He said that through the new embassy, the Government of Chile will be working with local agencies and civil society to seek opportunities for cooperation in areas such as education, mining, investment and trade, and capacity building.

The release said that he also noted that the countries can further bolster alliances by working more closely within

the framework of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the sub-regional bloc Mercosur and CARICOM. Granger, the release said, welcomed the new Ambassador and lauded the decision taken by Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet to set up an embassy in Guyana. He described it as a “tangible expression of the desire of the Government and people of Chile to deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries.”

The President said that both countries enjoy very cordial relations and have worked closely on matters of mutual concern on the regional and global agenda.

“The common positions we share on matters such as sustainable development, poverty

President David Granger flanked by Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge (left) and new Chilean Ambassador to Guyana, Claudio Rachel Rojas at the Ministry of the Presidency.

(Ministry of the Presidency photo)

alleviation, peace and security, respect for territorial integrity, the rule of law and the sanctity of treaties have provided a solid foundation for the friendly relations, which

we enjoy… we have embarked on a process to take concrete measures aimed at revitalising and broadening our cooperation programme to the mutual benefit for our peoples,”

Granger said. Guyana and Chile first established diplomatic relations in 1971.

The new embassy is located at 66 Brummel Place, Stabroek Georgetown.

August 21–27, 2015 9 Caribbean Star Newspaper Change of gov’t has brought renewed optimism in Region 10 Pregnant

R

egion 10 is “breathing a breath of fresh air” with the end of the PPP/C’s rule, according to regional parliamentarian Jermaine Figueira, who on Tuesday accused the former government of stifling the region and mismanagement.

“Speak youth! Speak youth!” fellow government parliamentarians chanted during Figueira’s presentation on the proposed national budget in the National Assembly on Tuesday. “[We] were [in a] chokehold by the previous administration,” he said, before adding that the people of the region were “battered and beaten but never broken for 23 years because we exercised our democratic right to vote for who we wanted as leaders.”

Figueira added that the people of Region 10 have an “indomitable spirit of optimism” since the “fishbone in our throat has been removed and that monkey is no longer on our backs.”

He noted that Region 10 desires to “become a region that is independent and self-sufficient… [and to] be the leader in creating employment opportunities for Guyanese and provide a skilled work force to meet the demands of vast development Guyana will be experiencing.”

Figueira, who at 32 is the youngest APNU+AFC government parliamentarian, sought to reassure that the administration cares for youth. He added that his presence in the Assembly reflected “the real youth of Guyana that is not connected or aligned to the hierarchy of party leadership.”

Figueira recalled the PPP/C being the only government that he had known as a youth and noted that under its 23-year-long stewardship of the nation Guyana has seen one of the highest percentages of youth unemployment.

“Since 2000 (Guyana) has constantly been above 30%… and 89% of tertiary-level

graduates who leave their country (Guyana) in search of jobs elsewhere,” he added.

He also highlighted the country’s alarming suicide rate and pointed out to PPP/C member Charles Ramson Jnr that those “statistics and unwanted realities all existed under the 23 years’ rule of the PPP/C administration.”

Figueira added that the PPP/C is “now pretending to have all the answers… having squandered their many opportunities with profound mismanagement and ineptness.” He furthered stated that the opposition while in government became “disconnected” from the citizenry and “ill-conceived and voodoo projects” were the order of the day.

He stated that the national priority is now to secure foreign exchange, stimulate economic growth, tackle crime and violence, and service the large inherited debt. Towards this end, he said the budget

woman dies at GPHC

A Jermaine Figueira makes provision for young people in the form of incentives, such as tax exemptions to medium and small-scale miners from paying custom duties on fuels, ATVs, engines, and pumps, among other things. He stated that many of the people in the mining sector are young people and will benefit from these “common sense incentives.”

pregnant woman died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) wednesday, 10 days after she was rushed there from the New Amsterdam Hospital in an unconscious state. The hospital in a statement issued said the patient was referred from the New Amsterdam hospital on August 9 and passed away yesterday.

The statement further noted that the woman who was pregnant arrived at the Accident and Emergency Unit (A&EU) of the GPH in an unconscious state and with no foetal heart rate. However, she was transferred to the ICU where her condition continued to deteriorate and she subsequently died.

A post-mortem examination is to be performed to ascertain her cause of death.

The woman’s death is the most recent in a series of maternal death this year.

Just on the 27th of last month, 21 year old Akeisha Richardson, who delivered a baby on July 24, died at the said hospital.

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August 21–27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

Three sugar estates meet weekly target - GuySuCo

Continued from page 4

O

uproar among the ranks of the opposition.

Despite Speaker Barton Scotland’s attempt to bring order to the proceedings, the racket continued even as Ramjattan tried to shout above the comments being made by opposition MPs. Opposition front bencher Gail Teixeira, on a point of order, asked for Ramjattan to withdraw the statement as the implications were “racist and… criminal.

He is making a link between the CSOs not being paid and the increase in crime.

It is unacceptable in this House. I am asking that he withdraw that comment.”

The Speaker gave Teixeira no satisfaction and asked Ramjattan to proceed with his presentation.

According to Ramjattan, the root causes of crime have to be found. So far, the Commissioner of Police, in an analysis, has identified some of the causes to include increases in drug use, the availability of alcohol, guns, high levels of employment particularly in Georgetown where 50% of crimes are committed, and increases in the children growing up in violent homes and their general exposure to violence.

“I had to inform them [the police commanders] that crime comes about also because of a terrible human condition called greed… like some people who are former ministers having eight cars and huge chunks of money,” he said to shouts of “Oh yeah” from fellow minister Amna Ally. He said others are driven to crime because of the desperation of not doing well.

“This crime rate is not T20 cricket.

This is a test match we talking ’bout and it will take some time before the crime rate goes down because you have to put a number of programmes and packages together,” he stressed.

Demoralised ranks According to Ramjattan, government also understands that there must be a better police force in which ranks are not demoralised. He said there is evidence of the demoralisation of the force “by a number of programmes and practices of certain leadership at the political level.” As he spoke he glanced at former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Ramjattan spoke of the delayed promotion and non-promotion of cadet officers to the rank of Assistant Superintendent. He also said he was informed that a number of senior policemen were only given half of their annual 42 days’ vacation leave on the instruction of Rohee, which is a violation of public service rules.

A long list of policemen in 2014, he added, were not sent on a number of important overseas courses and he called out a number of names and the programmes the ranks were supposed to attend. Ramjattan made it clear that government has and will be ensuring that all of the overseas training and scholarships, even if it is long term, would be attended by the ranks identified.

He stressed that overseas training is important, particularly to capacity

nly three of the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s eight estates met their production target for the week ending August 15th.

The three are Albion, Rose Hall and Blairmont, all in Berbice. It would mean that no estate on the East Demerara or West Demerara met their target. The troubled Skeldon estate also did not meet its target.

A release from GuySuCo said that for achieving their target, workers of the three estates have earned one day’s pay each as weekly production incentive.

“This achievement was not without its challenge with a recorded average rainfall 27.05 mm for the week. Rainfall currently being experienced is impacting negatively on the progress of the second crop 2015, especially in the Demerara region. During week ending 15th August, 2015 Mechanical harvesting (Billet harvesting) and Bell Loading operations were brought to a halt at East Demerara Estate due to wet infield conditions resulting from rain. Production for the crop as at 17th August was 12,775 tonnes of sugar with 93,918 tonnes produced for the year to date”, the release said.

GuySuCo and the industry are presently the subjects of a Commission of Inquiry on the way forward. The sugar corporation has a huge debt and has seen production slumping in recent years along

with sliding prices, a labour shortage and increasingly unpredictable weather. The ambitious Skeldon factory has also been a huge drain on the industry while only producing a fraction of what was intended.

For the first crop this year, GuySuCo missed its 86,201 target and finished at 81,194 tonnes of sugar. The corporation had disclosed, prior to the dismissal of CEO Dr Rajendra Singh that the 2015 annual production target was 241,503 tonnes with the second crop targeted for 155,302 tonnes of sugar.

The second crop target has since been revised to a modest 146,000 tonnes.

GuySuCo is hoping for a more realistic annual production target of 227,000 tonnes, down by almost 15,000 tonnes from the original 2015 target of 241,503 tonnes. In 2014, GuySuCo’s annual production was 216,000 tonnes and output in the second crop was 141,000 tonnes, 5,000 tonnes less than the second crop figure this year.

The new 2015 second crop production target is also more in line with the traditional 40/60 ratio for the first and second crops albeit still higher than what the first crop target of 86,201 tonnes would allow for. The first crop of 2015 produced 81,194 tonnes of sugar officially according to GuySuCo, just over 5,000 tonnes under target.

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building. “We will ensure that each and every one of those training seminars and workshops are attended by these senior ranks,” he said to the approval of his colleagues.

He spoke of collaboration with Canada and the US in the strengthening of the country’s justice system.

Someone sitting on the opposition side heckled, “What about horse riding?” In response, Ramjattan said, “I will come to horse riding. And I will come to dog training. I will avoid, however, goats completely.”

Ramjattan said there will be a trial two-month gun amnesty because “guns are too much out there.” He spoke briefly about the 2 am restriction on the sale of alcohol to address alcohol abuse and an increase in accidents. “You can say what you want but a lot of people feel it is an appropriate option that I have employed to ensure that the drinking also comes to an end,” he said.

Turning his attention to the government’s security plan, he said that it involved enhancing police administration and police organisation and training.

Ramjattan congratulated the Finance Minister for ensuring that $125M was allocated in the budget to purchase arms and ammunition and fingerprint and ballistic equipment and another $193M for vehicles, trucks, motor cycles and outboard engines.

He said horses are an important component of the police force as well as the canine section. Ramjattan said that lots of money have been spent on canine handler training and the acquisition of canines. “It is no laughable matter,” he stressed in response to the jokes from the opposition side. Ramjattan also reiterated that the elections were free and fair. “You must have some respect for this government,” he said to banging desks from his fellow government MPs. “Indeed, this coalition government will listen to you. You made certain recommendations… our Minister of government has indicated we are gonna listen and you must understand and appreciate that not the arrogance and pomposity that was exhibited by you will be done here,” he stressed.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

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PPP/C did not budget to pay Amerindian support officers beyond April Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock denied that the current government sacked the almost 2,000 Amerindian Community Support Officers (CSOs) that were previously engaged under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP) and said that the former PPP/C administration did not budget for the scheme beyond April this year.

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he Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) last week filed a lawsuit over the government’s dismissal of 1,972 Amerindians who it says were previously employed under the YEAP, while charging that it was an act of discrimination.

The opposition PPP/C has also voiced its concerns about the release of the CSOs. Allicock told the National Assembly that in the course of the general debate on the 2015 budget, several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have alleged that the APNU+AFC government is practising “ethnic cleansing” and specific mention was made about the CSOs. “I wish to place on record that my government has not fired or dismissed the estimated 1,972 CSOs as is being falsely alleged by the PPP opposition,” he said to an uproar from the opposition side of the House.

“I would like the nation to know that this is very, very misleading,” he stressed before explaining that the previous government had made no financial allocation for CSOs beyond April, 2015.

He told the House that by a Cabinet decision, dated March 18th, 2015, the sum of $234,240,000 was approved for 1,952 CSOs as stipend for the period January to April 2015.

At this point, Allicock was shouting so as to project his voice above the racket coming from the opposition side.

Allicock who was being urged on by his fellow government MPs, said that “it is clear from the evidence that the former PPP government had severed or cut loose the CSOs. The CSOs need to know that the PPP regime had made no provision to pay them stipends beyond April 2015.” He added that it is evident that these Amerindian youths had been recruited under the YEAP, which he called a political scheme. He said the previous administration had used the youths as political activists in the so-

called “Red Shirt Brigade” to join picket lines and to campaign for them.

“They were not employed as contracted employees or public servants.

They were not provided any guarantee to employment or legal protection as workers. All they were offered on a periodical basis was a stipend of $30,000 each month without any stipulation that the stipend was being paid to persons engaged in training for a specific period,” Allicock declared.

In an interview with Stabroek News in July, Allicock had presented a different version to his statement yesterday.

He had said that the nearly 2,000 CSOs had been let go as the initiative had not achieved its objective.

“That is 2,000 people; that is only a fraction. You have 68,000 more indigenous people out there who also need help, so we have to look at more edu-

Sydney Allicock cation so that eventually everybody would be earning from monies that we have available now. We should invest it in a more strategic way”, he had said in July. He made no mention of yesterday’s statement that no money had been budgeted beyond April and that it was the former PPP/C government that had ended their employment.

The new government, Allicock said yesterday, is committed to training and job security for all young people, including Amerindian youths. He repeated the statement made by President David Granger, in his address to the National Toshaos’ Council Meeting on Tuesday, that, “Young people want permanency not adhocracy.

They do not want to be placed on a hinterland ‘dole.’ They want careers.”

Allicock told the National Assembly that with effect from September 1st,

YEAP will be replaced by the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme and all former CSOs will be eligible to be enlisted for training.

He said those enrolled in the new programme will receive relevant skills so as to enable them to earn an income in the pursuit of sustainable livelihoods and as a means to enjoying the good life. Under the new initiative, he added, government hopes to train thousands of young people while paying them a stipend.

The lawsuit filed last week by Peter Persaud, President of TAAMOG and a PPP/C ally, is seeking, among other things, a declaration by the court that the dismissals were unlawful as well as damages in excess of $10M. The cessation of the programme was “intentionally done as an act of economic and financial sabotage against the indigenous people of Guyana driven by a political, ethnic and racial motive,” Persaud said in an affidavit in support of the Notice of Motion.

Persaud deposed that the CSOs, who are all persons of Amerindian ancestry, were the victims of dismissals that were arbitrary and in contravention of the rules of natural justice. He is contending that the CSOs had a legitimate expectation that their engagement and/ or employment under the programme would continue. He also said they had not been given a reason for their non-payment nor were they offered an opportunity to respond to any questions and/or concerns regarding the continuation of their engagement and/ or employment.

The Attorney General is listed as the respondent in the suit, which was prepared by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall as well as Euclin Gomes and Manoj

12

August 21–27, 2015

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14

August 21–27, 2015

ISLAM Peace / submission to the will of our creator.

Seeker of Knowledge

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he teachings of the religion of Islam came to us well over 1400 years ago.

From the very beginning of revelation, there was an emphasis on seeking and acquiring knowledge. The first words of revelation which the Angel Jibril ‘alayhi’l-sal?m came with to our Beloved Rasulullah ?allall?hu ‘alayhi wa sallam was ‘Read’! and the ayah is as follows: “Recite in the name of your Lord who created-.” Surah Al – Alaq :1 Unfortunately in this century we are living in, when it comes to Islamic Education, it is very heart rendering to see how they are being undervalued though seeking Islamic knowledge is fardh (obligatory) upon every Muslims; male and female.

“Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high degrees” Surah Al- Mujadila:11 Parents play an important role First and foremost, for an Islamic education to be firmly grounded, parents play an important role in the process at a very tender age of their children’s life. The role and responsibilities of the parents are to raise their children in the best possible Islamic way and teach them the fundamental values of Islam.

This begins at home on a first level and it why the primary school of an Islamic education is at home.

Parents have to make sure that their children are happy, honest and religious and have knowledge of Islam irrespective of whether they are a boy or a girl. Parents should train their children to ensure love for Islam, love for Allah, love for the holy Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, love for their parents, love for their teachers and love for their community.

But today what we see, parents are more apt to inspire their children towards academic educations and little concern is being given to Islam. They want their children to become doctors, lawyers, accountants and so on and so forth but they do not dream of their children to be serving the religion of Allah ta’ala.

They do not dream their children to become an ‘Alim/’Alima, hafidh/hafidha, which is actually the key to gaining Allah’s pleasure and which will benefit them not only in this world but as well as in the Hereafter.

“If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man.

The superiority of the learned man over the worshiper is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars.

The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes a big fortune.” Abu Dawud Distinguishing right and wrong.

Without an Islamic education we should not expect ourselves to have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Without

‘Ilm (Knowledge) we’re in an ocean with a ship that has no destination.

“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.” Surah Al – Mujadila:11 However, there is nothing wrong at all in acquiring academic education. Certainly if people didn’t pursue academic educations, many fields like medical, teaching, financing would have not stood up. But my point is, we should not lose focus of our Islamic education which is the backbone for a better life according to the Quran and the Sunnah. A balance needs to be nurtured between both academic and Islamic educations so that we do not lose track of our focal point.

Balance your time Allah has given us time to make use of it.

We have 24 hours a day to make use of and of course we need to use it wisely all the time for the pleasure of Allah ta’ala. During these 24 hours we can very well divide our time for our academic and Islamic studies. Instead of wasting time on social networks like facebook and twitter, seize this time, this very minute, this very hour, this very second to be a productive Muslim.

Allah will never let your efforts squander but you need to at least try and put in the required efforts. And always bear in mind when you’re seeking knowledge, seek it only for the pleasure of the One and only One who has power over all things; Allah. The sweetness of Imaan lies in the fruits of knowledge.

“And whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good and none but men of understanding mind” Surah Al-Baqarah : 269 Nonetheless, those academic certificates that we have are useful solely on this Dunya.

They are not going to halt or save us from death or even more so not be a passport to Jannah. While embarking on the path of ‘Ilm this can be a passport for us to get to Jannah, as this will help us to: • Thoroughly get to know our Deen.

• Know the consequences of such and such act.

• What our purpose is.

• Have a broader understanding of Islam.

• Get to know Allah more and to know what Allah is expecting from us; who are His servants and to Him is our return.

• Get closer to Allah ta’ala.

• Renew our intentions.

• Enable us to know the fardh and Sunnah that we need to put into practice in our daily life.

• Helps one to be able to better prepare for the Akhirah and to distinguish between right and wrong.

(And there are a lot more benefits for those who choose to embark on this path).

By getting to know who Allah sub??nahu wa ta’?la is, it enables us to develop that sense of taqwa and humility within us and it elevates us in status in the eyes of Allah ta’ala when we learn and act upon these knowledge.

Below I leave you with some etiquette

Caribbean Star Newspaper

for seeking knowledge that the seeker of knowledge should follow. May Allah cause you to benefit thereby.

1. Be patient and persevering Seeking knowledge is one of the highest of pursuits, and heights cannot be scaled except by working hard and patiently. So, be patient and persistent and have consistency.

If jihad requires an hour of patience, then the seeker of knowledge must be patient until the end of his life. Almighty Allah says: “O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful.” Surah Al `Imran: 3 2. Have pure intentions in what you do Adhere to purity of intention in what you do and from time to time renew your intention and your relationship with Allah ‘Azwajjal.

Let your aim be to seek the pleasure of Allah and the abode of the Hereafter. Beware of showing off and loving to make yourself appear to be superior to your peers. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever seeks knowledge in order to compete with the scholars or to prove himself superior to the ignorant or to make the people look up to him, Allah will cause him to enter Hell.” Reported by an-Nasa’i.

P.S: you have to be pure both outwardly and inwardly from every major and minor sin.

3. Act upon what you know Know that acting upon what you know is the fruit of knowledge. Whoever knows but does not act upon his knowledge is like the people whom Allah likened to the ugliest things in His Book, when He said: “The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Tauraat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practice its laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey which carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example of people who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah.

And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers, disbelievers).”Al-Jumu`ah: 5 And whoever acts without knowledge is like the people who have gone astray as mentioned in Surah Al-Fatihah.

4. Always be aware that Allah is watching You must always be aware that Allah sub??nahu wa ta’?la is watching you, in secret and in the open. Your attitude towards your Lord must always be balanced between fear and hope, which for the Muslims are like the two wings of a bird. Turn to Allah wholeheartedly and let your heart be filled with love for Him, your tongue with remembrance of Him (dhikr). Be happy and rejoice in His rulings and His wisdom.

Always call upon Allah (du`a’) in every sujud (prostration), asking Him to bless you and grant you beneficial knowledge, for if you are sincere towards Allah, He will support you and help you, and will cause you to attain the level of the righteous scholars.

5. Make the best use of time Spend the most of your youth and your whole life in learning. Do not be deceived by procrastination and wishful thinking about the future. Every hour of your life that passes cannot be replaced. Do away with whatever you can of distractions and

obstacles that prevent you from striving your utmost to attain knowledge. Allah has not given man two hearts in his chest, and similarly it is said that knowledge will not give you a part of it until you give it your all.

Make the most of your time, when you are free and when you are busy. Make the most of your youth when your mind is fresh and you have fewer distractions, before you become distracted by false ambitions and the desire for worldly possessions.

6. Be precise and focused Strive to verify what you want to memorize so that you are certain of it, either from a sheikh/sheikha or from someone else who can help you. Then memorize it properly and continually repeat it and review at specific times each day, lest you forget what you have memorized.

7. Do not delay Let your concern to seek knowledge be uppermost; do not be content to learn only a little when you are able to do more. Do not be content with a little of the legacy of the Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them), and do not delay learning anything that you can or you will be distracted or put off by wishful thinking. Delay is a problem, and if you learn something now you can learn something else later.

8. Choose good companions Strive to choose righteous friends who are preoccupied with seeking knowledge and are of a good nature, who can help you in achieving your aim, add to the benefits you have already gained, encourage you to seek more knowledge, stop you from feeling bored and tired, who are religiously-committed, trustworthy and of good character, who are sincere towards Allah and who are not merely messing about.

Beware of the bad companion, for he/she may influence you. People are like birds, they will resemble one another (i.e. “Birds of a feather flock together”). So beware of mixing with bad people, for that is a sickness, and prevention is better than cure.

9. Have good manners towards your teacher Knowledge cannot be gained only from books; you must also have a teacher whom you trust to open the door to knowledge and prevent you from making mistakes. So you must have good manners towards him/ her, for this is the way to success, learning and strength. So you must honor, respect and be polite to the teacher. Observe the utmost standards of etiquette when you sit with your ustadh/ustadha and speak with him/her. Ask questions in a proper manner and listen attentively.

Be polite when studying the book with him/ her and do not try to argue or compete with him/her. Do not initiate conversation with him, or walk ahead of him/her, or speak too much in his presence, or interrupt when he/ she is teaching. Do not call him/her directly by his name or nickname; rather say “O my ustadh/ustadha” or “O our ustadh/ustadha”.

Be a seeker of knowledge Seeking Islamic knowledge is a long life journey. There’s no age to seek for knowledge. Even if you haven’t earlier, there’s no shame in starting now; better late than never! The more you learn, the more you realize how little you actually know. And the more you learn, the more you discover the wonders of Islam, SubhanAllah. So, learn, act upon them and teach it to your children.

Let your children see the beauty of Islam through you, In shaa Allah.

Caribbean Star Newspaper GUYOIL fuel prices to go down

F

inance Minister Winston Jordan announced in Parliament that gasoline prices at GUYOIL stations will drop to $168 per litre from $174 and diesel will be $199 per litre from $210.

The reduction comes amid falling prices for oil on the international market. GUYOIL’s dropping of prices usually forces other operators to follow suit.

Then Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on January 18th this year announced a cut in fuel prices at state-owned GUYOIL gas Guyoil Gas Station stations by 30%.

August 21–27, 2015

15

Narrow escape for Anna Catherina vendor -as canter smashes stall

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greens vendor of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara is counting her losses after a canter truck, GTT 5035 crashed into her stall around 2:45 pm tuesday and ended up in a ditch.

Public–spirited citizens offering assistance at the scene Gaitrie Roopnarine who was standing by the doorway, saw the canter coming with speed towards her stall. Before she could run for cover, she was pitched out on impact.

The shaken Gaitrie Roopnarine The stall which is worth $200,000 was swung to the side and was badly broken.

Most of the fruits and vegetables valued about $60,000 were destroyed.

The driver of the minibus, who gave his name as Michael said he had stopped in the middle of the road and indicated his intention to turn right.

He had just made the turn when the canter which was three vehicles away attempted to overtake and the driver lost control as he tried to avoid colliding with the bus.

The police arrived at the scene shortly after and conducted investigations.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

Alexander Village, Riverview flooding caused by jammed sluice door Sections of Alexander Village and Riverview, Ruimveldt were flooded after the Ruimveldt sluice door was not properly closed.

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he door was fixed hours after. In a statement, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure said that water was receding off the land in the two areas following what it described as a mishap with the Ruimveldt sluice door which caused the flooding.

The statement explained that the sluice was scheduled to close at 2am yesterday ahead of the 5:45am high tide. However, the sluice door got stuck resulting in the rising water flooding the two communities. The ministry said that a pump was immediately activated and the sluice was reopened at 9:30 am yesterday to expedite the draining off of the water. It added that the ministry offered expert advice to correct the situation while the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is investigating the matter.

In an invited comment, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson told Stabroek News that the sluice was not properly closed when the tide rose causing the areas to be flooded. However, he said, the pumps were up and working and the matter was dealt with. However, the koker operator who was on duty at the time when Stabroek

News visited the sluice, said that although he was not at the site at the time of the mishap, from all indications the flooding was caused as a result of the sluice door being left open instead of being closed on schedule.

Stabroek News understands that the operator who was on duty at the time of the incident was sent home.

During the visit to the communities yesterday, residents vented their anger and called on the relevant authorities to look into the matter since such incidents occur at various locations. Many were busy cleaning up as the water receded.

One resident, Arita Hunte related that her husband woke up at around 6am yesterday and informed her that they were surrounded by water. She recalled that they had to rush about in the floodwaters to raise furniture and other items in the house to avoid them being damaged. The woman said that the water level rose to approximately two feet and it was about three hours before it receded.

Another resident, Ravi Singh said that at around 3am yesterday, he discovered that

A child trying to make his way in the water into his house.

A section of a yard in River View that was flooded.

his area, Riverview, was flooded. He said that he was told that the operator on duty at the time fell asleep and this resulted in the flood.

Efforts by Stabroek News to confirm his assertion proved futile.

A shopkeeper told Stabroek News that

despite flooding not being a strange experience for her, she is thankful that she did not suffer any losses. The woman said that although parts of her yard were under water, fortunately the water did not enter her house since it is located on high ground.

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August 21–27, 2015 17 Caribbean Star Newspaper Granger unveils 10-point plan for indigenous communities -job scheme for youths, transport for primary students on the cards

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sserting that the hinterland faces a “huge human development crisis,” President David Granger unveiled a 10-point plan for the development of hinterland and indigenous communities which focuses on education, poverty reduction, jobs and a new Lands Commission to deal with long festering indigenous land issues.

Addressing his first meeting of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) – the annual gathering of indigenous leaders from across the nation – at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre yesterday, the president urged the attendees to consider the plan seriously “as a compact, as a covenant between central government and this Council.”

In unveiling the Plan, the President highlighted the issues faced by hinterland and indigenous communities. He said that the Plan is aimed at ensuring that indigenous communities become thriving economic units, focusing as well on eradicating extreme poverty, reducing unemployment and increasing prosperity.

In unveiling, the Hinterland Education Support Programme (HISP), Granger said that the single biggest problem which has dire, long term implications for the future, is the broken public education sector. It is producing an increasing number of illiterate and innumerate youth, he declared while adding that government’s priority is to ensure that everyone gets a solid education to prepare him or her for a satisfactory job.

The president said that his government shall ensure that every child is able to attend school and the HISP will support the goal of keeping children in school by providing meals, uniforms, schoolbooks, transportation and when they graduate, providing scholarships for them to attend secondary schools.

“No child should be prevented from attending school because of parental poverty,” he said adding that government will ensure progressively over the next five years that every single primary school child is transported to school by boat, bicycle or bus. “We shall reward every family that keeps its children in school,” he said. “ECIS, that’s our motto, Every Child in School.”

The president also disclosed that on September 1, a Hinterland Employment and Youth Service will be launched which is expected to provide sustainable jobs for young people. “We do not wish to promote a culture of handouts. This is demeaning. We will ensure that although jobs are scarce, young school leavers will be provided with the skills” that will allow them to be employed, he said while adding that the economy has not provided employment opportunities for them. He said that this programme will replace the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP) initiated by the previous government and which he said expired in April.

“We are going to ensure that through

the Hinterland Youth Employment Programme, young people who were employed as CSOs (Community Support Officers) and who wish to join our programme will be registered and will continue to receive their stipends”, he said to cheers. The government had dismissed the CSOs after questioning the work they were doing and the action is now the subject of a lawsuit by the opposition PPP/C. The new initiative, Granger said, has been designed to replace the YEAP and they are sure that it can be a success.

The president also announced that a Hinterland Poverty Reduction programme will be introduced. He said that social protection is in a crisis and too many very young and very old persons are classified as extremely poor with an expenditure level below what is required to purchase a daily minimum low cost diet. He said that poverty can be decreased and maybe, eventually eradicated with good governance and sensible public policies in the hinterland.

BRIDGE THE GAP Further, Granger proposed a Hinterland Infrastructure Extension Programme (HIEP). “Your government intends to bridge the gap between standards of living on the coastland and the hinterland.

We want economic development for you,” he told the indigenous leaders. The president said that the physical infrastructure will have to be improved and the HIEP will be led by a highway between Lethem and Linden.

In terms of energy security, Granger proposed a Hinterland Energy Development Programme and he spoke about solar farms to power hinterland communities. He said that the small solar panels allocated to hinterland households by the previous government was not enough.

“Your government intends to introduce the Hinterland Happy Household Programme”, Granger told the toshaos, explaining that it intends to ensure that investments in economic projects yield substantial and sustained benefits and create long-term job opportunities in indigenous communities. He highlighted economic ventures that can be focused on such as agriculture, agro-processing and small enterprise development.

Government will also promote the safety and security of communities and work to ensure that they are free from crime and harassment. “Your government will strengthen law enforcement in indigenous communities bringing an end to the exploitation of people particularly trafficking in girls,” the president asserted.

In terms of land, he said that a Hinterland and Indigenous Peoples Lands Commission will be established. The president said that over the last 49 years, there are still unresolved land claims and issues.

According to him, the Commission will investigate all complaints and claims with regard to land titling and land demarcation. “We understand the land issue and we want to bring the complaints to an

David Granger end by setting up this commission to sit with you and determine how best we can resolve” the issues, he told the indigenous leaders.

Granger also proposed a Hinterland Public Service Provision Scheme. He recalled that during the campaign for the May 11 general elections, he received many complaints about the limited government services such as the National Insurance Scheme, available in the hinterland. He declared that public services must be extended to all corners of Guyana to better serve the people. He told the toshaos of government’s plans to provide better trained nurses and doctors at health centres and hospitals as well as sharing public information through the Government Information Agency, the

National Communications Network, national radio, and newspapers, to the entire nation.

The president also declared that the primary health care system has failed women, children and the aged and this failure has been most evident in hinterland and rural areas. Among other things, he highlighted problems experienced by persons coming to Georgetown for treatment and difficulties in getting birth certificates and pledged that these will be tackled.

The president also said that government will establish a Hinterland Language, Cultural and Sports Service. “Your government intends to do more to preserve indigenous languages and culture, to develop sports and improve access to information technology,” he said.

He also revealed plans for a Hinterland Tourism Service. Granger said that government intends to establish eco-tourism on a sound economic footing and pointed out that Guyana’s tourism production is underexploited.

The president urged the toshaos to consider the plan seriously and view it as a covenant between central government and the NTC. In reiterating the importance of education, he announced that the Waramadong Secondary School has bene renamed after indigenous educator, the late Dr Desrey Fox.

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I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD (Part 4)

The Bible is the single most important document that has been responsible for raising men and nations to greatness. Through faith in God’s Word, multitudes of lives have been wonderfully transformed. Broken homes have been restored when people read the Bible and pray, and the Holy Spirit changes their hearts. The love and grace of God comes to anyone who accepts His Word.

Can we live without the Bible?

If we take away the concept of faith in God, remove the Bible from our homes, schools, institutions, get offended when people talk about Jesus, what would we have left? Without God, there are no absolutes, no truth; everything becomes only relative. If there is no God, no Word from God, and no Savior, then we have no standard for morality and, therefore, nothing is immoral. If there is no standard for morality, then we don’t need to be good or kind to anyone. That means there would be no justice and we are not accountable to anyone for our actions.

If we believe there is no accountability, we can just tell Christians their wishful thinking about a future judgment is just a farce. We can live selfish and reckless, disregard laws and conscience because we all die and that is the end. But is that the reality? Some are daring to reject the Bible and Jesus our Savior, but after they confuse and hurt each other, God will be waiting for a chance to forgive them and heal their lives because He doesn’t want anyone to die in sin and go to an eternal Hell.

The Word is a Sword Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” As a two edged sword, the Word of God does two things. First, it heals and restores hurting and broken

lives. There is not another book like it!

Millions find comfort daily in the Word.

For many people their favorite section is the Psalms when faced with troubled times. The entire Bible inspires hope and strength from God. Children love Bible stories, singers and song writers love special passages that inspire them, and teachers of the Word are excited to pass on the knowledge and faith found in the Word.

Secondly, as a sword, the Word cuts to the heart with conviction, leading us to repentance and reconciliation with Holy God. Reading the Word exposes our sins and every secret thing we hold in our hearts. Notice, it gets under our skin – to the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It has been said this Book will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from this Book. I believe Satan wants to keep people from this Book so they won’t discover God’s love and take Jesus as their Savior.

Satan is battling for the human soul, but Christ paid a dear price to redeem our souls back to our Heavenly Father. When God speaks to us through the Word and we feel a sense of guilt, it is time to pray and seek His forgiveness. God does not condemn us. He invites us to come to Him. Teach the next generation how to live by the Word Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I

command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And t h o u shalt write them upon t h e posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

Parents and leaders have a responsibility to teach the younger ones the Word of God. Without the Word, our children will not be able to withstand the onslaught of immorality and tolerance that leads into a corrupt life. Without the Word, they will not find fulfillment in pursuing a good future.

The Bible reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, a source of health, a Paradise of glory and a river of pleasure.

It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the least to the greatest labor and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. (Adapted from Bible Helps tract “The Bible.”)

The message of the Bible is simple. “ For God so loved the world, that he

gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. It speaks of a Great God. He is intelligent, holy, timeless, and wise. He is infinite and personal.

He sees, knows and c a r e s for all.

It speaks of a Great Love. God‘s care and compassion are available when we feel confused, lonely or broken. It speaks of a Great Gift given to undeserving people. Our sins separate us from our Heavenly Father, but God sent His Son to pay for our sins and reconcile us to Him forever. It speaks of a Great Invitation. All sinners are invited to come to Him, believe on Christ and receive eternal life. This means to believe, confess with our mouths, and be committed to living for Him. Everyone is invited regardless of race, ethnicity, education or financial status. It speaks of a Great Promise –eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead guarantees there is life after the grave and we will have eternal life in the presence of God in Heaven.

Plan to read the entire Bible. There are many Bible reading plans available. If you are a starter, try reading the life of Jesus in the Gospels, then about the Church in the rest of the New Testament, and finally the Old Testament. Take your family to church this weekend.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

PPP returns to Parliament, Jagdeo sworn in as Opposition Leader

T

HE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was formally sworn in Wednesday as the political Opposition in the National Assembly of the 11th Parliament, with former President Bharrat Jagdeo sworn in as Opposition Leader. The PPP made its debut appearance in the National Assembly since the June 10 convening of the National Assembly following the May 11 elections, where then PPP/C Government was defeated by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.

The party’s appearance coincides with the beginning of the debates on the 2015 Budget, which was presented before the National Assembly recently by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

The Opposition Leader charged the new Government saying although his party comes with their own mandate; they will work along with the new Administration as long as the Administration maintains its promises to the people made during the elections campaign.

“I am very much aware of the grave responsibility placed on our shoulders, although we are in Opposition now, to ensure that our country continues to move forward,” Jagdeo said in his address to the National Assembly yesterday.

Jagdeo gave assurances that unlike the previous APNU and AFC, which served in Opposition during the 10th Parliament from 2011 to 2015, his party will not cut programmes “much to

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is applauded by his fellow MP’s as he takes his seat in the National Assembly the detriment of services to people.”

He said too, “We will never, ever, in

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this National Assembly seek to remove benefits from people… whatever the constituencies… whether they voted PPP or APNU in the last elections.”

“We will work with the other side once they remain faithful to the promises they made to the people of the country, because I think our country deserves it to see maturity in Parliament, decorum in this Parliament, and that business is done here,” Jagdeo concluded.

Just before Jagdeo’s address, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo congratulated the new Opposition Leader and expressed a willingness to work along with his party “in cooperation [and] in the interest of our country.”

The absence of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic from the National Assembly could derail the legislative agenda of the new APNU+AFC Government (A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change).

The Government needs the Parliamentary participation of the Opposition PPP/C to advance establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and to establish the AML/CFT Authority. These two promises made in Government’s 100-day plan both require a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for passage into law.

Opposition Leader Jagdeo told reporters yesterday “we have always supported, in principle, the establishment of the Procurement Commission,” but to this date, he said, he has not been invited to any consultations with President David Granger on setting up this body.

There is currently an elections petition before the courts on behalf of the PPP, which challenges the results of the May 11 election. Jagdeo said the country could move to another election if the petition goes in favour of his party.

He said too that the persons currently sitting in the House, as the Opposition might not be the persons taking the party into the election should it be called soon.

Even as they accepted their place as the political Opposition, the Opposition Leader said his party is still not satisfied with the results, but “we are going to fulfil our responsibilities.”

Although the PPP has taken up its place in the National Assembly, the party has refused to nominate a Deputy Speaker, which traditionally comes from the Opposition.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, has indicated that the election of the Deputy Speaker will be considered at a future sitting of the National Assembly.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

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Life Insurance:

Can You Afford To Wait?

Critical decisions, such as buying a home, getting married, or having children, require deliberate, thoughtful consideration. Indeed, the outcome of any one of these decisions can irrevocably change your life for better or worse. But, delaying the purchase of life insurance can be a costly mistake for you and your loved ones.

Waiting just a few years can have a negative impact on several key areas of a life insurance policy.

Whole Life Insurance: Financial Protection Plus Cash Value Accumulation In its simplest form, whole life insurance protects the people who depend on you for financial support — no matter what happens to you tomorrow. Aside from providing money to your beneficiaries to replace your in-

come, whole life insurance also offers guaranteed* cash value accumulation on a tax-deferred basis, as long as the policy remains in force. If available, cash value can be borrowed against to fund a child’s education, supplement your retirement income, or meet an emergency cash need.

Remember, policy loans accrue

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

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

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

As a policyholder, you have several options for dividends usage.

For example, you can take dividend distributions in cash or apply dividends to add insurance

coverage through the purchase of paid-up additional life insurance. Paid-up insurance is also eligible for dividends, has cash value, and requires no additional premiums. Other dividend payment options may be available.

So, waiting in this case can cost you the opportunity to increase the benefit paid to your beneficiaries.

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

Remember, purchasing life insurance is a major decision. So, it’s important to take the time to gather all the necessary information and choose the coverage that best suits your needs. While

the decision is up to you, keep in mind that postponing your decision can prove to be costly. *Guarantees backed by the claims paying ability of the issuer.

This educational third-party article is being provided as a courtesy by INDRA PURAN. For additional information on the information or topic(s) discussed, please contact INDRA PURAN at 646 266 5416.

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Caribbean Star Newspaper PPP/C in Gov’t befriended criminals- Tourism Minister Hughes

T

August 21–27, 2015

OURISM Minister Cathy Hughes made glaring remarks in the National Assembly, accusing the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government of creating an incubator for crime in Guyana since it supported criminal elements that are now before international courts. Hughes’s presentation was centred on her support for the 2015 budget presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, and also offered some insight into the challenges of the tourism sector.

Speaking directly to the impact of crime on Guyana’s tourism sector and particularly on arrivals in the country, Hughes said, “It is difficult to talk of increasing visitor arrival without mentioning the debilitating impact crime is having on our country, its people, and the potential of our tourism product.

“It was under the former PPP/C Administration that crime escalated,” Hughes said, recalling that Guyana was labelled a major trans-shipment point after “drugs started leaving Guyana in every conceivable way.

“A long list of friends of the last Administration, who operated businesses supported by the Government, had been implicated, charged and in some cases, convicted for a range of illegal activities in international courts,” Hughes continued. A provoking Hughes touted the old saying,

“Show me who your friends are and I will show you who you are.”

Hughes went on to explain her shock at statements made by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who was in charge of Guyana’s security sector under the PPP/C Administration.

According to Hughes, Rohee had made a recent public declaration that the police “now have information on who killed former Minister ‘Sash’ Sawh.”

Sawh was Agriculture Minister under the PPP/C Administration when he was gunned down in his La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara home, along with two of his relatives and a security guard.

“The fact that this former head, who clearly was in possession of such information while in office, but who did nothing with the information, is horrifying,” Hughes said of Rohee’s statements, adding that his posture indicates the approach of the then Government to solving crime in Guyana.

Speaking on what the new Government will do to tackle crime, Hughes said, “With the plan that we have, our acceptance of assistance from international partners who are skilled in this area… assistance the last Government refused to accept, and the support of the Guyanese people, we will succeed.”

Speaking before Hughes was parlia-

Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes mentary representative for the PPP in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Cornel Damon, who called for the removal of Vice-President and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan for what he said is the minister’s inability to tackle the escalating crime situation in Guyana.

Beginning his presentation with criticism on the 2015 budget presented

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Damon called the budget one that is “immature and lacks the ingredients that should have been injected into it for the masses and the various regions

and sectors of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”

Damon bemoaned the fact that allocations for projects in the region he represents have been cut by half. “But we will try to survive and hope that someday, we would have the Government of the PPP/C returned to its right office,” he continued.

Turning his attention to the Public Security Minister, Damon said, “Mr Ramjattan must understand [that] he needs to address the crime situation from left, right, and centre.”

Damon said the crime rate has increased in all regions, including the gold-mining sector, even as the Public Security Minister “is still planning how to curb crime in Guyana.”

The Region 2 ‘rep’ went on to state that the country’s crime rate was 40% less in the 10th Parliament, when now Opposition MP Clement Rohee served as Home Affairs Minister under the previous PPP/C Government.

“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the masses of Guyana, I am saying that the Honourable member has no plan to fight the surge of crime and the senseless killings of our businessmen and women, and honourable member Ramjattan must go!” Damon said as his colleagues banged their desks in support.

By Derwayne Wills

1,300 child abuse reports in three months

S

tatement - The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CA) is once again appealing to the public to report cases of child abuse by calling its hotline 996 or 800-2014.

In the first three months of operations, the Authority has received over 1300 reports - in other words, the Authority has received more reports in three months than any other state agency would have recorded for all of last year. We are encouraged by the response of the public and continue to remind all that child protection is everybody’s business including, family, friends and neighbours.

The Authority notes with deep concern, that physical abuse is the second highest type of abuse reported with approximately 300 cases in three months.

Although Section 4 of the Children Act 2012 permits only parents (and guardians) to apply ‘reasonable’ corporal punishment of children while forbidding its use by anyone else, the reports of physical abuse against children are often far outside anything permissible.

The Authority recognises that parents are sometimes under stress. However, we are again calling on parents to desist from using corporal punishment.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

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T

Caribbean Star Newspaper Guysuco should be phased out – Lucas

August 21–27, 2015

estifying before the Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry, economist and chartered accountant Rawle Lucas says that the debt-laden Guyana Sugar Corporation should be phased out.

Appearing on Tuesday before the team of commissioners chaired by Vibert Parvatan, Lucas assessed the financial state of Guysuco and said the government should not be in the business of sugar production and should exit the industry with dignity.

Lucas, who was invited to testify, said that as an enterprise, Guysuco is doing nothing for its owners, the taxpayers of Guyana.

“In a four-year span, Guysuco took out from the economy twice as much as it had put in over the period 2009 to 2010.

By comparison, Republic Bank, which is the largest private company in the (Lucas Stock Index) when measured by both total assets and market capitalization, had G$85 billion in assets in 2009 and contributed G$4.4 billion to the economy. By 2013, Republic Bank had grown both its assets and its contribution to the Guyana economy. It was contributing twice as much as Guysuco to the economy with an asset base that was just as large as that of Guysuco’s. By that time, GuySuCo had taken as much as G$25 billion from the economy..”, he asserted.

Lucas, who is a columnist in the Sunday

Stabroek, said there seemed to have been an attitude at Guysuco and by those who controlled it that it was okay to waste taxpayers’ money keeping the corporation functioning as it did, even though it contributed nothing to the economy.

“There is the view that GuySuCo should not be touched because it employs massive amounts of people. Equally true is the reality that these workers, while producing physical units of cane and sugar, contribute negative value-added in monetary terms. .. I also believed the workers recognized that their work was futile and therefore were often reluctant to go to work. Management could not see how its leadership was demoralizing the workers. “…We know that when marginal revenue equals average unit cost, the company breaks even. We also know that when marginal revenue is less than unit variable cost, the rational decision is to shut down the company. Guysuco’s gross profit data from 2011 to 2013 shows that the rational decision is to discontinue the company. Consequently, if Guysuco is to survive, it must be able to bring at least its marginal revenue in line with its average unit cost of operations. This means reducing its direct costs substantially. But even if it did that, it would also have to reduce significant amounts of its indirect costs too that stems from an inefficient bureaucracy”, Lucas stated.

He said that the evidence he has sug-

gests that the corporation’s working capital plummeted 90 percent from $6 billion in 2008 to $564 million in 2010.

Further, he said that management continued to lose control of operations as it seemed unable to control the bleeding of its working capital, losing an annual average of $9 billion from 2010 to the end of 2013.

“This inability to convert current assets into liquid cash fast enough raises questions of how GuySuCo is financing its operations. Further, the use of the Strategic Financing Model helped me to see that the largest component of GuySuCo’s financing comes from the internal equity of the company. A breakdown of that source of financing shows that the money that GuySuCo use to finance its operations come from the workers and unpaid taxes to the government. These sources of finance actually represent debts which must still be paid. A fourth source is the money set aside to replace productive assets. By spending money meant to replace long-term assets on short-term needs means that GuySuCo does not have the capacity either to recover or survive on its own. To get sufficient money on its own to run the business, the only choice available to GuySuCo is to sell off its assets”, Lucas asserted.

He added that it is this financial impotence that increases the difficulty of the company to make improvements in its

field operations that leads him to conclude that GuySuCo should be phased out.

“It is a tough (decision) but one that has to be made in the interest of all Guyanese.

Government should not be in the business of sugar production and it should exit the industry with dignity. In doing so, it must have a plan to aid affected workers during the transition”, he stated.

In an earlier hearing, veteran businessman Yesu Persaud said that finding a buyer for Guysuco is the most viable option for government.

“In my opinion, if we can find a buyer who’s willing to take on those debts… because you have substantial assets—the land and factories etc—take it over at a price, of course, that has to be negotiated, then I think there could be a future,” Persaud said after a meeting with the members of the Commission of Inquiry.

“I told them it is either two things: you either revise what you have, it is going to be more costly because you have to go and borrow, borrowing is a very expensive; or, one of the things you could look at, find a buyer and that may be possible,” he added.

A preliminary report will be completed by the COI within the next month while the final report will be submitted by the end of the 90 days that the commission was given to complete its work. The COI met for the first time on July 1st, 2015.

Join The Shaanti Bhavan Mandir Family & Pandit Manoj Jadubans

On a Divine Weekend Full of Chanting and Bhajans to New Vrindaban, West Virgina – The Land of Lord Krishna

THE GOLDEN PALACE Leaving Saturday September 26th,2015 2015 Leaving Saturday September 26 Returning Sunday Returning Sunday September 27 September 27th,2015 DONATION OF $165

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For more Info: Pt. Manoj : 718 718--431 431--5310, Maataa Urmilla : 347 347--301 301--6638, 347347-413 413--7587

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

29

World News Highlights

which it demanded that the South stop, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry.

SEOUL - South Korea fired a barrage of artillery rounds into North Korea on Thursday after the North shelled across the border to protest against anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts by Seoul, moves that raised tensions on the divided peninsula.

SEOUL - North Korea warned of military action should South Korea continue anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts along their shared border, the South’s defense ministry said on Thursday, telling Seoul to halt the loudspeaker broadcasts within 48 hours.

SEOUL - North Korea told Seoul it was willing to end an ongoing conflict over anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts,

BEIRUT - Islamic State militants have demolished a monastery in the central Syrian province of Homs, a monitor said on Thursday, in a strategically located town the jihadist group wrested from government control earlier this month.

BRASILIA - Brazilian federal prosecutors charged the speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, with corruption and money laundering on Thursday in a widening political kickback scandal linked to contracts with state-run oil company Petrobras, the prosecutor’s office said.

ATHENS - Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned on Thursday, hoping to strengthen

his hold on power in snap elections after seven months in office in which he fought Greece’s creditors for a better bailout deal but had to cave in. | Video ATHENS - Greece’s main opposition party leader Vangelis Meimarakis will meet the country’s president Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Friday morning to receive a mandate to form a new government, an official from Meimarakis’ New Democracy party said.

WASHINGTON - Turkey needs to do more in the fight against Islamic State militants and has indicated it is willing to go beyond its recent decision to allow U.S. planes to conduct air strikes from Turkish bases, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday.

JUBA - A South Sudanese journalist has been shot dead in what

a press freedom group described as a “very foreboding sign” just days after the president issued a warning to the media.

BERLIN - Germany and France will press the European Union to move faster and with more unity to deal with the worsening refugee crisis, amid complaints from Germany that it is shouldering too big a burden.

ADEN - A bomb next to the governor’s office in the Yemeni city of Aden killed four people on Thursday, witnesses said, and the European Union urged parties to avoid hitting civilian infrastructure after Saudi-led air strikes on Hodeida port.

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT - Rockets hit an Israeli village near the Lebanese border on Thursday and Israel struck back in the Syrian Golan Heights, saying the rare

salvo had been launched there by an Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group.

BEIRUT - Syrian state TV confirmed Israeli air strikes on the Golan Heights on Thursday, and said only material damage was done.

BRUSSELS - The European Commission urged Greece to stick to commitments it has made to reform its economy as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called a snap election within hours of new EU bailout cash arriving in Athens.

KHARTOUM - Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Thursday proposed a two-month ceasefire with rebels fighting to overthrow his government and set a date for a new meeting in a national reconciliation process that collapsed in January.

Saving Our Trees

By Yogendra Latchman

Jai Shree Ram. My name is Yogendra Latchman and I am a proud member of the Naujawaan Mandalee youth group of the Shaanti Bhavan Mandir.

Today my story is entitled “Saving our Trees”. Trees provide food and water that are essential for our existence. We cannot survive without trees. Saving our trees is an important awareness today.

Mother earth has blessed us with many precious gifts. One such gift is trees. It is the main source of food and shelter for all human beings and animals on earth.

Trees give us timber to make furniture, refreshed air, food and many more things for our daily survival. They also prevent soil erosion, floods, etc.

Human beings are considered the most intelligent creature on earth.

We should understand our responsibility towards nature and start saving our trees. They are described as the “green gold of mother earth”.

In conclusion, we all should understand the roles and importance of trees in our lives and take a pledge not to destroy them. We should also encourage people to plant more trees.

My Mantra for trees is plant a tree!

Plant a tree so the next generation can

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

Old ways do not open new doors — WEEKLY HOROSCOPE ARIES

(March 21-April 19) It’s okay to feel emotional on Monday. Your family is a source of a lot of stress, and outbursts are to be expected. Get what you’re feeling off your chest, no matter how tough it is to say. Then you’ll be able to better enjoy the rest of your week. Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be particularly great -- charged with adventure and the possibility of romance -- and even though the weekend will be mostly quiet, something good is going to happen to you on Sunday. Something you’ve been hoping for is going to finally fall in your lap.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22) More and more, you’re developing an intuition about the other people in your life -- how they feel about things, what they’re thinking, what they need. Basically, you’re the best friend a person could ask for, especially on Monday. By midweek, you’re going to start to realize how big a role you play in the lives of the people you love. You are a celebrity in any social situation, which means you have a lot more power than you recognize, especially on Friday.

The great thing is, if you ever need anything, there are tons of people who have your back.

That goes double over the weekend.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) It’s weird: You just don’t feel like doing the usual on Monday. There’s something going on deep in your subconscious, and you can feel it. What are you dreaming about lately? What is it you really want? As you set off on this path of self-exploration, there’s a chance you’re going to feel the urge to travel by midweek -- to do some actual real-world exploring. This isn’t a bad idea to execute over the weekend. It will give you a little perspective on your career, your friends and your life. And you might meet someone new along the way.

Vp Premier

The weekly horoscopes are updated on every week to gives you an in-depth insight into your family, your love life, any career opportunities, friends and money issues.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20) Monday, just tell them how you feel.

No matter how flustered you feel inside, you have this amazing ability to articulate in a confident and persuasive way what’s going on in your head.

You have big plans for the future. Unfortunately, a power struggle with someone Tuesday or Wednesday is going to make getting something done a lot more difficult than it needs to be -- but, yet again, your clear-headedness and charm are going to get you through it. This weekend, expect some real romance. It’s going to make everything in your life suddenly seem more alive and beautiful.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Monday, you are a master organizer. When someone needs to arrange a get-together, you are the person they call. So it only makes sense that as the family is planning a mini-reunion of sorts, you’re involved in making it happen. The trouble is, you already have a million other things going on in your life. So the trick by midweek and through the weekend is going to be to find a way to please everyone without losing your mind. Remember, if it’s not possible to please everyone, that’s okay. You are only one person. You only have so many hands.

Whatever you can do will be appreciated.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) There are a couple of things on your plate on Monday. Before you start any new projects, you should finish the old ones. You can only do so many things at once. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment will give you the energy to focus on new goals. Toward the middle of the week, people are going to notice your recent successes. At week’s end, when someone showers you with compliments, you may feel shy and a little embarrassed, but you’re also going to be beaming with pride. This weekend, call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. They have some exciting news, too.

Kamla wants to give $5,000 mercy grant

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RIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will take to Cabinet a proposal to issue a “one-off, $5,000 grant” to some 200 employees left jobless following a fire early Tuesday at the Hearty Foods Supermarket in Arima.

The mercy grant, which totals $1 million, was announced yesterday as Persad-Bissessar launched Government's upgraded Smart Card, which aims to put food grants, pensions and most Government grants on a single biometric card.

Persad-Bissessar said she felt concern and sadness following news of the fire.

In addition to the grant

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20) On Monday you realize you have less cash in your pocket than you thought.

That’s a slightly distressing thought. It isn’t, however, the end of the world. Spend a little less money than you usually do this week and you’ll be just fine. Tuesday, you’re going to get into a great conversation with some friends, and it’s going to remind you how fun a lively debate can be. Then, toward the end of the week, you’re going to have a conversation with a family member that isn’t going to be nearly as much fun. Oh, well. In any case, the weekend and especially Sunday are sure to be a blast.

LIBRA

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You had a good routine going there for a while, but on Monday something totally unexpected is going to change everything. Don’t get too upset if the plan you had in mind turns out not to need a few revisions. That’s life. You are smart and charming enough to find a way around any obstacle, especially by midweek. And you have a lot of friends who are more than happy to pitch in. On Friday and Saturday, you can remind yourself how lucky and loved you are. Oh, and Sunday? It will be the best day you’ve had in a while.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Monday is going to be an emotional roller coaster. You have a couple of beefs with a good friend -- well, it’s someone you always considered a good friend, but now you’re not so sure -- and coming to a resolution you feel happy about may take a little time. Friendships, like all relationships, sometimes require compromise, especially by the middle of the week. By Friday, you may realize that there are some things you shouldn’t have to compromise on. And, of course, you have other friends.

But this is in no way a lost cause. Over the weekend, be honest and communicate exactly how you feel and things will turn out for the best.

that will be addressed via a Cabinet note today, Persad-Bissessar said she will also propose an inter-ministerial commit-

tee that will be charged with the responsibility of finding new employment for people affected by the fire.

(June 21-July 22) This week is all about new beginnings. This is your chance to break some old habits -- and, while you’re at it, develop some new ones. Tuesday and Wednesday, maybe it’s time for some new clothes after all. It’s amazing how transformative a new wardrobe feels. (And the more confident you are in your clothes, the more confident you will be in general, which is always a plus.) By the end of the week, you get the feeling that maybe it’s about time to reconnect with some old, great pals you’ve lost touch with.

You might spend all day Saturday and Sunday on the phone.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Monday, you’ll have an amazing stroke of good luck, and everything will be going your way. It’s weird how quickly the tide can change. Tuesday and Wednesday, a friend is going to tell you a secret that blows your mind and makes you view someone you know in a whole new way. Toward the end of the week, you’re going to find yourself doing something completely out of character -- no doubt led along by a group of your friends. As long as you don’t do anything irresponsible, it’s okay to take risks and be a little wild, especially over the weekend.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20) You get exactly what you need on Monday: a little romance to shake things up.

Sure, it was no surprise, but it’s such a satisfying, gratifying thing to have nonetheless. It’s lovely to have someone who appreciates you in your life.

That’s immensely flattering, and on Wednesday, it puts everything else in perspective. When you have someone to think about all day long, work troubles seem a lot less important. On Friday, you may start to get a little into ‘what if?’ mode.

Try and leave that thought pattern behind over the weekend. Why overanalyze the state of things when you can just enjoy them?

Teacher killed in crash

S upgraded smart card: Cheryl Datto–Worrell, centre, purchases food items using the new ‘Biometric Smart Card’ system as Prime Minister Kamla Persad– Bissessar, second from right, and Minister of the People Christine Newallo–Hosein looks on during the launch yesterday at Xtra Foods Supermarket, Grand Bazaar. At left is cashier Cindyann Sparks.

CANCER

chool teacher Everard Baptise was killed in a crash along Mosquito Creek, South Oropouche, on Wednesday night.

Baptiste, 28, was returning to his Rousillac home when the crash occurred, police said.

He died at the scene.

Baptiste was a Physics teacher at San Fernando Central Second- Crash: The car in which teacher Everand Baptiste was killed. ary School.

Killed: Everard Baptiste His pupils took to social media on Thursday morning to express sadness on the death of “the best teacher ever”.

He was described as a fun-loving, easy going person.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

Entertainment News

Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt in Gauri Shinde’s next

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Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt in Gauri Shinde’s next

auri Shinde, who garnered critical acclaim for her directorial debut, English Vinglish, is all set to make her second film.

This film will star superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt in lead roles and will be produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions and Hope Productions.

Announcing the film, Karan Johar posted on Twitter, "Red Chillies Entertainment...Dharma and Hope Productions are proud to present Gauri Shinde's next starring...SHAH RUKH KHAN and ALIA BHATT.." [sic]

Bipasha Basu: Ten smoldering looks of the diva

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Good Times' producer Bud Yorkin passes away at 89

hanning Tatum puts on strip show for wifeSubbu turned heads in a leopard-print short number partying at Paasha...Legendary Blues singer and guitarist BB King passes away at 89Pageant MaterialUpendra is a good friend: Shilpa Shetty The American film producer Bud Yorkin, who was 89, has passed away of natural causes at his Bel-Air home.

The Good Times producer, who was mostly partnered with Norman Lear, was honoured with Emmy award in 1960 for his production The Fred Astaire which additionally grabbed eight other Emmys, Deadline.com reported.

In 1970 Yorkin directed and produced dozens of shows that initiated to break the sitcom mold and an era of topical, real-world elements of class, race, politics and social change, was introduced by him.

Love is in the air for Orlando Bloom

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he 'Hobbit' trilogy extended edition to release in OctoberPirates 5 first look revealed, Depp hits stage as Jack Sparrow'The Lord Of The Rings' actor Elijah Wood to visit IndiaThe million-dollar celeb kids Orlando Bloom, who split with Miranda Kerr in 2013, is reportedly romancing Australian model and DJ Kate Elsworth.

A source told a US magazine, "He's done all of the chasing, but in a very gentlemanly way. He lets her know he really likes her and appreciates spending time

Orlando Bloom and Kate Elsworth with her and that she's not just another girl to him."

Emily Ratajkowski hates 'Blurred Lines', the song that made her famous

I Bipasha Basu has been one of the hottest divas of B-town since her arrival in the film industry fourteen years ago. The hottie, who scorched the silver screen in Jism, steals the limelight on the red carpet with her oomph quotient. The Bengali beauty raised the temperature on the green carpet at an awards event when she arrived in a backless red gown with a peephole neckline. Blessed with sharp features and perfect curves, Bipasha topped the list with hair on a side and a black and white clutch.

The mere presence of Bipasha Basu is enough to bring the cine-lovers to the movie theatres. The hottie, who looks great in western attire, turns hotter when she steps out in a saree. Bipasha was spotted with co-star R Madhavan during the promotion of their film Jodi Breakers in a shimmery peach saree paired with a bikini blouse.

The diva not just set the silver screen on fire with her customized steamy number ‘Bipasha,’ but also made sure she raised the mercury level during the film promotions as well.

t might be the song that made her famous around the world, thanks to her risque appeareance in the video, but Emily Ratajkowski has revealed that she can't bear to listen to, or watch the music video for, Blurred Lines any more.

The 24-year-old model and actress, who was one of the women in the biggest-selling track worldwide in 2013, was speaking to a gentleman's magazine ahead of her new film We Are Your Friends.

She described the concept behind the video as "so bad", and revealed that it took some serious persuasion for her to appear in the first place. "It was so bad. I was like, there is absolutely no way they could pay me enough money. I didn't give a s***. Because it's me, and it's me, so I don't care who's attached to it. I think I've done enough nudity now that I don't really need to do Blurred Lines again. Like, if someone asked me to do it now, I'd probably say no."

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August 21–27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper Brooke Shields injures foot

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Actress Sharon Stone is set to star in the upcoming drama 'Running Wild'

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haron Stone poses nude at 57'Flirty' Sharon Stone 'strips down' for Harper BazaarNo one thought I was sexy: Sharon StoneSharon Stone would love if men would 'hit on her' than be 'scared awa...Gulshan Grover to be honoured alongwith Jackie Chan and Sharon Stone ...

The 57-year-old 'Basic Instinct' star will play the villain in the movie be directed by Alex Ranarivelo of 'The Wrong Side of Right' fame, reported Deadline.

Running Wild centres on a widow who saves her ranch by working with convicts to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses that

en Affleck, Jennifer Garner in no rush to file divorce?Thin eyebrows out, bushy ones inDeepika Padukone, Angelina Jolie and others who spoke openly about th...

Actress Brooke Shields injured her foot at an animal rescue benefit in New York.

The Blue Lagoon star, 50, refused to let the injury interfere with her duties as emcee of the Bow Wow Meow Ball at the Animal Rescue Fund Of The Hamptons event.

Shields is yet to reveal the exact nature of her ailment, but she shared a photo of her

wrapped foot in a post on Instagram.

"My annual injury! 10 stitches only this summer. Bummer for surfing and tennis," she wrote.

wandered onto her property.

She must fight prejudice, greed, bureaucracy and vanity, including her own, to finally understand that there is no better remedy to misfortune than helping another living creature.

Running Wild is written by Christina Moore and Brian Rudnick.

The role of the widow will be cast shortly.

The movie is produced by ESX Entertainment while Christina Moore is co-producing.

Principal photography will commence in Napa, California.

Twinkle Khanna Talks About Mumbai Masturbation Episode, Says She Faced It Too On A School Trip!

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ctress Twinkle Khanna said that people masturbating in public is not a not a new nuisance in Mumbai and that women have been facing it for a long time in the Maximum city.

While making the comments she recounted one such incident from her past. She was only 12 when she saw 'something similar' while on a school trip to the Hanging Gardens in Mumbai.

This comes at a time when social media is feeling pretty elated that the man who was caught masturbating to Maryana Abdo was identified and caught. @indiatimes wishes that such incidents act as a wakeup call for the society and more initiatives are taken to make the public more sensitive to such issues.

August 21–27, 2015 33 Caribbean Star Newspaper Kristen Stewart 'interested' in doing 'Twilight' remake with new cast

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Julianne Hough gets engaged

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ctress Julianne Hough has got engaged to Canadian ice hockey player Brooks Laich after more than a year of dating.

The 27-year-old actress, who previously dated American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, was "overwhelmed with joy and excitement" when the Canadian player, 31, proposed to her after 18 months of dating, reported Female First.

The Safe Haven star broke the news on Instagram, where alongside a photograph of herself staring at her ring while wrapping her arms and legs around Brooks on a balcony overlooking a lake.

"We are overwhelmed with joy and excitement to share with you our recent engagement. #fiance #love."

The Dancing with the Stars judge started dating the Washington Capitals player in February 2014 after being set up on a date by a mutual friend.

The blonde beauty and Ryan, 40, split in March 2013 after almost four years of dating amid rumours she got tired of waiting for him to get down on bended knee.

risten Stewart might not be interested in going back to the 'Twilight' series with her old cast, but will definitely give it a look if there are a new bunch of vampires to engage with.

During the promotion of American Ultra when the 25-yearold actress was asked how she felt about a Twilight reboot, she dodged the question by saying, "Are they saying that they have to redo them? Like, we have to do them again," reported E! Online.

But when she was asked whether she would do it with a new cast, the actress said that that she loved playing Bella, but that does not mean she wants to keep on doing that.

Stewart added that if she was given a new cast she would definitely be interested in it.

Kristen Stewart

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

Caribbean Connections

DEATH AFTER BEATING

By CAROL MATROO

A

seizure while being disciplined by a relative led to the death of a teenaged girl from Jacob Hill, Wallerfield .

An autopsy conducted by pathologist Eastlyn Mc Donald-Burris confirmed the cause of death as anxious relatives gathered at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James following the incident late on Monday night.

The autopsy report showed that the 13-year-old, Natisha James, choked on her own vomit causing asphyxiation. She had been rushed to the Arima Health Facility and subsequently to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope where she eventually died.

She was taken there by EHS ambulance following calls by relatives.

According to reports the girl was receiving a beating from a

relative.

Neighbours claimed to have heard the child screaming late Monday night but thought nothing of it since they were accustomed to hearing the child “get licks.” “Everybody hear the child getting licks and nobody calling the police,” was how one close relative reacted to the reported beating yesterday.

She spoke of the uselessness of children’s lives when they are harmed by those who should love them. “What future these children have,” the relative wondered as she spoke to Newsday about the incident.

The girl who had just written the Secondary Entrance Assessment Examination (SEA), and had passed for Valencia High School, was said to have regular seizures whenever she was beaten.

There were conflicting reports

about the girl’s life among her relatives with several of them describing her as a good girl, who was very respectable, and they found no great fault in the way she behaved.

Several others, who asked not to be named, claimed the teenager was a victim of physical abuse.

A female relative, who had been in police custody following the incident, but was released yesterday, admitted to beating the girl prior to her seizure.

Several relatives, some who lived close by, gathered just a few houses away from the girl’s home. The house was a galvanised structure with a wire fence and a red iron gate. No one was at home when Newsday visited. One relative in particular said it was regular for Natisha to be beaten as she often heard screaming at nights.

There were allegations of

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es network throughout Guyana, besides Government’s $1.2 billion proposal for the completion of the East Bank Demerara highway which will provide improved transit from Providence to Great Diamond.

An additional $1.6 billion is also budgeted for the upgrade of the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue road, which will create an improved road linkage between the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara. More allocations were, however, sought during the budget presentation for the expansion of roads. The whopping $13B will also account for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion project.

Detailed in the ‘100-Day Plan’ during the APNU+AFC’s campaign were: “Significant salary increases for Government workers, including nurses, teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary education; security personnel; and civil servants on the traditional payroll.”

Mere months after winning the elections, the new Administration has kept its promise by allocating a five per cent salary increase for public servants, plus an additional $5,000 per month, and a new basic salary of $50,000 for a public servant. Pensioners were also given an increase from $13,125 to $17,000.

Also budgeted is $23.2 billion for development of the health sector as Government aims to reduce health inequalities, expand primary health care, arresting non-communicable diseases (NCDs), eliminating maternal and infant mortality and providing universal health coverage.

saying anything now, but I hear certain things.

Now people want to come and say all kind of things. Where were they before? Why they didn’t report it to the police?

Now they want to talk when she dead?” Public Information Officer ASP Michael Pierre, when contacted last evening, said information by investigating officers indicated Natisha was being disciplined by a relative. He said there was no report of abuse.

However, he called on the public to act responsibly if they knew about situations where children were being abused.

“We would expect that people would act responsibly and call in instances of abuse, and also make use of the Child Protection Unit within the Police Service,” he said.

A storm is approaching

PPP extends support to Gov’t for airport expansion project, other ‘inherited’ policies

HE main Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has pledged its continued support to those policies inherited by the APNU+AFC Administration from its 23 years in Government. Those continuing policies can be found in the airport expansion project, wage increases to public service workers, expansion of road networks and further development of the health sector.

Executive Secretary of the PPP/C Zulfikar Mustapha, made this disclosure during his maiden presentation during the 2015 budget debate on Tuesday in the National Assembly.

After a lengthy recount of the PPP/C’s “developments” during its 23 years in Government, the former Chairman of Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) concluded that the party is anticipating Government’s “diligent” response in executing the aforementioned programmes before the end of the financial year.

“I say this because the figures relate to a formidable amount of works to be done, huge amounts of monies to be expended – and we shall be paying close attention,” said Mustapha.

On August 11th, Minister of Finance Winston Jordon presented the 2015 budget to the tune of $221B, displaying its continuing efforts to fulfil promises in the ‘100-Day Plan.’

Government has committed to infrastructural development through the construction and rehabilitation of roads in urban, rural and hinterland areas.

A whopping $13 billion has been allocated for enhancing the roads and bridg-

abuse that some relatives believed was happening for years.

One of them told Newsday that he saw one of the girl’s relatives “cuffing her in her head.”

“I stand up and see this with my own eyes,” she said. “ I had to say (name called) why you beating her like a man?”She added, “ That child was not disrespectful, she didn’t wear short clothes, she always said good evening...I don’t know.” Another relative, had many questions as to why Natisha was beaten.

“Why people have to beat their children so... that call for?” she asked “Now people want to come and talk about what they hearing.

If all yuh used to hear the child bawling and crying, why you didn’t come out and say anything? I didn’t know anything because nobody tell me, but something more here...I not

A look at the Tropical Atlantic courtesy NOAA

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RINIDAD and Tobago is not at this time under any threat by Tropical Storm Danny.

The storm, however, can strengthen into a hurricane by Friday, and the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the system, according to a bulletin issued at noon Wednesday by the TTMS. “On its present track and forward speed, tropical storm Danny poses NO immediate threat to Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and its dependencies. However, the general public is advised to monitor its movement through media reports as it moves closer to the islands of the Eastern Caribbean”, the TTMS stated.

The bulletin stated that the TTMS is “closely monitoring” the system, as Danny is the fourth tropical storm of the 2015 hurricane season.

The TTMS said: “At 11 a.m. the centre

of Tropical Storm Danny was located near latitude 11.4 north and longitutde 41.1 west or about 2235 kilometres east of the Lesser Antilles. Tropical Storm Danny is monving towards the west near 19 kilometres per hour. A movement toward the west-northwest at a slightly slower forward speed is expected during the next 48 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 85 kilometres per hour with higher gusts.

Analysis of current data and numerical weather prediction models suggest that further strengthening and Danny could become a hurricane by Friday”.

The TTMS empasised in the bulletin: “We wish to underscore that at this time Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada and its dependencies are not under any tropical storm threat, watch or warning”.

The met office said it will issue another bulletin at noon tomorrow, or earlier “if the situation warants”.

Caribbean Star Newspaper Exposure to violent video games a risk factor for increased aggression, report warns

August 21–27, 2015

“Spiritual healer” charged with 91 child sex crimes

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VIDEO GAMES THAT FEATURE VIOLENCE MAY HAVE SOME IMPACT ON PLAYERS, RESEARCH SAYS

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ORONTO, Canada, Wednesday August 19, 2015 – A review of almost a decade of studies has concluded that exposure to violent video games is a risk factor for increased aggression.

This finding has prompted a call for more parental control over violent scenes in video games from the American Psychological Association (APA).

The Daily Mail reports that at a meeting in Toronto earlier this month, the association’s ruling council also called for a video game rating system that took more notice of violence, and for games to be more appropriate to players’ age and psychological development. “The research demonstrates a consistent relation between violent video game use and increases in aggressive behaviour, aggressive cognitions and aggressive affect, and decreases in pro-social behaviour, empathy and sensitivity to aggression,” the report from the APA task force on violent media found.

The report nevertheless indicated that no single influence led a person to act violently or aggressively. Rather, it was an “accumulation of risk factors” that resulted in such behaviour, it said.

“The research reviewed here demonstrates that violent video game use is one such risk factor,” it noted.

The experts who conducted the review

stopped short of saying that violent games such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto led directly to criminal acts, citing a lack of evidence.

“Scientists have investigated the use of violent video games for more than two decades, but to date there is very limited research addressing whether violent video games cause people to commit acts of criminal violence,” said Dr Mark Appelbaum, who chaired the APA task force.

“However, the link between violence in video games and increased aggression in players is one of the most studied and best established in the field,” he noted.

“We know that there are numerous risk factors for aggressive behaviour. What researchers need to do now is conduct studies that look at the effects of video game play in people at risk for aggression or violence due to a combination of risk factors. For example, how do depression or delinquency interact with violent video game use?”

The APA task force conducted a comprehensive review of more than 300 violent video game studies published between 2005 and 2013. “While there is some variation among the individual studies, a strong and consistent general pattern has emerged from many years of research that provides confidence in our general conclusions,” Dr Appelbaum noted.

Lawmen capture two men wanted for murder of police constable in Jamaica

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INGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday August 19, 2015 – Two of the three men being sought for last month’s murder of a 23-year-old policeman have been caught.

Police say Haratio Livine was captured yesterday evening in an operation in Manchester while Gratiano Green was arrested early this morning in St. Andrew.

The two are suspects in the July 21 shooting death of Constable Lynden Barrett.

The officers was shot dead while on patrol on Wellington Street, east Kingston that night.

A third man, Nicholas Drummond, had been identified by police as a person of

interest in the investigation into Constable Barrett’s murder.

The police high command had offered a J$200,000 (US$1,710) reward for information leading to the arrest and charge of those responsible for killing the officer.

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TPS - A 44-year-old self-proclaimed spiritual healer Wednesday 19th August, 2015, appeared before Tunapuna Magistrate, Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor, on 91 sexual related offences against a minor.

Krishna Singh, of Braithwaite Street, El Dorado faces 81 counts of sexual penetration of a female; five counts of grievous sexual assault and five counts of sexual intercourse with a female between the ages of 14-16 years. The offences are alleged to have occurred over the period May 12th - August 6th, 2015.

The charges were laid on August 13th, 2015, under acting Sergeant Michelle Lewis of the Northern Division Child Pro-

tection Unit.

Bail was denied and Singh was remanded into custody until September 16th after the police complainant informed the court the accused had similar charges pending against him in the same jurisdiction.

Following a police trace, it was also discovered that Singh was deported from the United States after having been convicted on similar offences.

Singh, who is also known by the aliases Shelton Roberts and Shelford Roberts, faces the additional charges of resisting arrest, assault and possession of an apparatus which were laid by the Fraud Squad.

200 on the jobline

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By Darcel Choy

wo hundred people are without jobs after a massive fire at a building housing Hearty Foods supermarket and Ashleys Bed Bath and Beyond on the corner of Queen and Sorzano Streets, Arima . The fire began at about 5am yesterday and quickly spread through the four-storey building. Fire appliances from Arima, Tunapuna, San Juan and Port-of-Spain responded .

The owner, Ishwar Maharaj, said his priority now was to find jobs for the workers . “We are trying to get places for them, like my father’s place, to assist them to absorb some of the staff and I have asked other friends who have businesses if they could help me,” Maharaj said .

He is the son of managing director of Arima Discount Mart (ADM) Balliram Maharaj . He expressed concern about his cooks as he said many supermarkets do not have restaurants. The supermarket also housed a restaurant and a bakery .

Maharaj spoke to his workers assuring them that everything will be okay .

Fire officers spent several hours battling the blaze. Divisional Fire Officer for the Northern Division Peter Neverson admitted the officers were challenged as the water pressure was low .

“It took quite a while before we actually got the system boosted,” he said. Several water trucks from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) were on site to assist the fire officers .

At one point, the nearby Arima Boys RC School, appeared to be in danger of being burnt also but Neverson said the fire officers were able to control the fire and keep it within the environs of the supermarket . Maharaj said he got the call at about 5 am and rushed down to assess the situation. The businessman said he did not have an estimated cost in losses as it was too soon to tell .

He added however, that they have had several renovations in recent times, describing the building as a “growing animal” . He said he could not say anything bad about the fire officers because they did their best . “They tried but you could only try with what you have. I asked them

to make sure nobody get hurt, you don’t want anyone going into a burning building and dying,” he said .

One fire officer, Aaron Reyes, sustained injuries to his right hand after he broke a glass for ventilation. He received nine stitches. Another fire officer suffered dehydration and was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope for treatment .

Meanwhile, Neverson disclosed it would take a “substantial” amount of time before the cause of the fire is determined because, at the moment, the building is not safe for investigators. Despite this, Maharaj believed it was due to an electrical issue. He disclosed he was in talks with his insurance agents so they can focus on rebuilding the business .

“We will rise from the ashes,” he said .

Nearby businesses and homes were evacuated until the fire and smoke were brought under control .

John Mannette’s family home is located at the back of the business and he said his son was the one who alerted the owners .

“He heard the alarms, peeped and saw nothing .

However, when he heard the second alarm, he ran outside. He saw smoke emanating from the electrical area. He eventually called the fire services, he called the owners and then he called me, so then we ran across, it was just smoke at that point. It started to blaze then we tried to see what we could salvage from home in the event the home should catch fire,” he said .

Former Arima MP Rodger Samuel said the fire has brought a tremendous loss to Arima .

“Hearty Foods was in the heart of Arima, everyone depended on Hearty Foods for everything, and they did a tremendous amount of social work in Arima, by also providing stuff for communities.

They are one of the businesses that really supported Arima in everything,” he said .

This is the second major fire in Arima in the last three months .

On May 5, Raj K Singh’s Auto Parts at the corner of Broadway and Woodford Street, was burnt to the ground .

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August 21–27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper St. Lucia government issues alert as Tropical Storm Danny approaches Caribbean

PRIME MINISTER DR. KENNY ANTHONY HAS TOLD ST. LUCIANS NOT TO BE COMPLACENT.

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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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ASTRIES, St. Lucia, Wednesday August 19, 2015 – St. Lucians have been advised to be on alert as Tropical Storm Danny develops and continues on a path towards the Eastern Caribbean.

The storm is about 1,385 miles east of the Windward Islands and is moving towards the west at 12 miles per hour.

Maximum sustained winds are 50 miles per hour.

Forecasters anticipate that Danny could strengthen into a hurricane by tomorrow and the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre says it could make landfall in about a week at its current speed.

It is the fourth storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season which began June 1 and runs until November 30.

Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony today told St. Lucians that in spite of a relatively placid hurricane season thus far, they need to be prepared.

“We are nearly at the halfway point of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, and so far we have been blessed. The approaching system could change that,” he said.

“Danny, though a storm at the moment, is a salutary reminder that we must not be complacent. Rather, we must remain vigilant. We must remain vigilant not only for this system, but throughout the season and beyond.

Ensure that you monitor closely the development of Tropical Storm Danny.”

The prime minister said that while he hoped the country’s National Emergency Management Advisory Committee would not have to be pressed into action, it stand ready to respond should disaster strike.

The first three storms of the season – Ana, Bill and Claudette, bypassed the Caribbean, making landfall on the US coast.

Caribbean Star Newspaper $1M for Hearty Foods staff

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wo hundred workers displaced

by Tuesday’s Hearty Foods fire in Arima are to each receive a oneoff grant of $5,000 from Government, ringing up a $1 million payment.

In addition, a committee is to be set up at the governmental level to help the supermarket employees find new jobs.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bisssessar disclosed these actions yesterday as she launched a Ministry of the People and Social Development Biometric Card at Grand Bazaar in Valsayn for the delivery of a range of social benefits to citizens.

The sprawling Hearty Foods Supermarket at the corner of Queen and Sorzano Streets in the heart of Arima was destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning. Losses have been put at millions of dollars, and some 200 workers were rendered jobless.

“I share with you, just for a moment, my concern and sadness at the fire in Arima where over 200 persons have become jobless,” said Persad-Bissessar at the launch a few hours before she was to lead a People’s Partnership election rally in the eastern borough last evening.

She revealed that she would be taking the two-pronged initiative — the grant and job-seeking assistance for the employees — to Cabinet today for approval.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Hearty Foods CEO, Ishwar Maharaj, said he was very happy that his workers would be getting help but he said he also needed assistance.

“I am very happy that she is doing that because we were trying to place all of them (the displaced employees) in different businesses,” Maharaj said.”But that might have taken some time, but I am also struggling myself right now.

The insurance will take a very long time. I still have a lot of unpaid loans.”

Maharaj also called for the return of the Arima Fire Station to the heart of Arima to prevent any further loss.

The fire station was moved from the town centre to Malabar since the old location on Green Street, a mere block away from Tuesday’s incident, was deemed unfit for occupation.

“The amount of businesses there are in Arima, the fire station really needs to come back,” Maharaj said.

“I got the call about the fire at 5 am.

The fire officers did not come until a while after.

Then when they got there, they had water problems, and leaking tanks. For these firemen to be successful, they have to have all the equipment.

They did their best but they can only work with what they have and what they have is not sufficient to deal with fires like these.” Tuesday’s fire was the second major fire in the Arima town centre in the last three months. On May 5, fire destroyed another sizeable business, Raj K Singh’s Auto Parts at the corner of Broadway and Woodford Street, just a few yards from the abandoned old Arima Fire Station.

August 21–27, 2015

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83 graduate from police-sponsored vocational skills training on West Demerara

A DARCEL CHOY and SEAN DOUGLAS Yesterday a team of fire officers were seen inspecting the burnt out Hearty Foods building. A small fire sprung up at the back of the building, near to the Arima Boys’ Roman Catholic School.

It was put out by the officers. Several streets around the compound remained blocked off, causing major traffic jams.

Divisional Fire Officer for the Northern Division Peter Neverson said the fire officers did not enter the building to start their investigations as “internal burning” was still going on.

In addition, they have to ensure that the environment is safe enough for them to enter as the integrity of the structure was in question.

“Different parts of the building collapsed during the fire adding further stress on the structure,” Neverson said, “That is why we still have the area cordoned off to protect persons in case the building collapses.” There were reports of looting at the supermarket late Tuesday night into yesterday morning.

Neverson pointed to the danger of people entering the premises given the state of the building.

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), responding to reports of low water pressure on the morning of the fire, sought yesterday to “clear the air” on that report.

In a statement WASA said the Authority’s System Operator personnel were in the vicinity of Hearty Foods and noticed smoke emanating from the building at about 4.40 am on Tuesday.

“Steps were immediately taken to conduct operations that would boost the water pressure to the area, even before the arrival of Fire Service officers,” according to WASA. WASA said by the time fire officers arrived to begin fire fighting efforts, there was a pressure reading of 40 psi (pounds per square inch) in the immediate vicinity of the fire.

“Notwithstanding this, the Authority also immediately took steps to call out the services of water trucks, in order to further supplement the available water supply to Fire Service officers. These efforts were however hampered by traffic restrictions, which delayed the first trucks arrival at approximately 7 am.

Throughout the course of the fire fighting exercise, WASA personnel remained on site and in close contact with Fire Service Officers, as well as maintained the availability of a truck borne water supply with the arrival of several more tenders,” WASA stated.

T the conclusion of a vocational skills training programme for youths on the West Coast of Demerara yesterday, 83 graduates were presented certificates and trophies of completion.

The programme was the initiative of ‘D’ Division of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) under the Project C-Pets Creating Positive Environment Through Safe Communities and Partnership in collaboration with the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre (LTVTC).

The ceremony took place at the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre auditorium, Groenveldt, West Coast Demerara, and Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud delivered the feature address.

The ‘Top Cop’ told the large gathering that the decision made by the group of youths drawn from several villages along the West Coast corridor shows commitment to develop themselves and he lauded their efforts yesterday.

He stated that the youths of today need to be multi-talented to cope in a very competitive world, so they should always seek to develop skills and be exposed to training in various areas in order to become marketable. Persaud added that some of the graduates will pursue a one-year course to become qualified in specialised areas of carpentry, data operations, electrical installation, general office administration, metal work engineering, motor vehicle (car and light work), plumbing and welding. He spoke of the benefits and objectives of the project which is geared towards youth development, whereby they can be equipped with a life skill to be able to earn in a meaningful way and contribute to society.

Persaud told the gathering yesterday afternoon that the GPF is always willing to work with faith-based organisations, the Ministry of Education and other groups to develop youths, because it is in their best interest to get idle youths off the streets and to educate them.

The Commissioner added that the C-PETS project was launched in the city a year ago to engage youths in vocational skills training based on their analysis; as such, it cascaded into all the policing divisions countrywide for youths to become marketable and add value to their lives.

Administrator of LTVTC Eon Nicholson in brief remarks said that he was very pleased with the performance of

Top performer Shaneeza Khan as she was presented a trophy by ‘Top Cop’ Seelall Persaud the youths at this first programme and is hopeful there will be more to follow.

He added that they are seeking to include the Industrial Board for the development of youths in Region 3 and some of the graduates have already enrolled to pursue the one-year programme.

Nicholson, however, urged parents, guardians and others to continue to support the graduates to assist them to achieve youth development in the region.

Commander of ‘D’ Division Stephen Mansell, told the gathering that the C-PETS project was the brainchild of the Commissioner, firstly in ‘A’ Division and it was a success and filtered down to the other divisions. He pointed out that the project was specially launched to reduce crime in the community in which it targets unemployed youths and school drop-outs and they will continue to work with the youths to ensure they are gainfully employed. Mansell stated that the project is leading the GPF into a new era of policing and at the same time fostering better relations with the youths and communities as well. In his remarks to the graduates, acting Chief Education Officer Patrick Chinedu charged the youths to let their certificates and trophies serve as reminders to be committed, since they can be whoever they want to.

He stressed the importance of education in the society and said that education is everybody’s business and advised the adults and parents to be continually supportive of the youths to achieve optimum rewards through their education.

Chinedu encouraged the youths to be dedicated, committed and have the desire to overcome any obstacle and to believe in themselves.

Top performer Shaneeza Khan was awarded two trophies and a certificate, while others were also presented trophies of achievement and certificates as well.

LTVTC Administrator Eon Nicholson, Commander Stephen Mansell, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and Acting Chief Education Officer Patrick Chinedu seated at the head table

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Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

CRICKET & Sports

Degenerating WICB can’t ignore latest call for change It has become a habitual question that continues to defy an acceptable answer.

The West Indies Cricket Board has twice commissioned reports to recommend changes to its governance. Each time it ignored their main points.

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n the meantime, the game in the region has gone into such a state of decline that the team that dominated the world for 15 years now languishes near the bottom of the ICC rankings, and the WICB is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

The former Jamaica prime minister PJ Patterson, who headed the committee that prepared thefirst document in 2007, complained that he and his two other committee members had wasted two years of their lives working on the assignment. Five years later, Queen’s Counsel Charles Wilkin of St Kitts-Nevis, at one time a left-arm spinner for Cambridge University and the Leeward Islands, heatedly quit as head of the governance committee after the WICB directors “refused to make any change at all to the current structure”. He charged that the incumbents “wanted to preserve at all costs all of their positions on the board”.

As since its formation in 1927, the WICB still comprises two directors from each of its regional members, now six in all, who elect the president and vice-president.

Patterson and Wilkin both proposed profound changes, among them a reduction in the number of directors. In addition, Patterson put forward the introduction of additional representatives from the Caribbean Community governments, the private sector, tourism, and the University of the West Indies. Wilkin pressed for a nominations committee “to identify and recommend persons with appropriate skills and experience to serve as elected directors”.

This is now being revisited by a committee appointed by the regional Caricom governments. It is headed by Sir Denis Byron, president of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and includes former West Indies vice-captain Deryck Murray.

With such political backing and high-profile leadership the committee carries such clout that the WICB would be ill-advised to treat its report the same way it has done those of Patterson and Wilkin. Judging by the profusion of comments in the media and from various interviews, the committee will have formed a consensus on Patterson’s stated view that “the status quo is unacceptable”, that change is needed.

With six WICB presidents over the past 15 years, continuity and stability have

been impossible. Voting for the head of both West Indies and regional boards is now conducted with the antagonism of political elections There have been thoughtful articles over the past week from Wilkin and from Dr Rudi Webster, the West Indies manager during World Series Cricket and subsequently psychologist to the team.

Wilkin believes the Supreme Court of India’s decision on changes and improvements necessary for the Indian board to be “more transparent and more responsive to the public at large” should give “fresh impetus” to resolving similar issues in the Caribbean.

Webster points the finger at the WICB’s leadership. “The single and probably the most significant factor in the success of

Former Jamaica prime minister PJ Patterson had recommended a reduction in the number of directors on the board followed is stark.

The cricket was never stronger, on the field and off it, than it was during Short’s unprecedented 19 years as elected Barbados Cricket Association president and subsequent four as head of the West Indies Cricket Board. Barbados won the regional Shell Shield title ten times over 19 seasons, West Indies went 15 years

Peter Short (extreme left) served West Indies cricket ably for three successful decades any organization is the behavior of the people who are leading it,” he states.

“Like any poorly performing organization, the WICB should now take a careful and honest look at itself and the quality of its leadership. It is very difficult for an organization to rise above the level of its leadership.”

The recent death at 89 of Peter Short, the longest-serving administrator in West Indies cricket, brought into focus the correlation between success in the boardroom and on the field. The contrasts in the management of the game in Barbados and the West Indies during his involvement with a host of able, dedicated colleagues over 32 years, between 1964 and 1996, and that of the dispensations that

unbeaten in a Test series.

In the two decades since, there has been drastic deterioration in both areas.

Management at all levels has degenerated into an ongoing story of incompetence, internal wrangling and court cases. The more they have grown, with fully professional personnel, the more the problems mount.

The WICB has had six presidents over the past 15 years: continuity and stability have been impossible. Voting for the head of both West Indies and regional boards is now conducted with the antagonism of political elections.

The alienation of leading players has led to three strikes, none more damaging than the withdrawal of the team from the

scheduled tour of India last October. The claim for US$42 million compensation from the BCCI still hangs like a guillotine over the WICB’s exposed neck.

Prime ministers have been called on to settle one issue or another. The latest is the Caricom committee that will soon hand in its report.

Appointed delegates defied the mandate of their association in a recent presidential election. The organization of the game in Guyana has been in turmoil for more than two years as its various constituents wrestle over its control.

The Leeward Islands, a powerhouse that turned out Andy Roberts, Viv Richards, Richie Richardson, Curtly Ambrose and the Benjamins in the seventies and eighties, has become a perennial also-ran in the regional tournaments without a representative on the West Indies team.

In keeping with the times, WICB principals are now paid. In the past, there was no thought of remuneration or personal advantage.

Short seemed an anachronism. He was a white Bajan with a trademark handlebar moustache, who had served in the British Army and risen to the rank of his enduring title, captain. As a useful club player, he captained Wanderers Club, then allwhite, to the 1959 Barbados club championship, later to become its president.

It was deceptive profiling. “Peter Short, I believe, was misunderstood,” Sir Hilary Beckles wrote in his tome, The Development of West Indies Cricket in 1998. “He did not represent the old dispensation as many have said. Rather, he was part of the respected nationalist network of civic society that believed in cricket as a cultural activity for gentlemen, part of the infrastructure of high moral values and social contact.”

Such words no longer apply to the governance of Barbados and West Indies cricket.

August 21–27, 2015 Caribbean Star Newspaper Butt, Asif keen to return to cricket Amla’s ton sets up South Africa’s win (Cricinfo) South Africa 304 for 7 (Amla 124, Rossouw 89, Milne 2-51) beat New Zealand 284 (Latham 60, Williamson 47) by 20 runs

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outh Africa’s bowling plans were made public when a hotel guest mistakenly received a strategy sheet meant for Dale Steyn and posted it on social media. Yet it was New Zealand’s attack that struggled to adapt to the same surface they read so well during Sunday’s Twenty20 as a rejuvenated Hashim Amla, scored 124 - his 21st century - to steer South Africa’s course to a 20-run win.

The hundred helped him join Herschelle Gibbs as the South Africa batsman with the most ODI hundreds.

Amla and Rilee Rossouw shared in a 185-run, second-wicket partnership which set up the victory and ended a lean patch for the opener that has stretched back seven innings. It was a less silken century than usual for Amla but he was not the only one guilty of sloppiness.

Mis-timed shots and dropped catches on a bumpy winter outfield provided some of the entertainment after Amla had provided the opening act, and South Africa’s attack did the rest.

Salman Butt: “It’s impossible to get back the best part of my life, which was wasted, but I have learnt a lot in those years.”

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alman Butt and Mohammad Asif, who will find themselves free of ICC sanctions from September 2, are keen to play in the forthcoming Pakistan domestic season under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The pair said they had learnt their lessons from the imprisonment and bans they had faced for their roles in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010.

Butt and Asif, along with Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, were banned by the ICC for their role in spot-fixing on Pakistan’s tour to England in 2010.

While Butt faced a 10-year ban (with five years suspended), Asif was given a seven-year ban (with two years suspended) after they were found guilty in a case stemming from the 2010 Lord’s Test.

The ICC confirmed on Wednesday that the players can return to competitive cricket after September 2, after fulfilling specific conditions laid down by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal.

According to the conditions of the tribunal, the players were required to submit a public apology and cooperate with the tribunal. In addition, they also have to undergo a lecture on anti-corruption, which will take place in due course. Both Butt and Asif had earlier

apologised publicly and have committed their availability for the remainder of the process.

“I am a relieved man,” said Asif, who will turn 33 in December. “People should accept the fact that we have completed our punishment, relieved by the same body that banned us. So you can’t give more punishment for one crime. I committed a mistake, for which I have asked for forgiveness from the Almighty and have also said sorry to the nation.”

Butt, who was the captain of the Pakistan side in the Lord’s Test in 2010, said the time away from cricket had an impact on his personality and helped him learn a lot. He has been engaged by Lahore Blues in the forthcoming domestic Twenty20 tournament, which starts in the first week of September, while Asif is also negotiating with teams in the same region to kick-start his career.

Amir, who was readmitted to Pakistan’s domestic cricket in January this year, is also likely to play in the T20 tournament.

Over the last five years, Butt has been training at a private fitness club and playing cricket at a private cricket academy, while Asif has occasionally played in unregistered cricket tournaments in Lahore.

“Thanks to the Almighty who has given me another lifeline and I got another opportunity to make a comeback (in cricket). I am also thankful to the ICC that it gave me an opportunity to start again,” Butt said. “The PCB has also cooperated with me for quite some time and I am thankful to them too.

“The moment I get permission to play domestic cricket, I will play. It’s true that if you don’t play competitive cricket for sometime you get rusty but with few matches it will go too. But it depends how much the player is committed. I

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think if you look at me personally there’s quite a change in me. In last five years the only thing I did most is thinking. It’s impossible to get back the best part of my life, which was wasted, but I have learnt a lot in those years. Only time will tell how much I have changed. I don’t know if I will be able to achieve the same peak as a cricketer but what I will ensure is to become a good human being and a good cricketer.”

Asif, who hails from Sheikhupura, was also involved in controversies other than the spot-fixing scandal. Along with Shoaib Akhtar, he tested positive for a banned steroid in 2006 and was suspended for one year. He was also detained in Dubai in 2008 for possessing opium and was released later.

When asked if he is prepared for criticism on his return, Asif said: “What if people shout and call me a cheat? I am ready for that because I have taken every tough thing in the last five years on the chin, so let the fans show their anger. I have made a resolution: to change people’s opinions and not to make the same mistake again.”

Butt’s likely stint with the Lahore Blues side is pending clearance from the PCB but a top official from the region was happy with the signing.

“We have a full faith in Butt after he has served his punishment. He is one of the good batsmen in our region and if he is fit and cleared by the ICC then I don’t see any reason not picking him for our team,” the official said.

The PCB, in a release, said it had sought further clarification from the ICC on the lifting of sanctions against Butt and Asif.

“Until the world body’s response has been received and evaluated, PCB shall not be making any further comment on the issue,” the release stated.

du Plessis ruled out for at least four weeks Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand and will be out of action for at least four weeks due to a knee injury. Du Plessis did not play the T20s after picking up the injury during training ahead of the series. He should recover in time for South Africa’s tour of India, which starts in October.

“I

t’s frustrating for me because I feel good and in form,” du Plessis said while doing a commentary stint during the first ODI. “Brandon Jackson, the physiotherapist, said I will need about three or four weeks of no running at all and then can get back into training.”

This is the second injury du Plessis has had in the last few months after he suffered a broken finger during IPL 2015. Du Plessis played in the final despite the finger injury; he took the injury into South Africa’s tour of Bangladesh but did not

miss any matches. “At Chennai, my nickname is Ferrari because everything looks pretty good on the outside but there’s not much going on the inside.”

Du Plessis’ absence means that South Africa are without a third senior player after JP Duminy and Morne Morkel were given time off from the series for paternity leave. Rilee Rossouw will bat in du Plessis’ place at No. 3 with Farhaan Behardien included in the lower middle order. Dean Elgar has been added to the squad as cover.

Faf du Plessis’ second injury in the last few months has forced him out of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand

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August 21–27, 2015

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015 41 Caribbean Star Newspaper Cricket Council USA adds to governing body conundrum

ICC head of global development Tim Anderson (right) may have another governing body to evaluate for official status in America while the USA Cricket Association is under suspension © Peter Della Penna

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ormer USACA presidential candidate Mahammad Qureshi has made the initial steps towards the creation of another governing body to rival both the USA Cricket Association and the American Cricket Federation.

Qureshi, the chief executive and founder of Cricket Council USA, announced the appointment of six CCUSA regional directors on Tuesday, including several former USACA administrators.

CCUSA officially classifies itself as a “sports and entertainment management organization” with its annual US Open T20 tournament held in Florida every December since 2008 for a cash purse ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. The announcement of eight regional bodies modelled on USACA’s eight administrative regions, followed by the appointment of the six regional directors, appears to be a thinly-disguised move at posing a challenge to USACA’s status as the ICC’s officially recognised national governing body in the USA. “CCUSA has always been determined to be a leader in player development, and all the affiliated regions share that vision,” Qureshi said in a press release on Tuesday. “We’re thrilled to work together to enhance the future of cricket in United States of America and build a

pathway to a national team success at world stage.”

Among the appointees announced are former longtime USACA board member Krish Prasad from New York, former USACA South East Regional administrator and current South Florida Cricket Alliance president Melton Taylor, former USACA Central West regional director Mustafa Hemani from Texas and former USACA selector Dawood Ahmed from Washington, D.C. Crucially, though, from a governance standpoint, CCUSA has no constitution and no annual general meeting with an election to decide these positions, which are ICC requirements.

“The Regional Directors for Cricket Council USA were offered the position based on their achievements relating to cricket throughout the years,” Sofian Qamar, CCUSA’s vice-president of operations, told ESPNcricinfo via e-mail when asked about the appointment process for the regional directors.

CCUSA’s business affairs have had ties with controversial figures in recent years. Banned Pakistan player Danish Kaneria was allowed to play at the 2013 US Open T20. Former CCUSA vice-president and US Open T20 tournament director Jeff Miller - who ran

the US Open T20 tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2013 - pleaded guilty last summer in Florida to a second-degree felony charge of grand theft relating to an initial arrest on felony mortgage fraud charges in 2009.

Florida-based Qureshi, who ran unsuccessfully for executive board positions in the last three USACA elections - including two failed presidential runs against Gladstone Dainty in 2008 and 2012 - filed for Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy in 2011 with more than $30 million in debts at the time, according to local Florida media reports. However, CCUSA’s tournaments have continued to draw consistent interest and participation from clubs all around the country and Qureshi maintains a loyal following.

Notably, the language in CCUSA’s recent releases has put extra emphasis on their role in the development of cricket

through the hosting and management of various T20 tournaments around the country. The ICC changed the language in its Associate membership criteria in January so that its member governing body no longer has to be the “sole” governing body in the country but rather the governing body that is responsible for the “administration, management and development of cricket in the country.”

In the absence of a letter from the country’s national olympic committee certifying it as the recognised governing body, the ICC maintains discretion to make a final judgment. ICC chief executive David Richardson recently told ESPNcricinfo though that the ICC viewpoint is that all factions must come together in order for cricket to move forward in the USA rather than the ICC choosing between the USACA, ACF or a third party such as CCUSA.

SOFTBALL CRICKET FINALS Richmond Hill vs Enterprise

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Richmond Hill SC: Kumar Chickery (C), Krishna Chickery, Darshan Chickery, Satish Wilfred(VC), Shashi Wilfred, Navin Wilfred, Imran Wahab, Asif Ally (Gangully) , J. Hemraj, Rohit Dutchin(Beast), Akbar Khan(Alan), Anil Kissoon & Vick Narain) Enterprise CC: Manoj Sukhra(C), Dinesh Pooran, V. Seenarine, I Khan, J. Shivdyal, Ramesh Barron (Rice), R. Seepersaud, A. Khan. S. Somwaru, K. Singh, A. Simbhu, V. Mangal & S. Seepersaud.

Dhoni parajumps from aeroplane India’s World Cup winning captain M.S. Dhoni, an honorary Lt. Col. in the Indian Army, parajumped from an AN-32 aircraft from a height of 1,250 feet.

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gra, Aug 19 (IANS): Former Indian test cricket captain M.S. Dhoni, a honorary Lt. Col. in the Indian Army, on Wednesday parajumped from

an AN-32 aircraft from a height of 1,250 feet.

Journalists were not permitted to interact with him. But an official at the Malpu-

ra drop zone said the jump was successful.

A huge crowd from neighbouring villages had gathered for a glimpse of the star.

Dhoni spent a fortnight training at the Para Training School (PTS) of the 50th Independent parabrigade, known for its operations in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Besides Dhoni, a dozen paratroopers also jumped on Wednesday. Dhoni passed the final ground test on Tuesday before he was allowed to jump from the aeroplane on Wednesday.

A leap of faith for MSD

42

Caribbean Star Newspaper Made in Sri Lanka, adaptable everywhere

August 21–27, 2015

Kumar Sangakkara has been a flag-bearer for his country’s cricket, dominating attacks, winning hearts and maintaining the highest standards for 15 years

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rjuna Ranatunga was the first to tell me about Kumar Sangakkara. We were at the Beach Wadiya restaurant in Colombo. He said there was this boy who had amazing hand-eye coordination and a determination beyond the norm. He added that he was bright and well read, though he could not have predicted that words would become almost as much a Sangakkara currency as runs.

England first saw him in Galle in 2001.

Batting at No. 3, he made a fifty and kept wicket skilfully. His movements were almost feline. The match was ill-tempered and Sangakkara was no innocent bystander. You might have called him feisty, arrogant even. The same messages came through during the next game in Kandy, a riveting and controversial Test match that England won to level the series. In the second innings Sangakkara fell five short of a maiden Test hundred, but he had made his mark.

In the final game at the SSC, England overcame the odds to take the series, thanks in part to a magnificent first-innings hundred by Graham Thorpe. On a dry and turning pitch, the battle between Thorpe and Muttiah Muralitharan was the stuff of champions and a tremendous challenge

for the 23-year-old stumper, who came through it with colours.

He is among the first you would take with you to the trenches and reckon to get out alive, having taken a prisoner or two along the way Even then, his interviews were different from the others. He spoke intelligently about match situations and his own contribution to them. He never followed a party line. A decade later he was to give the Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s and delight the audience with his beautiful use of the English language. From it came deep insights into a complex game, withering attacks on administration and impassioned reflections on the history of his nation and the story of its cricket. Arguably, and alongside Bishop Desmond Tutu’s animated and thought-provoking recollections and ideals, it was the best of a very good collection of lectures driven by the MCC’s Spirit of Cricket initiative. In fact, thinking about this further, you could say that these two men advanced the spirit of the game by taking it out of its own self-centred space and using wider social and political examples to its benefit.

Until you visit Sri Lanka, it is impossible to understand what the cricketers represent. The island is small and has, of course, been divided by civil war. It is a place of highlands and coastlines, of various religions and of tribal discord. Colombo is a wonderful capital city that retains elements

In his first series against England, Sangakkara made an impression as a batsman and keeper of the colonial age without bowing to its instruction. Kandy, the town in which Sangakkara grew up, is distinctively beautiful.

Sri Lankan people smile as a matter of course. The sun shines or the rains come and flood vast areas. The humidity can be thick and overbearing. But still they smile.

The soil and fauna are rich. The fields and forests are lush. The tea plantations are dramatic. The food is beyond wonderful, especially at the Beach Wadiya, or was in those days. Nowadays it faces competition from owned by Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. In so many ways their destiny has been together.

The island’s diversity makes for a fine, resilient people whose warmth and charm know no bounds. Sangakkara is a force of

their nature. It may be an exaggeration to say that he bats for a nation but it is right to say that he has carried the hopes of his people with him. They have not been let down.

Suddenly, he is to retire, which means we shall not see him at the wicket again in international cricket. It is a terrible loss for he is an exceptional man. Too many good men are away of late: Daniel Vettori, Michael Clarke, Graeme Smith and the two Sri Lankans, to name a few. In a mad and greedy world there is much dignity in them all.

The Sangakkara statistics beggar belief.

Fastest, in terms of innings, to 8000, 9000, 10,000, 11,000 and 12,000 Test match runs. Twelve-thousand three hundred and fifty of them in all, at an average of 57.71. Eleven double-hundreds to Sir Donald Bradman’s 12. Fourth on the list of Test hundreds with 38, behind only Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting.

Thehighest partnership ever - 624 - and against South Africa, so no freebie. You can guess who with. The one-day record is equally imposing. There can be no argument that he is among the greatest batsmen to have played the game. When you consider he spent the first half of his career keeping wicket as well, you marvel.

The island’s diversity makes for a fine, resilient people whose warmth and charm know no bounds. Sangakkara is a force of their nature.

Smith, Warner star for Australia in Ashes finale Rahul century rescues India at Colombo

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ustralia’s future leadership team of Steven Smith and David Warner helped restore some pride for the tourists against England on Thursday’s first day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.

When bad flight forced an early close, Australia, who had lost the toss, were 287 for three -- a marked contrast to their 60 all out in the first innings of their series-losing defeat in the fourth Test at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge.

Smith, who will take over as Australia’s Test captain when Michael Clarke retires following this match, was 78 not out after future vice-captain Warner had made 85.

Adam Voges was unbeaten on 47, having helped Smith add an unbroken 101 for the fourth wicket.

A green-tinged pitch and overcast skies were reminiscent of conditions at Trent Bridge a fortnight ago where Stuart Broad took a devastating eight for 15 as Australia, likewise sent into bat by England captain Alastair Cook, collapsed in stunning style.

England went on to win by an innings and 78 runs, a victory that saw them regain the Ashes and take an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. But Thursday saw Chris Rogers, also retiring from international duty after this match, and fellow left-handed opener War-

ner put on 110 for the first wicket as Australia proved they could bat responsibly in typically English conditions.

Broad was fractionally too wide early on against batsmen determined not to ‘chase’ the ball after their Nottingham nightmare.

The first hour’s play saw Australia 19 without loss in 14 overs, compared to 38 for seven in 11 in 60 minutes at Trent Bridge.

Australia’s first boundary did not arrive until the 15th over when the normally aggressive Warner pulled Ben Stokes through square leg. An increasingly assured Warner, gaining from time in the middle, went to a 76-ball fifty when he cover-drove fast bowler Steven Finn for his seventh four.

England eventually separated the pair after lunch when Rogers pushed away from his body against fast bowler Mark Wood and first slip Cook held the outside edge at the second attempt. Warner, in sight of what would have been his first Test hundred in England, fell when he pushed forward to off-spinner Moeen Ali and was caught at slip by Adam Lyth, the opener swishing his bat in annoyance.

- Clarke ovation New batsman Clarke walked out to a standing ovation from the crowd as England’s players formed a guard of honor in the middle for the Aus-

tralia captain.

But the rousing reception did nothing to lift Clarke out of his prolonged run drought.

One of Australia’s greatest batsmen, Clarke exited for 15 when he edged a delivery from all-rounderBen Stokes that seamed off the pitch to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.

The captain consulted non-striker Smith and sought a review but there was no denying that Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena had made the correct decision.

Smith, returning to form after his 215 and 58 in the second Test at Lord’s were followed by four single-figure scores in the next two Tests, cover drove Stokes for his sixth four to complete an 84-ball fifty. He then went down the pitch to drive Ali for a skimming six over mid-off.

Despite the floodlights piercing the gloom, the umpires halted play at 6:31 pm local time (1731 GMT).

England fielded an unchanged team after all-time leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson was again ruled out with the side injury that saw him miss the fourth Test.

Australia, however, recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh after dropping his brother Shaun, a top-order batsman, while fast bowler Peter Siddle was selected for his first Test of the series in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood.

2nd Test, Day 1: India 319 for 6 after electing to bat in Sanga’s farewell Test.

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OLOMBO (Reuters) - Opener Lokesh Rahul struck his second test century and combined with skipper Virat Kohli to help India recover from a shaky start and reach 319 for six at stumps on the opening day of the second test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Dhammika Prasad’s early burst reduced India to 12-2 in the fifth over as the visitors’ decision to bat first in Sri Lankan batting stalwart Kumar Sangakkara’s farewell test had threatened to backfire.

Dropped on 11, Rahul (108) teamed up with Kohli (78) to take the fight back to the hosts with a 164-run third wicket partnership providing the bedrock of their innings.

Batting at number five, Rohit Sharma shrugged off early discomforts to hit three sixes and five boundaries in a fluent 79 before being dismissed

by Angelo Mathews in the 88th over.

His partner in a 52-run stand, Wriddhiman Saha, was batting on 19 at the close.

Paceman Prasad jolted India early, trapping Murali Vijay leg before wicket and getting Ajinkya Rahane, promoted to number three, caught in the slips.

India could have slumped to 20-3 but Jehan Mubarak spilled Rahul at

gully off Dushmantha Chameera with the batsman on 11.

It proved costly as Rahul, who struck his maiden test century in Australia earlier this year, went on to compile his second hundred in 180 balls.

Kohli signalled his positive intent by stepping out of his crease to hit Herath, who destroyed India in the second innings of the opening test, over his head for the first six of the innings.

The visitors seemed determined to not let Herath dictate terms as Rahul and Rohit both used their feet to also hit him over the rope but the tricky spinner did have some success.

Herath ended Kohli’s 107-ball knock with Mathews showing great anticipation in the lone slip position to pull off a low, one-handed catch.

Rahul fell after top edging a Chameera bouncer but Rohit scored freely to take India past the 300-mark.

India made three changes to the team which imploded at Galle to allow the hosts to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, bringing in Vijay, paceman Umesh Yadav and all-rounder Stuart Binny.

Those missing out were Shikhar Dhawan, who has been ruled out of the series with a fractured hand,Varun Aaron and Harbhajan Singh.

Sri Lanka replaced the injured Nuwan Pradeep with Chameera in the 134th and final test for Sangakkara, who was given a guard of honour before the start of play.

Caribbean Star Newspaper

August 21–27, 2015

43

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